Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ – Union County Freeholder Linda Carter visited Debra Vizzi, President and CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, on Thursday to view a “canstruction” project of 3,536 cans of tuna assembled with the assistance of local high school students. The project highlights a 6,000-pound food donation to the FoodBank organized by students participating in the Kans 4 Kids food drive under Union County’s annual UC-STEP youth leadership program, with the sponsorship of Sysco and ShopRite.

More than 100 students from 14 high schools participated in the friendly competition. The school collecting the most donations will receive a Start Now grant sponsored by the Freeholder Board.  The Start Now recipient will be announced on May 25.

“I would like to thank UC-STEP students, and our sponsors and supporters, for providing the Community FoodBank with this outstanding volunteer service. Food donations are especially important heading into the summer, when can be more difficult for children and families in need to access school meals and other resources,” said Freeholder Linda Carter, who initiated the first UC-STEP program in 2013 when she was Chairman of the Freeholder Board.

UC-STEP is a unique youth development program that brings together high school students from different parts of Union County. The program provides students with the opportunity to engage the whole community in a county-wide service project. UC-STEP participants design the projects themselves, and carry them out with the support of the Freeholder Board and local sponsors.

“Union County is fortunate to have a rich reservoir of talent, drive and heart among our students. They are willing to take charge and get the job done when there is an opportunity to help those in need, and they inspire all of us to keep working for a better tomorrow,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.

“It’s always great to see students unite to make an impact in the community,” said Debra Vizzi, President and CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. “These Union County high school students worked together to collect 6,000 pounds of food and build structures out of cans to represent the collaboration between the FoodBank and UC STEP. The FoodBank is so grateful for their efforts to help end hunger and for the freeholders who lead UC STEP – a wonderful initiative that gives students the opportunity to brainstorm and implement ideas to better the community.”

High schools participating in UC-STEP this year are:

• John E. Dwyer Technology Academy
• Linden High School
• David Brearley High School
• Union County Vo Tech
• Union Catholic Regional High School
• Roselle Park High School
• Rahway High School
• Cranford High School
• The Barack Obama Academy for Academic & Civic Development Charter School
• Jonathan Dayton High School
• Arthur L. Johnson High School
• Governor Livingston High School
• New Providence High School
• UC TEAMS

The UC-STEP program begins with an annual summit, held each year in December. In addition to workshops on leadership and life skills, the participants form teams that blend together students from different high schools.

 Each team is tasked with creating a countywide community service project for the following spring.

Before the summit is over, all participants vote on their favorite projects. The top vote getters are then put online so members of the public can join in the final voting and help choose the project that will be implemented.

Each year, the Freeholder Board joins with local sponsors to help the students publicize and conduct the winning project.

This year’s winning project, Kans 4 Kids, was created by the “Orange” team at the UC-STEP summit last December to benefit the Community FoodBank.

“This was an ambitious and imaginative undertaking that involved the food drive, the “canstruction” project, volunteer opportunities and a virtual food drive,” said Bergen. “The Orange team really set a high bar for next year’s UC-STEP participants.”

To see a stop-motion video of the “canstruction” project under way and more photos, visit the Union County main website at ucnj.org/uc-step.

Union County Freeholders Angel G. Estrada and Christopher Hudak joined Congressman Donald Payne, Jr. and Linden Mayor Linden Derek Armstead in honoring Officer Angel Padilla, Investigator Pete Hammer, Investigator Mark Kahana, and Officer David Guzman during the Police Unity Tour stop in Linden. The officers were recognized for their actions involving the arrest of suspected bomber Ahmad Rahami last September and were awarded the medal of Valor by Chapter 37 of the Police Unity Tour.

Bicycling from the World Trade Center in New York City to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washing DC, thousands of officers participate in the Police Unity Tour to raise awareness of Law Enforcement Officers who have died in the line of duty and to raise funds for the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial and Museum.

Legislators, elected officials, transportation professionals and the public are invited to the next meeting of the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition on Monday, May 15, starting at 6 p.m. at the Cranford Community Center.

Somerset County Freeholder Director and RVRC Chairman Peter S. Palmer will summarize the coalition’s 2016-2017 one-seat ride efforts along with a new proposal for adding one new early-evening weekday off-peak one-seat ride train.

