Category: Public Info

Repurposing of previously closed jail facility has given vital County food program continued capacity for operations

The Union County Board of County Commissioners informs residents that the “Meals on Wheels” program has been operational since the Spring of 2022, using the mostly vacant Union County Jail facility, located in Elizabeth.

Hurricane IDA heavily impacted Union County and the Meals on Wheels facility in Linden was flooded. The County of Union decided the best option was to use the now mostly vacant Union County Jail. The facility had recently been closed in 2021, saving tens of millions in taxpayer dollars.

“Repurposing the County Jail’s kitchen gave Meals on Wheels the tools, space and capacity to meet the needs of the program,” said County Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “It has a full kitchen, big enough to produce, pack and prepare the meals for delivery and is equipped with elevators and lifts as well as a loading area for the vehicles picking up the meals.”

Currently a fleet of 23 vehicles delivers 1200 meals to elder residents in needs. Meals on Wheels is by far the largest program within the Department of Human Services, servicing the most people on a daily basis.

“There is a nutrition element to this, but there is also the critical element of the in-person and face to face delivery which for some people may be their only contact with someone throughout the day,” said Commissioner Sergio Granados, who serves as Liaison to the Human Services Advisory Council. “This ensures that all those benefitting from Meals on Wheels get the nutrition they need.”

“Since moving to the jail facility, this program logistically produces its daily meals at a high rate – and continues to run efficiently and effectively,” said Debbie-Ann Anderson, Director of the Union County Department of Human Services.

If you or a senior you know needs nutritious meals delivered, please contact Meals on Wheels at 908-486-5100.

To contact the Union County Department of Human Services, residents can use the online contact form at ucnj.org/dhs, email the DHS Action Line at DHSaction@ucnj.org, or call 908-527-4847.

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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.

Please be advised, Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying for Adult Mosquitoes tonight, Thursday, September 29, 2022, between the hours of 5:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. (Weather Permitting). Check below and see if your Town is on the list. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our office.

• Linden – Tremley Point Area,
• Rahway – Elston St., Randolph Ave., Leesville Ave. Area
• Scotch Plains – Lincoln Ave., Evelyn Ave., Roosevelt Ave., Trenton Ave.
• Springfield – Brown Ave., Commerce St. Area
• Union – Carlyle Pl. Area, Whitewood Rd. Area, Reinhold Ter. Area

Municipality Parks:

• Union – Sayre Park

Union County business owners and managers who are interested in learning new ways to continue growing during periods of stress are invited to attend a Strategic Resilience Lunch & Learn event hosted by the Union County Commissioner Board on Tuesday, October 4, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Kean University STEM Building at 1075 Morris Avenue in Union Township.

The event will include a panel discussion on adapting to economic emergencies hosted by Commissioner Board Chair Rebecca L. Williams and featuring Kean University’s NJSBDC Regional Director, Rafael Mata.

 “We encourage the members of our local business community to come and learn from the real-life experiences of our panelists, network with their peers, and meet with agencies that can provide guidance and assistance,” said Union County Commissioner Chair Rebecca L. Williams.

Representatives from the Union County Economic Development Corporation, the New Jersey Small Business Development Centers, Union College, the New Jersey Pride Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce will also be on hand.

The panel will consist of:

• Charlotte Diakite (Owner, A3 Contracting)
• Gladys Vonglahn (Owner, Gladys Cleaning Service LLC)
• Lee Frankel (Owner, Crossroads Restaurant, Bar and Music Venue
• Mike Kelly (Owner, Garden State Strength and Fitness)
• Koron Barley (Owner, Headquarters Hair Studio)
• Kevin Castor (Co-Owner, Melao’s Café and Creamery)

Lunch will be provided at the event. Pre-registration is required at ucnj.org/ucmb. Please note that a modest fee of $10.00 per person applies.

Union County’s The Lunch & Learn series is hosted through the Commissioner Board’s Union County Means Business initiative, a program of the Office of Business Development in the Union County Department of Economic Development.

