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Union County Freeholders Linda Carter and Alexander Mirabella present a resolution and a check to students and educators from Union County Vocational-Technical Schools (UCVTS) in Scotch Plains in honor of the school winning the 2017 Union County Student Training and Enrichment Program (UC STEP) challenge.

UCVTS collected the most food donations during the “Kans 4 Kids” food drive under the annual UC STEP youth leadership program and won the $1,000 Start Now grant.

Roselle Park High School, Linden High School, Governor Livingston High School in Berkeley Heights and Union County Teams Charter School in Plainfield received honorable mention grants of $250 each.

More than 100 students from 14 high schools participated in the friendly competition collecting 5,120 pounds of food for donation to the Community Food Bank in Hillside.
UC STEP was created to provide high school students the opportunity to develop a countywide community service around a topic they feel is important, while teaching them leadership and personal growth skills and responsibility within their communities.

(Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Total of $1.5 million in grants awarded third year in a row under grant program initiated in 2015

Union County, NJ — The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders today announced the third annual Union County Infrastructure and Municipal Aid matching grants have been awarded to all 21 municipalities for a total of $1.5 million, mainly targeting road resurfacing.  

“Union County is a key transportation hub in the New York-New Jersey metro region, so this County funding benefits our local residents and businesses as well as commuters, visitors and shipping companies,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “Heavy rains this spring have exacerbated the damage normally incurred during a typical winter, making it all the more imperative to ensure that road repair continues apace this year.”

The Union County Infrastructure and Municipal Aid program was conceived by Freeholder Christopher Hudak in 2015 and developed through the County Freeholder Fiscal Committee. It is designed to stimulate the development of projects of economic, social, transportation and governmental importance to local municipalities.

The program is administered by the Department of Economic Development. This year’s Fiscal Committee is chaired by Freeholder Alexander Mirabella and includes Vice Chairman Sergio Granados, and Freeholders Lind Carter and Mohamed Jalloh.

As part of his Chairman’s initiatives for 2016, Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen asked grant applicants to focus on road improvements, given the toll on local roads over the past several winters. This year, 19 of the 21 grants involve road improvements.

“The end result of several bad winters and tight municipal budgets during a time of shrinking state and federal funding have placed a strain on local roads,” said Freeholder Christopher Hudak. “Our goal is to leverage County dollars to help our municipalities cover the funding gap and focus on the urgent need for repaving.”

The matching grant initiative makes available approximately $1.5 million to Union County’s 21 municipalities, assisting them to accomplish tasks undertaken in calendar year 2017. The funding for the grant is provided through the proceeds from the sale of Runnells Specialized Hospital in 2014.

The following matching grants have been awarded through the Union County Infrastructure and Municipal Aid program:

• Township of Berkeley Heights:  $50,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• Township of Clark:  $50,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• Township of Cranford:  $90,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• City of Elizabeth:  $105,000.00 Installation of Traffic Signals
• Borough of Fanwood:  $55,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• Borough of Garwood  $55,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• Township of Hillside:  $55,000.00 Roadway & Facilities Improvement Projects
• Borough of Kenilworth:  $75,000.00 Rehabilitation of Facilities, Housing Master Plan, Traffic Signal Study
• City of Linden:  $100,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• Borough of Mountainside:  $50,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• Borough of New Providence:  $55,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• City of Plainfield:  $100,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• City of Rahway:  $65,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• Borough of Roselle:  $60,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• Borough of Roselle Park:  $55,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• Township of Scotch Plains:  $90,000.00 Park Facilities and Road Improvement Projects
• Township of Springfield:  $75,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• City of Summit:  $100,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• Township of Union:  $100,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• Town of Westfield:  $100,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• Township of Winfield:  $15,000.00 Facility Improvements: Municipal Building & Police Department

Residents and other travelers are advised to check with their municipality regarding improvement projects on local roads. For information on scheduled improvements to Union County roads (identified by their blue signs and three-digit route numbers) visit the interactive map on at ucnj.org/traffic. A list of contacts is available on the County website, ucnj.org, for reporting potholes on local, County and State roads. For links to all forms of transportation in and around Union County visit Union County ConneXions at ucnj.org/connect.

(Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholders Alexander Mirabella, Linda Carter, Bette Jane Kowalski and Vernell Wright welcomed Janice Huff, Chief Meteorologist for NBC 4 New York, to the fifth annual Union County Women Mean Business (UCWMB) Summit at the Clubhouse at the Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth. They were joined by Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi.

