Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ – A multi-age civic partnership is transforming a roadside parcel of County parkland into a lush, natural habitat for the endangered Monarch butterfly and many other valuable pollinators including butterflies, bees and birds.

“This new meadow will serve as a valuable teaching tool for the thousands of children and adults who visit Trailside every year,” said Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “It represents the work of many civic stakeholders, and on behalf of the Freeholder Board I would especially like to thank the Trailside Museum Association for their generous contribution.”

The new pollinator meadow is located in Union County’s Watchung Reservation, along the service road by the Trailside Nature and Science Center at 251 New Providence Road in Mountainside.

Preliminary work on the meadow took place last month, when Girl Scouts troop from Mountainside and Westfield planted milkweed seedlings. The ground was mowed and prepared for planting by personnel from the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.

After a three-day period of frost this winter, the area will be seeded with additional native wildflowers and grasses that attract pollinators including coreopsis, Joe Pye Weed, wild bergamot, tall white beardtongue, New England aster, switch grass, little bluestem, Indian grass, big-leaf mountain mint and New York Ironwood.

The seeds and milkweed seedlings were provided through a grant of $1,250 from the Trailside Museum Association, a volunteer organization that supports Trailside with donations of volunteer time as well as financial assistance for projects in and around the facility. The seeds were purchased from the New Jersey nursery Toadshade Wildflower Farm.

The Borough of Mountainside has also played a role in the project. The Mountainside Fire Department helped the Girl Scouts get their seedlings off to a good start by bringing water to the meadow.

Common milkweed, swamp milkweed and butterfly weed are the only food that monarch butterfly caterpillars eat.  In recent years, monarch butterfly populations have decreased dramatically due to habitat loss and food availability.

“The new meadow enables Union County to play a role in a global effort to conserve our pollinator population,” said Bergen. “We really can make a difference, one meadow at a time.”

The new Trailside pollinator meadow is the latest in a series of habitats recently established in Union County parks. They are all fully accessible to the public and they provide colorful opportunities for photography enthusiasts.

These include the existing Butterfly Garden adjacent to Trailside, and the wildflower meadow, shoreline plantings and Chatfield Garden at Warinanco Park in Roselle. The Chatfield Garden, originally kept as a tulip bed, was converted to a pollinator-friendly perennial garden several years ago.

Echo Lake Park in Mountainside features pollinator-friendly shoreline plantings, and Cedar Brook Park in Plainfield has shoreline plantings and the historic Shakespeare Garden, which attracts many pollinators.

The new Union County Means Green Community Garden Grants program has also provided additional support for pollinators in local neighborhoods. The garden grant program is part of Chairman Bergen’s “Union County Means Green” 2016 initiatives. It covers the establishment of pollinator plots in community gardens.

One such garden, the new Scotch Plains-Fanwood Community Garden, became home to Monarch caterpillars in its very first season. The garden is located on a formerly barren parcel of land behind the historic Frazee House, off Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.

Individuals and groups are welcome to volunteer in Union County parks by joining Adopt-a-Park and its companion program, Adopt-a-Trail. The two programs are run by the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation, providing hundreds of volunteer opportunities annually.

For more information call 908-789-3683 or visit ucnj.org/adopt-a-park.

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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 – More than 40 volunteers gathered in Union County’s historically significant Ash Brook Reservation in Scotch Plains last Saturday to help prevent flooding on a popular hiking trail. Formerly known as Ash Swamp or Ash Brook Swamp, the Reservation is credited with enabling the Continental Army to escape annihilation in 1777, during the sprawling Battle of Short Hills.

The volunteers, who were coordinated by Union County Trail Steward Marc Grobman, also cleared debris from trails in other areas of the Reservation.

“Marc is one of our most outstanding volunteers, and his service in the cause of enjoying and preserving our parks is deeply appreciated,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “On behalf of the Freeholder Board, many thanks to Marc and all of those who contributed their time and effort to this project.”

As a volunteer Trail Steward in Union County’s Adopt-a-Trail program, Grobman has taken responsibility for ensuring that the white-blazed trail in Ash Brook Reservation is walkable and free of fallen limbs and other obstacles.

The trail begins next to the Union County Police Academy, in the rear of the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools District campus at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.

