Category: Public Info

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that the second annual Rockin’ the Reservation seasonal family activity event will take place on Sunday, September 29, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at The Loop in Union County’s Watchung Reservation.

The Loop is located off W.R. Tracy Drive in Mountainside. It features large open fields, picnic areas, restrooms, playgrounds, and access to rustic hiking trails.

“Rockin’ the Reservation provided hundreds of Union County families and visitors with a full afternoon of seasonal activities in its first year, and we are anticipating another good turnout this year,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.

Seasonal activities include pumpkin painting at the Pumpkin Patch, provided by Williams Nursery, and a Build-Your-Own-Scarecrow station.

Pony rides and other children’s activities are also featured throughout the event, which includes three entertainment venues:

• Main Stage: The Vinnys, Rockabilly Roadhouse, and a special Drum Circle using paint cans.
• Kids Korner: Magician Joe Fischer and musician Mr. Ray.
• Multi-Cultural Performances: The Rahway Valley Jerseyaires Barbershop Singers, the Chinese American Music Ensemble, the Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre Flamenco, and more.

Rockin’ the Reservation also features almost two dozen art and craft activities for all ages, and a Music Tent where children can play percussion and string instruments.

Food trucks, ice cream and kettle corn will be onsite during Rockin’ the Reservation.

Admission to Rockin’ the Reservation is $5 per person for ages 8 and up. All children ages 7 and under are admitted free of charge. Please note that an additional participation fee applies to scarecrow building, pumpkin painting and pony rides, regardless of age.

Free parking with a free shuttle to the Loop is available at the nearby Watchung Stables at 1160 Summit Lane in Mountainside and the Trailside Nature and Science Center at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside. A limited number of spots are also available within The Loop itself.

For additional information on Rockin’ the Reservation or other activities in Union County Parks visit ucnj.org/calendar or call the Parks Department at 908-527-4900.

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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.

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The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites non-profit organizations in Union County to attend a free workshop on compliance with accessibility and inclusion guidelines under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The workshop, titled “Inclusivity, Accessibility, and the ADA,” will take place on Tuesday, October 1 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Warinanco Sports Center, located at 1 Park Drive in Warinanco Park, Roselle.

The workshop is hosted by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs. It is open to all arts and history organizations, especially those receiving grants through Union County’s HEART, Local Arts Program, and History Grant initiatives. Other non-profit organizations may also attend.

“The ADA was a landmark piece of legislation when it was signed into law in 1990, and there are still many opportunities to make progress on its mandate for inclusion and accessibility,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The Freeholder Board is very proud to offer this educational resource to our grant awardees and other non-profits.”

“Inclusivity, Accessibility, and the ADA” features a panel discussion including:

• Robert Carr, former Director of Programs and Services/ADA Coordinator for the New Jersey Theatre Alliance
• Sean Dineen, Chairman of the Union County Board on the Disables and Doctor of Letters in Counterinsurgency and Disability Inclusion, Drew University 2017
• Kevin Illing, Chairman of the Union County Paratransit System Board

The event is free but online pre-registration is required through the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, a division of the Department of Parks and Recreation, at ucnj.org/parks-recreation.

For more information about the event call 908-558-2550.

The workshop is funded in part by a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. It is presented through the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, in the Department of Parks and Recreation.

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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.

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Union County residents and visitors looking for an educational activity for all ages can come to Open House events at the A. Paul Mallery Model Railroad Center in Union Township every Saturday afternoon in September from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., and experience the sights and sounds of an enormous HO scale train layout along with other displays.

The Railroad Center is run by The Model Railroad Club, a nonprofit organization dedicated to researching the history of railroads and industries in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania while sharing the art, craft and science of model railroading.

“A visit to the Railroad Center has become a family tradition, and the Freeholder Board is very proud to host this unique educational resource in the Union County parks system,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.

In addition to viewing model trains and educational displays, Railroad Center visitors can enjoy a snack bar, toddler rest area, and railroad-themed gift shop.

