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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to bring a sensory-friendly rootsy rock ‘n’ roll family concert to the stage at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway.

Plan a day trip for a children’s summer camp or bring the entire family to rock out with two-time Grammy nominees Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could singing songs that celebrate children of all abilities. Performing live on stage at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway, the sensory–friendly children’s music concert is scheduled for two performances on Friday, July 31 at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

Tickets for this sensory-friendly concert are $8 per person and seating is general admission. Group discounts are available for groups of ten or more. All tickets can be purchased through the Union County Performing Arts Center at ucpac.org or by calling the Box Office at 732-499-8226.

“Presented as part of our sensory-friendly performance series, the concert environment at the UCPAC is designed and adjusted to offer a relaxed and safe place for children and adults with sensory sensitivity, developmental and learning differences to enjoy the performing arts,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “Inspired by children, Brady Rymer and his band deliver songs that engage audiences of all ages. The Freeholder board is proud to offer an opportunity for families to experience a music concert that celebrates, motivates, and empowers children of all abilities.”

Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could “might just be the best-sounding band in children’s music,” according to NPR’s All Things Considered. First class, all-American roots/rock with a feel-good R&B foundation is Rymer’s calling card – he creates a warm, optimistic, rollicking back-porch vibe that gets children and their families up and dancing, and smiling from ear to ear. Kids love the energy and Rymer’s magnetic, good-times-guy charm, and his musicianship is something even the most discerning music-loving parent can appreciate.

Autism Friendly Spaces (AFS)  implements the supportive atmosphere at each of the Sensory-friendly performances. AFS provides specialists to train staff and volunteers on working with children with autism and other special needs during Sensory Friendly Theatre performances, while providing comfort and help to families.

For each of the special performances in the Sensory Friendly Theatre series, the theatre environment at the Union County PAC will be adjusted to provide a sensory-friendly, comfortable and judgment-free space that is welcoming for all families. For more information on what to expect at a Sensory Friendly Theatre performance visit ucpac.org.

For more information or to purchase tickets call the Union County Performing Arts Center, 732-499-8226 or visit ucpac.org. The UCPAC Box Office, located at 1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 AM until 5:00 PM and is also open late on Thursdays until 8:00 PM.

For information on additional Union County recreational programs for people with disabilities age five and up, call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4806 or visit ucnj.org.

ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs are happy to announce that the First Place hanging art works from the 2015 Union County Senior Citizens Art Contest and Exhibit are on exhibit at the Freeholders Gallery located on the 6^th floor of the Union County Administration Building at Elizabethtown Plaza in Elizabeth. The winning pieces can be seen weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The exhibit will run until Wednesday, August 19.

The annual Union County Senior Citizen Art Show is open to artists who are 60 years of age or older and reside in Union County. The show is held from early June to mid-July in the atrium of the Elizabethtown Gas Company in Union.

The non-professional artists whose two-dimensional art works are included in the Freeholders Gallery exhibit are: Molly Brown of Rahway (Acrylic); Clarisse Kant of Cranford (Drawing & Prints); Marilyn Karr of Elizabeth (Mixed Media); Peggy Comegys of Roselle Park (Oil); Marjorie Picard of Scotch Plains (Pastel); William Gardner of Winfield Park (Photography); and Barbara Morano of Springfield (Watercolor).

The professional artists in the exhibit are: Genadiy Rozhkov of Springfield (Acrylic); Libby Reid of Rahway (Drawing & Prints); Frank Marshall of Roselle (Mixed Media); Avi Kiriakatis of Kenilworth (Oil); Anita Gladstone of Springfield (Pastel); Wolf Kretlow of Roselle (Photography); and Angelito David of Linden (Watercolor).

The first place winners for Sculpture and Craft are not on display at the Freeholders Gallery, but will also go on to compete at the New Jersey Senior Citizens Art Show. They are: Lynn Shereshewsky of Westfield (Non-Pro Craft); James Temple of Scotch Plains (Non-Pro Sculpture), Linda Rosen of Cranford (Pro Sculpture). 

The first place winners, non-professional and professional, in each of the categories will move on to compete at the New Jersey Senior Citizens Art Show. The State show will take place at Meadow Lakes in East Windsor, New Jersey, this fall.

