Category: Public Info

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholders Bruce H. Bergen, Chris Hudak and Linda Carter this evening joined Summit Mayor Nora Radest, Cranford Mayor Tom Hannen, Winfield Mayor Gary J. Genz, Roselle Mayor Christine Dansereau, Roselle Park Mayor Carl Hokanson, Union Mayor Suzette Cavadas, Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr, Westfield Mayor Shelley Brindle and Rahway Mayor Raymond Giacobbe at the Moms Demand Action of Union County “Mayors Against Illegal Guns” event at the Hamilton Stage Theatre in Rahway.

Mayors from 15 Union County municipalities signed a Statement of Principals against illegal guns. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and Moms Demand Action of Union County sponsored the “Mayors Against Illegal Guns” event.

(Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present the Sights & Sounds Art Exhibit, featuring paintings by students in the Sights and Sounds program of the Arc of Union County.

The exhibit is located on the 6th floor of the Union County Administration Building in Elizabeth and will be displayed through May 24, 2018. The gallery is open on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is free to the public.

“The Freeholder Board is proud to showcase the artwork of Sights & Sounds students,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “The Sights and Sound exhibit provides members of the public with an opportunity to appreciate the universal powers of human creativity, expression, and communication, and it sends a strong message of support and inclusion to the whole community.”

The Freeholders Gallery provides a supportive exhibition space that provides the public with enriching exposure to Union County artists from a wide range of backgrounds, training and experience, along with exhibits featuring Union County history and culture.

The Arc of Union County is New Jersey’s largest provider of educational, recreational and support services to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The agency’s Sights & Sounds program is designed to empower and support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with opportunities for personal expression, creative outlet and growth.

Chairman Granados’s “Moving Union County Forward” initiative for 2018 focuses on inclusion, diversity and empowerment. The initiative includes creation of the new Office for People with Special Needs, the first office of its kind in New Jersey. For more information on the Office for People with Special Needs contact Manuel Ramirez, Coordinator at mramirez@ucnj.org or 908-527-4781

The Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, part of the Department of Parks and Recreation, coordinates the exhibits displayed at the Freeholders Gallery.

For further information about this and other programs and services related to the arts and history in Union County, contact the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs at 908-558-2550 or email culturalinfo@ucnj.org. NJ Relay users may dial 711.

The Arc of Union County offers a wide range of programs for people of all ages. For more information, please visit arcunion.org or call 973-315-0000

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present an exhibit of paintings by Alicia Flynn Cotter of Mountainside in the gallery space at the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, located at 633 Pearl Street in Elizabeth. A selection of her work entitled “Spring Awakens” is on display at the Pearl Street Gallery until June 8. The gallery is open on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

“Ms. Cotter is a talented artist and we are pleased to have her works exhibited at the Pearl Street Gallery,” said Freeholder Bruce H. Bergen, liaison to the Union County Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board. “The exhibit showcases Ms. Cotter’s fine skills as a painter of nature.”

Ms. Cotter says of her work, “As an artist I am inspired by nature with a focus on modernizing traditional subjects like a garden or beach through style and/or composition. My ideas stem from memory, personal photos from trips and everyday life.”

Alicia Flynn Cotter is an artist and calligrapher with a BFA from Kean University and BS from Boston College. As a member of the Contemporary Art Group, she participates in group shows at various venues in New Jersey including galleries at Overlook Hospital, the New Providence Public Library, and Mayo Performing Arts Center.

Ms. Cotter received Second Place in the Member Show at the Watchung Art Center in 2017, and an Honorable Mention in the Contemporary Art Group Member Show in 2016.

Union County artists interested in exhibiting in the gallery space are welcome to apply. Artists’ works must be able to be hung on a wall.

For more information about the Pearl Street Gallery or other programs, please contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at culturalinfo@ucnj.org or call 908-558-2550. NJ Relay users can dial 711.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation are pleased to announce an exciting season of spring programs offered at Trailside nature and Science Center.

“Now that Spring has arrived it is time to go outside and have some fun,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Trailside’s location in the scenic Watchung Reservation provides the perfect outdoor classroom for learning about the environment and the natural world around us.”

Register now for spring workshops on line at www.ucnj.org/trailside.