October will feature extended hours and additional days for the Open House events, in celebration of the Halloween season. Starting on Saturday October 19, the Open House hours are 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The extended hours continue on Sunday October 20, Saturday October 26, and Sunday October 27.

The extra openings coincide with the second annual AddamsFest events in Westfield, where Model Railroad Club members will assist in the running the “Dynamite” layout featured in an episode of The Addams Family television show.

The Railroad Club will also once again host the annual Holiday Sound and Light Show on three consecutive weekends at the Railroad Center beginning on Friday, November 29 and ending on Sunday, December 15.

The Railroad Center is conveniently located off Route 22 East in a mixed-use area of Union County’s Lenape Park, behind the Home Depot in Union Township.

The Railroad Center was built by club members and donated to the Union County parks system in 1976 under an arrangement with the Parks Department. The original building has been expanded since then. Today, it is one of the largest model railroad clubs in the region.

New members are always welcome to join. Current members are on hand during Saturday Open House events and other activities throughout the year, and they are always happy to provide information to visitors. Prospective members can also request information on joining by email, at info@tmrci.org.

For complete details about public events, admission prices, advance ticket sales, directions, and other information about the Railroad Center visit The Model Railroad Club online at themodelrailroadclub.org.

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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.

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Union County, NJ – In the continuing effort to support women, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders through the Department on Economic Development’s Office on Women is presenting a women’s empowerment yoga and meditation event in celebration of the fall season on Wednesday, September 25 at 6:00 p.m., at Masker’s Barn in The Deserted Village of Feltville, located in Union County’s Watchung Reservation at 9 Cataract Hollow Road, Berkeley Heights. 

The Office on Women is collaborating with Girls Helping Girls Period (girlshelpinggirlsperiod.org) in their mission to donate a year’s supply of feminine products to women in need. To assist with the supply of these items, participants are asked to bring a box or bag of feminine products to the event. All supplies collected will be donated to Girls Helping Girls Period.

“This program is designed to help women engage with their strengths and capabilities through yoga and guided meditation. It is a good opportunity to recharge and refresh as a new season begins, while also contributing to a good cause,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski said.

The program will include:

• Networking time.
• A short talk and introduction by Jennifer Erdos, Office Coordinator of the Union County Office on Women.
• Yoga session and guided meditation by Betsy Sanders (RYT 220, Reiki master, meditation teacher, yoga 4 cancer certified, Yin certified).

The event is free of charge and open to residents age 16 and older. Beginners and experts alike are welcome.  Attendees should wear comfortable clothing appropriate for yoga, and bring their own yoga mats as well as any feminine products they’d like to donate to Girls Helping Girls Period. Space is limited and pre-registration is required online at ucnj.org/office-on-women.

As the first county-based office of its kind in New Jersey, the Office on Women aims to help ensure that women connect with services and programs that enable them to reach their full potential at every stage of their lives, in education, in employment and business, health and in the social fabric of Union County, and to raise awareness of the many contributions that women make to life in Union County. For additional details contact Jennifer Erdos at jerdos@ucnj.org.

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Connect with Union County on social media. 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, NJ — The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites members of the community to honor the memory of the 60 Union County residents who perished in the World Trade Center attack of 2001, by visiting the Union County September 11th Memorial on Wednesday, September 11 at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside.

The Memorial is open from the morning hours until 9:00 p.m. on September 11. Members of the Union County Sheriff’s Office will provide a uniformed Honor Guard standing watch at the memorial from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. The public is invited to bring and light candles in memory of those lost in the attacks.

“On this date, we honor those who perished, we remember the many acts of bravery that occurred that day, and we reaffirm the Union County community as one that pulls together, through times of peace and crisis alike,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.

The Union County September 11th Memorial incorporates elements of design that include all three sites where lives were lost. Two girders recovered from the ruins of the World Trade Center are arranged within a five sided area representing the Pentagon, and an Eternal Flame represents those who died in Pennsylvania along with members of the Armed Services and emergency responders.

