Category: Public Info

Elizabeth, NJ-The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present a new UC Connected video on the Video Channel.  April 1, 2012 marked the 100th anniversary of mosquito control in Union County.  Inspiration for the video came from a photograph exhibit documenting the 100 year history of Union County Bureau of Mosquito Control.

Produced by the Office of Public Information, UC Connected features videos that promote, highlight or introduce events, programs and services offered by the Freeholder Board.

“Anyone who visits the video channel will find content that is interesting and informative,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella.  “The mosquito control video in particular, not only highlights the bureaus history, but also emphasizes the important role residents’ play in keeping the mosquito population down in Union County.”

Last year, the Office of Public Information produced 21 UC Connected videos, which included highlights from the Union County Teen Arts Showcase, the formal Dedication of the new Fire Arms Training Facility, Union County’s immensely popular Mobile Shredding service and the kick-off of the Summer Arts Concert Series.

Additional Video Channel programming includes current and archived editions of Freeholder Forum and Vintage Views.  You will also find county relevant news stories, courtesy of News 12 and My 9 news.

The video page can be accessed through the “Video Channel” icon on the home page, or visithttps://ucnj.org/videochannel/.

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

On Twitter at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj

Union County – Spring has sprung, and just in time for your second round of blossoms, the Master Gardeners of Union County invite the public to the Union County Spring Garden Fair and Plant Sale. Taking place on Sunday, May 20 from 12pm to 5pm the Fair is a great place to learn new gardening skills and purchase a variety of old favorites and new discoveries.

“Not only is the Spring Garden Fair and Plant Sale a great place to pick up new blossoms for your home and garden,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella, “It is the perfect opportunity for anyone with an interest in gardening to learn more about the Master Gardeners and the positive impact they have on our community.”

New Jersey Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who assist the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperative Extension in its mission to deliver horticulture programs and information to the general public. This year, the Union County Master Gardeners are celebrating 24 years of volunteer community service.

The Spring Garden Fair and Plant sale is an annual fund-raising event that helps fund the community projects of the Master Gardeners. This year marks the 22nd anniversary of the event, which has been chaired by Scotch Plains Master Gardener, Joanne Kreuger since 1991.

As part of the Garden Fair, the Master Gardeners will be selling an array of flowers, herbs, hanging baskets, house plants and vegetable seedlings, including a limited amount of Ramapo Tomato plants; an heirloom tomato that until recently had all but disappeared from New Jersey.

The Master Gardeners will also be hosting lectures on square-foot gardening, rain barrels and home composting and will be giving guided tours of the Demonstration Garden complex including their vegetable and herb gardens.

Other Garden Fair highlights include:

• Free children’s activities.
• Free Helpline clinic and Rutgers information fact sheets.
• Union County Division of Mosquito Control Supervisors on site to answer questions.
• 4-H Master Tree Stewards with children’s activity and display.
• Rutgers Soil test kits for sale.
• “The Cupcake Café” home-baked goods.
• Arts & crafts table.
• Gardening “Odds & Ends” sale table.
• Used gardening books and magazines sale.

The Spring Garden Fair is located at the Demonstration Garden by the Trailside Nature and Science Center, at the corner of New Providence Road and Coles Avenue in Mountainside.  A free parking lot is located at the site. Additional free parking is available at the nearby Loop playground area. For maps and directions, visitwww.ucnj.org/parks. The Garden Fair will take place rain or shine and no dogs will be permitted.

Visitors who plan to purchase plants are advised to bring a small wagon for ease of conveyance.

For more information about the Spring Garden Fair and Plant Sale or any Master Gardener programs contact Lynne Orlofsky at the Extension office in Westfield at 908-654-9854 or visit www.mastergardeners-uc.org.

Anyone with an interest in gardening and a commitment to volunteer service can become a Master Gardener. No previous education or training in horticulture is required.

___

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.

