Author: Web Site Administrator

Each year the Union County Board of Freeholders provides free shade trees to schools for Arbor Day. This year, due to schools being closed as a result of Covid-19, 80 crabapple trees will go to Union County residents and community organizations on request.

To request a tree, find out more about tree care in Union County, or to join the Rutgers Master Tree Steward of Union County volunteers, email Jim Nichnadowicz, Union County 4-H Agent, at jnichnadowicz@ucnj.org.

“It is unfortunate that we are not able to distribute these trees to schools as we usually do, so we hope that residents and community organizations can give them good homes,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

The trees are five to six feet tall and weigh about 10 to 15 pounds each. Each tree has been growing in a five gallon pot. They can fit into a mini-van, SUV or car with a folding back seat. A deer guard is included.

Crabapples are known for beautiful spring flowers as well as small sour apples that can be used to make jams and jellies. 

These trees usually grow to about 15 to 20 feet tall over 10 years with a spread of similar dimensions. 

It is suggested not to plant the trees near a sidewalk or driveway.  

One tree per address will be permitted and will be distributed on a first come first serve basis.

Arbor Day has been a National Observance since 1872, encouraging the public to plant and care for trees.  This year Arbor Day fell on Friday, April 24.

The U.S. Forestry Service, the Arbor Day Foundation and other partners have developed free, user-friendly software to calculate the dollar value of trees in urban communities. For more information visit iTreeTools.org. 

The Master Tree Steward program is run by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, which is supported in part by the Freeholder Board and is headquartered in the Colleen Fraser Building at the County complex in Westfield, at 300 North Avenue East. For information on all Extension programs visit ucnj.org/rce.

For quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities, visit The Green Connection online at ucnj.org/green-connection.

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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.

Cindy and Jim Traverso and their son Luke of Summit have teamed up with Union Counties Adopt-A-Park to donate annual flowers, soil and mulch, and maintain a cement planter in Briant Park in Springfield throughout the growing season.

“Union County parks thrive because of the volunteers that contribute year round,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “I would like to thank the Traverso family and all volunteers who help keep county parks beautiful.”

The Traverso family has donated various species of plants such as blue marvel salvia, red snapdragons, white begonias, blue lobelia, and sweet alyssum.

For information about joining Adopt-a-Park as an individual or as part of a business, school or community group, visit ucnj.org or call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at 908-789-3683.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance for the Union County Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update.

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.

Park visitors please note: Stay on marked trails in order to preserve fragile native habitat in County parks. The taking of plants and other wildlife is prohibited. Share paved paths by keeping to the right unless passing others. Bicycles are permitted only on paved paths. Dogs must be kept on leash. All trash must be carried out where receptacles are full or unavailable. 

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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.

Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella, Freeholder Sergio Granados, Freeholder Chris Hudak, Freeholder Angela Garretson, Freeholder Andrea Staten, Freeholder Rebecca L. Williams, Senator Joe Cryan, Assemblywoman Linda S. Carter, Sheriff Peter Corvelli, County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi, and various municipal officials joined with dozens of volunteers today at Kean University, organized through the County of Union, the United Way of Greater Union County, and the Community Food Bank of New Jersey in conducting a massive food distribution to Union County Families.

This morning Union County Freeholder Andrea Staten, Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski and Union County Sheriff’s Officers joined the United Way of Greater Union County and members of County Government at Union County College in Cranford in distributing food donated by Amazon.com through United Way to various social service organizations throughout Union County. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union.)

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders are deeply saddened by the death of George Floyd. We express our condolences to his family and his death is a horrific reminder that we must never relax our guard against racism and injustice, in any form.

Black men and women in particular, and all others throughout our nation should not fear harassment, abuse, or even death in the communities they reside, and when this happens there is still something deeply, fundamentally wrong in this great nation of ours.

Governor Murphy stated, “George Floyd should be alive today, not just as a matter of principle or justice, but as a matter of human dignity — as a matter of our nation living up to one of the most basic of our founding ideals ‘that all are created equal.”

As multiple generations endure various forms of systematic discrimination, we are now witnessing many communities uniting to peacefully stand up against the American legacy of racism and oppression.

The County of Union has received a donation of 600 live arborvitae trees from the Christmas Tree Shops to be distributed throughout county parks and other areas.

“The Freeholder Board would like to thank the Christmas Tree Shops for their generous donation of arborvitae trees,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “These trees are beneficial to residents, the environment, and the wildlife that calls this county home.”  

Trees will be planted in various areas throughout Union County, including Conant Park in Hillside, Wheeler Park in Linden, Echo Lake Park in Mountainside, Green Brook Park in Plainfield, and Rahway River Park in Rahway.

The arborvitae tree is a type of evergreen that keeps its foliage all year round. Arborvitae trees have many benefits but are commonly used to create privacy fences due to their extreme height, sometimes growing as fast as three feet per year. Once mature these trees can grow as tall as 60 feet.

Arborvitae trees also provide many benefits for wildlife, providing nesting space for birds as well as a food source through seeds for animals such as rabbits, birds, squirrels, and deer.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance for the Union County Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update.

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.

Park visitors please note: Stay on marked trails in order to preserve fragile native habitat in County parks. The taking of plants and other wildlife is prohibited. Share paved paths by keeping to the right unless passing others. Bicycles are permitted only on paved paths. Dogs must be kept on leash. All trash must be carried out where receptacles are full or unavailable. 

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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.

Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella, Freeholder Angela Garretson, Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, Freeholder Sergio Granados, Freeholder Chris Hudak, Freeholder Andrea Staten, Freeholder Rebecca L. Williams, Freeholder Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded today delivered face masks to Mayors and other officials for distribution to County residents in Clark, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, New Providence, Linden, Rahway, Mountainside, Plainfield and Winfield.

The face masks were part of 100,000 the Freeholder Board distributed Countywide for residents.