Category: Public Info

The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites residents to celebrate Diwali on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Hamilton Stage, located at 360 Hamilton Street in Rahway. This free event will bring the community together for an afternoon of cultural traditions, entertainment, and celebration, welcoming both those who observe Diwali and those interested in learning more about the holiday.

Known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. It is a time of joy and renewal, when families and communities come together to celebrate cherished traditions and share wishes for happiness and prosperity. The County’s celebration offers residents an opportunity to experience that spirit while building connections with neighbors from different backgrounds.

“Union County is home to a rich mix of cultures and traditions, and sharing those traditions helps bring our communities closer together,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Joseph C. Bodek. “Events like our Diwali celebration give residents an opportunity to learn from one another, spend time with their neighbors, and appreciate the many communities that contribute to life in our County. We invite everyone to join us in celebrating the holiday’s message of hope, renewal, and kindness.”

The afternoon’s program will feature a Diya ceremony, highlighting the light at the heart of the celebration. Diyas, traditional lamps associated with Diwali, symbolize the triumph of light over darkness and serve as a reminder of the hope and goodness people can share with one another.

Attendees will also enjoy dance performances, participate in crafts, and share refreshments. Together, these activities will offer a welcoming setting for families and friends to celebrate, connect, and experience the holiday’s cultural traditions. No prior familiarity with Diwali is needed to take part.

Union County’s Diwali celebration began during the COVID-19 pandemic as an effort to bring people together during a time of uncertainty and isolation. Since then, it has grown into a continuing community tradition, with celebrations held at locations including the Historic Union County Courthouse Rotunda, Trailside, and Hamilton Stage. Each gathering has provided another opportunity for residents to share their heritage and introduce others to the meaning of the holiday.

“When we first introduced Union County’s Diwali celebration during the pandemic, it was a way to bring light and connection to our community during a difficult time. It has been wonderful to see that celebration grow, welcoming more families and bringing people together through shared traditions,” said Union County Commissioner Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded, a member of the event’s planning committee. “Whether you have joined us before or will be celebrating with us for the first time, we hope you will become part of this tradition. Diwali reminds us that even a single light can brighten the darkness, and that together, we can bring that same warmth and hope to our community.”

Residents are encouraged to join family, friends, and neighbors for this celebration of light, culture, and community.

Admission is free. To register, visit www.ucnj.org/diwali.

The Union County Board of Elections reminds voters that early voting for the upcoming General Election begins tomorrow, October 24, 2026 through November 1, 2026. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Voters can vote in person during Early Voting, in person on Election Day, or via Mail-In Ballot.

There are 10 locations available to voters wishing to cast their ballot early. Any registered Union County voter may use any of these sites listed below to vote in person, by machine, from Saturday, October 24, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026.

Upon arriving at an early voting location, voters will sign in using an electronic poll book. The electronic poll book will print a barcode on the voter’s ballot card, which activates the correct ballot style on the voting machine. The voter will then insert the ballot card into the voting machine to begin voting.

Please note that these locations are for in-person machine voting only. Vote-by-mail ballots cannot be submitted at early voting locations.

Voters who have received mail-in ballots are encouraged to return their ballot to the secure ballot drop box. Voters can obtain a mail-in ballot from the Union County Clerk’s Office until the day before Election Day at 3:00 p.m.

There is at least one drop box in every municipality.  Ballot drop boxes are available to voters 24/7 through the close of the polls on Election Day at 8:00 p.m. The ballot drop boxes are picked up in accordance with state guidelines by a bipartisan team of Election Board employees with a police escort.

Voters can also mail their mail-in ballot, allowing at least 7 days for it to arrive. Lastly, voters can bring their ballot in person to the Union County Board of Elections at 271 North Broad Street in Elizabeth, or to either of the Union County Clerk’s offices, located in Elizabeth or Westfield. Voters wishing to deposit their ballot in person must present a valid New Jersey-issued ID or driver’s license.

For the complete list of Early Voting Sites, an updated list of polling locations, and the addresses of the secure ballot drop boxes, visit the Board of Elections website at www.ucnj.org/ucboe or call 908-527-4123.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites seniors and caregivers to attend the upcoming Aging Services Kiosk (ASK) events this November to explore the wide range of senior programs and resources available. These events allow attendees to meet face-to-face with experienced professionals who can provide expert guidance and assistance with a variety of services, including form completion. Bilingual staff will be available to provide support in Spanish.

