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Union County, NJ – Members of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders will be on hand to assist the Salvation Army of Plainfield with its third annual “Christmas in July” Bicycle Give-Away for children on Wednesday July 23, at the Salvation Army in Plainfield, 615 Watchung Avenue. The event starts at 10:15 a.m.

“I would like to thank The Salvation Army of Plainfield, the Plainfield Dairy Queen, and Children’s Specialized Hospital for building this exemplary community partnership,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “This program helps to ensure that more youngsters have the opportunity to enjoy healthy outdoor activities.”

The “Christmas in July” Bicycle Give-Away event includes bike safety tips, refreshments, and live entertainment.

Staff from the Union County Police Traffic Safety Education Program will distribute bicycle helmets and help ensure that children are properly fitted. The helmets are being donated by Children’s Specialized Hospital.

Pre-registration is required in order to be eligible for a donated bicycle. To register, come to the Salvation Army of Plainfield at 615 Watchung Avenue between 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. any day from now until July 22, and complete an application form.

Eligible recipients will be notified by staff of the Salvation Army of Plainfield.

The bicycles are being provided by Rich and Donna Albanese-DeMair, owners of the Dairy Queen in Plainfield, who donate scores of refurbished bikes to youths each year. In addition to recreation, the bikes are used for school and work commutes.

Mr. Albanese-DeMair has refurbished more than 775 bikes for local children in the past five years.

To support the bicycle give-away events, donated bicycles can be dropped off any time at the Plainfield Dairy Queen, located at 1367 South Avenue. To arrange for a donation to be picked up contact Donna Albanese-DeMair at 908-755-5994.

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Union County, NJ – To promote sun safety and the early detection of skin cancer, this summer the Chronic Disease Coalition of Middlesex and Union Counties is providing free skin cancer analyses along with their “Choose Your Cover” message of prevention.

In Union County, the Choose Your Cover event will take place at the Clark Community Pool, 201 Oak Ridge Road in Clark, on Saturday, July 19 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.  The first 20 attendees will receive a special gift bag with skin cancer promotional materials. All attendees will also qualify to enter a drawing for a gift basket courtesy of Clark Township Health Department.

“I’d like to thank the Chronic Disease Coalition and the Township of Clark for raising public awareness about reducing skin cancer risks,” said Christopher Hudak, Chairman of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. “You can still enjoy all of your summertime activities while limiting your exposure to the sun.”

Before you head outdoors this summer, representatives from the Chronic Disease Coalition of Middlesex and Union Counties urge you to take sun safe precautions to protect your skin from the damaging rays of the sun.

People who work or play outdoors, fair skinned people who sunburn easily, and those with a family history of melanoma are at an increased risk of developing skin cancer – the most common form of cancer in the United States.

Overexposure to the sun’s UV rays is one of the most preventable risk factors for melanoma and all types of skin cancer. This is why it is so important to ‘choose your cover’ and reduce your risk accordingly.

Covering up your skin with long sleeve shirts and long pants in tightly woven fabrics can offer a great means of protection for your skin. Opt for a wide-brimmed hat over a baseball cap for better protection of your head, ears and neck, and wear sunglasses with 100 percent UVA and UVB absorption to protect the eyes from sun damage.

Look for shady areas or avoid the sun, if possible, during the middle of the day when UV rays are the strongest. Remember to liberally apply a broad spectrum sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher and reapply frequently, and steer clear of indoor tanning beds which are proven to increase your risk for skin cancer.

For more information about Choose Your Cover 2014, please call the Union County Office of Health Management at 908-518-5620.

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Union County Freeholders Bruce Bergen (2nd L) and Bette Jane Kowalski joined Joe DiBello (L), Superintendent of the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail of the National Parks Service, and Mark Hurwitz of the 3rd New Jersey Regiment “Jersey Blues” in unveiling the new sign officially marking the historic Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route in Echo Lake Park in Mountainside. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Dedication of Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route

Union County – On Bastille Day, Monday, July 14, Union County became the first county in New Jersey to officially mark the march that won the American Revolution, when the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders dedicated the Union County portion of the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route.

