SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that its next mobile paper-shredding program for confidential personal documents will be available on Sunday, June 28, at the Union County Vo-Tech campus in Scotch Plains.
“Union County’s mobile document-shredding service helps residents fight identity theft and eliminate clutter in their homes,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed Jalloh. “It is a cost-effective way to assist our recycling efforts and it ties in with Union County’s other Go Green Initiatives.”
The June 28th shredding event will take place at the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools campus in Scotch Plains, located at 1776 Raritan Road. NEXCUT Shredding of Elizabeth will be shredding documents at the site from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. The shredding event will end before 1 p.m. if the shredding truck reaches capacity.
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. 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 dumped onto a conveyor belt and shredded on site. Participants are welcome to view the shredding process via a closed-circuit television. Shredded documents are then recycled, shipped to paper mills and used as pulp. The next shredding event will take place Thursday, July 9, at Rahway River Park in Rahway.
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 www.ucnj.org/recycle .
Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh (R) and Freeholder Sergio Granados (L) present a resolution to Nuno Pereira of Hillside congratulating him on receiving a Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship. Pereira, a Union County College student, received a Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. It is the largest private scholarship for students transferring from two-year community colleges to four-year baccalaureate institutions in the U.S. More than 2,000 community college students from across the country applied and Pereira was one of 90 to receive the scholarship. He plans on attending the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh (R) presents resolutions to The Leading Tones of Abraham Clark High School in Roselle congratulating them on winning The Voices of Meningitis “Boost the Volume” a cappella competition for the New York metro area to raise awareness about life-threatening bacterial infection. The Leading Tones performed alongside singer Lucy Hale, the star of “Pretty Little Liars,” at a health initiative concert. They were joined by Principal Rashon Mickens (L). (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Bruce H. Bergen (3rd L) and Freeholder Sergio Granados (2nd R) joined (from left) Dr. Lisa Hiscano, Director of Continuing and Professional Education, Victor M. Richel, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Union County College President Margaret M. McMenamin, Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage and Elizabeth Council President Patricia Perkins-Auguste in cutting the ribbon officially opening the Mobile Learning Lab parked at Union County College’s Kellogg Building in Elizabeth.
The six-ton trailer is outfitted with the latest in advanced manufacturing training equipment that will provide customized assessment and education to more than 500 local residents.
Union County College’s Industry Business Institute has connected with 16 employers that have expressed an interest in hiring the newly trained workers.
The classroom-on-wheels will remain at Union County College through the fall.
Union County Freeholder Alexander Mirabella (R) congratulates Robert Villegas of the Scotch Plains Fire Department on graduating from the Union County Fire Training Academy as part of the Fall 2014 Class during a graduation ceremony at Union County College in Cranford.
Firefighter Villegas earned the Chief Anthony Schepis Award for Excellence in Firefighter 1 and the Battalion Chief Ken Nocera Memorial Award for Outstanding Excellence in Firefighter 1.
They are joined by Scotch Plains Fire Chief Jonathan Ellis.
Union County Freeholder Alexander Mirabella (R) congratulates Joseph Ellis (C) of the Garwood Fire Department on graduating from the Union County Fire Training Academy as part of the Fall 2014 Class during a graduation ceremony at Union County College in Cranford.
Firefighter Ellis earned the Ben Laganga Leadership Award.
They are joined by (from left) Garwood Fire Chief Michael Tharaldsen and Ben Laganga’s sons Michael and Anthony.
Union County Freeholder Alexander Mirabella (R) congratulates Raymond Kaeser III of the Scotch Plains Fire Department on graduating from the Union County Fire Training Academy as part of the Fall 2015 Class during a graduation ceremony at Union County College in Cranford.
Firefighter Kaeser earned the Chief Anthony Schepis Award for Excellence in Firefighter 1.
They are joined by Scotch Plains Fire Chief Jonathan Ellis.
Union County Freeholder Alexander Mirabella (R) congratulates Tim Meyer of the Cranford Fire Department on graduating from the Union County Fire Training Academy as part of the Spring 2015 Class during a graduation ceremony at Union County College in Cranford.
