Category: Public Info

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholder Alexander Mirabella joined Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr and Fanwood Councilman Tom Kranz at the groundbreaking for the new skateboard park in Forest Road Park in Fanwood. The new skateboard park project is funded in part through the Union County Kids Recreation Trust Fund grant program.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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The Moving New Jersey Forward Foundation will be hosting a huge celebration in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month on Sunday, October 11, 2015.

“As someone of El Salvadorian origin and a representative of one of the most culturally diverse Counties in the State, I have always felt immensely proud of the values, traditions, contributions, and achievements the Hispanic culture brings to our neighborhoods,” said Freeholder Sergio Granados. “It is great to see so many different Hispanic organizations working together, not only promote their own ethnicity but to promote other cultures to the community. I would like to thank everyone who is participating in this event on Sunday.”

Moving New Jersey Forward is a community-based non-profit founded by Freeholder Sergio Granados, whose mission is to raise awareness and education efforts at the local and national level about social justice issues. Residents and visitors can learn about the organization as well as experience the Hispanic culture through the event’s folkloric performances, entertainment for the kids and a food tasting of the various ethnicities from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

“Freeholder Granados is doing an excellent job of promoting the cultural diversity of our City and County, also while supporting our local restaurants and organizations,” said Mayor J. Christian Bollwage. “I encourage all of our residents to attend this wonderful event as we celebrate and honor the Hispanic community’s countless contributions to our community.”

Some of the participating organizations include: Colombianos Sin Fronteras, Peruvians for Progress Inc, Ecuatorians Unidos, Hispanos Unidos, Elizabeth Cubanos Lions Club, Puerto Rican Alliance of Elizabeth – PRAE, Hispanic Law Enforcement Association of Union County, Comite Solidario de New Jersey, & Consejo Consultivo D20 de Uruguay and many more.

“Hispanics continue to make outstanding contributions in so many different areas to Union County,” Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh said. “We are happy to join in programs this month to honor the rich heritage of the Hispanic community and celebrate its countless achievements.”

The event is being held on Sunday, October 11, 2015 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the O’Donnell Dempsey Center, located at 622 Salem Avenue in Elizabeth. Visitors can find additional parking at Masjid Darul Islam, located at 602-612 Salem Avenue.

Hispanic Heritage Month is a nationally recognized holiday that traditionally runs from September 15 through October 15 each year. For more information about this event, please call Marcela Nunez at 908-425-2529.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that nominations are now being accepted for the 24^th annual Women of Excellence Awards.

The awards, sponsored by the Freeholder Board and the Commission on the Status of Women, celebrate the diverse achievements of women who have distinguished themselves in professional or volunteer fields in Union County.

“For more than 20 years, the Women of Excellence Awards have celebrated and supported the difference that women make to strengthen our communities and impact the quality of life in Union County,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “If there is an extraordinary woman in your life, whether professional or volunteer, I encourage you to submit her name for consideration.”

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 be celebrated and will receive a certificate at the annual Women of Excellence gala awards dinner, to be held on March 18, 2016 at Galloping Hill Caterers in Union Township.

For more information about submitting a Women of Excellence nomination, or to download a nomination form, visit ucnj.org/women-of-excellence. Questions about the nomination process can be emailed 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, 2015.

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi is pleased to congratulate Dean Burrell of Union Township, a sophomore at the Union County Academy for Information Technology, for successfully earning more than 250 hours of credit toward a Future Business Leaders of America Community Service Achievement Award as an intern in her office.

 

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholders Vernell Wright, Christopher Hudak and Sergio Granados met with Brian A. Gragnolati, the new president and chief executive officer for Atlantic Health System, during a meeting with local elected officials at Overlook Medical Center’s satellite location in Union. Atlantic Health System is one of the largest non-profit health care systems in New Jersey and includes Overlook Medical Center in Summit. Mr. Gragnolati joined Atlantic Health System in May.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – Union County business owners and managers are invited to attend Practical Perseverance, a free networking breakfast event sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders on Monday, October 26, 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. at the STEM Building at Kean University, 1075 Morris Avenue in Union.

The featured speaker will be Brian Smith, founder of UGG Australia. The UGG brand is known internationally for its solidly crafted sheepskin footwear.

“If you own or manage a business in Union County, I invite you to come to Practical Perseverance, connect with your peers, and gain some unique insights that can help you grow your company,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh.

The Practical Perserverance networking breakfast is part of the Freeholder Board’s Union County Means Business (UCMB) initiative, which provides free networking sessions, workshops and other services for the local business community.

Registration is required by visiting the UCMB website, ucnj2.org/ucmb, or call 908-527-7412.

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Connect with Union County on social media.

 

Residents have received automated phone messages claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service. The message given states:

Hello, we have been trying to reach you. This call is an official and final notice from IRS, Internal Revenue Service. The reason for this call is to inform you that IRS is filing a lawsuit against you. To get more information about this case file please call immediately on our department number (phone number given) I repeat, (phone number given again). Thank you.

