Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and New Jersey State Assemblywoman Linda Carter are pleased to announce the opening of a new mobile office for We Are One New Jersey, a nonprofit organization that provides free and affordable immigration related services to members of the public.

The new office is located in the Plainfield office of Assemblywoman Carter, at 200 West 2nd Street, Suite 102. It will be open on the last Thursday of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., starting on Thursday, April 25.

“Union County is a community that welcomes new residents. We Are One New Jersey provides opportunities for working families to put down permanent roots as citizens, and exercise their responsibilities as voting members of the public,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.

“Plainfield is one of the fastest growing cities in Union County. This partnership will help build a stronger community by ensuring that new residents become fully engaged in – and protected by – our democratic institutions,” said Assemblywoman Carter, who represents Legislative District 22, including Plainfield.

We Are One New Jersey offers reliable guidance on applying for U.S. citizenship and registering to vote, and navigating the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, as well as information on workplace rights, and Notary services.

The We Are One main office is located in Elizabeth at 288 North Board Street on the 2nd Floor, and serves over 500 applicants annually.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment in Plainfield or Elizabeth, contact Elizabeth Montes, Program Coordinator, at 908-249-4360 or Elizabeth.montes@ucnj.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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

 

Union County, NJ – Union County residents seeking information about services available for senior adults age 60 and older will have a choice of six dates and locations in April 2019 to speak with staff from the county’s Department of Human Services, Division on Aging.  Staff will be present at public libraries in Elizabeth, Westfield, Clark, Garwood, 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. Spanish speaking staff are available.

The April 2019 dates and locations are:

Monday, April 8

Westfield Memorial Library

550 E. Broad Street

Westfield, 07090

10:00 a.m. to 12 noon

 

Thursday, April 11

Rahway Senior Center

1308 Esterbrook Avenue

Rahway, 07065

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

 

Monday, April 15

Clark Public Library

303 Westfield Avenue

Clark, 07066

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

 

Thursday, April 18

Garwood Public Library

411 Third Avenue

Garwood, 07027

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

 

Friday, April 26

Elizabeth Public Library – Elmora Branch

740 W. Grand Street

Elizabeth, NJ 07202

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

 

Tuesday, April 30

Union Public Library

1980 Morris Avenue

Union, 07083

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

All Union County residents are welcome to attend any of these ASK events.

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.

“The Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) model, a state initiative that Union County has embraced since 2012, is designed to improve service for seniors and the disabled,” said Union County’s Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “These services can enable seniors and the disabled to remain in their homes and communities,” Freeholder Kowalski added.

Check for the upcoming schedule of stops for an ASK kiosk coming near you as dates and locations are posted in local newspapers, the Senior News, Facebook, Twitter and the Union County website, www.ucnj.org.

For further information about the Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection, call the division’s toll-free number: 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. 

 

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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 – In recognition of April as Autism Awareness Month, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is sponsoring a series of inclusive events for Union County residents. The County Administration Building will also light up with blue lights in April, to show support for autism awareness. 

“Union County’s recreation programs are a jewel in the crown, enabling thousands of residents and visitors to enjoy community events together with friends and neighbors,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “This new series of April events builds on our commitment to ensure that everyone in the Union County community has the opportunity to relax and have fun in a social setting.” 

The April series is offered through the Union County Office for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs. It includes:

The Brooklyn Nets professional basketball game on Wednesday, April 3.

Family Fun Day at Warinanco Park in Roselle on Saturday, April 20, from 8:30 a.m. to12:30 p.m.

A golf outing at Scotch Hills, located at 820 Jerusalem Road in Scotch Plains, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 27.

The Red Bull professional soccer game at 7:00 p.m. at the Red Bull Arena, located at 600 Cape May Street in Harrison on Saturday, April 27.

A sensory friendly hour in the annual Touch-a-Truck event at the Loop Playground in Watchung Reservation on Sunday, April 28. The sensory friendly hour will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

In addition, Union County’s ongoing Sensory Friendly Theatre series continues at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway on Sunday, April 28, with a performance of the musical Henry & Mudge. Tickets are available online at ucpac.org or call the Box Office, 732- 499-8226.

 

Other ongoing programs supported by the Freeholder Board include adult ceramics classes at the Gregorio community center in Linden, cooking classes at Classic Thyme in Westfield, Yoga at the Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside, and recreational swimming at the YMCA of Fanwood.

