Author: Web Site Administrator

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (WellCare) as a “Community” sponsor of the Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic, celebrating marriage equality in New Jersey, on June 17 at Rahway River Park in Rahway from Noon until 4:00 p.m.

“All families are invited to join LGBTQ family equality advocates and allies from all over the Garden State to come out to the park and celebrate the strength of our diversity, and to honor the great strides we’ve made in the movement for equality,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “The Freeholder Board is proud to welcome WellCare of New Jersey as a top sponsor of the County’s first Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic.”

Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) focuses exclusively on providing health care services, through NJ FamilyCare, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, to families, children, seniors and individuals with complex medical needs. WellCare serves approximately 3.9 million members nationwide as of Dec. 31, 2016.

“We are extremely pleased and excited to be part of such an important event,” said Clarissa Robles, Senior Community Relations Specialist for WellCare of New Jersey. “WellCare is committed to offering health care plans to everyone – we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.”

A celebration of all families, the free Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic will feature music, arts and crafts, inflatable bounce houses, playground fun, and much more.

A Family Equality Rally will kick off at 1:00 p.m. with special guest speakers and performances. Families are invited to bring hand-held signs that celebrate their family (sticks and poles are not permitted).

Family field day team games will kick off at 2:00 p.m. Families and individuals of all ages (adults, teens, and children are all welcome) interested in participating in the field day competition should register online at ucnj.org/Pride so that teams can be formed.

Esteemed children’s music band, Michael and the Rockness Monsters will close out the day’s celebration with a live family concert in the park starting at 2:30 p.m.

Families are invited to pack a bag lunch and head out to the park with blankets and lawn chairs for an afternoon of fun. Food trucks will also be on site for those who wish to purchase lunch.

LGBTQ family and marriage equality advocacy and ally organizations will also set up tables, alongside the Freeholder Board information van, with general information and resource material.

For more information visit ucnj.org/Pride, or find the Union County Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic event page at Facebook.com/CountyOfUnion, or call the Union County Office of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4900.

Union County Freeholders Angel G. Estrada, Christopher Hudak and Alexander Mirabella this morning joined New Providence Mayor Al Morgan, NJ Sharing Network President and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Roth and NJ Sharing Network Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Elisse Glennon at the NJ Sharing Network 5K Celebration of Life in New Providence.

More than 10,000 participants gathered at the event to honor those who gave, paid tribute to those who received, offered hope to those who continue to wait and remembered the lives lost while waiting for a do
nation.

NJ Sharing Network is the non-profit organization responsible for the recovery of organs and tissue for New Jersey residents awaiting life-saving transplants.

The Union County Freeholder Board proudly supports the NJ Sharing Network.

For more information, visit www.njsharingnetwork.org.

The exhibit will be on display until July 10 at Liberty Hall Center which is located at 1085 Morris Avenue in Union. Viewing times are from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski and Alexander Mirabella present Dr. Thomas Ombrello, Ph.D with a resolution congratulating and commending him for his work to continue the legacy of the Basking Ridge White Oak Tree. They were joined by Union County College President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin.

A Senior Professor of Biology at Union County College, Dr. Ombrello began the historic tree project at the college in 1995, collecting seeds or cuttings of noteworthy historic trees around the New Jersey.

As part of that project, he collected acorns from the historic Basking Ridge White Oak Tree on the grounds of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church as its life came to an end after 600 years. It is believed to have been one of the oldest White Oak trees in America.

On the college’s Cranford campus, Dr. Ombrello of grew progeny of the historic tree.

Union County College recently donated the 16 year old offspring of the deceased Basking Ridge White Oak Tree. It was transplanted from the college to the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church in April.

Union County Freeholder Linda Carter presents ShonTe Smith of Plainfield with a resolution congratulating and commending her for organizing a book drive to benefit a library in Ho, Ghana.

Smith, a preschool teacher, went to Ghana last year on a volunteer teaching mission where she met a group of high school girls and promise them to send 3,000 books to their library. On May 15 Smith proudly sent 3,000 books off to Ho, Ghana.

CRANFORD – This summer the Office of Continuing Education at Union County College is offering the 2017 College for Teens program sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
The program is offered for two sessions. Each session will be held for two weeks and will meet from Monday through Thursday. During the session students have the chance to explore and research careers in criminal justice, healthcare or supply chain management, while experiencing life on a college campus. Students will learn about relevant career opportunities from prominent guest speakers. The morning session will be held July 10 to 20, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The afternoon session will be held July 17 to 27, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
To apply for the College for Teens program, students must be enrolled in a Union County high school by September 2017 and possess a grade point average of C or better. In addition to the application, students will need to submit a copy of their recent report card along with a recommendation letter from a teacher or guidance counselor. The completed application package can be faxed to (908) 709-7070, emailed to youthprograms@ucc.edu or delivered to the Office of Continuing Education at 1033 Springfield Avenue in Cranford. The application deadline for the College for Teens program is Friday, June 17, 2017.
For additional information about the College for Teens Program and the application form, visit http://www.ucc.edu/nonCredit/ForDown.aspx or call (908) 709-7600.

