Category: Public Info

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announces that a “One-Stop” service is available for Union County voters at the Westfield and Elizabeth offices of the County Clerk for the U.S. Senate Special Election to be held on Wednesday, October 16th.

“Beginning on Monday, September 9th, eligible voters are able to apply for a Vote-By-Mail ballot for the U.S. Senate Special Election in person, receive their ballot and cast the ballot at the same time,” Ms. Rajoppi said. “This one-stop voting service is available at my Westfield office as well as at the main office in Elizabeth.”

“The service in Westfield and Elizabeth makes voting more accessible, particularly at the Westfield office with its convenient Saturday office hours and evening hours during the week,” Ms. Rajoppi added. “With the important October 16th Special Election for a U.S. Senate seat approaching quickly, my office is working to make the voting process as fast and convenient as we can for everyone who is registered to vote.”

A mailed application for a Vote-By-Mail ballot for the Special Election must be received by Oct. 9th to be eligible. The deadline to apply in-person is Tuesday, Oct. 15th at 3:00 p.m.

The other services available at the County Clerk’s offices are passport application and renewal services, registration of Trade Names, and the application and swearing in of Notaries Public.

The Westfield Annex of the County Clerk is located at 300 North Avenue East, Westfield 07090. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

The Main Office of the County Clerk is located at the Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, Room 113, Elizabeth, NJ 07207. Regular office hours in Elizabeth are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Vote-By-Mail is an easy, secure process that has replaced the Absentee Ballot. Voters do not need to give a reason why they wish to Vote-By-Mail. To obtain an application form, voters also may pick up the form at their local municipal building; they can download the form at the Union County Clerk’s website: www.ucnj.org/vote-by-mail or they can contact the Union County Clerk at 908-527-4996. The Clerk’s website also includes a video that explains how to fill out the Vote-By-Mail application form.

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Union County- The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Performing Arts Center are pleased to announce the return of the Sensory Friendly Theater Series with The Teacher from the Black Lagoon and Other Story Books. The show is scheduled to take place on Sunday September 22nd at 2:00pm at the Performing Arts Center in Rahway.

“Last year’s program was a huge success,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “The Board is excited to support the series for another season, and to continue to provide events of this caliber to our residents with special needs.”

As part of former Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella’s “Putting People First” initiatives last year, the series was designed according to guidelines that help to reduce disturbances for youngsters who experience heightened sensory sensitivity due to autism and related disabilities.

Union County worked with Autism Friendly Spaces, LLC to design the series and Paper Mill Playhouse and the Children’s Specialized Hospital assisted in making the program possible.

The Teacher from the Black Lagoon and Other Story Books is an exciting new musical revue based on favorite contemporary children’s books.  In addition to The Teacher from the Black Lagoon, the performance also includes stories like Dogzilla, Grumpy Bird, and Love Splat, Splat the Cat among others. All seats are $8 per person and performances begin promptly at 2 p.m.

Upcoming performances in the Sensory Friendly series include Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players, New Jersey Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty, Aesop’s Fables starring puppeteer Jim West, and The Little Orchestra Society’s Things that go Bang!

For further information on ticketing, or the any of the performances in the series, contact the Union County Performing Arts Center at 732-499-8226 or visit them online at www.ucpac.org

The Union County Performing Arts Center is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation operating in the historic Rahway Theatre.  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.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

ELIZABETH, NJ – An exhibit of mixed media artworks by photographer Nancy Ori of Berkeley Heights is on display through Tuesday, October 1, at the Freeholders Gallery in Elizabeth. Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, the exhibit features 27 pieces of what Ms. Ori calls mixed media with pastel. The exhibit in the Freeholders Gallery at the Union County Administration Building, on Elizabethtown Plaza at Rahway Avenue in Elizabeth, is open to the public from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on weekdays.

“We are pleased to showcase these colorful creations of Nancy Ori,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Union County Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board. “They are one-of-a-kind pieces that combine classic photographic and painting techniques.”

Nancy J. Ori is a respected international photographer and video producer for more than 35 years. She also teaches photography and painting workshops throughout the United States and in Europe. Nancy was affiliated for many years with the Ansel Adams Workshop in California. Aside from photographing landscapes and architecture in the West Coast tradition of her long-time mentor, she also ventures into other art forms by using pastels and other paint mediums to enhance a new series of “painterly” photographs.

