Category: Public Info

Officers from the Union County Sheriff’s warrant squad apprehended a West Orange man wanted on several charges including kidnapping and carjacking stemming from an incident in Plainfield.

The Sheriff’s Officers spotted Derek Diaz near his Kingsley Street home in West Orange Wednesday. After alerting the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and West Orange Police, the officers force entry into the residence after requests to open the door went unanswered. Diaz was taken into custody without further incident.

Diaz, 21, was arrested on charges of first degree kidnapping, first degree robbery, second degree possession of a weapon, second degree aggravated assault, first degree carjacking, second degree burglary and second degree unlawful possession of a weapon. He is currently in the Union County Jail.

The officers from the Union County Sheriff’s Office involved in the arrest were Sgt. Darryl Warner, Sgt. Carlo Caparruva, Det. Anthony Gialanella, Officer Michael Schultz, Officer Kenneth Randazza, Officer Keith Medvedich and Officer Eric Finne. Trooper Jeovanny Rodriguez of the New Jersey State Police and several members of the West Orange Police Department also were involved in the apprehension of Diaz.

Union County, NJ – The season of giving is upon us and Union County is pitching in to help ensure that local families have a happy holiday, by coordinating donations to be distributed to various social service agencies and individual households in need. So far, an estimated 3,000 households received assistance and the total may top 3,200.

“This is a countywide effort that began many years ago, and it just keeps getting bigger,” said Freeholder Chairman Daniel P. Sullivan. “Understandably enough we lost some sponsors due to the tough economy, but many others stepped in to fill the breach. When you see community spirit this strong, you know that we will all pull through together.”

In addition to donating money and gifts, Union County employees contribute many hours of volunteer time in collecting, organizing and distributing donations.

“Originally the county’s holiday drives focused on toys, to help children in need enjoy a cheerful season,” said Sullivan. “But especially since the 2008 economic crisis we have grown to include food, clothing and other necessities.”

Community agencies have come to rely on the County’s holiday drives in order to meet the needs of those seeking help. The effort is coordinated by the Department of Human Services, spearheaded by longtime employee Mary Krech on a volunteer basis. Along with donations from Union County employees, the contributions from other individuals, businesses, Cub Scout groups, and school groups also play an important part.

“Private citizens and organizations often reach out to the County for ways to help or volunteer,” said Frank Guzzo, Department Director of Human Services. “We have the resources to collect their donations or direct them to specific organizations they would like to help.”

The County made giving a contest at its Tree/Menorah Lighting and Charity Drive at the Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside on December 5. Thirteen hundred residents flocked to the Nature Craft Show to vote on the prettiest tree, decorated with toys, winter hats, supermarket gift cards and other items donated from various county departments and staff.

The Runnels Specialized Hospital tree, themed “Toy Land,” was voted the winner. The trees were donated to ten Union County families along with lights and ornaments, and the toys, clothing and other donations were distributed to various service agencies.

The Sheriff’s Officer’s Tree of Hope is another long-running Union County holiday project that collects and distributes toys and other donations. Since 1997, Tree of Hope has helped hundreds of children affected by illness, domestic violence, neglect and abuse, to have a brighter holiday.

This year, the National Tree Company of Cranford donated trees for Tree of Hope.

“The Courthouse community supplies Tree of Hope with a lot of contributions,” said Marianne Hopko, project coordinator, “But we also accept quite a bit in private donations all year long.”

For more information on ways to give in Union County visit https://ucnj.org/government/Human-Services.

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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

Photo Caption: The youth members of the Union County 4-H Photography club celebrated the holiday season with a photo challenge, and the winning picture was snapped by second-year member Lynda Rule featuring her dog Buddy. The Union County 4-H clubs are a program of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, sponsored in part by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. For more information on 4-H programs, contact 4-H Agent James Nichnadowicz, 908-654-9854 or jnichnadowicz@ucnj.org Photo credit: Lynda Rule.

The 4-H Youth Development Program is part of Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperative Extension. 4-H educational programs are offered to all youth, K-13, on an age-appropriate basis, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Rutgers Cooperative Extension programs are open and accessible to all. If special accommodations are needed, please contact the 4-H office.

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

Nine Union County residents have just earned their Master Tree Steward certificate, qualifying them to teach fourth-grade students about the role of trees in the environment: (rear, l-r) Mary Lou Mayfield, Karen Kotvas (class instructor), Mary Krauss; (middle, l-r) Ann Cusack, Kathleen McMahon, Peggy Dendinger, Pat Hudson, Kenneth Ilgavizis; (front, l-r) Tina Helmsetter, Althea Llewellyn. Not pictured: Rebecca Rose of Chatham. Photo Credit:Master Tree Stewards

Union County, NJ – The nine graduates of the 2010 class of Union County Master Tree Stewards will fan out across Union County this winter and spring, visiting fourth-grade classrooms to teach youngsters how trees help reduce air pollution, prevent soil erosion, and contribute to community health.

