Category: Public Info

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Community Renewal offer adults, 18 and older, more landscaping classes this fall at Trailside Nature & Science Center in Mountainside. The Trailside Museum Association is sponsoring these classes from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, October 27 (Deer Resistant Plants); and November 3 (Creating a Natural Wildlife Garden). Pre-registration is preferred, but walk-ins are welcomed as space permits. There is no fee for these classes but donations are appreciated.

“These programs will provide residents with knowledge and skills to grow and maintain beautiful gardens,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The Board of Chosen Freeholders appreciates the Trailside Museum Association’s sponsorship of landscaping classes, as well as their ongoing support and commitment to Trailside.”

Bryan Lowe, consultant for HortSeminarsNJ, and a certified rain garden installer, will present these landscaping lectures. On Saturday, Oct. 27, the topic of discussion is deer-resistant plants. You’ll learn what plants are not attractive to deer, and what techniques work to deter deer.

On Saturday, Nov. 3, the class will examine the proper design for creating a backyard corner for attracting birds, as well as a landscape dedicated to providing food and shelter for our animal friends. The class will offer a chance to explore Trailside’s wildlife habitat.

The Trailside Museum Association, sponsor of these landscaping programs, is dedicated to assisting Trailside staff in their efforts to educate people in all aspects of nature, science and conservation by assisting with funding, volunteering and advocacy.

For information about the landscaping classes or about 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.

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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 .

ROSELLE, NJ – The Warinanco Ice Skating Center, a facility owned and operated by the County of Union, will open for the 2012-13 skating season on Saturday, Oct. 20, at 10:30 a.m.

“This season will mark the 51st Anniversary of the Ice Skating Center,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “Our staff in the Department of Parks and Community Renewal has been working very hard to get the center ready. I’m sure the public will be pleased.”

Skating sessions will be: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.; Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 12 noon; Fridays from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, plus 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. (a family session during which children ages 17 and younger must be accompanied by an adult), and 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.; Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., plus 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., and 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.; and Sundays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., plus 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., and 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. This schedule may be subject to change on holidays. Please call the Skating Center to find out if changes will be made, or visit www.ucnj.org/skating.

Admission to the general sessions is $5 for adults and $4 for children ages 17 and younger. Skate rental is an additional $3. Discount Cards are available for Union County residents who plan to skate on a regular basis.

Warinanco Ice Skating Center has much more to offer in addition to the general skating sessions. The skating center also offers group and private skating lessons and hockey clinics, as well as skating lessons for individuals with disabilities. Other features include a Pro Shop and refreshment stand.

Registration for the first session of Hockey Clinic and the Group Ice Skating Lessons will begin Thursday, Oct. 25, at 7:00 p.m. and will continue through Sunday, Oct. 28, or when the classes reach capacity. Registration must be made in person. Session One begins Friday, Nov. 2, and runs through Friday, Dec. 9.

Skating lessons meet once a week for 30 minutes. The first session is six weeks long. The fee for youths (17 and younger) is $89. The fee for adults (18 and older) is $100. Skate rentals are available at $3 at time of lesson.

Hockey Clinic meets once a week for one hour. The first session is six weeks. The fee for First Start (ages 4-6) and Youth (ages 7-12) is $95. Hockey equipment is required.

The Warinanco Ice Skating Center is located in Warinanco Park off Thompson Ave. at Seventh Ave. in Roselle. Park entrances also are located off St. Georges Ave. and Third Ave. For further information, call (908) 298-7850 for a recorded message or (908) 527-4900 for the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal.

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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 .

Union County Freeholder Christopher Hudak (R) and Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich (L) met with Sheriff’s Sgt. Brian Howarth and his K-9 Jaeger during recertification training at the K-9 Search and Rescue unit headquarters in Summit. More than 20 K-9 teams from federal, county and local law enforcement agencies from throughout the state were recertified at the Union County site which is considered a regional police K-9 training center. Biannual recertification for K-9 teams is mandated by the NJ Attorney General.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Community Renewal are pleased to offer people living with disabilities an afternoon hoe-down on Saturday, November 3, from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. at Masker’s Barn. The party will include music, dancing, refreshments and hayrides in the woods and fields of the Watchung Reservation.

“This is an event you won’t want to miss,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “It’s a great way to get outdoors, enjoy the renovated Masker’s Barn, play games, dance and meet some new friends.”

Put on your cowboy boots and hat and get ready for fun as a square dance caller and country musicians get your feet moving as you learn basic square dance steps. Adding to the energy will be a line dance instructor who will teach us some new dance routines.

Take a break from the dancing and hop on the hay wagon to enjoy a beautiful autumn afternoon in the reservation. Then grab a plate and enjoy snacks and refreshments back at the barn, a prominent structure in the Deserted Village of Feltville/Glenside Park.

