Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders will present a free workshop, “Emergency Preparedness for Arts & Cultural Organizations,” on Tuesday, October 2 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Warinanco Sports Center in Roselle.

“Planning ahead for emergencies is vital for the long term survival of any business, and the same applies to our nonprofit and cultural community,” Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Our arts and cultural organizations are an important part of the Union County economy. We want to help ensure that they can connect with resources to help them manage a crisis effectively, and recover as quickly as possible afterwards.”

Attendees will learn about the disaster planning process and contents of a disaster plan, hear about business continuity issues and receive information about resources to help with planning in order to protect people and property.

The workshop will be conducted by Ellen Korpar, an emergency preparedness expert and a staff member and volunteer with the Red Cross. Ms. Korpar has been involved in the response to 17 nationally declared disasters, working primarily with cultural organizations.

The workshop is funded in part by a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. It is presented through the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, in the Department of Parks and Recreation.

The workshop is free but pre-registration is required by October 1.

To register, use the online form for the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at ucnj.org/parks.

For more information about the workshop, email the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at culturalinfo@ucnj.org, or call 908-558-2550 (NJ Relay users dial 711).

Additional information about all Cultural and Heritage Affairs programs and activities, visit online at ucnj.org/parks-recreation/cultural-heritage-affairs.

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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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Five local leaders honored for community achievement

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites the community to join the County’s first Hispanic Heritage Celebration on Sunday, September 23rd, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Union County Performing Arts Center, 1601 Irving Street in Rahway. The Freeholder Board is partnering with the City of Rahway for the event, which is free and open to the general public.

The event is free but pre-registration is requested. To register, use the online form at ucnj.org/hispanic-heritage-celebration.

The event includes live performances, an awards ceremony, food tastings and more. Public parking is available at the Performing Arts Center’s Hamilton Stage location nearby, at 360 Hamilton Street.

“It is an honor, as Chairman, to host the County’s first Hispanic Heritage event. Now more than ever, it is important to celebrate the diversity and cultural ties that build a strong, inclusive community,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados, who is of Salvadoran-American descent. “Hispanics continue to make major contributions in all aspects of American life. Whether in the sphere of civic service, entrepreneurship, innovation, or arts and entertainment, the influence of Hispanic culture is built into the DNA of our great nation.”

Attendees are invited to explore the richness of the Hispanic culture through various musical and dance performances, art and entertainment. The day’s activities will be capped off with a performance by the Mike Ramirez Salsa Band.

Five local leaders will be honored for their community achievements. The 2018 Hispanic Heritage Honorees are:

• Edwin Gomez – Elizabeth: Business Award
• Maritza Martinez – Plainfield: Community Engagement Award
• Louis DeMondo – Kenilworth: Public Safety Award
• Jeremy Mojica – Rahway: Community Leadership Award
• Frank Cuesta – Elizabeth: Education Award

Chairman Granados will be joined by Freeholder Angel Estrada to present the awards, along with local officials.

The Hispanic Heritage Month event is coordinated through the Union County Office of Community Engagement and Diversity. The office is part of Freeholder Chairman Granados’s 2018 “Moving Union County Forward” initiatives for supporting inclusion, individual empowerment and community engagement in Union County. For more information please contact the office coordinator, Nathalie Hernandez, at nahernandez@ucnj.org or 908-527-4880.

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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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Union County, NJ – On Saturday, October 27 Union County residents with unwanted guns in their possession can turn them in for up to $250 each at either of two locations, in Elizabeth and Plainfield. Anyone turning in a gun may do so anonymously.

“Gun buyback events have safely taken hundreds of guns off the streets and out of our homes and neighborhoods. Buybacks also help raise awareness about the risk of gun violence in our community,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “If you have a gun in your possession that you no longer want, for any reason, I encourage you to participate in the October 27 buyback.”

Gun buybacks are designed to enable anyone to turn in any gun, in any condition, with no questions asked. The program provides for residents to turn in up to three firearms and receive up to $250 for each weapon.

People with guns to turn in can bring them to either the Elizabeth or Plainfield location any time between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 27:

Elizabeth: The Macedonia Baptist Church, at 1251 Fairmount Avenue.

Plainfield: The Visions of God Family Worship Church, 350 Leland Avenue.

Participants are advised that weapons transported by car must be put in a closed container and kept in the trunk.

To reduce any risk of theft or mishap, participants are also advised to proceed directly to the drop-off location, without making any stops for errands or social calls.

The gun buyback event is supported by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and sponsored by the Union County Prosecutor and the Union County Sheriff with the Union County Division of Police and the police departments of the cities of Elizabeth and Plainfield.

For questions about the buyback event, call the Union County Department of Public Safety at 908-654-9816. (908) 654.9816

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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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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the first graduating class of the new Non-Profit Consortium Leadership Fellows Institute. The 44 graduates were recruited from local non-profit organizations in partnership with the Union County Non-Profit Consortium, with the goal of developing the next generation of informed, effective executives in the non-profit sector.

“On behalf of the Freeholder Board, I am very proud to congratulate the inaugural class of the Non-Profit Consortium Leadership Fellows Institute, said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Non-profits are an important part of the foundation that sustains our social safety net, and they also provide high quality employment opportunities and volunteer experiences that enrich life in our community. With the skills gained through this program, our graduates will make a real difference in the lives of Union County residents, especially those who need a helping hand.”

The Non-Profit Leadership Fellows Institute was launched in 2017 by Freeholder Bruce H. Bergen, when he served as Chairman. It represents the first, focused investment that County government has made to support skills and training for the next generation of non-profit executive leaders.

“The program builds on our workforce development initiatives, which are aimed at ensuring that important economic sectors in Union County can draw from a rich pool of talent,” said Freeholder Bergen. “Through the Leadership Fellows Institute, we can help ensure that our non-profits continue to benefit from informed, effective and seasoned leadership.”

The Union County Non-Profit Leadership Fellows Institute is a public-private partnership funded through $5,000 in seed money from County government, $500 contributions made by the non-profit organizations for each candidate they send to the Institute, and the generosity of private sector sponsors.

Of the 44 graduates, 22 were sponsored through the Freeholder Board and 22 were sponsored through the nonprofit organization Community Access Unlimited.

Each of the participants attended 11 skill-building sessions based on a dynamic, interactive model. Peer learning is also an important element of the development program.

For more information about participating in or supporting the Non-Profit Leadership Fellows Institute, Sidney Blanchard, Executive Director, Community Access Unlimited at 908-354-3040 or sblanchard@caunj.org.

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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.

Connect with Union County on social media.