Author: Web Site Administrator

Union County, NJ – With a powerful flu season in full swing throughout New Jersey and most of the country, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds residents that the County home page, ucnj.org, now includes a one-stop link for easy access to information about preventing and treating the flu, including an online vaccination location finder.

The direct link is ucnj.org/what-to-do-about-the-flu.

“We’ve compiled material from the Centers for Disease Control and other sources that provide solid, reliable guidance on how to prevent the flu, and how to help the recovery process along if you catch it,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “I urge all County residents to take a few minutes and visit ucnj.org/what-to-do-about-the-flu, to stay informed and aware.”

The flu is caused by a virus that spreads through droplets from the nose and mouth. When people cough or sneeze, the droplets spread through the air and can make other people sick. The flu virus can also live on objects such as a table or phone, and enter a person’s body when they touch the object and then touch their nose, eyes, or mouth.

The flu spreads easily from person to person. You can spread the flu even before you know you are sick and for a week after you get sick.

To help your family avoid the flu, you can do the following:

• Getting a flu vaccine is the best way to prevent the flu. Flu season will probably last a few more months, so it’s not too late to get a vaccine. It can be given as a shot or a nose spray.

• Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds many times during the day. If you do not have soap and water, use a hand sanitizer and rub your hands together for 20 seconds.

• Always cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue. Throw the tissue away and wash your hands. If you do not have a tissue, cough into your elbow.

• Stay home if you feel sick. Keep children at home and away from other people if they do not feel well.

• Try not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.

• Try to avoid close contact with sick people. Wear a mask if you must be near sick people.

Carter also suggested that residents check their medicine cabinets and make sure they have a thermometer, fever reducers and any other necessary over-the-counter medications on hand.

In addition to ucnj.org/what-to-do-about-the-flu, many more details about flu prevention and treatment are available from the Centers for Disease Control at www.flu.gov.

 

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ELIZABETH, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi is pleased to offer a free 2013 wall calendar that honors former State Senators and Assembly members from Union County and includes important dates of concern to voters and candidates for office in this year’s gubernatorial, legislative, county and local elections.

“Union County – which was part of Essex County until 1857 – is a Who’s Who of historically significant individuals,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “It is my hope that this 2013 calendar, with its vintage photographs of State Legislators, honors the men and women who served the people of Union County so well for the past six decades.”

Since 2013 is a gubernatorial and legislative election year that also will have elections for county, municipal and school offices, the calendar highlights many important dates relating to voter registration, mail-in ballots, candidate petition deadlines, primary elections, campaign finance reports, and general election ballot deadlines.

To obtain one of the free 2013 Election Year calendars, visit the Union County Clerk’s web site:www.ucnj.org/government/county-clerk where you’ll find an order form. For general information about elections, please contact the County Clerk’s Election Office at 908-527-4996.

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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 .

Guest Speaker: Marty Appel, Yankees Historian & Former PR Director

 

Student athletes from schools in Union County will be honored at the 77th Annual Hot Stove League Baseball Dinner on Sunday, February 10, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the L’Affaire Banquet Center, 1099 Route 22 East, in Mountainside. The dinner is sponsored by the Union County Baseball Association, in cooperation with the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal.

Among the students to be honored for their athletic achievements are:

• ­Chris Folinusz, catcher for Cranford High School (Class of 2013); selected 1st Team, All-State; and Union County Player of the Year (2012).
• Khaseem Greene, a graduate of Elizabeth High School; All-American linebacker at Rutgers; Big East defensive player of the year (2011 and 2012).
• Jenna Kulback, catcher for Gov. Livingston High School in Berkeley Heights (Class of 2012); guided team to second straight Union County Tournament championship.
• James O’Rourke, a 1st Team, All-State centerfielder for Westfield High School (Class of 2012); now attending Gettysburg College.
• Shannon Syciarz of Garwood, graduate of A.L. Johnson Reg. High School in Clark and The College of New Jersey; twice All-NJAC field hockey goaltender of the year.

 

The Union County Baseball Association also will induct three new members into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame during the award ceremonies:

• Bill Dolan, an All-State catcher at Rahway High School, an All-American at Monmouth University, and Rahway varsity baseball coach (1972 to 2000).
• Jim Riccitelli, a shortstop, catcher and pitcher at Roselle Park High School and the first Kean player to sign a professional baseball contract (Baltimore Orioles, 1976).
• George Virgilio, a second baseman at Elizabeth High School (1987-89); played in the Atlanta Braves, Montreal Expos and Baltimore Orioles organizations.

