Author: Web Site Administrator

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to announce the launch of the new Aging Services Kiosk (ASK) program through the Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC), under the Department of Human Services.

“The purpose of ASK is to heighten awareness among residents and help them identify the many government programs and services available to seniors and their caregivers,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Human Services Advisory Council. “The ASK program will bring our knowledgeable, experienced Division on Aging staff based in Elizabeth to locations that, for some, may be more convenient to reach.”

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 municipalities in May:

Wednesday, May 4
Linden Public Library
31 E. Henry Street, Linden
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 

Monday, May 9
Mountainside Municipal Building
1385 Route 22 East, Mountainside
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Thursday, May 12
Westfield Community Center
558 W. Broad Street, Westfield
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

Thursday, May 26
Berkeley Heights Public Library
290 Plainfield Avenue, Berkeley Heights
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 

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.

“The Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) model, a state initiative that Union County has embraced since 2012, is designed to improve service for seniors and residents with disabilities,” said Union County’s Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski. “These services can enable our residents with limited mobility to remain in their homes and communities,” Kowalski added.

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.

Union County Freeholders Vernell Wright, Christopher Hudak, Bette Jane Kowalski and Alexander Mirabella and County Manager Alfred Faella joined Union County Trailside Nature and Science Center Director Patricia Bertsch and Assistant Director Karen Inzillo in celebrating 75 years of Environmental Education at Trailside during Wild Earth Fest in Mountainside. Wild Earth Fest is an entertaining family event where attendees can learn ways to become eco-friendly and increase awareness of wildlife conservation. Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road, Mountainside, New Jersey. For more information call (908) 789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union

Union County Freeholder Linda Carter was presented the Community Service Award by Union County Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs President Sheila Greenwood during the group’s 44th Annual Founders’ Day Luncheon in Garwood. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholder Christopher Hudak joined Acting Union County Prosecutor Grace Park, Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan, Union County Public Safety Director Andrew Moran and Friends of the Union County Child Advocacy Center President Drew Ertman at the 2nd annual 5K fundraiser Race 4 the Children event in Warinanco Park. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

During the week of April 25h, PSE&G crews will work at the following locations for the construction of the Bergen-Linden Corridor (BLC) electric transmission reliability project, www.pseg.com/blc:

• conduit installation on Kapkowski Road from North Ave. to Jersey Gardens Boulevard
• conduit installation on Veterans Memorial Drive from Jersey Gardens Boulevard to Trumbull Street
• When the conduit is complete to Trumbull Street, the crew will move to Jersey Gardens Boulevard at the intersection of Kapkowski Road and proceed on Jersey Gardens Boulevard towards Veterans Memorial Drive.
• manhole installation on Trumbull Street at Veterans Memorial Drive
• sewer lining on the remainder of Second Street with short runs at various intersections. Elizabeth extra-duty traffic control officers will progress with the crew and ensure the safety of the general travelling public.

You can visit www.pseg.com/blc and a City of Elizabeth specific link is listed under the heading “What’s Happening in Your Town.”

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation invite families with children of all ages and adults alike to climb aboard a variety of public safety vehicles at this year’s “Touch A Truck” event on Sunday afternoon, May 1.  The event will run from 12:00 P.M. until 5:00 P.M., rain or shine in the Lower Loop Parking Lot of the Watchung Reservation. There will also be a quiet hour, from 11:00 A.M. until 12:00 P.M. where children sensitive to noise will be able to enjoy the vehicles on display.

“Once again we are happy to host Touch A Truck at the Loop in Watchung Reservation to give youngsters an opportunity to not only see these magnificent machines, but to actually climb abroad and experience the excitement of being behind the wheel,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.

Among the vehicles on display at this year’s event will be the Union County Police Department’s SWAT vehicle, nicknamed “The Bear.” The department will also have a patrol SUV on site.

Hazmat will offer its big rig, and the Union County Department of Public Works will return with its mammoth white milling machine which is used to strip the top off of roads to prepare them for paving. The companion vehicle, the paver, will also be there, along with a bucket truck used for high tree trimming.

Attendees can also see multiple trucks with snow plows, payloaders, backhoe, and hook/flatbed tow. And of course, fire truck department equipment from the Mountainside Fire Department is also planned for display.

Admission to the Touch A Truck event is $4 per person, with children 6 years old and under admitted free.

The Loop Area is located just off Tracy Drive in Mountainside, in between Glenside Avenue and Summit Road. It features a very popular playground area for the kids, and the concession stand will be open. Visitors may also visit the Watchung Stable and the Deserted Village of Feltville/Glenside Park. Also, Lake Surprise is just a short walk where residents can see the new damn.

For more information on Touch A Truck, or any event in the Union County Parks System, please visit our website at ucnj.org/parks.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders proudly congratulates the students of Union County Vocational-Technical Schools’ (UCVTS) robotics team Parallel Universe/FRC Team 1257 as they advance to the World Championship competition in St. Louis next week.

Competing against sixty of the top teams in the Mid-Atlantic Region, last weekend the UCVTS team won the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Mid-Atlantic Robotics District Championship held at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The win came alongside UCVTS alliance partners, Team 225 from York, PA, and Team 341 from Ambler, PA.

“FIRST robotics develops not only technical skills but also critical-thinking, leadership and communication skills,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “These students are our future innovators, engineers, scientists and researchers, and the Freeholder Board congratulates them on their remarkable accomplishment.”

Through the FIRST program, the UCVTS robotics team students work together throughout the school year to build a robot, forge sponsor relationships, host STEM community outreach programs, and compete in district, regional, and international competitions.

This exhilarating robotics program combines the excitement of spectator sports with the rigor of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. FIRST has a unique culture because although it embraces the spirit of competition, it also heavily emphasizes the values of respect, empathy, and cooperation. It is meant to inspire students around the world to become leaders in science and technology, as well as business and design.

“Thanks to support from our school, community, and sponsors, we are proud to be representing our school district and Union County next week in St. Louis,” said Peter Capodice, UCVTS Superintendent of Schools.

The FIRST World Championship will place in St. Louis, Missouri, from April 27 to April 30 with 600 teams from 32 different countries across the globe gathering together in the Edward Jones Dome to compete at the Championship Event. This is UCVTS Parallel Universe/FRC Team 1257’s first time attending the FRC Championship in over 10 years.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders sponsors students from Union County high schools to participate in the first annual Drama Festival next week in Rahway.

High school students from Rahway High School, Union County Academy for the Performing Arts, and Abraham Clark High School, as well as students from Montclair and Bound Brook, are registered to participate in the day-long Drama Festival.  Produced by American Theater Group, a nonprofit professional theatre company, the event is scheduled to be held at UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage in Rahway on Thursday, April 28.

“The new Drama Festival will provide a unique opportunity for students to develop their craft, learn from trained theatre professionals and educators, and perform on a professional stage,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “The entire experience is a great opportunity to enhance student learning and creative thinking, explore imagination, and promote teamwork and collaboration.”

Each school participating in the Drama Festival will have the opportunity to present a scene from a play or musical to a panel of working members of the Broadway theatre industry who will offer in-depth critiques of the student presentations.

Students will also have an opportunity to participate in a workshop with Tony-Award winning actress Michele Pawk and preeminent Broadway Fight Choreographer Rick Sordelet.

In addition, after the day’s events, students will attend a performance of ATG’s production of Crossing Swords.  This world premiere musical is about a group of high school students who attempt to put on a play, and end up seeing life imitate art as passions ignite and jealousies fly.  The day’s events culminate with a post-performance Q&A with the cast and creative team of Crossing Swords, including writer and composer Joe Slabe.

American Theater Group (ATG) is one of New Jersey’s newest nonprofit professional theatre companies.  Founded by New Jersey natives Jim Vagias, Joe Mancuso and Rick Sordelet, and under the Board leadership of Tony-Award winning actress Michele Pawk, ATG’s mission is to produce works by American Playwrights, with an emphasis on the development of new works and undeservedly neglected classics, and to nurture the audiences and artists of tomorrow by strong arts-in-education programming.  Now in its fourth season, ATG produces in the new state-of-the-art facility, Hamilton Stage, an intimate 199 seat theater that is operated by the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway.