Author: Web Site Administrator

Millions of homeowners woke up in their homes this morning thanks to a loan modification. When the threat of foreclosure loomed due to the loss or reduction of income, illness, divorce or other reasons, loan modifications lowered mortgage payments and helped many families stay in their homes and communities.

But did you know scammers are sending fake loan modification packages to get money? More homeowners are learning about the Mortgage Assistance Relief Services (MARS) rule, which made it ILLEGAL to be asked to pay money – for any reason – before the lender approves a loan modification in writing. So scammers created a new trick.

NeighborWorks America wants homeowners to know that scammers may “impersonate” the lender by mailing fake loan modification packages to make the homeowner think the lender has pre-approved a loan modification. The approval may be on letterhead that looks like lender letterhead, and some borrower information may even be accurate. But the contact information will not be from your lender, and there is usually a payment request to start the loan modification. Scammers will ask for these payments – trial payments, reinstatement or processing fees – to be sent to an address not affiliated with your lender or via wire transfer to finalize the modification. This is a scam. 

What can you do? There are five steps to protect yourself from this fake loan modification scam.

To learn more signs, visit NeighborWorks America’s Loan Modification Scam Alert website at http://www.loanscamalert.org.

Union County – The Union County Commission on the Status of Women is pleased to announce the 2015 recipients of the Women of Excellence Awards. The honorees will be celebrated at the 23rd annual Women of Excellence dinner on March 20, 2015, at Galloping Hill Caterers in Union Township

“The Freeholder Board is proud to support the Commission in recognizing the dedication and service of women to their community,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “This year’s nominees are an inspiration to all of us, and I hope that in highlighting their work others will be moved to do the same.”

The Women of Excellence Awards, supported by the Union County Freeholder Board, are presented to recognize and honor distinguished women who reside or work in Union County. The candidates are nominated based on their achievements and the impact of their work on the County of Union in areas like Arts and Humanities, Business, Community Service, Education, Government, Law, Medicine/Health Care and/or Women’s Advocacy.

The 2015 honorees and their respective categories are:

• Karolina Szatkowski- Women’s Advocacy
• Tricia Nering- Humanitarianism
• Kathy Lloyd- Media
• Reverend Joy Mounts- Youth Advocacy
• Ceil Mantia- Lifetime Achievement
• Cynthia Alexander- Community Leader
• Lynne Fitzpatrick- Business Leader
• Amy Boroff- Entrepreneurship
• Erica Bell Foster- Education
• Detective Adrian Gardner- Law Enforcement

Tickets for the dinner are available at $45.00 per person by contacting Carol Lombardo, 908-789-0508.

• Agenda Setting Freeholder Meeting
• Thursday’s Freeholder Agenda Setting Meeting of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders has been canceled due to inclement weather and rescheduled for next Thursday, March 12th, commencing at 7 p.m. The Regular Meeting of the Board of Chosen Freeholders will commence as soon as possible after the Agenda Setting Session.

• Alcohol/Drug Abuse (A/DA) Grant Funds RFP
  • The technical assistance meeting originally scheduled on Thursday, March 5, 2015 at 10AM per the Public Notice and the RFP document for the above RFP has been re-scheduled due to the impending inclement weather in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The technical assistance meeting is now scheduled for and will be held on Friday, March 6, 2015 at 2PM.

Union County Freeholders Alexander Mirabella, Vernell Wright, Sergio Granados, Christopher Hudak and Bette Jane Kowalski read to children at the Barnes & Noble bookstore in Springfield on March 2 during the Union County Education Association’s annual Read Across America event. Read Across America is a reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading in honor of the birthday of children’s author Dr. Seuss. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Freeeholder Wright

Freeholder Kowalski

Freeholder Granados

Freeholder Hudak

Freeholder Mirabella

ROSELLE, NJ-The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation will host a special skating event this coming Saturday, March 7, at the Warinanco Park Skating Center in Roselle, New Jersey.

“Lace Up Your Skates” will provide an opportunity for people with disabilities and their friends and families to enjoy time together on the ice. The program will run from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. An $8.00 registration fee will be charged for each participant. The fee includes skate rental. There will be Skate Guards on duty throughout the event. Skate Walkers and Sleds.

“The ice skating program at the Warinanco Skating Center is one of many activities offered by Union County for people living with disabilities,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “Besides being a great source of exercise, ice skating at Warinanco is a lot of fun for people of all ages.”

For more information on “Lace Up Your Skates”, or for more information about recreation programs for people with disabilities, please contact Manuel Ramirez at 908-527-4781 or email: mramirez@ucnj.org.

The Warinanco Ice Skating Center is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholder and is located near the Thompson Avenue entrance to Warinanco Park in Roselle. For more information about activities at the Ice Skating Center, call 908-298-7850 for a recorded seasonal message. For other information, contact the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4900 or visit the website: www.ucnj.org.

Snow has begun to blanket Union County, and will ultimately become a wintry mix later on tonight that could cause hazardous travel conditions. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders remind you to take the necessary precaution and take it slow if you need to travel. 
 
Report any issues on municipal roads to the respective municipality. If there are any issues on County roads, please call County Police at 908-654-9800.  
 
Also, to report downed power lines or outages, contact your utility company. PSE&G customers call 1-800-436-7734. JCP&L customers call 1-800-545-7738 or use the automated reporting line at 1-888-544-4877.  
 
For questions about your gas service, call Elizabethtown Gas at 800-492-4009.  
 
Please tell your friends and neighbors about First Alert, and stay informed by visiting the Union County Webpage at www.ucnj.org. Also find us on Facebook and Twitter.  
 
Brought to you by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed Jalloh (2^nd R) and Freeholders Bruce Bergen (L) and Alexander Mirabella (R) present a resolution to Union County Vocational-Technical Schools Superintendent Peter Capodice, Future Farmers of America (FFA) advisor and horticulture instructor Bonnie Baldasare, FFA member Aaron Etnine and FFA president Margaret Hopkins designating the last week of February 2015 as Future Farmers of America Week in Union County. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

(From left) Union County Freeholders Vernell Wright and Christopher Hudak and Freeholder Chairman Mohamed Jalloh present resolutions to the 2015 Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin, General Chairman Tony Brennan and Adjutant Kathleen Holmes congratulating them on the 19th annual parade. The 2015 Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 14 on Morris Avenue in Union. For more information please visit www.unioncountystpatricksdayparade.com. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed Jalloh (3^rd R) and Freeholders Bruce Bergen (3^rd L) and Alexander Mirabella (R) present a resolution to Union County Vocational-Technical Schools Superintendent Peter Capodice (2^nd R) and UCVTS students designating February 2015 as National Career and Technical Education Month in Union County. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)