Author: Web Site Administrator

Each year, the Freeholder Board’s annual Union County Senior Citizens Art Exhibit showcases original work created by county residents aged 60 and above. The 2020 exhibit comprises 124 works of art entered by both professional and non-professional artists.

This year’s exhibit can be viewed online at www.ucnj.org/senior-art. All artwork images were submitted directly by the artists.

“The Freeholder Board is proud to showcase the artwork created by our senior citizens each year, and this year we are very pleased to present this exhibit virtually, enabling these talented artists to share their work with everyone in the community,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

Professional artists Barbara Wallace, Joseph Borzotta and Alina Marin-Bliach served as jurors, designating awards in each media category.

All entries awarded First Place honors will advance to the state level, to represent Union County in the 2020 New Jersey Senior Citizens Art Show.

The artworks awarded first place cover a wide variety of media and materials by professional and non-professional artists, including:

• Eileen Bonacci (Oil Painting)
• Dante Bonardi (Watercolor)
• Lynda DuBois-Jackson (Craft)
• Marcia Haller (Acrylic Painting)
• Janice Metzger (Printmaking)
• Nancy Ori (Photography)
• Leona Seufert (Digital/Computer Art)
• Barbara Uhr (Pastel)
• Roberta Zlatkin (Mixed Media)
• Anne Castellano (Pastel)
• James Colangelo (Craft)
• William Connolly (Drawing)
• Stephanie Dexter (Oil Painting)
• Nancy Fine (Mixed Media)
• Robert Gasson (Acrylic Painting)
• Deborah Mainiero (Sculpture)
• Anne Occi (Watercolor)
• Catherine Varnelas-Smith (Digital/Computer Art)
• David Weisbrod (Photography)

“Afternoon in Amsterdam,” an oil painting by professional artist Eileen Bonacci, was awarded Best of Show by a Professional Artist.

A sculpture by Deborah Mainiero, “Abstract Flower,” was awarded Best of Show by a Non-Professional Artist.

The annual Senior Citizens Art Exhibit is coordinated and administered by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, and 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 about the virtual art gallery and other programs and services related to the arts and history in Union County, contact the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, a division of the Department of Parks and Recreation, at culturalinfo@ucnj.org or 908-558-2550 (NJ Relay users dial 711), or visit online at ucnj.org/parks-recreation.

For more information and updates on all Union County services and resources during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance for using the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University and the Mobile Test Unit walk-up sites, visit the new Union County COVID-19 website at ucnj.org/covid19.

For general information about COVID-19 and phone contacts for 24/7 assistance with questions, visit 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.

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Happy Columbus Day weekend! The Union County Freeholder Board and members of UNICO District X and Plainfields’ UNICO marked the holiday with the 12th annual Columbus Day Flag raising in Elizabeth at the County seat today. l. to r. Sheriff Peter Corvelli, Surrogate James LaCorte, Freeholder Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded, Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella, Italian Tribune Publisher A.J. “Buddy” Fortunato, Plainfields UNICO President Bob Bengivenga, UNICO District X Governor @Anthony Bengivenga, Robert Tarte of Westfield UNICO, County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi, holding the flag and others receiving the resolution.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella joined Union County Public Safety Director Andrew Moran at the Union County Mobile Test Unit at the Southside Firehouse in Scotch Plains. The Union County Mobile Test Unit is continuing to visit local communities to provide free COVID-19 tests for residents this fall. No car is required. All sites are available on a walk-up basis. For more details and to view the most recent schedule online visit ucnj.org/covid19/testing/walk-up-locations, or call 908-214-7107 for assistance. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The Board of Chosen Freeholders wishes to remind residents that the popular “Wildlife Wednesdays” program will continue to run each Wednesday through the end of October, with a new starting time of 6:00 PM. The previous starting time was 2:00 PM.

“Union County is striving to bring educational programs directly to our children that may not be accessible to everyone during these challenging times, and Wildlife Wednesdays is a great example of them,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “I encourage residents to register for any or all of these free programs and learn more about animals and the critical role they play in our environment.”

Participation is free and open to all county residents.   Pre-registration is required and capacity is limited to the first 100 families who sign up.  The programs will be held on Zoom so a valid email and Zoom access are necessary to participate. Once registered, attendees will receive a confirmation and Zoom login information via email.        

Wildlife Wednesdays is sponsored by Union County’s Clean Communities Grant Program as educators will raise awareness on how litter can be harmful to wildlife.   Rizzo’s Wildlife World educators will bring the classroom to you and present a myriad of wildlife critters. These programs aim to discourage littering to protect the diverse wildlife found in County parks.

October 7^th’s program will feature Rainforest Animals, while October 14^th’s program will features animals that use camouflage. Stay tuned for information on future programs. 

For more information on upcoming Wildlife Wednesday, please visit www.ucnj.org/recycling/wildlife-wednesdays. 

Featuring A.J. “Buddy” Fortunato of the Italian Tribune, Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella, UNICO representatives, Italian American ONE VOICE Coalition

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announced that Union County’s 12th Annual Columbus Day Flag Raising event is set for Friday, Oct. 9th, at 1 p.m., on the steps of the historic Union County Courthouse. A.J. “Buddy” Fortunato, publisher of the Italian Tribune, will be this year’s special guest speaker.

“We continue to honor the achievements and contributions of Italian Americans who have made amazing contributions in all facets of life to America,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella, who is emceeing the program. 

Other speakers include UNICO District X Governor Anthony Bengivenga, who is also on the Executive Board of the Italian American ONE VOICE Coalition.  The County will honor members of UNICO District X and the Plainfields’ Chapter of UNICO with a resolution.

A.J. “Buddy” Fortunato is the Publisher of The Italian Tribune newspaper, the nation’s premiere Italian American weekly publication since 1931. Buddy has long been a dynamic, dedicated member of the Italian American community and a champion for Italian heritage and culture in the United States. Born and raised in Montclair, New Jersey, he graduated from Montclair High School and obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from Rider College.

Few high school athletes have matched the level of Buddy’s achievements. He was an outstanding varsity baseball and football player at MHS, receiving First Team All-State honors in his sophomore, junior and senior years. He was also honored with the prestigious AAU Athletic Award. In 1999, Fortunato was selected as one of the Top Scholastic Athletes of the 20^th Century by The Star Ledger.

Following his graduation from college, Mr. Fortunato began his career in finance with Merrill Lynch in New York City. He was elected to the New Jersey State Assembly in 1977 and served for eight years

After leaving the legislature, Buddy became increasingly interested in the preservation and promotion of Italian American culture and heritage. His love for and pride in his Sicilian heritage eventually led him to purchase the Italian Tribune from his mother-in-law in 1999, at which time he assumed the position of Publisher. Under Fortunato’s leadership, the scope and influence of the English language Italian newspaper has increased on a grand scale.

He has received many awards and accolades from the Italian government and UNICO, and was inducted into the National Italian American Hall of Fame. Buddy was knighted in St. Patrick’s Cathedral as a Knight of Malta, the highest honor the Catholic Church bestows on a lay person.

Buddy and his wife of 48 years, Marion (Alagna) have two children, Jeffrey (Aleksandra) Fortunato and Sissy (James Hurley) and five grandchildren, Austin, Dallas and Lilliana Hurley and Alli and Jeffrey Fortunato.

As per the flag raising, UNICO is the nation’s largest Italian American service organization whose chapters and members engage in promoting and defending Italian culture and heritage, as well as providing scholarships, engaging in community service and other philanthropic endeavors.

UNICO District X and Plainfields’ UNICO work to organize and co-sponsor Union County’s Columbus Day event. The Italian American ONE VOICE Coalition is an Italian-American anti-bias organization formed of members nationwide that fights stereotypes and advocates on issues impacting Italian Americans.

Italian-style refreshments and pastries will be served after the program outside the historic Union County Courthouse due to COVID-19 restrictions. All those who are attending are urged to wear a mask and follow COVID-19 protocols.

Parking (pay) is available in the Midtown area at the J. Christian Bollwage Parking deck at Elizabethtown Plaza and Caldwell Place. A second deck is Elizabeth’s Parking Deck No. 6 on Jefferson Avenue and Dickinson Street—the entrance is on Dickinson Street. 

The courthouse is located at 2 Broad St. in Elizabeth at the corner of Rahway Avenue. 

Union County Freeholder Sergio Granados joined Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage in thanking the staff and volunteers at the flu shot site at the Peterstown Community Center in Elizabeth. As the flu season approaches, Union County is offering a series of free flu shot drives in local communities to help ensure that everyone has access to a free seasonal flu vaccine at a convenient location, especially residents who have no health insurance. Protection against seasonal flu is more important than ever before due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Union County Flu Shot Drive is administered by the Union County Office of Health Management in the Department of Public Safety, the Visiting Nurse Association, and volunteers from the Union County Medical Reserve Corps. The Medical Reserve Corps accepts volunteers with a variety of skills both in and out of the medical profession.

For additional updates on Upcoming Flu Drives visit https://ucnj.org/covid19/upcoming-flu-clinics/.

(Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Call for Submissions and Community Support Now Open for Statue, which will become first in state to honor member of LGBTQ community

The family of Marsha P. Johnson, the City of Elizabeth, the Union County Freeholder Board, and Garden State Equality are proud to invite the public to participate in the efforts to honor Marsha P. Johnson with a public monument in her hometown, celebrating both her roots in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and her pivotal role in the vanguard of the modern LGBTQ civil rights movement.  The monument will be the first in the state of New Jersey to honor a member of the LGBTQ community and the first of a trans woman of color.

Those who wish to contribute to the monument project to honor Marsha P. Johnson’s legacy may do so online now at GardenStateEquality.org or charity.gofundme.com/mpjstatue.

Additionally, Garden State Equality is working with the family to establish a scholarship fund – any funds raised through the fundraiser in excess of the monument cost will go to a scholarship fund.

Also, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders proudly invites artists to participate in the open call for submissions for the monument. Information for the submission process is available through the Office of LGBTQ Affairs now online at ucnj.org/lgbtq.  Artists who are interested in submitting shall have previous professional experience in sculpture artistry and include documentation of previous work for reference in the proposal.

“Marsha wasn’t just about trans acceptance or just about gay rights — she was about change for everybody,” said Al Michaels, Marsha’s nephew. “History may not always remember Marsha’s accomplishments – this statue will enshrine her legacy into the fabric of this city.”

Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella said: “Fifty one years ago, black and brown trans women – including Union County’s own Marsha P. Johnson from Elizabeth, New Jersey – led the Stonewall Uprising, fighting back against decades of injustice and police brutality. It’s more important than ever to remember our history, and the Freeholder Board is proud to join this effort to honor one of our own activists who in recent history paved the way.”

The Marsha P. Johnson monument project is a vision of her family.  With the support of the City of Elizabeth, County of Union, Garden State Equality, generous donors and a sculpture artist this monument project will become a reality and stand as a symbol of LGBTQ influence in our American history’s fight for civil rights.

Freeholder Sergio Granados stated: “The milestones achieved in the LGBTQ rights and equality movement were made possible by trailblazers who first stood up for their rights. Marsha P. Johnson was a pioneer for the LGBTQ community and the Union County Freeholder Board is proud to join the efforts to honor her legacy in such a meaningful way.” As Chairman of the Freeholder Board in 2018, Granados established the Union County Office of LGBTQ Affairs, the only government office of its kind in the state of New Jersey to support the LGBTQ community.

Freeholder Rebecca Williams, who is the liaison to the Union County LGBTQ Ad Hoc Committee, stated: “By honoring the memory of those we admire, public monuments reflect who we are. I am proud of our community for recognizing Marsh P. Johnson as a leader in the continued fight to realize the ideals of liberty and equality upon which our nation was founded.”

Elizabeth Councilman At-Large Manny Grova stated: “It is an honor to recognize an Elizabeth native as influential and important to the history of the nation in the fight for equality everywhere. This past month, with Mayor Bollwage’s full support, Elizabeth City Council unanimously passed a resolution dedicating public land for the placement of a monument to honor Marsha P. Johnson.”

Christian Fuscarino, Executive Director of Garden State Equality stated: “Our movement was born out of fire, bricks and blood at the Stonewall Riots over 50 years ago, where courageous drag queens and transgender women of color — people like New Jersey-native Marsha P. Johnson — stood up, fought back and ignited our movement. It’s time the statues that line our streets represent all of America — we are honored to work with the City of Elizabeth and the County of Union to make this a reality. Most importantly, we look forward to collaborating with local black and brown trans women, and activists of all ages and races that look up to Marsha to make this a reality.” Garden State Equality is a vital partner in the effort to build the monument.

Marsha P. Johnson was a prominent figure in the gay liberation movement, and tireless advocate for homeless LGBTQ young people rejected by their families, those affected by H.I.V. and AIDS, and other marginalized groups. At 23, she was a leader in the monumental Stonewall Uprising of 1969.           

After Stonewall, Marsha was a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front, an activist with ACT UP, and a co-founder of Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries, or S.T.A.R., along with close friend and trans activist Sylvia Rivera.

Internationally, Marsha P. Johnson is one of the most recognized icons in LGBTQ+ history and has been celebrated in a series of books, documentaries, and films. Her actions and words continue to inspire trans activism and resistance and will continue to do so well into the future.

Sculpture artists who are interested in participating in this effort can find the submission details online at ucnj.org/lgbtq or contact Danni Newbury, Union County Office of LGBTQ Affairs at 908-527-4742 or dnewbury@ucnj.org.