County of Union

ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that 43 artists, historians and local non-profit organizations will receive funding through the 2011 Union County HEART (History, Education, Arts Reaching Thousands) Grant Program.

Recognizing the importance of culture and the arts to our economy and quality of life, the Union County Freeholders established the HEART Grant Program in 1998. This innovative program supports projects related to history, the arts and humanities, and it demonstrates a commitment to the artists and community organizations of Union County. Total funding for this year’s grants is $75,000.

“The recipients of HEART Grants are a wonderful mix of creative individuals – composers and writers, historians, visual artists, musicians and dancers – plus arts, history and other cultural organizations and civic groups,” said Freeholder Chairman Deborah P. Scanlon. “The response to the program has been exciting ever since its inception.”

“The services provided by these artists, scholars and organizations directly benefit the residents of our county and increase appreciation for the arts, our history, and the humanities,” Freeholder Scanlon added. “These cultural assets are a vital part of community life, well being, economic development and cultural heritage tourism in Union County.”

Artists, educators, civic and historical non-profit organizations that want information about next year’s HEART Grant Program can contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth, New Jersey 07202. Telephone: (908) 558-2550. NJ Relay users dial 711, or send E-mail:culturalinfo@ucnj.org

Union County HEART Grants Awarded 2011 (Total $75,000)

• Brian Beste, Fanwood, $890, presenting art creating and history workshops;
• Candace Waller, Fanwood, $700, presenting dance programs and workshops;
• Danielle Linares Hale, Fanwood, $880, presenting art and history workshops;
• Dennis E. Hyams, Plainfield, $1,000, presenting opera and chamber music performances;
• Kenneth Sack, Summit $1,000, presenting interactive children’s music and theater;
• Sandra Frank, Westfield, $1,000, presenting a music education program for a senior rehab center;
• Valerie Graham, Roselle, $800, presenting crafts workshops for children;
• Arts Guild New Jersey, Rahway, $2,300, presenting Pre-K arts education in Rahway schools;
• Borough of Fanwood, $2,000, presenting a Fanwood Cultural Arts Performance Series;
• Brand New Day, Elizabeth, $2,300, presenting traditional Caribbean music and dance workshops;
• Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company, Union, $1,600, presenting a joint performance with Union County Academy of the Performing Arts at the Vo-Tech black box theater;
• CASA of Union County, Elizabeth, $2,500, presenting arts workshops for child advocates;
• Center for Hope Hospice & Palliative Care, Scotch Plains, $2,500, providing musical performances for hospice residents and families;
• Central Presbyterian Church, Summit, $1,500, provide classical music performances;
• Christ Fellowship Inc., Elizabeth, $500, present musical theater performances;
• City of Rahway, $1,500, hiring artists to create window art for available storefronts;
• Continuo Arts Foundation, Westfield, $1,500, presenting “Seniors Sing” choral program;
• Cranford Housing Board, Inc., Cranford, $1,000, presenting “Broadway and Beyond” concert for senior residents;
• Elizabeth Avenue Partnership, Elizabeth, $2,400, presenting dance and music cultural events during Hispanic Heritage Month;
• Friends of Jazz, Plainfield, $1,000, presenting music enrichment programs in Plainfield schools;
• Groundwork Elizabeth, Inc., $1,600, supporting the 9th Annual Tour de Elizabeth bicycle tour focusing on the theme, immigrant contributions;
• Hillside Public Library, Hillside, $1,760, presenting “Arts Around the World” free performances for children and families;
• Institute of Music for Children, Elizabeth, $2,500, presenting Friday Teen Arts Night series;
• Jefferson Park Ministries, Inc., Elizabeth, $1,000, presenting music education and performance programs for children;
• Jewish Community Center of Central NJ, Scotch Plains, $2,300, presenting a day of Lower East Side history through music, games food and art;
• Josephine’s Place, Elizabeth, $2,500, presenting poetry and music projects for immigrant women;
• Literacy Volunteers of Union County, Plainfield $2,500, creating “Connections” a literary publication of ESL student work;
• Mother Seton Regional High School, Clark, $1,000, producing a musical involving Union County students;
• Music for All Seasons, Scotch Plains, $2,300, presenting music programs for Union County Juvenile Detention Center;
• National Council of Jewish Women, U.C. Section, Elizabeth, $2,500, providing two intergenerational programs: a big band swing dance and duo pianists;
• New Jersey Intergenerational Orchestra, Berkeley Heights, $2,300, presenting a series of free community concerts;
• Occupational Center of Union County, Roselle, $2,500, presenting art education classes for people with disabilities;
• Plainfield Division of Parks and Recreation, $1,900, presenting a historical Kwanza celebration with speakers, music and dance;
• Restore Ministries, Inc., Elizabeth, $2,500, providing a Poetry Club for youth including literary study and expression;
• Second Street Youth Center, Plainfield, $975, presenting a nine week engineering workshop for children;
• The Rake and Hoe Garden Club, Westfield, $1,000, presenting a flower and crafts show;
• Union Township Community Action Organization, Inc., $1,700, presenting Senior Choral performances in nursing homes;
• United Youth of New Jersey, Elizabeth, $2,350, present play about slave Ambo buried in Rahway Cemetery;
• Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, Summit, $2,300, presenting a visual arts program for older adults;
• Westfield Symphony Orchestra, Westfield, $1,600, provide a live concert to accompany movie “Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde”;
• Women in Conversation, Plainfield, $2,500, presenting reading /discussion groups for students, bi-lingual students and seniors;
• YM-YWHA of Union County, Union, $2,500, presenting the Holocaust through Literature, Music & Science series;
• Art in the Garden, through the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, Elizabeth, $2,045, presenting individual and group performances during Arts & Humanities Month.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj .

While a Federal Disaster Declaration has not been issued from FEMA,
County proactively advises residents of process

Union County, NJ – As Union County begins to recover from the damage left by Hurricane Irene, many residents are asking how they can request and receive assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA.)

In order for a State, County, Township or resident to receive funding from FEMA, a Federal Disaster Declaration must be issued from FEMA. A Federal Disaster Declaration can only be declared once the Governor submits an official disaster request to FEMA; this request must include the estimated cost of the damages.

Providing an accurate Statewide report to FEMA takes several days as crews of engineers must assess structural damage to homes, bridges, dams, highways and other structures. Public utility companies must document any damage to poles, wires and substations. In addition, Government agencies must calculate the actual costs of providing additional public safety services during the preparation, response and recovery efforts caused by Irene.

“Sunday morning I visited the towns that were hit hardest by the Hurricane.  Hurricane Irene has definitely left its mark on Union County residents. Many are still without power, fallen trees have damaged countless properties and many had to evacuate their homes due to severe flooding.” stated Freeholder Chairman Deborah Scanlon. “We ask that that those greatly affected be patient and follow the steps outlined by our Emergency Management personnel.”

As it will take several days to accurately assess the damage caused by the Irene, Union County officials are asking residents to take the following steps:

* Do not touch any utility wires.

* Before cleaning up damage caused by Irene please take photos or videos of any damage caused by the hurricane. If you have already started to clean up the damage please document your repairs to the best of you ability. Save all receipts, quotes, estimates, etc. of any work done; this documentation may be needed in the future by FEMA to file potential claims.

Over the next several days, local officials will be preparing Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) reports to document the damage done in each municipality. If you have sustained significant damage to your home please contact your local Office of Emergency Management. The Office of Emergency will include your address and description of the damage sustained in their municipal Assessment report.

All municipal reports will be complied with the necessary documents and forwarded to the County Office of Emergency Management for review; a Sergeant from State Police Office of Emergency Management has been assigned to the County OEM for assistance. Please note: Some municipal OEMs are still actively responding to public safety emergencies caused by Irene. Public safety emergencies will take priority to damage assessment.

The County will submit a Countywide Preliminary Damage Assessment to the New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management. State Police OEM will review all 21 County Assessments and submit a single Preliminary Assessment to the Governor. The Governor will submit a single Statewide Preliminary Assessment to the Federal Emergency Management Administration for consideration.

After reviewing the New Jersey State Preliminary Damage Assessment report, FEMA will decide if a Federal Disaster Declaration is warranted. For more information on this process please go to http://www.fema.gov/media/fact_sheets/declaration_process.shtm.

If a Federal Disaster is declared for the State of New Jersey and Union County, FEMA will deploy several damage assessment experts throughout the State to meet with individual residents to review detailed information of the damage caused by Irene.

Information about federal disaster declarations and public assistance will be broadcast directly to residents through the Union County First Alert System. Please register at ucfirstalert.com to have disaster and other emergency information sent directly to your email or smartphone. Information will also be posted on the official Union County website at ucnj.org.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release.   Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

No serious injuries or fatalities reported, but power out to as many as 60,000 residents; flooding severe in some areas; trees and power lines down throughout

Union County, NJ – Some areas of Union County are already back to normal just one day after Hurricane Irene, but power outages, flooding, and blocked roads remain major issues in many other parts. County officials asked residents to remain alert and prepare for up to several days before normal conditions are restored throughout the county.

