Category: Public Info

Union County Freeholder Vernell Wright (3rd R) joined Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage (C) in cutting the ribbon at the grand opening of the As Seen on TV store in Elizabeth. Also in attendance were (from left) Susan Gomez of the Retail Skills Center, Dave Strochak, Executive Director of the Elizabeth Avenue Partnership, Isaias Rivera, Director of the Retail Skills Center, Mary Ann Coscarelli, Assistant Director, Elizabeth Avenue Partnership, David Bernal, owner of As Seen on TV, Linda Saverd of the Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce, Elizabeth Espina of As Seen on TV and Emerson Amador, Chairman of the Elizabeth Avenue Partnership. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Photo Caption: (from left) Union County Freeholders Sergio Granados, Bruce Bergen, and Mohamed S. Jalloh learn about Union County’s new Computer-aided Dispatch System which streamlines dispatch processes for faster emergency response times. They are joined by Union County Chief Dispatcher Gareth Williams (right), and Roselle Mayor Jamel Holley (2nd right) and dispatcher Carmen Malave. The Borough of Roselle, in addition to 16 other agencies, is serviced by Union County’s Dispatch center for a range of emergency needs.

Union County  – In 2010, Union County entered into an agreement to provide Police, Fire and EMS dispatch services to the Borough of Fanwood. The arrangement was the first of its kind for the County and provided the Borough with a savings of $230,000 over the three year agreement.  Since then, the shared service model has become increasingly popular, and as a result the Union County Department of Public Safety has felt the need to implement a modern system able to handle the needs of a robust county dispatch center.

As such, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to announce the implementation of a new computer-aided dispatch (CAD) and mobile system which provides the modern technology needed to handle these increased demands. Developed by TriTech Software Systems, Inform CAD and Mobile will provide Union County Public Safety with a high performance communications solution for their Police, Fire, and EMS agencies.

“The safety of our residents is of utmost importance to the Freeholder Board,” said Freeholder Mohamed Jalloh, liaison to the Emergency Management Council. “We embrace changes and technology that will improve our efficiency and move us in a direction where we can continue to improve the quality of life for all of Union County.”

By providing Dispatch Center personnel and emergency responders in the field with a common platform for quick access to incident and historical information, Inform CAD and Mobile ensures the right resources arrive at an emergency scene in the shortest amount of time.

Terrence McCarthy, Director of Clinical Services at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Rahway was excited about the new system commenting that not only will it reduce the amount of time critically ill or injured patients will wait for emergency medical services to arrive, but that it provides paramedics with real time information so paramedics and other responders have vital information prior to arriving at the scene of the emergency. Two of RWJ’s paramedic units get dispatched by Union County’s Regional Dispatch Center.

The Union County Department of Public Safety serves a population of more than 500,000 citizens and in 2012 expanded its dispatch operations in an effort to create a larger center to accommodate further dispatch services with the County’s municipalities.

Today, the Dispatch Center provides services to 17 agencies and processes approximately 52,000 calls per year.

“In an area with such a diverse population and landscape, the public safety needs of each of our towns vary greatly.  What is so exciting about this endeavor is the ability to streamline several processes to create one fast and efficient response system,” said Andrew Moran, Director of Union County’s Department of Public Safety.

Perfectly suited for Union County’s multi-jurisdictional dispatch functionality, Inform CAD and Mobile provides a flexible and scalable system that can easily be expanded in to incorporate new communities to the County dispatch model.

TriTech Software Systems has been developing innovative solutions for public safety for more than 20 years. The company provides products and services to address any size and type agency with an end-to-end product suite to meet the needs of any agency – PSAP, Law, Fire, or EMS.

TriTech Software Systems’ sole focus is public safety software. The company’s experienced team contributes on average, 13 years of industry experience. TriTech has delivered the most trusted public safety software for over two decades and continues to lead the market with innovative, enterprise-wide cloud-based and on-premise solutions for 911, computer aided dispatch, records management, jail management, analytics and intelligence, field-based reporting, patient care reporting, and ambulance billing software.

For more information regarding TriTech and their software, visit them online at www.tritech.com.

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Free Cancer Education and Early Detection Program for Union County Residents

Union County – Union County will continue to promote outreach and cancer education through the New Jersey Cancer Education and Early Detection (NJCEED) program, which provides free, comprehensive screening services for breast, cervical, prostate and colorectal cancer. Services through the program also include education and outreach, along with case management, tracking and follow-up.