More of Nancy Ori’s work may be seen by visiting her website: www.nancyorifineart.com.

Exhibits at the Freeholders Gallery are coordinated by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs. For further information about this exhibit, contact Teya David, Curator of the Freeholders Gallery. For other programs and services related to the arts and Union County history, contact the Office at 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth 07202, or call (908) 558-2550. New Jersey Relay users dial 711.

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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that the Union County Regional Dispatch Center has begun handling emergency medical service (EMS) calls for the Township of Clark today.

“The Regional Dispatch Center is an outstanding example of shared county-local services, which provide our municipalities with improved resources while keeping costs under control,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “We are very pleased to welcome Clark to the growing list of municipalities that have taken advantage of this service.”

The Union County Regional Dispatch Center is a state-of-the-art emergency dispatch facility located in the County’s Ralph Froehlich Public Safety Building in Westfield. It opened in October 2012.

The $1.2 million facility replaces the County’s previous operation located at the same site, which housed only two dispatch consoles. The Dispatch Center has nine consoles.

In addition to providing emergency dispatch services for the Union County Police and other countywide first responders, the Regional Dispatch Center serves a growing number of municipalities and other entities in the region. That can include police, fire and 9-1-1 calls as well as EMS.

Currently, the participants include Fanwood, Hillside, Mountainside, Roselle, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Springfield, the Township South Orange, and two paramedic units operated by Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Rahway.

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

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ—The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders would like to invite members of the community to honor the memory of the 60 Union County residents who perished in the 9/11 attacks by visiting the Union County September 11th Memorial this Sept. 11 from 6-9 p.m. at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside.

During this time members of the Honor Guard will be on site presenting the national colors and the public will be able to light candles in memory of those lost in the attacks.

“Union County’s September 11th Memorial serves as a place to remember our residents who made the ultimate sacrifice that day, and a location that allows for peace and reflection that gives us strength to continue to move forward,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter.

The Union County memorial honors those lost in the attacks using design elements that include two girders from the World Trade Center arranged within a five sided area representing the Pentagon, and an Eternal Flame representing those who died in Pennsylvania. The Flame also honors members of the Armed Services and emergency responders.

In addition to these elements, the names of the 60 deceased Union County residents are etched into the memorial.

Dedicated on Sept. 13, 2003 the memorial was constructed through private donations including in-kind work by labor unions and materials at cost.

The Freeholder Board worked with residents of Cranford, Elizabeth, Kenilworth, Linden, Mountainside, Rahway, Scotch Plains, Summit, Union and Westfield in planning and building the Memorial.

It is located near the Springfield Avenue entrance of Echo Lake Park on the border of Mountainside and Springfield.

For additional information on the Union County September 11th Memorial, or information on visitation hours, contact the Union County Office of Public Information at 877-424-1234 or visit online at ucnj.org/9-11-memorial

CRANFORD, NJ – The County of Union will sponsor a recycling event for electronic equipment on Saturday, September 21, so Union County residents can get rid of unwanted computers, televisions and other electronic equipment in an environmentally proper manner. The special E-cycling event will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Union County College campus located at 1033 Springfield Avenue in Cranford.

All residents of Union County are eligible to participate at no cost. There is a limit of six electronic items per car.

“Computer monitors, old televisions and other electronic devices are the source of a considerable amount of dangerous material, including lead, mercury, cadmium and PCBs – and it is unlawful to dispose of them with the regular garbage,” said Freeholder Vice Chairman Christopher Hudak, liaison to the Union County Solid Waste Advisory Board. “Up to 95 percent of most electronic appliances can be recycled. This is a responsible way to keep hazardous heavy metals out of our environment.”

Electronic equipment that will be accepted on Sept. 21 includes computer monitors, hard drives, modems, keyboards, CPU’s, mice, printers, scanners, speakers, televisions, tablets and e-readers, VCR’s, fax machines, telephones, circuit boards, CD’s, DVD’s and video cassettes.

All that residents need to do is drive to the site with their unwanted electronic equipment. Workers at the site will unload the vehicles.

Pre-registration is not required for this special Saturday collection.

