Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds residents and business owners that free countywide scrap metal recycling drop-off locations are open twice a month beginning on April 4, at the service yard in Rahway River Park and at the Emergency Services Building in Cranford.  

A wide variety of metal goods, from household appliances to gutters and sheds, are included in the program.

“This countywide program helps to ensure that everyone in Union County has access to free scrap metal recycling,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “As a community, we benefit across the board by recycling and conserving resources.”

The scrap metal recycling program is available for use by households, commercial establishments, nonprofit agencies and other organizations.

The two locations are available for drop-off on the first Thursday and third Saturday of each month, from April through November, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.   

Scrap metal from any municipality within Union County may be brought to either of the two drop-off locations:

• Cranford: Emergency Services Building, 151 Kenilworth Boulevard.
• Rahway: County service yard in Rahway River Park, located near the Walter J. Ulrich swimming pool, off St. Georges Avenue.

Acceptable items for recycling include aluminum scrap, aluminum cans, aluminum siding, bicycles, brass, copper, dishwashers, electric fans, fencing (chain/wire), freezers, gutters, irons, lawn furniture, metal cabinets, metal sheds, microwaves, pots and pans, railings, refrigerators, stoves, tire rims, toasters, washers and dryers, window frames (no glass), and wire hangers.

In the event of extreme weather, individual recycling events may be cancelled.

For more information about Union County’s free scrap metal recycling program, including upcoming dates and directions to the drop-off locations, visit the Bureau of Recycling and Planning online at ucnj.org/recycling/scrap-metal or call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889.

Residents can also download the free Recycle Coach app for easy access to information about all Union County and municipal recycling events and programs.

For quick links to all Union County environmental programs 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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Photo credit: Mark Buckawiki, flickr.

Union County, NJ – Nominations are still open for the annual Union County Environmental Hero awards. Each year, the Environmental Hero program recognizes local citizens, businesses and organizations that inspire, motivate, and act to help preserve and protect natural resources in Union County and beyond.

The Environmental Hero program is a partnership between the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Trailside Museum Association, a non-profit organization that supports Union County’s Trailside Nature Museum and Science Center in the Watchung Reservation.

“Throughout Union County, people are taking the initiative to help secure a safe, healthy, and sustainable future for the next generation,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “By celebrating their efforts, the Environmental Hero program helps to spread the word about effective actions that make a real difference in our community and in the health of our planet.”

Last year the Union County Environmental Heroes awards went to:

• Overlook Medical Center, its efforts and achievements in sustainability and green initiatives. Overlook has worked to reduce its surgical waste, implemented eco-friendly lighting and other energy conservation methods, and created recycling programs to donate medical supplies, hospital beds and office furniture to facilities in impoverished countries.
• Matthew Fichter, a 6^th grade science teacher at the Hillside Avenue School in Cranford, for leading the school’s Environmental Club.
• Linzy Rosen of Westfield, for starting Westfield High School’s Green Team.
• Jeff Hankinson of Summit, for his efforts on behalf of Union County’s Adopt-a-Trail Program and the Summit Environmental Commission.
• Todd Evans of Mountainside, for establishing the Beautiful Mountainside Committee to organize litter clean-ups, plant trees and promote recycling.
• Casey Cullen-Woods of Roselle Park, for multiple contributions throughout the area. As Sustainability Coordinator at The Willow School, she worked to attain Living Building She co-founded the Living Building Collaborative of New York and New Jersey and now works as a Sustainability Project Manager overseeing projects pursuing sustainability certifications.

Ms. Cullen-Woods has also raised thousands of dollars for environmental nonprofits by completing a 320 mile charity bike ride and lobbied for the Complete Streets alternative transportation program. 

Any Union County individual or group can be nominated for an Environmental Hero award.

All nominations must be submitted online at ucnj.org/trailside by Friday, April 12, 2019.

All awardees will receive certificates of recognition for their work and prizes courtesy of the Trailside Museum Association, and will be honored with a public event at Union County’s annual Wild Earth Fest.   

For more information about the Environmental Hero Award and all other Trailside programs, call 908-789-3670 or visit online at ucnj.org/trailside.

Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

For quick links to all Union County environmental programs visit The Green Connection at ucnj.org/green-connection.

Photo credit (photo attached): Wildflowers at Watchung Reservation by County of Union, NJ.

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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.

Bonus: “Mercury Bounty”$5.00 gift card for residents turning in mercury thermostats

Union County, NJ – As Earth Month approaches, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is offering a simple, easy way for residents to pitch in and help improve the environment. Residents can safely dispose of unwanted household chemicals and other special waste, by bringing these items to the free Household Hazardous Waste recycling event on Saturday, April 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Union County Vo-Tech Schools campus, 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.

As a bonus, the company Covanta is partnering with the Freeholder Board to offer $5.00 Home Depot gift cards for residents turning in old mercury thermostats. The bonus applies to thermostats only, not thermometers.

“The Household Hazardous Waste event is provides a way for the residents of Union County to make a real difference, by bringing their unwanted household chemicals to the Vo-Tech campus for environmentally safe disposal,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “Everyone can help protect their homes, their neighborhoods, and our planet, by disposing of harmful substances safely.”

The Household Hazardous Waste Collection event provides Union County residents with a free, environmentally safe way to dispose of outdated or unwanted household chemicals, mercury thermostats, propane tanks, and automobile tires among many other items such as oil-based paint and varnish, antifreeze, aerosol cans, pool chemicals, corrosives, pesticides, herbicides, solvents, thinners, fire extinguishers, motor oil and oil filters, gasoline, batteries, thermostats, fluorescent bulbs (unbroken), and mercury switches.

Residents only need to drive to the site with their items for disposal. Once at the site, residents stay in their vehicles while workers unload the items.

Only materials in original or labeled containers will be accepted. No containers larger than five gallons will be accepted. There is a limit of eight automobile tires, without rims, per household.

Please note that latex paint is not accepted. Residents wishing to dispose of latex paint are advised to use it up, donate it or share with a neighbor. If those options are not available, the paint can be dried in the can, and/or mixed with kitty litter or newspaper, then disposed with regular household garbage.

The household hazardous waste collection will be held rain or shine, for Union County residents only, not for businesses. Proof of Union County residency is required. For more information, please call the Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889.

For a complete list of the materials that will be accepted on April 6th as well as all Union County recycling event dates and locations, please visit ucnj.org/recycle.

April 2019 marks the 49^th annual recognition of Earth Month. For more information about the 2019 global Earth Month theme visit earth-month.org.

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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that there will be two dates and locations for information sessions for supply chain management and pharmacy technician training through the Union County Workforce Innovation Business Center.

“Through the Union County Workforce Innovation Business Center, our goal is to bridge the gap between employers and residents seeking employment,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The supply chain and pharmaceutical fields offer many opportunities for Union County residents.”

Union County residents can attend either or both of the two information sessions. The first session will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 21 at the American Job Center in Plainfield, at 200 West 2^nd Street.

The second session will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 22 at the American Job Center in Elizabeth, at 921 Elizabeth Avenue.

At the sessions, Union County residents will learn the fundamentals of the transportation, logistics and distribution industry sector, and learn how to prepare for jobs in the allied health field under the supervision of a licensed Pharmacist.

The information sessions will be hosted by the Union County Workforce Innovation Business Center, a program of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders in partnership with Union County College.

Pre-registration for the two sessions is required online at http://tinyurl.com/infoucc

For additional information call the WIB Center office at Union County College, 908-965-2992 or visit the Workforce Development Board online at ucnj.org/wdb.

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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.

(Roselle, NJ) Mar 12, 2019 — Residents of Union County will soon be able to enjoy family-friendly programs and events at the KemperSports-managed Warinanco Sports Center, located within Warinanco Park. From holiday-driven activities to weekly recurring events for the local community, Warinanco Sports Center is excited to begin offering a robust events calendar for residents to enjoy.

Guests are invited to participate in a wide range of activities throughout the Spring and Summer seasons both inside the beautiful air-conditioned facility and outside on the newly-laid turf field. A multitude of programs for kids and adults will take place on the new, state-of-the-art Astroturf field, which will temporarily replace the historic ice rink during the warmer months. The Warinanco Sports Center staff are pleased to showcase this fantastic community resource to as many local residents as possible during the coming months.

The ‘Turf Grand Opening & Family Fun Day’  on April 13 will kick off the events calendar by offering family-friendly sports activities, arts and crafts, and door prizes. The following week on April 20, Warinanco Sports Center will offer an ‘Spring Extravaganza’ including an Community Egg hunt, cookie and card decorating and exciting games for the entire family! For those wishing to continue the fun during Spring Break, a sports & activities camp is offered for children age 4-12 and runs weekdays from 8am-4pm for 2 weeks beginning April 15. Summer Camp is also open for registrations which will begin June 24 and run for 10 weeks.

“Our team put a lot of thought about the types of events we want to offer, and one of the most important things was to be able to host events for all members of our community” says Leon Grebla, General Manager of the sports facility.

Additionally, the Park’s lake and boathouse will open the week of May 25^th and the first 20 groups attending will be given a free 30 minute boat ride! The boathouse has been renovated and stocked with modern, brightly colored boats that can seat up to four people, a new snack bar menu, and delicious icy treats to keep guests cool during the heat. The boathouse and snack bar will be open weekdays from 12-8pm and weekends or holidays from 11am-8pm.

“When the Freeholder Board decided to expand the former Warinanco Skating Center, we envisioned a venue that would attract people of all ages to Warinanco Park every season of the year. It is wonderful to see that vision become a reality, with a full slate of activities for all to enjoy this spring,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.

Throughout the remainder of the summer months, Warinanco Sports Center will host events such as two Food Truck Festivals (May 18 and Aug 24), Mothers’ Day and Fathers’ Day events including a Dads and Kids Soccer Tournament, Pet Parade, sports-centric challenges with prizes, and free camp taster days.  Most events do not have an entry fee, and food or beverages will be available for purchase from Warinanco Café.

Warinanco Sports Center is open daily to the public from 9am-8pm with the full-service Warinanco Café open daily starting at 11:30am. For a full list of upcoming events, please visit our Facebook page and website. Both platforms will contain event updates and additional events as they are added throughout the season.

For event booking inquiries please contact Rebecca Bird at rbird@kempersports.com. The Warinanco Sports Center is managed by KemperSports.

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About KemperSports
Northbrook, Ill.-based KemperSports builds, owns and manages golf courses, resorts, athletic clubs and lodging venues across the U.S., Caribbean and Central America. The company’s award-winning portfolio includes nationally-ranked courses and tournament venues such as Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, named the No. 1 Golf Resort in North America by Golf Digest and GOLF Magazine; The Glen Club; Desert Willow Golf Resort; and Chambers Bay, host of the 2010 U.S. Amateur and the 2015 U.S. Open. For more information about KemperSports, please visit https://www.kempersports.com.

Join the KemperSports social media conversation at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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Media contacts:

B.R. Koehnemann

KemperSports

847.480.4844

brkoehnemann@kempersports.com

UNION COUNTY, NJ—The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders tonight honored William Dunscombe, Head Coach of the Union County College Golf  Team  upon receiving the Augie Eosso Award this past October for his committed service and dedication in Region XIX.

Dunscombe is an Associate Professor of Biology and Head  Coach for the Union County College golf team. He was chosen for this distinguished honor due to the many achievements he has accomplished since he began working at Union County College in 1971.

Photo: (l. to r.),  Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski, UCC Coach William Dunscombe, and Freeholder Sergio Granados.

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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.

ELIZABETH, NJ—Charlotte Brown,  founder of the United Youth of  New Jersey, tonight came to thank and honor the Freeholder Board at the County Administration Building in Elizabeth for their efforts in promoting and sponsoring events throughout Union County for Black History Month in February.

The Freeholder Board sponsored multiple events at the Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth, the Union County Performing Arts Center, Union County College, various displays in county buildings, and held the first-ever Black History Month Flag raising at the Union County Courthouse  and program inside the Administration Building.

Photo: Charlotte Brown, far right, founder of United Youth of New Jersey, along with the Union County Freeholders, and youth and group members.

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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 Arbor Day 2019, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is once again partnering with the Union County Shade Tree Advisory Board to provide free trees for local schools.

“The tree giveaway has always received an enthusiastic response from schools in Union County. We are very proud to support teachers in their efforts to provide a valuable hands-on learning experience to their students,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.

Studies have shown that trees improve property values and provide many other civic and environmental benefits, such as absorbing airborne pollutants, keeping neighborhoods cool in the summer, preventing soil erosion, and helping to alleviate flooding.

In addition to the tree giveaway, the Freeholder Board also sponsors an annual Arbor Day poetry contest, provides municipalities with tree-for-tree matching grants, and supports the Master Tree Stewards volunteer tree conservation program.

This year’s free Arbor Day tree is a tree native to the northeast, the American Flowering Dogwood. They are about five feet tall and weigh about 20 pounds. Each tree comes with a protective cage. When fully grown they will be about 15-20 feet tall.

The trees are available to schools on a first come, first serve basis while supplies last.

