Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ – In recognition of January as National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders encourages residents to familiarize themselves with information that can help prevent cervical cancer and detect the early signs of cervical cancer.

“Key facts about cervical cancer vaccination and screening are available online through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, including interactive features that help connect residents with reliable, science-based guidance on protecting themselves and their families,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

Cervical cancer is considered to be the easiest gynecologic cancer to prevent with regular screening and follow up. A vaccine is also available to help prevent the main cause of cervical cancer, a viral infection called HPV.

An HPV infection can also cause other cancers in both women and men, in addition to cervical cancer. HPV is a common virus that most often resolves itself without harm. The problem arises when the infection lingers in the body longer than usual.

The Centers for Disease Control is deploying social media to help the public learn about HPV and cervical cancer during National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.

In support of the CDC effort, Union County is using its social media accounts to relay the following messages:

Friday, January 17: An interactive self-test quiz enabling members of the public to test their knowledge of cervical cancer (see the quiz at cdc.gov/cancer/gynecologic/quiz).

Tuesday, January 21: Information on the latest screening and vaccination guidelines (see the guidelines at cdc.gov/vitalsigns/cervical-cancer.

Thursday, January 23: An animated video that explains how vaccinations for boys and girls ages 11 and 12 prevent cervical cancer (watch the video at youtube.com/watch).

Monday, January 27: A brief message from a cervical cancer survivor explaining the preventive value of vaccination (watch the message: (www.youtube.com).

Friday, January 31: A chart illustrating the recommended schedule for all childhood vaccinations including HPV (see the chart: cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules).

For more information on HPV, cervical cancer, and other HPV-linked cancers impacting men as well as women, visit the Centers for Disease Control online at cdc.gov/std/hpv/facts-brochures.htm.

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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 residents and visitors have the opportunity to “meet” Rosa Parks in a first-person interpreter presentation by Alexandra Ford of the American Historical Theatre. The event is free and is made possible by funding from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities. 

“The story of Rosa Parks is a reminder that individual actions can lead to extraordinary change,” said Freeholder Chair Alexander Mirabella. “The Freeholder Board is very proud to help keep her legacy alive through this special presentation.”

The program will take place on Thursday, February 13, from 7:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Union County’s Trailside Nature and Science Center, located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside. Ample free parking is located at the site.

Attendees must be adults age 18 or older or high school students. Space is limited and pre-registration is recommended through the Trailside Talks link on the Union County activities online registration website, https://secure.rec1.com/NJ/union-county-nj/catalog (scroll down for the Trailside Talks link).

Rosa Parks became an icon of the civil rights movement 65 years ago in 1955, after she was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated public bus in Montgomery, Alabama.

Parks was an active member of her local NAACP chapter, and her arrest helped spark a 381-day boycott of the Montgomery bus system. The boycott marked the first large scale demonstration against segregation in the U.S.

“The story of Rosa Parks is a reminder that individual actions can lead to extraordinary change,” said Freeholder Chair Alexander Mirabella. “The Freeholder Board is very proud to help keep her legacy alive through this special presentation.”

Rosa Parks will be portrayed by Alexandra Ford, an actor-historian with the American Historical Theatre company. Ford has an AAS degree in Literature, Arts, and Philosophy from Camden County College, and earned her BFA degree in Theatre Studies from Montclair State University.

To research the role, Ford traveled to Montgomery and read extensively on the life of Rosa Parks and the civil rights movement.

Attendees must be adults age 18 or older or high school students. Space is limited and pre-registration is recommended through the Trailside Talks link on the Union County activities online registration website, https://secure.rec1.com/NJ/union-county-nj/catalog (scroll down for the Trailside Talks link).

The Trailside Nature and Science Center is a facility of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.

For more information on all activities for all ages including February Festivities at Trailside, call 908-789-3670 or visit 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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County, NJ – As the 50^th anniversary of Earth Day approaches, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders encourages everyone who lives, visits, or works in Union County to bring reusable bags to the grocery store instead of using single-use plastic bags. The reusable bag effort kicks off Union County’s yearlong #MakeOneChangeUC public education initiative, and it supports the statewide “Choose to Reuse” anti-litter campaign.

“Union County is launching #MakeOneChangeUC with a focus on single-use plastic bags because they are a widespread, persistent source of litter in the environment,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “Everyone can contribute to the solution by choosing reusable bags over single-use bags.”

Union County often provides reusable tote bags free of charge at public events, as do many other local agencies, organizations and businesses. They are also available at nominal cost in many grocery stores.

