Category: Public Info

Union County, in partnership with the Patriots’ Path Council of Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America), hosted the second annual Operation WRIP (Watchung Reservation Invasive Plant removal) service project on Saturday, April 5, in the Watchung Reservation.

“Operation WRIP is a perfect example of what can be accomplished when community, youth, and local government come together for a shared purpose,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “We are proud to support programs that protect our environment, engage young leaders, and strengthen the bond between our residents and our County parks.”

Participation surged this year with 261 volunteers—nearly double last year’s turnout—including Scouts and their families, Trail Stewards, members of the Beta Pi Phi sorority, WRIP Team members, County staff, and representatives from the Scout Council.

The project targeted invasive multiflora rosa and Japanese barberry shrubs—thorny, fast-growing plants that crowd out native species and can even harbor ticks that spread Lyme disease. By mid-spring, these are among the only green plants in the Reservation, making them easier to identify and remove.

“We were thrilled to see such a tremendous turnout from so many different communities,” said Daniel J. Bernier, Director of the Union County Division of Park Environmental Services. “Events like Operation WRIP show the power of collaboration in protecting our environment while providing young people with a meaningful way to give back.”

Volunteers gathered at 8:30 a.m. at the Trailside amphitheater for a safety and work briefing, before carpooling to 15 designated sites throughout the park. Despite brief rain, the majority of volunteers stayed through noon, successfully eliminating an estimated 2,400 invasive shrubs.

The event drew participation from 26 Scout troops and Cub Scout packs representing Union, Somerset, Middlesex, Morris, and Hudson Counties. In addition to environmental benefits, Scouts earned service hours and strengthened leadership skills. Four troops extended their stay with a weekend campout in the park’s Scout Camping Area.

For more information about future volunteer opportunities in Union County parks, visit ucnj.org/parks.

Union County Surrogate Christopher Hudak is proud to announce the Surrogate’s Court will begin to offer monthly wedding ceremony services for Union County residents.

Beginning June 2025, couples may schedule, at no charge, a wedding ceremony officiated by Surrogate Christopher Hudak. Ceremonies will be conducted at the Warinanco Sports Center in Warinanco Park, Roselle.

“The Surrogate’s Court is proud to expand its role in creating forever families in Union County,” said Surrogate Hudak. “My office is proud to focus on the most meaningful moments in our resident’s lives and are looking forward to being part of the joy that comes along with the celebration of marriage.”

Ceremonies will be scheduled monthly on a first-come, first-serve basis, with intention to increase dates and hours as demand grows. At this time reservations are limited to Union County residents and participants are required to obtain all licensing paperwork from the municipal registrar’s office prior to the scheduled event.

Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon highlighted Surrogate Hudak’s plan to offer wedding ceremony services as part of her 2025 initiatives, themed, Union County 2025: Connecting Communities, Committed to Progress. “Union County is proud to support Surrogate Hudak’s expansion of services in offering wedding ceremonies to our residents,” said Chairwoman Lourdes Leon. “In addition to the importance of offering this vital service, I can think of no better location than Warinanco Park. The park will serve as a picturesque background all while showcasing the amenities the park has to offer.”

This development reflects the Surrogate’s dedication to modernize and increase accessibility to Surrogate Court services for all Union County residents.

For more information or to schedule your ceremony with the court, please contact the Union County Surrogate’s Court at 908-527-4280, email marryme@ucnj.org or visit ucnj.org/surrogate for more information. 

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announces that vote by mail ballots for the upcoming Primary Election will begin mailing tomorrow, April 17, on a rolling, town-by-town basis in alphabetical order.

Ballots are being sent to all voters on the permanent vote by mail list over the course of the week. The mailing process is anticipated to be completed on or about April 25.

Voters are advised to look out for an oversized bright yellow envelope, which contains their Official Primary Election Ballot. The yellow envelope is designed to help ensure voters can easily identify and locate their ballot when it arrives.

To apply for a vote by mail ballot, go to www.unioncountyvotes.com and click on “How to Vote by Mail,” request an application, fill it out, and mail it to the County Clerk’s office.

For additional information, including a list of candidates and important election updates, please visit www.unioncountyvotes.com.

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi will hold two free informational webinars for residents interested in running for school board on Thursday, May 22nd and May 29th via Zoom. The non-partisan presentation will focus on the petition process for candidates, including new signature requirements, affidavit, notary, and oath requirements as well as qualifications for candidates.

“Some school board candidates have indicated they would like more guidance about the petition process,” said Clerk Rajoppi. “Incomplete or incorrect petitions cannot be accepted. If signatures are not done correctly, for example, petitions can be challenged and ultimately candidates can forfeit the opportunity to run. The goal is to make sure the process works by providing interested candidates the necessary information to run.”