If you receive this call do not call the number back as it is not the IRS. This is a fraud. Simply hang up the phone or delete the message.  More information can be found at http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/irs-calling

Union County – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders recently announced that the 2015 Union County Advancing Community Theater (UCACT) Season will continue at the Union County Performing Arts Center’s Hamilton Stage next month with People Helping People, Inc.’s Murphy’s Law: Group Therapy Gone Wild.

An original work by Union County’s own Andrea Clinton, niece of the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee George Clinton (of the band Parliament/Funkadelic), the show is a dark comedy that has taken on the goal of bringing Mental Health Awareness & Suicide Prevention to theatre audiences in a manner that is uniquely relatable. The show is set to run November 13^th through the 15^th.

“The Freeholder Board is proud that the UCACT program, has not only brought forth a season that encompasses a diverse body of work, but also works- like this one, that address important social issues,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. 

As with her novels, Clinton’s Murphy’s Law aims to show audiences that, “life isn’t out to get you personally, it just doesn’t know boundaries.”

In the play, Dr. Kapewski also known as Dr. Pew- an unconventional, quirky and hippie-psychotherapist- brings her patients, who would not normally be in each other’s company, together for “dramatic group therapy.”  As the saying goes, anything that can go wrong will, as her patients get carried away in their own personalities, in this group therapy session gone wild.

Tickets are priced at $15 general admission and $20 for a VIP ticket, group rates are also available. To purchase, or for additional information, please contact UCPAC Box Office at 732-499-8226 or visit ucpac.org.

UCACT grants funding to cover the hard costs associated with putting up at production at the Union County Performing Arts Center. Through creative partnership and a holistic approach, the program creates a successful business model for Community Theater, allowing them to provide quality performances while also thriving financially.

For more information on UCACT, please contact Victoria Durbin Drake, Chief of Staff, Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, at 908-558-2278 or visit ucnj.org/ucact.

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ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce “Music in the Mills” – formerly “Art in the Gardens” – an October celebration of National Arts and Humanities Month, will take place Columbus Day Weekend, October 10^th, 11^th and 12^th in The Mills at Jersey Gardens in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

“Music in the Mills” features instrumental, vocal and dance performances in the Center Court of the Mall. This year, the Columbus Day Weekend Splash is planned with free performances starting on Saturday and continuing through Monday. This annual event is coordinated by the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Union County Department of Parks & Recreation.

“Music in the Mills is an excellent opportunity for a busy Union County venue to host local talent and present it to a wide and diverse audience,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “The Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to have this annual event in Union County.

The weekend’s scheduled performances are:

Saturday, October 11:

11:00 a.m. – Noon:  Jill Cagney of Cranford, singer/songwriter;

12:30 – 1:30 p.m.:  Jefferson Arts Liberty Dancers of Elizabeth;

2:00 – 3:00 p.m.:  Hayden Greyson of Summit, singer/songwriter;

3:30 – 4:30 p.m.:  You and Your Sister, musical performance;

5:00 – 6:00 p.m.:  Richard Nobrega Jr. of Union, classical and Latin guitar;

6:30 – 7:30 p.m.:  United Youth of New Jersey from Elizabeth, theatrical dance, hip-hop and rap.

 Sunday, October 12:

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.:  Blanca Rosas of Elizabeth, singer/songwriter;

1:00 – 1:30 p.m.:  Estilo Latino Dance Company of Elizabeth;

 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.:  Yasko & Kokonuts of Garwood, jazz performers;           

3:30 – 4:30 p.m.:  Moshi Moshi Band, anime/video game music;

5:00 – 6:00 p.m.:  Chinese-American Music Ensemble of Westfield.

Monday, October 13:

11:00 a.m. – noon:  Kathleen McMahon of Scotch Plains, belly dancing;

12:30 – 1:30 p.m.: University of Philippines Alumni & Friends Rondalla Traditional String Ensemble;

 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.:  Jazz Vocalist Lauren Shub with Pianist Ilya Maslov;

 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.:  Ramapo Valley Ramblers, bluegrass band;

 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.:  Framework Acoustic Jazz Quartet.

The Mills at Jersey Gardens will host Music in the Mills in its Center Court, which was recently renovated as part of a $30 million remodel of the mall.

“We are excited to continue this fabulous celebration of the arts in Union County,” said Crystal Fresco, Marketing Director for The Mills at Jersey Gardens. “We are continually impressed by the local talent right here in our own backyard.”

“Our goal is to raise awareness of the arts in Union County and the many artists who deserve recognition for their achievements. Our shoppers come from all over the tri-state area and beyond; this is an opportunity to showcase our local talent,” Ms. Fresco added.

The Mills at Jersey Gardens is located on Kapkowski Road at Exit 13A of the New Jersey Turnpike and features 200 stores all under one roof.

For more information about “Music in the Mills,” contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202. Telephone: (908) 558-2550.  New Jersey Relay Users dial 711. E-mail: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

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Upcoming Adult Programs at the Trailside Nature & Science Center. Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. You can now easily register online for these programs.  More information can be found by clicking here.

Basic Digital Photography Workshop
Saturday, October 10
10 AM – 1 PM | Fee: $45/IC, $55/OC