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The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that adults, ages 18 and older, can register online atwww.ucnj.org/trailisde for a lecture on the “Bee Colony Crisis.”   Presented at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside on Friday, November 13 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., this lecture is free of charge.  Pre-registration is preferred; however, walk-ins are welcomed. 

“The honey bee plays an important role in our country’s agriculture.  This lecture addresses many of the questions we have been asking about a problem that impacts all of us,” says Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh.    

The bee colony crisis has had a deleterious impact on many agricultural crops world-wide.  The decline of the bee population in our country has significantly increased the cost to farmers.  Tim Schuler, New Jersey State Apiarist, will lecture on three causes of trauma to the European honey bee.  Enhanced by a PowerPoint presentation, the lecture will define the ecological problems we face, the impact on the bee-keeping industry and how professional bee keepers and hobbyists have responded to this crisis.  

For more information about this program or other activities at Trailside, please call 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside.    Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a facility of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce online registration at www.ucnj.org/trailside for “Flower Arranging with Kurt Christoffers” for adults, ages 18 and older, on Monday, November 9 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside. 

“This program not only offers inspiration, it provides a relaxing environment to cure the ills of a stressful day,” says Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh.   “Residents can have fun while learning how to skillfully create a beautiful floral centerpiece just in time for the holidays.”    

Join Kurt Christoffers, floral designer and owner of the innovative Christoffers Flowers of Mountainside, as he demonstrates how to arrange a centerpiece using nature’s best harvest.  Relax as you watch Mr. Christoffers masterfully design an artistic piece that can be used to dress your holiday table with beauty.  Try your hand at designing a centerpiece of your own to take home.  Floral material and a container will be provided.  Bring your own shears or clippers if you have them. 

The fee for this workshop is $25 for residents of Union County and $30 for out-of-county residents.  Pre-registration for this program is required as materials are limited.  For more information about this program, or other activities at Trailside, please call 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside.     Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a facility of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi recently spoke with members of American Legion Post 322 in Summit about the services the County Clerk’s office provides. For information about County Clerk services visit www.ucnj.org/county-clerk/ or call 908-527-4787. (Photo by Jim Lowney/ County of Union)

38,000 square-foot expansion adds new classrooms, science labs, lockers and athletic facilities

Union County elected officials, school administrators, teachers and students today cut the ribbon on the completed $11 million expansion of the West Hall building for the Union County Vocational-Technical School High School.

The two-story, steel-frame academic building serves the district’s four-year, full-time Union County Vocational-Technical High School (UCTech) and has opened with more than 400 full-time students using the facility.

“Future generations of entrepreneurs, communicators, and creators are receiving their education here, honing their skills and learning how to ply their craft,” said Freeholder Alexander Mirabella, who serves as a Freeholder liaison to the Vo-Tech.

“We’re proud to be investing in our children’s future, and it is paying off as Union County’s Vocational-Technical education system is one of the strongest in the state and nation,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh, who also serves as a Freeholder liaison to the Vo-Tech.

The 38,000 square-foot addition contains 10 new classrooms, two new computer labs for biology and chemistry-physics, a faculty room, administration office, and a 1,200 square foot fitness center with adjoining health classroom. The total project cost of the expansion—approximately $11 million—is financed through a county bond issue. The architect for the project was Netta Architects of Mountainside, and the general contractor was Mar-Bridge Enterprises of Matawan, NJ. Pinnacle Construction Management of Newark, is the construction manager.

“The addition to West Hall is being used to provide all the academic programs for UCTech full time students,” said Union County Vocational-Technical Schools Superintendent Peter A. Capodice. “Last year, all UCTech full-time students received the academic portion of their program in our Academy for Information Technology (AIT at Bistocchi Hall). Now we hope to grow both the AIT and UCTech programs.”

UCTech is one of the five academies at the school, and offers students a four-year, full-time program that combines high-end academics with access to the career or technical training program of their choice. Students at UC Tech follow a comprehensive high school education program while simultaneously pursuing opportunities to study traditional vocational-technical programs. These programs include automotive technology, building trades, communication, public safety, culinary arts and cosmetology, among the 20 or programs.

UCTech, recipient of the “National Blue Ribbon School Award” in 2013, also has highly specialized career academies under its umbrella including Exercise Physiology and Related Sciences; the UCTech School of Design, the Teacher Education Academy, the Sustainable Science Academy and the Academy of Clinical Care Sciences.

Union County Vocational Technical High School’s shared-time vocational-technical training programs serve 600 Union County high school students in twenty occupational areas as well as over 100 post-secondary adults. The District’s apprenticeship program continues to be the largest program in New Jersey serving over 2,500 apprentices.

