Category: Public Info

The Youth Employment Pathways Program (YEPP)—a pilot program that is a partnership between the Union County Freeholder Board and the United Way of Greater Union County, has put 60 at-risk youth to work part-time in various industries throughout Union County starting this week through June.

“YEPP is designed to assist in school and out of school youth between the ages of 14-24 with the necessary tools they’ll need in order to successfully graduate high school and/or secure employment,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “The Freeholder Board is proud to be sponsoring this program through United Way, and we look forward to continuing a more expansive jobs program for at least 200 more youth later this year once the pilot is complete.”

James W. Horne, Jr., President and CEO of United Way of Greater Union County (UWGUC), added: “The United Way is working in collaboration with the Freeholder Board, non-profit agencies through the County, and our private sector partners to provide training and on-the-job experience to those who might otherwise lack access to these opportunities. The program is geared to helping disadvantaged youth achieve their goals and work toward obtaining credential certifications, enter higher education and/or secure employment.”

UWGUC was awarded a federal Workforce Innovations and Opportunity Act (WIOA) grant by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Workforce Development Board to implement YEPP. Non- profit agencies and private sector businesses recruited the youth, who were at-risk, financially disadvantaged or parenting teens– from various communities for the program.

Freeholder Chairman Granados added:

“We will continue to find new employment opportunities for our residents. Last year we provided over 2,500 opportunities through our Workforce Innovation Business Center, but this year we wanted to put an additional focus on helping to empower and employ at-risk-youth in our communities. As someone who grew up in an urban area, I strongly feel that if we had more of these types of opportunities, some of the people I grew up with wouldn’t have gone down a troubled path.”

The program provided training as needed, and part-time jobs (15-hours a week), pay was between $10-

$15 an hour, in various industries, including government, non-profits, and jobs in the private sector, including the retail and construction industries.

The non-profit agencies that UWGUC partnered with included:

• Community Access Unlimited
• Communities in Cooperation, Inc.
• Elizabeth Housing Authority
• Urban League of Union County, Inc.,
• Proceed, Inc.
• Second Street Youth Center
• HomeFirst, Inc.
• Plainfield Housing Authority
• Workforce Advantage Inc.
• YMCA

Information regarding the YEPP can be found on the United Way website at https://www.uwguc.org/yepp,or by calling 908-353-7171.

Union County, NJ – The Trailside Museum Association will be the beneficiary of Whole Foods’ “5% Day” in Union County on Thursday, April 19. Five percent of net sales on April 19 from two participating Whole Foods stores, in Vauxhall and Clark, will go to the non-profit organization.

Members of the Trailside Museum Association support Union County’s Trailside Nature and Science Center with many hours of volunteer work, fundraising and special events.

The Trailside Nature and Science Center is located in Union County’s Watchung Reservation, in Mountainside. The public is welcome to enjoy interactive, state-of-the art exhibits at Trailside free of charge, seven days a week except for holidays. Trailside also offers a full range of scheduled activities and programs for all ages, both indoors and out (modest fees apply).

The two participating Whole Foods stores are located at 2245 Springfield Avenue in Vauxhall and 1255 Raritan Road in Clark.

For more information about the Trailside Nature and Science Center visit the County website at ucnj.org/parks-recreation.

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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 members of the public to attend a panel discussion on sexual assault and consent on Wednesday, April 25 at 2:00 p.m. in Room N-4 at Union County College, 1033 Springfield Avenue in Cranford. The panel will feature a question and answer session.

The panel discussion is intended to raise awareness about sexual assault and consent in recognition of Denim Day, an international campaign developed by the organization Peace Over Violence. The Denim Day campaign began in 1999 in response to a controversial ruling in a sexual assault case in Italy.

“This panel provides a safe environment in which members of the public can learn, explore, and ask questions,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Issues that were once hidden behind closed doors are finally being exposed to light, and discussions like this are an important way to make progress toward a society that fully respects an individual’s right to dignity and choice.”

The free event is organized by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office of Victim/Witness Advocacy and the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders through the Union County Office on Women in partnership with Union County College.

Members of the panel include Special Victims Unit Supervisor and Assistant Prosecutor Caroline Lawlor, Special Victims Unit Detective Brian O’Malley, Union County College Director of Human Resources Heather Cavise, and Union County College Dean of Students Mensah Peterson.

The event will be held on Wednesday, April 25 at 2:00 p.m. at Union County College’s Cranford Campus in room N-4.

For more information on the event contact Jennifer Erdos, Union County Office on Women, 908-527-4216 or jerdos@ucnj.org.

More information on Peace Over Violence is available at peaceoverviolence.org/denim-day.

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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 – In recognition of May as Older Americans Month, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds Union County’s senior adults that they will receive new Medicare cards from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services this summer.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is the federal agency that runs the Medicare program. It is a branch of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

“The new Medicare cards are intended to help keep our senior residents safe from fraud and identity theft,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “As with any other form of identification, Medicare card holders should continue to exercise caution and only share their information with health professionals or other authorized persons.”