Springfield remained under a boil-water alert as of today. A boil-water alert for Summit had been issued during the storm and was later lifted.

“The state of emergency is no longer in effect, but some areas of Union County were hit much harder than others and we ask all residents for their patience as health and safety issues are addressed on a priority basis,” said Scanlon. “If you need assistance, contact your local or County agencies and only use 911 in cases of a true emergency.”

The state of emergency declaration for Union County was lifted at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday August 28.

Most Union County offices and agencies are operating on a normal schedule today, with these exceptions:

• Paratransit: Only scheduling transportation for life-sustaining appointments such as dialysis today. Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, August 30.
• Meals-on-Wheels: Congregate meals and deliveries are canceled for today and tomorrow, August 30.
• Union County Superior Court: The court was ordered closed for today by state officials due to scheduling concerns.
• Union County recreation facilities: Swimming pools, golf courses, Watchung Stable, and Trailside Nature and Science Center are closed today, though the driving range at Galloping Hill in Kenilworth remains open.

Parts of Union County parks are inaccessible due to flooding or road conditions, and residents are urged to exercise caution.

Wednesday’s Summer Arts concert in Oak Ridge Park will go on as scheduled.

“In many parts of the County, life is quickly getting back to normal but for the next several days all residents should continue be alert to ongoing hazards from flooding conditions as well as blocked roads from downed trees and power lines,” said Scanlon.

Electricity remains the issue of greatest concern for many residents. An estimated 60,000 residents were without power as of this morning. PSE&G crews are prioritizing downed power lines and other unsafe conditions, and power is being restored in some areas.

Power to Scotch Plains and Fanwood was cut off on Sunday afternoon due to water damage at electrical facilities. These areas may experience prolonged disruption of service; PSE&G reports that it will begin repairs after the water recedes, which may take 2-3 days.

Large portions of the County experienced flooding, most severely in Cranford, Springfield and Rahway, as well as the northwest section of Berkeley Heights.

During the storm, the Union County police performed hundreds of rescues. Many of the rescues were conducted by boat under flooding conditions including at least 50 in Rahway, 50 in Cranford, and 36 at Albin Drive in Springfield.

“Preparation, planning, and working closely with local and state personnel enabled Union County to conduct an effective emergency response and to assist municipalities that were hardest hit,” said Union County Public Safety Director Andrew Moran. “The public’s willingness to prepare and cooperate with emergency alerts was also extremely important, and I would especially like to thank the residents who complied with travel restrictions and evacuation orders.”

In addition to emergency rescues, Union County also assisted Cranford by installing a temporary command post to answer the township’s police and emergency calls when their municipal facilities were shut down due to flooding, and provided them with portable radios. Radio assistance was also provided to Scotch Plains.

The countywide emergency shelter system took in more than 180 residents at eleven locations. The system was not filled to capacity, indicating that the County is well prepared for an emergency of this magnitude. All of the shelters are now closed with the exception of the Red Cross regional shelter in Clark.

Union County also used its website, www.ucnj.org, to notify residents of the availability of pet-friendly hotels in the area. County personnel were on duty throughout the emergency to provide continuous public updates, safety tips and alerts throughout website and the Union County First Alert system.

The impact on County facilities appears to be minimal, though the kitchen and stored food areas of the County’s Meals-on-Wheels operation in Linden was damaged. Elevators in several buildings were affected and are being restored to operation. County buildings that lost power were able to continue operating with generators.

As cleanup gets underway, Union County will develop information for residents on dealing with mold and other health issues. The County is also developing a plan to work with Cranford and other municipalities that were severely impacted by flooding, for cleaning up debris and garbage.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release.   Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

Union County – The County of Union has officially rescinded its “State of Emergency” proclamation and in effect lifted its ban prohibiting all non-emergency travel effective August 28, 2011 at 8:00pm.

County officials caution residents of the severity of flooding countywide; most notably in the Townships of Cranford and Springfield and the City of Rahway; which were impacted by the flooding of the Rahway River.  Residents are to be cognoscente of the continued clean up efforts of downed trees and lines.

“We are urging residents to limit their travels as to allow our emergency responders to effectively respond to the on-going efforts of our first responders and clean-up crews,” said Public Safety Director Andrew Moran.

Residents are encouraged to remain alert and informed through their local news and radio stations, and can go to www.ucnj.org for the latest Hurricane updates.  Also, residents are urged to stay informed through the Union County’s emergency notification system, Union County First Alert, and can sign up for instant notifications at www.ucfirstalert.org.

