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A total of 164 poems were entered by students in 4th thought 8th grade from 29 schools throughout Union County. The winners were selected by a group of volunteer judges. This event is sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders in cooperation with the Union County Shade Tree Advisory Board.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski present resolutions to the winners of 2016 Union County Arbor Day Poetry Contest.

Fourth Grade

Fifth Grade

Sixth Grade

Seventh Grade

Eighth Grade

Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholder Angel G. Estrada congratulate Nelson Rodriguez Ceron of Elizabeth on recently becoming a U.S. citizen during a ceremony at the Stephen Sampson Senior Citizen Center in Elizabeth. Nelson, 87, was one of more than 100 people who reached their goal of American citizenship through the We Are One New Jersey Union County Center. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Total of $1.5 million in grants awarded second annual time for various road and municipal improvements

Union County, NJ—The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders today announced the second annual infrastructure awards to 21 municipalities to help fund projects aimed at spurring economic development growth and street improvements throughout the County.

As part of his Chairman’s initiatives for 2016, Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen had asked that municipalities focus on street improvements, given the toll on local roads over the past several winters. As a result, 20 of 21 municipalities responding will use their award to make road improvements, many of which are repaving.

The program was conceived by Freeholder Christopher Hudak in 2015, developed through the County Freeholder Fiscal Committee the past two years, and administered by the Department of Economic Development. This year’s Fiscal Committee is chaired by Freeholder Alexander Mirabella, and includes Freeholders Hudak, Bette Jane Kowalski, and Vernell Wright.

“The end result of several bad winters and tough budgets during a time of shrinking state and federal funding have placed a strain on local roads,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “With this in mind, our goal is to prioritize road projects, and our municipal partners responded with great interest in making these improvements.”

The matching grant initiative makes available approximately $1.5 million to Union County’s 21 municipalities, assisting them to accomplish tasks undertaken in calendar year 2016. The funding for the grant is provided through the proceeds from the sale of Runnells Specialized Hospital in 2014.

“Union County is a commuter County, and transportation—including our local roadways—is at the heart of this

network,” said Freeholder Kowalski. “Better roads not only ensure the safer flow of traffic with less stress on vehicles, but also the smoother flow of commerce, which is essential to the economic well-being of the County.”

Some examples of work funded include:  roadway improvements to three local roads in Berkeley Heights, Westfield

Avenue streetscape project in Clark,  MacLennan Place Roadway improvements in Fanwood, Center Street milling project in Garwood, West Henry Street improvements in Linden, resurfacing on East Second Street in Plainfield, East Second Avenue improvements in Roselle, improvements to Larch Street in Roselle Park, and the 2016 Union Township Road Rehab project. 

Photos of Each Town

Town-By-Town Amounts Awarded 

Municipality	Amount Awarded
Berkeley Heights	$50,000
Clark	$50,000
Cranford	$76,000
Elizabeth	$105,000
Fanwood	$65,000
Garwood	$65,000
Hillside	$50,000
Kenilworth	$75,000
Linden	$100,000
Mountainside	$50,000
New Providence	$50,000
Plainfield	$100,000
Rahway	$50,000
Roselle	$50,000
Roselle Park	$50,000
Scotch Plains	$100,000
Springfield	$64,000
Summit	$100,000
Union	$100,000
Westfield	$100,000
Winfield	$50,000

 

 

Union County’s Sensory Friendly Theatre series brings Sleeping Beauty – one of the greatest classical story ballets of all time – to life on stage at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway on Sunday, May 1 at 2:00 p.m.

All tickets are $8 per person and can be purchased through the Union County Performing Arts Center at ucpac.org or by calling the Box Office at 732-499-8226.

“The sensory-friendly performance series is designed to offer a relaxed and safe theatre environment for children and adults with sensory sensitivities and other disabilities,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “The Freeholder Board is proud to offer an opportunity for families of all abilities to experience one of New Jersey Ballet’s most popular ballets for families.”

Sleeping Beauty is performed with original “storyteller narration” so even the littlest theatergoer can keep up with ease. This beautiful ballet has been an enduring favorite with adults and children for more than a hundred years. NJ Ballet fills the stage with familiar characters: Princess Aurora, the Handsome Prince, the good Lilac Fairy, the wicked fairy Carabosse, Puss in Boots, Red Riding Hood, the Blue Bird and the Enchanted Princess. With its colorful costumes and scenery, and Tchaikovsky’s soaring score, Sleeping Beauty is a splendid introduction to dance theatre for young children and grand entertainment for the whole family.

For each of the performances in the Sensory Friendly Theatre series the theatre environment at the Union County PAC will be adjusted to provide a sensory-friendly, comfortable and judgment-free space that is welcoming for all families. Autism Friendly Spaces implements the supportive atmosphere at each of the Sensory-friendly performances. For more information on what to expect at a Sensory Friendly Theatre performance visit ucpac.org.