“Our ASK program serves seniors and caregivers by providing access to the information and support they need without losing human connection. When residents stop by, they will have the opportunity to ask questions to our staff in person, and in a welcoming environment,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Joseph C. Bodek. “We invite older residents and their caregivers to visit any of our ASK events in November to learn more about the program, and how it can benefit them.”

The Aging Services Kiosk is operated explicitly by the Division on Aging, a branch of the Union County Department of Human Services. It offers adults aged 60 and older, along with their caregivers, a convenient avenue to discover valuable programs and services and speak individually with a Division on Aging professional.

Staff at ASK locations can help older adults and caregivers connect with various services, including home-delivered meals, respite care, home care, adult day care, and support services for caregivers. Any Union County senior or caregiver can visit any ASK kiosk, regardless of their hometown. No appointment or pre-registration is needed. The November ASK schedule is as follows:

“Our Division on Aging, the Department that operates the ASK program, is available year-round to help seniors and caregivers navigate the changes and necessities that come up as one matures in age. They truly do an amazing job at helping our seasoned adults live healthier, well-rounded, and independent lives, and we are proud to continue supporting them,” said Union County Commissioner James Baker, Liaison to the Advisory Council on Aging.

For more information about the ASK events and any other services for seniors in Union County, contact the Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection at 1-888-280-8226 toll-free or visit online at ucnj.org/dhs/aging.

Join the Union County Board of County Commissioners at Trailside Nature & Science Center on Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for a fascinating showcase of rocks, minerals, fossils, gemstones and jewelry from around the world.

More than 15 vendors will feature everything from child-friendly geodes, arrowheads and fluorescent minerals to beautiful jewelry, fine gems, seashells, fossils and collector-grade specimens.

📍 Trailside Nature & Science Center
452 New Providence Road, Mountainside

✨ Admission is free!

The show is sponsored in partnership with the New Jersey Mineralogical Society and the New Jersey Lapidary Society.

Learn more at ucnj.org/trailside.

Good food, great company and a reason to get together! The Union County Board of County Commissioners is excited to announce the return of Social 60+, the County’s restaurant voucher program for residents age 60 and older. Returning for a special holiday edition through the end of 2026, the program offers older adults an opportunity to enjoy nutritious meals, catch up with friends and make new connections at local restaurants.

Offered through the Department of Human Services’ Division on Aging, Social 60+ brings people together around the table while supporting restaurants in the Union County community. Whether reconnecting with an old friend or making plans with someone new, participants can enjoy a meal and conversation as the holiday season approaches.

“The holidays are a time to connect with others, but for some older adults, those opportunities aren’t always easy to come by,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Joseph C. Bodek. “Bringing back Social 60+ gives our seniors another reason to get out, share a nutritious meal and enjoy good company while supporting our local restaurants. We’re pleased to offer this holiday edition and encourage residents to take advantage of the opportunity to spend time with friends and make new connections.”

Eligible participants will receive three restaurant vouchers for the calendar year, which may be used for meals from designated Social 60+ menus at the following participating restaurants:

• Garden Restaurant, 943 Magie Avenue, Union. Program hours: Tuesday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. For reservations, call 908-558-0101.
• Mambo Cuban Restaurant, 2185 US-22 West, Union. Program hours: Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For reservations, call 908-396-6401.
• Tequila Bistro, 824 Pearl Street, Elizabeth. Program hours: Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For reservations, call 908-965-1002.

Reservations are required at all participating restaurants, and gratuity is included for the voucher-covered meal. All vouchers must be used by December 31, 2026. Expired vouchers will not be accepted, and lost vouchers cannot be replaced.

To participate, residents must be age 60 or older, live in Union County, provide all required information during intake and agree to attend a nutrition education program offered by the Division on Aging at least once per quarter. Applications are completed by phone, and availability is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Participants may bring friends or family members to join them. Vouchers are issued to individual participants and cannot be shared; guests who are not enrolled in the program must pay for their own meals. Meals must be enjoyed at the restaurant, and participants must present identification matching the name on their voucher. Coffee, tea and water are included; other beverages and items outside the designated program menu are not covered.

Voluntary donations are welcome to help support additional meals for seniors. The suggested donation is $3 per voucher, and a donation envelope will be included with the vouchers.

To apply or learn more, call the Union County Division on Aging at 908-527-4870 or toll-free at 888-280-8226. Additional program information is available at https://ucnj.org/dhs/social-60/.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners, through the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, is awarding nearly $24,000 in special project grants to 26 historic sites and organizations to support programs and projects commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Established as part of Commissioner Chairman Joseph C. Bodek’s initiative to celebrate this milestone, the grants support a range of local history projects, including living history demonstrations, educational programs, exhibits, historical markers and materials that residents can use to explore Union County’s past.

“Some of the most meaningful connections to our nation’s history are right here in Union County, in the places we pass every day and the stories our local historical organizations work so hard to preserve,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Joseph C. Bodek. “As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, these grants will help those organizations share that history with more people and give residents of all ages new opportunities to learn about the communities they call home.”

Several grant-supported projects and programs will be featured during Union County’s Four Centuries in a Weekend on October 17 and 18. These include Revolutionary War encampments, demonstrations of colonial life, historical presentations and new interpretive materials. Other awards support programs held throughout the anniversary year, as well as improvements that will continue to benefit visitors beyond 2026.

The grant recipients and supported projects, listed by municipality, include:

Berkeley Heights

• Littell Lord Farmstead: $1,000: A George Washington reading and commemorative coins as part of the Fall Festival.

Clark

• Dr. Robinson Plantation: $1,000: A Revolutionary War encampment during Four Centuries weekend.

Cranford

• Cranford Historical Society: $500: A lecture presentation and children’s activities about Patriot soldiers associated with Cranford.

Elizabeth

• Elizabeth Public Library: $1,000: Restoration of the historic Red Lion Inn plaque.
• First Presbyterian Church/Snyder Academy: $1,000: “Black History Speaks,” featuring portrayals of historical figures during Four Centuries weekend.
• Elizabeth Historical Society — $1,000: Production of “The Corner That History Made” video.

Fanwood

• Fanwood Train Station Museum: $557: Development of a brochure for a walking tour of Fanwood.

Kenilworth

• Nitschke House: $1,000: An illustrated historical timeline to be unveiled during Four Centuries weekend.

Mountainside

• Hetfield House: $1,000: “A Day in 1776,” exploring daily life in colonial America during Four Centuries weekend.

New Providence

• Salt Box Museum: $995: Vintage baseball programming and a pamphlet featuring research on Patriots buried in New Providence.

Plainfield

• Drake House Museum: $1,000: Brochures and signage related to the New Jersey Black History Trail.

Rahway

• Union County Performing Arts Center: $1,000: Posters highlighting Rahway’s role in American history.
• African American History & Heritage Learning Center: $1,000: Two secure display cabinets for historical artifacts.
• Merchants & Drovers Tavern Museum: $1,000: Living history demonstrations for Rahway’s “Colonial Fair.”

Scotch Plains

• Fanwood-Scotch Plains Rotary/Frazee House: $1,000: An American Revolution encampment.
• Osborn Cannonball House: $1,000: A historic stonecutting demonstration during Four Centuries weekend.
• Preserve the Shady Rest Committee: $1,000: Jazz and blues performances for Independence Day and Labor Day.

Summit

• Twin Maples: $923: Lectures on women in the American Revolution.
• Carter House: $551: Development of a Summit Historical Society brochure for Four Centuries weekend.
• Wallace Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church: $1,000: Programming about the Rev. Florence Spearing Randolph, a civil rights leader and suffragist.

Union

• Liberty Hall Museum: $1,000: “Music in the Garden,” exploring the role of music at Liberty Hall.
• Caldwell Parsonage: $1,000: A historical kiosk about the Battle of Connecticut Farms.
• First Presbyterian Congregation of Connecticut Farms Church: $1,000: A Crossroads of the American Revolution interpretive panel.

Westfield

• Reeve House: $600: Patriotic readings and children’s activities.
• Miller-Cory House: $850: Sheep to Shawl and Fall Festival programming.
• Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route: $1,000: An exhibit featuring soldiers and an updated brochure for Four Centuries weekend.

“Our local historical organizations put tremendous care into preserving the places, artifacts and stories that help us understand our past,” said Union County Commissioner Vice Chair Rebecca L. Williams, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board. “These grants support that work in practical ways, from protecting artifacts to creating exhibits and programs that welcome new visitors. As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, we want residents to discover the many voices and experiences that are part of Union County’s history.”

