Categories
Public Info

Senior Citizens Art Exhibit

The exhibit will be on display until July 12 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 Bette Jane Kowalski was on hand to congratulate them.

Brown

Ron Brown of Cranford on winning first place in the non-professional sculpture category

Daniels

William Daniels of Springfield on winning first place in the professional drawing category

DiMichele

Lisa DiMichele of Berkeley Heights on winning first place in the non-professional acrylic category

Marshall

Frank B. Marshall III of Roselle on winning first place in the professional mixed media category.

Metzger Janice

Janice Metzger of Westfield on winning first place in the professional printmaking category

Metzger Michael

Michael Metzger of Westfield on winning first place in the professional oil category

Rosen

Linda Rosen of Cranford on winning first place in the professional acrylic category

Uhr

Barbara Uhr of Westfield on winning first place in the professional pastel category

Wacaster

Thomas Wacaster of Clark on winning first place in the non-professional oil category and non-professional Best in Show

Categories
Public Info

Union County Employee Artists Show Work at Freeholders Gallery

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that a selection of prize-winning art work by Union County employees and their family members is on display through July 13 in the Freeholders Gallery, located on the 6th floor of the Union County Administration Building, Elizabethtown Plaza at Rahway Avenue, in Elizabeth. The gallery is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays.

The art display presents a select sampling of 17 pieces from among the 149 creations judged at the recent 15th annual “National Arts Program Exhibit and Contest for Union County Employees and Their Families.” The exhibit and contest is a result of a partnership with the National Arts Program Foundation which provides prize money and valuable support to display the work of talented artists.

“The artistic talent of our Union County employees, retired County employees, County program volunteers and their family members is very impressive,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “We have artists who excel in painting, photography and other visual arts, and we are proud to put their work on display. We thank the National Arts Program Foundation and Elizabethtown Gas Company for hosting the May 4th awards reception and providing space for Union County employees and their families to display their talent in the original exhibit.”

Listed alphabetically by town are all the award-winning employee artists (or their family members) and the awards they won at the original exhibit and contest. Not all of the award-winning pieces are able to be displayed at the Freeholders Gallery exhibit.

Clark:

Isabella Anastasatos (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18)

Ryan Frees (First Place, Amateur)

George Valladares (Honorable Mention, Amateur)

Clifton

Patzy Gutierrez (First Place, Teen 13-18)

Cranford

Christina Barlik (Third Place, Teen 13-18)

Berkeley Heights

Leslie Kepner (Professional, Honorable Mention)

Edison

Richa Wadhawan (Second Place and Art Education Award, Teen 13-18)

Elizabeth

Brianna & Elianna Borga (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under)

Natalie Gregorio (Second Place, Intermediate, returned award money back to program)

Shane Rhodes (Second Place, Youth 12 and Under)

Dario Scholis (Third Place, Professional)

Freeland

Ali McKittrick (First Place, Intermediate)

Seyona McKittrick (Third Place, Youth 12 and Under)

Hillsborough

James Caratozzolo (Second Place, Amateur)

Martinsville

Kayla Stasil (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under)

Old Bridge

Allana McQueen (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18)

Angelina Saggese (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18)

Plainfield

Raymond Morgan (Honorable Mention, Intermediate)

Rahway

Arianna Lespinasse (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under)

Danni Newbury (Honorable Mention, Intermediate)

Roselle

Judith White (Honorable Mention, Professional)

Roselle Park

Mario Rodriguez (Third Place, Intermediate)

Scotch Plains

Diego A. Otero (First Place, Youth 12 and Under)

Somerset

Tina Nummela (Third Place, Amateur)

Summit

Agnieszka Solawa (Second Place, Professional)

Westfield

Richard Earl (First Place, Professional)

Michael Endy (Best of Show, Professional).

Additional support for this event was provided by a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Exhibits at the Freeholders Gallery are coordinated by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs.

For more information about this exhibit and other programs and services related to the arts and Union County history, contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth NJ 07202. Telephone: (908) 558-2550. NJ Relay users dial 711. Or send E-mail to: culturalinfo@ucnj.org 

Categories
Public Info

Naturalization Ceremony Event Recap

We Are One Naturalization Ceremony Event Recap

Categories
Public Info

NJ Clean Communities Council Gives “Education Award” to Union County Recycling Bureau Chief

JoAnn Gemenden
JoAnn Gemenden accepts the “Education Award” from NJCCC President Patrick Ryan

JoAnn Gemenden, chief of the Union County Bureau of Recycling & Planning in Scotch Plains, has received the “Education Award” from the New Jersey Clean Communities Council (NJCCC) for the development of two educational tools: an interactive Jeopardy! game and the New Jersey Clean Communities Litter Activity Book.

