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Union County Freeholder Vernell Wright congratulates Vito Sista on being named the 2013 Municipal Volunteer of the Year from Springfield by the Local Advisory Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (LACADA) at the group’s annual volunteer recognition dinner in Garwood. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Vernell Wright (L) congratulates Ellen Carter Haygood on being named the 2013 Municipal Volunteer of the Year from Plainfield by the Local Advisory Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (LACADA) at the group’s annual volunteer recognition dinner in Garwood. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Vernell Wright (L) congratulates Mary Withers on being named the 2013 Municipal Volunteer of the Year from Westfield by the Local Advisory Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (LACADA) at the group’s annual volunteer recognition dinner in Garwood. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Vernell Wright (L) congratulates Queen King on being named the 2013 Municipal Volunteer of the Year from Hillside by the Local Advisory Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (LACADA) at the group’s annual volunteer recognition dinner in Garwood. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Every holiday season for 16 years, Union County Sheriff’s Officers have set up their “Tree of Hope” in the courthouse seeking donations of toys and clothing for needy children throughout the county. Each year the response has been overwhelming.

The “Tree of Hope” was first planted in 1997 when officers approached Sheriff Ralph Froehlich and related troubling stories of children who were going to experience a less than happy holiday season. The children the officers encountered were homeless or living in shelters, were victims of domestic violence or medically fragile.  Their parents or guardians did not have the financial ability to provide holiday gifts.

Every year since the Sheriff and the “Tree of Hope” committee have erected a tree in the Union County Courthouse featuring paper ornaments. Volunteers make the ornaments and write a particular gift on each one.

“These caring officers do a tremendous job in helping these children,” Sheriff Froehlich said. “Even during tough economic and personal times, it is important not to forget those kids who are less fortunate.”

Monetary donations to help provide additional gifts are also being sought.

Contributions of money (tax-deductible), toys and clothing can be sent to: Union County Sheriff’s Officers Tree of Hope, Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, N.J., 07207. For more information, call the “Tree of Hope” hotline at 908-629-2158.

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The Warinanco Ice Skating Center was the scene of the annual “Turkey Bowl.” Visitors from all over came to participate in the annual Thanksgiving Broom Bowl Challenge – a combination of the games of broomball and bowling – which is sponsored each year by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. L. to r: Freeholder Sergio Granados with the winners: John Matias of Kenilworth, winner in the 12-17 year old category, Daren Rakowski, of Linden, winner in the 8-11 year old category and Aidan Parris, winner in the 4-7 year old category. Backrow: Donna Hayden, manager of the Warinanco Skating rink in Roselle and Union County Deputy County Manager William Reyes.

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Christopher Hudak (3rd R) and Freeholders Sergio Granados (2ndL) and Bruce Bergen (3rd L) joined Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky (2nd R) of Bris Avremy in lighting a Menorah in Phil Rizzuto Park in Elizabeth celebrating Chanukah. They were joined by Union County Manager Alfred Faella (L) and Shterney Kanelsky (R). (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

With winter fast approaching, the Union County Board of Freeholders and the Office of Emergency Management encourages those who have not signed up for the UC FIRST ALERT Emergency Notification System to sign up as soon as possible.

UC FIRST ALERT provides Union County emergency management officials with the ability to quickly deliver messages to targeted areas or the entire county and alert residents during emergency situations. This can be done either by text message or email.  First Alert can also be used to notify residents about special events, traffic issues and other items, if so desired. It is offered as an opt-in service to residents and as a shared service to municipalities.

To sign up, please go to:
https://www.ucfirstalert.org/

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Usher in the holidays with the sights and sounds of the season at the 30th Annual Holiday Nature Craft Show at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside.  The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Community Renewal are pleased to present this seasonal craft show and charity drive at Trailside on Sunday, Dec. 8, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The price of admission is an item of dry or canned food or a new, unwrapped toy to be distributed through local charities.

“While shopping at the Nature Craft Show for unique gifts for friends and family, visitors will be treated to a festive afternoon of activities, including greetings from Santa and Mrs. Claus,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “Adding to the holiday atmosphere, carolers will entice visitors to join them in a sing-along and decorated trees will be on display.”