The dedication ceremony took place on Mountain Avenue near the west end of the County’s Echo Lake Park in Mountainside.

“The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is committed to identifying and preserving our historic roots,” said Freeholder Chairman, Christopher Hudak. “We take great pride in raising awareness of the Washington-Rochambeau march, and its role in winning our nation’s independence as the first modern democracy.”

The scene of one of the most storied collaborations in U.S. military history, the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route was designated an official National Historic Trail by Congress in 2009.

While there is no trail in the literal sense, the route can be traced along important County arteries in five municipalities including Raritan Road in Scotch Plains; Lamberts Mill Road in Scotch Plains; West Broad Street in Westfield; Mountain Avenue in Westfield, Mountainside and Springfield; Morris Avenue in Springfield; and Morris Turnpike in Summit.

In all, more than a dozen markers will be placed in Union County to mark the historic route

In 1781, with support from the French navy and ground troops commanded by General Jean Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur (comte de Rochambeau), General George Washington marched the Continental Army from New York through New Jersey including Union County, and onwards to victory at Yorktown.

The inland route enabled the combined American and French armies to evade British troops as they traveled south.

The significance of the French support for Washington is noted on the National Parks Service website explaining how the Revolutionary War had reached a stalemate:

“In the fall of 1780, the Continental Army was running on faith, hope, and promises, and that there was still an army in the field at all was due in large part to Washington’s charisma and leadership.

“Short of men, weapons, food, clothing, and money, they were not strong enough to take the offensive against British strongholds such as Savannah, Charleston, or New York,” according to the parks service.

“The army nonetheless could contain the British and fend off attacks as long as it remained in its positions in the Hudson Highlands and the hills of New Jersey. The contest had degenerated into a stalemate, a war of attrition, with no end, much less victory, in sight.

“The arrival of 55-year-old General Jean Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, with an army of 450 officers and 5,300 men in Narragansett Bay off Newport, Rhode Island, on July 11, 1780, marked the beginning of a most successful military cooperation that culminated 15 months later in the victory at Yorktown.”

In total, the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route encompasses over 680 miles of land and water routes through Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C.

To see a map showing all of the roadways along the route through Union County and New Jersey, visit Google Maps.

Additional information and historic maps are available from the Nation Park Service online at nps.gov. including links to roadway maps in other states along the route.

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Union County, NJ – Seasonal road resurfacing projects are returning to parts of Union County this summer and fall, but with a twist: much of the work will take place at night.

“Economic activity is up in Union County, and that means an uptick in daytime traffic,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “By scheduling most of the work at night we can minimize disruptions to local businesses, commuters, and first responders while continuing to ensure that our vital County arteries are kept in good condition.”

The projects all involve street closings needed to mill out the old surface and apply the new surface.

For the night-time projects, the milling and resurfacing will take place between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

For all of the projects, other incidental work, such as the installation of new curb ramps and the resetting of manholes and catch basins, will be done during the day.

The night work was scheduled based on input from local officials, with the result that one project in Summit and two projects in Plainfield will be conducted during daytime hours only.

A total of approximately 14 miles of road will be resurfaced this summer and into the fall, in order to take advantage of favorable weather before the cold weather storm season begins.

The work will be rolled out in two phases. A contract totaling just over $2,953,000 for Phase I has been awarded to Black Rock Enterprises, LLC, of Old Bridge. Work on those roads will start on or around the end of July.

Additional roads will be resurfaced under Phase II. Phase II will be bid out in August, with work expected to begin in the fall.

In addition to resurfacing County roads, the Black Rock contract also covers a municipal section of Plainfield Avenue in Plainfield, from 5th Street to Front Street. Plainfield will pay for the cost of that work through a shared services agreement with the County.

“By joining in the County contract, Plainfield was able to get a better price for its project,” explained Hudak. “The County offers many such shared service opportunities, and we look forward to working with other municipalities on shared road resurfacing contracts in the future.”

