County of Union, New Jersey
Union County Freeholders Vernell Wright and Mohamed S. Jalloh present a resolution to Dasia “DasiaVu” Edmond of Union congratulating her on officially publishing two books. They were joined by her mother, Belinda Salley. The 12-year-old Burnet Middle School student released “Uniquely Made: ‘Girls Don’t Play Football’” in 2016 and “Hair Chronicles: ‘The Struggles of Natural Hair’” this summer. The books are available on www.amazon.com. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados speaks with Liza Chowdhury, Ph.D, Criminologist/Assistant Professor with expertise in the field of juvenile delinquency, youth gangs, intersectionality and correction, Gang Specialist and Mental Health Advocate Jason Davis, Union County Performing Arts Center Executive Director Brian Remo, Prevention Links CEO Pamela Capaci and Union County Prosecutor’s Office Assistant Prosecutor Susan Gleason at the Prevention Links 2017 Family Engagement Conference at Community Access Unlimited in Elizabeth. The County of Union sponsored the event that featured presentations that focused on engaging youth, parents, and professionals in improving the outcomes for justice-involved youth.
Prevention Links is a private, not-for-profit organization, which takes a leadership role in the prevention of drugs, alcohol, tobacco and related issues.
For more information about Prevention Links, visit www.preventionlinks.org.
Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Union County Manager Alfred Faella joined Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky and representatives from Bris Avrohom of Hillside to light the menorah for Chanukah in Phil Rizzuto Park in Elizabeth. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
Union County Freeholders Christopher Hudak, Linda Carter and Alexander Mirabella congratulate the recipients of the Susan Hudak Leadership Award at the 5th annual Union County Student Training and Enrichment Program (UC STEP) Summit at Kean University in Union. UC STEP is a day-long summit that invites high school sophomores and juniors from throughout Union County to participate in hands-on activities focused on leadership, personal growth, and civic engagement.
More than 200 students from 22 high schools in Union County broke into 11 groups to attend breakout sessions focused on personal growth and leadership while collaborating with others to work through the day’s activities. One student from each group received the Susan Hudak Leadership Award.
The recipients are: Thomas Gilmartin from Cranford High School, Giovanna Castaneda from Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy, Alexis Waites from Plainfield High School, Destiny Walker U.C. TEAMS, Jose Calixto from Cranford High School, Milly Azcona from Hillside High School, Alexis Brooks from Jonathon Dayton High School, Caity McTernan from Jonathon Dayton High School, Nina Suske from New Providence High School, Cristina Altamirano from Benedictine Academy and Virendra Ghate from U.C.V.T.S.
For more information about UC STEP visit www.ucnj.org/uc-step. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
Update – NJ Transit Raritan Valley Line service has since resumed normal operations
At or around 2:25 p.m. today, two separate derailments occurred involving a CSX/Conrail freight train headed from Philadelphia to New York City. There were no injuries or known chemical spills, but a substantial amount of track between the Union Train station and Galloping Hill road was damaged, suspending train service on both directions on the Raritan Valley Branch of NJ Transit. Train service could be out indefinitely. Union County OEM, Police, Public Safety and other state and municipal agencies have responded. Cleanup crews will be on hand shortly to assess and begin cleanup. The train contained some scrap materials and empty tankers.
ELIZABETH – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the County Manager invite you to the annual “Christmas Carol Sing-a-long Around the Rotunda Christmas Tree” on Friday, December 22nd, at 11:00 a.m.
The event will be held in the rotunda of the Union County Courthouse building, 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ.
Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen is the master of ceremonies. The event includes caroling, musical entertainment, and a visit from Santa.
Ms. Carol Guevarez of Linden donated this year’s Christmas tree, a 40ft. tall blue spruce. She and her family planted the tree in honor of her late father who passed away in 1990.
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Union County Freeholder Christopher Hudak moderated a Knock Out Opioid Abuse Town Hall hosted by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey at Kean University in Union. The panelists included Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan and Union County Acting Prosecutor Thomas Isenhour. For more information visit, knockoutopioidabuse.drugfreenj.org. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
If you know of an individual, organization, or business that stands out for helping others, the Union County Human Relations Commission would like to know about them.
The Commission is seeking nominations for its prestigious 2018 Unity Achievement Awards, which honor volunteerism and public service in all of its forms. Award nominees must live, work, or attend school in Union County.
“We want to hear about the people you know who dedicate their time and effort to do wonderful things that not only enhance others’ experiences and quality of life, but raise and honor the human spirit,” Commission Co-Chair Nora Mislan said. “Those who are nominated for these Awards are regular people who do extraordinary things. Their efforts improve the lives of others, and by doing so, they truly make a difference in our world.”
“These Awards recognize programs, services, activities, and efforts being put forth by local role models who promote cultural diversity, strong community relations, and human rights,” Mislan added.
Past Unity Achievement Award recipients have included corporations, business organizations, community organizations, nonprofit organizations, individuals, law-enforcement representatives, public servants, clergy, faith-based organizations, members of the media, students, educators, and veterans. The 2017 Awards will mark the 16th annual year in which honorees have been named.
The Commission’s 2017 Awards honored grief counselors, an eighth-grade student, a high-school senior, a retired police lieutenant, volunteers who assist foster children, three mothers, two veterans, and our neighbors who volunteer their time. Their efforts included helping children cope with loss, providing meals to seniors, making available child-to-child encouragement for children combatting cancer, increasing youth understanding of autism to encourage acceptance and friendship, and more.
A listing of all of the previous Unity Achievement Award recipients in all categories can be found on the county website, ucnj.org.
The commissioners who volunteer their time and energy to serve on the Union County Human Relations Commission unequivocally agree that the best way to strive to accomplish their mission — to actively encourage, develop, promote, and strengthen respect for human rights and cultural diversity among the people of Union County — is to publicly honor those who already do it well.
Nominations for the 2018 Awards are being accepted now, and they must be received no later than Wednesday, December 27, 2017.
The nomination form is available online at www.ucnj.org/uchrc. You can also request the form by calling Commissioner Karen Positan at 908-889-9028 or emailing her at kpositan@ucnj.org.
Union County Freeholder Mohamed S. Jalloh welcomes Thomas Jefferson (Steven Edenbo) and Alexander Hamilton (Eben Kuhns) to the Union County Preforming Arts Center in Rahway where the actors performed “Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton: Conflict and the Constitution.”
The show, sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, was designed for middle school students and features a one hour meeting and debate between two of the most controversial founding fathers. Hundreds of students from schools throughout Union County will see the show.
Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholder Angel G. Estrada visit the Veterans Memorial Grove in Rahway River Park which is being refurbished. Missing trees are being replaced and the area around the memorial marker is being refurbished in the historic tree grove. They were joined by Union County Deputy Manager Amy Wagner, Union County Parks and Recreation Director Ron Zuber and Janna Williams of the Union County Office of Veterans Affairs. The project is part of Chairman Bergen’s UCHERO initiative. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)