Category: Public Info

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.

#  #

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).

#  #

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.

#  #

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.

#  #

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.

– END –

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.

# #
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

2,000+ Units of Blood Lost From Shutdowns and Power Outages

Supplies of Several Blood Types Below Minimum Levels

August 29, 2011 – New Jersey Blood Services, a division of New York Blood Center (NYBC), which serves more than 20 million people in New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and New Jersey, is following the emergency declarations of Governor Christie and other tri-state public officials with an emergency appeal for blood donors.  The supply of several blood types, including O-negative (“universal donor”) blood, which is normally maintained at the three-to-five-day inventory level, has dropped below the two-day minimum level.

“We anticipated the potential effects of Irene, and delivered extra blood in advance to our 200 partner hospitals,” said NYBC Vice President Rob Purvis. “Our first priority remains getting them whatever they need for the care of trauma and cancer patients.”   Due to concerns for the safety of its donors and staff, NYBC closed its donor centers and cancelled all blood drives on Sunday, August 28. “With Labor Day right around the corner, we’re between a rock and a hard place,” Purvis added.  “We need the help of our communities to replenish the blood supply.”

The need for blood is constant, whatever the weather or holiday.  The shelf life of platelets is only five days; the shelf life of red blood cells is 42 days.  About one in seven people entering a hospital needs blood.

“We faced a similar situation after the Christmas Blizzard and January’s constant snowstorms, when cancellations meant the loss of 8,000 units of blood.” Purvis said.  “Our neighbors came through for hospital patients then, and replenished the blood supply.  We need them to step up again, and schedule an appointment to donate life-saving blood.”

To donate blood or for information on how to organize a blood drive,
Please call Toll Free: 1-800-933-2566
Visit: www.nybloodcenter.org

If you cannot donate but still wish to participate in bringing crucial blood products to patients in need, please ask someone to donate for you, or consider volunteering at a local blood drive.

Any company, community organization, place of worship, or individual may host a blood drive. NYBC also offers special community service scholarships for students who organize community blood drives during summer and winter months. Blood donors receive free mini-medical exams on site including information about their temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure and hemoglobin level. Eligible donors include those people at least age 16 (with parental permission or consent), who weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, are in good health and meet all Food & Drug Administration and NY or NJ State Department of Health donor criteria. People over 75 may donate with a doctor’s note.

About New York Blood Center: New York Blood Center (NYBC) is one of the nation’s largest non-profit, community-based blood centers. NYBC has been providing blood, transfusion products and services to hospitals serving more than 20 million people in New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, New Jersey, and parts of Connecticut and Pennsylvania. NYBC is also home to the Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute and the National Cord Blood Program at the Howard P. Milstein National Cord Blood Center, the world’s largest public cord blood bank. NYBC provides medical services and programs (Clinical, Transfusion, and Hemophilia Services) through our medical professionals along with consultative services in transfusion medicine. Please visit us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/newyorkbloodcenter. Follow us on Twitter: @NY_BloodCenter.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders advised homeowners to be watchful for insurance scams, price gouging, questionable charity solicitations, and other consumer issues related to disaster cleanup and recovery.

Residents with questions about a business, service or charity in Union County can call the Union County Office of Consumer Affairs at 908-654-9840 for guidance, or file a complaint online at the County website,https://ucnj.org/government/public-safety/consumer-affairs/consumer-complaint-form/.

Excessive or predatory pricing for gas, home repairs and other essential products and services is illegal during and after a declared state of emergency.

According to a bulletin from the New Jersey State Department of Banking and Insurance, insurance companies should not apply a hurricane deductible to claims related to Hurricane Irene in New Jersey. This only applies when hurricane force winds reach 74 miles per hour or greater, and the National Weather Service did not report winds meeting these criteria in the state.

Additional hurricane related updates are available at www.ucnj.org.

#  #

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 at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee is collecting historic artifacts for a commemorative exhibit they plan to display next year at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. The committee met last month to examine documents from the Civil War era. Pictured are: (seated) Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi, committee chairman, and Harold Scheidegger; (standing, left to right) Charles Shallcross, Richard Thompson, and David Walker. Anyone wishing to loan Civil War artifacts for the exhibit can contact committee member Katherine Craig at 908-282-7617. For further information about the Union County Civil War Committee, please call Ms. Rajoppi’s office, 908-527-4787. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union).

-end-

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 .