Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ – As another heat wave rolls into New Jersey, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds residents that resources are available for cooling off during extreme hot weather. The National Weather Service has called a heat advisory for the Union County area from 2:00 p.m. Friday afternoon June 29 to 8:00 p.m. Saturday June 30.

The heat wave is expected to last through Sunday.

Residents are advised to stay indoors when possible and keep outdoor activity to a low level. The sun’s heat easily penetrates windows, so shutting drapes, shades and curtains will help keep indoor spaces cooler during the day.

If there is no cooling available at home, relief can be found at a library, senior center, community center, museum, mall, or any other cooled public space where seating is available.

The following municipalities in Union County are offering cooling centers. Residents planning to visit these locations are encouraged to call ahead to confirm hours of operation.

Elizabeth

Miller Evans Logan Recreation Center

161-163 First Street

This Friday                                                      3pm– 10pm

Saturday                                                          10am – 4pm

Sunday                                                            Closed

Monday                                                           10:30am– 10pm

 

Elmora Racquet Club

23 Fernwood Terrace

 (908) 820-2860

Monday through Friday                                  7am – 10pm

Saturday                                                          10am – 4pm

Sunday                                                            Closed

 

Peterstown Community Center

408 Palmer Street

(908) 820-4288

Monday through Friday                                  12pm – 10pm

Saturday                                                          10am-   4pm

Sunday                                                            Closed

 

Fanwood

Chelsea Senior Living Center

295 South Ave.

908-654-5200

Open daily                                                      8am – 8pm

 

Linden

Linden Public Library

31 East Henry Street

908-298-3830

Monday through Thursday                             9am-9pm

Friday                                                              9:30am-9pm

Saturday                                                          9:00am-5pm

 

John T. Gregorio Recreation Center

330 Helen Street

908-474-8627

Monday through Friday                                  8:30am – 4:30pm

Saturday & Sunday                                        Closed

 

Linden Multi-Purpose Center

1025 John Street

908-474-8639

Mon, Wed & Friday                                       8:30am-8pm

Tues & Thurs                                                   8:30am-10pm

Saturday and Sunday                                     Closed

 

Plainfield

Plainfield Senior Center

400 East Front Street

908-753-3506

Open daily                                                     9am-5pm

 

Rahway

Rahway Library

5075, 2 City Hall Plaza,

Rahway, NJ 07065

(732)340-1551

Monday, Wednesday & Thursday                  9am-8pm

Tuesday                                                           9am-5pm

Saturday                                                          9am-5pm

Sunday                                                            Closed

 

Rahway Recreation Center

275 E Milton Ave

Rahway, NJ 07065

(732) 669-3600

Monday-Friday                                               7am-9pm

Saturday                                                          8am-1pm

Sunday                                                            Closed

*7/3 close at 5pm and 7/4 Closed

 

Union

Senior Center

968 Bonnel Court

908-851-5290

Open daily                                                      8:30am-4:00pm

 

Townhall

1976 Morris Ave.

908-851-8500

Monday  – Friday                                            8:30am-4:30pm

Saturday & Sunday                                        Closed 

For more information on resources for senior citizens, contact the Union County Division on Aging toll-free, 888-280-8226.

Union County’s public recreation facilities can also offer some respite from the heat. In Rahway, the Walter E. Ulrich Memorial Pool in Rahway River Park is open seven days a week. For information on hours of operation call 732-381-4045.

Spray parks are available for children at Union County’s Warinanco Park in Roselle, Phil Rizzuto Park in Union, Snyder Park in Berkeley Heights, Ponderosa Park in Scotch Plains, Mattano Park in Elizabeth, and Cedar Brook Park in Plainfield. For maps and directions visit ucnj.org/parks-recreation.

The Loop playground in the Watchung Reservation includes a mist feature, and the County’s Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside is a short walk away. It is open seven days a week from noon to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free. For information on special activities call 908-789-3670 or visit ucnj.org/trailside.

#  #

Update: the next training session will take place in September and October, during evening hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. More details are available on the updated press release.

Union County, NJ – Union County residents who are seeking ways to give back to the community can apply to volunteer with the Union County Rape Crisis Center. Volunteers at the Rape Crisis Center provide guidance and support for victims of sexual violence.

The Rape Crisis Center is a program of the Union County Department of Human Services, and all volunteers are trained, mentored and supported by professional Union County staff.

“Our Rape Crisis Center volunteers are a powerful force for good in the Union County community,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “In many cases, a victim of sexual violence cannot turn to family or friends for support. Our volunteers are non-judgmental. They offer victims the vital elements of human empathy and understanding while providing accurate guidance for managing the legal and medical aftermath of sexual violence.”

