Author: Web Site Administrator

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Commissioners, in conjunction with the Department of Human Services’ Office on Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse and Department of Economic Developments’ Office on Women, invites residents to join an interactive online discussion of self-care and resiliency, through a women’s perspective.

“This program will provide women in Union County with a safe learning place to explore methods for coping with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to connect with useful resources and services available to them,” said Commissioner Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

The program, titled “Self-Care & Resiliency: Through a Woman’s Perspective,” is being held on Zoom on Tuesday, April 13, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

It will be hosted by Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski and presented by Wendy Chin, MSW, DRCC, Emergency Response Coordinator, Disaster and Terrorism Branch, NJDHS Mental Health & Addiction Services.

The focus will be on providing an understanding of the psychological impact of challenges faced during this time. The program includes offering useful coping and self-care skills to practice.

Additionally, the event will provide participants with an opportunity to engage with each other, the presenter and local health and human service providers.

Links to resources and services to help will be provided. Attendees should be prepared to ask questions.

To pre-register and receive the Zoom link, visit http://bit.ly/selfcarewhm.

For more information on Self-Care & Resiliency: Through a Woman’s Perspective contact, Jennifer Erdos, Union County Office on Women at jerdos@ucnj.org.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University, the Mobile Test Unit walk-up sites, vaccination information, 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.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, all programs will be conducted outdoors in small groups, with masks and social distance.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Commissioners invites residents to enjoy nature programs hosted by the Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside for a fun season of outdoor spring activities.

“Now that spring has officially arrived, Trailside’s programs provide visitors of all ages the perfect opportunity to spend time outdoors while exploring our natural heritage in the scenic Watchung Reservation,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

Pre-registration is required for all programs and can be completed online at ucnj.org/trailside (use the “Online Registration” link in the left-hand column).

Masks are required to be worn by all participants. Programs will be held in small groups in order to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Adults with children ages four to six are invited to participate in Tyke Hikes, a new series offered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Participants will look for animal homes and hideouts, learn to identify birds by color and sound, take part in a scavenger hunt and search for all the colors of the rainbow on a nature walk. The fee is $10 per class for Union County residents and $12 per class for non-county residents.

Two moonlight walks will be offered this spring for adults with children ages six and older. A Pink Moon Hike will take place on April 27 and a Flower Moon Hike will take place on May 26, from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Registrants will have the opportunity to explore the Watchung Reservation by the light of the full moon. Learn about the wildlife that comes out after dark.  The fee per person per program is $5.00 for Union County residents and $6.00 for non-county residents.

Due to popular demand, additional senior walks have been added. This spring, senior walks take place on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and continue through May 27. This series is free and open to participants ages 55 and older.  Each walk is led by a Trailside naturalist and highlights a different topic. Participants will discover how to make their home more wildlife friendly, learn to identify common tree species, search for migrating birds at the Deserted Village and find out how to recognize common wild edible plants.

Residents should save the date for Saturday, April 24, when Trailside will offer a variety of outdoor activities in honor of Earth Day.  Participants can take part in guided nature walks and live animal talks. Preregistration is required. There will also be a recycled art wildlife walk along the sensory friendly trail.  Check the trailside website for updates on this event.

For more information about upcoming activities for seniors, families and children at Trailside, please visit ucnj.org/trailside or call 908-789-3670.

In-person activities in Union County parks are limited during the COVID-19 outbreak in accordance with statewide public health guidelines, and Trailside is closed to the public until further notice.

For quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities, including the Falcon Cam and other online resources during the COVID-19 outbreak, visit The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connect.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University, the Mobile Test Unit walk-up sites, vaccination information, 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.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Commissioners invites all Union County seniors and their caregivers, friends, and neighbors to join the next session of “Online with Aging,” a free online presentation about programs and services for seniors in Union County. Online with Aging will be held on Zoom on Tuesday, March 30, beginning at 10:00 a.m. A link to join is posted on the Union County Division on Aging web page at ucnj.org/aging.

Participants are reminded to download Zoom before joining.

“The Board of Commissioners has been reaching out to engage and assist seniors throughout the COVID-19 crisis, and the interactive Zoom format provides another pathway for seniors and their caregivers to connect with professionals for accurate, reliable information and guidance,” said Commissioner Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “I encourage everyone with an interest in senior issues to join the Online with Aging conversation.”

Online with Aging participants who have questions about senior services will be able to speak directly with specialists in the Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection during the Zoom event.

The topics of discussion will be focused on our two community-based programs, the Jersey Assistance for Community Caregiving program (JACC) and the Statewide Respite Care program. This event allows seniors and their loved ones to speak directly with the coordinators regarding their program, eligibility requirements, services provided and more.

“Online with Aging” launched in 2020 as a means of connecting the senior community with remote learning opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, topics have included adult day services, home delivered meals, low income energy assistance, and more.

The Division on Aging/ADRC is part of the Union County Department of Human Services, and is federally recognized as the Area Agency on Aging for Union County. The nationwide Area Agency on Aging “on-the-ground” model was established under the 1973 Older Americans Act, with the goal of helping seniors live independently, and with dignity, in their communities.

As an Area Agency on Aging, the Division on Aging is authorized to issue contracts for senior service providers including health aide/homemakers, nurse visits, social work visits, hospice, home delivered meals, kosher home delivered meals, congregate nutrition, caregiver services, legal services, information & assistance, social/medical adult day services, residential maintenance, emergency energy assistance, telephone reassurance, grocery shopping, transportation, grandparents raising grandchildren, and much more.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Division’s Aging Services Kiosk and other in-person outreach events have been canceled until further notice.

