Author: Web Site Administrator

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to host GLAAD Media Institute’s ‘Engagement 101’ accelerating acceptance training course free for anyone who wants to build the core skills and communication techniques that influence positive cultural change toward acceptance and inclusion.

Presented in collaboration with Union County’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, GLAAD Media Institute will bring their popular ‘Engagement 101 Telling Your Story: Messaging and Media Tools For Today’s Activists’ course to the Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth on Friday, May 24 from 9:30AM until 3:30PM. Registration is free and required online at ucnj.org/lgbtq.

“The Freeholder Board is honored to partner with GLAAD to empower equality advocates in our community to raise their voices and take the case for inclusion and acceptance to the Union County community, and beyond,” said Freeholder Chairman Bette Jane Kowalski.

Using the best practices, tools, and communications techniques they’ve perfected over the past 30 years, the GLAAD Media Institute turns education into armor for today’s culture war—transforming individuals into compelling storytellers, media-savvy navigators, and mighty ambassadors whose voices break through the noise and incite real change.

Join us on Friday, May 24 for Engagement 101. In this free course, participants will learn how to get a message of inclusion and acceptance across effectively. Equipped with GLAAD’s Accelerating Acceptance data, the GLAAD Media Institute will work with you to reach and teach the movable middle about the LGBTQ community through a personal lens, yours. Topics include LGBTQ acceptance, understanding media mentality, speaking to your audience, messaging and framing the issue, social media basics, and interview techniques.

“One of the most effective way to awareness, understanding and acceptance is by sharing personal stories and experiences,” said Freeholder Rebecca Williams, liaison to the Union County LGBTQ Ad Hoc Committee. “The GLAAD Engagement 101 course is an important opportunity for LGBTQ individuals and allies to increase the impact of their voice and influence change.”

Union County’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, under the Department of Economic Development, was established by the Freeholder Board in 2018 and is the first and only county government office of its kind in the State of New Jersey.

The Office of LGBTQ Affairs provides a platform for leadership and collaboration to support equality, and serves as a catalyst for advocacy, awareness and action on current and emerging issues that impact the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals.

For more information about the Office of LGBTQ Affairs, contact Danni Newbury, Coordinator, at 908-527-4742 or dnewbury@ucnj.org or visit ucnj.org/LGBTQ.

The Union County Freeholders’ Local Advisory Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (LACADA) volunteers will be honored at the annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner, Tuesday, May 7 at 6:00 p.m. at the Galloping Hill Caterers, 325 Chestnut Street, Union, NJ.

“The Freeholders strongly support the Municipal Alliances’ LACADA citizen volunteers who work at the grass-roots level in their communities to prevent substance abuse and promote healthy lifestyles among children, teens, adults and families,” said Bette Jane Kowalski, Chair of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.  “These residents give their time, their skills, and their hearts to help those in need. They inspire us all to keep reaching out—and away from substance dependence—to build a healthy life.” 

This year the Freeholders, through the County’s Department of Human Services, Division of Individual and Family Support Services, are proud to pay special tribute to the following 10 volunteers:

• Jaimie Wronski of Clark;
• Detective Nadia Jones of Cranford;
• Virginia Marinelli of Garwood;
• Lorraine Messiah of Hillside;
• Jamie Lugo of Kenilworth;
• Thomas A. Solsky of Linden;
• Tara Smith of New Providence;
• Ashley Davis of Plainfield;
• Malika DeJesus Quevedo of Roselle, and
• Jaimie DeDea of Westfield, the “Union County Municipal Alliance Volunteer of the Year.”

By state law members of the Municipal Alliance are appointed by the governing body (Board of Chosen Freeholders) from a variety of community stakeholders including representation from education, health, law enforcement, faith-based entities, business, civic groups, non-profit organizations, and government officials. Municipal Alliance members develop alcohol and drug addiction prevention and treatment plans to address local priorities. These plans are reviewed by the LACADA and the Freeholder Board.  Funding comes from the state’s Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (GCADA) and the Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Last year in Union County nearly 300 citizen volunteers from 19 municipalities participated in their Municipal Alliance alcohol and drug abuse education and prevention activities presented countywide, including presentations to parents through public school events such as Back-to-School nights.  In 2019 Union County will receive $536,201 from the state for Municipal Alliance activities. 

For more information about Union County’s substance abuse services, call the Union County Department of Human Services, Division of Individual and Family Support Services, 908-527-4844.  The link to the Alliance webpage is https://ucnj.org/departments/human-services/alliance-to-prevent-alcoholism-and-drug-abuse/.

Union County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholders Rebecca Williams, Christopher Hudak and Sergio Granados joined Union County Deputy County Manager Amy Wagner in congratulating the winners of the 18th Annual Art Contest for County of Union Employees and their families during the awards reception at Liberty Hall Center in Union. Presented in partnership with the National Arts Program, the exhibit will be open to the public weekdays until May 21; from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Liberty Hall Center is located at 1085 Morris Avenue in Union Township. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

County of Union Administration Staff is wearing jeans today in support of Denim Day and to bring more sexual assault issues to light. Sexual violence is a serious public health problem and affects millions of women and men in the United States.

