Author: Web Site Administrator

Seniors in search of reliable, up-to-date information on recycling will be getting help this fall, thanks to a new Freeholder Board pilot project aimed at spreading the “Recycle Right!” message and educating residents about current recycling guidelines.

“Senior centers and senior living complexes act as information hubs on many topics of interest to the community at large. Through this pilot project, seniors can receive reliable, up-to-date guidance about recycling in their community. We also hope that they will convey that information to their friends, families, and neighbors,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.

The main message of “Recycle Right!” is to keep the household recycling bin free of contamination and prohibited items.  An important part of recycling is understanding what items can and can’t be recycled. 

Plastic bags, for example, are a major source of contamination. Residents often put plastic bags full of bottles and cans into recycling bins which renders the entire bag non-recyclable. Recycling Right preserves the quality of the recycling stream and prevents contamination and damage to recycling equipment and facilities.

In October, as part of the pilot program, the Freeholder Board will partner with designated senior living complexes in several municipalities and provide “recycling bin bags” which are washable, reusable bags designed to make recycling easier and more convenient for residents.

The bags are designed to help make recycling more convenient for people who need to carry recyclables from their apartment to a centralized recycling station, without relying on disposable plastic bags.

“Keeping plastic bags out of recycling will help reduce the rejection rate, and help municipalities manage their recycling costs more efficiently,” said Freeholder Chair Kowalski.

The bags have two sets of handles. One set is located on top, as with an ordinary tote bag. The other set is located on the bottom, so the bag can be easily turned upside down and emptied into a recycling bin.

The bin bags are also printed with Recycling Do’s and Don’ts.

For all Union County residents, the Freeholder Board also recommends downloading the free Recycle Coach app. The app provides reliable, up-to-date recycling calendars tailored to each user’s place of residence, in addition to information on what items to recycle.

Visit ucnj.org/recycling for more information about Recycle Coach, and for information about all countywide recycling events and programs sponsored by the Freeholder Board.

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

Union County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski joined Bruce Bergen, Chairman of the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition (RVRC), members of the public and elected officials from various towns and counties along the Raritan Valley Rail Line to discuss mass transit improvements at a RVRC Public Meeting in Cranford.

Nat Bottigheimer of the Regional Plan Association, a non-profit public policy agency that examines various issues, presented information from their report, “A Preventable Crisis, The Economic and Human Costs of a Hudson River Rail Tunnel Shutdown.”

The RVRC also honored former Somerset Freeholder and past Raritan Valley Rail Coalition Chairman Peter Palmer with a special presentation. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi invites Union County residents to receive their passport photo at the County Clerk’s Main Office in Elizabeth or the Annex Office in Westfield during the week of September 23^rd to September 30^th when applying for or renewing passports with a DS-11 form.

Normally there is a fee of $10.00 for a passport photo, which is required as part of the application process.

“I hope that the offer of a free photo will encourage persons planning a trip during the fall or winter to apply for, or renew, their passports well before they head overseas,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “We also encourage members of the public to obtain a passport and keep it up to date, regardless of any travel plans.”

The free passport photo offer is part of a national effort to encourage the public to conduct their passport business during September, which has been designated as National Passport Month.

By making arrangements in September, when travel is down, passport applicants can avoid the stress and added expense of applying at the last minute.

For more information about all County Clerk programs and services, visit online at ucnj.org/county-clerk or call 908-527-4787.

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The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites the public to attend a free performance of the renowned play, The Colored Museum,” at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway on Friday, October 18 at 8:00 p.m.. The Freeholder Board is sponsoring this special event as part of a nationwide effort to commemorate the 400^th year anniversary since the first Africans were forcefully brought to the United States as slaves.

Historians date the era of institutionalized slavery in the United States from September 1619, when a ship bearing 20 enslaved people from West Africa arrived in Virginia.

“Through the powerful impact of live theatre, The Colored Museum helps us understand how our national identity, and the course of our history, has been shaped over the 400 years since that first ship arrived,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.

