Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ – Okay all you Passport Stamp enthusiasts out there, get ready to go crazy.

Union County is going into its second year with the Passport To Your National Parks program. For the upcoming Four Centuries In A Weekend event on October 20 and 21, a whole new set of “Union County Across The Centuries” stamps will be introduced at every site.

Union County unveiled its first set of national parks stamps last year, to recognize Revolutionary War era sites in the county that are part of the National Park Service Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area.

Parks enthusiasts travel all around the country just to have their passports stamped.

“We were thrilled when folks travelled from Massachusetts, Maryland and Pennsylvania just to get our new stamps last year,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados.  “We are hoping word has spread in the stamp community so that we will see more visitors across the county this year. This is what Heritage Tourism is all about.”

While many Union County historic sites date back to the 1700s, a number of them were built later and represent other significant chapters in county history. 

“We wanted to find a way to bring those sites into the excitement. People love to collect these stamps,” Granados said. 

To do that, the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs created a new stamp for each of the participating sites. A complete listing of the Union County Across the Centuries stamps is available online at ucnj.org/4c

A free new Union County passport was also printed for the upcoming Four Centuries event, where sites are open from Noon to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, October 20 and 21.

The “Passport to Your National Parks” stamps, which were unveiled at last year’s Four Centuries in a Weekend event, effectively tripled the number of national parks passport stamp locations in New Jersey overnight.

Passport stamp collectors bring their Passport books to national parks, monuments and other areas overseen by the National Park Service. They can now collect more than 20 new stamps at Union County sites.

Union County is one of 14 New Jersey counties that comprise the Crossroads of the Revolution National Heritage area, which recognizes the role New Jersey played in the American Revolution.

Because the Union County area was one of the earliest regions to be settled, there are numerous sites of significance from the Revolutionary War era. These sites now have their own unique passport stamp recognizing their inclusion in the National Heritage Area.

“It is a great feeling to be able to help our local historical societies promote their sites,” said Union County Vice Chairman Bette Jane Kowalski. “We know that there are people who travel to sites, in part, to add another stamp to their Passport book,” Kowalski said.

Several sites will have multiple stamps because of their location. For example, the Miller-Cory House in Westfield is a historic site in its own right and is also along the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail, which recognizes the contribution of the French in winning the Revolutionary War.

Several battles in Union County were also memorialized with the stamps.

While the new Union County stamps will be at all sites, the national Crossroads of the American Revolution stamps are only available at these sites:

• In Berkeley Heights, the Deserted Village of Feltville/Glenside Park and the Littell-Lord Farmstead.
• In Clark, at the Dr. William Robinson Plantation-Museum.
• In Elizabeth, at Boxwood Hall, First Presbyterian Church of Elizabeth, Snyder Academy.
• Nathaniel Bonnell Homestead & Belcher-Ogden Mansion, and St. John’s Parsonage.
• In Hillside, at Woodruff House-Eaton Store Museum.
• In Mountainside, at the Deacon Andrew Hetfield House.
• In New Providence, at the Salt Box Museum.
• In Plainfield, at the Drake House Museum and Plainfield Meeting House.
• In Rahway, at Merchants & Drovers Tavern. There will also be a stamp recognizing the King’s Highway.
• In Roselle, at the Abraham Clark Memorial House.
• In Scotch Plains, at Elizabeth and Gershom Frazee House and Osborn Cannonball House.  And at Ashbrook Reservation, on Raritan Road, to mark the Battle of the Short Hills.
• In Springfield, at the Cannon Ball House. There will also be a stamp for the Battle of Springfield.
• In Summit, at the Carter House.
• In Union, at Liberty Hall, Connecticut Farms Church and Caldwell Parsonage.
• In Westfield, at the Miller-Cory House Museum, which will also have a stamp recognizing the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail.

The Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs will continue to offer free Union County Across the Centuries passports at all Union County historic sites. Persons interested in purchasing a national passport can visit the official online store of the National Park Service at eparks.com/store/category/30/278/Passport.

Launched by Eastern National in 1986, the Passport To Your National Parks program consists of a guidebook highlighting national parks and provides space for dated ink “cancellation” stamps that enable visitors to commemorate their visit. More information on the program is available at: eparks.com/store/category/30/278/Passport-Books.

To learn more about the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs visit online at ucnj.org/parks-recreation/cultural-heritage-affairs.

Addresses for the various historic sites across the county are available online at ucnj.org/atc.

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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 – Union County, NJ –The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to present the inaugural Union County LGBTQ History Month event, featuring a screening of the 2017 Billie Jean King biographical film ‘Battle of the Sexes’ followed by a discussion about women’s rights and equality in the 70’s and today with NJ equality advocates and civil rights activists.

The event, free and open to the public, will be held on Tuesday, October 23 at 6:30 P.M. at Hamilton Stage (360 Hamilton Street, Rahway). The event is free but pre-registration is requested online at ucnj.org/lgbtq or by calling 908-527-4742.

“The Freeholder Board is proud to host the first Union County LGBTQ History Month event, recognizing LGBTQ history, and the history of equal rights and related civil rights movements,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “The Battle of the Sexes story of equality icon Billie Jean King is a powerful reminder that the task of progress is never finished, and each generation must renew the fight against discrimination and oppression to ensure equality and respect for all.”

Billie Jean King was an athlete first. Quickly, she became a champion, many times over. The first woman to defeat a former male Wimbledon champion in the 1973 Battle of the Sexes extravaganza – off the court Billy Jean King is a champion of racial justice, LGBTQ equality and women’s rights.

For her contributions to the advancement of women’s sports, Life magazine named Billie Jean King one of the “100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century.” A tennis champion and advocate for gender equality in sports, King has become an icon and a legend.

“The Battle of the Sexes film succeeds in calling attention to the women’s equality and LGBTQ civil rights issues of 45 years ago that are unfortunately still relevant today,” said Freeholder Alexander Mirabella, liaison to the Union County LGBTQ Ad Hoc Committee.

Those expecting a straightforward sports movie may be surprised by its intimacy, as it draws a parallel between the weight of having to prove the worth of all female athletes in that one match, and the distress of hiding a secret affair with her female hairdresser from both her husband Larry and the world.

In a 2017 interview on the Today show, Billie Jean King reflected on the themes of the movie and how they are relevant today noting, “There are so many battles that have to be won again and again. Coretta Scott King talked about how freedom is never really won, how every generation has to earn it and win it again and again. It’s the same with equality. I think we’re right in the middle again.”

The 2018 LGBTQ History month event is sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and organized by the Union County Department of Human Services’ Office of LGBTQ Services and the Office on Women.

Established as part of Chairman Granados’ 2018 Moving Union County Forward initiatives, the Office of LGBTQ Services, under the Division of Outreach and Advocacy in the Department of Human Services, is the first County government office of its kind in the State of New Jersey – and one of four government offices in the nation to support the LGBTQ community, of which only two are county government offices. Union County’s Office of LGBTQ Services offers a platform for leadership and collaboration to support equality, and serves as a catalyst for advocacy, awareness and action on current and emerging issues that impact the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals.

For more information about the Office of LGBTQ Services contact the office coordinator Danni Newbury at 908-527-4742 or dnewbury@ucnj.org or visit ucnj.org/lgbtq.

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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 nominations are now being accepted for the 27^th annual Women of Excellence awards. The awards celebrate women who have made a powerful impact on life in Union County.

“Today it is more important than ever to raise awareness about the influence of women in every sphere of the Union County community, from business and legal affairs to public service, education and much more,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “If you know a woman who leads and inspires, I encourage you to submit her name for consideration.”

Women can be nominated for their achievements in the fields of Arts and Humanities, Business and Entrepreneurial, Community Service, Education, Government, Law, Law Enforcement, Medicine and Health Care and Child, Youth and Women’s Advocacy.

Individuals, businesses, non-profits and government agencies can submit nominations for an award. Nominations are open to all women 21 years or older who live, volunteer or work in Union County.

The awardees will be honored at the annual Women of Excellence gala awards dinner, to be held on March 29, 2019 at the Gran Centurions in Clark.

Each awardee will receive an engraved Women of Excellence plaque and a Freeholder Resolution in their honor recognizing their impact on the Union County community.

The Women of Excellence awards are sponsored by the Freeholder Board and the Union County Commission on the Status of Women, with the Union County Office on Women. 

For the first time this year, Women of Excellence nominations may be submitted online. To submit a Women of Excellence nomination online, visit ucnj.org/women-awards.

Nominations will also continue to be accepted by mail. Mail-in nominations should be sent to the Union County Administration Building, Attn: DHS-Office of Outreach and Advocacy, 2^nd Floor, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth, NJ 07207.

All nominations must be submitted by December 3, 2018.

For any questions about the nomination process or to get more information about the Women of Excellence awards program, contact Elizabeth Sebring, Union County Department of Human Services, at 908-527-4890 or esebring@ucbj.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.

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 Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present artworks from the Westfield Art Association, currently on exhibit at the Freeholders Gallery through October 31, 2018. The gallery is located on the 6^th floor of the Union County Administration Building, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza in Elizabeth. Gallery hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays.

“The Freeholders Gallery provides an opportunity for the public to connect with Union County residents from all walks of life, who contribute their passion for creative expression to enrich our community, said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “We are very proud to host this new exhibit by the Westfield Art Association.”

Artworks in this exhibit include works by local artists Dante Bonardi, Arlene Carallo, Anne Castellano, John V. Curch, Paul Federico, Maxine King, Avi Kiriakatis, Constantine Kiriakatis, Jean Literate, Hedviga Matiejunas, Jim Temple, Barbara Wallace, Vickie Williams and Jocelyn Wong.

Founded in 1922, the Westfield Art Association is the oldest independent arts organization in the state of New Jersey. A non-profit volunteer organization, it provides art education and public exhibits and actively encourages its members in the pursuit and development of their individual artistic goals and growth. The Westfield Art Association welcomes all artistic mediums and all levels of experience.

Public art events organized by the Westfield Art Association include art education lectures, hands-on art studio workshops, gallery exhibits, outdoor art exhibitions and pop-up galleries in Westfield restaurants and storefront windows.

The Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, part of the Department of Parks and Recreation, coordinates the exhibits displayed at the Freeholders Gallery.

For more information about this and other programs and services related to the arts and history in Union County, contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at culturalinfo@ucnj.org or call 908-558-2550 (NJ Relay users dial 711).

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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MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Conserve Wildlife Foundation and Trailside Nature and Science Center are teaming up once again to offer a one-of-a-kind teacher training workshop, Falcon Cam in the Classroom, for formal and non-formal educators living or working in Union County. 

“Union County has been part of an ongoing effort to ensure the survival of the peregrine falcon,” comments Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados, “The Falcon Cam, located on the rooftop of the courthouse in Elizabeth, provides live feed that educators can stream into their classrooms, allowing their students to observe one of nature’s most fierce and fascinating birds of prey.  This experience helps to play an important role in building an appreciation for the preservation of our parks and urban environments.”

This free professional development workshop is offered on Thursday, October 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The Union County Falcon Cam is one of only two located in NJ.  It provides views in and around the peregrine falcon nest and offers a wonderful opportunity to study one of New Jersey’s endangered species.

Stephanie DAlessio, Director of Education for the Conserve Wildlife Foundation, will provide educators K-8 the opportunity to learn how to use the Union County Falcon Web Cam in the classroom to teach about the ecology and adaptations of the peregrine falcon.

A guest speaker from the Tenafly Nature Center will bring live birds such as an owl, red-tailed hawk and kestrel to demonstrate the adaptations, behavior and physiology of the birds of prey.

Sample lesson plans will be provided.  Participants can earn five (5) professional education credits.  This program is made possible by a grant from Philips 66.  Breakfast and lunch will be provided as part of the workshop.

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

The 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.

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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to host GLAAD Media Institute’s LGBTQ accelerating acceptance social media training courses free for anyone who wants to build the core skills and techniques that influence positive cultural change through social media.

Presented in collaboration with Union County’s Office of LGBTQ Services, GLAAD Media Institute will present their signature Engagement 202: Telling Your Story Through Social Media course at Warinanco Sports Center in Roselle on Friday, October 19 from 10AM until 2PM. Registration is free and required online at glaad.org/institute.

“Social Media has grown rapidly over the past decade as an effective tool for social activism and raising awareness on important issues. A recent Pew Research Center report noted that roughly half of Americans have been civically active on social media in the past year,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “We are thrilled to partner with GLAAD’s Media Institute to make this course available to individuals who want to learn social media strategies to have social impact.”

Using the best practices, tools, and techniques they have perfected over the past 30 years, the GLAAD Media Institute works to transform individuals into compelling storytellers, media-savvy navigators, and mighty ambassadors whose voices break through the noise and influence positive change.

Designed for those who are starting to incorporate social media into their advocacy strategy, participants in this specialized course will receive a comprehensive overview of social media platforms, as well as leveraging social media for reaching expanded audiences, deeper storytelling, and accelerating acceptance. This free course will teach participants the best practices to make the most of the potential for a variety of social media platforms, while also carefully avoiding pitfalls that exist in the social media sphere.

“Sometimes the most effective way to influence change is by sharing stories of personal experiences,” said Freeholder Alexander Mirabella, liaison to the Union County LGBTQ Ad Hoc Committee. “The social media GLAAD courses is an important opportunity for LGBTQ individuals and allies to increase the impact to generate inclusion, foster acceptance and advance equality.”

“The GLAAD Media Institute has trained over 5000 advocates, activists, and allies, and we are excited to support the Chosen Freeholders’ work to accelerate acceptance for the LGBTQ community of Union County,” said Ross Murray, Senior Director for Education & Training at the GLAAD Media Institute. “We are looking forward to exciting training opportunities that can empower the local community to speak up for the values of acceptance and inclusion.”

Established as part of Chairman Granados’ 2018 Moving Union County Forward initiatives, the Office of LGBTQ Services, under the Division of Outreach and Advocacy in the Department of Human Services, is the first County government office of its kind in the State of New Jersey. It offers a platform for leadership and collaboration to support equality, and serves as a catalyst for advocacy, awareness and action on current and emerging issues that impact the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals.

For more information about the Office of LGBTQ Services, contact Danni Newbury, Coordinator, at 908-527-4742 or dnewbury@ucnj.org or visit ucnj.org/lgbtq.

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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.

ELIZABETH, NJ—Tickets for the 2018 Hayrides and Campfires event presented by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Department of Parks & Recreation are now available for purchase on line and in person at three locations throughout the county. 

All tickets must be purchased in advance; there will be no tickets sold on site. All ticket sales will be final, with no refunds or exchanges.

The event includes the hayride, entertainment, and hot chocolate and marshmallows to toast over a campfire.

The first Hayride and Campfire will be on Friday, October 5^th at the Warinanco Park Sports Center. That evening has also been designated Military Appreciation Night. Rides will run from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.

Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside will host the remaining events, beginning on Sunday, October 7, from 3:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.; Friday, October 12 from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.; Sunday, October 14 from 3:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.; and the final scheduled event is on Friday, October 10 from 6:30 until 9:30 p.m.

“The hayrides and campfire events are always among the most popular events in our parks, so those interested in participating should get their tickets early, either online or in person, and plan for a fun filled evening to begin the fall,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados.

Tickets are priced at $6.00 for Union County Resident, $12.00 for Non-Residents. Group sales are limited to 15 tickets. To order tickets online visit www.ucnj/tickets.

Tickets will be on sale at the following locations and times:

• The Colleen Fraser Building, 300 North Avenue East in Westfield, Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Elizabeth Office, Union County Administration Building, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Trailside Nature & Science Center, 452 New Providence Road, Mountainside from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday through Saturday.

For further information you can call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4900; or Trailside Nature and Science Center at 908-789-3670; or visit the Union County website at www.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.

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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites residents and visitors to engage with Across the Centuries, an online guide to historic sites throughout Union County. The online format is designed for easy viewing on mobile phones.

“The rich history of Union County draws adventure seekers from near and far, and the new phone friendly format provides convenient access to enriching information about our heritage,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados.

Across the Centuries includes information about dozens of historic sites featured in Union County’s annual Four Centuries in a Weekend celebration. The two-day event includes special tours, presentations and activities. This year, Four Centuries in a Weekend takes place on Saturday, October 20 and Sunday, October 21.

For the first time, Four Centuries in a Weekend will also include special tours of the Bell Labs Technology Showcase and Union County College’s William Miller Sperry Observatory, an astronomical observatory that houses two of the largest telescopes on the East Coast.

To view the new phone friendly version of Across the Centuries, and to get more information about this year’s Four Centuries in a Weekend celebration, visit the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs online at ucnj.org/parks, call 908-558-2550, or email culturalinfo@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.