For updates on the resurfacing projects and other road construction activity in Union County visit the “Road Construction Update” interactive map at the County website, ucnj.org.

Following are the roads included in the 2014 resurfacing projects:

Phase I (starting on or around July 28)

• West Hazelwood Avenue in Rahway, from St. Georges Avenue/Rt. 27 to Fulton Street.
• East Third Avenue in Roselle, from Chestnut Street to Jersey Avenue (East).
• Plainfield Avenue in Plainfield, between 5th Street and Front Street.
• Locust Street in Roselle Park, from Grant Street to W. Sumner Avenue.
• South Avenue in Cranford, from the Garwood line to Centennial Avenue.
• South Avenue in Garwood, from the Westfield line to Center Street.
• South Avenue in Westfield, from Westfield Circle to the Garwood line.
• East Broad Street in Westfield, from Elmer Street to South Chestnut Street.
• Meisel Avenue in Springfield, from Maple Avenue to S. Springfield Avenue.

 

Phase II (to start this fall)

• Ashland Road in Summit, from Division Avenue to Mountain Avenue
• Diamond Hill Road in Berkeley Heights, from Mountain Avenue to Valley Road.
• Front Street in Plainfield, from Watchung Avenue to Terrill Road
• Mountain Avenue in Berkeley Heights, from Horseshoe Road to the Somerset County line.
• New Providence Road in Berkeley Heights, from Valley Road to the Green Brook
• Springfield Avenue in Cranford, from Kenilworth Boulevard to North Avenue.

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Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds county residents to apply for their passports as soon as possible to avoid any complications that may disrupt their upcoming travel plans. Travelers to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, countries in the Caribbean or anywhere overseas must have a valid passport to enter or depart from the United States.

Due to a current backlog of applications at the National Passport Center, it can take six weeks for a regular passport application to be processed and returned to the customer. Even the more expensive expedited delivery option can take three weeks for delivery.

“If you’re planning a trip out of the country within the next three months, now is the time to make sure your passport is valid. Don’t wait until the last minute to get your passport,” Rajoppi said. “Additionally, if your passport expires within six months of your planned visit, many countries will not permit you to enter. You will need to renew your passport.”

Passport application forms may be obtained at the County Clerk’s main office in the Union County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth or at the County Clerk’s office annex in the Colleen Fraser Building at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield. Applications for passports and related information also can be found online at ucnj.org/Passports.

“No appointment is necessary. Our Elizabeth office opens at 7:30 a.m. and it has experienced, helpful, English and Spanish-speaking staff ready to assist you in any way we can,” Rajoppi said. “Our Westfield office has convenient evening and Saturday hours and also is fully staffed.”

The Westfield Annex is the only County Clerk’s office in the state that is open during evening hours. The Westfield Annex is open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The phone number at the Westfield Annex is 908-654-9859.

The Elizabeth office is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The phone number in Elizabeth is 908-527-4966. Clients are asked to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to closing time to allow for staff assistance with the passport process.

For more information about obtaining a U.S. passport, please call (908) 527-4966.

Summer is filled with days of family fun as we enjoy the warm weather with picnics, beach visits and vacations.

But as the temperature continues to rise I would like to remind parents and caregivers about the dangers of leaving children in a car.

You might think it’s impossible to forget there is a kid in a car. That only happens to irresponsible parents, you might say.

It can happen to anyone.

Even the greatest parents can get distracted from their routine and forget a sleeping baby in the backseat.

In 2013, 44 children died of heatstroke after being left in a car nationwide. Another 13 fatalities have been reported this year already.

As summer temperatures peak, it only takes a few minutes for a car to heat up and become deadly to children inside.

In 10 minutes, a car can heat up 20 degrees and cracking the windows does little to keep the car cool. With temperatures even in the 60s, a car can heat up to well above 110 degrees. Summer temperatures cause vehicles to heat up even faster.

That’s why it is important that all adults should always remember to “Look Before You Lock” to make sure there are no children left in the vehicle.