Representatives from NJ Transit will provide updates on the Hudson River Tunnel Project, repairs at Penn Station New York, renovations at the Cranford and Roselle Park train stations, and the status of the Hunter Flyover and the Lehigh Line triple-tracking.

Ms. Mindy Scarlett from the Scarlett & Ryan consulting firm will report on the coalition’s social media and website activities. These include an opportunity for residents, businesses and rail commuters to sign an online petition at https://raritanvalleyrail.com/ in support of expanding one-seat ride service.

Ms. Kathleen Prunty, Economic Development Director, Cranford Township will speak about the Townships recently completed 3-year Strategic Plan emphasizing residential development in Cranford’s downtown.

The GPS address for the Cranford Community Center is 220 Walnut Ave., Cranford, NJ 07016.  Parking is available behind the community center in a parking lot shared with the township library.    

The building is located near the NJ Transit Cranford rail station and NJ Transit bus routes.  For NJ Transit bus and rail schedules and fare information, call (973) 275-5555 or visit www.njtransit.com

For questions, driving directions or more information, contact the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition at (908) 541-5773, by fax at (908) 707-1749 or by e-mail at rvrc@co.somerset.nj.us  

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the second lecture in its spring “Trailside Talks” series, for adults and high school students at the Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside.   These spring programs are free to the public. Donations are welcomed.    

On Saturday, May 13 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. NASA Solar Ambassador Paul Cirillo returns to Trailside to enthrall audiences with a lecture on the great American solar eclipse of 2017.   In August of this year, a total eclipse of the sun will be visible in the United States along a 70 mile wide path from Oregon to South Carolina.  This will be the first solar eclipse visible since 1979. This is a rare and once in a lifetime event.  Cirillo will lead listeners through the history of eclipses and how and why they happen and how to best prepare to view this year’s best astronomical event.

“This spring offers and excellent line up of interesting speakers from Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ and the NASA Solar System Ambassador Speaker’s Bureau.  The spring adult programs offer a perfect invitation for a visit,” notes Freeholder Chairman, Bruce H. Bergen.

The final lecture of the series is “Pollinators” on Saturday, June 3 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.   Butterflies, bumblebees, moths and other creatures help pollinate over 75% of our flowering plants and crops: contributing to over $29 billion in crops each year.  Currently many species of pollinators are struggling to survive.  A naturalist from the Conserve Wildlife Foundation explores why pollinators are crucial to our environment, health, food systems and economy.  Learn how to help the declining species of New Jersey pollinators with simple steps we can take to protect them in our own backyard. 

For more information about these programs or other activities at Trailside, please call 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside.  Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a facility of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.

Historic American Revolutionary War battle re-enactment to occur on June 24th and 25th in Clark

The Battle of Short Hills planning committee and the Brigade of the American Revolution are happy to announce the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders  are co-sponsoring the Battle of Short Hills 240th Anniversary re-enactment at Oak Ridge Park in Clark on Saturday, June 24th and Sunday,  June 25th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is free to the public.

“We are pleased to co-sponsor an event that highlights the historic importance of Union County in the founding of our Country,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen. “This re-enactment brings history alive and reminds us of the sacrifices our founders made in the name of liberty and love of Country.”

Paul Tofani, a participant and one of the organizers of the event thanked the Freeholder Board for their co-sponsorship.

“This is a great step forward for public education on our history,” said Tofani. “This event will bring to life what took place here and help our visitors to understand the complexity of the foundation of our nation. We appreciate the co-sponsorship and the opportunity to present this in a County park.”

Preceding the battle the night before (Friday, June 23rd), the New Jersey Symphony will also perform a free concert beginning 6:30 p.m. at Oak Ridge as part of annual Union County’s Summer Arts Festival series of concerts.

At the Battle of Short Hills in late June 1777, a numerically inferior force of 2,500 Local New Jersey and Pennsylvania troops serving in the Continental Line, along with patriot militia, achieved a strategic victory against over 10,000 British and Hessians troops seeking to trap the main body of Washington’s army. This strategic victory prevented almost certain destruction, allowing the Americans a tactical retreat to the Watchung Mountains. 

