Category: Public Info

The Union County Summer Arts Festival concert series continues its 53rd season of music on Wednesday evening, July 17, with a performance by American Rapture. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, led by Chairman Linda Carter, invites the public to attend this free concert that begins at 7:30 p.m. in Echo Lake Park in Mountainside.

American Rapture is a 17-member Rock and Soul Revue complete with marvelous singers and plenty of brass. Formed in 1999, the group started as an annual musical theatre production for Mystic Vision Players in Linden. After a successful ten-year run, the group was transformed by band leader Tony Greco into a specialty concert band and they play all your favorites. American Rapture features popular music from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s. They’re the perfect way to enjoy an evening under the stars on a walk down memory lane.

“Bring the entire family for an evening of popular songs in Echo Lake Park,” said Freeholder Chairman Carter. “Pack a picnic basket, bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on, and enjoy the sounds of summer under the stars.”

The Union County information van will be at the concert site with personnel from the Union County Bureau of Mosquito Control and other knowledgeable staff to answer questions and offer information about interesting programs and recreational activities that are available to Union County residents.

The Summer Arts Festival concerts continue throughout July and August on Wednesdays beginning at 7:30 p.m. The concerts in July will be at Echo Lake Park on the Mountainside-Westfield border and in August at Oak Ridge Park in Clark. Lawn chairs, blankets and picnic baskets are encouraged. Refreshments and snacks will be available from vendors.

The other free concerts in the Union County Summer Arts Festival series include:

July 24 – EagleMania; at Echo Lake Park.

July 31 – Ed Palermo Big Band; at Echo Lake Park.

Aug.  7 – Tusk (tribute to Fleetwood Mac); at Oak Ridge Park.

Aug. 14 – Sensational Soul Cruisers; at Oak Ridge Park.

Aug. 21 – Verdict (Reggae); at Oak Ridge Park.

Aug. 28 – The British Invasion Tribute; at Oak Ridge Park.

For rain information call the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal at (908) 558-4079 after 3 p.m. on the day of the scheduled concert, or visit the Union County web site: www.ucnj.org

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The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks & Community Renewal are happy to announce the next evening of “Family Fun and Flix” – the free summer entertainment and film series on Tuesday evenings – on July 16 in Warinanco Park. The evening will feature a discussion and display about the birds of Union County followed by a showing of the animated comedy “Hotel Transylvania,” which will give families a chance to enjoy an outdoor activity and catch a movie under the stars in a Union County park.

“Family Fun and Flix begins at dusk, but come early to the park to enjoy interesting preview activities at 7:30 p.m. that are fun for the whole family,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “Bring a blanket or beach chair to claim your spot on the lawn or save a seat in the bleachers – either way, the early birds are sure to like the preview activity before each movie.”

Come to Warinanco Park, on the border of Elizabeth and Roselle, Tuesday, July 16 at 7:30 p.m. when naturalists from Trailside Nature & Science Center will be on hand with the Ecovan to talk about the diversity of bird life in the Watchung Reservation and the rest of Union County. Discover what makes birds different from other animals and examine feathers, bones, nests and eggs. Then sit back at dusk and watch as Dracula, owner of a hotel where monsters go to take a rest from human civilization, must deal with a visit by an ordinary 21-year-old traveler in the 2012 animated monster comedy, “Hotel Transylvania,” featuring the voices of Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, Fran Drescher, Cee Lo Green and Molly Shannon.

The other dates and locations for this summer’s Family Fun and Flix are:

Tuesday, July 23 at Warinanco Park: The Trailside Ecovan will feature a display about turtles, snakes and other local reptiles before the animated fantasy comedy, “Brave.”

Tuesday, Aug. 6 at Meisel Park, Springfield: Be part of National Night Out, starting at 6 p.m., before viewing the animated family comedy, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.”

Tuesday, Aug. 13 at Conant Park, in Hillside: The Trailside Ecovan will feature a display about reptiles, before the animated comedy, “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted.”

All movies start at dusk, weather permitting. For more information, call the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal at 908-527-4900 or visit the Union County website: www.ucnj.org. For program and rain information call 908-558-4079 after 3:00 p.m. on the day of the show.

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Union County Freeholders Alexander Mirabella and Bette Jane Kowalski (L) congratulate Scotch Plains-Fanwood Girl Scout Cadette Troop 40417 on achieving a Community Service Award for their volunteer work with kindergarten students at KinderPrep in Westfield. The ninth grade girls who worked on the project are Noelle Alber, Eva Isaacs, Jessica Ferrara, Sierra Lesiak, Caitlyn Mannino, Micayla Mirabella, Kate Traina, Samiksha Vittalraj and Natalie Zimmermann. The troop co-leaders are Phyllis Mirabella and Lisa Lesiak. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is looking for artisans and crafts people to demonstrate Early American work and craft skills and to sell their hand-crafted wares at Union County’s 32nd Annual Harvest Festival. The event is a celebration of Early American life featuring music, children’s crafts, games, demonstrations and displays, a petting zoo and much more. The Harvest Festival will take place, rain or shine, at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside on Sunday, Sept. 29, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Union County Harvest Festival is a popular event that attracts nearly 4,000 visitors each year. By participating, demonstrators and venders of hand-crafted goods will receive excellent exposure and have the opportunity to educate others about their craft or work skill and the Early American period in general. Examples of the handicrafts and work skills being sought are: blacksmithing, candle making, paper making, broom making, shoe making, hat making, jewelry making, quilting and other colonial or Native American crafts or skills.

For details about how to participate, please call the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal at (908) 527-4096.

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Union County Freeholders Alexander Mirabella (L) and Bette Jane Kowalski congratulate the Cranford High School Baseball Team on winning the 2013 New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association State Group 3 Championship.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the 12th year renewal of its successful innovative program to bring the arts to the homes of full-time unpaid family caregivers of care recipients over 60 years old.

“Recent studies have shown that the stress of long-term care-giving responsibilities can have detrimental effects on the health and emotional well being of the caregiver,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “This program is intended to relieve that stress while it exercises the caregiver’s creativity.”

The free program will provide artists who come to the caregiver’s home in a series of visits, bringing art personalized to suit their individual needs and interests. Some examples of visits include: writers to help document family stories or teach how to keep a journal; live musical performances, to share with friends or each other; portraits done from life or favorite photographs; art projects for caregivers and care recipients to do together; lessons in drawing, watercolor, keyboard playing, and drama.

“The time and energy-consuming responsibilities of full-time family caregivers often prevent them from participating in the arts they love,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board. “Our participating artists provide a fulfilling creative experience for the caregivers.”

In addition to caring for a family member, the caregiver may also work a full-time job outside the home. As long as the care recipient is older than 60 and both live in Union County, they are eligible. While focused on the caregiver, the program can benefit everyone in the family.

The Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs is coordinating this unique program, which is made possible by grants from the Union County Division on Aging and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. The program is free to caregivers; however, voluntary donations are gratefully accepted and used to expand the program.

For more information about arts in the home, contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth 07202. Telephone: (908) 558-2550.  NJ Relay users dial 711. Or send E-mail to:culturalinfo@ucnj.org

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The Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal announces that Wheeler Pool will open tomorrow, June 27, following the completion of mechanical repairs at the facility.

The John Russell Wheeler Memorial Pool, located in Wheeler Park, West Stimpson Avenue and Route 1 in Linden, will be open for the season from June 27 through Friday, August 23.

Union County’s other public swimming pool, the Walter E. Ulrich Memorial Pool located in Rahway River Park, off St. Georges Avenue in Rahway, opened for swimming on June 22nd.

Swimming lessons will be held at Ulrich Pool beginning Monday, July 1. Applications are available at either pool office for all ages, beginners through adults. Pre-registration is required.

Open Swim Sessions for Seniors (62 and older) and for People with Disabilities are held at Ulrich Pool on Mondays from 6-8 p.m. and at Wheeler Pool on Wednesdays from 12 noon-1:00 p.m. Admission to these special sessions is free.

Regular pool hours are as follows:

Walter E Ulrich Pool:
Monday & Wednesday                  11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday & Friday         11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday & Holidays       11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

John Russell Wheeler Pool:
Monday, Wednesday & Friday      1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Tuesday & Thursday                      1 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday & July 4           11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Daily Admission (proof of residency required for Union County resident fee):

County Resident                      Non-County Resident
Youth (17 & under)                 $ 4.00                                               $  8.00
Adult (18 & over)                    $ 5.00                                               $10.00
Seniors (62 & over)                 $ 4.00                                               $  8.00

The Ulrich and Wheeler pools are a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. For more information about special programs, discount cards, group swim lessons, directions or other questions, visit the website:www.ucnj.org/pools or call the Ulrich Pool (732-382-9457) or the Wheeler Pool (908-862-0977) for recorded information.
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RAHWAY, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that its next mobile paper-shredding program for personal documents will be available on Thursday, July 11, at Rahway River Park in Rahway.

“Union County’s mobile document-shredding service helps residents fight identity theft and eliminate clutter in their homes,” said Freeholder Vice Chairman Christopher Hudak, liaison to the Solid Waste Advisory Council. “It is a cost-effective way to assist our recycling efforts and it ties in with Union County’s other Go Green Initiatives.”

The July 11th shredding event will take place in the Rahway River Park service yard, off St. Georges Avenue in Rahway. 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 p.m. if the shredding truck reaches capacity.

All Union County residents are eligible to use the paper-shredding service. In an effort to accommodate everyone, there is a limit of four, 10-pound bags or boxes per person. Documents should not be bound. Please remove plastic binders and paperclips. Paper that is wet/damp will not be accepted. 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 shredded on site. 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 next shredding event will take place Saturday, August 10th at Kean University in Union.

The mobile shredding program is paid for through New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Recycling Enhancement Act Grant Funds. For more information about future events or directions please call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889 or visit us online at www.ucnj.org/recycle .

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ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present an exhibit of photography/montage by Darlene Foster of Plainfield in the gallery space at the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, located at 633 Pearl Street in Elizabeth. A selection of her work entitled “Listen with Your Eyes” is on display at the Pearl Street Gallery until August 15.Gallery hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

“We are pleased to have Ms. Foster’s beautiful works on display,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Union County Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board. “The exhibit demonstrates her mastery of both photography and pictorial story telling.”

Darlene Foster was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and studied drawing and painting at the Sarah Brown School of Art in Atlanta. She participated in shows and exhibits before moving to Plainfield in 1977, where she began incorporating photography into her artwork. This led to a 17-year employment as a retouching artist with The Image Maker Photography Studio in Berkeley Heights and other freelance clients.

Pencils, brushes and dyes gave way to digital in the mid ‘90s when the computer was introduced to her as an art tool. Ms Foster has been exploring the digital medium ever since. She currently works doing photographic painting, retouching, restoration and collage for photographers and the general public as well as her personal artwork.

Her recent awards in New Jersey exhibits include: Romancing the Past, 2012, Edison Municipal Gallery, Edison (Second Place); Annual Photography Exhibit, 2012, JB Kline Gallery, Lambertville (Second Place);Gardens of the Garden State, 2010, The Edison Arts Society (Second Place) and Arts on Amboy, 2009, Edison (Best in Show). She had a 2012 solo exhibit, Selected Works, at the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield.

To see a variety of images from Darlene Foster’s work, visit www.darlenefoster.com.

Union County artists (whose works can be hung on a wall) interested in exhibiting in the gallery are welcome to apply. For more information about the Pearl Street Gallery or other programs, contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl St., Elizabeth, NJ 07202. Telephone 908-558-2550. NJ Relay users can dial 711. E-mail to: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

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MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Mark your calendars – the popular Wednesday Matinee Series at Trailside Nature & Science Center begins on July 10 and continues every Wednesday through August 14. This family entertainment series begins at 1:30 p.m. each week and runs about 45 minutes. All shows are recommended for children ages 4 and older. Admission is $5.00 per person; $4.00 for senior citizens (62 & older) and tickets go on sale at 1:00 p.m. on the day of the show. No strollers will be permitted in the auditorium.

“The Summer Wednesday Matinee Series at Trailside offers our families an assortment of fun, creative and interactive programs that will teach, entertain and delight children of all ages,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “Union County is committed to providing our residents with affordable, fun, family programs at our facilities and Trailside’s Wednesday Matinee Series certainly fits the bill.”

On Wednesday, July 10, the Turtle Singer will kick-off the summer series and make sure you have fun and sing some songs while learning interesting facts about turtles. This interactive show with lots of audience participation features live turtles and music. Find out why turtles are endangered throughout the world.

On July 17, “Kids in Motion” will take the audience on a non-stop musical journey on the Trailside stage. JoJo Russell, a talented DJ entertainer, will have everyone clapping, stomping and swaying from start to finish. This high energy presentation encourages the audience to be the stars.

On July 24, join Wallaby Tales Traveling Zoo for “Eyes Wild,” an afternoon of animals, education and fun. In this amazing show featuring live animals, the audience will enjoy learning about behaviors, habitats, adaptations and survival strategies of some very interesting mammals.

The excitement continues on July 31 with “Hocus Pocus,” a show that is sure to astound, baffle and thrill the audience. Joe Fischer, magician extraordinaire, does a fast paced show with the perfect blend of magic, comedy, audience participation and excitement. He has an outstanding rapport with children and his ability to communicate and engage audience members of all ages makes this show “pure magic.”

August 7th brings “Bubble Trouble” to the Trailside stage with bubble master Jeff Boyer. Mixing comedy, music and bubble magic, this presentation will delight all ages.

On August 14, the 2013 Wednesday Matinee Series concludes with “The Brain Show.” Test your nature knowledge as the audience participates in this lively presentation that is fun for all ages.  It is as close as you can get to a real, live TV game show!

For additional information about the Wednesday Matinee Series or other upcoming programs and special events, please call 908-789-3670 or visit us at www.ucnj.org/trailside.  Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.