“Rutgers Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity program provider and employer. Contact your local Extension Office for information regarding special needs or accommodations. Contact the State Extension Director’s Office if you have concerns related to discrimination, 732-932-5000, ext. 584.”

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Landscaping classes, for adults ages 18 and older, will be presented at the Trailside Nature & Science Center, sponsored by the Trailside Museum Association. The two classes, “Native Plants” on Saturday, May 12, and “Pruning Ornamental Plants” on Saturday, June 16, will meet from 11 a.m. to noon. There is no fee for either class, but donations are appreciated. Pre-registration is preferred, but walk-ins will be accommodated as space permits.  For information on these classes, call Trailside at 908-789-3670 or visitwww.ucnj.org/trailside.  Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Trailside Museum Association are sponsoring landscaping classes at Trailside Nature & Science Center in Mountainside. The programs will be held on two Saturdays, May 12 and June 16, from 11 a.m. – 12 noon. Adults, ages 18 and older are invited to participate. Pre-registration is preferred. Walk-ins are welcome as space permits. There is no fee for these classes but donations are appreciated.

“These landscaping seminars will provide our residents with the knowledge and skills to grow and maintain beautiful gardens,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “We appreciate the Trailside Museum Association’s sponsorship of the classes, as well as their ongoing support and commitment to the programs at Trailside.”

Bryan Lowe, horticulture consultant for HortSeminarsNJ, and a certified rain garden installer, will present these informative landscaping lectures.

Native plants will be the topic of discussion on Saturday, May 12. Many people express concern that invasive and exotic plants take over their yard. This class will teach which plants are considered invasive and exotic and explain why planting native species can help to reduce yard maintenance while benefiting the environment.

On Saturday, June 16, a class will be dedicated to pruning ornamental plants. Maintaining your ornamental plants through proper pruning will help keep them looking their best year-round.  Learn how to prune ornamental trees, shrubs and perennials without damaging them. Bryan Lowe also will discuss the reasons why it is important to prune, the proper time to prune and the tools and techniques that are used to get the best results.

The Trailside Museum Association, a sponsor of the landscaping classes, is an organization dedicated to assisting Trailside staff in their ongoing efforts to educate people in all aspects of nature, science and conservation by assisting with funding, volunteering and advocacy.

For more information about the Landscaping Classes or any other programs or upcoming events, call Trailside at 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

___

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.

WESTFIELD, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce 2012 funding for the Union County HEART (History, Education, Arts Reaching Thousands) Grant Program.

The application process for a HEART grant will be explained at a workshop for Union County non-profit organizations, individual artists and scholars. The workshop will be held on Thursday, May 17, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Union County Annex (Passport Office), 300 North Avenue East, in Westfield. Although the workshop is free of charge, pre-registration is suggested.

“The response to the HEART Grant Program in past years has been exciting,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The recipients are a wonderful mix of creative individuals – poets and writers, historians, painters, photographers, musicians and dancers – plus arts, history and other cultural organizations and civic groups.”

Recognizing the importance of culture and the arts to the county’s quality of life and economy, this innovative program supports projects related to history, the arts and humanities, and demonstrates a commitment to the artists and non-profit organizations of Union County.

“The services provided by these artists, scholars and organizations directly benefit the residents of our county and increase appreciation for the arts, our history, and the humanities,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board. “These cultural assets are a vital part of community life, well being, economic development and cultural heritage tourism in Union County.”

For additional information or to register for the HEART Grant workshop, contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202.  Telephone: (908) 558-2550.  NJ Relay users dial 711, or E-mail: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

___

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.