No previous experience in counseling is required. Once trained, Rape Crisis Center volunteers answer calls to the Rape Crisis Center hotline as certified Confidential Sexual Violence Advocates. They also provide medical or legal guidance in person by accompanying victims at hospitals, police departments, courtrooms and other locations related to the aftermath of sexual violence.

The Rape Crisis Center is currently organizing the next round of training sessions. All sessions will take place during daytime hours at Rape Crisis Center offices, located in the Colleen Fraser Building at the Union County complex, 300 North Avenue East in Westfield.

“Previous training sessions have taken place during evening hours, and with this new daytime schedule we hope to accommodate an additional group of volunteers,” said Chairman Granados.

Union County residents who may be interested in daytime training sessions are invited to call the Rape Crisis Center hotline at 908-233-7273.

Volunteers must be Union County residents at least 18 years of age, with a valid driver’s license and their own vehicle.

For more information about the volunteer experience at Rape Crisis Center call 908-233-7273 or visit the Rape Crisis Center blog, unioncountyrapecrisiscenter.blogspot.com.

The Rape Crisis Center is part of the Union County Department of Human Services, Division of Planning and has been serving Union County residents since 1984.

##

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.

 

 

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholder Alexander Mirabella present a resolution to the members of the Roselle Park Wrestling Team, congratulating them on achieving 1,000 victories in its 82^nd year scholastic competition, a feat accomplished by only one other team in New Jersey history. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

By Freeholder Christopher Hudak,  June 2018

Whether it’s responding to emergencies, getting our children to school, establishing a business, commuting to work, or simply going out for a night on the town: the residents of Union County all depend on public infrastructure to ensure that our communities are safe, prosperous and enjoyable places to live.

Providing modern and up-to-date infrastructure should be a “no-brainer” responsibility of government, but alas, national roads and bridges are crumbling. Failing to maintain our infrastructure not only leaves our nation unsafe and inconvenienced, it locks us out of economic opportunities.

Today, Union County municipalities are still struggling to find room in their budgets for basic improvements to local roads and public buildings, leaving business districts choked and causing a delay in re-vitalization projects for flood control and sewer improvements. That is why I stand behind the Union County Municipal Infrastructure Grant Program, which continues to be a valuable source of partnership and resources between our County and Local Governments.

In 2015, we proudly established this matching grant program. Motivated by a need to better manage revenue from the sale of Runnels Hospital, we decided that these funds served the County best by being reinvested directly back into the community. Through this grant: we’ve built roads, we’ve created jobs, and we’ve made our community better.

The grant program received an enthusiastic response from the start because it empowers local governments to prioritize the projects that they know will make a significant difference in their communities. Including this year’s awards, the county has made available $6 million dollars of infrastructure grant funding to the 21 municipalities- leveraging a possible total of $12 million towards infrastructure spending which otherwise may not have been appropriated across the municipal budgets.

My hometown of Linden provides an excellent example of how a spirit of partnership with County Government can lead to progress.

In the four years of the grant program, Linden has received a total of $415,000 dollars- that’s enough to help cover the cost of six major road and sidewalk improvement projects.  Long stretches of East Blancke Street, West Henry Street, Maple Avenue, Knopf Street, Amon Terrace and Laurita Street have all been improved thanks to the funding from this grant. This includes the replacement of manhole covers, castings, improvements to sidewalks and curbs, and total re-pavements.

People rarely consider roads and bridges until they fail. That is why these long overdue repairs have eased the burden of travel around our town.

The curb and sidewalk improvements have been an even more noticeable difference for pedestrians, especially for Linden residents who are elderly or disabled, and for those who push strollers or accompany small children.

Whether you are driving, walking or cycling, roads and walkways are the lifeblood of a functioning community, and I am proud that this Freeholder Board continues to provide the financial assistance that enables Linden and all of our 21 municipalities to keep Union County moving forward.

 

#  #

 

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.

LINDEN, NJ — The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the return of Shakespeare in the Park this summer. The first performance will be presented on Sunday, July 8 at 7:00 p.m. at the Raymond Wood Bauer Promenade in Linden.

The Shrew Mechanicals Troupe from The Shakespeare Theatre of New jersey will present an hour long performance of “Powerful Trouble,” a stirring collection of moments and music from Shakespeare’s great canon of plays, as well as selections from some of the profound, witty, and light-hearted works his plays have inspired over the centuries.

“We are thrilled to have the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey back in our parks this summer to offer their amazing performance to our Union County residents,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados.

The production will also be presented on two other dates: Friday, July 13 at 7:00 p.m. at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside, and on Sunday afternoon, July 22, at 12:30 p.m. in Cedar Brook Park in Plainfield.

All performances are free and have something for every audience.

For more information on Shakespeare in the Park and other programs of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation, visit online at ucnj.org, email parksinfo@ucnj.org or call 908-527-4900.

#  #

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.