Union County Means Business is supported by many partners including: UCEDC, Suburban Chamber of Commerce, Greater Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Union Township Chamber of Commerce, Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce, Union College, Cranford Area Chamber of Commerce, Kean University, America’s SBDC – New Jersey and New Jersey Pride Chamber of Commerce.

For more information about the Office of Business Development visit ucnj.org/department-of-economic-development or contact the Office Coordinator, Jeff Brooks, at Jeffrey.Brooks@ucnj.org or 908-659-7412.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing, emergency food distribution and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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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.

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announces that  sample ballots for the November 8 General Election can now be viewed and downloaded on the County Clerk’s elections website unioncountyvotes.com, and through Union County Votes, a free app for all mobile devices.

The County Clerk’s office is also mailing sample ballots to all registered Union County voters. The sample ballot mailings will begin on October 12.

“The website and app offer a convenient way for voters to familiarize themselves with their ballot, even before they receive their copy in the mail,” said Ms. Rajoppi.

Voters with any questions about their sample ballots can call the County Clerk’s Elections Division, 908-527-4996 or email the Elections Division at ucvote@ucnj.org.

For more information about the County Clerk’s election services visit unioncountyvotes.com or contact the Elections Division at 908-527-4996 or ucvote@ucnj.org.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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Connect with Union County on social media.

Free drop-off sites available on October 6 and October 15.

Union County residents can bring their old or unwanted scrap metal to free recycling drop-off sites sponsored by the Union County Board of County Commissioners. Metal cabinets, wire hangers, appliances, gutters, kitchen ware and many other metal items are accepted at these sites.

“Recycling scrap metal is an important way to conserve resources, and we encourage every household to make use of this free service,” said Union County Commissioner Chair Rebecca L. Williams. “These drop-off sites make it easy and convenient to clear your home and yard of unwanted metal items while helping the environment, too.”

The Union County scrap metal drop-off program operates at two sites, in Cranford and Rahway. Both sites are open to all Union County residents regardless of their home town.

Scrap metal will be accepted Thursday, October 6 and Saturday, October 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at two free drop-off centers:

• Cranford:  Emergency Services Building, 151 Kenilworth Boulevard
• Rahway: Rahway River Park (follow Park Drive, Rahway off St. Georges Avenue to service yard across from swimming pool)

The final scrap metal drop-off events of the 2022 season will take place on Thursday, November 3 and Saturday, November 19. The scrap metal recycling program goes on hiatus over the winter and will resume in the spring of 2023.

Please note that Union County’s scrap metal recycling events are drive-up only, and contact-free.

Participants must remain in their vehicles at all times.  Materials should be placed in trunk, cargo area or truck bed and be easily accessible for staff to remove.

For more information, upcoming dates and directions to all Union County recycling programs and locations, visit the Bureau of Recycling and Planning website at ucnj.org/recycle or call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889.

To receive schedule alerts, and to stay up to date with Union County and local recycling programs, download the free Recycle Coach mobile app.

Quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities are available at The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connection.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing, emergency food distribution and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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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.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites residents to the   Annual Pulaski Day Flag Raising on Friday, September 30, at 5:30 p.m. in front of the Union County Court House, located at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth. The event is free and all residents are invited to attend.

“Union County is home to many Polish-Americans,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca L. Williams. “The Commissioner Board is proud to once again acknowledge the contributions of this very active and hard-working community to our county over the years, by flying the Polish Flag over the County Seat.”

The event is being co-sponsored by the General Pulaski Memorial Parade Committee of St. Theresa from Linden. The program will include remarks by Union County Commissioner, Bette Jane Kowalski as well former NJ State Senator, Raymond J. Lesniak and Linden City Council President, Michelle Yamakaitis. The Grand Marshall of the 2022 Linden Contingency for the local General Pulaski Memorial Parade, Chief of Police for the City of Linden, Chief David Hart will be recognized during the ceremony.

