Author: Web Site Administrator

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to support People Helping People, a nonprofit community organization based in Rahway, to produce the internationally acclaimed dark comedy God of Carnage at UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage in Rahway this weekend, April 7-9.

Embracing the art of theatre to address an important social issue, People Helping People’s production of God of Carnage gets to the root and nature of how society deals with bullying.

“The Union County Advancing Community Theatre program seeks to provide opportunities that draw people together to participate in collaborative art experiences,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen. “The Freeholder Board is very proud to support the creative efforts of the community organization People Helping People to help explore important social issues and bring them to life on stage.”

Directed by Andrea Clinton, God of Carnage is a fast, furious and very, very funny, dark comedy about two sets of parents who meet to discuss the unruly behavior of their 11-year-old sons. However, in their own union, when niceties and manners go out the window, the God of Carnage rears its ugly head.

Written by Yasmina Reza and translated by Christopher Hampton, this Tony-award winning play is recommended for mature audiences.

Founded by Union County resident Andrea Clinton, People Helping People’s Arts and Entertainment program seeks to uncover life events through the art of theatre. “We chose to produce God of Carnage because it is a play that reflects everyday people, their conversations, their belief structures, behavior and disguises,” said director Andrea Clinton. “This play offers audiences a dialogue and imagery of everyday life events and issues, and we believe it’s a play that helps audiences examine their lives and choices.”

Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders through the Union County Advancing Community Theatre (UCACT) program, People Helping People’s production of God of Carnage will run for four performances at UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage this weekend, Thursday, April 7 and Friday, April 8 at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 9 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. General Admission tickets are just $20. Student, Senior and Group discounts are also available through the UCPAC Box Office. For more information or to purchase tickets visit ucpac.org or call the UCPAC box office at 732-499-8226.

The UCACT program launched in 2015 as a special initiative of Freeholder Mohamed S. Jalloh during his chairmanship and continues on the footsteps of last year’s success, which included a diverse body of work including two original plays, a student production, a new community theatre organization, among others featuring the high-quality artistic talent of many Union County residents.

The UCACT program aims to provide a strategic platform to support the development of Union County’s rich theatre talent by leveraging existing resources and broadening the definition of economic development and public recreation to include support for community theatre. For more information about UCACT visit ucnj.org/ucact.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders have launched a new online resource center webpage for Veterans at www.ucnj.org/uc-hero

The webpage is part of Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen’s “UC HERO” initiative for 2016 in honor of Veterans and is a guide to services at the different levels of government, including County Government. The “UC HERO” initiative involves outreach, as well as raising awareness about available services for Veterans through various County agencies, including the County’s Office of Veterans’ Affairs, the County Clerk, the Division on Aging, health and mental health referral services, and job opportunities through the Workforce Innovation Business Center.

“We owe an unending debt of gratitude to all the brave men and women who have made a great sacrifice for our country and committed themselves to maintaining our freedom,” said Freeholder Bruce H. Bergen. “We’ve designed this webpage to serve as a helpful guide for Veterans at all stages of life.”

The webpage contains links for the Federal Veterans Administration, various State and County agencies,  retirement planning, transportation, education, job training, health care, mental health services, end of life planning, and more.

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados was honored by the Urban League of Union County Young Professionals at their 3^rd Annual Black Tie Affair in Union. Kendall Givens and Crystal Orr of the Urban League’s Young Professionals presented the Vice Chairman with the Outstanding Work in Government and Civil Service award for his commitment to the Union County community and his continued efforts to achieve social and economic equality among all residents.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

New stage in bridge deck project removes temporary work zone

New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced a traffic shift to the right-side of the bridge for the removal of a construction work zone on the Route 22 westbound over Burke Parkway bridge replacement project in Union County.

Starting at 10 p.m. tonight Friday, April 1 until 8 a.m. Saturday, April 2 and from 10 p.m. Saturday, April 2, until 8 a.m. Sunday, April 3, NJDOT’s contractor Power Concrete, Co. Inc., is scheduled to temporarily close travel lanes on Route 22 westbound to remove concrete barriers and signage. The overnight operations will shift motorists onto the right-side of the bridge, removing the temporary single-lane 11-foot cattle chute currently on either side of a center work zone on the bridge. Route 22 eastbound will not be affected.

