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Union County Freeholder Chairman Daniel Sullivan (L) and Freeholder Vice Chairman Deborah Scanlon (R) congratulate and commend Union County Vocational-Technical School (UCVTS) “Relay for Life” participants for their outstanding accomplishments and achievements in doing their part to help find a cure for cancer. Representing the UCVTS “Relay for Life” team are students (from left) Dylan Lang of Kenilworth, Stephen Esteves of Elizabeth and Julia Torsiello of New Providence. They are joined by UCVTS Superintendent Dr. Thomas Bistocchi and Debi LeBrun, advisor to the Community Service Club. The UCTVS “Relay for Life” team raised more than $140,000 for cancer research from the event that is sponsored by the American Cancer Society. (Photo by Jim Lowney 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

ELIZABETH, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi is pleased to offer a free 2011 wall calendar that honors the activities of County Clerks throughout Union County’s history and includes important dates of concern to voters and candidates for office in upcoming state and local elections.

“Union County – which was part of Essex County until 1857 – is a Who’s Who of historically significant figures,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “It is my hope that this 2011 calendar, with its vintage photographs and drawings, honors the memory of the men and women who have served the people of the Union County area so well since the 18th century.”

In addition to 12 photographs of those who have served as Union County Clerk since 1857, the calendar includes pictures of the first Union County Courthouse, originally built in 1811 as the Elizabeth City Hall, and scenes of various Clerks performing their official functions.

Since 2011 is a year of elections to the New Jersey State Legislature as well as to county, school board and municipal 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 2011 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 .

Union County Freeholder Chairman Daniel Sullivan (L) presents a resolution to Madhumita Parmar, a resident of Scotch Plains and a student at the Union County Academy for Allied Health Science, congratulating and commending her on performing in a fundraising concert for an agency which provides meals and education for under-privileged children in India. Madhumita raised more than $10,000 for the Akshaya Patra Foundation. They are joined by Union County Vocational-Technical Schools Superintendent Dr. Thomas Bistocchi. (Photo by Jim Lowney 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

Relay for Life award is third in three years

Union County, NJ – The Union County Vo-Tech Schools are well known for offering top quality academic and career programs, and Vo-Tech students are proving that the schools build a strong community spirit, too. For the third year in a row, Vo-Tech students have earned the Nationwide Per Capita Award for High Schools from the American Cancer Society, for their efforts during the national 2010 Relay for Life fundraising event last March.

Vo-Tech students raised more than $138,000 in March, topping their goal of $125,000. If they reach next year’s goal, they will have raised a total of $500,000 in five years.

“Union County is blessed with a great many young people who sacrifice their time and energy in order to help others,” said Freeholder Chairman Daniel P. Sullivan. “This award represents the heart and soul of the Vo-Tech student body, and of those who supported their efforts.”

Relay for Life is a national fundraising and awareness campaign of the American Cancer Society. In this event, teams camp out overnight and take turns walking or running around a track or path continuously.

All together, more than 750 people participated in the March 2010 Vo-Tech Relay for Life, including more than 450 Vo-Tech students representing all five schools, and over 300 parents, cancer survivors and other supporters from the community.

The 2011 event takes place on March 25-26, and Vo-Tech students have set a goal of raising $150,000.

“The Vo-Tech Schools are dedicated to developing young adults who have the confidence and ability not only to advance in their own lives, but to help lift their communities as well,” said Vo-Tech Schools Superintendent Dr. Thomas J. Bistocchi. “This achievement is an inspiration to us all.”

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Fundraising for the 2011 event has already begun. To donate to the Vo-Tech Schools Relay for Life team, call the American Cancer Society at 908-629-0386, ext. 210 or visit the Vo-Tech Schools Relay for Life web page,www.relayforlife.org/ucvtsNJ.

The Vo-Tech school district serves students throughout Union County with nationally recognized academic programs and career development. The campus is located at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains. For more information visit www.ucvts.tec.nj.us/ucvts/.

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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 Freeholder Rayland Van Blake (L) congratulates Linden Police Deputy Chief Sal Bivona on being named the 2010 Municipal Volunteer of the Year from Linden by the Local Advisory Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (LACADA) at the group’s annual volunteer recognition dinner in Garwood. (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

Union County Freeholder Rayland Van Blake (L) congratulates Michael Iacovelli on being named the 2010 Municipal Volunteer of the Year from New Providence by the Local Advisory Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (LACADA) at the group’s annual volunteer recognition dinner in Garwood. (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

Union County Freeholder Rayland Van Blake (L) congratulates Arnold Pierre on being named the 2010 Municipal Volunteer of the Year from Elizabeth by the Local Advisory Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (LACADA) at the group’s annual volunteer recognition dinner in Garwood. (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

Union County Freeholder Rayland Van Blake (L) congratulates Daniel Torres on being named the 2010 Municipal Volunteer of the Year from Springfield by the Local Advisory Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (LACADA) at the group’s annual volunteer recognition dinner in Garwood. (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

Union County Freeholder Rayland Van Blake congratulates Roselle Police Sgt. Joanne Scaturo on being named the 2010 Union County Volunteer of the Year by the Local Advisory Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (LACADA) at the group’s annual volunteer recognition dinner. Sgt. Scaturo, a Cranford resident, was also the LACADA 2010 Municipal Volunteer of the Year for Roselle. (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

ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present an exhibit of artwork by Marion Derrett in the gallery space at the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, located at 633 Pearl Street in Elizabeth. A selection of Derrett’s pastel paintings entitled “Salad Days” is on display at the Pearl Street Gallery from now until Jan. 28. The Gallery is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

“We are pleased to display an exciting and beautiful exhibit of portraits, floral and landscape paintings by artist Marion Derrett,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Union County Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board. “The talent and diversity of our county artists ensure an inspiring and interesting variety of exhibitions at the Pearl Street Gallery.”

Born in England, Ms. Derrett earned her art degree from Froebel Institute of Education in London and taught art in England for many years. She has traveled the world and studied Chinese painting while living in China and Singapore. After moving to Scotch Plains in 2002, she pursued her studies at Artspace Studio in Morristown with Julie Friedman; at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey in Summit, and the duCret School of Art in Plainfield. Marion Derrett works from her Scotch Plains studio in pastels, oils and acrylics on commissioned portraits and landscape paintings. She also writes and illustrates children’s books. Her work can be seen at www.marionderrett.com .

Ms. Derrett has exhibited extensively and won many awards, including: the Scotch Plains & Fanwood Arts Association 2010, First Place; the Scotch Plains & Fanwood Arts Association 2009, Best of Show; and the Pastel Society of New Jersey 4th Annual Member’s Exhibition 2009, Award of Merit. She has shown her paintings in exhibitions throughout Connecticut, New Jersey and New York.

In the eight years that Marion Derrett has lived in Scotch Plains, she has pursued her art career with passion and focus. She enjoys involvement in many professional organizations: Juried Member of the American Artists Professional League; Juried Associate Member of the Pastel Society of America; Portrait Society of America; Contemporary Art Group, Westfield; Westfield Arts Association; Pastel Society of New Jersey; Scotch Plains & Fanwood Arts Association; Millburn-Short Hills Art Center; and the Watchung Arts Center.

Union County artists (whose works can be hung on a wall) interested in exhibiting in the gallery space are welcome to apply. For more information about the Pearl Street Gallery or to learn about other programs and services please 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 to: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

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 .