Author: Web Site Administrator

Union County, NJ – The public is invited to join in the Support 4 Soldiers Packing Day event hosted by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the New Jersey National Guard Armory in Westfield, and the nonprofit organization Bonds of Courage at the Westfield National Guard Armory, 500 Rahway Avenue, from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 18.

The Packing Day event includes refreshments, entertainment, military vehicles and equipment to view, and a chance to meet soldiers from the 1-102 Cavalry Squadron.

“A package from home is a reminder that people care for you and are thinking of you,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “Support 4 Soldiers is a great way for the whole Union County community to pull together and show how much we appreciate the men and women who are serving our country far from their homes.”

Support 4 Soldiers is a campaign created by high school students, who have been rallying their schools, friends, and neighbors to collect toiletries and other basic items for active duty military members overseas. They will gather at the Armory on May 18 to assemble the care packages for shipping.

Thousands of items have already been collected and there is still time to donate. The Support 4 Soldiers collection is ongoing until May 15. More than two dozen distinctive “Support 4 Soldiers” collection boxes are in place at public buildings throughout the county.

To find the collection box nearest you, and to see the list of recommended items to donate, visitucnj2.org/uc-step.

Packing Day attendees are also invited to bring their donations to the Armory on May 18.

Support 4 Soldiers was conceived by students who were brought together by the countywide UC STEP (Union County Student Training and Enrichment Program) Summit last December.

The UC STEP students organized their campaign with the support of the Freeholder Board in partnership with the Bonds of Courage (bondsofcourage.org), which is based in Westfield.

Bonds of Courage is also celebrating its 10-year anniversary and moving into its new headquarters at the Armory on May 18.

For more information about the Packing Day, Support 4 Soldiers, and UC STEP visit ucnj2.org/uc-step, email ucstep@ucnj.org, or call 908-527-4103.

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l. to r. Roselle Board of Education Vice President Archange Antoine; Roselle Board of Education President Reginald Atkins; Elizabeth Board of Education Member Stanley Neron; Elizabeth Community Activist Maria Carvalho; Roselle Councilman Yves Aubourg; Freeholder Sergio Granados; Roselle Mayor Jamel Holley; Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage; Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak; Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski; Freeholder Bruce Bergen; Roselle Director of Recreation Don Shaw and wife Kim Shaw, Roselle Council President; Union County Deputy County Manager William Reyes

 

ROSELLE—The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders joined with Roselle and Elizabeth elected officials and community leaders at the groundbreaking for the new Warinanco Park stadium facility.

The stadium facility will be home to:

• a new and improved eight-lane running track;
• multi-use turf field for soccer, football and track;
• new bleachers, stadium concession and lavatories.

 The bleachers will seat more than 600 with ADA spots. Additional parking spots will also be created. The improvements, which cost $4 million, are expected to be completed by the Flanagan Contracting Group Inc. by the end of this year

“Warinanco Park is packed with an amazing amount of attractions, where for the past 90 years or so, residents have made memories every day,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak, who announced the upgrades as part of his Chairman’s “Turf and Build” initiative for 2014. “With the groundbreaking for the new track and field, we’re here to make new memories.”

The event featured speeches from Mayor Jamel Holley of Roselle, and Roselle municipal council and Board of Education members. Community members on hand included Maria Carvalho, an activist from Elizabeth, who uses the field with many organizations she works with, and Al Walcoff, a Roselle Park resident and local historian who has been frequenting the park for more than 60 years,

“I think Warinanco Park is the keynote piece of the County parks system,” said Walcoff, a self-professed fan of the park. “It is a mini Central or Prospect Park.”

Walcoff noted that Warinanco Park’s designers—the Olmsted Firm—also designed Central Park and Prospect Park, and incorporated aspects of both in Warinanco Park.

Walcoff described Warinanco Park as “mental refreshment” for the public.

“Parks such as this one are the most democratic places in America,” he said. “They are a melting pot where all of society meets, and that’s how I see Warinanco park—a place to replenish the soul.”

The groundbreaking event featured photos from the early days of the park that included the original stadium and track construction; as well as celebrities Charlie Chaplin and  Eddie Anderson, “Rochester” from “The Jack Benny Program.”

Located in the City of Elizabeth, and the Borough of Roselle, Warinanco Park, which opened in the mid 1920s, comprises 205 acres of developed park land, and as noted above, was originally designed by the Olmsted Firm.

Beginning in 1857 with the design for Central Park in New York City, Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903), his sons and successor firm created designs for more than 6,000 landscapes across North America, including many of the world’s most important parks.

For generations of Union County residents,  Warinanco Park is arguably the County’s iconic recreational facility.  While it is deceivingly small in size, the park’s many features make it appear as if it were actually much bigger.

Warinanco Park has four distinct areas: the Central Park area, the boathouse playground area, the skating center, and the track area, where the improvements are being done.

Some other  popular attractions include  the Chatfield Gardens; the park’s Great Walk area; tennis courts; ball fields; par-course fitness route; spray park and playground.  In the Spring, the park is noted for its colorful blooms of Cherry Blossom, Dogwood trees and Azaleas.

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(From left) Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski presents a resolution to Senior Citizen Council Executive Director Richard Stone, Union County Division on Aging Director Fran Benson and Senior Citizen Council Board Chair Ellen Steinberg proclaiming May 2014 as Older Americans Month at the Senior Citizen Council of Union County’s 43rd Annual Luncheon at L’Affaire in Mountainside. They were joined by Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi who was honored by the group at the event. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Wood-Ridge, May 2013 – As of May 1st, Meadowlink, a non-profit transportation services provider serving six of the most densely populated counties in New Jersey, has resumed the late night shuttle service between the City of Elizabeth and Newark Liberty International Airport. The program is returning primarily due to funding provided by NJ Transit using federal dollars.

The free service will be provided using two shuttle buses and will operate every 30 minutes from 2 am to 5 am, seven days a week, between residents’ homes in Elizabeth and the Airport.  The riders will be dropped off and picked up at NJ Transit bus stop located at Terminal B. Riders are required to make reservations by calling 1-866-208-1307 at least 24-hours in advance and service is provided on a first-come first-served basis.

Union County Freeholder and Meadowlink Trustee Angel Estrada said that he was pleased with the resumption of the shuttle service that is used by about 50 residents from the City of Elizabeth to safely access jobs at the Airport.

Meadowlink is a non-profit, public-private partnership that was created to improve access to affordable transportation, reduce traffic congestion and promote economic growth by working with business and government agencies to address the transportation challenges in Northern New Jersey. Under its EZ Ride brand, Meadowlink manages the state’s largest carpool, vanpool and employee shuttle programs as well as senior transportation, special transportation and bike and pedestrian services.

For additional information, please visit Meadowlink online at: www.ezride.org, call (201) 939-4242 or email: info@ezride.org.

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(From left) Union County Freeholders Bruce Bergen, Vernell Wright, Bette Jane Kowalski and Sergio Granados and Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi congratulate Angelito David (3rd L) of Linden on winning first place in the professional 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)

(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)

(From left) Union County Freeholders Bruce Bergen, Vernell Wright, Bette Jane Kowalski, Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi and Freeholder Sergio Granados congratulate Bruce Long (3rd L) of Westfield on winning first place in the intermediate 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)

Union County Freeholders Bruce Bergen, Vernell Wright (2nd R) Bette Jane Kowalski (R) congratulate Kelly Capasso of Cranford on winning first place in the teen 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)

RAHWAY, NJ – Most teenagers daydream about singing or dancing on a stage before a live audience. That dream becomes reality for some Union County middle and high school students at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14th when their performances are showcased at the Union County Performing Arts Center, 1601 Irving Street, in Rahway’s downtown arts district.

Instrumental groups, vocal groups, pianists, dancers, theater performances and visual artists were selected for the May 14th Showcase from the 4,000 students who participated at the 2014 Teen Arts Festival at Union County College in Cranford in March. The annual Festival is sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and coordinated by the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Recreation.

“The Teen Arts Festival is a wonderful opportunity for students to interact with professional artists while sharing their own talents with students from other schools,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “Students appearing in the Showcase represent many of the performing arts disciplines and the municipalities that participated in the 2014 Festival.”

The Teen Arts Festival is a two-day celebration of the arts where students and a staff of 50 professional artists participate in performances, critiquing seminars, master classes and workshops in every discipline – visual arts, music, creative writing, theater, media arts and dance. The Festival’s focus is not on competition but an opportunity for students to develop perceptual, intellectual and technical skills; gain cultural awareness and understanding; develop personal, aesthetic values; and learn self-discipline, critical thinking and problem solving through analyzing, interpreting and making judgments.

The Teen Arts Showcase is sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Performing Arts Center. Teachers, fellow students, friends and family members of participating students are invited to attend the Showcase along with the general public.  Admission is free.  For more information 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 to:Culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

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Union County, NJ — The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that Union County has officially recognized May as Community Action Month. The designation, approved by resolution on April 24, celebrates the 50-year anniversary of the national Community Action initiative and highlights the impact of Community Action Agencies on the quality of life in Union County and the nation.

“Community Action Agencies have a provide those in need with a helping hand to a more economically secure footing,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “By recognizing National Community Action Month we affirm the value of working to ensure improved health and safe living conditions for all Union County households.”

Participants in Community Action Month include Trinitas Hospital and Jewish Family Service of Central New Jersey, which will present information about their services from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday May 7, at the Gill Apartments in Cranford.

In addition, the following events have been coordinated to take place in Elizabeth on Friday May 16, which is recognized as National Community Action Day:

• The Urban League of Union County will hold an Open House to present information about emergency assistance from 9:00 a.m.to 12:00 noon at 288 North Broad Street.
• The Salvation Army will host an “Ice Cream for Lunch” to present information about emergency housing services, from 11:00 a.m.to 3:00 p.m. at 1018 East Grand Street.
• The Gateway Family YMCA will host a Housing Open House from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 135 Madison Avenue.

Community Action Agencies were established in 1964, as part of the federal Economic Opportunity Act signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Today, there are approximately 1,100 Community Action Agencies covering 99% of America’s counties in suburban, rural, and urban communities.

In partnership with other social services agencies, the Department of Human Services provides thousands of Union County residents with assistance in meeting vital needs including food, rent, mortgage, and utility service.

The Department of Human Services also provides assistance with emergency and disaster relief, financial literacy, emergency shelter at night, health care, employment, and counseling for mental health issues including substance abuse.

Within the department, the Division on Aging and the Office for the Disabled provide resources and referrals to Union County residents from all walks of life.

For more information about Community Action Month events and other services for low income individuals and families, contact Leslie Gutierrez, Union County Department of Human Services, Division of Planning, 908-527-4861.

For information about all other Human Services and Union County government services and programs, visit the Union County government website, 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.