Huff delivered the keynote address at the event that was designed to help women grow their business networks and build critical skills. UCWMB is an initiative of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Learn more

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation invites everyone to come out to the newly renovated Watchung Stable to enjoy the 84^th Annual Spring Troop Show this coming weekend.

 

The event is scheduled for Friday, May 26 beginning at 4:00 pm, and Saturday, May 27 and Sunday May 28, both of those days beginning at 8:30 am. The Spring Troop Show features riding competition events throughout the weekend, with trophies awarded to the best in a number of equestrian categories. Competition will take place for pre-teens, teenagers and adults.

 

“We look forward to each spring and fall to watching the participants display the riding skills they’ve learned at the Watchung Stable,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen. “It’s always an enjoyable experience to attend the competition and root on all the riders.”

 

Admission to the Spring Troop Show is free, however, no dogs will allowed on the premises during the show.

 

Watchung Stable is located at 1160 Summit Lane in Mountainside. The facility is run by the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.

 

For more information about riding lessons or equestrian programs call Watchung Stable at 908-789-3665, or e-mail questions to stablequestions@ucnj.org.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen joined Freeholders Angel G. Estrada and Bette Jane Kowalski in presenting certificates to Marie Bethea of Plainfield and Joe Yorey of Cranford honoring them as Senior Volunteers of the Year for Older Americans Month. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The Port Authority is prepared to accommodate the nearly six million people who will travel by air, car or rail during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, the traditional start of the summer travel season. The agency has taken proactive measures to ensure travelers have a safe and customer-friendly experience while using Port Authority facilities across the region.

Following this week’s tragic terrorism attack in Manchester, England, the Port Authority Police Department has stepped up security at all of the agency’s facilities through the Memorial Day weekend.  The actions include increased counter security efforts, such as random bag and vehicle checks, the deployment of special weapons units, as well as the assignment of additional security personnel and equipment at the agency’s bridges, tunnels, airports, PATH rail and other holdings.

Airports

Beginning Friday, May 26, through Tuesday, May 30, the agency expects more than 1.8 million passengers to use the Port Authority’s aviation facilities – a 1.4 percent increase over last year.

The Port Authority expects approximately 839,000 passengers to travel through John F. Kennedy International, approximately 576,000 to travel through Newark Liberty International Airport, an estimated 384,000 to travel through LaGuardia Airport, a projected 15,000 to travel through Atlantic City International Airport and 3,200 to travel through Stewart International Airport.

To handle the high volume of expected air travelers, the Port Authority will staff the airports with hundreds of Customer Care Representatives to assist travelers throughout the holiday weekend. Travelers should check with their carriers on the status of their flight before going to the airport.

Given ongoing redevelopment-related construction, travelers to LaGuardia Airport should plan ahead and check www.laguardiaairport.com for tips and the latest information on parking, mass transit and ground transportation alternatives.

For additional information on how passengers can streamline their trip through screening checkpoints, visit the TSA website at

https://apps.tsa.dhs.gov/mytsa/wait_times_home.aspx.   

Passengers planning to use the Port Authority’s airports during the Memorial Day weekend can sign up for Airport Info Alerts at http://www.airportinfoalerts.com/. This free, mobile subscription service notifies customers about weather delays and parking lot capacities.

Bridges and Tunnels

The Port Authority projects that approximately 3.4 million travelers will use its bridges and tunnels during the holiday weekend. The agency will have a full complement of toll collectors on duty to expedite travel through its crossings.  With passenger traffic expected to be heavier than normal, motorists are encouraged to allow extra time to reach their destination.

All construction on Port Authority bridges and tunnels, with the exception of emergency work, will be suspended from Friday morning through Tuesday morning for the holiday weekend. The Bayonne Bridge will remain opened from 5 a.m. Friday, May 26, through 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 30.

Heavier than normal crowds are expected at the Port Authority Bus Terminal during the holiday getaway and passengers are urged to purchase tickets in advance to avoid waiting in lines prior to their scheduled departure.

To ensure the safety of the traveling public, the Port Authority Police Department will conduct a DWI checkpoint at its facilities throughout the weekend to discourage people from drinking and driving.

To receive the latest travel alerts, travelers are encouraged to register for Port Authority Alerts at www.bridgeandtunnelalerts.com.  Motorists can receive alerts directly to their cell phones or e-mail accounts.

