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(From left) Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter, Union County Acting Prosecutor Grace H. Park, Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich and New Jersey Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman joined law enforcement officials and church leaders today a state-sponsored gun buyback program at The New Zion Baptist Church in Elizabeth.

The two-day event in Hudson and Union Counties on July 12 and 13 was expected to collect hundreds of gun.

The three Union County churches participating in the program are: The New Zion Baptist Church located at 800 Flora Street in Elizabeth, The Morning Star Community Christian Center located at 1009 Chandler Avenue in Linden, and Shiloh Baptist Church at 525 West Fourth Street in Plainfield.

The gun buyback program in Union County is also being made as per Union County Freeholder Chairman Carter’s initiatives for 2013.

Residents with questions about the gun buyback program can call the Attorney General’s Citizen Services unit at (609) 984-5828 or visit www.nj.gov/guns.

 

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The Union County Summer Arts Festival concert series continues its 53rd season of music on Wednesday evening, July 24, with a performance by EagleMania. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, led by Chairman Linda Carter, invites the public to attend this free concert that begins at 7:30 p.m. in Echo Lake Park in Mountainside.

EagleMania is an ensemble of six veteran musicians whose goal is to faithfully reproduce the unique sound of The Eagles. Formed in 2010, EagleMania has emerged as the leading Eagles tribute band throughout the East Coast, performing to sold-out audiences everywhere they go. The band plays all the hits of the Eagles, as well as some favorites from solo albums by Don Henley, Glen Frey, and Joe Walsh. Their attention to detail and their ability to reproduce the Eagles sound exactly leaves their fans with an experience that they do not soon forget.

“Bring the entire family and take it easy with the music of the Eagles in Echo Lake Park,” said Freeholder Chairman Carter. “Pack a picnic basket, bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on, and enjoy the sounds of summer under the stars.”

The Union County information van will be at the concert site with personnel from the Union County Clerk’s Office, the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs and other knowledgeable staff to answer questions and offer information about interesting programs and recreational activities that are available to Union County residents.

The Summer Arts Festival concerts continue throughout July and August on Wednesdays beginning at 7:30 p.m. The concerts in July will be at Echo Lake Park on the Mountainside-Westfield border and in August at Oak Ridge Park in Clark. Lawn chairs, blankets and picnic baskets are encouraged. Refreshments will be available from vendors, including ice cream, cotton candy and snacks from “The Ice Cream Man” and pulled pork, hamburgers and specialty hot dogs from “Marci’s Dog House,” winner of Best Topping and Best Truck on the 2012 Munchmobile tour of New Jersey.

The other free concerts in the Union County Summer Arts Festival series include:

July 31 – Ed Palermo Big Band; at Echo Lake Park.
Aug.  7 – Tusk (tribute to Fleetwood Mac); at Oak Ridge Park.
Aug. 14 – Sensational Soul Cruisers; at Oak Ridge Park.
Aug. 21 – Verdict (reggae and Caribbean music); at Oak Ridge Park.
Aug. 28 – The British Invasion Tribute; at Oak Ridge Park. A special Veterans Appreciation Program will take place at 7:00 p.m. before the concert.

For rain information call the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal at (908) 558-4079 after 3 p.m. on the day of the scheduled concert, or visit the Union County web site:www.ucnj.org

 

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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that County Manager Alfred J. Faella was elected President of the National Community Development Association (NCDA) during the organization’s annual convention in Washington, D.C. last month.

“Through his long record of successful community development projects, Mr. Faella has made a difference in Union County,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “The Freeholder Board is very proud to know that communities across the nation will benefit from his experience and guidance.”

A lifelong resident of Union County, Faella’s early career in public service included the position of Director of Neighborhood Services for the City of Elizabeth. In that capacity he assisted in plans for building the Jersey Gardens Mall, a regional destination that has generated thousands of new jobs.

Another highlight of Faella’s service in Elizabeth was his role in developing the HOPE 6 Project, which leveraged over $130 million funding to help residents of the Elizabethport community transition from public housing to home ownership. Faella also served as Director of Community Development and chaired the city’s innovative Community Policing Program.

Among other recognitions, Faella’s efforts earned Elizabeth three consecutive “Best Practices” awards from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Before Faella was appointed County Manager in August 2011, he was the Director of the Union County Department Parks and Community Renewal, with far ranging responsibilities including the management of thousands of acres of parklands as well as the administration of millions of dollars in federal Community Development Block Grant and Recovery Act funding for community renewal projects.

Faella was also instrumental in the recent decision of Wakefern, one of the largest employers in Union County, to retain and expand its operations in the County rather than relocating elsewhere.

As President of NCDA, where he has previously served as Secretary/Treasurer and Vice President, Faella will head a non-profit organization with a membership of 550 local governments nationwide.

The NCDA mission is to assist local governments in developing high quality, locally responsive programs for making communities better places in which to live, particularly for low-and moderate-income households.

Faella earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Kean University, where he also received his undergraduate degree. He resides in Mountainside with his wife, Mary.

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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 atwww.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks & Community Renewal are happy to announce the next evening of “Family Fun and Flix” – the free summer entertainment and film series on Tuesday evenings – on July 23 in Warinanco Park. The evening will feature a discussion and display about turtles, snakes and other reptiles followed by the Academy Award-winning animated fantasy film “Brave,” which will give families a chance to enjoy an outdoor activity and catch a movie under the stars in a Union County park.

“Family Fun and Flix begins at dusk, but come early to the park to enjoy interesting preview activities at 7:30 p.m. that are fun for the whole family,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “Bring a blanket or beach chair to claim your spot on the lawn or save a seat in the bleachers – either way, the early birds are sure to like the preview activity before each movie.”

Come to Warinanco Park, on the border of Elizabeth and Roselle, Tuesday, July 23 at 7:30 p.m. when naturalists from Trailside Nature & Science Center will be on hand with the Ecovan to talk about the reptiles that live in the Watchung Reservation of Union County. Learn the difference between a land tortoise and a water turtle. Touch a turtle shell, feel a shed snake skin and meet a live snake and turtle from Trailside’s collection. Then, at dusk, sit back and watch the 2012 Academy Award-winning animated fantasy “Brave,” a romantic tale set in the Scottish Highlands, featuring the voices of Kelly Macdonald, Emma Thompson, Craig Ferguson, Kevin McKidd, Julie Walters, Robbie Coltrane and Billy Connolly.

The other dates and locations for this summer’s Family Fun and Flix are:

Tuesday, Aug. 6 at Meisel Park, Springfield: Be part of National Night Out, starting at 6 p.m., before viewing the animated family comedy, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.”

Tuesday, Aug. 13 at Conant Park, in Hillside: The Trailside Ecovan will feature a display about reptiles, before the animated comedy, “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted.”

All movies start at dusk, weather permitting. For more information, call the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal at 908-527-4900 or visit the Union County website: www.ucnj.org. For program and rain information call 908-558-4079 after 3:00 p.m. on the day of the show.

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The Cerebral Palsy League Inc. in Cranford recently thanked the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Hillside Chapter of UNICO for their assistance in funding equipment and a new sensory room to provide occupational therapy sessions for adults.  The Freeholder Board contributed $10,000 through Community Development Block grant funds, and the Hillside Chapter of UNICO chipped in an additional $2,800 to purchase equipment.

l. to r. Union County Freeholders Bruce Bergen, Vernell Wright, Bette Jane Kowalski (holding certificate); Cerebral Palsy Associate Director Louis Brigando, Acting Executive Director Patricia Tekel, and Director of Adult Services Joyce Gay.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter and Freeholder Alexander Mirabella handed out American flags to the crowds at the annual Central Jersey Fourth of July Parade in Plainfield. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announces that a “One-Stop” service is available for Union County voters at the Westfield and Elizabeth offices of the County Clerk.

