Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen, Vice Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholders Angel G. Estrada and Christopher Hudak welcomed everyone to “The Battle of the Badges” hockey game between Union County police officers and firefighters at the new Warinanco Sports Center in Roselle. They were joined by Union County Manager Alfred Faella and Assemblywoman Annette Quijano. Saturday was the first day of ice skating at the new Warinanco Sports Center. For more information about the center, contact Leon Grebla at (908) 298-7849 or email at warinancopark@gmail.com. Click here to view the video from the event.
Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski spoke with Community Coordinated Child Care (CCCC) Executive Director Pat Mennuti during the “Suggested Document Handbook” kick-off event at the Rahway Public Library.
Organized by CCCC and the Union County Council for Young Children in collaboration with the Union County Department of Human Services, Division of Social Services, the event was to inform parents that the handbook is available with information on the requirements needed to apply for assistance at the Department of Human Services, Division of Social Services.
Freeholder Kowalski was the guest speaker.
For more information about Community Coordinated Child Care of Union County, visit www.ccccunion.org.
Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholder Linda Carter congratulate Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski as Community Access Unlimited Executive Director Sidney Blanchard presents her with the Public Leadership Award at the organization’s Annual Gala Dinner Dance in Newark. They were joined by Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi and Deputy Union County Manager Amy Wagner. Community Access Unlimited (CAU), celebrating its 38th year in 2017, supports people with special needs in achieving real lives in the community. For more information about CAU and its services, contact us by phone at 908.354.3040, online at www.caunj.org or by mail at 80 West Grand Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
Union County Freeholder Angel G. Estrada and Freeholder Christopher Hudak, with his children Catie and Jack, attended the annual Union County Pumpkin Sail at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside. They were joined by Amberly Russomano of the Shoprite of Clark, a generous sponsor of the event. Anthony Santos of the Union County Parks Department launched the jack-o-lanterns onto the lake. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
On Saturday November 18 – 11:00 PM through Sunday November 19 – 9:00 AM the New Jersey Bound lanes of the Goethals Bridge will be closed to accommodate shifting the New Jersey bound travel lanes in New York onto a recently-completed portion of the approach roadway to the new Goethals Bridge. The New York bound lanes will not be impacted. Minimal traffic impacts are expected; the Bayonne Bridge will remain open.
Union County Freeholder Chairman Vice Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski and Angel G. Estrada met with Roselle Public Library Director Jeanne Marie Ryan and Library Assistant Natalie Peitsinovski in the library’s children area where they spoke about the technology expansion and other improvements at the library funded with Union County Library Grants. Over the past three years, the County Freeholder Board has awarded more than $18,000 in grants from golf fees administered through the Open Space Trust Fund to the library for various purchases. The library purchased 2 new computers with part of the 2017 Union County Library Grant. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen met with Springfield Public Library Director Dale Spindel, Head of Youth Services Deborah Sandford and Teen & Emerging Technologies Librarian Alice Chunn in the library’s children area where they spoke about the technology expansion and other improvements at the library funded with Union County Library Grants. Over the past three years, the County Freeholder Board has awarded more than $18,000 in grants from golf fees administered through the Open Space Trust Fund to the library for various purchases. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders would like to wish everyone a happy and safe Halloween!
Here are some safety tips:
Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors. Since masks can sometimes obstruct a child’s vision, try non-toxic face paint and makeup whenever possible.
Have kids use glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, remind them to stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.
Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.
When selecting a costume make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.
Union County Freeholder Angel G. Estrada met with Rahway Public Library Director Gail Miller and Children’s Librarian Elizabeth Hoens in the library’s children area where they spoke about the technology expansion and other improvements at the library funded with Union County Library Grants. Over the past three years, the County Freeholder Board has awarded more than $17,000 in grants from golf fees administered through the Open Space Trust Fund to the library for various purchases. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
Debbie-Ann Anderson, the former Executive Director of HomeFirst Interfaith Housing Services and a former Executive Vice President of the United Way of Greater Union County, has been appointed Human Services Director effective today, County Manager Alfred J. Faella announced.
“Debbie-Ann brings both experience and enthusiasm to the position of Human Services Director,” said County Manager Faella. “As an executive of two non-profit agencies that have collaborated with County government, she brings a familiarity and knowledge of our government operations and the non-profit world that will greatly assist her in running the department.”
Anderson succeeds Frank Guzzo, the former director who retired earlier this year after having run the department for the past 27 years.
“I am humbled by the opportunity to lead the many dedicated public servants in our 10 different divisions and offices that provide services and respond to the quality of life needs of our residents,” said Anderson. “I am grateful to the County Manager for his support and appointment, and I look forward to working with our Board of Chosen Freeholders.”
Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen welcomed Anderson to County government.
“The Department of Human Services is an essential agency and safety net of County government that touches all our different populations, and in particular, those who need it the most—the elderly, poor, unemployed, underemployed and youth populations,” said Bergen. “We are pleased to have found someone in Debbie-Ann Anderson who is prepared to lead the department and understands these challenges, and we look forward to working with her.”
The Department of Human Services, with 747 full and part-time employees, is County government’s largest agency, and contains the following units: the Division of Aging and Disability Resource Connection; the Division of Planning; the Division of Social Services (in Plainfield and Elizabeth); the Division of Youth Services; the Office of Veterans’ Affairs; the Office on Women; Paratransit (and Route 22 Shuttle);the Contract Unit; Workforce Development Operations (One Stop Career Centers, Elizabeth and Plainfield offices) and Cornerstone Behavioral Health Hospital of Union County.
Anderson had served the past two years as Executive Director at Homefirst in Plainfield. Homefirst serves over 2,000 clients on a yearly basis by providing social service programs and community-building practices that strengthen families including transitional, permanent and supportive housing, homelessness prevention, emergency assistance, and family support services.
Prior to that, she worked for seven years at the United Way of Greater Union County, serving the last three years of her tenure as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Anderson has a diversified background in programs serving families as well as extensive experience in corporate, non-profit and community affairs organizations. Her professional career began in 1997 and has included sales and marketing as well as governmental and public affairs while working with top law firms and a variety of government agencies.
Anderson began her professional fundraising career in 2004 at the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) in Towson, Maryland. In just eight months, she rose to the Executive Director role and relocated to manage the Northern New Jersey chapter of MDA. Her strategic development efforts for the chapter led to them achieving the highest percentage of revenue growth in the nation for two consecutive years.
Anderson joined United Way of Greater Union County in 2008 and during her tenure there she garnered a reputation as a dynamic strategic developer to revenue growth. Within a year, Debbie-Ann was instrumental in securing the organization’s first major gift of $1 million dollars from a private family foundation. Ms. Anderson focused on integrating emerging fundraising markets, incorporated a more tactical use of technology, which included migration toward digital platforms to increase awareness of UWGUC among donors and Union County communities. She also managed and assisted staff in strengthening collaborative partnerships.
Anderson has a Bachelor’s of Science in Business and Marketing from Mount Saint Mary’s College and currently serves on the following nonprofit boards Habitat of Humanity Greater Plainfield and Middlesex County and Plainfield Community Outreach Organization.
