Category: Public Info

Jim Rohe will lead the sing-along as marshmallows are toasted by the fire

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Tickets are available for autumn evening 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 evenings include hay rides, songs around a campfire led by singer Jim Rohe, hot chocolate and marshmallows toasted over the fire.

Jim Rohe is a talented New Jersey musician and storyteller who performs at grammar schools and festivals throughout the Garden State and Pennsylvania. He is a seasoned performer whose rapport with his audience makes each program a special event.

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. Rides begin at 6:30 p.m. on the evenings of Sept. 30; Oct. 7, 14, 28; and Nov. 4.

Tickets can be purchased every day from noon to 5:00 p.m. at Trailside Nature and Science Center, 452 New Providence Road, Mountainside; or weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the Union County Administration Building, Department of Parks & Community Renewal, 2nd Floor, Elizabethtown Plaza at Rahway Avenue in Elizabeth.

No tickets will be sold at the hay rides, so please register early. The cost is $5 for Union County residents and $10 for out-of-county participants.

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.

Income eligible residents may apply in person from September 12th to 20th at County Social Services Buildings in Elizabeth and Plainfield and temporary site in Rahway

UNION COUNTY, NJ— County residents who suffered losses due to Hurricane Irene may be eligible for a one-time food benefit ranging from $200 to a maximum of $1202, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announced.

Residents meeting the Federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program income guidelines (see enclosure for guidelines) can apply from Monday, September 12th at three locations including: Union County’s Social Services offices in Elizabeth and Plainfield along with a temporary site at 65 East Cherry Street that has been established specifically for this purpose.

“There are many residents who have been severely impacted by Hurricane Irene and need help to make ends meet,” Freeholder Chairwoman Deborah Scanlon said. “We certainly encourage those who are in need and may be eligible to apply for food assistance.”

The amount of the assistance varies according to gross monthly income to family size. County social services staff has received training from the State and will assist eligible residents in completing a short application. If approved, the benefit will be electronically applied to a debit/credit card and will be available within three days of completing the application.

Click here to view the Income Eligibility Standards and Allotments Chart

For residents already receiving SNAP benefits, the one-time benefit will be applied to their cards. All three sites will be open to take applications Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

LOCATIONS:

The Elizabeth Social Services Building is located at 342 Westminster Avenue in Elizabeth.

The Plainfield Social Services Building is located at 200 West Second Street in Plainfield. 908-757-9090

65 East Cherry Street in Rahway.

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UNION, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that the 2011 Teen Arts Traveling Exhibit is on display at Les Malamut Gallery located in the lower level of the Union Public Library, 1980 Morris Avenue in Union. The art work is on display through October 14th during regular library hours. For more information on the gallery, please visit: www.lesmalamutartgallery.web.officelive.com.

The exhibit consists of 53 pieces of art selected from more than 700 visual art works shown at the 2011 Union County Teen Arts Festival held in March at Union County College in Cranford. The annual event is administered by the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Union County Department of Parks & Community Renewal.

“Each year I am amazed by the wonderful artwork submitted by local students,” said Freeholder Chairman Deborah P. Scanlon. “I encourage everyone to get out and see this fun, lively exhibit as it goes on tour throughout Union County.”

For information about the Teen Arts program, contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth 07202; telephone (908) 558-2550. NJ Relay service users should call 711 or email culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

The exhibiting students are:

Berkeley Heights

Columbia Middle School
Julia Young

Clark

Mother Seton Regional HS
Victoria Marples

Cranford
Cranford HS
Shannon Daly
Gina DeCagna
Hillside Avenue School
Allison Curley

Orange Avenue School
Louis Capucci
St. Michael School
Kyle Borokowski

Elizabeth
Abraham Lincoln School
Dianeth Hernandez

Benedictine Academy
Keyona Wright
Benjamin Franklin School
Juan Martinez
Charles Hudson School
Damaris Quezada
Dr. Orlando Edreira School
Jessica Arguera
Elizabeth HS – Dwyer House
Jorge Soto Soriano
Elizabeth HS – Edison House
Gustavo Perez 
Elizabeth HS – Jefferson House
Andres Camargo
Christie Ramirez

Elizabeth HS – Lower Academy
Wislet Dazime
Elizabeth HS – Upper Academy
Danny Luca
Madison-Monroe School
Arianna Honore

Nicholas M. Butler School
Eunice Edmond
Nicholas S. LaCorte School
Jonathan Lopez
St. Mary of the Assumption School
Carla Gomes
T.C. Reilly School
Sindy Chavarria
William F. Halloran School
Walter Casanas
Woodrow Wilson School
Joel Romero

Hillside
Hillside HS
Ambyr Szablowski
Walter O. Krumbiegel MS
Pinto & Campbell

Kenilworth
David Brearley HS
Samantha Hoag
Anthony Madonia

Linden
Linden HS
Jose Ferero
McManus MS
Clint Malakuskie
Soehl MS
Eduardo Plaza

Mountainside
Deerfield MS
Bea Collins

New Providence
New Providence HS
Lylah Dugan
New Providence MS
Lillian Cahill

Plainfield
Central Jersey Arts School
Silvia Alpapucho
Cook School
Carin Hardy
Hubbard MS
Jose Peña de Leon
Maxon MS
Caleah Atkinson
Plainfield Academy of Arts
Anthony Cancel
Union County TEAMS HS
Crystal Attidore
Union County TEAMS MS
Shaun Counts

