Please be advised, Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying for Mosquitoes tonight, Thursday, July 14, 2022, between the hours of 7:00 P.M. and 12:00 A.M. (Weather Permitting). Check below and see if your city is on the list. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mosquito Control: 908-654-9873
Cities
Berkeley Heights – Briarwood Dr. West, Mead St.
Clark – Parkway Dr., Lefferts Ln. Area
Cranford – Ludlow Av. Area, Union County College
Elizabeth – Acme St.
Fanwood – Russell Rd., Willoughby Rd., Hunter Av.,
Garwood – Hickory Av.,
Hillside – Spring St., John St., Harvard Av., Cornell Pl., Hartley Ter., Irvington Av., Columbia Av., Rutgers Av., Stanley Ter., Belleview Ter., Orchard Ter., Compton Ter. Aldine St., Munn Av., Mertz Av.
Kenilworth – Dorset Dr., Water Co. Rd., Blvd (County Yard)., Epping Dr.
Mountainside – Orchard Rd., Appletree Ln., Mountain Av.
Plainfield – Jefferson Av., First Av., 1400 block of South Ave.
Rahway – Midwood Dr., Milton Blvd., Keller Pl., Lakeside Dr. Area
Roselle – Brookside Dr., Pine St.
Scotch Plains – Ashbrook Dr., Frank St., Cooper Rd., Inverness Dr., Golf St.
Springfield – Oakland Av., Waverly Av. Area
Summit – Summit recycling Center, Glenside Av., Water Co. Rd.
Union – Cranbrook Rd., Audrey Ter.
Westfield – Grandville Av., Boyton Av., Livingston Av., Myrtle Av., Prospect St., Hamilton Av., Overhill St.
Winfield – U.C. Parkway Dr.
County Parks
• Clark – Esposito, Oak Ridge • Elizabeth – Warinanco • Garwood – Unami • Hillside – Rutgers • Mountainside – Echo Lake • Plainfield – Cedar Brook, Green Brook • Springfield – Meisel
Please be advised, Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying for Mosquitoes tonight, Thursday, July 7, 2022, between the hours of 7:00 P.M. and 12:00 A.M. (Weather Permitting). Check below and see if your Town is on the list. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mosquito Control: 908-654-9873
Cities
Berkeley Heights – Emerson Ln., Janet Ln., Brookside Ln., Hillside Ave., Archer Ln., Apple tree Row, Cedar Ln., Water Ln., Elm Pl., Fern Way, Beechwood Rd., Greenbrook Rd. Ralph PL., Rogers Pl., Branco Rd., North Rd., Kingman Rd., Nancy Pl., Industrial Rd.,Wilson Dr., Webster Dr., Delmore Ave.
The Union County Board of County Commissioners and Union County Clean Communities would like to encourage residents to celebrate and participate in Plastic Free July!
“Finding ways to go plastic free is easier than you think and residents can certainly do a lot on a personal level to help save the environment,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “The information provided here are great examples of how you can make a big impact on the environment and reduce the amount of plastic waste you or your family use on a daily basis. I hope you will all join us in participating in this challenge.”
Plastic Free July is an annual, month-long event started by the Plastic Free Foundation in 2011, to work towards their vision of a world free of plastic waste. Every year, individuals and groups take the challenge to reduce the amount of single-use plastic items they use and purchase throughout the month of July.
It is easy and free to participate – just go to www.plasticfreejuly.org and click on “Take the Challenge.” By taking the challenge, you pledge to make whichever changes you are able to make – whether starting small with a few easy swaps or overhauling your plastic consumption – to reduce the amount of plastic waste you are contributing to the waste stream.
According to National Geographic, 40 percent of all plastics made are single-use items, which are used for a few minutes and quickly discarded, able to persist in the environment for hundreds of years. It is estimated that 8 million tons of plastic waste get added to our oceans every year. Plastics do not biodegrade, however, and instead break into smaller and smaller pieces until they become microplastics, at just 5mm across or less. These tiny plastic pieces are almost impossible to remove once in the open ocean, and instead wash up on coastal shores or get consumed by wildlife. In fact, almost 700 species are known to have been negatively impacted by plastic pollution, and microplastics have been found in 100 aquatic species, including those that humans regularly eat.
The State of New Jersey and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection took steps towards single-use plastics reduction in 2020 through the passing of P.L. 2020, c.117, now called the “Get Past Plastic Law”. This law enacted a ban on single-use plastic bags and polystyrene foam food containers, and required single-use plastic straws to be give only upon request from all NJ food service businesses. All parts of this law have been in effect since May 4, 2022.
