Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ  –  The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce a major renovation and expansion of Watchung Stable, the county’s public riding facility. The project includes a new indoor riding ring to enable year-round use of the stable, bringing in additional revenue while providing more Union County residents with affordable access to a popular sport.

The Freeholder Board voted to approve the project during its regular public meeting on Thursday, September 10.

“The dream of year-round riding at Watchung Stable has been percolating for almost 30 years, and now we have the opportunity to open up this unique sport to more County residents,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “Horseback riding teaches valuable life lessons, and on behalf of the Freeholder Board we are proud to preserve and improve this longstanding Union County tradition.”

Watchung Stable is located in the Watchung Reservation, on Summit Lane in Mountainside. Currently the facility has no indoor riding ring, limiting its use to seasonable weather from April 1 to November 1.

The stable’s Watchung Mounted Troops youth program currently serves approximately 700 children yearly, many of whom volunteer at the stable and perform related community service projects when they are not riding.

Watchung Stable also offers classes and programs for adults and casual riders, activities for non-riders, and boarding services for privately owned horses.

“The many volunteers who have supported Watchung Stables over the years have been inspirational, and they highlight how this valuable community asset has enriched Union County over the years,” said Freeholder Sergio Granados who is the Freeholder Board’s liaison to the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Three volunteer groups raise funds for equipment and help staff activities and programs at the stable: Watchung Stable Auxiliary, Watchung Jr. Hunt Club, and Watchung Riding and Driving Club. The Auxiliary also includes a subcommittee called School Horses of Watchung Retirement Program, which arranges new homes for horses that are too old for stable work.

Watchung Stable has been a fixture in Union County since the origin of the County Parks system in 1925.  Along with golf, tennis, swimming and other facilities in County parks, Watchung Stable was established to provide all County residents with access to a popular activity that would otherwise require membership in private clubs and riding facilities.

“With a year-round ring and other improvements, Watchung Stable can provide more programs for more riders, and provide more services for our boarding horses,” said Jalloh. “The additional revenue offers a fiscally responsible pathway for upgrading this very popular facility.”

The original location of Watchung Stable was in Summit, on Glenside Avenue. That site was lost in the 1980’s when the “missing link” of Interstate 78 was constructed. Work on the present facility in Mountainside began in 1983 and largely concluded in 1985. The initial plans called for the construction of an indoor ring.

The main features of the new project are:

• Construction of an energy-efficient indoor ring that requires no heating in winter
• Renovation/construction of three outdoor riding rings and six paddocks
• New surfaces, fencing, and landscaping throughout
• Installation of new barn doors to save energy and prevent heat loss in winter

The September 10 vote formally approved a contract of $2.3 million to JC Landscape Construction & Management Co., Inc. of Pequannock. Construction will begin this month and progress in phases over the next 18 months. The stable is expected to continue normal operations while construction is under way.

For more information about programs and activities at Watchung Stable, visit online at ucnj.org/parks-recreation.

Information on all Union County programs and services is available at ucnj.org.

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Recent scenes from Watchung Stable:

Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh joined Plainfield Mayor Adrian O. Mapp and Plainfield Council President Bridget B. Rivers in reviewing the ‘Art Outside the Box’ artist submissions that will be featured on traffic control boxes at three Plainfield intersections.

In the coming days, we will open up online voting for you to pick your top three favorites. Learn more about the Chairman’s Initiative at https://ucnj.org/artoutsidethebox/. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Patrol officers in eight of Union County’s 21 municipalities will be wearing body-worn video cameras by the end of next month as part of New Jersey’s largest county-funded, multi-municipality pilot program of its kind unveiled to date, Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park said Tuesday in a joint announcement made with the leaders of each of the participating police departments: Elizabeth Police Chief Patrick Shannon and Director James Cosgrove, Plainfield Police Director Carl Riley, Linden Police Chief James Schulhafer, Scotch Plains Police Chief Brian Mahoney, Roselle Park Police Chief Paul Morrison, Mountainside Police Chief Alan Attanasio, Fanwood Police Chief Richard Trigo, and Garwood Police Chief Bruce Underhill.

Taser International will be supplying equipment, installation, and training for each of the participating departments during the coming weeks, including the provision of a collective total of 550 body-worn cameras weighing 3.5 ounces apiece.

All of Union County’s municipal police departments were contacted earlier this summer to gauge their interest in participating in the program, and while the initial goal was to involve a small handful of departments, all of those that expressed interest ultimately were included. The program is being funded by a unique cost-sharing framework – for each participating department, the first-year average cost of approximately $1,350 per officer (approximately $750,000 total) is being covered by Prosecutor’s Office forfeiture funds, supplemented by $125,000 in forfeiture funds from the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, while the departments’ municipalities then are agreeing to multi-year contracts costing an average of $670 per officer, per year thereafter.

The body cameras record at all times, but they only save footage 30 seconds retroactively from the moment of activation. Officers wearing the cameras will be required to activate them – a process that involves simply pressing a large button twice – during any on-duty encounter with a civilian, with several exceptions for certain situations and in sensitive venues such as schools or houses of worship. Circumstances in which the cameras are expected to be in use include those such as traffic stops, vehicle searches, arrests, and more.

During the course of each workday, each officer also will “tag” his or her videos electronically, filing them into different categories. This can be done with a variety of devices, from smart phones to laptops. Once the officer returns to police headquarters following a shift, he or she will take the camera off and place it in a docking station; at that point the footage will be uploaded to cloud storage while the device also recharges automatically.

“Certain high-profile events of the last several years in towns and cities small and large, nationwide, have illuminated a broad rift dividing many of our communities and the police who are sworn to protect and serve them. And while body cameras are not a cure-all for this issue, they offer police a valuable tool that can help bridge the gap,” Park said. “These devices help achieve this by acting as an objective witness that produces valuable evidence during interactions between members of law enforcement and members of the public. This naturally generates accountability among both groups – for the officer and the citizen alike.”

During recent years four large police departments in three states (Alabama, Arizona, and California) that performed studies on this topic found that the introduction of body cameras was followed by reductions in citizen complaints of 40 to 90 percent, and reductions in police use-of-force incidents of 35 to 75 percent. The Union County Prosecutor’s Office, in cooperation with the participating police departments, will be monitoring rates of such complaints and incidents as well throughout the course of the pilot program.

Approximately 30 of more than 500 police departments in New Jersey are currently known to use body cameras, while nationwide it is estimated that approximately a quarter of the nation’s more than 15,000 departments use them.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites residents to participate in free child safety seat inspection opportunities during National Child Passenger Safety Week (September 13-19).

The proper use of child safety seats is one of the simplest and most effective methods available for protecting the lives of young children in the event of a motor vehicle accident.

On Saturday, September 19, as part of “National Seat Check Saturday,” trained technicians from Union County’s Child Safety Seat Inspection Program will conduct child seat inspections at the Babies ‘R’ Us on Rt. 22 in Union from 12:00 noon until 3:00 p.m. This special event is also sponsored in part by AAA Northeast – NJ Division.

Also, Union County’s popular Child Safety Seat Inspection Program is open every Wednesday and Thursday from 7:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. and is located at the Garwood Rescue Squad at 401 2^nd Avenue in Garwood.

 “If you have a baby or small child in your care, please come and take advantage of this free program, and make sure your safety seat is properly adjusted,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “Our experts can help you get familiar with a new seat, and they can help you spot any problems with an older seat.”

New Jersey’s new child safety seat regulations took effect on September 1. The new State law requires parents to adhere to American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations for child passenger safety. 