Together, these projects highlight the people, places and experiences that have shaped Union County and its role in the nation’s history, while supporting the local organizations that keep those stories accessible to the public.

For more information about the anniversary grants and history programs, contact John Prescott at the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 908-436-2912 or jprescott@ucnj.org.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners announces that the Deserted Village of Feltville will once again host an annual open house featuring old-fashioned children’s games, apple cider pressing, an archaeological activity, and guided tours as part of Union County’s Four Centuries in a Weekend event this Saturday and Sunday, October 17 and 18, from noon to 5:00 p.m. each day.

“The Deserted Village of Feltville is a treasure, with a rich history that dates back to 1720,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Joseph Bodek. “As we celebrate the 250^th Anniversary of the founding of our country, this is one of Union County’s best sites to visit with family and friends and see how that history has unfolded.  I hope to see you there!”

All activities for the Four Centuries weekend are rain or shine, and are free of charge. Enter the Deserted Village parking lot from Glenside Avenue (use GPS address 1 Cataract Hollow Road, Berkeley Heights).  A haywagon provides barrier-free access to key sites within the 130-acre historic district.  Visitors can pick up a free self-tour guidebook at the parking lot, or use their cell phones to take an audio tour.  

The Deserted Village of Feltville is located in Union County’s Watchung Reservation. It was established in 1845 by entrepreneur David Felt, who built a printing mill, housing for his workers, and other buildings for communal use by Feltville’s 175 residents. As part of the weekend’s festivities, the “ghost” of David Felt will stroll the grounds of the Deserted Village and converse with visitors, telling tales of the factory town he built and recounting memories of the people who worked in his mill, on his farm, and in his store and school.  At 12:30 pm each day, Mr. Felt will offer an armchair tour from the porch of his general store, with an interactive opportunity for children.

Other activities for children will include old-fashioned games on the Deserted Village’s grass tennis court, writing with a quill pen and ink, and searching for artifacts at the site of David Felt’s house. A garden and a small apple and peach orchard has been recreated to recall the 600-acre farm established by Mr. Felt to provide food for the villagers.  Visitors can taste the apple cider being pressed by Scout Troop 23 of Elizabeth.

Visitors can also bring their National Parks Passport to the general store and get it stamped, thanks to Union County’s inclusion in the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area. While at the General Store, visitors are invited to view exhibits of artifacts, photographs and maps depicting the history of the Deserted Village across four centuries. Photos from the late 1800’s that were found just last year will be on display.  Nostalgic candy, snacks, toys and games will be sold at the store.  Families are also invited to pack a picnic and use one of the nearby picnic tables.

The beautifully restored circa-1882 Masker’s Barn carriage house will be open for the weekend. Visitors can tour the building and then linger outside to roast marshmallows around a campfire with the ghost of Anna Malloy, wife of an early caretaker.  Inside the Barn, visitors can meet historian Priscilla Hayes and real-life archaeologists Matt Tomaso and Carissa Scarpa.  A curated collection of artifacts from an 18th century homestead, the Raddin-Badgley house site, will help illustrate what life was like in rural New Jersey during the Revolutionary War and the years that followed!

Visitors can take a short walk to a small family graveyard on a hillside just behind the church and general store. John Willcocks, a New Jersey militia soldier who fought in the Revolutionary War along with General George Washington’s regular army, will greet visitors.  He died 250 years ago, on November 22, 1776, just a few months after the Revolutionary War began.

He will explain how the discovery of a human tooth started a quest to find the unmarked graves of two dozen members of the Willcocks and Badgley families.  Archival research and non-invasive archaeological investigation revealed the site of the missing cemetery, which has been cleared and marked.  An historically accurate fence was erected on two sides of the cemetery this past summer.

The Deserted Village has seen many changes since its origin as David Felt’s business enterprise. Over the years, it has been used as a farm for fancy cattle, a summer resort called Glenside Park, relief housing during the Great Depression, and an outdoor education center. By the 1970’s, the Deserted Village was all but forgotten.  David Felt and the historian and archaeologists will recount how research, archaeology and dumb luck has helped reveal that history as they lead a tour of the Village, starting from Masker’s Barn at 2:30 pm each day.

