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Union County Freeholder Angela Garretson and Freeholder Andrea Staten welcomed featured panelists Marilyn D. Davis and Richard T. Thigpen, Esq. to an educational “Lunch and Learn” event in the Union County administration building in Elizabeth. The 2020 Black History Month “Lunch and Learn” event paid tribute to “African-Americans and the Vote.” (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella, Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, Freeholder Angela Garretson, Freeholder Rebecca L. Williams, Freeholder Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded, Freeholder Chris Hudak and Freeholder Andrea Staten presented Rahway Councilman David Brown with the eighth annual Chester Holmes Humanitarian Award during the County’s Black History Month celebration at the historic Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway. They were joined by New Jersey State Senator Nicholas Scutari, former State Senator Raymond Lesniak, Rahway Mayor Raymond Giacobbe, Holmes’ daughter Jackie Grey and friend Candice Frye-Teese.

“Councilman Brown has dedicated his life to public service and to assisting working families, youth and those less-advantaged through his various community endeavors,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “His outstanding contributions to both his hometown of Rahway and Union County exemplify the true meaning and essence of the Chester Holmes Humanitarian Award.”

The Humanitarian Award was created by the Freeholder Board in honor of the late former Freeholder Chester Holmes, who was known for his lifelong dedication to community service.

(Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella, Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, Freeholder Angela Garretson, Freeholder Rebecca L. Williams and Freeholder Chris Hudak joined New York Mets Greats Mookie Wilson and “Doc” Gooden, and Union County Baseball Association President Jim Iozzi in congratulating the new inductees of the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame at the organization’s 84th annual Hot Stove League Dinner in Clark. The Union County Baseball Association also honored student athletes Lauren Buchanan of Union and the players and coaches from the Elmora Youth League.

The four new inductees into the UC Baseball Hall of Fame include:

Jim Dietz of Summit, an All-American catcher at Moravian College (and starting quarterback) and minor leaguer with the Philadelphia Phillies, who returned to Summit to teach math and coach baseball and football for more than 30 years;

Al Mirabella of Fanwood, a Union County Freeholder since 1998 and five-time Chairman of the Board, who has been a longtime advocate for youth baseball leagues and other recreational opportunities throughout Union County;

Gene Mirabella of Roselle Park, an outstanding high school wrestler, AllState pitcher, and captain of the football team, whose pitching success at Brookdale College earned him Region 19 Tournament MVP and Pitcher of the Year, and a stint in the minors with the Cleveland Indians;

Karen Pedersen, formerly of Berkeley Heights and Scotch Plains, the longtime Secretary of the UC Baseball Association, who has helped administer the numerous activities of the UCBA for decades.

(Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella and Freeholder Angela Garretson present a resolution to Captain Gary Steitz, Sr. commending and congratulating him on his retirement as the Union County Fire Investigation Unit Coordinator. Captain Steitz of Union was a 20 year member of the Union County Fire Investigation Unit and served as their Coordinator for the past 15 years. He also served on the Union County Fire Services Advisory Board as the Fire Investigation Representative and served with the Union Fire Department for more than 40 years. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, Freeholder Angela Garretson, Freeholder Andrea Staten, Freeholder Rebecca L. Williams and Freeholder Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded joined the entire Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders in recognizing and commemorating February 9th 2020 as the Centennial Anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment and the right of women to vote in State of New Jersey. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella and Freeholder Chris Hudak present a resolution to Ron Manzella commending and congratulating him upon his retirement as the Township Administrator for the Township of Union. They were joined by Union Deputy Mayor Joseph Florio. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Update March 12, 2020: In consideration of the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in New Jersey, this event has been cancelled.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to celebrate Women’s History Month with a free performance of Reclaiming Our Voice: New Jersey’s Role in Woman Suffrage on Wednesday, March 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Liberty Hall Museum Carriage House at Kean University, located at 1003 Morris Avenue in Union.   

“The Freeholder Board is proud to contribute to the celebration of Women’s History Month with this free event highlighting the victories of the women’s suffrage movement, and sharing the stories of the many women who fought diligently for the right to vote,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

Carol Simon Levin will be portraying Lillian Feickert, president of the New Jersey Woman Suffrage Association from 1912-1920, who lived in both Plainfield and North Plainfield.  She will tell the story of the role that New Jersey women played in the long struggle for women’s suffrage. She will share the stories of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucy Stone, Alice Paul and Union County’s own Florence Spearing Randolph of Summit among others. 

Levin is a retired librarian, author, storyteller and program presenter based in Bedminster, and author of the illustrated, interactive book, Remembering the Ladies: From Patriots in Petticoats to Presidential Candidates. In addition to a coloring page, each entry in the book includes a short biography, a fascinating fact and a quote. 

This program is funded in part by a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a Division of Cultural Affairs in the Department of State. 

Admission to “Reclaiming Our Voice: New Jersey’s Role in Woman Suffrage” is free of charge, but advance registration is required. 

To register online visit http://ucnj.org/womens-suffrage/. For more information about the program contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 908-558-2550.

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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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