On average, a plastic bag is used for only 12 minutes but plastic can linger in the environment for up to 1,000 years or more.

Union County is the first county in New Jersey to partner with the new statewide “Choose to Reuse” environmental initiative, aimed at reducing the amount of single-use bags in the waste stream.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps are consumed in the U.S. every year.

“Every time you ‘choose to reuse,’ you make a big difference,” said Mirabella.

The Choose to Reuse campaign is a project of the New Jersey Food Council and the New Jersey Clean Communities Council.

The Director of the Union County Bureau Recycling & Planning, JoAnn Gemenden, was instrumental in working on the “Choose to Reuse” campaign as head of the Education Committee and a member of the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Clean Communities Council. For more information about Choose to Reuse and #MakeOneChangeUC, members of the public can contact her at jgemenden@ucnj.org.

More information on Union County recycling programs is available at ucnj.org/recycle. For quick links to all Union County environmental events and activities visit The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

The North Jersey Transportation Planning Association (NJTPA) paid tribute in this video to Freeholder Vice Chairman Angel Estrada, who has served with distinction in leadership roles with the NJTPA. Under his guidance, Union County advanced $3 million in safety improvements and nearly $38 million in local roadway and bridgeway projects.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to celebrate the beginning of Black History Month with a free performance of A Langston Hughes Song Revival, an exploration of music in the life and times of the poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist Langston Hughes on Monday, February 3 at 7:00 p.m. at Hamilton Stage, 360 Hamilton Street in Rahway.

“Langston Hughes is an important voice in the cultural and social history of the Union County community, having lived in Westfield in the 1930’s,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The Freeholder Board is proud to contribute to the celebration of Black History Month with this free event, which provides a unique musical perspective on the creative influences of one of our nation’s leading literary lights.”

A Langston Hughes Song Revival illustrates how music influenced and inspired the work of Langston Hughes.

The production will be hosted by creator of the program and WQXR Evening Radio Host Terrence McKnight. Mr. McKnight is an Artistic Advisor for the Harlem Chamber Players and serves on the board of the Bagby Foundation and the MacDowell Colony. He is frequently sought out by major cultural organizations for his insights into the cultivation of diverse perspectives and voices in the arts.

Mr. McKnight regularly curates concerts and talks at Merkin Concert Hall, the Billie Holiday Theatre, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and the Museum of Modern Art. This is his third time returning to Union County to provide high quality programs for Black History Month celebrations.

This program is funded in part by a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a Division of Cultural Affairs in the Department of State; the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts; and the Union County HEART Grant program. 

Admission to “A Langston Hughes Song Revival” is free of charge, but advance registration is required.

To register online visit ucnj.org/black-history-month. Contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 908-558-2550 for more information about the program.

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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 — Artworks from the Westfield Art Association are currently on exhibit at the Freeholders Gallery, located on the 6th floor of the Union County Administration Building, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth. The Freeholders Gallery is open to the public free of charge from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The Westfield Art Association exhibit will be on display through February 14, featuring works by local artists Bernice Shah, Jill Crouch, Leina’ala de Roxtro Schwart, Heda Matiejunas, Mariya Kovalyov, Avi Kiriakatis, Vickie Williams, Tamara Hanenko, Lesya Dovbenko, Maxine King, Anne Castellano, Paul Federico, Laura Brown, Alex Mambach, and Julius Carallo.

“The Westfield Art Association has been nurturing and inspiring generations of Union County artists, and the Freeholder Board is proud to support their work with this new exhibition,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

Founded in 1922, the Westfield Art Association is the oldest independent arts organization in the state of New Jersey. As a non-profit volunteer organization, it provides art education and public exhibitions, 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 include art education lectures, hands-on art studio workshops, gallery exhibits, outdoor art exhibitions, and pop-up galleries in Westfield restaurants and storefront windows.

For more information on the Westfield Art Association please visit their website at westfieldartassociation.org.

Exhibits in the Freeholders Gallery are organized by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation. The Office is located at 633 Pearl Street in Elizabeth.

For more information about the Freeholders Gallery and other programs and services related to the arts and history in Union County, contact the Office at 908-558-2550 (NJ relay users dial 711) or 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.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present an exhibit of photographs by Jacki Dickert in the gallery space at the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, located at 633 Pearl Street in Elizabeth. A selection of Dickert’s work entitled “Landscapes of Wonder” is on display at the Pearl Street Gallery until March 27. Gallery hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

“We are pleased to have Jacki Dickert’s photos on display,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “Ms. Dickert is a talented photographer and through her work we can experience the beauty of our local landscapes and beyond.”