“In New Jersey cancer remains the second leading cause of death,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “We are grateful for the opportunity to administer this program, and urge the greater community to stay healthy and get screened regularly.”

The NJCEED Program is part of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. Services are available in all 21 counties through several lead partner agencies. The program seeks to increase the awareness of each person’s risk for breast, cervical, prostate and/or colorectal cancer and to encourage them to use screening services for early detection and more effective treatment.

In Union County, the Office of Health Management is just one of the agencies providing education and outreach.

NJCEED agencies offer a wide range of breast, cervical, colorectal and prostate cancer related services including:  mammogram screenings, clinical breast examinations, instructions on breast self-examinations, Pap tests, and pelvic examinations. When indicated, further diagnostic tests are performed, such as needle biopsies, breast ultrasounds and colposcopies.

Case management, tracking and follow-up are provided to all women and a major emphasis is placed on re-screening women who are currently being served by the program.

Persons eligible for these services must be at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level and be uninsured or under-insured.

For more information about NJCEED or to see if you are eligible for free screening services visit the NJCEED website at www.state.nj.us/health/cancer or call the Union County Office of Health Management at 908-518-5620.

The NJCEED Program follows the American Cancer Society’s cancer screening guidelines.

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BERKELEY HEIGHTS–Runnells Specialized Hospital Volunteer Guild and Staff are joined by Union County Freeholders Vernell Wright and Sergio Granados for the Resident’s Annual Gift Distribution Party.

Seated left to right: SHARON THOMAS, Runnells Volunteer Guild,  ERNIE SALVATI, Chairperson of Runnells Resident Council, BARBARA MC MANN, Runnells Volunteer Guild, PATRICIA SCOTT Director of Activities and Volunteer services at Runnells.

Standing, left to right: TISH ISACK, Director of Professional and Support Services at Runnells, PAUL THOMAS, Volunteer Guild,  Union County FREEHOLDER VERNELL WRIGHT, ANNE FORGIONE, Volunteer Guild,  SANDRA ADOUR, Runnells Hospital Administrator, LEONARD FORGIONE, President of the Volunteer Guild, TOMMIE KELHOFFER, ROSE ANDERSON, MARK SELY, HERBERT APPENZOLLER, Volunteer Guild members,  Union County FREEHOLDER SERGIO GRANADOS

PLEASE NOTE SPECIAL HOLIDAY HOURS at UNION COUNTY’S RECREATION FACILITIES and WESTFIELD RESERVATION DESK:

TRAILSIDE NATURE & SCIENCE CENTER WILL BE CLOSED Christmas and New Year’s Eves andDays, Tuesdays & Wednesday, December 24, 25 & 31, 2013 and Wednesday, January 1, 2014

WATCHUNG STABLES WILL BE CLOSED Christmas and New Year’s Day, Wednesdays, December 25, 2013 and January 1, 2014

WARINANCO SKATING CENTER:

• WILL CLOSE AT 3:00 PM CHRISTMAS EVE and NEW YEAR’S EVE, Tuesdays, December 24 and 31, 2013
• WILL BE CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY, Wednesday, December 25, 2013
• **WILL OPEN AT 1:00 PM New Year’s Day, Wednesday, January 1, 2014
• will hold extra Public Skating Sessions, Thursday, Friday and Monday, December 26, 27 & 30, 2013 and **Wednesday, January 1, 2014 (starting at 1:00 PM)
• The public is invited to take part in Open Public Skating sessions at:  10:30 AM—12:30 PM, 1:00-3:00 PM,  3:30-5:30 PM, *6:00-8:00 PM and 8:30-10:30 PM
• Friday, from 6:00-8:00 PM is a Family Session: children 17 & under must be accompanied by an adult

THE PARKS RESERVATION DESK IN WESTFIELD WILL BE CLOSED Tuesday, December 24, 2013 through Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Please visit the Parks Reservation Desk in Elizabeth or call 908-527-4900 for assistance.

Guest Speaker: Jake Wood of Elizabeth, former Detroit Tigers Second Baseman

The Union County Baseball Association will induct new members into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame and honor local student athletes for their achievements in 2013 during award ceremonies on Sunday afternoon, February 9.

