Author: Web Site Administrator

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados, Vice Chairman Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholders Bruce H. Bergen and Angel G. Estrada joined Union County College President Margaret M. McMenamin and Vice President of Student Development Dr. Demond Hargrove in welcoming Eldridge Hawkins, Jr., Director of Policy, Operations, & Governmental Affairs in the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism, New Jersey Department of State, and historian and professor Dr. Jeffrey T. Sammons to the Union County College campus in Cranford for the 2018 Union County Black History Month Celebration event featuring a screening of Men of Bronze, a rare 1977 documentary about the 369th Regiment in World War I.

Dr. Sammons, Professor of History at New York University, was the keynote speaker providing commentary on the film and discussed his book, Harlem’s Rattlers and the Great War: The Undaunted 369th Regiment and the African American Quest for Equality, he co-authored with John H. Morrow, Jr.

The 2018 Black History Month Celebration is sponsored by the Freeholder Board through the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Recreation, and is funded in part by a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a Division of Cultural Affairs in the Department of State.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholders Bruce H. Bergen and Angela R. Garretson welcomed the president and CEO of JAG Physical Therapy John Gallucci, Jr. as the featured speaker in a special edition of the Union County Means Business networking breakfast series titled “Are You –ABLE?” at the Kean University in Union this morning. They were joined by Union County Deputy County Manager Amy Wagner.

A medical practitioner, businessman, speaker and author, Mr. Gallucci, MS, ATC, PT, DPT, is known throughout the area as a frequent guest on radio and television. For more information about JAG Physical Therapy, visit jagpt.com

For more information about Union County Means Business visit ucnj.org/ucmb or contact Deana Mesaros at 908-659-7412 or dmesaros@ucnj.org. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholders Bruce H. Bergen and Alexander Mirabella welcomed Christian Fuscarino of Garden State Equality to the 2018 LGBTQ Roundtable meeting the hosted by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders at the Hamilton Stage in Rahway. They were joined by Union County Department of Human Services Director Debbie-Ann Anderson, Union County Office of LGBTQ Services Coordinator Danni Newbury and Union County Division of Outreach and Advocacy Director Maureen Segale-Glenn.

The roundtable meeting was facilitated by Mr. Fuscarino as more than 40 participants discussed LGBTQ-related issues.

The Union County Office of LGBTQ Services, under the Division of Outreach and Advocacy in the Department of Human Services, provides a platform for leadership and collaboration to support equality, and serves as a catalyst for advocacy, awareness and action on current and emerging issues that impact the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals. For more information about the Union County Office of LGBTQ Services, contact Danni Newbury, Coordinator, at 908-527-4742 or dnewbury@ucnj.org.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados, Vice Chairman Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholder Alexander Mirabella present a resolution to Union County Vocational-Technical Schools Superintendent Peter Capodice, National FFA (formerly Future Farmers of America ) advisor and horticulture instructor Bonnie Baldasare and FFA members Colleen Clarke of Rahway and David Tohon of Linden designating the week of February 17, 2018 through February 24, 2018 as National FFA Week in Union County. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados, Vice Chairman Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholder Alexander Mirabella present a resolution to Union County Vocational-Technical Schools Superintendent Peter Capodice and UCVTS students and faculty designating February 2018 as National Career and Technical Education Month in Union County.

The 21st-century career and technical education programs at the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools link rigorous academics, technical knowledge and real-world experiences to help students develop workplace skills to better prepare them for college and challenging careers.

For more information about Union County Vocational-Technical Schools, visit www.ucvts.tec.nj.us.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados, Vice Chairman Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholder Alexander Mirabella present resolutions to the 2018 Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal John McPartlan, General Chairwoman Kathleen M. Holmes and Parade Adjutant Pam Joyce congratulating them on the 22nd annual parade. The 2018 Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 10 on Morris Avenue in Union.

For more information please visit www.unioncountystpatricksdayparade.com.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, along with the Trailside Museum Association, will once again pair up to honor and recognize some of Union County’s environmental heroes as part of Trailside Nature and Science Center’s annual Wild Earth Fest Event on Sunday, April 29.    You can easily nominate an environmental hero online at www.ucnj.org/trailside and select the 2018 Environmental Hero tab.

“Honoring those in our community who take the initiative and make the effort to care for our environment, gives encouragement to others and models good practices for all of us to follow,” says Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. 

Last year’s environmental heroes represented an impressive array of people of all ages and collaborations whose endeavors are bettering the earth and creating an eco-friendly society.  Included in last year’s winners was Beth Lovejoy who, as chair of the Summit Environmental Commission, spearheaded a host of projects, including an annual Earth Day clean-up.  Additionally Ms. Lovejoy initiated a GreenStar program to recognize local green businesses and worked to achieve Sustainable Jersey’s Silver Certification for the city of Summit.

The Union County Adopt-A-Trail Chainsaw Crew work tirelessly to keep the trails of Union County Parks clear, safe and accessible for the public to enjoy.  In addition to clearing fallen trees, the crew maintained trail blazes, cut back brush and invasive plants, and recently helped in the reseeding of Trailside’s Butterfly Meadow. 

Environmental Hero Maeve Casey established recycling programs in her middle school and for “Relay For Life.”  She also worked on several planting projects to help butterflies and other pollinators.   As Program Coordinator of the Rahway River Watershed Association, Environmental Hero Clea Carchia worked passionately to call attention to water quality and watershed issues.  Additionally, Ms. Carchia was the Water Quality/Habitats Issues Coordinator for the New Jersey Chapter of the Sierra Club and actively participated in the Rahway Environmental Commission. 

