Category: Public Info

Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan advises residents to protect themselves from telephone scam artists masking their phone numbers so it appears they are with a local law enforcement agency.

The callers will present themselves as a member of law enforcement; claim there is an outstanding federal complaint against the resident and will then try to have the resident send money in order to avoid arrest. Many of the scammers falsely tell the resident they owe money to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and must pay immediately.

“The best way for people to protect themselves from these scams is to be aware they are happening,” Sheriff Cryan said. “Law enforcement does not demand money over the phone to avoid a criminal complaint.”

Any one of these five things is a sign of a scam. The IRS does not:

1. Call you to demand immediate payment. The IRS does not call about taxes owed without first mailing a bill.
2. Demand that you pay taxes without offering the chance to question or appeal the amount they say is owed.
3. Require a certain payment method for paying taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.
4. Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
5. Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement to have you arrested for not paying.

Sheriff Cryan advises residents who receive calls they believe are a scam to hang up and call local police.

(From left) Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed Jalloh, Roselle Park Mayor Carl Hokanson, Freeholders Vernell Wright and Linda Carter joined Cranford Mayor Andis Kalnins and Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski and Sergio Granados at the Cranford train station to mark the beginning of nighttime “one-seat,” or direct service on NJ Transit’s Raritan Valley Line to New York City. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The forecast for Monday, January 12 calls for rain, freezing rain and sleet. It will be both unsafe and unproductive to send hunters into the woods. Therefore, the Union County Deer Management Program is postponed to Wednesday, January 14.

More information about the deer management program can be found by clicking here.

“Art from the HEART” Exhibit at Freeholders Gallery

ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present an exhibit of artworks from the “Art from the HEART” fine arts program. The exhibition is a partnership between The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey and Sage Eldercare in Summit, NJ. The Freeholders Gallery is located on the 6^th floor of the Union County Administration Building, Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth. Gallery hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays. The exhibit will run through Monday, February 2.

“Art from the HEART” is in its fourteenth year. Led by art therapist Rita Kennelly, the program encourages self-expression, increases self-esteem and helps keep participants’ minds sharp by recapturing the joy of creativity. The “Art from the HEART” program is made possible in part by a HEART Grant (History, Education, Arts Reaching Thousands) from the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Additional funding is provided by the Summit Area Public Foundation. 

The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is the state’s largest institution dedicated exclusively to viewing, making and learning about contemporary art, comprising a renowned studio art school and a thriving education, exhibition and programming schedule. Its service mission includes a commitment to creating access to the arts for a range of constituents, from at-risk children and youth to people with special needs and senior adults. To learn more about Visual Arts Center programs, visit www.artcenternj.org or call 908-273-9121.

SAGE Eldercare supports the independence, well-being and quality of life of older adults, their families and caregivers, through the provision of client-centered health, social and support services. SAGE is proud to offer a wide range of programs and services that support seniors in the challenges they face during the later stages of life. For more information, visit www.sageeldercare.org or call 908-273-5550.

For further information and to learn more about exhibiting at the Freeholders Gallery, please contact the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202; telephone, 908-558-2550; or email culturalinfo@ucnj.org. NJ Relay users may dial 711.

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Union County, NJ – Season by season, Union County offers many unique and unusual opportunities for relaxation, enrichment, and just plain fun.

“If the winter winds chase you indoors this weekend, you can come inside and enjoy a great show at the Union County Performing Arts Center, or spend the afternoon at our Trailside Nature & Science Center,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “Whatever your age or ability, the Freeholder Board is proud to support recreation programs for all to enjoy.”

The Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) makes its home in the County’s historic Rahway Theatre, conveniently located in the heart of the historic Rahway Arts District.

Among the offerings this weekend, UCPAC is pleased to present DINOSAURS, a rollicking puppet show that kicks off the 2015 Sensory Friendly Theatre series supported by the Freeholder Board.

The Trailside Nature & Science Center is located in the sprawling Watchung Reservation, at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside. Admission is free every day, seven days a week, and Trailside offers a full slate of affordable programs for all ages.

For a list of indoor and outdoor winter activities supported by Union County, visit “52 Great Things to Do in Union County This Year” at ucnj.org.

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Please join the County of Union online at ucnj.org, on Facebook at ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter at twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce “Donate to Educate,” a new countywide community service campaign developed entirely by a group of high school students representing all parts of Union County.

The 21 students in the group came together as participants in the second annual Union County Student Training and Enrichment Program (UC STEP) for high school students, held last December.

“UC-STEP is designed to provide our future leaders with a chance to collaborate and engage the entire Union County community in pursuit of leadership skills, personal growth and civic engagement,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed Jalloh. “On behalf of the Freeholder Board I’d like to thank all 192 students who participated enthusiastically in the second annual UC STEP summit.”

As a highlight of each UC STEP summit, groups of participants develop proposals for a countywide civic engagement project. The winning project is selected by popular vote on the UC STEP website, ucnj2.org/uc-step. The students then work with the Freeholder Board and other community organizations to plan, implement, and publicize the campaign.

Of the more than 3,200 votes tallied, the Light Blue team received the most. The team’s “Donate to Educate” campaign will kick off in the coming months. Donate to Educate will enlist schools all over Union County to serve as collection points for school supplies to help students in need.

UC STEP is a youth development program initiated by Freeholder Linda Carter during her term as Chairman in 2013. The program is designed to bring students together from all walks of life, and provide them with an opportunity to work with the Freeholder Board to enlist their fellow Union County residents in a common goal.

“The students involved in the first UC STEP campaign, Support 4 Soldiers, did a great job of enabling Union County residents to connect with members of the military who are serving overseas,” said Jalloh. “The Freeholder Board looks forward to helping ensure a successful campaign for Donate to Educate, too.”

Details on how to contribute to Donate to Educate will be available soon.

For more information about UC-STEP, and to view a video explaining the Donate to Educate campaign, visit ucnj2.org/uc-step or call the Union County Department of Economic Development, 908-527-4103.

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Please join the County of Union online at ucnj.org, on Facebook at ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter at twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

Information in this press release may have expired.  Please contact your local municipality for updated information.

With freezing temperatures in Union County for a fifth day, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds residents that the Code Blue program is still in effect, and help is available for those without a warm place to stay. 

The Code Blue program is designed to coordinate municipal and County resources, to help homeless persons find a place at an organized shelter or warming center.  If you happen to witness anyone unattended to or sleeping outdoors, please contact your local police department, which will assist them with transportation. 

The following municipalities have notified the County that warming centers are available:

Elizabeth

January 8, 2015

Second Macedonia Baptist Church
1251 Fairmount Avenue
After 4pm

Elizabeth Police Department
After 4 pm

Linden

Union County – Union County’s Sensory Friendly Theatre series kicks off the New Year with the prehistoric adventures of DINOSAURS at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway this Sunday, January 11 at 2:00 p.m.

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.

“Designed to help families with sensory, social, and learning disabilities to experience the performing arts in a safe, judgment-free environment, the Freeholder Board is proud to continue supporting this series,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “This performance series enhances the County’s vision that the arts should be accessible to everyone.”

Bring your family this weekend to hang out with Stegosaurus and Tyrannosaurus Rex as Jim West brings the age of the dinosaurs to life! Enjoy prehistory as he mixes storytelling with the latest dinosaur discoveries, dino-puppet making ideas and a rich musical score of Mozart, Beethoven, Mahler, Stravinsky and Prokofiev.

Dinosaurs get the puppet treatment in this engaging kid performance. The larger-than-life puppets take little ones on a prehistoric journey with the help of some catchy tunes and a surprising plot.

Before our eyes, a box turns into a Tyrannosaurus, cardboard becomes a Brachiosaurus, and newspaper transforms into an Apatosaurus. Join us in a romp through the dinosaur ages, and go on a journey to find out just exactly how old everything is!

Implementing the supportive atmosphere is the organization Autism Friendly Spaces, which provides specialists to train staff and volunteers on working with children with autism and other special needs during Sensory Friendly Theatre performances, while providing comfort and help to families.

For each of the special performances in the Sensory Friendly Theatre series, the theatre environment at the Performing Arts Center will be adjusted to provide a sensory-friendly, comfortable and judgment-free space that is welcoming for all families. For more information on what to expect at a Sensory Friendly Theatre performance visit ucpac.org.

The Sensory Friendly Theatre series is supported by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, through the Kids Recreation Trust Fund. The performance of DINOSAURS is made possible in part by funding from the NJ Department of Community Affairs through a Recreational Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities Grant.

The next performance in the Sensory Friendly Theatre series is the thrilling family adventures of The Berenstain Bears in Family Matter, the Musical on Sunday, March 29 at 2:00 p.m.

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 Friday from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and is also open late on Thursdays until 8:00 p.m.

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 908-527-4806 or visit ucnj.org.

Union County is in an extended four-day period of freezing temperatures, with dips occurring as low as 4 degrees. 

A Code Blue has been put into effect for the remainder of this time, which is intended to get any homeless off the street and into shelter. If you happen to witness anyone unattended to or sleeping outdoors, please contact your local police department in getting them to the appropriate shelter. 

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders also urge you to please take the appropriate precautions and drive safely. Report any issues on municipal roads to the respective municipality. If there are any issues on County roads, please call County Police at 908-654-9800.  

Also, to report downed power lines or outages, contact your utility company. PSE&G customers call 1-800-436-7734. JCP&L customers call 1-800-545-7738 or use the automated reporting line at 1-888-544-4877.  

For questions about your gas service, call Elizabethtown Gas at 800-492-4009.  

Please tell your friends and neighbors about First Alert, and stay informed by visiting the Union County Webpage at www.ucnj.org. Also find us on Facebook and Twitter.