Author: Web Site Administrator

Union County, NJ – Just in time for the winter holidays, the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County is offering a free class called “Bringing Vegetables to the Table,” conducted by Dr. Karen Ensle, Rutgers University Family and Community Health Sciences Educator. Dr. Ensle will demonstrate fun, easy ways to add more vegetables to your diet. Free tastings are included. The class is scheduled for Tuesday, November 30, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the County services building in Westfield. There is no fee but pre-registration is required by contacting Digna Torres at the Extension, 908-654-9854 or dtorres@ucnj.org

“Vegetables are a perfect solution for hectic holidays,” said Dr. Ensle. “They are inexpensive, nutritious, and easy to prepare, and they provide wonderful new opportunities to add a creative spark to your holiday table.”

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The Rutgers Cooperative Extension is sponsored in part by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Cooperating Agencies: Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and County Boards of Chosen Freeholders. Educational programs are offered to all without regard to race, religion, color, age, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.

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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

On Twitter at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds veterans living in Union County that they can receive their free military honorable discharge cards at the County Clerk’s office. The wallet-size card is honored as proof of service in the United States Armed Forces. It can assist veterans in receiving educational benefits, death benefits, licenses, property tax rebates and discounts at certain retailers.

“As we celebrate Veterans Day, we rightfully honor the men and women who selflessly served in our Armed Forces,” Rajoppi said. “This honorable discharge card service is just one way to say thank you and make veterans’ lives a little easier.”

The honorable discharge cards are available to veterans whose Certificate of Honorable Discharge and DD 214 forms are recorded at the Union County Clerk’s office. Benefits from honorable military service are limited to the veteran and their spouse, parents, children, heir or personal representative.

“The distinctive red, white and blue cards have a raised seal certifying proof of recording from the Clerk’s office,” Rajoppi added.

If a veteran’s discharge papers have never been recorded, the original document must be presented at the Union County Clerk’s Office. Documents will be recorded in the Union County Veterans’ Index and the original will be returned to the veteran. Photocopies of Honorable Discharge or DD 214 documents cannot be accepted for recording. If the original documents are lost, veterans can write to the National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records, 9700 Page Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri 63632. Those who have already recorded their documents in the Clerk’s office can call the office for additional information.

“All veterans can be assured that access to their discharge papers is limited and available only to the veteran, his/her mother, father, wife/husband, 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 is located in the Union County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. If additional information is needed, please call (908) 527-4787.

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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

On Twitter at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj

Youngsters enjoy making holiday gifts at a workshop hosted by Union County 4-H. This year’s Gift-Making Night will be held on Friday, December 3. The event is open to all children in 1st grade and older. For more information or to pre-register, contact 4-H Secretary Ellen DiIorio at 908-654-9854 or ediiorio@ucnj.org The fee is $10.00 for one child and $5.00 for each additional child in a family.

Easy Holiday Gift-Making for Children

Union County, NJ – Children love to create handmade gifts, and Union County 4-H Holiday Gift-Making Night makes it easy and affordable. Just bring a child, and 4-H will supply all the materials along with instructions and guidance. There are six projects to choose from including a candy-filled snowball, potted plant, snowman ornament, and a puppet. The event includes a refreshment table hosted by the 4-H Teen Council as a fundraising project.

Gift-Making Night will be held on Friday, December 3, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the Westfield Community Center, 425 East Broad Street in Westfield. The event is open to all Union County children in 1st grade and older (4-H membership is not required). The fee is $10 for the first child and $5.00 for each additional child. Advance registration is required by contacting 4-H Secretary Ellen DiIorio at 908-654-9854 orediiorio@ucnj.org

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4-H Youth Development programs are made possible through Rutgers University and the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Programs are offered to all youth, grades K-13, on a grade appropriate basis, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. All possible efforts will be made to include rather than exclude youth in events conducted by the 4-H Youth Development Program.

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.

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

On Twitter at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj

Amateur Astronomers, Inc. (AAI), and the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders welcome the public to learn how to choose and correctly use a backyard telescope. “Know Your ‘Scope – Know the Sky” is two nights of free lessons and a chance to view the stars through a variety of telescopes.

On Friday night, Nov. 12, from 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., the Amateur Astronomers will gather at William Miller Sperry Observatory on the campus of Union County College, 1033 Springfield Avenue, Cranford, to learn how to select and buy a telescope.

On Saturday night, Nov. 13, from 6:30 – 10 p.m., the group will gather at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside to learn about basic astronomy and how to use different telescopes. There also will be a “Star Party” on Saturday night if the weather is favorable. Pre-registration is required for Saturday night’s activities either in person at the Trailside Visitors Center or by phone at 908-789-3670.

Parking and admission to these events are free of charge.

For information about Amateur Astronomers, Inc., please visit the AAI website: www.asterism.org (click on “events”).

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. For more information about upcoming programs and special events at Trailside, please call 908-789-3670 or visit the website:www.ucnj.org/trailside

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

On Twitter at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj

ELIZABETH-The Union County Sheriff’s Office will be coordinating the American Medicine Chest Challenge (AMCC) in Elizabeth and Plainfield on Saturday, November 13. This public health initiative, in partnership with law enforcement, is designed to raise awareness about the dangers of prescription drug abuse and provide disposal of unused, unwanted, and expired medicine.

The AMCC is a unified national, statewide, and local focus on the issue of medicine abuse by children and teens.

“Prescription drug abuse is a problem in our country,” said Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich. “This challenge is a great opportunity to help protect our young people from the dangers of any kind of drug, even legal ones that are in our homes.”

The American Medicine Chest Challenge asks residents to take inventory of prescription and over-the-counter medicine, lock medicine chests, dispose of unused, unwanted, and expired medicine, follow prescriptions exactly as prescribed and to speak with children about the dangers of prescription drug abuse.

Union County residents may take the AMCC and dispose of unwanted prescription drugs on Saturday, November 13 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Union County Administration Building located at 10 Elizabethtown Plaza in Elizabeth and at the Park/Madison Building at 200 Park Avenue in Plainfield.

“I hope everyone takes advantage of this program to get rid of harmful, unwanted drugs and keep them away from our kids,” added Sheriff Froehlich.

For more information about the AMCC visit www.americanmedicinechestchallenge.com or contact the Union County Sheriff’s Office at 908-527-4450.

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Union County Freeholder Angel G. Estrada presents a resolution to Maryellen Schneeberger (2nd R) of Roselle Park congratulating her on receiving the 2010 New Jersey Association of Counties Foundation and Verizon Foundation Partners for Educational Excellence Scholarship. They are joined by Sheila Wegryn (L), Principal of Union County Vocational-Technical School Academy for Allied Health Science, and Maryellen’s mother.

Whether you’ve begun your holiday shopping or just want to treat yourself, November 4th is the time to be at RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital of Union County in Berkeley Heights for the “Simple Treasures” product sale. Sponsored by the Volunteers Guild of RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital, the sale will feature items that include scarves, men’s and ladies wallets, jewelry, cosmetics, handbags and novelty items.

The vendor will accept credit and debit cards as well as checks and cash. The sale will be in the facility’s multi-purpose room, 40 Watchung Way, Berkeley Heights. Sale hours are from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.  

The public is invited to attend RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital product sales.  A percentage of all purchases made at these sales is credited to the Volunteers Guild. Funds raised are used to enrich the lives of residents and patients by obtaining items that may include prizes for bingo games and paying for entertainment. The Guild, which makes vendor sales possible, also sponsors a holiday party/gift distribution in cooperation with the Berkeley Heights Lions Club. 

“Your purchases help to support the residents and patients at RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital when you shop at the sales of the RUNNELLS Volunteers Guild,” noted Union County Freeholder Mohamed S. Jalloh, liaison to RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital. 

The Volunteers Guild and the Office of Volunteer Services of RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital are always interested in recruiting volunteers. Flexible hours and a variety of opportunities exist with resident contact as well as performing other tasks. Anyone who would like further information should call the Office of Volunteer Services at 908-771-5847.

RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital is located at 40 Watchung Way, Berkeley Heights.-30-

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that Union County will participate in a new system for recycling electronic products beginning on January 1, 2011. The Electronic Manufacturers Recycling Management Company LLC (MRM) Collection Network will operate collection sites for the recycling of electronic products covered under the New Jersey Electronic Waste Management Act.

