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Union County Freeholder Christopher Hudak speaks with Eagle Scouts Vincent Polalowski (C) and Alex Reyes during the City of Linden’s 68th Annual Scouts in Government Day at the John T. Gregorio Recreation Center in Linden. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts took part in the Linden City Council meeting on the evening April 24. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release.   Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org.
On Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook. On Twitter at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

UNION, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that its next mobile paper-shredding program for personal documents will be available on Wednesday, May 16, at the Township of Union DPW facility in Union.

“Union County’s mobile document-shredding service helps residents fight identity theft and eliminate clutter in their homes,” said Freeholder Christopher Hudak, liaison to the Solid Waste Advisory Council. “It is a cost-effective way to assist our recycling efforts and it ties in with Union County’s other Go Green Initiatives.”

The May 16th shredding event will take place at the Department of Public Works facility in Union, located on Swanstrom Place, off Vauxhall Road. NEXCUT Shredding of Teaneck will be shredding documents at the site from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. The shredding event will end before 1 p.m. if the shredding truck reaches capacity.

All Union County residents are eligible to use the paper-shredding service. In an effort to accommodate everyone, there is a limit of four, 10-pound bags or boxes per person. Documents should not be bound. Please remove plastic binders and paperclips. Paper that is wet/damp will not be accepted. Residents should continue to recycle non-confidential papers and magazines with their municipal recycling program.

Documents are put into 96-gallon containers provided by the shredding company. The items are then dumped onto a conveyor belt and shredded on site. Participants are welcome to view the shredding process via a closed-circuit television. The shredded documents are then recycled, shipped to paper mills and used as pulp. The next shredding event will take place Saturday, June 9, at Union County Vo-Tech in Scotch Plains.

The mobile shredding program is paid for through New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Recycling Enhancement Act Grant Funds. For more information about future events or directions please call the Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889 or visit us online at www.ucnj.org/recycle .

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online atwww.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj .

ELIZABETH, NJ – Paintings by students from art instructor Laura Brown’s classes at the Rahway Senior Center and Amalfe Community Center in Roselle are included in a joint exhibit through May 30. The artwork is on display in the Freeholders Gallery, located on the 6th floor of the Union County Administration Building, Elizabethtown Plaza at Rahway Avenue, Elizabeth. The Gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

“We are always pleased to present this exhibit of talented artists from both the Roselle and Rahway art classes under the tutelage of Laura Brown, who brings out the best in them,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board.

Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, this exhibition features the works of Frances Carter, Mary Ellinger, Roberta Frimpter, Madeline Granieri, Katina Massas, Margaret Najjar, Mary Peter and Deborah Shaw from the Rahway Senior Center class, and Dee Chadwick, Barbara Dixon, Bernard Lichstein, Jeannie Lucas, Carol Norman, Marilyn Savidge, Beth Simonelli and Ann Szabo from the Roselle Art Association group.

The Rahway Senior Center is located at 1306 Esterbrook Avenue, where art classes are conducted regularly. For information about the Rahway Center and its activities, please call Ellen Staunton at 732-827-2016.

The Roselle Art Association paints as a group every Tuesday from 10 a.m. until noon at the
Amalfe Community Center, 1268 Schaffer Avenue, Roselle. For further information, please
call 908-245-6747.

Exhibitions in the Freeholders Gallery are coordinated and curated by Teya David of the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs. For more information about exhibits, programs and services related to the arts and Union County history, contact the Office at 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202; telephone (908) 558-2550, NJ Relay 711, or email culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook atwww.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj .

Union County – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders encourages families and their furry friends to enjoy a day outdoors in support of autismawareness by participating in the North/Central NJ Bark Now walk for Autism Speaks on Saturday, June 2 at Oak Ridge Park in Clark.

“Statistics show that the number of children being diagnosed with Autism has grown to surpass the  number of children affected by diabetes, AIDD, cancer, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis,  muscular dystrophy  or Down syndrome combined,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The Freeholder Board is proud to support the Bark Now walk, and we encourage County residents to get involved.”

Bark Now is a unique fundraising event that offers a safe and fun day for families impacted by autism. Sponsored by the national organization Autism Speaks, the day includes a two to three-mile dog walk, light refreshments for both humans and their companions and Autism Speaks Family Services for families and participants affected by autism.

Those who desire to participate can get involved in the event in a number of ways. Family and friends can fundraise by forming teams to walk in the event or by sponsoring an individual walker. Volunteers are also needed to staff the event by checking in participants, providing encouragement at water stops and cleaning up after the event.

