Author: Web Site Administrator

Every holiday season for 17 years, Union County Sheriff’s Officers have set up their “Tree of Hope” in the courthouse seeking donations of toys and clothing for needy children throughout the county. Each year the response has been overwhelming.

The “Tree of Hope” was first planted in 1997 when officers encountered children in the courts who were going to experience a less than happy holiday season. The children the officers encountered were homeless or living in shelters, were victims of domestic violence or medically fragile. Their parents or guardians did not have the financial ability to provide holiday gifts.

Every year since the “Tree of Hope” committee have erected a tree in the Union County Courthouse featuring paper ornaments. Volunteers make the ornaments and write a particular gift on each one.

“These caring officers do a tremendous job in helping these children,” acting Sheriff Joseph Cryan said. “It is important not to forget those kids who are less fortunate.”

Monetary donations to help provide additional gifts are also being sought.

Contributions of money (tax-deductible), toys and clothing can be sent to: Union County Sheriff’s Officers Tree of Hope, Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, N.J., 07207. For more information, call the “Tree of Hope” hotline at 908-629-2158.

Union County Freeholders Sergio Granados and Vernell Wright marched in the 63^rd Annual Halloween Parade in Linden on Sunday, October 26. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is a proud supporter of the Linden Halloween Parade. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

(From left) Acting Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan and Union County Freeholder Alexander Mirabella congratulate the winners of the 4^th Annual Union County Sheriff’s Pistol Competition at the Union County Sheriff’s Firearms Training Facility in Springfield. Officer Craig Howlett of the Roselle Police Department won 1^st Place. Officer Elliott Bernard of the Fanwood Police Department took 2^nd Place. Officer Javier Perez of the Linden Police Department took 3^rd Place. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Mohamed Jalloh (2^nd L) and Freeholder Sergio Granados (R)  present resolutions to (from 3^rd left) Assemblyman Jon Bramnick, attorney Daniel McCarthy and Roselle Mayor Jamel Holley congratulating them on being honored by Community Access Unlimited (CAU) at the organization’s 34^th Annual Gala Dinner Dance in Mountainside. They are joined by CAU Executive Director Sidney Blanchard (L).

Mayor Holley was named Humanitarian of the Year.  Assemblyman Bramnick received the Public Leadership Award. Daniel McCarthy received the Ira Geller Award.

For more information about CAU, a multi-faceted, human services agency that provides support services for at-risk youth and people with disabilities, please visit www.caunj.org.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholders Bruce Bergen and Bette Jane Kowalski (center) joined elected officials from Summit, Springfield, members of the Union County Open Space Trust Fund Public Advisory Committee, and officials from the State Department of Environmental Protection (Green Acres), and the Briant Park Olmsted Conservancy in breaking ground for the restoration of Briant Park in Summit and Springfield.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders approved a grant of $275,000 from the Union County Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund that will match a state Green Acres grant received by the Briant Park Olmsted Conservancy. With the Trust Fund grant, the total of available funding for the improvement project will be $550,000.

The new improvements will include a gazebo to provide a sheltered seating area, and a new nature trail. The new trail will be laid with wood chips to complement the natural feel of the park environment.

Other improvements include new plantings and soil restoration, pruning and removal of dead trees, new benches including wheelchair access to seating areas, period sign posts, restoration of a retaining wall on the west slope, and aesthetic improvements to an existing footbridge.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present “Kevin’s Legacy,” an exhibit of artwork by the participants of the Bridgeway Fine Arts Instruction Program. The Freeholders Gallery is located on the 6^th floor of the Union County Administration Building, Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth, NJ, and is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The exhibit will run through November 7.

Bridgeway, a non-profit mental health services agency located in Elizabeth, assists Central and Northern New Jersey adults experiencing mental illness by providing them with training and skills necessary to live more independently and successfully in the community.

Bridgeway’s Creative Arts Unit provides opportunities to experience all forms of artistic expression. Its staff supports and encourages individuals whose artistic inclinations lead them to pursue creative endeavors. This program allows novice artists to explore their creative abilities and more advanced artists to increase their creative talents by offering a series of ongoing weekly instruction sessions. Artist-instructors teach drawing and painting and help students gain an understanding of the importance and benefits of becoming involved in the arts. Some of the results of this important project are displayed in this exhibition.

Funding has been made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, through a grant administered by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs.

For more information about Bridgeway and its programs, please go to www.bridgewayrehab.com and contact Kathy Smith at 908-355-7886. To learn about exhibiting at the Freeholders Gallery, please contact the curator, Nicole DeAugustine, at the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, telephone 908-558-2550 or email culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

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The following information is provided by the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition (contact information below):

Riders on the Raritan Valley Line Deserve Midtown Direct Train Service

• Be informed about what has been accomplished
• Learn about what still needs to be done
• Find out about the obstacles to direct service
• Speak with a NJ Transit representative

The Raritan Valley Rail Coalition is hosting an Information Open House

When: Monday October 27, 6-8 pm

Where: Cranford Community Center, 220 Walnut Ave

(1 block from Train Station; plenty of parking)

Plan to stop in anytime between 6 and 8 pm. Share your comments and get the latest information about the possible cancellation of off-peak evening service. Learn what the Coalition is doing to expand the current morning off-peak service, as well as the goal of weekend and peak hour direct trains to Midtown Manhattan.

Can’t make it? Email your questions to info@raritanvalleyrail.com.

Stay connected to the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition for the latest.

www.raritanvalleyrail.com

Facebook: Raritan Valley Rail Coalition Twitter: @rvrailcoalition

Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak (R) introduces U.S. Senator Cory Booker and  Kristina Hahn, head of Consumer Packaged Goods at Google, during the Union County Means Business “Think Globally, Act Locally” breakfast networking session October 21 at Hamilton Stage in Rahway.

The event was designed to explore opportunities for business growth through electronic media and also featured SHR Marketing CEO Stan Robinson in a roundtable discussion moderated by Tara Dowdell, Founder and Principal of the Tara Dowdell Group.

“Think Globally, Act Locally” is part of the Freeholder Board’s Union County Means Business initiative, which provides free networking sessions and other services for the local business community.

For more information about Union County Means Business visit the UCMB website, ucnj2.org/ucmb, or call 908-527-4802.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ — Nominations for the 23^rd Annual Women of Excellence Awards are now being accepted. The award, sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Commission on the Status of Women, celebrates the diverse achievements of women who have distinguished themselves in professional or volunteer fields in Union County.

“The Women of Excellence Awards honor the many ways in which women strengthen the Union County community, by sharing the inspiring stories of awardees from many different backgrounds,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “Nominate an extraordinary woman in your life, and help contribute to this effort.”

Women can be nominated for their contributions in the categories of Arts and Humanities, Business and Entrepreneurial, Community Service, Education, Government, Law, Law Enforcement, Medicine and Health Care, or Women’s Advocacy.

The Women of Excellence award is open to all women, 21 years or older, who live, work, or volunteer in Union County.

Awardees will receive a certificate and will be celebrated at the annual Women of Excellence gala awards dinner, to be held on March 20, 2015 at Galloping Hill Caterers in Union Township.

For more information about submitting a Women of Excellence nomination, or to download a nomination form, visit ucnj.org/women-of-excellence. Questions about the nomination process can be emailed tojoahara1217@gmail.com.

All nominations should be mailed to Jane O’Hara at 708 Newark Avenue,Westfield, NJ 07090 and postmarked no later than December 1, 2014.

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Please join the County of Union online at ucnj.org, on Facebook at ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter attwitter.com/countyofunionnj.

(From left) Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak and Vice Chairman Mohamed Jalloh met with U.S. Senator Cory Booker, Freeholder Vernell Wright, Union County College President Margaret McMenamin and Kean University President Dawood Farah to discuss a $3.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to develop a program focused on increasing the success among Hispanic college students in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines at Kean’s STEM building in Union. Union County College, a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), received a 5-year, $3.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE), and selected Kean University as its 4-year college partner. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)