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Birding Basics Weekend, for adults ages 18 and older, will be presented on Friday, May 18, and Saturday, May 19, in the Watchung Reservation. On Friday, from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at Trailside Nature & Science Center, Trailside naturalist Joe Filo will lecture on bird watching basics. On Saturday, from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. at the Deserted Village, Mr. Filo will lead a bird-watching walk in an area where you are sure to witness a great variety of spring birds. The fee for each program is $10 for Union County residents and $15 for out-of-county participants. Pre-registration is preferred, but walk-ins will be accommodated as space permits. For information on this weekend program, call Trailside at 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Community Renewal are pleased to offer a special two-part presentation on bird watching basics on Friday, May 18, and Saturday, May 19, at Trailside Nature & Science Center in the Watchung Reservation. Adults, ages 18 and older are welcome to join Trailside naturalist Joe Filo for a two-part presentation that will heighten bird-watching skills.

“As a beautiful spring is upon us, Trailside offers a perfect program to encourage us to enjoy the variety of birds that migrate through this area,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The evening lecture and morning bird walk offer knowledge about birds combined with the experience of witnessing these magnificent creatures in a peaceful setting.”

The Friday lecture, “Bird Watching for Beginners,” runs from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at the Trailside Visitor Center. On the following morning, Saturday, May 19, birders will meet at the Deserted Village parking lot off Glenside Avenue at 7:30 a.m. for a two-hour bird walk. The cost for each program is $10 for Union County residents and $15 for out-of-county participants. Bird watching enthusiasts may take either or both programs. Pre-registration is preferred but walk-ins will be accommodated as space permits.

Beginning birders will appreciate the Friday evening lecture, which offers strategies and tips for identifying our lively avian neighbors as well as how to choose binoculars. Participants will learn the songs and calls of common birds of the Watchung Reservation. The lecture will take place at the Trailside Visitor Center.

The bird-watching walk on Saturday morning convenes at the Deserted Village, one of the best locations for bird watching in all of Union County. Amateurs and experts are invited to explore this unique area and witness the incredible variety of spring migrant birds. Be sure to bring your binoculars and field guide if you have them and wear sturdy walking shoes.

For information on the Birding Basics, or any other upcoming programs and events at Trailside, call 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside.  Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

___

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.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders encourages the public to celebrate cultural diversity by attending the Multicultural Fair hosted by the Union County Vo-Tech School in Scotch Plains on Saturday, May 12 from 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

“We are privileged to live in a County that encompasses many people from various cultural backgrounds and ethnicities,” noted Freeholder Mohamed Jalloh. “The Freeholder Board is proud to support the Vo-Tech school and we urge people to take part in the celebration.”

As part of the Multicultural Fair, school clubs and organizations will have booths with a display of games, cultural dancing, music and many activities for adults and children. It is a day of fun, music, and food that gives participants the opportunity to experience cultural diversity on various levels.

With help from Breadsmith in Cranford, Pinho’s Bakery in Roselle and Barshay’s restaurant in Roselle, admission to this event is offered free of charge to the public. Half of the proceeds from food and booth sales will benefit “Water is Life,” a charity that supplies filtering straws to people in third world countries in an effort to prevent water-related illnesses.

In addition, the Vo-Tech School will also be hosting a food drive with the statewide community service project, New Jersey Future Farmers of America Against Hunger, and will be collecting canned and/or dried goods that will be donated to the Rutgers Against Hunger Program. Donating participants will be given a free plant from the FFA Club for their contributions while supplies last.The Multicultural Fair is a day of cultural awareness created by the Multicultural Club of the Union County Vocational-Technical School District.

For additional information on the Fair, or to purchase a booth for your own Cultural display contact Megan Schneider 908-889-8288 ext. 341, or visit www.wix.com/ucvtsmulticulturalcl/fair2012.

___

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.

Union County Freeholder Christopher Hudak (3rd R) and Union County Manager Alfred Faella (R) joined (from left) Charles Newman, President of New Jersey Connect, Linden Mayor Richard Gerbounka, Dr. Phillip Frese, President of the Domus Corporation, Walter Kreher from U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Bishop Manuel A. Cruz and Msgr. Christopher Hynes from the Archdiocese of Newark and Domus Vice President John Westervelt at the dedication ceremony of The Apartments at Saint Elizabeth’s in Linden.