“Trees play an important role in holiday celebrations, and throughout the year they play a crucial role in keeping our environment safe and healthy,” said Freeholder Chairman Daniel P. Sullivan. “The Master Tree Stewards perform a wonderful service by sharing their appreciation of trees with schoolchildren throughout Union County, and we are very proud of them.”

Master Tree Stewards are volunteers who are trained certified by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Program of Union County, supported in part by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Freeholder Board also supports tree conservation programs in County parks and roadways, assists the 21 municipalities in planting thousands of local street trees through the “Greening Union County” program, and donates hundreds trees to schools for Arbor Day activities.

To become a Master Tree Steward or to find out more about the program, contact 4-H agent James Nichnadowicz at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, 908-654-9854 ext. 7562, or jnichnadowicz@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 at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj

The Union County Immunization Center located at 342 Westminster Avenue, Elizabeth will be closed from December 20th to January 4th. The Center, which will reopen on January 5th, is usually open Monday through Thursday: 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM, closed on Fridays.

Elizabeth, NJ – Sheila (l) and Fiona Roger of Scotch Plains create a hand-made gift at the annual Union County 4-H Clubs Holiday Gift-Making Night on December 3. Attendees made dozens of presents for friends and family including candy-filled snowballs, ornaments, and puppets. The 4-H clubs are a program of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, sponsored in part by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. For more information on 4-H events and programs, contact 4-H Agent James Nichnadowicz, 908-654-9854 orjnichnadowicz@ucnj.org

Cooperating Agencies: Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and County Boards of Chosen Freeholders. Educational programs are offered to all without regard to race, religion, color, age, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.

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

Students from St. Genevieve School in Elizabeth sing Christmas Carols around the tree in the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. (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

Janet Somers and “Hanno,” her Great Dane, greeted workers from the County of Union at the Somers family home before the blue spruce was moved to the County Courthouse in Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth has its new Christmas tree. A beautiful blue spruce tree donated by the Somers family of Union adorns the Courthouse Rotunda for the rest of December.

“This is a holiday tradition that many people in Union County look forward to,” said Freeholder Chairman Daniel Sullivan. “We appreciate the donation of the tree from the Somers family. It will make a great centerpiece for our Christmas carol sing-along on Thursday, Dec. 23rd.”

For 54 years, Union County has chosen an evergreen tree to stand in the Courthouse Rotunda during the holiday season. This year’s tree was donated by Linda and Janet Somers in memory of their father, Richard Somers, a long-time resident of Union.

“My father planted this tree more than 27 years ago,” said Janet Somers. “If he was still alive he’d like to give something back to help cheer up people, especially in these hard times.”

On Monday, Dec. 13, a crew from the Union County Shade Tree Bureau went to Union to cut the tree and load it onto a flatbed truck. When the tree reached the courthouse at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth, a crane hoisted it onto the front steps.

“Moving the tree from the truck into the building is quite an event,” said Chairman Sullivan. “It takes a skilled crew with a lot of patience.”

Once inside the courthouse rotunda, the tree was lifted into a barrel stand weighed down with concrete. Then the process of adding lights and ornaments began. The tree required about 25 strands of lights. The public is invited to view the tree on weekdays until it is removed just before New Year’s Day.

The public also is invited to participate in a holiday sing-along on Thursday, Dec. 23, at 10:30 a.m., hosted by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich (3rd L), Sgt. Marianne Hopko (L) and Officer Kim Weber thank Sal Puleo, Sr. (3rd R) and his sons Joe and Sal (R), the owners of the National Tree Company in Cranford, for their donation of several Christmas trees to the Union County Sheriff’s Officers “Tree of Hope” holiday drive for needy children. Contributions of money (tax-deductible), toys and clothing can be sent to: Union County Sheriff’s Officers “Tree of Hope,” Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, N.J., 07207. For more information, call the “Tree of Hope” hotline at 908-629-2158. (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

ROSELLE, N.J. – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that the 28th Annual George T. Cron High School Hockey Tournament will conclude Wednesday evening, December 15, at the Warinanco Ice Skating Center in Roselle. Four of the best high school hockey teams in New Jersey will compete at the Warinanco rink, located in Warinanco Park, a facility of the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal.

The Final Round schedule is as follows:

• 6:00 p.m.: Cranford (3-2) vs. Mendham (3-2)
• 8:30 p.m.: Westfield (4-0) vs. Morris Knolls (4-0).

Spectator admission to the tournament is $4.00 for adults and $3.00 for youths 17 years of age and under.

The Warinanco Ice Skating Center is located off Thompson and Seventh avenues in Roselle and can also be approached from the St. Georges Avenue and Park Street entrances to Warinanco Park. For further directions and recorded information about skating classes, hockey clinics and special events at the Warinanco Ice Skating Center, please call 908-298-7850.

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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 .