Author: Web Site Administrator

Union County, NJ – This little fellow is an American Woodcock who was probably on his way south for the holidays when he lost his way in Elizabeth. Union County Parks & Community Renewal employee Margaret Heisey spotted him inside the Chris Bollwage Parking Garage and he was safely released into Mattano Park by Union County Vicinage employee and longtime parks volunteer Natalie Gregorio. Union County’s park system provides important habitat for migratory birds along the Atlantic Flyway, a major north-south route.(photo: Natalie Gregorio)

 

##

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

Union County, NJ — The Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County offers the following food safety tips for holiday cooking:

Thaw frozen turkeys in the refrigerator (3-4 days for a 15 lb. turkey)

• Stuff the turkey right before it goes in the oven.
• Cook at a minimum temperature of 325° F and use a thermometer.
• When done, the thermometer should register 165° F in the inner thigh, wing, breast, and stuffing.
• Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.
• Refrigerate leftovers promptly.

The Cooperative Extension of Union County is supported in part by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. For additional food safety tips call the USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline, 1-888-674-6854.

For information on all Union County Extension programs including 4-H youth clubs, Master Gardeners, Master Tree Stewards, and family wellness initiatives visit ucnj.org/rce or call 908-654-9854.

 

##

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

 

WESTFIELD, NJ – The Union County Clerk’s offices in Westfield and Elizabeth are offering a special incentive for residents to apply for a passport during the month of December: the cost of each passport photograph will be reduced to $5.00. This half-price photo offer applies only to applicants for a new passport or a passport renewal during December.

“To jump-start interest in the winter travel season, my offices are giving travelers a break on their vacation expenses while still providing a full range of passport services with no need for an appointment,” said Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi. “Are you ready for that winter getaway you’ve been dreaming about? Now is the time to make sure your passport is up-to-date.”

U.S. citizens must present a valid passport book when entering or re-entering the United States by air. U.S. citizens entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean islands and Bermuda at land borders and sea ports of entry must present a passport book, passport card, or other travel documents approved by the U.S. government.

“Some countries require passports to be valid for an additional three, six or nine months after your visit,” Rajoppi added. “If your passport is due to expire within nine months of your international travel, you should renew your passport to ensure a smoother journey.”

Information about the cost and how to apply for a passport book and/or passport card is available athttp://travel.state.gov. U.S. citizens may also obtain passport information by phone, in English and Spanish, by calling the National Passport Information Center toll-free at 1-877-487-2778.

“Our Elizabeth office opens at 7:30 a.m. and it has experienced, helpful, English and Spanish-speaking certified passport agents ready to assist you in any way we can,” Rajoppi said. “Our Westfield office, which opens at 8 a.m. weekdays, has convenient evening and Saturday hours and also is fully staffed.”

Passport application forms may be obtained at the County Clerk’s main office in the Union County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth or at the Colleen Fraser Building at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield. Applications for passports and related information also can be found online at: ucnj.org/Passports.

The Westfield office is the only County Clerk’s office in the state that is open during evening hours. It is open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday; from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; and on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The telephone number in Westfield is 908-654-9859.

The Elizabeth office is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The telephone number in Elizabeth is 908-527-4966. Clients are asked to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to closing time to allow for staff assistance with the passport process.

For more information about obtaining a U.S. passport, please call (908) 527-4966.

– end –

Union County, NJ — Fall weather is no deterrent to Union County Adopt-A-Park volunteers, who play a key role in improving and maintaining more than 6,600 acres of public open space. Pictured here are members of the Haitian Flag Day Planning Committee in Warinanco Park last Saturday. They picked up litter, collected recyclables, removed weeds and repaired fencing at a shoreline restoration project designed to attract hummingbirds, songbirds, butterflies and other pollinators. To find out more about Adopt-A-Park visitucnj.org/parks or call the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal, 908-789-3683.

##

Photo Caption: Margaret Heisey (left), Program Coordinator of Union County’s Recreation Programs for People with Disabilities, presents Alex Jackman (center) of Westfield with a Freeholder sponsored resolution honoring her for her dedication to Autism awareness. The Resolution was presented at the second installment of Union County’s Sensory Friendly Theater Series, which is designed according to guidelines that help to reduce disturbances for youngsters who experience heightened sensory sensitivity due to autism and related disabilities. Heisey and Jackman were joined by Adrienne Robertiello (right), Autism Educator at Children’s Specialized Hospital. (Photo courtesy of the County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Alexander Mirabella presents a resolution to Jazmyn Carrington of Scotch Plains commending her for her quick actions in saving the life of a fellow student at Union County Academy for Performing Arts in Scotch Plains by performing the Heimlich maneuver.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

WESTFIELD, NJ – In honor of Veterans Month, Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds any honorably discharged veteran living in Union County that they can receive a free identification card at the County Clerk’s offices in Westfield and Elizabeth. The wallet-size photo ID card is honored as proof of service in the United States Armed Forces.

“We encourage all of our veterans to bring their original discharge papers to the County Clerk’s Office in either Westfield or Elizabeth and take advantage of this free program,” Rajoppi said. “This ID card service is just one way to say thank you and make veterans’ lives a little easier.”

The Veterans ID Card Act was signed into law last year. The card is available to veterans whose original Certificate of Honorable Discharge and/or DD-214 forms are recorded at the Union County Clerk’s office. It can assist veterans in receiving educational benefits, death benefits, licenses, local property tax rebates and discounts at big retailer box stores when presented with other identification.

If a veteran’s discharge papers have never been recorded, the original documents must be presented at either one the Union County Clerk’s offices. Documents will be recorded in the Union County Veterans’ Index and the original documents will be returned to the veteran together with a free certified copy for their records. Photocopies of Honorable Discharge or DD-214 documents cannot be accepted for recording.

If the original discharge documents are lost, veterans can write to the National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63138. Those who have already recorded their documents with the Union County Clerk can call her office at 908-659-7403 for additional information.

“Veterans can be assured that access to their discharge papers is available only to the veteran, his or her mother, father, spouse, brother, sister, child, heir or personal representative,” Rajoppi said. “Veterans’ documents are archived in a secure area and they are not accessible to the public.”

The County Clerk’s Office in Westfield, located in the Colleen Fraser Building at 300 North Avenue East, is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. The County Clerk’s Office in Elizabeth, located in the Union County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street, is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. If additional information is needed, please call 908-659-7403.

 

– end –

Former City of Elizabeth Planning and Community Development Director and 15-year governmental veteran to emphasize economic development and implementation of initiatives and policies on behalf of Freeholder Board and County Manager

 

ELIZABETH—William Reyes, a resident of Mountainside and a 15-year governmental veteran who led the City of Elizabeth’s Planning and Community Development Department, has become the new Deputy County Manager.

Reyes, 39, is a native of Elizabeth and lifelong resident of Union County who resides in Mountainside with his wife, Cheryl, and two children.

“I am truly honored and thankful to the Freeholder Board and County Manager Faella for being given the opportunity to serve the residents of our County in the capacity of Deputy County Manager,” Reyes said. “I look forward to assisting the Board and County Manager in their mission to provide strong governmental services and the implementation of policies that will chart a course for County government moving forward.”

Reyes began his career in 1999 in the City of Elizabeth’s Office of Public Information and served as the Office’s Director of Public Relations before becoming the Director of Planning and Community Development several years ago.

Reyes was responsible for the management of the Community Development Block Grant Program (distribution of more than $3 million in funds), the Economic Development and Public Information Bureaus, the Elizabeth Home Improvement Program and the Office of Relocation.

Reyes graduated from Union Catholic High School in Scotch Plains, and Rutgers University- New Brunswick, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Spanish.

Among his accomplishments in Elizabeth were:

*The retention of Wakefern in Elizabeth, partnering with the County to recruit Federal Stimulus financing to help the company expand and create over 350 jobs;

*Working to secure $40 million in State funds for the renovation and reconstruction of the Midtown Elizabeth NJ Transit Train station;

*Secured environmental funding to remediate lots and improve the Midtown area;

*Oversaw the completion of Phase 1 of the Rivertrail in Midtown Elizabeth, and the start of its second phase;

*Worked with real estate developers to expand Fedex and Seafrigo facilities– creating dozens of new employment opportunities.

Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter welcomed Reyes to County Government, and added the Board looked forward to working with him.

“Bill has a proven track record as a respected administrator in the City of Elizabeth, and has strong leadership qualities that should enable him to serve well in County Government,” Carter said.

Faella, who selected Reyes, praised him as someone who is a sharp, personable and innovative administrator who gets the job done and does not shy away from challenges.

“Bill is a man of great integrity and vision who developed a reputation as “a go to” administrator, solved issues and developed programs in the City of Elizabeth,” said Faella, who also formerly served as the Director of Community Development for the City of Elizabeth in the ‘90s. “He has an outstanding knowledge of local government, and is ready for the next step in County Government.”

Faella, pointing to the pending implementation of major initiatives regarding the Union County Golf  Division, the jail, economic development and he noted that the timing was right to select Reyes as Deputy County Manager, filling a spot left vacant by the retirement of M. Elizabeth Genievich approximately two years ago.

“We are going to have to roll up our sleeves and get to work,” Faella said. “Bill will be able to greatly assist in these endeavors.”

Union County, NJ –  Nominations are still being accepted for the 22nd annual Women of Excellence Awards, sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders with the Union County Commission on the Status of Women. The deadline for nominations is December 1, 2013.

Women of Excellence nominations are open to all women 21 years or older, who reside in or are employed in Union County, and who have distinguished themselves in the fields of Arts and Humanities, Business/Entrepreneurial, Community Service, Education, Government, Law, Law Enforcement, Medicine/Health Care, or Women’s Advocacy.

Nominators are asked to provide several examples of how the nominee has demonstrated outstanding achievements in these fields, and to indicate how the nominee has made a difference in the lives of Union County residents or employees.

The awardees are guests of honor at the annual Women of Excellence Award Dinner which will take place on Friday, March 21 at 6:30 p.m. at Galloping Hill Caterers in Union. They will receive an engraved Women of Excellence plaque and will be presented with a Resolution by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

For additional information or to obtain a nomination form, visit the Women of Excellence website,ucnj2.org, or contact Jane O’Hara at johara1217@gmail.com.

The nomination form and supporting documents must be submitted by the deadline to:

Ms. Jane O’Hara
708 Newark Avenue
Westfield, NJ 07090

###

The Raritan Valley Rail Coalition and the One-Seat Ride Coalition have announced that NJ Transit will roll out a morning off-peak, one-seat ride to New York’s Penn Station starting March 2, 2014. The trains will arrive in New York between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

NJ Transit has purchased dual-mode locomotives that will operate as diesels through Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex and Union counties and as electronic locomotives through the tunnel to Manhattan, making the one-seat ride possible.

The Raritan Valley Rail Coalition, joined by a coalition of 30 mayors of towns along the line, seek to ultimately achieve a full one-seat ride Manhattan service on the Raritan Valley Line, which currently terminates in Newark.

“Town after town has major development near their train stations,” said Somerset County Freeholder and Rail Coalition Chairman Peter S. Palmer. “The weekday off-peak service is an important first step.”

He credited the mayors’ coalition, headed by Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr, with being “vital to the long-standing effort of the Rail Coalition to bring the one-seat ride to fruition.”

NJ Transit, which has championed Transit-Oriented Development, has agreed to meet quarterly with the One-Seat Ride Coalition to evaluate the results of the new service and discuss further expansion. The next step would be to offer evening one-seat ride service during off-peak hours after 8 p.m.