County of Union, New Jersey
Union County Freeholders Angel G. Estrada (L), Alexander Mirabella (2nd L), Vernell Wright (2nd R) and Sergio Granados (R) present a resolution to Marianne Kranz (3rd L) and Executive Director Jessica Rosenzweig of SAGE Eldercare in Summit congratulating the organization on its 60thanniversary of service to the community. For more information about SAGE Eldercare, visitwww.sageeldercare.org. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
Union County, NJ – If you don’t know how your morning commute will be affected by the upcoming Pulaski Skyway shutdown, now is your chance to find out. Representatives from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) will answer your questions and explain everything you need to know at a public meeting in Union County on Wednesday, April 2, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., at the Kean University STEM Building, opposite the main campus at 1000 Morris Avenue.
Free parking is available at the rear of the building.
DOT is shutting down both northbound (into New York) lanes of the Skyway for needed rehabilitation work starting on Saturday, April 12 and lasting for approximately two years.
The Skyway is not located in Union County but ripple effects from the shutdown are expected throughout the region, impacting local traffic as well as Skyway commuters.
For more details about the Skyway closure, including rail, bus, vanpooling, and carpooling options, visit DOT online at pulaskiskyway.com.
Convenient links to all regional transit are also available on the Union County website at ConneXions, ucnj.org/connect.
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MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Spring is on its way, and Union County’s Watchung Stable is offering guided trail rides on Sunday’s for everyone 9 years of age or older starting April 5, 2014.
“Horseback riding in the Watchung Reservation is a real treat,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation
The public trail rides are held on Saturdays at 1:00pm and 2:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm and 3:00pm, weather permitting. Groups of fifteen or more people ride through the bridle trails on part of the 2,000 acre Reservation in Mountainside. The rides are on a first come first served basis and are available to anyone with or without experience.
The Watchung Stable also features special private group rides for individuals or groups up to 15 people. These rides need to be set up in advance at a mutually convenient time and can be held on weekdays or weekends. The cost of the private rides are the rental fee, (In county $32.00 and Out of County $45.00) and an additional $32.00 for the instructor.
For those younger riders under nine, Watchung Stables offers lead line’s on Sundays from 9:00am to 10:45am. Lead lines are also held during the week if the weather permits and are held on a first come first served basis.
The cost for a lead line is $18.00 for In County Residents and $26.00 for Non-Union County Residents. Leadlines are ½ hour rides only.
The trail rides and lead lines are held at Watchung Stable, which is located at 1160 Summit Lane in Mountainside. Office hours are 9:00 a.m. – noon and 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. daily.
For further information, call (908) 789-3665 during the normal office hours or email questions tostablequestions@ucnj.org.
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Union County will continue to promote outreach and cancer education through the New Jersey Cancer Education and Early Detection (NJCEED) program, which provides free, comprehensive screening services for breast, cervical, prostate and colorectal cancer. Services through the program also include education and outreach, along with case management, tracking and follow-up.
The NJCEED Program is part of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. The program seeks to increase the awareness of each person’s risk for breast, cervical, prostate and/or colorectal cancer and to encourage them to use screening services for early detection and more effective treatment.
Upcoming Events:
Free Cancer Screenings
Plainfield City Hall Annex, Plainfield NJ
Saturday April 5, 2014
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Miller Evans Logan Center, Elizabeth, NJ
Saturday April 12, 2014
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Clark Recreation Center, Clark, NJ
Saturday April 26, 2014
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Union Township Community Action Organization, Vauxhall, NJ
Saturday June 7, 2014
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
For more information about NJCEED or to see if you are eligible for free screening services visit the NJCEED website at www.state.nj.us/health/canceror call the Union County Office of Health Management at 908-518-5620.
Foto: Miembros del Concilio Juvenil del 4-H del Condado de Union muestran los receptores solares que fabricaron para el Children’s Specialized Hospital en Mountainside. Comenzando por la izquierda están Miah Simmons y Ashley Zarrelli de Plainfield, JP Munley de Westfield, Niah Simmons también de Plainfield, Ahlia Bethea de Roselle, y Zayna Allen de Plainfield. Para obtener información sobre el Concilio Juvenil 4-H pueden contactar a James Nichnadowicz del Rutgers Cooperative Extension al 908-654-9854 o por correo electrónico a Nichnadowicz@njaes.rutgers.edu.
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El programa 4-H es parte del Rutgers Cooperative Extension, patrocinado en parte por la Junta de Legisladores del Condado de Union.
Condado de Union – Hay espacios disponibles para sembrar su árbol, evento patrocinado por el Rutgers Cooperative Extension del Condado de Union, con la ayuda de la Junta de Legisladores, en el Parque de Cedar Brook en la ciudad de Plainfield el próximo martes 10 de abril, entre las 10:00 a.m. y las 12:00 p.m.
Los participantes aprenderán las bases de cómo cuidar un árbol, a la vez que ayudan a sembrar 20 arboles de manzanas silvestres en el parque de Cedar Brook.
Este programa es gratis y está abierto para adultos y niños de 3er grado en adelante. Se necesita pre-inscripción, llamando al 908-654-9854 Rutgers Cooperative Extension Program 4-H o vía internet aNichnadowicz@njaes.rutgers.edu.
SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ – La Junta de Legisladores del Condado de Union anuncia que la trituradora ambulante visitará la ciudad de Scotch Plains el sábado 14 de abril en Union County Voc-Tech en Scotch Plains.
“Este servicio ayuda a los residentes del Condado de Union a deshacerse de papeles viejos y documentos personales a la vez que puede ayudarles a evitar el robo de identidad,” dice el Legislador Christopher Hudak, enlace de la Junta de Desechos Sólidos. “También es una forma de ayudar al Condado en su esfuerzo de limpiar el medio ambiente y continuar con la Iniciativa de
Go Green (Mantener Verde) el medio ambiente.”
El evento del 14 de abril se llevará a cabo en Union County Vocational-Technical School en
el 1776 Raritan Road, Scotch Plains. La Compañía NEXCUT Shredding de Teaneck estará presente de 9:00 a.m. a 1:00 p.m.
Todos los residentes del Condado pueden usar el servicio. Se les pide a los participantes que preparen los documentos antes de llevarlos, quitándole las presillas. Por favor deben traer solamente lo que contenga información importante o confidencial. Las revistas y papeles sin importancia se pueden reciclar semanalmente en su municipalidad. Hay un límite de 4 cajas o bolsas plásticas de 10 libras cada una por persona.
Los documentos son puestos en contenedores de 96 galones que la compañía provee. Luego se vacían en una cinta transportadora y pasan a la trituradora. Los participantes pueden quedarse a ver el proceso a través de una televisión de circuito cerrado. Los documentos destruídos son reciclados y enviados a los molinos de papel. El próximo evento se llevará a cabo el viernes 27 de abril, en el Parque Cedar Brook en la ciudad de Plainfield.
Este programa ha sido pagado con fondos del Departamento de Protección Ambiental y Mejoras de Reciclaje. Para obtener más información pueden llamar al (908) 654-9889 o visitar la páginawww.ucnj.org/recycle.
Union County, NJ – In recognition of Arbor Day 2014, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is once again partnering with the Shade Tree Advisory Board to sponsor the annual Young Writers of Union County Poetry Contest and free tree giveaway for Union County Schools. This year’s free tree is the pink Flowering Magnolia.
“The Freeholder Board is very proud of the Union County teachers and students who participate in Arbor Day, a national celebration of environmental stewardship,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “Studies have shown that trees improve property values and provide many other civic benefits while absorbing airborne pollutants, providing a cooling effect in summer, preventing soil erosion, and helping to alleviate flooding.”
The free Flowering Magnolia trees are available on a first come first served basis while supplies last. Requests must be submitted by Friday, April 11.
Schools that are interested in obtaining a tree can request one by contacting Michele Russo at the Union County Department of Public Works, 908-789-3676 or marusso@ucnj.org. Parent volunteers who wish to represent their child’s school should contact the school’s principal.
The free Flowering Magnolia trees are about five feet tall and weigh about 20 pounds. When fully grown they will be about 15-20 feet tall. Protective stakes are also provided with each tree.
For schools that receive a tree, free sessions in tree planting and tree care are available to students, teachers, and parent volunteers through the Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H Master Tree Steward Program.
The annual Young Writers of Union County Poetry Contest is open to students in grades four through eight. It is intended to encourage young people to explore the many contributions that trees make to Union County communities.
Poetry contest entries must be received by April 30. Schools wishing to participate should contact Michele Russo, 908-789-3676 or marusso@ucnj.org to obtain a registration form.
“Trees are a key resource in our densely developed area and the Freeholder Board takes stewardship of this community asset very seriously,” said Hudak.
Hudak noted that Union County tends to thousands of trees along county-maintained roads and in county parks. The Freeholder Board also provides matching tree planting grants to the 21 municipalities through the longstanding Greening Union County initiative.
Last year, Union County partnered with other agencies and the Super Bowl 2014 Host Committee to distribute dozens of saplings to local residents, as part of a multi-county initiative to replace trees lost during Superstorm Sandy.
“The Freeholder Board also provides support for the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County Master Tree Steward volunteers, who do a wonderful job of boosting public awareness about the value of trees,” said Hudak.
The U.S. Forest Service provides free public domain software to calculate the dollar value of trees in an urban community. The latest version, i-Tree v.4, is user-friendly for individuals, students, and community groups as well as professional planners.
Arbor Day has been a national observance since 1872, encouraging the public to plant and care for trees. This year it will be celebrated on Friday, April 25.
To find out more about tree care in Union County, or to volunteer to become certified as a Master Tree Steward, contact James Nichnadowicz, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, 908-654-9854 or jnichnadowicz@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.
Union County Freeholders Sergio Granados and Bette Jane Kowalski (R) present a resolution to Dr. Karen Ensle, Director of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, proclaiming March 2014 as “National Nutrition Month” in Union County. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
Union County Freeholder Sergio Granados joined Bessie Stone, a nutrition aide with the Union County Nutrition Program, as she delivered lunch to senior citizens at Farley Towers in Elizabeth as part of Meals On Wheels. March is National Nutrition Month and marks the 12th annual March for Meals campaign celebrating Meals On Wheels. The non-profit agency delivers up to 1,500 meals a day to homebound seniors and congregate dining sites in Union County. The program is primarily supported by a grant from the Union County Division on Aging, as well as donations from private sources and public organizations. If you would like to know more about the organization or are interested in volunteering or making a donation call 908-486–5100. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)