“Eligible voters are able to apply for a Vote-By-Mail ballot for the U.S. Senate Special Primary Election in person at either one of my offices, receive their ballot and cast the ballot at the same time,” Ms. Rajoppi said. “This one-stop voting service is available at my Westfield office as well as at the main office in Elizabeth.”

“The service in Westfield and Elizabeth makes voting more accessible, particularly at the Westfield office with its convenient Saturday office hours and evening hours during the week,” Ms. Rajoppi added. “With the important August 13th Special Primary Election for a U.S. Senate seat approaching quickly, my office is working to make the voting process as fast and convenient as we can for everyone who is registered to vote.”

The deadline to apply by mail for a Vote-By-Mail ballot is Tuesday, August 6th.

The opportunity to Vote-By-Mail in Westfield and Elizabeth is another service available at the County Clerk’s two offices, along with passport application and renewal services, registration of Trade Names, and the application and swearing in of Notaries Public.

The Westfield Annex of the County Clerk is located at 300 North Avenue East, Westfield 07090. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

The Main Office of the County Clerk is located at the Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, Room 113, Elizabeth, NJ 07207. Regular office hours in Elizabeth are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Vote-By-Mail is an easy, secure process that has replaced the Absentee Ballot. Voters do not need to give a reason why they wish to Vote-By-Mail. To obtain an application form, voters also may pick up the form at their local municipal building; they can download the form at the Union County Clerk’s website: www.ucnj.org/vote-by-mail or they can contact the Union County Clerk at 908-527-4996. The Clerk’s website also includes a video that explains how to fill out the Vote-By-Mail application form.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders advises drivers in the region to be aware that on Tuesday July 9, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) is set to begin improvement work on Outerbridge Crossing, which will involve closing the bridge in both directions during the overnight period on weekdays into early Saturday mornings.

Although Outerbridge Crossing is located outside of Union County, closures may affect traffic in eastern Union County during those times because traffic will be diverted from Outerbridge Crossing to the Goethals Bridge.

The Goethals Bridge connects western Staten Island to the Elizabeth/Linden area, including the Garden State Parkway, the New Jersey Turnpike, and Routes 1&9.

 

Scheduled closings for Outerbridge Crossing:

Weekdays: Mondays through Thursdays, from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. the following morning, until Labor Day. After Labor Day, weekday closures will begin at 9:00 p.m.

Weekends: Fridays, from 11:59 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Saturday until Labor Day. After Labor Day, the bridge will reopen at 8:00 a.m. on Saturdays.

Work is expected to continue through October.

For all updates and complete details on the Outerbridge Crossing project, including maps and detour routes, visit PANYNJ online at panynj.gov.

Local election officials are expected to ask President Barack Obama’s election administration commission for additional funding during a meeting Saturday in Kentucky.

Commission co-chairmen Benjamin Ginsberg and Robert Bauer are scheduled to meet with the International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials and Treasurers during the group’s annual conference, according to association president Joanne Rajoppi. The IACREOT is expected to share information on local election practices, along with outlining how the federal government can assist going forward. The Presidential Commission on Election Administration was formed by Obama earlier this year to make recommendations for improving election administration, including looking at reducing wait times at polling places.

Rajoppi, a Democrat and county clerk of Union County, N.J., stressed that since election administration is conducted largely at the state and county level, it is important for the federal commission to gauge what is needed. In addition, she stressed that everyone involved in the election process be involved. IACREOT’s members include county officials nationally who handle elections, land records, tax collection and archival issues.

“It’s critical to get input from the people who conduct elections,” Rajoppi told The Huffington Post. “It is critical to get input from the voter. You’ve got the voter, you’ve got the people who put the election on. Candidates as well. You have to include all the statkrholders.”