Eleven units of affordable housing for persons with physical disabilities were created at the former Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Convent at 176 Hussa Street thanks to awards from HUD, a grant from the Kessler Foundation and partial funding from the County of Union.

The Domus Corporation and NJ Connect are non-profit organizations partnered to rehabilitate the former convent. The Union County Department of Human Services, Office for the Disabled worked with the two groups to assist in planning the project. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

___

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. On Twitter at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

Union County Freeholder Christopher Hudak speaks with Eagle Scouts Vincent Polalowski (C) and Alex Reyes during the City of Linden’s 68th Annual Scouts in Government Day at the John T. Gregorio Recreation Center in Linden. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts took part in the Linden City Council meeting on the evening April 24. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

___

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. On Twitter at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

UNION, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that its next mobile paper-shredding program for personal documents will be available on Wednesday, May 16, at the Township of Union DPW facility in Union.

“Union County’s mobile document-shredding service helps residents fight identity theft and eliminate clutter in their homes,” said Freeholder Christopher Hudak, liaison to the Solid Waste Advisory Council. “It is a cost-effective way to assist our recycling efforts and it ties in with Union County’s other Go Green Initiatives.”

The May 16th shredding event will take place at the Department of Public Works facility in Union, located on Swanstrom Place, off Vauxhall Road. NEXCUT Shredding of Teaneck will be shredding documents at the site from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. The shredding event will end before 1 p.m. if the shredding truck reaches capacity.

All Union County residents are eligible to use the paper-shredding service. In an effort to accommodate everyone, there is a limit of four, 10-pound bags or boxes per person. Documents should not be bound. Please remove plastic binders and paperclips. Paper that is wet/damp will not be accepted. Residents should continue to recycle non-confidential papers and magazines with their municipal recycling program.

Documents are put into 96-gallon containers provided by the shredding company. The items are then dumped onto a conveyor belt and shredded on site. Participants are welcome to view the shredding process via a closed-circuit television. The shredded documents are then recycled, shipped to paper mills and used as pulp. The next shredding event will take place Saturday, June 9, at Union County Vo-Tech in Scotch Plains.

The mobile shredding program is paid for through New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Recycling Enhancement Act Grant Funds. For more information about future events or directions please call the Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889 or visit us online at www.ucnj.org/recycle .

___

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 atwww.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj .

ELIZABETH, NJ – Paintings by students from art instructor Laura Brown’s classes at the Rahway Senior Center and Amalfe Community Center in Roselle are included in a joint exhibit through May 30. The artwork is on display in the Freeholders Gallery, located on the 6th floor of the Union County Administration Building, Elizabethtown Plaza at Rahway Avenue, Elizabeth. The Gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

“We are always pleased to present this exhibit of talented artists from both the Roselle and Rahway art classes under the tutelage of Laura Brown, who brings out the best in them,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board.

Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, this exhibition features the works of Frances Carter, Mary Ellinger, Roberta Frimpter, Madeline Granieri, Katina Massas, Margaret Najjar, Mary Peter and Deborah Shaw from the Rahway Senior Center class, and Dee Chadwick, Barbara Dixon, Bernard Lichstein, Jeannie Lucas, Carol Norman, Marilyn Savidge, Beth Simonelli and Ann Szabo from the Roselle Art Association group.

The Rahway Senior Center is located at 1306 Esterbrook Avenue, where art classes are conducted regularly. For information about the Rahway Center and its activities, please call Ellen Staunton at 732-827-2016.

The Roselle Art Association paints as a group every Tuesday from 10 a.m. until noon at the
Amalfe Community Center, 1268 Schaffer Avenue, Roselle. For further information, please
call 908-245-6747.

Exhibitions in the Freeholders Gallery are coordinated and curated by Teya David of the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs. For more information about exhibits, programs and services related to the arts and Union County history, contact the Office at 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202; telephone (908) 558-2550, NJ Relay 711, or email culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

___

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 atwww.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj .