Author: Web Site Administrator

Call for Submissions and Community Support Now Open for Statue, which will become first in state to honor member of LGBTQ community

The family of Marsha P. Johnson, the City of Elizabeth, the Union County Freeholder Board, and Garden State Equality are proud to invite the public to participate in the efforts to honor Marsha P. Johnson with a public monument in her hometown, celebrating both her roots in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and her pivotal role in the vanguard of the modern LGBTQ civil rights movement.  The monument will be the first in the state of New Jersey to honor a member of the LGBTQ community and the first of a trans woman of color.

Those who wish to contribute to the monument project to honor Marsha P. Johnson’s legacy may do so online now at GardenStateEquality.org or charity.gofundme.com/mpjstatue.

Additionally, Garden State Equality is working with the family to establish a scholarship fund – any funds raised through the fundraiser in excess of the monument cost will go to a scholarship fund.

Also, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders proudly invites artists to participate in the open call for submissions for the monument. Information for the submission process is available through the Office of LGBTQ Affairs now online at ucnj.org/lgbtq.  Artists who are interested in submitting shall have previous professional experience in sculpture artistry and include documentation of previous work for reference in the proposal.

“Marsha wasn’t just about trans acceptance or just about gay rights — she was about change for everybody,” said Al Michaels, Marsha’s nephew. “History may not always remember Marsha’s accomplishments – this statue will enshrine her legacy into the fabric of this city.”

Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella said: “Fifty one years ago, black and brown trans women – including Union County’s own Marsha P. Johnson from Elizabeth, New Jersey – led the Stonewall Uprising, fighting back against decades of injustice and police brutality. It’s more important than ever to remember our history, and the Freeholder Board is proud to join this effort to honor one of our own activists who in recent history paved the way.”

The Marsha P. Johnson monument project is a vision of her family.  With the support of the City of Elizabeth, County of Union, Garden State Equality, generous donors and a sculpture artist this monument project will become a reality and stand as a symbol of LGBTQ influence in our American history’s fight for civil rights.

Freeholder Sergio Granados stated: “The milestones achieved in the LGBTQ rights and equality movement were made possible by trailblazers who first stood up for their rights. Marsha P. Johnson was a pioneer for the LGBTQ community and the Union County Freeholder Board is proud to join the efforts to honor her legacy in such a meaningful way.” As Chairman of the Freeholder Board in 2018, Granados established the Union County Office of LGBTQ Affairs, the only government office of its kind in the state of New Jersey to support the LGBTQ community.

Freeholder Rebecca Williams, who is the liaison to the Union County LGBTQ Ad Hoc Committee, stated: “By honoring the memory of those we admire, public monuments reflect who we are. I am proud of our community for recognizing Marsh P. Johnson as a leader in the continued fight to realize the ideals of liberty and equality upon which our nation was founded.”

Elizabeth Councilman At-Large Manny Grova stated: “It is an honor to recognize an Elizabeth native as influential and important to the history of the nation in the fight for equality everywhere. This past month, with Mayor Bollwage’s full support, Elizabeth City Council unanimously passed a resolution dedicating public land for the placement of a monument to honor Marsha P. Johnson.”

Christian Fuscarino, Executive Director of Garden State Equality stated: “Our movement was born out of fire, bricks and blood at the Stonewall Riots over 50 years ago, where courageous drag queens and transgender women of color — people like New Jersey-native Marsha P. Johnson — stood up, fought back and ignited our movement. It’s time the statues that line our streets represent all of America — we are honored to work with the City of Elizabeth and the County of Union to make this a reality. Most importantly, we look forward to collaborating with local black and brown trans women, and activists of all ages and races that look up to Marsha to make this a reality.” Garden State Equality is a vital partner in the effort to build the monument.

Marsha P. Johnson was a prominent figure in the gay liberation movement, and tireless advocate for homeless LGBTQ young people rejected by their families, those affected by H.I.V. and AIDS, and other marginalized groups. At 23, she was a leader in the monumental Stonewall Uprising of 1969.           

