Author: Web Site Administrator

ELIZABETH, NJ – County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi warns home owners in the County of Union and owners of commercial property in the county to beware of people who offer to sell them a certified copy of the deed to their property.

“Various municipalities in Union County have alerted me that their residents have been contacted by a company that offers to sell the property owner a copy of their deed,” said County Clerk Rajoppi. “These offers are not necessary. Don’t be fooled. Normally, you or your attorney already have a copy of your deed.”

“It is advisable to have a copy of your deed stored safely with your other important documents,” continued Clerk Rajoppi. “But if you misplace or lose your deed, you can readily obtain a certified copy from my Office usually for less than $20. Scam artists are charging $83 or more for the same deed. The price for a certified deed is mandated by the state and is a per-page fee.”

In 2007, Ms. Rajoppi filed a formal complaint with the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General, citing the solicitation of homeowners to purchase a deed at an exorbitant, excessive cost. Consumers who receive solicitations to buy a deed are invited to contact the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs at 973-504-6200 or 800-242-5846 to file a complaint.

In response to concerns raised by County Clerk Rajoppi and her County Clerk colleagues throughout New Jersey, a bill is pending in the State Legislature to regulate deed procurement services. The legislation is Senate Bill S-1870 and Assembly Bill A-2386. This bill requires non-governmental entities providing deed procurement services to make certain disclosures when soliciting clients. The disclosures include prominently displaying the address and telephone number of the appropriate County Clerk’s office through which the recipient could obtain a copy of the deed directly; the state-authorized per-page fee; a disclaimer that the recipient is not legally required to use the services of the non-governmental entity; and that County Clerk’s offices must receive a copy of the deed solicitation letter at least 15 days before the letter is distributed to property owners.

If you can’t find your deed, call the Office of the Union County Clerk at 908-527-4787; visit the website:www.ucnj.org/government/county-clerk; or go directly to the County Clerk’s Office where you can easily obtain a certified copy of your deed for the nominal, state-mandated fee: $8 for the first page and $2 for subsequent pages. There is no need to go through a middle-man who charges an exorbitant fee for this service.

Property owners are advised to be wary of people purporting to sell “actual” deeds. Only the County Clerk’s Office has the real deed to your property. The Union County Clerk is responsible for recording, filing and preserving all property transactions occurring within the county. She maintains copies of all documents since 1857 on file in the Record Room, which is open to the public for reference and study.

For further information, call the Office of the Union County Clerk at 908-527-4787, or visit the website:www.ucnj.org/government/county-clerk. The Union County Clerk’s Office is located in the Union County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, New Jersey 07207.

– end –

UNION, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that the 2013 Teen Arts Touring Exhibit is on display at the Les Malamut Gallery in the Union Public Library, located at 1980 Morris Avenue in Union.

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 as it goes on tour throughout Union County.”

The Teen Arts exhibit will be on display through October 30th. The Les Malamut Gallery is located on the lower level of the Union Public Library. The exhibit is free and open to the public during regular library hours. It is handicapped accessible and adjacent parking is available.

For further information about the Gallery, visit lesmalamutartgallery.wordpress.com/ or call 908-851-5450. Artists wishing to be considered for an exhibit in the Gallery can contact the curator Barbara Wirkus atdmbbw33@yahoo.com or 908-276-6656.

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 UNION COUNTY TEEN ARTS EXHIBIT student artists are:

Berkeley Heights

Columbia MS
Alice Gao

Governor Livingston HS
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 School
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

 

PHOTO CAPTION  – Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski and Cranford Township Commissioner Kevin Campbell with a 25 mph sign, which will be posted shortly on Walnut Avenue in Cranford. .  Responding to a request from the Township, the Board of Chosen Freeholders agreed to a consistent 25 mph speed limit along Walnut Avenue from South Avenue to Lexington Avenue.  This stretch of road runs alongside homes, a school and places of worship, as well as the library and community center.

#     #     #

Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter and Freeholder Sergio Granados with the winners of the Harvestfest Scarecrow contest at Trailside in the Watchung Reservation.

Union County’s annual public heritage event, “Four Centuries in a Weekend: A Journey through Union County’s History,” will take place Saturday, Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 20 from noon to 5 p.m. Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, with the cooperation of staff and volunteers at 27 house museums and historic sites, the two-day free event opens the doors to more than 370 years of history throughout the county.

“Four Centuries in a Weekend began in 1994 when 16 historic sites and the County of Union organized a weekend event to tell the story of how Elizabethtown of 1664 evolved into the 21 municipalities of today’s Union County,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “This year, a beautifully restored mansion and church, Revolutionary War burial grounds, the county’s oldest railroad station, quaint house museums, special exhibitions and tours showcase the county’s treasure trove of history.”

