Author: Web Site Administrator

Young Athletes from Cranford, Linden & Westfield Also Will Be Honored

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Four local baseball legends – Jorge Comas of Elizabeth, Barry Kaverick of Kenilworth, Richard McCormack of Elizabeth, and Jack Shaw of Roselle Park – will be inducted into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame during awards ceremonies at the 79^th Annual Hot Stove League Baseball Dinner on Sunday, Feb. 8. The awards dinner begins at 1:00 p.m. at the L’Affaire Banquet Center, 1099 Route 22 East, in Mountainside.

The dinner is sponsored by the Union County Baseball Association, in cooperation with the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation. Tickets for the dinner are $45 each. Proceeds will help fund the Union County Summer Youth Baseball League for youngsters 8 to 15 years, and the Fall Teen League.

The special guest speaker at the dinner will be Roy White, the former New York Yankees All-Star outfielder and two-time World Series champion.

Jorge Comas played four years of varsity baseball at St. Mary’s High School in Elizabeth. His outstanding performance earned him All-Union County and Parochial All-State honors. At Ramapo College, he played for the 1984 NCAA Division III National Champions and he holds the all time Ramapo College school record for home runs.

Barry Kaverick made a name for himself as one of the best players in Roselle Catholic High School history. His talent as a pitcher, shortstop and hitter earned him First Team All-State honors. Barry passed up signing with the Yankees to attend the U.S. Naval Academy. Later, he volunteered 17 years as a coach for the Kenilworth Little League.

Richard McCormack showed his versatility and passion for baseball from an early age. After graduating from the varsity at St. Mary’s in Elizabeth, he had a ten-year career in the Union County Baseball League and the Union County Industrial League, eventually becoming a player-manager. After his playing days, he coached in the Kenilworth Little League for a decade.

Jack Shaw grew up in Chatham and played in Morris and Essex leagues until the age of 30 – except for four years at Moravian College in Pennsylvania. Jack began coaching baseball at Roselle Park High School in 1976, retiring in 1999 with a 279-191 varsity record. He also coached at American Legion Post 60 for 13 seasons and was inducted into the NJ Scholastic Coaches Hall of Fame in 2001.

Young athletes from Union County also will be honored for their achievements in 2014 at the 79^th Annual Hot Stove League Baseball Dinner. Among the local athletes to be honored are:

• Nick Christiani of Linden, the Gatorade New Jersey High School Player of the Year as a senior at Seton Hall Prep, who was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 2009 out of Vanderbilt and has pitched for the Reds in parts of the 2013 and 2014 seasons, will receive the Chris Zusi Award for outstanding male athlete.
• Chrissy Ferraro of Westfield, who led the Blue Devils to a second consecutive Union County Tournament Championship in 2014 with a .505 batting average and was named Union County Player of the Year, will receive the Banyasz Brothers Award for most valuable scholastic softball player.
• Rebecca Rotola of Linden, whose pitching helped Kean University win the 2014 NCAA Division III Softball Union Regional Championship over number one seed Lebanon Valley College, and who finished the season with a 12-3 record, will receive the Joseph Lombardi Award for outstanding female athlete.
• Tommy Trotter of Cranford, who led the Cougars to their third straight sectional title in 2014 with his .462 batting average out of the leadoff spot and his strong outfield defense, and was named Union County Player of the Year, will receive the Edward Cooper Award for most valuable scholastic baseball player.

“We’re delighted to honor so many deserving athletes from throughout Union County at this year’s Hot Stove Awards Dinner,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “I hope that family members, teammates and friends of all the honorees will enjoy the Sunday afternoon ceremonies and support youth baseball in Union County.”

Since 1937, the Hot Stove League Dinner has been the primary fund-raising effort for the Union County Baseball Association’s summer and fall programs. Over the years, the awards dinner has honored many local and national baseball luminaries – including Phil Rizzuto of Hillside, Don Newcombe of Elizabeth, Joe Collins of Union, Jeff Torborg of Mountainside, Willie Wilson of Summit, and Elliott Maddox of Union.

Tickets for the 79^th Annual Union County Baseball Association Hot Stove League Dinner on Feb. 8^th are available from the Union County Baseball Association by visiting www.UCBA-NJ.org. For more information, please call Jim Iozzi at 908-917-2523.

Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan advises residents to protect themselves from telephone scam artists masking their phone numbers so it appears they are with a local law enforcement agency.

The callers will present themselves as a member of law enforcement; claim there is an outstanding federal complaint against the resident and will then try to have the resident send money in order to avoid arrest. Many of the scammers falsely tell the resident they owe money to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and must pay immediately.

“The best way for people to protect themselves from these scams is to be aware they are happening,” Sheriff Cryan said. “Law enforcement does not demand money over the phone to avoid a criminal complaint.”

Any one of these five things is a sign of a scam. The IRS does not:

1. Call you to demand immediate payment. The IRS does not call about taxes owed without first mailing a bill.
2. Demand that you pay taxes without offering the chance to question or appeal the amount they say is owed.
3. Require a certain payment method for paying taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.
4. Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
5. Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement to have you arrested for not paying.

Sheriff Cryan advises residents who receive calls they believe are a scam to hang up and call local police.

(From left) Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed Jalloh, Roselle Park Mayor Carl Hokanson, Freeholders Vernell Wright and Linda Carter joined Cranford Mayor Andis Kalnins and Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski and Sergio Granados at the Cranford train station to mark the beginning of nighttime “one-seat,” or direct service on NJ Transit’s Raritan Valley Line to New York City. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The forecast for Monday, January 12 calls for rain, freezing rain and sleet. It will be both unsafe and unproductive to send hunters into the woods. Therefore, the Union County Deer Management Program is postponed to Wednesday, January 14.

More information about the deer management program can be found by clicking here.

Union County is in an extended four-day period of freezing temperatures, with dips occurring as low as 4 degrees. 

A Code Blue has been put into effect for the remainder of this time, which is intended to get any homeless off the street and into shelter. If you happen to witness anyone unattended to or sleeping outdoors, please contact your local police department in getting them to the appropriate shelter. 

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders also urge you to please take the appropriate precautions and drive safely. 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.

ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present an exhibit of photographs by Agnieszka Solawa of Summit in the gallery space at the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, located in the historic St. John’s Parsonage at 633 Pearl Street in Elizabeth. A selection of her work entitled “Inspired” is on display at the Pearl Street Gallery through March 27. The public is invited to enjoy the exhibit during regular gallery hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

“The talent and diversity of our county artists assure an inspiring variety of exhibits at the Pearl Street Gallery,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Union County Cultural and Heritage Advisory Board. “We are pleased to display Ms. Solawa’s beautiful photographs.”

Agnieszka Solawa was born in Krakow, Poland, where she grew up surrounded by art. Her mother was an artist and her father was chief architect of the city of Krakow and a professor at the School of Architecture. Agnieszka’s family immigrated to South Africa to escape from communism. She earned a Diploma of Fine Art from the Pretoria and Cape Town Universities and a BA in Architecture from the University of Cape Town. In Paris, France, she studied Graphic Arts at the “Atelier 17.” She later won a scholarship to study art and Italian language at the University of Urbino in Italy.

In 1987, Agnieszka Solawa moved to Summit, New Jersey with her husband Sam, who also is an architect and photographer. Throughout her career, Agnieszka participated in many exhibitions in Italy, France, South Africa and the United States. Her paintings and photographs are in many private collections. Her recent exhibits include: Solo Exhibition of Photography, Millburn Public Library; Solo Exhibition of Paintings, Westfield Memorial Library; Solo Exhibition of Jewelry, New Providence Memorial Library; “Holy Lives”, Juried Show, Therese A. Maloney Art Gallery, Morristown, NJ; and “Seasons”, 3rd Annual Photography Contest, The Donald B. Palmer Museum, Springfield, NJ.

Agnieszka continued her photography and painting while working as an architect/interior designer at Donghia Associates and later as an architect at the Port Authority of NY & NJ. She also is a jewelry designer and a singer. To see her work, visit her website www.solawa.com .

Union County artists (whose works can be hung on a wall) interested in exhibiting in the gallery space are welcome to apply. For more information about the Pearl Street Gallery or other programs, please contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth NJ 07202. Free on-site parking is available. Telephone 908-558-2550. NJ Relay users can dial 711. Send E-mail to: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

County Surrogate James S. LaCorte, Sheriff Joseph Cryan, Freeholders Christopher Hudak, Angel G. Estrada and Vernell Wright Begin New Terms

UNION COUNTY COURTHOUSE, ELIZABETH—Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh today announced a comprehensive series of initiatives for 2015, entitled “Investing in Union County” that includes new announcements in economic development, arts, education, quality of life improvements and public safety.

Jalloh, a resident of Union, was selected as Chairman of the Union County Freeholder Board at the 158th annual reorganization meeting held in the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. He began serving as Freeholder in 2010. This is his first term as Chairman of the Freeholder Board.

County Surrogate James S. LaCorte and Freeholders Christopher Hudak (last year’s Chairman), Angel G. Estrada and Vernell Wright were sworn in to new terms. Sheriff Joseph Cryan was sworn into his first full term. Freeholder Bruce H. Bergen was appointed as Freeholder Vice Chairman. Freeholders also voted to fill numerous positions on County advisory boards and to adopt the Board’s 2015 schedule and procedural rules.

In reflecting upon a number of tough governmental decisions made by the Freeholder Board over the past several years necessitated by the global recession, Jalloh noted the County is rebounding and must continue to “play offense” through a series of strategic initiatives for the New Year.

“Those steps proved very effective and we have emerged a stronger County government because of it,” Jalloh said. “It is time again for the County to focus on making the investments in our future that will help boost the economy and enhance the quality of life for our residents.”

Jalloh went on to outline his “Investing in Union County” initiatives:

• “Road map to success” – The County will commission a report, conducted through the Bloustein School at Rutgers, that will examine trends in Union County’s overall economy, find strengths and synergies to focus its resources upon, and effectuate positive outcomes.
• “Build a Community of The Arts” – this set of initiatives would build a County-wide arts ecosystem that will grow and stimulate Union County’s economy, including:
  • An Arts Master plan, with assistance from former Rahway Mayor Jim Kennedy, which would catalogue the County’s Arts resources and determine how to best utilize them, market them and move forward with a plan for advancing the arts;
  • The Union County Advancing Community Theatre initiative (UCACT), through which the County would sponsor and promote five or more theatre events at the Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC). This program builds on the recent success of RENT – a pilot of this program that the County initiated in November through a partnership with UCPAC;
  • A new partnership with Union County College to offer classes in acting, dance, and public speaking at UCPAC that will be open to all residents;
  • A “creative placemaking initiative,” which will involve covering traffic control boxes with the artistic expressions of local Artists, aimed at enhancing community arts and revitalization.
• “College Readiness Now” – Develop a partnership with Union County College to expand this pilot program which tests juniors near the end of the academic year to ensure they are prepared for college and help avoid costly remediation courses.
• “Families First initiative” – which includes a partnership involving the United Way of Greater Union County, the Workforce Investment Board, and our Department of Human Services, that would lead to additional after school programs, workforce investment training and support for families;
  • A pilot program with Community Coordinated Child Care (also known as “four C’s”) to serve those who don’t meet eligibility for State subsidized child care;
  • Work with various partners including the Court Administration, the Sheriff’s office, Human Service agencies and the Prosecutors Office, to ensure safety and better services for families affected by domestic violence.
• A series of economic development and workforce initiatives meant to boost the economy and create new opportunities, including:
  • A $2.3 million expansion of the Union County Workforce Investment Board (WIB) program at the Jersey Gardens Mall in Elizabeth to boost job training, job creation and employment programs for County residents;
  • The Entrepreneurship Training Program, which just began through the WIB, is aimed at assisting individuals who want to start and manage their own business; and a partnership with the New Jersey State AFL-CIO (community services agency) to screen and assist qualified, legal, permanent residents who live in Union County with their naturalization;
  • The creation of a Union County economic development response team to approach each Union County municipality about their needs. This would open a dialogue on sharing services, identifying opportunities and maximizing our resources in spurring economic growth;
• Public safety and recreational announcements aimed at improving the quality of life, including:
  • The creation of a new street crimes unit through the Sheriff’s Department that would focus on emerging public safety concerns;
  • Action on a recently completed assessment of our parks, public works and motor vehicle locations to install safety cameras as a deterrent to crime in those locations;
  • Continuing the successful Union County Gun Buyback program with another round coming later this summer;
  • Enhanced development of our parks, such as continuing the “turf and build” program and bike path improvements, as well as roads and infrastructure measures with the goal of increasing recreational opportunities in the County;

Finally, in discussing last year’s developments in Ferguson, Missouri, and Staten Island, Jalloh added that it is “is incumbent upon all of us as government leaders to assist in the effort to maintain or restore the bond of trust between our different communities and our police departments.”

Jalloh has initiated conversations with Assemblyman Green, the Prosecutors office, the Sheriff’s office, and the County’s Public Safety Director regarding programs that could be offered at our Police Academy and through County Police.

“We want to raise the bar of tolerance and professionalism for those in the line of duty, and in turn we hope to create an atmosphere of renewed respect that our officers deserve to making the ultimate sacrifice of putting their own lives on the line,” Jalloh stated.