The deadline for free tree requests is Monday, April 1. Schools may contact James Nichnadowicz, Union County 4-H Agent at Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County at 908-654-9854 (ext. 3) or jnichnadowicz@ucnj.org.to request a tree.

For schools that receive a tree, free sessions in tree planting and care are available to students, teachers, and parent volunteers through the Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H Master Tree Steward Program. The tree care sessions will be held at Williams Nursery in Westfield on Tuesday, April 9 beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Arbor Day has been a National Observance since 1872, encouraging the public to plant and care for trees.  This year Arbor Day falls on Friday, April 26.

The U.S. Forestry Service, the Arbor Day Foundation and other partners have developed free, user-friendly software to calculate the dollar value of trees in urban communities. For more information visit iTreeTools.org.

To find out more about tree care in Union County or to join the Master Tree Steward volunteers, contact Mr. Nichnadowicz.

The Extension is supported in part by the Freeholder Board and is headquartered in the Colleen Fraser Building at the County complex in Westfield, at 300 North Avenue East. For information on all Extension programs visit ucnj.org/rce.

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

Photo credit: Christopher Sessums, flickr.

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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 the County’s new Sensory Friendly Trail has been recognized with an Excellence in Design award from the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association. The annual awards program helps to raise awareness of the value of public parks and identifies leadership in the field of environmental conservation and recreation.

The Sensory Friendly Trail is located by Union County’s Trailside Nature Museum and Science Center in the Watchung Reservation. Watchung is Union County’s largest park. Its borders include Mountainside, Springfield, Summit, New Providence, Berkeley Heights, and Scotch Plains.

 “The Sensory Friendly Trail invites people of all ages and abilities to explore our natural heritage, and we are all very proud that our Department of Parks and Recreation has been honored for its efforts to include all of the public,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The new trail has already become a popular destination and we look forward to many more years of enjoyment for Union County residents and visitors alike.”

The new trail is the first of its kind in Union County, and the most extensive trail of its kind in the U.S.

The project was conceived in 2017 during the chairmanship of former Freeholder Bruce H. Bergen. Construction began in October 2017 and continued into 2018, when Freeholder Sergio Granados was chair. The trail opened to the public last August.

The Excellence in Design awards are based on aesthetic quality, uniqueness of design, usability and versatility. The awards also factor in compliance with the New Jersey Barrier Free Recreation Sub-Code and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Guidelines.

The Sensory Friendly Trail was specially designed for park visitors of all ages and abilities to experience the outdoors and interact with nature.

It consists of a 3/10-mile ADA accessible loop with a central gazebo. Highlights include audio kiosks highlighting the history of the Watchung Reservation, and a “Braille trail” loop with guide ropes and interpretative signs with 3-D reliefs and Braille text.

The central gazebo offers a sensory play area to attract children and encourage exploration and discovery.  Additional elements include sensory gardens, musical components, inclusive nature-themed play structures, and outdoor classrooms.

The New Jersey Recreation and Park Association is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting parks and recreation, professional development, and stewardship related to parks, recreation, and resource management.

The Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside. For more information about Trailside and all programs and facilities of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation, visit online at ucnj.org/parks or call 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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that the first mobile paper-shredding events of 2019 will be on Saturday, March 30^th and Sunday, March 31^st in Scotch Plains. These events are free and open to all Union County residents.

“Union County’s mobile document-shredding events help residents fight identity theft by providing a convenient way to shred confidential documents,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “This free, secure shredding service also helps to promote recycling and conserve resources.”

Both events will take place at the Union County Vocational Technical School, located at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., rain or shine.  The events will end before 1:00 p.m. if the shredding trucks reach capacity. The next shredding event will be offered in Cedar Brook Park on Friday, April 26^th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

In an effort to accommodate all participants, there is a limit of four, 10-pound bags or boxes per person (paper bags are preferred). 

Documents should not be bound. Please remove plastic binders and paperclips. Paper that is wet/damp will not be accepted. Residents should continue to recycle non-confidential papers and magazines with their municipal recycling program.

Documents are put into 96-gallon containers provided by the shredding company. The items are then dumped onto a conveyor belt and shredded on site. Participants are welcome to view the shredding process via a closed-circuit television. The shredded documents are then recycled, shipped to paper mills, and used as pulp.

Residents are also encouraged to download the free Recycle Coach app for easy access to all of our 2019 Recycling Events. 

The mobile shredding program is paid for through New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Recycling Enhancement Act Grant Funds. For more information about future events or directions please call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889 or visit us online at ucnj.org/recycle.

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.

Connect with Union County on social media.