I urge parents and caregivers to take the following precautions to prevent heatstroke incidents from occurring:

• Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle – even if the windows are partially open or the engine is running and the air conditioning is on;
• Make a habit of looking in the vehicle – front and back – before locking the door and walking away;
• Ask the childcare provider to call if the child doesn’t show up for care as expected;
• Do things that serve as a reminder that a child is in the vehicle, such as placing a purse or briefcase in the back seat to ensure no child is accidentally left in the vehicle, or writing a note or using a stuffed animal placed in the driver’s view to indicate a child is in the car seat.

Also, heatstroke death and injuries often occur after a child gets into an unlocked vehicle to play without a parent or caregiver’s knowledge. Always keep your car locked and store keys out of a child’s reach. Teach your children that a vehicle is not a play area.

If you see a child alone in a car, call 911.

Taking these simple steps could save a life.

Have a safe and enjoyable summer.

WESTFIELD, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that the 2014 Teen Arts Touring Exhibit is on display at the Northfield Bank, located at 828 South Avenue West, in Westfield. It will be on display through August 1st during regular bank hours.

The exhibit consists of 60 pieces of art selected from more than 700 visual art works shown at the 2014 Union County Teen Arts Festival held in March at Union County College. The annual event is administered by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Recreation.

“The artwork in this exhibit is exceptional.  The fact that the artists are teenagers makes the show even more outstanding,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “I encourage everyone to get out and see this lively exhibit as it goes on tour throughout Union County.”

For information about the Teen Arts program, contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth 07202; telephone (908) 558-2550. NJ Relay service users should call 711 or e-mail: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

2014 Union County TEEN ARTS EXHIBIT

The exhibiting students are:

Berkeley Heights

Columbia Middle School
Alicia Wintemberg

Governor Livingston High School
Neil Schickedanz
Sarah Illis

 

Clark

Arthur L. Johnson HS
Angelo Capobianco

Mother Seton RHS
Alyssa Ziobro

 

Cranford

Cranford High School
Rachel Quinn
Jack Shapiro
Madison Kopack

Cranford Achievement Program
Donna Colandro

Hillside Avenue School
Hatten Mullins

Orange Avenue School
Nick Garofalo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elizabeth
Abraham Lincoln School
Xenia Rivas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benjamin Franklin School
Stephen Ash

Dr. Antonia Pantoja School
Rolando Cano Perez

Elizabeth HS – Dwyer Academy
Francisco Rodriguez

Elizabeth HS – Edison Academy
Melanie Gonzalez Elizabeth HS – Halsey Academy
Savannah Seabrook 

Elizabeth HS – Jefferson Academy
Brian Maldonado
Maria Cruz

Elizabeth HS – Lower Academy
Stephanie Liscano

Elizabeth HS – Upper Academy
Ilera Blanco

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

iPrep Academy
Ashley Armstrong

Mabel G. Holmes School
Destiny Cruz

Nicholas M. Butler School
Sanzida Aktar

Nicholas S. LaCorte School
Cruz Aparicio

Ronald Reagan Academy
Caitlyn Fernandez

T.C. Reilly School
Sebastian Paredes

Victor Mravlag School
Areanna Vargas

William F. Halloran School
Camila Alvez

Woodrow Wilson School
Majeeb Ali

 

Hillside
Hillside High School
Carlos Melo

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walter O. Krumbiegel MS
Sheyeanne Powell

Kenilworth

David Brearley HS
Phil Costa
Courtney Keating

 

Linden
Linden High School
Melissa Chaquea

Myles J. McManus MS
Emily Estrada

Joseph E. Soehl MS
Pawel Sierhej

New Providence
New Providence HS
Lulu Fuchs
Elizabeth Mohan

New Providence MS
Julia Haas

 

Plainfield
Frederic W. Cook School
Jarred Harris

Frank J. Hubbard MS
Evelyn Duran

Plainfield Academy of Arts
Lillian Holt
Alejandra Rivera

Union County TEAMS Charter School
Bryce Moore
Stephany Vargas

Roselle

 

