Author: Web Site Administrator

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation announces a new and exciting season of summer camps and family programs at Trailside Nature and Science Center.  

“Trailside summer programs offer the perfect opportunity for adults and children of all ages to explore the out-of-doors while learning all about nature,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. Space remains in camps for pre-first – 6th grade!  Register in person daily at Trailside from noon – 4:45 p.m. or online at www.ucnj.org/trailside and select the Online Registration tab.

“These camps offer interesting subject matter to both children and adults, which allows families to participate together in learning about the wonders of nature,” said Vice Chairman Sergio Granados.

Children ages four and five can enroll in the Living Lenape and Natural Beginnings camp sessions offered afternoons from 1:15-3:45 p.m. on July 5-8 or July 25-28.  Campers will learn all about the Lenape Native Americans; how they lived, games they played and tools they used.  Participants will have fun forming clay pots, making a necklace, practicing throwing corn darts, learning the fox walk and more.  Following a ½-hour break, children will participate in the Natural Beginnings program to learn about herbivores, carnivores, plants and bugs.  Through short hikes, games, crafts and stories children will discover how all living things are connected. 

Nature Discovery Club, Around the World, Arctic, Ocean & Desert and Tropical Treasures are among the camps still available for children entering the first and second grades.  Campers will learn the importance of insects and have fun using bug boxes, dip nets, sweep nets and strainers to catch, identify and release insects living in forests, meadows, streams and ponds in Nature Discovery Club.  “Travel” to different continents in Around the World to learn about polar bears, red panda, platypus and jaguars.  Wear sturdy walking shoes as we hike a different trail each day.  Focus on extreme habitats in Arctic, Ocean and Desert and investigate the special adaptations animals have to survive in these exciting wild places.  Learn the secrets of the world’s rainforests in Tropical Treasures.  Make a rain stick and “catch” poison dart frogs on an outdoor expedition. 

Wild and Rare, Junior Naturalists and Trailside Treks are some of the camps still available for children entering the third and fourth grade.  See a bald eagle and snowy owl up

close on a field trip to the Raptor Trust in Millington as part of the Wild and Rare camp.  Find out why some animals are becoming endangered and discover what you can do to help out.  Use special equipment to catch frogs, tadpoles, giant water bugs, water scorpions and more as you investigate the wetland habitats in the Junior Naturalist camp.  Learn how to use a map and compass to hike to some local points of interest in Trailside Treks.  Spend the week outside hiking to the Deserted Village, Watchung Stable, Lake Surprise and more.

Ocean Wonders explores the diversity of life found in the oceans for children entering the fifth and sixth grade.  Learn about the coral reefs, find out how the creatures of the deep use bioluminescence to survive and use a seine net to catch some ocean dwellers on a field trip to Sandy Hook.  All About Animals will take students on an in-depth look into the animal kingdom.  Meet live snakes and turtles, use binoculars to identify birds and find out how to track local mammals. 

Adults with children of all ages can take part in Friday Family programs.   Participants can make bubbles of all sizes in Bubblemania, beat the heat and catch salamanders in Stream Stroll, catch and release aquatic animals in Pond Search at Seeley’s Pond and take a hike in search of some signs and sounds of local Animal Neighbors.  Visit the Demonstration Garden with Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County in Garden Treasures and see their specialty gardens.

Evening explorations for families are also available during the summer months.  Participants invited to arrive in their pajamas to say good-night to Trailside’s animals and animal neighbors in When I’m Sleepy or dress to get wet and muddy for an Evening Pond Search at Seeley’s Pond.  Prepare to sing-a-long, perform funny skits and laugh out loud in the evening Family Campfires.  Adults with children six and older can sleep overnight and learn to build their own campfire in the Family Campout For Beginners.