No serious injuries or fatalities reported, but power out to as many as 30,000 residents; trees and power lines down throughout; County Police, OEM perform water rescues to flooded areas

Union County, NJ – As many as 30,000 residents are without power today—and may be so for a week—but remarkably there were no fatalities or major injuries to report in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, Union County Emergency Management officials stated this afternoon.

Large portions of the County have experienced flooding problems, with the most severe including Cranford, Springfield and Rahway. These areas are impacted by flooding from the Rahway River, which has crested in many areas. Trees and lines are also down in many parts of the County, causing a dangerous situation. County Police are maintaining a State of Emergency urging residents who do not have emergencies to refrain from non-essential travel. This allows authorities to answer calls, clear debris and power lines, and also permit flood waters to subside.

“Union County remains in an emergency response mode, and we urge all residents to refrain from non-essential travel,” Public Safety Director Andrew Moran said. “We also urge residents to please refrain from dialing 911 for non-emergency situations. There are many emergency calls still coming in.”

Union County Emergency Management officials, Union County Police and local authorities are in the process of conducting a number of marine (boat) rescues to flooded portions of Union County, and are out with the State Police in the Cranford Downtown district. There is also a County unit conducting rescues in Kenilworth. Earlier, rising waters also closed Cranford’s police and municipal buildings. The County installed a temporary command post to assist Cranford in answering all police and emergency calls.

County Police in boats rescued 36 residents at Albin Drive in Springfield, and, with Linden Police, rescued residents from a partially collapsed building on the 1500 block of Hussa Street in that municipality. Several stranded motorists were also rescued in their cars in flooded areas throughout the County.

Overall, flooding, the power outages, and tree damage to homes and apartments are forcing the evacuation of dozens of residents in various municipalities. More than 180 residents are staying in a total of 11 shelters Countywide:

Clark—the Municipal Building at 430 Westfield Avenue (regional shelter-Red Cross)

Cranford—Community Center at 220 Walnut Avenue

Hillside—Hillside Community Center at 274 Hillside Avenue; Hillside Senior Center at 265 Hollywood Avenue;

Elizabeth—Mickey Walker Center, 860 Anna Street; Erxleben Center, 513 Richmond Street;

Plainfield—Senior Center, 400 East Front Street; Emerson Elementary School, 305 Emerson Avenue;

Washington Elementary, 472 Darrow Avenue

Rahway—165 East Grand Avenue; Case Apartments at 365 West Milton Avenue

Residents who need to evacuate with pets may do so at several pet friendly hotels in Union County, including:

Cranford–Homewood Suites (908-709-1980); Elizabeth–The Extended Stay (908-344-4300); The Hilton (908-351-3900); Residence Inn (908-352-4300); Plainfield—Howard Johnson (908-753-6500); Rahway—Hotel Indigo (1-877-270-1392); Springfield—Hotel 304 West (1-866-332-3590)

Several public safety agency operations have been affected by flooding and bad weather conditions, including Cranford as noted above. Plainfield Police, Elizabeth Fire Headquarters and Union County’s Emergency Operations Center were operating on generators earlier today, and Scotch Plains has reported an issue with their radio system, requesting assistance from Union County.

The Union County Ruotolo Building, which houses the Prosecutor’s Office, experienced flooding in the elevator shaft, and water was being pumped out. Runnells Specialized Hospital operated on generated power for several hours before electricity was restored. The Union County Jail and Juvenile Detention Center, were not impacted by the hurricane.

Union County Office of Emergency Management officials are operating their Emergency Operations Center in Westfield. Their efforts involve coordination with municipal, state and federal officials, as well as direct emergency response at the County level.

Residents are urged to remain alert and informed through their local news stations, and can go towww.ucnj.org for safety tips, utility information, response, and any County emergency news during the response and recovery period. Also residents are urged to stay informed through Union County’s emergency notification system, Union County First alert, and can sign up for instant notifications at www.ucfirstalert.org

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Hurricane makes slight shift to the East, however County can expect severe
hurricane storm force winds of up to 70 MPH and 10 inches of rainfall.

Union County – Office of Emergency Management officials have reported the National Weather Service has issued a Hurricane Watch and Flood Watch today.  Most up-to-date projections have indicated Hurricane Irene has moved to the EAST and is now projected to pass 50-60 miles from Union County.  Previous projections had placed Union County in the eye of Hurricane Irene’s path.

Regardless of the slight shift of the storm, due to the sheer size of Hurricane Irene, the County of Union can expect to sustain 50-55 MPH winds, with gusts reaching 60-70 MPH.  Union County can also expect to receive 6-10 inches of rainfall.

