Author: Web Site Administrator

Union County Sheriff Joe Cryan congratulates the graduates of the 2017 Union County Sheriff’s Youth Police Academy during a ceremony at the Rahway High School Performing Arts Center. Seventy-five middle and high school students from throughout Union County graduated this year’s program.

Recruits in the youth academy received hands-on experience in a wide variety of emergency services and law enforcement functions and training. During the program, the teens engaged in physical training, attended lectures and through class trips and visits by guest speakers, the recruits met with representatives from several law enforcement agencies.

Sheriff Cryan also thanks the instructors and the law enforcement agencies who were involving in make the 10^th Union County Sheriff’s Youth Academy a success.

The Special Meeting of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 10, has been canceled. The Agenda Meeting scheduled for Thursday, August 10 will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Freeholders Christopher Hudak, Mohamed Jalloh, Alexander Mirabella and  Bette Jane Kowalski today joined United States Senator Cory Booker and others including State Senator Nicholas Scutari and members of the Linden City Council at a rally today in support of Senator Booker’s “Marijuana Justice Act,” which would legalize pot, and create a process for expunging federal marijuana convictions and resentencing people currently serving time for federal marijuana offenses.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen, Vice Chairman Sergio Granados, and Freeholders Angel G. Estrada, Bette Jane Kowalski and Alexander Mirabella joined Union County Public Safety Director Andrew Moran and Union County Police Chief Chris Debbie in congratulating Lieutenant Robert Kreisberg, Lieutenant George Allard, Sergeant Homero Almanzar, Sergeant Brian Evans and Detective Deanna Lynn on their promotion to their new respective rank at a ceremony in Mountainside. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Family Fun & Flix, a free summer entertainment and film series presented by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and sponsored this year by Investors Bank, will conclude its season at Warinanco Park on Tuesday evening, August 8 with the showing of Moana. The movie will begin at dusk.

UC Get Fit Kids activities will begin at 7:30 p.m. The Freeholder initiative offers a great way to keep kids active and healthy during the summer months.

Moana is set in Ancient Polynesia at the time of a terrible curse incurred by the Demigod Maui. When it reaches Moana’s Island, she answers the Ocean’s call to seek out the Demigod to set things right. The animated film stars the voices of Auli’I Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson and Rachel House.

“This will be the final opportunity this summer for residents to come out to Warinanco Park and enjoy Family Fun & Flix and UC Fit Kids”, said Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.

Everyone attending is encouraged to bring a blanket or beach chair to claim your spot on the lawn. There will also be bleacher seats available, and refreshments will be available.

In case of weather related matters, you can call 908-558-4079 after 3:30 p.m. on the day of the show.

The Union County Summer Arts Festival Concert Series continues at Oak Ridge Park in Clark on Wednesday evening, August 9, featuring American Rapture. Show time is scheduled for 7:30 pm.

American Rapture is a rock and soul revue, featuring American pop music from the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. The band consists of 9 vocalists and 11 musicians.

The show is free, and visitors are urged to pack a picnic basket, bring lawn chairs or blankets. Refreshments and snacks will also be available from Café Gallo and the Good Humor Man. 

As always the Union County Get Fit Yoga program will precede the concert, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Bring a mat or beach towel and participate in the healthy activities for the entire family. Conducting the yoga program on August 9 will be Alluem Yoga of Cranford.

“As the summer winds down there are still a few more Wednesday’s to enjoy the great musical entertainment in beautiful Oak Ridge Park,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.

The Union County Summer Arts Festival series is presented on Wednesday evenings at Oak Ridge Park in Clark. Below are the remaining shows:

• August 9th American Rapture
• August 16th Black Dog (The Led Zeppelin Tribute)
• August 23th New York State of Mind (Tribute to Billy Joel)

Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski helped celebrate the H yesterday, along with Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, Ward 3 Council Member Kevin Kiniery, Groundwork Elizabeth Executive Director Jonathan Phillips and his staff, and a large group of volunteers from the library’s teen program and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County.

The hard-working group spruced up the library’s front lawn by creating a colorful flower bed that spells out “R-E-A-D,” then headed out back to enjoy a lunch featuring fresh produce grown in the library’s teen garden.

The garden is tended by volunteers in the library’s teen program. It was constructed last year with a grant from Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen’s “Union County Means Green” grant initiative, which is also providing funds this year to expand the gardens and install a fence.