For a detailed description of Trailside’s camps and family programs including dates, times and fees, call Trailside at 908-789-3670 or visit us at www.ucnj.org/trailside.  Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholders Vernell Wright, Bette Jane Kowalski and Linda Carter welcomed Community FoodBank of New Jersey President and CEO Debra Vizza and ConnectOne Bank Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer Elizabeth Magennis to the fourth annual Union County Women Mean Business (UCWMB) Summit at the Clubhouse at the Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth. They were joined by and Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi (2nd R).

Vizza delivered the keynote address at the event that was designed to help women grow their business networks and build critical skills. UCWMB is an initiative of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholders Linda Carter and Bette Jane Kowalski present a resolution to Scott Mack, Patti Wilson-Fico, Dryden Watner and Miguel Ortiz of Union County’s chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America thanking the many volunteers and advocates who will be meeting on June 2, 2016 to help find an end to gun violence.

Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America was created to demand action from legislators, state and federal; companies; and educational institutions to establish common-sense gun reforms.

On June 2, Moms Demand Action will hold Wear Orange Day in Union County at 160 Forest Road in Fanwood. Participants will urge residents to wear orange for the day to spread awareness of the extent of gun violence in America. Orange was chosen because hunters wear orange to announce themselves to other hunters when out in the woods and orange is a color that symbolizes the value of human live.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders joins in urging residents to wear orange on June 2, 2016 to honor the fight to end gun violence in America.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski and Sergio Granados joined New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak in congratulating 29 new U.S. citizens during their naturalization ceremony at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. The new citizens came from 16 different countries and 11 of them worked toward citizenship through The We Are One New Jersey Union County Center at the Union County Workforce Innovation Business Center in Elizabeth. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi speaks with a commuter at the Union train station about updates for “Union County Votes,” a mobile app that provides voters and election watchers with on-the-go information.

One update is a new button labeled “Presidential Candidates.” It provides direct links to the official campaign website of each candidate that have been certified by the New Jersey Department of State.

The existing “Where do I vote?” button has also been updated to reflect any new changes in polling places.

The “Are you 17?” button on the Union County Votes app provides information for eligible Union County residents who are currently age 17 but who can register in advance, if they turn 18 on or before November 8.

Ms. Rajoppi created Union County Votes in 2014, to help connect the public with critical information about voting and elections.

The free app enables voters to find their polling place, request voter registration forms and vote-by-mail ballots, view sample ballots, and follow unofficial election results in real time. The app also provides information for persons interested in becoming a poll worker or running for office, including election filing dates and district maps.

For all election information, including complete details and deadlines for registration and Vote-By-Mail, visit the County Clerk online at ucnj.org/county-clerk or call the Election Division at 908-527-4996.

Come visit the Union County Division on Aging’s – Aging Services Kiosk (ASK) tomorrow, Thursday, May 26th at the Berkeley Heights Public Library, 290 Plainfield Ave, from 10am-2pm to get information and assistance on services for Union County residents ages 60 and older

Information includes medication assistance, utility assistance, support services for caregivers, adult day, home care, and much more! The Division of Aging can be reached at 1-888-280-8226 or by visiting www.ucnj.org/aging

Saturday, May 28 at Warinanco Park

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation invite youngsters ages 4 to 12 years old to participate “Paint by the Pond.” The newly created interactive art project will take place on Saturday, May 28 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. with a rain date of Sunday, May 29 at the pond in Warinanco Park. The pond is located near the snack bar and basketball courts. This event will allow children to paint cardboard model houses and create art on poster board. At the end of the program all participants will be invited to help sail these special houses in the pond.

The “Paint by the Pond” project will teach families about the importance of recycling while encouraging children to pain on cardboard, creating art from materials usually thrown away.

There will also be miniature houses made from out of cardboard boxes floating in the pond at Warinanco Park.

“The pond at Warinanco Park is the perfect place to host ‘Paint by the Pond’ and awaken our children’s interest in both art and nature,” said Union County Freeholder Angel G. Estrada. “This promises to be a fun and unique event to kick off the summer season.”

