Author: corinnefiretto

Union County Board of Elections Administrator Nicole DiRado advises Union County residents that five locations have been selected for those wishing to cast their vote early, in-person for the 10^th Congressional District Special General Election. Any registered Union County voter can use any of these sites to vote in-person, by machine from Sunday, September 8, 2024 through Monday, September 16, 2024.

The 10^th Congressional District includes Cranford, Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, parts of Linden including Ward 1, Ward 3 (Districts 1 & 4), Ward 4, Ward 5, Ward 8, Ward 9, Ward 10, Roselle, Roselle Park and Union.

“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.”

• Cranford: Union College, 1033 Springfield Avenue, Nomahegan Building, Room N4, Near the Guard Booth – Parking in Lot 1
• Kenilworth: Kenilworth Recreation Center, 565 Boulevard
• Roselle: Amalfe Community Center, 1268 Shaffer Avenue
  Roselle Park: Cassano Community Center, 314 Chestnut Street
• Union Township: Union Township Senior Center, 652 Rahway Avenue

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

• Monday through Saturday: 10am – 8pm
• Sunday: 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 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 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 September 18, 2024 at 8pm.

Voters who choose to vote in person on Election Day, September 18, 2024, 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.

The Union County Board of Elections announces that the voter registration deadline for the September 17, 2024 10^th Congressional District Special Primary Election is Wednesday, August 28.

The state is hosting a Special Election in the 10^th Congressional District to fill the vacancy created by the untimely passing of Congressman Donald Payne. 

The 10^th Congressional District includes Cranford, Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, parts of Linden including Ward 1, Ward 3 (Districts 1 & 4), Ward 4, Ward 5, Ward 8, Ward 9, Ward 10, Roselle, Roselle Park and Union.

“There are multiple options for residents to register to vote in time for the upcoming election,” said Union County Board of Elections Administrator, Nicole DiRado. “Those eligible to vote can apply online, by mail or in person in order to register.”

The Union County Board of Elections office is open Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to accept Voter Registration Forms. On the August 28, 2024 voter registration deadline, the Board of Elections Office will remain open until 9:00 p.m. to receive forms.

Municipal Clerk offices can also provide and accept voter registration forms.

Voter registration forms in both English and Spanish can also be downloaded from the Union County Board of Elections website at ucnj.org/boe/voter-registration-information. Be sure to print and sign the form before returning.

To register online, eligible residents should visit: voter.svrs.nj.gov/register and follow the Online Voter Registration instructions. Your County Commissioner of Registration will notify you if your application is accepted. If it is not accepted, you will be notified on how to complete and/or correct the application.

You can register to vote if:

• You are a United States citizen
• You will be 18 years old by the next election
• You will be a resident of the State and county for 30 days before the election
• You are NOT currently serving a sentence because of a felony conviction
• As of March 17, 2020, persons currently on parole or probation are entitled to vote.
•  

To receive a voter registration form by mail, call the Board of Elections at 908-527-4123.

Union County Board of Elections Administrator Nicole DiRado informs voters that the polling place list and drop box locations for the Scotch Plains – Fanwood Special School Election are available on the UCBOE website at www.ucnj.org/ucboe.

The Scotch Plains – Fanwood Special School Election will be held on September 17, 2024 from 2pm – 8pm.  The polling locations being used in the Special School Election are the same locations as a typical Primary and General Election.

The secure ballot drop boxes are and will remain open through the close of the polls on September 17, 2024 at 8:00pm. Drop boxes are under camera surveillance 24/7, available to voters 24/7 and ADA accessible. 

The following locations are available for the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Special School Election:

• Cranford Community Center
• Union College of Union County – Cranford Campus
• Elizabeth: Union County Board of Elections
• Fanwood Historic Train Station
• Garwood Public Library
• Hillside Senior Center
• Kenilworth Recreation Building
• Linden: Raymond Wood Bauer Promenade
• Roselle Borough Hall Annex
• Roselle Park – Union County Emergency Services Building
• Scotch Plains Public Library; and Fraser Building
• Union Township Municipal Building
• Union Township: Kean University
• Westfield – Fraser Building

For a complete list of polling locations and ballot drop boxes in Union County, please visit the Board of Elections website online at ucnj.org/boe.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to announce that applications for the 2025 Union County History Re-Grant Program for Special Projects and General Operating Support are available on Thursday, August 8^th. All eligible non-profit organizations in Union County are invited to apply.  

“The History Re-Grant program was designed to support the preservation of Union County’s rich historical legacy, which continues to thrive in our museums, local libraries, and various historical organizations today,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded. “I encourage all eligible organizations to seize this opportunity and apply.”

Applicant organizations must be based in Union County, and the programming covered by the grant must take place in Union County during 2025. Applications must be submitted online to the Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, a division of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation. To begin the application process and to create an account, request the link to the application portal by emailing John Prescott, History Programs Coordinator, at jprescott@ucnj.org.

