Author: Web Site Administrator

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that the popular Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County Annual Spring Garden Fair and Plant Sale is coming up on May 19, and this year promises a bounty of displays to inspire, delight and inform casual gardeners and experts alike.  The rain-or-shine event is free and open to the public.

Now in its 24th year, the Garden Fair will be held on Sunday, May 19, from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. at the Demonstration Gardens in Union County’s Watchung Reservation, located near the Trailside Nature and Science Center at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside.

“The Freeholder Board is very proud of the Master Gardeners, who are celebrating their 25th year of service to the citizens of Union County,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “Please show your support for their many good works, by coming out to the Spring Garden Fair.”

The Master Gardeners of Union County are volunteers trained and certified by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of New Jersey, supported in part by the Freeholder Board.

Among the Master Gardeners’ many contributions to the Union County community are the Sharing, Berry Patch, Herb and Harry Potter gardens, which will hit a milestone this year with more than 20,000 pounds of fresh produce donated to local food pantries and nutrition centers since 2002.

Every year the group also donates thousands of flowers to local cancer hospitals and centers from its gardens, conducts community gardening projects and offers horticultural therapy to seniors and other residents with special needs. 

All proceeds from the Garden Fair help to fund these programs, along with a college scholarship fund for local youth.

As always, this year’s Spring Garden Fair offers hundreds of plants for sale that are fit for local growing conditions in New Jersey, including a large selection of tomatoes for containers and small gardens. Many other vegetables, herbs, hanging baskets, houseplants, and annual and perennial flowers round out the sale.

Many of the plants have been selected specifically for deer resistance and drought.  Easy-to-grow plants for beginning gardeners are also available.

New this year will be a Fragrant Plant table featuring varieties selected for their pleasing scent.

In addition to plants for sale, the Garden Fair also features home-baked goods, craft items, gardening odds and ends, and used gardening books and magazines for sale.

Also offered for sale is the Rutgers soil test kit, which provides a reliable, affordable way for gardeners to analyze the quality of their soil.

Free gardening outreach and education is an important part of the Garden Fair. This year’s offerings include children’s activities, tours of the Demonstration Gardens, an informational display on the new “Square Food Gardening” gardening trend, information about the Master Tree Steward program, a presentation on home composting, information about mosquito control, and an introduction to horticultural therapy.

 

Throughout the event, Master Gardener volunteers will run a free Garden Helpline clinic to answer questions and provide guidance for solving gardening problems.  Visitors to the Garden Fair are encouraged to bring plant and insect samples for diagnosis.

Visitors who plan to make purchases should bring a small wagon to convey their purchases.  Free parking is available adjacent to the Fair and in nearby areas of the Watchung Reservation.

For maps and directions, including an interactive Google Maps feature, visit the Trailside Nature and Science Center page at ucnj.org/parks.

Anyone with an interest in gardening and a commitment to volunteer service can become a Master Gardener. No previous background in horticulture is required. Applications will be on hand at the Garden Fair, or contact Judi Laganga at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Office in Westfield, 908-654-9854.

Additional information is available at the Master Gardener website, mastergardeners-uc.org.

 

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Cooperating Agencies: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and County Boards of Chosen Freeholders. The Rutgers Cooperative Extension, a unit of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, is an equal opportunity program provider and employer.

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Treat your mom to a special event this Mother’s Day when you take her for a ride in the beautiful Watchung Reservation. Union County’s Watchung Stable offers two special Mother’s Day guided trail rides on Sunday, May 12, at 9:15 and 10:30 a.m. for riders 9 years of age or older.

“The Watchung Reservation is a 2,000-acre park that offers everyone a chance to enjoy the natural beauty of a forest, right in Mountainside!” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “And for those who like horseback riding, you’ll see plenty of Union County’s largest park while getting some fresh air and exercise, too.”

Registration has begun for the special Mother’s Day rides, so don’t wait until the last minute to make plans. You need to register in person for these rides at the Watchung Stable office, 1160 Summit Lane in Mountainside. Payment is required at the time of registration. Office hours are 9:00 a.m. – noon and 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. daily. The cost for Union County residents is $32 per person and $45 for out-of-county riders. No experience is necessary; these rides are held at a walking pace only. After each ride, the Watchung Stable Auxiliary will provide light refreshments in the Watchung Stable assembly room.

Watchung Stable also offers guided trail rides on Saturdays at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. and on Sundays at 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. Weekend afternoon trail riders aged 9 years and older are accommodated on a first-come first-served basis, weather permitting. Experience is not required. The cost of these trail rides is $32 for Union County residents and $45 for out-of-county riders.

Private trail rides also are available for individuals or parties up to approximately 15 people. The cost is the regular rental fee plus an additional $32 for the private instructor. These private rides are scheduled at mutually convenient times on weekdays and weekends.  Please call to schedule your ride today!

