Author: Web Site Administrator

Since 2002, employees of the County of Union and their families have participated in a unique program that gives them the opportunity to display their artistic creations. In its ongoing effort to recognize and encourage creative and artistic accomplishment throughout Union County, the Board of Chosen Freeholders, in partnership with The National Arts Program(r), is pleased to announce the tenth annual exhibition of artwork by County of Union workers and their families.

“What a pleasure it is to see the outstanding artwork done by Union County employees and family members,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board. “Whether they are people who have exhibited before or new artists, the participants display a wide variety of work that always impresses with its quality.”

Entries will be accepted in the categories of painting, photography, artworks on paper, sculpture and crafts. Recognized artists and art professionals will serve as judges, selecting entrants for cash awards and honorable mention in the exhibition’s five artistic classifications: amateur (little or no experience); intermediate (some experience, art students); professional (serious art training or employed in an art related job); teens 13 to 18 years old; and youths age 12 and younger.

“We are happy to extend the invitation to enter the program to Union County College employees and their relatives again this year,” said Freeholder Chairman Deborah P. Scanlon. “We share the goal of The National Arts Program(r) to reach as many people as possible of all ages, offering them a chance to display their artistic talents in a public exhibition.”

In the adult classifications, each first-place winner will receive $300; second place will receive $200 each; and third place, $100 each. There is one $300 prize for Best in Show. In each youth classification, $75 will go to first-place winners; $50 to second place; and $25 to third place. The prizes are provided by The National Arts Program(r).

The National Arts Program(r) runs 81 annual programs reaching 450 cities in 41 states. The program was conceived in 1983 by Leonard E.B. Andrews (1925-2009), an art collector, publisher, business executive and journalist, “for the encouragement and development of artistic expression.” The National Arts Program(r) allows artists to upload their artwork, free of charge, to their online Interactive Gallery. To learn more about The National Arts Program(r) and see photos from past exhibits, or for Union County Employees to register online, please visit http://www.nationalartsprogram.org/venues/union-county-nj. Early registration is encouraged.

Pre-registration is required by April 21. To request a registration form and further information, contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202. Telephone: (908) 558-2550 or e-mail: culturalinfo@ucnj.org

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Nurse Ann Marie Scanlon (R), Director of Diagnostic Services at Trinitas Regional Medical Center, takes Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi’s blood pressure during a visit by Trinitas staff at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth to highlight February as Heart Awareness Month. Clerk Rajoppi invited Trinitas nurses to test her staff and provide them with information about heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases, plus nutrition and fitness tips for healthy lifestyles. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the launch of new RSS feeds on the Union County website, www.ucnj.org. The new features are designed to provide Internet users with a quick and easy way to get the latest updates on Union County events, programs, and business opportunities.

RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication.” An RSS feed is a popular Internet feature that sends out new website postings automatically.

“RSS is an important addition to Union County’s public outreach efforts, especially when it comes to keeping residents informed on our most popular services like recreation and recycling,” said Freeholder Christopher Hudak. “RSS makes sure the news gets to you as soon as we post it on the website.”

Hudak noted that the new RSS feeds also provide businesses with timely information on upcoming County projects and procurements.

A small orange “RSS” icon appears near the top of each page that has a feed. If you would like to receive automatic updates on your computer or mobile device every time a new post goes up on that page, click on the icon.

The RSS icon opens up a new window, in which you choose how you want the updates delivered. For example, you can have RSS feeds appear in your Favorites list.

“Signing up for an RSS feed is free, it’s easy, and it helps you tailor the County website more closely to your needs and interests,” said Hudak.

All of the Union County RSS feeds can be accessed through a single page at https://ucnj.org/newsevents/rss-feeds/.  The following five pages currently have RSS feeds:

 

• Press releases about recycling, recreation, public safety, volunteer activities, new projects and initiatives, and much more, including photos where available.

 

• Press releases (Notas de prensa) translated into Spanish, including photos where available.

 

• Invitations to bid on County projects.

 

• RFP/RFQs.

 

• Video Channel, including feature stories and rebroadcasts of cable news programming on County events and public affairs.

 

The Union County website, www.ucnj.org, was recently redesigned and relaunched in order to provide quick, easy access to information in an up-to-date format.  Along with RSS feeds, the new site accommodates Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr, and a new video page, events calendar and recycling schedule.

 

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release.   Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj

Union County, NJ – Union County Freeholder Mohamed S. Jalloh guided twelve members of the Greater Union County Chapter of Jack and Jill of America through a hands-on civics exercise last month. The lesson was designed to provide the students with a realistic experience of being an elected representative in local government.

“This was an enthusiastic, engaged group of young people who are well on their way to becoming leaders in their community and beyond,” said Jalloh. “They gave up a Saturday to learn more about the processes that go into governing, and it was truly a privilege to work with them.”

The students visited the Freeholder Board offices in downtown Elizabeth and then held a mock session in the Meeting Room. They discussed the need for road repair in the public part of the exercise and adjourned to the conference room to debate the issue in executive session.

“We used road repair as a jumping-off point because it is a basic public service that benefits everyone and doesn’t seem controversial on its face,” said Freeholder Jalloh. “However, when it came to budgeting for the project, the students found that there are no easy decisions.”

Jack and Jill of America is a national organization that works to provide students with family-centered cultural, social, educational and civic activities while raising consciousness of African heritage. The Greater Union County Chapter traces its beginnings to 1984.

Photo Caption – Union County Freeholder Mohamed S. Jalloh (center) guided twelve members of the Greater Union County Chapter of Jack and Jill of America through a civics exercise in the Freeholder Meeting Room in downtown Elizabeth last month. (photo: GUCC Jack and Jill of America)

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at https://ucnj.org, on Facebook at https://ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj

Attention caregivers, do you feel tired? Are you overwhelmed and stressed? Caring for a loved one can bring on those feelings. You are not alone. Become a part of the Caregiver & Alzheimer’s Family Support Group at RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital of Union County in Berkeley Heights. Get together with others who share your difficulties and receive the reassurance as well as the knowledge that is found in a support group.

The group’s meetings, which are open to the public, are held in Room C318 on the third floor at RUNNELLS on the third Thursday of each month from 1 to 2 p.m. The meetings, facilitated by Liz Carabuena, L.S.W., a RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital licensed social worker, are free of charge for all attendees.

“If you are a caregiver, meet with others in similar situations,” said Union County Freeholder Mohamed S. Jalloh, Freeholder liaison to RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital. The Caregiver & Alzheimer’s Family Support Group at RUNNELLS shares information on dementia related diseases and available resources, researches updates, discusses practical care techniques and presents new ways to cope on a day-to-day basis. An especially important part of the meeting is the time set aside for participants to discuss the frustrations they feel in caring for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.”

RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital of Union County sponsors the meetings in conjunction with the Alzheimer’s Association – Greater New Jersey Chapter, an organization whose mission is to enhance care and support for individuals, their families and caregivers, and to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research.

The Caregiver & Alzheimer’s Family Support Group at RUNNELLS’ schedule for 2011 follows:

March 17, April 21, May 19, June 16, July 21, August 18, September 15, October 20, November 17 and December 15.

RUNNELLS, Central New Jersey’s premier provider of care for individuals with dementia, also provides long-term, short-term, post acute, palliative and respite care in their nursing care center.

The facility is located at 40 Watchung Way, Berkeley Heights. Anyone who would like further information on this wheelchair accessible program or if you would like to attend, call 908-771-5828.

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MOUNTAINSIDES, NJ – Young people living with disabilities have the opportunity to discover the wonders of nature in the Watchung Reservation in a new series of weekly classes being offered at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside. Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the six-week series will begin on March 15 at 3:45 p.m.

“The classes at Trailside are a perfect after-school activity for young people ages 7 to 13 who are living with disabilities,” said Freeholder Daniel Sullivan, liaison to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. “We’re happy to offer this program along with the many other fine classes and activities that the County of Union offers for people with disabilities.”
Participants will join Trailside naturalists for a sensory-based exploration of the plants, animals and habitats that make up the Watchung Reservation, Union County’s largest park. The children will participate in guided hikes and hands-on activities to learn about the natural world.

Classes will be held indoors and outdoors on Tuesdays, March 15, 22 and 29; plus April 5, 12 and 19, from 3:45 – 4:45 p.m. Participants are asked to wear sneakers.

The fee for the six-week series is $12 and pre-registration is required. Parents or mentors are welcome at no extra charge. Register either at Trailside Nature and Science Center, 452 New Providence Road (at Coles Ave.), Mountainside, every day from noon to 5 p.m.; or at the Union County Administration Building, Department of Parks and Community Renewal, 2nd floor, Elizabethtown Plaza at Rahway Ave. in Elizabeth, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.

For additional information about this program or other Union County-sponsored programs for people with disabilities, please call Margaret Heisey at 908-527-4806. Trailside Nature and Science Center is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.orghttps://ucnj.org, on Facebook atwww.ucnj.org/facebookhttps://ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj .

Union County, NJ – Coffee lovers can find out everything they ever wanted to know about their favorite beverage, including benefits to savor and pitfalls to avoid, by attending a free class offered by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County called “Coffee – Should It Be Your Mug of Choice?” The class will be held on Thursday March 10, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Extension offices in Westfield. There is no fee but registration in advance is required by contacting Digna Torres at the Extension, 908-654-9854 or dtorres@ucnj.org.

 

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj

Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperative Extension educational programs are offered to all without regard to race, religion, color, age, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.

WESTFIELD, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announced that beginning Tuesday, February 22, the Clerk’s Office in Westfield will initiate a new service with the acceptance of Inheritance Tax Waivers for recording.

“I’m pleased we can offer this new service to our customers,” Ms. Rajoppi said. “This will make it more convenient for those dealing with a family death to process documents on behalf of the estate.”

At present, Inheritance Tax Waivers are accepted only at the County Clerk’s office located in Elizabeth. An Inheritance Tax Waiver must be filed and the tax paid on the transfer of real or personal property within eight months after a person’s death.

Ms. Rajoppi said that the waiver, issued by the New Jersey Division of Taxation, releases the property of the deceased from inheritance taxes and is needed by executors processing estates prior to the transfer of property. The waiver forms and detailed instructions are available from the New Jersey Division of Taxation atwww.state.nj.us/treasury/taxationhttp://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation.

“The recording of this document joins other related services at the Westfield office, including Trade Name applications to establish a business name in Union County,” Ms. Rajoppi said. “The Office also processes passport applications and renewals and takes photographs for passports.”

The Union County Clerk’s Westfield office is located at 300 North Avenue East. The hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information call 908-654-9859.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.orghttps://ucnj.org, on Facebook atwww.ucnj.org/facebookhttps://ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj .

Union County, NJ – Thirty high school students from Union County’s award winning Vo-Tech Schools are up against a ticking clock in a global competition to build two fully functional, specially designed robots from scratch. The robots must be built within six weeks and they must be able to perform specific tasks. They will be put to the test at the upcoming FIRST Robotics Challenge on March 12 in New York City.

Named “Parallel Universe,” the Vo-Tech team is number 1257 in a field of more than 2,000 worldwide.

“The field of robotics is emerging as an important factor in sustainable technology and other growth sectors of the economy,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Deborah P. Scanlon. “The Freeholder Board is proud of Vo-Tech’s world class educational experience, and we are proud to support its mission of preparing young people for rewarding careers in a competitive global market.”

“In addition to honing their skills in robotics, the members of Parallel Universe are gaining valuable experience in skills that are essential for high level professional careers: teamwork, working calmly under pressure, and working with mentors and advisors,” said Vo-Tech Schools Superintendent Thomas J. Bistocchi.

FIRST stands for “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.” It is a not-for-profit public charity organization founded in 1989, with the goal of inspiring young people to pursue an interest in science and technology.

The FIRST Robotics Challenge, also known as the “varsity sport of the mind,” involves rigorous requirements for raising funds and establishing a team “brand” as well as building specialized robots within a strict deadline. In this year’s challenge, the teams must design a primary robot with an articulated arm that can lift tubes and place them on a horizontal pole. The robot must also be able to deploy a minibot that can race up a vertical pole.
Parallel Universe is meeting every day after school in order to complete its robots in time for the competition, and fundraising is ongoing. Those wishing to make a contribution can contact Lloyd Harris, Vo-Tech faculty advisor, lharris@ucvts.tec.nj.us.
For more information about Union County Vo-Tech Schools, visit www.ucvts.tec.nj.us/ucvts.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at https://ucnj.org, on Facebook at https://ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj

Photo Caption: Two members of the Union County Vo-Tech Schools “Parallel Universe” robotics team, Ariel Weingarten (r) and Joseph Obiajulu (l), are pictured at the FIRST Robotics Competition last year in Trenton. The team of 30 students is working on two robots to compete in this year’s event on March 12.

The Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal has released details of its annual Watchung Reservation Deer Management Program, which will begin on Monday morning, February 28.

From 1996-1999, the County of Union’s state-approved deer management program worked to reduce the number of deer in the Watchung Reservation from an estimated 180 deer per square mile to the goal density of 20 deer per square mile. This goal was achieved one year earlier than anticipated. The program currently underway, begun in 2000, changed the emphasis from reduction to maintenance of that density level.

This year’s Watchung Reservation Deer Management Program will operate between 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 28, through Wednesday, March 2. In the event of inclement weather on any of those days, the program may occur on Thursday and Friday, March 3 and 4, but under no circumstances will the program extend past Friday, March 4.

The Deer Management Program has been expanded this year to include sites within Passaic River Park in Summit. Those sites have been hunted since 2005 by a private company under a contract issued by the City of Summit. This year, those same sites will be hunted by volunteers from the Watchung Reservation Program, during the same dates and times, at no cost to the City of Summit.

Sixteen marksmen, chosen by the County from among experienced, licensed hunters, most of whom have previously participated in Union County’s program, have been selected to serve on a voluntary basis. The deer that are killed will be processed at a USDA-approved butcher. Venison will be distributed to the needy and homeless through the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

Teams of agents will be supervised by the Union County Police and representatives from the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. Anyone found hunting on any County park property outside the terms of this program will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  Citizens observing any such illegal activity are urged to immediately contact the Union County Police at 908-654-9800.

The public should note that the Watchung Reservation will not be closed during the deer management program; however, portions of some roadways inside the park may be closed for short periods if necessary. Park patrons are urged to stay on the marked hiking, walking and bridle trails. Patrons also are urged to keep pets restrained on a leash.

The Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal will be mailing information about its annual deer-management program to households surrounding the Watchung Reservation. Copies also will be available at Trailside Nature & Science Center, 452 New Providence Road, and Watchung Stable, 1160 Summit Lane, both in Mountainside.

For further information, contact the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal at (908) 789-3682.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj .