Category: Public Info

Hurricane makes slight shift to the East, however County can expect severe
hurricane storm force winds of up to 70 MPH and 10 inches of rainfall.

Union County – Office of Emergency Management officials have reported the National Weather Service has issued a Hurricane Watch and Flood Watch today.  Most up-to-date projections have indicated Hurricane Irene has moved to the EAST and is now projected to pass 50-60 miles from Union County.  Previous projections had placed Union County in the eye of Hurricane Irene’s path.

Regardless of the slight shift of the storm, due to the sheer size of Hurricane Irene, the County of Union can expect to sustain 50-55 MPH winds, with gusts reaching 60-70 MPH.  Union County can also expect to receive 6-10 inches of rainfall.

At the time of release, Hurricane Irene has been categorized as a Category 2 hurricane. The Union County Office of Emergency Management continues to monitor Hurricane Irene in coordination with the National Weather Service. The current path of the hurricane is projected to impact Union County as early as Saturday evening and continue to greaten in severity into Sunday.

“Even though the storm has apparently shifted slightly, it’s important for Union County residents to take this storm seriously take the appropriate steps to prepare, especially if you live in an area prone to flooding,” stated Freeholder Mohamed Jalloh, Homeland Security Committee Chairman. “The County encourages residents to sign up with the ‘Union County First Alert’ system so they can receive important hurricane notifications and to visit the County’s website for a Hurricane and Power Outage checklist.”

The best way to avoid major problems is to ensure you are prepared and that 9-1-1 phone lines are utilized for emergencies only.   Residents are encouraged to register with UC First Alert Network athttp://ucfirstalert.org.  The County of Union uses the UC First Alert Network to immediately deliver important alerts, notifications and updates to residents’ email, cell phone, pager and smartphone devices during a major crisis or emergency.

For those individuals with special needs are asked to register electronically with the New Jersey’s Special Needs Registry for Disasters at www.registerready.nj.gov.  The NJ Special Needs Registry is a free, voluntary and confidential program designed to assist people with special needs who may find it difficult to get to safety in the event of an emergency.  Alternatively, they can call New Jersey’s toll-free 2-1-1 telephone service.

In addition to registering with UC First Alert, residents are asked to take precautionary measures such as:

• Pack a Go-Bag, a collection of items you may need in the event of an evacuation.  Items to be considered include, but are not limited to, copies of important documents in a waterproof and portable container, bottled water and non-perishable food, flashlight and battery operated AM/FM radio.  For a full list of items that should be included in your Go-Bag, please visit https://ucnj.org/oem.

• Bring in anything that can be picked up by the wind (bicycles, lawn furniture).

• Turn off propane tanks and unplug small appliances.

• Turn the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting and keep them closed as much as possible so that food will last longer if the power goes out.

• For more tips and information visit (www.ucnj.org)

LINDEN, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that its next mobile paper-shredding program for personal documents will be available on Thursday, September 15, at the Linden Recycling Center.

“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 Sept. 15th shredding event will take place at the Linden Recycling Center, located at 2 Donaldson Place, off West Elizabeth Avenue in Linden. 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 all participants, there is a limit of four, 10-pound bags or boxes per person. Documents should not be bound. Please remove plastic binders and paperclips. 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 put through the shredder. 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, September 24, at the campus of the Union County Vo-Tech Schools, 1776 Raritan Road 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 .

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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 .

Members of The Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County work on crafts to help raise funds for their civic programs, which include neighborhood garden projects, education, outreach to seniors and the disabled, scholarships, a large demonstration garden and much more. Master Gardeners are trained and certified by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, supported in part by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. For information on becoming a Master Gardener call the Extension at 908-654-9854, visitmastergardeners-uc.org, or visit the Union County website at ucnj.org. The deadline to apply for the fall training session is Friday, September 16.

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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 Sheriff Ralph Froehlich and Union County Freeholder Angel G. Estrada congratulate Megan Campbell of Hillside on graduating as class president of the 2011 Class of the Union County Sheriff’s Youth Academy. More than 80 teens from across Union County who completed the program took part in the graduation ceremony at Union County College in Cranford on August 23. The Sheriff’s Youth Academy is a two week program designed to familiarize young people with the role of a Sheriff’s Officer. Also, it operates similar to an actual police academy for teens interested in law enforcement. Participants in the Youth Academy receive hands-on experience in a wide variety of emergency services and law enforcement functions and training.  (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

The Master Tree Stewards of Union County are still accepting applications for fall training sessions. Enjoying a visit to Stokes State Forest are (r to l) Mary Krauss of New Providence, Ann Cusack of Cranford, Linda Howe of New Providence, Union County 4-H Agent James Nichnadowicz; Jerry Petz of Cranford (kneeling), Sheila Godbee of Elizabeth, Bob and Ellen Trasente of Chatham, Mary Lou Mayfield of Union, and Carmine and Ed Santoriello of Chatham. Rutgers-certified Master Tree Stewards help teach youngsters about the importance of trees and perform other community service projects.  No prior experience with trees is required. For more information call the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, 908-654-9854 or visit 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.

Cooperating Agencies: Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Rutgers Cooperative Extension, a unit of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, is an equal opportunity program provider and employer. Contact the Union County 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.

ROSELLE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Community Renewal announce the conclusion of this year’s “Family Fun and Flix” nights on Friday evening, Sept. 9. The final installment of this free summer outdoor entertainment and film series will include fun fishy crafts for kids before the animated feature film “Finding Nemo” at Warinanco Park on the border of Roselle and Elizabeth.

“Family Fun and Flix is a great way to enjoy a summer evening in one of Union County’s parks,” said Freeholder Chairman Deborah Scanlon. “The movie begins at dusk, but come early to the park for the kids to enjoy some crafty fun before the film. Bring a blanket or beach chair to claim your spot on the lawn or save a seat in the bleachers.”

Come to Warinanco Park at 7:00 p.m. on Sept. 9 and have fun making a fishy craft project before watching the animated 2003 Disney-Pixar feature film, “Finding Nemo.” At dusk, sit back with your free popcorn and enjoy the G-rated comedy-adventure about a young fish who winds up in a dentist’s office aquarium and his father’s epic journey to bring Nemo home.

The Union County Freeholders are pleased to welcome the community lender OneMain Financial as a co-sponsor of the evening’s entertainment. OneMain Financial has been serving communities across the country since 1912. For more information about OneMain Financial, visit www.onemainfinancial.com

The movie “Finding Nemo” starts at dusk, weather permitting. For more information, call the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal at 908-527-4900. For program and rain information call 908-558-4079 after 3:00 p.m. on the day of the show or visit 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 .

Miah Simmons of Plainfield works on a Union County 4-H sewing project. The Union County 4-H Fashion Design/Sewing Club is looking for an adult mentor with experience in sewing. The club meets on Monday evenings once a month, from September to June, at the Union County Services Building in Westfield.  The 4-H program is part of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, which will provide project ideas, supplies, and training. To volunteer, contact 4-H Agent James Nichnadowicz, 908-654-9854 ornichnadowicz@ucnj.org. (photo: courtesy Union County 4-H).

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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.

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 – The Watchung Reservation is the perfect setting for adults to enjoy a tranquil evening in a Nature Walk and Guided Meditation Program being offered on August 24 at Trailside Nature & Science Center. Adults, 18 and older, are invited to join a naturalist on a walk in the Watchung Reservation to experience the sights and sounds of a summer evening and then return to the Trailside Visitor Center for a relaxing guided meditation session. This program is being offered on Wednesday, August 24, from 7:15 – 8:45 p.m. The session costs $12 per person for Union County residents and $15 per person for out-of-county residents.

“This Evening Nature Walk and Guided Meditation Program is a wonderful opportunity for adults to experience the beauty and tranquility of the Watchung Reservation and to gain insight into methods of relaxation,” said Freeholder Daniel P. Sullivan, liaison to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

Participants will be treated to a guided tour of the picturesque Watchung Reservation and then be instructed in various meditation techniques that are devised to promote physical and emotional well being. Guided visualizations will be used to help participants learn how to relieve the tension and stresses of everyday life.

For information on the August 24 session of the Adult Evening Nature Walk and Guided Meditation Program, or for information on any other programs or upcoming events at Trailside, call 908-789-3670 or visitwww.ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road 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 .