Plastic Free July is a great opportunity to continue this mission by finding other single-use plastic items we use in our day-to-day and swapping them out with reusable or plastic-free alternatives! Here are a few examples of simple ways to reduce plastic this month:
Instead of using disposable plastic utensils at lunchtime, pack a fork, knife, or spoon from home. Just use it to eat your lunch, and remember to pack it back up to bring home and wash at the end of the day.
Rather than drinking water from a single-use bottle to stay hydrated, fill up a reusable water bottle to bring with you.
When packing up lunch for the day, skip the baggies and plastic wrap and opt for washable and reusable containers that can be used over and over again.
If you are looking for more of a challenge, you can try:
Switching to bars for soap, shampoo, and conditioner rather than purchasing liquid forms that come in plastic bottles. Alternatively, if your shampoo bottle is empty, you could refill it at a refill store rather than disposing of your old bottle and purchasing a new one.
Purchasing deodorant sold in paper packaging instead of traditional plastic tubes.
Swapping out your usual disposable k-cups for a refillable, washable version.
In 2021, 140 million people participated in Plastic Free July, preventing 2.1 million tons of plastic waste from being thrown into our landfills, incinerators, and the environment.
Union County residents are invited to join in the challenge this July, and take the pledge to reduce single-use plastic this month and possibly beyond!
Please be advised, Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying for Mosquitoes tonight, Thursday, June 30, 2022, between the hours of 7:00 P.M. and 12:00 A.M. (Weather Permitting).
Check below and see if your city is on the list. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mosquito Control: 908-654-9873
Residents seeking information about services for seniors and their care givers can come to Union County’s Aging Services Kiosk events and meet in person with professional staff for guidance on senior programs and resources, including help with filling out applications and forms.
ASK is a program of the Union County Department of Human Services through the Division on Aging and Disability Resources, serving seniors age 60-plus and their care givers. Staff at the ASK events can help seniors and care givers connect with a variety of services including home delivered meals, respite care, home care, adult day care and support services for caregivers.
Any Union County senior or care giver can visit any ASK event, regardless of their hometown. No appointment or pre-registration is needed.
The July dates and locations will be:
Thursday, July 7
Union Public Library, 1060 Stuyvesant Avenue, Union, 07083
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Monday, July 11
Clark Public Library, 303 Westfield Avenue, Clark, 07066
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 20
Garwood Public Library, 411 3rd Avenue, Garwood, 07027
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
To check for other upcoming ASK events call the Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection 1-888-280-8226 toll free or visit the Division online at www.ucnj.org/dhs/aging.
ASK updates are also posted on Union County’s social media channels and are frequently carried by local media, both print and digital.
The goal of the Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection is to promote wellness, independence, dignity and choice for seniors and their families, in accordance with a statewide initiative adopted by Union County in 2012. It is one of 622 “Area Agencies on Aging” nationwide established under the federal Older Americans Act.
Please be advised, Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying for Adult Mosquitoes tonight, Thursday, June 23, 2022, between the hours of 7:00 P.M. and 12:00 A.M. (Weather Permitting). Check below and see if your Town is on the list. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mosquito Control: 908-654-9873
Towns
Clark – Featherbed Ln.
Fanwood – LaGrande Ave., South Ave.
Hillside – Harvard Ave., Cornell Pl., John St.
Kenilworth – Dorset Dr., Water Co. Rd., Blvd (County Yard).
Please be advised, Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying for Adult Mosquitoes tonight, Thursday, June 16, 2022, between the hours of 7:00 P.M. and 12:00 A.M. (Weather Permitting).
Check below and see if your town is on the list. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mosquito Control at 908-654-9873.
Cities
Berkeley Heights – Columbia Ave., Nancy Pl., Berkeley Ave.
The County of Union is proud to announce that County Manager Ed Oatman was inducted into the national honor society Pi Alpha Alpha, in a ceremony last night, Thursday, June 9, 2022.
“On behalf of the Union County Board of County Commissioners, we would like to congratulate Ed on this great honor,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “Ed is such a remarkable person with a true compassion and commitment to our community, both within the County and at Kean University. There is no one better deserving of this induction and his role as a public leader truly represents that.”
The Induction Ceremony was held in Hynes Hall at Kean University, where Mr. Oatman was chosen for his continued service and commitment to Union County and the Kean University community.
“Congratulations to Trustee Oatman, who has been a public service leader not only with the County but also here at Kean as a member of our Board of Trustees,” said Kean President Lamont O. Repollet. “His ability to connect the University and the County on initiatives ranging from COVID-19 testing to social services to food drives benefits our students, our employees and all of the communities we serve. We are lucky to have him.”
Pi Alpha Alpha (PAA) is a National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration. PAA recognizes outstanding undergraduate as well as graduate students in public administration, public policy, and public affairs. As of 2012, PAA has 162 chapters at NASPAA member schools, and is growing every year.
“I am grateful to have been nominated and inducted into the Pi Alpha Alpha honor society of my alma mater,” said Ed Oatman, County Manager. “When I started my journey into the public sector, there was nothing more important to me than to giving back to others, so I try to incorporate that in both my professional career and everyday life. I would like to thank the PAA Executive Board members for recognizing me.”
Mr. Oatman has more than 20 years of governmental experience. He is the 12th top executive under the County Manager form of government. Oatman has responsibility for the day-to-day operations and budget of a 21-municipality government with approximately 2,800 full-time employees. Oatman has a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Kean University and currently serves on the Kean University Board of Trustees.
Please be advised, Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying for Adult Mosquitoes tonight, Thursday, June 9, 2022, between the hours of 7:00 P.M. and 12:00 A.M. (Weather Permitting).
Check below and see if your Town is on the list. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mosquito Control: 908-654-9873
Cities
Berkeley Heights – Emerson La., Beechwood La., Water La., Appletree Row, Cedar La., Janet La.
Clark – Featherbed La., Oakridge Rd. (Town pool area)
The Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to invite the public to attend the third annual Juneteenth Flag raising ceremony on Sunday, June 19, at 10:00 a.m. in front of the Union County Courthouse, located at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth.
“The raising of the Juneteenth flag gives us the opportunity to educate the public about the history, power, resilience, and unbroken spirit of Black Americans over the course of the month of June,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “I have a strong connection to Juneteenth, as my dad was born and raised in Galveston, Texas, and much of my family still lives there. I am thankful to be a part of Union County, where we continue to commemorate and honor this very special date in history.”
The Juneteenth Flag was created in 1997 to commemorate June 19, 1865, when the citizens of Galveston, Texas were finally notified about the abolition of slavery. President Lincoln had signed the Proclamation of Emancipation more than two years earlier, on January 1, 1863.
Juneteenth is among the longest-running celebrations of emancipation in the United States, though its place in popular culture was obscured by segregationist policies during the 20th century. As recently as last year, interest in Juneteenth has surged as a way to celebrate the achievements of African Americans and recognize their foundational role in the nation’s history from the arrival of the first slave ship from Africa in America in 1619, up to the present day.
“All are welcome to join Union County’s annual program on Juneteenth, and to participate in the observance of the federal holiday,” said Commissioner Dr. Angela Garretson. “As a County and as a nation, we all can celebrate African American culture, while recognizing the need to advance diversity, equity and inclusion for a more just society that upholds liberty and justice.”
At the Union County flag raising, there will be solos by Adrienne Sykes, Twanda Porterfield-Muslim and Rhyan Brown of the NJ Orators, will read the General Order No. 3, which was announced by Union General Gordon Granger and his troops after they traveled to Galveston, Texas to announce this order on June 19th, 1865, which now went on to be celebrated as Juneteenth. The people were informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.
Rhyan Brown is a 15-year-old rising junior, who attends Kent Place School in Summit. In additional to participating in various activities at school, Rhyan joined the Plainfield Chapter of the New Jersey Orators when she was just seven years old. To date, she has earned several Medals of Excellence at their winter and spring orators’ competitions.
“In every culture and every community, people gather to celebrate the good things about their lives and backgrounds,” said Commissioner James Baker. “For me, and many in this community, Juneteenth is one of those celebrations. This is a great month to come together as brothers and sisters, celebrate our diversity, and learn to appreciate and respect how far we have come and the history behind Juneteenth.”
In addition to the flag raising ceremony, Union County is co-sponsoring several local events in celebration of Juneteenth. Later that evening at 7:00 p.m., there will be a live concert at Cedar Brook Park in Plainfield, featuring a performance by The Purple Madness, a Prince experience, with Bobby Miller. This concert is free for all.
For more information about the Juneteenth Flag ceremony, contact James Pellettiere, Clerk of the Board at jpellettiere@ucnj.org or 908-527-4140.
