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Paint by the Pond scheduled for (today) Saturday, May 12th at Warinanco Park in Elizabeth and Roselle, has been canceled. A new date will soon be announced.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholders Alexander Mirabella and Bruce H. Bergen  joined Scotch Plains Mayor Al Smith, members of the Scotch Plains Council and Fanwood-Scotch Plains Rotary members at the ribbon-cutting officially marking the start of the exterior restoration of the historic Frazee House in Scotch Plains.

A major fundraising effort has been undertaken to complete the exterior restoration of the Frazee House. A total of $700,000 out of the $800,000 needed has been raised and work will begin this month. The County of Union has awarded more than $80,000 in grants towards the project. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – As part of Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados’s 2018 Union County Plant a Seed grants initiative, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that grants have been awarded to 61 garden projects in 16 municipalities through the Union County Kids Dig In! school garden grant program.

Schools with students in grades pre-K through 12 were eligible to apply for a Union County Kids Dig In grant. The grants are funded through the Union County Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund.

“I started this initiative last year as Open Space Chairman to encourage students, school staff and parents grow healthy produce for students in their own schools and also to donate 30 percent of their harvest to local soup kitchens, food pantries, or community residents in need,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “This experience will have a lasting impact on our youth and encourage giving back to others throughout their lives. I have always been of the mindset that we must find ways to help others in need, and Kids Dig In is a perfect example of paying it forward while also learning about agriculture and stewardship of the land.”

“It’s also very gratifying to see how schools across the country are using gardens as a form of therapy for children with autism,” added Chairman Granados. “Gardening provides a broad learning experience with many physical, emotional and developmental benefits.”

“School gardens bring everyone together in a collaborative effort: students, teachers, school staff, parents and neighborhood residents,” said Freeholder Alexander Mirabella, who is Chairman of the Trust Fund. “The Kids Dig In grant program helps to support the value that Union County residents place on preserving open space and fostering a healthy environment.”

The County presented the Union County Kids Dig In! grant program to each school district through its Open Space Trust Fund, offering a total of $70,000 in grant assistance through revenues from golf fees administered through the fund.

The grant program covers produce gardens including vegetables, fruits, nuts, berries, herbs and spices, pollinator-attracting plants and plants for pest management. It does not cover ornamental plants or non-producing gardens.

Gardens must agree to set aside 30% of their harvest for community donation and enroll in Come Grow With Us!, a free countywide information and resource sharing network for community gardens.

Those applying for grants were given four options, 1.) to apply for tools and equipment; 2.) to apply for establishing a garden with four raised beds with soil, irrigation, soil amendments, seedlings and provisions for educational programs; 3.) to apply directly for ten (10) Earthboxes with soil, tools, soil amendments, seedlings and provisions for educational programs; and 4.) To apply for funding covering other garden types including rooftop, hydroponic and any others.

The following is a list of schools that applied and will receive assistance through the Kids Dig In! program:

Berkeley Heights—The Mountain Park Elementary School for the Sow Happy Garden—Raised Beds ($1,250.00)

Clark—1.)Mother Seton Regional High School—Raised beds and equipment ($1,250.00)
2.)Valley Road Elementary School for the Grade 2 Garden–Tools & Material ($500.00)

Cranford—the Lincoln School for the Lincoln Garden–Tools and Material ($500.00)