These clever marketing materials have been added to the NJCCC’s ongoing campaign to inform residents about litter’s harmful effects on the environment and how to reduce it on a larger scale.

Gemenden, who serves on the NJCCC state board, created the litter-themed Jeopardy! game as an educational tool for the state’s Clean Communities coordinators. Meanwhile, the activity book is geared toward school-aged children in the younger grades.

“Developing new programs to educate the public about the harmful effects littering has on the environment and wildlife is always a challenge,” said Gemenden, of Rahway. “But the Clean Communities program encourages us to create fun and interactive methods to reach audiences of all ages.  With the help of these educational tools, I hope that many more New Jerseyans will learn about the importance of not littering and contribute to the overall effort of a cleaner environment.”

Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen congratulated Gemenden on receiving the award.

“JoAnn’s development of educational vehicles on recycling have enlightened many different audiences about the importance of recycling,” Freeholder Bergen said. “The Freeholder Board commends her for these achievements for the positive impact her efforts have in our community and environment.”

New  Jersey  Clean  Communities Council is  a  comprehensive,  statewide  litter-abatement  program that  has  served  New  Jersey  residents  and  visitors  for  more  than  25  years.  Learn more about the New Jersey Clean Communities Council at njclean.org.

Categories
spanish-releases

Nuevos Servicios Para Envejecientes (ASK) en El Condado de Union con Seis Ubicaciones este Mes

Condado de Union, NJ- La Junta de Legisladores del Condado de Union se enorgullece en anunciar seis nuevas fechas y ubicaciones donde el  Nuevo programa (ASK)  Nuevos Servicios para Jubilados, visitará este mes a través del Condado de Union.

 “El principal próposito  de este programa es ayudar a nuestros residentes júbilados y a las personas que los cuidan con suficiente información acerca de los programas de apoyo que están disponibles para ellos,” dijo la Legisladora Bette Jane Kowalski, enlace a la Junta del Concilio de Servicios Humanos.

Este  programa se ofrece por medio de la  División de Envejecientes , Recursos  y Conexión para Discapacitados (ADRC) bajo el Departamento de Servicios Humanos, este se desplazará  por todo el Condado de  Union a servir a los residentes mayores de 60 años y a los que los cuidan de donde encontrar  comidas de entrega a domicilio , cuidado en el hogar, servicios medicos y un sin fin de programas de ayuda. También habrá personal para ayudar a llenar las planillas necesarias.

Miércoles, 8 de junio
Linden Public Library
31 E. Henry Street, Linden
10:00 a.m. a 12:00 p.m. 
 
Lunes , 13 de junio
Clark Public Library
303 Westfield Avenue, Clark
10:00 a.m. a 12:00 p.m.
 
Viernes, 17 de junio
Mountainside Municipal Building
1385 Route 22 East, Mountainside
11:00 a.m. a 1:00 p.m. 
 
Miércoles, 22 de junio
Fanwood Public Library
5 Forest Road, Fanwood
10:00 a 12:00 p.m.
 
Jueves, 23 de junio
Berkeley Heights Public Library
290 Plainfield Avenue, Berkeley Heights
10:00 a.m. a 12:00 p.m. 
 
Jueves, 30 de junio
Westfield Community Center
558 W Broad St, Westfield
10:30 a.m. a 12:30 p.m.

La División de Envejecientes del Condado, Recursos y Conexión para Discapacitados  (ADRC) lucha por promover el bienestar, la independencia dignidad para los jubilidados y sus familias. Es una de las 670 Agencias del área establecida bajo la ley federal de Americanos Júbilados. La división ofrece información en Inglés y Español.

Fechas adicionales serán añadidas en el futuro. Para más información visite, www.ucnj.org. También pueden llamar al 1-888-280-8226 o al 908-527-4870.

Categories
spanish-releases

Bio-Blitz Les Invita a Explorar los Parques del Condado de Union

Condado de Union, NJ – ¿Qué clases de criaturas, brincando, saltando, arrastrandose, deslizandose, caminando, volando o nadando se pueden encontrar en el Parque  Kawameeh, en el Parque Black Brook y en el  Galloping Hill Campo de Golf del Condado de Union? Pueden averiguarlo si vienen al  Bio-Blitz (Bombardeo Biológico), que se llevará a cabo este año el próximo Viernes y sábado 10 y 11 de junio.

En el  Bio-Blitz, decenas de voluntarios, cientificos peinan a través del bosque, campos vias fluviales para estudiar la flora and fauna. Aficionados de la Naturaleza de todas las edades están invitados a asistir y observar el trabajo que ellos hacen y a  participar en este evento durante las 24 horas que dura.

“Uno de los eventos más populares del Condado de Union es  Bio-Blitz, cientos de residentes y visitantes participan,” dijo el Legislador Presidente Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “Les permite experimentar un encuentro con nuestro entorno  natural, mientras los cientificos crean un registro de la diversidad de especies en nuestros parques públicos.”

Bio-Blitz 2016 comienza a las  5:00 p.m. el Viernes 10 de junio, cuando los equipos de expertos se dispersan  a buscar diferentes especies en los tres parques.

“Bio-Blitz es único, una oportunidad divertida para disfrutar de la rica herencia de los ecologistas del pasado y aprender de la nueva generación de naturalistas y cientificos,” dijo el Legislador Vice Presidente  Sergio Granados, el enlace con la Junta del Departamento de Parques.

Los visitantes de Bio-Blitz pueden disfrutar de todas las actividades incluyendo las exposiciones y exibiciones, de peces, tortugas, serpientes, un halcón y un búho o lechuza.

Los participantes deben traer su cámaras fotograficas.

También el viernes los naturalistas del Trailside Nature & Science Center tendrán participantes buscando ranas, sapos, renacuajos y más en las áreas humedas alrededor.

Al anochecer la diversión continúa con “acechando a los búhos,” conducido por Emile DeVito, luego más tarde guardia de estrellas con Marc Rogoff, y una  presentación por el y naturalista Blaine Rothauser bajo la carpa titulada “Mariposa Nocturna: también conocida como Polilla,” y una sesión de como atrapar insectos.

El sábado el público puede unirse a los miembros del Equipo de Aves para una caminata a las  7:00 a.m., o ayudar al Equipo de Mamíferos mientras revisan las trampas de capturas vivas y las huellas para ver quienes  estuvieron deambulando durante la noche.

Los aspectos más destacados este año es el regreso de los Northern New Jersey Cachers, quienes proporcionarán una demostración de como cazar a través del uso del GPS. El Departamento de Agricultura de Servicios de Fauna Silvestre presentará un Nuevo programa a  Bio-Blitz, sobre  como los propietarios manejan la invasion de gansos en Canada.

Habrá estacionamiento en  Kawameeh Drive y en el estacionamiento de Kawameeh Middle School. También en el Edificio de la Municipalidad de Union, donde un servicio de transporte los llevará hasta el lugar donde se encuentran las actividades de Bio-Blitz.

Todas las actividades en  Bio-Blitz son gratis y abiertas al public. Se les pide a los visitantes que por favor firmen su nombre cuando lleguen para recomedarles que tipos de actividades hay para los diferentes tipos de actividades. 

El sistema de parques del Condado de Union  es uno de los primeros  creados en todo el país. Sus raíces datan desde los 1920 cuando miembros locales  exhortaron el mantenimiento y la preservaciónde los espacios abierto en los suburbios que rápidamente se estaban desarrollando.

Desde entonces el grupo original de cinco parques ha crecido hasta llegar a 36 parques que les da la bienvenida a cientos de especies de plantas y animales, junto con numerosas instalaciones , para equipo de deporte que incluyen, equitación, arco y flecha, pesca, esquiar, ciclismo, navegación, patinaje en hielo, natación , áreas de recreación y muchos más.

Bio-Blitz está patrocinado por la Junta de Legisladores con la generosa ayuda de voluntarios y miembros  del personal, y numerosas empresas locales incluyendo el Shoprite de Clark, Sledgehammer Coffee Works de Cranford, Whole Foods de Union, Jenkinsons Aquarium de Point Pleasant, el Zoologico de Staten Island, la  Asociación de las Cuencas del Río de  Rahway, Aves Silvestres de Scotch Plains, BR Ambiental,  la Familia Gregorio de Elizabeth, XAdmins Artes Graficas, y Toadshade Wildflower Farm.

Other partners include Kawameeh Middle School Environmental Club, Elizabeth River/Arthur Kill Watershed Association, Groundwork Elizabeth Green Team, New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team, New Jersey Mycological Association, NJDEP Watershed Ambassador Program, NJDEP Office of Communications and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Para una información completa sobre Bio-Blitz 2016 incluyendo horario y lista de actividades visite la página ucnj.org/bio-blitz.

Si existen cientificos profesionales y otros conocedores que estén interesados en unirse al equipo pueden contactar a Betty Ann Kelly, en el Departamento de Parques y Recreación del Condado de Union bkelly@ucnj.org.

Categories
Public Info

New Aging Services Kiosk (ASK) is on the Move in Union County with Six Locations this Month

ASK1The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to announce six additional dates and locations for the new Aging Services Kiosk (ASK) program to visit communities throughout Union County this month.

