Category: Public Info

Union County Freeholder Sergio Granados joined Union County Office of Community Engagement & Diversity Coordinator Nathalie Hernandez and members of the Union County Division of Social Services at the Operation Warm Heart Distribution Day in Elizabeth. The division of Social Services and the Office of Community Engagement & Diversity hosted the donation drive collecting winter accessories for the homeless community.(Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ — The first cold snap of the season is here, and parents looking for indoor and outdoor children’s activities can find something for all ages at Union County’s Trailside Nature and Science Center, located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside.

“If you have never been to Trailside before, now is a good time to come and introduce your children to the many activities and programs offered by our professional staff,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.

Scheduled programs are available for toddlers and pre-school ages on up.

Pre-registration is required to participate in a scheduled program. To register online, visit the Union County activities registration website, secure.rec1.com/NJ/union-county-nj/catalog, and scroll down to the “Trailside Preschool Programs” and “Trailside Workshops” links.

A modest fee applies to scheduled activities.

Participants are advised to dress for the weather, as some activities take place outdoors.

In addition to scheduled activities, Trailside is also open to walk-in visitors daily from noon to 5:00 p.m., free of charge. Visitors can stroll the museum at their leisure and enjoy the interactive exhibits, an expansive reading room, an indoor bird watching area, and more.

For more information about all programs and activities at Trailside, visit online at ucnj.org/trailside or call 908-789-3270.

Visit the Green Connection at ucnj.org/green-connection for quick links to all Union County environmental programs and resources.

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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 – Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds eligible military veterans who are Union County residents that they can obtain free proof of service ID cards at the County Clerk’s main office in the County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street in midtown Elizabeth, or at the annex office, located in the Colleen Fraser Building at the Union County Complex, 300 North Avenue East in Westfield.

“Throughout the year we appreciate the service our veterans have given, and as Veterans Day approaches it is all the more important to recognize their contributions to the Union County community and to our country,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “Streamlining access to ID cards and discharge certificates assists military veterans in obtaining benefits and resources without incurring additional costs or delays.”

Union County veterans who have not yet filed their DD-214 discharge papers can do so by bringing the original honorable discharge papers to the County Clerk’s office in Elizabeth or Westfield office. There is no charge for this service.

In addition, veterans who have already filed their DD-214 papers can obtain a copy free of charge from the County Clerk.

Veterans can call the County Clerk at 908-659-7403 for more details information about these free services.

The County Clerk also provides Veteran Peddlers Licenses free of charge. For more information on Veterans Peddlers Licenses, call 908-527-4967.

An online directory of discounts for goods and services offered to veterans by Union County businesses is available at the County Clerk’s Veteran Discounts page, ucnj.org/county-clerk.

Businesses interested in joining the directory can fill out an online form in the “Add Service/Business” tab in the directory.

For a list of veteran’s services offered by the County Clerk, visit ucnj.org/county-clerk/veteran-services. Quick links for additional veteran’s services and programs in Union County are available online at ucnj.org/hero.

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

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Union County, NJ –Union County residents and visitors can learn how to create their own handmade cards with pressed flowers and foliage at the upcoming Pressed Flower Workshop on Thursday, November 14 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Union County’s Trailside Nature and Science Center, located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside. Ample free parking is located at the site.

Attendees must be age 18 or older. Space is limited and pre-registration is required through the Trailside Talks link on the Union County activities online registration website, secure.rec1.com/NJ/union-county-nj (scroll down for the Trailside Talks link).

A materials fee of $20 per participant ($25 for out-of-county visitors) applies.

“This workshop provides Union County residents and visitors with an opportunity to explore their creativity in the unique field of flower pressing and preservation, under the guidance of an experienced teacher,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.

The workshop will be taught by flower designer Mary Kao. Ms. Kao will discuss the best time to preserve flowers and how to press them properly. The materials fee includes all supplies, including exotic flowers not grown in the Union County area.

The Trailside Nature and Science Museum is a facility of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.  For more information on all activities at Trailside, call 908-789-3670 or visit online ucnj.org/parks-recreation.

For quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities visit The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connect.

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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 – As ballots continue to be tabulated after the the November 5 General Election, Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds residents that all Vote-by-Mail ballots and Provisional ballots are included in the official, certified election results.

“I would like to assure all voters that every vote goes into the final count, whether it is a Vote-by-Mail ballot, a Provisional ballot, or the votes collected from voting machines at the polling place,” said Ms. Rajoppi.

A new change in State voting law required that Vote-by-Mail ballots be sent to all voters who voted by mail at least once in a New Jersey election within the last three years.

Voters who no longer wish to receive Vote-by-Mail ballots in future elections can download an opt out form through the County Clerk’s elections website, by following the instructions in the Vote-By-Mail page at unioncountyvotes.com/vote-by-mail-ballot-application.