Parents with children up to age three are invited to join the Toddler Time series of workshops that meet weekly on Thursdays, Fridays and now Saturdays from 10:00-11:00 a.m. These classes incorporate sensory hikes, stories, crafts and activities to acquaint adults and children with the natural world. This spring out Toddler Time families will investigate the water cycle while traveling through hands-on water stations, celebrate Earth Day by marking a craft with recycled materials, visit Australia on an imaginary journey to see koalas, kangaroos and kookaburras and more.

For children, ages 3 or 4, with an adult, Trailside offers Two of Us, an interactive program that encourages nature discovery through hikes and other indoor/outdoor activities with a parent. This program is offered on Tuesdays from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. or Wednesdays from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Participants can learn about the secret life of bees, investigate the life of a caterpillar and use their imagination to dive into the ocean to visit clams, sharks, clownfish and whales.

Small Fry Days, a drop-off program for children ages 4-6, is offered on Tuesdays, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. This workshop series is designed to foster an awareness and appreciation of the natural world through hikes, explorations and nature related activities. Participants in this interesting and educational workshop series will learn how and why birds build nests, find out ways to keep our Earth clean and green and learn some f-ant-astic facts about ants.

Children in the first and second grades can take park in Afterschool Explorations, a drop-off program designed to acquaint children with nature explorations, hikes and outdoor activities. Children enrolled in this workshop series meet on Thursdays at 3:30-4:45 p.m. Learn how to use binoculars to identify some migratory and backyard birds, investigate the diversity of life found in a stream, make your own field notebook from upcycled materials and find out how and why animals communicate. Let your ears lead you on a spring walk in search of spring sounds.

Trailside’s spring workshops begin in April and continue through mid-June. Registrants can sign up for the series or choose only topics of interest. Pre-registration is required and the fee is $10.00 per class for Union County residents and $12.00 per class for out-of-county residents. Walk-ins can be accommodated if space permits.

For additional information about spring workshops, family programs, teacher training, special events and Trailside Talks for adults and high school students, please call 908-789-3670 or visit www.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.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to remind residents that a free Countywide scrap metal recycling event will be held on Saturday, April 21 in Rahway and Cranford.  A wide variety of metal goods, from household appliances to gutters and sheds, are included in the program.

“This countywide program helps to fill a service gap in some Union County municipalities that currently have no pickup for scrap metal recycling,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “As a community, we benefit across the board by recycling more, and throwing away less waste, and making the most of our resources.”

The scrap metal recycling program is available for use by households, commercial establishments, nonprofit agencies and other organizations and is available the first Thursday and third Saturday of each month, running from April through November. Each event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.  

Scrap metal from any municipality may be brought to either of the following drop-off centers:

• Cranford:  Emergency Services/Traffic Enforcement, 151 Kenilworth Blvd.;
• Rahway:  Service Yard in Rahway Park (near pool), 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 & pans, railings, refrigerators, stoves, tire rims, toasters, washers & dryers, window frames (no glass), and wire hangers.

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

For more information, upcoming dates or directions to the recycling locations, an information on all Union County recycling programs and services, visit the Bureau of Recycling and Planning at ucnj.org/recycle or call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889.

Union County, NJ – As part of Autism Awareness Month, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders through the Office for People with Special Needs invites residents to come out and participate in Union County’s 1^st Annual Walk for Autism Awareness and Spring Carnival.

The event features entertainment, food and prizes and will take place at the County’s Mattano Park in Elizabeth. It will be held on April 28, rain or shine. Registration for the walk begins at 11:00 a.m. and the walk starts at 12:00 p.m.

“In the State of New Jersey alone, one in forty-one school age children are diagnosed with autism,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “This walk is a great opportunity for Union County to raise awareness and provide important informational resources for those impacted by autism and their supporters. I am looking forward to spending this fun, activity-filled day with local advocates, parents and children while shedding light on the autism community.”

In other efforts to raise awareness, banners in recognition of National Autism Month are on display in the lobby of the Union County Administration Building. Throughout the month of April, blue lights will illuminate many homes, landmarks and several county buildings to encourage awareness, support and inclusion for people with autism.

“The Freeholder Board is happy to support and raise awareness for those in our community with autism. The Office for People with Special Needs provides opportunities for residents living with special needs including physical, cognitive and developmental challenges to promote inclusion and full access to community enjoyment,” said Freeholder Alexander Mirabella.

For more details about the Walk for Autism Awareness, and for more information about all programs for special needs youth and families, contact the Office for Special Needs Coordinator Manuel Ramirez at 908-527-4781 or Assistant Coordinator Nicole DeAugustine at 908-527-4916.