To register a team or individual, or to get involved in any aspect of the event visitbarknow.autismspeaks.org/north/centralnj. The top five fundraisers will be awarded two tickets to the performance of their choice at the Union County Performing Arts Center, an organization that has worked with Freeholder Chairman Mirabella to develop a Sensory Friendly Theater series, making plays accessible to children and teenagers on the autism spectrum.

Autism is a general term used to describe a group of complex developmental brain disorders caused by a combination of genetic and environmental influences. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by social and behavioral challenges, as well as repetitive behaviors.

An estimated 1 in 88 children in the U.S. is on the autism spectrum with New Jersey amassing the second highest prevalence rate in the nation at 1 in 49 children (1 in 29 boys and 1 in 172 girls).

All Bark Now proceeds will support Autism Speaks’ work, both locally and nationally, to increase awareness about the growing autism health crisis, fund innovative autism research and advocate for the needs of individuals with autism and their families in Union County and beyond.

For additional information contact Natalie Pineiro, Union County Office of Public Information at 908-527-4035 or via email at npineiro@ucnj.org.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The popular gentle yoga classes continue at Trailside Nature and Science Center on Tuesday evenings as part of the center’s adult programs. Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Community Renewal, the yoga series for adults 18 years and older will continue each Tuesday evening through June 5.

“These yoga classes, held in the beautiful and tranquil setting of the Trailside Visitor Center, are a great opportunity for busy adults to learn methods for reducing the stresses of daily life,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander  Mirabella.

Each gentle yoga session runs from 7:15 – 8:30 p.m. and the fee for Union County residents is $15 per class and $20 for out-of-county participants. Pre-registration is preferred as space is limited; however, walk-ins are welcome as space permits.

The series of yoga classes is an opportunity to learn and experience Raja yoga techniques for integrating body and mind. Claire M. Bay, a yoga instructor certified by the Chopra Center in New York City, guides the participants in this new pathway of meditation.

Yoga techniques can awaken poise and centered awareness in the midst of everyday life. Participants also learn how to use nature’s healing powers to relieve stress and its symptoms. Soothing music will enhance the overall experience. Doors open 15 minutes prior to each yoga class and participants are asked to bring a yoga mat or pillow.

For additional information about this yoga series or other upcoming adult programs and special events at Trailside, please call 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

Union County – Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella encourages Union County residents to rid their homes of unwanted and expired medication at the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Take Back Initiative this Saturday, April 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

“We receive a lot of inquiries about the best ways to dispose of various kinds of medication,” noted Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “Although we have guidelines the public can refer to on medication disposal, the National Take Back Initiative coordinates safe and reliable drop-off points that are properly staffed to ensure no medication ends up in the wrong hands.”

Take Back events are a tool for reducing the abuse of prescription and non-prescription medications. The goal of the program is to allow citizens to turn unused, unwanted or expired medications in to law enforcement officials who will dispose of the substances in a safe and non-hazardous manner.

During October 2011, Operation Take Back New Jersey collected 9831 pounds of medication state-wide.

Union County Police Department at 300 North Ave East in Westfield will be staffed for collection in addition to various police departments throughout Union County. For a full listing of participating locations visithttps://ucnj.org/community/recycling/medication-disposal.

For additional information on the National Take Back Initiative contact the Union County Bureau of Recycling and Planning at 908-654-9890.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announces that a “One-Stop” service will soon be available for Union County voters at the Westfield and Elizabeth offices of the County Clerk.

“Beginning on Tuesday, May 1, eligible voters will be able to apply for a Vote-By-Mail ballot for the Presidential Primary Election in person at either one of my offices, receive their ballot and cast the ballot at the same time,” Ms. Rajoppi said. “This one-stop voting service will be available at my Westfield office as well as at the main office in Elizabeth.”

“The service in Westfield and Elizabeth makes voting more accessible, particularly at the Westfield office with its convenient Saturday office hours and evening hours during the week,” Ms. Rajoppi added. “With the important June 5 Presidential Primary Election just a few weeks away, my office is working to make the voting process as fast and convenient as we can for everyone who is registered to vote.”

The opportunity to Vote-By-Mail in Westfield and Elizabeth is another service available at the County Clerk’s two offices, along with passport application and renewal services, registration of Trade Names, and the application and swearing in of Notaries Public.

