Category: Public Info

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

ELIZABETH, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi helps to sortsome of the “Vote By Mail” application forms that have been received at her office. Registered voters may pick up a Vote By Mail application form at their local municipal building; they can download the form at the County Clerk’s website: https://ucnj.org/government/county-clerk/vote-by-mail or they can contact the Clerk’s Office at 908-527-4996.

ELIZABETH, NJ – With the Nov. 2 General Election just a few weeks away, Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds voters that applications are available so they can “Vote By Mail.”

“The new Vote By Mail application form is available in every municipality in Union County and on-line,” Ms. Rajoppi said. “My office is working to make the voting process as fast and convenient as we can for everyone who is eligible. We have conducted outreach via the Internet, brochures, an educational video and speaking engagements to advise voters about this alternative, secure, efficient way of voting.”

Currently the Union County Clerk’s Office has processed 5,000 application forms to Vote By Mail and expects the number to grow and far exceed the 6,000 applications processed in 2006 before the last mid-term election.

Registered voters are encouraged to Vote By Mail, an easy process which has replaced Absentee Voting. To obtain an application form, voters may pick up the form at their local municipal building; they can download the form at the Union County Clerk’s website:https://ucnj.org/government/county-clerk/vote-by-mail or they can contact the Union County Clerk at 908-527-4996. The Clerk’s website also includes a video that explains how to fill out the Vote By Mail application form.

The Office of the County Clerk is located at the Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, Room 113, Elizabeth, NJ 07207. Regular office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Honor Guard members from the Union County Sheriff’s Officer, the Union County Dept. of Corrections and the Union County Prosecutor’s Office join the Elizabeth Police and Fire Honor Guard in firing a salute on the steps of the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth during Union County’s annual remembrance ceremony honoring prisoners of war and those missing in action (POW/MIA). National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed each year on the third Friday of September. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Daniel Sullivan (R) and Freeholder Angel G. Estrada listen to Loretta Vogel Hasenauer of Linden read a Tribute to Our Veterans outside the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth during Union County’s annual remembrance ceremony honoring prisoners of war and those missing in action (POW/MIA). National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed each year on the third Friday of September. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Daniel Sullivan (L) and Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski (2nd R) congratulate Union County native Kathleen A. Naymola on her 35 years of service to the residents of Union County as Director of Community Development for the U.S. Department of Housing and Community Development in Newark. They are joined by Al Faella, Director of Union County’s Department of Parks and Community Renewal.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announced that a federal grant of $2,601,755 has been distributed to benefit communities at risk of home foreclosures and abandonment.  Union County received the funding under the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), which helps protect communities from the impact of blighted properties.

“This is a significant grant and I am proud of the teamwork by Union County and our partner agencies, which worked together to ensure that our application was accurately documented,” said Freeholder Chairman Daniel P. Sullivan. “I am looking forward to seeing the positive effects that these projects will have in communities across Union County.”

The Freeholder Board also expects Union County to receive additional NSP funding of more than $1.5 million next year.

The $2.6 million in funding is designated for acquiring and rehabilitating existing housing, constructing new housing, and demolishing derelict properties. Approximately 70 affordable rental housing units will be developed, in one-to-four family homes and apartment buildings.

“Aside from restoring blighted properties, NSP funding also puts more people to work in construction jobs, and that helps to draw more customers into local businesses,” said Sullivan. “It’s an important kick-start for the Union County economy.”

As stipulated by the terms of the grant, the funds were targeted to Elizabeth, Hillside, Linden, Plainfield, Rahway, and Roselle. In its capacity as grant administrator, Union County distributed the funds to 84-86 First Street Housing LLC, Brand New Day, City of Elizabeth, Magill Real Estate LLC, City of Plainfield, Domus Corporation, Community Access Unlimited, and Township of Hillside.

Work on the projects is expected to begin this fall.

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce an exciting array of children’s programs being offered this fall at Trailside Nature & Science Center in Mountainside.

“This exciting fall program schedule, with its nature-related activities, outdoor experiences and new adventures in the world of science, is sure to have something to delight every child,” said Freeholder Vice Chairman Deborah Scanlon, liaison to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

For children, ages 3 or 4, with an adult, Trailside offers “Two of Us,” an interactive program that encourages nature discovery through hikes and other indoor/outdoor activities. This program is offered on Tuesdays from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. or Wednesdays from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. beginning Oct. 5. Topics explored this autumn will include bubbles, monarchs, seeds, creating holiday crafts and more.

“Small Fry Days,” a drop-off program for children ages 4-6, is designed to foster awareness and appreciation of the natural world through nature hikes, explorations and related activities. This program is offered on Tuesdays, from 9:45-11:00 a.m. beginning Oct. 5.  Children will have fun learning about squirrels, investigating the Deserted Village on a Halloween Hike, collecting leaves of all colors and sizes, and much more.

Trailside also offers after-school workshops for grade school children. Children entering the 1stand 2nd grades can take part in “After School Explorations.” This drop-off program is designed to acquaint children with nature explorations, hikes and outdoor activities.  Offered on Thursdays beginning Oct. 7 from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m., children participating in this workshop series have the opportunity to make animal masks, learn about animal tracks and meet live snakes and turtles.

