Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the spring season of Sensory Friendly Theatre at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway. The popular series, sponsored by the Freeholder Board, showcases exciting live performances in an environment tailored to audiences with autism and other sensory sensitivities.

“The Freeholder Board is committed to helping every Union County resident connect with their friends, neighbors and the broader community, and enjoying live performances is an especially enriching community experience for all ages, especially children,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Sensory Friendly Theatre provides a way for all audiences to feel the joy and excitement of a live show in the beautiful Union County Performing Arts Center.”

Sensory Friendly Theatre kicks off this spring with the beloved story of Cinderella on Sunday, March 4, presented by the renowned New Jersey Ballet Company:

Since 1958, New Jersey Ballet has brought the joy and beauty of dance to the entire state, and had the distinct privilege to represent New Jersey in other parts of the country and world. The Ballet has an extensive repertory, which embraces the classics, as well as contemporary works. Making dance accessible to everyone requires affordable ticket prices. New Jersey Ballet is proud to be designated a Major Arts Institution by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

On Sunday April 29, Sensory Friendly Theatre brings TheatreWorks to the stage for an inventive retelling of the classic tale, Charlotte’s Web:

Theatreworks’ production of Charlotte’s Web is based on E.B. White’s loving story of the friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a little gray spider named Charlotte. Wilbur has a problem: how to avoid winding up as pork chops! Charlotte, a fine writer and true friend, hits on a plan to fool Farmer Zuckerman — she will create a “miracle.” This treasured tale, featuring mad-cap and endearing farm animals, explores bravery, selfless love, and the true meaning of friendship.

The final show of the spring season is an exciting interactive experience with the self-explanatory name, Bubble Trouble:

A bubble volcano. Bubble roller coaster. A kid in a bubble? Jeff Boyer takes bubbles to the max in this one-man bubble extravaganza. It’s the craziest, most creative bubble show around. Jeff juggles bubbles, sculpts and builds with bubbles, makes fog-filled bubbles and more. Mixing comedy, music and a unique level of community participation, he engages and delights audiences of all ages.

The Sensory Friendly Theatre series began in 2012 as an initiative of Freeholder Alexander Mirabella. It is designed according to guidelines that help reduce disturbances for youngsters who experience heightened sensory sensitivity. It has been supported by the Freeholder Board every year since then.

For each of the Sensory Friendly performances, the environment at the Union County Performing Arts Center is adjusted to provide a sensory-friendly, comfortable and judgment-free space that is welcoming for all families.

Autism Friendly Spaces implements the supportive atmosphere at the performances. For more information on what to expect at Sensory Friendly Theatre visit ucpac.org/sensory-friendly-theatre.

All tickets for are $8.00 per person and can be purchased through the Union County Performing Arts Center at ucpac.org or by calling the box office at 732-499-8226.

The Union County Performing Arts Center and box office are located at 1601 Irving Street in Rahway.

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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 – Every year since 1984, trained volunteers with the Union County Rape Crisis Center have helped victims of sexual violence through the emotional, medical and legal aftermath of trauma. New volunteers are welcome to join the next series of training classes, which begins on Thursday, March 22.

No previous experience in crisis counseling is necessary.

“Over the years our Rape Crisis Center volunteers have been a source of strength, compassion and informed guidance for hundreds of Union County residents who need a helping hand – and a warm heart — at a critical point in their lives,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “If you are looking for a meaningful way to give back to the community and make a real difference, I encourage you to contact RCC and find out about the next training series.”

The Rape Crisis Center training series beginning on March 22 will be held twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. All classes will be held at the Union County complex in Westfield, at 300 North Avenue East. The series will continue through April and conclude on Thursday, May 10th. 

Volunteers must be Union County residents at least 18 years of age.  They must hold a valid driver’s license and have their own vehicle. Prior to training, each volunteer must come to the Rape Crisis Center for an informal interview. Volunteers must attend all training sessions.

To schedule an interview for the March 22 training series, or to find out more about volunteering, call the Rape Crisis Center at 908-233-7273.

Additional information is available at unioncountyrapecrisiscenter.blogspot.com, the Rape Crisis Center blog. It includes first-person accounts of the volunteer experience, and details about outreach and educational activities.

The Rape Crisis Center is part of the Union County Department of Human Services, Division of Planning, and has been serving Union County residents since 1984.

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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 Chairman Sergio Granados, Vice Chairman Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholders Bruce H. Bergen and Angel G. Estrada joined Union County College President Margaret M. McMenamin and Vice President of Student Development Dr. Demond Hargrove in welcoming Eldridge Hawkins, Jr., Director of Policy, Operations, & Governmental Affairs in the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism, New Jersey Department of State, and historian and professor Dr. Jeffrey T. Sammons to the Union County College campus in Cranford for the 2018 Union County Black History Month Celebration event featuring a screening of Men of Bronze, a rare 1977 documentary about the 369th Regiment in World War I.

Dr. Sammons, Professor of History at New York University, was the keynote speaker providing commentary on the film and discussed his book, Harlem’s Rattlers and the Great War: The Undaunted 369th Regiment and the African American Quest for Equality, he co-authored with John H. Morrow, Jr.

The 2018 Black History Month Celebration 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.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholders Bruce H. Bergen and Angela R. Garretson welcomed the president and CEO of JAG Physical Therapy John Gallucci, Jr. as the featured speaker in a special edition of the Union County Means Business networking breakfast series titled “Are You –ABLE?” at the Kean University in Union this morning. They were joined by Union County Deputy County Manager Amy Wagner.

A medical practitioner, businessman, speaker and author, Mr. Gallucci, MS, ATC, PT, DPT, is known throughout the area as a frequent guest on radio and television. For more information about JAG Physical Therapy, visit jagpt.com

For more information about Union County Means Business visit ucnj.org/ucmb or contact Deana Mesaros at 908-659-7412 or dmesaros@ucnj.org. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholders Bruce H. Bergen and Alexander Mirabella welcomed Christian Fuscarino of Garden State Equality to the 2018 LGBTQ Roundtable meeting the hosted by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders at the Hamilton Stage in Rahway. They were joined by Union County Department of Human Services Director Debbie-Ann Anderson, Union County Office of LGBTQ Services Coordinator Danni Newbury and Union County Division of Outreach and Advocacy Director Maureen Segale-Glenn.

The roundtable meeting was facilitated by Mr. Fuscarino as more than 40 participants discussed LGBTQ-related issues.

The Union County Office of LGBTQ Services, under the Division of Outreach and Advocacy in the Department of Human Services, 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 Union County Office of LGBTQ Services, contact Danni Newbury, Coordinator, at 908-527-4742 or dnewbury@ucnj.org.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados, Vice Chairman Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholder Alexander Mirabella present resolutions to the 2018 Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal John McPartlan, General Chairwoman Kathleen M. Holmes and Parade Adjutant Pam Joyce congratulating them on the 22nd annual parade. The 2018 Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 10 on Morris Avenue in Union.

For more information please visit www.unioncountystpatricksdayparade.com.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados, Vice Chairman Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholder Alexander Mirabella present a resolution to Union County Vocational-Technical Schools Superintendent Peter Capodice, National FFA (formerly Future Farmers of America ) advisor and horticulture instructor Bonnie Baldasare and FFA members Colleen Clarke of Rahway and David Tohon of Linden designating the week of February 17, 2018 through February 24, 2018 as National FFA Week in Union County. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados, Vice Chairman Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholder Alexander Mirabella present a resolution to Union County Vocational-Technical Schools Superintendent Peter Capodice and UCVTS students and faculty designating February 2018 as National Career and Technical Education Month in Union County.

The 21st-century career and technical education programs at the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools link rigorous academics, technical knowledge and real-world experiences to help students develop workplace skills to better prepare them for college and challenging careers.

For more information about Union County Vocational-Technical Schools, visit www.ucvts.tec.nj.us.

New Members of U.C. Baseball Hall of Fame Will Be Inducted  by Union County Baseball Association

CLARK, NJ – The Union County Baseball Association is proud to announce that it will induct four new members into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame and honor young local athletes at the organization’s 82^nd annual Hot Stove League awards dinner on Sunday, February 11, beginning at 1:00 p.m., at The Gran Centurions in Clark, New Jersey.

The special guest speaker for this year’s Hot Stove League awards event will be Major League umpire and New Jersey native, Phil Cuzzi of Nutley, who worked behind the plate in Game One of the 2017 World Series.

Sponsored by the Union County Baseball Association, in cooperation with the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Hot Stove League awards dinner is the primary annual fund-raising effort for the Union County Youth Baseball Leagues. The summer and fall leagues have given more than 40,000 boys and girls an opportunity to participate in an organized baseball program for the past 70 years.

The four new Hall of Famers are Bill Feehan, a longtime firefighter for the City of Elizabeth, who played for Roselle Catholic High School and helped Kean College win two ECAC championships; Jack Goldberg, a First Team All-State slugger for the Union High School Farmers, who later played in the minors for the Atlanta Braves; Ernie Hoffer of Linden, a three-sport athlete who earned All-County and All-State honors in 1960 and 1961 as a third baseman; and Curt Wallace, who distinguished himself as a hitter at Edison Tech in Elizabeth and in inter-county leagues before going on to play, manage, instruct and scout in six countries.

Also being honored will be several young athletes from throughout Union County for their accomplishments in high school, college and other leagues. Among the honorees will be:

• Teammates Shannon Brogan and Gianna Randazza of Arthur L. Johnson High School in Clark, plus Alanna Namit of Gov. Livingston High School in Berkeley Heights, will share the Banyasz Brothers Award for most valuable scholastic softball players;
• Brian Oblachinski of Cranford will receive the Edward R. Cooper Award for outstanding high school baseball player;
• Katarina Polyviou of Cranford will receive the Joseph R. Lombardi Award for outstanding female athlete;
• Nate Roe of Plainfield will receive the Chris Zusi Award for outstanding male athlete.

Shannon Brogan finished her high school softball career at ALJ with a .425 batting average and 152 hits. The versatile infielder/outfielder helped lead the Crusaders to the Union County championship in 2016 and a return to the tournament in 2017. She plays for Moravian College.

Alanna Namit was named to the Group 3 All-State Team for leading Gov. Livingston in hitting and pitching. She batted .407 with three home runs and 23 RBI’s while compiling a 13-4 record and striking out 162 batters in 116 innings. Alanna now attends The College of New Jersey.

Brian Oblachinski was a stellar shortstop and leadoff hitter for the Cranford High School Cougars last year. He posted a .396 batting average with 33 runs scored and only eight strike outs. Brian stole 15 bases in 15 attempts. He now plays for Montclair State University.

Katarina Polyviou of Cranford is a standout two-sport player at DeSales University. In May, she was named to the Women’s Lacrosse All-MAC Freedom Second Team. The team’s top defender, Kat also added four goals on the offensive end. In the fall, she had a standout season between the pipes posting a 1.31 GAA with 107 saves and six shutouts. She was named to the All-MAC Freedom First Team in field hockey and was a three-time defensive player of the week. Kat was one of six athletes from around the country selected for the Sports Illustrated “Faces in the Crowd” section in the Oct. 16 issue of the magazine.

Gianna Randazza, three-time Union County Player of the Year, graduated as ALJ’s all-time leader in hits (192), runs batted in (179), runs scored (140), triples (17) and home runs (26); and as a pitcher, wins (59), strikeouts (532), and no hitters (5). Gianna now plays for Boston College.   

Nate Roe enjoyed his best season on the mound as a 2017 Atlantic League All-Star with the New Britain Bees. A Rutgers grad, Nate finished the year with a 7-6 record, a save and 60 strikeouts in 79 innings, primarily in relief, after spending the offseason in the Australian Baseball League.

Tickets for the 82^nd annual Hot Stove League awards dinner may be purchased online at www.UCBA-NJ.org or by writing to the Union County Baseball Association, PO Box 176, Fanwood, New Jersey 07023.

Information about table reservations and journal ads may be found at: www.UCBA-NJ.org.  For more information call Jim Iozzi, UCBA president, at 908-917-2523.

Union County Freeholders Angel G. Estrada and Alexander Mirabella congratulated new members inducted into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame during the 82nd Annual Union County Baseball Association Hot Stove Awards Dinner in Clark. They were joined by Union County Manager Alfred Faella, Union County Baseball Association President Jim Iozzi and the guest speaker, Major League Baseball umpire Phil Cuzzi.

The four new Hall of Famers are Bill Feehan, a longtime Elizabeth firefighter who played for Roselle Catholic High School and helped Kean College win two ECAC championships; Jack Goldberg, a First Team All-State slugger for the Union High School Farmers, who later played in the minors for the Atlanta Braves; Ernie Hoffer of Linden, a three-sport athlete who earned All-County and All-State honors in 1960 and 1961 as a third baseman; and Curt Wallace (not pictured), who distinguished himself as a hitter at Edison Tech in Elizabeth and in inter-county leagues before going on to play, manage, instruct and scout in six countries.

The Freeholders also congratulated the local student athletes honored for their achievements: Shannon Brogan and Gianna Randazza (not pictured) of Arthur L. Johnson High School in Clark share the Banyasz Brothers Award for most valuable scholastic softball players; Brian Oblachinski of Cranford received the Edward R. Cooper Award for outstanding high school baseball player; Katarina Polyviou of Cranford received the Joseph R. Lombardi Award for outstanding female athlete; and Nate Roe of Plainfield received the Chris Zusi Award for outstanding male athlete.

The awards dinner is sponsored by the Union County Baseball Association, in cooperation with the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation. Since 1937, the Hot Stove League Baseball Dinner has been the primary fund-raiser for the UCBA’s summer and fall programs for young ballplayers.

For more information the Union County Baseball Association, visit www.UCBA-NJ.org.