The volunteer group of 40 high school students and one adult represented seven different municipalities both in and out of Union County, including Elizabeth, Scotch Plains, Plainfield, Perth Amboy, East Orange, Maplewood, and Short Hills, as congregants of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Scotch Plains Stake.

Among other trailwork, the group removed leaves and dead tree limbs clogging a ditch under a footbridge. The blockage was putting the adjacent trail at risk of flooding during wet weather, creating potentially hazardous conditions for hikers.

The footbridge represents another volunteer effort in Union County parks. It was recently installed as a volunteer Eagle Scout project by Douglas Keating of Plainfield.

Keating’s project includes the installation of a kiosk by the trail. It houses a poster created by the Eagle Scout, describing the historical significance of Ash Brook in the Revolutionary War.

“Thanks to all of our volunteers, visitors to Ash Brook can enjoy hiking through this beautiful park while picking up some fascinating details about the bravery and tenacity of our founders,” said Bergen.

A self-guided walking tour that traces the Battle of Short Hills is available on the County website, ucnj.org.

Individuals and groups are invited to join Adopt-a-Trail and its companion program, Adopt-a-Park. The two programs are run by the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation, providing hundreds of volunteer opportunities annually.

For more information call 908-789-3683 or visit ucnj.org/adopt-a-park.

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Photo credit: Carl Nuzman.

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 – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi advises travelers that a new U.S. State Department rule requires persons who normally wear glasses to remove them when having their passport photo taken. The new rule only covers passport applications submitted on or after November 1.

“If you already have a valid passport and you are wearing your glasses in your photo, or if you submitted a passport application by October 31 which included a photo wherein you were wearing your glasses, you do not need to have a new photo taken,” said Ms. Rajoppi.

Ms. Rajoppi noted that her office has received a number of phone calls from travelers who are confused about the new rule.

“Some media reports about the new rule have given the impression that everyone who wears glasses needs a new photo, and that is simply not the case,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “Your current passport is still valid until the expiration date.”

The no-glasses rule is designed to help the US State Department process passport applications more quickly, by ensuring that the applicant’s eyes are clearly visible in the photo. 

“My staff is trained in the standards promulgated by the US Department of State relative to the photo requirements and experienced in photographing applicants for their passports which will ensure that your photo meets all requirements and your application is not delayed because of a bad photo,” said Ms. Rajoppi.

The County Clerk staff can take a passport photo for $10.00 at either the Elizabeth or Westfield location. The fee is comparable to other vendors in the Union County area.

The County Clerk’s Main Office in Elizabeth is located in the County Courthouse, at 2 Broad Street. The Annex Office in Westfield is located in the Colleen Fraser Building in the County complex at 300 North Avenue East.

For more information about passport services from the County Clerk, call the Main Office at 908-527-4966 or the Annex Office at 908-654-9859, or visit online at ucnj.org/county-clerk.

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Visit the County Clerk’s new elections website, unioncountyvotes.com.

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Nominations are being accepted now through the end of November for the 25th annual Women of Excellence awards.  The awards highlight the powerful impact that women have on the Union County community. The deadline to submit a nomination for consideration is December 1, 2016.

“Each year, the Women of Excellence awards celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of women of diverse backgrounds from throughout Union County who have distinguished themselves in their careers and communities,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “I encourage local government agencies, businesses and non-profits, and residents to nominate a woman of excellence, whether professional or volunteer, to be recognized for their commitment to Union County.”

Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Commission on the Status of Women, the awards program celebrates women who live or work in Union County and have made important contributions of professional or volunteer work. This year, the new Union County Office on Women – a 2016 initiative of Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen – joins in sponsoring the Women of Excellence awards.

Women can be nominated for their contributions in the categories of Arts and Humanities, Business and Entrepreneurial, Community Service, Education, Government, Law, Law Enforcement, Medicine and Health Care, or Women’s Advocacy.

The Women of Excellence Award is open to all women, 21 years or older, who live, work, or volunteer in Union County.

Awardees will receive a Freeholder Resolution in their honor and will be celebrated at the annual Women of Excellence gala awards dinner, to be held on March 24, 2017 at the Clubhouse at Union County’s Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth.

For more information about submitting a Women of Excellence nomination, or to download a nomination form, visit ucnj.org/women-of-excellence-award. Questions about the nomination process can be emailed to Jane O’Hara, johara1217@gmail.com.