The Colored Museum was written in 1986 by George C. Wolfe. It provides a window into the struggles and resilience of African Americans through 11 vignettes, each focusing on a different “exhibit” bringing forth themes of racism, stereotypes, and African American cultural identity, enabling the audience to reexamine the history of African Americans.

“It is crucial that we acknowledge and tell the story of the hundreds of years of slavery, genocide, and systematic oppression of African people in America, as well as the culture that we have created,” said Freeholder Rebecca Williams. “The 400^th anniversary of this event is significant in this country’s history, as it has played a major role in the culture of African Americans and our progression in this country, even today.”

Admission to this event is free, however all seats are ticketed and reserved. Tickets are available on a first come first serve basis. To receive tickets and for more information contact the Union County Performing Arts Center box office at 732-499-8226 or visit www.ucpac.org.

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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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The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders wishes to remind residents about the many exciting programs coming up during the Department of Parks and Recreation’s Fall 2019 season.

“Union County has a variety of events for residents of all ages, allowing them to experience and enjoy our parks system,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The Freeholder Board is proud to support these cultural, artistic and musical experiences for our families and residents.”

The Fall 2019 season includes:

Rockin’ the Reservation

Residents are invited to visit the Watchung Reservation on Sunday, September 29th from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This event features live music and hands-on, family-friendly activities. Rockin’ the Reservation is filled with fun for everyone and includes art demonstrations, interactive art and music, pony rides, petting zoo, food trucks, scarecrow building, multicultural dancing, and more. Admission is $5 per person, and attendees age 7 and under are admitted for free (additional fees are charged for some activities).

Hayrides and Campfires

Come join the fun this fall as Union County presents the annual Hayrides and Campfires in Warinanco Park and the Watchung Reservation. Hayrides and Campfires include folk songs around the campfire, hot chocolate and marshmallows toasted over the fire. Events are weather permitting.

Dates and locations for Hayrides and Campfires are: 

• Warinanco Park, Roselle
  • Friday, October 4th – 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
• Trailside Nature & Science Center, Mountainside
  • Sunday, October 6th – 3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
  • Friday, October 11th – 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, October 13th – 3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
  • Friday, October 18th – 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.                                                                                    

Advanced ticket sales begin September 4th (Online & In-person)

• In-County: $6.00
• Out-of-County: $12.00

Four Centuries in a Weekend

As a part of the Four Centuries in a Weekend series of events, residents will have an opportunity on Sunday, October 19 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. to explore The Deserted Village/Glenside Park, rain or shine! Take guided and self-guided tours, meet five people who built, owned or worked in this village, take hay rides, talk to an archaeologist, do some apple cider pressing, enjoy some old-fashioned children’s games, & shop in the General Store. This event is FREE and open to the public.

Haunted Hayrides

There will be several Haunted Hayrides through the Deserted Village of Feltville in the Watchung Reservation just in time for Halloween! Imagine visiting a whole village of haunted houses and meeting the ghosts of people who actually lived there.

Haunted Hayrides will be held on:

• Friday, October 25 – 6:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
• Saturday, October 26 – 6:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
• Sunday, October 27 – 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
• Rain date – Monday, October 28th

The total program experience lasts about one hour. The program is intended for adults and children age 6 and older. Strollers cannot be accommodated. Tickets are sold for rides at specific times as noted on your ticket.

Advanced ticket sales begin September 17 

• In-County: $8.00
• Out-of-County: $16.00

Pumpkin Sail at Lower Echo Lake Park

Bring your carved jack-o-lantern to Echo Lake Park the day after Halloween and join others for Great Pumpkin Sail on Friday, November 1 from 5:15 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Watch as your pumpkin is put on a float on the lake. There will be a campfire sing along and residents can enjoy hot chocolate and marshmallows. Rain date is Saturday, November 2, also from 5:15 PM to 9:30 PM.

Advanced ticket sales begin October 2. (Online & In-person) 

• In-County: $12.00 per family of six (6)
• Out-of-County: $16.00 per family of six (6)

For more details on ticket prices, locations, dates and times, and additional information on activities in Union County Parks visit ucnj.org/calendar or call the Parks Department at 908-527-4900.