Author: corinnefiretto

The Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to invite residents to the annual Spring Garden Fair & Plant Sale, hosted by the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County on Sunday, May 18, 2025, from 12:00pm to 4:00pm in the Demonstration Garden at Trailside Nature and Science Center, located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside.

“The Spring Garden Fair & Plant Sale is always one of the highlights on our calendar as the weather warms up. It brings together the community, celebrates the hard work of our Master Gardener volunteers, and offers residents a chance to bring home something beautiful or edible for their gardens,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “This event supports horticultural education and programs throughout Union County, and we’re proud to see it grow year after year.”

This rain-or-shine event kicks off with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 12:00pm. Attendees will be able to shop a diverse selection of native plants, vegetables, herbs, annuals, perennials, and more. In addition to the plant sale, the event will feature Rutgers Soil Test Kits available for purchase, free Rutgers Fact Sheets with gardening and lawn care tips, and expert advice at the Garden Helpline Plant and Insect Problem Clinic. Visitors can also explore the Square Foot Gardening display, learn about local mosquito control efforts from the Union County Bureau of Mosquito Control, and enjoy educational activities for kids hosted by the 4-H Master Tree Stewards.

Admission is free, and cash-only sales will be available onsite. Attendees are encouraged to bring a small wagon to help transport their purchases. While service animals are welcome, please note that pets are not permitted at the event. Parking is free and available at both Trailside and the Scout Camping Area within the Watchung Reservation.

“We’re excited to once again welcome visitors to the garden, and extremely grateful for the continued partnership with Rutgers Cooperative Extension,” said Union County Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski, Liaison to the Rutgers Cooperative Extension. “Thanks to the dedication of our Master Gardener volunteers, this event continues to bloom year after year.”

The Spring Garden Fair & Plant Sale is organized by the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County, a volunteer organization supported by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension and the Board of County Commissioners. Proceeds help fund horticultural programs, educational outreach, and community services across Union County. For more details, visit https://www.mastergardeners-uc.org.

Union County, in partnership with the Patriots’ Path Council of Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America), hosted the second annual Operation WRIP (Watchung Reservation Invasive Plant removal) service project on Saturday, April 5, in the Watchung Reservation.

“Operation WRIP is a perfect example of what can be accomplished when community, youth, and local government come together for a shared purpose,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “We are proud to support programs that protect our environment, engage young leaders, and strengthen the bond between our residents and our County parks.”

Participation surged this year with 261 volunteers—nearly double last year’s turnout—including Scouts and their families, Trail Stewards, members of the Beta Pi Phi sorority, WRIP Team members, County staff, and representatives from the Scout Council.

The project targeted invasive multiflora rosa and Japanese barberry shrubs—thorny, fast-growing plants that crowd out native species and can even harbor ticks that spread Lyme disease. By mid-spring, these are among the only green plants in the Reservation, making them easier to identify and remove.

“We were thrilled to see such a tremendous turnout from so many different communities,” said Daniel J. Bernier, Director of the Union County Division of Park Environmental Services. “Events like Operation WRIP show the power of collaboration in protecting our environment while providing young people with a meaningful way to give back.”

Volunteers gathered at 8:30 a.m. at the Trailside amphitheater for a safety and work briefing, before carpooling to 15 designated sites throughout the park. Despite brief rain, the majority of volunteers stayed through noon, successfully eliminating an estimated 2,400 invasive shrubs.

The event drew participation from 26 Scout troops and Cub Scout packs representing Union, Somerset, Middlesex, Morris, and Hudson Counties. In addition to environmental benefits, Scouts earned service hours and strengthened leadership skills. Four troops extended their stay with a weekend campout in the park’s Scout Camping Area.

For more information about future volunteer opportunities in Union County parks, visit ucnj.org/parks.

Union County Surrogate Christopher Hudak is proud to announce the Surrogate’s Court will begin to offer monthly wedding ceremony services for Union County residents.

Beginning June 2025, couples may schedule, at no charge, a wedding ceremony officiated by Surrogate Christopher Hudak. Ceremonies will be conducted at the Warinanco Sports Center in Warinanco Park, Roselle.

“The Surrogate’s Court is proud to expand its role in creating forever families in Union County,” said Surrogate Hudak. “My office is proud to focus on the most meaningful moments in our resident’s lives and are looking forward to being part of the joy that comes along with the celebration of marriage.”

Ceremonies will be scheduled monthly on a first-come, first-serve basis, with intention to increase dates and hours as demand grows. At this time reservations are limited to Union County residents and participants are required to obtain all licensing paperwork from the municipal registrar’s office prior to the scheduled event.

Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon highlighted Surrogate Hudak’s plan to offer wedding ceremony services as part of her 2025 initiatives, themed, Union County 2025: Connecting Communities, Committed to Progress. “Union County is proud to support Surrogate Hudak’s expansion of services in offering wedding ceremonies to our residents,” said Chairwoman Lourdes Leon. “In addition to the importance of offering this vital service, I can think of no better location than Warinanco Park. The park will serve as a picturesque background all while showcasing the amenities the park has to offer.”

This development reflects the Surrogate’s dedication to modernize and increase accessibility to Surrogate Court services for all Union County residents.

For more information or to schedule your ceremony with the court, please contact the Union County Surrogate’s Court at 908-527-4280, email marryme@ucnj.org or visit ucnj.org/surrogate for more information. 