Additionally, travelers are encouraged to download Waze, a free crowdsourced traffic and navigation application. The Port Authority will feed information on lane closures, traffic incidents and other events to the Waze platform in real time.

PATH

The Port Authority projects that approximately 520,000 travelers will use its PATH rail system during the holiday weekend. PATH will operate additional trains as needed on Friday, May 26, to assist commuters leaving early for the holiday weekend. PATH will operate on a normal Saturday schedule on Saturday, May 27.  On Sunday, May 28, PATH will operate on a Sunday schedule. On Monday, May 29, PATH will operate on a Saturday schedule.

For up-to-date service information, riders are encouraged to follow PATH Rail System on Twitter at https://twitter.com/PATHTrain. Riders also can sign up for PATHAlerts at www.pathalerts.com, which provides up to the minute bulletins on PATH service changes.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation are pleased to announce the third and final lecture in the spring “Trailside Talks” series, for adults and high school students at the Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside.   This free program has been funded by the Trailside Museum Association.  Donations are welcomed.          

“This lecture is one not to be missed.  It answers the many questions people are posing about the declining bee population”, notes Freeholder Chairman, Bruce H. Bergen.

On Saturday, June 3 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.  the Trailside Talks Series concludes with “Pollinators.” Butterflies, bumblebees, moths and other creatures help pollinate over 75% of our flowering plants and crops, contributing to over $29 billion in crops each year.  Currently many species of pollinators are struggling to survive.  A naturalist from the Conserve Wildlife Foundation explores why pollinators are crucial to our environment, health, food systems and economy.  Learn how to help the declining species of New Jersey pollinators with simple steps we can take to protect them in our own backyard. 

For more information about these programs or other activities at Trailside, please call 908-789-3670 or visit www.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.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Improvement Authority hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new Union County Courthouse Cherry Street Annex.  Located at 2 Cherry Street in Elizabeth, the new courthouse provides six state-of-the-art courtrooms and facilities that will serve families throughout Union County. The event brought together county officials, judges and legal professionals from across Union County.

“As a Judiciary, we are proud of this courthouse for many reasons,” said the Honorable Karen M. Cassidy, Assignment Judge for the Union County Vicinage (Union County Court).  “This is the first time that litigants are able to come to a facility that will address their needs in one location.” 

“The new Courthouse is a dignified, modern and functional facility for the usage of families, the judiciary, our employees, and the community as a whole,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “We are pleased to support the construction of a permanent facility that is dedicated to helping those in need.”

Senator Nicholas Scutari (D-Union, Somerset and Middlesex), who serves as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, stated: “I am pleased to celebrate the official opening of the new courthouse that will serve Union County families. The expansion of our court facilities was critical to ensuring that our judiciary is able to meet the needs of residents, who expect that our courthouses are equipped to operate in an effective and efficient manner. I’m confident this twenty-first century courthouse will adequately serve our region well into the future.”

Assemblyman Jerry Green of Plainfield (D-22), Speaker Pro Tempore of the NJ Assembly, said: “The new Courthouse is an outstanding facility that will provide the proper setting to improve the lives of the families and children who need help and seek justice.”

Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, whose community is hosting the facility, added: “”The new Union County Annex building not only contributes to the revitalization of Elizabeth’s downtown area, but also provides additional services for our City and County residents. Elizabeth is proud to be the County seat and looks forward to having more resources to support families in need as well as help those seeking assistance and legal guidance.”

Union County Acting Prosecutor Grace H. Park said:  “The Courthouse will also house the newly established Union County Family Justice Center (FJC), which is expected to open in late summer 2017. The FJC will provide crime victims with legal assistance, crisis counseling, court advocacy, logistical support, and housing aid. We believe this will positively transform the way in which domestic violence receive services in Union County.”

UCIA Executive Director Daniel P. Sullivan served as Master of Ceremonies for the event, which began with the presentation of colors, conducted by the Office of the Union County Sheriff Honor Guard. The program included a performance by the Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy Choir from Elizabeth. The program’s honored guest and keynote speaker was New Jersey Chief Justice Stuart Rabner.

The new facility serves as an extension of the current courthouse. It will provide 78,071 square feet of new space.

