Author: Web Site Administrator

The County of Union’s Human Services Department has issued a Countywide Code Blue alert from today until Sunday evening in an effort to get the homeless population into shelter, as overnight temperatures are expected to plunge either below or around freezing  over the next few days.

The alert goes out from the county’s Department of Human Services, which notifies emergency shelters, social service workers, community organizations, and the County Police. The County Police get the word out to law enforcement personnel in all 21 municipalities. The early warning gives communities time to identify and locate people potentially in need of help. Shelters get time to arrange for extra beds using cots provided by the County. County and municipal police go on the lookout for persons needing shelter, and assist them with transportation.

If residents see a homeless person sleeping in these conditions at night, they are urged to contact their local police department to get them to shelter.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen presents Union County College Head Coach Alex J. Louis with a resolution congratulating him upon his 300th win with the college’s mens soccer. The milestone came when the men’s soccer team defeated Cumberland County College 7-1 at Union County’s College’s home field site at Snyder Avenue Turf Field in Berkeley Heights. The coach has been at the helm of the men’s soccer program at Union County College for the past 21 seasons. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholders Christopher Hudak and Bette Jane Kowalski present a resolution to Eric Rubinson and Arthur Hearns of the Cranford Jaycees recognizing and commending them for their efforts in the Track Friday Fundraiser that focuses on hurricane relief and to purchase new instruments for Cranford Middle Schools.

On the day after Thanksgiving, or Black Friday, people are encouraged to participate by walking or running on local tracks to raise money for different charities.

Cranford’s Track Friday is hosted by the Cranford Jaycees, who will donate the proceeds to hurricane relief in Puerto Rico and new musical instruments for Cranford Middle Schools. Participants can also create individual fundraisers.

For more information about Track Friday visit www.trackfriday.org. To learn more about the Cranford Jaycees, visit www.cranfordjaycees.org.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to bring a sensory-friendly performance of American Repertory Ballet’s Nutcracker to the stage at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway this Sunday, November 19 at 1:00 P.M.

Presented as part of Union County’s Sensory Friendly Theatre series, this abridged, one-hour sensory-friendly performance of the Nutcracker is adapted especially to create an inclusive environment for children and adults with sensory sensitivities and other special needs.

Available now, all tickets are $8 per person and can be purchased through the Union County Performing Arts Center at ucpac.org or by calling the Box Office at 732-499-8226.

“The sensory-friendly performance series is designed to help reduce disturbances at live performances to create an inclusive environment and increase access to the arts for children and adults,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “The Freeholder Board is proud to make this holiday classic accessible to families with children and adults of all abilities and needs.”

American Repertory Ballet brings the beloved classic Nutcracker to the stage with Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score, stunning, thrilling choreography and a cast of more than 100. A holiday tradition for more than 50 years (1964), American Repertory Ballet’s Nutcracker is one of the longest, continuously running Nutcracker productions in the nation. Directed by Artistic Director Douglas Martin, ARB’s professional company will be joined by select students from Princeton Ballet School to tell the story of a young girl named Clara and how a mysterious gift brings about enchanted dreams and fantastical scenes.

Whether it’s your first time, an annual tradition, or a once-in-a-lifetime experience, ARB’s Nutcracker is a perfect holiday treat for your entire family to be transported and inspired.

For each of the performances in Union County’s Sensory Friendly Theatre series the theatre environment at the Union County Performing Arts Center is adjusted to provide a sensory-friendly, comfortable and judgment-free space that is welcoming for all families.

Save the dates – mark your calendar for the upcoming Sensory Friendly Theatre series performances on Sunday, January 21 as Champions of Magic take the stage for a spectacular evening of mystery and magic, sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Autism Friendly Spaces implements the supportive atmosphere at each of the sensory-friendly performances. For more information on what to expect at a Sensory Friendly Theatre performance visit ucpac.org/sensory-friendly-theatre.

For more information or to purchase tickets call the Union County Performing Arts Center, 732-499-8226 or visit ucpac.org. The UCPAC Box Office, located at 1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 AM until 5:00 PM and is also open late on Thursdays until 8:00 PM.

For information on additional Union County recreational programs for people with disabilities age five and up, call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4781 or visit ucnj.org.

November is National Adoption Month and the Union County Surrogate’s Office is proud to celebrate “forever families” and seeks to raise awareness about the adoption process.

“The Union County Surrogate’s Office is proud to assist our residents in the process of improving the lives and welfare of children through adoption,” said Union County Surrogate, James S. LaCorte.  “Through adoption, a difference can be made one child at a time. Having a permanent family provides children with the critical legal and emotional support that all young people need.”

On Friday, November 17, 2017, the Union County Surrogate’s Office will host their 10th annual Adoption Day celebration spotlighting new Union County “forever families.” The event is co-sponsored by Superior Court of New Jersey, Union Vicinage, the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, CASA of Union County, and the Office of the Law Guardian. The private, non-profit agency monitors children who for a variety of reasons have been removed from their homes.

National Adoption Day is a national effort to raise awareness to the needs of children and youth waiting to find permanent, loving families. This annual, one-day event has made the dreams of thousands of children throughout New Jersey come true by working with policymakers, practitioners and advocates to finalize adoptions and create and celebrate “forever families.”

Unlike guardianship, adoption is intended to provide a child with a permanent family. Adoptions can occur either between related family members, or unrelated individuals. There are many Union County and New Jersey children waiting to be part of a family.

Whether your adoption process is through a public agency, a private agency or a private attorney, the Union County Surrogate’s Office is available to help navigate the system to ensure that all parental rights are legally transferred to the new parents – giving parents the same rights and responsibilities as those whose children were born to them, and provides the children all the emotional, social, legal, and familial benefits of biological children.

When starting the adoption process, there are a number of options. Prospective families can adopt a child from the U.S. foster care system; pursue a private domestic adoption through a charity or nonprofit organization; adopt a child from another country; adopt a stepchild or other relative; and in the case of same sex couples, the non-biological parent could seek a second-parent adoption to secure parental rights.

Every adoption is unique. The cost and requirements of each adoption process varies depending on the circumstances of the adoption. Often prospective families hesitate to explore adoption based on myths or misunderstanding of the process and requirements. There are many resources available to those considering adopting a child or youth. For general information about adoption visit NationalAdoptionDay.org/adoption-resources. For more specific information on adopting in New Jersey contact the New Jersey Department of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P). An application can be filled out through Foster and Adoptive Family Services on the DCP&P website, or they can call 1-800-222-0047 or email askdcf@dcf.state.nj.us.  You may contact the Union County Surrogate’s Office at 908-527-4280 for court requirements.

To learn more about Union County’s Adoption Day celebration contact Jane Phillips, Court Services Supervisor at 908-787-1650. Ext. 21297.

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.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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)