After Stonewall, Marsha was a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front, an activist with ACT UP, and a co-founder of Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries, or S.T.A.R., along with close friend and trans activist Sylvia Rivera.

Internationally, Marsha P. Johnson is one of the most recognized icons in LGBTQ+ history and has been celebrated in a series of books, documentaries, and films. Her actions and words continue to inspire trans activism and resistance and will continue to do so well into the future.

Sculpture artists who are interested in participating in this effort can find the submission details online at ucnj.org/lgbtq or contact Danni Newbury, Union County Office of LGBTQ Affairs at 908-527-4742 or dnewbury@ucnj.org.

 

Union County Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella, Freeholder Angela Garretson and Freeholder Andrea Staten congratulate Debbie Skeete-Bernard of Union Township (Lt. Colonel (Retired) United States Air Force Reserve), Delia Ware-Tibbs of Roselle (Lt. Colonel (Retired) United States Army Reserves),Theresa Hilton of Elizabeth (Major, United States Air Force Reserve and Union County Prosecutor’s Office,), Sandra Cagua-Valdez of Elizabeth (E-4 Specialist, Army National Guard, Supervisor at NJ Family Care Unit) and Quelcia Olea (not pictured) of Plainfield (Sergeant, United States Army) on receiving the “SHERO” award at the Union County Military Networking Mixer in Kenilworth.

They were joined by Union County Acting Prosecutor Lyndsay Ruotolo, Union County Deputy Manager Amy Wagner, Division of Community Services Director Brandon T. Givens, Office of Veteran Services Coordinator Janna Williams and Kenneth Glick of the Veteran Service Office.

The Union County women veterans were honored with the “SHERO” award for their outstanding military service, community work and volunteer activities.

The networking mixer is coordinated through the Union County Office of Veteran Services UC-HERO program.

(Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – Union County students in grades K-12 are invited to join a 4-H Club this fall and explore popular fields ranging from cooking, art to anime, coding and more. Youth in their first year after graduating from high school can also join.

All clubs will be meeting virtually and are without charge until in person meetings resume.

“4-H Clubs provide students in Union County with unique opportunities to practice teamwork, organization, leadership and other important life skills,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The Freeholder Board is very proud to support the 4-H program in our community in a virtual capacity until it is safe for students to meet in person.”

4-H Clubs are organized by age and topic. The members meet with an adult club leader on a monthly basis during the school year to plan activities and programs.

Each club emphasizes the ability of students to learn, organize, and communicate with activities appropriate for their age. For the school year 2020 – 2021, the clubs are:

• Variety Club (different topics with crafts and show-and-tell), grades 1 and 2.
• Variety Club (different topics with crafts and public speaking), grades 3 and 4.
• Variety Club (different topics with crafts and community service), grades 9-12
• Community Service Club, grades 8-12.
• Nature Club, grades 5-8
• Cooking Club, grades 4-12.
• Disc Gulf Club, grades 5-12.
• Horticulture Club, grades 4-12.
• Creating Music through Coding, grades 6 – 8

Union County 4-H is run by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County and supported in part by the Freeholder Board, with offices at the Union County Complex at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield.

The national 4-H youth program is the largest youth development program in the U.S. As a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 4-H encourages students to develop expertise in a subject of their own choosing, and share their knowledge to benefit their community.

Participation in 4-H is associated with better grades at school, and a stronger interest in taking science classes, attending college, and contributing to the community. A recent Tufts University study found that as a group, girls who join 4-H clubs are especially likely to demonstrate positive behaviors.

4-H Clubs run from October to June. To sign up for a club email Tamisha Hopkins, 4H Office Manager, at thopkins@ucnj.org.

For more information contact 4H Agent James Nichnadowicz  at jnichnadowicz@ucnj.org or call 908-654-9854 ext. 3.

For more information about all Union County Extension programs, including 4-H, Master Tree Stewards and Master Gardeners, visit ucnj.org/rce.

 

For more information and updates on all Union County services and resources during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance for using the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University and the Mobile Test Unit walk-up sites, visit the new Union County COVID-19 website at ucnj.org/covid19.

