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Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholders Christopher Hudak and Alexander Mirabella present a resolution to Union County Sheriff’s Investigator Christopher Zamanski commending and congratulating him upon being named “Big of the Year” by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson and Union Counties. They were joined by Union County Sheriff Peter Corvelli, Undersheriff Mickey Colon and Michele Williers and Gabrielle Lasko from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson and Union Counties. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados, Vice Chairman Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholders Christopher Hudak, Bruce Bergen and Alexander Mirabella congratulate Jeffery Gonzalez of Elizabeth, who graduated Union County Vocational-Technical Schools’ Magnet High School, as NJAC Executive Director John G. Donnadio presents the student with a New Jersey Association of Counties (NJAC) – Investors Bank scholarship check. They were joined by UCVTS Superintendent of Schools Peter A. Capodice. During the past seven years, the NJAC Foundation has awarded over $243,000.00 in scholarships to hardworking county vocational-technical school graduates who plan to continue their education at a county or state college. Gonzalez will be attending Rutgers University. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados, Vice Chairman Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholders Angela R. Garretson and Christopher Hudak joined Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage in cutting the ribbon officially opening Phase II of the Elizabeth River Trail. They were joined by Elizabeth Council members Manny Grova, Frank Mazza and Patricia Perkins-Auguste, Groundwork Elizabeth Executive Director Jonathan Phillips and Alane McCahey of the Gateway Family YMCA. The Union County Open Space Trust Fund has contributed $500,000 for both Phase I and Phase II of the project. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Sheriff Peter Corvelli joined Undersheriffs Dennis Burke, Mickey Colon and Jonathan Parham in congratulating the graduates of the 2018 Union County Sheriff’s Youth Police Academy during a ceremony at the Rahway High School Performing Arts Center. More than 100 middle and high school students from throughout Union County graduated this year’s program.

Recruits in the youth academy received hands-on experience in a wide variety of emergency services and law enforcement functions and training. During the program, the teens engaged in physical training, attended lectures and through class trips and visits by guest speakers, the recruits met with representatives from several law enforcement agencies.

Sheriff Corvelli also thanks the instructors and the law enforcement agencies who were involving in make the 11th Union County Sheriff’s Youth Academy a success.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados, Vice Chairman Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholders Angel G. Estrada and Alexander Mirabella joined Assemblywoman Annette Quijano, Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, Union County College President Dr. Margaret McMenamin, Union County College Board of Trustees Chairman Victor Richel and Elizabeth Campus Dean Dr. Lester Sandres Rapalo in cutting the ribbon official reopening the ground floor and lower level of the Lessner Building after a major renovation project on the Elizabeth campus.  Elizabeth Councilman Manny Grova and Elizabeth Board of Education Commissioner Stanley Neron also attended the event. 

The College now offers a comprehensive Student Services Center, visible from the street, welcoming all students and prospective students through its doors. Downstairs, the new Center for Economic and Workforce Development was designed to better serve adult vocational/educational learners in the County.

The Prosecutor’s Office has joined forces with four municipal police departments to host the inaugural Summer Slam youth basketball tournament, marking the launch of a new initiative intended to connect local student-athletes with representatives of local law enforcement in fun, engaging ways, acting Union County Prosecutor Michael A. Monahan jointly announced Tuesday along with Elizabeth Police Chief John Brennan, Hillside Police Chief Vincent Ricciardi, Linden Police Chief David Hart, and Plainfield Police Director Carl Riley.

The tournament is scheduled to take place 6 p.m. this Friday, August 3 at Elizabeth’s Dunn Center, with teams of fifth- and sixth-graders from Elizabeth, Hillside, Linden, and Plainfield facing off in a pair of first-round games, followed by a championship contest and a third-place contest, also to be played simultaneously. Coaching the four teams will be detectives and other sworn members of the police departments in those municipalities.

The tournament is open to the public and free to attend.

“We’d like to see plenty of spectators in the stands rooting on our young athletes,” Prosecutor Monahan said. “We are all excited to see some great action, and fully anticipate that this event will grow to become something people look forward to all year.”

The tournament is expected to be expanded to include additional teams in coming years, eventually involving young athletes from as many Union County municipalities as possible.

The Dunn Center facilities are being made available for the tournament courtesy of Elizabeth Public Schools and Superintendent Olga Hugelmeyer, with players afforded the opportunity to play in one of the state’s marquee high-school basketball venues. The four teams practiced there together earlier this month, with retired Prosecutor’s Office Lt. Abdel Anderson – the “sixth man” on the Rutgers University men’s basketball team’s 1976 Final Four club – leading drills.

Press Release from the United Way

Partnership with Freeholders includes new summer employment program as part of Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados’s “Moving Union County Forward” youth engagement initiative;  and widens involvement with nonprofit agencies, educational institutions and local businesses.

United Way of Greater Union County (UWGUC) has partnered with the Union County Freeholder Board to create 200 jobs for youth. 

Summer employment has already been established and secured in industries such as information technology, hospitality, construction, health sciences and retail.  “By providing these job opportunities and training, we are assisting our youth with the opportunity to gain experience in a job sector they may choose as a career while also receiving financial compensation in the future,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “The Freeholder Board is proud to be sponsoring this program through United Way and we look forward to continuing this in the future.” 

This program, known as the Youth Employment Pathways Program (YEPP) is designed to help youth secure employment, attend college and/or obtain occupational certifications. In the first part of the program sponsored by the Freeholder Board, the jobs initiative assisted 60 youths in the Spring to find employment. 

YEPP is funded by a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) grant, and to continue coordination of the Youth Employment and Training Consortium (YETC).

YEPP provides services year-round and is designed to ensure youth, both in school and out of school and, who are between the ages of 14-24, are provided with the resources they’ll need to meet career goals and on-the-job training experience. “We are happy to continue this initiative of bringing together all of our resources to strengthen our community and to help young people reach their goals” said James Horne, President and CEO at United Way of Greater Union County.  “Our work to help strengthen Union County includes youth employment services that help give young people real-world opportunities to learn and grow”.  The YEPP 

UWGUC works with nonprofit agencies, educational institutions and local businesses to ensure youth obtain and gain access to employment opportunities in Union County that will make them marketable in a competitive labor force. The program includes career planning, education and training and work experience.

Agencies located across Union County included in the YETC are: the Urban League of Union County, Community Access Unlimited, Plainfield Action Services, Homefirst, Inc., the Elizabeth and Plainfield School Districts, the Plainfield Library, Second Street Youth Center, the Arc of Union County, E’town Housing and Community Development Corp, Workforce Advantage and the Union County American Job Center. 

For more information about YEPP, please visit uwguc.org/yepp or call 908.353.7171.

About United Way of Greater Union County (UWGUC) United Way of Greater Union County provides critical resources to children and families in need throughout greater Union County, North Plainfield and South Plainfield.  The organization works to improve lives and build strong communities, by focusing on key areas in education, income stability, health and family strengthening. UWGUC is a pre-eminent community-based leader, partner and investment choice in these communities.  More information about United Way of Greater Union County’s work in the community can be found online at www.uwguc.org.