For more information visit online at ucnj.org/aging or call contact the Division on Aging at 908-527-4870. Para español, llama 908-527-4863.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University, the Mobile Test Unit walk-up sites, vaccination information, 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.

All Union County Residents Invited to Virtual Town Hall on COVID-19 Vaccines, March 29

Board of Commissioners hosts “Conversation with Communities of Color on COVID-19 Vaccines” event to break myths, misinformation, and other barriers.

Union County, NJ – With misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines continuing to run rampant, the Union County Board of Commissioners will host a virtual, interactive Town Hall on Zoom beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, March 29. The Town Hall is aimed at helping the Union County community confront the rumors head-on and increase the vaccination rate in communities of color.

Pre-registration is required for the Zoom link at bit.ly/vaccinetownhallucnj.

Vaccination rates in the U.S. vary widely by race, with communities of color far below the rate for whites. In a recent county-by-county analysis of New Jersey, the percentage of Black residents receiving the vaccine was at least 41% lower than for whites, and the difference was at least 45% for Hispanic/Latinx recipients compared to whites.*

“We are determined not to let the weight of the past overpower equal access to safe, effective vaccines for every Union County resident,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “By bringing this conversation to the community, we hope to break down the myths and empower everyone to arm themselves with facts in the fight against COVID-19.”

“Spreading lies is especially harmful to diverse communities like Union County, and that is why the Board of Commissioners is taking action,” said Vice Chair Rebecca L. Williams. “It is important to know where these rumors come from and why they impact communities of color, in order to ensure that every Union County resident knows they have the power to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their communities against a lethal virus.”

“Fear-mongering and misinformation have carved a deadly path all throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This is clearly a public safety issue that impacts all of us, and the Town Hall is another step in our campaign to push back and shine a light on the facts,” said Commissioner Sergio Granados, who chairs the Board’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee. “We encourage all Union County residents to attend this forum, especially those in minority communities where statistics indicate the need for accurate, fact based information about COVID-19 vaccines.”

“The historical wrongs against communities of color on the public health front are real and should be considered as we continue to roll out efforts to achieve full vaccination and guard against the spread of COVID-19.   However, we should not allow any groups to sow seeds of trepidation and anxiety to influence our population to make choices that create a risk of harm to any of our communities.  Our goal is to shine a light on the past as we inform and empower Union County families to make fact-based decisions about health and safety,” said Commissioner Angela R. Garretson.

The Town Hall will begin with opening remarks by Commissioner Garretson, followed by a presentation on the historical background of vaccine skepticism by Vice Chair Williams and a panel discussion featuring Dr. Chris T. Pernell, MD of University Hospital, Dr. Omar M. Bey, MD of RWJ Barnabas Health, and Dr. Gerardo Capo, MD of Trinitas Medical Center.

The public will be invited to ask questions of the panelists as well as other elected officials, community leaders, and religious leaders. The event will conclude with closing remarks by Commissioner Granados, including information on how to register to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University, the Mobile Test Unit walk-up sites, vaccination information, 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.

*Source: NJ Advance Media.

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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.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of County Commissioners announces “a weekend of shredding” to kick off the first mobile paper shredding programs of 2021.   Free shredding of personal and confidential documents will be available on Saturday, March 27th and Sunday, March 28th.

“Union County’s mobile document shredding service helps residents fight identity theft by providing a convenient way to shred your confidential documents,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman Al Mirabella “It promotes our County recycling efforts and ties in with other Green Initiatives in Union County.”

The March shredding events will take place at the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools campus, located at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains. Both events will run from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. rain or shine. The events will close prior to 1:00 p.m. if the trucks reach capacity.

For everyone’s safety, residents must wear face coverings, keep their windows closed and remain in their vehicles at all times.  Materials should be placed in trunk, cargo area or truck bed, easily accessible to staff, for safe no-contact removal from vehicle.

All Union County residents are eligible to use the free paper-shredding service. In an effort to accommodate everyone, there is a limit of four, 10-pound bags or boxes per vehicle.  It is preferred that you bring your material in paper bags. Documents should not be bound. Please remove plastic binders and paperclips. Paper that is wet/damp will not be accepted.  PLEASE do not bring paper that is already shredded; it will not be accepted. Residents should continue to recycle non-confidential papers and magazines with their municipal recycling program.

Documents are put into 96-gallon containers provided by the shredding company. The items are then placed onto a conveyor belt and shredded on site. The shredded documents are then recycled via local paper mills. 

All of Union County’s recycling events are posted on our website, www.ucnj.org/recycle. The Board of County Commissioners also encourages residents to download the free Recycle Coach app for recycling event reminders and local curbside collection info.

The mobile shredding program is paid for through County Recycling Enhancement Act Grant Funds. For more information about future events or directions please call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University, the Mobile Test Unit walk-up sites, vaccination information, 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.

Union County Commissioner Vice Chair Rebecca Williams and Commissioners Sergio Granados and Andrea Staten visited the COVID-19 Vaccination location in Plainfield, at Plainfield High School. This site opens once a week to better serve residents in the western end of the County.

Produce will be distributed on a first come-first served basis at walk-up event in Plainfield.