Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi speaks with a commuter about the Union County Votes App at the Union train station. The free mobile app is designed to help Union County residents connect quickly and easily with accurate information about voting and elections.
The Union County Votes app enables voters to find their polling place, request voter registration forms and vote-by-mail ballots, view sample ballots, and follow unofficial election results in real time. The app also provides information for persons interested in becoming a poll worker or running for office, including election filing dates and district maps.
For more information about the Union County Votes app, visit https://ucnj.org/county-clerk/. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Bruce Bergen speaks before audience with stable riders and County leaders.
Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce a major renovation and expansion of Watchung Stables, 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, and the start of construction was marked in a groundbreaking ceremony today.
“The dream of year-round riding at Watchung Stables 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 Bruce H. Bergen. “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 Stables 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 Stables 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.
Riders prepare for opening of 82nd Annual Fall troop show at the Watchung Stables in Mountainside.
Three volunteer groups raise funds for equipment and help staff activities and programs at the stable: Watchung Stables 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 Stables 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 Stables can provide more programs for more riders, and provide more services for our boarding horses,” said Bergen. “The additional revenue offers a fiscally responsible pathway for upgrading this very popular facility.”
The original location of Watchung Stables 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
Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Bruce Bergen joined Freeholders Linda Carter, Angel G, Estrada and Alexander Mirabella, Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi and County Manager Alfred Faella
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.
The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that adults, ages 18 and older, can register online atwww.ucnj.org/trailisde for a lecture on the “Bee Colony Crisis.” Presented at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside on Friday, November 13 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., this lecture is free of charge. Pre-registration is preferred; however, walk-ins are welcomed.
“The honey bee plays an important role in our country’s agriculture. This lecture addresses many of the questions we have been asking about a problem that impacts all of us,” says Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh.
The bee colony crisis has had a deleterious impact on many agricultural crops world-wide. The decline of the bee population in our country has significantly increased the cost to farmers. Tim Schuler, New Jersey State Apiarist, will lecture on three causes of trauma to the European honey bee. Enhanced by a PowerPoint presentation, the lecture will define the ecological problems we face, the impact on the bee-keeping industry and how professional bee keepers and hobbyists have responded to this crisis.
For more information about this program or other activities at Trailside, please call 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a facility of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.
Calling all geologists, young and old! The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation invite you visit Trailside Nature and Science Center on Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8 from noon to 5 p.m. for the Rock, Gem and Jewelry Show. More than 20 vendors will be on hand displaying and selling their specimens of rocks, gems, fossils, minerals, sea shells and jewelry from around the world. Admission to this event is free. Trailside is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. For additional information call 908-789-3670. Visit us at www.ucnj.org/trailside for information on fall programs and special events for families and adults.
MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation invite you to explore the fascinating world of rocks, minerals, fossils and gems at Trailside Nature and Science Center on Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8 from noon to 5 p.m. on both days.
“This two-day event brings rocks and gems to life with many exhibits and displays,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh, “There is something for everyone at this unique event.”
Sponsored jointly with the New Jersey Mineralogical Society, the Rock, Gem and Jewelry Show will host more than 20 vendors selling minerals, rocks, gemstones, jewelry, sea shells and fossils from around the world. Geologists young and old will be mesmerized by the variety of specimens on display and for sale. Children can purchase geodes, arrowheads and fluorescent minerals, while adults may enjoy the jewelry, fine gems and collector-grade pieces. Free children’s activities are available. Admission to the event on both days is free.
For more information about the Rock, Gem and Jewelry Show call Trailside at 908-789-3670. Visit www.ucnj.org/trailside for additional information on programs offered this fall at Trailside. Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi recently spoke with members of American Legion Post 322 in Summit about the services the County Clerk’s office provides. For information about County Clerk services visit www.ucnj.org/county-clerk/ or call 908-527-4787. (Photo by Jim Lowney/ County of Union)
Union County Freeholder Vernell Wright joined Union Mayor Manuel Figueiredo, Marshalls managers and shoppers at the ribbon cutting for the grand opening of the new Marshalls store on Rt. 22 in Union. Working through the Union County Workforce Innovation Center in Elizabeth, Marshalls Store administrators hired more than 80 new full and part-time jobs for their new store in Union. The Workforce Innovation Center, which is funded in part through the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, has partnered with various corporations to offer residents more than 1,000 new jobs over the past year. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh and Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski presented checks to Danielle Getting and Harrat Sommerhoff, two of the Art Outside the Box competition winners, during the Union County Celebration of National Arts & Humanities Month in Rahway. Their artwork will cover traffic boxes in Linden.