The deadline to register for the barn dance is Monday, October 29. The fee is $10 per person. To register for the Nov. 3 barn dance and for additional information about this event or other upcoming programs and special activities, please call 908-527-4096 or visit us on the web at www.ucnj.org.

Masker’s Barn and the Deserted Village of Feltville/Glenside Park are located on Cataract Hollow Road, off Glenside Avenue in Berkeley Heights. These facilities are services of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

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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 .

Union County – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders recently announced that a free class about trees is being offered to all 4th grades in the County by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension’s Master Tree Stewards. The program is available to visit your school on Wednesday afternoons from January to June.  

“From Winter 2011 to Spring 2012 over 2,900 students participated in the class and learned just how important trees are and the role they play in urban environments,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “My colleagues and I encourage schools to participate in this enjoyable and engaging program.”

Using a fun, hands-on approach, students learn about the world’s amazing trees, tree products, and the benefits of planting and maintaining them. As part of the class, students will build a tree in their classroom, act out a play about trees, and play trivia games to test their knowledge. The program is taught by Master Tree Steward volunteers and lasts one hour.

The Master Tree Stewards are part of the Union County Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program. To sign up for the program fourth grade teachers and school principals should contact Jim Nichnadowicz, Union County 4-H Agent at 908-654-9854 or email Nichnadowicz@njaes.rutgers.edu.

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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 .

by Alexander Mirabella

Chairman, Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders

October 2012

UNION COUNTY, N.J- As a parent, I could not help but notice a recent news headline that read, “Heroin use among young in N.J. is up, and in more suburban areas.” It was a strong reminder that trends in drug and alcohol abuse are constantly changing, requiring constant vigilance. Here in Union County we are more resolved than ever to help parents provide their children with positive experiences that encourage healthy habits.

In this regard, Union County parents can draw upon some unique resources and longstanding traditions.

About 90 years ago, Union County became one of the first counties in the entire nation to establish its own park system. The aim was to promote a wide variety of healthy outdoor activities from organized sports and summer camps to hiking, fishing, boating, golf, swimming and even horseback riding.

We are constantly adding new programs as new trends and interests arise, some of which are difficult or impossible to find anywhere else in our region. That includes new skateboarding parks, a new Olympic-quality archery range, and a new First Tee youth development program at our Galloping Hill golf course. The popular new sport of disc golf may also be added in the future.

Our recreation schedule is also packed with family-friendly special events from spring to fall, and one that I’d like to mention in particular is Red Ribbon Day.

Red Ribbon Day has been held every year in Union County for 14 years, as a way to provide parents with a relaxed, friendly atmosphere in which they can start a family conversation about making healthy choices, even when their children are very young. This year’s Red Ribbon Day is scheduled for Saturday, October 20 at Oak Ridge Park in Clark.

The festivities start with the Red Ribbon 5K Run at 9:30 a.m. and the Family Fun Walk at 10:00 a.m. From 11:00 to 4:00 there will be a full slate of free activities and games for children, exhibits, a health fair, and even a real helicopter landing.

It’s a great way to celebrate the last days of seasonable weather for outdoor fun.

When the weather turns cold, our Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside offers another option. It is open every day of the year except holidays. Admission is always free, and there are many affordably priced events and programs for children.

Another indoor option is our beautifully restored, historic Union County Performing Arts Center in downtown Rahway. Along with the new Hamilton Stage performance space, there are child-friendly performances, activities, classes and special events all year.

All in all, as a parent I recognize that substance abuse prevention is one of the most difficult challenges a parent can face. Every bit of extra help can make a difference, and Union County’s public recreation resources are here to support you.

For more information about Red Ribbon Day including the 5K Run and Family Fun Walk, visit preventionlinks.org or call 732-381-4100.

For complete information on Union County parks and activities visit the County website, ucnj.org.

Halloween will soon be here with all its spooky fun for the kids. And as they go about enjoying the treats, the trick is for us adults to use some common sense to keep them safe.

Since Halloween falls on a Wednesday this year, consider the weekend before a time when more youngsters will be out and about going to parties and other festivities. Besides the trick-or-treating on the holiday itself, some towns are hosting parades on that weekend. Be on the lookout for costume-clad youngsters in your travels.

When you are driving be alert and aware there will be extra pedestrian traffic. The speed limit in most residential neighborhoods is 25 mph but when children are out trick-or-treating it’s a good idea to drive even slower. Keep in mind that kids may attempt to cross mid-block or between parked cars.

Also, some children may be difficult to see if they are wearing dark costumes. Some kids who are wearing masks will have an obstructed view of cars. These are details we need to think about.

If your older kids are going out trick-or-treating on their own, remind them about crossing streets properly and safely. Also, make sure they carry flashlights and use reflective tape or stickers on costumes and treat bags. Never let the little ones go trick-or-treating without a trust-worthy and responsible adult.

