County of Union, New JerseyDefault category for all normal press releases
Union County Surrogate James LaCorte, Esq. spoke about the legal aspects of the functions of notaries public at a Notary Training Seminar for New Jersey Notaries Public hoisted by Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi at the John H. Stamler Police Academy in Scotch Plains. For more information about Notary Public Services visit www.ucnj.org/county-clerk/notary-public-services. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to partner with WellCare Health Plans to present the first Union County LGBTQ+ Community Health and Wellness Fair scheduled for Saturday, October 5, 2019 at Union County College (1033 Springfield Ave, Cranford) from 12 noon until 4PM. All are welcome. Admission and parking is free.
“The LGBTQ community is diverse with specific health needs and challenges, of which a safe and supportive environment is often a barrier to access,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The Freeholder Board is proud to partner with WellCare Health Plans to host the first health and wellness fair for the LGBTQ community, friends and family.”
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people often face numerous barriers in accessing health and wellness services and programs. Union County’s inclusive, educational and interactive health and wellness event for the LGBTQ community will offer a variety of medical screenings, presentations, fitness and personal care demos.
“Enhancing efforts to improve LGBTQ health and wellness is necessary to ensure that LGBTQ individuals can lead long, healthy lives,” said Freeholder Rebecca Williams, liaison to the LGBTQ Ad Hoc Committee. “The LGBTQ+ Health and Wellness Fair brings together LGBTQ-affirming health and wellness providers from throughout the State of New Jersey to offer individuals the opportunity to engage in their personal health and wellness in a safe and inclusive environment.”
Organized by the Office of LGBTQ Affairs and WellCare Health Plans, and the Union County Division of Health, with support from Union County College, the Union County LGBTQ+ Community Health & Wellness Fair represents the Freeholder Board’s commitment to supporting a strong and healthy community and is part of our ongoing effort to provide a safe space for the LGBTQ community to access basic health screenings and important information.
Health and wellness providers who offer services for the LGBTQ community and would like to register to participate with resources and information should contact Danni Newbury, Coordinator, at 908-527-4742 or dnewbury@ucnj.org.
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.
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The Union County Freeholder Board joined with local baseball legend Jeff Torborg, his family, municipal officials from Mountainside and Westfield, the Union County Sheriff, and two youth baseball teams in dedicating the Jeff Torborg Youth Baseball field at the County’s Echo Lake Park in Mountainside.
Jeff Torborg, a native of Westfield and former resident of Mountainside for 30 years, was with his wife, Suzie and his sons, Dale and Greg and extended family to celebrate the occasion.
“Suzie and I and our entire family are so very appreciative of all the efforts of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and their staff in creating this beautiful new Jeff Torborg Youth Baseball Field, which will provide a great place for kids to play for generations to come,” said Torborg. “When I first was told about this amazing tribute, I was literally speechless…this is a tremendous thrill for me and for my family. It is an honor to be recognized by my home county, which has been the site of events important to generations of my family.”
Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski who emceed the event said: “Jeff Torborg is one of the most accomplished ball players to ever come out of Union County. Jeff went on to achieve an impressive Major League baseball career, both as a player and manager, and is certainly worthy of today’s dedication.”
Freeholder Vice Chair Alexander Mirabella who introduced Torborg and presented him with a resolution honoring him with his colleagues, said: “We welcome you home today. We are pleased to name this field in your honor, and our hope is to inspire future generations of our younger county residents to follow in your path.”
The event also included tributes from Jim Iozzi, the President of the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame (whose organization previously inducted Torborg into their Hall of Fame), Jeff’s son Greg who read a letter of congratulations from Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, and appearances by former Major League Baseball players Willie Randolph (Yankees and Mets), Al Leiter (Mets and Yankees), and Mike Lowell (Marlins, Red Sox), and Jay Horowitz, long-time Mets’ public relations guru.