Staff from various Union County departments and community organizations will decorate trees in the Trailside Visitor Center. All the trees, ornaments, and gift cards collected will be distributed to Union County families in need. Visitors are encouraged to stop by each holiday tree and vote on their favorite decoration theme for this year.

With a large selection of handcrafted items available at the show, you will certainly be able to check some names off your gift list. More than 40 vendors will be selling nature-themed items such as ornaments, home décor, jewelry, pottery, stained glass, recycled items, and much more.   Light refreshments will be available for purchase throughout the day.

Children will be able to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus from noon to 4:30 p.m., and free children’s face-painting will be offered to keep the little ones entertained. The day’s activities in Trailside’s auditorium will include illuminating seasonal lights of the Union County tree and menorah at 4:30 p.m.

For additional information about the Holiday Nature Craft Show please call Trailside at 908-789-3670, or go towww.ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road (at Coles Avenue) in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that the 2013 Union County Teen Arts Touring Exhibit is on display at the Freeholders Gallery located in the Union County Administration Building, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth. The art work is on display through January 3rdduring regular office hours.

The exhibit consists of 55 pieces of art selected from more than 650 visual art works shown at the 2013 Union County Teen Arts Festival held in March at Union County College in Cranford. The annual event is administered by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Community Renewal.

“The artwork in this exhibit is exceptional. The fact that the artists are teenagers makes the show even more outstanding,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “I encourage everyone to get out and see this fun, lively exhibit while it tours around Union County.”

For information about the Teen Arts program, contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth 07202; telephone (908) 558-2550.  NJ Relay service users should call 711 or email culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

2013 TEEN ARTS  EXHIBIT – The exhibiting students are:

Berkeley Heights

Columbia Middle School
Alice Gao
Governor Livingston High School
Michael Horwath

Clark
Mother Seton RHS
Nathalia Palacios

Elizabeth
Abraham Lincoln School
Evelyn Huiloti
Benedictine Academy
Angie Mery
Charles Hudson School
Isidra Alvarado Vasques
Dr. Orlando Edreira Academy
Jezebel Jimenez
Elizabeth HS – Dwyer House
Jefferson Torres
Elizabeth HS – Edison House
Robert McCall
Elizabeth HS – Hamilton Academy
Evelyn Lopez
Elizabeth HS – Jefferson House
Chrysthel Jean-Louis
David Simancas
Cindy Montalvo
Elizabeth HS – Lower Academy
Yilian Borroto
Elizabeth HS – Upper Academy
Nicole Capelo
Sung Soon DeSouza
Elmora School
Jayline Rodriguez
Louveture-Lafayette School
Katuiska Zuniga
Mabel G. Holmes School
Santiago Hoyos
Nicholas M. Butler School
Ramon Rivera
Nicholas S. LaCorte School
Oscar Heredia
T.C. Reilly School
Eqequiel Carvalo
William F. Halloran School
Harmonie Garcia
Woodrow Wilson School
Irene Negron

Hillside
Hillside HS
Kameron Kee
Walter O. Krumbiegel MS
Samantha Felipe

Kenilworth
David Brearley HS
Erick Soriano
Melissa Dudukvich

Linden

Linden HS
Adrianna Rendon
Kylie Vorob
McManus MS
Kara Depczynski
Soehl MS
Nicholas Francisco

Mountainside
Deerfield MS
Isabella DiCosmo

New Providence
New Providence HS
Adrienne Cirotti
Christie Shaw
New Providence MS
Licheng Yang

Plainfield
Cook School
Fritz Mersola
Plainfield Academy of Arts
Sebastian Nunez
Gabrielle Lugbauer
Plainfield HS
Erika Jackson
Union County TEAMS Charter School
Gabrielle Labady
Stephany Vargas

Roselle
Abraham Clark HS
Zulis Linares
Ti-Reece Vaughn
Grace Wilday Jr. HS
Agape DeLeon

Scotch Plains
Union County Vo-Tech HS
Bre’on Johnson
Austin McCaffrey

Summit
Oratory Preparatory School
Alex McDonald

Union
Union HS
Wislet Dazime
Armando Flores

Westfield
Hillcrest Academy South
Kadeem Venus
Lamberts Mill Academy
Genesis Malacara

Winfield
Winfield School
Corey Hallari