County of Union
The band Train performs September 11 at Union County MusicFest 2010 at Oak Ridge Park in Clark. MusicFest is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, supported by corporate and community partners. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
The band OK GO performs September 11 at Union County MusicFest 2010 at Oak Ridge Park in Clark. MusicFest is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, supported by corporate and community partners. A record-breaking crowd of 80,000 attended the event. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
Union County, NJ — Nominations are now being accepted for the 19th annual Women of Excellence awards program, sponsored by the Union County Commission on the Status of Women and the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
“The Women of Excellence Award honors the many different contributions of women from all walks of life,” said Freeholder Chairman Daniel P. Sullivan. “When you hear these personal stories of achievement, you gain a deeper understanding of the people who shape our Union County communities and influence our lives.”
The Commission is looking for outstanding nominees who live or work in Union County and have distinguished themselves in one or more of the following categories: Arts and Humanities; Business/Entrepreneurial; Community Service; Education; Government; Law; Law Enforcement; Medicine/Health Care; Women’s Advocacy.
The Women of Excellence who are selected from the pool of nominees will be honored at a celebratory dinner to be held at The Westwood in Garwood on Friday, March 25, 2011.
To obtain a Women of Excellence Award Nomination Form, call Madeline Brigantino at (908)527-4144 or visit www.ucnj.org to download the form. The completed form should be mailed to Jane O’Hara, 708 Newark Avenue, Westfield, NJ 07090.
Nominations must be postmarked by December 1, 2010.
Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi was sworn in as 2nd Vice President of the International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials and Treasurers recently in Chicago following her election at the group’s annual convention.
ELIZABETH, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi recently was elected Second Vice President of the International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials and Treasurers (IACREOT) at the group’s annual conference. The 40-year-old organization is a professional association of government officials representing local, state, provincial, national and international jurisdictions in elections, land recording, county clerks, treasurers and finance offices.
“I am honored to be elected to serve in such a prestigious organization by my peers,” Ms. Rajoppi said. “The 1,500 members of IACREOT represent the best of professionalism and openness in government.”
Ms. Rajoppi has been a member of the Board of Directors of IACREOT for five years. Previously, she served as the Delegation Director for New Jersey, as the Director for the County Clerks, and as Secretary of the organization. She also serves on the Policies, Procedures and Guidelines Committee, the Clerks Committee and the Budget Committee.
“The Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey is very proud of Ms. Rajoppi’s election to 2nd Vice President of IACREOT,” said COANJ President Mary Melfi, who also serves as Hunterdon County Clerk. “Her involvement with IACREOT continues to be a benefit for all Clerks in the state. Her ability to share knowledge of recording and election issues on a national level has helped us to protect and better serve our constituents throughout the state.”
“IACREOT provides a critical forum,” Ms. Rajoppi added, “for the open and free exchange of information, which in my office has resulted in improved standards and procedures for serving the public. I look forward to serving IACREOT with commitment and dedication.”
Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders has just introduced The Union County Wellness Discount Program. This new discount program enables all Union County residents to receive a savings of 10 percent to 50 percent or more on prescription drugs. The program was designed to assist Union County residents who have no health insurance plan, and to assist residents who have health plans that provide little or no prescription drug coverage.
The discount can range up to 75% or even more on certain medications. The average savings is approximately 30%. Discounts are also available on hearing aids, dental care, pet medications, diabetes supplies, and eye care.
“In these tough economic times, we felt it was important to ensure that all Union County residents have more opportunities to save money on health care,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Daniel P. Sullivan. “As soon as we heard about this program, we knew it was right for Union County.”
The Union County Wellness Program is a discount program, not a form of health insurance. No fees, enrollment forms, or claim forms are needed to participate. Union County residents can simply download free membership cards by following the instructions on the Union County website at www.ucnj.org/wellnessdiscount.
“Access to health care should be simple and affordable for all, so the Wellness Program is definitely a step in the right direction,” said Freeholder Vice Chairman Deborah P. Scanlon. “I’d like to encourage all Union County residents to get their free Union County Wellness Program card.”