 

Inclusive playgrounds are standard feature in County parks, and last year the Freeholder Board established the new Level the Playing Field grant program to help municipalities create or upgrade inclusive playgrounds in their communities, too.

 

For more information about the Union County Office for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs contact the Office Coordinator, Manuel Ramirez, 908-527-4807 or mramirez@ucnj.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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi congratulates the winners of the “I Voted” Sticker Design Art Contest sponsored by the Clerk’s office. Gina Fabio of the Deerfield School in Mountainside is the winner in the Grade 5-8 category. Ashleigh Simpson, of Union, from Union County Vocational and Technical School in Scotch Plains is the winner in the category of Grades 9-12. Gina was joined by her parents Joe and Lisa Fabio. Ashleigh was joined by her parents Henry and Lorraine Simpson.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Police Department is cracking down on distracted drivers during April as part of the new statewide UDrive. UText. UPay. campaign.

“Distracted driving is the cause of thousands of motor vehicle accidents and deaths nationwide. The statewide UDrive. UText. UPay. campaign should be a wake-up call for anyone who thinks they are immune from the life-and-death consequences of driving while texting,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.

Driver inattention was listed as a contributing circumstance in 52 percent of automobile accidents in New Jersey during 2015. It was a contributing factor in crashes at a rate nine times higher than the next highest contributing factor, speed.

The Union County Police Department is participating in UDrive. UText. UPay. through a Special Traffic Enforcement Program grant from the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety.

Beginning April 1 and running through April 21, the high visibility law enforcement initiative will target motorists who use hand held phones, send text messages while driving, and engage in other dangerous distracted driving behaviors.

The National Safety Council has designated the month of April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The New Jersey campaign is modeled after similar successful high visibility enforcement programs such as Click It or Ticket and Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.                    

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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 pleased to announce that residents can call the new DHS Action Line at 888-845-3434 or 908-558-2288 for rapid, personal assistance with any question, complaint or concern about services provided by the Union County Department of Human Services. An email option is also available at DHSaction@ucnj.org.

“Through the new Action Line, every Union County resident is just a phone call – or an email – away from a knowledgeable person in our Department of Human Services, who can connect them with useful resources and provide reliable guidance for any issues they may have on a personal, individualized basis,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.

The DHS Action Line is staffed with professionals who are trained to explain the programs and services provided by Human Services, and discuss the details of specific concerns or questions.

Staff is available to help residents connect with services for seniors and their caregivers, job searches and job training, food and shelter, homeless prevention and help, mental health and addiction issues, special transportation needs, services for people with disabilities, and programs for at-risk youth.

In addition, the Action Line provides Human Services clients with a portal for resolving issues related to benefits and payments.

As one of Freeholder Chair Kowalski’s initiatives for 2019, the Action Line will also help to strengthen county-local relationships and support systems for families in need, by creating a streamlined pathway for communicating with residents, and assisting municipal officials and community based organizations.

“The Action Line represents a team-based, comprehensive effort to ensure that our services reach people in effectively, and in a manner that respects the many unique cultural differences that characterize our diverse community,” said Freeholder Chair Kowalski.

Starting on Tuesday, April 2, DHS Action Line specialists, including Spanish speakers, are available Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Voice and email messages left after hours will be answered the next business day.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) provides and administers a broad range of federal, state, county, and grant funded services to all Union County residents.

For more information about the Department of Human Services, visit online at ucnj.org/human-services or contact the DHS Action Line.

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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 Sheriff Peter Corvelli is pleased to announce the 12th Annual Union County Sheriff’s Youth Academy is now accepting applications for its 2019 summer class.

The free program is designed to provide youths the opportunity to gain insight into the everyday functions and training of the variety of law enforcement agencies and emergency services. It operates similar to an actual police academy for teens interested in law enforcement.

“The Youth Academy aims to teach kids about law enforcement and it is a great first step for those interested in the field,” Sheriff Corvelli said.

The Sheriff’s Youth Academy is not a ‘boot camp’ for troubled youth. In order to enroll in the program, students must have a minimum GPA of 2.70 (B- average) and a one page letter of reference from a non-family member.

Also, all applicants must have their parents/guardians sign all waivers and obtain a medical release note from their physician.

