County of Union, New Jersey

Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter (C), Freeholder Vice Chairman Christopher Hudak and Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski (L) and Vernell Wright (2nd L) present a resolution to Rita Greco of Linden congratulating her on being honored at the Union County Commission on the Status of Women’s 21st Annual Women of Excellence Awards dinner. They are joined by Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich and Assemblywoman Linda Stender (3rd L). Greco was honored for excellence in Arts and Humanities.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter (L) and Freeholder Vice Chairman Christopher Hudak present a resolution to Union County Sheriff’s Captain Roxanne Banek of Clark congratulating her on being honored at the Union County Commission on the Status of Women’s 21st Annual Women of Excellence Awards dinner. They are joined by Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich. Captain Banek was honored for excellence in law enforcement.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter (R), Freeholder Vice Chairman Christopher Hudak and Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski (L) and Vernell Wright present a resolution to Eileen Birch of Union congratulating her on being honored at the Union County Commission on the Status of Women’s 21st Annual Women of Excellence Awards dinner. Birch was honored for excellence in government.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter (R), Freeholder Vice Chairman Christopher Hudak and Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski (L) and Vernell Wright present a resolution to Dr. Darlene Gibbon of Westfield congratulating her on being honored at the Union County Commission on the Status of Women’s 21st Annual Women of Excellence Awards dinner. Gibbon was honored for excellence in Medicine.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter (L) and Freeholder Vice Chairman Christopher Hudak present a resolution to Andrea Carbine of Cranford congratulating her on being honored at the Union County Commission on the Status of Women’s 21st Annual Women of Excellence Awards dinner. They are joined by Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich. Carbine was honored for excellence as an entrepreneur.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union).

Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter (L) and Freeholder Vice Chairman Christopher Hudak present a resolution to Larisa DePalma of Westfield congratulating her on being honored at the Union County Commission on the Status of Women’s 21st Annual Women of Excellence Awards dinner. They are joined by Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich. DePalma was honored for excellence in Mental Health Advocacy.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter (L) and Freeholder Vice Chairman Christopher Hudak present a resolution to Christine Ferdinand congratulating her on being honored at the Union County Commission on the Status of Women’s 21st Annual Women of Excellence Awards dinner. They are joined by Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich. Ferdinand was honored for excellence in Community Service.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter (3rd L), Freeholder Vice Chairman Christopher Hudak and Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski (L) and Vernell Wright (2nd L) present a resolution to Robin Ince of Westfield congratulating her on being honored at the Union County Commission on the Status of Women’s 21st Annual Women of Excellence Awards dinner. They are joined by Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich. Ince was honored for excellence in Health Education.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter (L) and Freeholder Vice Chairman Christopher Hudak present a resolution to Ellen McNally congratulating her on being honored at the Union County Commission on the Status of Women’s 21st Annual Women of Excellence Awards dinner. They are joined by Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich. McNally was honored for excellence in Community Health.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter (C), Freeholder Vice Chairman Christopher Hudak and Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski (L) and Vernell Wright (2nd L) present a resolution to Theresa Mullen, Esq. of Scotch Plains congratulating her on being honored at the Union County Commission on the Status of Women’s 21st Annual Women of Excellence Awards dinner. They are joined by Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich and Assemblywoman Linda Stender (3rd L). Mullen was honored for excellence in Law.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

 

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that its next mobile paper-shredding program for personal, confidential documents will be available on Saturday, April 13, at Union County Vo-Tech in Scotch Plains.

“Union County’s mobile document-shredding service helps residents fight identity theft and eliminate clutter in their homes,” said Freeholder Vice Chairman 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 13th shredding event will take place at the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools campus located at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains. 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 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 Friday, April 26, at Cedar Brook Park in Plainfield.

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 .

Union County – The County of Union is proud to be celebrating National Community Development Week from April 2nd through April 4th with a series of events that will highlight the positive effects of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) programs. This year’s Community Development Week theme is “Changing Communities, Changing Lives.”