For more information on this exciting event, please call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at (908) 527-4900.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that the next mobile paper-shredding program for personal, confidential documents will visit Cranford on Saturday, June 4.

“Union County’s mobile document-shredding service helps residents fight identity theft by providing a convenient way to shred their confidential documents,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen. “It promotes our County recycling efforts and ties in with Union County’s other green initiatives.”

The June 4^th shredding event will take place at the Union County College campus in Cranford, on Springfield Avenue opposite Nomahegan Park. NEXCUT Shredding of Elizabeth will be shredding personal documents from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. The event will end before 1 p.m. if the shredding truck reaches capacity.

All Union County residents are eligible to use the paper-shredding service. In an effort to accommodate everyone, there is a limit of four, 10-pound bags or boxes per person. This is a garbage-free event so please bring your documents in paper bags if at all possible. Plastic bags and boxes will be returned. Please remove plastic binders and paperclips. Paper that is wet/damp will not be accepted. Residents should continue to recycle non-confidential papers and magazines with their municipal recycling program.

Documents are put into 96-gallon containers provided by the shredding company. The items are then dumped onto a conveyor belt and shredded on site. Participants are welcome to view the shredding process via a closed-circuit television. The shredded documents are then recycled, shipped to paper mills and used as pulp. The next shredding event will take place on Wednesday, June 8, at the Clark Public Works facility, 315 Westfield Ave. in Clark.

The mobile shredding program is paid for through New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Recycling Enhancement Act Grant Funds. For more information about future events or directions please call the Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889 or visit us online at www.ucnj.org/recycle .

Two Community Actions Agency Events Offered This Week for Union County Residents

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites low-income residents to attend two resource events this week as part of National Community Action Month.

“The Freeholder Board is proud to partner with and support community action agencies during National Community Action Month and throughout the year to support our residents,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.

The Jewish Family Service of Central New Jersey will present “Community Resources for Older Adults and Choosing a Home Health Aide” at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, May 24 at the Senior Resource Center at The Lavy House, 748 East Broad Street, Westfield. Registration is recommended. Contact 908-352-8375 or info@jfscentralnj.org.

On Thursday, May 26, The Gateway Family YMCA will host a Housing/Homeless Services Open House from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. at 135 Madison Avenue, Elizabeth.

Earlier this year, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders unanimously adopted a resolution declaring May as “National Community Action Month” in recognition of Union County’s community-based social services agencies that work to help residents overcome poverty. Agencies throughout the nation hosted events during the month of May to assist low-income Americans. 

“The purpose of National Community Action Month is to highlight the important role community action agencies have in helping low-income families move out of poverty and achieve economic security,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen. “As National Community Action month comes to an end, I’d like to remind our residents of services and programs available throughout the year to support those in need through our Department of Human Services.”

The Union County Department of Human Services, in partnership with other community based social services agencies, provides safety-net services to thousands of residents with food; rent and other housing assistance; utility assistance; victims of domestic violence; emergency/disaster relief; financial literacy; emergency shelter nights; youth/family stabilization; counseling for alcohol, drug abuse, and other mental health issues; veterans assistance; assistance for the disabled; medical transportation; and, workforce development training, job search and placement.

This year marks the 52^nd anniversary of National Community Action.  On August 20, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Economic Opportunity Act (EOA) which created a variety of programs, including Community Action Agencies, as part of his administration’s War on Poverty. Today, community action agencies cover 99% of America’s counties in suburban, rural, and urban communities. It is estimated that each year, these agencies help 20 million low-income people achieve economic stability.

For more information about the above mentioned May events, and services available for low income individuals and families, contact Leslie Gutierrez, Union County Department of Human Services, Division of Planning, (908) 527-4861.  For information about all other Human Services and Union County government services and programs, visit the Union County government website www.ucnj.org.

Pictured is Freeholder Vernell Wright with her granddaughter, Andrea Johnson, and NJAC Executive Director John Donnadio.