Rajoppi said that she and her IACREOT colleagues plan on sharing how the federal government can help in areas like voting machines. The federal government provided assistance a decade ago to upgrade voting equipment under the terms of the Help America Vote Act and that equipment is in need of upgrades. HAVA was enacted in response to the 2000 presidential election with a goal of moving away from voting machines based on punchcards and lever equipment.

Rajoppi said equipment is not the only need, noting that poll workers will need training for any new voting equipment. She conceded that money is tight for the federal government, but noted that county governments are in the same situation.

“Certainly we are looking for more resources or more creative ways to assist us in performing our duties. Money is limited across the board,” she said. “The bottom line is you have to upgrade your equipment and you have to train your workers. Those are issues that don’t go away.”

Commission spokesman Greg Romano said the IACREOT meeting is part of the commission’s national outreach, including seeking input from local election officials. On Friday, the commission is holding a public hearing in Miami to solicit opinions from the public.

In conjunction with the hearing, the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law released a series of recommendations to the commission Friday, including pressing for sufficient funding for elections. The Lawyers committee also listed upgraded election equipment, better planning of election administration and reviewing long lines at polling places, particularly those in largely minority neighborhoods.

Rajoppi said she is excited about the work that the commission and county officials can do going forward.

“I see it as a partnership,” she said. “I see the federal government as being a partner with us.”

ELIZABETH, NJ – Union County will resurface more than 12 miles of roadway in 10 Union County towns this summer.

“Resurfacing makes travel safer and smoother and it prolongs the life of Union County’s roadways,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “The summer resurfacing program is an important part of our ongoing maintenance of county roads.”

Work will begin in June and is scheduled to run through the summer months while school is out.

The County will resurface:

• Balthusrol Road in Summit from Glenside Avenue to the Route 78 Bridge, .7 mi.;
• Centennial Avenue in Cranford from Raritan Road to North Avenue, 1.3 mi.;
• Chestnut Avenue in Hillside from Hillside Avenue to the Irvington City Line, .4 mi.;
• North Broad Street in Hillside from King Street to Bailey Avenue and the Newark City line, 1.1 mi.;
• Stiles Street in Linden from Routes 1&9 to Valley Road, 1.8 mi.;
• Michigan Avenue in Kenilworth and Faitoute Avenue in Roselle Park from Route 28 to Route 22, 2.3 mi.;
• Pearl Street in Elizabeth from Routes 1&9 to Route 27, .9 mi.;
• Plainfield Avenue in Plainfield from West 5th Street to Wadsworth Avenue/Route 27, .9 mi.;
• Summit Avenue in Summit from the Morris Essex Turnpike to Morris Avenue, 1.5 mi.; and
• Westfield Avenue in Clark from Brant Avenue to Broadway and in Rahway from Broadway to Route 27, 1.2 mi.

Two inches of the existing roadway will be milled down and repaved with new asphalt.

Stormwater management upgrades to more than 200 existing inlets are included in this project. These include bicycle safe grates and curb inlets which help prevent trash and other floatables from being discharged to rivers and streams.

In addition, handicapped ramps that are not compliant with state regulations will be rebuilt or replaced and street name signs will be replaced. Finally, the newly resurfaced roads will have new pavement striping and markings.

The roads to be resurfaced are chosen by inspections performed by county workers throughout the year.

The roadways will be closed while they are being resurfaced, and Union County will post a road closure schedule on its website. Go to www.ucnj.org for more info on construction and closures.

“Union County is home to more than half a million people and is a major commercial crossroads,” said Freeholder Carter.  “It’s important that we make this kind of investment in maintaining safe and efficient roads.”

The project will cost $6,013,529.22 and Smith Sondy Asphalt Construction Company of Wallington, NJ was chosen as the contractor. Some of the funds for this project will come from State highway grants

Union County, with a land area of just over 100 square miles, has more than 172 miles of county-owned and maintained roads and more than 470 bridges and culverts.

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Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter speaks to the county’s Public Works Director, Joseph Policay, Jr.