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Kids Recreation Trust Fund 2014 Grant Applications Available Now

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  May 19, 2014

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the 2014 Kids Recreation Trust Fund grant opportunity. The 2014 grant program offers two exciting opportunities for each of the twenty one municipalities in Union County: The Discover Our Parks day trip program, and a Recreational Improvements matching grant program.

The Discover Our Parks program gives Union County municipalities the opportunity to expand their summer recreational programs by offering a day trip to their campers. The Recreational Improvements matching grant program helps local governments offset the cost of creating, enhancing, and replacing recreational facilities in their municipality.

“The physical and social benefits of recreation are well known, and the Kids Recreation Trust Fund has made a difference in the quality of life for our children,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak.

Since 2004, the Kids Recreation Trust Fund matching grant program, administered through the Union County Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund, has helped rebuild, refurbish, expand, or build over 100 parks and other recreational facilities throughout Union County.

“The Kids Recreation Trust Fund has done a great job of improving recreational opportunities for our communities,” said Freeholder Bruce H. Bergen, Chairman of the Open Space Trust Fund. “It’s another reason why Union County is a great place to raise a family.”

The application deadline for the Kids Recreation Trust Fund 2014 grant program is August 18, 2014.

For additional information on the Kids Recreation Trust Fund grant program contact Victoria Durbin Drake of the Union County Office of Open Space, Historic Preservation and Recreation Trust Fund at 908-558-2278, or visit online at ucnj.org.

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Support 4 Soldiers Campaign Wraps Up

For Immediate Release: May 19, 2014

Union County, NJ — Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak (R) and Freeholders Alexander Mirabella (L) and Linda Carter speak with Lt. Col. Bill Morris at the Support 4 Soldiers wrap up event at the Westfield Armory where volunteers boxed donations of toiletries, healthy snacks, and other basic items that will be shipped to active duty U.S. service members overseas. Local students created the campaign as a way for the entire Union County community to show its support for the military abroad. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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13th Annual Union County Employee Art Show – Youth Category

(From left) Union County Freeholders Bruce Bergen, Bette Jane Kowalski, Vernell Wright and Sergio Granados congratulate Christine Marti-Millward of Linden on winning first place in the youth category at the 13th Annual Union County Employee Art Show during the opening reception at the Elizabethtown Gas Company’s Liberty Hall Center in Union. The contest, co-sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and The National Arts Program Foundation, was open to Union County employees and their relatives. The exhibit will be open to the public weekdays until May 27, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Elizabethtown Gas Company, located at Liberty Hall Center, 1085 Morris Avenue in Union Township.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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Don’t Miss the 25th Annual Union County Spring Garden Fair and Plant Sale this Sunday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 16, 2014

Union County, NJ – Spring has sprung! Dig out your gardening tools – it’s time for the 25th annual Union County Spring Garden Fair and Plant Sale offering hundreds of plants for sale along with a full slate of family friendly fun activities, educational presentations, and free expert guidance on gardening. The rain-or-shine event takes place on Sunday, May 18 from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Demonstration Garden, located by the Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside, 452 New Providence Road.  Fair admission and parking for the rain-or-shine event are both free. More information at ucnj.org/rce.

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County Clerk Extends Office Hours, May 31, for Last-Minute Mail-In Primary Election Voters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 16, 2014

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi will open her offices in Elizabeth and Westfield on Saturday, May 31, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for voters seeking last-minute mail-in ballots. The office in Elizabeth at the Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, and the office in Westfield at the Colleen Fraser Building, 300 North Avenue East, will be open as a public service for voters who choose the Vote-By-Mail option for the Primary Election to be held on Tuesday, June 3.

“Every voter should have the opportunity to cast his or her ballot in the primary election for federal, county and municipal offices,” Ms. Rajoppi said. “We want to ensure that even those who have a last-minute change of plans can have a chance to vote.”

“By opening the Elizabeth office on the Saturday before the primary election, as we have done for the past 18 years, along with the Westfield office, which has regular Saturday hours throughout the year, we hope to assist those citizens whose work schedules or other commitments keep them from applying to Vote-By-Mail during the work week,” Rajoppi said.

“This option makes voting more accessible, particularly for senior citizens.”

Completed ballots will be kept in a secure lockbox under the control of the Union County Board of Elections, who will collect them for counting. The Clerk’s office has processed more than 1,100 mail-in ballots to date for the Primary Election.

To obtain a Vote-By-Mail application, voters may download the form at the County Clerk’s website: https://ucnj.org/vote-by-mail, but they must bring the completed application to either of the County Clerk’s offices on Saturday, May 31, between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., or on Monday, June 2, before 3:00 p.m. For more information, please contact the County Clerk’s office at 908-527-4996.

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National Police Week

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 16, 2014

Union County Freeholder Vernell Wright presents a resolution to Union Police Director Daniel Zieser in honor of National Police Week during the Township of Union’s Annual Police Awards ceremony. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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Edible Wild Plants Will Be Discussed at Trailside, May 31

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 16, 2014

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation are pleased to announce a special program about edible wild plants for adults, ages 18 and older, at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside. The lecture and demonstration, “Spring Wild Edibles” will be offered on Saturday, May 31, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The fee for this program is $15 for Union County residents and $20 for out-of-county participants.

“This program about edible spring plants is sure to give you a renewed appreciation of wild vegetation,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “You’ll probably never look at a weed the same way again.”

Participants will learn to identify some common plants of the Watchung Reservation. Trailside senior park naturalist Joe Filo will teach how to collect and prepare familiar backyard greens. The program offers an opportunity to sample delicious foods including “Cossack asparagus,” wild salad and mint tea.