Scotch Plains
Union County Vo-Tech
Camillo Castillo
LaJuan Miller

Springfield
FM Gaudineer MS
N. Adbullahu, M. Pisauro & 
N. Stanislawczyk
Jonathan Dayton HS
Farharah Mohamad

Summit
Oratory Preparatory School
Tyler Otterbein

Union
Union HS
Pamela Chuang
Andrea Garcia

Westfield
Edison Intermediate School
Catlin Collins

Roosevelt Intermediate School
Kevin Miller
Alyson Palia

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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, NJ – Exciting new acts and new attractions have been added to the annual Union County Fair featuring MusicFest, Union County’s five-day celebration of great free outdoor music combined with all the fun and flair of a traditional county fair. Free MusicFest shows are scheduled on all five days of the Union County Fair, from Wednesday, September 14 to Sunday, September 18 at Oak Ridge Park in Clark.

The MusicFest headliner this year is Blondie, the pop powerhouse fronted by golden-voiced Deborah Harry, performing on Saturday night. Other highlights include Live’s Ed Kowalczyk and Collective Soul on Friday night, Mike Peters of The Alarm and Neon Trees on Saturday, and New Jersey and local bands performing throughout the five-day event.

Also in the lineup are cult favorites Toad the Wet Sprocket, New Jersey’s own Nicole Atkins and the Black Sea, and the amazing Paul Rodgers, voice of the legendary rock band Bad Company.

Sunday is New Jersey Family Day at the County Fair, with a full slate of New Jersey and local performers on all stages including The Smithereens featuring Union County’s own Pat DiNizio, a Springsteen tribute by School of Rock All-Stars, and headliner Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.

Also part of the Jersey Day festivities is the Classic Car Show featuring the famed Batmobile.

This year, MusicFest also features up-and-coming young local musicians from the School of Rock on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Carnival rides, food and craft vendors, displays by local businesses, Kid’s Kingdom child-friendly music, activities and crafts, and a “Green Village” for fun environmental education and art round out the attractions, along with the Hell on Wheels BMX daredevils.

The Green Village includes eye-popping recycled art, educational displays, and the DJ Lab featuring a dance floor illuminated with high efficiency LED lights.

The Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County will host a large tent packed with fun and informative activities including a free rain barrel raffle, cooking demonstrations, gardening tips, children’s workshops and the Second Annual Harvest Contest.

All entries in the Harvest Contest get a participation ribbon, and prizes go to the heaviest tomato, heaviest zucchini, strangest looking vegetable, best character made from vegetables, and best quick bread.

For all Union County Fair information including MusicFest and instructions for entering the Harvest Contest, visit theucfair.org, ucmusicfest.org, or facebook.com/musicfest, or follow ucnjmusicfest on Twitter.

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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, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites members of the public to attend a special ceremony to honor the memory of the 60 Union County residents killed in the attacks of September 11, 2001. The ceremony will be held at the Union County September 11th Memorial in Echo Lake Park, in Mountainside, beginning at 1:00 p.m. this Sunday, September 11.

The ceremony includes the reading of names, a color guard and rifle salute, and the laying of flowers.

In conjunction with the ceremony, a blood donation drive will be conducted near the Memorial 

The Union County September 11th Memorial is located near the Springfield Avenue entrance of Echo Lake Park on the border of Mountainside and Springfield. Dedicated on September 13, 2003, it was constructed through private donations including in-kind work by labor unions and materials at cost.

A special countywide ceremony will be held at the Union County September 11th Memorial at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside on Sunday, September 11 starting at 1:00 p.m. in remembrance of the tenth anniversary of the 2001 attacks. A blood donation drive will also be held from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (photo: 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, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

Union County, NJ — Nominations are now being accepted for the 20th annual Women of Excellence awards program, sponsored by the Union County Commission on the Status of Women and the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

“If there is an outstanding woman in your life, I urge you to take this opportunity to enable the whole Union County community to recognize and honor her achievements,” said Freeholder Chairman Deborah Scanlon. “As we approach this significant anniversary of the Women of Excellence award, we can look back over the past twenty years with a renewed appreciation for the many different ways in which the contributions of women have shaped our lives.”

The Women of Excellence Awards recognize the achievements of women in a wide variety of fields and circumstances. The Commission on the Status of Women will consider nominations for women who are 21 years or older, who live or work in  Union County and have distinguished themselves in any of the following categories: Arts and Humanities, Business/Entrepreneurial, Community Service, Education, Government, Law, Law Enforcement, Medicine/Health Care, or Women’s Advocacy.

The Women of Excellence who are selected from the pool of nominees will be honored at a celebratory dinner to be held at The Westwood in Garwood on Friday, March 23, 2012.

