Author: Web Site Administrator

The Volunteers Guild of RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital of Union County will sponsor product sales throughout 2011. The sales will feature items ranging from sheets and towels to jewelry; fragrances, cellular items and toys. All sales are held in the facility’s multi-purpose room, unless otherwise advised. RUNNELLS is located at 40 Watchung Way, Berkeley Heights. Sales run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and are handicapped accessible. 
The upcoming vendor sales are: 
Jan. 31 – Mr. Uniforms 
Feb. 14 – Jewels & More 
Feb. 28 – Ron’s Sheets & Towels 
March 15 – In The Bag 
March 28 – Cellular Needs 
April 11 – N&N Linens & LGE Jewelry 
April 25 – Sheila’s Fashion Group 
May 10 – Holly’s Bags 
May 23 – S & S Trading 
June 6 – H.A.S. Sheets 
June 20 – Topical Solutions & Shirt Mobile 
Sept. 12 – Ideal Jewelry 
Sept. 26 – R & K Fragrances 
Oct. 7 – Bella Trends 
Oct. 24 – The Silver Cottage 
Nov. 7 – Simple Treasures 
Nov. 21 – Nicole’s Boutique 
Dec. 5 – Jewelry Lady 
Dec. 19 – The Glove Lady, Reese Jewelry, Joe the Toy Man

The public is welcome to attend RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital product sales. A percentage of all purchases made at these sales is credited to the Volunteers Guild. Funds raised are used to enrich the lives of residents and patients by obtaining items that may include prizes for bingo games and paying for entertainment. The Guild, which makes vendor sales possible, also sponsors a holiday party/gift distribution in cooperation with the Berkeley Heights Lions Club. 
“This is a perfect way for people to get items from fragrances and jewelry to toys and sheets while supporting the residents and patients at RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital,” said Union County Freeholder Mohamed S. Jalloh, Freeholder liaison to RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital.

The Volunteers Guild and the Office of Volunteer Services of RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital are always interested in recruiting volunteers, both adult and junior (age 14 and up). Flexible hours and a variety of opportunities exist with resident contact as well as performing other tasks. Anyone who would like information about volunteering or the above listed sales should call the Office of Volunteer Services at 908-771-5847.

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Union Couny Freeholder Chairman Daniel Sullivan (R), Vice Chairman Deborah Scanlon and Freeholder Alexander Mirabella attend the Union County Menorah and Tree Lighting Celebration during the 27th annual Holiday Nature Craft Show at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside. (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

The first RUNNELLS Volunteers Guild sale of 2011 will feature the merchandise of Mr. Uniforms at RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital of Union County on Monday, January 31st. This will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The sale will be held in the multi-purpose room of the facility at 40 Watchung Way, Berkeley Heights.

The public is invited to attend RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital product sales. A percentage of all purchases made at these sales is credited to the Volunteers Guild.

Funds raised are used to enrich the lives of residents and patients by obtaining items that may include prizes for bingo games and paying for entertainment. The Guild, which makes vendor sales possible, also sponsors a holiday party/gift distribution in cooperation with the Berkeley Heights Lions Club.

“This is a great way for people to get needed uniforms while supporting the residents and patients at RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital,” said Union County Freeholder Mohamed S. Jalloh, Freeholder liaison to RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital.

The Volunteers Guild and the Office of Volunteer Services of RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital are always interested in recruiting volunteers. Flexible hours and a variety of opportunities exist with resident contact as well as performing other tasks. Anyone who would like further information should call the Office of Volunteer Services at 908-771-5847.

Sebastian D’Elia, (center) Union County Communications Director and UNICO National Communications Director presents Angelo Bonanno, President of Hillside UNICO (l.) and Robert Trotte (r.), Hillside UNICO Treasurer, with a honorary resolution from the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Hillside chapter during their recent celebration at Snuffy’s in Scotch Plains.

