Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ – See the ancient Greek storyteller Aesop like you’ve never seen him before, live on stage in the guise of a friendly toga-clad puppet with his wise dog Moral by his side. Renowned puppeteer Jim West is bringing Aesop and his colorful cast of friends to Aesop’s Fables, the next installment of Union County’s Sensory Friendly Theatre at the historic Union County Performing Arts Center, 1601 Irving Street in Rahway on Sunday May 18, at 2:00 p.m.

As with all Sensory Friendly Theatre productions, Aesop’s Fables is specially designed to provide a welcoming, “judgment free zone” for persons with autism and other sensory sensitivities.

“The performing arts offer a healthy, enriching experience that brings people together,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “The Freeholder Board is very proud to sponsor the Sensory Friendly series, to help Union County families with special needs enjoy a community activity in a relaxing, supportive environment.”

Aesop’s Fables features classic favorites including The Stag at the Pool, The Tortoise and the Hare, The Fox and the Grapes, The Wind and the Sun, and The Lion and the Mouse.

At Aesop’s Fables and other Sensory Friendly Theatre productions, parents and caregivers can expect several adjustments tailored to persons with sensory sensitivities, including shorter performance times and smaller audiences.

House lighting is kept on during the performance, sound is lowered to reduce abrupt or jarring noises, there are no restrictions on vocalizing during the performance, and children may leave their seat in the company of an adult. A quiet room equipped with stress-reducing toys is also available to audience members who wish to leave the auditorium.

Professional autism specialists are on hand if parents or caregivers need assistance.

To help audience members prepare for the experience, parents and caregivers can download theThis is My Theatre picture packet visit the Performing Arts Center online at ucpac.org. Free copies in print are also available from the Performing Arts Center.

In addition, the Performing Arts Center is open two hours before performance time, or by appointment, to help audience members become familiar with the building.

For tickets and complete details about Sensory Friendly Theatre, visit ucpac.org or call the box office, 732-499-8226. Tickets are affordably priced at $8.00 per person.

The Union County Performing Arts Center is a non-profit 501(c) (3) corporation operating in the historic Rahway Theater.  Conveniently located in downtown Rahway at 1601 Irving Street, this historic landmark is the cornerstone of the Rahway Arts District. The theater is a beautifully restored 1920’s era former vaudeville house and movie palace owned by the County of Union and managed by the nonprofit Union County Performing Arts Center.

For information on other Union County recreational activities for persons with disabilities, visitucnj.org or call 908-527-4806.

(photo courtesy of Union County Performing Arts Center)

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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.

Union County, NJ – Non-profit executives in Union County are invited to attend the “Doing Good – Better Conference,” a full day of workshops designed to help non-profit organizations sustain and improve their operations while managing the bottom line challenges of today.

The conference is scheduled for Thursday, May 1, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., conveniently located at L’Affaire, 1099 US Highway 22 East in Mountainside.

“Union County’s non-profit community is at the heart of a strong civic life in Union County, and this conference is designed to help ensure that non-profit executives are aware of strategies and resources that can keep their organization on sustainable financial footing,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak.

The registration fee of $25 includes three workshops along with a light breakfast, lunch networking opportunities, and resource booths.

The three workshops are:

• Creating Financial Sustainability in Hard Times
• Meeting the Bottom Line: Maximizing Resource Generation
• Innovation in Nonprofit Sustainability

The “Doing Good – Better” conference is sponsored by Community Access Unlimited and hosted by the Union County Non-Profit Consortium (UCNPC), established in 2012 with the mission of enhancing vital services in Union County through a growing network of nonprofit organizations.

To register online visit the UCNPC events page at Constant Contact by April 28.

The UCNPC Steering Committee includes Community Access Unlimited, Prevention Links, the County of Union Department of Human Services, Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless, Families And Communities Together (FACT), YWCA of Eastern Union County, Homefirst Interfaith Housing and Family Services, Inc., Legal Services of New Jersey, and CONTACT We Care, Inc., and the Urban League of Union County.

For more information about UCNPC and the Doing Good – Better conference call the Union County Department of Human Services, 908-527-4808.

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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.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak (L) and Freeholders Sergio Granados (R) and Vernell Wright (3rd R) joined Community Access Unlimited (CAU) Executive Director Sidney Blanchard (C) and Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi (2nd R) in congratulating James Maccia of Scotch Plains and Deirdre Gelinne of the Westfield United Fund who were honored at the CAU’s 30th Annual Awards Night Celebration in Mountainside. James received the Employment Services Member of the Year Award. The Westfield United Fund received the Community Partnership Award. Community Access Unlimited is a multi-faceted, human services agency that provides support services for at–risk youth and people with disabilities. For more information about CAU please visitwww.caunj.org.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak (R) and Freeholders Sergio Granados (L) and Vernell Wright present a resolution to Community Access Unlimited Founder and Executive Director Sidney Blanchard congratulating him on the agency celebrating its 35th anniversary. Community Access Unlimited is a multi-faceted, human services agency that provides support services for at–risk youth and people with disabilities. For more information about CAU please visit www.caunj.org.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak and Freeholders Sergio Granados, Bruce Bergen and Vernell Wright joined Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, State Senator Raymond Lesniak and officials from Wakefern Food Corp and Elberon Development at the ribbon cutting opening Wakefern’s new grocery warehouse in Elizabeth. The 524,000 square-foot, temperature-controlled facility replaces the former Wakefern grocery warehouse built in the 1950s, and increases storage capabilities by more than fifty-eight percent. The County of Union assisted in passing through $44 million in Federal Stimulus bond financing to spark the project. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Bruce Bergen (R), Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich and Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi congratulate the winners of the 2014 “My County” poster contest sponsored by the Union County Constitutional Officers. The top winners of the contest, which is open only to fourth-graders, are (from 2nd left): Cynthia Li (1st place) from the McKinley School in Westfield, Emily Merriman (2nd place) from the Mountain Park School in Berkeley Heights, Riley Roder (3rd place) from St. Bartholomew Academy in Scotch Plains and Ryan Hatzlhoffer (4th place) from St. John the Apostle Elementary School in Clark. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Sergio Granados has his glucose checked by Angela Adams, RN from the Community Health Department at Overlook Medical Center during an Atlantic Health System glucose screening event on the “Healthy Avenues Van” outside the ShopRite in Clark.

As part of his initiatives for 2014, Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak formed a partnership with Atlantic Health System with the goal of increasing health awareness countywide.

The Overlook Medical Center Community Health Department provides people with information to make appropriate health care choices and offers programs, support groups and screenings. For more information, visit www.atlantichealth.org/overlook/our+services/community+health/ or call 1-800-247-9580.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

CRANFORD, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that a history grant writing workshop will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23, at the Cranford Community Center, 220 Walnut Avenue, in Cranford.

“The grant-writing workshop is intended for Union County-based non-profit groups including historical societies, schools, museums, libraries, municipal governments and other organizations seeking funding for a history project or event that promotes better understanding of Union County and New Jersey history,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board. “Attendees will learn about the two types of competitive grants available through the Union County History Grant Program administered by the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs.”

The history staff will present an overview of the grant program and a step-by-step approach to preparing the application budget and narrative. Applications and guidelines will be available at the workshop. Participants are encouraged to come prepared to discuss project or event ideas.

The maximum request for a General Operating Support (GOS) grant is $7,500 and it is available only to Union County-based history organizations. Other non-profits may request a Special Project (SP) grant up to $5,000. The funds are awarded on a competitive basis.

Special Project applications from “Four Centuries in a Weekend” Site Participants marking New Jersey’s 350th Birthday (1664-2014) are encouraged. This is a great opportunity to raise awareness of your town’s unique role and contributions to the County and State, from its 17th century beginning to the current day. The State themes are Diversity, Innovation and Liberty. Funding for this program is made available through the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.

To confirm attendance at the April 23 workshop in Cranford or to receive more information, contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth 07202. Telephone: (908) 436-2912. New Jersey Relay users dial 711. E-mail requests to:ewashington@ucnj.org.

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Union County Freeholders Vernell Wright (L) and Bette Jane Kowalski (R) present a resolution to Trish Stone of Roselle Park congratulating her on her retirement from the County of Union where she served as the Director of the Division of Planning in the Department of Human Services. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski (L) and Angel G. Estrada present a resolution to Janice C. Lilien, Executive Director of the YWCA of Union County, recognizing April 2014 as “National Child Abuse Prevention Month” in Union County. For more information about the YWCA of Union County, visit www.ywcaeuc.org. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)