“Trailside Explorers,” a drop-off workshop for children in 3rd to 5th grade, will take an in-depth look into the animal kingdom. Participants will have fun investigating the variety of animal life found at Seeley’s Pond.  Additionally, mammals, reptiles, birds of prey and insects will be topics of exploration this fall. Trailside Explorers is scheduled on alternate Wednesdays beginning Oct. 6 from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m.

A new addition this year is an after-school science program, “Crazy Chemworks,” for students in the 1st to 5th grade. This exciting science series, developed by Mad Science of West New Jersey, is an educational and fun program that will get students interested in science. Conducted on Wednesdays from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m., this series begins on Oct. 13.  Children will enjoy manipulating laboratory equipment at their own personal work bench; create slime and participate in the Slime Olympics; practice fast-paced chemistry experiments, and much more.

Fees do apply and pre-registration is required for all programs. Please call Trailside for fee information and space availability. For additional information about any of these children’s programs or about other upcoming programs and special events, please call 908-789-3670 or visit us on the web at www.ucnj.org/trailside.

Trailside Nature & 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.

ROSELLE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that its mobile paper-shredding program for personal documents will be available for Union County residents on Tuesday, Oct. 5, in Roselle.

“Union County’s mobile document-shredding service helps residents eliminate clutter in their homes and also fight identity theft,” said Freeholder Chairman Daniel Sullivan. “It is a cost-effective way to assist our recycling efforts and it ties in with our other Go Green Initiatives.”

The Oct. 5 shredding event will take place at Warinanco Park, in the parking lot near the Warinanco Ice Skating Center off Thompson Ave. in Roselle, near the border with Elizabeth. 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 1:00 p.m. if the shredding truck reaches capacity.

All Union County residents are eligible to use the personal document paper-shredding service. In an effort to accommodate all participants, there is a limit of four 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 last document-shredding event for 2010 will take place on Saturday, Oct. 30, at the Alcatel-Lucent facility in New Providence, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., in conjunction with a computer and electronics recycling event.

The mobile shredding program is paid for through funds from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Solid Waste Services Tax Grant. Shredding may be cancelled in the event of extreme bad weather. Please call the Recycling Hotline for more information about future events, directions, or event day cancellation at 908-654-9889 or visit us online at www.ucnj.org/recycle.

Program to help county contain healthcare costs, and help employees establish wellness plans

Elizabeth, NJ—Union County Freeholder Chairman Daniel P. Sullivan announced today the launching of a new wellness initiative for County employees. The Employee Wellness Program will provide county employees with support and information system to live healthier lives.

“By providing our employees with these important health tools we hope to contain healthcare costs and provide a helping hand to our employees in their efforts to lead healthier lives,” said Freeholder Sullivan.

To kick off the initiative, throughout the month of September, employees with CIGNA Medical coverage are being encouraged to participate in the Cigna’s Health Assessment.  The Health Assessment is a 15 to 30 minute online questionnaire that will give employees a snapshot of their immediate health picture, highlight what they are doing well and suggest areas for improvement. Employees may even choose to discuss results with their physician at their next visit and start working together towards a healthier future.

“The health assessment is a critical step in guiding our employees and their families to healthy life choices,” said Sullivan. “Once the questionnaire is completed it will give employees and their physicians a clearer picture of what areas they need to improve on when it comes to their health.”

Springfield, NJ–Certified child passenger safety technicians will conduct seat inspections at the AAA Car Care Center in Springfield on Saturday, September 25th as part of National Child Passenger Safety Week announced Union County Freeholder Chairman Daniel P. Sullivan.  The technicians, members of the Union County Police Department, will work in conjunction with AAA seat technicians from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm. The AAA Car Care Center is located at 135 Route 22 East in Springfield.

Known as “Seat Check Saturday,” the event is held annually during National Child Passenger Safety Week. It is designed to provide hands-on assistance in the proper use of child safety seats.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly three out of four child safety seats are improperly installed in vehicles.

“This is a great opportunity for us to make parents and caregivers aware of the importance of safety seats for their children,” said Chairman Sullivan. “It’s the responsibity of every parent to ensure that their children are properly restrained, every ride, every time.”

According to NHTSA, in 2008 approximately 244 children under the age of five avoided fatal injuries in a car crash because they were properly restrained in a child safety seat or booster seat. Parents can provide a good example for their children by buckling up themselves whenever they ride in a car.

To maximize child passenger safety, parents and caregivers should follow four basic rules:

* Read the manufacturer’s instructions to both your car seat and your vehicle for proper installation advice.
* Face the child safety seat in the proper direction. Infant seats always face backwards.
* Secure your child snugly in the car seat. Always buckle the seat’s harness system securely to hold your child safely in the seat.
* Secure the child car seat using the proper vehicle restraint system.  Anchoring the seat properly utilizing the vehicle restraint system is critical. A seat that is not buckled securely to the car can tip over, slide sideways or, in a crash, be ejected from the car.

The Union County Police conduct car seat inspections every Wednesday and Thursday, between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., excluding major holidays. No appointment is necessary.  For more information you can call the Traffic Safety Program Coordinator at 908-789-6830.

Train, the band that rocked the country with its smash summer hit “Hey Soul Sister,” headlined two days of nonstop free music on September 11 and 12 at the 13th Annual Union County MusicFest, at Oak Ridge Park in Clark. A record-breaking crowd of 80,000 attended the event, which also featured top performing artists Spoon, The Bravery, Soul Asylum, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, and many more, along with family attractions including The County Fair at MusicFest carnival and Kids Kingdom children’s activities.