Traffic On Saturday, New Jersey-Bound Traffic On Sunday; Old Goethals Bridge Closing Permanently Friday Night

The 89-year-old Goethals Bridge will cease operations at 10 p.m. Friday, while workers reconfigure access approach lanes so the new replacement Goethals Bridge can open in stages on Saturday and Sunday.

The first of the new bridge’s two spans will open to New York-bound traffic during the late afternoon of Saturday, June 10, and to New Jersey-bound traffic during the late afternoon of Sunday, June 11.

The Port Authority will keep the Bayonne Bridge and Outerbridge Crossing open through the weekend to provide alternate routes for travelers between Staten Island and New Jersey.

The first of the new Goethals Bridge’s twin spans will carry both westbound and eastbound traffic until the second span opens in 2018.  At that point, eastbound and westbound traffic will be separated onto the two spans.

More information about the Goethals Bridge Replacement Program, including on-site camera feeds, can be found here.

Press Release from the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition

The President’s Transportation Infrastructure plan is being rolled out this week, and for New Jersey that means that all eyes should be on securing funding for the long-awaited Gateway Project, according to the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition.

“The Gateway Project is the most important transportation infrastructure project in the United States and includes new Hudson River tunnels, the Portal Bridge replacement, and reconstruction of New York’s Penn Station,” said Somerset County Freeholder Director and Rail Coalition Chairman Peter S. Palmer.

“Gateway will ensure the security of the vital connection between the financial capital of the world, New York; and Northern and Central New Jersey,” he said. “That connection is now at risk if the federal government’s portion of the funding is eliminated. The future of our region and New Jersey’s economy is at risk and requires immediate action.”

Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr, Chair of the RVRC Mayor’s Committee said, “Mayors who have the benefit of a train station in their communities also have a responsibility to ensure that residents have access to safe and reliable transit. The steady deterioration of our rail infrastructure is already causing delays; we must offer commuters a hope for improvement.” 

The RVRC was established in 1998 on a bipartisan basis to advocate for New Jersey rail commuters. The coalition strongly urges federal and state leaders and legislators to aggressively lobby to ensure federal funding for the Gateway Project.

The goal of the RVRC is One-Seat-Ride service to New York Penn Station and an improved quality of commute for struggling riders who face daily challenges in simply getting to work on time.

“Our residents, their quality of life, and their property values will be adversely impacted if our leaders do not take responsibility to fully support Gateway and work for its swift implementation,” said Freeholder Palmer.

“We urge everyone in the mega region to support the Gateway Project,” he said.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to support Pride month with Union County’s first Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic, celebrating marriage equality in the State of New Jersey, on Saturday, June 17 from 12 Noon until 4:00 P.M. at Rahway River Park in Rahway.

“This inclusive family event is an opportunity for families, friends and neighbors to celebrate the strength of our diversity, and to honor the great strides we’ve made in the movement for equality,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “Throughout the month of June, cities nation-wide host Pride celebrations. The Freeholder Board is proud to offer LGBTQ and ally parents and children a space to connect, support and celebrate together.”

A celebration of all families, the free Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic will include music, arts and crafts (featuring a “LOVE Makes a Family” poster making station), inflatable bounce houses for all ages, face painting, music, and much more.

A Family Equality Rally will kick off at 1:00 P.M. with special guest speakers and performances. Parents and children are invited to bring hand-held signs that celebrate their family (sticks and poles are not permitted). Bring a Rally sign or join us at the Rally Poster Making Station between noon and 1:00 p.m. to create one.

Family field day team games will kick off at 2:00 P.M. Families and individuals of all ages (adults, teens, and children are all welcome) interested in participating in the field day competition should register online at ucnj.org/Pride so that teams can be formed.

Esteemed children’s music band, Michael and the Rockness Monsters will close out the day’s celebration with a live family concert starting at 2:30 P.M.

Families are invited to pack a bag lunch and head out to the park with blankets and lawn chairs for an afternoon of fun. Food trucks will also be on site for those who wish to purchase lunch.

LGBTQ family and marriage equality advocacy and ally organizations will also set up tables, alongside the Freeholder Board information van, with general information and resource material.

In the event of inclement weather the Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic will be held inside the Rahway Recreation Center, located at 275 East Milton Ave, Rahway. Special thanks to the City of Rahway for providing the rain location.

For more information visit ucnj.org/Pride, or find the Union County Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic event page at Facebook.com/CountyOfUnion, or call the Union County Office of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4900.