Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announces that Gold Star Parent identification cards are now available from her office, for mothers and fathers of military service members who died while on active duty.

A new state law authorizes counties in New Jersey to issue the card, which provides for free access to New Jersey state parks, forests and beaches, and the New Jersey State Museum.

“The Gold Star Parent card recognizes that sons and daughters will always be remembered and honored by their parents and by the Union County community,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “My office is proud to provide these cards as a modest token of gratitude for the sacrifice that families in our community have made in service to our country.”

Gold Star is a military designation with roots in World War I, when households flew flags with a blue star for each immediate family member serving in the military. A gold star replaced the blue in case of casualty in uniform, signaling the family’s sacrifice to their neighbors and their community.

Union County is the third county in New Jersey to offer the cards. Ocean County and Cape May also offer them.

In addition to biological parents, the new law enables legal guardians, adoptive parents and other custodians to qualify for a card.

Union County residents may apply for the card in person at the County Clerk’s Elizabeth or Westfield office. Appropriate documentation is required, including a Federal DD Form 1300 report of casualty and proof of the applicant’s relationship to the deceased.

For more details about applying for a Gold Star Parent card in Union County, including hours and directions for the County Clerk’s Elizabeth and Westfield offices, visit online at ucnj.org/county-clerk or call 908-527-4787.

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Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholder Bruce H. Bergen joined State Senator Nicholas Scutari, Acting Union County Prosecutor Michael Monahan, Union County Police Chief Chris Debbie, Union County Undersheriff Amilcar Colon, Union County Public Safety Director Andrew Moran, Friends of the Union County Child Advocacy Center President Drew Ertman and Union County Assistant Prosecutor Lyndsay Ruotolo at the 4th annual Race 4 the Children 5K Fundraiser in Warinanco Park in Roselle.
 
All proceeds benefit the Child Advocacy Center of Union County. The event is co-sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the City of Elizabeth. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ—The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation invite families with children of all ages and adults alike to climb aboard a variety of public safety vehicles at this year’s “Touch A Truck” event on Sunday afternoon, April 29. The event will run from 11:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M., weather permitting in the Lower Loop Parking Lot of the Watchung Reservation.

There will also be a quiet hour, from 11:00 A.M. until 12:00 P.M. where children sensitive to noise will be able to enjoy the vehicles on display.

“Youngsters will have an opportunity to attend Touch A Truck at the Loop in the Watchung Reservation and get a close up look at these magnificent machines,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “They will also have the chance to climb aboard and experience the excitement of being behind the wheel.”

Hazmat will offer its big rig, and the Union County Department of Public Works will return with its mammoth white milling machine which is used to strip the top off of roads to prepare them for paving. The companion vehicle, the paver, will also be there, along with a bucket truck used for high tree trimming.

Attendees can also see multiple trucks with snow plows, payloaders, and hook/flatbed tow. And of course, fire department truck equipment from the Mountainside Fire Department is also planned for display.

This year’s Touch A Truck event will feature a special display from the Fire Museum, a 1975 Piece Custom pumper, retired from Mine Hill Fire Department.

Admission to the Touch A Truck event is $5 per person, with children 6 years old and under admitted free. The price of admission also includes admission to Wild Earth Fest.

The Loop Area is located just off Tracy Drive in Mountainside, in between Glenside Avenue and Summit Road. It features a very popular playground area for kids, and the concession stand will be open. Visitors may also visit the Watchung Stable and the Deserted Village of Feltville/Glenside Park. Also, Lake Surprise is just a short walk where residents can see the new dam.

For more information on Touch a Truck, or any event in the Union County Parks System, please visit our website at ucnj.org/parks.

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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 invites residents and visitors to celebrate the rich legacy of the Carnegie Libraries this summer, with a series of three special events in June, July and August. The events will be held at the Main Library in historic midtown Elizabeth, at 11 South Broad Street.

 “Our free public libraries are the backbone of American democracy. They are places where people from all walks of life can meet on an equal footing, and pillars of strength for those seeking opportunities for self-improvement,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “In honoring the Carnegie Libraries we also pay tribute to the invaluable role of free and equal access to knowledge and information in our communities.” 