Firefighter Meyer earned the Battalion Chief Ken Nocera Memorial Award for Outstanding Excellence in Firefighter 1.
They are joined by Cranford Fire Department Capt. Andrew Stratton.
Union County Freeholder Alexander Mirabella (R) congratulates Robert Villegas of the Scotch Plains Fire Department on graduating from the Union County Fire Training Academy as part of the Fall 2014 Class during a graduation ceremony at Union County College in Cranford.
Firefighter Villegas earned the Chief Anthony Schepis Award for Excellence in Firefighter 1 and the Battalion Chief Ken Nocera Memorial Award for Outstanding Excellence in Firefighter 1.
They are joined by Scotch Plains Fire Chief Jonathan Ellis.
Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the new 2015 Union County Library Grant for Children’s Programming and Materials. The new grant opportunity seeks to expand, create, and enhance programming offered to children by libraries within Union County’s.
“As a youth my library card was as good as any driver’s license. It gave me access to the world and I enjoyed spending hours there reading. In today’s world, advancement in technology has changed the way young people learn and utilize the library,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “Through this grant program, the Freeholder Board hopes to support our public libraries in their efforts to offer programs and services that inspire learning in the ever-changing digital age.”
Public libraries engage children in many different learning opportunities that are crucial to social and educational growth.
“Libraries help to strengthen our neighborhoods by supporting the cultural lives of our diverse communities,” noted Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, who championed this new grant program. “Adding important value to our communities as cultural centers, libraries are a place for children to explore, interact, and imagine.”
Administered through a Trust Fund established with non-tax dollars, the grant opportunity is intended to provide assistance to Union County public libraries this year, and must be utilized in 2015.
Examples of projects eligible for funding through this grant opportunity include: technology upgrades; educational programming; purchase of books, videos, and audio tapes; creation or expansion of summer and fall programming; and planning documents.
The application deadline for this library grant opportunity is July, 3, 2015.
For additional information on the 2015 Union County Library Grant for Children’s Programming and Materials contact Victoria Durbin Drake, Trust Fund Administrator, at 908-558-2278.
Union County, NJ – A big thank you from the Union County Freeholder Board to all the Adopt-a-Trail volunteers who came out to the Watchung Reservation last Saturday to celebrate National Trails Day, and to the organization Jersey Cares. The all-ages group of 25 strong enjoyed a quick breakfast and a nature walk before gathering up their pickaxes to tackle a big erosion control project at the Deserted Village. Thanks also to our volunteer chainsaw crew! For more outdoor adventure, come to Union County’s annual Bio-Blitz this Friday and Saturday June 12-13 in the Watchung Reservation, featuring games, giveaways, prizes and an insider’s look at the hundreds of plants and animal species hidden in the park. (all photos by Betty Ann Kelly/County of Union).
MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation are pleased to announce a special program on butterfly gardening for adults, ages 18 and older, at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside.
The butterfly gardening program will be offered on Saturday, June 20th from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. The fee for this program is $10 for Union County residents and $12 for out-of-county participants.
Butterflies are beautiful and their lifestyles are amazing. Find out which butterflies are most common in this area and learn how you can attract them to your backyard.
Take a brief tour of our butterfly garden and meadow habitat and return to the Visitor Center to learn more about these incredible lepidopterans. Wear comfortable shoes.
“Learn ways to attract these beautiful creatures to your home and enjoy their graceful presence,” notes Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh.
For additional information about this lecture or other adult programs and upcoming events at Trailside, call 908- 789-3670 or visit ucnj.org/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.
Freeholder Vice Chairman Bruce Bergen, a New Jersey Connect Trustee, announced that the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plainfield & Middlesex County is collaborating with New Jersey Connect to build a new home for a disabled veteran and family as part of an initiative called “Habitat for Heroes.” Interested families are being sought for the upcoming application period, launching in September 2015.
Two local Nonprofits Seek Interested Families for upcoming “Habitat for Heroes” Project
Two local nonprofits continue the collaboration to begin a joint project. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plainfield & Middlesex County with New Jersey Connect will partner to build a new home for a disabled veteran and family for an initiative called “Habitat for Heroes.” Interested families are being sought for the upcoming application period, launching in September 2015.