Under the new child passenger safety law:

• Children under age 2 and weighting less than 30 pounds must be secured in a rear-facing child safety seat that is equipped with five-point harness.
• Children between ages 2-4 and weighing up to 40 pounds must be secured in a child safety seat equipped with a five-point harness, either rear-facing (up to the height and weight limits of the seat) or forward –facing.
• Children between ages 4-8 and less than 57 inches tall (4’9”) must be secured in a forward-facing seat equipped with a five-point harness (up to the height and weight limits of the seat) or in a booster seat.
• Children ages 8 and older must use the vehicle seat belt. The safest place for children under 13 is the back seat.

Union County first launched the Child Safety Seat Inspection Program in 1999, in response to surveys showing that the overwhelming majority of child safety seats are improperly installed, even though most users are confident that they know the correct procedure.

Since 1999, approximately 50,000 Union County residents and visitors have used the Seat Inspection Program. It is staffed by personnel from the County’s Department of Public Safety, who are certified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and by the organization SafeKids. The program is credited with saving at least one life, when a toddler survived a 2008 vehicle rollover shortly after the seat was properly adjusted by County personnel.

The child seat inspection program is provided as a public service by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Union County Police Department, New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, AAA Northeast – NJ Division, and the Garwood First Aid Squad.

For more information about Union County’s Child Safety Seat Inspection Program visit ucnj.org or call 908-789-6830.

Union County, NJ  –  The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites all residents, especially veterans and their families, to gather at the steps of the Union County Courthouse on Friday, September 18 at 11:15 a.m., and join in the annual POW/MIA Remembrance Day ceremony to honor prisoners of war and those missing in action.  New Jersey State Senator Raymond J. Lesniak will deliver the keynote address.

“Please join us in recognizing the sacrifices of our military, and their families and loved ones. Every year, POW/MIA Remembrance Day reaffirms our government’s commitment to ensure that all are accounted for, and to honor those who are no longer with us,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh.

The County Courthouse is located at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth. In case of rain, the ceremony will be moved inside to Courthouse Rotunda.

For more information about POW/MIA Remembrance Day in Union County, or to confirm your attendance, call the Freeholder offices at 908-527-4100.

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The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders along with the Department of Parks and Recreation recently recognized the outstanding contributions made to the Union County Archery Range at Oak Ridge Park by Eagle Scout Nicolas Makosiej, a member of Boy Scout Troop 145, located in Clark, New Jersey, who earned his Eagle Rank in April, 2014. His Court of Honor was held in May, 2014.

For his Eagle Scout project, Nicholas traveled to various archery ranges in 2012, working through several concepts and prototypes while consulting with archery experts. In the summer and fall he worked with members of his troop to construct targets to be used at the Oak Ridge Archery Range. They were set in place in November, 2013. After nearly two years, the targets are being repurposed and will be moved to Wa-Xo-Be Archery Club. They will remain in use at Oak Ridge until September 16.

“On behalf of the Freeholder Board I’d like to thank Nicholas for putting together this project and sharing it with the participants at the Union County Archery Range at Oak Ridge,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh.

Users of the Union County Archery Range at Oak Ridge Park are reminded that they are responsible for supplying their own targets when using the facility. A complete list of Archery Range rules can be viewed on the Union County Website at www.ucnj.org/archery. Or you can call the Department of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4900 or 908-654-9805.

Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh and Freeholder Sergio Granados joined Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage and Elizabeth Council President Patricia Perkins-Auguste in reviewing the ‘Art Outside the Box’ artist submissions that will be featured on traffic control boxes at three Elizabeth intersections. In the coming days, we will open up online voting for you to pick your top three favorites. Learn more about the Chairman’s Initiative at https://ucnj.org/artoutsidethebox/.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present an exhibit of graphic design creations by Suree Minnatee in the gallery space at the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, located in the historic St. John’s Parsonage at 633 Pearl Street in Elizabeth. A selection of her work entitled “Amalgamation” is on display at the Pearl Street Gallery through October 23. The public is invited to enjoy the exhibit during regular gallery hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

“Suree has been an active volunteer in all things artistic in Union County for many years,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Union County Cultural and Heritage Advisory Board. “It’s a great pleasure to display her beautiful and skillfully done artwork.”