For additional information about this lecture or other adult programs and upcoming events at Trailside, 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 service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

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Municipal Clerks Week

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 16, 2014

(From left) Union County Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski and Vernell Wright joined Roselle Park Clerk Doreen Cali, who also serves as the president of the Union County Municipal Clerks Association, and Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi at the County Clerk’s annual luncheon in honor of Municipal Clerks Week. This year’s luncheon was held at Union County Academy for Performing Arts in Scotch Plains. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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STEM Workshops Available for Afterschool Programs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  May 15, 2014

Union County, NJ – Registration is still open until June 13 for professional development workshops designed to help afterschool educators and staff bring the award-winning Design It! and Explore It!engineering and science programs for children ages 8-12.

The two afterschool programs help students engage with science and technology topics through fun, hands-on projects including gliders, straw rockets, and cake chemistry.

“By bringing relevant learning opportunities like Design It! and Explore It! to Union County, afterschool programs can help prepare our children for the STEM-related careers of the future,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak.

Design It! and Explore It! were created by Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development and the New Jersey School-Age Care Coalition (NJSACC), which have also partnered to introduce the two programs to educators throughout New Jersey.

In addition to providing the professional development workshops, Rutgers 4-H and the Care Coalition will provide all of the related curricula and materials needed to implement the programs. On-going support and technical assistance are also part of the package.

For information about site enrollment and payment for the workshops, contact Mike MacEwan at the Care Coalition, mmacewan@njsacc.org.

More details about the Design It! and Explore It! programs are available atnj4h.rutgers.edu/educators, or contact Chad Ripberger of Rutgers 4-H atripberger@rce.rutgers.edu.

In Union County, the Rutgers Co-operative Extension offers a diverse slate of activities for children and adults supported in part by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, including 4-H Clubs for children in grades 1-12, and the Master Gardener and Master Tree Stewards community service programs. For information visit ucnj.org/rce or call the Extension offices in Westfield, 908-654-9854.

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County of Union Approves Final Sale of Runnells Hospital – Decision follows two-year study and review process

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  May 15, 2014

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders last night approved two measures for completing the sale of Runnells Specialized Hospital to Center Management Group, LLC of Flushing, NY for $26 million. The measures passed 8-0.

The sale is expected to save the County $50 million over the next five years. In addition, the property will return to the tax rolls, generating an estimated $500,000 in new property taxes per year to Berkeley Heights and Union County.

During its more than 100-year history as a County facility, Runnells Specialized Hospital earned a reputation for high quality nursing care and other services. However, in recent years the fiscal stability of county-owned facilities in New Jersey and nationwide, including Runnells, has been undermined by changing state and federal health care policy.

In 2006, federal and state governments began to move funding from nursing homes to community-based agencies and home care options, resulting in a decline in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements.

As a result, the County has been providing millions of dollars per year in subsidies to Runnells. The subsidy at year end for 2013 was approximately $13.5 million. That imbalance is expected to increase in the coming years as managed care for Medicaid is implemented.

Several other county-run hospitals in New Jersey have already been sold into private ownership in recent years. These include Burlington (2012), Camden (2013), Cumberland (2011), Essex (1996), Hudson (2002), Mercer (2010), and Salem (2009).

“The primary concern of the Board has been, and will always be, that Union County residents have access to high quality health care services for nursing care and other specialized needs,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “The bottom line is that Runnells will continue to serve the community.”

Approval of the sale to Center Management Group caps a process that began in 2012, when Union County retained Complete HealthCare Resources-Eastern, Inc. (CHR) to study ways to enable Runnells to operate on a sustainable footing.

CHR completed its report in January 2013. The report concluded that due to declining reimbursements along with other significant factors including decreasing occupancy rates and Medicare census, rising employee and operational costs, and capital expense requirements, the County should consider options for the continuation of Runnells. These options include revenue enhancements, expense reductions, and alternative ownership.

Based upon the conclusions and recommendations of the CHR Report, the County determined to explore transferring the Hospital operations to the Union County Improvement Authority for the possible transfer of such operations to a third-party, while simultaneously evaluating methods of revenue enhancement and expense reduction.

In 2013, as authorized by their respective governing bodies, the County and the UCIA entered into a Memorandum of Understanding; pursuant to which the UCIA undertook a Request for Qualifications and Proposals (“RFQ/P”) process seeking a private provider that wished to purchase or lease the Hospital.

The UCIA established a Review Committee for the RFQ/P process, which received five proposals, and the Committee determined to proceed to interview four of the Proposers, having found that one proposal was incomplete.  The Review Committee obtained an independent appraisal of the Hospital which appraised value was determined to be $26,000,000.

In February 2014, the Proposers submitted their responses to the Review Committee. Based on the information provided, the Committee recommended Center Management Group as the Proposer with which to negotiate for a contract of sale.

The Freeholder Board mandated that the following be met as conditions for completing the sale:

  • Pay not less than the appraised value of $26 million to the County;
  • Give current Hospital patients the right to remain at the Hospital;
  • Protect the Hospital employees, in good standing, by offering the right of first refusal and providing as many employment opportunities as possible at the Hospital and at Center Management Group’s other locations;
  • Commit to sharing profit with the County for any new health care related services or facilities Center Management Group adds to the Hospital;
  • Agree to a 99-year deed restriction that will require the Hospital remain a health care facility for long-term care patients;
  • And agree that a certain percentage of beds at the Hospital shall remain available for Union County residents and to indigent patients.

With Freeholder Board approval completed, approval by the State is required in order to finalize the process.

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