They were joined by Linden Councilwoman Michele Yamakaitis, New Jersey State Council on the Arts Executive Director Nick Paleologos and Ann Marie Miller of ArtPride New Jersey.
Kurt Christoffers, floral designer and owner of the innovative Christoffers Flowers of Mountainside, demonstrates how to arrange flowers from the garden along with foliage from local trees and shrubs at a workshop hosted at Trailside Nature and Science Center last spring. Participants worked with Mr. Christoffers to create their own distinctive personal arrangement to take home. By popular demand, Kurt Christoffers will return to Trailside on Monday, November 9 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. to offer adults, ages 18 and older, the opportunity to create a floral centerpiece just in time for the holidays. Floral material and a container will be provided for participants to design their own masterpiece to take home. The fee for this workshop is $25 for residents of Union County and $30 for non-county. Pre-registration is required as materials are limited. For more information about this program, or other activities at Trailside, please call 908-789-3670. Visit www.ucnj.org/trailside to register online. Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a facility of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.
The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce online registration at www.ucnj.org/trailside for “Flower Arranging with Kurt Christoffers” for adults, ages 18 and older, on Monday, November 9 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside.
“This program not only offers inspiration, it provides a relaxing environment to cure the ills of a stressful day,” says Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “Residents can have fun while learning how to skillfully create a beautiful floral centerpiece just in time for the holidays.”
Join Kurt Christoffers, floral designer and owner of the innovative Christoffers Flowers of Mountainside, as he demonstrates how to arrange a centerpiece using nature’s best harvest. Relax as you watch Mr. Christoffers masterfully design an artistic piece that can be used to dress your holiday table with beauty. Try your hand at designing a centerpiece of your own to take home. Floral material and a container will be provided. Bring your own shears or clippers if you have them.
The fee for this workshop is $25 for residents of Union County and $30 for out-of-county residents. Pre-registration for this program is required as materials are limited. For more information about this program, or other activities at Trailside, please call 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a facility of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.
Union County, NJ – The ecosystem in Union County’s Ash Brook Reservation is a bit healthier today, thanks to students from the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools District, who undertook a conservation project as part of their Sustainable Sciences curriculum.
“The work of these young people is greatly appreciated by the Freeholder Board and the entire Union County family,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh, “The natural habitat in our County parks needs care and attention in order to thrive, and this project is a great example of taking sustainability lessons from the classroom to the community.”
Located by the Vo-Tech Schools campus in Scotch Plains, Ash Brook Reservation is part of the Union County parks system. The conservation project was undertaken as part of County’s Adopt-a-Park and Adopt-a-Trail programs.
Students from the sustainable science classes of Vo-Tech teachers Jennifer Puglia and Gina Ruggiero worked under the guidance of Parks Department staff and volunteer Trail Steward Marc Grobman to remove invasive plants near a section of trail in the reservation. Invasive species, such barberry and winged euonymus, provide little or no habitat benefit while crowding out valuable native plants.
The project also involved building up the trail and cutting back encroaching vegetation in order to improve access.
“Our system of 36 parks is a beautiful legacy from past generations of Union County residents for all to enjoy, and it is inspiring to see a new generation take on stewardship of this invaluable public resource,” said Jalloh.
The School of Sustainable Sciences enables high school students to explore careers in sustainable design, energy and technology, through a curriculum based on project learning and problem solving. More information is available at ucvts.tec.nj.us.
Every year the Union County Adopt-a-Park and Adopt-a-Trail programs welcome hundreds of volunteers to help conserve habitat and improve access in County parks. Volunteers can join on an individual basis, as a school or civic group, or as an employer-organized project.
For more information about Adopt-a-Park and Adopt-a-Trail, visit online at ucnj.org, email bkelly@ucnj.org or call 908-789-3683.
Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi recently spoke with members of American Legion Post 322 in Summit about the services the County Clerk’s office provides. For information about County Clerk services visit www.ucnj.org/county-clerk/ or call 908-527-4787. (Photo by Jim Lowney/ County of Union)