In addition to these elements, the names of the 60 deceased Union County residents are etched into the memorial.

Union County worked with residents of Cranford, Elizabeth, Kenilworth, Linden, Mountainside, Rahway, Scotch Plains, Summit, Union and Westfield to plan and build the Memorial.

Dedicated on Sept. 13, 2003, the memorial was constructed through private donations including in-kind work by labor unions and materials at cost.

The memorial is located on a hill at the border of Mountainside and Springfield in Echo Lake Park, near the Springfield Avenue entrance at the eastern end of the park. To view download a map visit ucnj.org/parks-recreation.

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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, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to support LGBTQ and ally business owners and entrepreneurs at the 2019 “Out For Business” Breakfast presented by the New Jersey LGBT Chamber of Commerce, sponsored by PSEG, this Thursday, September 12, 2019 at Galloping Hill Golf Course from 8:00 AM until 12:00 Noon.

Tickets are still available through the NJ LGBT Chamber of Commerce at https://bit.ly/2kudGaG.

“This Freeholder Board is proud to support the NJ LGBT Chamber of Commerce to bring together our diverse community of business owners and entrepreneurs to network and increase their capacity in our community,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.

The 2019 “Out for Business” Breakfast will focus on achieving success after LGBTBE (LGBT Business Enterprise) Certification.  Guests will have the opportunity to meet other professionals and hear success stories from LGBTBE certified business owners. For those LGBT business owners who are not yet certified, there will be an opportunity to learn how to become a certified LGBT Business Enterprise via the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce.

The scheduled speakers represent New Jersey government, the New Jersey corporate sector, and workplace diversity. Guests will hear from Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski and Danni Newbury, coordinator of Union County’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs.

“As corporate America becomes more diversified, this event offers a great opportunity for LGBTQ business owners and entrepreneurs to learn strategies to access business to business opportunities and strengthen networks to meet their business goals,” said Freeholder Rebecca Williams, liaison to the Union County LGBTQ Ad Hoc Committee. 

To succeed in business today requires strategic focus, the vision to see and then seize opportunities when they arise and a strong, accessible network of contacts. As an Affiliate Chamber of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, it is The NJ LGBT Chamber’s mission to bring together chamber members and allies with resources from across the business spectrum.

The NJ LGBT Chamber of Commerce “Out For Business” Breakfast event is sponsored by PSEG along with support from NJ LGBT Chamber founding sponsor BCB Bank and additional partnership with Office Depot, Out In Jersey Magazine, Constant Contact.

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.

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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 Department of Human Services, the Union County Youth Services Commission, and nonprofit organization Proceed, Inc. invite young women ages 13 through 17 to participate in the new Fearless Girls Empowerment group.

“Fearless Girls Empowerment group provides a safe, supportive space for young women to discuss sensitive topics and gain a deeper understanding of issues that affect them,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.

The group meets weekly with an adult leader to discuss healthy communication skills, leading with confidence, boundaries in relationships, self-esteem, how to handle conflicts, internet safety, and other issues that girls and young women face today.

The 12-week program begins on Tuesday, September 10th and will conclude on Tuesday, December 3rd.  Admission is on a rolling basis by referral only.  For more information on the program or how to host a Fearless Girls Group in your town, please contact Barbara Ziobro, Administrator, Youth Services Commission 908-558-2381 or bziobro@ucnj.org.  To obtain a referral form, contact Patricia Scala at the Youth Services Commission, 908-527-4888 or pscala@ucnj.org.

Meetings are held every Tuesday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Linden Public Library, located at 31 East Henry Street in Linden. The Fearless Girls Empowerment Group is free and snacks will be provided for participants.

The Union County Youth Services Commission is a state-mandated committee represented by state and local juvenile justice stakeholders who plan, monitor and implement programs and services to at-risk youth and those youth involved in the juvenile justice system.