Among the historic sites on tour, all listed on the National and New Jersey State Registers of Historic Places, with special programs or events highlighting their rich heritage are:

• Reeve History & Cultural Resource Center in Westfield celebrates the restoration of the 1870s Victorian Italianate home, and exhibits work by famed local artists John Brunner, Harry Devlin and Sigmund Ivanowski.
• Deserted Village of Feltville-Glenside Park in Berkeley Heights will host a meeting of the Archaeological Society of New Jersey in the restored Masker’s Barn. On Saturday, the Society will give four presentations about archaeological sites (including Feltville). Other weekend activities include free hay rides, children’s games and tours of the village.
• Deacon Andrew Hetfield House in Mountainside, home to the Hetfield family for 186 years, will show a video of the recent move of the historic Levi Cory House to its new location adjacent to the Hetfield House.
• Oswald J. Nitschke House, operated by the Kenilworth Historical Society, will celebrate the 100thAnniversary of the town’s Volunteer Fire Department with a display of photos chronicling the history of Kenilworth. 
• Liberty Hall Museum of Union will have on view “Ring for Service: The Role of Servants in a Country House,” a special exhibit about the role of slaves and servants at Liberty Hall from the time of Governor William Livingston.  
• Reeves-Reed Arboretum of Summit will celebrate its 40 years as a historic public garden with a display of outdoor sculpture by Tom Holmes. The Wisner House Gallery will feature a series of Holmes’ large scale photographic works and smaller sculptures.
• Crane-Phillips House Museum in Cranford will present “Clean as a Whistle,” an exhibit about the beginnings of healthy living and sanitation including early indoor plumbing, the Civil War Sanitary Commission and Cranford’s role in the first Federal Food and Drug Act.
• Historic Cannon Ball House in Springfield will feature a Civil War Encampment on Saturday; Revolutionary War re-enactors on Sunday, and relics of the 1780 Battle of Springfield.

Journey on to Boxwood Hall in Elizabeth, the 1772 home of Elias Boudinot, President of the Continental Congress, where there will be a celebration of the 150th Anniversary of President Lincoln proclaiming Thanksgiving a National Holiday – with an emphasis on the man who had the idea first: Elias Boudinot; tour the restored Revolutionary War burial grounds at the First Presbyterian Church of Elizabeth, the oldest English-speaking congregation in New Jersey; and visit the Caldwell Parsonage at Connecticut Farms in Union, an American Revolutionary site that will feature a re-enactor portraying the “Fighting Parson” James Caldwell.

A visit to Hillside will bring you to the Woodruff House/Eaton Store, built in 1735, and the historic Evergreen Cemetery, a virtual museum of funerary art. In Rahway you’ll be welcome at the Merchants and Drovers Tavern, a restored early 19th century hotel, and you can tour the Union County Performing Arts Center, a beautifully restored classic Vaudeville theatre. When you stop at the Dr. William Robinson Plantation in Clark, you’ll discover a post-medieval English-style house where Dr. Robinson practiced healing with plants and herbs.

At the Fanwood Train Station Museum you’ll see the oldest Victorian Gothic railroad station in the county and learn about Fanwood’s ties to the Central Railroad of New Jersey. At the Abraham Clark House in Roselle, home to a signer of the Declaration of Independence, you’ll learn about local history and Early American life. In the Roselle Park Museum, housed in the Charles E. Stone Store, you’ll be standing in the first electrically-lighted store in the world.

Authentic 18th century farmhouses are open for touring: the Miller-Cory House in Westfield; the Salt Box Museum in New Providence; the Osborn Cannonball House in Scotch Plains, adjacent to the town green and across from the Stage House Inn; and the Nathaniel Drake House in Plainfield, with its exhibit, “George Washington and the Drake House,” which highlights the significance of the meetings held there in preparation for the Battle of Short Hills.

Venturing into the Watchung Mountains, you’ll also visit the Littell-Lord Farmstead in Berkeley Heights, a reminder of the County’s agricultural past; and explore Summit, with its Twin Maples, a stately neoclassical mansion; the Carter House, the city’s oldest house, built in the 1740’s; and the Summit Playhouse, a Richardsonian Romanesque structure with a 120-seat auditorium.

Children can earn a Time Traveler’s Certificate and a Four Centuries Patch by visiting and obtaining a Time Traveler Passport at any of the sites, having it stamped and returning the completed form to the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs.

