Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds Union County residents seeking School Board positions in their municipality that the deadline for filing their nominating petitions is Monday, July 29, before 4:00 p.m. in the Main Office of the County Clerk, at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth, Room 113.

“Service on a school board provides the public with an opportunity to contribute to the community,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “As a former board member, I encourage involvement in this important civic duty.  Interested applicants should make note of the deadline.”

Ms. Rajoppi also advised applicants to be aware that a state law effective July 1, 2018 permits School Board Candidates to circulate petitions jointly. They may be bracketed together on the ballot if they wish with one or two other candidates.

The new law also permits a short non-political slogan not to exceed three words.  Candidates are also required to file a specific affirmation that they have not been convicted of crimes that would disqualify them from office with their petition. 

For more details about school board petitions, including a downloadable petition, visit the County Clerk’s elections website online at unioncountyvotes.com/candidate-petition. A petition can also be obtained in person at the Main Office in Elizabeth.

Main Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The office may be reached by phone during office hours at 908-527-4996 with any inquiries regarding elections in Union County.

For all Union County Clerk programs and services visit ucnj.org/county-clerk.

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Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Alexander Mirabella and Freeholders Rebecca Williams, Angela R. Garretson, Sergio Granados, Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded, Christopher Hudak and Andrea Staten joined Union County employees today marching in the annual Plainfield 4th of July parade. Happy Independence Day from the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ — The Board of Chosen Freeholders in conjunction with Foodstock NJ and the Community Food Bank of NJ are requesting that residents donate non-perishable food items to assist those in need at the July 10^th, Summer Arts Concert Series at Echo Lake Park.

“Over 12 million children in our country live in homes that do not have enough food to sustain everyone in their household,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “We want to do our part here in Union County by assisting our local foodbanks in providing food to families in our community.”

On July 10^th the Summer Arts Concert Series continues with Radio Petty (The Best of Tom Perry) at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or towel for UC Fit Yoga at 6:30. The concert will begin promptly at 7:30.

Summer is a particularly difficult time of year for our nation’s food banks. Families with children who had been receiving free or reduced cost breakfast and/or lunch at school must find ways to replace those meals during summer break.  In an effort to help fight hunger, please bring a donation of non-perishable food items to the concert.

Residents may drop off donations of non-perishable food items at any of the following locations from July 8^th through July 19^th during normal business hours:

Administration Building Lobby

10 Elizabethtown Plaza

Elizabeth NJ 07207

Public Safety Building Lobby

400 North Avenue East

Westfield NJ 07090

Engineering Building Lobby

2325 South Avenue

Scotch Plains NJ 07076

For more information contact Nathalie Hernandez, coordinator, Office of Community Engagement and Diversity at nahernandez@ucnj.org or 908-527-4880.

For more details on the Summer Arts series and more summer 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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Union County, NJ– The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders welcomes residents with special needs, ages five through adult, and senior adults age 60 and above, to free use of the Walter E. Ulrich Memorial Pool every Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. through August 13, 2019.  This handicapped accessible pool is located at 3 Parkway Drive in Rahway, within the county’s Rahway River Park.

“The Freeholders are committed to providing recreational and social opportunities for residents living with special needs including physical, cognitive and developmental challenges, to promote inclusion and full access to community enjoyment,” stated Bette Jane Kowalski, Chair of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.  “Our senior residents, and those of any age with special needs, can enjoy a relaxing time in a beautifully maintained pool at specially dedicated times in a safe environment.”

“Through Union County’s Department of Human Services, Divisions on Aging and Disability Resource Connection, and Individual and Family Support Services, senior adults and their caregivers, and people from age five to adults with physical and cognitive disabilities, can obtain a variety of services to help them live at home with dignity and independence,” Freeholder Chair Kowalski added.

For information about services and programs for senior adults, call 908-527-4807 or toll-free 888-280-8226.  For information about services and programs for the disabled, call 908-527-4807. 

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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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For immediate release July 1, 2019