The two-week program for middle school and high school students meets daily from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the John H. Stamler Police Academy in Scotch Plains.

The class for 7^th and 8^th graders runs July 8-12, 2019. The high school class for grades 9 through 12 will take place from July 15-26, 2019.

During the program, the teens engage in a physical training regime, team building exercises, and attend lectures on subjects such as crime scene investigations and motor vehicle stops. They also receive visits from representatives from several branches of the military, New Jersey State Police NJ State Police, FBI and the ATF.

The Youth Academy also involves visiting various Sheriff’s Office operations around the county including the K-9 Search and Rescue Unit, the Fugitive Unit and Courthouse Complex Security.

Last year more than 100 students from across Union County graduated from the Sheriff’s Youth Academy.

Applications may be obtained by emailing Sergeant Tara Halpin at thalpin@ucnj.org or Officer Victoria Smith at vsmith@ucnj.org. Applications can also be downloaded at https://ucnj.org/sheriff/community-programs/youth-academy/.

Completed applications should be sent to the attention of: S/O Tara Halpin, Union County Sheriff’s Office, Administration Building, 1st Floor, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth, NJ 07207.

Union, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites all members of the public to celebrate National Poetry Month with readings by Paul Muldoon, acclaimed author of Moy Sand and Gravel. Mr. Muldoon received the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry and the 2003 International Griffin Poetry Prize for Moy Sand and Gravel.

“An Evening of Poetry with Paul Muldoon” takes place on Tuesday, April 23 at 7:00 p.m., at The Little Theater at Kean University, 1000 Morris Avenue Union Township.

“This special event is a unique opportunity to experience the artistry of one of the world’s leading literary figures,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski. “Paul Muldoon has been described as ‘the most significant English-language poet born since the Second World War’ and we are very proud to welcome him to Union County.”

Paul Muldoon was born in 1951 in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, and educated in Armagh and at the Queen’s University of Belfast. From 1973 to 1986 he worked in Belfast as a radio and television producer for the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Since 1987 Mr. Muldoon has lived in the United States, where he is now Howard G. B. Clark ’21 Professor at Princeton University and was founding chair of the Peter B. Lewis Center for the Arts. He was also appointed Poetry Editor of The New Yorker in 2007.

Between 1999 and 2004 he was Professor of Poetry at the University of Oxford, where he is an honorary Fellow of Hertford College. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Letters, Muldoon was given an American Academy of Arts and Letters award in literature for 1996.

In addition to the Pulitzer Prize and International Griffin Poetry Prize, other awards include the 1994 T. S. Eliot Prize, the 1997 Irish Times Poetry Prize, the 2004 American Ireland Fund Literary Award, the 2004 Shakespeare Prize, the 2005 Aspen Prize for Poetry, and the 2006 European Prize for Poetry.

The 2019 National Poetry Month event is sponsored by the Freeholder Board through the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Recreation, and is funded in part by a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a Division of Cultural Affairs in the Department of State.

For more information on all Cultural and Heritage programs visit ucnj.org, call 908-436-2912 or email jprescott@ucnj.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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Elections has added four more dates the schedule of hands-on public demonstrations for Union County’s new ExpressVote XL voting machines this spring.

“The Union County Board of Elections is undertaking an aggressive outreach campaign to ensure our voters are educated on how to use the new machine prior to Election Day,” said Board of Elections Administrator Nicole DiRado. “We anticipate adding more preview demonstrations as Election Day comes closer, so please visit our website for the most up to date schedule.”

Voters in Westfield and eight other municipalities will use the new machines starting with the Primary Election on June 4, and the remaining 12 municipalities will use them starting with the General Election in November.

“The demonstration sessions are a good opportunity for voters, and the general public, to learn about new technology that helps ensure the integrity of our elections,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.

All demonstrations are open to the public, voters and non-voters alike, on a walk in basis.

Weekly public demonstrations are open to all County residents every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Colleen Fraser Building in the Union County Complex at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield.

Weekly demonstrations for all County residents are also available every Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the first floor of the Union County Court House, at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth.

One-day sessions are available to all County residents during the following dates and times at these locations (*indicates newly added date):

• April 5 – 1:00pm – 5:00pm, Mountainside Library, 1 Constitution Plaza
• April 8 – 3:00pm – 7:30pm, Union Township Public Library, 1980Morris Avenue
• April 11 – 3:00pm – 5:00pm, Summit City Hall, 512 Springfield Avenue (takes place during Summit Government Day)
• April 13 – 10:00am – 1:00pm, Garwood Municipal Hall, Council Chambers, 403 South Avenue
• April 15 – 3:00pm – 7:30pm, Kenilworth Public Library, 548 Boulevard
• April 15 – 3:00 pm – 7:30pm, Elizabeth Public Library, Main Branch, 11 S. Broad Street*
• April 22 – 3:00pm – 7:30pm Union Twp. Public Library, Vauxhall Branch, 123 Hilton Avenue
• April 23 – 1:00pm – 8:00pm Mountainside Municipal Building, 1385 Route 22E
• April 25 – 4:00pm – 7:30pm, Garwood Public Library, 411 Third Avenue
• April 26 – 9:30am – 4:30pm, Fanwood Public Library, 5 Forest Road
• April 27 – 9:00am – 5:00pm, Berkeley Heights Public Library, 110 Roosevelt Avenue
• April 28 –11:00am – 5:00pm, Trailside Nature and Science Center, 452 New Providence Road, Mountainside (takes place during the Wild Earth Festival and Touch a Truck events)
• May 1 – 4:30pm – 7:30pm, Liberty Hall center, 1085 Morris Ave., Union Township (takes place during Union County Cultural & Heritage Affairs Reception)
• May 4 – 10:00am – 1:00pm, Garwood Municipal Hall, Council Chambers, 403 South Avenue, Garwood
• May 5 – 12:00pm – 4:00pm, Elizabeth Public Library, Elmora Branch, 740 W. Grand St.*
• May 6 – 9:30pm – 4:30pm, Fanwood Public Library, 5 Forest Road
• May 6 – 3:00pm – 7:30pm, Kenilworth Public Library, 548 Boulevard
• May 9 – 12:00pm -8:00pm, Berkeley Heights Public Library, 110 Roosevelt Avenue*
• May 9 – 3:00pm – 7:30pm: Elizabeth Public Library, LaCorte Branch, 418 Palmer St.
• May 13 – 3:00pm – 7:30pm, Union Township Public Library, Vauxhall Branch, 123 Hilton Avenue
• May 14 – 3:00pm – 7:00pm, Union Township Municipal Building – 1976 Morris Avenue
• May 16 – 3:00pm – 7:30pm, Mountainside Public Library, 1 Constitution Plaza
• May 22 – 3:00pm – 7:00pm, Union Township Municipal Building, 1976 Morris Avenue
• May 23 – 12:00pm – 8:00pm, Berkeley Heights Public Library, 110 Roosevelt Avenue
• May 24 – 9:00am – 4:00pm, Garwood Public Library, 411 Third Avenue
• May 30 – 12:00 pm – 4:00pm, Elizabeth Public Library, Elizabethport Branch, 102-110 3rd Sreet*
• June 1 – 12:00pm – 7:00pm Cedar Brook Park, Plainfield (takes place during Union County Rhythm & Blues by the Brook music festival)

The new ExpressVote XL voting machines will be rolled out in two stages for the Primary and General elections.

Voters in Berkeley Heights, Elizabeth, Fanwood, Garwood, Kenilworth, Mountainside, Union and Winfield will use the new machines for the 2019 Primary Election on June 4. Westfield will continue to use the new voting machines, following the successful pilot program last year.

Voters in Clark, Cranford, Hillside, Linden, New Providence, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Springfield and Summit will use the new machines for the 2019 General Election in November.

For schedule updates and a video demonstration of the new machines, visit the Board of Elections online at ucnj.org/board-of-elections.

For additional information, or to schedule a demonstration for civic organizations and community groups, visit the Board of Elections online at ucnj.org/board-of-elections or call 908-527-4123.

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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 Freeholder Vice Chairman Alexander Mirabella and Freeholders Angela Garretson, Rebecca Williams, Andrea Staten, Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded and Sergio Granados this evening congratulated the recipients of the Union County 2019 Women of Excellence Awards during at the 27th Annual Women of Excellence Gala Awards Dinner in Clark. They were joined by Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi. The Union County women being recognized for their accomplishments by the Commission on the Status of Women are: