Month: September 2022

The Union County Board of County Commissioners is proud to announce that 10 Union County artists have been selected as award winners in the 56th annual New Jersey Senior Art Show. The exhibit includes works of art created by both professional and non-professional artists, ages 60 and up, from all 21 counties across the state.

To qualify for the statewide exhibit, artists first have to participate in juried exhibits within their own counties, and receive a first-place award in their media category.

“On behalf of the Commissioner Board, I thank everyone who participated in the Union County Senior Art Show last spring, and congratulate the awardees who are exhibiting in the statewide show. We are all enriched by the creativity and insights of the senior members of our community,” said Union County Commissioner Chair Rebecca L. Williams.

The Union County awardees are:

• Joe Manzella (Cranford) — 1st Place, Digital Art by a Non-Professional artist, for the artwork, “Listen to Your Heart”
• Elizabeth Gillin (Westfield) — 1st Place, Oil Painting by a Non-Professional artist, for the painting, “Amanda Gorman, My Favorite Poet”
• Sam Awad (Summit) 2nd Place, Photography by a Professional artist, for the artwork, “Pit Stop”
• Michelle Thompson (Union) — 3rd Place, Mixed Media by a Non-Professional artist, for the artwork, “Finding Beauty in a World of Chaos”
• Marianne O’Neill (Rahway) — Honorable Mention, Craft by a Non-Professional artist, for the artwork, “Birdhouses & Buttons”
• Lynda Dubois-Jackson (Plainfield) — Honorable Mention, Craft by a Professional artist, for the artwork, “Grandma & Friends”
• Joseph J. Schott (Fanwood) — Honorable Mention, Oil by a Professional artist, for the painting, “Snyder Hunt Club”
• Barbara Uhr (Westfield) — Honorable Mention, Pastel by a Professional artist, for the artwork, “Along the Banks”
• Carol Sussman Skalka (Springfield) — Honorable Mention, Sculpture by a Non-Professional artist, for the artwork, “Caress”
• Kim Eckstrom (Fanwood) — Honorable Mention, Watercolor by a Professional artist, for the painting, “House with Turret”

The 2022 New Jersey Senior Art Show can be viewed online at www.njseniorarts.com/gallery/.

To see the exhibit in person, visit the main building of Meadow Lakes Senior Living, 300 Meadow Lakes, in East Windsor. The public can view the artworks, free of charge, Monday through Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm. Groups of 6 or more should contact Meadow Lakes in advance by calling 609-448-4100. Directions can be found on the Meadow Lakes website at https://meadowlakesonline.org/.

The show is on display at Meadow Lakes through Thursday, October 27.

The New Jersey Senior Art Show is a co-sponsored project of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Mercer County’s Division of Culture & Heritage, funded by the Council on the Arts with additional support from Mercer County and the New Jersey Association of Area Agencies on Aging.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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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.

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Residents will be invited to participate in public meetings on reducing the risk of coastal storm surge flooding.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners encourages members of the public to review a new coastal flooding study covering parts of Union County and the metropolitan New York/New Jersey area, prepared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The new “NY & NJ Harbor & Tributaries Focus Area Feasibility Study” is available online at nan.usace.army.mil.

As part of the flood control planning process, the USACE will hold a series of public meetings later this year.

“We strongly encourage residents, business owners and other stakeholders in Union County to review the study, prepare questions and suggestions, and participate in the public meetings once they are scheduled,” said Union County Commissioner Chair Rebecca L. Williams. “This project will be the largest of its kind ever undertaken by the USACE. We anticipate that it will make a significant difference in our community, and to millions of people in the metro area.”

“The new coastal study complements our ongoing work with the USACE on flood mitigation for inland parts of Union County. These are complex projects and we thank USACE, and state and federal partners, for ensuring that we continue to make progress on these vital infrastructure improvements,” said Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski, who met with staff from USACE and other experts to review the new report earlier this month.

The NY & NJ Harbor Study describes a “Tentatively Selected Plan” to reduce the risk of coastal storm surge by building storm surge barriers at the entrance to Arthur Kill in New Jersey and various waterways in New York, along with natural features and other measures to mitigate flooding from storm surges. Inland communities, such as those along the Passaic River, are among those expected to benefit from these projects.

The Tentatively Selected Plan also provides for minimizing impacts on environmental or cultural resources, while still meeting the goal of reducing flood risk.

The NY & NJ study is part of the USACE’s North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study. Building on lessons learned from Hurricane Sandy, the Comprehensive Study is designed to assess and understand flood risks associated with climate change, and to help at-risk communities better prepare for future flood risks, based on latest scientific information available.

Links for the Comprehensive Study are available at the NY & NJ Harbor Study web page, https://www.nan.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Projects-in-New-York/New-York-New-Jersey-Harbor-Tributaries-Focus-Area-Feasibility-Study/

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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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.

Repurposing of previously closed jail facility has given vital County food program continued capacity for operations

The Union County Board of County Commissioners informs residents that the “Meals on Wheels” program has been operational since the Spring of 2022, using the mostly vacant Union County Jail facility, located in Elizabeth.

Hurricane IDA heavily impacted Union County and the Meals on Wheels facility in Linden was flooded. The County of Union decided the best option was to use the now mostly vacant Union County Jail. The facility had recently been closed in 2021, saving tens of millions in taxpayer dollars.

“Repurposing the County Jail’s kitchen gave Meals on Wheels the tools, space and capacity to meet the needs of the program,” said County Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “It has a full kitchen, big enough to produce, pack and prepare the meals for delivery and is equipped with elevators and lifts as well as a loading area for the vehicles picking up the meals.”

Currently a fleet of 23 vehicles delivers 1200 meals to elder residents in needs. Meals on Wheels is by far the largest program within the Department of Human Services, servicing the most people on a daily basis.

“There is a nutrition element to this, but there is also the critical element of the in-person and face to face delivery which for some people may be their only contact with someone throughout the day,” said Commissioner Sergio Granados, who serves as Liaison to the Human Services Advisory Council. “This ensures that all those benefitting from Meals on Wheels get the nutrition they need.”

“Since moving to the jail facility, this program logistically produces its daily meals at a high rate – and continues to run efficiently and effectively,” said Debbie-Ann Anderson, Director of the Union County Department of Human Services.

If you or a senior you know needs nutritious meals delivered, please contact Meals on Wheels at 908-486-5100.

To contact the Union County Department of Human Services, residents can use the online contact form at ucnj.org/dhs, email the DHS Action Line at DHSaction@ucnj.org, or call 908-527-4847.

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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.

Please be advised, Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying for Adult Mosquitoes tonight, Thursday, September 29, 2022, between the hours of 5:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. (Weather Permitting). Check below and see if your Town is on the list. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our office.

• Linden – Tremley Point Area,
• Rahway – Elston St., Randolph Ave., Leesville Ave. Area
• Scotch Plains – Lincoln Ave., Evelyn Ave., Roosevelt Ave., Trenton Ave.
• Springfield – Brown Ave., Commerce St. Area
• Union – Carlyle Pl. Area, Whitewood Rd. Area, Reinhold Ter. Area

Municipality Parks:

• Union – Sayre Park

Union County business owners and managers who are interested in learning new ways to continue growing during periods of stress are invited to attend a Strategic Resilience Lunch & Learn event hosted by the Union County Commissioner Board on Tuesday, October 4, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Kean University STEM Building at 1075 Morris Avenue in Union Township.

The event will include a panel discussion on adapting to economic emergencies hosted by Commissioner Board Chair Rebecca L. Williams and featuring Kean University’s NJSBDC Regional Director, Rafael Mata.

 “We encourage the members of our local business community to come and learn from the real-life experiences of our panelists, network with their peers, and meet with agencies that can provide guidance and assistance,” said Union County Commissioner Chair Rebecca L. Williams.

Representatives from the Union County Economic Development Corporation, the New Jersey Small Business Development Centers, Union College, the New Jersey Pride Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce will also be on hand.

The panel will consist of:

• Charlotte Diakite (Owner, A3 Contracting)
• Gladys Vonglahn (Owner, Gladys Cleaning Service LLC)
• Lee Frankel (Owner, Crossroads Restaurant, Bar and Music Venue
• Mike Kelly (Owner, Garden State Strength and Fitness)
• Koron Barley (Owner, Headquarters Hair Studio)
• Kevin Castor (Co-Owner, Melao’s Café and Creamery)

Lunch will be provided at the event. Pre-registration is required at ucnj.org/ucmb. Please note that a modest fee of $10.00 per person applies.

Union County’s The Lunch & Learn series is hosted through the Commissioner Board’s Union County Means Business initiative, a program of the Office of Business Development in the Union County Department of Economic Development.

Union County Means Business is supported by many partners including: UCEDC, Suburban Chamber of Commerce, Greater Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Union Township Chamber of Commerce, Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce, Union College, Cranford Area Chamber of Commerce, Kean University, America’s SBDC – New Jersey and New Jersey Pride Chamber of Commerce.

For more information about the Office of Business Development visit ucnj.org/department-of-economic-development or contact the Office Coordinator, Jeff Brooks, at Jeffrey.Brooks@ucnj.org or 908-659-7412.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing, emergency food distribution and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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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.