The Commission meets monthly to review local service provider outcomes, distribute information on upcoming events and plan initiatives in response to identified gaps in meeting Union County’s Continuum of Care objectives.

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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.

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The Town of Westfield, with sponsorship support from the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and Coldwell Banker, will host its first-ever Westfield Multicultural Festival on September 14 from 1:00-3:00 pm at Mindowaskin Park. This celebration of Westfield’s unique and diverse community will feature music and dance performances, food, cultural displays, and expo booths.

The festivities will kick off with a parade of nations from the Mindowaskin Playground to the gazebo. Music and dance performances will follow shortly afterwards.

“The Board of Chosen Freeholders are pleased to provide support for the Westfield Multicultural Festival,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “I am glad that the Town of Westfield is celebrating the melting pot of different cultures within the community. Our diversity is what makes the County of Union a wonderful place to live, work, and visit.”

“I’m thrilled to have Westfield host this event to highlight the many vibrant cultures in and around our town,” said Westfield Mayor Shelley Brindle. “We’ve seen such an enthusiastic response from members of the community to showcase their heritages and participate in this first-time event. I hope everyone will join us for what I expect will be a fantastic afternoon celebrating diversity”

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation are pleased to announce that online registration for fall workshops at Trailside Nature and Science Center is now open. Beginning Saturdays this fall, a new program series, Back to Nature, is open to families with children of all ages with a different nature or science theme each week.  Trailside’s location in the scenic Watchung Reservation provides the perfect outdoor classroom.

“Trailside’s new Back to Nature series is a wonderful way for families to spend time together in the great outdoors and enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Watchung Reservation,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “These fall programs provide the perfect opportunity for adults and children of all ages to have fun while learning about the natural world around them.”

The Back to Nature programs encourage nature discovery through hikes and indoor/outdoor activities. This new series is offered on Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.  Families can explore a rainbow of colors on a fall hike, learn how to identify different animal tracks, experience the life of the Lenape Native Americans and take part in a scavenger hunt on Union County’s award winning Sensory Trail. There is a maximum of four participants per family.

Parents with young children up to age three can enjoy Toddler Time. This popular series is offered on Thursdays, Fridays or Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Families will learn about animals such as squirrels and turkeys and participate in an autumn tyke hike.  There is a maximum of four participants per family.

Trailside offers Two of Us for parents with children ages three and four. This workshop series meets on Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. or Wednesdays from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Among the many topics explored this autumn are: fall fun in the outdoors, animal adaptations and snakes and turtles.

Small Fry Days is a drop-off program for children ages four to six. This program is offered on Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Participants will enjoy a fall walk, investigate slithering snakes, spinning spiders and acrobatic bats on the Halloween hike and learn about the Watchung Reservation’s largest year-round residents, the white-tailed deer.

Trailside is offering a drop off program called Kids Explorations for older children ages seven to 10 on Saturday mornings. Activities include a salamander search, birding for beginners, nature’s detectives and a hike to the lake to discover the colors of fall.  This series meets on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Trailside’s fall programs begin October 1 and continue through December 7. Pre-registration is required. The fee per class is $10.00 per child for Union County residents and $12.00 per child for out-of-county residents. For detailed program descriptions and registration visit ucnj.org/trailside.

For more information about Trailside’s new family workshops, upcoming programs or special events, please call 908-789-3670 or visit 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.

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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.

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The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites all residents and visitors to attend the commemoration of POW/MIA Remembrance Day in front of the Union County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth on Friday, September 13. The ceremony will start promptly at 11:15 a.m.

“Please join us as we pause and honor the sacrifices of our military and their families,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “This annual public ceremony provides an important reminder that the Union County community will never forget our service men and women who were prisoners of war, and those who are missing in action.”

In the event of rain, the ceremony will take place indoors, in the Freeholder Meeting Room on the 6^th Floor of the Union County Administration Building, behind the Courthouse at 10 Elizabethtown Plaza. For more information, call the Freeholder Board at 908-527-4200.

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.