Month: September 2016

The Union County 4-H Youth Development Program is looking for a volunteer to lead the 4-H Lego Robotics Club for this upcoming club season.

The volunteer should have experience building and programming Lego NXT Robots. They will help a group of eight 5^th and 6^th graders build and program their own robots throughout the year.

Club meetings are at the Colleen Fraser Building, 300 North Ave. East in Westfield once a month from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. from October to June. Teaching ideas and materials will be provided and the volunteer will work under the supervision of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Program of Union County.

For more information about this volunteer position contact 4-H Agent James Nichnadowicz at nichnadowicz@njaes.rutgers.edu or call him at 908-654-9854. Information about Union County 4-H Clubs can be found at ucnj.org/rce.

Tickets are now on sale for the Hayrides and Campfires event presented by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Department of Parks & Recreation. Tickets will be sold at three locations throughout the county and must be purchased in advance, there will be no tickets sold on site. Tickets include the hayride, entertainment, and hot chocolate and marshmallows to toast over a campfire.

The Hayrides and Campfires will begin on Friday, September 16^th at Warinanco Park in the Boathouse Area at 6:30 pm.

“The hayrides and campfire events are always among the most popular events in our parks, so those interested in participating should get their tickets early and plan for a fun filled evening to begin the fall,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.

Hayrides and Campfires will also take place at Trailside Nature & Science Center in Mountainside on Friday, October 7 and Friday, October 14, beginning at 6:30 pm, and on Sunday, October 2 at Trailside Nature & Science Center beginning at 3:30 pm.

Tickets are priced at $6.00 for Union County Resident, $12.00 for Non-Residents. Group sales are limited to 15 tickets.

Tickets will be on sale at the following locations and times:

• The Colleen Fraser Building, 300 North Avenue East in Westfield, Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm; Thursday from 8:30 am to 7:00 pm; Friday from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.
• Elizabeth Office, Union County Administration Building, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.
• Trailside Nature & Science Center, 452 New Providence Road, Mountainside from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Sunday through Saturday.

For further information you can call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4900; or Trailside Nature and Science Center at 908-789-3670; or visit the Union County website at www.ucnj.org.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites all County residents and visitors to gather with veterans and their families at the plaza in front of the Union County Courthouse on Friday, September 16 at 11:00 a.m., and join in the annual POW/MIA Remembrance Day ceremony to honor prisoners of war and those missing in action. 

“The sacrifices of our military, and their families and loved ones, resonate through the generations,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “With this ceremony, we honor those who are absent, and we reaffirm our support for a full accounting of all POW/MIA.

The County Courthouse is located at 2 Broad Street in midtown Elizabeth, with convenient access to train and bus service. Ample public parking is available.

In case of rain, the ceremony will be moved inside to Courthouse Rotunda.

For more information about POW/MIA Remembrance Day in Union County, or to confirm your attendance, call the Freeholder offices at 908-527-4100.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County, NJ – Communications are often disrupted when a major storm hits, but Union County residents can help stay in touch with family members and friends by taking a few simple steps to prepare.

“This weekend we expect to see the after-effects of Tropical Storm Hermine, and it’s a timely reminder that our area has experienced some devastating storms in the past several years,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “It’s never too early to plan ahead, so you can stay informed and in touch in case of an emergency.”

Creating an emergency communication plan in advance allows families to collect important information like phone numbers, addresses, and medical information.

Bergen recommended getting started by using the easy-to-follow forms available for free download at the federal emergency planning website ready.gov.

“The free forms make it easy to keep track of the information you gather, and to ensure that you have covered all the bases,” said Bergen. “That includes making sure that you are signed up for emergency alerts and warnings.”

Union County residents automatically receive emergency alerts through land phones. Residents who use cell phones and tablets can also receive alerts by text message or email by signing up for UC First Alert.

September 4 marks the beginning of “Preparing Family and Friends,” the second week of National Preparedness Month.

National Preparedness Month is designed to encourage residents to prepare for a natural disaster or other emergency. Each week has a different theme with steps to follow.

“Preparing Family and Friends” week describes how to set up a communication plan before a natural disaster or other emergency hits. Families should discuss a plan about how the they will get emergency alerts and warnings, how to get in contact with each other should phone towers and the Internet go down, and where to meet before and after the emergency.

Families can also establish a safe place to go to if their home is not accessible. Meeting at a neighbor’s house, a family friend’s home, or a library are a few options that can be discussed.

Pets should be taken into consideration when discussing a meeting location because not all places may accept them. Everyone in the household should have a copy of the same information to prevent any confusion.

For more information about National Preparedness Month and the Ready campaign, visit ready.gov/september.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to present Family Fun Day on Saturday, September 24 to celebrate the opening of Union County’s first inclusive public playground. Family Fun Day will begin at 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., with an official opening ceremony and ribbon cutting at 1:00 p.m, at Mattano Park in Union County, NJ.

“The Freeholder Board is committed to providing children of all abilities and their families access to recreational opportunities,” said Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados, who is also the Freeholder liaison to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. “The new inclusive playground at Mattano Park, the first of its kind in a public park in Union County, will allow children to play and learn side by side with friends and family.”

Presented by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders in partnership with Elizabeth Port Parent Support Group, and sponsored by PepsiCo, the free event will include a BBQ, Family Field Day, and other kids’ activities.

Family Fun Day will also feature interactive workshops with the Eastwyck Saints football team as well as Elizabeth Youth Soccer, giving parents and children the opportunity to learn more about these sports activities.

Fun for all ages and abilities, the new inclusive playground at Mattano Park, located in Elizabeth, features a variety of accessible play equipment including a Merry-Go-All, Roller Slide, Roller Table, Swing Seats, and more.

For more information about the new inclusive playground at Mattano Park or the Family Fun Day event, contact the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4900 or visit ucnj.org.