County of Union, New Jersey

Union County Freeholder Bruce Bergen (R), Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich and Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi congratulate the winners of the 2014 “My County” poster contest sponsored by the Union County Constitutional Officers. The top winners of the contest, which is open only to fourth-graders, are (from 2nd left): Cynthia Li (1st place) from the McKinley School in Westfield, Emily Merriman (2nd place) from the Mountain Park School in Berkeley Heights, Riley Roder (3rd place) from St. Bartholomew Academy in Scotch Plains and Ryan Hatzlhoffer (4th place) from St. John the Apostle Elementary School in Clark. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Sergio Granados has his glucose checked by Angela Adams, RN from the Community Health Department at Overlook Medical Center during an Atlantic Health System glucose screening event on the “Healthy Avenues Van” outside the ShopRite in Clark.

As part of his initiatives for 2014, Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak formed a partnership with Atlantic Health System with the goal of increasing health awareness countywide.

The Overlook Medical Center Community Health Department provides people with information to make appropriate health care choices and offers programs, support groups and screenings. For more information, visit www.atlantichealth.org/overlook/our+services/community+health/ or call 1-800-247-9580.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

CRANFORD, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that a history grant writing workshop will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23, at the Cranford Community Center, 220 Walnut Avenue, in Cranford.

“The grant-writing workshop is intended for Union County-based non-profit groups including historical societies, schools, museums, libraries, municipal governments and other organizations seeking funding for a history project or event that promotes better understanding of Union County and New Jersey history,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board. “Attendees will learn about the two types of competitive grants available through the Union County History Grant Program administered by the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs.”

The history staff will present an overview of the grant program and a step-by-step approach to preparing the application budget and narrative. Applications and guidelines will be available at the workshop. Participants are encouraged to come prepared to discuss project or event ideas.

The maximum request for a General Operating Support (GOS) grant is $7,500 and it is available only to Union County-based history organizations. Other non-profits may request a Special Project (SP) grant up to $5,000. The funds are awarded on a competitive basis.

Special Project applications from “Four Centuries in a Weekend” Site Participants marking New Jersey’s 350th Birthday (1664-2014) are encouraged. This is a great opportunity to raise awareness of your town’s unique role and contributions to the County and State, from its 17th century beginning to the current day. The State themes are Diversity, Innovation and Liberty. Funding for this program is made available through the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.

To confirm attendance at the April 23 workshop in Cranford or to receive more information, contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth 07202. Telephone: (908) 436-2912. New Jersey Relay users dial 711. E-mail requests to:ewashington@ucnj.org.

 

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Union County Freeholders Vernell Wright (L) and Bette Jane Kowalski (R) present a resolution to Trish Stone of Roselle Park congratulating her on her retirement from the County of Union where she served as the Director of the Division of Planning in the Department of Human Services. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski (L) and Angel G. Estrada present a resolution to Janice C. Lilien, Executive Director of the YWCA of Union County, recognizing April 2014 as “National Child Abuse Prevention Month” in Union County. For more information about the YWCA of Union County, visit www.ywcaeuc.org. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that an online interactive map has been launched to assist the new “Support 4 Soldiers” campaign, a countywide civic engagement project conceived and designed by high school students.

In Support 4 Soldiers, students from all around Union County have joined together to collect healthy snacks, toiletries, and other basic items, which will be sent in care packages to active duty military personnel. The collection period ends on May 15.

The interactive map, at ucnj2.org/uc-step, makes it easy to find nearby collection boxes.

“Support 4 Soldiers is a wonderful demonstration of how our diverse community shares common goals,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “The Freeholder Board is very proud to lend a hand to Support 4 Soldiers and we encourage everyone to pitch in, too.”

Support 4 Soldiers was created by students who participated in the first ever UC STEP (Union County Student Training and Enrichment Program) Summit last December. In addition to collecting supplies, students across Union County are raising funds to offset shipping costs.

Support 4 Soldiers is sponsored by the Freeholder Board in partnership with the Westfield-based nonprofit organization Bonds of Courage (bondsofcourage.org).

UC STEP is a youth development program initiated by Freeholder Linda Carter during her term as Chairman last year.

For more information about Support 4 Soldiers and UC STEP, visit ucnj2.org/uc-step or call the Union County Department of Economic Development, 908-527-4200.

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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.

 

PLAINFIELD, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that its next mobile paper-shredding program for personal, confidential documents will be available on Friday, April 25, at Cedar Brook Park in Plainfield.

“Union County’s mobile document-shredding service helps residents fight identity theft and eliminate clutter in their homes,” said Freeholder Christopher Hudak, liaison to the Solid Waste Advisory Council. “It is a cost-effective way to assist our recycling efforts and it ties in with Union County’s other Go Green Initiatives.”

The April 25th shredding event will take place at Cedar Brook Park, located off Park Avenue in Plainfield, near the border with South Plainfield. NEXCUT Shredding of Elizabeth will be shredding documents at the site from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. The shredding event will end before 1 p.m. if the shredding truck reaches capacity.

All Union County residents are eligible to use the paper-shredding service. In an effort to accommodate everyone, there is a limit of four, 10-pound bags or boxes per person. Documents should not be bound. Please remove plastic binders and paperclips. Paper that is wet/damp will not be accepted. Residents should continue to recycle non-confidential papers and magazines with their municipal recycling program.

Documents are put into 96-gallon containers provided by the shredding company. The items are then dumped onto a conveyor belt and shredded on site. Participants are welcome to view the shredding process via a closed-circuit television. The shredded documents are then recycled, shipped to paper mills and used as pulp. The next shredding event will take place Saturday, May 10, at Alcatel/Lucent in New Providence.

The mobile shredding program is paid for through New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Recycling Enhancement Act Grant Funds. For more information about future events or directions please call the Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889 or visit us online atwww.ucnj.org/recycle .

 

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