Category: Public Info

Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski (R) congratulates senior citizen volunteers (from left) Elizabeth Royster of East Orange, Paul Centonze of Roselle Park, June Atkins of Plainfield and Rosalind Turner of Plainfield as they are honored for their outstanding service throughout Union County at the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Recognition Luncheon on September 24 in Mountainside. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

by Bette Jane Kowalski
Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders

September 2010

A new resource is available for Union County residents who are struggling with the high cost of health care. It’s called the Union County Wellness Program. It can help you save money on prescription drugs, along with other health care savings.

The main feature of the Wellness Program is a discount plan that helps to lower the cost of prescription drugs. It’s ideal for Union County residents who have no insurance coverage, including students and the self-employed. If you have an insurance policy that provides drug coverage, the Wellness Program can help close gaps and reduce your out-of-pocket costs.

The Freeholder Board started the Wellness Program after hearing of its success in Bergen County. When we learned the details of the plan, we knew it was a good choice. There are no restrictions, and the program is open to all Union County residents regardless of age, pre-existing conditions, or other factors.

The Wellness Program discounts can range from 10 percent to 50 percent, for an average of about 30 percent. On some medications, the savings can be as high as 75 percent.

The Wellness Program is free and easy to use. It is not an insurance policy. It is simply a discount plan supported by participating medical companies, so there are no forms, fees, or hidden costs. A membership card is provided free of charge. When you purchase your prescription drugs, your pharmacist or cashier scans your card and searches a database for the best available discounts.

You can download free membership cards and get more information by visiting the County website at www.ucnj.org/wellnessdiscount. Discounts are also available for hearing aids, vision care, dental care, diabetes supplies, and certain pet medications.

If you don’t have Internet access, you can leave a voice message with your name and address at the Union County Wellness Program hotline, 908-527-4750, and we will mail a free card and brochure to you.

The Wellness Program is a step in the right direction. We also expect Union County residents to benefit from President Obama’s new health care reforms. Independent analysis has confirmed that the new reforms help to reduce the federal budget deficit while making affordable insurance available to more households. They also help small businesses with new tax credits, they provide important new consumer protections against arbitrary denial of coverage, and they prevent insurers from dropping you when you get sick.

There is still work to be done, but step by step we are progressing toward a more efficient, reasonable and fair health care system that will benefit Union County residents.

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Marc Muller leads the sing-alongs as marshmallows are toasted by the fire

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Autumn evenings are a time for hay rides and family fun around the campfire at Trailside Nature & Science Center in Mountainside. Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the fun-filled evenings include hay rides, songs around a campfire led by singer Marc Muller, hot chocolate and marshmallows toasted over the fire.

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 Oct. 1, 8, 9, 15, and 29.

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.

Marc Muller is a talented New Jersey musician, producer and arranger. He has worked on PBS-TV, Food Network and Disney Channel productions, and has performed with Van Zant, Shania Twain, Dr. John, Carly Simon, Branford Marsalis, Elton John, Nickelback, and many other popular performers.

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.

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 at www.ucnj.org.

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Phoebe Weiman of Cranford was awarded the “Trooper of the Year” trophy and medal for accumulating the most points during the 2009 Watchung Mounted Troop season. Fourteen-year-old Phoebe, who has been riding horses for five years, received her trophy in May from stable manager Rachel Baris during the Watchung Stable 77th Annual Spring Troop Horse Show in Mountainside. Watchung Stable, a facility of the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal, is administered by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. For more information regarding equestrian programs call Watchung Stable at (908) 789-3665, or e-mail questions to stablequestions@ucnj.org.

Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski (R) presents a resolution to Mary Close of Summit congratulating her on receiving the Agnes N. Badgley Award from SAGE Eldercare during the organization’s 56th Annual Meeting in Summit. The award was created to recognize the invaluable contributions of SAGE Eldercare’s many volunteers. As one of the oldest and most respected senior service agencies in New Jersey, SAGE Eldercare helps thousands of frail, older adults, their families and caregivers each year. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

ELIZABETH, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds Union County residents that Tuesday, October 12, is the deadline to register to vote and to make address changes within your town or Union County to vote in the upcoming General Election in New Jersey.

“This year’s General Election offers residents an opportunity to vote for their local member of the U.S. House of Representatives as well as County and Municipal officials. But first you must register to vote by October 12,” Ms. Rajoppi said. “I urge all eligible residents to be part of the process and vote on Tuesday, November 2. Your vote does count.”

To register to vote or to register an address change, forms are available in every municipality at the office of the municipal clerk. Forms also may be obtained by calling the office of the Union County Clerk at 908-527-4996, or by visiting the Union County website: www.ucnj.org/ctyclerk/election.html. Voter registration forms and change of address forms must be mailed to the Union County Board of Elections, 271 North Broad Street, Elizabeth NJ 07208 no later than Friday, October 8, in order to be eligible to vote in the General Election on Tuesday, November 2.

To qualify to vote, you must also be a citizen of the United States and at least 18 years old, not serving a sentence, probation, or parole because of a felony conviction, and a resident of New Jersey and Union County for at least 30 days.

Voters are encouraged to Vote by Mail, an easy process that has replaced Absentee Voting. To apply to Vote by Mail, voters can pick up an application from their municipal clerk, download the form at the Union County website, www.ucnj.org/ctyclerk/VoteByMailApplication.pdf or contact the Union County Clerk at 908-527-4996.

For more information about voter registration, please call the Union County Board of Elections at 908-527-4123.

Contract could provide an additional $800,000 to County

Linden, NJ-The County of Union has agreed to enter into a contract with the County of Bergen to provide up to 20 secure detention beds for its juvenile detention population.

The contract could generate $800,000 in annual revenues to County coffers and will run from November 1, 2010 thru October 31, 2011. The agreement is pending formal approval by the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission.

“This agreement with Bergen County allows us to reduce the annual detention budget which costs approximately $6 million a year,” said Freeholder Chairman Daniel P. Sullivan.

No new costs will be incurred by the county and no additional staffing will be needed as a result of the additional juveniles. All transportation including court appearances to and from Bergen County will be provided by the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department.

In March 2008, Union County replaced its thirty-four bed detention facility in Elizabeth with a new state of the art 76 –bed facility in Linden. While the new facility is first and foremost a secure detention center, its overarching theme is to promote the concept of normative justice where secure detention is viewed as an opportunity to change behavior in a way that will benefit the offender, family and the community at-large.

During the 24 month construction period leading up to the March 2008 opening, Union County was also chosen by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the State of New Jersey to become a Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative (JDAI) site. This distinction, along with the County’s own juvenile detention expediting team that provides a case plan and follow up for every juvenile in the County’s system, has brought a systemic change to our Family court system.   These changes helped create alternatives to detention through support and use of community based programs and developed partnerships with child welfare agencies that resulted in a dramatic decrease in the average daily detention census at the detention center.

In June of 2009, the county entered into a contract with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to provide 15 beds for undocumented juveniles needing secure placement pending the disposition of their resident status in Newark federal court. The children held in the detention center under this agreement have been involved in the juvenile justice system and have left their country of origin for multiple reasons such as to rejoin family members already in the U.S., to escape abusive family relationships, fleeing political or religious persecution or to find work to support their families in their country of origin. This agreement was the first of its type in the tri-state area, and one of only five such arrangements in the nation. To date, that contract has generated over $1.2 million in budget offsets.

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The Volunteers Guild of RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital of Union County at 40 Watchung Way, Berkeley Heights will feature a sale by Reese Fine Jewelry on Friday, October 22nd from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Come to the facility’s multi-purpose room and view the impressive selection of 14 karat gold and sterling silver pieces. The sale will feature necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, anklets and more. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express will be accepted.

The public is invited to attend RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital product sales. A percentage of all purchases made at these sales is credited to the Volunteers Guild. Funds raised are used to enrich the lives of residents and patients by obtaining items that may include prizes for bingo games and paying for entertainment. The Guild, which makes vendor sales possible, also sponsors a holiday party/gift distribution in cooperation with the Berkeley Heights Lions Club.

“Get an early start to your holiday shopping while supporting the residents and patients at RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital when you shop at the sales of the RUNNELLS Volunteers Guild,” noted Union County Freeholder Mohamed S. Jalloh, liaison to RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital.

The Volunteers Guild and the Office of Volunteer Services of RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital are always interested in recruiting volunteers. Flexible hours and a variety of opportunities exist with resident contact as well as performing other tasks. Anyone who would like further information should call the Office of Volunteer Services at 908-771-5847

Union County’s school and health department nurses are invited to attend a symposium entitled “Understanding Pediatric & Adolescent Immunizations” which will be held at The Westwood, 438 North Avenue in Garwood on Thursday, October 28th. The program is made possible by GlaxoSmithKline in partnership with Union County’s Immunization Program.

“Union County’s Immunization Program, located at 342 Westminster Ave. in Elizabeth, is a joint venture of Runnells Specialized Hospital of Union County and the county’s Department of Human Services,” noted Union County Freeholder Mohamed S. Jalloh, liaison to RUNNELLS. “This vital program enables Union County to reach out and protect the health of families throughout our county.”

The lecture will be presented by Geralyn Prosswimmer, MD, FAAP, a fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics; Medical Director of Hunterdon Pediatric Associates and an active member of the staff of the Hunterdon Medical Center. Dr. Prosswimmer participates in clinical research and clinical management.

The objective of the symposium is to update school and health department nurses concerning immunizations, expanding vaccine schedules and the risk of not vaccinating children which can result in secondary infections, particularly in young children and adolescents.

Two professional development hours have been granted for RN’s by the New Jersey Department of Education/Office of Program Support.

The buffet dinner will be at 5:30 p.m., followed by the lecture. Seating is limited; therefore Union County school and health department nurses who are interested in attending must register their reservation as soon as possible. The deadline for registration is October 15th. Only email reservations to Maria Rodriguez at mrodriguez@ucnj.org will be accepted.

Summer is officially over and soon the leaves will be turning beautiful colors. The vacations are behind us as we settle into out autumn schedules and the kids are back in school.

During this change of seasons, we may need some reminders of the needs of our children and the services that are available from our law enforcement agencies.

Some parents may not know that New Jersey is the only state in the country that has legislation providing a “Fingerprint on File” service be available to our children and their parents. The long-running program began when the public was traumatized by child abductions.

With statistics revealing that nearly a million children are reported lost or missing each year the community looked to law enforcement for new ways to protect children. The fingerprinting program was a simply way to identify our young people. Parents receive a card featuring the child’s fingerprints and personal information. In case a child is reported missing, the card provides police with important data.

Other children’s safety programs are available to help protect our young people. The Union County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of Dr. Freda Remmer and her students at Kean University, developed a book for children to teach them how to properly react in a potentially dangerous situation. The book, “Play It Safe,” was carefully designed to present different scenarios for children to role play as they think out the right course of action. The book is available at no cost in English and Spanish.

Firearms are one of the principle causes of death among American children today. The Sheriff’s Office has developed videos to educate children and teens about the dangers of firearms. These videos, “Get Away Get a Grown-Up” and “Teens and Guns: An American Tragedy,” have been shown in schools all over Union County.

Now we are offering a new video about gun safety called “Silence Kills.” It was made by some very talented students from Hillside High School, the winners of the Union County Gun Awareness Contest.

We also offer, at no charge, locking devices for legally registered firearms to help kept guns properly secured at home.

Under the innovative “Project Lifesaver” program, individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, autism or other debilitating disorders are outfitted with a watch-sized transmitter that can be tracked by the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit if the individual is reported missing or lost. New Jersey is the only state in the country that provides state-wide “Project Lifesaver” coverage.

Please take advantage of these services to help protect our children and our senior citizens. Prevention and education are paramount. For information about any of these programs, please call the Union County Sheriff’s Office at 908-527-4450.

Ralph Froehlich

Union County Sheriff