In addition, as of October 1, Union and Somerset counties entered a pilot project to test the program’s performance three months in advance of the state-mandated start-up date. The pilot is being funded by various manufacturers.

“As a participating partner in the MRM electronics network, Union County stands to save close to $73,000 in 2011, based on 2009 electronic-recycling poundage, in addition to savings realized over the three-month test period in 2010,” said Freeholder Rick Proctor, liaison to the Union County Solid Waste Advisory Council.

Under the New Jersey Electronic Waste Management Act, starting Jan. 1, 2011, manufacturers of certain electronic products that are used by households, small businesses and organizations are required to provide free and convenient recycling services. As a result, the cost of recycling and de-manufacturing various electronics will be billed to the electronic manufacturers rather than to the counties, as it had been done in the past.

The transition will be seamless for Union County residents who will continue to recycle electronics as they have been doing, even though only certain electronics are considered covered under the law. Union County will continue to use Newtech Recycling Inc. of Somerset NJ as its approved processor of electronics for MRM.

Union County residents can continue to recycle electronics at county computer and electronic collection events. The next event, the last one of the year, is scheduled for this Saturday, Oct. 30, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Alcatel-Lucent Technologies in New Providence. Residents also can drop off electronics at Newtech Recycling Inc., located at 600A Apgar Drive, Somerset 08873, every Monday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Both drop-off opportunities are free.

Acceptable recyclable electronics include computers (CPUs), servers, monitors/terminals/CRTs, televisions, printers, fax machines, copiers, computer/laptop peripherals, telephones, cellular phones, telephone mainframes, keyboards, mice, cables, wiring, circuit boards, modems, power supplies, laptop and docking stations, audio-visual equipment, typewriters, VCRs, mainframe equipment, controllers, and camcorders.

For more information about the New Jersey Electronic Waste Management Act and about the MRM collection network, contact the Union County Bureau of Planning and Recycling at 908-654-9890. For information about recycling events sponsored by Union County visit www.ucnj.org

by Daniel P. Sullivan
Chairman, Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders
October 2010

We blinked. That’s right, when faced with one of the most important public projects in North America, otherwise known as the ARC Tunnel, New Jersey blinked.

For now, at least as of this writing, our Governor has unilaterally halted the work.

To be clear, as a proud lifelong New Jersey citizen, I know the people of this state are not quitters. But we are having a moment of doubt.

I agree that doubt can be healthy. Doubt provides a chance to step back and assess.

Doubt is especially useful regarding major public projects. Doubt forces planners and engineers to prepare diligently, analyze every contingency, and examine every alternative.

That is exactly what has been going on with the ARC Tunnel, for 20 years and more. The ARC Tunnel has been studied and examined inside and out, for a generation. The current critics raise old issues that have been thoroughly debunked over and over again, and Governor Christie’s stop-work order was apparently based on a wildly inflated figure that was, to put it charitably, inaccurate.

The time for doubting is past. Now is the time for action.

The need for another rail tunnel is crystal clear. Our commuter trains are packed to the gills and delays are the order of the day. Meanwhile, too few trains lead to more road traffic, more traffic jams, and more accidents.

The ARC Tunnel will double rail capacity to Manhattan and finally provide more Union County residents with direct rail access. That’s a huge positive for the economy throughout Union County, in addition to the rest of New Jersey.

It’s worth mentioning both of the two existing tunnels under the Hudson River are public works projects of national significance. The Holland was the first long vehicular tunnel, and the Lincoln Tunnel was among the many great public projects that helped pull us out of the Great Depression by putting people to work on legacy projects that advance the entire nation.

When times are tough and private job creation lags, that is when public resources are best put to use. Construction costs are as cheap as they will ever be, and to delay the project now will only increase the burden on future generations.

I refuse to accept the idea that my generation was the one that blinked, and retreated from a crucial public project. On behalf of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders I support moving forward with construction of the ARC Tunnel.

Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich (L) and Union County Freeholders (from 2nd left) Bette Jane Kowalski, Alexander Mirabella and Angel G. Estrada congratulate Pam Capaci (C), Executive Director of Prevention Links, on a successful 12th Annual Red Ribbon Drug Awareness Day at Nomahegan Park in Cranford. The family event focuses on the work being in drug prevention and education. For more information, visit www.preventionlinks.org (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)