Author: Web Site Administrator

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to support the first annual Drama Festival next month in Rahway. Produced by American Theater Group (ATG), a nonprofit professional theatre company located at UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage in Rahway, registration is now open for the day-long Drama Festival for high school students that will take place April 28.

“Union County has a rich pool of young talent in the performing arts, and the new Drama Festival will provide a unique opportunity for our students to develop their craft, learn from trained theatre professionals and educators, and perform on a professional stage,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.

During the day-long event, students will have the opportunity to present a scene from whatever play or musical that they have performed during the course of the year, or one they have prepared specially for the competition.  These excerpts will then be given an in-depth critique by working members of the Broadway theater industry.

ATG will also offer at least one workshop for the participants, in areas such as improvisation, audition techniques, stage combat, etc..  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.

“The entire experience is a great opportunity to enhance student learning and creative thinking, explore imagination, and promote teamwork and collaboration,” said Bergen.

American Theater Group is New Jersey’s newest professional theater company.  Founded by New Jersey natives Jim Vagias, Joe Mancuso and Rick Sordelet, and under the Board leadership of Tony-Award winning actress Michel 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.

Registrations are open now through April 7, 2016. For more information, call (732) 238-9982 or visit www.americantheatergroup.org.

Press Release from PSE&G

During the week of March 28th, 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:

• manhole excavation and installation on South Fifth Street between Fourth Ave. and Fifth Ave. unless the test pit reveals an underground conflict or obstacle
• manhole excavation and installation on South Second Street between Second Ave. and Merritt Ave.

For questions about the project, you can call PSE&G’s BLC customer service telephone number at 1-800-541-9020.

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 celebrate wildlife and embrace environmental conservation at an exciting daylong event at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside, New Jersey on Sunday, April 24, from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., rain or shine.

Wild Earth Fest is an entertaining family event where attendees can learn ways to become eco-friendly and increase awareness of wildlife conservation.  Among the events taking place will be live animal demonstrations, educational displays, live music, giveaways and vendors.  This year’s children’s activities include a bounce house and slide; face painting, Recycling Olympics and Eco-Art.  In addition, the winners of the Wildlife Photography Contest and Environmental Hero Awards will be announced during the event.  To nominate an Environmental Hero in your community or participate in the Wildlife Photography Contest visit www.ucnj.org/trailside.   

“Wild Earth Fest is a very worthwhile and educational day.  We are so proud to celebrate 75 Years of Environmental Education at Trailside,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.

Laugh, learn and celebrate the wonderful world of reptiles at 11:30 a.m. with Rizzo’s Reptile Discovery, LLC.  Meet live turtles, snakes and a gator as you have fun learning about the characteristics of these cold-blooded creatures.  Eyes of the Wild will perform at 12:30 p.m. bringing live mammals with interesting adaptations and behaviors to the stage.  Prepare to laugh out loud at the life stories of each unique animal, their often humorous personality, fun facts and anecdotes.

Stop by the Wolf Visions table throughout the event to see a live wolf and find out why they are important in a balanced ecosystem.  Vinnie Reo will dispel the myths and legends of the “Big, Bad Wolf” at 2:00 & 3:30 p.m.  Master falconer Jennifer Pena from Flight of the Raptor will have live hawks, falcons and an owl on display for this daylong event. Join Ms. Pena at 4:00 p.m. to discover the importance of these airborne predators and find out how they behave in their natural habitats.  

Visit many educational table displays including:  Friends of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, New Jersey Audubon, New Jersey State Parks Service, Morris County’s Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, Native Plant Society, Toad Shade Wildflower Farm, Union County Clean Communities,

4-H Master Tree Stewards, Sierra Club and Master Gardeners of Union County.  Many vendors will be on hand selling wildlife related items, recycle art and going green themed items.

As an added attraction to celebrate Trailside’s 75^th anniversary, The Nerds will perform.  Sometimes called New Jersey’s hardest working, hardest rocking party band, The Nerds perform a blend of soul, classic rock and TV theme music.  The band is loosely based on an old skit from Saturday Night Live and have been performing together for over 20 years.  