For all Union County recreational programs and activities, visit ucnj.org/specialneeds. Online registration for all programs is available at ucnj.org/opsn-reg.

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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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14 Union County Mayors to sign State of Principals Against Illegal Guns in event to be held Wednesday, April 11 from 7-9 p.m.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders are  joining Moms Demand Action of Union County in sponsoring the “Mayors Against Illegal Guns” event that is being held this Wednesday, in which Mayors from 14 Union County municipalities will sign a Statement of Principals against illegal guns. The event is being held at the Hamilton Stage Theatre at 360 Hamilton Street, from 7-9 p.m.

“The Freeholder Board is proud to co-sponsor this event and bring our Union County elected officials together in making a statement that they will do everything in their power to protect our residents and our children from the threat of illegal guns,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados, who as part of his “Moving Union County Forward” initiatives this year, announced a partnership with Moms Demand Action of Union County in fighting for common sense gun reforms. “As elected officials, we are duty-bound to do everything in our power to protect our residents, our children and our families from the scourge of gun violence—and there is NO GREATER public safety issue today than this threat.”

The 14 Mayors who have agreed to sign the statement of principles against illegal guns are:

Derek Armstead, Linden; Chris Bollwage, Elizabeth; Shelley Brindle, Westfield; Suzette Cavadas, Union; Christine Dansereau, Roselle; Raymond Giacobbe, Rahway; Tom Hannen, Cranford; Carl Hokanson, Roselle Park; Richard Huber, Springfield; Charles Lombardo, Garwood; Colleen Mahr, Fanwood; Adrian Mapp, Plainfield; Nora Radest, Summit and Dahlia Vertreese, Hillside.

A copy of the statement of principles is online at: http://everytown.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/MayorsStatementofPrinciples2014.pdf

Speakers include students Matthew Skolar, a sophomore from Scotch Plains High School, Colin Sumner a sophomore at Westfield High School, and Paul S. John, Manager of Mayoral Outreach, Mayors Against Illegal Guns.

Other speakers at the event include: Granados, Brett Sabo, the NJ State Chapter of Lead of Moms Demand Action, and representatives of Union County Moms Demand Action including Scott Mack, Patti Wilson-Fico and Jessica Grant.

Other members of the Union County Freeholder Board are also expected to be on hand, including Freeholder Vice Chairwoman Bette Jane Kowalski, Freeholders Al Mirabella, Bruce Bergen, and Angel Estrada.

Moms Demand Action was founded by stay-at-home mom, Shannon Watts, on December 15, 2012, in response to the devastating shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The organization quickly flourished into a leading force for gun violence prevention, with chapters in all 50 states and a powerful grassroots network of concerned citizens that has successfully effected change at the local, state and national level. In December 2013, Moms Demand Action partnered with Mayors Against Illegal Guns to unite a nationwide movement of millions of Americans working together to change the game and end the epidemic of gun violence that affects every community.

Last month, Americans showed up in force for March for Our Lives events in Washington, D.C. and around the country. Led by students and gun violence survivors, they sent a clear message: protect us.

They demanded that lawmakers make students’ lives and safety a priority and pass common-sense gun safety legislation that will make all Americans safer. Their powerful voices added to the growing momentum to end the cycle of gun violence that kills 96 Americans every day and leaves hundreds more injured.

Everytown for Gun Safety is harnessing that momentum to create real change. In state houses, in board rooms and in Congress, we’re bringing together Americans of all stripes to use their voices.

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that the first mobile paper-shredding program for personal documents will go according to schedule this  Saturday April 7 in Scotch Plains, rain or shine.

The shredding event will take place at the Union County Vocational Technical School, located at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains from 9 a.m. to approximately 1 p.m. It will end before 1 p.m. if the shredding trucks reach capacity.

The next shredding event will be offered in Cedar Brook Park on Friday, April 27.

All Union County residents are eligible to use the paper-shredding service. In an effort to accommodate everyone, there is a limit of four, 10-pound bags or boxes per person. It is preferred that you bring your material in paper bags.  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.

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.

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

Union County, NJ – Earth Day is coming up soon, and the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is offering a simple, easy way for everyone 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 14, 9:00 a.m. 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 Household Hazardous Waste event is one of the best ways that anyone in Union County can help make a real difference,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Bring your unwanted household chemicals to the Vo-Tech campus on April 14 for environmentally safe disposal. Everyone can help protect the air we breathe, the water that sustains our life, and the soil that grows our food, by disposing of harmful substances safely.”