As a fraud and identity theft prevention measure, the new Medicare cards include an 11-character “Medicare Beneficiary Identifier” instead of a Social Security number.

The new Medicare cards will be mailed to cardholders automatically as long as the address is accurate. To verify an address, visit my Social Security online at socialsecurity.gov/myaccount, call Social Security at 1 (800) 772-1213 or 1 (800) 325-0778 TTY or visit your local Social Security office.

For other questions regarding the new Medicare card, contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE or visit medicare.gov/newcard.

The mailings will be done in waves by geographic location. Cards may arrive at different times for neighbors and friends due to the mailing schedule.

Chairman Granados also advised seniors to be aware of other programs and services that can help them avoid identity theft and other forms of fraud.

“The Freeholder Board supports the Anti-Fraud Toolkit created by the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs,” said Chairman Granados. “The Toolkit includes an email alert network for sharing up-to-date news about the latest fraud incidents in New Jersey, especially those affecting seniors.”

For more information on the Anti-Fraud Toolkit, or and to sign up for Real-Time Fraud Alerts visit the Division of Consumer Affairs at njconsumeraffairs.gov/fightingfraud.

Union County residents are also encouraged to report possible frauds and scams to the Union County Office of Consumer Affairs. To file a complaint online, visit ucnj.org/public-safety or call 908-654-9840.

Another protective measure is to ensure that sensitive personal documents are shredded and securely disposed. Union County sponsors a regular series of free, secure paper shredding events throughout the spring, summer and fall. For a complete schedule, visit ucnj.org/recycling.

For information about other senior services offered by Union County, including Paratransit and senior meals, call the Union County Division on Aging toll-free at 888-280-8226, 908-527-4870, or visit online at ucnj.org/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 – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to invite all senior residents of Union County, age 6o or older, to register now for the Union County Senior Citizens Art Exhibit. Qualifying works of art will be on display at the Atrium of Liberty Hall Center at 1085 Morris Avenue in Union from May 29 to July 9, and the artists will be guests at a special reception at the Atrium on Wednesday, June 6.

The deadline to register is Wednesday, May 16.

“Union County’s senior citizens are a vital part of Union County’s diverse community, and the Senior Art Exhibit helps to ensure that their contributions are valued and appreciated,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Year by year, the exhibit provides us with an enriching view of the world as seen through the eyes of older adults.”

The Senior Art Exhibit is an annual program run through the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs. Artists at any level of skill or experience are invited to register, including amateurs and non-professionals as well as working artists. To qualify, the artwork must have been created within the past three years and must be an original creation of the artist.

“The Senior Art Exhibit enables senior artists to meet and network with their peers,” said Freeholder Bruce H. Bergen, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board. “It’s part of our efforts to support the full range of creativity in Union County, from amateur to professional.”

Registrants can submit a work in a variety of categories including acrylic painting, oil painting, watercolor, pastels, works on paper, crafts, digital art, photography, mixed media, and printmaking.

Artwork entered will be judged by a panel of professional artists. In each art category, there will be awards for first, second, and third place. First-place winners in all categories will go on to compete in September at the state level in the New Jersey Senior Citizens Art Show in East Windsor.

For complete information and online registration, visit the Union County website at ucnj.org/senior-art-show.

To receive a registration form and more information by US Post or email, call Martha Sturm, Senior Arts Coordinator, at the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 908-558-2552, or email culturalinfo@ucnj.org. Relay users dial 711.

Completed applications may be: mailed to Senior Art Show, Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202, or faxed to 908-558-2652, or scanned and emailed to msturm@ucnj.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.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation invite visitors of all ages to meet live animals, celebrate wildlife, learn about environmental conservation and try some outdoor skills at the annual Wild Earth Fest.     You won’t want to miss this exciting and educational event hosted by Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside on Sunday, April 29 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine.

“The Wild Earth Fest event is an entertaining way for visitors to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados, “There is something for everyone at this special event in Union County’s largest park, the Watchung Reservation.”

New this year, the Atlantic City Aquarium will bring their spectacular traveling touch tank exhibit.  Sea and touch a variety of sea life, including, starfish, sea urchins, stingrays, horseshoe crabs and more!  Visitors are invited to learn about outdoor skills including camping, canoeing, hiking, archery, birding and nature photography.  Participants can try the 24’ rock climbing wall or go on a hike with Tri-State Ramblers at 2:00 p.m.  Swift Farms Petting Zoo will join us this year with a miniature pony, lambs, goats, baby chickens, rabbits and more.

The performance lineup includes “Rizzo’s Reptile Discovery,” featured at noon and 3:30 p.m.  Prepare to laugh out loud as you experience the excitement of the reptile world.   Live mammals from around the world are introduced in “Mammal Mania” at 1:30 p.m.  The Wallaby Tales Traveling Zoo uses the life stories of each unique animal, their often humorous personality, fun facts and anecdotes to focus on animal behaviors and adaptations.  Vinnie Reo and his live wolf from Wolf Visions, will dispel the myths of the “Big Bad Wolf” and explain their role in keeping a balanced ecosystem at 1:00 & 2:30 p.m.  Throughout the afternoon, Magician Bill Kerwood will perform “Strolling Comedy and Magic” to entertain and delight young and old.  This unique and engaging variety show, sponsored by Union County Clean Communities, takes a magical look at the importance of recycling.

Live music performed by NRG Acoustic will highlight this year’s event.  Performing a mix of classic rock, pop, blues and country from the 1960’s to today, this popular band has been on the New Jersey cover scene since the 1980’s.  Throughout the day, food trucks, snacks and beverages will be available. Recycling Olympics, Eco-Art and face painting will round out this year’s children’s activities. 

Exhibitors include NJ Audubon Society, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, Rizzo’s Wildlife World, USDA Wildlife Services, NJ Forestry Association, Toadshade Wildflower Farm,

NJ State Park Service, NJ Native Plant Society, Wild Birds Unlimited, Tri-state Ramblers, Hidden Pastures Alpaca Farm, NJ Forest Fire Service, Friends of the Great Swamp, Union County Master Gardeners, 4-H Master Tree Stewards, American Chestnut Foundation, NJ Department of Agriculture and more.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Trailside Museum Association will recognize and honor the environmental heroes in our community when they announce the winners of the Environmental Hero Awards at 2:00 p.m.  

Admission is $5 per person; children 6 years and younger are free. Admission includes entrance to the “Touch A Truck” event being held concurrently in the Watchung Reservation lower loop parking lot.  No pets will be permitted to these events.

For more information about “Wild Earth Fest” or upcoming programs and events, 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 service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites residents and visitors to experience battlefield life as a World War I American Salvation Army volunteer, featuring Ms. Laurie MacDonald-Gaulke, actress and storyteller, in a special free presentation of “Doughnuts for Doughboys: A Salvation Army Lassie in France.”

Doughnuts for Doughboys takes place on Wednesda, April 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Liberty Hall Carriage House at Kean University, 1033 Morris Avenue in Union. The event was originally scheduled to coincide with Women’s History Month in March.

“As we face a challenging time in our nation’s history, it is all the more important to celebrate and recognize all the ways that women shape our past, influence our present and lead us into the future,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Doughnuts for Doughboys” is an exceptional performance that exposes a hidden corner of World War I history in sharp, compelling detail.”

Approximately 500 Salvation Army volunteers during WWI were young women who served with the American Army in France. In this engaging performance the audience will discover that between frying up doughnuts, writing letters for the boy’s for the folks back home, and mending uniforms or ministering to souls on the ravaged battlefields of France, these young women answered the call to “place God in deeds” and become the darlings of the doughboys.

Laurie MacDonnell-Gaulke specializes in creating historical portrayals of real women with real stories to tell as she strives to present each character in a historically, culturally and socially accurate manner.

Her credits include performances at William Paterson University, Caldwell College, University of Delaware, Military Through the Ages in Williamsburg, Virginia; local chapters of the NJ DAR, Belvidere Victorian Days, the Morris Museum, Fosterfields Living History Farm, statewide historical societies and Women’s Clubs.  During 1996-1997 she was an artist in residence at The George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The 2018 Women’s History Month Celebration was sponsored by the Freeholder Board through the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Recreation, and was funded in part by a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a Division of Cultural Affairs in the Department of State.

For more information on all Cultural and Heritage programs visit ucnj.org, email jprescott@ucnj.org or call 908-436-2912.

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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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The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders joined with members of The Arc of Union County, Community Access Unlimited, Elizabeth Parent Support Group and High Expectations Inc. as they proclaimed April 2018 as Autism Awareness Month throughout the County of Union. The Freeholders also commended the organizations for their efforts educating people about the issues surrounding Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and the resources and support services available to people in Union County and the region with Autism.

The Freeholders were joined by Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi, Union County Manager Ed Oatman, Union County Department of Human Services Director Debbie-Ann Anderson, Assistant Director Karen Dinsmore and Manuel Ramirez and Nicole DeAugustine from the Union County Office for People with Special Needs.

(Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholders Christopher Hudak and Alexander Mirabella present a resolution to NJ Sharing Network Foundation Trustee Elizabeth Stamler proclaiming the month of April 2018 as National Donate Life Month throughout the County of Union and further encouraging the support of organ and tissue donation and transplant education. The NJ Sharing Network is a non-profit organization responsible for the recovery and placement of donated organs and tissue for those in need of a life-saving transplant. For more information about the organization visit www.njsharingnetwork.org. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)