Union County provides a full range of services and referrals for persons in need of assistance, including seniors and those with disabilities. Persons with foreclosure issues can receive free guidance and referrals from the County’s non-profit partner organization, the Home Ownership Preservation Foundation, toll free at 888-995-4673.
When the discount card is presented to a participating pharmacy, the cardholder receives the best discount available based on average wholesale prices, in-store promotions, or any other available discount. Major pharmacies in Union County are participating, along with thousands throughout New Jersey and the U.S.
Each participant needs to have their own card, but one person can download cards for family members, friends, co-workers, and organizations. Employers can download cards for their employees, and health care professionals can download cards for their patients.
There are no age limits, income limits, waiting periods, or other restrictions. The program also includes pre-existing conditions, and persons with other plans including Medicare Part D or high deductible plans can still participate.
Persons without Internet access can request a card by mail by leaving a phone message with their name and address or phone number at The Union County Wellness Program, 908-527-4750. Persons with questions about the program may also leave their phone number in order to receive a call back.
The free Wellness Program discount cards are also being distributed this week at the Public Information Van at the Union County MusicFest in Oak Ridge Park, Clark. For all MusicFest information, visit www.ucmusicfest.com.
The Union County Wellness Program is modeled on a program initiated in New Jersey by Bergen County. Participating pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies make the program possible by supporting the discounted pricing.
SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that its mobile paper-shredding program for personal documents will be available for Union County residents on Saturday, Sept. 25, in Scotch Plains.
“Union County’s mobile document-shredding service helps residents eliminate clutter in their homes and also fight identity theft,” said Freeholder Chairman Daniel Sullivan. “It is a cost-effective way to assist our recycling efforts and it ties in with our other Go Green Initiatives.”
The Sept. 25 shredding event will take place on the campus of the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools, located at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains. NEXCUT Shredding of Teaneck will be shredding documents at the site from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., rain or shine. The shredding event will end before 1:00 p.m. if the shredding truck reaches capacity.
All Union County residents are eligible to use the personal document paper-shredding service. In an effort to accommodate all participants, there is a limit of four 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 document-shredding event will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 5, in Warinanco Park, on the border of Roselle and Elizabeth, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The mobile shredding program is paid for through funds from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Solid Waste Services Tax Grant. Shredding may be cancelled in the event of extreme bad weather. Please call the Recycling Hotline for more information about future events, directions, or event day cancellation at 908-654-9889 or visit us online at www.ucnj.org/recycle.
UNION, NJ – Do limited resources challenge your nonprofit organization? Is lack of money or supplies ever a problem when implementing a project? “Getting to the Source,” a funders panel for nonprofits, offers the chance to learn about various types of funding opportunities.
Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Community Renewal, the panel discussion takes place on Wednesday, Sept. 29, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., at the Elizabethtown Gas Company, located at l085 Morris Avenue, Union NJ.
“This program will give nonprofits a window into the grantmaker’s point of view,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Union County Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board. “We’re looking forward to a lively and informative session. Our diverse panel will shed light on how to navigate in the current funding climate.”
The panel will include William Engel, president of the Hyde & Watson Foundation; Mary Rizzo, associate director of the New Jersey Council for the Humanities; Kendall Warsaw, executive director of the Provident Bank Foundation; and John Cooper, chairman of the Summit Area Public Foundation. Nina Stack, president of the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers, a nonprofit organization that acts as a liaison between New Jersey’s public and private sectors to promote effective philanthropy, will be the moderator.
Panelists will explain the kinds of projects their organizations support, as well as how and when to approach them for support. They will clarify what they require from potential grantees and what they are able to provide in return. The panel’s presentations will be followed by a question and answer session. Networking opportunities will be provided at both the beginning and end of the workshop.
This event is funded in part by a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and the New Jersey Historical Commission, a Division of Cultural Affairs in the Department of State.
Registration and a $10 fee are required by Sept. 24. To request a brochure or to register, or to learn about other programs, services and volunteer opportunities, please contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202; telephone 908-558-2550; email: culturalinfo@ucnj.org. Relay users dial 711.