A new urban micro-farm and another community garden are also on the grounds of the library.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholders Linda Carter and Christopher Hudak joined Union County Acting Prosecutor Grace Park, Prosecutor’s Office Chief of Investigations John McCabe, Union County Public Safety Director Andrew Moran and Union County Police Chief Chris Debbie at the National Night Out event hosted by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders on August 1 in Meisel Park in Springfield. They were joined by Dominic Romeo and Amberly Russomano of the Clark ShopRite, a major support of the event.

National Night Out is a campaign geared toward generating drug and crime awareness and prevention throughout the country.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County’s final free performance of Shakespeare’s outrageously fun comedy The Taming of the Shrew will take the stage at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside this Friday, August 4 at 7:00 P.M.

Pack a picnic and bring a blanket or lawn chairs and head out to the park to enjoy The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s Next Stage Ensemble’s abridged performance of the zesty, romantic comedy of male chauvinism and women’s rights in the 16th century. Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, this free performance is too fun to miss.

“This summer’s tour of Shakespeare’s classic romantic-comedy The Taming of the Shrew in our parks provides an opportunity for residents of all ages to experience the clever and compelling language of Shakespeare,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.

Petruchio, a poverty-stricken gentleman from Verona, journeys to Padua in search of a wealthy wife. There, he encounters the fiery Katharina, a self-willed shrew who engages Petruchio in a humorous battle of wit and insult with Kate as determined to maintain her independence as Petruchio is to “tame” her.

The Next Stage Ensemble, the Shakespeare Theatre’s summer touring company of early career actors, is part of the Theatre’s Summer Professional Training Program which offers students working toward a career in the performing arts clear instruction, individual attention, and thoughtful and candid evaluation in a professional theatre environment. The Next Stage Ensemble works with The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s resident and guest directors to fully develop abridged productions of classic plays. Come out to Union County parks this summer to the see Next Stage Ensemble’s performance of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

For more information or for a complete listing of summer events visit ucnj.org.

Bayonne Bridge to remain open this weekend, providing alternate route for shore-bound traffic

The Port Authority will continue measures it implemented earlier this month to improve traffic flow at its Staten Island Bridges to minimize congestion from summer shore travelers who use the three crossings.

This weekend, the Bayonne Bridge will not close, providing travelers with an alternate crossing if traveling between New York and New Jersey. In addition, all other construction work – other than emergency repairs – will be suspended no later than 3 p.m. Sunday at all three Staten Island crossings.

The Port Authority also will have a full complement of toll collectors on duty on Sunday to expedite the flow of traffic through its toll plazas, and a full complement of police officers will be stationed at the crossings to respond immediately to accidents or disabled vehicles that may impede the flow of traffic.

The Port Authority also is planning the following lane closings and/or full closures for the Bayonne Bridge, George Washington Bridge and the Holland Tunnel this weekend and/or next week for ongoing construction and repair projects.

Holland Tunnel:

• One westbound lane in the Holland Tunnel will close during overnight hours on Sunday, July 30, through Thursday August 3 from 11:59 p.m. each night through 5:30 a.m. the following morning.  These closures are necessary for ongoing tunnel repairs.
• One eastbound lane in the Holland Tunnel will close during overnight hours on Sunday, July 30, through Thursday August 3 from 11 p.m. each night through 5 a.m.the following morning.  These closures are necessary for ongoing tunnel repairs.

Bayonne Bridge:

• The bridge will remain open this weekend.
• The bridge will be closed Monday through Thursday nights, July 31 through August 3, from 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. the following morning.  On the morning of Friday, August 4, the bridge will reopen by 4:30 a.m. instead of 5 a.m. to accommodate 4:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. traffic holds at the Goethals Bridge.

George Washington Bridge:

• From 12:01 a.m. to 8 a.m. Saturday, July 29, the bridge’s lower level eastbound lanes will be closed for ongoing construction work.  This work is weather dependent and could get moved to 12:01 a.m. to 8 a.m. Sunday, July 30. 
• From 12:01 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 29, and on Sunday, July 30, two lanes on the bridge’s upper level westbound side will be closed for ongoing construction work. 

To receive real time traffic updates, travelers should register for Bridge and Tunnel Alerts at www.paalerts.com, call 511 or visit www.511NY.org or www.511NJ.org.