County of Union, New Jersey

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders advises residents to be on the alert for a new telephone and email scams that have surfaced in Union County and across the country.

In the telephone scam, residents receive a call demanding immediate payment on a utility bill, and threatening to cut off service if payment is not made.

Another scam involves email messages masquerading as third-party utility companies. Opening the email can expose the computer to a virus.

“These scammers are taking advantage of the cold weather to prey on anxiety over utility service cut-off,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “If you receive any unexpected message from a utility company, whether it’s by phone, email or standard mail, be sure to call them yourself to ensure that it’s a legitimate communication.”

Currently the telephone scam is focused on PSEG. Customers of that utility should call 800-436-PSEG (7734) to verify any unexpected messages.

Other gas and electric utilities serving customers in Union County are JCP&L and Elizabethtown Gas.

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Please join the County of Union online at ucnj.org, on Facebook at ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter at twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

Union County, NJ – On Monday, March  3, commuter history will be made in Union County as NJ TRANSIT begins offering its first ever “one-seat” direct rail service to Penn Station in New York City on the Raritan Valley Line, which includes the Union County municipalities Plainfield, Fanwood, Westfield, Garwood, Cranford, Roselle Park and Union.

“One-seat service represents a significant improvement for commuters and for all of Union County,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “Our future goes hand in hand with mass transit, which is instrumental in economic development and quality of life as well as environmental and public health.”

The Raritan Valley Line previously required all passengers to disembark from a diesel train in Newark and continue to New York in an electric train.

“When I took office as Freeholder Chair this year, I pledged that the Freeholder Board would work hard to support this much-anticipated service,” said Hudak. “I would like to thank NJ TRANSIT and the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition for ensuring that the vision has become a reality.”

The one-seat service was made possible by the purchase of new dual-mode locomotives by NJ Transit. The new locomotives can switch from diesel to electric power as required.

The service is currently a limited pilot project. It is available only on weekdays, during midday hours. Rush hour, evening, and weekend one-seat service is not available at this time.

There will be no change in the price of a ticket.

For a complete, printable version of the full NJ TRANSIT Raritan Valley Line schedule visitnjtransit.com. The one-seat rides are highlighted in bold frames on the schedule.

Printed schedules will be available from NJ TRANSIT when the one-seat service begins.

For convenient links to all forms of transit information in Union County including auto, bus, air, rail, and bike paths, visit Union County ConneXions at ucnj.org.

 

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Please join the County of Union online at ucnj.org, on Facebook at ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter at twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites adults, 18 and older, to a program about “Life in Space” being offered at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside. The lecture, supplemented with visual material, will take place on Saturday, March 8, from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. The program is free, but donations are welcome.

“This is a lecture you won’t want to miss,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak.  “It answers the questions all of us have posed about living in outer space.”

Harold Kozak, a NASA Solar System Ambassador and Astronomy Adjunct Professor at Wagner College, will shed light on the intriguing topic of living in space. His lecture will focus on whether humans will eventually have to live in space and how they will survive the conditions.

Professor Kozak will discuss and illustrate how humans will become able to travel in space for extended periods of time; methods that will be used to find other habitable worlds; and current living conditions on the International Space Station. He also will talk about how humans in the future will travel to far-off worlds and the ways in which humans will “terraform” the landscapes of other planets.

For additional information about this lecture or other adult programs and upcoming events at Trailside, call 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside to view a complete winter brochure. Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road (at Coles Avenue) in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

 

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CRANFORD, NJ – Do you like working with artists, teachers and students? The Union County Teen Arts Festival provides an opportunity for volunteers to get involved.

The Union County Teen Arts Festival, sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders through the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Recreation, is a two-day celebration of the arts held annually at Union County College in Cranford. The event, scheduled for Thursday and Friday, March 20 and 21, is open to all students from public, charter, private and parochial middle and high schools in Union County.

“Nearly 3,500 students participate in performances, critiquing seminars, master classes and workshops with a staff of 55 professional artists in every discipline – visual art, music, creative writing, theater and dance,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “Volunteers are needed to assist artists with workshops, manage performance sites and staff information stations. We appreciate the invaluable assistance of our county residents with this exciting program.”

If you are interested in any of these activities, contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth, New Jersey 07202. Telephone: 908-558-2550; NJ Relay Users call 711. Or e-mail us at: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

 

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MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to offer a “Project WILD/Aquatic WILD” teacher-training workshop for non-formal educators and teachers of K-12 at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside on Thursday, March 6, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Project WILD and Aquatic WILD are wildlife-focused conservation education programs with hands-on activities designed for integration into existing courses of study for formal and non-formal educators, K through 12. Based on the premise that young people and educators alike have an interest in learning about our natural world, this program underscores wildlife’s intrinsic value, and addresses the need for us all to be responsible stewards of our planet.

“Teaching about water conservation is of critical importance today,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “Trailside offers a perfect opportunity for teachers to learn the modules to educate their students.”

Pre-registration is preferred. Space is limited. The fee for the program is $20. Walk-ins are welcome as space permits. Participants will receive the Project WILD and Aquatic WILD K-12 curriculums and activity guides, and they will earn six NJDOE credits for the workshop. Light morning refreshments are provided. Please bring your lunch.

For additional information about this event or other upcoming programs and special events at Trailside, please call 908-789-3670 or visit us on the web in Trailside’s winter brochure atwww.ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

 

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(From left) Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Mohamed Jalloh, Freeholder Vernell Wright, Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak and Freeholder Sergio Granados (R) present a resolution to guest speaker Dr. Marion Lane (C) and Ethel Washington of the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs proclaiming February 2014 Black History Month during a speaking event at the First Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth. They are joined by Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi (2nd R). Dr. Lane delivered a lecture entitled “American’s Forgotten African American Patriots in the American Revolution.”  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announces that a “One-Stop” service is available for Mountainside voters beginning on February 18th at the County Clerk’s Westfield or Elizabeth offices for the Special School Referendum in Mountainside.

The Special School Referendum in Mountainside, scheduled for Tuesday, March 11th, from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., involves funds for work on the Deerfield and Beechwood elementary schools.

“Registered voters in Mountainside may apply for a Vote-By-Mail ballot for the Special March 11thSchool Referendum in person at either one of my offices, receive their ballot and cast the ballot at the same time,” Ms. Rajoppi said. “This one-stop voting service is available at my Westfield office as well as at the main office in Elizabeth.”

The deadline to apply for a Vote-By-Mail ballot for the March 11th Special School Election is Tuesday, March 4th by mail-in application. The deadline to apply in-person is Monday, March 10that 3:00 p.m.

The opportunity to Vote-By-Mail in Westfield and Elizabeth is another service available at the County Clerk’s two offices, along with passport application and renewal services, registration of Trade Names, and the application and swearing in of Notaries Public.

The Westfield Annex of the County Clerk is located at 300 North Avenue East, Westfield 07090. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

The Main Office of the County Clerk is located at the Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, Room 113, Elizabeth, NJ 07207. Regular office hours in Elizabeth are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Vote-By-Mail is an easy, secure process that has replaced the Absentee Ballot. Voters do not need to give a reason why they wish to Vote-By-Mail. To obtain an application form, voters can download the form at the Union County Clerk’s website: www.ucnj.org/vote-by-mail or they can contact the Union County Clerk at 908-527-4996. The Clerk’s website also includes a video that explains how to fill out the Vote-By-Mail application form.

 

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