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On Sunday, the Freeholder Board and the City of Plainfield partnered with Hyacinth AIDS Foundation and Garden State Equality to host the first Union County SAGE Table community lunch at the new Plainfield Cultural Center (formerly FUSP). The intergenerational event brought together LGBTQ family members, friends and allies

Organized by the Office of LGBTQ Affairs and the Division on Aging (ADRC), the event is a program of the national SAGE organization and is designed to draw the community closer together, to alleviate the loneliness common to many LGBT seniors and to share stories and ideas, and engage in meaningful conversation about how we relate to people across age boundaries in the community, and how we can take action together.

Union County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski and Vice Chairman Alexander Mirabella present a resolution to Ben Adams and Paul Brunda of Son’s Prestige Collision in Garwood recognizing them for their outstanding contributions to veterans in need, and thanking and acknowledging them for their acts of charity and patriotism in the community. They were joined by Mike Boll of the New Jersey Veterans Network.

The auto shop, through a partnership with GEICO Insurance and the New Jersey Veterans Network, have been able to restore and donate vehicles to local veterans with a goal of ensuring transportation is no longer a worry in their lives. Son’s Prestige Collision received 4 cars from the GEICO recycle rides program and worked tirelessly to repair the cars and then donate them to disabled veterans in need throughout the area. Prestige is currently working on an additional two cars for disabled veterans. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

County’s Division on Aging to hold public meeting on July 17th, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Rahway Senior Center to get public input on services for seniors

The Union County Division on Aging (in the County’s Department of Human Services) will host a public meeting on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Rahway Senior Center, 1306 Esterbrook  Avenue, Rahway, to hear opinions from Union County’s senior adults about services needed that should be included in the state’s 2020 Area Plan.

“This meeting is an opportunity for seniors to tell us what services they think need to be increased, addressed or added to what county government currently provides,” said Bette Jane Kowalski, Chair of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. “The states must submit service plans to the federal Administration on Aging every four years that list service needs, establish priorities, and explain how the federal Older Americans Act and state funding will be used to reach plan goals.”

According to Freeholder Kowalski, Union County government is committed to maintaining its many services to senior adults and their care givers in areas such as home delivered and group meals; transportation, especially wheel chair accessible van transportation for medical care; and help applying for assistance available from state and federal programs.

“Each month staff in the Division on Aging hold information and assistance sessions in libraries and senior centers throughout the county in an effort to bring information and help to residents closer to their homes,” Freeholder Kowalski said.

The division provides services to promote wellness, independence, dignity and choice for seniors and their families.  The division’s services include Information and Assistance; the State Respite Program (SRP); and Nutrition programs, including home-delivered and congregate meals, and the Farmers Market food voucher program.

The Union County Division on Aging is one of 670 “Area Agencies on Aging” nationwide established under the federal Older Americans Act.  As of 2012, the division became the Division on Aging and Disability Resource (ADRC) in compliance with a state initiative to better serve the elderly and disabled populations. The division has information printed in both English and Spanish.

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

Union County Freeholders Angel G. Estrada and Sergio Granados joined Union County Deputy County Manager Amy Wagner, Clerk of the Freeholder Board Jim Pellettiere, United Way of Greater Union County (UWGUC) President and CEO James W. Horne, UWGUC VP of Programs and Operations Juanita Ayala-Vargas and Assemblywoman Annette Quijano in congratulating Union County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholders Angela R. Garretson, Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded, Andrea Staten and Rebecca Williams on receiving the Community Impact-Trailblazer Award at the UWGUC Annual Celebration in Springfield. They also congratulated Union County Department of Human Services Director Debbie-Ann Anderson on receiving the Champion for the Common Good Award and Union County Division of Community Services Director Brandon Givens on receiving a Rising Star Award. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County held its third annual UC PRIDE In The Park in Rahway Park on Saturday. The County’s PRIDE event was a celebration of family, equality, diversity & acceptance with music, family activities, PRIDE art, and more.

Freeholders Andrea Staten, Rebecca Williams, Alexander Mirabella, Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded and Angela Garretson and Assembly Members Jamel Holley, Linda Carter and Jon Bramnick joined local residents, friends, families, local elected officials, county employees and allies of our local community in the celebration of pride.

Union County Freeholders Sergio Granados and Angel G. Estrada joined Union County Deputy County Manager Amy Wagner, Elizabeth Councilwoman Patricia Perkins-Auguste, Simon Youth Academy Principal Syreeta McClain and Simon Youth Foundation President and CEO J. Michael Durnil in congratulating the first graduating class of the Simon Youth Academy at the Mills at the Jersey Gardens Mall in Elizabeth. The Simon Youth Academy, the first in the state of New Jersey, provides at-risk youth an opportunity to earn a high school diploma. The academy is a partnership between the Simon Youth Foundation, the Freeholder Board and the Union County Vocational-Technical School District. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholders Angela Garretson, Sergio Granados and Angel G. Estrada present a resolution to Hillside High School Principal Christine Sidwa, Hillside Board of Education Vice President Kimberly Cook, Teacher Paul Skelton and Student Council President Mateus Ramos recognizing and congratulating Hillside High School and the students who volunteered their time to beautify and clean Liberty Avenue Park in Hillside on June 12, 2019 (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski and Vice Chairman Alexander Mirabella congratulated 14 new firefighters from the Fall 2018 Class on graduating the Union County Fire Training Academy during a ceremony at Union County College in Cranford. They also congratulated Geoffrey Semler of the Cranford Fire Department on earning the Battalion Chief Ken Nocera Memorial Award for Outstanding Excellence in Firefighter 1, Kristian Jacoby of the Garwood Fire Department on earning the Chief Anthony Schepis Award for Excellence in Firefighter 1, and Willie Massenburg from the Kenilworth Fire Department on receiving the Ben Laganga Leadership Award. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholders Rebecca Williams and Angel G. Estrada joined former state Senator Raymond Lesniak and Union County Vocational-Technical Schools Board of Education President Jean Perkins in congratulating Freeholder Christopher Hudak on being awarded the Pamela Capaci Hero for Recovery Award during a ceremony for students graduating Raymond J. Lesniak Experience, Strength & Hope Recovery High School in Scotch Plains. Pamela Capaci, formerly the CEO of Prevention Links who was instrumental in establishing the school, presented the award to Freeholder Hudak.

The Raymond J. Lesniak Experience, Strength & Hope Recovery High School is a unique public/private partnership between Prevention Links, one of the state’s leading non-profits focused on substance abuse prevention, and the Union County Vocational-Technical School District. For information about the school, visit eshrecoveryschool.org/. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that the annual Farmers’ Market voucher program for seniors will begin again this summer. Starting on June 27, income eligible adults age 60 and up can receive a total of $25 in free vouchers to purchase “Jersey Fresh” fruits, vegetables and herbs at several Farmers Markets throughout Union County. 

The total of $25 is provided in $5 increments, so that seniors can spread out their purchases to ensure freshness.

 “The Freeholder Board understands just how important it is that our senior residents on a budget have the resources to have access to fresh produce which is proven to have massive health benefits,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “This year Warinanco Park in Roselle has been added to the voucher distribution sites.”

Eligible Union County adults can apply for the vouchers by visiting any of the designated distribution sites scheduled during June and July on the list below, or by calling the Union County Department of Human Services, Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection toll free at 888-280-8226.

The vouchers may be used at any Farmers’ Market in Union County that displays the yellow and black WIC poster. As a convenience, farmers offering produce for sale will also be present at several of the voucher distribution sites.

A limited number of vouchers are available and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

To be eligible, a single person’s annual income cannot exceed $23,107 and a married couple’s combined income may not exceed $31,284. Proof of age, residency and income are required at the time of application.

A Medicaid card, SSI, SNAP, annual pension, or Social Security statement may serve as proof of eligibility. Proxies applying on another person’s behalf must present proof of eligibility for that person.

Any eligible Union County resident can apply for a voucher at any of the following distribution sites in June and July:

Thursday June 27
Liberty Square Senior Center
240 Elizabeth Ave., Elizabeth
Vouchers 1:00 to 3:00 pm

Monday July 1
Casano Community Center
314 Chestnut St., Roselle Park
Vouchers 1:00 to 3:00 pm

Monday July 8
Hillside Senior Center
265 Hollywood Ave., Hillside
Vouchers 9:00-11:00 am

Monday July 15
O’Donnell-Dempsey Senior Center
622 Salem Ave., Elizabeth
Vouchers 9:00 am to 11 am
Farmer will be at this site

Wednesday July 17
Warinanco Sports Center
(Located in Warinanco Park)
698 Thompson Ave., Roselle
Vouchers 9:30 am to 11:30 am
Farmer will be at this site

Monday July 22
Ann Ferguson Towers
1601 Dill Ave., Linden
Vouchers 9:00 am to 11:00 am
Farmer will be at this site

Wednesday July 24
Plainfield Senior Center
400 E. Front St., Plainfield
Vouchers 9:30 am to 11:30 am
Farmer will be at this site

Wednesday August 7
Golden Age Towers
200 E. Milton Ave., Rahway
Vouchers 9:00 am to 11:00 am
Farmer will be at this site

For more information about the Farmer Market nutrition program, or any services provided by the Union County Department of Human Services, Division of Aging and Disability Resource (ADRC), call 1-888-280-8226 or 877-222-3737 or visit the county’s website, www.ucnj.org.