Author: Web Site Administrator

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  June 6, 2014

Union County, NJ – Fitch has affirmed the County’s AA+ rating for its upcoming bond sale. In upgrading the County’s outlook to Stable, the just-released official Fitch rating cites the County’s return to structural balance over the past several fiscal periods, along with expectations for balanced operations in fiscal year 2014.

“Fitch noted that the County’s emphasis on building reserves and cutting costs played a significant role in the upgraded outlook, and we will continue to work along this successful, entrepreneurial management track while continuing to improve and enhance key County services,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak.

“Over the past several years, the Freeholder Board and County Manager have worked diligently to create a prudent fiscal platform for continued stability, and it is very gratifying to see this effort reflected in the latest Fitch analysis,” said Freeholder Vice Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh, who heads the County’s Fiscal Committee.

Fitch also credited the County’s “broad and diverse economy” for the upgraded outlook, specifically in the pharmaceutical, technology, petrochemical and health care sectors as well as the County’s transportation sector, which Fitch noted includes Newark Airport and the Port of Elizabeth, the largest seaport on the east coast.

In addition, Fitch noted that the recent sale of the County’s Runnells Specialized Hospital will “relieve pressures” related to significant annual subsidies. Under the terms of the sale, the hospital will continue to provide its services to County residents.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 6, 2014

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ – The County of Union will sponsor a recycling event for electronic equipment on Saturday, June 21, so Union County residents can get rid of unwanted computers, televisions and other electronic equipment in an environmentally proper manner.

The special E-cycling event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the campus of Union County Vo-Tech Schools located at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.

All residents of Union County are eligible to participate at no cost. There is a limit of six electronic items per car.

“Computer monitors, old televisions and other electronic devices are the source of a considerable amount of dangerous material, including lead, mercury, cadmium and PCBs – and it is unlawful to dispose of them with the regular garbage,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak, liaison to the Union County Solid Waste Advisory Board. “Up to 95 percent of most electronic appliances can be recycled. This is a responsible way to keep hazardous heavy metals out of our environment.”

Electronic equipment that will be accepted on June 21 includes computer monitors, hard drives, modems, keyboards, CPU’s, mice, printers, scanners, speakers, televisions, tablets and e-readers, VCR’s, fax machines, telephones, circuit boards, CD’s, DVD’s and video cassettes.

All that residents need to do is drive to the site with their unwanted electronic equipment. Workers at the site will unload the vehicles.

Pre-registration is not required for this special Saturday collection.

Refrigerators, washers and dryers, microwaves, and air conditioners will not be accepted, but they are accepted at Union County’s Scrap Metal Recycling Program.

A complete list of the materials that will be accepted on June 21 is available at the Union County Bureau of Recycling and Planning website: www.ucnj.org/recycle.

The electronics collection will be held rain or shine, for Union County residents only and not for businesses. Proof of Union County residency is required.

In addition to the special June 21 recycling event sponsored by the County of Union, there are local businesses as well as 14 municipalities that provide E-cycling opportunities for residents. Visit the website www.ucnj.org/recycle or call your municipal recycling coordinator for more computer and electronics recycling options.

Goodwill and Dell have teamed up to recycle computers. Goodwill in Union County is located at 126 Route 22 West, Springfield 07081, next to Macy’s Furniture. Call Goodwill at 973-912-0156 for more details or visit their web site: www.reconnectpartnership.com.

Best Buy stores now offer electronics recycling, including TVs, computer monitors, DVD players and other consumer electronics. Visit their website (www.bestbuy.com/) for store locations, or call toll-free for information about electronics recycling: 1-888-237-8289.

Staples also offers a computer recycling program seven days a week. For more information, visit the Staples web site for store locations: www.staples.com.

Waste Management accepts “covered electronics” (televisions, monitors, computers, etc.) at  629-647 Amboy Ave., Elizabeth 07201, Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; 908-629-9270.

An alternative drop-off program for recycling electronics equipment is available Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Newtech Recycling, located at 600-A Apgar Drive, Somerset NJ 08873; 732-564-3110. Visit www.newtechrecycling.com .

For more information about recycling events, please call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908- 654-9889.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 5, 2014

The sprayground of the Ponderosa Farm Park is expected to be closed from Monday, June 9th to Friday, June 13th, pending the weather, for minor repair work. While the spray portion of the playground will be closed, the remainder of the playground and the park itself will remain open for usage during this time. The Ponderosa Farm Park is located at 1600 Cooper Road in Scotch Plains.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 5, 2014

(From left) Union County Freeholders Sergio Granados and Alexander Mirabella congratulate Joseph Cowper of the Kenilworth Fire Department on graduating from the Union County Fire Training Academy as part of the Fall 2013 Class during a graduation ceremony at Union County College in Cranford.

Firefighter Cowper earned the Chief Anthony Schepis Award for Excellence in Firefighter 1, the Battalion Chief Ken Nocera Memorial Award for Outstanding Excellence in Firefighter 1 and the Ben Laganga Leadership Award.

They are joined by Kenilworth Fire Chief Louis Giordino and Hillside Deputy Chief Steve Ruhl (Ret.), Dean of the Union County Fire Training Academy.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 4, 2014

As Flag Day approaches on Saturday, June 14, Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds residents that torn or tattered American flags may be dropped off at her offices in Elizabeth and Westfield for their proper, respectful retirement.

“We honor the symbol of our country on Flag Day; certainly we also want to honor the proper disposal of retired flags,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “According to the U.S. Flag Code, when a flag is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, it should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning. My office assists Union County residents by collecting unserviceable flags and making sure that they are destroyed in a correct manner by a local veterans group.”

Flags for retirement may be left with staff at the County Clerk’s main office in the Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, Room 115, in Elizabeth; and at the County Clerk’s Annex in the Colleen Fraser Building, 300 North Avenue East, in Westfield.

The Elizabeth office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Westfield office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

For more information about the Union County Clerk’s flag retirement collection program, please call 908-527-4787.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  June 3, 2014

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that a free summertime training course is available for persons interested in becoming confidential volunteer advocates for victims of sexual violence.

The training course qualifies volunteers to answer calls and offer in-person support through the Rape Crisis Center, a long-running program of the Union County Department of Human Services. RCC has provided reliable, confidential guidance to victims of sexual violence since 1984.

“The Freeholder Board is extremely proud of our volunteer advocates, who help restore a sense of community and self-worth to our fellow Union County residents facing a life crisis,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “If you are looking for a worthwhile volunteer activity, I urge you to contact the Rape Crisis Center and ask about the upcoming training program.”

The next training course will begin on Tuesday evening, July 22, and continue for 16 sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., until September 16.

The course provides volunteers with training in crisis counseling and medical/legal accompaniment in a supportive, empathetic environment.

The training will take place at RCC offices in Westfield at the Colleen Fraser county services building, 300 North Avenue East.

Volunteers must be Union County residents at least 18 years of age.  They must hold a valid driver’s license and have their own vehicle. Prior to training, each volunteer will come to the RCC offices for an informal interview.

To find out more about volunteering and to schedule an interview, call RCC at 908-233-7273.  For more information about RCC, including personal stories by volunteers, visit the RCC blog atunioncountyrapecrisiscenter.blogspot.com.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 3, 2014

Nature lovers of all ages will have the opportunity to get up-close and personal with wildlife in their own “backyard” during Bio-Blitz 2014, beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 13. The annual outdoor event will organize teams of plant and wildlife specialists to scour two Union County parks in Clark and Scotch Plains in search of plants and animals over a 24-hour period.

Plant, fungi, insect, fish, bird, mammal, amphibian and reptile experts, plus water monitors and amateur naturalists will collect and identify species from the parks. Teams will return to Bio-Blitz Central, an outdoor, tented field lab and exhibit space in Oak Ridge Park, 136 Oak Ridge Road in Clark, to sort and count what they find.

“The Bio-Blitz is a great opportunity for the community and visiting scientists to learn more about the natural places that make Union County a special place to live,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “Although these parks are surrounded by suburban development, Oak Ridge Park and the Ash Brook Reservation are perfect examples of how green spaces can provide a haven for people and wildlife.”

The primary purpose of Bio-Blitz 2014 is to gain a “snapshot” of the biodiversity (or richness of species) in these adjacent Union County parks. Another important goal of the event is to raise public awareness of the importance of parkland as wildlife habitat and outdoor classrooms.

Free nature-related programs for all ages will be offered throughout the event, including evening programs from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. on Friday, June 13, and from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 14. Free shuttle buses will be available to get participants to and from program sites. Programs will include: Mammal Tracking, Frog Slog; Owl Prowl; Star Watch; Stream Sampling; Wild Edible Plant Walk; Live Hawk & Owl Talk; Early Morning Birding, and more.

Bio-Blitz Central, the hub of the event, will be located at Oak Ridge Park in Clark. The large field tent will house team “labs” where scientists will sort and identify their findings.  Live fish will be on display along with plants, insects, fungi, and amphibians and reptiles.

Bio-Blitz Bingo will offer younger “scientists” an opportunity to record their findings and enter a drawing to win nature-related prizes. A Junior Scientist tent will have young naturalists interacting with hands-on activities related to the natural environment. Union County’s Trailside Nature & Science Center staff also will be on-hand to offer guided walks and provide live animal exhibits

Gardeners and homeowners who want to attract wildlife and increase biodiversity in their own yards will have the opportunity to learn all about invasive and native plants through exhibits by the NJ Invasive Species Strike Team and the Native Plant Society of NJ. Native plants will be on sale by Toadshade Farm.

Bio-Blitz 2014 is sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation, Kean University and the Rahway River Watershed Association, with partial funding provided by PSE&G. Team volunteers will be fed and “watered,” caffeinated and “clothed” thanks to generous donations from ShopRite of Clark; Starbucks of Westfield; N.J. American Water & Whole Foods of Union. Additional donations will be provided by the Rahway River Watershed Association, Reed Writers, Wild Birds Unlimited, Jenkinson’s Aquarium of Point Pleasant, Staten Island Zoo and other area vendors.

Other partner organizations include the Arthur Kill Watershed Association, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Friends of Lenape Park, New Jersey Mycological Association, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Fish & Wildlife, the NJDEP AmeriCorps Watershed Ambassador Program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Plant Protection and Quarantine Programs.

For more information, visit www.ucnj.org/bio-blitz.

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A Junior Scientist tent will have young naturalists interacting with hands-on activities related to the natural environment. For more information about Bio-Blitz 2014, or to volunteer for a Bio-Blitz team, visit the Union County website: www.ucnj.org/bio-blitz. (Photo by Natalie Gregorio).

 

Union County’s Trailside Nature & Science Center staff will be on-hand to offer guided walks and provide live animal exhibits. For more information about Bio-Blitz 2014, or to volunteer for a Bio-Blitz team, visit the Union County website: www.ucnj.org/bio-blitz. (Photo by Gary Szelc).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 2, 2014

ELIZABETH, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announces that election results for the June 3rd Primary Election can be viewed on a new, advanced Union County website after the polls close in Union County on Tuesday night. The website includes a state-of-the-art reporting module with mapping, graphs and reporting capabilities.

“Voters and candidates in the Primary Election will be able to monitor throughout the evening the latest vote tallies for candidates seeking the Democratic or Republican nominations for U.S. Senate, Congressional seats, County and Municipal offices,” Ms. Rajoppi said. “We have updated our election results website to include advanced mapping capability of towns which will show up-to-the-minute voter turnout, district by district. By visiting www.ucnj.org/2014-primary after the polls close at 8 p.m., you can view the Election Night Report which will have the latest available results as they are delivered to my office from districts throughout Union County.”

The website will report the number of registered voters, ballots cast, the number of districts reporting, and the voter turnout in each election district and municipality. The information will be available in English and Spanish. The data can be viewed in graphs, reporting documents such as excel, and on a map representing all 427 election districts in Union County.

The County Clerk’s responsibilities include administering election laws within and for the County of Union and its 21 municipalities for primary, general, school board and special elections including acceptance of nominating petitions, designing ballots, mailing “Vote By Mail” ballots and tabulating voting results for the public record.

More information about the Primary Election can be obtained by calling the County Clerk’s Office at 908-527-4996 or by visiting the office at 2 Broad Street, Room 113, Elizabeth NJ 07207. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, email:ucvote@ucnj.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 19, 2014

Union County – The Board of Chosen Freeholders invites residents to kick off summer with a day of family fitness on June 14th featuring a bike give-a-away by Coca Cola and a chance to meet Cara Castronuova of NBC’s The Biggest Loser. The event from will run from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Warinanco Park.

Castronuova is a celebrity fitness trainer, athlete, motivation speaker, and television personality. She was featured as a head trainer on NBC’s hit “The Biggest Loser,” Season 11, where she helped propel the show to its highest ratings ever. She has been a spokesperson for Puma, and the only female spokesperson on Everlast’s extensive roster of champions. Castronuova is a former champion boxer and two-time Golden Gloves Champion.

The kick off will feature free health screenings by Trinitas Hospital, along with a taste of the fun and unique fitness classes promoting family fitness that are being offered by centers across the county, including Pound, Zumba, Yoga, Belly Dancing and Martial Arts.

Fitness vendors include the YMCA of Eastern Union County, Retro Fitness, CKO Kickboxing, Power and Fitness, Image 2000, Roselle Health Plus, Shims Martial Arts Academy, and Girls on the Run among others.

The program is being sponsored by the Board of Chosen Freeholders in partnership with Roselle Mayor Jamel C. Holley and Roselle Borough Council & Roselle Department of Recreation, along with the Urban League of Union County and Coca-Cola Company. Registration will begin at 8:30a.m., with UC Get Fit activities starting promptly at 9:00 a.m.

For more information, to fast track your registration, and view a schedule of events visitwww.ucnj.org/getfit or contact Natalie Pineiro at 908-527-4035.

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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 at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.