Union County, NJ – The Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County is offering a free nutrition class called “Berries and You: Perfect Together.” The program includes berry tastings along with helpful information on the benefits of berries, and easy tips for adding more berries to your daily diet.
“Berries and You” will be held on Wednesday, September 29, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at the new Union County building, 300 North Avenue East in Westfield. The class is free but pre-registration is required by contacting Digna Torres at 908-654-9854, or dtorres@ucnj.org.
The class will be conducted by Dr. Karen Ensle, a Rutgers University family and community health expert. Dr. Ensle is head of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, which is supported in part by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
Berries are well known as an excellent source of vitamin C, potassium, and fiber, and they provide a satisfying alternative to unhealthy snacks. Researchers are also looking into other potential health benefits of berries, such as helping to lower the risk of heart disease and cancer.
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Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperative Extension educational programs are offered to all without regard to race, relition, color, age, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.
Union County, NJ – Union County is using the social networking site Facebook to support a new anti-violence program for young adults called Green Dot. Green Dot teaches high school students how to intervene safely when they see bullying, harassment, stalking, or other behavior that could lead to violence. The Facebook page is GreenDot UnionCounty.
Green Dot is run through the Union County Rape Crisis Center. A pilot test of the program was conducted at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School last spring in partnership with the Union County Coalition to Prevent Sexual Violence.
“Green Dot helps students create a positive atmosphere in which people with harmful intentions learn that their peers will not tolerate bullying and intimidation,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Daniel P. Sullivan. “The Facebook page will help participants in Green Dot connect with each other and build a strong, active community.”
Union County Green Dot is based on the national Green Dot program, which was originally designed to help prevent sexual violence on college campuses. The Rape Crisis Center plans to develop additional Green Dot activities in Scotch Plains and Fanwood this year, before bringing the program to other communities in Union County.
The Union County Rape Crisis Center has been assisting victims of sexual assault since 1984. The heart of the service is a corps of trained Volunteer Advocates. The Advocates provide guidance and support by phone, by meeting personally with victims, and by accompanying victims when dealing with police, legal, and medical issues. Bilingual help is also available.
For more information on Green Dot, or to learn how to become a Volunteer Advocate, call the Rape Crisis Center Hotline at 908-233-7273.
More information about the Rape Crisis Center is also available at www.unioncountyrapecrisiscenter.blogspot.com.
Elizabeth, NJ – County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi warns home owners in the County of Union and owners of commercial property in the county to beware of people who offer to sell them a certified copy of the deed to their property. Some of these companies are targeting non-English-speaking homeowners.
“Various municipalities in Union County have alerted me that their residents have been contacted by a company that offers to sell the property owner a copy of their deed,” said County Clerk Rajoppi. “These offers are not necessary. Don’t be fooled. Normally, you or your attorney already have a copy of your deed.”
“It is advisable to have a copy of your deed stored safely with your other important documents,” continued Clerk Rajoppi. “But if you misplace or lose your deed, you can readily obtain a certified copy from my Office usually for less than $20. Scam artists are charging $79.50 or more for the same deed. The price for a certified deed is mandated by the state and is a per-page charge.”
In 2007, Ms. Rajoppi filed a formal complaint with the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General, citing the solicitation of homeowners to purchase a deed at an exorbitant, excessive cost. Consumers who receive solicitations to buy a deed are invited to contact the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs at 973-504-6200 or 800-242-5846 to file a complaint.
If you can’t find your deed, go directly to the County Clerk’s Office where you can easily obtain a certified copy of your deed for the nominal, state-mandated fee: $8 for the first page and $2 for subsequent pages. There is no need to go through a middle-man who charges an exorbitant fee for this service.
Property owners are advised to be wary of people purporting to sell “actual” deeds. Only the County Clerk’s Office has the real deed to your property. The County Clerk is responsible for recording, filing and preserving all property transactions occurring within the county. She maintains copies of all documents since 1857 on file in the Record Room, which is open to the public for reference and study.
To find out more about obtaining a copy of your deed, call the Office of the Union County Clerk at (908) 527-4787, or visit the website: www.ucnj.org. The Union County Clerk’s Office is located in the Union County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, New Jersey 07207.