“The primary goal of the new mobile Aging Services Kiosk program is to help provide our senior residents and their caregivers with convenient access to information about county support programs and services that are available to them,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Human Services Advisory Council.

Offered through the Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC), under the Department of Human Services, the new Aging Services Kiosk (ASK) outreach program will travel throughout Union County to provide senior adults age 60 and above and their caregivers information about services such as home delivered meals, respite care, home care, and adult day care, as well as support services for caregivers. Assistance with completing applications and forms will also be available.

Open to all Union County residents, the Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) is scheduled to bring the new ASK outreach program to the following six municipalities in June:

[ezcol_1third]

Wednesday, June 8
Linden Public Library
31 E. Henry Street
Linden, 07036
10:00 am to 12 pm

[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third]

Monday, June 13
Clark Public Library
303 Westfield Avenue
Clark, 07066
10:00 am to 12 pm

[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third_end]

Friday, June 17
Mountainside Municipal Building
1385 Route 22 East
Mountainside, 07092
11:00 am to 1:00 pm

[/ezcol_1third_end][ezcol_1third]

Wednesday, June 22
Fanwood Public Library
5 Forest Road
Fanwood, 07023
10:00 am to 12:00 pm

[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third]

Thursday, June 23
Berkeley Heights Public Library

290 Plainfield Avenue
Berkeley Heights, 07922
10:00 am to 12:00 pm

[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third_end]

Thursday, June 30
Westfield Community Center

558 W. Broad Street
Westfield, 07090
10:30 am to 12:30 pm

[/ezcol_1third_end]

The Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) aims to promote wellness, independence, dignity and choice for seniors and their families. It is one of 670 Area Agencies on Aging nationwide established under the federal Older Americans Act. The division offers informational resources printed in both English and Spanish.

Additional dates and locations will be added for the mobile ASK program in coming months, and will be posted in local newspapers, the Senior News, Facebook, Twitter and the Union County website, www.ucnj.org.

For more information about the Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection, call the division’s toll-free number: 1-888-280-8226, or 908-527-4870 or 4858 or visit the Union County government website at ucnj.org.

Categories
Public Info

Kids Recreation and Greening Union County Matching Grant Programs open for Application by Municipalities through Union County Open Space Trust Fund

Matching grants for field improvements, tree plantings, and more

Elizabeth, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders have announced the availability of  $1 million in Kids Recreation matching grant funds and $100,000 in Greening Union County matching grant funds to all 21 municipalities through the Union County Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund. Letters were mailed out to all municipalities this past week, and are due back to the County on August 19th, 2016.

The Kids Recreation grant funds can be used for the acquisition, development and/or refurbishment of parks and recreational facilities.  The Greening Union County grant provides funding for municipalities to purchase, plant and maintain trees within their towns.  

The Open Space Trust fund has provided more than $16 million in matching grants since its inception in 2000 to build new or improve playgrounds, plant trees, pocket parks, recreational areas, playing fields, pools, picnic areas and much more. More than 300 acres of open space land has also been preserved from development.

“Open Space funding demonstrates the strong community spirit that makes Union County such a great place in which to live, work, and raise a family,” said Freeholder  Bette Jane Kowalski, who is the Chairman of the Open Space Trust Fund Board.  “These projects enrich our lives and serve as our legacy to future generations.”

For information on both programs, please contact Victoria Durbin Drake of the Union County Office of Open Space, Historic Preservation and Recreation Trust Fund at 908-558-2278. 

 

Categories
Public Info

Union County Honors the 2016 Portugal Day Committee

Portugal Day

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholders Linda Carter and Bette Jane Kowalski present resolutions to the 2016 Portugal Day Committee congratulating them on their flag raising ceremony and annual parade.

The Portugal Day Flag Raising is at 7 p.m. on June 3, 2016 at Elizabeth City Hall. The Portugal Day Parade steps off at 2 p.m. at Union Square Plaza and Elizabeth Avenue in Elizabeth on June 5, 2016.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Categories
Public Info

Groundbreaking on The Muse at Grant Avenue Station in Plainfield

The Muse Groundbreaking

Union County Freeholders Linda Carter, Bette Jane Kowalski and Mohamed S. Jalloh joined Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp and City Council members in breaking ground on The Muse at Grant Avenue Station in Plainfield.

The Muse at Grant Avenue Station is the largest mixed-use construction project in Plainfield in over 40 years. The $30 million multi-phase development project will consist of the construction of a new 44,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility for ABC Supply Company Inc., a major wholesale supplier of building products, followed by the construction of a 5-story multi-family building comprised of 90 residential units.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)