A daytime webinar will be held on Thursday, May 22nd at 2:00 p.m., and an evening webinar will be held on Thursday, May 29th at 6:30 p.m., providing access to those who cannot attend in the afternoon hours.

http://www.ucnj.org/school-board-webinars/Pre-registration is required. To register, please visit ucnj.org/school-board-webinars/.

The Clerk added that new candidates as well as those running for re-election are welcome to attend the free webinar.

Petitions for school board candidates must be delivered to the County Clerk’s office no later than 4:00 p.m. on Monday, July 28th. Petitions may also be filed during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Elections Division of the Union County Clerk’s Office, Room 113, Union County Courthouse, Elizabeth, NJ.

For questions or more information on the webinars, visit ucnj.org/county-clerk  or call 908-527-4787.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites residents and visitors of all ages to celebrate wildlife and learn about environmental conservation at Wild Earth Fest, hosted by the Trailside Nature and Science Center on Sunday, April 27, 2025 from 11:00am to 5:00pm, rain or shine. The event has a new location this year in Union County’s scenic 2,000-plus acre Watchung Reservation in Mountainside; the location is moving from the Trailside grounds to the Loop Area.

“Wild Earth Fest raises awareness about the importance of conservation and environmental stewardship here in the Union County community and throughout the state,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “This unique event combines fun activities for all ages with hands-on learning experiences that encourage a deeper appreciation for nature. Through the interactive exhibits and expert presentations, we hope to inspire a love for the environment and a commitment to protecting it.”

Admission to Wild Earth Fest is $5.00 per person for seven years and older. Children six years old and younger are free. No pre-registration is required. Pets are not permitted. Wild Earth Fest 2025 features special presentations with live music, great food, children’s activities and live animals. There will be many ongoing activities such as children’s crafts, a petting zoo, vendors and educational table displays throughout the event.

New this year, Dinosaurs Arise will bring the prehistoric world to life with thrilling, interactive experiences for young explorers! Whether your children are budding paleontologists or simply fascinated by dinosaurs, Wild Earth Fest visitors are in store for excitiFor ImmFng educational activities while having a blast. Dig into discovery to unearth fossils and meet lifelike dinosaurs that interact and playful baby dinosaur puppets.

The Lizard Guys are new to Wild Earth Fest this year with educational and entertaining live animal shows. The Lizard Guys are a group of animal enthusiasts who tour New Jersey and New York giving presentations geared for children and adults alike using live animals. Get a close up look to find out where in the world these fascinating reptiles come from and what they eat.

Event highlights include a sea creature touch tank from Jenkinson’s Aquarium, a petting zoo from Swift Farms, Trash to Treasure Recycled Art, Trailside’s outreach van with a touch table and giveaways, and an obstacle course from Child’s Play Challenge Courses with “course crusher” challenges for all ages.  Sustainable, green-themed art and nature gifts will also be available for purchase.

Trailside welcomes back the electric vehicle display from the nonprofit organization, New Jersey Electrical Vehicle Association. Members of the group will share their EV experiences and answer any questions.

Wild Earth Fest includes an exciting schedule of special presentations:

• Unique Creatures (11:30am & 12:30pm): Learn about some of the most interesting animals from all over the world and meet live reptiles, mammals, birds and insects up close.
• Kids in Motion (12:00pm and 1:00pm): Join DJ Jo Jo Russell for interactive fun with his music and entertaining dance moves.
• Live Music from NRG Acoustic Trio Band (12:00pm – 4:00pm): Enjoy their popular hits!
• The Lizard Guys (1:30pm & 4:00pm): Get an up-close look at live animals and learn about the fascinating world of reptiles and more.
• Trashaganza (2:00pm): Enjoy a performance by the Bash the Trash Band with musical instruments made from recycled materials. Try your hand at making instruments, and join the Trashaganza Musical Parade. Trashaganza is sponsored by Union County Clean Communities to raise awareness about the importance of Reuse, Reduce & Recycle.

Other activities include; a rock wall climb and a giant inflatable slide.  Attendees are also welcome to plant a take-home flower and make a colorful Gyotaku fish print.

Vendors and exhibitors include; New Jersey Electric Vehicle Association, Toadshade Wildflower Farm, Lees Bees, Friends of the Great Swamp, Union County Bureau of Recycling & Planning, Hartshorn Arboretum, Pui and Skin, Planet B, Union County Master Gardeners, Pond Builders, 4-H Master Tree Stewards, Beadiful Bliss, Enchanted Forest, Naked Botanicals, Garden Innovations and more!

For more information about Wild Earth Fest and other upcoming programs and events at Trailside, call 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside. The Trailside Nature and Science Center is a service of the Union County Board of County Commissioners in the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation. For more recreation programs and activities visit www.ucnj.org/parks or call 908-527-4900. For quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities supported by the Commissioner Board, visit The Green Connection, www.ucnj.org/green-connection.