To obtain a Women of Excellence Award Nomination Form, contact Madeline Brigantino at 908-527-4144 ormbrigantino@ucnj.org, or click here to download the form.  The completed form should be mailed to Jane O’Hara, Union County Commission on the Status of Women, 708 Newark Avenue, Westfield, NJ 07090.

Nominations must be postmarked by December 1, 2011.

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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, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminded Union County small business owners to contact the Union County Economic Development Corporation (UCEDC) for information about loans for hurricane related expenses.

UCEDC is a non-profit corporation dedicated to providing loans to small businesses when conventional lending sources are out of reach. It can be contacted by phone at 908-527-1166, or visit www.ucedc.com and follow the link to “Loans.”

Union County business owners should also contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for information about assistance, as Union County has been declared eligible for federal disaster relief. Visitwww.fema.gov or call 800-621-3362.

Additional hurricane related information is available on the Union County website, www.ucnj.org.

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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 – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to sponsor an exhibition of paintings by students who take classes at the Rahway Senior Center. The art work is on exhibit through October 3rd in the Freeholders Gallery, located on the 6th floor of the Union County Administration Building, Elizabethtown Plaza at Rahway Avenue, in historic midtown Elizabeth. The Gallery is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

“Come and enjoy the creative products of these talented artists,” said Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board. “They work in oil, watercolor and mixed media under the tutelage of art instructor Laura Brown.”

Among the student-artists whose work is on exhibit are Karen Argentiere-Buffa, Molly Brown, Rosemarie Campbell, Sherley Cherubino, Mary Alice Erickson, Roberta Frimpter, Madeline Granieri, Katina Massas, Dawn McDonald, Ida Mele, Arline Mini, Joan Pender, Mary Peter, and Ann Quigley.

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

The Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs coordinates exhibitions held in the Freeholders Gallery, curated by Teya David of the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs. For further 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.

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Art Students from Rahway Senior Center Exhibit Their Work at Freeholders Gallery

ELIZABETH, NJ – Paintings by art students from the Rahway Senior Center are now on exhibit at the Freeholders Gallery, located in the Union County Administration Building on Elizabethtown Plaza in Elizabeth. The exhibit is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Oct. 3. Pictured are art instructor Laura Brown (standing) teaching artist-students (left to right) Molly Brown, Katina Massas and Ann Quigley. For more information about the Rahway Senior Center and its activities, please call Ellen Staunton at 732-827-2016.

Residents, small businesses impacted by Hurricane Irene are now eligible for Federal assistance

UNION COUNTY, NJ—Freeholder Chairman Deborah Scanlon today announced the federal government has approved Union County’s request for disaster assistance for its residents’ impacted by Hurricane Irene. Individual and public assistance was approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Union County residents and small businesses in all municipalities are now eligible to apply for different types of federal assistance, including temporary housing, repair, replacement or other needs such as Disaster Unemployment Assistance, and Small Business Administration disaster loans.

“Residents and small businesses are now eligible for much-needed assistance from FEMA,” Scanlon said. “This is a crucial step in assisting our homeowners and businesses in the recovery from the Hurricane.”

Union County has submitted damage assessments to the state as required, totaling over $200 million. On Friday, representatives from FEMA and NJ OEM completed both the Public Assessment (PA) and Individual Assessment (IA) of the devestating damages throughout the County as a result of Hurricane Irene.

Public assistance eligibility allows eligible local governments, and certain nonprofit organizations to apply for federal funding on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Hurricane Irene.

Survivors of Hurricane Irene in Union County who suffered damage should apply for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency – even if they have insurance or aren’t sure they are eligible.

Register by phone at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585 for those with hearing or speech impairments. Specialists are standing by at the toll-free numbers seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, until further notice. Help in other languages is available. Or you can register online atwww.DisasterAssistance.gov.You can also apply through a web-enabled mobile device or smartphone by visiting m.fema.gov and following the link to “apply online for federal assistance.”

Union County, NJ – Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) met with Union County officials today and got a first-hand look at parts of Union County that suffered severe damage from Hurricane Irene. County and FEMA representatives were joined by representatives from the State’s Office of Emergency Management and Department of Transportation.

Union County was not included in the initial list of New Jersey counties that were declared eligible for FEMA disaster relief earlier this week. The information gathering process required by FEMA is still ongoing for other counties including Union County, and Union County continues to work closely with FEMA, local and state officials, and elected representatives, to ensure that the process goes forward as quickly as possible.

“After having FEMA representatives on the ground in Union County, I am hopeful that Union County will receive a declaration from FEMA within the coming days,” stated Union County Manager Alfred Faella. “The process is moving forward.”

For the latest updates, Union County residents can visit the FEMA website, www.fema.gov. Union County residents can also register information regarding their storm damage with FEMA by calling 1-800-621-3362.

Union County residents who wish to receive automatic notification of FEMA disaster declaration announcements can register online to join Union County’s emergency notification and alert system, Union County First Alert, by visiting www.ucfirstalert.org.

More hurricane related updates are available on the Union County website, www.ucnj.org.

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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.

Tina Casey
Deputy Director
Union County Office of Public Information
908-527-4346
tcasey@ucnj.org