Do you know an environmental hero in your community?  Participants may nominate individuals or groups who have taken action for environmental change in their community.  All nominations for the Environmental Hero Award must be received by Friday, April 13, 2018 and should be submitted online at www.ucnj.org/trailside.

Along with certificates of recognition for their work, the Trailside Museum Association board members will once again award prizes to the winners of the Environmental Hero Award at Wild Earth Fest on Sunday, April 29, 2018.   

For additional information on the Environmental Hero Award or other upcoming programs or events, call Trailside at 908-789-3670 or visit online at www.ucnj.org/trailside.  Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce two hiring event opportunities coming up with Griswold Home Care of Union County and the United Airlines Summer Assist youth program.

“We always want to make sure our residents are aware of new opportunities for employment, and I would like to thank Griswold Home Care and United Airlines for partnering with Union County, Union County College and the Workforce Innovation Business Center to help provide employment opportunities to our qualified Union County applicants,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados.

Griswold Home Care of Union County is the nation’s largest, privately owned, non-medical home care company. The company is looking for Certified Home Health Aides as well as a Care Coordinator.

This event will take place on Wednesday, February 28th at 10:00 a.m. at the Union County College, Kellogg Building 5^th floor room K-517, located at 40 West Jersey Street in Elizabeth.

Open to all Union County residents. Pre-registration is required for this event. Please visit ucnj.org/jobs to RSVP.

The United Airlines Summer Assist youth program is holding an event on Tuesday, March 6th. There are two sessions, at 10:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m. This event is also located at the WIB Center at Union County College, Kellogg Building 5th floor room K-517 located at 40 West Jersey Street in Elizabeth. Candidates must be Elizabeth residents. To register, email your resume to Henri Baptiste at baptiste@ucc.edu.

For more information please call the Workforce Innovation Business Center at 908-965-2992.

Please Note: Saturday’s “Boots to Heels” Event has been postponed and will be rescheduled later this spring.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to invite women veterans to “Boots 2 Heels,” a free event designed to foster wellness and connect women with resources and guidance for empowerment. Boots 2 Heels is offered through Union County’s UC HERO initiative and will be held on Saturday, February 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Westfield Armory, located at 500 Rahway Avenue in Westfield.

“UC HERO is focused on giving back to the veterans who put their lives on the line in the service of our country, and we hope that the Boots 2 Heels program provides women veterans with information that can help them achieve their goals in all of their endeavors,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “In any way that we can, this Freeholder Board is committed to supporting our veterans and recognizing their commitment to serving the greater good.”

Boots 2 Heels is presented by the Office of Veteran Services with the Office on Women.

The event will feature keynote speaker Stacey Hale, LCSW and three breakout sessions:

• Yoga by Nicole DeAugustine, a certified yoga instructor
• Beauty services by Jersey Boutique Spa of Westfield
• Fashion services by Lord and Taylor of Westfield

A counselor from Youth & Family Counseling in Westfield will be available at the event, as well as a representative from Veteran Affairs.

Breakfast, lunch, and light refreshments will be provided through the generosity of Pinhos Bakery of Roselle, Whole Foods of Clark, and Bonds of Courage of Westfield.

The event is free but an RSVP is required. To RSVP to “Boots 2 Heels,” please contact Janna Williams at jwilliams@ucnj.orgby February 17.

For more information on the event, call 908-527-4918, 908-273-4122, or visit ucnj.org.

Union County Freeholders Angel G. Estrada and Alexander Mirabella congratulated new members inducted into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame during the 82nd Annual Union County Baseball Association Hot Stove Awards Dinner in Clark. They were joined by Union County Manager Alfred Faella, Union County Baseball Association President Jim Iozzi and the guest speaker, Major League Baseball umpire Phil Cuzzi.

The four new Hall of Famers are Bill Feehan, a longtime Elizabeth firefighter who played for Roselle Catholic High School and helped Kean College win two ECAC championships; Jack Goldberg, a First Team All-State slugger for the Union High School Farmers, who later played in the minors for the Atlanta Braves; Ernie Hoffer of Linden, a three-sport athlete who earned All-County and All-State honors in 1960 and 1961 as a third baseman; and Curt Wallace (not pictured), who distinguished himself as a hitter at Edison Tech in Elizabeth and in inter-county leagues before going on to play, manage, instruct and scout in six countries.

The Freeholders also congratulated the local student athletes honored for their achievements: Shannon Brogan and Gianna Randazza (not pictured) of Arthur L. Johnson High School in Clark share the Banyasz Brothers Award for most valuable scholastic softball players; Brian Oblachinski of Cranford received the Edward R. Cooper Award for outstanding high school baseball player; Katarina Polyviou of Cranford received the Joseph R. Lombardi Award for outstanding female athlete; and Nate Roe of Plainfield received the Chris Zusi Award for outstanding male athlete.

The awards dinner is sponsored by the Union County Baseball Association, in cooperation with the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation. Since 1937, the Hot Stove League Baseball Dinner has been the primary fund-raiser for the UCBA’s summer and fall programs for young ballplayers.

For more information the Union County Baseball Association, visit www.UCBA-NJ.org.