The Mother’s Day Rides and the other guided trail rides originate at Watchung Stable, located at 1160 Summit Lane in Mountainside. For more information, call 908-789-3665 during normal office hours or E-mail questions to stablequestions@ucnj.org. Watchung Stable is a facility of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

 

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(From left) Union County Freeholders Vernell Wright and Bette Jane Kowalski present a resolution to Senior Citizen Council Chair Ellen Steinberg and Executive Director Richard Stone proclaiming May 2013 as Older Americans Month  at the Senior Citizen Council of Union County’s 42nd Annual Luncheon at L’Affaire in Mountainside. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

(Back row from left) State Senator Nicholas Scutari, Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Christopher Hudak and Linden Councilman Armando Medina joined (from front left) Ariana Rodriguez, Christina and Jaclyn Beviano, Nicole Fragoso and Bhupinder Sohal as the members of the 4-H Service Club planted a tree in Wilson Park in Linden. The tree was donated by the Union County 4-H program through the Rutgers Cooperative Extension. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County –The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that County of Union will host a Veterans Job Fair on Thursday, May 30th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at VFW Post 2230, located at 33 South 21st Street in Kenilworth.

“The Freeholder Board is proud to be able to host another Veterans Job Fair,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “Supporting this community of people in their efforts to re-enter the workforce is of extreme importance to us.”

The upcoming job fair is expected to bring veterans together with employers in an effort to network and make connections for new job opportunities.

Among the participating organizations are:

• Barnabas Health
• NJ Transit
• Helmets to Hardhats (NJ Building and Construction trades)
• Trinitas Regional Medical Center
• JFK Medical Center
• Allied Barton Security Services
• America Works for NJ, INC.
• Walmart

Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, in connection with the Union County Department of Human Services, the Office of Veterans Affairs, One-Stop Career Centers and the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development the Job Fair is being offered free of charge to veterans, active duty military personnel, and their families.

Representatives will be on site with information on veterans’ benefits, the GI Bill, as well as other State and County sponsored services.

For additional information on the Veteran’s Job Fair please contact Elizabeth L. Sebring of the Union County Department of Human Services at (908) 527-4890 or via email at esebring@ucnj.org.

 

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Union County, NJ – Middle and High School students are invited to a free education and career panel discussion event hosted by the Union County Youth Services Commission entitled, “Take Control of Your Future, A Panel Discussion Giving Insight on Education and Careers” will be held on Saturday, May 18th at the Union County College Kellogg Building, 40 West Jersey Street in Elizabeth, NJ from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Parents, guardians and teachers are welcome to attend with their student. A luncheon and networking session are also included in the event.

“There are many wonderful career pathways to explore right here in Union County that depend upon a strong education,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “This event is a great opportunity for young students to get a first-hand look at the opportunities available to those who strive to do their best.”

The keynote address will be delivered by Charles Atkins Jr., who serves as Chaplain for the Garden State Youth Correctional Facility.

Members of the panel are:

• Brandon Frame, Director of Business Partnerships and Program Development at High School Inc., in his home town of Hartford, Connecticut.

• Nadirah Keith, Literacy Coordinator in the East Orange School District and 2011-2012 East Orange School District Teacher of the Year awardee.

• Amanda A. Ebokosia, Founder & CEO of the Gem Project, Inc., a nonprofit organization for children, youth and young adults. Among other honors, Ms. Ebokosia has been featured in the annual FORBES Magazine “30 under 30” list.

• George Scott, founder and business owner of Octavia Homes, LLC with his partner and sister, Sherrica McDonald.

• Ebony McQueen, founder of founder of PRINCESS Foundation and Search Engine Marketing Supervisor at a digital marketing agency in New York City.

“Take Control of Your Future,” Part II of the Union County Youth Services Commission Community Engagement Initiative, is made possible through support from the Juvenile Justice Commission and the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Pre-registration is required by visiting ucnj.org/take-control-of-your-future.

 

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RAHWAY, NJ – Most teenagers daydream about singing or dancing on a stage before a live audience. That dream becomes reality for some Union County middle and high school students at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7, when they perform in the Teen Arts Showcase at the Union County Performing Arts Center, 1601 Irving Street, in Rahway’s downtown arts district.

Instrumental groups, vocal groups, pianists, dancers and theater performers were selected from the 3,500 students who participated at the 2013 Teen Arts Festival at Union County College in Cranford in March. The annual festival is sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and coordinated by the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Community Renewal.

“Teen Arts is a wonderful opportunity for students to interact with professional artists while sharing their own talents with students from other schools,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “Students appearing in the Showcase represent many of the performing arts disciplines and the municipalities that participated in this year’s festival.”

Teachers, students, friends and family of performers are invited to attend the Showcase along with the general public. Admission is free. The Teen Arts Showcase on May 7 is sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Performing Arts Center.

The annual Teen Arts Festival is a two-day celebration of the arts where students and a staff of 50 professional artists participate in performances, critiquing seminars, master classes and workshops in visual arts, music, creative writing, theater, media arts and dance. The Festival’s focus is not on competition but an opportunity for students to develop perceptual, intellectual and technical skills; gain cultural awareness and understanding; develop personal, aesthetic values; and learn self-discipline, critical thinking and problem solving through analyzing, interpreting and making judgments.

