Author: corinnefiretto

The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites residents and visitors to explore the people, places and stories that shaped our communities during Four Centuries in a Weekend on Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18, 2026.

This popular annual tradition brings history to life at sites throughout Union County through guided tours, reenactments, exhibits, demonstrations and family activities. In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, this year’s programs offer special opportunities to discover local connections to the American Revolution and the generations who helped shape our nation.

“Four Centuries in a Weekend gives residents a chance to step inside a historic home, hear a story they may never have known and see their community in a new way,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Joseph C. Bodek. “As we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, we invite families to spend the weekend discovering the history right here in Union County.”

At the Deserted Village of Feltville in Berkeley Heights, visitors can take guided or self-guided tours, ride a hay wagon, press apple cider, roast marshmallows and meet figures from the Village’s past, including Revolutionary War soldier John Willcocks.

New to the event this year, the UCNJ Union College of Union County NJ (UCNJ) Historic Tree Grove in Cranford connects science and history through trees grown from seeds or cuttings of trees associated with significant people and events in American history. Located near the Sperry Observatory on UCNJ’s Cranford campus, the grove offers a living connection to the past during the nation’s 250th anniversary.

In Westfield, the Atlas Pythagoras Lodge #10 will host a presentation of a 26-foot oil-on-canvas mural depicting the Battle of Spanktown in Rahway. Painted by artist Lloyd Garrison in 1988, the work portrays American militia and Continental forces facing British troops during a 12-hour engagement in 1777, part of the American Revolution’s “Forage War.”

The Drake House Museum in Plainfield will display the rarely shown Tree of Life quilt, reportedly made by the daughter of Declaration of Independence signer John Hart.

The Frazee House in Scotch Plains will host The March to Yorktown on Sunday, featuring portrayals of Generals George Washington and Rochambeau, along with music by the New Jersey Fife & Drums Corps.

At Springfield’s Cannon Ball House, visitors can add their names to a replica Declaration of Independence, which will be preserved as a keepsake of the nation’s Semiquincentennial.

The Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway will offer a Sunday presentation on American history, a student reading of the Declaration of Independence and guided tours of its historic theater.

Twin Maples in Summit will present a Sunday lecture exploring the important roles women played during the American Revolution.

All participating sites will offer a free Union County History Passport, which visitors can have stamped at each stop. Several locations within the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area will also offer a special stamp for the Passport to Your National Parks book.

Visitors can also collect Union County History Trading Cards featuring notable people, places and events. With more than 80 cards to collect, the series offers another way for families to discover local history as they travel from site to site.

Participating Sites

• Berkeley Heights: Deserted Village of Feltville/Glenside Park; Littell-Lord Farmstead.
• Clark: Dr. William Robinson Plantation Museum.
• Cranford: Crane-Phillips House; Union College of Union County NJ (UCNJ) Historic Tree Grove; William Miller Sperry Observatory.
• Elizabeth: Belcher-Ogden Mansion and Bonnell Homestead; Siloam-Hope First Presbyterian Church and Snyder Academy; Boxwood Hall State Historic Site; Elizabeth Public Library.
• Fanwood: Historic Fanwood Train Station Museum.
• Hillside: Woodruff House, Eaton Store Museum and Phil Rizzuto All Sports Exhibit; Evergreen Cemetery.
• Kenilworth: Oswald J. Nitschke House.
• Mountainside: Deacon Andrew Hetfield House.
• New Providence: Salt Box Museum, plus special Saturday archive and graveyard programs.
• Plainfield: Drake House Museum; Plainfield Friends Quaker Meeting House.
• Rahway: African American History and Heritage Learning Center; Merchants and Drovers Tavern Museum; Union County Performing Arts Center.
• Roselle: Abraham Clark House.
• Scotch Plains: Frazee House; Osborn Cannonball House Museum; Shady Rest Country Club.
• Springfield: Cannon Ball House.
• Summit: Carter House; Reeves-Reed Arboretum; Twin Maples.
• Union: Caldwell Parsonage; Donald M. Payne Vauxhall Meeting Center; Connecticut Farms Church; Liberty Hall Museum.
• Westfield: Burial Grounds of the Presbyterian Church; Miller-Cory House Museum; Reeve History and Cultural Resource Center; Battle of Spanktown mural presentation at Atlas Pythagoras Lodge #10.

“Four Centuries is a tradition that residents look forward to every year, and our historic sites continue to give them new reasons to return,” said Union County Commissioner Vice Chair Rebecca L. Williams, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board. “This year’s anniversary celebrations have brought so many opportunities to explore our past. This weekend builds on that excitement, with programs that share familiar stories alongside the contributions of people whose place in history deserves greater attention.”

Hours vary by location, and some sites are open on Saturday or Sunday only. Visitors should review the complete event schedule before planning their route.

