County of Union, New Jersey

ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present an exhibit of photographic montages by Richard Earl of Westfield in the gallery space at the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, located at 633 Pearl Street in Elizabeth. A selection of his work entitled “A Time of Seeing Dangerously” is on display at the Pearl Street Gallery until January 29, 2013. Gallery hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

“We are pleased to have Mr. Earl’s remarkable digital photo montages on display,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Union County Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board. “The exhibit showcases Mr. Earl’s unique and fascinating work.”

Richard Earl has been a photographer since 1970. His resume includes: work in photo engraving, photo silk screening, portraiture, advertising, event photography, photo restoration, custom printing and fine art photography. He earned a BA from Rutgers University and a Masters in art from Jersey City State College (now the New Jersey University).

Mr. Earl completed a 30-year career as a professional firefighter in the City of Elizabeth. Since his retirement, he is involved with the creation of artwork on a daily basis. He also is an instructor and coordinator of the Fire Science Department at Union County College. His recent exhibitions include: 25th Annual Skylands Regional Juried Art Exhibit; 11th Annual Exhibition of the National Arts Program in Union County (Honorable Mention); the Union County Senior Citizens Art Exhibit (2nd Place, Professional Photography); Annual Juried Photography and Graphics Exhibition for Non Members, Salmagundi Club, NYC; Juried Photography Exhibition, Monmouth Museum, Lincroft; and 32nd Annual Mountain Juried Art Show, Bernardsville.

His published photographs and writings include: Anthology of Friends, Volumes #8 and #10, published by Blurb Inc.; and 21st Century Photography, Vol. 2 Embracing Life, and Vol. 3 The Human Project, edited by Mark Sean Orr. Mr. Earl’s large body of photographic work can be seen at http://community.ovationtv.com by searching the screen name DragonsInk.

Union County artists (whose works can be hung on a wall) interested in exhibiting in the gallery space are welcome to apply. For more information about the Pearl Street Gallery or other programs, please contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl St., Elizabeth, NJ 07202. Telephone 908-558-2550. NJ Relay users can dial 711. E-mail to: culturalinfo@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 .

Pictured are Santa and Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski with a young hockey fan at a pervious “Skate with Santa” outing

ROSELLE, NJ – Santa Claus will visit the ice skating rink at Warinanco Park in Roselle on Saturday, Dec. 15, and Sunday, Dec. 16, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Presented by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal, ice skating with Santa offers families a cool way to enjoy an afternoon out together during the holidays.

“Come skate along on the ice with Santa and warm up later by the fireplace as you listen to your favorite Christmas carols,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “These family-oriented afternoons will offer a mixture of holiday classics, candy canes and an opportunity to take photos with Santa on ice skates.”

Regular admission fees apply: Adults $5.00; youths 17 years and younger $4.00; seniors (62 and older) $4.00. Ice skate rental is available for an additional $3.00.

The Warinanco Ice Skating Center is conveniently located in Warinanco Park, off St. Georges Avenue on the Roselle/Elizabeth border. For further information please visit the Union County website, www.ucnj.org/wisc or call (908) 298-7850.

ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that the 2012 Union County Teen Arts Touring Exhibit is on display at the Freeholders Gallery located in the Union County Administration Building, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth. The art work is on display through January 3 during regular weekday office hours.

The exhibit consists of 60 pieces of art selected from more than 700 visual art works shown at the 2012 Union County Teen Arts Festival held in March at Union County College. The annual event is administered by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Community Renewal.

“The artwork in this exhibit is exceptional. The fact that the artists are teenagers makes the show even more outstanding,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “I encourage everyone to get out and see this fun, lively exhibit on tour throughout Union County.”

For information about the Teen Arts program contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth 07202; telephone (908) 558-2550. NJ Relay service users should call 711, or email: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

2012 TEEN ARTS EXHIBIT – The exhibiting students are:

 

Berkeley Heights
Columbia Middle School
Allison Yang
Governor Livingston HS
Amanda Berlinski
Laura Young

Clark
AL Johnson HS
Samantha Ring
Jimmy Douglas
Mother Seton Regional HS
Catherine Bialkowski

Cranford
Cranford HS
Lya Finston
Emily Schindler
Aaron Black
Cranford Achievement Center
Di-Jon Hodges
Hillside Avenue School
Sabrina Landsman
Orange Avenue School
Mackenzie Moonan
St. Michael School
Kianu Montenegro