Union County’s Sensory Friendly Theatre series is made possible, in part, by funding from the NJ Department of Community Affairs through a Recreational Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities Grant.

For more information or to purchase tickets call the Union County Performing Arts Center, 732-499-8226 or visit ucpac.org. The UCPAC Box Office, located at 1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 AM until 5:00 PM and is also open late on Thursdays until 8:00 PM.

For information on additional Union County recreational programs for people with disabilities age five and up, call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4781 or visit ucnj.org.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen joined Jim Vagias of the American Theater Group in welcoming high school students to the first annual Drama Festival at the Hamilton Stage in Rahway.

High school students from Rahway High School, Union County Academy for the Performing Arts, and Abraham Clark High School, as well as students from Montclair and Bound Brook, participated in the day-long Drama Festival produced by American Theater Group, a nonprofit professional theatre company.

Each school participating in the Drama Festival had the opportunity to present a scene from a play or musical to a panel of working members of the Broadway theatre industry who will offer in-depth critiques of the student presentations.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders sponsors students from Union County high schools to participate in the first annual Drama Festival.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders will recognize local artists and present awards at a reception on Wednesday, May 4, at the 15^th Annual Exhibit and Contest for County of Union Employees and Their Families. The free reception and awards ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Elizabethtown Gas Company, located in the Liberty Hall Center, 1085 Morris Avenue in Union.

“This show offers a chance for our Union County employees, retired employees, County programs volunteers, and family members to shine,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Union County Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board. “The artwork that they do in their spare time is outstanding, and we are proud to display it in the beautiful atrium space of the Liberty Hall Center. We are grateful to Elizabethtown Gas for generously hosting the program and awards reception and to the National Arts Program Foundation for funding the prize awards.”

Presented in partnership with the National Arts Program®, the exhibit will be open weekdays until May 24, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“The Freeholders share the goal of the National Arts Program Foundation to reach as many people as possible of all ages, offering them a chance to show their creations,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “We invite you to view this exhibit of exceptional artwork at the Liberty Hall Center.”

The art exhibit will be judged by three prominent artists/art professionals: Marguerite Brennan, Lawrence Cappiello and Frank Falotico.

Marguerite Brennan graduated in 1980 with a BFA from Philadelphia College of Art. Her studies in ceramics continued in Mexico at the Instituto de Allende, in San Miguel de Allende and Otis Institute of Parsons School of Design, Los Angeles, California. Her clay-making passion encompasses arenas of design in both functional and sculptural work distinguished by her trademark of naïve animal imagery. The functional work is hand built, not thrown on the wheel. She maintains her studio at her home in Summit, NJ, where she also gives clay lessons to the young and young-at-heart. She has exhibited extensively in the U.S. and Canada, and she has won numerous ceramic awards. Her work is in the private collections of Nicolas Cage, Bette Midler, Lorraine Bracco, Francis Ford Coppola, Aidan Quinn and David Strathairn.

Lawrence Cappiello is a founder of Arts Guild New Jersey (formerly the Arts Guild of Rahway), a non-profit center for the Arts in Rahway, NJ, and he has served as Executive Director of the organization since 1998. Mr. Cappiello was an Art major at Colby College, Waterville, Maine (1974) and holds an MA degree in Studio Art and Art Education from Kean University (1998). He has been making pictures since the age of three and has several years of other formal training in Art at The Art Students League in New York City and various other institutions in New Jersey and New York.

Frank Falotico is the Director of the duCret School of Art in Plainfield. Mr. Falotico has a B.A. in Fine Art from Monmouth College, is a graduate of the duCret School of Art and studied at the Art Students League in New York. He has exhibited his paintings in numerous shows in New Jersey and New York including the Swain Galleries in Plainfield, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, Rutgers University, and the Salmagundi Club in New York City.

The National Arts Program® is in its 31^st year with 86 annual programs in 38 states. The program was conceived by Leonard E.B. Andrews (1925 – 2009), an art collector, publisher, business executive and journalist, “for the encouragement and development of artistic expression.” The goal of the National Arts Program® is to provide an uninhibited opportunity for people to present their talent, at whatever level, in a free, public exhibition. The National Arts Program® is sponsored by The National Arts Program Foundation of Malvern, Pennsylvania. To learn more about the program, visit www.thenationalartsprogram.org.

Additional support for this event is provided by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information, contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth NJ 07202. Telephone (908) 558-2550 or e-mail: culturalinfo@ucnj.org. NJ relay users dial 711.

Town Hall at Ronald Reagan Academy | School No. 30 Addresses  the Transitioning Needs of the Autism Community

What

Co-Sponsored by Autism Speaks New Jersey and U.S. Senator Bob Menendez and hosted in partnership with Union County, City of Elizabeth, Elizabeth Public School District, Elizabeth Board of Education, and Moving New Jersey Forward Foundation, the goal of the Family Services Town Hall is to bring together young adults and adults with autism, families, adult service providers and state resources in a positive and collaborative atmosphere.  