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announces that vote by mail ballots for the upcoming Primary Election will begin mailing tomorrow, April 17, on a rolling, town-by-town basis in alphabetical order.

Ballots are being sent to all voters on the permanent vote by mail list over the course of the week. The mailing process is anticipated to be completed on or about April 25.

Voters are advised to look out for an oversized bright yellow envelope, which contains their Official Primary Election Ballot. The yellow envelope is designed to help ensure voters can easily identify and locate their ballot when it arrives.

To apply for a vote by mail ballot, go to www.unioncountyvotes.com and click on “How to Vote by Mail,” request an application, fill it out, and mail it to the County Clerk’s office.

For additional information, including a list of candidates and important election updates, please visit www.unioncountyvotes.com.

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi will hold two free informational webinars for residents interested in running for school board on Thursday, May 22nd and May 29th via Zoom. The non-partisan presentation will focus on the petition process for candidates, including new signature requirements, affidavit, notary, and oath requirements as well as qualifications for candidates.

“Some school board candidates have indicated they would like more guidance about the petition process,” said Clerk Rajoppi. “Incomplete or incorrect petitions cannot be accepted. If signatures are not done correctly, for example, petitions can be challenged and ultimately candidates can forfeit the opportunity to run. The goal is to make sure the process works by providing interested candidates the necessary information to run.”

A daytime webinar will be held on Thursday, May 22nd at 2:00 p.m., and an evening webinar will be held on Thursday, May 29th at 6:30 p.m., providing access to those who cannot attend in the afternoon hours.

http://www.ucnj.org/school-board-webinars/Pre-registration is required. To register, please visit ucnj.org/school-board-webinars/.

The Clerk added that new candidates as well as those running for re-election are welcome to attend the free webinar.

Petitions for school board candidates must be delivered to the County Clerk’s office no later than 4:00 p.m. on Monday, July 28th. Petitions may also be filed during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Elections Division of the Union County Clerk’s Office, Room 113, Union County Courthouse, Elizabeth, NJ.

For questions or more information on the webinars, visit ucnj.org/county-clerk  or call 908-527-4787.

In honor of Arbor Day, the Union County Board of County Commissioners, in collaboration with the Union County Shade Tree Advisory Board, is proud to announce the winners of this year’s Arbor Day Poetry Contest. Each year, the contest invites students in grades 4 through 8 to reflect on the beauty and importance of trees through the art of poetry, while encouraging environmental responsibility.

“Awarding our young poets is one of the highlights of the year,” said Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes Leon, who also serves as the Commissioner Board Liaison to the Union County Shade Tree Advisory Board. “This contest is more than just a celebration of poetry—it’s a celebration of how our youth connect with the environment and express their hopes for a greener future. As Chairwoman and liaison to the Shade Tree Advisory Board, I’m deeply moved by the creativity and heart that these students put into their words. Their poems remind us all of the quiet strength of trees and the essential role they play in our lives and in the health of our planet.”

A special awards ceremony to honor the first, second, and third place winners in each grade level will take place on Wednesday, April 17^th at 6:00 p.m. during the scheduled meeting of the Union County Board of County Commissioners.

This year’s winners are as follows:

4th Grade
1st Place – Lovely Trees by Nathaly Sinchi (Jerome Dunn Academy #9, Elizabeth)
2nd Place – My Tree Is So Special to Me by Elijah Rivers (Mountain Park Elementary School, Berkeley Heights)
3rd Place – An Arbor of Trees by Jonathan E. Wehye (Hurden Looker Elementary School, Hillside)

5th Grade
1st Place – Arbor Day Green Trees by Caleb Hughes (School 4, Linden)
2nd Place – Providers of Life by Anna Cuevas (Grover Cleveland School, Rahway)
3rd Place – The Grand Tree by Emma Brzeziniski (Hehnly School, Clark)

6th Grade
1st Place – The Charming Sequoia by Lya Darius (St. John the Apostle, Clark)
2nd Place – The Heart of the Forest by Emily Kiefner (Columbia Middle School, Berkeley Heights)
3rd Place – Trees by Alice Fisher (Terrill Middle School, Scotch Plains)

7th Grade
1st Place – Beyond the Branches by Shaila Jimenez (School 27, Elizabeth)
2nd Place – Priceless by Ellen Barnhurst (Columbia Middle School, Berkeley Heights)
3rd Place – Lost by Julia Ruiz (Columbia Middle School, Berkeley Heights)

8th Grade
1st Place – More Than Just a Tree by Enzo Rigonato Silva (Lincoln School, Garwood)
2nd Place – I’ll Always Remember by Jada Santos (Deerfield School, Mountainside)
3rd Place – We Owe It to the Trees by Saheila Morgan (Terrill Middle School, Scotch Plains)

Arbor Day, observed on the last Friday in April, originated in Nebraska in 1872 and has since grown into a nationwide movement to encourage tree planting and environmental awareness. This year, Arbor Day falls on Friday, April 25^th, reminding us all of the importance of preserving green spaces and planting for the future.

For questions about the Arbor Day Poetry Contest, please contact Zoraida Mosquera at Zoraida.Mosquera@ucnj.org. To learn more about Union County’s environmental programs and initiatives, visit The Green Connection at www.ucnj.org/green-connection.