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the launch of a new program to help combat substance use, reduce overdose deaths and reduce relapses in Union County. Called Union County Helping Hands 365 (UCHH365), the program is designed to improve access to treatment and support services by connecting addicts with peers who have achieved sobriety and are trained to help others.
Funding for the new program was approved during the regular meeting of the Freeholder Board on Thursday, June 27.
“Receiving trained, professional guidance from someone who has lived through the experience of addiction can make an enormous difference in an individual’s ability to recover, and to avoid relapse over the long term,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.
“The Peer Recovery Specialists are trained to leverage their personal experiences, build trust, and help each individual connect with resources that enable them to turn their lives around,” said Freeholder Christopher Hudak, who sponsored the Freeholder Resolution establishing the program.
The local non-profit organization Prevention Links will implement the new program. Additional features of UCHH365 include:
• Weekly support for three months and bi-weekly support thereafter, for a total of up to six months.
• A 24/7 Hotline staffed by Peer Recovery Specialists will be available.
• Outreach and education for local community leaders, enabling Recovery Specialists to respond to referrals and visit persons seeking help in a familiar environment, including places of worship, community centers, social clubs and nonprofit agencies.
• Training for law enforcement so that individuals may be referred by law enforcement to the UCHH365 program.
• On call coverage at designated locations in communities with the greatest rate of overdose (Cranford, Elizabeth, Linden, Rahway, Union) between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 24 hours per day between the hours of 8:00 p.m. Thursday through 8:00 p.m. Sunday.
• Transportation assistance for persons going into treatment.
The program will serve at least 250 Union County residents before the end of 2019. Any Union County resident over the age of 18 is eligible to seek help through UCHH365.
The program will serve at least 250 Union County residents by the end of 2019. Any Union County resident over the age of 18 is eligible to seek help through UCHH365.
To reach the UCHH365 Hotline or to contact Prevention Links for more details about the program, call Prevention Links at1-855-825-3275

Union County, NJ – Union County residents seeking reliable information about services for adults age 60 and older will have a choice of eight (8) dates and locations in July to speak with staff from the county’s Department of Human Services, Division on Aging. Staff will be present at public libraries in Elizabeth; Clark; Cranford; Garwood; Mountainside; Summit; Union; and at the Rahway Senior Center.

“The purpose of “ASK” is to help residents obtain government programs and services available to seniors and their caregivers”, said Bette Jane Kowalski, Chair of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. “The ASK program will bring our knowledgeable, experienced Division on Aging staff, based in Elizabeth, to locations throughout Union County to make it easier for residents to get expert assistance close to home.”

Staff from the Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection/ADRC have been traveling throughout Union County providing information about services such as home delivered meals; respite care; home care; adult day care; and, support services for caregivers through the Aging Services Kiosk or ASK community outreach effort. Assistance with completing applications and forms is also provided.

The July 2019 dates and locations are:

Monday, July 8
Elizabeth Public Library – LaCorte Branch
418 Palmer Street
Elizabeth, NJ 07202
10:00 am – 12:00 noon

Wednesday, July 10
Cranford Public Library
224 Walnut Avenue
Cranford, NJ 07016
10:00 am – 12:00 noon

Thursday, July 11
Rahway Senior Center
1306 Esterbrook Avenue
Rahway, NJ 07065
10:00 am – 12:00 noon

Monday, July 15
Clark Public Library
303 Westfield Avenue
Clark, NJ 07066
10:00 am – 12:00 noon

Thursday, July 18
Garwood Public Library
411 Third Avenue
Garwood, NJ 07027
10:00 am – 12:00 noon

Friday, July 19
Mountainside Public Library
Constitution Plaza
Mountainside, NJ 07092
10:00 am – 12:00 noon

Monday, July 29
Summit Public Library
75 Maple Street
Summit, NJ 07901
10:30 am – 12:30 pm

Tuesday, July 30
Union Public Library
1980 Morris Avenue
Union, NJ 07083
11:30 am to 1:30 pm

The Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection’s (ADRC) goal is to promote wellness, independence, dignity and choice for seniors and their families. It is one of 670 “Area Agencies on Aging” nationwide established under the federal Older Americans Act. The division has information printed in both English and Spanish and has Spanish speaking staff.

For further information about the Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection, call the division’s toll-free number: 1-888-280-8226, or 908-527- 4870 or 4858. Spanish speakers may call 908-527-4863. Information may be viewed on the Union County government website at www.ucnj.org.

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 Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski, Vice Chairman Alexander Mirabella and Freeholder Andrea Staten present a resolution to Union County Vocational-Technical Schools Superintendent Gwendolyn Ryan congratulating her on being named the permanent Superintendent of the schools in Scotch Plains. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ– The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to announce the dates for the upcoming Summer Arts Concert series and highly anticipated Family Fun & Flix film series.

“Our free summer events are sure to have something for every member of the family to enjoy”, said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “I look forward to a summer full of outdoor entertainment and activities to bring our county residents even closer together.”

The fun begins with Family, Fun, and Flix on July 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Wheeler Park in Linden. As part of the evening’s events, UC Get Fit, a health initiative of the Union County Freeholder Board, will offer fitness fun for kids before the movie. Immediately after at dusk the movie A Dogs Way Home will begin.

The following is a list of Family, Fun, and Flix movies throughout the summer at Union County Parks:
• July 9 – A Dogs Way Home at Wheeler Park, Linden
• July 16 – Hotel Transylvania 3 at Warinanco Park, Elizabeth
• July 23 – Lego Movie 2 at Warinanco Park, Elizabeth
• July 29 – Hotel Transylvania 3 at Rutgers Ave. Park, Hillside
• July 30 –Spiderman-Into the Spider-Verse at Warinanco Park, Elizabeth
• August 6 – Ralph Breaks the Internet at Meisel Park, Springfield (with NNO)
• August 12 – Incredibles 2 at Tamaques Park, Westfield
• August 13 –Incredibles 2 at Warinanco Park, Elizabeth

On July 10th the Summer Arts Concert Series continues with Radio Petty (The Best of Tom Perry) at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or towel for UC Fit Yoga at 6:30. The concert will begin promptly at 7:30.