Following the ribbon cutting, Torborg threw out the first pitch to his grandson, also named Jeff Torborg, and an exhibition game ensued between Clark Little League and Springfield Junior Baseball League teams. The youth players all wore uniforms from the various teams Torborg was associated with, all in Torborg’s #10 uniform number.
The Freeholder Board and the Torborg family extended their thanks to the Chicago White Sox for donating the uniforms; the New York Mets, and Major League Baseball for their donations and participation; Famous Dave’s and Wakefern for making food donations.
The Torborg family also donated memorial bench plaques to the field, and the facility also includes a plaque memorializing Torborg’s accomplishments.
The permitted youth baseball field, which sits off Mill Lane in Echo Lake Park in Mountainside, is open for all teams to use by appointment calling the Union County Department at 908-527-4900.
Jeff Torborg’s Biography
Torborg began his career as an All-State catcher for Westfield High School, and an All-American catcher at Rutgers University, where they retired his number, #10, the first-ever uniform retired for a Rutgers University baseball player.
He was drafted originally by the Los Angeles Dodgers, played for them, and later for the California Angels during his ten-year career. He caught Sandy Koufax’s perfect game and no-hitters by Bill Singer and Nolan Ryan, and was part of Don Drysdale’s record-setting streak of 58-2/3 innings of scoreless baseball.
Torborg later managed five Major League Baseball teams—the Cleveland Indians, White Sox, Mets, Montreal Expos and Florida Marlins. He also served as a coach for the Yankees for ten years as well.
After his managing career concluded, Torborg then went on to spend 12 years as an award-winning television and radio baseball broadcaster for CBS Radio and Fox (television) Sports.
Union County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski, Freeholder Vice Chair Alexander Mirabella, Freeholder Sergio Granados, Sheriff Peter Corvelli, Westfield Mayor Shelley Brindle, Mountainside Mayor Paul Mirabelli, baseball legends Al Leiter, Willie Randolph and Mike Lowell joined with Jeff Torborg, his wife Suzi, sons Dale and Greg and his extended family in cutting the ribbon on the new Jeff Torborg Youth Baseball Field in Mountainside, NJ
Union County Freeholders presented Jeff Torborg (center) with a resolution honoring him and dedicating the Jeff Torborg Youth Baseball field in his honor. L. to R. Freeholder Sergio Granados, Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski, Suzie Torborg, Jeff Torborg, and Freeholder Vice Chair Alexander Mirabella.
Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites residents and visitors to join the 2019 Union County Hispanic Heritage Celebration on Saturday, September 28, from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Union County Performing Arts Center, 1601 Irving Street in Rahway. The Freeholder Board is partnering with the City of Rahway for the event, which is free and open to the public.
The family friendly evening will feature a performance by Mexican-American comedian Steve Treviño, who is nationally known for his unique insights into the ups and downs of everyday life. Limited tickets are available. Contact Nathalie Hernandez, nahernandez@ucnj.org to reserve your tickets today!
“Now more than ever, it is important to celebrate the diversity and cultural ties that build a strong, inclusive community,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.
The Freeholder Board reflects the contributions of Hispanic citizens to civic life in Union County. Its nine members include Freeholder Angel Estrada, who was the first Cuban-American elected to the Board, and Freeholder Sergio Granados, who is of Salvadoran-American descent.
“The national Hispanic community continues to grow, and within Union County, Hispanics represent over 30% of the population. The Freeholder Board continues to work on showcasing our diversity,” said Freeholder Sergio Granados. “This event will bring together Hispanic organizations across the County of Union for a fun filled evening that will highlight Hispanic culture and acknowledge the continued success of Hispanic community leaders. We invite all residents to come out and partake in this event as our greatest strength comes from uniting residents of all backgrounds.”
Attendees are invited to explore the richness of the Hispanic culture through food, music, art and entertainment, along with local leaders who will be honored at the event.
The 2019 Hispanic Heritage Celebration is free, and free parking is available at the Hamilton Stage located nearby at 360 Hamilton Street in Rahway.