The Westfield Annex of the County Clerk is located at 300 North Avenue East, Westfield 07090. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

The Main Office of the County Clerk is located at the Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, Room 113, Elizabeth, NJ 07207. Regular office hours in Elizabeth are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m.

Vote-By-Mail is an easy, secure process that has replaced the Absentee Ballot. Voters do not need to give a reason why they wish to Vote-By-Mail. To obtain an application form, voters also may pick up the form at their local municipal building; they can download the form at the Union County Clerk’s website:www.ucnj.org/government/county-clerk/vote-by-mail or they can contact the Union County Clerk
at 908-527-4996. The Clerk’s website also includes a video that explains how to fill out the Vote-By-Mail application form.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Community Renewal are pleased to offer a workshop for adults, 18 and older, on healthy cooking for spring. The program is being offered at Trailside Nature & Science Center in Mountainside on Thursday, May 3, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. The fee is $15 for Union County residents and $20 for out-of-county participants. Pre-registration is preferred but walk-ins will be accommodated as space permits.

“This unique cooking class for adults will help you appreciate the fresh tastes of springtime produce while you learn some new, healthy recipes,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

The workshop will teach how to transform simple, fresh produce into healthy, delectable dishes.  Registered dietician and nutritionist Debbie Naha will lead this cooking class with a focus on seasonal ingredients. Ms. Naha is a professional teacher of Family and Consumer Science. She holds a Master’s degree in Food and Nutrition from New York University.

The step-by-step cooking demonstration includes hands-on activities for participants. A sampling menu will include yogurt cheese with olive oil and spring herbs, sautéed broccoli rabe with orecchiette pasta, and spring vegetable and legume salad. Recipes for featured dishes will be available.

For additional information about this program, or for information on other programs for adults and special events at Trailside, call 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that Watchung Stable and Mosaico Restaurant are cooperating again to offer the fifth “Date Night at Watchung Stable” on Sunday, May 6, at 3:45 p.m. in Mountainside.

“Couples, ages 18 and older, are invited to go out on a date in a new and exciting way – on horseback,” said Freeholder Chairman Al Mirabella. “You’ll visit Lake Surprise and meander through the woods and fields to discover the wealth of wildlife active at dusk in the picturesque Watchung Reservation.”

Participants must arrive at Watchung Stable by 3:45 p.m. to sign in. The ride, which lasts approximately one hour, will leave at 4:00 p.m. After the ride, couples may want to head over to Mosaico Restaurant for a Northern Italian dinner since each couple will receive a $20 gift certificate, courtesy of Mosaico.

No riding experience is necessary; the ride will involve a leisurely walk only.

Pre-registration and pre-payment is required, as space is limited (there are no refunds for this ride). The fee for the Date Night Trail Ride only is $56 per couple for Union County residents and $78 per couple for out-of-county participants. Those wishing to participate should stop by Watchung Stable, 1160 Summit Lane, Mountainside, and sign up starting April 28th.

Mosaico Restaurant is located at 1072 Route 22 West in Mountainside (www.mosaico22.com).

Watchung Stable is a facility of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Any couples wishing to find out about space availability for the “Date Night” trail ride, directions to Watchung Stable, or information about other riding programs, please call 908-789-3665 during normal office hours; visit the web sitewww.ucnj.org/stable or email questions to stablequestions@ucnj.org.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

Union County – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders encourages County residents to take steps towards greater physical and emotional health by participating in a five part Balanced Living Series conducted by Dr. Karen Ensle of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension. The series begins on Wednesday, May 9 and runs through Wednesday, June 27 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00p.m. in the county services building located at 300 North Ave East in Westfield.

“Stress and time management are factors that can be overwhelming in our day to day lives,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The Freeholder Board is proud to support a program that will enrich County residents with creative ways to achieve greater balance.”

Balanced Living explores simple but effective strategies for managing time, overcoming stress, exercising regularly, adopting more healthful eating habits, and getting enough rest.

“There is a growing body of research showing that simple, daily choices can have a powerful impact on a person’s wellbeing,” said Dr. Ensle. “The goal of the Balanced Living series is to help put this rich store of knowledge to work for Union County residents.”

The total cost of the series is $10.00, which will be collected the first night. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. For more information or to register for the Balanced Living Series, contact Digna Torres at the Extension offices, 908-654-9854 or via email at dtorres@ucnj.org.

For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

“Rutgers Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity program provider and employer. Contact your local Extension Office for information regarding special needs or accommodations. Contact the State Extension Director’s Office if you have concerns related to discrimination, 732-932-5000, ext. 584.”