The battle took place on June 26, 1777, at Scotch Plains and Metuchen, New Jersey, stretching through Clark (where the re-enactment is being staged) and all the way to Westfield. Despite the name, no fighting occurred in modern-day Short Hills, a section of Millburn.

On a related note, the Frazee House in Scotch Plains is a Union County landmark made famous by its sheer survival for more than 230 years and by the tale of Elizabeth “Aunt Betty” Frazee’s legendary confrontation with a British general during the battle of Short Hills. The house, constructed by Gershom Frazee,  has received official recognition on the National Register of Historic Places and the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. The Frazee House is located at 1451 Raritan Road, near Terrill Road, Scotch Plains, NJ.

The County of Union also maintains a Battle of Short Hills historic trail link, which outlines the other historic sites in Union County, including Plainfield and Fanwood: https://ucnj.org/parks-recreation/paths-trails-greenways/battle-of-short-hills/

Visitors to Oak Ridge park should note that portions of the park, including the public parking lot, will be closed from June 23 to 26th for the re-enactment to be set up and take place. Also those attending  are advised to bring hats, sunscreen and water as the re-enactment will take place in an open field at the height of summer.

Those wishing more information on this event or who may be interested in participating should go to either the event’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BoSH2017/

The contest was open to students from 4th thought 8th grade from schools throughout Union County. The winners were selected by a group of volunteer judges. This event is sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders in cooperation with the Union County Shade Tree Advisory Board.

Union County Freeholder Angel G. Estrada presents Evelyn Burnett Marchione with a resolution congratulating her on being named Linden’s 2017 Outstanding Senior Citizen of the Year by the Linden Department of Public Property and Community Services during the city’s 59th annual Senior Citizen Day ceremony at the John T. Gregorio Recreation Center in Linden.

The contest, co-sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and The National Arts Program Foundation, was open to Union County employees and their families. The exhibit will be open to the public weekdays until May 23, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Elizabethtown Gas Company, located at Liberty Hall Center, 1085 Morris Avenue in Union Township.

Necessary safety work will require road closure and detours

New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced a railroad crossing rehabilitation project that will require a week long closure and detour of Rahway Avenue in Westfield, Union County.

Beginning at 7 a.m. Monday, May 8, until 7 p.m. Friday, May 12, the two-way traffic on Rahway Avenue in Westfield, which becomes Westfield Avenue in Clark is scheduled to be closed at the railroad crossing between Terminal Avenue in Clark and Lamberts Mill Road in Westfield. The existing railroad crossing will be removed and replaced with a new concrete crossing and asphalt approach. The following detours will remain in place:

Westfield Avenue Detour

• Motorists from Westfield Avenue in Clark will be directed to use Terminal Avenue/L’Oreal Way
• Make a left onto Central Avenue
• Make a left onto West Grove Street in Westfield and follow to Rahway Avenue

Rahway Avenue Detour

• Motorists from Rahway Avenue in Westfield will be directed to use West Grove Street
• Make a right onto Central Avenue
• Make a right onto Terminal Avenue/L’Oreal Way in Clark and follow to Westfield Avenue

The traffic detour will be coordinated with the local police. If work is completed earlier, the roadway will be reopened accordingly.
In order to provide safer and smoother railroad crossing in Westfield, the existing crossings will be replaced with new asphalt crossings and new asphalt approaches. This federally-funded project is included within NJDOT’s railroad grade-crossing safety program which repairs, upgrades, or removes approximately 30 crossings each year, statewide.

The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website www.511nj.org for real-time travel information and for NJDOT news follow us on Twitter @NJDOT_info.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that the 2017 Union County Means Green Community Garden Grants program has awarded matching funds for 20 garden projects in nine different municipalities. The gardens will provide donations of fresh produce to those in need as well as education, recreation, civic service and social opportunities for gardeners and their communities.

The new round of funding follows on the success of the 2016 Union County Means Green Community Garden Grants program, an initiative of Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.

“This year’s group of awardees demonstrates that the community garden movement touches Union County residents of all ages and from all walks of life,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “On behalf of the Freeholder Board I wish our awardees all the best for an enriching experience and a bountiful harvest.”