Elizabeth (27 gardens in all)
1.) Madison Monroe School # 16–New Raised Bed Garden & Equipment ($1,250.00)
2.) John Marshall School # 20–Dr. Thelma Hurd Memorial Garden—2 or more hydroponic gardens or raised beds ($1,250.00)
3.) Egenolf Early Childhood Center—Earthbox Garden ($750.00)
4.) William F. Halloran School #22 —The Husky Patch garden–Raised Bed gardens ($1,250.00)
5.) Jewish Educational Center—Early Childhood Garden–Earthbox Garden ($750.00)
6.) Winfield Scott School # 2 School—School 2 Garden– Earthbox Garden ($750.00)
7.) Mabel G. Holmes School 5 Annex–Huskies Blooming Wonderland Garden—Tools & Material New Raised Beds ($1,250.00)
8.) Toussaint L’Ouverture Elementary # 6–Lion’s Pride Garden –New Raised Beds ($1,250.00)
9.) Terence C. Reilly School # 7—Live, Laugh, Learn & Grow garden—Tools & Materials ($500.00)
10.) Jerome Dunn Academy School # 9—JDA Field of Greens garden— Tools & Materials ($500.00)
11.) Elmora School # 12—BEST BUDS garden—New Raised Beds/Equipment ($1,250.00)
12.) Christopher Columbus School # 15—Garden Bed– ($1,250.00)
13.) Elizabeth Woodrow Wilson School #19–Earthbox Garden and tools ($750.00)
14.) Victor Mravlag School # 21–STEMS for Success Garden–Fence ($150.00)
15.) Dr. Orlando Edreira Academy School # 26– New Raised Beds ($1,250.00)
16.) Dr. Antonia Pantoja School # 27—Pantoja Gardens—New Raised Beds, Earthbox, Tools ($1,250.00)
17.) Juan Pablo Duarte Jose Julian Marti School # 28– School 28 Garden—Tools/Materials New Raised Beds ($1,250.00)
18,) Frances C. Smith School # 50—New Raised Bed Gardens ($1,250.00)
19.) Donald Stewart Center for Early Childhood Education– Donald Stewart School 51 Garden—Earthbox Garden ($750.00)
20.) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ECC #52—The Reading Garden—New Raised Bed Gardens ($1,250.00)
21.) Thomas A. Edison Career & Technical Academy—Peter Herbal Herb Garden—Earthbox and Equipment ($750.00)
22.) Adm. William F. Halsey Jr. Academy–R.I.S.E.garden–New Raised Bed Gardens/Equipment ($1,250.00)
23.) Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy —TJAA Liberty Hydroponics Garden—Hydroponic Garden ($1,250.00)
24.) Dr. Albert Einstein Academy School #29—Einstein’s Outdoor Classroom—Tools/Equipment ($500.00)
25.) Abraham Lincoln School # 14 Lincoln’s Grove Tools/Equipment ($500.00)
26.) YMCA–The Gateway Family YMCA—Earthbox ($750.00)
27.) Joseph Battin School # 4—Battin Garden — Tools/Equipment ($500.00)

• Hillside—1.) Abram P. Morris Early Childhood Center–Materials, Raised Beds, Earthbox ($1,250.00)
2.) Hurden Looker School –Tools & Materials ($500.00)
3.) Hillside High School—Raised beds ($1,250.00)

Kenilworth—Saint Theresa School—Sts Garden Club Garden—materials and tools ($500)

Linden—1.) Linden High School/Academy of Excellence–TOP Garden–compost and fence, Raised Bed Gardens ($1,250)
2.) School # 2 Garden—Tools & Materials ($500.00)
3.) Elementary School # 1—Lettuce Grow Garden–Raised Bed Gardens ($1,250)
4.) School # 5–School #5 Family Garden—Raised Bed Gardens ($1,250.00)
5.) School # 6–School #6 Garden—Raised Bed and Tools ($1,250.00)
6.) Myles J. McManus Middle School –Raised Bed Gardens ($1,250)

Mountainside—Beechwood School—Berry Patch Garden—Raised bed gardens ($500)

New Providence—Morris-Union Jointure Commission–The Developmental Learning Center Garden–Earthbox Garden ($750)

Plainfield—-1.) The Plainfield Academy for the Arts & Advanced Studies–PAAAS it forward produce garden—Raised Beds & Equipment ($1,250) 2.) Jefferson Elementary—Earthbox Garden ($750) 3.) Emerson Community School—Emerson Community School Garden—Raised Beds & Equipment ($1,250)

Rahway—1.) Madison School Madison School—Tools & Equipment ($500)
2.) Rahway High School—Raised Beds & equipment ($1,250)

Roselle—Washington Elementary School—Washington Elementary School Garden—tools and equipment. ($500)

Scotch Plains—1.) Park Middle School Park Community Garden—Raised Bed Gardens ($1,250) 2.) Brunner Elementary School Brunner—Children’s Garden —Tools & Materials ($500)
3.) Union County Vocational-Technical Schools—Aero Mobile Garden ($1,250)
4.) JCC of Central NJ—Brody Family Early Learning Center Garden—Raised Bed Gardens, Earthboxes, Tools ($1,250)
5.) Evergreen School—Raised Bed ($1,250)

Union—The Deron School of New Jersey, Inc—
Cathy’s Garden—Tool, supplies, irrigation with timer ($500)

Westfield—1.) Holy Trinity School–Westfield Food Pantry garden—Raised Bed Gardens ($1,250)
2.) Washington Elementary School–Washington School Garden–Monarch/Pollinator teaching garden ($750)
3) McKinley Elementary School—Garden of Hearts & Minds—New Raised Bed Garden or fence ($1,250)
4.) Westlake School—Tools & Materials ($452)
5.)Jefferson School—Jefferson School Outdoor Classroom–New Raised Bed Garden ($1,250)

Winfield—Winfield School Garden—raised bed garden and cart ($1,250)

Plant A Seed includes the Union County Kids Dig in and Union County Means Green grant programs, both administered on behalf of the Freeholder Board by the nonprofit community organization Groundwork Elizabeth. Plant a Seed also includes state-funded recycling grant programs administered by Union County, and other initiatives that foster education, empowerment and community service. More information is online at ucnj.org.

For more information about Groundwork Elizabeth visit online at groundworkelizabeth.org.