The event is being coordinated through the County’s Office of Community Engagement and Diversity. For more information please contact the Office Coordinator Nathalie Hernandez at nahernandez@ucnj.org or 908-527-4880.
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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 Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholders Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded, Rebecca Williams and Sergio Granados joined Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage in congratulating the players and coaches of the Elmora Troopers Little League team during the “Parade of Champions” in their honor.
The Elmora Troopers beat the best teams in New Jersey to win the State Championship before heading to Connecticut to play in the Mid-Atlantic Region Championship where they won the tournament, which qualified them to participate in the Little League World Series. The Troopers were one of only eight teams from across the country to make it to the tournament and one of the final four teams in the United States bracket.
Union County, NJ — The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the launch of a new video campaign that provides residents with clear, reliable instructions on how to tell which items to recycle in their community, along with other recycling tips and information. The new “Recycle Right!” video series is designed to educate residents and help municipalities in Union County make the most of opportunities to save money through recycling.
When the wrong items are placed in the curbside bin, the recycling stream is contaminated. A contaminated recycling stream can result in thousands of dollars in added costs for Union County municipalities.
“A well-run recycling program can contain costs for governments. Every resident can lend a hand simply by choosing only the right items for recycling,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.
The new Recycle Right! campaign includes three 45-second videos, available through the free Recycle Coach app for mobile devices.
Free Recycle Coach downloads are available now at online app stores, through the Union County website at ucnj.org/recycling, and through the websites for each of the 21 municipalities in Union County.
The three videos will provide information about recycling rules in a concise, easy-to-understand format. Users can then test their knowledge with interactive questions on the Recycle Coach app.
“We strongly encourage residents to download and use the Recycle Coach app. In addition to the new instructional videos, the app provides reliable, up-to-date information on all residential recycling programs in Union County,” said Freeholder Chair Kowalski.
Existing Recycle Coach users will receive the videos automatically beginning September 30. New users will also receive the videos once they download the app.
The Recycle Coach app provides personalized collection schedules based on the user’s place of residence. Once a resident downloads the app, their Recycle Coach calendar will list their local curbside garbage and recycling schedules. The app will advise if there are changes in local collection due to holidays or weather.
Recycle Coach users can also set up recycling reminders and improve their recycling rates through a “What Goes Where?” search tool.
In addition to information on local recycling programs, the Recycle Coach calendar provides details on countywide recycling events run by Union County, including free personal paper shredding, scrap metal, and household special wastes. These events are available for all Union County residents, regardless of where they live, on a drop-off basis only (no curbside collection).
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is the first state agency in the US to purchase the Recycle Coach app and make it available for the use of all residents, free of charge.
Union County began promoting the app in 2018, and it is the first county in New Jersey to add the new Recycle Right! video campaign.
For information on all Union County recycling events and programs visit ucnj.org/recycling.
Visit The Green Connection at ucnj.org/green-connection for quick links to all Union County environmental programs and resources, including educational and community service activities.
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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.
Connect with Union County on social media.
Union County, NJ – Union County students in grades K-12 are invited to join a 4-H Club this fall and explore popular fields ranging from archery, cooking and fashion to Lego robotics and Dungeons and Dragons. Youth in their first year after graduating from high school can also join.
“4-H Clubs provide students in Union County with unique opportunities to practice teamwork, organization, leadership and other important life skills,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The Freeholder Board is very proud to support the 4-H program in our community.”
4-H Clubs are organized by age and topic. The members meet with an adult club leader on a monthly basis during the school year to plan activities and programs.
Each club emphasizes the ability of students to learn, organize, and communicate with activities appropriate for their age. For the school year 2019 – 2020, the clubs are:
Union County 4-H is run by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County and supported in part by the Freeholder Board, with offices at the Union County Complex at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield.
The national 4-H youth program is the largest youth development program in the U.S. As a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 4-H encourages students to develop expertise in a subject of their own choosing, and share their knowledge to benefit their community.
