Category: Public Info

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders welcomes elementary and high school teachers, plus local community groups, to register for a free, 30-45-minute in-house science presentation that relates watershed and environmental concepts in a fun and meaningful way. Teachers, students, and community members will discover how human behavior can impact the land and waterways around them.

“Since 1999, these interactive presentations have been receiving positive reviews from students and teachers alike,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “They enjoy participating in the hands-on demonstration that includes a three-dimensional topographic land use model.”

Most importantly, the program offers easy, practical solutions that everyone can implement to reduce non-point source pollution and improve water quality. Examples of ways the average person can help include eliminating or minimizing the use of pesticides on lawns, picking up pet waste, and not feeding geese.

The free presentations are offered by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal in conjunction with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the AmeriCorps Watershed Ambassador Program. Also, the ambassador program offers stream assessment training for individuals and groups. To schedule a free presentation or training, call Jon Dugan, Watershed Ambassador for Watershed Management Area 7 at 908-789-3209

Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter (3rd L) and Freeholders Angel G. Estrada (L), Vernell Wright (2nd L), Alexander Mirabella (4th L), Bette Jane Kowalski (3rd R) and Sergio Granados (2nd R) present a resolution to Prevention Links Health and Wellness Coalition Coordinator Michael Capko (5th L), Coalition Staffer Stacey Legg, (5th R), Prevention Links Executive Director Pam Capaci (4th R) and Director of Community Prevention Michael Litterer (R) congratulating them on a successful 15th Annual Red Ribbon Drug Awareness Day on October 19 at Nomahegan Park in Cranford. The event kicked off Red Ribbon Week which is aimed at educating young people about the dangers of drugs and encourages them to live a drug free lifestyle. For more information, visit www.preventionlinks.org. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The Union County 4-H Youth Development program is seeking donations of LEGO pieces for students in the 4-H LEGO Robotics Club, either loose or in kits. 4-H is run by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, supported in part by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. To donate, contact 4-H Agent James Nichnadowicz at 908-654-9854 ornichnadowicz@njaes.rutgers.edu. For more information about Union County 4-H, including other popular clubs such as archery and cooking, visit ucnj.org/rce.(photo: LEGO by Slack pics via flickr.com)

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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.

The Union County Freeholders recently announced the award of $10,000 from Kids Recreation monies through the Union County Open Space Trust fund to Scotch Plains.  The funds will be used in part to put new picnic tables throughout the entire Scotch Plains parks system.

l. to r. Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter, Scotch Plains Councilman Lou Beckerman, and Freeholder Alexander Mirabella. ( photo Jim Lowney, County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Bruce Bergen (R) presents a resolution to B’nai B’rith officials proclaiming Saturday, November 9, 2013 as B’nai B’rith Day in the County of Union to mark the 170th anniversary of B’nai B’rith International. Pictured (from left) are Ken Devos, Regional Treasurer and Treasurer of BBNJ Alumni, Marvin Bram, Regional VP and VP of Springfield B’nai B’rith, Joe Tenenbaum, Regional VP and President of Springfield B’nai B’rith and Mark Samuel Ross, Esq., President of  Tri-State Region (North/Central NJ Eastern PA and Southern NY State) and President of  BBNJ Alumni. B’nai B’rith is the oldest service organization founded in the United States and has an unparalleled record of aiding humanity in communities throughout the United States and more than 50 other nations (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Offices in Westfield & Elizabeth Offer ‘Vote-By-Mail’ Service

ELIZABETH, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds registered voters that sample ballots for the General Election on Tuesday, November 5, may be reviewed on-line by visiting the County Clerk’s website. The Clerk’s offices in Westfield and Elizabeth also offer a one-stop Vote-By-Mail service.

The names of candidates running in the General Election for Governor, State Senators, General Assembly Members, County Sheriff, County Freeholders, Municipal Officers and local School Boards in the Nov. 5 General Election are posted at https://ucnj.org/sample-ballots. Also listed are the two statewide Public Questions.

“As a former school board member, Mayor and Freeholder myself, I know the importance of an informed electorate,” Ms. Rajoppi said. “My website is designed to help voters familiarize themselves with the local candidates in all 21 Union County municipalities before Election Day.”

Eligible voters are able to apply for a Vote-By-Mail ballot for the General Election in person, receive their ballot and cast the ballot at the same time at the County Clerk’s offices in Westfield and Elizabeth.

“This one-stop voting service is available at my Westfield office as well as at the main office in Elizabeth,” Ms. Rajoppi said. “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. With the important November 5th General Election 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 General Election must be received by Oct. 29th to be eligible. The deadline to apply in-person is Monday, Nov. 4th before 3:00 p.m.

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. The Elizabeth office also will be open on Saturday, Nov. 2, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 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; or they can download the form at the Union County Clerk’s website:www.ucnj.org/vote-by-mail. The Clerk’s website also includes a video that explains how to fill out the Vote-By-Mail application form.

More information about Vote-By-Mail or sample ballots for the General Election can be obtained by calling the County Clerk’s Office at 908-527-4996; by visiting the office at 2 Broad Street, Room 113, in Elizabeth; or by email: ucvote@ucnj.org .

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Fanwood elected officials, recreation commissioners and Union County Freeholders celebrated the ribbon cutting of a parcourse fitness trail around the perimeter of Forest Road Park. The improvement, which provides for various forms of exercise, was funded in part through $50,000 in Kids Recreation monies from the Union County Open Space Trust Fund program.

l. to r. Fanwood Council members Russell Huegel, Anthony Parenti (back row), Kevin Boris and daughter, Emma, Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr, Fanwood Recreation Commissioner Anthony Carter (back row), Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter, Freeholder Alexander Mirabella (also a resident of Fanwood),  Fanwood Recreation Commissioners Tom Smith, Joanna Budries and Mike Kelly.  (photo by Jim Lowney, County of Union)

Freeholder Angel G. Estrada, (left), a longtime advocate for urban forestry, helped to give away 200 free willow oak and flowering dogwood saplings earlier this month. Receiving a willow oak is County resident Alan Hauser. The trees were donated by the New Jersey Tree Foundation in partnership with the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the New York/New Jersey Super Bowl XLVIII Host Committee, and the US Forest Service as part of a five-county effort to replace trees destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. (Photo: County of Union/Betty Ann Kelly).

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Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter and Freeholder Alexander Mirabella (R) presented a $88,000 Kids’ Recreation Trust Fund check to Roselle Mayor Jamel Holley (2nd R) and Roselle Recreation Director Donald Shaw.

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Christopher Hudak (L) joined Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski and Mohamed Jalloh (R) in presenting a resolution to Michael Seaman of Linden congratulating him on being named the Union County Teacher of the Year for 2013-2014. Seaman is an eighth grade teacher at the Orange Avenue School in Cranford. He was chosen teacher of the year by a countywide panel of administrators, teachers, parents and county education association representatives convened by the executive county superintendents of schools.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)