Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds residents who are interested in a unique and meaningful volunteer experience that applications are still open for the next volunteer training program of the Union County Rape Crisis Center.

The Rape Crisis Center is a program of the Union County Department of Human Services. Since its inception in 1984, volunteer advocates from the Rape Crisis Center have helped hundreds of Union County residents with emotional support and guidance through the aftermath of sexual violence.

No previous experience in counseling is necessary. All volunteers are trained and mentored by professional staff.

Due to inclement weather the initial start date for the spring training program has been rescheduled from March 22 to April 10, so there is still time to register. Space is limited so call the Rape Crisis Center now at 908-233-7273 to schedule a pre-training interview.

Additional information about the volunteer experience can be found at the Rape Crisis Center’s blog, unioncountyrapecrisiscenter.blogspot.com.

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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.

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce Teacher Training programs at Trailside for teachers K-12. 

“Trailside, located on over 2,000 acres in the Watchung Reservation, is a perfect place for teachers to learn new environmentally focused lesson plans and projects,” says Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. 

 Project WET, a teacher training program for teachers K – 12 will be offered on Thursday March 15 from 9:00 AM. to 3:00 PM.  This workshop will provide the necessary tools, resources and lessons for teachers to utilize in the classroom to teach about the importance and value of water in everyday life. 

More than 90 interdisciplinary activities and lessons, teacher-tested and classroom ready for K-12 students, are included in the activity guide. Lessons in the guide are correlated to NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards. 

On Wednesday, May 9 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Project WILD will be offered to formal and non-formal educators. This workshop assists teachers in teaching math, science, social studies, literacy and art at any grade level.

Teachers will acquire new teaching skills and practices that translate into more effective teaching through a multitude of interdisciplinary, hands-on and educational activities, teacher tested and classroom ready for K-12 students.

Project WILD lessons are correlated to NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards.   Because this program will have some outdoor time, it is recommended that participants dress appropriately for the weather.

Participants receive six ( 6 )NJDOE professional development credits for each workshop. The fee is $20 for each workshop and includes light morning refreshments, along with the curriculum guide.  It is suggested that participants bring their lunch.

Pre-registration is required for each workshop. Registration is now available online, at ucnj.org/trailside.  Walk-ins will be welcomed as space is limited.

For more information about these programs or other activities at Trailside, please call 908-789-3670 or visit 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.                                                                   

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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.

 

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds County residents that some County facilities and programs will be closed or suspended on Wednesday, March 7, in anticipation of another severe winter storm.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has declared a state of emergency for the entire state beginning at 8:00 p.m. tonight.

County residents are strongly advised to stay off the roads, to help reduce the chance of accidents, enable emergency responders to get through, and enable snow plows to operate more effectively.

Residents should also ensure that emergency supplies are at hand including food, water, flashlights, first aid kits and any needed medicines or medical equipment. Make sure that cell phones are charged and get fresh batteries for portable radios.

Click here to view the latest service advisories.

Snow is expected to start by 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening and continue to about to 4:00 a.m. Thursday.

Plan on difficult travel conditions throughout the storm. Significant reductions in visibility are possible. Total accumulations are expected in the 6”-12” range, with more possible locally.

Always contact your local utility to report an outage or service interruption; do not assume that they are already aware of the problem. Following is a list of local utilities:

Electric

PSE&G
1-800-436-7734
Online Outage Reporting   Report Map

 

Jersey Central Power & Light
1-800-662-3115
Online Outage Reporting   Report Map

Gas

Elizabethtown Gas
1-800-242-5830

Website

 

PSE&G
1-800-436-7734

Website
Report gas leak: 1-800-436-7734

Water

New Jersey American Water

1-800-272-1325

Website

 

United Water — Rahway

1-877-303-2435

Website

Emergencies: 1-877-303-2435

Cable / Phone

Cablevision
1-866-575-8000

Website

 

Comcast
1-800-266-2278

Website

 

Verizon FiOS
1-888-438-3467

Website

 

Verizon
1-800-827-4966

Website

 

Time Warner
201-886-0900

Website

 

For more information about emergency preparedness in New Jersey visit ready.nj.gov.

For local updates visit the Union County website at ucnj.org or follow Union County on Facebook and Twitter.

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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.

March 7, 2018
For immediate release
Contact: Sebastian D’Elia
Communications Director
908-527-4419
Union County Freeholders Announce New Office of Community Engagement and Diversity

Union County, NJ — The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders have announced the establishment of the Office of Community Engagement and Diversity. The new office is tasked with supporting and growing volunteer activities by identifying opportunities, coordinating events, building a volunteer network and strengthening relationships with the County’s diverse communities.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados announced the new office as part of his “Moving Union County Forward” initiatives for 2018 in his address during the county’s 162nd Annual Reorganization.