The 78th Annual Hot Stove League Baseball Dinner on Feb. 9th begins at 1:00 p.m. at the L’Affaire Banquet Center, 1099 Route 22 East, in Mountainside. The dinner is sponsored by the Union County Baseball Association, in cooperation with the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal.

Jake Wood, who played for Thomas Jefferson High School in Elizabeth, will be the special guest speaker. Wood signed with the Detroit Tigers in 1957 as a 20-year-old from Delaware State University. He played four years in the minor leagues before making his debut with Detroit in 1961 – the first African American player to advance through the Tigers minor league system and play in the major leagues. Jake played second base with the Tigers from 1961 to 1967 and led the American League with 14 triples during his rookie year.

Tickets for the dinner are $40 each. Proceeds will help fund the Union County Summer Youth Baseball League for youngsters 8 to 15 years, and the Fall Teen League.

Since 1937, the Hot Stove League Dinner has been the primary fund-raising effort for the Union County Baseball Association’s summer and fall programs. Over the years, the awards dinner has honored many local and national baseball luminaries – including Phil Rizzuto of Hillside, Don Newcombe of Elizabeth, Joe Collins of Union, Jeff Torborg of Mountainside, Willie Wilson of Summit, and Elliott Maddox of Union.

Tickets for the 78th Annual Union County Baseball Association Hot Stove League Dinner on Feb. 9th are available from the Union County Baseball Association by visiting www.UCBA-NJ.org. For more information, please call Jim Iozzi at 908-917-2523.

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Freeholder Alexander Mirabella visited with the owners of Nick’s Pizza and Deli on Martine Avenue in Fanwood who hosted a party for parents and children from many community based agencies. The families enjoyed an evening of dinner, gifts, a bit of magic, and of course Santa.

l. to r. In order left to right: Paul Watterson, owner of Nick’s Pizza. Freeholder Alexander Mirabella, Santa Claus,  Tony an employee at the restaurant, and Jessica Watterson, Paul’s wife.

SOMERVILLE – Elected officials, transportation professionals and the public are invited to the next meeting of the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition on Monday, Dec. 16.

The featured presentation will be a recapping of the December 9th meeting with James Weinstein, Executive Director discussing NJ Transit’s timetable for implementing one seat ride service on the Raritan Valley line.  A public discussion will review strategies that will be used to formulate the next steps in promoting the benefits of one seat ride service to residents and businesses that live and work along the Raritan Valley line. 

The Rail Coalition trustees will provide an update on the organization’s One-Seat Ride Campaign, including the launch of the one seat ride website and social media campaign.

The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the 3rd Floor Freeholder meeting room in the Somerset County Administration Building. The mapping address is 20 Grove Street, Somerville NJ 08876.  Free parking is available in the Bernie Field parking deck connected and adjacent to the Somerset County Administration Building.

NJ Transit rail and bus service is a short walk from NJ Transit’s Somerville Train Station and various NJ Transit bus routes. For NJ Transit bus and rail schedule and fare information, call (973) 275-5555 or visitwww.njtransit.com

If inclement weather is predicted for Dec. 16, please call (908) 281-9569 the day before to find out if the meeting has been postponed.

For questions, directions or more information, contact the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition at (908) 231-7021, by fax at (908) 707-1749 or by e-mail at rvrc@co.somerset.nj.us

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Officers from the Union County Sheriff’s Office arrested more than three dozen people on warrants for unpaid child support across Union County this week.

During a three-day intensive Non Support Sweep, teams of officers knocked on doors in every municipality in the county making thirty-eight arrests without incident.

The officers cleared 48 warrants for a total of $970,332 that is owned in back child support.

“Once again, I am proud of the professionalism of these officers who can safely apprehend these men so they can face their responsibilities,” said Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich.

The pre-holidays roundup of deadbeat dads is part of a statewide effort to apprehend those who owe back child support.

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ELIZABETH – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the County Manager invite you to the 58thannual “Christmas Carol Sing-a-long Around the Rotunda Christmas Tree” on Tuesday, December 24th, at 11:00 a.m.

The event will be held in the rotunda of the Union County Courthouse building, 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ.

County Manager Alfred J. Faella is the master of ceremonies. The event includes caroling, musical entertainment and a visit from Santa

For more information, please contact Marie Oakie at 908-527-4101

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