The building was designed in accordance with NJ Courthouse Facility Guidelines and embraces the latest in technology and security features to serve judges, staff, lawyers and litigants. The Courthouse includes four interconnected spatial and circulation systems, each separate and secure, including:

• Six state-of-the-art Courtrooms and support facilities
• Judges’ Chambers and Support Staff offices
• Prisoner Intake, Holding and Attorney/Client Conference spaces
• Sheriff’s Department security control facilities

The public enters the Courthouse through an elevated courtyard and secured lobby, providing direct access to court-related administrative functions and stair/elevators connections to courtroom waiting areas on the floors above.  Other public spaces include a Cafeteria, Children’s Waiting Room, Attorney Lounge, Conference, Hearing and Mediation Rooms and several Waiting Areas. The building is fully accessible to the handicapped and provides surface parking including a separate and secured parking lot for judges.  The project was also designed to receive USGBC LEED® Certification.

“The UCIA is proud to play an important role in the construction of our newest courthouse in Union County, and we greatly appreciate the support given to this project by the Board of Chosen Freeholders,” says UCIA Chairman, Anthony Scutari. “It is a state-of-the-art facility that will meet the needs of Union County families and our Courts for many, many years to come,” adds Mr. Scutari.

About the UCIA

The aims and purpose of the Union County Improvement Authority are those set forth generally in County Improvement Authorities Law, N.J.S.A. 40:37A-44 et seq., and particularly in N.J.S.A. 40:37A-54, which provides the Authority with the statutory power and resources to assist the State of New Jersey, the County of Union, and the municipalities within the County to create, construct and operate a variety of facilities and services for the public benefit. For more information visit ucimprovementauthority.org.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that a total of 21 new miles of County roads will be repaved this season in 15 municipalities. Work will begin later this summer.

“Union County maintains more 174 miles of roadway that are of import for the transport of our residents but also goods and commerce that impacts New Jersey and the region as a whole,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “We look forward to making progress this summer in ensuring these roads are in good condition for travel.”

Freeholder Christopher Hudak, who is a member of the Public Works and Facilities Freeholder Committee, added:  “Resurfacing also makes travel on our roadways safer and more efficient.  We also make improvements to signage and striping to improve visibility, and to curbing to improve safety and accessibility for people with disabilities.”

The 2017 Roads Resurfacing program will begin later this summer after the County completes the 2016 Roads Resurfacing program which was delayed last year after Governor Christie froze the state’s Transportation Trust Fund which pays in part for the program.

The 2017 Road Resurfacing program will cost approximately $8.2 million, with an approximate 50-50 funding split between the County and the State Transportation Trust Fund.

The work will be conducted at night when possible, in order to minimize the need for detours during peak travel periods. 

The roads scheduled for resurfacing in 2017 are:

• Berkeley Heights/Summit: Glenside Avenue from Valley Road to Baltusrol Ave 
• Berkeley Heights: Valley Road from Glenside Ave to the Somerset County Line
• Clark/Cranford: Walnut Avenue from South Avenue to Valley Road
• Elizabeth:  Linden Avenue from Acme Street/ Park Entrance to Elmora Avenue
• Elizabeth/Linden: Linden Ave/Lidgerwood Avenue  from Park Avenue to Edgar Road
• Hillside: Conant Street from Liberty Avenue to Salem Ave
• Linden:Wood Ave from St. Georges Avenue to Blancke St.
• Linden: Wood Ave form Pennsylvania R.R. Ave. to Rts # 1 and 9 
• Mountainside: Summit Lane  from Summit Road to W.R. Tracy Dr.
• Rahway: Milton Avenue to Route 1 & 9 to Broad Street
• Rahway:  Hazelwood Avenue/Hart Street from Fulton Street to  Randolph Avenue
• Roselle: Chestnut Street from St. Georges Avenue to 1st Avenue
• Roselle Park: Lincoln Avenue East from Chestnut Street to  Galloping Hill Road 
• Scotch Plains: Mountain Avenue & Willow Avenue from Route 22 
• Scotch Plains: Raritan Road from Lake Avenue to Terrill Road
• Summit: Passaic Avenue from Constantine Place to River Road
• Union: Salem Road from Morris Avenue to Conant Street
• Westfield/Clark: Central Avenue from South Avenue to Barnes & Noble

For up-to-date information on road closures and other travel advisories related to County road and bridge projects, visit the interactive Road Construction Update page at ucnj.org/traffic.

To report potholes on County roads, use the convenient online form at ucnj.org/pothole.