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi is reminding voters of the recent change in New Jersey’s vote-by-mail law that may affect how some residents receive their ballots.

Under the new law, voters who have not voted-by-mail in any election over the past four years will no longer automatically receive a mail-in ballot. To continue voting by mail, those voters must now request one by submitting an application.

“My office recently mailed letters to residents affected by this change,” said Clerk Rajoppi. “If you’d like to receive a mail-in ballot for the upcoming election, it’s easy to apply. Applications are available online at UnionCountyVotes.com or through the Union County Votes app.”

Clerk Rajoppi emphasized that voter registration status has not changed as a result of the law. Anyone who has voted by mail in any election since 2020 will continue to receive their ballot automatically.

“This change may impact a number of voters who have previously received a ballot automatically,” Rajoppi added. “Our goal is to ensure every eligible voter understands their options and has the opportunity to participate in the upcoming elections.”

Union County voters continue to have several options for casting their ballots:

• Vote in person on Election Day
• Vote in person during the early voting period
• Vote by mail

For more information, voters can visit UnionCountyVotes.com, download the free Union County Votes app, or call the Elections Office at 908-527-4996.

In honor of Arbor Day, the Union County Board of County Commissioners, in collaboration with the Union County Shade Tree Advisory Board, is proud to announce the winners of this year’s Arbor Day Poetry Contest. Each year, the contest invites students in grades 4 through 8 to reflect on the beauty and importance of trees through the art of poetry, while encouraging environmental responsibility.

“Awarding our young poets is one of the highlights of the year,” said Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes Leon, who also serves as the Commissioner Board Liaison to the Union County Shade Tree Advisory Board. “This contest is more than just a celebration of poetry—it’s a celebration of how our youth connect with the environment and express their hopes for a greener future. As Chairwoman and liaison to the Shade Tree Advisory Board, I’m deeply moved by the creativity and heart that these students put into their words. Their poems remind us all of the quiet strength of trees and the essential role they play in our lives and in the health of our planet.”

A special awards ceremony to honor the first, second, and third place winners in each grade level will take place on Wednesday, April 17^th at 6:00 p.m. during the scheduled meeting of the Union County Board of County Commissioners.

This year’s winners are as follows:

4th Grade
1st Place – Lovely Trees by Nathaly Sinchi (Jerome Dunn Academy #9, Elizabeth)
2nd Place – My Tree Is So Special to Me by Elijah Rivers (Mountain Park Elementary School, Berkeley Heights)
3rd Place – An Arbor of Trees by Jonathan E. Wehye (Hurden Looker Elementary School, Hillside)

5th Grade
1st Place – Arbor Day Green Trees by Caleb Hughes (School 4, Linden)
2nd Place – Providers of Life by Anna Cuevas (Grover Cleveland School, Rahway)
3rd Place – The Grand Tree by Emma Brzeziniski (Hehnly School, Clark)

6th Grade
1st Place – The Charming Sequoia by Lya Darius (St. John the Apostle, Clark)
2nd Place – The Heart of the Forest by Emily Kiefner (Columbia Middle School, Berkeley Heights)
3rd Place – Trees by Alice Fisher (Terrill Middle School, Scotch Plains)

7th Grade
1st Place – Beyond the Branches by Shaila Jimenez (School 27, Elizabeth)
2nd Place – Priceless by Ellen Barnhurst (Columbia Middle School, Berkeley Heights)
3rd Place – Lost by Julia Ruiz (Columbia Middle School, Berkeley Heights)

8th Grade
1st Place – More Than Just a Tree by Enzo Rigonato Silva (Lincoln School, Garwood)
2nd Place – I’ll Always Remember by Jada Santos (Deerfield School, Mountainside)
3rd Place – We Owe It to the Trees by Saheila Morgan (Terrill Middle School, Scotch Plains)

Arbor Day, observed on the last Friday in April, originated in Nebraska in 1872 and has since grown into a nationwide movement to encourage tree planting and environmental awareness. This year, Arbor Day falls on Friday, April 25^th, reminding us all of the importance of preserving green spaces and planting for the future.

For questions about the Arbor Day Poetry Contest, please contact Zoraida Mosquera at Zoraida.Mosquera@ucnj.org. To learn more about Union County’s environmental programs and initiatives, visit The Green Connection at www.ucnj.org/green-connection.

April 16th is the deadline for voters who plan to change parties before the 2025 Gubernatorial Primary Election on June 10th

The Union County Board of Elections reminds voters who plan to change their party affiliation that they must do so by April 16th, in order to participate in their new party’s Primary Election on June 10th.

“Voters often do not realize that the deadline to change their affiliation is set long before Primary Day,” said Board of Elections Administrator, Nicole DiRado. “If you plan to change parties ahead of the June 10, 2025 Gubernatorial Primary Election, please be aware that party declaration changes must be received by the Election Board by April 16.”

Ms. DiRado also wishes to highlight a new law which goes into effect for the first time in this year’s primary elections.  Any unaffiliated voter, who has previously voted in a Primary Election and who has opted to receive a vote by mail ballot for all future elections, or for the June 10 primary election, must declare their party by April 16 in order to receive their vote by mail ballot.  Only voters who have never voted in a primary election or first time voters can receive a vote by mail ballot after completing a party affiliation form beyond the April 16 party affiliation deadline.

Ms. DiRado reminded voters that they can call the Board of Elections at 908-527-4123 to confirm their party affiliation.  Voters who conduct business with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Office often inadvertently change their party affiliation during their transaction, and may not have even noticed it.

Party Affiliation changes are easy and can be done in several ways. Voters can:

• Update their party online at https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/register;
• Request that a Party Declaration Form be mailed to them by calling 908-527-4123, or emailing ucboe@ucnj.org;
• Request a form through the Union County Votes App; or
• Download a form at https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/forms-party-affiliation/party-affiliation-form.pdf for an English form.
• To download a form in Spanish, use https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/forms-party-affiliation/party-affiliation-form-spanish.pdf

Calling the Election Board is the best way for voters ensure they are ready to vote for their party’s candidates in the June 10 primary.

The April 16 deadline does not apply to voters who are currently unaffiliated. They may declare their party at the polls during early voting from June 3 – June 8, 2025, or on June 10, Election Day.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to announce that the 2025 recycling events will continue this April. The paper shredding event for April will be held on Wednesday, April 9th, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and will take place at Black Brook Park, located at 349 North 19th Street in Kenilworth. The event will end before 1:00 p.m., should the trucks fill up first. 

“We encourage residents to take note of these dates and take advantage of these free recycling services. Not only do they provide a great opportunity to declutter personal spaces and safely dispose of items, but they also contribute to the broader goal of keeping Union County safe and environmentally responsible,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “If you are unsure whether an item can be recycled or disposed of, please contact our recycling department, and they will be happy to assist you.”

Union County’s free paper shredding events take place each year from March through October, bringing mobile paper shredding trucks to various locations throughout the County. Any Union County resident, regardless of their hometown, can take their personal documents to be shredded at any of these events and have them shredded onsite.

The shredding events are intended for personal and sensitive documents only. Residents can recycle magazines, junk mail, and other papers through their municipal recycling program. Please remove all bindings, large plastic or metal clips, and other paraphernalia prior to the event (staples are allowed). Pre-shredded, damp, or wet paper will not be accepted.

In addition to paper shredding, Union County’s additional seasonal recycling programs, Scrap Metal Recycling and Hazardous Waste Disposal, will begin this April.

Union County’s Scrap Metal events provide a space where residents can recycle various metal items, including refrigerators (with doors removed), metal cabinets, appliances, bicycles, aluminum scrap, and even air conditioners. The scrap metal items are collected at two locations on the first Thursday and third Saturday of the month, from April to November. The first scrap metal events of the season will take place on Thursday, April 3rd & Saturday, April 19th, from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. On these dates, residents may dispose of unwanted scrap metal items at either of our two convenient locations:

• Cranford: Emergency Services Building, 151 Kenilworth Boulevard, Kenilworth
• Rahway: Rahway River Park (follow Park Drive, Rahway off St. George’s Avenue to service yard across from swimming pool)

Union County’s first Household Hazardous Waste event of the season will take place on Saturday, April 26th from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and will be held at UCNJ, Union College of Union County, NJ, parking lots 5A and 5B, located at 1033 Springfield Avenue in Cranford. At these events, residents can bring a variety of household chemicals for proper recycling or disposal. These items include, but are not limited to, oil based finishes, motor oil, gasoline, propane tanks, pool chemicals, pesticides, fluorescent lightbulbs, and more. Latex (water-based) paint (wall paint) will not be accepted. Residents are advised to dry latex paint out at home using commercial paint hardener, sand, kitty litter, or sawdust. Once hardened, it can be thrown in your household trash.

All Union County recycling events are contact-free and drive-up only.  Residents must remain in their cars while staff unloads materials from their trunks.

For a complete schedule and more information on all recycling programs hosted by Union County, please visit ucnj.org/recycle/ or call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889. Residents may also contact their municipal recycling coordinator for more details about recycling in their community. The free Recycle Coach mobile app provides a handy way to find out what items are included in curbside recycling programs and drop-off sites in Union County. The app provides up-to-date information on both countywide and local recycling programs. Quick links to all environmental programs and activities hosted by Union County are available at The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connection.