Author: Web Site Administrator

Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak (2nd R) and (from L) Freeholders Sergio Granados, Angel G. Estrada, Bette Jane Kowalski, Vernell Wright, Alexander Mirabella and Bruce Bergen accept a check from Investors Bank Assist Vice President Carmen Rivera (4th L) in support of Union County Parks and Recreation summer programs. The banks’ sponsorship of $10,500 will be help support Union County’s Summer Arts Concert Series, Family Fun and Flix movies and the Harvest Festival. For more information about Union County Parks and Recreation visit ucnj.org. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

 

Union County, NJ – The Union County Women Mean Business (UCWMB) Summit returns for the second year this spring.  The program offers networking opportunities and workshops designed to help women develop strategies that can help them succeed in today’s challenging business environment

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. Online registration is open now at ucnj2.org/business.

“The UCWMB Summit is a unique opportunity for women in our business community to network with their peers while gaining new insights into resources that can foster their professional growth and development,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “Last year’s event was a tremendous success and this year, thanks to our sponsors, we have set the bar even higher.”

For a registration fee of $35 the 2014 UCWMB Summit includes workshops and seminars on organizational strategies, personal branding, financial management, crowd funding, and the benefits of volunteerism.

The registration fee also includes lunch and a chance to win prizes including roundtrip airline tickets. The first 15 registrants will have the opportunity to meet with a personal coach for a free mini coaching session.

The featured speaker for the 2014 Summit is Jill Johnson, CEO of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL) and Workshop in Business Opportunities, a long-running organization that supports aspiring entrepreneurs in underserved communities.

Prior to launching IFEL Ms. Johnson’s career in the business sector spanned 22 years including experience as a financial analyst for Goldman, Sachs & Co. as well as publishing, strategic business planning, and fundraising.

In her leadership of IFEL, Ms. Johnson has won contracts with the New Jersey Department of Labor, the Newark Urban Enterprise Zone and the Rutgers Center for Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development to provide entrepreneurial training and support services.

The Union County Women Mean Business 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 online registration and more details, including information about the Union County Means Business networking series, visit ucnj2.org/business or call 908-527-4103.

##

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

UNION, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders will recognize local artists and present awards at a reception on Tuesday, May 6, at the 13th Annual Exhibit and Contest for County of Union Employees and Their Families. The free reception and awards ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Elizabethtown Gas Company, located in the Liberty Hall Center, 1085 Morris Avenue in Union.

“This show offers a chance for our Union County employees and family members to shine,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Union County Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board. “The artwork that they do in their spare time is outstanding, and we are proud to display it in the beautiful atrium space of the Liberty Hall Center. We are grateful to Elizabethtown Gas for generously hosting the program and awards reception and to the National Arts Program Foundation for funding the prize awards.”

Presented in partnership with the National Arts Program®, the exhibit will be open weekdays until May 27, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“The Freeholders share the goal of the National Arts Program Foundation to reach as many people as possible of all ages, offering them a chance to show their creations,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “We invite you to view this exhibit of exceptional artwork at the Liberty Hall Center.”

The art exhibit will be judged by three prominent artists and/or arts administrators: Larry Cappiello, Darlene Foster and Valerie Moreno.

 

Lawrence Cappiello is a founder of Arts Guild New Jersey (formerly the Arts Guild of Rahway), a non-profit center for the arts in Rahway, and he has served as Executive Director of the organization since 1998. Mr. Cappiello studied Art at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. He holds an MA degree in Studio Art and Art Education from Kean University and has other formal training at The Art Students League in New York City and various institutions in New Jersey and New York.

Darlene Foster studied drawing and painting at the Sarah Brown School of Art in Atlanta and participated in shows and exhibits. She moved to Plainfield in 1977 and began incorporating photography into her artwork. This led to a 17-year employment as a retouching artist with The Image Maker Photography Studio in Berkeley Heights and freelance clients. Ms Foster currently works doing photographic painting, retouching, restoration and collage for photographers and the general public as well as her personal artwork.

Valerie Moreno is a painter who earned her B.A. from the College of New Rochelle, with graduate studies in Fine Arts at Brooklyn College and Montclair State University. Her one-person exhibits include: J&J World Headquarters, New Brunswick; ETS, Princeton; The Library of the Chathams; New Providence Public Library; the Summit Medical Group, Berkeley Heights; and the Bernardsville Library. Her work is included in the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C.

The National Arts Program® is in its 31st year and runs 82 annual programs reaching 450 cities in 38 states. The program was conceived by Leonard E.B. Andrews (1925 – 2009), an art collector, publisher, business executive and journalist, “for the encouragement and development of artistic expression.” The goal of the National Arts Program® is to provide an uninhibited opportunity for people to present their talent, at whatever level, in a free, public exhibition. The National Arts Program® is sponsored by The National Arts Program Foundation of Malvern, Pennsylvania. To learn more about the program, visit www.thenationalartsprogram.org .