Fortunately, restoration work has been ongoing since 1985.  Felt’s general store now serves as a visitor center.  Masker’s Barn is a rental venue that hosts 100 events each year.  Plans are progressing for projects authorized by the Union County Board of County Commissioners for new roofs, building restoration work, museum exhibits, and improvements to the Barn.

Special programming on Sunday of the Four Centuries weekend will focus on the events of 250 years ago.  Benjamin Franklin, whose son, William, was the last Royal Governor of New Jersey, will be visiting with the Willcocks and Badgley families while on a trip to New York City.  Feel free to converse with him and hear some of his famous wit and wisdom. 

Also on Sunday, Joseph Badgley will be on site.  Like his cousin Joh Willcocks, Joseph served in the New Jersey Militia.  He will instruct children in military drill and will fire his musket for them.

For more information about the Deserted Village of Feltville, visit the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation online at ucnj.org/dv or follow Priscilla Hayes’ monthly posts on her website, www.feltvillefeatures.com.  

“Four Centuries in a Weekend is one of Union County’s most popular annual traditions, bringing families back year after year to explore the history in their own communities,” said Union County Commissioner Vice Chair Rebecca L. Williams, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Advisory Board. “Throughout this year, we have celebrated our nation’s 250th anniversary through programs that highlight Union County’s place in America’s story. This weekend continues that celebration at the historic sites where those connections come to life, thanks to the staff and volunteers who preserve these places and share their stories with each new generation.”

Four Centuries in a Weekend is funded in part by a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, part of the Division of Cultural Affairs in the Department of State, and is organized by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, in collaboration with staff and volunteers at the sites and is sponsored by the Union County Board of County Commissioners.

For locations, hours, special events, and other details about more than 30 other historical sites participating in Four Centuries in a Weekend this year, visit the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs ucnj.org/parks-recreation/cultural-heritage-affairs, www.ucnj.org/4c or call (908) 558-2550.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites residents and visitors to explore the people, places and stories that shaped our communities during Four Centuries in a Weekend on Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18, 2026.

This popular annual tradition brings history to life at sites throughout Union County through guided tours, reenactments, exhibits, demonstrations and family activities. In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, this year’s programs offer special opportunities to discover local connections to the American Revolution and the generations who helped shape our nation.

“Four Centuries in a Weekend gives residents a chance to step inside a historic home, hear a story they may never have known and see their community in a new way,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Joseph C. Bodek. “As we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, we invite families to spend the weekend discovering the history right here in Union County.”

At the Deserted Village of Feltville in Berkeley Heights, visitors can take guided or self-guided tours, ride a hay wagon, press apple cider, roast marshmallows and meet figures from the Village’s past, including Revolutionary War soldier John Willcocks.

New to the event this year, the UCNJ Union College of Union County NJ (UCNJ) Historic Tree Grove in Cranford connects science and history through trees grown from seeds or cuttings of trees associated with significant people and events in American history. Located near the Sperry Observatory on UCNJ’s Cranford campus, the grove offers a living connection to the past during the nation’s 250th anniversary.

In Westfield, the Atlas Pythagoras Lodge #10 will host a presentation of a 26-foot oil-on-canvas mural depicting the Battle of Spanktown in Rahway. Painted by artist Lloyd Garrison in 1988, the work portrays American militia and Continental forces facing British troops during a 12-hour engagement in 1777, part of the American Revolution’s “Forage War.”

The Drake House Museum in Plainfield will display the rarely shown Tree of Life quilt, reportedly made by the daughter of Declaration of Independence signer John Hart.

The Frazee House in Scotch Plains will host The March to Yorktown on Sunday, featuring portrayals of Generals George Washington and Rochambeau, along with music by the New Jersey Fife & Drums Corps.

At Springfield’s Cannon Ball House, visitors can add their names to a replica Declaration of Independence, which will be preserved as a keepsake of the nation’s Semiquincentennial.

The Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway will offer a Sunday presentation on American history, a student reading of the Declaration of Independence and guided tours of its historic theater.

Twin Maples in Summit will present a Sunday lecture exploring the important roles women played during the American Revolution.

All participating sites will offer a free Union County History Passport, which visitors can have stamped at each stop. Several locations within the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area will also offer a special stamp for the Passport to Your National Parks book.

Visitors can also collect Union County History Trading Cards featuring notable people, places and events. With more than 80 cards to collect, the series offers another way for families to discover local history as they travel from site to site.