“Covanta is proud to partner with Union County for a ‘Mercury Bounty’ take back event,” said Covanta’s Director of Environmental Science and Community Affairs Kenneth Armellino. “Covanta will be offering $5 Home Depot gift cards to any resident who turns in a mercury-containing thermostat.”

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.

“Our Household Hazardous Waste events provide an opportunity for you to improve the safety and healthfulness of your home, too,” said Granados. “The April 14 event is rain-or shine, so no matter what the weather you can start looking through your closets, cupboards and sheds now for items that you wish to dispose of.” 

Residents need only 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.

For a complete list of the materials that will be accepted on April 14 as well as future event dates and locations, please visit ucnj.org/recycle.

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.

Chairman Granados’s 2018 Moving Union County Forward “Plant a Seed” initiative includes programs that enhance the County’s recycling, conservation and environmental education, such as grants for school and community gardens and a new Earth Day discount for compost bins and rain barrels. Residents interested in purchasing a compost bin or rain barrel at 50% off the retail price can visit Plant a Seed at ucnj.org/union-county-plant-a-seed for more information.

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

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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 – In recognition of April as National Autism Awareness Month, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds residents that the new Office for People with Special Needs is available to provide opportunities to engage in recreational and social activities, and connect with the broader community.

One highlight of the month is Union County’s annual Walk for Autism Awareness and Spring Carnival, featuring entertainment, food and prizes. This year the rain-or-shine event takes place at the County’s Mattano Park in Elizabeth on April 28, beginning at 11:00 a.m.

“Throughout April, blue lights illuminate many homes, landmarks and buildings to encourage awareness, support and inclusion for people with autism,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “The new Office for People with Special Needs provides us with a springboard for moving from awareness to action.”

The Office for People with Special Needs is the first office of its kind in New Jersey. It was established this year as part of Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados’s 2018 “Moving Union County Forward” initiative, which focuses on including and empowering all residents.

Union County’s ongoing programs for people with autism include the Sensory Friendly Theatre series at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway. The series was established as an initiative of Freeholder Alexander Mirabella when he served as Chairman in 2012.

“Sensory Friendly Theatre provides a ‘judgment free zone’ where children and their families can enjoy the enriching experience of live performances,” said Mirabella. “I’m very proud that my colleagues on the Freeholder Board continue to support this popular program.”

For more information about Sensory Friendly Theatre visit ucpac.org.

Granados noted that New Jersey residents have an especially strong interest in focusing resources on programs for people with autism.

“Nationally, one in 68 school age children are identified on the Autism Spectrum Disorder, and the number climbs to one in 41 in New Jersey,” he said. “It is imperative to step up our efforts to ensure that people with autism, along with their families, friends and caregivers, have access to programs and activities that connect them with the broader community.”

The Office for People with Special Needs provides recreational and social opportunities for residents living with special needs including physical, cognitive and developmental challenges to promote inclusion and full access to community enjoyment.

The office also partners with educational, health and social services organizations serving those living with special needs children.

Activities for people with autism in April offered by Union County in April include yoga, volleyball, and more. The annual Touch-A-Truck event also includes a quiet hour for children with sensory sensitivities.

In support of Autism Awareness Month, the Freeholder Board will also host a group outing to the Red Bulls Arena through the Office for People with Special Needs.

Beginning in May and after, the programs include ceramics, karate, Zumba and cooking, along with social events including the Spring Fishing  Derby, Summer Carnival, Fall Fishing Derby, Barn Dance, Ice Skating and Night out with the New Jersey Devils.

The Walk for Autism Awareness and Spring Carnival is offered by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders through the Office for People with Special Needs, with the generous help of community partners, PepsiCo and the Pepsi Beverage Company. To join, use the online registration form at ucnj.org/opsn-reg.

For more details about the Walk for Autism Awareness, and for more information about all programs for special needs youth and families, contact the Office for Special Needs Coordinator Manuel Ramirez at 908-527-4781 or Assistant Coordinator Nicole DeAugustine at 908-527-4916.

For all Union County recreational programs and activities, visit ucnj.org/parks. Online registration for all programs is available at ucnj.org/opsn-reg.

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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.