The three events are:

Wednesday, June 13 at 6:00 p.m. — A panel discussion with representatives of the six towns that have or had a Carnegie Library. The event includes PowerPoint presentations, pictures, and documents associated with the six buildings.

Wednesday, July 11 at 6:30 p.m. – An opening reception for a new exhibit titled, “A Carnegie Library: The History of the Elizabeth Public Library,” including original materials covering the design, construction, and evolution of Elizabeth’s two Carnegie Libraries. The exhibit will run from July 2 through July 28.

Thursday, August 9 at 4:30 p.m. — Author and Monmouth University librarian Eleonora Dubicki will be the featured speaker sharing research for her article “Carnegie Libraries in New Jersey: 1900-1923.” Ms. Dubicki has published two books and more than a dozen articles on topics in the field of library and information science.

Andrew Carnegie was a hard driving industrialist of the 19^th century who became a leading civic philanthropist in the early 20^th century. A major part of his legacy was the endowment of 1,688 public libraries throughout the country, including six in Union County: Westfield, Plainfield, Cranford, Summit and Elizabeth, which had two.

The Main Library in Elizabeth was constructed in 1912 and is the only one of those six to continue functioning as a library.

“This celebration of the Carnegie Libraries is also a timely reminder of the profound impact that immigrants have on the quality of life in our communities,” said Chairman Granados. “Andrew Carnegie came to this country from Scotland with hardly a dime to his name, and countless millions of Americans have benefited from his legacy.”

The Carnegie Library series is a partnership with the Union County of Board of Chosen Freeholders through the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, the Elizabeth Public Library and the New Jersey Studies Academic Alliance.

For more information on all Cultural and Heritage programs in Union County visit on line at ucnj.org, call 908-436-2912 or email culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

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Photo Credit: Main Library, Elizabeth Public Library.

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 welcomes beginners and experts alike to enjoy a free Open House including archery demonstrations and refreshments at Union County’s Archery Range at Oak Ridge Park in Clark on Saturday, June 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The event is free and open to both in-county and out-of-county residents. Pre-registration by Friday, June 1 is required.

“Our archery range is open from dawn to dusk all year ‘round for the enjoyment of all,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “It is designed to welcome people with disabilities, novices and newcomers, while also providing an Olympic scale environment to satisfy all levels of skill and experience.”

The Open House will feature free demonstrations of Olympic archery, compound bows with 3-D targets, traditional archery, modern equipment, flying discs and more.

Any eligible individual can apply for an annual permit to use the Archery Range. The applicant must show proof of previous safety training, or pass a safety course offered by the Archery Range.

The Archery Range also offers individual and group lessons for beginners on up. All equipment is included with the lessons.

“We provide the equipment for lessons so it’s easy to come and get a feel for the sport,” said Chairman Grandados. “The Archery Range at Oak Ridge Park is the only outdoor, Olympic scale range in the entire area, and we are happy to offer this opportunity to Union County residents and the public at large, too.”

To register for the Open House, visit ucnj.org/parks and click on Reserve Online under Reservations, or call 908-654-9805.

More information on the Archery Range, including the safety lesson schedule, class prices, and range rules, is available at ucnj.org/parks-recreation/archery.

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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 that openings are still available in the upcoming training series for Volunteer Advocates for victims of sexual violence. The sessions are scheduled twice weekly beginning on Tuesday, May 1 until Thursday, June 14.

The training is free. No previous experience in counseling is required. Volunteer Advocates work with the professional staff at Union County’s Rape Crisis Center to help victims cope with the legal, medical and emotional aftermath of sexual violence.

“The Freeholder Board is extremely proud of our volunteer advocates, who help restore a sense of community and self-worth to Union County residents who are facing a life crisis,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “If you are looking for a worthwhile volunteer activity that makes a real difference on a person-to-person level, I encourage you to contact the Union County Rape Crisis Center and ask about the upcoming training program.”