Quick links to all Union County environmental programs, activities and services are available through The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connection.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:
ELIZABETH—27 Schools from the City of Elizabeth received Kids Dig In! grants from Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados (far left) and Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski (far right) and Al Mirabella (second right)
CRANFORD—Cynthia Arch of the Lincoln School (second from left) receives Kids Dig In! grant from (right) Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados, Freeholder Al Mirabella, and Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski (end, left).

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.
Connect with Union County on social media.

Women’s Empowerment, Yoga and Meditation Event “The Time is Now” offered at Union County College
Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that a free yoga, meditation class and emotional wellness event for women will be offered on Friday evening, June 1, at Union County College, Kellogg Building Room K-157, 40 West Jersey Street in Elizabeth.
The event, titled “The Time is Now,” is part of the free women’s empowerment series conducted through the Office on Women, Department of Human Services Division on Outreach and Advocacy.
“We want to ensure that every resident has the opportunity to engage with activities that contribute to overall health and well- being,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Our recreational and educational programs have been reaching out to embrace important new pathways for achieving personal growth, and I would like to thank Whole Foods and Athleta, Westfield for their support in this endeavor.”
• A short talk and introduction with time to network.
• Yoga session by Nicole DeAugustine, certified yoga instructor.
• Guided meditation ceremony
“The Time is Now” Yoga and Meditation begins at 6:00 p.m. on June 1, and is expected to conclude at approximately 9:00 p.m.
Attendees should wear comfortable clothing appropriate for yoga, and bring their own yoga mats.
The event is free but space is limited. Pre-registration is required online at ucnj.org/womans-yoga.
Union County College, Kellogg Building Room K-517 is located at 40 W Jersey Street, Elizabeth. Parking is available at the Bollwage Garage at the Corner of W. Jersey and Elizabethtown Plaza (there is a small fee for this parking).
The Office on Women was created in 2016 as an initiative of Freeholder Bruce H. Bergen. As the first county-based office of its kind in New Jersey, the Office on Women aims to help ensure that women connect with services and programs that enable them to reach their full potential at every stage of their lives, in education, in employment and business, health and in the social fabric of Union County, and to raise awareness of the many contributions that women make to life in Union County.
For additional details contact Jennifer Erdos, Union County Office on Women at jerdos@ucnj.org

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

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders today announced the fourth annual Union County Infrastructure Grant awards to 21 municipalities to help fund projects aimed at spurring economic development growth, making road, facility and other improvements throughout the County.

“This program provides our municipalities with financial aid to make various improvements that benefit our residents and businesses,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Many of the projects are much-needed road or sidewalk improvements, while others are facility, business district, public safety, or record keeping items.”

The program was conceived by Freeholder Christopher Hudak in 2015, developed by the County’s Freeholder Fiscal Committee and administered by the Department of Economic Development.  This year’s Freeholder Fiscal Committee included Freeholder Bruce Bergen (who chaired the committee), Freeholder Vice Chair Bette Jane Kowalski, and Freeholders Angel Estrada and Alexander Mirabella.

“The Union County Infrastructure Grant provides assistance to our cities and towns for vital improvements that may lack a sufficient funding source,” said Freeholder Hudak. “Our intent is to stimulate economic growth and maintain the high quality of life in Union County.” 

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 2018.

Funding for the grant is provided through the proceeds from the sale of Runnells Specialized Hospital in 2014.

Some examples of work funded include: milling and resurfacing of streets in Berkeley Heights; a road repaving program in Cranford; Orchard Terrace drainage improvements in Hillside; Sumner Avenue improvements in Plainfield; Hanratty sports complex improvements in Elizabeth; resurfacing of Meeting House Lane in Mountainside; and Springfield Avenue improvements in Summit.

Municipality	Amount Awarded
Berkeley Heights	$55,000
Clark	$50,000
Cranford	$90,000
Elizabeth	$125,000
Fanwood	$55,000
Garwood	$40,000
Hillside	$55,000
Kenilworth	$75,000
Linden	$100,000
Mountainside	$50,000
New Providence	$55,000
Plainfield	$100,000
Rahway	$80,000
Roselle	$60,000
Roselle Park	$55,000
Scotch Plains	$100,000
Springfield	$63,000
Summit	$100,000
Union	$80,000
Westfield	$92,000
Winfield	$20,000

Union County Freeholder Christopher Hudak presents Linden High School Seniors Taylor Battle and Jade Rodrigues with resolutions congratulating them on the Easter egg design they created being featured at the 140^th annual Easter Egg Roll at the White House in Washington, DC on April 2.

The U.S. Department of Education invited students throughout the U.S. to design an egg that reflects their home state. The designs had to be emblematic, including elements such as the state flower or state bird. Students from more than a dozen schools in New Jersey submitted their Easter egg designs to the state Department of Education for consideration, and the Linden High School’s design was unanimously selected.

