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(From left) Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Bruce H. Bergen visits with Jewish Family Services Executive Director Tom Beck and Case Worker Elie Bodner at the nonprofit’s community garden outside their office in Elizabeth. They are joined by James Nichnadowicz of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, which is funded through Union County, that helps maintain the community garden. Last year the garden produced 1,200 pounds of food. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce a call for visual artists to participate in the County’s first Art Outside The Box public art project.

Art Outside The Box is a new countywide creative placemaking project created to support Union County visual artists by offering a nontraditional exhibition opportunity that broadens and diversifies public exposure to art murals.

“Art Outside The Box is an innovative public art project that seeks to engage residents and visitors by integrating visual art with public spaces in our communities,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “The Freeholder Board is proud to provide opportunities that celebrate creativity, enhance community identity, and encourage cultural tourism.”

This call for entries is open to all 2D visual artists (painters, photographers, printmakers, graphic and computer/digital artists) residing in or working in Union County. Artists are invited to submit up to four different designs for project consideration. The deadline for entry is August 1, 2015.

The theme for this submission of Art Outside The Box entries is diversity. Artists should submit work that is uplifting, colorful, and appropriate for people of all ages.  There is no fee required to participate.

Offered as part of Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh’s Building A Community of the Arts initiative, a total of nine original artworks will be selected to cover traffic control boxes in Elizabeth, Linden, and Rahway, NJ. Each artwork will be reproduced on a special vinyl adhesive film and professionally applied to the exterior of the pre-selected traffic control boxes. 

Funded by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Art Outside The Box project will provide a $200 honorarium for each artist whose work is selected.  Details about the project, including entry form, traffic control box locations, reference samples, and artist agreement are available online at www.ucnj.org/artoutsidethebox.

Deadline for entry is August 1, 2015.

Entries will be juried and selected for the program based on artistic excellence, technical merit, the ability to complement the setting and how well it translates into large-scale viewing.

For further details about how to participate, please call the Union County Department of Cultural Heritage at (908) 558-2550 or visit our website at:  ucnj.org/artoutsidethebox.

Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan (R) thanked VFW Post 2433 Commander Leo Graf (3^rd R) and past Commander and Quartermaster Bob Johnsen (2^nd R) as they presented the Sheriff’s Office K9 Search and Rescue Unit with 5 K9 ballistic vests Post 2433 donated.  The officers from the K9 unit are (from left) Officer Ryan Wilson, Detective Anthony Gialanella, Officer Timothy O’Grady, Officer Bryan Frew and Sgt. Brian Howarth. K9 Ruger is wearing one of the donated vests. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Vernell Wright (3^rd from left) congratulates incoming UNICO National President Dr. Ann Walko (second from left). They are joined by Anthony Bengivenga (first, left), President of the Westfield Chapter of UNICO, and (fourth , left), Joe Almeida, President of the Union Chapter of UNICO.

Walko, a professor at Kean University, is also a resident of Scotch Plains. She begins her tenure as President in July. UNICO National is the nation’s largest Italian-American non-profit service organization whose chapters engage in philanthropic, cultural, educational and anti-bias activities.  The organization has 140 chapters nationwide.

Photo by Lamar Mackson, Public Information Division

Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski (R) joined employees from McKinsey & Company working on an Adopt a Park Project in the Watchung Reservation. The employees volunteer their time for the cleanup and the company provided equipment, materials and tools to help with the improvement project. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The popular Wednesday Matinee Series at Trailside Nature & Science Center returns on July 1, offering family entertainment beginning at 1:30 p.m.  All shows, which run approximately 45 minutes, are recommended for children ages 4 years of age and up. Admission is $5.00 per person and tickets go on sale at 1:00 p.m. the day of the show.

“The Summer Wednesday Matinee Series at Trailside presents imaginative, interactive and educational shows which teach and entertain the whole family,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh.

• On July 1, join the fabulous Mr. Fish as we present ”Fantastic Forces,” a fast paced, funny show with interactive audience participation. Gravity, sound waves, air pressure and other forces are engagingly illustrated in this program sponsored by the Trailside Museum Association.
• On July 8, “Mammal Mania” will feature an educational and fun program featuring live animals. Join Wallaby Tales Traveling Zoo for an engaging and humorous show.
• On July 15 you won’t want to miss “Rizzo’s Reptiles.” This program mixes nature, environment and conservation. The program features live snakes, turtles and an alligator.
• On July 22, Mr. Fish returns in ”Phenomenal Physics,” featuring astounding tricks with scientific explanations.
• On July 29, there’s pure laser fun set to rock and pop music in a show entitled ”Lasermania.”
• August 5, “Bubble Trouble” mixes comedy and music with featured entertainer Jeff Boyer who juggles, sculpts and builds with bubbles, some which are fog-filled.

The Wednesday Matinee Series concludes on August 12 with “Abracadabra, It’s Joe Fisher.” This show is a blend of magic, audience participation, comedy and excitement.

For additional information about the Wednesday Matinee Series or other upcoming programs and special events, please call 908-789-3670 or visit us at www.ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a facility of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.

Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan swears in Dennis Burke as he is promoted to the rank of Captain during a ceremony at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. Holding the Bible is Captain Burke’s wife Meredith. Captain Burke, a 20-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, will continue his assignment as the Commander of the Fugitive, Family Violence and Street Crime Units. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)