For free copies of the Four Centuries in a Weekend tour booklet, map and further information, telephone 908-558-2550 weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., NJ Relay Users dial 711, or e-mail:culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

 

-end-

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ – The County of Union will sponsor a recycling event for electronic equipment on Saturday, October 26, so Union County residents can get rid of unwanted computers, televisions and other electronic equipment in an environmentally proper manner.

The special E-cycling event will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Union County Vo-Tech campus located at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.

All residents of Union County are eligible to participate at no cost. There is a limit of six electronic items per car.

“Computer monitors, old televisions and other electronic devices are the source of a considerable amount of dangerous material, including lead, mercury, cadmium and PCBs – and it is unlawful to dispose of them with the regular garbage,” said Freeholder Vice Chairman Christopher Hudak, liaison to the Union County Solid Waste Advisory Board. “Up to 95 percent of most electronic appliances can be recycled. This is a responsible way to keep hazardous heavy metals out of our environment.”

Electronic equipment that will be accepted on Oct. 26 includes computer monitors, hard drives, modems, keyboards, CPU’s, mice, printers, scanners, speakers, televisions, tablets and e-readers, VCR’s, fax machines, telephones, circuit boards, CD’s, DVD’s and video cassettes.

All that residents need to do is drive to the site with their unwanted electronic equipment. Workers at the site will unload the vehicles.

Pre-registration is not required for this special Saturday collection.

Refrigerators, washers and dryers, microwaves, and air conditioners will not be accepted, but they are accepted at Union County’s Scrap Metal Recycling Program.

 

A complete list of the materials that will be accepted on Oct. 26 is available at the Union County Bureau of Recycling and Planning website: www.ucnj.org/recycle.

The electronics collection will be held rain or shine, for Union County residents only and not for businesses. Proof of Union County residency is required.

In addition to the special Oct. 26 recycling event sponsored by the County of Union, there are local businesses as well as 16 municipalities that provide E-cycling opportunities for residents. Visit the websitewww.ucnj.org/recycle or call your municipal recycling coordinator for more computer and electronics recycling options.

Goodwill and Dell have teamed up to recycle computers. Goodwill in Union County is located at 126 Route 22 West, Springfield 07081, next to Macy’s Furniture. Call Goodwill at 973-912-0156 for more details or visit their web site: www.reconnectpartnership.com.

Best Buy stores now offer electronics recycling, including TVs, computer monitors, DVD players and other consumer electronics. Visit their website (www.bestbuy.com/) for store locations, or call toll-free for information about electronics recycling: 1-888-237-8289.

Staples also offers a computer recycling program seven days a week. For more information, visit the Staples web site for store locations: www.staples.com.

Waste Management accepts “covered electronics” (televisions, monitors, computers, etc.) at  629-647 Amboy Ave., Elizabeth 07201, Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; 908-629-9270.

An alternative drop-off program for recycling electronics equipment is available Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at Newtech Recycling, located at 600-A Apgar Drive, Somerset NJ 08873; 732-564-3110. Visit www.newtechrecycling.com .

For more information about recycling events, please call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908- 654-9889.

 

– end –

Photo Caption: Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski speaks with Alan Lieber (L), President, Overlook Medical Center and Vice President, Atlantic Health System; and William Neigher, PhD, Vice President, System Development and Chief Strategy Officer, Atlantic Health System, at the Union County Means Business event about the Affordable Care Act and its Impact on Business at Overlook Medical Center in Summit. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

 

Union County – Despite a Federal government shutdown, it was business as a usual in Union County as over 100 individuals gathered Tuesday morning for the next session of the Union County Means Business Networking Breakfast Series at Overlook Medical Center in Summit. The program’s topic- the Affordable Care Act and its Impact on Business.

Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski was present for the event and commented on the importance of the program by saying, “In the spirit of keeping up the growing momentum in Union County’s economy, I’m proud that we are able to connect current and prospective business owners, along with their employees, with professionals and resources to address hot topics like these.”

One of the central issues surrounding yesterday’s government shutdown, and also falling on the same day as the opening of new healthcare exchanges, the Affordable Care Act session was particularly timely featuring a panel discussion and a lengthy question and answer period on the Act and its implications.

“It’s true that many people have heard about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” said Alan Lieber, Vice President, Atlantic Health System and President, Overlook Medical Center, “but the reality is that many people really don’t know the details involved and have misconceptions about who will be affected and how.”

Lieber headed the panel discussion which also featured Christine Stearns, Vice President of Health Affairs of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, and Lisa Narcise of Brown & Brown Metro.