“The benefits of the CDBG and HOME programs go far beyond just improving the physical appearance of our neighborhoods,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “These programs are the very foundation for strengthening and improving the social and economic conditions of our area as a whole.”

Union County’s CD week celebration will bring officials and community leaders together to tour CDBG and HOME funded projects in Plainfield, Roselle and Elizabeth. This year’s featured projects include:

• A residential property in Plainfield rehabilitated with Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funds

• The Plainfield Senior Citizens Center: 400 East Front Street in Plainfield

• The Union County Occupational Center: 301 Cox Street in Roselle

• The Union County Child Advocacy Center: 240-242 West Jersey Street in Elizabeth

The CDBG program is a flexible grant program that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs; while the HOME Investment Partnership Program is the largest Federal block grant to State and local governments designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income households.

2013 marks the 39th anniversary of the CDBG program and the 22nd anniversary of the HOME program. Both programs have faced significant cuts over the past two years despite their importance to the most vulnerable people and communities across the country. As a result the National Community Development Week campaign is geared towards focusing local and national attention on their impact and accomplishments.

For more information on Union County’s 2013 Community Development Week celebration, contact Sylvia Konicki at 908-527-4229.

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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.

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce an adult program at Trailside Nature & Science Center, “The Nature of New Jersey,” on Thursday, April 11 from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. The fee for this program is $10 for Union County residents and $12 for out-of-county visitors.

“This is indeed a ‘natural’ opportunity to learn about New Jersey’s diverse and fascinating wildlife,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “The state’s flora and fauna are featured in a magnificent journey through the seasons across the Garden State.”

Former New Jersey Audubon Society naturalist Pete Bacinski will take you on a photographic guided tour of the intriguing world of our native wildlife. This program is a naturalist’s answer to New Jersey’s critics, designed to highlight and acknowledge the state’s notable natural and scenic treasures.

Pre-registration is preferred for this lecture, but walk-ins will be accommodated as space permits.

For additional information about “The Nature of New Jersey” and other adult programs or upcoming events at Trailside, call 908-789-3670 or visit www.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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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 .

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders through the Department of Parks and Community Renewal is pleased to announce the availability of an exercise program at Runnells Specialized Hospital in Berkeley Heights for people who have had strokes or those who have other physical limitations.

“These special classes address general fitness needs,” said Freeholder Angel G. Estrada, liaison to the Union County Advisory Board on the Disabled. “This light exercise program focuses on strength and range of motion, body awareness, overall health and exercises that can be performed in a participant’s home.”

Classes are accessible to those in wheelchairs and the program contains activities that can be adapted to everyone. The exercise program meets twice each week; individuals have the option to attend one or both days. The schedule of classes is every Tuesday and Thursday from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. from April 9 through November 7.

Pre-registration is required, along with a current doctor’s prescription and release. There is a one-time enrollment fee of $20 per person for the modified exercise program.

Runnells Specialized Hospital is located at 40 Watchung Way in Berkeley Heights, and it is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. For further information, please contact the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal, Programs for the Disabled, at 908-527-4806 or email:mheisey@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 .

 

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the first in a series of five County-sponsored public meetings in support of Together North Jersey, a voluntary initiative aimed at improving quality of life while fostering sustainable economic growth in the region.

The first meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 28 at Kean University. Space is limited and pre-registration is required by emailing Union County at TNJIntern@ucnj.org.

“These public meetings are aimed at gathering insights from Union County residents who have the life experiences, the ideas and the aspirations that form the basis of a strong community,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “I encourage anyone with an interest in sustainable development to participate.”

Together North Jersey is a voluntary partnership of public agencies and non-profit institutions working to develop a regional plan for sustainable development encompassing Union County and the surrounding area.

The effort is part of a national sustainable planning initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In New Jersey, these funds are administered by the North Jersey Sustainable Communities Consortium and the Rutgers University Bloustein School.

The goal is to help cities, suburbs and rural areas improve the quality of life and sustain economic growth while avoiding the pollution, public health and congestion issues that can attend unplanned development.