At the time of release, Hurricane Irene has been categorized as a Category 2 hurricane. The Union County Office of Emergency Management continues to monitor Hurricane Irene in coordination with the National Weather Service. The current path of the hurricane is projected to impact Union County as early as Saturday evening and continue to greaten in severity into Sunday.

“Even though the storm has apparently shifted slightly, it’s important for Union County residents to take this storm seriously take the appropriate steps to prepare, especially if you live in an area prone to flooding,” stated Freeholder Mohamed Jalloh, Homeland Security Committee Chairman. “The County encourages residents to sign up with the ‘Union County First Alert’ system so they can receive important hurricane notifications and to visit the County’s website for a Hurricane and Power Outage checklist.”

The best way to avoid major problems is to ensure you are prepared and that 9-1-1 phone lines are utilized for emergencies only.   Residents are encouraged to register with UC First Alert Network athttp://ucfirstalert.org.  The County of Union uses the UC First Alert Network to immediately deliver important alerts, notifications and updates to residents’ email, cell phone, pager and smartphone devices during a major crisis or emergency.

For those individuals with special needs are asked to register electronically with the New Jersey’s Special Needs Registry for Disasters at www.registerready.nj.gov.  The NJ Special Needs Registry is a free, voluntary and confidential program designed to assist people with special needs who may find it difficult to get to safety in the event of an emergency.  Alternatively, they can call New Jersey’s toll-free 2-1-1 telephone service.

In addition to registering with UC First Alert, residents are asked to take precautionary measures such as:

• Pack a Go-Bag, a collection of items you may need in the event of an evacuation.  Items to be considered include, but are not limited to, copies of important documents in a waterproof and portable container, bottled water and non-perishable food, flashlight and battery operated AM/FM radio.  For a full list of items that should be included in your Go-Bag, please visit https://ucnj.org/oem.

• Bring in anything that can be picked up by the wind (bicycles, lawn furniture).

• Turn off propane tanks and unplug small appliances.

• Turn the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting and keep them closed as much as possible so that food will last longer if the power goes out.

• For more tips and information visit (www.ucnj.org)

LINDEN, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that its next mobile paper-shredding program for personal documents will be available on Thursday, September 15, at the Linden Recycling Center.

“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 Sept. 15th shredding event will take place at the Linden Recycling Center, located at 2 Donaldson Place, off West Elizabeth Avenue in Linden. NEXCUT Shredding of Teaneck 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 all participants, there is a limit of four, 10-pound bags or boxes per person. Documents should not be bound. Please remove plastic binders and paperclips. 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 put through the shredder. 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, September 24, at the campus of the Union County Vo-Tech Schools, 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.

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 at www.ucnj.org/recycle .

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj .

Members of The Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County work on crafts to help raise funds for their civic programs, which include neighborhood garden projects, education, outreach to seniors and the disabled, scholarships, a large demonstration garden and much more. Master Gardeners are trained and certified by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, supported in part by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. For information on becoming a Master Gardener call the Extension at 908-654-9854, visitmastergardeners-uc.org, or visit the Union County website at ucnj.org. The deadline to apply for the fall training session is Friday, September 16.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release.   Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich and Union County Freeholder Angel G. Estrada congratulate Megan Campbell of Hillside on graduating as class president of the 2011 Class of the Union County Sheriff’s Youth Academy. More than 80 teens from across Union County who completed the program took part in the graduation ceremony at Union County College in Cranford on August 23. The Sheriff’s Youth Academy is a two week program designed to familiarize young people with the role of a Sheriff’s Officer. Also, it operates similar to an actual police academy for teens interested in law enforcement. Participants in the Youth Academy receive hands-on experience in a wide variety of emergency services and law enforcement functions and training.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release.   Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org

On Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook

On Twitter at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj

The Master Tree Stewards of Union County are still accepting applications for fall training sessions. Enjoying a visit to Stokes State Forest are (r to l) Mary Krauss of New Providence, Ann Cusack of Cranford, Linda Howe of New Providence, Union County 4-H Agent James Nichnadowicz; Jerry Petz of Cranford (kneeling), Sheila Godbee of Elizabeth, Bob and Ellen Trasente of Chatham, Mary Lou Mayfield of Union, and Carmine and Ed Santoriello of Chatham. Rutgers-certified Master Tree Stewards help teach youngsters about the importance of trees and perform other community service projects.  No prior experience with trees is required. For more information call the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, 908-654-9854 or visit ucnj.org.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release.   Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

Cooperating Agencies: Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Rutgers Cooperative Extension, a unit of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, is an equal opportunity program provider and employer. Contact the Union County Extension office for information regarding special needs or accommodations. Contact the State Extension Director’s office if you have concerns related to discrimination, 732-932-5000, ext. 584.