 

“We’re delighted to honor so many deserving athletes from throughout Union County at this year’s Hot Stove Awards Dinner,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “I hope that family members and friends of all the honorees will enjoy the Sunday afternoon ceremonies and support youth baseball in Union County.”

Marty Appel, the long-time Yankees historian and former director of Public Relations, will be the special guest speaker. Mr. Appel began his tenure with the Yankees handling fan mail for Mickey Mantle. He is the author of 18 books, including the New York Times bestseller, “Munson,” and “Pinstripe Empire” – the definitive history of the New York Yankees.

In addition to the new Hall of Fame inductees, the Hot Stove League Baseball Dinner also will honor local American Legion Baseball players and athletes from youth baseball leagues for their achievements in 2012.

Tickets for the dinner are $40 each and can be purchased online by visiting www.ucba-nj.org or by downloading and mailing the table registration form to the Union County Baseball Association, Box 176, Fanwood, New Jersey 07023. Proceeds will help fund the Union County Summer Youth Baseball League for youngsters 8 to 15 years, and the Fall Teen League.

Since 1937, the Hot Stove League Dinner has been the primary fund-raising effort for the Union County Baseball Association’s summer and fall programs. Over the years, the awards dinner has honored many local and national baseball luminaries – including Phil Rizzuto of Hillside, Don Newcombe of Elizabeth, Joe Collins of Union, Jeff Torborg of Mountainside, Willie Wilson of Summit, Jake Wood of Elizabeth, and Elliott Maddox of Union.

For more information, please call Jim Iozzi at 908-917-2523.

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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 Board of Chosen Freeholders

Union County Freeholder Linda Carter (C) of Plainfield is sworn in as the 2013 Chairman of the Freeholder Board by Plainfield Municipal Judge Joan Robinson Gross during the county’s 156th annual reorganization meeting on January 6 at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. Holding the Bible is the Freeholder Carter’s mother, Adele Carter.

Union County Freeholder Christopher Hudak is sworn in as the Vice Chairman of the Freeholder Board by Superior Court Judge William Daniel during the county’s 156th annual reorganization meeting on January 6 at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. Holding the Bible are Freeholder Hudak’s wife Terri, their daughter Catherine Reilly and, his parents John and Susan Hudak.

Union County Freeholder Alexander Mirabella of Fanwood is sworn in to begin a new term as Freeholder by State Senator Raymond Lesniak during the 156th annual reorganization meeting on January 6 in the Union County Courthouse. His wife Phyllis and their children, Alex and Micayla, held the Bible.

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi administers the oath of office to Freeholder Bruce H. Bergen of Springfield during the 156th annual reorganization meeting on January 6 in the Union County Courthouse. Holding the Bible are the Freeholder’s wife Jodi and their daughter Stefanie and son Ross.

The Honorable Abubakar Jalloh administers the oath of office to Union County Freeholder Mohamed S. Jalloh of Roselle during the 156th annual reorganization meeting on January 6 in the Union County Courthouse. Holding the Bible are the Freeholder’s wife Maria, his parents Abdulai Ben Jalloh and Bernice Martina Jalloh, and Anita Eldridge.

 

As Initiatives During 156th Annual Reorganization

Freeholders Mirabella and Jalloh start new terms, Freeholder Bergen starts first term; Carter becomes First African American Woman Chairman of Board in County history

 

UNION COUNTY COURTHOUSE, ELIZABETH—Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter today announced a series of five initiatives entitled “Helping our Families and Empowering Women” that are designed to jumpstart economic growth and help business, provide jobs training, improve public safety, encourage green practices and assist women.

Carter, a resident of Plainfield, was selected as Chairman of the Union County Freeholder Board for the first time in her career at the 156th annual reorganization meeting held in the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. Carter becomes the first African American woman to ever lead the Union County Freeholder Board.

“I appreciate your confidence and look forward to working with you and our entire County family of employees to serve our residents and move our initiatives forward this New Year,” said Carter as she accepted the nomination. “For as Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman to serve in the United States Congress once said, ‘Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth.’ ”

Carter went on to outline her priorities.