The $2 million bridge deck replacement project is expected to be completed in the spring of 2016. The project is being constructed in stages, which began with the new deck and parapets. Each stage is re-constructing approximately one third of the bridge deck at a time. The bridge deck replacement project includes milling and paving the bridge approaches, and reconstructing the guide rail, sidewalk, and curb. As the project progresses, NJDOT will provide information before any closures or detours are implemented.

NJDOT will be using Variable Message Signs to provide advance notification to motorists of traffic pattern changes associated with the work.

The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website www.511nj.org for real-time travel information and for NJDOT news follow us on Twitter @NJDOT_info.

All of Union County is invited to help high school students with a new student-created civic campaign this year called “Garments & Gear – Greatness for Years.” The campaign is aimed at helping ensure that all student athletes can obtain the necessary equipment and clothing, regardless of their financial situation.

Garments & Gear was developed by high school students participating in UC STEP, the Union County Student Training and Enrichment Program, an initiative of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

“This exemplary civic campaign will help ensure that finances are no obstacle to students who want to engage in school sports with their friends and classmates,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “It’s a great way to show that the Union County community respects and supports all young people who desire to work hard and excel.”

In the Garments & Gear campaign, high school students from across Union County will collect new and gently used sports equipment and clothing, raise funds by selling Garments & Gear merchandise, and reach out to the community for additional donations.

“Garments & Gear really demonstrates the value of having students brainstorm on civic projects,” said Freeholder Linda Carter, who conceived and launched the first UC STEP during her term as Chairman in 2013. “These young people recognized a significant need among their peers, and they envisioned how we can all step up together and pitch in.”

UC STEP is an annual youth development seminar and civic engagement project for high school juniors and seniors. This year’s UC STEP seminar was held in December with the participation of 195 students from 27 public, private and charter schools throughout Union County.

Each year, the highlight of the UC STEP seminar is the creation of original civic engagement campaigns by teams of student from different schools, working together for the first time. One of the campaigns is ultimately selected as a countywide project supported by the Freeholder Board. Garments & Gear was created by “Team Red,” consisting of 15 members from 12 schools.

Participating in the Garments & Gear campaign this spring are schools that were also represented on Team Red, including Cranford High School, David Brearley High School, John E. Dwyer Academy, Linden High School, New Providence High School, Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, St. Mary’s High School, UC Vo-Tech High School, Union High School, Roselle Catholic High School, and Plainfield High School.

Governor Livingston High School, Union County TEAMS Charter School, Rahway High School, and Jonathan Dayton are also participating in the campaign.

Union County residents, businesses, organizations and local agencies can participate in Garments & Gear by bringing donations of new or gently used clothing and equipment to drop-off sites, listed on the County website at ucnj.org/uc-step.

To find out how to participate in Garments & Gear with additional funding call UC STEP at 908-659-7412 or email ucstep@ucnj.org.

The campaign will wrap up on Saturday, April 30.

Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County Environmental and Resource Management Agent Michele Bakacs speak with Pedro Esteve, Lorraine MacNamara and Penny Blackmond of the Richmond Towers Garden Club in Plainfield. Freeholder Kowalski spoke with club members about Freeholder Chairman’s Bruce H. Bergen’s Union County Means Green initiative which includes a new “Community Garden Grant” program for new and existing gardens.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan, Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados and Elizabeth Councilman Manny Grova congratulate newly promoted Sheriff’s Captain Mark Banek of Clark, Lieutenant Carlo Caparruva of Elizabeth and Sergeant David Pepe of Clark during a ceremony at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

For Public Commentary April 13, 2016 to May 13, 2016.

On or about June 6, 2016, the County of Union will submit to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Consolidated Action Plan for Fiscal Year 2016, which includes applications for preliminary funding for the following grants:

The Consolidated Plan is intended to serve the following purpose/function:

(1)It is a planning document for the County which builds upon citizen participation process; (2) it is an application for federal funds under the above mentioned grant process; (3) it is a strategy to be followed in carrying out HUD programs; and (4) it is an action plan that provides a basis for assessing performance. This Consolidated Plan – Action Plan constitutes the Federal Fiscal Year 2016 Annual Plan for the Five Year (2015-2019) Consolidated Plan. It sets forth a description of the activities for use of HUD funds that are expected to become available during the coming years, determines goals for individuals and households to be served, and describes the implementation plan and location of the activities to be undertaken.