“This event provided local businesses with a current update on the status of their obligations and opportunities under the new health care law,” said Joe Steiner of the Suburban Chamber of Commerce- a sponsor of the UCMB series. “This was an excellent opportunity and we were pleased to be a partner with Overlook, the County and the other organizations in making it possible.”

The panel opened with Lieber, who gave an overview of the Affordable Care Act from the perspective of the healthcare provider, while Stearns and Narcise gave participants a more in depth look at healthcare exchanges, coverage options and a run-down of what will be required from business owners and individuals alike in order to comply with the law.

The Union County Mean Business series is designed to bring local business owners, prospective owners and managers in contact with government representatives who can help them obtain information about grants, loans, social media, employee recruitment, and other resources.

The next Union County Means Business Session, titled “Maximizing your Business with the Internet,” will be held on October 30th at Hamilton Stage in Rahway, and will feature consultant, analyst and former Apprentice contestant, Tara Dowdell.

To register, or for more information on the Networking Breakfast Series, please visitwww.ucnj.org/UCMeansBusiness.

 

UCMB Programs are sponsored by the Board of Chosen Freeholders in partnership with the Union County Alliance, Union County Economic Development Corp., Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce, Suburban Chambers of Commerce, Union Township Chamber of Commerce, Kean University, and Union County College. The Affordable Care Act and its Impact on Business was co-sponsored by Overlook Medical Center.

 

###

 

Photo Caption: Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski (3rd right), Freeholder Sergio Granados (2nd right) and Union County Manager Alfred Faella (right) with Sister Judith Mertz, Director of Josephine’s Place (4th right), Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the organization- a storefront women’s center, which was established by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, to serve the needs of women of Elizabeth, NJ

NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders will sponsor a Household Special Waste Collection event on Saturday, October 19, so Union County residents can get rid of outdated or unwanted household chemicals, mercury thermostats, propane tanks, and automobile tires in an environmentally safe manner. The household hazardous waste collection will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Alcatel-Lucent Technologies facility located at 600 Mountain Avenue in New Providence.

The Oct. 19 event will be the final county-sponsored household hazardous waste collection for this year. Residents of Union County are eligible to participate at no cost. Pre-registration is not required for this special Saturday collection.

“The special household waste recycling program for Union County residents is particularly important as we become more aware of the need for proper disposal of hazardous items that are found around the home,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “The result of our effort is safer homes and a cleaner environment for our families and our neighbors.”

All that residents need to do is drive to the site with their household special waste, propane tanks, automobile tires, and mercury thermostats. Workers at the site will unload the vehicles.

“Household special waste” includes oil-based paint and varnish, antifreeze, aerosol cans, pool chemicals, corrosives, pesticides, herbicides, solvents, thinners, fire extinguishers, motor oil and oil filters, gasoline, batteries, thermostats, fluorescent bulbs (unbroken), blood pressure devices, and mercury switches. Only materials in original or labeled containers will be accepted. No containers larger than five gallons will be accepted.

Latex (water-based) paint and empty cans will NOT be accepted. They should be disposed of in with the regular garbage. Leftover latex paint can be air-dried or, to hasten the drying process, kitty litter and/or newspaper can be added to hasten the drying.

“This is a great opportunity to recycle up to eight tires and dispose of old chemical containers that are cluttering up the basement or the garage, or taking up space under the kitchen sink,” said Freeholder Vice Chairman Christopher Hudak, liaison to the Union County Solid Waste Advisory Council. “Our homes become safer once they are rid of hazardous and combustible waste.”

There is a limit of eight automobile tires (without rims) per household. This is a household recycling event. No businesses, please.

A complete list of the materials that will be accepted on October 19 is available at the Union County Bureau of Recycling and Planning web site: www.ucnj.org/recycle

The household hazardous waste collection will be held rain or shine, for Union County residents only and not for businesses. Proof of Union County residency is required. For more information, please call the Recycling Hotline at (908) 654-9889.

 

– end –

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders advises residents that County services will not be affected by the federal government shutdown over the short term.

“We have put considerable effort into ensuring that Union County continues to deliver the county-based services that the public depends on,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter.

Union County officials have been advised that federal Homeland Security officials will continue to provide information and resources relevant to public safety and security, and that federal human services programs administered by Union County will continue to be provided. These include veterans’ services, welfare (including nutrition assistance), Section 8, and housing for people with AIDS.

“If you have any questions about County services, please visit our website at ucnj.org, or call our toll free public info line, 877-424-1234,” said Carter.

 

##

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