More than 1,400 students—plus an additional 600 shared time students—attend all five academies of the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools system. In 2013 both the Academy for Information Technology (AIT) and the Magnet High School were recipients of the prestigious “National Blue Ribbon School Award”. This was the second time the Magnet High School earned the award (2004).

 

Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh, Vice Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholders Alexander Mirabella and Angel G. Estrada presented a resolution to Prevention Links Executive Director Pam Capaci congratulating the organization on a successful Drug Prevention Walk during the 17th Annual Red Ribbon Drug Awareness Day on October 17 at Nomahegan Park in Cranford. They were joined by Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi and Assemblywoman Annette Quijano. The event kicked off Red Ribbon Week which is aimed at educating young people about the dangers of drugs and encourages them to live a drug free lifestyle. For more information, visit www.preventionlinks.org.

(Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

During the early morning hours of Friday, October 15, members of the Union County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division-Family Violence Unit conducted a child support sweep in Union, Linden, Rahway, Roselle and Hillside, Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan announced today.

The Sheriff’s officers arrested 15 people for failure to pay child support for arrears totaling $419,890.42. As a result of their investigation, an additional 7 people surrendered to the Sheriff’s Office for arrears totaling $171,792.98.

“Time and time again we are seeing parents struggle because someone has shirked their responsibility,” Sheriff Cryan said.

“We want to send a message that if you are not paying your obligation for child support, we will pursue you and we will catch you,” the Sheriff added. “If this type of enforcement coerces other parents to pay what they owe, it is worth it.”

The round-up was led by Family Violence Unit Commander Lt. Jeffery Coon and Unit Supervisor Sgt. Clifford Meros. All the arrests were made without incident.

Those who were arrested were committed to the Union County Jail pending a Superior Court appearance. The people who surrendered were processed and brought for a Superior Court appearance.

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This month’s Vintage Views program features interviews with Ron Esposito, AAA Traffic Safety Specialist, and Christine Marcantonio, Traffic Safety Program Coordinator for Union County. The program centers around important traffic safety and driver assistance programs for seniors, as well Union County’s popular Child Safety Seat program, which inspects and assists with the installation of child safety seats for residents.

In recognition of oral cancer awareness, the Union County Office of Health Management through the Chronic Disease Coalition of Middlesex and Union Counties has partnered with Krause Dental Care in Cranford to provide free oral cancer screenings.

Doctor Kurt M. Krause, D.M.D. will be conducting the free oral cancer screenings on Friday, November 13 from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. at his office located at 118 North Avenue West, Suite 101 in Cranford. To make an appointment for your complimentary screening please call Doctor Krause at 908-272-3001. 

“I’d like to thank all our partners involved in this screening, and ongoing efforts to raise public awareness about reducing oral cancer risks,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “Oral cancer screenings can save lives. Early detection is key to increasing the survival rate for oral cancer and plays a significant role in a person’s success in fighting the disease. ”

Oral cancer will be diagnosed in an estimated 35,000 Americans this year and will cause approximately 7,500 deaths.  The good news is that it can often be found early in its development, through a simple, painless, and quick screening. With early detection, survival rates are high and the side-effects from treatment are at their lowest.

Like other health screenings, oral cancer screenings are an effective means of finding cancer at its early, highly curable stages. The Chronic Disease Coalition of Middlesex and Union Counties and Doctor Krause urge you to make oral cancer screening part of your annual health check-ups.

Doctor Krause is committed to doing his part to raise awareness of the importance of early detection of this devastating disease.  As with most cancers, early detection dramatically increases the survival rate.  For the third consecutive year, Doctor Krause and his staff are proud to be part of the first line of defense against oral cancer by encouraging yearly oral cancer screenings as well as educating patients as to the risk factors and early signs and symptoms of oral cancer.

To make an appointment for your complimentary screening please call Dr. Krause at (908) 272-3001.  For additional information, please visit Dr. Krause’s website at krausedentalcare.com.

For more information about Oral Cancer Screening, please call the Union County Office of Health Management at 908-518-5620.

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NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that its next mobile paper-shredding program for personal documents will be available on Sunday, October 25, in New Providence.

“Union County’s mobile document-shredding service helps residents fight identity theft and eliminate clutter in their homes,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “It is a cost-effective way to assist our recycling efforts and it ties in with Union County’s other Go Green Initiatives.”

The Oct. 25^th shredding event will take place at the Alcatel-Lucent facility, located at 600 Mountain Avenue in New Providence. NEXCUT Shredding of Elizabeth will be shredding documents at the site from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. The shredding 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. Documents should not be bound. 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 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 Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889 or visit us online at www.ucnj.org/recycle .