 

For general information about COVID-19 and phone contacts for 24/7 assistance with questions, visit the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

 

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

 

 

 

 

 The Board of Chosen Freeholders wishes to inform residents that the popular “Wildlife Wednesdays” program will continue to run each Wednesday through the end of October, with a new starting time of 6:00 PM. The previous starting time was 2:00 PM.

“Union County is striving to bring educational programs directly to our children that may not be accessible to everyone during these challenging times, and Wildlife Wednesdays is a great example of them,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “I encourage residents to register for any or all of these free programs and learn more about animals and the critical role they play in our environment.”

Participation is free and open to all county residents.   Pre-registration is required and capacity is limited to the first 100 families who sign up.  The programs will be held on Zoom so a valid email and Zoom access are necessary to participate.

Wildlife Wednesdays is sponsored by Union County’s Clean Communities Grant Program as educators will raise awareness on how litter can be harmful to wildlife.   Rizzo’s Wildlife World educators will bring the classroom to you and present a myriad of wildlife critters. These programs aim to discourage littering to protect the diverse wildlife found in County parks.

September 30^th’s program will feature Australian Animals such as the bearded dragon and white tree frog.  Stayed tuned for info on future programs.  Residents wishing to pre-register can do so by visiting www.ucnj.org/ww. Once registered, attendees will receive a confirmation and Zoom login information via email.  

For more information on upcoming Wildlife Wednesday, please visit www.ucnj.org/recycling/wildlife-wednesdays. 

The Union County Sheriff Peter Corvelli would like to thank Don Szymanski and Connor’s Crew for their generous donation of the Sheriff’s Office’s newest K9-in-training, Lightning.

Lightning was purchased on 9/11/2020 for training and assignment as an explosive detection canine for his partner, Officer Sarah Green.

“Many thanks to Don Szymanski and Connor’s Crew for donating Lightning to our office,” Sheriff Corvelli said. “We welcome the newest member to our family.

“Lightning working with Officer Green will be a valuable asset to our agency and the entire community,” the Sheriff added.

Connor’s Crew is a charitable organization founded in early 2019 by Don Szymanski and his family following the untimely passing of his grandson Connor James Nemes, due to complications from a rare brain rupture. 

In addition to assisting the Union County Sheriff’s Office, Connor’s Crew continuously supports various veterans, families and organizations.

Additional information about Connor’s Crew can be found here: https://www.connorscrewnj.com/

The Union County Sheriff’s Office formally accepted Lightning from Connor’s Crew at the UCSO K9 Regional Training Facility in Summit.

Prince fans in the Union County area will be able enjoy classic hits from the late icon with a highly-regarded tribute act. The “Purple Madness” tribute band featuring Bobby Miller will bring forth the “Prince Experience” at a drive-in concert on Saturday, October 10^th at Cedar Brook Park in Plainfield. “FLAVUH” will open the show, which is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.

“This will be the second drive in concert sponsored by the County,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “I am pleased that we can bring exciting events to the community while adhering to COVID-19 guidelines and protocols.”

This is a free event but registration is required at www.ucnj.org/concert-register. Spots are limited to the first 220 cars registered.

The registration link will go live on Thursday, October 1^st, beginning at 9 a.m.

To help promote social distancing, no walk-ups, bikes or chairs are permitted. Vehicles will be arranged at least 6 feet apart with adequate social distancing.

Port-o-johns and wash stations will be available. Masks will be required when using the port-o-johns. Attendees must stay in their vehicles (unless they need to use the port-o-johns). Those who are attending can bring their own food, and non-alcoholic drink. Alcohol is prohibited.   

“Prince was an icon who captivated and entertained audiences all around the world,” said Freeholder Rebecca Williams who is a Plainfield resident. “I am excited that we can bring his energy to Union County and provide an enjoyable event with Bobby Miller and Purple Madness.”

“Purple Madness” claims to be the ultimate celebration of the most widely beloved entertainer and profoundly influential artist of all-time. Bobby Miller presents an electrifying performance that can be best described as high energy and a “must see” performance.

For more information on Purple Madness, please go to: thepurplemadness.com. 

For more information and updates on all Union County services and resources during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance for using the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University and the Mobile Test Unit walk-up sites, visit the new Union County COVID-19 website at ucnj.org/covid19.

For general information about COVID-19 and phone contacts for 24/7 assistance with questions, visit the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County Freeholders Chris Hudak, Bette Jane Kowalski and Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded visit the Union County Mobile Test Unit site offering free walk-up COVID-19 tests for residents at the American Legion in Rahway. For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance for using the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University and a list of locations for walk-up tests, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella, Freeholder Sergio Granados, Freeholder Chris Hudak, and Freeholder Rebecca L. Williams
today joined with Mayor Raymond Giacobbe, members of Rahway City Council and Board of Education, students, parents, and members of the Rahway Youth Soccer Association in cutting the ribbon on two multi-use fields at Madison Avenue Park.

“The Freeholder Board has long enjoyed an outstanding relationship with Rahway in providing great recreational amenities throughout the City, and we are pleased to have added these two new two turf fields in an area where they will be put to good use by different organizations,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

“Madison Avenue Park, locally known as Greenfield, is a valued recreational resource in our community, heavily utilized by youth soccer, rugby, and other sports organizations, as well as our public school teams and residents. We are grateful for the continued partnership between the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Rahway Board of Education, and the City of Rahway which led to the rejuvenation of this recreational gem,” said Rahway Mayor Raymond A. Giacobbe, Jr.

The two synthetic turf fields are striped for soccer, rugby and lacrosse. Lighting was also installed, as well as bleachers for seating and goal posts/nets for soccer, rugby and lacrosse. As a result of the construction of the new fields, the County has removed the old playground area and will install a new one in the spring next year at the park.

The County also added a number of parking spots in the school lot to help accommodate visitors to the new fields. The fields will be used by organizations such as the Rahway Youth Soccer Association, and student athletes from teams in the Rahway schools system.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Mirabella congratulates the 18 new firefighters from the Fall 2019 Class on graduating the Union County Fire Training Academy during a ceremony at Oak Ridge Park in Clark. He also congratulates Curtis Gilford of the Garwood Fire Department on earning the Ben Laganga Leadership Award and Joseph Fugaro of the Colonia Fire Department on earning the Battalion Chief Ken Nocera Memorial Award for Outstanding Excellence in Firefighter 1 and the Chief Anthony Schepis Award for Excellence in Firefighter 1. They were joined by Garwood Fire Chief Alan Tweedle and Colonia Fire Chief Vincent Pereira. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites all military veterans and active duty personnel, their families, and veterans’ service providers to attend a free Networking Mixer on Tuesday, September 29^th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Galloping Hill Golf Course, located at 3 Golf Drive in Kenilworth.

The event will be held on the first floor patio of the Golf Course to allow for social distancing. COVID-19 guidelines will be followed. Masks are required and space is limited to the first 50 registrants.                              

“We are grateful for the service of military personnel and their families who live in Union County, and we continue to develop more programs, events and resources to help increase opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

The networking mixer is coordinated through the Union County Office of Veteran Services UC-HERO program; complimentary food is included.

The networking mixer is free to attend but preregistration is required by September 26^th.

The Office of Veteran Services is actively seeking nominations to honor three Union County women veterans at this event for their outstanding military service, community work and volunteer activities with the “SHERO” award.   

To receive a nomination form or to register for this event, email Janna Williams at jwilliams@ucnj.org or Kenneth Glick at Kenneth.Glick@ucnj.org or call 908-527-4918 or 908-527-4719. Nominations will be accepted no later than Sept. 25, 2020.

 

For more information and updates on all Union County services and resources during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance for using the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University and the Mobile Test Unit walk-up sites, visit the new Union County COVID-19 website at ucnj.org/covid19.

 

For general information about COVID-19 and phone contacts for 24/7 assistance with questions, visit the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

 

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.