Participating Sites

• Berkeley Heights: Deserted Village of Feltville/Glenside Park; Littell-Lord Farmstead.
• Clark: Dr. William Robinson Plantation Museum.
• Cranford: Crane-Phillips House; Union College of Union County NJ (UCNJ) Historic Tree Grove; William Miller Sperry Observatory.
• Elizabeth: Belcher-Ogden Mansion and Bonnell Homestead; Siloam-Hope First Presbyterian Church and Snyder Academy; Boxwood Hall State Historic Site; Elizabeth Public Library.
• Fanwood: Historic Fanwood Train Station Museum.
• Hillside: Woodruff House, Eaton Store Museum and Phil Rizzuto All Sports Exhibit; Evergreen Cemetery.
• Kenilworth: Oswald J. Nitschke House.
• Mountainside: Deacon Andrew Hetfield House.
• New Providence: Salt Box Museum, plus special Saturday archive and graveyard programs.
• Plainfield: Drake House Museum; Plainfield Friends Quaker Meeting House.
• Rahway: African American History and Heritage Learning Center; Merchants and Drovers Tavern Museum; Union County Performing Arts Center.
• Roselle: Abraham Clark House.
• Scotch Plains: Frazee House; Osborn Cannonball House Museum; Shady Rest Country Club.
• Springfield: Cannon Ball House.
• Summit: Carter House; Reeves-Reed Arboretum; Twin Maples.
• Union: Caldwell Parsonage; Donald M. Payne Vauxhall Meeting Center; Connecticut Farms Church; Liberty Hall Museum.
• Westfield: Burial Grounds of the Presbyterian Church; Miller-Cory House Museum; Reeve History and Cultural Resource Center; Battle of Spanktown mural presentation at Atlas Pythagoras Lodge #10.

“Four Centuries is a tradition that residents look forward to every year, and our historic sites continue to give them new reasons to return,” said Union County Commissioner Vice Chair Rebecca L. Williams, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board. “This year’s anniversary celebrations have brought so many opportunities to explore our past. This weekend builds on that excitement, with programs that share familiar stories alongside the contributions of people whose place in history deserves greater attention.”

Hours vary by location, and some sites are open on Saturday or Sunday only. Visitors should review the complete event schedule before planning their route.

This event is funded in part through a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the New Jersey Department of State. The program is organized by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs.

For more information about Four Centuries in a Weekend, contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 908-436-2912 or email jprescott@ucnj.org.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites residents to explore a variety of upcoming programs, including sound bowl meditation, acrylic painting workshops, forest bathing and tea ceremonies, live animal presentations, senior nature walks, toddler programs, and more.

Upcoming highlights include:

• Sound Bowl Meditation — October 17, November 14 & December 5
• Art Workshops for Adults — October 17, November 21 & December 12
• Forest Bathing & Tea Ceremony — October 24 & November 14
• Remarkable Raptors — October 24
• Creatures of the Night — November 14
• Plus toddler programs, senior nature walks, astronomy, and other special events throughout the season!

Trailside Nature & Science Center
452 New Providence Road, Mountainside

👉 Register for all programs at ucnj.org/trailside

The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites residents to attend “The Women of Congress 1776,” a musical dramatization of the debate surrounding the Declaration of Independence, on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Trailside Nature & Science Center, located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside.

Click here to register.

“As we mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, this performance offers residents an engaging way to connect with the history behind it,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Joseph C. Bodek. “We invite the community to join us at Trailside for an evening that brings together the performing arts and the ideas that helped shape our nation.”

Presented by the Union County Department of Parks & Recreation, the performance features an all-female cast from Offbook Productions portraying the congressional delegates of 1776. Through music and dramatic storytelling, the production brings audiences into the debates behind one of the most influential documents in history.

“An all-female cast portraying the delegates of 1776 gives audiences a fresh way to experience this familiar chapter of history,” said Union County Commissioner Vice Chair Rebecca L. Williams. “It also invites us to consider whose voices were heard at our nation’s founding and the generations of women who worked to make their voices count. We are pleased to welcome Offbook Productions for an evening that encourages both reflection and appreciation of the arts.”

The program is organized by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs and is funded in part by grants from the New Jersey Historical Commission and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, both divisions of the New Jersey Department of State.

The event is open to the public, however you do have to click on the link to register. For more information, please contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 908-558-2550 or email Culturalinfo@ucnj.org