“As someone active in the volunteer community, I know that Union County residents are passionate, energized, and eager to lend their time and their skills to make a real difference,” said Chairman Granados. “This new office will help volunteers connect with new opportunities to engage, and help all of our volunteer stakeholders – including business, non-profit and academic – coordinate their efforts for maximum impact.”

Advocates from the non-profit community thanked Granados and the Freeholder Board as a whole for creating the office:

Donna Lowe Alexander, CEO & President of Urban League of Union County, Inc. and Crystal A. Orr, President of Urban League of Union County Young Professionals, stated:

“As the new presidents of the Urban League of Union County, Inc. and Urban League of Union County Young Professionals (ULUCYP), we are happy that the Office of Community Engagement and Diversity has been established. Our mission is to empower and seek equality for people who are disadvantaged and underrepresented in Housing, Education, Employment and Healthcare. By creating this office, Union County is taking a vested interest to learn and access the needs of the diverse groups of people that we serve. We are looking forward to partnering with Nathalie and her team to continue to enhance our communities and change lives.”

Dr. Norma Bowe the founder of Be The Change NJ, a community service and activist group stated:

“Be The Change NJ Kean University is excited to partner on a variety of community based projects with the Union County Office of Community Engagement & Diversity. This weekend, we will be working with the Office and several other organizations to provide 1,000 sandwiches to 10 locations throughout the State to celebrate our 10 years of Homelessness Relief.”

Janice Lilien, Chief Executive Office of the YWCA of Union County said:

“The YWCA Union County is so pleased to work with the Office of Community Engagement and Diversity. As a leading agency addressing the empowerment of women as well as the elimination of racism, we rely on our entire community to work in partnership to address these important societal issues. Union County has led the way in improving our community and we are proud to work alongside them.”

Darwin Roman, President of the Union County Latino American Chamber of Commerce said:

“As President of the Union County Latino American Chamber of Commerce we are proud to partner with the County of Union. Union County is rich in Multicultural diversity. We feel that our chamber is in alignment with the goals and initiatives of the Office of Community Engagement and Diversity. The Latino community is poised for growth with our support in enhancing and advancing, both in education and economically. We look forward to reaching astronomical levels of success in 2018 and beyond!”

The Office operates under the Department of Economic Development, where it uses existing County staff and resources to carry out the following functions:

• Provide outreach to local community based groups and volunteer organizations to create a network and directory of same.

• Coordinate countywide community events and programs which foster and promote volunteerism in Union County.

• Reinforce strategies for building relationships with the County’s diverse communities to include culture, lifestyle, ethnicity, and race.

• Bring communities together on issues important to them and find creative & innovative solutions to ensure inclusion and collaboration on a multi-faceted vision for the County’s diverse communities.

During the past few months, the Office of Community Engagement and Diversity has completed the following projects:

 Donation Drives for Hurricane Harvey victims and YWCA Union County Domestic Violence Shelter in Elizabeth;

 Coordinated with the Urban League of Union County Young Professionals to collect business clothing for the Cinderella’s Closet at our Elizabeth & Plainfield One Stop Center;

 Coordinated with an Elizabeth resident and the Union County Department of Human Services to collect their donation of 20 cots for the County’s Code Blue Operations;

 Coordinated County Volunteer Days at the Community Food Bank of New Jersey and at Kean University to participate in Be The Change NJ’s 10th Anniversary of Operation PB & J to feed the homeless;

The office is currently working on projects with Bernice’s Place, We Are One NJ, Union County Family Success Centers, Be The Change NJ, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson, & Union Counties.

Individuals who wish to connect with a volunteer organization or initiative in Union County can register online with the Office of Community Engagement and Diversity, at ucnj.org/ office-of-community-engagement-diversity/volunteers.

“Part of the idea behind the registry is to provide our immigrant community with bilingual services and support, so I encourage individuals who speak a second language to sign up and participate,” said Granados.

Groups and organizations seeking to connect with volunteers can register at ucnj.org/office-of-community-engagement-diversity/groups.

For more information about the Office of Community Engagement and Diversity contact Nathalie Hernandez, the Office’s coordinator, at 908-527-4880 or nahernandez@ucnj.org.

Union County Freeholder Alexander Mirabella joined Mountainside Mayor Paul Mirabelli, Councilman Robert W. Messler, Councilwoman Deanna Andre, Councilwoman Wendy Fech Caccamo and Senior Citizen Coordinator Kim Moriak in cutting the ribbon officially opening the new Senior Lounge at the Mountainside Municipal Building.

The new Senior Lounge and other improvements to the borough’s Senior Center were made by possible with a $25,000 Union County Senior Focus Grant from the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Bruce H. Bergen has been appointed as the Chairman of the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition (RVRC), a rail transit advocacy group representing towns and counties along the NJ TRANSIT Raritan Valley line.

“I congratulate Chairman Bergen, and I look forward to working hard with him on the Coalition,” Kowalski said. “With the welcome change of leadership and direction in the Governor’s Office, we look forward to making progress on both our long-term and short-term goals in improving rail service.”

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados congratulated Bergen on his appointment and added the Freeholder Board would work to strongly support his goals on the RVRC.

“Union County as a whole is a regional transit hub, and long-term improvements to its rail system are crucial to the economic well-being of our residents,” Granados said. “My colleagues and I look forward to working with Freeholder Bergen, who is leading the RVRC, and Freeholder Vice Chairman Kowalski in their efforts to lobby for crucially needed changes to the system.”

As a major part of his objectives, Bergen noted he would emphasize supporting Governor Phil Murphy’s goals of improving rail service and increasing funding, not just for the Raritan Valley Line, but for the crucially important Gateway Project, and other vital efforts at NJ Transit.

Bergen expressed the RVRC’s support for the Gateway Project, which includes the construction of an additional two-track tunnel to New York, adding that the existing network is on “life support,” and in dire need of repair and expansion. Construction of new tunnels under the Hudson River could provide sufficient capacity under the Hudson River to give the Raritan Valley Rail line a full schedule of one seat rides to New York Penn Station.

“The importance of the Gateway project to the travelling public and the regional economy cannot be understated.  While there are recent news reports of a setback in funding from the Trump administration, this is a project of utmost consequence and one that the RVRC has been vociferously advocating for. While some suggest shrinking the scope of the Gateway project is a solution to the funding problem, reality calls for full completion of the work.”

Bergen added he would also support a current NJ State legislative bill which includes $5 million in state funds for capacity improvements to the Raritan Valley Line.

To further improve the Raritan Valley Line, the RVRC supports a rail “flyover” that would alleviate switching problems between the Raritan Valley Line and Amtrak, which today causes train delays. It also supports the triple tracking of a section of the rail line and it urges further work on a same-platform transfer at Newark Penn Station.

The RVRC was created in 1998 to advocate for a one-seat ride on the Raritan Valley Line. At the time, Raritan Valley riders had to switch trains at Newark because diesel engines were not allowed into the tunnels under the Hudson River. 

In 2014, NJ Transit began using dual-mode locomotives that could switch from diesel to electric power, making it possible to have a direct ride into New York City. The first midday, off-peak weekday one-seat rides into New York started in March 2014, and evening service started in January 2015. However, rush-hour commuters still have to change trains in Newark.

The Raritan Valley Line is a commuter rail service operated by NJ Transit which serves passengers in municipalities in Union, Somerset, Middlesex and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey. Union County stops include: Union, Roselle Park, Cranford, Garwood, Westfield, Fanwood,  Netherwood and Plainfield.  From Union County, the trains travel westward to High Bridge with eleven additional stops.

The RVRC website is www.raritanvalleyrail.com

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados welcomed Trisha Yurochko, the head coach of the Children’s Specialized Hospital Paralympic Sports Club Children’s Lightning Wheels, to the Union County Roundtable meeting for the Special Needs Community at the Cranford Community Center.

They were joined by Union County Department of Human Services Director Debbie-Ann Anderson, Union County Division of Outreach and Advocacy Director Maureen Segale-Glenn and Manuel Ramirez and Nicole DeAugustine of the Union County of Office for People with Special Needs.

The roundtable meeting was facilitated by Trisha Yurochko as more than 40 participants discussed and assessed current programs and services offered to individuals with special needs throughout Union County.

The creation of the state’s first-ever Office for People with Special Needs is part of Chairman’s “Moving Union County Forward” initiatives.

For more information about the Office for People with Special Needs, visit www.ucnj.org/departments/human-services/office-for-people-with-special-needs.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County)

Union County, NJ – Union County residents seeking information about services for senior adults age 60 and older can visit any of seven convenient Aging Services Kiosk (ASK) locations to speak with staff from the county’s Department of Human Services, Division on Aging.

Experienced staff will be available at public libraries in Linden, Mountainside, Clark, Fanwood and Summit. ASK will also be available at a community center in Westfield.

“Our goal is to help residents connect with expert assistance and personal guidance, in a friendly, familiar environment close to home,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “The ASK program has helped hundreds of County residents since it first began in 2012 and I encourage seniors, their families and caregivers to make use of this popular service.”

Through the ASK community outreach program, members of the staff travel throughout Union County providing information about services such as home delivered meals, respite care, home care, adult day care and support services for caregivers.

Assistance with completing applications and forms is also provided.

All Union County residents are welcome to attend any ASK event. The March 2018 dates and locations are:

 

The Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection’s (ADRC) goal is to promote wellness, independence, dignity and choice for seniors and their families. It is one of 670 “Area Agencies on Aging” nationwide established under the federal Older Americans Act. The division has information printed in both English and Spanish.

Check for the upcoming schedule of stops for an ASK kiosk coming near you as dates and locations are posted in local newspapers, the Senior News, Facebook, Twitter and the Union County website, ucnj.org.

For further information about the Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection, call the division’s toll free number: 1-888-280-8226, or 908-527-4870 or 4858 or visit the Union County government website at 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.