Refrigerators, washers and dryers, microwaves, and air conditioners will not be accepted, but they are accepted at Union County’s Scrap Metal Recycling Program.

A complete list of the materials that will be accepted on Sept. 21 is available at the Union County Bureau of Recycling and Planning website: www.ucnj.org/recycle.

The electronics collection will be held rain or shine, for Union County residents only and not for businesses. Proof of Union County residency is required.

In addition to the special Sept. 21 recycling event sponsored by the County of Union, there are local businesses as well as 16 municipalities that provide E-cycling opportunities for residents. Visit the websitewww.ucnj.org/recycle or call your municipal recycling coordinator for more computer and electronics recycling options.

Goodwill and Dell have teamed up to recycle computers. Goodwill in Union County is located at 126 Route 22 West, Springfield 07081, next to Macy’s Furniture. Call Goodwill at 973-912-0156 for more details or visit their web site: www.reconnectpartnership.com.

Best Buy stores now offer electronics recycling, including TVs, computer monitors, DVD players and other consumer electronics. Visit their website (www.bestbuy.com/) for store locations, or call toll-free for information about electronics recycling: 1-888-237-8289.

Staples also offers a computer recycling program seven days a week. For more information, visit the Staples web site for store locations: www.staples.com.

Waste Management accepts “covered electronics” (televisions, monitors, computers, etc.) at  629-647 Amboy Ave., Elizabeth 07201, Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; 908-629-9270.

An alternative drop-off program for recycling electronics equipment is available Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at Newtech Recycling, located at 600-A Apgar Drive, Somerset NJ 08873; 732-564-3110. Visit www.newtechrecycling.com .

For more information about recycling events, please call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908- 654-9889.

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Union County, NJ – As the fall recreation season gets under way in Union County parks, the Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds visitors that they can help pitch in to help preserve important natural habitats.

“In this densely developed region, the Union County park system is barely short of a miracle,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “Generations of Union County residents have worked to build and preserve this unique natural resource and now it’s up to us to do our part, too.”

The Union County park system was established in the 1920’s with 2,000 acres in donated land. Along with ample space for organized sports and other activities, the original parks were designed to preserve key natural habitats along the County’s many waterways.

The twin goals of public recreation and habitat conservation have continued into the present.

Today, the Union County park system totals 36 distinct parks that span more than 6,700 acres. The parks are home to hundreds of species of flora and fauna, and they play an important role in bird migration across the American continents as part of the Atlantic Flyway migratory route.

Each year, hundreds of Union County residents and visitors volunteer in the park system on habitat improvement projects, including groups hosted by the Boy Scout and Girl Scout organizations as well as local schools and businesses.

A number of County ordinances are designed to help conserve habitat in the park system. Among the most important areas of concern are:

Staying on marked trails helps to prevent soil erosion, in addition to preserving the forest understory.

Disposing of trash in the cans provided helps to prevent windblown litter. Cans are emptied regularly but in the event they are full, trash should be carried out rather than left in the open.

Picking up after dogs helps to reduce the potential for dog waste to leach into waterways, a known threat to water quality.

Keeping dogs on a leash helps to prevent damage to sensitive habitats, especially around shorelines, while reducing incidents of injury or death to wildlife.

Refraining from feeding Canada geese is similarly important, as an overpopulation of these large waterfowl can quickly overwhelm other species and harm water quality.

To find out more about the Union County park system visit ucnj.org/parks.

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

Union County –Building on the success of the first ever Union County Women Mean Business Summit, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the addition of a second women’s event titled Wine, Women and Wealth. The event will take place on Tuesday, September 17th from 5:30-8:00 p.m. at the Clubhouse at Galloping Hill in Kenilworth.

“The Freeholder Board is proud to be sponsoring, in conjunction with Union Center Bank, an event of such high relevance for the women of Union County,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “Women have unique financial needs and as a result learning good financial planning is a risk management strategy for the future.”

Where the Union County Women Mean Business Summit focused on women in the business world, the Wine, Women and Wealth program is geared towards teaching women the principles of personal financial success with seminars like “The 7 Deadly Mistakes of Social Security,” and “#SNSL: Save Now, Succeed Later.”

Geared towards teaching women to the benefits of financial planning at an earlier in life, “#SNSL: Save Now, Succeed Later” focuses on topics like:

• Understanding financial objectives and risk tolerance
• Setting long term financial goals
• Developing a financial plan
• Measuring asset allocation strategies
• Interest rate lows and alternative opportunities

While “The 7 Deadly Mistakes of Social Security” will focus on areas of interest to older audiences like:

• Understanding the Value of Social Security
• The Solvency of Social Security
• When to Begin Taking Benefits
• Working and Receiving Benefits
• Maximizing Benefits
• Spousal Benefits
• Survivor Benefits
• The Taxation of Social Security

Participants will be able to choose their preferred wealth seminar and also enjoy a wine lesson and tasting as well as a networking cocktail reception featuring hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.

To register, visit https://ucnj.org/ucmb, or contact the County Manager’s office at 908-527-4200. There is a $25 registration fee, and pre-registration is required.

The Wine, Women and Wealth seminar is being co-sponsored by Union Center Bank and is part of the Union County Women Mean Business, and the Union County Means Business Networking Series’. Programs are sponsored by the Board of Chosen Freeholders in partnership with the Union County Alliance, Union County Economic Development Corp., Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce, Suburban Chambers of Commerce, Union Township Chamber of Commerce, Kean University, and Union County College.

The wine tasting portion of the Wine, Women and Wealth program is being sponsored by Gallo Wines and Mionetto Wines.

For additional information on the Women’s Summit or the Union County Means Business Series, please visitwww.ucnj.org/UCMeansBusiness.

Union County – In continuation with the Union County Choices Program, the next series of information sessions on free job training will be offered next Tuesday, September 10th from 2:00-3:00 p.m. and Thursday, September 12th from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., at Union County College’s Elizabeth Campus, located at 40 West Jersey St.

This round of sessions will focus on the Retail Operations course, a program that will prepare participants to master the areas of skill and knowledge needed to be successful in a frontline retail position.

The five part course offers content in the areas of Customer Service, Selling and Service, Store Operations, and Getting the Job, and will teach participants about the following essential concepts as they pertain to the retail industry:

• The economics of retail
• The importance of training
• Reviewing and understanding sales goals
• The importance and function of loss prevention, inventory control and merchandising

Upon completion, participants will be prepared to sit for the Customer Service and Sales Certification tests.

The Union County Choices program, which is one of Freeholder Linda Carter’s initiatives as Chairman of the Board, is geared towards providing a range of skills and sector training to eligible job seekers in Union County’s priority economic development sectors. Through its partnership with Union County College, the program recently began its first round of training in the Healthcare sector in July, and will be starting its Global Logistics Associate Certification program this month.

The Retail Operations information session is free of charge to attend, and walk-ins are welcome although pre-registration is preferred. To register, or for more information on the Union County Choices program, please contact Gina Tuesta at gtuesta@ucnj.org; for registration purposes, please include your name, contact information and email address.

In addition to attending the information session, to be considered for the Union County Choices program candidates must have a high school diploma or GED, take the TABE test and score at 8th grade level or above, be WIA eligible and complete a criminal background check prior to the start of the training program.

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Enjoy a sing-along as marshmallows are toasted by the fire

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Tickets are on sale for autumn hay rides and fun around the campfire at Trailside Nature & Science Center in Mountainside. Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, these fun-filled autumn activities include hay rides, folk songs around a campfire, hot chocolate and marshmallows toasted over the fire.

Hay ride tickets are available at three locations: every day from noon to 5 p.m. at Trailside Nature and Science Center, 452 New Providence Road, in Mountainside; weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Union County Administration Building, Department of Parks & Community Renewal, 2nd Floor, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza at Rahway Avenue in Elizabeth; or at the Colleen Fraser Building, 300 North Avenue East, in Westfield, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday; 12:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday; and 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday.

No tickets will be sold at the hay rides. Tickets for these popular outings must be purchased in advance – so don’t wait until it’s too late! Seating for the hay rides is limited. The cost is $6 for Union County residents and $12 for out-of-county participants. Rides begin at 6:30 p.m. on the Friday evenings of Sept. 20; Oct. 4, 11, 18; and at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13.

For further information, call Trailside Nature and Science Center at 908-789-3670; or the Union County Department of Parks & Community Renewal at 908-527-4900; or visit the Union County website atwww.ucnj.org.

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