Elizabeth – The County of Union is asking County residents to check their property for standing water: potential breeding sites for mosquitos.  The significant amount of rainfall the area has recently experienced can leave behind small amounts of standing water that female mosquitos require to breed.

There are about 20 different species of mosquitos in Union County.  Included in this group is the Asian tiger mosquito.  This non-native species has been moving northward since it was first identified in Texas in 1985.  It has now found a home in at least half of New Jersey, including Union County.

Unlike many mosquitos, the Asian Tiger strikes both day and night and shuns green space.  It prefers crowded urban habitats including patios and backyards.    The tiger mosquito tends to utilize areas that most other mosquitos will not.  It is called a “container mosquito” because it breeds easily in any small object that holds water, such as flower pots, yard toys, discarded tires, empty bottles, plastic bags, and even bottle caps.

“The Asian Tiger mosquito is particularly menacing because of its sharp bite and its preference for urban areas,” said Freeholder Chairman Deborah P. Scanlon.  “We are asking residents to thoroughly examine their property and eliminate breeding sites, get rid of the breeding sites, and you help reduce the mosquito population.”

Removing litter and debris is a major first step toward eliminating breeding sites.  Unused pools, fountains, and ornamental ponds should be drained and covered.

Residents should also check their outdoor equipment and garden ornaments, including grills, wheelbarrows, and tarpaulins, to ensure there is no place for water to collect, even in very small amounts.  Rain gutters should be cleaned regularly to ensure that water does not collect in blockages, and water in birdbaths should be changed at least once a week.

To avoid bites, residents are advised to wear long clothing when outdoors in the early morning and early evening.  DEET remains the single most effective mosquito repellent.  County residents are advised to follow all instructions carefully when using products containing DEET.   Talk to your pediatrician before using DEET on very small children.

To report mosquito infestations, Union County residents can call the Union County Mosquito Hotline at 908-654-9834.  County inspectors will examine the property and recommend ways to eliminate breeding sites.  If needed, the inspectors will also survey the surrounding area.  In addition to responding to residents’ requests for site inspections, the Union County Bureau of Mosquito Control regularly inspects and tests for mosquitos throughout the county.

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Elizabeth, NJ -The Union County Surrogate James S. LaCorte has issued a warning regarding Payable on Death (P.O.D.) bank policy for Union County residents; with a special emphasis to seniors.    Payable-On-Death means adding a beneficiary to your bank account.  In the event of your death, the beneficiary can access the money with a death certificate or proof of death, without a judge’s signature, probate proceedings, attorneys, or anyone’s permission.

Earlier this year the Surrogate issued a similar warning regarding the practices of out-of-state banks with branches in New Jersey in relation to safety deposit boxes.  Many of these institutions may not follow New Jersey practice when it comes to releasing certain items from those boxes when the owner of the safety deposit box dies.  Some of the same institutions are exhibiting a similar lack of understanding in the area of P.O.D. accounts.

“I encourage anyone with a POD account to go to their bank, discuss and be clear on what the policy is regarding these accounts,” Surrogate James LaCorte said.  “Unfortunately, some large out-of-state banks with New Jersey branches are requiring loved ones to acquire a Surrogate’s Court document before they will pay over the proceeds of these accounts.   In the state of New Jersey that document is not required.”

P.O.D. accounts are, in fact, a contract between the account owner and the bank.  The bank agrees to pay the proceeds of the account to the payee on the account upon the submission of competent proof of death of the account holder.  A certified death certificate is more than adequate proof of death.  However, in many instances, these large out-of-state banks with branches in New Jersey make these transfers much more difficult in times of hardship.

There are times when all of the funds cannot be released such as whenever the payee is not a son, daughter, spouse, grandchild, etc.  A tax waiver is required for all other payees.

As in the case of safety deposit boxes, sometimes “bigger is not better.”

If you desire to set up a P.O.D. account, talk to a smaller local bank first; they may be more accommodating.

A local bank may make the process easier for your beneficiary, resulting in an orderly transition of your assets at a time when your family will need it the most.

For more information on services provided by the Surrogate’s office, please call 908-527-4280.

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.

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