Also slated to be present and recognized at the flag raising ceremony are: the President of the Linden Contigency, Agnieszka Czajkowska, as well as Sophie Kotulski (Miss Polonia 2022/2023), Marcelina Somaradzka (Junior Miss Polonia 2022/2023) and Milena Glab (Little Miss Polonia 2022/2023). Marcelina Domaradzka will perform the national anthems of the United States and Poland.

“We have a diverse fabric of ethnicities and the Polish-American community has a long history of maintaining and honoring their roots within Union County,” said Commissioner Vice-Chair, Christopher Hudak. “I invite all residents from the County of Union to attend the Union County Pulaski Flag Raising. As a Commissioner of Polish descent, I am especially proud of the accomplishments of the Polish-American community across the country and especially within Union County.”

“It is with great happiness that we can again be together in person to recognize and celebrate the Polish-American Community here in Union County,” said Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski. “The Commissioner Board extended its warmest wishes to all Polish-Americans as they celebrate Pulaski Day in the coming days at various events.”

The Polish-American Community will be celebrating what has come to be known as “Pulaski Day” throughout late September and early October. With various celebrations in several municipalities, the festivities culminate in a parade down 5^th Avenue in Manhattan. The Pulaski Day parade was first held in 1937 and is one of the oldest ethnic parades in New York.

The flag-raising will include refreshments and food.

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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.

Ballots will be mailed to voters in bright yellow envelopes.

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announces that Vote by Mail Ballots are being mailed to registered voters in Union County in stages, according to Congressional District. The ballots are being sent in bright yellow envelopes to help voters avoid misplacing their ballot.

The first stage included Berkeley Heights, Clark, Fanwood, parts of Linden, Mountainside, New Providence, Scotch Plains, Springfield, Summit, Westfield and Winfield, all of which are in CD 7, along with the balance of Linden and the Township of Union, both of which are in CD 10. Vote-by-Mail voters in these municipalities can expect to receive their ballots this week.

As a reminder, voters should look for their ballot in a bright yellow envelope.

“My office is sending the ballots out in stages to help ensure that the U.S. Postal Service can handle the increased volume in an orderly manner and deliver all of them on time, to voters in every Union County municipality,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “I strongly encourage voters to fill out and return their Vote-by-Mail ballot as soon as they receive it, to account for any unforeseen delays.”

Voters can view the updated schedule of mailings on the County Clerk’s elections website, at UnionCountyVotes.com. The schedule is also available on the County Clerk’s free mobile app, UC Votes.

Voters can choose several ways to return their Vote-by-Mail ballot as early as possible before Election Day: by Postal Service (postage is pre-paid), secure drop-off box, or hand delivery to the County Clerk’s offices or Board of Elections office.

The drop-off boxes are available on a 24/7 basis until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 8, when the polls close.

The Board of Elections office will be open for voters to hand deliver their vote by mail ballots until 8:00 p.m. on November 8. Voters who hand deliver their ballots to this office must sign a registry and present a valid New Jersey driver’s license or other New Jersey identification.

For more details, including the location of offices, drop-off boxes, and polling places, visit unioncountyvotes.com.

For more information about the County Clerk’s election services visit unioncountyvotes.com or contact the Elections Division at 908-527-4996 or ucvote@ucnj.org.

For more information about all County Clerk programs and services, visit online at ucnj.org/county-clerk or call 908-527-4787.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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Connect with Union County on social media.

New Locations of Fanwood & Roselle Drop Boxes Announced

Union County Board of Elections Administrator Nicole DiRado informs voters that the polling place list and drop box locations for the 2022 General Election are available on the UCBOE website at www.ucnj.org/ucboe. The 2022 General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 8.

“Voting drop boxes provide easier means for residents to cast their votes early while still ensuring the voter’s right to a secret ballot,” said Ms. DiRado. “These drop boxes were introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and have proven to be highly popular with residents looking to cast a Vote-by-Mail ballot.”

All 24 secure ballot drop boxes will open on September 23, 2022 for the 2022 General Election and will remain open through the close of the polls on November 8, 2021 at 8:00 pm. Drop boxes are under camera surveillance 24/7, available to voters 24/7 and ADA accessible.