Participation in 4-H is associated with better grades at school, and a stronger interest in taking science classes, attending college, and contributing to the community. A recent Tufts University study found that as a group, girls who join 4-H clubs are especially likely to demonstrate positive behaviors.
To sign up for a club, meet the club leaders and find out more about 4-H activities, students must attend this year’s annual 4-H Open House on Friday evening, September 13, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Union County Magnet High School. The school is located at Mancuso Hall in the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools campus, 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.
For more information about the September 13 Open House, contact Union County 4-H Agent James Nichnadowicz at 908-654-9854 or jnichnadowicz@ucnj.org.
For more information about all Union County Extension programs, including 4-H, Master Tree Stewards and Master Gardeners, visit ucnj.org/rce.
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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 – Union County Freeholder Board invites all military veterans and active duty personnel, their families, and veterans’ service providers to attend a free Networking Mixer on Monday, September 30th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Clubhouse at Galloping Hill Golf Course, located at 3 Golf Drive in Kenilworth.
“We are grateful for the service of military personnel and their families who live in Union County, and we continue to develop more programs, events and resources for them to access opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “County residents with a military background possess unique skills and training that bring great value to the civilian workforce, and this mixer will enable them to make new connections in the community.”
The event is coordinated through the Union County Office of Veteran Services UC-HERO program. The event includes complimentary food.
The networking mixer is free to attend but preregistration is required. To register, contact the Office of Veteran Services Coordinator Janna Williams by phone at 908-527-4918, or email at jwilliams@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.
The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to present “Landscapes of Union County Parks”—artwork from Kat Block and Nancy Ori, currently on exhibit at the Freeholders Gallery. The gallery is located on the 6th floor of the Union County Administration Building, Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth, with gallery hours from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday.
This collaborative project from Ori and Block, both who are very distinguished artists, will be on display from August 29th through November 1st, 2019, and was inspired by the idyllic landscapes of Union County Parks.
“We’re honored to have such gifted artists display their works in our gallery and we certainly encourage our residents to visit the exhibition,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.
Combined, both Block and Ori have over a quarter century creating fine art and sharing their talent with the public. Both Artists enjoy giving back to Union County students by inspiring young artists to strive for excellence. Each year, Ms. Block and Ms. Ori contribute their expertise by serving as an instructor and an adjudicator, respectively at the Union County Teen Arts Festival.
“I have gotten tremendous solace and pleasure from visiting the many parks in our county and photographing them to use as references for my mixed media collages, which have become my seminal works of art,” Block said.
Ori added: “I feel that continuing to exhibit these images can make a difference in our community by opening the eyes of residents to the many wonderful natural resources we have in Union County.”
Serving as a source of inspiration, Union County boasts 36 parks and 6,200 acres of parkland.
For lectures, workshops, and further information about Kat Block and Nancy Ori; please visit their websites at www.katblock.com and www.nancyoriworkshops.com.
The Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, part of the Department of Parks and Recreation, coordinates the exhibits displayed at the Freeholders Gallery. For further information about this and other programs and services related to the arts and history in Union County, contact the Office at 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202; telephone (908) 558-2550; or e-mail: culturalinfo@ucnj.org. NJ relay users dial 711.
The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present the first program in the “Trailside Talks” series, “Hawk Watch,” on Sunday, September 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside. This free program is open to adults ages 18 and older.
“The fall hawk migration is the perfect time to visit and experience the beauty of the Watchung Reservation,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski, “Participants will have the chance to learn about the many different birds of prey that can be seen in New Jersey and discover how to identify them in flight.”
Every year, thousands of hawks migrate through New Jersey in the fall. This program explains the hows and whys of hawk migration, varying methods of migration, the latest theories on the strategies that birds use to navigate as well as look at the challenges they face in migration. A one hour hawk watch walk is scheduled, weather permitting. The program will be led by Pete Axelrod, Education and Community Outreach Coordinator of Wild Birds Unlimited in Scotch Plains.
For more information about this program or other activities for adults, families and children at Trailside, 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 facility of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.