Union County photographer Jacki Dickert is passionate about the natural world. She enjoys traveling to exotic locations as well as exploring local areas to find and celebrate nature. Dickert’s photographs have been showcased in both solo and group shows at galleries throughout New Jersey.

Current exhibits include the 2019 HEART Grant funded program, “Land, Water, and Light of the Rahway River Watershed” at the Rahway River Watershed Association’s Education Center; and the Impressionist Series at Simply Art and Frames.

In addition, her work has been published in Backpacker, The Sun Magazine, numerous online blogs, and on book covers. She placed first in the Ansel Adams contest at the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, New York. As part of her mission as an “Ambassador of Wonder,” Jacki self-publishes the annual “World of Wonder” photography calendar.

A recently retired elementary school teacher, Ms. Dickert teaches extracurricular photography classes to children and adults. She is an active member of the Camera Naturalist Photo Club in Basking Ridge, NJ, and a delegate to the NJ Federation of Camera Clubs. She also volunteers for local environmental organizations and offers her art and skills for conservation purposes. To see more of her work, visit www.lightdance.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.

Union County, NJ – With the winter season now fully upon us, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present Back to Nature, a new nature series for families with children of all ages. The programs take place on Saturday mornings and feature a different nature or science theme each week.

“The Back to Nature series offers a great opportunity for families to break the winter routine,  spend time together in the great outdoors and enjoy the natural scenery of the Watchung Reservation,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

Back to Nature encourages nature discovery through hikes and indoor/outdoor activities.

This winter, families will see how real maple sugar is made, discover how to identify winter birds by sight and sound, learn the stories behind legendary constellations and search for early signs of spring on a nature hike.

This program series is offered on Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The series begins on February 8 and continues through March 28. There is a maximum of four participants per family. 

Please dress for the weather.

Register online at ucnj.org/trailside. The fee is $10.00 per class/family of four for Union County residents, and $12.00 per class for non-county residents.

For detailed program descriptions and registration, visit ucnj.org/trailside.

For more information about all upcoming programs at Trailside, visit ucnj.org/trailside or call 908-789-3670.  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.

Quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities are available at The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County, NJ — Union County residents who are looking for a summer job can apply now for lifeguard positions at Union County’s public swimming pool, the Walter Ulrich Memorial Pool at Rahway River Park in Rahway. The job will last from Memorial Day through August 16, 2020.

“Over the years, hundreds of County residents have found the Ulrich Memorial Pool to be a rewarding work environment,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “These work opportunities offer invaluable people skills as well as experience in management and emergency response.”

Lifeguard positions are available to Union County residents age 16 and up. Training is available for applicants who are not certified. To apply for a lifeguard position, call 908-527-4101.

For more information about Ulrich Pool, Rahway River Park and all Union County recreation facilities visit online 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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County residents can learn how to plan and carry out local environmental activities by joining the Rutgers Environmental Stewards of Union County. The all-volunteer program is designed to help non-scientists learn more about the science behind environmental issues impacting their communities

“The Rutgers Environmental Stewards program provides the opportunity for Union County residents to learn effective, fact-based strategies for action,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The program has already helped make a difference throughout Union County and we are all looking forward to another successful year.”

In one recent project, volunteer Environmental Stewards have identified hundreds of Ash trees in County parks, collecting data that will help guide efforts to prevent the destructive Ash borer beetle from taking hold.

Environmental Stewards have also created programs in several municipalities, including one program through the New Providence Recreation Department that helps children spend more time outdoors and learn how to care for the environment. 

The Environmental Stewards hold a series of weekly classroom training sessions on Thursdays from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. beginning January 30^th through early June. Registration for the series closes on January 30^th.

Classes are held at the Extension offices in the Union County complex, located at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield. Field trips are also part of the hands-on experience.

The training sessions include habitat conservation, pollinator preservation, climate change and its impacts on the Union County region, protection of the Rahway River watershed, and much more.

Participants also work on environmental internship projects of their choice. No previous training or experience in environmental work is required.

The Rutgers Environmental Stewards program is run by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County as part of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.

The Freeholder Board supports the Union County Extension with administrative assistance and office space in Westfield, land for the Demonstration Garden in the Watchung Reservation in Mountainside, and funding for special projects.

For more information about the Rutgers Environmental Stewards program, visit envirostewards.rutgers.edu or contact Michele Bakacs, County Agent and Associate Professor for the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County at bakacs@njaes.rutgers.edu or 732-398-5274.

Quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities are available at The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-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.

Connect with Union County on social media.