Author: Web Site Administrator

Union County – Union County’s Sensory Friendly Theatre series brings the adventures of the Berenstain Bears to life on stage at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway on Sunday, March 29 at 2 PM.

All tickets are $8 per person and can be purchased through the Union County Performing Arts Center at ucpac.org or by calling the Box Office at 732-499-8226.

“The sensory-friendly performance series is designed to offer a relaxed and safe theatre environment for children and adults with sensory sensitivity, developmental and learning disabilities,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “The Freeholder board is proud to offer a performance series that helps make art accessible to everyone.”

Adapted from the classic children’s book series by Stan and Jan Berenstain, The Berenstain Bears LIVE! in Family Matters, the Musical brings everyone’s favorite bear family to life in a thrilling theatrical experience that the entire family will enjoy.

As always, Bear Country is not without its complications: Brother Bear’s grades are slipping, Sister Bear still has a few things to learn about making new friends, and Papa Bear just can’t stop eating junk food. Thankfully, we can always depend on Mama Bear and her loving patience to help set things right.

Implementing the supportive atmosphere at the performance is the organization Autism Friendly Spaces, which 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.

The Sensory Friendly Theatre series is presented by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The performance of The Berenstain Bears LIVE! in Family Matters, the Musical is made possible in part by funding from the NJ Department of Community Affairs through a Recreational Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities Grant.

The next performance in the Sensory Friendly Theatre series is New Jersey Ballet’s performance of the classic tale of Cinderella on Sunday, May 3, 2015 at 3 PM – come see why this story is one of their most popular ballets for families. In June don’t miss a rollicking family concert featuring a two-time Grammy nominees Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could performing songs that celebrate children of all abilities on Sunday, July 31 at 10 AM and 1PM.

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 PM and is also open late on Thursdays until 8 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.

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UNION COUNTY, NJ (March 18, 2015) – Healthcare Quality Strategies, Inc. (HQSI), a member of the Quality Insights Quality Innovation Network, is partnering with the Plainfield Senior Center as well as the Plainfield Public Library to provide free diabetes education as part of the Everyone with Diabetes Counts (EDC) program. The EDC program is a national initiative of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The program offers free workshops that are open to people with diabetes, their family members and caregivers.

The free workshops follow the Diabetes Self-Management Program created by the Stanford School of Medicine. Workshops help individuals learn how to manage their own health and are designed to help participants take control of their diabetes and change their life. Participants will learn about diabetes and its risks, the role of diet and exercise, how to deal with pain and fatigue, managing medications, the importance of doctor exams, maintaining willpower and much more.

The first set of the free six-week workshop series will be offered at the Plainfield Senior Center on 400 East Front Street in Plainfield, NJ, each Wednesday from April 1, 2015 to May 6, 2015.

The time is 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and the exact dates are: 4/1/15, 4/8/15, 4/15/15, 4/22/15, 4/29/15, and 5/6/15. *SENIORS ONLY* can receive more information or register by calling Colin Baptiste at (908) 753-3506.

The second set of the free six-week workshop series will be offered at the Plainfield Public Library on 800 Park Avenue in Plainfield, NJ, each Friday from April 10, 2015 to May 15, 2015.

The scheduled time is 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and the exact dates are: 4/10/15, 4/17/15, 4/24/15, 5/1/15, 5/8/15, and 5/15/15. For more information or to register for these workshops, contact Karen Hale, M.Ed., Outreach Coordinator, at (732) 238-5570 ext: 2032 or khale@hqsi.org.

Come out and visit the Teen Arts Festival on Thursday and Friday at Union County College’s Cranford campus from 9:30am to 2:00pm.  Featuring visual and performing art from students from around Union County. Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh, Vice Chairman Bruce Bergen, Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski, Christopher Hudak, Alexander Mirabella, Linda Carter, Angel G. Estrada, Sergio Granados and Vernell Wright and Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi march in the 19th Annual Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Morris Avenue in Union.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce an early spring guided nature hike, for adults 18 and older, at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside on Saturday, March 28 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.

This program offers an opportunity to walk deeper into the reservation and experience the beauty of the woods.   A Trailside naturalist will lead a guided hike along one of the bucolic trails in the Watchung Reservation.   Participants will learn to identify some of the trees, observe signs of animal activity and learn the ways in which plants and animals adapt to the season.  Please dress appropriately for the weather.  The fee is $10 for Union County residents and $12 for out of county residents. Pre-registration is recommended. 

“This is a unique opportunity to experience nature on an interpretive hike with a professional naturalist.   It’s a great way to spend the morning before you start your Saturday activities, says Freeholder Chairman, Mohamed S. Jalloh.

Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. For more information about this workshop or other activities at Trailside, please call 908-789-3670 or visit us on our website at www.ucnj.org/trailside.

Union County, NJ – Got cabin fever? Join Union County Parks, Friends of Lenape Park and birder Frank Budney tonight, March 16, for a Woodcock Watch at Lenape Park, from 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.

Woodcocks or timberdoodles are short, stocky shorebirds in the sandpiper family with long bills. They spend most of their time in shrubby forests.

The male woodcock, famous for its beautiful mating flight and courtship behavior, is often considered a harbinger of spring.

For this informal presentation, there will be a brief introduction and then participants will head to the nearby field to listen for woodcocks and observe the male’s flight.

The program starts promptly at 6:45 p.m. Dress warm and bring a flashlight.

To register, email bkelly@ucnj.org. The Woodcock Watch is free and open to adults and children ages 10 years and up with adult.

Participants will meet at the old Trap & Skeet field house, accessed via the main park entrance off Kenilworth Boulevard in Cranford (for map visit mapquest.com at  mapq.st/1M3VkhU).

For more information on programs in Union County Parks, call 908-527-4900.

(Photo credit: Courtesy of US Department of Agriculture).