Category: Public Info

Union County Freeholder Linda Carter (center) of Plainfield is sworn in as Vice Chairman of the Freeholder Board by Plainfield Municipal Judge Joan Robinson Gross during Union County Government’s 155th Annual Reorganization on January 8, 2012 at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. Holding the Bible is Freeholder Carter’s mother, Adele Carter. (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 Vernell Wright of Union is sworn in to her first term as Freeholder by Judge Glen Grant during Union County Government’s 155th Annual Reorganization on January 8, 2012 at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. Holding the Bible are Freeholder Wright’s daughter Patricia Johnson, daughter-in-law Deborah Douglas Wright, and her grandchildren Andrea Johnson, Mark McArthur and Anthony Wright. (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 (center) of Linden is sworn in to his first full term as Freeholder by Joseph Bodek, Municipal Clerk of the City of Linden, during Union County Government’s 155th Annual Reorganization on January 8, 2012 at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. Holding the Bible are Freeholder Hudak’s wife Terri and their daughter Catie.  (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 Angel G. Estrada of Elizabeth is sworn in for his fifth term as Freeholder by Superior Court Judge Roberto Alcazar (not pictured) during Union County Government’s 155th Annual Reorganization on January 8, 2012 at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. Holding the Bible are Freeholder Estrada’s grandchildren, Keith and Alexandra.  (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

Freeholder Estrada begins new term;
Freeholder Hudak begins first full term;
Freeholder Wright begins first term

UNION COUNTY COURTHOUSE, ELIZABETH—Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabellatoday announced a series of initiatives entitled “putting people first” that are designed tojumpstart economic growth, assist those with special needs, encourage green practices and recognize veterans and active military service personnel.

Mirabella, a resident of Fanwood, was selected as Chairman of the Union County Freeholder Board for the fourth time in his career at the 155th annual reorganization meeting held in the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. Mirabella was last Chairman in 2009.

“For even among the shadow of a persistent economic hardship, and a decade of war that has transformed America, there is a new sun rising today, bringing rays of hope and renewal,” Mirabella proclaimed during his reorganization address. “Yet this sense of new hope is tempered by the reality that we still have a long way to go during these difficult times. We must continue to put the people of Union County first in all we do.”

Freeholder Angel Estrada, of Elizabeth, was sworn in to a fifth term; Freeholder Christopher Hudak, of Linden, was sworn in to his first full term, and Freeholder Vernell Wright, of Union, was sworn in to her first term. Freeholder Linda Carter, of Plainfield, was appointed Vice Chairman of the Freeholder Board.

Freeholders also voted to fill numerous positions on county advisory boards and to adopt the board’s 2012 schedule and procedural rules.

Mirabella also announced his initiatives will be done at little or no added expense to taxpayers, and some are funded through existing grant money.

“PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST” INITIATIVES:

“Union County Means Business” — Host the first of a series of “Union County Means Business” networking breakfasts for the business community and government representatives on February 1st at Kean University.Also, the nationally-recognized Rutgers Heldrich Center will finish their “Union County Competitiveness Study,” an action plan for keeping Union County’s economy healthy, and competitive. The report has identified two main sectors to focus on: health care and transportation-logistics-distribution. These are two areas—known as ‘clusters’– where Union County’s location and advanced labor force gives an advantage in creating even more job opportunities for residents and more growth for businesses.

New programs for the disabled and those with special needs, including:

• The development of an Autism Theatre Initiative with the Union County Performing Arts Center, to make plays accessible to children and teenagers (ages 5-18) on the spectrum. The goal is to provide a series of theatrical performances, at a nominal fee.

• The re-introduction of the “Horticulture for Children with Special Needs” program. This will be done in partnership with the Rutgers Cooperative Master Gardeners program.

• Several other new offerings for the disabled including a soccer instructional program, a barn dance in the Watchung Reservation, and a springtime social.

The creation of Union County Tech School of Design at the Vo-Tech. This will follow the same career academy format as the other Vo-Tech magnet school programs. It will function as a “school within a school” and service approximately 80 students over a four-year period and start next September.This initiative will provide for the initial group of 20 9th grade students to study digital media and computer aided design. Through an agreement with Kean University, students will have the opportunity to earn up to 30 college credits while attending the Vo Tech.