All nominations should be mailed to Jane O’Hara at 708 Newark Avenue, Westfield, NJ 07090 and postmarked no later than December 1, 2016.

Union County, NJ – Grandparents who are searching for holiday activities to share with their grandchildren can visit the A. Paul Mallery Model Railroad Center in Union Township and enjoy the Holiday Sound and Light Show, a seasonal display centered around an elaborately detailed HO scale railroad layout.

Visitors can also view a large, double-decker N-scale layout at the Railroad Center and visit the snack bar, railroad gift shop, and toddler play area.

The Railroad Center is located in a mixed-use area of Union County’s Lenape Park. It was built and is operated by the non-profit organization The Model Railroad Club, Inc. under an arrangement with the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.

The Sound and Light Show will take place on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays starting November 25 and ending December 11.

For a complete schedule and ticket information visit The Model Railroad Club online at tmrci.org/annual-show.

Directions: The A. Paul Mallery Center is conveniently situated in a mixed-use area of Lenape Park, off Route 22 East in Union Township, behind the Home Depot. Enter the Home Depot parking lot from Route 22 East or from Springfield Road, and go to the far end where the garden center is located. Turn left and follow a small sign to a service road behind the Home Depot. The Mallery Center is at the end of the road.

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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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In recognition of Veterans Day, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites Veterans to take advantage of special Union County programs and services to support services through UC HERO.

UC HERO seeks to increase awareness of eligibility, entitlements, benefits programs, and services provided to veterans by various Government Agencies, including County Government. For more information about UC HERO please visit ucnj.org/uchero

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to bring a sensory-friendly performance of American Repertory Ballet’s Nutcracker to the stage at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway on Sunday, November 20^th at 1:00 p.m.

Presented as part of Union County’s Sensory Friendly Theatre series, this abridged, one-hour sensory-friendly performance of the Nutcracker is adapted especially for children and adults with sensory sensitivities and other special needs.

Available now, all tickets are $8 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 sensory-friendly performance series is designed to increase access to the arts for children and adults with sensory sensitivities,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “The Freeholder Board is proud to help make this holiday classic accessible to families with children and adults of all abilities and needs.”

American Repertory Ballet brings the beloved classic Nutcracker to the stage with Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score, stunning new sets (new first act scenery!), thrilling choreography and a cast of more than 100. A holiday tradition for more than 50 years (1964), American Repertory Ballet’s Nutcracker is one of the longest, continuously running Nutcracker productions in the nation. Directed by Artistic Director Douglas Martin, ARB’s professional company will be joined by select students from Princeton Ballet School to tell the story of a young girl named Clara and how a mysterious gift brings about enchanted dreams and fantastical scenes.

Whether it’s your first time, an annual tradition, or an once-in-a-lifetime experience, ARB’s Nutcracker is a perfect holiday treat for your entire family to be transported and inspired.

For each of the performances in Union County’s Sensory Friendly Theatre series the theatre 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 each of the sensory-friendly performances. For more information on what to expect at a Sensory Friendly Theatre performance visit ucpac.org/sensory-friendly-theatre.

For more information or to purchase tickets call the Union County Performing Arts Center, 732-499-8226 or visit ucpac.org. The UCPAC Box Office, located at 1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 AM until 5:00 PM and is also open late on Thursdays until 8:00 PM.

For information on additional Union County recreational programs for people with disabilities age five and up, call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4781 or visit ucnj.org.

Union County, NJ – Students and adults looking for community service opportunities are invited to volunteer for a cleanup event outdoors in the fresh air, at Union County’s Milton Lake Park in Rahway from 9:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday, November 19.

The event is hosted by the AmeriCorps New Jersey Watershed Ambassador program and the Union County Adopt-a-Park program.

“Our Adopt-a-Park volunteers are deeply appreciated for all their work. They help keep our parks attractive for visitors while creating a healthier environment for native flora and fauna,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.

Volunteers are welcome to join individually, or as part of a group from a school, business, Scout troop or civic organization.

They will remove discarded fishing lines and invasive weeds, and clean up litter. Attendees should dress warmly and wear boots. Gloves, litter-grabbers and refreshments will be provided.

The Watershed Ambassador program is administered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. It provides for a traveling educator to provide free presentations about watershed protection and water conservation for schools and community groups.

