Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that openings are still available in the upcoming training series for Volunteer Advocates for victims of sexual violence. The sessions are scheduled twice weekly beginning on Tuesday, May 1 until Thursday, June 14.

The training is free. No previous experience in counseling is required. Volunteer Advocates work with the professional staff at Union County’s Rape Crisis Center to help victims cope with the legal, medical and emotional aftermath of sexual violence.

“The Freeholder Board is extremely proud of our volunteer advocates, who help restore a sense of community and self-worth to Union County residents who are facing a life crisis,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “If you are looking for a worthwhile volunteer activity that makes a real difference on a person-to-person level, I encourage you to contact the Union County Rape Crisis Center and ask about the upcoming training program.”

Training sessions will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Union County complex in Westfield, at 300 North Avenue East.

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 also attend all training sessions.

For more information about volunteering and to schedule an interview, call the Union County Rape Crisis Center at 908-233-7273.

Visit unioncountyrapecrisiscenter.blogspot.com to learn more about the Rape Crisis Center.

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

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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 – With the winter weather finally winding down, potholes are a frequent issue for drivers. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders would like you to know there are resources you can use to report them to the proper agency.

“We certainly encourage drivers and commuters to report any pothole they encounter on roads throughout Union County to the responsible authority,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “A pothole lives on until reported.”

To report a pothole or any other issue with a Union County road, use an online form available through the Union County Department of Public Works and Facilities Management at ucnj.org/pot-hole.

County roads are identified by their blue route signs, which include the letters “CR” followed by a three-digit number.

Persons without Internet access can report potholes on Union County roads by calling 908-789-3660.

For potholes on state highways, call the New Jersey Department of Transportation at 1-800-POTHOLE or use the online form at state.nj.us/transportation.

For local roads, contact the municipality in which the road is located. Links for all 21 Union County municipalities are available through the County website, ucnj.org/municipalities.

To plan a commute around major road projects that may disrupt traffic patterns in Union County, visit the “Road Construction Update” page at ucnj.org/traffic.

For all transit information in Union County including car, bus, rail, aircraft, bicycle and Paratransit, visit Union County ConneXions at ucnj.org/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.

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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that by popular demand, two additional CPR training classes have been added in May. Three sessions were previously scheduled in April and are already fully booked.

All classes are open to the general public.

“I encourage all Union County residents to learn basic first aid and emergency response skills. A medical emergency can happen to anyone at any time, and a trained bystander can literally save a life by stepping in to help until professional responders arrive,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados.

The CPR classes will be conducted by Emergency Medical Technicians from Union County Emergency Medical Services.

The Freeholder Board is providing the instructional part of the program free of charge.

Participants will pay only for course materials fee, which totals $23.25 for the classroom manual and certification card.

A medical or professional background is not required. Any Union County resident can attend.

Registration is now open for the following new dates:

Sunday May 6, 12:30 p.m.to 5:00 p.m.

Monday May 14, 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

All classes will be held in the Union County Emergency Services Building, at 535 Laurel Avenue in Roselle Park.

The materials fee of $23.25 is accepted by check, made out to RWJ Rahway (checks will be collected at the beginning of class).    

Participants should be prepared for physical movement including kneeling, bending, and simulation of chest compressions. The class also includes video presentations.

Registration is online at ucnj.org/public-safety/division-of-emergency-services.

For additional information contact the Office of Emergency Management at ucoem@ucnj.org or call 908-654-9881 and ask for Lt. Sara Chmura.

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Photo (cropped): via Wikimedia Commons.

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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.

Joins Counties of Gloucester, Hudson, Camden, Middlesex, Essex and Mercer, and Wall Township, in Calling for Timely Passage of Statewide Legislation

Union County Freeholders Bruce H. Bergen and Mohamed S. Jalloh joined Union County Sheriff Peter Corvelli, Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi and Union County Surrogate James LaCorte in congratulating the top winners of the 2018 “My County” poster contest sponsored by the Union County Constitutional Officers.

The top four winners of the contest are (from left): Ethan Lopes Moreira (1st place) from Our Lady of Guadalupe Academy in Elizabeth, Magda Wlodarski (2nd place) from St. Michael Elementary School in Cranford, Milani Washington (3rd place) from St. John the Apostle Elementary School in Clark and Rosa Rocio (4th place) from the Ronald Regan Elementary School No. 30 in Elizabeth.

More than 200 fourth grade students from schools throughout Union County entered the contest. Twelve winners in total will have their artwork featured in a poster calendar.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The Youth Employment Pathways Program (YEPP)—a pilot program that is a partnership between the Union County Freeholder Board and the United Way of Greater Union County, has put 60 at-risk youth to work part-time in various industries throughout Union County starting this week through June.

“YEPP is designed to assist in school and out of school youth between the ages of 14-24 with the necessary tools they’ll need in order to successfully graduate high school and/or secure employment,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “The Freeholder Board is proud to be sponsoring this program through United Way, and we look forward to continuing a more expansive jobs program for at least 200 more youth later this year once the pilot is complete.”

James W. Horne, Jr., President and CEO of United Way of Greater Union County (UWGUC), added: “The United Way is working in collaboration with the Freeholder Board, non-profit agencies through the County, and our private sector partners to provide training and on-the-job experience to those who might otherwise lack access to these opportunities. The program is geared to helping disadvantaged youth achieve their goals and work toward obtaining credential certifications, enter higher education and/or secure employment.”

UWGUC was awarded a federal Workforce Innovations and Opportunity Act (WIOA) grant by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Workforce Development Board to implement YEPP. Non- profit agencies and private sector businesses recruited the youth, who were at-risk, financially disadvantaged or parenting teens– from various communities for the program.