The historic Union County Performing Arts Center, formerly the Rahway Theatre, opened in 1928 as a classic vaudeville/movie showplace. In 1984, the theatre was saved by a dedicated group of volunteers. The theatre features live performances and seats more than 1,300 people.

For more information contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202. Telephone: 908-558-2550.  NJ Relay Users dial 711. E-mail: Culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

 

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MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce a program, “Cooking with Wild Edibles” for adults at Trailside Nature and Science Center on Thursday, May 16, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. The fee for this program is $15 for Union County residents and $20 for out-of-county participants.

“This is a delicious way to learn about the wealth of food we commonly call weeds that can be found readily in our own backyard,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “You’ll never look at a weed the same way again.”

Participants in this Wild Edibles class will enjoy learning to identify some common plants of the Watchung Reservation. Trailside senior park naturalist Joe Filo will teach how to collect, prepare and cook these familiar, backyard plants. Attendees will sample delicious foods including “Cossack asparagus,” wild salad and mint tea.

For additional information about this lecture or other adult programs or upcoming events at Trailside, call 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside.  Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

 

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UNION, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that its next mobile paper-shredding program for confidential personal documents will be available on Wednesday, May 15, at the Township of Union DPW facility in Union.

“Union County’s mobile document-shredding service helps residents fight identity theft and eliminate clutter in their homes,” said Freeholder Christopher Hudak, liaison to the Solid Waste Advisory Council. “It is a cost-effective way to assist our recycling efforts and it ties in with Union County’s other Go Green Initiatives.”

The May 15th shredding event will take place at the Department of Public Works facility in Union, located on Swanstrom Place, off Vauxhall Road. NEXCUT Shredding of Teaneck will be shredding documents at the site from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. The shredding event will end before 1 p.m. if the shredding truck reaches capacity.

All Union County residents are eligible to use the paper-shredding service. In an effort to accommodate everyone, there is a limit of four, 10-pound bags or boxes per person. Documents should not be bound. Please remove plastic binders and paperclips. Paper that is wet/damp will not be accepted. Residents should continue to recycle non-confidential papers and magazines with their municipal recycling program.

Documents are put into 96-gallon containers provided by the shredding company. The items are then dumped onto a conveyor belt and shredded on site. Participants are welcome to view the shredding process via a closed-circuit television. The shredded documents are then recycled, shipped to paper mills and used as pulp. The next shredding event will take place Wednesday, June 5, at the DPW facility in Clark.

The mobile shredding program is paid for through New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Recycling Enhancement Act Grant Funds. For more information about future events or directions please call the Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889 or visit us online at www.ucnj.org/recycle .

 

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Drake House in Plainfield. Once used as George Washington’s headquarters during the Revolutionary War, this former farmhouse was built in 1746. It was enlarged and restyled to Victorian tastes in 1864, and was recently restored with support from Preserve Union County.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that the sixth round of funding is available for Preserve Union County, a matching grant program under the Union County Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund.

Preserve Union County is a merit-based grant program that helps local governments and preservationists save treasured civic landmarks and historic sites.

“Union County’s roots go back more than 340 years, with a legacy rich in the historic moments that have defined our communities and our country,” said Freeholder Alexander Mirabella, who is Chairman of the Trust Fund. “We are very proud that Preserve Union County has played a key role in ensuring that future generations can experience these living reminders of our shared past.”

The Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund was established in the year 2000 with overwhelming support from Union County voters, who approved it by referendum.

The Preserve Union County program was added in 2003, providing for grants every other year. Since then, it has awarded more than $2.5 million in dollar-for-dollar matching funds. This year’s funding total will be $300,000.

“If you take a look at the previous grant cycle in 2011, you can see how Preserve Union County reflects the complex effort involved in refurbishing these sites, and making sure they are accessible to the public,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “This program is a real testimony to the dedication of local preservationists in Union County.”

Some of the projects approved in the 2011 cycle dealt with basic upkeep needed to prevent water damage and deterioration. That included funding for the First Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth, to restore the slate roof and masonry at the tower; repairs to active roof leaks at the George A. Strong Residence in Plainfield, and complete replacement of the slate roof at the Liberty Hall Museum Carriage House in Union.

Other grants involved upgrades to windows and building systems, needed to ensure the safety and comfort of those visiting it, as well as to replace inefficient or non-functioning equipment.

For example, the Carriage House in Fanwood and the Caldwell Parsonage in Union received funding for air conditioning and other upgrades, and the Deacon Hetfield House in Mountainside replaced a hot water heater.

Access is another type of project eligible for grants. In 2011, Reeves-Reed Arboretum in Summit was awarded a grant to build a short walkway across the grounds, in order to provide visitors with a safer route from parking areas to the main building.

Aesthetic upgrades are also part of the Preserve Union County mission. These were represented in the 2011 cycle with new paint for doors and trim at the Merchants and Drovers Tavern in Rahway (among other repairs), and a period stove for the Oswald J. Nitschke House in Kenilworth.

For the 2013 grant cycle, application packets were mailed to municipalities and preservationists on Friday, April 26. The deadline for submissions is Thursday, July 25.

To obtain a packet or to get more information about the Preserve Union County program, contact the Trust Fund at 908-558-2277.

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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.