Author: Web Site Administrator

Union County Freeholder Angel G. Estrada (R) stands with (from left) Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, retired Elizabeth Fire Capt. Jay Rice, Capt. Mike Mateiro, Elizabeth Fire Chief Tom McNamara and Chaplain Msgr. Hugh O’Donnell as taps is played during the Elizabeth Exempt Firemen’s Association’s annual memorial service for all of the city’s deceased firefighters on Memorial Day outside the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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 https://ucnj.org

On Facebook at https://ucnj.org/facebook

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

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Alexander Mirabella (L) joins Tom Campbell of Hillside and his daughter Megan in placing American flags on the graves of veterans at the Graceland Cemetery in Kenilworth in honor of Memorial Day. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders supplied more than 30,000 flags to mark veterans’ graves throughout Union County. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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

Planning Measures Advised for Hurricane, Tornados and Thunderstorms

Union County – In anticipation of the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which begins on June 1 and runs through November 30, the Union County Office of Emergency Management announced today a few simple guidelines for Union County families to follow in the event of a severe storm warning and/or advisory.

County Emergency Preparedness officials encourage residents to register with the UC First Alert Network athttp://ucfirstalert.org. The County of Union uses the UC First Alert Network to immediately deliver important alerts, notifications and updates to residents’ email, cell phone, pager and smartphone devices during a major crisis or emergency.

“UC First Alert will provide residents with an immediate notification on where to go, what to do and who to contact in the event of an emergency,” stated Freeholder Mohamed Jalloh, liaison to the Union County Homeland Security Committee.

In addition to UC First Alert, those individuals with special needs are asked to register electronically with the New Jersey’s Special Needs Registry for Disasters at www.registerready.nj.gov. The NJ Special Needs Registry is a free, voluntary and confidential program designed to assist people with special needs who may find it difficult to get to safety in the event of an emergency. Alternatively, they can call New Jersey’s toll-free 2-1-1 telephone service.

Aside from registering with UC First Alert, County Emergency Preparedness officials emphasize that residents need to stay informed. Knowing information such as the location of nearby shelters, and other basic safety tips can help keep individuals withstand the first few hours of a severe storm.

Officials stress that it is essential to understand the difference between a Severe Storm Watch; when weather conditions are favorable and a Severe Storm Warning; when weather conditions have been observed and/or is expected.

County Emergency Preparedness officials encourage residents to follow three basic measures in the event of a severe storm:

Pack a Go-Bag, a collection of items you may need in the event of an evacuation. A Go-Bag should be packed in a sturdy, easy-to-carry container such as a backpack or suitcase on wheels. Items to be considered include, but are not limited to, copies of important documents in a waterproof and portable container, bottled water and non-perishable food, flashlight and battery operated AM/FM radio. For a full list of items that should be included in your Go-Bag, please visit https://ucnj.org/oem

Develop a Disaster Plan, which will ensure your family members know what to do, how to find each other, and how to communicate in an emergency. Helpful suggestions in developing your family’s disaster plan can be found at https://ucnj.org/oem.

Prepare an Emergency Supply Kit, keep enough supplies in your home to survive on your own, or shelter in place, for at least three days. If possible, keep these materials in an easily accessible, separate container or special cupboard. For a full list of items that should be included in your Emergency Supply Kit, pleasehttps://ucnj.org/oem.

“In addition to these three basic measures, it is important for all members of your family to learn how and when to shut off the water, gas and electricity throughout your home,” stated Union County Public Safety Director Andrew Moran.

In addition to the Union County website, more information on severe storm safety tips can be found at the following sites:

• Turn Around Don’t Drown – http://www.weather.gov/os/water/tadd/
• Tornado Facts and Safety Tips – http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/safety.html
• Severe Storm Facts and Safety Tips – http://www.weather.gov/om/severeweather/index.shtml
• National Weather Service Watches and Warnings – http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/phi/
• NJ Office of Emergency Management – www.ready.nj.gov

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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

NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders will sponsor a Household Hazardous Waste Collection event on Saturday, June 11, so Union County residents can get rid of outdated or unwanted household chemicals, mercury thermostats, propane tanks, and automobile tires in an environmentally safe manner. The collection will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Alcatel-Lucent Technologies facility located at 600 Mountain Avenue in New Providence.

Residents of Union County are eligible to participate at no cost. Pre-registration is not required for this special Saturday collection.

“The special household waste recycling program for Union County residents is particularly important as we become more aware of the need for proper disposal of hazardous items that are found around the home,” said Freeholder Chairman Deborah Scanlon. “The result of our effort is safer homes and a cleaner environment for our families and our neighbors.”

All that residents need to do is drive to the site with their household special waste, propane tanks, automobile tires, and mercury thermostats. Workers at the site will unload the vehicles.

“Household special waste” includes oil-based paint and varnish, antifreeze, aerosol cans, pool chemicals, corrosives, pesticides, herbicides, solvents, thinners, fire extinguishers, motor oil and oil filters, gasoline, batteries, thermostats, fluorescent bulbs (unbroken), blood pressure devices, and mercury switches. Only materials in original or labeled containers will be accepted. No containers larger than five gallons will be accepted.