“My office contacted nearly 13,000 eligible Union County voters in early September to advise them they would be getting a vote by mail ballot unless they opted out,” Ms. Rajoppi explained. “Voters who received a Vote-by-Mail ballot but did not use it were still entitled to come to their polling place and cast a Provisional ballot, although they could not vote on the machines by law.”

Ms. Rajoppi also reminded voters that the tallies from voting machines are posted online as “unofficial” results shortly after the polls close on Election Day, pending the addition of the tallies from Vote-by-Mail and Provisional ballots. Machine tallies are also re-checked before election certification.

State law provides for certification of the election results to be made eight days after the election. Vote-by-Mail ballots that are postmarked on Election Day are counted if they are delivered up to two days after Election Day. Provisional ballots are reviewed by the Board of Elections and also counted.

“Some voters have been led to believe that Vote-by-Mail and Provisional ballots are only counted in close elections, and that is entirely false,” said Ms. Rajoppi.

Voters with questions about Vote-by Mail or any other election procedures can call the Elections Division at 908-527-4996 or email ucvote@ucnj.org.

Additional elections information is also available online at the County Clerk’s elections website, website, UnionCountyVotes.com and on the free mobile app, Union County Votes.

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The annual Holiday Sound and Light Show hosted by The Model Railroad Club is back for another season at the A. Paul Mallery Model Railroad Center in Union Township. The centerpiece of the festivities is the club’s sprawling, meticulously detailed HO scale layout.

“The Holiday Sound and Light Show is a favorite activity for many people in and around Union County,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The Model Railroad Club does a great job of showcasing this unique exhibit, and we Freeholders are proud to support them.”

The Model Railroad Center is located in a mixed-use area of Union County’s Lenape Park, off Route 22 East behind the Home Depot at 930 South Springfield Road.

“We work hard year round to provide a wonderful experience for our visitors,” said Railroad Club President Tim McCollum. “For this show our HO scale layout is transformed into a theatre where the trains are the star of the show.”

This year, the Holiday Sound and Light show opens at noon Friday, November 29. It will run every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until December 15.

Attendees can stay as long as they like to enjoy an elaborate N-scale layout and other displays at the Railroad Center.

A snack bar, train-themed gift shop, and toddler play-and-rest area are also available.

Tickets are available both online and in person. To purchase tickets online and see details about dates and times visit http://www.themodelrailroadclub.org/advance-show-tickets/. Children age two and under are free.

Tickets can also be purchased at the Railroad Center during regular Saturday public hours between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., and during the Sound and Light Show beginning at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, November 29.

The Model Railroad Club has been a part of Union County since its founding in 1949 by Master Model Railroader Paul Mallery. Today, it is one of the largest model railroad clubs in the region.

Members of the Railroad Club built the Railroad Center and run it through an arrangement with the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation. Work on the HO display began 40 years ago with the construction of the Railroad Center in Lenape Park. It has been enhanced and expanded since then. Work on a major expansion is under way, practically doubling the size of the original exhibit.

The Model Railroad Club is dedicated to preserving and sharing the art of model railroads while providing the public with a fascinating window on the history of the New Jersey-Pennsylvania rail corridor.

In addition to extra hours for the Holiday Sound and Light Show, the Railroad Center is open to the public every Saturday afternoon and for scheduled events throughout the year.

New members are always welcome to join the Model Railroad Club. Current members are on site during visiting hours and are happy to provide information about Club activities. Prospective members can also request information on joining by email, at info@tmrci.org.

All proceeds from the Holiday Sound and Light Show go towards funding the Railroad Club’s activities.

Directions: The A. Paul Mallery Center is conveniently situated in a mixed-use area of Union County’s Lenape Park, off Route 22 East in Union Township, behind the Home Depot at 930 South Springfield Road. Enter the Home Depot parking lot from Route 22 East or from South Springfield Road, and go to the far (west) end where the Home Depot garden center is located. Follow a small sign to find the service road behind the garden center. The Mallery Center is at the end of the road.

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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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By Briana Vannozzi, Correspondent of NJ-TV | October 31, 2019, 5PM EST

The unprecedented increase in requests for vote-by-mail ballots could have a major influence on this year’s Assembly election outcome, especially in areas like Somerset and Union County – the battlegrounds for the state’s only competitive races.

According to the state Division of Elections, there were 596,993 vote-by-mail ballots requested as of Thursday. NJTV News has obtained data showing 275,429 of those went to Democrats, 149,540 to Republicans and another 169,247 for unaffiliated voters, not including third parties.

“We are up to 30​,000 vote-by-mails that we sent out. Which is a very high number for us. I think in the highest presidential activity, we did 16,000,” said Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi.

Rajoppi’s office has been pilot-testing the state’s first “ballot-on-demand” technology to keep up with requests. The machine custom prints ballots on the spot for voters, using their name and district.

The uptick in interest likely stems from a bill that Gov. Murphy signed into law back in August, providing automatic vote-by-mail enrollment for anyone who used it during the last three election years, unless they opt out. If all goes smoothly, county clerks say it should cut down on the burden it created.

“I have 66 different ballot formats and pick from one of them to get your exact ballot, check it to make sure it’s the right ballot and then give it to you,” said Rajoppi. She went on to call the process “time consuming, labor intensive and very costly.”

“It was at least $3 million to implement the most recent three elections,” said ​executive director of the New Jersey Association of Counties, John Donnadio. “That doesn’t include the special elections, the fire district elections and municipal elections, and it doesn’t include all of the costs moving forward.”

After Murphy put the $2 million set aside by the legislature in his so-called lock box during the budget, Donnadio filed a case with the state Council on Local Mandates over the cost. While the case is still pending, the counties are feeling the pinch.

“The last time the legislature was top of the ticket, we had about 57,000​ ballots cast county wide, and we’ve mailed out 29,000 vote-by-mail ballots,” said Somerset County Clerk Steve Peter.

The number of vote-by-mail ballots skyrocketed between the 2017 and 2018 general elections, when the law originally went to into effect, up from 182,744 to 400,136 residents.

“There’s no question that the automatic vote-by-mail ballot measure that we have now … is benefiting the Democrats and that’s because the Democrats saw this coming, worked with the governor to get this done and were preparing for it in a way that Republicans were not,” said Patrick Murray of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.

Democrats say the effort expands the process to more residents, despite their nearly one million voter edge over Republicans in the state. Even for a low turnout year, the vote-by-mail numbers are expected to reach new heights.

Residents planning to vote by mail have until 3 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 4 to come in person, fill out an application and receive a ballot. ​The deadline to submit it in person is 8 p.m. on election night. Ballots postmarked by Election Day will still be accepted up to 48 hours after.

As the winter season rapidly approaches Union County senior residents age 60 and older are reminded that they can receive a warm nutritious meal at any Senior Café of their choice.

“The Senior Café provides an opportunity for our senior residents to get out and enjoy a nutritious meal as well as educational and social programs,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The Freeholder Board is proud to support this program.”

All Senior Café lunches include juice or soup, meat, fish, or poultry, potatoes, pasta, or rice, vegetables, a choice of a hot or cold beverage, and is complete with desert.

The Senior Café has delicious meals designed by a registered dietitian. Each meal is nutritionally balanced to meet the dietary and health needs of mature men and women.

The suggested donation is $1.75 per meal, but for those under age 60 there is a $4.00 fee. All donations collected go directly back to the program to help provide more meals to those in need.

To reserve lunch residents are asked to contact the café of their choice at least two days in advance. Lunch is served every Monday through Friday unless otherwise noted.

The Union County Senior Nutrition Program is made possible by a grant from the United States government under the Older American’s Act. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders also provides support for the senior Nutrition Program.

For more information and a list of Senior Café locations visit https://wp.me/P4sLwl-cZH or call the Division on Aging toll free at 1-888-820-8226.

For further information about nutrition programs offered by the Division on Aging, contact Kathleen Malkiewicz by phone at 908-527-4877 or by email at kmalkiewicz@ucnj.org.

For information about all services and programs for seniors and their families visit ucnj.org/aging.

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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 – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announces that the County Clerk’s Elections Offices in Elizabeth and Westfield will be open for extended hours on Saturday, November 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., for anyone seeking to obtain a Vote-By-Mail ballot for the General Election.

Voters have until Monday, November 4 at 3:00 p.m. to obtain a Vote-by-Ballot in person at the County Clerk’s offices.

“Voters who apply for a Vote-by-Mail ballot in person at the Elections Offices in Elizabeth or Westfield can fill out their ballot and cast it in a secure lock box at the site, all in one visit,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “My office provides this ‘One-Stop’ service to help ensure that the Vote-by-Mail process is user friendly and convenient.”

To cast a Vote-by-Mail ballot in person at the Elizabeth and Westfield offices, a 2015 state law requires voters to provide a New Jersey driver’s license or New Jersey identification card with their photo, name, address and signature.

Voters who choose not to leave their ballot in the secure lock box may deliver it in person to the Union County Board of Elections by Election Day, or mail it in time to be postmarked by Election Day.

Applications for Vote-by-Mail are also available by download through the County Clerk’s unioncountyvotes.com elections website and Union County Votes app. Voters can also request an application by mail by calling the Elections Office at 908-527-4996 or email ucvote@ucnj.org.

The Election Office is located at the County Clerk’s Main Office in the Union County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street in midtown Elizabeth. To access the Election Office during special Saturday Vote-by-Mail hours, voters must use the rear entrance of the Courthouse on Elizabethtown Plaza. The Election Office is located in Room 113.

The Annex Office in Westfield is located in the Colleen Fraser Building at the Union County complex, at 300 North Avenue East. Street and lot parking are available, and mass transit is nearby.

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

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