To RSVP for the Milton Lake cleanup event, or to inquire about scheduling a watershed presentation, contact the Union County Watershed Ambassador, Ismail Sukkar, at watershed7@ucnj.org or 908-789-3209.

Volunteers can also RSVP through the Milton Lake Park Clean Up event page on Facebook.

The group will meet in the park, opposite 959 Midwood Drive in Rahway.

For information on all other Union County Adopt-a-Park programs and events, visit online at ucnj.org or call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation, 908-789-3683.

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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 – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi invites veterans to use free services offered by her office, including proof of service identification, copies of their honorable discharges and an online directory of local businesses that offer discounts for veterans.

“If you are a veteran looking for ways to trim your household budget and get documentation of your service without incurring additional costs, please call or visit my office,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “My knowledgeable staff is ready to assist you with these services in recognition of Veterans Day, and every day of the year.”

Veterans can also visit Union County online at ucnj.org/uc-hero for quick links to additional services and programs of interest to veterans.

“Together with Ms. Rajoppi, the Freeholder Board has been working to ensure that our veterans and their families can access all of the information and resources available to them as quickly and easily as possible,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.

Veterans can call the County Clerk at 908-659-7403 for information on obtaining a free military discharge documentation identification card. The ID card is available to any veteran who has filed an Honorable Discharge form DD-214. The card bears a book and page number confirming the honorable discharge.

Veterans can also call 908-659-7403 for information on obtaining a copy of their Honorable discharge form DD-214 free of charge.

The County Clerk’s office provides a Veterans Peddlers License free of charge to Union County residents. For more information on these licenses, call the County Clerk at 908-527-4967.

An online directory of discounts for goods and services offered to veterans by local businesses is available at the County Clerk’s Veteran Discounts page, ucnj.org/county-clker/veteran-discounts.

“Businesses interested in joining our directory can also visit the Veteran Discounts page and provide their information in a brief online form,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “I encourage our local business community to participate as a small token of appreciation for those who have served our country.”

For all County Clerk services, visit ucnj.org/county-clerk. Elections information is available from the County Clerk at unioncountyvotes.com.

UC-HERO is a 2016 initiative of Chairman Bergen, designed to increase awareness of government services and programs available to veterans. More information is available at ucnj.org/uc-hero or call the Union County Office of Veterans’ Affairs, 908-659-7407.

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Visit the County Clerk’s new elections website, unioncountyvotes.com.

For all other County Clerk services visit ucnj.org/county-clerk.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Repost from the Social Security Administration

Every day—but particularly on Veterans Day—Social Security salutes those who have put their lives on the line for our freedom.

Members of the United States armed forces receive expedited processing of their Social Security disability applications. The expedited process is available for any military service member who alleges he or she became disabled during active duty on or after October 1, 2001, regardless of where the disability occurred—at home or in the line of duty. Expedited processing is also available to veterans who have a compensation rating of 100% Permanent and Total (P&T) disability, regardless of when the disability occurred. Some dependent children and spouses of military personnel may also be eligible to receive benefits.

Visit our website designed specifically for our wounded veterans, www.socialsecurity.gov/woundedwarriors, where you will find answers to a number of commonly asked questions, as well as other useful information about disability benefits available under the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. Our website includes a fact sheet on the subject:  Disability Benefits For Wounded Warriors.

You’ll also find a webinar, “Social Security for Wounded Warriors,” that explains the expedited disability process available to wounded warriors. The one-hour video is an introduction to disability benefits for veterans and active duty military personnel.  If you would like more detailed information about the disability process, you can watch our seven-part video series “Social Security Disability Claims Process” at www.socialsecurity.gov/socialmedia/webinars.

On the Wounded Warriors webpage, you’ll find links to the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense websites. Please keep in mind that the requirements for disability benefits available through Social Security are different from those of the Department of Veterans Affairs and require a separate application.

Military service members are covered for the same Social Security survivors, disability, and retirement benefits as everyone else. Although the expedited service is relatively new, military personnel have been covered under Social Security since 1957, and people who were in the service prior to that may be able to get special credit for some of their service.

Read our publication, Military Service And Social Security, to learn more. It’s available at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs. Also, navigate to www.socialsecurity.gov/woundedwarriors.