The Union County Freeholder Board is proud of the success of the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools system, which is considered one of the top in the nation. Please enjoy this video overview of the UC Vocational-Technical Schools system, narrated by its Superintendent, Peter Capodice.
Author: Web Site Administrator
Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholder Rebecca Williams joined Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi in welcoming members of the Union County Municipal Clerks Association to the County Clerk’s annual appreciation luncheon in honor of Municipal Clerks. This year’s luncheon was held at The Snyder Academy of Elizabethtown in Elizabeth. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados has been selected by the Friends of New Jersey Legacy Foundation to be honored with their Outstanding Community Service Award at the 2018 Juneteenth Family Reunion on Sunday, June 17.
This year’s Juneteenth celebration will be held at the Elizabeth Waterfront Pier and Marina at the foot of Elizabeth Avenue from 2 -7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
“As someone active in the volunteer community, I know that all those who are being honored at this event are passionate, energized, and eager to lend their time and their skills to make a real difference,” said Chairman Granados. “I am very grateful to receive this honor and be recognized for my service at this special commemoration of freedom for all. I also want to congratulate all the fathers who are being honored, and have not only been role models for their children but also for other youth in their communities.”
Chairman Granados, in keeping with his commitment to civic responsibility and service, established the Office of Community Engagement and Diversity as part of his “Moving Union County Forward” initiative. The new office is tasked with supporting and growing volunteer activities by identifying opportunities, coordinating events, building a volunteer network and strengthening relationships with the County’s diverse communities.
The theme of this year’s Juneteenth event is “Celebration of Our African American Men” and fittingly will take place on Father’s Day. The celebration will honor 45 active men who have been influential in their communities.
Juneteenth is recognized as a commemoration of the effective end to slavery in the United States. While President Lincoln delivered his famous Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, many slave owners in Southern states failed to inform their slaves of the landmark decision.
It took until June 19, 1865 – over two years after Lincoln’s address freeing slaves – for Union soldiers to ride into Galveston, Texas and announce the abolition of slavery there.
Hence, Juneteenth is a celebration of the emancipation of all slaves. Every year around June 19, people participate in parades and cultural events to honor the true end of slavery.
Chairman Granados will be honored as a supporter of the African-American community. Family and friends are invited to pay tribute and honor Granados and other deserving men for their work and service while commemorating the effective end to slavery more than 150 years ago.
I have received several emails of appreciation from our residents. I have also received a few negative emails in reference to our strong support for LGBTQ residents and creating equality for all across our county.
So I want to be clear with those who feel negatively about our support for LGBTQ related activities sponsored by our County Freeholder Board in recognition of Pride Month, we are steadfast in our commitment to advocating for equality and advancing the equal rights movement. I will stand against anyone who feels that we should not be treating each other equally as a county of inclusiveness for all. We are all unique and should be highlighting our differences as positives not negatives, we only can move forward if we learn to build bridges in our communities not tear them down. Seeing negative e-mails like these only makes me stand stronger by my decision and clearly validates the need for the Office of LGBTQ Services (the first County in the State to have this office) and have events to honor and respect the LGBTQ community.
So with that said, I stand firm in supporting LGBTQ residents and allies – that includes lending my voice and active support in efforts to combat discrimination, hate and fear.
Lane closings are planned this weekend and/or next week for the Goethals Bridge, Bayonne Bridge, Holland Tunnel and George Washington Bridge for ongoing construction and repair projects.
Goethals Bridge:
- The bridge’s New York-bound lanes will be closed from 10 p.m. tonight, June 8, through 9 a.m. Saturday, June 9, and from 11:59 p.m. Saturday, June 9, through 9 a.m. Sunday, June 10, to accommodate reconfiguration of the bridge’s New York-bound span. Traffic will be diverted to the Outerbridge Crossing and Bayonne Bridge during the closing. New Jersey-bound traffic will not be impacted.
Bayonne Bridge:
- The bridge will be closed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday night through Thursday night, June 11-14, to accommodate ongoing construction work. The overnight closures will be scheduled consistently Monday through Thursday nights through the end of this summer.
Holland Tunnel:
- One westbound lane in the tunnel will be closed during overnight hours from Sunday, June 10, through Thursday, June 14, from 11:59 p.m. each night through 5:30 a.m. the following morning. The closings are needed for ongoing tunnel repairs.
- One eastbound lane in the tunnel will be closed during overnight hours from Sunday, June 10, through Thursday, June 14, from 11 p.m. each night through 5 a.m. the following morning. The closings are needed for ongoing tunnel repairs.
George Washington Bridge:
- Two upper level lanes on the bridge’s eastbound side will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday, June 8, through 10 a.m. Saturday, June 9.
- Two upper level lanes on the bridge’s westbound side will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday, June 8, through 10 a.m. Saturday, June 9.
- The Palisades Interstate Parkway toll plaza will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday, June 8, through 10 a.m. Saturday, June 9, and from 10 p.m. Saturday, June 9, through 10 a.m. Sunday, June 10.
To receive real time traffic updates, travelers should register for Bridge and Tunnel Alerts at www.paalerts.com, call 511 or visit www.511NY.org or www.511NJ.org
Categories
2018 UC STEP Start Now Grant Winners
Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados presents checks and resolutions to students and teachers congratulating them on winning the 2018 UC STEP Start Now Grant and the participating in the UC STEP “Branches Against Bullying” Civic Engagement Campaign. They were joined by Assemblywoman Linda Carter, Union County Deputy Manager Amy Wagner and Deana Mesaros of the Union County Department of Economic Development.