The Freeholder Chairman closed his speech by quoting President Obama:

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues, County staff and members of the community to effect this change,” Jalloh said.

(All photos: James Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman-elect Mohamed S. Jalloh will announce his initiatives for the New Year during County Government’s Reorganization at the County Courthouse on Sunday, Jan. 4^th. The event begins at 12 p.m.

Those scheduled to be sworn into new terms include:  County Surrogate James La Corte, Sheriff Joseph Cryan, Immediate Past Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak, and  Freeholders Angel G. Estrada and Vernell Wright. Bruce Bergen is expected to be appointed as Freeholder Vice Chairman.

Freeholders will also vote to fill numerous positions on county advisory boards and to adopt the board’s 2015 schedule and more.

• Time: Sunday, January 4th, 12 P.M.
• Place: Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street Judge Cassidy’s Chambers Elizabeth, NJ

The Union County Department of Parks and Recreation has released details of its annual Deer Management Program, which will begin on Monday morning, January 5 in four County parks and one municipal park.  The program will operate in the Watchung Reservation, the Summit portion of Passaic River Park, Ash Brook Reservation, Lenape Park and the Hawk Rise Sanctuary.

Browsing for food by large numbers of deer has caused a loss of forest understory in park areas throughout the northeastern United States.  The overpopulation of deer threatens the survival of the plant and animal communities that are important to the ecology of these parks.

Forest ecologists recommend a density of 20 per square mile in a healthy hardwood forest and as low as 5 per square mile in a forest that has been heavily damaged by browsing.  Spotlight counts conducted by the County in April, 2014 suggested 2014-2015 overwintering densities of about 45 deer per square mile in the Watchung Reservation, 53 per mile in and around Ash Brook Reservation, and over 200 per square mile in and around Lenape and Nomahegan Parks. 

An analysis completed by the County in 2011 showed that roads bordering Lenape and Nomahegan Parks had some of the highest numbers of deer-car collisions in the County.  And in Hawk Rise Sanctuary in Linden, overbrowsing by deer is threatening the survival of hundreds of native plants introduced with the recent construction of a boardwalk.

Since 1995, marksmen in the County of Union’s state-regulated deer management program have reduced the population of white-tailed deer in the Watchung Reservation substantially.  In 2005, hunting was initiated in Ash Brook Reservation and in 2006 in portions of Passaic River Park in Summit.  Three years ago, hunters harvested deer from Lenape Park for the first time.  And last year, the County began to administer deer management in Linden’s Hawk Rise Sanctuary as a shared service.

The Watchung Reservation spans over 2,000 acres in Springfield, Mountainside, Scotch Plains, Summit, Berkeley Heights and Watchung.  Passaic River Park spans 287 acres in Berkeley Heights, New Providence and Summit.  Lenape Park covers 403 acres of land in Cranford, Kenilworth, Union, Springfield and Westfield.  The Ash Brook Reservation encompasses 667 acres in Scotch Plains and Clark.  And the Hawk Rise Sanctuary includes about 45 acres of forest in the City of Linden.

The Union County Deer Management Program will operate on Mondays from January 5 to February 9.  Because of the Dr. Martin Luther King holiday, hunting will occur on Wednesday, January 21 instead of Monday, January 19.  In the event of inclement weather on any other Monday, the hunting activity will be moved to Wednesday that week.  If Wednesday brings inclement weather, the hunting will be moved to Friday.  Hunters will be in the parks from 5:00 a.m. until after dark, but shooting may occur only during daylight hours. 

Thirty-six marksmen have been chosen by the County from among experienced, licensed hunters.  Seventy percent of the hunters have previously participated in Union County’s program, and all are serving on a voluntary basis. The hunters will be wearing orange hats or vests and will hunt the deer from elevated positions, at least 20 feet up in the trees, over baited sites. 

The hunters may keep any deer carcasses that they harvest.  Many of the deer will be processed at a State-approved butcher and the venison will be donated to the needy and homeless through the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

The deer management program will be supervised by the Union County Police and the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife.  Anyone found hunting on any County park property outside the terms of this program will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  Citizens observing any such illegal activity are urged to immediately contact the Union County Police at 908-654-9800.

The public should note that these parks will not be closed during the deer management program; however, portions of some roadways inside the park may be closed for short periods if necessary. Park patrons are urged to stay on the marked hiking, walking and bridle trails. Patrons also are urged to keep pets restrained on a leash.

For further information, go to the County’s website or contact the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at (908) 789-3682.  Hunters interested in joining this program in a future year can get onto a mailing list for applications through the website.