“We must continue to be proactive in addressing our public safety and emergency management concerns,” Carter said. “We must also continue to make economic progress and provide opportunities for our residents, while promoting the green economy.”

Looking ahead at the new budgetary cycle, Carter also called upon the Policy Committee to conduct an exhaustive review of all workforce and operational policies to ensure our government operates in the most efficient and economic manner possible.

Freeholder Alexander Mirabella, of Fanwood, and Freeholder Mohamed S. Jalloh, of Union, were sworn in to new terms and Freeholder Bruce Bergen, of Springfield, was sworn in to his first term. Freeholder Christopher Hudak, of Linden, was appointed Vice Chairman of the Freeholder Board.

Freeholders also voted to fill numerous positions on County advisory boards and to adopt the board’s 2013 schedule and procedural rules.

 

“HELPING OUR FAMILIES AND ASSISTING WOMEN” INITIATIVES:”

• Establish the Union County Mayor’s Emergency Management group, which was formed during Hurricane Sandy, as a permanent platform for communication. During its last meeting, the group discussed a wide range of recommendations to explore in several critical areas that can be implemented in 2013 to improve emergency response.

• Conduct a Countywide gun buyback program through County Police. While a gun buyback may not be a cure-all, Carter noted that’s as “leaders, we owe it to our residents to pursue all the strategies available at our disposal.” This includes supporting Assemblyman Cryan’s statewide legislation to limit the capacity of certain gun magazines in New Jersey.

• Jobs training and business assistance. Implement “Union County Choices,” a targeted jobs training program involving Union County College. Union County Choices is designed to provide a range of services targeted to middle skills and sector training. This program will give residents Choices focused on Union County’s priority economic development sectors. Courses would be in the priority fields of Healthcare/Allied Health, Transportations and logistics, and Retail/Hospitality. In the first instance, the County has worked with Union County College and the Community College Consortium to design four courses and two programs that should launch by February. The County is also developing an additional set of foundational courses covering basic—but valuable—elements related to health and safety.

• Continue the very successful “Union County Means Business” program by hosting an additional four forums. One of these forums will focus on the specific needs of women in business. The others will soon be determined through a survey which is currently underway. We also plan to host two industry specific roundtable discussions with assistance from New Jersey Talent Networks. These will be invitation only sessions with key business leaders in selected industries.

• Meet with municipal Library Directors to develop business friendly endeavors such as seminars for small businesses, and raise awareness about existing services for small business.

• Finally, the County will encourage businesses to go green to save green. This year, our Bureau of Recycling and Planning has received a grant that will enable it to conduct outreach to businesses on the benefits of recycling. The planned outreach will address not only what and how to recycle, but how recycling can actually save money.

• Several green initiatives: First, the County, through the Union County Improvement Authority, will explore a Community Energy Aggregation program designed to leverage the purchasing power of residents, business and governments to purchase low-cost electricity. If the program is implemented, Union County residents, businesses and governments could save as much as 15 percent on the electrical bills.

• Next, the County will take the lead in undertaking the development and implementation of a local government Energy Efficiency assistance program under the Energy Savings Improvement Program Law known as ESIP. The ESIP Law is an extremely valuable tool that allows local governments and boards of education to reduce energy consumption through the installation of energy efficient boilers, lights and HVAC equipment. It allows for financing these upgrades with the resulting operating budget savings generated by the newly installed equipment.

• In an attempt to raise awareness countywide, we will double-purpose the Public Information Van as the Union County Green Information Van. We will design a series of small cardstock flyers that link all of the sustainability-related programs in our departments and affiliates under one visual umbrella. At least one of those flyers will be designed as a shared service that our municipalities, businesses and other entities can use as a promotional tool in support of their green projects. The van will also receive one of the County’s first informational touch screen kiosks.

• Pursue a partnership with a local Domestic Violence Shelter for battered women, our County College and Vo-Tech to provide training programs enabling these women to enter or re-enter the workforce and become self-sustaining and independent.

“We need to unlock the inner potential of these women, and we as a society will be better for it,” Carter noted. “For as Maya Angelou, once said, “’there is no greater agony than bearing an untold story in you.’’