Additional support for this event is provided by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information, contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth NJ 07202. Telephone (908) 558-2550 or e-mail: culturalinfo@ucnj.org. NJ relay users dial 711.

 

– end –

Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak (2nd R) and Freeholder Bruce Bergen (R) speak with Family and Community Together Executive Director Richard Hlavacek and Prevention Links Executive Director Pamela Capaci at the “Doing Good – Better” Conference in Mountainside. The day-long event featured workshops designed to help non-profit organizations sustain and improve their operations while managing the bottom line. The conference was sponsored by Community Access Unlimited and hosted by the Union County Non-Profit Consortium (UCNPC). For more information about UCNPC call the Union County Department of Human Services at 908-527-4808.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – With a blustery cold spring soon giving way to seasonably warm weather, it’s time for the annual Union County Spring Garden Fair and Plant Sale. The 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.

Now in its 25th year, the Spring Garden Fair offers hundreds of plants for sale along with a full slate of family friendly fun activities, educational presentations, and free expert guidance on gardening.

Fair admission and parking for the rain-or-shine event are both free.

“The Freeholder Board is very proud to support the Spring Garden Fair and the Master Gardeners of Union County,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “The Garden Fair is a popular spring tradition that provides hundreds of Union County residents with an opportunity to explore their interest in gardening while contributing to a good cause.”

The Garden Fair is a project of the volunteer Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County, a community service program of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension supported by the Freeholder Board. Proceeds from the sale go to fund horticulture scholarships and many other Master Gardeners community projects.

Highlights of the plant sale include deer resistant, drought tolerant, fragrant, and easy-to-grow plants for beginner gardeners, as well as varieties of tomatoes for gardening in containers and other small spaces.

Also featured are heirloom tomatoes and other vegetables, a large selection of herbs, hanging baskets, houseplants, and annual and perennial flowering plants.

Other items for sale include Rutgers soil test kits, garden crafts by Master Gardeners, gently used gardening equipment and books, and home baked goodies and other refreshments from the “Cupcake Café.”

Visitors to the Garden Fair can tour the extensive Demonstration Garden and learn about the latest popular trends in gardening including square foot gardening, rain gardens, and rain barrels.

Master Gardeners will be on hand to provide free guidance on gardening and troubleshooting. Visitors are encouraged to bring plant and insect samples for free diagnosis.

Visitors can also talk to personnel from the County’s Mosquito Control Bureau for guidance on controlling mosquitoes, and get information about the Extension’s 4-H Master Tree Steward community service program.

Free children’s activities include free face painting, crafts, and seed planting.

Free parking is available adjacent to the Garden Fair, and at the Loop playground a short walk away. Visitors who plan to purchase plants are advised to bring a small wagon for ease of conveyance.

Please note that no pets are permitted.

New Jersey Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who assist Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperative Extension in its mission to deliver horticulture programs and information to the public. Anyone with an interest in gardening can join. No previous education or training in horticulture is required

For information on becoming a Master Gardener, contact Judi Laganga at the Extension office in Westfield at 908-654-9854 or jlaganga@ucnj.org, or visit ucnj.org/rce.

##

Please join the County of Union online at ucnj.org, on Facebook at ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter at 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, 848-932-3584.

ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to present artworks by members of the Life Drawing Studio Group in an exhibit at the Freeholders Gallery. The gallery is located on the 6th floor of the Union County Administration Building, Elizabethtown Plaza at Rahway Avenue, in Elizabeth. Gallery hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and the exhibit will be on display until May 28.

Based in Fanwood, the Life Drawing Studio Group (LDSG) is a volunteer-operated, arts-orientated, nonprofit corporation dedicated to bringing arts education, cultural enrichment and creative opportunities to the public. LDSG was founded 20 years ago by Brian Beste. The organization conducts educational programs tailored to the needs of visual artists in the community as well as innovative art education programs for non-artists.

In addition to studio workshops, LDSG conducts a variety of programs and events that help to bring art to the public at large. Besides producing art exhibitions and community outreach programs, LDSG regularly organizes and sponsors excursions to museums, visual arts exhibitions, and other cultural events.

The show includes the work of members Brian Beste, Danielle Linares, Beverly Liftman, Tim Neher, Rayen Sanchez, Jessa Scott, Janet Steinhauer, Candice Testa, and Eric Troia.

The Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, part of the Department of Parks and Recreation, coordinates the exhibits displayed at the Freeholders Gallery. For further information about this and other programs and services related to the arts and history in Union County, please contact the Office at 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202; telephone: 908-558-2550; NJ relay users dial 711; or E-mail: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

– end –

 

ELIZABETH, NJ – County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi warns home owners in the County of Union and owners of commercial property in the county to beware of people who offer to sell them a certified copy of the deed to their property.

“I have been alerted that Union County residents have been contacted by a company in California called Record Transfer Services that offers to sell property owners a copy of their deed,” said County Clerk Rajoppi. “These offers look very official, but they are not necessary. Don’t be fooled. Normally, you or your attorney already have a copy of your deed.”

“It is advisable to have a copy of your deed stored safely with your other important documents,” continued Clerk Rajoppi. “But if you misplace or lose your deed, you can readily obtain a certified copy from my Office usually for less than $20. Scam artists are charging $83 or more for the same deed. The price for a certified deed is mandated by the state and is a per-page fee.”

If you can’t find your deed, call the Office of the Union County Clerk at 908-527-4787; visit the website:clerk.ucnj.org; or go directly to the County Clerk’s Office where you can easily and quickly obtain a certified copy of your deed for the nominal, state-mandated fee: $8 for the first page and $2 for subsequent pages. You do not have to go to the County Clerk’s office to obtain a certified copy of your deed. And there is no need to go through a middle-man who charges an exorbitant fee for this service.

In 2007, Ms. Rajoppi filed a formal complaint with the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General, citing the solicitation of homeowners to purchase a deed at an exorbitant, excessive cost. Consumers who receive solicitations to buy a deed are invited to contact the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs at 973-504-6200 or 800-242-5846 to file a complaint.

In response to concerns raised by County Clerk Rajoppi and her County Clerk colleagues throughout New Jersey, a bill is pending in the State Legislature to regulate deed procurement services. The legislation is Senate Bill S1635 sponsored by State Senator Shirley K. Turner.

This bill requires non-governmental entities providing deed procurement services to make certain disclosures when soliciting clients. The disclosures include prominently displaying the address and telephone number of the appropriate County Clerk’s office through which the recipient could obtain a copy of the deed directly; the state-authorized per-page fee; a disclaimer that the recipient is not legally required to use the services of the non-governmental entity; and that County Clerk’s offices must receive a copy of the deed solicitation letter at least 15 days before the letter is distributed to property owners.

Property owners are advised to be wary of people purporting to sell “actual” deeds. Only the County Clerk’s Office has the recorded copy of your property deed. The Union County Clerk is responsible for recording, filing and preserving all property transactions occurring within the county. She maintains copies of all documents since 1857 on file in the Record Room, which is open to the public for reference and study.

For further information, call the Office of the Union County Clerk at 908-527-4787, or visit the website:www.ucnj.org/government/county-clerk. The Union County Clerk’s Office is located in the Union County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, New Jersey 07207.

 

– end –

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce 2014 funding for the Union County HEART (History, Education, Arts Reaching Thousands) Grant Program.

The application process for a HEART grant will be explained at a workshop for Union County non-profit organizations, individual artists and scholars. The workshop will be held on Thursday, May 15, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Liberty Hall Museum, Wagon Shed Building, 1003 Morris Ave., Union, 07083. Although the workshop is free of charge, pre-registration is suggested.

“The response to the HEART Grant Program in past years has been exciting,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “The recipients are a wonderful mix of creative individuals – poets and writers, historians, painters, photographers, musicians and dancers – plus arts, history and other cultural organizations and civic groups.”

Recognizing the importance of culture and the arts to the county’s quality of life and economy, this innovative program supports projects related to history, the arts and humanities, and demonstrates a commitment to the artists and non-profit organizations of Union County.

“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,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Union County Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board. “These cultural assets are a vital part of community life, well being, economic development and cultural heritage tourism in Union County.”

For additional information or to register for the HEART Grant workshop, 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 E-mail: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

– END –

Members of the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition (RVRC) are pleased with this week’s announcement from NJ Transit that one-seat ride service to New York’s Penn Station will be expanded to evenings after 8 p.m., starting this fall. 

“One-seat ride service during off-peak weekday hours on the Raritan Valley line has been received very positively since it was launched in March,” said Somerset County Freeholder Peter S. Palmer, who chairs the rail coalition.  “We are very proud of the working relationship we have established with NJ Transit and the evening service is a very important second step of getting increased one-seat ride access using the new dual locomotives.”

“Union County’s Freeholders welcome NJ Transit’s cooperation in expanding this train service to New York,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, a Trustee of the RVRC.  “We have a lot of riders who will benefit from a shorter ride into New York City, and we’ll keep working with the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition to make this rail service easier and faster.” 

NJ Transit has dual-mode locomotives that operate as diesels through Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex and Union counties and can switch to electric to go through the tunnel to Manhattan, making the one-seat ride possible.  Ten trains are part of the current pilot program.

The Raritan Valley Rail Coalition, joined by a coalition of 30 mayors of towns along the line, seeks to ultimately achieve a full one-seat ride Manhattan service on the Raritan Valley line.

“We are a few steps away from getting peak hour access to the one-seat ride,” Freeholder Palmer said, “but this is our number-one, long-term objective.  We’ve been working on this for 15 years and now that we have dual locomotives, we’ll continue to push for this.”

Currently the off-peak weekday direct trains arrive in New York between 10 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.  For departure times from the High Bridge, Raritan and other stations going eastbound, and from Penn Station going westbound, visit http://bit.ly/OneSeatRide 

For more information on the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition, visit their website at http://www.raritanvalleyrail.com/   

Questions: Contact Ken Wedeen, 908-231-7021