Green initiatives: Through a federal grant, a total of more than 25 county facilities have already or will receive energy efficient upgrades such as: lighting improvements, the installation of programmable thermostats, and installation of high efficiency air conditioning units, chillers, and boilers.The funds have also been used to jumpstart the creation of four different solar panel projects at the following locations:Trailside in Mountainside;The Juvenile Detention Center in Linden;Runnells Specialized Hospital in Berkeley Heights;and the Ruotolo Building in Elizabeth. Green LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards will continue to be applied to the County’s construction and renovation projects.

For active military service men and women, the County will be offering a card for complimentary services in its parks system in 2012. This will enable active service people who are County residents—and their families—to enjoy one free usage of some of the County’s most popular services—golf, pool, skating and more throughout the year.

For all Union County Veterans, the County will add a “Veterans Appreciation” concert in the parks system during the summer. Throughout the year the County will also work to enhance outreach to veterans through Union County’s Office of Veterans Affairs.

Union County Freeholder Alexander Mirabella of Fanwood is sworn in as the 2012 Chairman of the Freeholder Board by New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak (L) during Union County Government’s Annual Reorganization on January 8, 2012 at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. Holding the Bible are Freeholder Chairman Mirabella’s wife Phyllis and their children Micayla and Alexander. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – “Beyond Just Riding” is a series of five winter clinics being offered on Sundays at Watchung Stable. Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal, the clinics will be held on Sunday mornings from January 15 through February 12.

“We are pleased to continue this program which explores different equestrian topics with no actual riding,” said Freeholder Chairman Deborah Scanlon. “This exploration of horses and horseback riding will help people learn simple behaviors of the horse and what it actually takes to own your own horse.”

Participants, ages nine through adult, are invited to register for as many clinics as they would like.  Each “Beyond Just Riding” session will last two hours and will focus on one of a variety of horse and horsemanship topics. All riding levels are welcome. The clinics will be held in the barn or the lecture area of the stable.

The winter clinics are being offered as follows:

• Jan. 15     9-11 a.m.     Grooming and Tacking Up;
• Jan. 22     9-11 a.m.     Behavior of Horses;
• Jan. 29     9-11 a.m.     Basic Tack and Care of Tack;
• Feb. 5       9-11 a.m.     Advanced Grooming;
• Feb. 12     9-11 a.m.     What It Takes To Own A Horse.

Space is limited and in-person pre-registration is required at Watchung Stable, located at 1160 Summit Lane in Mountainside. The cost is $20 per person for each two-hour clinic. For further information, call the Watchung Stable office at 908-789-3665 or e-mail your question tostablequestions@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 atwww.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj .

The Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal has released details of its annual Deer Management Program, which for the first time will tackle the problem of deer overpopulation in Lenape Park.

Since 1995, marksmen in the County of Union’s state-approved deer management program have reduced the population of white-tailed deer in the Watchung Reservation substantially. Last year, that effort was expanded to remove deer from portions of Passaic River Park in Summit.

Union County has received complaints about deer-related impacts from residents around Lenape Park for several years. The Cranford Environmental Commission, the Cranford Tree Advisory Board and the Hanson Park Conservancy have all expressed concern for damage to and loss of landscape vegetation and a fear of Lyme disease. Browsing for food by large numbers of deer has caused a loss of forest understory, especially in Lenape Park and Nomahegan Park, and threatens the survival of the plant and animal communities that are important to the ecology of these parks.

In 2009, the Township of Cranford asked that the County investigate the extent of deer overpopulation in Lenape Park and take the appropriate steps to reduce the deer herd. Forest ecologists recommend a density of 20 deer per square mile in a healthy hardwood forest and as low as five per square mile in a forest that has been heavily damaged by browsing. Spotlight counts conducted by the County in April, 2010 and April, 2011 showed deer densities in excess of 300 per square mile.  An analysis completed by the County last week shows that roads bordering Lenape and Nomahegan Parks had some of the highest numbers of deer-car collisions in the County over the past year.