The application deadline is Friday, September 20, 2024, at 11:45 p.m. Application materials submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. 

Eligibility requirements, application components, and other pertinent details are outlined in the complete General Operating Support (GOS) and Special Projects (SP) guidelines.

The Re-Grant Program includes two types of grants:

• General Operating Support (GOS) grants provide assistance for the basic costs of operation such as programming, preservation of collections, salaries, marketing, and more. Funding is available to Union County based historical societies, house museums or historic sites only. The maximum GOS grant request is $7,500.

• Special Project (SP) grants support history organizations, museums, schools, libraries and similar organizations with collections or programming relating to Union County and New Jersey state history. The maximum SP grant request is $5,000.

“The organizations we support through this grant provide valuable resources for our residents to creatively and engagingly explore the past, fostering a sense of belonging and appreciation for the diverse culture in the community,” said Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski, Liaison to the Union County Cultural and Heritage Advisory Board.

For additional information on the Re-Grant program and other grant programs administered by the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, visit ucnj.org/parks-recreation/cultural-heritage-affairs/funding-opportunities.

Funding for the History Re-Grant program is provided by the New Jersey Historical Commission. For clarification, assistance, or questions about applying, please contact John Prescott, History Programs Coordinator, at 908-436-2912 or by email at jprescott@ucnj.org

The Union County Board of Elections announces that the voter registration deadline for the September 17, 2024 Scotch Plains-Fanwood Special School Election is Tuesday, August 27, 2024.

“There are multiple options for residents to register to vote in time for the upcoming election,” said Union County Board of Elections Administrator, Nicole DiRado. “Those eligible to vote can apply online, by mail or in person in order to register.”

The Union County Board of Elections office is open Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to accept Voter Registration Forms. On the August 27, 2024 voter registration deadline, the Board of Elections Office will remain open until 9:00 p.m. to receive forms.

Municipal Clerk offices can also provide and accept voter registration forms.

Voter registration forms in both English and Spanish can also be downloaded from the Union County Board of Elections website at ucnj.org/boe/voter-registration-information. Be sure to print and sign the form before returning.

To register online, eligible residents should visit: voter.svrs.nj.gov/register and follow the Online Voter Registration instructions. Your County Commissioner of Registration will notify you if your application is accepted. If it is not accepted, you will be notified on how to complete and/or correct the application.

You can register to vote if:

• You are a United States citizen
• You will be 18 years old by the next election
• You will be a resident of the State and county for 30 days before the election
• You are NOT currently serving a sentence because of a felony conviction
• As of March 17, 2020, persons currently on parole or probation are entitled to vote.

To receive a voter registration form by mail, call the Board of Elections at 908-527-4123.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners is excited to announce the final show of this year’s Summer Arts Concert Series: Taylor Nation, coming to Oak Ridge Park in Clark on Saturday, August 17th, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. This energetic Taylor Swift tribute band will bring the excitement of a live Taylor Swift concert to the park, offering fans of all ages the chance to relive and sing along to the global superstar’s biggest hits.

“We’re excited to offer a day of music that families and young people in our community will really enjoy,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded. “Taylor Nation brings the energy and excitement of a Taylor Swift concert to Oak Ridge Park, and we encourage everyone to join us for a fun and memorable experience together.”

In addition to the incredible music, families can look forward to a variety of activities for kids, including inflatables, craft stations, and delicious food trucks including treats from Cold Stone Creamery and Rita’s Italian Ice. The event will capture the same lively atmosphere as our recent The Little Mermen concert, ensuring a fantastic time for people of all ages.

Taylor Nation, led by the dynamic Melody Ebner, will take concertgoers on a journey through Taylor Swift’s iconic musical eras. Whether you’re a lifelong “Swiftie” or a newcomer, this concert promises an immersive experience that captures the essence of a live Taylor Swift performance. From “Love Story” to “Shake It Off” and beyond, expect a show filled with energy, emotion, and plenty of sing-along moments.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their friends, pack a picnic, and enjoy a day of music, activities, and unforgettable memories. This concert promises to be a memorable experience for all.

As the Summer Arts Concert Series wraps up with this exciting finale, Union County is already looking forward to the next big event: the 2024 Union County Fall Festival. Residents are invited on September 14th from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Oak Ridge Park in Clark for a day packed with live performances from multiple bands, a microbrewery garden, and a diverse array of food trucks. For more information about the Fall Festival, visit ucnj.org/fall24.

For more information and updates on Union County events, visit www.ucnj.org/calendar. For additional details on Union County Department of Parks and Recreation activities and programs, please visit www.ucnj.org/parks, email parksinfo@ucnj.org, or call 908-527-4900.