ROSELLE, N.J. – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that the 28th Annual George T. Cron High School Hockey Tournament will begin Monday evening, December 6, at 6:00 p.m. at the Warinanco Ice Skating Center in Roselle. Eight of the best high school hockey teams in New Jersey will compete at the Warinanco rink, located in Warinanco Park, a facility of the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal.

The First Round schedule is as follows:

• Monday, Dec. 6 – 6:00 p.m.: Scotch Plains-Fanwood vs. Morris Knolls

8:30 p.m.: Summit vs. Mendham

• Tuesday, Dec. 7 – 6:00 p.m.: Parsippany vs. Westfield

8:30 p.m.: Cranford vs. Arthur L. Johnson

The Second Round of the tournament will begin Thursday, Dec. 9, and will continue on Monday, Dec. 13. There will be games at 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on both nights.

The Semi-Final Round will be on Tuesday, Dec. 14, and the Finals will be played on Wednesday, Dec. 15. There will be games at 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on both nights.

Spectator admission to the tournament is $4.00 for adults and $3.00 for youths 17 years of age and under.

The Warinanco Ice Skating Center is located off Thompson and Seventh avenues in Roselle and can also be approached from the St. Georges Avenue and Park Street entrances to Warinanco Park. For further directions and recorded information about skating classes, hockey clinics and special events at the Warinanco Ice Skating Center, please call 908-298-7850.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that Christopher’s Program, which helps at-risk youths avoid gangs and gang-related violence, has recently been awarded the prestigious Community Change Award by the 2010 New Jersey Black Issues Leadership Convention. The program was selected from hundreds of applications submitted throughout New Jersey.

Union County Freeholder Nancy Ward spearheaded the development of Christopher’s Program, which was named in honor of Christopher Booker, who was brutally murdered by gang members on Thanksgiving weekend ten years ago. It is part of the 2010 Freeholder Chairman’s Initiative, “Helping People.”

“The death of Christopher Booker opened my eyes to a world that, ten years ago, I knew nothing about – the presence of gang violence in the State of New Jersey,” said Freeholder Ward. “After much searching for answers, I did indeed gain knowledge about organized gangs, their history in New Jersey, what was being done to combat this growing epidemic, and most importantly, what more should be and must be done.”

Before Christopher’s Program, Freeholder Ward initiated numerous two-day gang prevention programs in Union County.

“The experience made it apparent to me that a permanent, continuous and more expansive Union County program was needed in order to quash the ongoing recruitment of our young people into organized gangs,” said Freeholder Ward.

Christopher’s Program went into operation earlier this year, through the Union County Department of Human Services. It consists of interactive sessions with trained speakers, experts and agencies in New Jersey, dealing exclusively with the topic of gangs and youth violence.

Participants are selected at the discretion of the Union County court system, Probation Department and Juvenile Detention Center. Each participant attends the program twice weekly for six consecutive weeks. An alternative schedule of one session weekly for twelve weeks is also under consideration. Sessions are held in the Detention Center or at three community locations for those who are on probation or home confinement.

Christopher’s Program is also available to all Union County school districts upon request, and accepts referrals from local community agencies. Christopher’s Program also includes a professional development and community education component that serves to enhance community awareness and community education regarding the topic of gangs and youth violence.

“Christopher’s Program is unique in that the partnership between the court system, the Department of Human Services and our communities will now allow us to reach thousands of additional youths in the years to come who stand at imminent risk of joining or staying in organized street gangs,” said Freeholder Ward.

The New Jersey Black Issues Leadership Conference Community Change Award focuses on locally-initiated programs that work toward reducing disparities in economic opportunity, education, health and human services, and law, justice and public safety. Christopher’s Program was recognized for its innovative approach and for its potential to be adapted for use in different settings, and in other counties throughout New Jersey.

“I am confident that the continued partnership of our Union County government, our court system and our Probation Department will serve to greatly reduce the cycle of recruitment of our young people into gang lifestyles going into the future here in Union County, while also serving as a model program for other counties in New Jersey,” said Freeholder Ward.