For further information and to learn more about exhibiting at the Freeholders Gallery, please contact Nicole DeAugustine, Curator, at the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202; telephone, 908-558-2550; or email: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

CLARK, NJ–The Union County Summer Arts Festival concert series continues Wednesday evening, July 22, with Jo Bonanno & the Godsons of Soul taking the stage at 7:30 p.m. The free concert series, presented by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholder, will take place at Oak Ridge Park in Clark during the month of July and move to Echo Lake Park in Mountainside during the month of August.

Jo Bonanno & the Godsons of Soul have been electrifying audiences in the tri-state area since 1992 with their infectious style of Jersey Shore get-up-and-dance rock and soul music. Considered one of the Top Ten bands in New Jersey, they have opened shows for James Brown, Jerry Lee Lewis, The B-52s, Joan Jett, Mitch Ryder, and Eddie Money.

Pack a picnic basket, bring lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy the music under the stars. Refreshments and snacks will also be available from vendors.

Once again, UC Get Fit Yoga in the Park, a Union County Freeholder initiative will be part of the Wednesday night pre-concert schedule, with Alluem Yoga of Cranford presenting a free community class from 6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.  Bring a mat or beach towel and participate in healthy activities for the entire family before the music begins.

“We invite everyone to join us for our Wednesday night music programs at Oak Ridge Park,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “And don’t forget to arrive early to participate in UC Get Fit Yoga in the Park, a great way for families to stay healthy together.”

The Summer Arts Festival concerts continue throughout July and August. The other free concerts in the Union County Summer Arts Festival series include:

At Oak Ridge Park, Clark

• July 29 – Hey Bulldog (Beatles Tribute)—Sponsored by Union County Education Association

At Echo Lake Park, Mountainside (All sponsored by ConnectOne Bank)

• August 5 – Good Vibrations (tribute to The Beach Boys)
• August 12 – American Rapture
• August 19 – The Benjamins
• August 26 – The Sensational Soul Cruisers

For rain information you can call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at (908) 558-4079 after 3:30 p.m. on the day of the concert or you can visit the Union County web site: www.ucnj.org.

Family Fun & Flix, a free summer entertainment and film series presented by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, continues Tuesday, July 21 with the presentation of “Dolphin Tale 2” at Warinanco Park, on the border of Elizabeth and Roselle.  This showing of “Dolphin Tale 2” is sponsored by Investors Bank.

As part of the evening’s events, UC Fit Kids, a health initiative of the Union County Freeholder Board, will offer fitness fun for children before the movie, beginning at 7:30 p.m. UC Fit Kids’ Yoga is presented by Lifetime Fitness of Berkeley Heights.

“Dolphin Tale 2” is an animated family drama, starring the voice of Morgan Freeman. It continues the story of rescued dolphin Winter, as the team that saved her life reassembles in the wake of her surrogate mother’s passing in order to find her a companion so she can remain at the Clearwater Marine Hospital.

“Family Fun & Flix, combined with UC Fit Kids, gives families an opportunity to enjoy an entertaining evening in our parks while picking up some healthy living tips,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh.

All movies will begin at dusk, with everyone encouraged to bring a blanket or beach chair to claim your spot on the lawn. There will also be bleacher seats available.

The remaining schedule for this summer’s Family Fun and Flix is as follows:

• Tuesday, July 28 at Warinanco Park: Big Hero 6.
• Tuesday, August 4 at Meisel Park, Springfield (National Night Out): Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.
• Tuesday, August 11 at Warinanco Park: Annie (Sponsored by Investors Bank).

All movies start at dusk, weather permitting. For more information, call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4900 or visit the Union County website; www.ucnj.org. In case of weather related matters, you can call 908-558-4079 after 3:30 p.m. on the day of the show.

Warinanco track and field, Oak Ridge archery range to close during the competition.

Union County, NJ  –  The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds residents and visitors that the National Junior Disability Championships (NJDC) are coming to three county parks, from July 16 to July 24.

“We are thrilled to welcome visitors and athletes from all over the country to our Union County parks,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “The Freeholder Board has worked to enhance our public recreation resources and provide a more welcoming environment for all, and it is wonderful to see these efforts bear fruit in a way that will help so many young people showcase their abilities on a national stage.”