Admission to Wild Earth Fest is $4 per person. Children 6 years of age and under will be admitted free. 

There is something for everyone at this special event.  Throughout the day food and beverages will be available.  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.

Union County Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski and Vernell Wright spoke with artists Michael Cofield and Kevin Rodriguez from the Cranford Achievement Middle School Program at the Union County Teen Arts Festival at Union County College in Cranford. The Union County Teen Arts Festival is an annual two-day celebration of the arts sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders through the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Recreation. The event is open to all students from public, charter, private and parochial middle and high schools in Union County. 

(Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados attended the Portuguese Instructive Social Club 94th Anniversary in Elizabeth, the second oldest Portuguese club in New Jersey. Pictured with the Vice Chairman is President of PISC Jose Carlos Brito, Vice President of PISC Carlos Amaral and Vice President Rui Luis.

As the spring weather approaches, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites residents to visit the County’s popular Child Safety Seat Inspection Center in Garwood.

The proper use of child safety seats is one of the simplest and most effective methods available for protecting the lives of young children in the event of a motor vehicle accident.

“This popular program offers parents and guardians the opportunity to make sure their child’s safety seat is properly adjusted and meets the New Jersey state law requirements,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “Our trained safety technicians can help you get familiar with a new seat, or make adjustments to an older seat for a growing child.”

Union County’s popular Child Safety Seat Inspection Program is open every Wednesday and Thursday from 7:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. and is located at the Garwood Rescue Squad at 401 2nd Avenue in Garwood. Certified child passenger safety technicians will check the car seat for proper installation and educate parents and guardians on using the seat correctly.

New Jersey’s new child safety seat regulations took effect in September of 2015. The new State law requires parents to adhere to American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations for child passenger safety.

If you’re unable to visit the Child Safety Seat Inspection Center during operating hours, weather permitting, Union County’s mobile child seat inspection unit will offer child safety seat inspections at Plainfield High School (950 Park Ave) on Saturday, June 4^th from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

“The County’s mobile unit gives residents throughout the county a more convenient opportunity to have our experts assist with a child safety seat in their vehicle, and to be sure the seat meets the new state law regulations,” said Freeholder Linda Carter. “We are happy to bring the County’s Public Safety mobile unit to Plainfield this spring. I invite municipalities to contact our office to request a mobile inspection clinic at a community event this spring or summer.”

Residents are also invited to learn more about other traffic safety programs for children and seniors offered through the Department of Public Safety. Throughout the spring months, the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Police will be present at various community health fairs and street festivals with information about the County’s child safety seat inspection program, the CarFit program for seniors, and the bike helmet initiative. Stop by the Public Safety information table at the following events to learn more:
Thursday, April 28 – Family Fun Day / Health Fair in Plainfield
Saturday, April 30 – YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day / Health and Safety Fair in Rahway
Saturday, June 5 – ‘Garwood Rocks’ Street Festival in Garwood

The child seat inspection program is provided as a public service by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Union County Police Department, New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, AAA Northeast – NJ Division, and the Garwood First Aid Squad.

For more information about the car seat inspection program, the CarFit program for seniors, or the bicycle helmet safety initiative visit ucnj.org or contact Christine Marcantonio, Traffic Safety Program Coordinator, by email at cmarcantonio@ucnj.org or by phone at 908-789-6830.

Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski recently attended the State of New Jersey Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee Hearing that was being held at New Jersey Institute of Technology.

The Freeholder gave testimony regarding the impact of state budget cuts on critical services that Union County government provides to its most vulnerable residents.

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados, Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski, Angel G. Estrada, Vernell Wright, Alexander Mirabella, Linda Carter and Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi congratulated the honorees at the Union County Commission on the Status of Women’s 24th Annual Women of Excellence Awards dinner in Union.

This year’s honorees are Maria C. Anderson, Dr. Cynthia Atkins, Nancy Benz, Margaret Chowdhury, Elaine Coupe, Kim D Eason, Barbara Arminio La Morte, Carmen Salavarrieta, Janet Siegal and Dr. Candace Wicke.

(Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)