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Union County Surrogate James LaCorte and Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi (R) present a donation to Pam Myers of the Friends of Linden Animal Shelter on behalf of the Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey in memory of former Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich who recently passed away. The Sheriff was a supporter of the shelter and former President of the Association. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholders Vernell Wright and Bruce Bergen congratulate newly sworn-in Undersheriff Michael Frank of the Union County Sheriff’s Office during a ceremony in Elizabeth. Undersheriff Frank is a 27-year veteran of the UCSO who most recently served as a captain in the Administrative Division. As Undersheriff, he will oversee the Courts Division, the Complex Division, UCSO Security Guards and the Identification Bureau/Crime Scene Unit. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

More than 100 teens recently graduated from the Union County Sheriff’s Youth Academy, a program designed to familiarize young people with the role of a police officer. Also, it operates similar to an actual police academy for teens interested in law enforcement.

“The Youth Academy aims to teach our kids about law enforcement and it is a great first step for those interested in the field,” Acting Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan said. “And from what I heard from these fine young women and men, we succeeded in all of our goals in this program.”

Acting Sheriff Cryan also thanked the officers from the various law enforcement agencies that participated in the program including, but not limited to, the Elizabeth Police Department, the New Jersey State Police, the Union County Police Department and the Union County Corrections.

“Along with all the effort from our Sheriff’s Officers, I’m grateful to all in law enforcement who supported this effort,” said Acting Sheriff Cryan.

Participants in the Youth Academy received hands-on experience in a wide variety of emergency services and law enforcement functions and training.  In addition, youths have the opportunity to learn respect for law enforcement through positive interaction during their time in the program.

“Showing them the human element of law enforcement helps our young people connect with officers in a way they never thought they could,” the Acting Sheriff added.

The Sheriff’s Youth Academy is not a ‘boot camp’ for troubled youth. In order to enroll in the program, the youngsters must have a minimum GPA of 2.70 (B- average), letters of reference and write an essay explaining why the student would like to attend the Youth Academy.

During the two-week program, the teens engaged in a physical training regime twice a day while attending lectures on subjects such as crime scene investigations, K-9 and motor vehicle stops. They also received visits from representatives from the U.S. Army, New Jersey State Police and the F.B.I, the Kenilworth Police Department and the Kean University Police Department.

The Youth Academy also involved class trips to the Union County SWAT Range, the Union County Jail, the Elizabeth Police Department and the Union County Police Department.

Union County, NJ – At a press conference yesterday, representatives from the interfaith organization Faith in New Jersey joined with other civil rights advocates to recognize the Freeholder Board for supporting a recent change to Union County Department of Corrections procedures relating to detainer requests from the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency. The new procedures promote a more effective use of public safety resources while ensuring that constitutional protections are observed. Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak (4^th R), Vice Chairman Mohamed Jalloh (5^th L), and Freeholders Sergio Granados (4^th L), Vernell Wright (2^nd R) and Bruce Bergen (R) are pictured here with (from left) Hoover Rodriguez, a Union County resident who was detained under the former procedures, Carlos Rojas of Faith in New Jersey, Pastor Ramon Collazo of St. Elizabeth Lutheran Church, Assemblywoman Annette Quijano and Brian Riordan, Director of the Union County Department of Corrections.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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Union County, NJ – Did you know that one tree can absorb as much as 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year? Trees also trap dust particles and other pollutants, and they help keep our neighborhoods cool in the summer. These are just some of the many environmental benefits of planting and caring for trees in our community.

If you’re interested in learning more about trees and you enjoy teaching children, the Union County Master Tree Stewards program is seeking volunteers now.

“Trees make significant contributions to the quality of life in our community,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “Each year, through the Master Tree Steward volunteer program, Union County residents teach hundreds of school children about trees and their benefits to our neighborhoods and environment.”

The Master Tree Steward program is a free educational program that trains adult volunteers to teach children about trees. Tree Stewards learn how trees grow and reproduce, how to plant trees, why trees are important to our environment, and fun ways to share this knowledge with children.