Elizabeth

Abraham Lincoln School
Aldaberto Martinez
Charles Hudson School
Jayson Araaujo
Dr. Orlando Edreira School
Christian Heredia
Elizabeth HS – Dwyer House
Leydy Ramirez
Elizabeth HS – Edison House
Andre Acevedo
Elizabeth HS – Hamilton Academy
Alondra Guzman
Elizabeth HS – Jefferson House
Stephanie Rodriguez
Joel Zamora
Elizabeth HS – Lower Academy
Beatriz Carvalho
Elizabeth HS – Upper Academy
Christian Marin
Madison-Monroe School
Lizcary Amarante
Nicholas M. Butler School
Tatiana Herr
Nicholas S. LaCorte School
Zafiro Lopez
St. Mary of the Assumption
Elmi Ventura
T.C. Reilly School
Nelson Rodriguez
William F. Halloran School
Stephanie Liscano
Woodrow Wilson School
Noelia Aqudela

 

Hillside
Hillside HS
Rushana Boswell
Walter O. Krumbiegel MS
Chisom Nwosu

Kenilworth

David Brearley HS
Daniel Lezcano
Eric Soriano

Linden

Linden HS
Jose Ferero
McManus MS
Anthony Munoz
Soehl MS
Deanna Sheehy

Mountainside

Deerfield MS
Rory McQuillan

New Providence

New Providence HS
Coleen Preston
New Providence MS
Kristen Potter

 

Plainfield

Central Jersey Arts School
Corainna Frias
Cook School
Kiantau Darrell
Hubbard MS
Ely Sandoval
Maxon MS
Kevin Jimenez
Plainfield Academy of Arts
Jason Palan
Jasmine Medina

Roselle

Abraham Clark HS
Bryan Williams
Giavanni Shim

Grace Wilday Jr. HS
Bryce Moore

Scotch Plains

Union County Vo-Tech HS
Antonio Bejarano
Gabrielle McCavey

Springfield

FM Gaudineer MS
Ahmed Zaky
Jonathan Dayton HS
Rachel Zolotarsky
Tanya Vernik
Danielle DiFiore

 

Summit
Oratory Preparatory School
Alex McDonald

Union

Union HS
Steven Trujillo
Kevanique Bennett

Westfield

Edison Intermediate School
Hailey Reilly
Lamberts Mill Academy
Liz Marie Soto

Winfield

Winfield School
Lindsey Caverly

 

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 — A volunteer group of students from Kean University removed 47 bags of trash from Mattano Park in Elizabeth in a single cleanup visit last month. Of the total, 35 were filled with bottles and cans to be recycled. The group has returned to the park three more times since then. The extra debris washed in during Megastorm Sandy when the Elizabeth River overflowed its banks. The group was organized through the Kean Office of Student Leadership and the Union County Adopt-A-Park Program. For information on participating in Adopt-A-Park contact Betty Ann Kelly, 908-789-3683 or bkelly@ucnj.org. (Photo: Betty Ann Kelly)

 

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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.

This year’s Christmas tree arrives at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. The tree, donated by Rocco Rosania of Kenilworth, will be on display in the Courthouse Rotunda during the holiday season. The public is invited to view the tree on weekdays until it is removed just before New Year’s Day.  (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

Union County Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella (L), Vice Chairman Linda Carter and Freeholder Christopher Hudak attended the Union County Tree and Menorah Lighting Celebration during the 29th annual Holiday Nature Craft Show at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – A team of assessors from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) is scheduled to perform an on-site assessment of the Union County Police Department on Thursday, December 13, 2012. The process includes an examination of the Department’s policies, procedures, management, operations and support services, as well as public comments by phone or mail.

Accreditation from NJSACOP signifies that a police department has voluntarily achieved 112 goals recognized by expert law enforcement professionals.

The assessment team includes law enforcement practitioners who will review written materials, conduct interviews, and visit offices and other locations where compliance with the standards can be observed.

After assessment is complete, the team will report to the full Commission, which will then decide if the Police Department is granted accredited status.

As part of the on-site assessment, Police Department employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments by calling 908-368-7882 on Friday, December 14, 2012 between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

Telephone comments are limited to five minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with the NJSACOP standards.

Alternatively, written comments regarding the Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may be submitted to the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, at One Greentree Centre, Suite 201 Marlton, NJ 08053.

A copy of the standards is available at the Union County Police Department located at 300 North Ave East, in Westfield.  For more information call Lt. Dean Falzarano at (908) 789-6832.