Abraham Clark HS
Agape Delion
Adrian Ramirez-Perez

 

 

 

 

Grace Wilday Jr. HS
Jennifer Huilotl

Scotch Plains

Union County Vo-Tech HS

Towana Weekes
Leslie Vargas
Christian Cabatu
John Alton

 

Springfield

FM Gaudineer MS
Adam Gelo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jonathan Dayton HS
Tim Golden
Brian Martin
Vivian Nguyen

 

Summit
Oratory Preparatory School
Brian Moretti

 

Union
Union High School
Wislet Dazilme
Adriana Oliveria
Nicholas Chow

 

Westfield

Hillcrest Academy
Kamil Brown

Lamberts Mill Academy
Alexus Flemming

Winfield

Winfield School
Rosie Brown

 

 

 

Union County Freeholder Bruce Bergen looks on as the first of a series of signs officially designating the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail is installed in Springfield, his hometown.  One of the newest historic trails in the National Parks System, the Washington-Rochambeau trail runs from Rhode Island to Virginia. Union County is the first county in New Jersey to mark the trail, which runs through Scotch Plains, Westfield, Mountainside, Springfield and Summit.  The trail marks the contribution of the French in enabling the defeat of the British in the Revolutionary War.  The Union County portion of the trail will be formally dedicated in Echo Lake Park on Monday, which is also Bastille Day.  To learn more about the trail, go to:http://www.nps.gov/waro/index.htm

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Mark your calendars for the summer Wednesday Matinee Series at Trailside Nature & Science Center in Mountainside. This family entertainment series begins at 1:30 p.m. each week and runs approximately 45 minutes. All shows are recommended for children ages 4 and older. Admission is $5 per person, or $4 per senior citizen (62 & older with ID). Tickets go on sale at 1:00 p.m. on the day of the program. No strollers, please.

“The Wednesday Matinee Series at Trailside is a fun way for families to share a summer afternoon together,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “These air-conditioned programs will teach, engage and delight both children and adults.”

On Wednesday, July 16, magician Joe Fischer will astound, baffle, delight, thrill and entertain the audience with his “Fantasy, Illusion and Magic” performance. Mr. Fischer has an outstanding rapport with children. His ability to communicate on their level makes this a show of real magic!

On July 23rd, you won’t want to miss “Rizzo’s Reptiles.” Blending nature, environment and conservation, this program features live snakes, turtles and an alligator as you learn about the wonders of reptiles.

 

“Kids Going Green,” the July 30 program, will teach the audience how small things that we do can add up to big change! Delight in a fast-paced puppet show where Goldilocks is searching for a planet to live on that is Just Right!

On August 6th, a Mad Science Show called “Up, Up and Away” will amaze you while it teaches about earth’s atmospheric pressure. Watch a hovercraft in action and observe a vortex generator create giant smoke rings. This show is visually exciting with lots of audience participation.

On August 13th, “The Science of Magic” with Lisa Lou will reveal the secrets of magic, using magnetism, light, air, condensation, optical illusion and more.

The last matinee of the summer, on August 20, will be “Mammal Mania.” Back by popular demand, Travis Gale of Wallaby Tales will present an interactive show that allows families to get an up-close and personal look at live animals from around the world. This last matinee is sponsored by The Trailside Museum Association, an organization dedicated to assisting Trailside staff in their ongoing efforts to educate people in all aspects of nature, science and conservation by assisting with funding, volunteering and advocacy.

For more information about the Wednesday Matinee Series or other upcoming programs and special events, please call 908-789-3670 or visit the Trailside website at www.ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a facility of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.

 

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Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak (2nd R), Vice Chairman Mohamed Jalloh (2nd L) and Freeholders (from L) Linda Carter, Alexander Mirabella, Angel Estrada, and Vernell Wright joined Assemblyman Jerry Green (3rd L) at the annual Central Jersey Fourth of July Parade in Plainfield. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)