Union County residents and visitors are encouraged to attend the events and cheer for top young athletes from all across the country. To ensure the safety of the competitors and the general public, the following facilities are reserved for use by NJDC participants for the duration of the event:

• The Warinanco Park track and field will be closed to the general public all day July 16-17 and 21-24.
• The Oak Ridge Park archery range will be closed all day from 3:00 p.m. on July 18 through Monday July 20.

The NJDC will include a swimming event, but no special closure for this facility is needed. It will take place at the Walter E. Ulrich Memorial Pool in Rahway River Park, during hours when the pool is normally not in use by the public.

The 2015 National Junior Disability Championships™ (NJDC)^TM is presented by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at Children’s Specialized Hospital and the NJDC2015NJ Local Organizing Committee. The annual competition celebrates athletes who have physical disabilities and either use wheelchairs, walkers or crutches, who wear orthotics or leg braces, or who may have difficulties with physical coordination.

The 2015 NJDC event will feature over 250 physically disabled athletes from across the country, including athletes from two New Jersey teams, the Children’s Lightning Wheels and the North Jersey Navigators.

The qualifying athletes, ranging in age from 7 to 22, will compete in Paralympic style events including track, field, pentathlon, swimming, powerlifting and archery.

For more information about the 2015 NJDC, including the games event schedule, sponsorship opportunities, and information on volunteering, visit NJDC2015NJ.com or email info@NJDC2015NJ.com.  

The County will be closing the Irving Street Bridge in Rahway (over the Robinson Branch of the Rahway River) for repairs from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays, beginning Wednesday July 15^th, and lasting approximately two weeks. 

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We are still accepting submissions for artwork for the countywide public art project Art Outside The Box sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Artwork will be applied to the exterior of select Traffic Control Boxes (TCB) around the County. Be part of this exciting initiative! Submit your art today to be considered. For details, and to submit your artwork online, visit https://ucnj.org/artoutsidethebox/

Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying for adult mosquitoes tonight between 7:30pm and 11:30pm. The spraying will be predicated on the weather conditions; rain and high winds will cancel the operation. The areas to be sprayed are as follows:

• Berkeley Hts.– Shadow La., Bolton St., Mt Carmel area, DPW yard area
• Clark–   Conger Way,  Frances Dr., St. Agnes church rear lot, Colonial Dr., Bartell Pl., King Street
• Cranford– Mohawk Dr.,  South Union Ave., Birchwood Ave., Cranford Ave.
• Elizabeth– Clarkson Ave.,
• Fanwood– Fanwood Place
• Garwood– Hickory Ave.
• Hillside– Harvard Ave., Cornell Pl., Aldine St., Westminster area
• Kenilworth– Dorsett Dr., Water Co. Rd.
• Linden– Tremeley Pt., Bradford Ave., Marion Ave., Lexington Ave.,
• New Providence– Gales Dr., Grove St.
• Plainfield- Reeves Terrace, Wiley Ave., Knollwood Ct.,  Terrill Rd., Cushing Rd.
• Rahway– Leesville Ave., Main St., Central Ave., Church St., New Church St., River Rd. (Walking Path), Whittier St., Elizabeth Ave., Donald Ave., West Scott Ave.
• Roselle– Chestnut St., Franklin St., West Brook Woods Condos
• Roselle Park– Chestnut St., Galloping Hill Rd.
• Springfield– Diven St., Layng Terr., Marion Ave.
• Summit– Stockton St., Ascot Way, Kent Place
• Union– Sinclair Ave., Elaine Terrace, Rahway Ave, Brighton St., Gifford Ct.
• Westfield– Euclid Ave
• Municipal Parks
  • Clark: Bartell Pk
  • Westfield: Tamaques Park, Mindowaskin Park
  • Linden: Memorial Park
• County Parks– Cranford: County Park Dr
  • Elizabeth: Mattano Pk., Warinanco Pk.
  • Garwood: Unami Pk.
  • Clark: Union County Parkway (Valley Rd Side), Oak Ridge Park
  • Plainfield: Milt Campbell Park
  • Rahway: Rahway Park

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Bruce H. Bergen presents a resolution to Aaron and Laura Cohen of Garwood recognizing them for their dedication and hard work in raising funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and congratulating them on being named the Walk MS 2015 Ambassadors by the New Jersey Metro Chapter. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable and often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Laura and Aaron, who has been living with MS for many years, and their dedicated team have raised $633,000 over 15 years for the National MS Society through Walk MS. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union