Accreditation is valid for a three-year period during which time the agency must submit annual reports attesting to their continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.

The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police through its New Jersey Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission is the accreditation agency in the state of New Jersey. For more information regarding the Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission write the Commission at New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission at One Greentree Centre, Suite 201, Marlton, N.J. 08053

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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 Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that the County has been awarded nearly $1 million as part of a National Emergency Grant, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) and the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development, that will hire unemployed Union County residents to assist with Hurricane Sandy clean-up and recovery efforts.

“The Freeholder Board is happy to not only be able to provide an additional layer of aid to some of our hardest hit communities; but we are even more pleased that in the wake of Sandy’s devastating blow, we can find a way to progressively move forward by creating jobs for those members of our community that need them most,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

The grant award, which is the equivalent of 58 positions, is part of a larger $15.6 million award that was given to the State by the USDOL to give temporary jobs to unemployed residents through local government agencies that need to restore public lands and infrastructure.

In addition to work directly related to post-Sandy clean up, these jobs may also include working on projects that provide food, clothing, shelter and other humanitarian assistance for disaster victims.

The duration of employment is limited to 6 months or 1,040 hours, and a maximum wage of $12,000 per worker, excluding fringe benefits, can be earned.

“The County Workforce Investment Board is working closely with municipalities and non-profit agencies in identifying how and where we can deploy workers,” said Mirabella. “We are hopeful that through these grant dollars we can put hundreds of residents to work.”

Applicants eligible for employment through National Emergency Grant funding are:

• Workers who have been temporarily or permanently dislocated as a result of the disaster;
• Eligible dislocated workers who are unemployed and not receiving unemployment compensation (UI) or other types of income support (such as WorkFirst NJ)
• Individuals who are long-term unemployed

Union County will be implementing the grant through the One-Stop Career Center, which will assist in determining individuals who are eligible, and deploying them to fill the specified temporary jobs.

For additional information, or to find out if you qualify for temporary employment under the requirements of the N.J. Department of Labor, contact the Elizabeth One-Stop Career Center at 908-558-8005, or the Plainfield One-Stop Career Center at 908-757-9090.

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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.

Every holiday season for 15 years, Union County Sheriff’s Officers have set up their “Tree of Hope” in the courthouse seeking donations of toys and clothing for needy children throughout the county. Each year the response has been overwhelming.

The “Tree of Hope” was first planted in 1997 when officers approached Sheriff Ralph Froehlich and related troubling stories of children who were going to experience a less than happy holiday season. The children the officers encountered were homeless or living in shelters, were victims of domestic violence or medically fragile.  Their parents or guardians did not have the financial ability to provide holiday gifts.

Every year since the Sheriff and the “Tree of Hope” committee have erected a tree in the Union County Courthouse featuring paper ornaments. Volunteers make the ornaments and write a particular gift on each one.

“These caring officers do a tremendous job in helping these children,” Sheriff Froehlich said. “Even during tough economic and personal times, it is important not to forget those kids who are less fortunate.

Monetary donations to help provide additional gifts are also being sought.

Contributions of money (tax-deductible), toys and clothing can be sent to: Union County Sheriff’s Officers Tree of Hope, Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, N.J., 07207. For more information, call the “Tree of Hope” hotline at 908-629-2158.

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A keen-eyed Union County Sheriff’s Officer’s observation while walking to his car after work resulted in the arrest of three Texas men wanted for assaulting a police officer a week earlier.

On November 20, an off-duty Elizabeth Police officer was violently attacked and disarmed during a dispute in Roselle. The suspects fled the scene.

Six days later, while walking down Rahway Avenue in Elizabeth after finishing his regular shift, Sheriff’s Officer George Gyure spotted a red pickup and trailer parked near three men working on a billboard.

The vehicle matched the description in the “be on the lookout” alert from the Roselle Police Department. A man on the billboard also fit the description of one of the suspects.

Officer Gyure called Captain Roxann Banek informing her of the situation. Sheriff’s Officers James Miller and Kevin Sargent responded as back up.

The Sheriff’s Officers detained the three men until officers from the Elizabeth and Roselle Police Departments arrived and confirmed that these were the suspects and vehicle they were looking for.

Robert Garcia, Joshua Curington and Ricardo Alcala Cervantes, all of Texas, were transported to Roselle Police Headquarters.

“This a good job by a very alert officer with great street experience,” said Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich.

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