Author: Web Site Administrator

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  May 20, 2014

Union County, NJ – The second annual Union County Women Mean Business (UCWMB) Summit returns next week with a full slate of workshops aimed at helping women business owners and managers develop skills that meet the challenges of the new millennium. UCWMB is an initiative of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

The 2014 UCWMB Summit will be held on Wednesday May 28, 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. at the Clubhouse at Galloping Hill, at Union County’s public Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth.

Seats are filling fast but online registration is still open until May 27 at ucnj2.org/ucmb.

“The 2014 UCWMB Summit is a great opportunity to learn from the best, while networking with your peers from all over Union County,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak.

The registration fee of $35 covers lunch, a chance to win door prizes including free airline tickets, and breakout sessions covering hot topics in today’s business environment:

Crowd Funding: Learn how to leverage the power of the crowd to get the most out of this alternative financing platform.

Decluttering: Get expert tips on streamlining your life to save time and operate more effectively.

Community Service: Discover new ways to find time in your busy schedule to “give back and move forward.”

Managing Your Finances: This panel discussion includes representatives from Union Center National Bank, aimed at helping you to organize your business and personal finances.

Personal Branding: Learn how to translate your passion for business into a brand story that stands out in the crowd.

A networking opportunity and cocktail reception (cash bar) conclude the Summit.

The 2014 UCWMB Summit is sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Union Center National Bank, Atlantic Health System, KemperSports, TaylorMade, Winning Strategies Washington and Southwest Airlines. The Union County Means Business Series is offered in partnership with the Union County Alliance, Union County Economic Development Corp., Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce, Suburban Chambers of Commerce, Union Township Chamber of Commerce, Kean University, and Union County College.

For complete details, including information about the Union County Means Business networking series, visit ucnj2.org/ucmb or call 908-527-4103.

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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: May 20, 2014

ELIZABETH, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds registered voters that sample ballots for the Primary Election on Tuesday, June 3, may be reviewed on-line by visiting the County Clerk’s website.

The names of candidates running for the Republican or Democratic nominations for U.S. Senate, Congressional seats, County Surrogate, County Freeholders and Municipal offices in the June 3 Primary Election are posted at www.ucnj.org/sample-ballots.

“As a former school board member, Mayor and Freeholder myself, I know the importance of an informed electorate,” Ms. Rajoppi said. “My website is designed to help voters familiarize themselves with their local candidates in all 21 Union County municipalities before Primary Election Day.”

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 sample ballots for 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 .

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 19, 2014

Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak (3rd L) and Freeholders Alexander Mirabella (L), Linda Carter (2nd L) and Bette Jane Kowalski (R) present resolutions to Danielle Bracco (3rd R) and Christine Truhe of Bonds of Courage congratulating them as the non-profit organization that supports troops, veterans and their families marks its 10th anniversary at the Westfield Armory. For more information about Bonds of Courage visit www.bondsofcourage.org. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  May 19, 2014

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the 2014 Kids Recreation Trust Fund grant opportunity. The 2014 grant program offers two exciting opportunities for each of the twenty one municipalities in Union County: The Discover Our Parks day trip program, and a Recreational Improvements matching grant program.

The Discover Our Parks program gives Union County municipalities the opportunity to expand their summer recreational programs by offering a day trip to their campers. The Recreational Improvements matching grant program helps local governments offset the cost of creating, enhancing, and replacing recreational facilities in their municipality.

“The physical and social benefits of recreation are well known, and the Kids Recreation Trust Fund has made a difference in the quality of life for our children,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak.

Since 2004, the Kids Recreation Trust Fund matching grant program, administered through the Union County Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund, has helped rebuild, refurbish, expand, or build over 100 parks and other recreational facilities throughout Union County.

“The Kids Recreation Trust Fund has done a great job of improving recreational opportunities for our communities,” said Freeholder Bruce H. Bergen, Chairman of the Open Space Trust Fund. “It’s another reason why Union County is a great place to raise a family.”

The application deadline for the Kids Recreation Trust Fund 2014 grant program is August 18, 2014.

For additional information on the Kids Recreation Trust Fund grant program contact Victoria Durbin Drake of the Union County Office of Open Space, Historic Preservation and Recreation Trust Fund at 908-558-2278, or visit online at ucnj.org.

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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: May 19, 2014

Union County, NJ — Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak (R) and Freeholders Alexander Mirabella (L) and Linda Carter speak with Lt. Col. Bill Morris at the Support 4 Soldiers wrap up event at the Westfield Armory where volunteers boxed donations of toiletries, healthy snacks, and other basic items that will be shipped to active duty U.S. service members overseas. Local students created the campaign as a way for the entire Union County community to show its support for the military abroad. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

(From left) Union County Freeholders Bruce Bergen, Bette Jane Kowalski, Vernell Wright and Sergio Granados congratulate Christine Marti-Millward of Linden on winning first place in the youth category at the 13th Annual Union County Employee Art Show during the opening reception at the Elizabethtown Gas Company’s Liberty Hall Center in Union. The contest, co-sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and The National Arts Program Foundation, was open to Union County employees and their relatives. The exhibit will be open to the public weekdays until May 27, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Elizabethtown Gas Company, located at Liberty Hall Center, 1085 Morris Avenue in Union Township.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 16, 2014

Union County, NJ – Spring has sprung! Dig out your gardening tools – it’s time for the 25th annual Union County Spring Garden Fair and Plant Sale offering hundreds of plants for sale along with a full slate of family friendly fun activities, educational presentations, and free expert guidance on gardening. The rain-or-shine event takes place on Sunday, May 18 from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Demonstration Garden, located by the Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside, 452 New Providence Road.  Fair admission and parking for the rain-or-shine event are both free. More information at ucnj.org/rce.

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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: May 16, 2014

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi will open her offices in Elizabeth and Westfield on Saturday, May 31, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for voters seeking last-minute mail-in ballots. The office in Elizabeth at the Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, and the office in Westfield at the Colleen Fraser Building, 300 North Avenue East, will be open as a public service for voters who choose the Vote-By-Mail option for the Primary Election to be held on Tuesday, June 3.

“Every voter should have the opportunity to cast his or her ballot in the primary election for federal, county and municipal offices,” Ms. Rajoppi said. “We want to ensure that even those who have a last-minute change of plans can have a chance to vote.”

“By opening the Elizabeth office on the Saturday before the primary election, as we have done for the past 18 years, along with the Westfield office, which has regular Saturday hours throughout the year, we hope to assist those citizens whose work schedules or other commitments keep them from applying to Vote-By-Mail during the work week,” Rajoppi said.

“This option makes voting more accessible, particularly for senior citizens.”

Completed ballots will be kept in a secure lockbox under the control of the Union County Board of Elections, who will collect them for counting. The Clerk’s office has processed more than 1,100 mail-in ballots to date for the Primary Election.

To obtain a Vote-By-Mail application, voters may download the form at the County Clerk’s website: https://ucnj.org/vote-by-mail, but they must bring the completed application to either of the County Clerk’s offices on Saturday, May 31, between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., or on Monday, June 2, before 3:00 p.m. For more information, please contact the County Clerk’s office at 908-527-4996.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 16, 2014

Union County Freeholder Vernell Wright presents a resolution to Union Police Director Daniel Zieser in honor of National Police Week during the Township of Union’s Annual Police Awards ceremony. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 16, 2014

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation are pleased to announce a special program about edible wild plants for adults, ages 18 and older, at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside. The lecture and demonstration, “Spring Wild Edibles” will be offered on Saturday, May 31, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The fee for this program is $15 for Union County residents and $20 for out-of-county participants.

“This program about edible spring plants is sure to give you a renewed appreciation of wild vegetation,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “You’ll probably never look at a weed the same way again.”

Participants will learn to identify some common plants of the Watchung Reservation. Trailside senior park naturalist Joe Filo will teach how to collect and prepare familiar backyard greens. The program offers an opportunity to sample delicious foods including “Cossack asparagus,” wild salad and mint tea.

For additional information about this lecture or other adult programs and upcoming events at Trailside, call 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside. 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.