Homework consists of light reading and a simple project. There are no exams or quizzes. After completing the training program, graduates are provided with a teaching kit and supplies, and are scheduled to teach several one-hour programs for grade school students this winter and spring.

This program is one of the many adult volunteer opportunities offered by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County. Volunteers are essential to the successful implementation of the Master Tree Steward program.

The 2014 Master Tree Steward training sessions will be held on Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., for 12 weeks starting on September 3. Your commitment is short term, but importance and impact are long term.

The classroom training sessions will be located at the Extension offices in the County Services building in Westfield, at 300 North Avenue East.

For an application or more information, contact Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County 4-H Agent James Nichnadowicz at the Extension offices, 908-654-9854, or email nichnadowicz@ucnj.org.

The Rutgers Cooperative Extension is supported in part by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. It offers a wide variety of programs and activities for all ages. For more information visit the Extension online at ucnj.org/rce.

Photo (cropped): by Nicholas A. Tonelli via flickr.com creative commons license.

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Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that 46 artists, historians and local non-profit organizations will receive funding through the 2014 Union County HEART (History, Education, Arts Reaching Thousands) Grant Program.

Recognizing the importance of culture and the arts to our economy and quality of life, the Union County Freeholders established the HEART Grant Program in 1998. This innovative program supports projects related to history, the arts and humanities, and it demonstrates a commitment to the artists and community organizations of Union County. Total funding for this year’s grants is $75,000.

“The recipients of HEART Grants are a wonderful mix of creative individuals – composers and writers, historians, visual artists, musicians and dancers – plus arts, history and other cultural organizations and civic groups,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “The response to the program has been exciting ever since its inception.”

“The services provided by these artists, scholars and organizations directly benefit the residents of our county and increase appreciation for the arts, our history, and the humanities,” Freeholder Hudak added. “These cultural assets are a vital part of community life, well being, economic development and cultural heritage tourism in Union County.”

Artists, educators, civic and historical non-profit organizations that want information about next year’s HEART Grant Program can contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202. Telephone: (908) 558-2550. NJ Relay users dial 711, or send E-mail:culturalinfo@ucnj.org

Union County HEART Grants Awarded 2014 (Total $75,000)

• Brian Beste, Fanwood, $1,000, presenting art and photography workshops;
• Candace Waller, Fanwood, $950, providing free dance classes;
• Danielle Linares Hale, Fanwood, $1,000, presenting a community arts festival;
• Kenneth Sack, Summit, $800, providing an arts-in-education program for Summit;
• Paula Borenstein, Elizabeth, $800, providing art workshops;
• Raymond W. Blanks, Rahway, $700, providing photography classes for Rahway youth;
• Valerie Graham, Roselle, $945, presenting free crafts workshops for children and seniors;
• Arts Guild New Jersey, Rahway, $2,000, presenting arts education for children and teens;
• Borough of Fanwood, $2,000, presenting a Fanwood Cultural Arts Performance Series;
• Borough of Roselle Park, Casano Community Center, $1,000, presenting a free concert;
• Brand New Day, Elizabeth, $2,000, presenting traditional Caribbean music and dance workshops;
• Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company, Union, $1,600, presenting a performance with UCAPA at the Vo-Tech black box theater;
• CASA of Union County, Elizabeth, $2,500, presenting arts workshops for child advocates;
• Central Presbyterian Church, Summit, $1,585, providing classical music performances;
• Cranford Housing Board, Cranford, $1,000, presenting “Three Po’ Tenors” concert for senior housing residents;
• duCret School of Art, Plainfield, $500, presenting a performing arts program for children grades K-12;
• Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre, Summit, $1,600, producing outreach theater program for Seniors;
• Elizabeth Avenue Partnership, Elizabeth, $1,500, presenting a Hispanic Heritage Month concert;
• Groundwork Elizabeth, Inc., Elizabeth, $2,000, presenting 12^th Annual Tour de Elizabeth bicycle tour;
• Institute of Music for Children, Elizabeth, $2,500, providing arts and culture classes to young children;
• Josephine’s Place, Elizabeth, $2,500, presenting poetry and music recording workshops for immigrant women;
• Kenilworth Historical Society, Kenilworth, $1,900, preparations for interpretive tour manual;
• Language & Enrichment Center, Scotch Plains, $1,000, presenting performances by preschool children of Italian winter songs;
• Mother Seton Regional High School, Clark, $1,500, providing musical programs for children;
• Music for All Seasons, Scotch Plains, $2,500, presenting music programs for U.C. Juvenile Detention Center;
• Musical Club of Westfield, Scotch Plains, $1,100, presenting an original composition in concert;
• National Council of Jewish Women, U.C. Section, Elizabeth, $2,100, providing two intergenerational programs: a big band swing dance and a jazz trio;
• New Jersey Festival Orchestra, Westfield, $1,800, presenting live concert “Home for the Holidays”;
• New Jersey Intergenerational Orchestra, Berkeley Heights, $2,100, presenting a community concert;
• Occupational Center of U.C., Roselle, $2,200, presenting art education classes for people with disabilities;
• Overlook Hospital Foundation, Summit, $2,000, presenting therapeutic singing group for people with Parkinson’s disease;
• Plainfield Division of Parks and Recreation, $1,800, presenting a historical Kwanza celebration with speakers, music and dance;
• Premiere Stages at Kean University, Union, $2,100, presenting a play, “At Liberty Hall”;
• Rahway Community Action Organization, Rahway, $1,000, presenting African American history program;
• SAGE Eldercare, Inc., Summit, $2,000, presenting free musical performances to older adults;
• Temple Beth O’r/Beth Torah, Clark, $1,200, presenting a free history of Jewish humor program;
• The Links Foundation, Plainfield, $1,500, presenting a free community concert;
• The Theater Project, Union, $2,000, presenting four plays in Union;
• Union County Performing Arts Center, Rahway,$950, presenting two music education workshops for children;
• Union Township Community Action Organization, Inc., Union, $2,000, presenting Senior Choral performances in nursing homes;
• Union Township Historical Society, Union, $1,320, presenting a reenactment of the Battle of Connecticut Farms;
• United Youth of NJ, Elizabeth, $2,500, presenting a play about Nelson Mandela and Apartheid;
• Visual Arts Center of NJ, Summit, $2,300, presenting a visual arts program for older adults;
• Westfield Neighborhood Council, Westfield, $1,000, presenting dance workshops;
• Women in Conversation, Plainfield, $2,500, presenting reading groups for students and seniors;
• YM-YWHA of Union County, Union, $2,150, presenting a Jewish Fair and Arts Festival.

CLARK, NJ –The Union County Summer Arts Festival concert series concludes its 54^th season of music on Wednesday evening, August 27, with a performance by The Nerds.  The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites the public to attend this free concert that begins at 7:30 p.m. in Oak Ridge Park, located in Clark, New Jersey.

Sometimes called New Jersey’s hardest working, hardest rocking party band, The Nerds perform a blend of soul, classic rock and TV theme music.  The band is loosely based on an old skit from Saturday Night Live and have been performing together for over 20 years.

“This will be the final opportunity for residents to come out and enjoy the musical entertainment under the stars at Oak Ridge Park in Clark,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “Bring your blanket or lawn chair and arrive early to get the best view of our outstanding musical entertainment.”

In addition to the great music, residents are invited to come out early and participate in

Union County’s Summer of Fitness, part of Chairman Hudak’s Union County Get Fit initiative. Free community yoga classes will be held prior to the musical entertainment, beginning at 6:30. This week’s class will be conducted by Alluem Yoga of Cranford, New Jersey.

For more information, call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4900 or visit the Union County website:  www.ucnj.org/summer. For program and rain information call 908-558-4079 after 3:00 p.m. on the day of the show.