There are two drop box location changes ahead of the General Election:

• The Fanwood drop box is now located at the Historic Train Station at 230 North Avenue; and
• The Roselle drop box is now located at 108 & 109 W. Third Street (corner of W. Third Street and Chestnut Avenue).

For a complete list of polling locations and ballot drop boxes in Union County, please visit the Board of Election website online at ucnj.org/boe/where-do-i-vote. For all Union County Board of Elections information visit online at ucnj.org/ucboe, email ucboe@ucnj.org, or call 908-527-4123.

Please be advised, Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying for mosquitoes tonight, Thursday, September 15, 2022, between the hours of 5:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. (Weather Permitting). Check below and see if your Town is on the list. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mosquito Control.

• Clark –  Lefferts Ln., Terhune Rd., Whitley Ter., Shetland Dr.,
• Hillside – Harvard Ave., Cornell Pl., John St., Queen Ct., Roanoke Ave.,
• Linden – Tremley Point Area, Range Rd., Bradford Ave., Lexington Ave., Marion Ave.
• Rahway – Donald Ave. Price St., Allen St., Jones Pl., Kearney Ave.
• Roselle Park – E.Colfax Ave., bike path between Galloping Hill Rd. and Chestnut St.
• Roselle – Pine St., Woodland Ave., Columbus Ave.
• Springfield – Oakland Ave., Waverly Ave., S. Springfield Ave., Cottage Ln.
• County Parks
  • Plainfield – Cedar Brook

Available for Union County residents starting September 24^th

The Union County Board of County Commissioners encourages all residents to get their seasonal flu shot as soon as possible this year. Free flu shots will be dispensed at clinics run by the Office of Health Management at locations throughout Union County beginning on Saturday, September 24^th. Persons with health insurance are advised to visit their local pharmacy or doctor’s office to receive their flu shot.

“Please protect yourself and your family, and help prevent unnecessary trips to a doctor or hospital emergency room by getting a free flu shot,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “Protection against seasonal flu is more important than ever before, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health experts are concerned that medical resources could be overwhelmed if a seasonal flu outbreak combines with the COVID-19 crisis.”

The free flu shot clinics are open to all Union County residents ages 9 and up. Children ages 4 through 8 can also use Union County’s free flu shot clinics if they have previously received 2 flu shots, in accordance with guidance from the CDC. Appointments are strongly encouraged, and residents can schedule an appointment online by visiting www.ucnj.org/flu or calling 908-613-7829. Walk-ups will be seen on a time-allowing basis.

This year, the free flu shot clinics will also be offering all formulations of the COVID-19 vaccine. As per the CDC, it is safe to receive both shots on the same day, if needed.

The following clinic dates have been scheduled:

• Saturday, September 24 at Plainfield High School
  • Plainfield
  • 9am-12pm
• Thursday, September 29 at Warinanco Sports Center
  • Roselle
  • 3-7pm
• Monday, October 3 at Shady Rest Golf Course
  • Scotch Plains
  • 3-6pm
• Saturday, October 15 at Linden Health Fair
  • Linden
  • 10am-1pm
• Monday, October 17 at Roselle Borough Hall
  • Roselle
  • Council Chambers
  • 4-7pm

Any Union County resident may visit any of these clinics, regardless of their town of residence. To prepare for a visit to Union County’s flu shot clinics, residents are advised to review the fact sheet issued by the CDC in English, Spanish, and other languages at https://www.immunize.org/vis/ (select “Influenza, inactivated” from the vaccine index).

Masks are required when visiting one of Union County’s clinics. Persons who have a fever, coughing, sneezing, or other signs of illness will not be admitted to a clinic site.

For additional updates, visit the “Upcoming Flu Drives” page on the County website, at ucnj.org/flu.

Children and adults in need of a variety of standard immunizations can visit Union County’s Immunization Center at 40 Parker Road in Elizabeth. Please note that there is no income eligibility requirement for the COVID-19 or seasonal flu vaccines. Other immunizations are available on an income-eligible basis. For more information, call the Immunization Center at (908) 965-3627 or (908)965-3868.

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.