Latex (water-based) paint and empty cans will not be accepted. They should be disposed of in with the regular garbage. Leftover latex paint can be air-dried or, to hasten the drying process, kitty litter and/or newspaper can be added to hasten the drying.

“This is a great opportunity to recycle up to eight tires and dispose of old chemical containers that are cluttering up the basement or the garage, or taking up space under the kitchen sink,” said Freeholder Christopher Hudak, liaison to the Union County Solid Waste Advisory Council. “Our homes become safer once they are rid of hazardous and combustible waste.”

There is a limit of eight automobile tires (without rims) per household. This is a household recycling event. No businesses, please.

Union County, in partnership with Covanta Energy, also includes mercury thermostats in its household waste recycling initiative. The mercury thermostat program complements the County’s efforts to collect household pollutants and divert mercury from the regional waste stream in order to help safeguard our water and air quality. What’s more, residents will receive a $5 gift certificate to Home Depot for turning in a mercury thermostat at the June 11 recycling event.

“Our partnership with Covanta allows us to extend our efforts to pursue environmentally sound methods of waste disposal,” Freeholder Hudak added.

A complete list of the materials that will be accepted on June 11 is available at the Union County Bureau of Recycling and Planning web site: www.ucnj.org/recycle

The household hazardous waste collection will be held rain or shine, for Union County residents only and not for businesses. Proof of Union County residency is required. For more information, please call the Recycling Hotline at (908) 654-9889.

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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 .

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is happy to announce that another “Date Night” will be offered at Watchung Stable in Mountainside. Due to popular demand, Watchung Stable and Mosaico Restaurant will offer an additional “Date Night” on Sunday, June 5.

“Couples, ages 18 years and up, are invited to go out on a date in a new and exciting way – on horseback!” said Freeholder Daniel P. Sullivan, liaison to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. “You’ll visit Lake Surprise and meander through woods and fields to discover the wealth of wildlife active at dusk in the picturesque Watchung Reservation.”

Participants must arrive by 3:45 p.m. to sign in. The ride, approximately one hour, will leave at 4:00 p.m. After the ride, couples may want to head over to Mosaico Restaurant for a Northern Italian dinner since each couple will receive a $20 gift certificate, courtesy of Mosaico.

No riding experience is necessary; the ride will involve only a leisurely walk.

Pre-registration and pre-payment are required, as space is limited. The fee for the Date Night Trail Ride only is $56 per couple for Union County residents and $78 per couple for out-of-county participants. Those wishing to participate should stop by Watchung Stable, 1160 Summit Lane, Mountainside, to sign up as soon as possible.

The Mosaico Restaurant is located at 1072 Route 22 West in Mountainside (www.mosaico22.com).

Any couples wishing to find out space availability, directions to Watchung Stable, or information about other riding programs, please call (908) 789-3665 or visit www.ucnj.org for more information. Watchung Stable is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

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 .

PHOTO CAPTION: l. to r. Kathy Clark, a wildlife biologist from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, bands the leg of a Peregrine falcon chick born atop the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth NJ, while Union County employee Ellen Chase assists her.

ELIZABETH, NJ—Three tiny chicks have been hatched by a pair of Peregrine falcons nesting atop the Union County Courthouse Tower. The chicks appear healthy and are about three and a half weeks old.

Peregrine falcons have been living on the courthouse tower for at least six years. They had originally attempted to build nests around the tower, but failed, prompting the county and state Department of Environmental Protection to erect a nest in 2006.

Peregrine falcons are crow-sized predatory birds and are an endangered species, according to state wildlife officials. They are often stated to be the fastest animal on the planet in its hunting dive, the stoop, which involves soaring to a great height and then diving steeply at speeds commonly said to be over 200mph.

The falcons traditionally have nested on cliff faces and rocky outcrops, but as these habitats vanished, the birds turned to high buildings and bridges to build their homes. In the 1960s and 70s there was a steep decline in numbers, some believe from the widespread use of DDT, officials said.

Since the pesticide was banned, there seems to have been a slow increase in their numbers. State officials estimate that there are only 25 known pairs in New Jersey.

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi (L) and Roselle Park Clerk Doreen Cali, president of the Union County Municipal Clerks Association, display a resolution from the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders in honor of Municipal Clerks Week during the County Clerk’s annual luncheon. This year’s luncheon was held at the General Store in the Deserted Village of Feltville/Glenside Park in Berkeley Heights. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org

On Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook

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

RAHWAY, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that its next mobile paper-shredding program for personal documents will be available on Thursday, June 9, at Rahway River Park in Rahway.

“Union County’s mobile document-shredding service helps residents eliminate clutter in their homes and also fight identity theft,” said Freeholder Chairman Deborah P. Scanlon. “It is a cost-effective way to assist our recycling efforts and it ties in with our other Go Green Initiatives.”

The June 9th shredding event will take place in Rahway River Park, off St. Georges Avenue in Rahway. NEXCUT Shredding of Teaneck will be shredding documents at the site from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., rain or shine. The shredding event will end before 1:00 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 all participants, there is a limit of four, 10-pound bags or boxes per person. Documents should not be bound. Please remove plastic binders and paperclips. 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 put through the shredder. 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 on Saturday, June 25, at the Union County Vo-Tech campus in Scotch Plains.

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

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Community Renewal are pleased to announce another intriguing and informative lecture at Trailside Nature & Science Center in Mountainside. David A. Steinberg, author of the guidebook, “Hiking the Road to Ruins,” will discuss his book and inspire the audience to hit the trail in search of adventure.

“This lecture will certainly offer the audience a unique opportunity to learn how to find some fascinating hidden sites and ruins located in Union County’s Watchung Reservation and throughout New Jersey,” said Freeholder Daniel P. Sullivan, liaison to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. “It is sure to be an informative and fascinating presentation.”

The lecture is being offered for adults ages 18 and older on Thursday, June 9, from 7:30 – 8:30 p.m., as part of Trailside’s Adult Workshop Series. Pre-registration is preferred; walk-ins will be accommodated as space permits. The fee for the lecture is $8 per person for Union County residents and $10 per person for out-of-county residents.

Sharing years of exploration which are documented in his book, Mr. Steinberg offers a slide presentation and lecture highlighting his search for ruins and abandoned historic sites. After this enlightening lecture, the audience will want to explore the trails of the Watchung Reservation on hikes to unique areas including the Deserted Village of Feltville, two abandoned quarries, two mill ruins, a copper mine, the Magic Forest, a historic cemetery and a former Nike Missile site.

Audience members will have an opportunity to ask the author questions regarding his travels and recommendations of local sites to explore. Books will be available for sale and signing.

To register for this lecture, or for information on any other programs or upcoming events at Trailside, call 908-789-3670 or visit us at www.ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road (at Coles Avenue) in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Public Invited; Naturalists & Scientists Are Needed

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ – Beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 10, Union County will be offering an opportunity for people to get up-close and personal with wildlife in their own “backyard” during Bio-Blitz 2011. The event will have teams of plant and wildlife specialists, plus amateur naturalists, scouring a study site that includes sections of Union County’s Passaic River Parkway in Berkeley Heights, New Providence and Summit in search of plants and animals over a 24-hour period ending at 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 11.

“Everyone is invited to Bio-Blitz 2011, including people of all ages, as well as school, scout and community groups,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Deborah Scanlon. “Expert and amateur scientists and naturalists are especially welcome to participate as team members. The success of Bio-Blitz 2011 is dependent upon the size and skill of the teams.”

To register as a volunteer or to receive a brochure and application, call 908-789-3683. When calling, please specify your level of experience and team preference.

Plant, fungi, insect, fish, bird, mammal, amphibian and reptile, and water monitoring experts (along with amateur naturalists) are needed to collect and identify species from the three sections of parkland. Teams will return to Bio-Blitz Central, an outdoor, tented field lab and exhibit space near River Road and Springfield Avenue in Berkeley Heights to sort and count what they find.

Nature-related programs will be offered free to all throughout the event. They will include evening programs from 6 – 11 p.m. on Friday, and daytime programs from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Shuttles will be available to get participants to and from program sites. Programs will include River & Stream Life; Owl Prowl; Wild Edibles Walk; Fungi Foray; Mammal Tracking; Morning Bird Walk, and more. Bio-Blitz Bingo will give younger “scientists” an opportunity to record their findings and enter a drawing to win nature-related prizes.

The primary purpose of the Bio-Blitz is to gain a “snapshot” of the biodiversity (or richness of species) in the 298 – acre Passaic River Parkway. Another important goal of the event is to raise public awareness of the importance of parkland as wildlife habitat and outdoor classrooms.

Although the study site is surrounded by suburban development, it is home to many plants and animals. The Passaic River Parkway, acquired by Union County in the 1960s, boasts some excellent floodplain, stream, river, meadow and woodland habitat. Greenways provide valuable habitat, and act as a stopover and corridor for migratory and resident wildlife, including red tail hawks, owls, great egrets, great blue herons, coyotes, fox, and much more.

Bio-Blitz 2011 is sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal, Kean University and the Rahway River Association, with partial funding provided by PSE&G.

Team volunteers will be fed and “watered” thanks to generous donations from Whole Foods, Starbucks, New Jersey American Water, and ShopRite. Additional donations will be provided by the Rahway River Association, Home Depot, Halls Garden Center, M721 Organics, Back2Tap and Wild Birds Unlimited.

Other partner organizations include the Arthur Kill Watershed Association, Berkeley Heights Environmental Commission, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Friends of Lenape Park, New Jersey Mycological Association, Newark Museum, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Fish & Wildlife, the NJDEP AmeriCorps Watershed Ambassador Program, Passaic River Coalition, Passaic River Institute, and the USDA’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service & Plant Protection & Quarantine Programs.

For more information or to receive a brochure, call 908-789-3683 and leave your email address; pick up a brochure at Trailside Nature & Science Center, 452 New Providence Road (at Coles Avenue) in Mountainside; or visit us at www.ucnj.org/trailside