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Union County Sheriff Peter Corelli, Undersheriffs Dennis Burke, Amilcar Colon and Jonathan Parham and dozens of Union County Sheriff’s Officers joined Assemblywoman Annette Quijano and local volunteers in making sandwiches for the needy as part of the Assemblywoman’s annual “Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation” food drive at St. Joseph’s Social Service Center in Elizabeth. The event is in partnership with the Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless and the St. Joseph’s Social Service Center. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

In preparation for the beginning of the school year, the Union County Immunization Clinic, located at 40 Parker Road, Elizabeth, will offer extended hours for eligible school children from Monday, August 19 through Friday, August 30.

Children who are at least 2 months old and under age 19 and who are Medicaid eligible, uninsured or underinsured may receive free vaccines at the Immunization Clinic to prevent disease. The clinic offers a series of vaccines suggested by the federal Centers for Disease Control as well as required vaccines for public school admission.

“Vaccines are required for public school admission, and the extended hours will help parents and caregivers access this free service for eligible school children,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The health and safety of children is a top priority for the Freeholder Board.”

The clinic normally operates Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. During the extended hours, appointments will be accepted until 6:30 p.m. from August 19 through August 30.

Appointments are recommended, by calling 908-965-3627 or 908-965-3868. Walk-ins for school aged children may also be accepted but must arrive before 6:00 p.m.

To receive vaccinations for a child, parents or guardians are required to provide the eligible child’s birth certificate, current vaccination records, parent or legal guardians ID. Parents must also bring proof of residence such as a lease or utility bill in their name. Legal guardians must also have guardianship papers from the Court. If the child is in school, a referral by a school nurse must be presented.

Union County’s Immunization Clinic, in operation since 1995, is part of the federal CDC Vaccines for Children program and is part of each state’s Medicaid plan. The Immunization Center provides information about available health services to families in need, in addition to screenings and immunizations for eligible children.

For more information on the Union County Immunization Clinic, to schedule an appointment, or to determine if a child qualifies for services call 908-965-3627/3868.

For personal assistance with any service provided by the Union County Department of Human Services, call the UCDHS Action Line at 888-845-3434 or 908-558-2288.

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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 Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski, Vice Chairman Alexander Mirabella and Freeholders Sergio Granados and Rebecca Williams joined Scotch Plains Mayor Al Smith, Deputy Mayor Josh Losardo, Councilwoman Elizabeth Stamler, Deputy Township Manager Margaret Heisey, Scotch Plains Director of Parks and Recreation DJ Salvante and other township officials at the official reopening of Brookside Park in Scotch Plains after recent upgrades to the park.

The improvement project was funded by $80,000 of grants from the Union County Kids’ Recreation Trust and the Level the Playing Field grant program. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Please note: due to inclement weather, the Rob Paparozzi concert on August 14 has been canceled. It will not be rescheduled.

Rob Paparozzi, a New Jersey-based front man, singer, and harmonica player for over 50 years, will perform at Union County’s free, Summer Arts Concert Series at Oak Ridge Park in Clark on Wednesday, August 14. Among the legendary performers Paparozzi has worked with are B.B. King, Dr. John, Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston, Carole King, Roberta Flack, Culture Club, Cyndi Lauper, Randy Newman, Jimmy McGriff, and James Galway.

“Rob Paparozzi has a very impressive musical background,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “He has a wide variety of songs that will appeal to fans of many musical genres, including blues, jazz, and pop.”

Rob Paparozzi is perhaps best known for being the lead singer for Blood, Sweat and Tears from 2004 to 2011. A veteran of many world tours, he now leads his own now leads his group, The Rob Paparozzi Band, in concerts across the United States and internationally.

The concert will take place at Oak Ridge Park in Clark. It is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket, towel or yoga mat for UC Fit Yoga, led by AMP Yoga of Springfield, beginning at 6:30. The concert will begin promptly at 7:30. A food truck and an ice cream truck will be present.

For more details on the Summer Arts series and more summer activities in Union County Parks visit ucnj.org/calendar or call the Parks Department at 908-527-4900.

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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.

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A team of 25 carefully trained volunteers from Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) of Union County have been inspecting hundreds of ash trees in several Union County Parks for signs of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), a non-native insect pest that infests and kills all species of Ash trees. As of yet, EAB has not been detected in Union County although it is anticipated to be discovered soon.

“A huge thank you goes out to all of the volunteers who are helping to inventory and map Ash trees across Union County,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “Creating an Ash tree inventory is the first step in developing an EAB response plan to ensure the county is ready for this new insect if it emerges.”

Infestations throughout the U.S. and Canada have killed tens of millions of ash trees since 2002. Currently it is known to be in 14 of 21 New Jersey counties.

Volunteers meet weekly at different parks throughout the county. The Ash tree inventory has been completed for 9 parks including Warinanco, Lenape, Echo Lake, Cedar Brook, Rahway River, Nomahegan, Meisel Ave., Green Brook, and Oak Ridge Parks.  Close to 800 Ash trees have been inventoried in these parks.

The information collected is being used to make recommendations on the value of treating and saving Ash trees, verses removing them. This process will help take action to develop long range budgets for Ash tree management.

Ash trees can be identified by their compound leaves meaning the leaf is divided into smaller leaflets. Another distinguishing characteristic includes the arrangement of branches and buds which are in pairs across from each other, known as opposite branching.

The first sign that an Ash tree has been infested by the EAB is usually damage to the bark. Woodpeckers flake off the bark with their beaks to get at the EAB larvae. The distinctive white stripes left from this flaking are called “blonding”. The adult female EAB creates characteristic D-shaped exit holes, 3-4mm in size, when they emerge in May or early June.  As the infestation worsens the crown will begin to die back starting at the top.

EAB infestations are fatal to trees not treated properly with insecticides.  Ash trees killed by EAB become brittle very quickly, making them a greater safety hazard to pedestrians and arborists removing trees. 

Homeowners looking for assistance protecting their Ash tree should contact a certified licensed tree expert. More information for homeowners and communities on EAB in New Jersey can be found at http://emeraldashborer.nj.gov.  For more information on this project contact RCE of Union County at 908-654-9854.

The Rutgers Master Gardener program in Union County is supported by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and Rutgers, the NJ Agricultural Experiment Station with offices at the Union County Complex in Westfield, at 300 North Avenue East.

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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.