Suree Minnatee was born and raised in Elizabeth. She was drawn to creative and artistic activities while growing up. This led her to pursue a career in the arts. After graduating high school, Minnatee attended Union County College in Cranford. She transferred to The Art Institute of Pittsburgh-Online Division and graduated in 2013 with a degree in Graphic Design. Even though her focus is graphic design, she likes to experiment and learn about other art forms and mediums.

Minnatee has been a volunteer assistant to the art coordinators at The Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs for three years. She helps setup art exhibitions and has created flyers for exhibits on display at the Freeholders Gallery. She is also a member of The Elizabeth Arts Council that holds art and music receptions with local artists in the City of Elizabeth.

Suree actively exhibits in many local Elizabeth venues: the 2015 Elizabeth Public Library Elizabeth Art Council’s “Cool Art in June” exhibit; the 2014 Women’s History Month Celebration at City Tavern; and the 2011 Black History Month Art Exhibit at the Union County Freeholders Gallery.

Suree Minnatee is skilled in many Adobe programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Acrobat 9 as well as Microsoft Office Suite. To see more of her work, visit http://sminnatee.wix.com/sminnatee.

Union County artists (whose works can be hung on a wall) interested in exhibiting in the gallery space are welcome to apply. For more information about the Pearl Street Gallery or other programs, please contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth NJ 07202. Free on-site parking is available. Telephone 908-558-2550. NJ Relay users can dial 711. Send E-mail to: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi has introduced new voter-friendly ballots for Vote-by-Mail, machine and sample ballots starting in the 2015 General Election. The newly redesigned ballots provide voters with more clarity and ease while selecting candidates for whom they wish to vote. 

The new Vote-by-Mail ballot, for example, will closely resemble both the sample ballot mailed to every voter and the official machine ballot used in voting machines. One major change is that the Vote-by-Mail ballot will be printed in the same horizontal or “landscape” orientation as the sample and official ballots. Previously, the Vote-by-Mail ballot was printed in a vertical orientation.

“I began the process of redesigning the Vote-by-Mail ballot approximately eight months ago to ensure conformity amongst all the election ballots, including the sample ballot and the official machine ballot,” said Rajoppi.

Voters will also notice that the ballots enable them to easily distinguish between the sections for general election candidates and school board candidates. A new blue heading has been added for the School Board Election, providing a clear contrast with the red heading used for the General Election.

“The new ballot is designed so voters can easily see that they have more votes to cast, after they finish voting in the General Election,” said Rajoppi. “As a former school board member, I know how important it is to encourage voter participation in School Board Elections. The new design will help ensure that every voter can quickly understand that there are two separate elections in which to vote.”

Voters will also notice that the new Vote-by-Mail ballot includes an instruction section in larger typeface than the previous version.

“The vote-by-mail process is relatively simple but the instructions need to be followed carefully,” said Rajoppi. “The larger font will help ensure that persons with visual impairments fill out the ballot correctly and make their vote count.”

To see a sample of the new Vote-by-Mail ballot, visit the County Clerk online at ucnj.org/county-clerk.  For voters wishing to vote by mail, the last day to apply by mail for a Vote-by-Mail ballot is Tuesday, October 27, 2015.  A voter may also request a Vote-by-Mail ballot in person at the Union County Clerk’s Office until Monday, November 2, 2015 at 3:00pm.  The County Clerk’s Office in Elizabeth will have a special Saturday opening on October 31, 2015 from 9:00am to 1:00pm.  The Westfield Office is open Saturdays from 9:00am to 1:00pm.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2015 and polls are open from 6:00am to 8:00pm for voters wishing to vote on the machines.

Voters are also reminded to download the free Union County Votes app for mobile phones and tablets. Launched by the County Clerk last year, the app provides important information such as polling place locations, alerts and election night results.

More details about Union County Votes, including download instructions, are available at ucnj.org/county-clerk. For additional information or questions call the Office of the County Clerk, 908-527-4787.