Freeholder Chairman Granados added:

“We will continue to find new employment opportunities for our residents. Last year we provided over 2,500 opportunities through our Workforce Innovation Business Center, but this year we wanted to put an additional focus on helping to empower and employ at-risk-youth in our communities. As someone who grew up in an urban area, I strongly feel that if we had more of these types of opportunities, some of the people I grew up with wouldn’t have gone down a troubled path.”

The program provided training as needed, and part-time jobs (15-hours a week), pay was between $10-

$15 an hour, in various industries, including government, non-profits, and jobs in the private sector, including the retail and construction industries.

The non-profit agencies that UWGUC partnered with included:

• Community Access Unlimited
• Communities in Cooperation, Inc.
• Elizabeth Housing Authority
• Urban League of Union County, Inc.,
• Proceed, Inc.
• Second Street Youth Center
• HomeFirst, Inc.
• Plainfield Housing Authority
• Workforce Advantage Inc.
• YMCA

Information regarding the YEPP can be found on the United Way website at https://www.uwguc.org/yepp,or by calling 908-353-7171.

Union County, NJ – The Trailside Museum Association will be the beneficiary of Whole Foods’ “5% Day” in Union County on Thursday, April 19. Five percent of net sales on April 19 from two participating Whole Foods stores, in Vauxhall and Clark, will go to the non-profit organization.

Members of the Trailside Museum Association support Union County’s Trailside Nature and Science Center with many hours of volunteer work, fundraising and special events.

The Trailside Nature and Science Center is located in Union County’s Watchung Reservation, in Mountainside. The public is welcome to enjoy interactive, state-of-the art exhibits at Trailside free of charge, seven days a week except for holidays. Trailside also offers a full range of scheduled activities and programs for all ages, both indoors and out (modest fees apply).

The two participating Whole Foods stores are located at 2245 Springfield Avenue in Vauxhall and 1255 Raritan Road in Clark.

For more information about the Trailside Nature and Science Center visit the County website at ucnj.org/parks-recreation.

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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 invites members of the public to attend a panel discussion on sexual assault and consent on Wednesday, April 25 at 2:00 p.m. in Room N-4 at Union County College, 1033 Springfield Avenue in Cranford. The panel will feature a question and answer session.

The panel discussion is intended to raise awareness about sexual assault and consent in recognition of Denim Day, an international campaign developed by the organization Peace Over Violence. The Denim Day campaign began in 1999 in response to a controversial ruling in a sexual assault case in Italy.

“This panel provides a safe environment in which members of the public can learn, explore, and ask questions,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Issues that were once hidden behind closed doors are finally being exposed to light, and discussions like this are an important way to make progress toward a society that fully respects an individual’s right to dignity and choice.”

The free event is organized by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office of Victim/Witness Advocacy and the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders through the Union County Office on Women in partnership with Union County College.

Members of the panel include Special Victims Unit Supervisor and Assistant Prosecutor Caroline Lawlor, Special Victims Unit Detective Brian O’Malley, Union County College Director of Human Resources Heather Cavise, and Union County College Dean of Students Mensah Peterson.

The event will be held on Wednesday, April 25 at 2:00 p.m. at Union County College’s Cranford Campus in room N-4.

For more information on the event contact Jennifer Erdos, Union County Office on Women, 908-527-4216 or jerdos@ucnj.org.

More information on Peace Over Violence is available at peaceoverviolence.org/denim-day.

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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 May as Older Americans Month, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds Union County’s senior adults that they will receive new Medicare cards from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services this summer.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is the federal agency that runs the Medicare program. It is a branch of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

“The new Medicare cards are intended to help keep our senior residents safe from fraud and identity theft,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “As with any other form of identification, Medicare card holders should continue to exercise caution and only share their information with health professionals or other authorized persons.”

As a fraud and identity theft prevention measure, the new Medicare cards include an 11-character “Medicare Beneficiary Identifier” instead of a Social Security number.

The new Medicare cards will be mailed to cardholders automatically as long as the address is accurate. To verify an address, visit my Social Security online at socialsecurity.gov/myaccount, call Social Security at 1 (800) 772-1213 or 1 (800) 325-0778 TTY or visit your local Social Security office.

For other questions regarding the new Medicare card, contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE or visit medicare.gov/newcard.

The mailings will be done in waves by geographic location. Cards may arrive at different times for neighbors and friends due to the mailing schedule.

Chairman Granados also advised seniors to be aware of other programs and services that can help them avoid identity theft and other forms of fraud.

“The Freeholder Board supports the Anti-Fraud Toolkit created by the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs,” said Chairman Granados. “The Toolkit includes an email alert network for sharing up-to-date news about the latest fraud incidents in New Jersey, especially those affecting seniors.”

For more information on the Anti-Fraud Toolkit, or and to sign up for Real-Time Fraud Alerts visit the Division of Consumer Affairs at njconsumeraffairs.gov/fightingfraud.

Union County residents are also encouraged to report possible frauds and scams to the Union County Office of Consumer Affairs. To file a complaint online, visit ucnj.org/public-safety or call 908-654-9840.

Another protective measure is to ensure that sensitive personal documents are shredded and securely disposed. Union County sponsors a regular series of free, secure paper shredding events throughout the spring, summer and fall. For a complete schedule, visit ucnj.org/recycling.

For information about other senior services offered by Union County, including Paratransit and senior meals, call the Union County Division on Aging toll-free at 888-280-8226, 908-527-4870, or visit online at ucnj.org/human-services.

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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.