As Initiatives During 156th Annual Reorganization

Freeholders Mirabella and Jalloh start new terms, Freeholder Bergen starts first term; Carter becomes First African American Woman Chairman of Board in County history

 

UNION COUNTY COURTHOUSE, ELIZABETH—Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter today announced a series of five initiatives entitled “Helping our Families and Empowering Women” that are designed to jumpstart economic growth and help business, provide jobs training, improve public safety, encourage green practices and assist women.

Carter, a resident of Plainfield, was selected as Chairman of the Union County Freeholder Board for the first time in her career at the 156th annual reorganization meeting held in the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. Carter becomes the first African American woman to ever lead the Union County Freeholder Board.

“I appreciate your confidence and look forward to working with you and our entire County family of employees to serve our residents and move our initiatives forward this New Year,” said Carter as she accepted the nomination. “For as Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman to serve in the United States Congress once said, ‘Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth.’ ”

Carter went on to outline her priorities.

“We must continue to be proactive in addressing our public safety and emergency management concerns,” Carter said. “We must also continue to make economic progress and provide opportunities for our residents, while promoting the green economy.”

Looking ahead at the new budgetary cycle, Carter also called upon the Policy Committee to conduct an exhaustive review of all workforce and operational policies to ensure our government operates in the most efficient and economic manner possible.

Freeholder Alexander Mirabella, of Fanwood, and Freeholder Mohamed S. Jalloh, of Union, were sworn in to new terms and Freeholder Bruce Bergen, of Springfield, was sworn in to his first term. Freeholder Christopher Hudak, of Linden, was appointed Vice Chairman of the Freeholder Board.

Freeholders also voted to fill numerous positions on County advisory boards and to adopt the board’s 2013 schedule and procedural rules.

 

“HELPING OUR FAMILIES AND ASSISTING WOMEN” INITIATIVES:”

• Establish the Union County Mayor’s Emergency Management group, which was formed during Hurricane Sandy, as a permanent platform for communication. During its last meeting, the group discussed a wide range of recommendations to explore in several critical areas that can be implemented in 2013 to improve emergency response.

• Conduct a Countywide gun buyback program through County Police. While a gun buyback may not be a cure-all, Carter noted that’s as “leaders, we owe it to our residents to pursue all the strategies available at our disposal.” This includes supporting Assemblyman Cryan’s statewide legislation to limit the capacity of certain gun magazines in New Jersey.

• Jobs training and business assistance. Implement “Union County Choices,” a targeted jobs training program involving Union County College. Union County Choices is designed to provide a range of services targeted to middle skills and sector training. This program will give residents Choices focused on Union County’s priority economic development sectors. Courses would be in the priority fields of Healthcare/Allied Health, Transportations and logistics, and Retail/Hospitality. In the first instance, the County has worked with Union County College and the Community College Consortium to design four courses and two programs that should launch by February. The County is also developing an additional set of foundational courses covering basic—but valuable—elements related to health and safety.

• Continue the very successful “Union County Means Business” program by hosting an additional four forums. One of these forums will focus on the specific needs of women in business. The others will soon be determined through a survey which is currently underway. We also plan to host two industry specific roundtable discussions with assistance from New Jersey Talent Networks. These will be invitation only sessions with key business leaders in selected industries.

• Meet with municipal Library Directors to develop business friendly endeavors such as seminars for small businesses, and raise awareness about existing services for small business.

• Finally, the County will encourage businesses to go green to save green. This year, our Bureau of Recycling and Planning has received a grant that will enable it to conduct outreach to businesses on the benefits of recycling. The planned outreach will address not only what and how to recycle, but how recycling can actually save money.

• Several green initiatives: First, the County, through the Union County Improvement Authority, will explore a Community Energy Aggregation program designed to leverage the purchasing power of residents, business and governments to purchase low-cost electricity. If the program is implemented, Union County residents, businesses and governments could save as much as 15 percent on the electrical bills.

• Next, the County will take the lead in undertaking the development and implementation of a local government Energy Efficiency assistance program under the Energy Savings Improvement Program Law known as ESIP. The ESIP Law is an extremely valuable tool that allows local governments and boards of education to reduce energy consumption through the installation of energy efficient boilers, lights and HVAC equipment. It allows for financing these upgrades with the resulting operating budget savings generated by the newly installed equipment.

• In an attempt to raise awareness countywide, we will double-purpose the Public Information Van as the Union County Green Information Van. We will design a series of small cardstock flyers that link all of the sustainability-related programs in our departments and affiliates under one visual umbrella. At least one of those flyers will be designed as a shared service that our municipalities, businesses and other entities can use as a promotional tool in support of their green projects. The van will also receive one of the County’s first informational touch screen kiosks.

• Pursue a partnership with a local Domestic Violence Shelter for battered women, our County College and Vo-Tech to provide training programs enabling these women to enter or re-enter the workforce and become self-sustaining and independent.

“We need to unlock the inner potential of these women, and we as a society will be better for it,” Carter noted. “For as Maya Angelou, once said, “’there is no greater agony than bearing an untold story in you.’’

Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich (L) presents donation checks from the Badger State Sheriffs’ Association in Wisconsin to (from 2nd L) Lt. Dave Pierro, Officer Erin Passarelli, Officer Heriberto Valdes and Officer Gaetano Bracciale. The officers’ homes were severely damaged in Super Storm Sandy.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

 

 

There may not be many out-of-state utility crews on local roads these days but support for those still suffering in the wake of Super Storm Sandy continues to arrive from other parts of the country.

Recently, a Wisconsin law enforcement organization sent a sizable donation to help four Union County Sheriff’s Officers whose homes were severely damaged by the devastating storm.

Through the Badger State Sheriffs’ Association’s “Sheriffs Adopting Sheriffs” program, each officer received a check for more than $9,000 for home repairs and other needs related to Sandy.

“Rarely have I seen such a response to the individual needs of officers,” said Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich, who presented the officers with the checks. “And these four people and their families truly can use the help.”

Lt. Dave Pierro, his wife and two sons are temporarily living with family after more than three feet of water poured into their Manasquan home causing extensive damage.

Officer Heriberto Valdes, his wife and their 5-year-old son had yet to move into the house they just bought in Toms River when four feet of water filled their new home destroying all appliances and furniture.

Waves pounded Officer Gaetano Bracciale’s Bayville home hard enough to cause structural damage. The house he moved into in July may be condemned and destroyed.

Sheriff’s Officer Erin Passarelli, her husband and their five children used to live in Union Beach. Their home was lifted off its foundation by a thirteen foot wall of water. They lost everything.

“Thanks to this amazingly kind and generous gift from the Wisconsin Sheriffs and their staff it will be just a bit easier for these officers to start to rebuild,” said Sheriff Froehlich. “It is a much needed boost for them and their families.”

The Badger State Sheriffs’ Association “adopted” the Union County Sheriff’s officers when the organization’s executive director, Dean Meyers, offered help to Sheriffs in New Jersey after Super Storm Sandy hit. Sheriff Froehlich responded with the stories of his four officers forced out of their homes by the flood waters.

The Sheriffs and their individual employees from Wisconsin’s 72 counties raised more than $36,000 in donations through their “Sheriffs Adopting Sheriffs” program in less than two months.

“There really are no words for how greatly we appreciate this help for our officers,” added Sheriff Froehlich. “We are thankful for people like the Sheriffs of Wisconsin and those who work with them.”

ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee invites the public to hear a special lecture by Dr. Jonathan Lurie of Rutgers University entitled “Looking at Lincoln: Greatness Transformed,” and view new displays, including a special display case focusing on Lincoln’s presidency, in the Civil War Exhibition at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth on Thursday, February 7, beginning at 2:00 p.m.

“Union County is honored to have Dr. Jonathan Lurie speak here about President Lincoln and his leadership during the Civil War as we commemorate the 150th anniversary of the 1861-65 conflict,” said Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi, chairman of the committee. “We welcome visitors to the Courthouse to learn more about our 16th President and about the experiences of Union County residents during the war.”

Dr. Lurie is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of History at Rutgers University (Newark), where he was a Professor of History and Law from 1985 to 2009. He earned degrees from Harvard in History and Social Sciences, and his doctorate from the University of Wisconsin. During his career at Rutgers, Dr. Lurie also was a Visiting Fellow in Law and History at Harvard Law School; an Historian and Archivist to the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces; a Visiting Professor of Law at the United States Military Academy at West Point; and served on the Board of Directors of the American Society for Legal History.

The lecture by Dr. Jonathan Lurie will be presented in the Courtroom of the Hon. Karen M. Cassidy, Assignment Judge of the Superior Court, at 2:00 p.m. To reserve a seat for the lecture, please call 908-527-4999.

The Civil War Exhibition is on display until 2015 in the rotunda of the Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street in historic midtown Elizabeth. The exhibit may be viewed weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The displays will change from time to time. Anyone wishing to loan historical artifacts from the Civil War era for the exhibit can contact committee member Katherine Craig at 908-282-7617. All objects will be secured, locked and acknowledged.

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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 at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj .

The Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal has released details of its annual Deer Management Program, which will take place in Lenape Park, the Watchung Reservation and Passaic River Park beginning Monday morning, January 7.

The Watchung Reservation spans almost 2,000 acres in Springfield, Mountainside, Scotch Plains, Summit, Berkeley Heights and Watchung. Lenape Park covers more than 400 acres of land in Cranford, Kenilworth, Union, Springfield and Westfield. Passaic River Park runs along the border with Morris County in Berkeley Heights, New Providence and Summit.

The Union County Deer Management Program will operate on Mondays from Jan. 7 to Feb. 4. In the event of a holiday or inclement weather on a Monday, the hunting activity will be moved to Wednesday that week. Hunters will be in the parks from 5:00 a.m. until after dark, but shooting may occur only during daylight hours.

Browsing for food by large numbers of deer has caused a loss of forest understory, especially in the Watchung Reservation and Lenape Park. The overpopulation of deer threatens the survival of the plant and animal communities that are important to the ecology of these parks.

Forest ecologists recommend a density of 20 deer per square mile in a healthy hardwood forest and as low as five deer per square mile in a forest that has been heavily damaged by browsing.  Spotlight counts conducted by the County in March, 2012, showed the current deer densities to be about 39 per square mile in the Watchung Reservation and 185 per square mile in and around Lenape Park. Analysis completed by the County last year showed that roads bordering Lenape and Nomahegan Parks had some of the highest numbers of deer-car collisions in Union County.

Since 1995, marksmen in the County of Union’s state-regulated deer management program have reduced the population of white-tailed deer in the Watchung Reservation substantially. In 2010, that effort was expanded to remove deer from portions of Passaic River Park in Summit. And last year hunters harvested deer from Lenape Park for the first time.

Twenty-three marksmen have been chosen by the County from among experienced, licensed hunters. More than half of the hunters have previously participated in Union County’s program; all are serving on a voluntary basis. The hunters will be wearing orange hats or vests and will hunt the deer from elevated positions, at least 20 feet up in the trees, over baited sites.

The hunters may keep any deer carcasses that they harvest. About half of the deer will be processed at a State-approved butcher and the venison will be donated to the needy and homeless through the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

The deer management program will be supervised by the Union County Police and representatives from the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. Anyone found hunting on any Union 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, Passaic River Park and Lenape Park will not be closed during the deer management program; however, portions of some roads inside the parks 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.

For further information, go to the County’s website at https://ucnj.org/community/parks-community-renewal/wildlife-management/deer/ or 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 .

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ – The Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal has released details of an Ash Brook Reservation Deer Management Program, which will begin on Saturday, January 5, and continue through Saturday, February 9.

This program is intended to reduce the white-tailed deer population at the Ash Brook Reservation and Golf Course in Scotch Plains to minimize overbrowsing of the forested parkland, reduce browse damage on the landscape plantings of surrounding homes, reduce the incidence of deer-related motor vehicle accidents, and lessen the occurrence of Lyme disease.

Seven members of the Oak Ridge Sportsmen’s Association have been authorized to participate in this program and they have completed a marksmanship test. Those hunters, using shotguns at baited sites, will remove deer from various areas of the park, including the Golf Course. The venison that is processed from some of the harvested deer will be distributed to the needy and homeless through the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. Weather permitting, hunters may be in the Ash Brook Reservation every day except Sunday. Shooting may only occur during daylight hours. 

Participation in this program is limited to the seven members of the Oak Ridge Sportsmen’s Association. Anyone else found hunting on this County park property outside the terms of this program will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Citizens observing any illegal activity at any time are urged to immediately contact the Union County Police at 908-654-9800.

The public should note that the Ash Brook Reservation and the Ash Brook Golf Course will not be closed during the deer management program. Park users and neighbors are encouraged to stay out of the wooded areas during that time period, and to keep pets restrained on a leash. For further information, contact the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal at (908) 789-3682 or visit the County website athttps://ucnj.org/community/parks-community-renewal/wildlife-management/deer/.

 

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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 .