Lenape Park covers 403 acres, or about 0.63 square mile, in the Townships of Cranford, Springfield and Union, the Borough of Kenilworth and the Town of Westfield. During this initial effort, it is hoped that 125 deer will be removed from Lenape Park.

Hunting in Lenape Park will occur on the five Mondays from January 9 to February 6. In the event of inclement weather on a Monday, the hunting activity may be moved to Wednesday that week.  Hunters will be in the park from 5:00 a.m. until after dark, but shooting may only occur during daylight hours.

Ten volunteer marksmen have already been chosen by the County from among the most experienced participants in past years of the Watchung Reservation deer management program. The licensed hunters will be wearing orange hats or vests and will hunt the deer from elevated positions, at least 20 feet up in the trees, over baited sites.

The hunters may keep any deer carcasses that they harvest. All other deer will be processed at a USDA-approved butcher. Venison will be distributed to the needy and homeless through the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

Anyone found hunting on any Union County park property outside the terms of this program will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Citizens observing any such illegal activity are urged to immediately contact the Union County Police at 908-654-9800.

The public should note that Lenape Park will not be closed during the deer management program. However, park patrons are urged to stay on the paved paths and to keep pets restrained on a leash.

The Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal will distribute information about this deer-management program to households surrounding Lenape Park. For further information, contact the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal at (908) 789-3682, orclick here to view the program guidelines.

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

Union County, NJ – Just in time to boost New Year’s resolutions for improving health and personal finances, Union County introduces the “Winter 2012 Small Steps to Health and Wealth Challenge.”  The free six-week program, open to all Union County residents, is an online learning experience developed by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, supported in part by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. It kicks off on from Sunday, January 15th and lasts through Saturday, February 25th.

“The Winter Challenge is an effective way to convert ambitious New Year’s resolutions, like improving health and saving money, into daily action steps,” noted Freeholder Chairman Deborah Scanlon. “The Freeholder Board is proud to support this beneficial program.”

The Winter Challenge is part of Small Steps to Health and Wealth™ (SSHW), a national Cooperative Extension program built around a framework of 25 research-based behavior change strategies.

The “Winter 2012 SSHW Challenge” is based on the performance of ten recommended practices on a daily basis: five that involve health and nutrition and five that involve financial management. Participants can also replace one daily health activity and one daily personal finance activity with a unique daily personal challenge of their own.

“Doing even one of the ten recommended daily practices is a great way to get started on the path to better health and improved financial security,” said Dr. Karen Ensle, RD, a Rutgers professor who is the Family and Community Health Sciences Educator for the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County. Dr. Ensle developed the Small Steps to Health and Wealth™ program with Dr. Barbara O’Neill CFP, also of Rutgers.

Points are assigned for each completed action, which can be entered online. The point system allows for a total of 700 points per week and a possible challenge-wide total of 4,200 points. Prizes will be awarded for participants who report the highest point totals.

Participants can also track and compare their personal progress with the average scores of others taking part in the challenge using the bar graph on the website.

To sign up for the SSHW Challenge, follow the “Challenges” link on the Small Steps to Health and Wealth™ Web site at http://njaes.rutgers.edu/sshw/.  Set up a user name and password and download a simple one-page user’s guide with instructions on how to proceed. Enroll in the Challenge titled “Winter 2012 SSHW Challenge.” Paper tracking forms can be downloaded to keep track of daily activities until they are entered online.

The Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County is supported in part by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. To contact the Union County Extension by phone, call 908-654-9854

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastion 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 at http://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 – Children from the ages of three to eight are welcome to come to  Watchung Stable in Mountainside this winter to enjoy specialized non-riding mini-clinics to expand their knowledge of horses. Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal, the clinics will be held on three Saturdays: Jan. 14, Feb. 4, and Feb. 18.

“We are glad to sponsor programs that are focused on different equestrian topics for young children,” said Freeholder Chairman Deborah Scanlon. “There’s no riding involved in these clinics, but the children enjoy learning about horses and actually grooming the horses.”

Children ages three to eight can enjoy a hands-on grooming session with Watchung Stable’s resident horses. “Just the Two of Us” grooming sessions are included so a parent and child can participate together. Each session will last one hour. The clinics will be held in the barn or the lecture area of the stable and are designed to include parents and children who have never ridden before.

The Kiddie Clinics about horses will be offered as follows:

• Jan. 14: 9-10 a.m. Mini-Grooming: for children ages 6-8;
• Jan. 14: 10-11 a.m. Colorful World of Horses: children ages 6-8 learn about different breeds;
• Jan. 14: 11-12 p.m. Just the Two of Us: mini-grooming for children ages 3-5 with a parent.
• Feb. 4: 9-10 a.m. Mini-Grooming: for children ages 6-8;
• Feb. 4: 10-11 a.m. Colorful World of Horses: children 6-8 learn about different breeds;
• Feb. 4: 11-12 p.m. Just the Two of Us: mini-grooming for children ages 3-5 with a parent.
• Feb. 18: 9-10 a.m. Mini-Grooming: for children ages 6-8;
• Feb. 18: 10-11 a.m. Colorful World of Horses: children 6-8 learn about different breeds;
• Feb. 18: 11-12 p.m. Just the Two of Us: mini-grooming for children ages 3-5 with a parent.

Space is limited and in-person pre-registration is required at Watchung Stable, located at 1160 Summit Lane in Mountainside. The cost is $10 per person for each clinic. For more information, call Watchung Stable at 908-789-3665, or e-mail your questions to stablequestions@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 atwww.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj .

Union County, NJ – The Union County Renewable Energy Program kicked off earlier this year to bring clean, low cost solar power to more than two dozen public buildings throughout the county, and the first three projects are now in operation. As of December 1, rooftop installations at the Cranford Library, Cranford Community Center, and Linden Library began generating electricity from photovoltaic panels.

“Union county has demonstrated its strong commitment to clean energy programs and Cranford appreciates the efficient execution of the solar project,” said Cranford Mayor Daniel Aschenbach. “We would welcome the opportunity to participate in further solar installations.”

“These new solar installations began saving money the minute they started running and they will help reduce the use of fuels that pollute our air,” said Freeholder Chairman Deborah Scanlon. “Solar energy is a more sustainable way to power our Union County communities and our economy.”

The Renewable Energy Program was arranged by the Union County Improvement Authority through power purchase agreements, which are common throughout the solar industry. In power purchase agreements, the property owners do not own the solar equipment. They simply pay for the electricity generated by the photovoltaic panels, at a rate lower than the price of conventional electricity.

“By participating in this program, our local governments and other public entities have taken Union County on the first steps toward a clean, renewable energy future,” said Charlotte DeFilippo, Executive Director of the Improvement Authority. “Union County residents can be proud to claim this historic transition as a generational accomplishment.”

The contractor for the Renewable Energy Program, Tioga Energy, Inc., installs, maintains and operates the solar installations.

Each solar panel measures approximately three feet by five feet. The Cranford Community Center is the largest installation, consisting of 292 panels. It is capable of generating about 67,000 kilowatt hours per year, at a savings of about 8 cents per kilowatt hour.

The installation at the Cranford Public Library consists of 186 panels and is expected to save about 8 cents per kilowatt hour. The Linden Public Library installation consists of 86 panels and will save about 6.6 cents per kilowatt hour.

Along with Cranford and Linden, the participating governments and public entities are Garwood, Hillside, the Hillside Board of Education, Morris-Union Jointure, the New Providence Board of Education, Plainfield, Roselle, the Roselle Board of Education, Roselle Park, Springfield, Union County College, Union County Vo-Tech Schools, and the Winfield Board of Education.

Union County is also participating, with solar installations for the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway and the County Administration Building in downtown Elizabeth.

The total comes to 27 solar installations, all of which are expected to be completed within the next year.

Cranford Mayor Daniel Aschenbach stands before the Cranford Public Library, where new rooftop solar panels began generating clean, low cost energy earlier this month. The installation is one of more than two dozen planned for public buildings under the Union County Renewable Energy Program (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.