For more information on Christopher’s Program, schools and community organizations can contact Bonnie Herrmann, Union County Department of Human Services, bherrmann@ucnj.org or 908-527-4800

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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.

Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich congratulates Sheriff’s Office Adrian Gardner on being certified as a latent print examiner by the International Association for Identification. A latent print examiner is an individual who examines and compares any fingerprints that are found at a crime scene to known fingerprints. Officer Gardner is only one of three certified latent print examiners in New Jersey. (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 Angel G. Estrada presents a resolution to Crystal Williams (R), a graduate of Union County Vocational-Technical School’s Academy for Allied Health Sciences, congratulating her on receiving the 2010 New Jersey Association of Counties Foundation and Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation Partners for Educational Excellence Scholarship. They are joined by Sheila Wegryn, Principal of Union County Vocational-Technical School Academy for Allied Health Science.

Elizabeth-Every holiday season for more than a decade, Union County Sheriff’s Officers have set up their “Tree of Hope” in the courthouse seeking donations of toys and clothing for needy children throughout the county. Each year the response has been overwhelming.

The “Tree of Hope” was first planted in 1997 when officers approached Sheriff Ralph Froehlich and related troubling stories of children who were going to experience a less than happy holiday season. The children the officers encountered were homeless or living in shelters, were victims of domestic violence or medically fragile. Their parents or guardians did not have the financial ability to provide holiday gifts.

Every year since the Sheriff and the “Tree of Hope” committee have erected a tree in the Union County Courthouse featuring paper ornaments. Volunteers make the ornaments and write a particular gift on each one.

“These caring officers do a tremendous job in helping these children,” Sheriff Froehlich said. “Even during tough economic and personal times, it is important not to forget those kids who are less fortunate.”

Monetary donations to help provide additional gifts are also being sought.

Contributions of money (tax-deductible), toys and clothing can be sent to: Union County Sheriff’s Officers Tree of Hope, Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, N.J., 07207. For more information, call the “Tree of Hope” hotline at 908-629-2158.

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

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Community Renewal are pleased to present the 27th annual Holiday Nature Craft Show at Trailside Nature and Science Center on Sunday, Dec. 5, from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. The craft show is being held in conjunction with the Union County Menorah and Tree Lighting Celebration. Admission is an item of dry or canned food or a new, unwrapped toy to be distributed through local charities.

With a large selection of handcrafted items, you will certainly be able to check some names off your list at the Holiday Nature Craft Show at Trailside. More than 40 vendors will be selling handcrafted items such as natural wreaths, ornaments, handmade gift baskets and hand-painted or stenciled home décor. Crafters and artisans will also offer unique children’s toys, jewelry, stained glass and gift items with wildlife, gardening and nature themes. Light refreshments will be available for purchase throughout the day.

Children will be able to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus from noon to 4:30 p.m. in the Trailside auditorium. Free children’s coloring and face painting offered on the upper level of the Visitor Center will keep the little ones entertained. The day will culminate at 4:45 p.m. with the Union County Menorah and Tree Lighting.

“While shopping at the Nature Craft Show for unique, one-of-a kind gifts for friends and family, visitors will be treated to a festive afternoon of activities,” said Freeholder Vice Chairwoman Deborah Scanlon. “Adding to the holiday atmosphere, carolers will entice visitors to join them in sing-alongs and decorated trees will be displayed throughout the Visitors Center. Trees are decorated by staff from various County departments and all trees, ornaments and gift cards collected will be distributed to Union County families in need.”

Visitors are encouraged to stop by each tree and then cast a vote for their favorite tree. The Department of Parks and Community Renewal would like to offer a special thank you to the ShopRite of Clark for their generous donation of candy canes and assorted items for this holiday event and charity drive.

For additional information about the Holiday Nature Craft Show please call Trailside at 908-789-3670 or go towww.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.

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