“We are excited to partner with New Jersey Connect and grateful to them for committing the initial funding of $50,000,” said Rev. Jeremy Montgomery, Executive Director of Greater Plainfield Habitat for Humanity. “We will be honored to work together alongside a disabled veteran and his or her family to provide an accessible and barrier-free home.”
New Jersey Connect was founded in 1994 by local Westfield resident Elisa Sananman to address the housing needs of people with physical disabilities, who can direct their own care yet seek accessible, non-institutional housing. Fostering independent living and respect for individuality is the core philosophy behind the mission of the nonprofit organization.
Habitat for Humanity builds “simple and decent” homes affordably for families in need, such as this one on West Fourth Street in Plainfield.
“I am proud to work with these two outstanding organizations on this wonderful initiative,” commented Union County Freeholder Vice-Chairman Bruce Bergen, a New Jersey Connect Trustee. “Giving a disabled veteran the opportunity to purchase a barrier–free, affordable home is one substantive way to show our appreciation for the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much to keep our nation safe.”
As is required of all new Habitat homeowners, veterans selected to partner with “Habitat for Heroes” will repay zero-interest loans covering the costs of new home. Loan amounts will be determined on a sliding scale based on the veteran’s income to ensure affordability for the veteran’s family. The program works to help veterans get back on their feet and live their lives with dignity, respect, and a feeling of community.
Affordable housing solutions for veterans and military members have become a priority in U.S. policy over the recent years, and Habitat for Humanity is a leading organization in providing solutions. In fact, more than 45% of veterans need help finding a job and 37% of veterans need help finding housing. Habitat for Humanity engages veterans as volunteers, homeowners and employees through their Repair Corps program, an initiative funded by The Home Depot Foundation to help repair, renovate or construct the homes of U.S. veterans.
“This is our small way to give back to those who have sacrificed so much,” describes Charles Newman, President of New Jersey Connect and Director Union County Office for the Disabled. “Working with the sterling reputation of Habitat for Humanity, our new ‘Habitat for Heroes’ initiative can turn tragic times for our community’s disabled veterans into hopeful futures.”
For more information on the “Habitat for Heroes” project, view the interactive website of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plainfield & Middlesex County at www.gphabitat.org. Interested families should fill out the “Housing Interest Form” for receive email updates and notifications of future application deadlines.
About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plainfield & Middlesex County
Founded over 26 years ago, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plainfield & Middlesex County, an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, is committed to improving the lives of low-income families by helping them build and buy their own simple, decent homes. Habitat offers families a hand up, not a hand out. Every partner family devotes at least 200 hours per adult of sweat equity to help build their home or a neighbor’s home and secures a 0% mortgage provided by Habitat. To date, thirty‐nine homes locally have been built totally by volunteer labor using donations of money and materials from the community – with seven homes under construction in the coming year. To volunteer, donate, or own a Habitat home, visit www.gphabitat.org.
RAHWAY, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that a free technical assistance workshop about intellectual property laws for visual artists, historians, musicians, performers, and writers will be offered in Rahway on Wednesday evening, June 24th. The free workshop will be presented by Joey Novick, Esq., the Executive Director of the New Jersey Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (NJVLA).
“Intellectual property laws are important to historians, novelists, poets, and anyone involved in the visual or performing arts,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “This workshop will help writers and artists understand how to protect their creations from infringement.”
The workshop will take place Wednesday, June 24, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Hamilton Stage of Rahway, 360 Hamilton Street, Rahway, NJ 07065.
Individual artists will be able to explore general and specific questions about intellectual property laws, including topics such as copyright and trademark. For example, artists may actually retain the rights to their image after they have sold their piece of art.
The Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, in the Department of Parks and Recreation, is presenting this workshop, which is funded in part by a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
There is no charge for the workshop but pre-registration is required. To register for the workshop or learn about other programs, services and volunteer opportunities, please contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth, New Jersey 07202. Telephone 908-558-2550. NJ Relay users dial 711. The e-mail address is culturalinfo@ucnj.org. Assistive services are available on request in advance. Click here to register online.
