Author: Web Site Administrator

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi hosted an educational seminar open to all Notaries Public and prospective notaries featuring Union County Surrogate James S. LaCorte, Esq. as the main speaker at the John H. Stamler Police Academy in Scotch Plains.

The Notary Public course is a service being offered by the Office of the Union County Clerk. It is designed to instruct Notaries Public on how to perform their duties with confidence and diligence. Notaries learn about the new online application process and the legal aspects of performing the duties of a Notary Public in an effort to avoid liability issues.

For more information visit https://ucnj.org/county-clerk/notary-public-services/ or call the County Clerk’s office at 908-527-4787

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Vice Chairman Sergio Granados spoke with Toni Ann Turco and Rich Erric of Home for Good Dogs Rescue and met some puppies up for adoption at the organization’s Bark B Que event at Meisel Park in Springfield. The Freeholder Board is a proud sponsor of the event. For more about Home for Good Dogs Rescue visit www.homeforgooddogs.org. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

 There will be no impact on flight operations, but airline passengers and motorists may notice simulated smoke and numerous emergency vehicles in and around the airport.

The Port Authority is advising aviation passengers and motorists of an emergency response full-scale exercise at Newark Liberty International Airport from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 9.  The exercise will not delay flight operations, but the public may notice simulated smoke and numerous emergency vehicles as part of the exercise. 

The exercise will test the airport’s emergency plan for mutual aid response, enabling airport personnel and local emergency response organizations to train together and validate response procedures.

The exercise will include members of the Port Authority along with federal, state, local and airline partners.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation are pleased to announce a special free program for families,  Live Birds of Prey on Saturday, September 16 from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m.

“This is a wonderful  opportunity for visitors to view a live bald eagle, peregrine falcon and osprey in a way you may never have the chance to in your everyday life,”  said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. 

This free program provides families with the chance to see live birds of prey from the Delaware Valley Raptor Center up close and personal.   New Jersey’s magnificent raptors have made an inspiring recovery over the past few decades, thanks largely to the work of devoted biologists, educators and faithful volunteers from Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey. Learn about these incredible species and their amazing adaptations.  This program is made possible by a grant from Phillips 66.

For more information about these programs or other activities at Trailside, please call 908-789-3670 or visit ucnj.org/trailside.    Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a facility of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.

 For quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities visit The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connection.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders proudly invites all LGBTQ allies and families to rally in support of marriage and family equality at the Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic on Saturday, September 16 at Rahway River Park in Rahway.

“The Family Equality Rally is an opportunity for our community to come together in unity to celebrate the strength of our diversity,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “All families are invited to stand up for diversity, tolerance and love, and show support for family equality with a sign or banner. Bring a rally sign or join us before the rally at the poster making station to create one.”

The Family Equality Rally will kick off at 1:00 P.M. with special guest speakers as well as powerful renditions of songs that celebrate unity and equality by the voices of Union County’s own Mystic Vision Players. Speakers include local elected officials as well as representatives from the State of New Jersey Division of Children Protection and Permanency, Union County College’s Gay Straight Alliance, and Human Rights Campaign (Greater NY / New Jersey).

“In recent years, the LGBTQ movement has made considerable strides toward equality. It is important to acknowledge and celebrate the significant accomplishment of the United States Supreme Court marriage equality ruling of 2015,” said Freeholder Alexander Mirabella. “There remain issues, however, at the Federal and individual State levels that directly affect and create unique challenges for LGBTQ parents and children. As Union County’s first LGBTQ Pride event in recent history, the Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic demonstrates our support for LGBTQ allies, parents and children in our community.”

A celebration of all families, the free Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic will include arts and crafts (featuring a “LOVE Makes a Family” poster making station), inflatable bounce houses for all ages, face painting, music, family-friendly field day games (register online to be on a team) and much more.

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

More than a dozen LGBTQ family and marriage equality advocacy and ally organizations will be on site all day with general information, as well as support and networking resources.

“Pride events matter because inequality is not always obvious. Union County’s pride event demonstrates the support for diversity and full equality,” said Chairman Bergen. “Marriage equality rights are in part the result of years of Pride events. The Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic brings advocates, allies, and families of the LGBTQ community together to celebrate individuality and raise awareness for the need to meet the equality challenges of the LGBTQ community.”

In the event of inclement weather the Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic will be held at the Warinanco Sports Center, Warinanco Park in Elizabeth/Roselle.

For more information visit ucnj.org/Pride, or find the UC 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 employees donated and collected hundreds of pounds of non-perishable items for the victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas, as part of a regional drive through “Be the Change,” a non-profit community organization. 

The Union County government collection was organized by County Administrative Services employee Nathalie Hernandez, who is a member of the “Be The Change” organization at Kean University. “Be The Change” is a community service and activism group made up of students from Kean University and other Volunteers dedicated to serving the needs of the local, state, national, and global community. Its members believe in a “hands on” approach and building partnerships to affect positive change.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce children’s music band Michael & The Rockness Monsters will perform at the Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic on Saturday, September 16, 2017 at Rahway River Park, in Rahway.

“Celebrating the strength of our diversity, the Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic offers LGBTQ allies, parents and children a space to connect, support and celebrate together,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “The Freeholder Board is proud to feature children’s funk inspired rock band Michael & The Rockness Monsters with their playful and honest music the entire family will enjoy.”

Head out to the park for a full day of free family fun celebrating LGBTQ family Pride starting at 12:00 Noon, and stay for the children’s music concert featuring Michael & The Rockness Monsters, an interactive, super galactic – funk inspired, rock-n-roll experience for families at 2:30 p.m.

“As a band our goal is to spread love and write music that celebrates diversity and equality,” said Michael Napolitano of Michael & the Rockness Monsters. “We support one reoccurring message: Be yourself, be good to others and most of all, have fun!  We cannot wait to rock at the Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic!!”

A celebration of all families, the free Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic will include arts and crafts (featuring a “LOVE Makes a Family” poster making station), inflatable bounce houses for all ages, face painting, music, family-friendly field day games (register online to be on a team) 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 encouraged to show family Pride with a sign or banner.

More than a dozen LGBTQ family and marriage equality advocacy and ally organizations will be on site all day with general information, as well as support and networking resources.

In the event of inclement weather the Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic will be held at the Warinanco Sports Center, Warinanco Park in Elizabeth/Roselle.

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