Know the route your kids will be taking if you aren’t going with them. Let them know that they are to check in with you every hour, by phone or by stopping back at home.

Remind your children to never, ever go into a stranger’s house or even stop and speak with a stranger on the street when out trick-or-treating. Explain that some adults are bad and want to hurt children and that they should never get into a car or go anywhere with a stranger. But if this should this happen, tell them to scream as loud as they can and to run away as fast as they can to someplace safe.

Be safe and smart before the fun even starts. Help your young child pick out or make a costume that will be safe. Make sure that it is fire proof. If they are wearing a mask of any kind, make sure that the eye holes are large enough for good peripheral vision.

Simply going over these common sense tips with your kids can make for a safe and fun holiday.

Dressing up yourself and going out trick-or-tricking with the kids is also a great way to enjoy the fun while making sure the youngsters are safe.

Have a Safe and Happy Halloween.

Ralph Froehlich
Union County Sheriff

Special Lecture, “Mastodons in NJ” on Sunday

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Community Renewal invite you to explore the fascinating world of rocks, minerals, fossils and gems at Trailside Nature & Science Center on Saturday, Oct. 20, and Sunday, Oct. 21, from noon to 5 p.m. on both days. The weekend’s activities will also include a special lecture on Mastodons in New Jersey.

“This two-day event, open to the public, brings the world of rocks and gems to life with many exhibits and displays,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “And the featured lecture on Sunday ties in with our popular new Mastodon Exhibit at Trailside.”

Sponsored jointly with the New Jersey Mineralogical Society, the Rock, Gem & Mineral Show will host more than 25 vendors selling minerals, rocks, gemstones, jewelry, sea shells and fossils from around the world. Geologists young and old will be mesmerized by the variety of specimens on display and for sale.

Admission to the weekend Rocks and Gems event is free. On both days, vendors will be displaying and selling their specimens and there will be ongoing free children’s activities.

Sunday will feature a separate special presentation from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. in Trailside’s Auditorium: a lecture on “Mastodons in New Jersey,” which celebrates Trailside’s new mastodon exhibit.

The lecture on Sunday, offered by Hofstra University faculty member and geologist, Steve Okulewicz, examines the lifestyle of the mastodons which roamed the forested lands and swamps during the Pleistocene epoch. In New Jersey, the remains of these six-ton, vegetarian browsing beasts have been found in several localities. The audience will enjoy the illustrated talk on these large elephant-like creatures and other extraordinary animals such as the giant sloth that once inhabited New Jersey.

Tickets for the lecture about Mastodons in New Jersey go on sale at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 21. The fee is $8 for Union County residents and $10 for out-of-county residents. This lecture is recommended for ages 9 and older.

For more information about the Rock, Mineral & Gem Show, or upcoming programs and special events at Trailside, call 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside.  Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road (at Coles Avenue) in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

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MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – “Mastodons in New Jersey” is a feature presentation on Sunday, Oct. 21, at 2:30 p.m. during the two-day Rock, Mineral & Gem Show at Trailside Nature & Science Center in Mountainside. The lecture offered by Hofstra faculty member and geologist, Steve Okulewicz, examines the lifestyles of mastodons that roamed forested lands and swamps during the Pleistocene. This program ties in with the new Mastodon Exhibit at Trailside and is suitable for audiences aged 9 years and older. Admission to the lecture is $8 per person for Union County residents; $10 for out-of-county residents. Tickets go on sale at 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is free to the Rock, Mineral & Gem Show, open Saturday, Oct 20 and Sunday, Oct. 21 from noon to 5 p.m. with more than 25 vendors displaying and selling rocks, minerals, gems and fossils from around the world. There will be ongoing free children’s activities. Trailside is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. For additional information call 908-789-3670 or visit us on the web: www.ucnj.org/trailside.

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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 .

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi (C) and Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski (L) watch as Freeholder Vernell Wright draws the winning tickets for two books about the Civil War era at the Civil War exhibit in the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. There will be a drawing for a book about the Civil War each month.

The Civil War exhibit will be on display until 2015 in the rotunda of the Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street in historic midtown Elizabeth. To participate in the drawing for a Civil War book, visitors may fill out a coupon with their name, phone number and/or email address, and drop the coupon in the box provided in the rotunda.

The exhibit may be viewed weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The displays will change from time to time. Anyone wishing to loan historical artifacts from the Civil War era for the exhibit can contact committee member Katherine Craig at 908-282-7617. All objects will be secured, locked and acknowledged. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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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. On Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj

Union County Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella (C) presents a resolution to Lorraine Demeter (L), Mike Guarino (2nd L) and Lucille Disano of the Columbus Day Parade Association of Union County 500 during the group’s annual Columbus Day celebration at III Amici Ristorante in Linden. They are joined by Union County Manager Alfred Faella (R). (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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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. On Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj