Author: corinnefiretto

The Union County Board of County Commissioners announced today that the County will provide temporary financial assistance to households currently enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) who are affected by the interruption of November SNAP benefits caused by the ongoing federal government shutdown.

“We will not allow Union County families to go without food due to circumstances outside their control,” said Commissioner Chair Lourdes M. Leon. “SNAP is a lifeline for thousands of households in our community. While we cannot change what is happening at the federal level, we can ensure that our residents are supported, respected, and protected during this interruption. Taking care of our community is what we do.”

This emergency action is being taken to ensure that families, seniors, and individuals who rely on SNAP are not left without access to basic food support while federal funding remains unavailable.

“This support is a bridge — not a full solution — and we want to be clear about that,” said Senate President Nicholas Scutari. “But when people are unsure how they will afford their next groceries, waiting is not an option. I will be working with state leadership to coordinate broader planning should the shutdown continue. In the meantime, we have to act where we can, and Union County has stepped up responsibly and without hesitation, showing what government should do in a moment of need: protect our residents, act decisively, and ensure no one is left without support. And as we move through this together, I encourage all of us to look out for one another — families, seniors, neighbors, and friends. No one in Union County should have to face hardship alone.”

Distribution events are being finalized and are expected to take place Monday through Friday next week. Once details are confirmed, the County will notify SNAP households directly and will post full information at ucnj.org and on the County’s official communication channels. This temporary assistance is for current SNAP recipients affected by the shutdown and does not replace benefits once federal funding resumes.

“Union County is able to step in at this critical moment because we have managed our finances responsibly and with foresight,” said County Manager Edward T. Oatman. “Where the federal government has not acted, we are prepared to support our residents. We are moving quickly and in a coordinated way to ensure this assistance is distributed safely, efficiently, and with dignity.”

Residents currently enrolled in SNAP are encouraged to continue checking their EBT card balance at NJFamiliesFirst.com or by calling 1-800-997-3333, and are required to continue submitting all documents so that benefits can resume immediately once federal funding is restored.

Official updates will be posted at ucnj.org as additional details become available.

The Union County Clerk’s Office has announced the opening of its two offices on Saturday, November 1, for any Union County residents who wish to pick up a vote-by-mail (VBM) ballot ahead of the 2025 General Election.

Residents may pick up a mail-in ballot, fill it out in a privacy booth, and deposit it in a locked box at either of the following locations from 9:00 a.m. through 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 1st:

• Elizabeth – Union County Courthouse, Room 113 – 2 Broad Street
• Westfield – Union County Colleen Fraser Building – 300 North Avenue East

Those intending to cast their vote via a mail-in ballot have the option to place it in any of the 24 secure drop boxes located throughout Union County, or they can personally deliver it to the Union County Board of Elections at 271 North Broad Street in Elizabeth, or the Union County Clerk’s Office at 2 Broad Street, Room 113 in Elizabeth, and 300 North Avenue East in Westfield.

To submit a ballot in person, voters are required to show a valid ID or driver’s license issued in the state of New Jersey. To check to ensure your ballot has been received by the Union County Board of Elections, go to the Track My Ballot link on the www.njelections.org website.

Voters who choose to vote in person on Election Day, November 4th, must use their designated polling place, which is located on their sample ballot.

For a complete list of drop box locations and an online polling place finder, visit the County Clerk website at unioncountyvotes.com.

For more information about the County Clerk’s election services, contact the Elections Division at 908-527-4996 or ucvote@ucnj.org.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to announce the return of Union County’s Model Train Show and Open House this holiday season. For three consecutive weekends, from Friday, November 28th to Sunday, December 14th, this family-friendly event welcomes visitors and train lovers of all ages to explore the captivating world of model railroads, learn about local train history, and appreciate the craftsmanship firsthand through engaging tours and demonstrations. The event will be held at the A. Paul Mallory Railroad Center, located at 295 Jefferson Avenue in Union.

“Our annual model train show is a holiday favorite in Union County; once you attend, you’ll understand why. It’s an opportunity for adults and children alike to take a break from their screens, reconnect, and enjoy what Union County has to offer,” said Union County Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “The Commissioner Board and I are thrilled to continue supporting the Model Railroad Club, who organize the show, for creating this unique and engaging experience that residents look forward to each year. We can’t wait to see everyone there!”

This year’s show showcases the magic of model railroading, where special trains traverse across an expansive 11,000 square foot layout. Families can tour the trains and layout up close, getting an insider’s peek at the ongoing expansion. See how hand-laid tracks and scenery are meticulously crafted, and learn about the planning and engineering efforts that go into the club’s bi-level corkscrew loop. The 2025 show will also feature over 200 model train cars on a 1,600 square foot layout to tell the story of NJ railroads in the 1950s.

In addition to the HO-scale trains featured on the show, visitors can enjoy G-scale and N-scale layouts, a small play area for kids, a snack shop filled with delicious treats for purchase, and a railroad-themed gift shop to take home memorabilia from their experience. Jenny returns to share her story of growing up along the Trenton Northern railroad in a scripted show, “Jenny’s Coming Home”, running at the bottom of every hour.

The 2025 Model Train Show and Open House’s opening weekend will run from Friday, November 28, through Sunday, November 30, followed by a second weekend on Saturday, December 6, and Sunday, December 7. The event will conclude with a final weekend on Saturday, December 13, and Sunday, December 14. Visitors are welcome to attend the event from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day.

Tickets are $10 per adult, $5 per child, and $8 per senior aged 60 and older. Children ages 2 and under are free. All tickets to the 2025 Model Train Show and Open House will be sold at the door. For more information, please call 908-964-9724 or visit themodelrailroadclub.org.

The Model Railroad Club, Inc. is a tax-exempt public charity affiliated with the Union County Department of Parks & Recreation. All proceeds support the operations of The Model Railroad Club, Inc., one of the largest railroad clubs in New Jersey. The Club has approximately 170 volunteer members who help to fulfill the mission of the club to educate the general public about the railroads and the industries they served in the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania areas. For more information about The Model Railroad Club and its activities, please visit themodelrailroadclub.org.

For more information about all programs and activities hosted by the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation, please visit ucnj.org/parks.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners is proud to present an exhibit highlighting the artwork created during the County’s inaugural Plein Air event last month at the Deserted Village. The exhibit is currently on view at the Commissioners Gallery, located on the 6th floor of the Union County Administration Building, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, with gallery hours from 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday.

“This exhibit showcases the incredible talent of our local artists while celebrating one of our county’s most historic sites,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “We are proud to support programs that bring people together through creativity and cultural expression.”

Plein Air, French for “outdoors”, is a term used to refer to artwork created outdoors capturing the natural light and elements directly from the scene. The event, hosted on September 27, was the first of its kind in Union County. Over 20 artists from throughout Union County and surrounding counties attended, painting a variety of scenes from the Deserted Village in Berkeley Heights.

The exhibit will be on display through November 21. Due to the success and popularity of the September 2025 event, the event will take place once again in September 2026.

“We were delighted to see the turnout at the Plein Air event in September. Deserted Village is a perfect place to paint outdoors, and the artists produced many beautiful and accomplished works,” said Union County Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Advisory Board.

The Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, part of the Department of Parks and Recreation, coordinated the Plein Air program, as well as the exhibits displayed at the Commissioners Gallery. For further information about this and other programs and services related to the arts and history in Union County, contact the Office at 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202; telephone (908) 558-2550; or e-mail: culturalinfo@ucnj.org. NJ relay users dial 711.

Union County Board of Elections Administrator Nicole DiRado advises Union County residents that eleven locations have been selected for those wishing to cast their vote early, in-person for the 2025 General Election. Any registered, Union County voter can use any of these sites to vote in-person, by machine from Saturday, October 25 through Sunday, November 2, 2025.

“New Jersey has expanded voters’ rights by introducing early voting in 2021,” said Ms. DiRado. “We encourage voters to use early voting, or a vote by mail ballot, to cast their vote ahead of Election Day.  Making a plan to cast your vote is important and there are now more options in New Jersey than ever before.”

• Berkeley Heights: Berkeley Heights Municipal Building, 29 Park Avenue
• Cranford: Union College of Union County, 1033 Springfield Avenue, Nomahegan Building, Room N4
• Elizabeth: Sampson Center, 800 Anna Street
• New Providence: DeCorso Center, 15 E. Fourth St.
• Plainfield: Union College of Union County, Church Street between 2nd and 3rd Aves.
• Rahway: Rahway Recreation Center, 275 E. Milton Avenue
• Roselle: Amalfe Center, 1268 Shaffer Avenue
• Union Twp: Union Township Senior Center, 652 Rahway Ave.
• Union Twp: Kean University, 1000 Morris Avenue, North Avenue Academic Building (corner of Morris & North Avenues)
• Union Township: Payne Community Meeting Center, 333 Russell Street, Vauxhall
• Westfield: Westfield Memorial Pool, 713 Cumberland Street.

All of these early voting locations will be open during the following hours:

• Saturday, October 25, 10am – 8pm
• Sunday, October 26, 10am – 6pm
• Monday, October 27, 10am – 8pm
• Tuesday, October 28, 10am – 8pm
• Wednesday, October 29, 10am – 8pm
• Thursday, October 30, 10am – 8pm
• Friday, October 31,10am – 8pm
• Saturday, November 1, 2024, 10am – 8pm
• Sunday, November 2, 10am – 6pm

Upon arriving at an early voting location, voters will sign in on an electronic poll book.  The electronic poll book will print a bar code on the ballot card so the voting machine knows which ballot to activate.  The ballot card will be inserted into the voting machine which begins the process for the voter.

Please note that these locations are for in-person, machine voting only. Mail-in ballots cannot be submitted at these locations.

Voters who plan to use a mail-in ballot can deposit it in any of the twenty-four (24) Board of Elections’ secure drop boxes in Union County, return it to the Board of Elections by U.S. Postal Service, or hand-deliver it to the Board of Elections office in Elizabeth by November 4, 2025 at 8pm.

Voters who choose to vote in person on Election Day, November 4, must use their designated polling place.

For more information, including a list of drop box locations and an online polling place finder, visit the Board of Elections online at ucnj.org/ucboe, email ucboe@ucnj.org, or call 908-527-4123.