 Prosecutor’s Office – Police Academy employees

Department of Human Services – Social Services Division employees

Office of Witness Advocacy employees  Marcela Triacanico, Ana Maria Melara and Kimberly Best-Paris

Event features exhibitions and break out talks on “How to Make Your Money Last” for seniors beginning 9 a.m. in Garwood

GARWOOD, NJ—The Senior Citizens Council of Union County will be presenting “Staying in New Jersey: How to Make Your Money Last,” a free event featuring talks, exhibitions, and screenings, running from 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at the Westwood in Garwood.

The event is co-sponsored by the Union County Freeholder Board as part of Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski’s “Empowering Union County” initiatives. The Westwood is located at 438 North Avenue.

“Many of Union County’s seniors are very active and living longer than ever before, which means their finances must last longer,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski, who announced initiatives for seniors as part of her “Empowering Union County” initiatives. “We’re proud to partner with the Senior Citizens Council of Union County and co-sponsor this informative and interactive event, which covers a wide variety of topics related to finance and health.”

​​​Doors open at 9:00 am with a free continental breakfast.  Attendees will have the opportunity to browse the information exhibits on display.  There will be free on-site screenings offered by local area hospitals and healthcare providers.  The formal program with a panel of guest speakers will run from 10:15am to 11:45am with time for questions.

Featured topics include:

Personal Budget Planning:  Monitoring your spending.  Prioritizing your needs.

Downsizing Your Home:  Upkeep problem or financial burden, or both?  Smaller home, rental, alternative living arrangements

Credit & Lending Options:  Home equity lines, refinancing, reverse mortgages.  Can you get a cash advance?

Getting a Job:  Full or part-time.  What are you qualified to do?  Job training and placement.

Medicaid Eligibility:  How do you qualify?  When should you apply?

Other Government Funded Support:  What are the subsidized programs for home and healthcare?

To RSVP, or for more information, please contact the Union County Senior Citizens Council at 908-964-7555 or go to www.njseniorcouncil.com or email info@njseniorcouncil.com

Union County, NJ — If you were living in the Plainfield area in the late 1800s and wanted a family portrait, it’s quite possible you found your way to the studio of Guillermo Thorn.

And if one of these days you find yourself wandering along the Green Brook in the Watchung Reservation and come across some ruins, there are old Thorn photographs revealing what once stood there.

Should any of this history fascinate you — the beginnings of commercial photography in America or the 19^th century mills that once powered industries along the brooks in the Watchung Mountains, then there is only one place you want to be this Sunday: Masker’s Barn, 13 Cataract Hollow Road, Berkeley Heights, in the Deserted Village of Feltville.

As part of the spring celebration at Union County’s Watchung Reservation, which includes Wild Earth Fest and Touch A Truck, the Deserted Village will host free hayrides through the village, along with history tours.

Part of that history will be told by Scotch Plains resident Rich Palmatier, an amateur historian who has made Thorn and the mills along the Green and Blue Brooks the focus of hundreds of hours of research.

Reproductions of Thorn’s work will be on display in Masker’s Barn, with Palmatier explaining Thorn’s adventures through the area and the photographic legacy he left behind, including a series of stereographs — precursors to Viewmasters (if you’re old enough to remember them) and today’s virtual reality headsets.

“This Sunday is going to be quite a day up in the Watchung Reservation,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.  “While Wild Earth Fest and Touch A Truck are returning to mark our annual Spring kick off in County Parks, there will be even more to do.”

“The Watchung Stable will be hosting free pony rides and barn tours, while the Deserted Village will be hosting a mini-Four Centuries,” Kowalski said.

All activities will run from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with main parking at the Stable and Deserted Village. Shuttle buses will get visitors around the Reservation.

As part of the special focus on Guillermo Thorn, several Thorn-related Union County History Cards will be available for youngsters to collect at Masker’s Barn. To learn more about collecting Union County History Cards, visit ucnj.org/historycards.

Guillermo Thorn Born was born in 1837, two years before the invention of the photograph. He would grow up to see photography infiltrate every aspect of 19th-century life. 

Thorn gave up a brief career as a drawing and painting teacher and opened his first studio in Saugerties, NY, before moving to Plainfield in 1864. 

While he quickly established himself as a professional photographer, taking portraits and scenics of the area, his personal life was marred by tragedy. By 1870, disease claimed the lives of his wife, Alice, and their five children. He eventually remarried, with his later children becoming muses for his pictorial work.  

As part of Palmatier’s presentations on Sunday, he will share old photographs of the long forgotten mills along the Green and Blue Brooks. During the 18th and early 19th centuries, these waterways were the industrial hub for this area, producing everything from lumber to paper to gunpowder, grist, material for hats and crushed stone. 

There were upwards of 12 mills along these two brooks. In some spots, you can still see remnants of the dams, sluices, and spillways that provided the water power to drive the machinery. 

For those who participate in the National Parks Passport Program, the Deserted Village Church and General Store will be open to stamp Parks passports. The site, originally settled in the 1700s, is included in the National Parks Service Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area, along with a number of other Revolutionary War era sites in Union County. 

To learn more about the Passport to Your National Parks program and the locations of Parks Stamps in Union County, visit ucnj.org/parks-recreation/cultural-heritage-affairs.

For information on all Union County parks and activities visit ucnj.org/parks-activities.

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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.

Inductees were chosen for their leadership, commitment to county government, and 20 years of public service.

Freeholder Vice Chairman Mirabella, who was first elected in 1997, has led initiatives to preserve hundreds of acres of open space, expand park space, create new recreational facilities for youth, grow the County’s various educational institutions, create the state’s first Office on LGBTQ Affairs, expand services to those with special needs, and create new workforce and economic development initiatives

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation invite families with children of all ages and adults alike to climb aboard a plethora of vehicles at this year’s “Touch a Truck” event on Sunday afternoon, April 28th. The event will run from 11:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M., weather permitting in the lower Loop parking lot of the Watchung Reservation.

There will also be a quiet hour, from 11:00 A.M. until 12:00 P.M. where children sensitive to noise will be able to enjoy the vehicles on display.

“Residents of all ages will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with some dynamic machines at Touch a Truck,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “They will also be able to climb aboard and experience the excitement of being behind the wheel.”

Attendees will be able to see a variety of trucks from Union County’s Department of Public Works that are used for roads, parks maintenance and various projects.

Admission to the Touch a Truck event is $5 per person, with children 6 years old and under admitted free. The price of admission also includes admission to the Wild Earth Fest.

The Wild Earth Fest allows guest to meet live animals, celebrate wildlife, learn about environmental conservation and try their hand at outdoor skills.

The Loop area is located just off Tracy Drive in Mountainside, in between Glenside Avenue and Summit Road. It features a very popular playground area for kids, and the concession stand will be open. There will also be a food truck vendor.

There will be free programs running at the Watchung Stables and Deserted Village including lead line horse rides, face painting, hayrides and stable tours. The Church/Store and Maskers Barn will also be open.

Also, Lake Surprise is just a short walk away where residents can see the dam.

Attendees can shuttle for free between the sites throughout the day.

For more information on Touch a Truck, or any event in the Union County Parks System, please visit our website at ucnj.org/parks.

Los Legisladores del Condado de Union se complace en anunciar una serie de Conferencias de gran interés a los adultos y estudiantes de escuela secundaria. Las conferencias se llevarán a cabo en el  Trailside Nature & Science Center en la Reservación de Watchung, en el  452 New Providence Road en Mountainside. La asistencia es gratis.

“Las populares Series de Conversaciones en el Sendero ofrecen la oportunidad de participar en conferencias educacionales sobre diferentes tópicos mientras experimenta la belleza natural de la Reservación de Watchung,” comentó la Legisladora Bette Jane Kowalski. “La Junta de Legisladores se enorgullece en en apoyar a la educación de la comunidad y la preservación ambiental.”

El sábado, 4 de mayo a las  2:00 p.m., NASA Embajador del Sistema Solar Paul Cirillo presentará  la charla  From Apollo to Tomorrow — What’s Next for Human Space Travel ( De Apolo a Mañana / Que es lo Próximo para el Viaje de los Humanos al Espacio). Este programa informativo y fascinante celebra 50 años desde que las misiones de Apolo abrió el camino para las exploraciones espaciales con tripulación humana.

El Sr. Cirillo compartirá información sobre los programas espaciales con seres humanos planeados por los Estados Unidos, China, Rusia y cuatro compañias Americanas. Incluye pasarela espacial, bases lunares, un viaje a Marte e incluso turismo espacial.  

Celebrating Union County Women’s History( Celebrando la Historia de las Mujeres del Condado de Union) se presentará el miércoles 8 de mayo a las 7:00 p.m.  John Prescott, Coordinador de los Programas de Historia de la Oficina de Asuntos de Cultura y Patrimonio del Condado de Union, presentará las versiones sobre escritores, educadores, activistas, atletas y otras mujeres que se hicieron notar en la historia del Condado de Union. Este programa está patrocinado en parte por la Comisión Histórica de New Jersey.

Para más información sobre estos programas y otras actividades en el Trailside, por favor llamar al  908-789-3670 o visitar la página ucnj.org/trailside

El Trailside Nature and Science Center es un Servicio de la Junta de Legisladores del Condado de Union.                                                              

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi joined Union County Sheriff Peter Corvelli and Union County Surrogate James LaCorte in congratulating the top winners of the 2019 “My County” poster contest sponsored by the Union County Constitutional Officers.

The top four winners of the contest are:

• 1st Place – Victoria A. Cardenas (Our Lady of Guadalupe Academy, Elizabeth)
• 2nd Place – Mike Quinatoa (Ronald Regan Elem. School #30, Elizabeth)
• 3rd Place – Madison Porter (St. Michael’s Elem. School, Cranford)
• 4th Place –Ariana Armijos (John Battin School #4, Elizabeth) Not Pictured

More than 200 fourth grade students from schools throughout Union County entered the contest. Twelve winners in total will have their artwork featured in a poster calendar.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)