In Union County, the initiative will cover key areas including transportation, affordable housing, economic competitiveness, coordinated policies and investment, and the value of communities and neighborhoods.

“Union County is fortunate to have the building blocks for sustainable development at hand, including our transportation network, educational and cultural institutions, preserved open space and walkable communities,” said Carter. “Now the goal is to put those pieces together for the benefit of future generations.”

After the March 28 meeting, the four remaining meetings are:

• Providing More Transportation Choices, May 7 in Cranford.

• Promoting Equitable, Affordable Housing, May 29 in Westfield.

• Supporting Communities and Neighborhoods, June 26 in Cranford.

• Coordinating Policies and Leveraging Investment, date and location to be determined.

Additional information about Together North Jersey is available online at togethernorthjersey.com.

For more information about the Union County meetings schedule, email TNJIntern@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.

 

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Spring is here again and Union County invites you to get back into nature by visiting the Watchung Stable in Mountainside and taking a guided trail ride through the wooded Watchung Reservation – Union County’s largest park.

“Horseback riding is a real treat,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “Taking a guided trail ride through the Watchung Reservation with the woods in bloom is an affordable way to spend some quality time in the country and still be close to home.”

This season’s expanded schedule of trail rides will begin on Saturday, April 6. Everyone nine years of age or older, with or without riding experience, can participate in one of four public rides held each weekend, on Saturdays at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. and on Sundays at 2:00 and 3:00 p.m., weather permitting.

Each public trail ride follows bridle trails through part of the 2,000-acre Watchung Reservation in Mountainside. Public trail rides are on a first-come, first-served basis, and people are encouraged to arrive early.

Private guided trail rides are also offered for individuals and groups of up to 15 people. A call to Watchung Stable to set up a mutually convenient time on a weekday or weekend is all it takes to get you, your family or your group out into the forested Watchung Reservation on horseback.

The cost to take a trail ride is $32 per person for Union County residents and $45 for out-of-county riders. An additional $32 instructor fee (one per 10 people) is added to the cost of private trail rides.

Young riders under the age of nine can ride a lead-line horse on Sundays from 9:00 to 10:45 a.m.  Lead lines are also held during the week – if the weather permits – on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost for a half-hour lead-line horse is $18 for Union County residents and $26 for out-of-county riders.

The trail rides and lead-lines rides are held at Watchung Stable, located at 1160 Summit Lane in Mountainside. Office hours are 9:00 a.m. to noon, and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. daily.

To schedule your private trail ride, or for additional information, call 908-789-3665 during normal office hours or email questions to stablequestions@ucnj.org.  Watchung Stable also offers private and semi-private English Riding lessons, birthday parties, Scout Horse Badge and non-riding group programs for all ages. Watchung Stable is a facility of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

 

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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 Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter (2nd L) and Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski present a resolution to Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich and members of the Sheriff’s K-9 Search and Rescue Unit in honor of K9 Veterans Day that recognizes all working dogs in the military and law enforcement. The Sheriff’s officers are (from center to right) Sgt. Brian Howarth, Officer Ryan Wilson, Officer Timothy O’Grady and Sgt. John Gillespie. They are joined by retired Sheriff’s K9 Bingo.

The Kong dog toy company donated toys to rK9 Bingo. KollerCraft Products donated three training toys to each of the 10 active Union County Sheriff’s K9 teams.

More toys from the companies were donated to The Seeing Eye in Morristown to help train service dogs in honor of K9 Git who was killed in the line of duty in September 2001.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ — Union County Freeholder Alexander Mirabella (Middle) is presented with the 2013 Public Service Award by Robert Davies of Davies Insurance Management (Left) and John Rosellini of Overlook Medical Center and President of the Suburban Chamber of Commerce   (Right).  Freeholder Mirabella received the award for his Freeholder Initiative as Chairman in 2012, Union County Means Business. This initiative grew from a series of business networking events to include an online information hub and newsletter, a new workforce partnership with Union County College, and a special small business loan program through the Union County Economic Development Corporation.

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