This event is funded in part through a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the New Jersey Department of State. The program is organized by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs.

For more information about Four Centuries in a Weekend, contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 908-436-2912 or email jprescott@ucnj.org.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners is reminding residents that the final Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) event of the 2026 season will be held on Sunday, October 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Union County Vocational-Technical School, West Hall/ Police Academy Lot, located at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains. Residents are encouraged to bring a variety of household chemicals for proper recycling or disposal that include, but are not limited to, oil-based finishes, motor oil, gasoline, propane tanks, pool chemicals, pesticides and more. For a complete list of acceptable items, please visit ucnj.org/recycling/household-special-waste/ or call the Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9890.

“We have only a few weeks left until our final household hazardous waste event; this is a great opportunity for residents to gather any unwanted household materials and potentially hazardous chemicals for safe disposal,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Joseph C. Bodek. “By participating in our recycling programs, you are making our community safer for our families, pets, and wildlife; I encourage you to take advantage of this free program before the season comes to a close.”

Subsequent events to the October 2026 HHW Event will kick off in the spring of 2027.  Residents who have household chemicals in need of disposal and cannot make the October 2026 HHW event have the following options:

1. Middlesex County is having one additional HHW event on Sunday, November 15, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  The event will be held at Middlesex College, located at  2600 Woodbridge Avenue in Edison. Please use the Mill Road entrance (Parking Lot #2).  To attend this event, please contact Bureau Chief Stuart Newman at the Union County Bureau of Recycling and Planning at 908-654-9892 or email stuart.newman@ucnj.org to make arrangements.

2. The Morris County Utilities Authority (MCUA) operates a permanent HHW facility that is open year-round.  This facility accepts non-Morris County residents for the proper disposal of HHW. The facility is located at 168 Gold Mine Road in Flanders, NJ.  They accept vehicles by appointment only.  Morris County charges a fee of $2.00 per pound for disposal of material for non-Morris County residents. To schedule an appointment online, visit https://mcmua.com/sw_hhw_pfac.asp.  

3. Safely store your household hazardous waste items until Union County’s HHW events resume in the Spring of 2027. Please look for the 2027 dates on Union County’s Bureau of Recycling and Planning page in the coming weeks by visiting ucnj.org/recycling.  For further information on the proper home storage of household chemicals or HHW, you can consult the USEPA’s website (https://www.epa.gov/hw/household-hazardous-waste-hhw).

At the October 25^th event, the Union County Police Department (UCPD) Bomb Squad will be onsite at the Union County VoTech for the collection of unwanted ammunition only!  At this event, the UCPD will not be taking fireworks.  If you do have unwanted fireworks, it is recommended that you store them in a dry place in your home.  Arrangements are being made to accommodate firework disposal in the near future.  If you have any questions regarding disposal or management of household hazardous waste, please contact the Bureau of Recycling and Planning at 908-654-9890 or contact the Bureau Chief by email at stuart.newman@ucnj.org.

Union County Deputy Clerk Clara Fernández announces that vote-by-mail ballots are now available for the November 3, 2026 General Election.

Union County voters may obtain a vote-by-mail ballot in person at either Union County Clerk’s Office location:

Westfield

• 300 North Avenue East
• Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Tuesday and Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Elizabeth

• 2 Broad Street, Room 113
• Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Both offices will also be open Saturday, October 31, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for voters who need to obtain or return vote-by-mail ballots. Ballots have already been mailed to voters who previously requested them.

Voters can review sample ballots and election information through the Union County Votes website and the County’s free mobile app. Reviewing election materials in advance can help voters become familiar with their ballot and plan ahead.

“Voting provides an important opportunity for Union County residents to participate in our democracy and make their voices heard,” said Deputy Clerk Fernández. “We encourage eligible voters to become informed, prepare ahead of time, and participate in the election.”

Voters are reminded that U.S. Postal Service postmarks reflect when mail is processed, rather than when it is dropped off. Ballots mailed close to Election Day could therefore receive a later postmark.

New Jersey law requires vote-by-mail ballots to be postmarked on or before Election Day to be counted. Voters are encouraged to mail ballots early or use a secure County drop box.

For a complete list of secure ballot drop-box locations, visit the Union County Board of Elections Ballot Drop Box page.

For additional information about vote-by-mail ballots, drop-off options, sample ballots, and polling locations, visit Union County Elections, call 908-527-4996, or email ucvote@ucnj.org.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites arts organizations and other New Jersey nonprofits to a free Cultural Accessibility Training Workshop on Wednesday, October 21, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. The virtual workshop will be hosted by the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs.

John McEwen, Executive Director of the New Jersey Theater Alliance, and Kat Lily, the Alliance’s Access Coordinator, will lead the session. A member of the Cultural Access Network Committee will also join them. Topics will include ADA policies, program accessibility, inclusive language and ways to communicate available access services to the public.

“Everyone should have the opportunity to take part in the arts and cultural life of our communities,” said Union County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Joseph C. Bodek. “This workshop gives organizations practical tools to welcome more people to their programs and make accessibility part of their planning from the start.”

Participants will receive resources from the Cultural Access Network, a program of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the New Jersey Theater Alliance that helps cultural organizations make their programs and facilities more accessible to seniors and people with disabilities.

Organizations that receive Union County Local Arts Program, History Grant or HEART (History, Education, Arts Reaching Thousands) funding are encouraged to attend. Other New Jersey nonprofits are welcome.

Registration is free at https://ucnj.org/cultural-access-training/.

The workshop is made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information, contact the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, part of the Department of Parks and Recreation, at culturalinfo@ucnj.org or 908-558-2550.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners is proud to announce that 13 Union County artists have earned awards in the 60th annual New Jersey Senior Citizen Art Show, including Cranford resident Janet DeMaio, whose drawing, “MLK, Jr.,” received Best of Show honors in the non-professional division.

The statewide exhibition features nearly 300 original works by professional and non-professional artists ages 60 and older from throughout New Jersey. Each work earned first place in its respective county art show before advancing to the state exhibition. Twenty Union County artists are represented in this year’s show.

“Congratulations to all of our Union County artists whose work earned a place in this statewide exhibition, and to the 13 artists recognized with awards,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Joseph C. Bodek. “Their work reflects the talent, imagination and dedication of our older residents. We are proud to provide opportunities for them to share their creativity with the community, and we encourage residents to visit the exhibit and celebrate their accomplishments.”

In addition to her Best of Show distinction, DeMaio received first place in the non-professional Works on Paper category. The full list of Union County award recipients is:

• Janet DeMaio, Cranford: Best of Show, Non-Professional; First Place, Works on Paper, Non-Professional.
• Gesine Ehlers, Westfield: First Place, Mixed Media, Professional.
• Toru Ishiyama, Cranford: First Place, Mixed Media, Non-Professional.
• Igor Zbrizher, Cranford: First Place, Printmaking, Non-Professional.
• Veronica Dunscombe, New Providence: Second Place, Sculpture, Professional.
• William Gardner, Winfield: Second Place, Digital Art, Non-Professional.
• Kathryn Keller, Springfield: Third Place, Craft, Professional.
• Bruce Tangowski, Elizabeth: Third Place, Watercolor, Non-Professional.
• Chas Bernstein, Mountainside: Honorable Mention, Craft, Non-Professional.
• Gregory Celikyol, Cranford: Honorable Mention, Photography, Non-Professional.
• Robert Cleary, Fanwood: Honorable Mention, Photography, Professional.
• Rich Coccia, Cranford: Honorable Mention, Oil Painting, Non-Professional.
• Marie Gerus, Rahway: Honorable Mention, Acrylics, Non-Professional.

The public is invited to view the New Jersey Senior Citizen Art Show through November 4 in the main building of Meadow Lakes Senior Living, located at 300 Meadow Lakes in East Windsor. Visiting hours are Monday through Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Groups of six or more should call Meadow Lakes in advance at 609-448-4100.

The exhibition is co-sponsored by Mercer County’s Division of Culture and Heritage and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners and the City of Rahway invite residents with disabilities and special needs, along with their families and friends, to the 2026 Family Spooktacular Night Celebration on Friday, October 16, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Rahway Recreation Center, 275 East Milton Avenue in Rahway.

“Spooktacular Night gives residents and their families a chance to enjoy Halloween together, whether they come for the dancing, the costumes or the haunted house,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Joseph C. Bodek. “We’re glad to partner with Rahway again to make this a fun evening for everyone attending.”

The free event, for ages 10 and up, will feature games, dancing, a DJ, stilt walkers, a photo booth and a haunted house. Guests are encouraged to come in costume for a chance to win prizes in the annual costume contest. Light refreshments will be provided.

“We are excited to continue this meaningful partnership with the Union County Office for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs and bring the Family Spooktacular Night celebration back to Rahway,” said Mayor Raymond A. Giacobbe. “Creating welcoming and accessible events is an important part of building a strong, connected community. We are proud to provide an opportunity for individuals of all abilities and their families to celebrate Halloween together in a fun, supportive, and inclusive environment.”

Admission is free, but registration is required. To register, visit www.ucnj.org/opdsn-reg or call 908-527-4781.

Family Spooktacular Night is hosted by the Union County Office for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs, under the Division of Individual and Family Support Services in the Department of Human Services, in partnership with the City of Rahway.

For more information about the event or other programs offered by the office, visit www.ucnj.org/dhs/opdsn or call 908-527-4781.