The Board of Chosen Freeholders in conjunction with Foodstock NJ and the Community Food Bank of NJ are requesting that residents donate non-perishable food items to assist those in need at the July 10th Summer Arts Concert Series at Echo Lake Park. Summer is a particularly difficult time of year for our nation’s food banks. Families with children who had been receiving free or reduced cost breakfast and/or lunch at school must find ways to replace those meals during summer break.

The following is a list of the Summer Arts Concert Series dates and locations throughout the summer at Union County Parks:

Echo Lake Park, Mountainside – Wednesdays
July 10 – Radio Petty (The Best of Tom Petty)
July 17 – Verdict
July 24 – Black Dog (The Led Zeppelin Tribute)
July 31 – Marc Muller’s Grateful Jamband (Grateful Dead)
Oak Ridge Park, Clark – Wednesdays
Aug 7 – American Rapture
Aug 14 – Rob Paparozzi Juke Joint
Aug 21 – Hey Bulldog (Tribute to the Beatles)
Aug 28 – We May Be Right (The Billy Joel Experience)

For more details on the Summer Arts series, the Family Flix free outdoor movie series, and more summer 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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Union County, NJ — Today marks 50 years since the start of the uprising at the Stonewall Inn that sparked the modern gay rights movement.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders honors the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, recognizing that the milestones achieved in the LGBTQ rights and equality movement today were made possible by trailblazers who first fought back against brutality and oppression and stood up for their rights then.

“The rebellion at the Stonewall Inn is one of the most important events that led to the rise of LGBTQ rights in this country,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “As elected officials, we are responsible for supporting the rights of all people. This Freeholder Board will continue to stand with the LGBTQ community to support inclusion and equality.”

This year’s Union County Pride events honored the early transgender, gay rights and AIDS activist, Marsha P. Johnson, a 1963 graduate of Elizabeth High School and a central figure in the gay liberation movement at Stonewall on the evening of June 28, 1969, highlighting her insistence on the urgency of resistance to advance civil rights protections for LGBTQ people.

As we mark the 50th anniversary of this significant moment in history, the Freeholder Board commends Union County elected officials and community leaders who hosted Pride flag raising ceremonies or community events to support visibility, dignity and equality for LGBTQ people in society.

“The unity found through Pride events is essential to increasing awareness and advancing civil rights protections for LGBTQ individuals,” said Freeholder Rebecca Williams, liaison to the Freeholder’s LGBTQ Ad Hoc Committee. “On behalf of the Freeholder Board, we commend all of our municipal officials and community leaders who stand for inclusion and equality.”

This year, more than half of Union County’s municipalities joined the Freeholder Board to observe June as LGBTQ Pride Month with official Pride Month proclamations, community events or flying the rainbow flag in their community (supported by the Freeholder Board with a ‘Pride In A Box’ kit) including Cranford, Kenilworth, Linden, Mountainside, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Springfield, Summit, Union and Westfield.

In recognition of June as LGBTQ Pride month, the Freeholder Board also offered a series of events to foster inclusion and accelerate acceptance in the Union County community, including the 2nd annual Union County LGBTQ Pride Flag Raising honoring transgender activist Marsha P. Johnson (June7), TEEN PRIDE, an affirming celebration that promotes equality amongst young people (June 14), UC PRIDE in the Park (June 15), Union County SAGE Table intergenerational community lunch (June 23) and PRIDE Night with the Red Bulls (June 28).

Union County’s Pride month events were organized by the Office of LGBTQ Affairs, and presented in partnership with WellCare Health Plans, Xfinity and Atlantic Health System.

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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Union County Freeholders Sergio Granados and Angela Garretson joined New Jersey Association of Counties (NJAC) Foundation Executive Director John Donnadio, Investors Banks Vice President of Business Banking Carmen Rivera, PSE&G Regional Public Affairs Manager Michael Coyle and Union County Vocational-Technical Schools Superintendent Gwendolyn Ryan in presenting NJAC Foundation scholarship checks and certificates to Union County Vocational Technical Schools graduates Lucas Jacomes of Rahway and Starrla Armwood of Summit. Lucas is the recipients of a Investors Bank Scholarship and Starrla is the recipient of the PSEG Scholarship.

The scholarships are funded by Investors Bank and PSE&G.

The NJAC Foundation is a non-profit organization affiliated with the New Jersey Association of Counties, and is committed to providing innovative educational opportunities for county vocational-technical school and county college students. Visit www.njac.org for additional details about NJAC and the NJAC Foundation. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)​