The funds are intended to provide very low, low, and moderate income households with viable communities, including decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunities. Eligible activities include rehabilitation of community facilities, public improvements, housing rehabilitation, public services, economic development, planning and administration.

The Action Plan is available for public review at the following location: Office of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Union County Administration Building, 6^th floor, Elizabeth, New Jersey 07207.

A resolution authorizing the submission of the 2016 Action Plan has been scheduled by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders on May 26, 2016 in the Freeholder’s Meeting Room.

Public hearings on the Consolidated Plan will be held on the following dates and locations to solicit citizen comment and participation:

• April 6, 2016 – 1:00 P.M. County Administration Building, 2^nd floor Conference Room, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth, NJ 07207
• April 6, 2016 – 7:30 P.M. Cranford Community Center, 220 Walnut Avenue, Cranford, NJ 07016
• May 11, 2016 – 9:30 A.M. Cranford Community Center, 220 Walnut Avenue, Cranford, NJ 07016
• May 18, 2016 – 7:30 P.M. Cranford Community Center, 220 Walnut Avenue, Cranford, NJ 07016

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholders Christopher Hudak, Vernell Wright, Linda Carter and Bette Jane Kowalski presented a resolution to Sage Eldercare Executive Director Fred Jenny, Deputy Director Angela Sullivan, Sage Meals on Wheels Director Marianne Kranz and the Sage Eldercare Board of Trustees congratulating the organization in Summit on 50 years of serving Meals on Wheels.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The Urban League of Union County Young Professionals has selected Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados to receive the Outstanding Work in Government and Civil Service award for his commitment to the Union County community and his continued efforts to achieve social and economic equality among all residents. The award will be formally presented to Vice Chairman Granados at the organization’s 3^rd annual Young Professional Honors event on Saturday, April 2 at 7:00 p.m. at the Clinton Manor in Union.

“It is truly an honor to be recognized among this year’s award recipients, and those from years past – all of whom are breaking glass ceilings in their respective fields,” said Vice Chairman Sergio Granados. “Making a difference begins with empowering the community. When we lift ourselves up, we need to bring others up with us. I am proud of the work of all of those who have been recognized by Urban League of Union County Young Professionals who strive to put the community first. Only in that form and that manner can we better our society and have a productive community.”

As an auxiliary of the Urban League of Union County, a nonprofit 501c3 organization, the goal of the Young Professionals organization is to promote and support the Urban League’s mission of achieving social and economic equality by empowering communities and changing lives in Union County. The core initiatives are focused on jobs, health, education, and housing.

Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados, a native of Elizabeth and community activist who has experience working with non-profits and volunteer organizations, was elected to his first full term to the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholder in 2013 – becoming one of the youngest ever elected Freeholders in the State of New Jersey.

Through his work on the Freeholder Board, Granados has emphasized community outreach and fiscal reform, workforce initiatives that have created over 1,000 job opportunities in 2015 alone,  parks and educational improvements, and additional initiatives to benefit veterans and individuals with disabilities.

In 2015, Granados founded Moving New Jersey Forward, a community-based non-profit, whose mission is to raise awareness and education efforts at the local and national level about social justice issues.

In addition, Granados has a long record of activism, he has served with many organizations, including Hispanos Unidos, the Elizabeth Lions Club, the Portuguese Instructive Social Club, the Elizabeth Portugal Day Committee, Union County Latino-American Chamber of Commerce, New Leaders Council-New Jersey & Shaping Elizabeth.

“I look forward to celebrating the work of the Urban League of Union County Young Professionals who strive to serve our county and empower our community,” said Vice Chairman Granados. “I also look forward to working with them to continue the mission of Urban League of Union County to promote and support social and economic equality.”

YP Honors will take place on Saturday, April 2 at 7:00 p.m. at the Clinton Manor in Union. For more information about the Urban League of Union County Young Professionals (ULUCYP), visit ulucyp.org.