The 2017 UC Means Green garden grant program is administered by the non-profit organization Groundwork Elizabeth on behalf of Freeholder Board. Groundwork also administered the 2016 program, which covered 19 projects in 10 municipalities.

“Groundwork’s expert guidance helped to ensure a successful first year for the grant program,” said Bergen. “We’re pleased to have them on board again to administer the 2017 round of funding.”

“Many Union County residents are eager to reach out and help those in need, and community gardens provide an opportunity to participate in a service activity while also spending time out in the fresh air with friends and neighbors,” said Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados, who chairs the Union County Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund. “It is especially meaningful to engage our young people in raising and donating fresh produce, both as an educational experience and because helps them to see that even at a very young age they can still have a positive impact on the health and well-being of their families and the whole community.”

To help fill the demand for educational gardens, this year Granados introduced a new community garden funding program for schools called Union County Kids Dig In. Also administered by Groundwork, the new program is funding garden projects at 32 schools.

“We are thrilled to administer UC Kids Dig In and UC Means Green on behalf of the Freeholder Board,” said Groundwork Executive Director Jonathan Phillips. “Interest in community gardening is strong all across Union County, from our cities to our suburban areas.  Growing food locally helps build healthier families, and often improves vacant and underused land for the benefit and enjoyment of local residents.”

The 2017 UC Means Green awardees are:

Elizabeth

• Make the Road New Jersey Community Garden (located at the Snyder Academy)
• Elmora Branch Library Community Garden
• E’Port Community Garden (sponsored by Prevention Links)
• I.S.C. Vera Verde (located at Portuguese Instructive Social Club)
• Jewish Family Service Community Vegetable Garden
• Elizabeth Branch Community Garden (Gateway Family YMCA)
• Trinitas Community Garden (Trinitas Hospital)

Fanwood

• Fanwood Borough Hall Pollinator and Butterfly Garden

New Providence

• New Providence Community Garden

Plainfield

• Planting Seeds Community Garden #1 (located at Mt. Zion AME Church)
• Richmond Towers Garden Club
• Grace’s Community Garden (located at Grace Episcopal Church)

Roselle

• East 1^st Avenue Garden (Community Access Unlimited)
• BT and Diane Mathis Garden (Roselle Department of Recreation)

Scotch Plains

• Brunner Children’s Garden (Howard B. Brunner School)
• Scotch Plains-Fanwood Community Garden (located on the grounds of Frazee House)

Summit

• Mary Reinhart Stackhouse Education Center Children’s Garden (Reeves-Reed Arboretum)

Union Township

• Union Township Community Garden (located at Eleanor R. Erickson Park)
• WISE Center Branch Community Garden (Gateway Family Y)

Westfield

• Westfield Food Pantry (Holy Trinity Church)

UC Means Green and UC Kids Dig In awardees become members of Groundwork’s Come Grow With Us! community garden program, which provides seedlings and other resources to its members.

“Many of our UC Means Green awardees also receive support from their local municipalities,” said Bergen. “It’s a wonderful illustration of the ways in which County funding can enhance local resources to benefit more residents.”

The Union County community garden movement is also supported by community organizations and private sector partners, and it has even attracted state and federal interest.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has partnered with Groundwork through the More PEAS permaculture initiative, resulting in the construction of more than 100 new community garden beds in Elizabeth earlier this month.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Conservation Resource Service has also begun to partner with Groundwork in of support Union County community gardens. The agency traditionally provides assistance to rural farmers. Its interest in Union County is part of a new initiative to reach urban farmers and community gardens.

Rounding out the community garden picture in Union County is the Rutgers Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden. Located by the County’s Trailside Nature and Science Center, the garden has donated thousands of pounds of fresh produce for local food pantries and offers a variety of community education programs.

The Master Gardeners is an all-volunteer organization run by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County and supported by the Freeholder Board, as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s national Extension system.

For quick links to Union County environmental programs and more information about the Union County Extension, visit The Green Connection.

Photo caption: An empty field behind the historic Frazee House was transformed into the Scotch Plains – Fanwood Community Garden last year with the help of Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen’s Union County Means Green garden grant initiative.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

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