This town hall will focus on the transition of young adults on the autism spectrum from adolescence into adulthood. Our panelists will provide families with options to think about and explore as they begin to plan for adulthood, and we hope to be able to provide additional information to the families in attendance. Our guiding principle is simple: we believe that all individuals with autism, regardless of the level of support needed, should be able to live fulfilling lives filled with purpose, dignity, choices, and happiness.

The panel will include advocates, experts and service providers, all of whom are educated and knowledgeable about adult autism services in New Jersey. The Resource Fair will include agencies that provide services for young adults and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities, not limited solely to transition.

Panelists

• EPIC Schools (Paramus, New Jersey)
• Trinitas Regional Medical Center (Elizabeth, New Jersey)
• New York Life (New York, New York)
• Autism Speaks (New York, New York)
• Division of Developmental Disabilities (Hamilton, New Jersey)
• Elizabeth Board of Education – Moderator (Elizabeth, New Jersey) 

When

May 7, 2016

• 9:15 am – Registration
• 9:30 am – Panel Discussion and Q&A
• 11:30am – Resource Fair

Where

Ronald Reagan Academy | School No. 30

730 Pennsylvania Avenue, Elizabeth, NJ 07201

Background

Transition is the movement from one stage or place to another. The transition from school services to adulthood can be challenging for individuals with ASD and other disabilities. Children grow up, and autism does not end when children reach adulthood. In the U.S., an estimated 50,000 youth with autism leave high school each year, but many are unprepared to find suitable housing, employment, or post-secondary options. Transition planning, which includes all facets of a young adult’s life, needs to be dynamic and begin early in adolescence, yet often families are unsure where to begin. Transition will be different for each family, but the goal remains the same: for the adolescent with autism to lead a fulfilling, healthy, and happy adult life.

About Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks is the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization. It is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Mr. Wright is the former vice chairman of General Electric and chief executive officer of NBC and NBC Universal. Since its inception, Autism Speaks has committed more than $570 million to its mission, the majority in science and medical research. On the global front, Autism Speaks has established partnerships in more than 70 countries on five continents to foster international research, services and awareness. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit AutismSpeaks.org.

Sponsors

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to announce the launch of the new Aging Services Kiosk (ASK) program through the Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC), under the Department of Human Services.

“The purpose of ASK is to heighten awareness among residents and help them identify the many government programs and services available to seniors and their caregivers,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Human Services Advisory Council. “The ASK program will bring our knowledgeable, experienced Division on Aging staff based in Elizabeth to locations that, for some, may be more convenient to reach.”

The new Aging Services Kiosk (ASK) outreach program will travel throughout Union County to provide senior adults age 60 and above and their caregivers information about services such as home delivered meals, respite care, home care, and adult day care, as well as support services for caregivers. Assistance with completing applications and forms will also be available.

Open to all Union County residents, the Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) is scheduled to bring the new ASK outreach program to the following municipalities in May:

Wednesday, May 4
Linden Public Library
31 E. Henry Street, Linden
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 

Monday, May 9
Mountainside Municipal Building
1385 Route 22 East, Mountainside
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Thursday, May 12
Westfield Community Center
558 W. Broad Street, Westfield
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

Thursday, May 26
Berkeley Heights Public Library
290 Plainfield Avenue, Berkeley Heights
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 

The Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) aims to promote wellness, independence, dignity and choice for seniors and their families. It is one of 670 Area Agencies on Aging nationwide established under the federal Older Americans Act. The division offers informational resources printed in both English and Spanish.

“The Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) model, a state initiative that Union County has embraced since 2012, is designed to improve service for seniors and residents with disabilities,” said Union County’s Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski. “These services can enable our residents with limited mobility to remain in their homes and communities,” Kowalski added.

Additional dates and locations will be added for the mobile ASK program in coming months, and will be posted in local newspapers, the Senior News, Facebook, Twitter and the Union County website, www.ucnj.org.

For more information about the Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection, call the division’s toll-free number: 1-888-280-8226, or 908-527-4870 or 4858 or visit the Union County government website at ucnj.org.

Union County Freeholders Vernell Wright, Christopher Hudak, Bette Jane Kowalski and Alexander Mirabella and County Manager Alfred Faella joined Union County Trailside Nature and Science Center Director Patricia Bertsch and Assistant Director Karen Inzillo in celebrating 75 years of Environmental Education at Trailside during Wild Earth Fest in Mountainside. Wild Earth Fest is an entertaining family event where attendees can learn ways to become eco-friendly and increase awareness of wildlife conservation. Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road, Mountainside, New Jersey. For more information call (908) 789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union