Their Easter egg design chosen to represent New Jersey included includes many iconic New Jersey elements including our State Motto, “Liberty and Prosperity”; the Goldfinch, New Jersey’s State Bird; New Jersey’s State Fruit, the blueberry and even the Jersey Shore.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders this evening awarded Union County Infrastructure Grants and “Level the Playing Field” grants to mayors and representatives from all 21 municipalities in the County.

The Union County Infrastructure Grants help fund projects aimed at spurring economic development growth, making road, facility and other improvements throughout the County. 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 2018.

“Level The Playing Field” is a new grant program designed to help every municipality provide inclusive playgrounds to children with disabilities, and is part of Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados’s 2018 Union County HEART initiative for community outreach and advocacy. A total of $500,000 in Level the Playing Field awards was funded through the Union County Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund and golf fees administered through the Trust Fund.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados, Vice Chairman Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholder Angel G. Estrada joined Rahway Mayor Raymond A. Giacobbe in cutting the ribbon officially opening The Willows at Rahway. They were joined by Assemblyman James Kennedy, New Jersey Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency Chief of Staff Katie Brennan, Bruce Morgan of BCM Affordable Housing and Ingerman and Rahway Councilmen Rodney Farrar, David Brown and Joseph D. Gibilisco.

The Willows at Rahway is a new affordable rental community located in the Rahway Arts District in downtown Rahway. The project will serve as affordable housing with a preference for artists. Union County contributed approximately $800,000 in HOME Investment Partnership funds to the project. The community consists of one, two and three bedroom apartments featuring a full host of amenities and will cater to artists with designated artist spaces throughout the building.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the opening of a new senior café in Scotch Plains on Tuesday, May 1 at the Shady Rest Clubhouse at the Scotch Hills Country Club, 820 Jerusalem Road. The historic site is a meeting place for Scotch Plains seniors, and is currently owned by the Township of Scotch Plains. Built in the 1920’s, it was the first African-American owned golf course in the United States. 

Seniors are invited to come to the opening of the café on Tuesday, May 1 for lunch beginning at 11:30 a.m. Food will be served until at approximately 12:15 p.m. The lunches will then continue to be served once a week—weekly on Tuesdays, during the same time span.

“This is the 24th group meal site for senior adults, age 60 and older, in Union County and it is open to seniors from any of the 21 municipalities in the County,” stated Sergio Granados, Chairman of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. “We are pleased to offer new places for our seniors to meet and share lunch together. A nutritionally balanced lunch will be served with the help of local volunteers.”

Scotch Plains Mayor Al Smith said, “As Mayor, and on behalf of the entire Council, I am proud to continue our commitment to serve all seniors with well-rounded programming to address their needs. The Senior Café is a wonderful addition to the programing provided through the Township for seniors. I look forward to attending some of the lunches myself!”

Freeholder Al Mirabella, also Scotch Plains Municipal Manager, noted: “The Township of Scotch Plains is always looking for ways to expand our programming for our Senior Citizens. This weekly nutrition program, held in the newly refurbished Shady Rest, is a wonderful opportunity for our seniors to meet, socialize and share a meal.” 

The program will be run by Scotch Plains, under the supervision of County officials. The meals, which are paid through Federal grant funds, consist of a hot protein entre, vegetable or salad, potato, pasta or rice, bread, milk, and soup or juice.

The suggested donation is $1.75 per meal.  If one person in a couple is under age 60, the suggested donation is $4.00.

Countywide in 2017, the Union County Division on Aging delivered 166,835 group meals at 23 senior sites. Another 224,337 “Meals on Wheels” meals were delivered to the homes of the frail elderly, for a total of 391,172 meals.

A nutritionist in the Division on Aging designs meals that meet healthy nutrient requirements, also known as the Recommended Dietary Allowance. In addition, the nutritionist provides health and wellness presentations about food choices, physical activity, and seasonal produce.

For further information about nutrition programs offered by the Division on Aging, contact Kathleen Malkiewicz by phone at 908-527-4877 or by email at kmalkiewicz@ucnj.org.

For information about all services and programs for seniors and their families visit ucnj.org/aging.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholder Linda Carter present resolutions to TAPinto Roselle/Roselle Park and TAPinto Elizabeth Publisher Kathy Lloyd, Plainfield Councilwoman Rebecca Williams and Union County College Gay-Straight Alliance President Tiffany Santana in honor of Union County recognizing Thursday, April 26, 2018 as “Lesbian Visibility Day.” They were joined by Union County Office of LGBTQ Services Coordinator Danni Newbury and Union County Office on Women Coordinator Jennifer Erdos. The Freeholder Board supports a day of visibility for individuals such as these women who have carved their way through uncharted territories spreading awareness and providing support and advocacy to Union County’s lesbian community. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)