The first place winner of the UC STEP Start Now Grant “Branches Against Bullying” is Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy in Elizabeth ($1,000). New Providence High School, Union County TEAMS Charter School and Governor Livingston High School in Berkeley Heights received Honorary Mentions ($250 each)
UC STEP (Union County Student Training & Enrichment Program) was created to provide high school students the opportunity to develop a countywide community service around a topic they feel is important, while teaching them leadership, personal growth skills, and responsibility within their communities.
The exhibit will be on display until July 9 at Liberty Hall Center which is located at 1085 Morris Avenue in Union. Viewing times are from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados, Vice Chairman Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholders Bruce H. Bergen and Rebecca Williams joined Union County Sheriff Peter Corvelli and other public officials at the Union County Pride Flag Raising Ceremony event on the steps of the historic Union County Courthouse on Broad Street in Elizabeth. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders proclaimed June 2018 as Pride Month in Union County. Union County’s Pride Month events are organized by the Office of LGBTQ Services.
Established as part of Chairman Granados’ 2018 Moving Union County Forward initiatives, the Office of LGBTQ Services, is the first County government office of its kind in the State of New Jersey. It provides a platform for leadership and collaboration to support equality, serving as a catalyst for advocacy, awareness and action. For more information about the Office of LGBTQ Services, contact Danni Newbury, coordinator, at 908-527-4742 or dnewbury@ucnj.org or visit ucnj.org/lgbtq.
Rebecca Williams, a former Plainfield Councilwoman, has been appointed to fill an unexpired term on the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
Freeholder Williams, who will be ceremonially sworn in at the upcoming Freeholder meeting on June 7th, was chosen by the Union County Democratic Committee to complete the term left vacant by former Freeholder Linda Carter, who recently resigned to become the State Assemblywoman for the 22nd District.
“We congratulate Freeholder Williams on her appointment and we look forward to working with her in moving Union County forward,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “On behalf of the Freeholder Board, Directors, and our employees, I welcome her to County government. Her experience as a councilwoman and community roots has helped to prepare her for this new chapter in her life of serving our over 500,000 Union County residents.”
Freeholder Williams said: “It is an honor to represent the people of Union County on the Board of Chosen Freeholders. I look forward to working with all the members of the Board in serving the residents of this great county. I have served as an ethical, dependable, and dedicated public servant at the municipal level, and as an effective advocate on various issues. I am ready to serve. ”
Biography for Freeholder Williams
Known for an emphasis on constituent outreach, fiscal issues and quality of life matters, Freeholder Williams served two terms on the Plainfield City Council.
She served last year as Council President, leading the city council in support of a progressive agenda and economic development that has contributed to Plainfield’s revitalization. Prior to her appointment to the Freeholder Board, she was serving for the third straight year as the Chair of the Council’s Administration and Finance Committee, leading the council to the earliest-ever budget passage multiple years in a row.
She was also the current Chair of the Public Safety Committee (having served in that role previously for some years), and the liaison to the Plainfield Advisory Commission on Hispanic Affairs.
As Council President, she budgeted (through the council budget) for bilingual translation devices (and a translator). She also worked to ensure that the City agendas were translated into Spanish. Freeholder Williams also took the lead in successfully securing passage of the Earned Sick Leave ordinance for the City of Plainfield to help protect city workers and the city’s public health. Plainfield became only the 12th municipality to pass such a law in New Jersey.
Freeholder Williams has also been in the forefront of LGBTQ advocacy, and last year, hosted a special LGBTQ Pride Month event—a staged play-reading, and Plainfield’s first-ever Pride flag raising event. In addition, she served in the past on the Plainfield Pride Film Festival Committee, and was recently honored for her activism with a resolution by Union County for Lesbian Visibility Day.
Union County Sheriff Peter Corvelli announced today that the Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health, will offer training on traumatic events in the workplace, Peer-to-Peer Counseling, and mental health wellbeing for Officers and Supervisors.
The trainings, led by Princeton House professionals, are the first in their kind in New Jersey offered at a Sheriff’s Office. They are being offered free of charge, in conjunction with the PBA and are voluntary for rank-and-file members (approximately 200 Supervisors and Officers) of the Sheriff’s Office. The trainings are expected to begin in September (on-site at the County complex in Elizabeth), and last two months.
“Union County Supervisors and Officers are the first on scene at many tragic and violent incidents,” said Sheriff Corvelli. “They make decisions in split seconds under stressful conditions in order to protect the citizens and courts of Union County. By offering this training, we hope to help promote balance and enhance the wellbeing of those who protect and serve.”
The trainings, which are being led by Michael Bizzarro, Ph.D., Director of First Responder Treatment Services at Princeton House (and a former Police Officer and military veteran) and Ken Burkert, a retired Union County Corrections Officer who was the State PBA Vice President (and a Chairman of the Peer Assistance Response Team for the PBA), offer tools for officers to help manage stress and trauma of the job.
“The training is also designed to assist officers in identifying signs of stress in their peers. In a group of individuals who always run toward danger to protect others, there is often an inability to notice when troubling events have taken their toll. Our training can help officers detect problems before they become tragedies,” said Dr. Bizzarro.
Mike Heller, Union County Sheriff’s Officer and the Union delegate to the PBA, added:
“This program gives our Officers and Supervisors an important tool in dealing with the stress in their jobs,” said Heller, who is also a member of the Peer Assistance Response team for the PBA, which among its programs, provides a counseling component for its members. “The stress and trauma is a side of the job no one likes to talk about—and having this program which encourages them to talk and share their issues, will not only assist our men and women in their jobs, but in their daily lives and overall mental health.”
First Responder Treatment Services at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health provides customized care for law enforcement officers, firefighters, military personnel, EMTs, and other first responders while they are in treatment at Princeton House, an inpatient hospital for those with mental health and substance use disorders. Princeton House intensive outpatient and partial hospital programs also feature trauma tracks for men and women in Princeton, Eatontown, Hamilton, Mooresetown and North Brunswick.