Training sessions will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Union County complex in Westfield, at 300 North Avenue East.

Volunteers must be Union County residents at least 18 years of age.  They must hold a valid driver’s license and have their own vehicle. Prior to training, each volunteer must come to the Rape Crisis Center for an informal interview. Volunteers must also attend all training sessions.

For more information about volunteering and to schedule an interview, call the Union County Rape Crisis Center at 908-233-7273.

Visit unioncountyrapecrisiscenter.blogspot.com to learn more about the Rape Crisis Center.

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

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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 – With the winter weather finally winding down, potholes are a frequent issue for drivers. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders would like you to know there are resources you can use to report them to the proper agency.

“We certainly encourage drivers and commuters to report any pothole they encounter on roads throughout Union County to the responsible authority,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “A pothole lives on until reported.”

To report a pothole or any other issue with a Union County road, use an online form available through the Union County Department of Public Works and Facilities Management at ucnj.org/pot-hole.

County roads are identified by their blue route signs, which include the letters “CR” followed by a three-digit number.

Persons without Internet access can report potholes on Union County roads by calling 908-789-3660.

For potholes on state highways, call the New Jersey Department of Transportation at 1-800-POTHOLE or use the online form at state.nj.us/transportation.

For local roads, contact the municipality in which the road is located. Links for all 21 Union County municipalities are available through the County website, ucnj.org/municipalities.

To plan a commute around major road projects that may disrupt traffic patterns in Union County, visit the “Road Construction Update” page at ucnj.org/traffic.

For all transit information in Union County including car, bus, rail, aircraft, bicycle and Paratransit, visit Union County ConneXions at ucnj.org/connect.

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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 that by popular demand, two additional CPR training classes have been added in May. Three sessions were previously scheduled in April and are already fully booked.

All classes are open to the general public.

“I encourage all Union County residents to learn basic first aid and emergency response skills. A medical emergency can happen to anyone at any time, and a trained bystander can literally save a life by stepping in to help until professional responders arrive,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados.

The CPR classes will be conducted by Emergency Medical Technicians from Union County Emergency Medical Services.

The Freeholder Board is providing the instructional part of the program free of charge.

Participants will pay only for course materials fee, which totals $23.25 for the classroom manual and certification card.

A medical or professional background is not required. Any Union County resident can attend.

Registration is now open for the following new dates:

Sunday May 6, 12:30 p.m.to 5:00 p.m.

Monday May 14, 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

All classes will be held in the Union County Emergency Services Building, at 535 Laurel Avenue in Roselle Park.

The materials fee of $23.25 is accepted by check, made out to RWJ Rahway (checks will be collected at the beginning of class).    

Participants should be prepared for physical movement including kneeling, bending, and simulation of chest compressions. The class also includes video presentations.

Registration is online at ucnj.org/public-safety/division-of-emergency-services.

For additional information contact the Office of Emergency Management at ucoem@ucnj.org or call 908-654-9881 and ask for Lt. Sara Chmura.

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Photo (cropped): via Wikimedia Commons.

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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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Joins Counties of Gloucester, Hudson, Camden, Middlesex, Essex and Mercer, and Wall Township, in Calling for Timely Passage of Statewide Legislation

Union County Freeholders Bruce H. Bergen and Mohamed S. Jalloh joined Union County Sheriff Peter Corvelli, Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi and Union County Surrogate James LaCorte in congratulating the top winners of the 2018 “My County” poster contest sponsored by the Union County Constitutional Officers.

The top four winners of the contest are (from left): Ethan Lopes Moreira (1st place) from Our Lady of Guadalupe Academy in Elizabeth, Magda Wlodarski (2nd place) from St. Michael Elementary School in Cranford, Milani Washington (3rd place) from St. John the Apostle Elementary School in Clark and Rosa Rocio (4th place) from the Ronald Regan Elementary School No. 30 in Elizabeth.

More than 200 fourth grade students from schools throughout Union County entered the contest. Twelve winners in total will have their artwork featured in a poster calendar.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)