Category: Public Info

The Union County Board of Commissioners reminds residents that they can use Union County’s free, countywide drop-off locations to safely dispose of toxic or potentially hazardous products commonly found in the home and yard. The first Household Hazardous Waste event of the 2023 recycling calendar will take place on Saturday, April 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Union County College, located at 1033 Springfield Avenue in Cranford.

Any Union County resident may participate, regardless of their home town.

“Our Household Hazardous Waste events provide every Union County resident with an opportunity to protect their property against environmental and health hazards, while also disposing of toxic wastes safely and responsibly,” said Union County Commissioner Board Chairman Sergio Granados. “We can all benefit by reducing the presence of unwanted and potentially dangerous products in our homes and yards.”

The Household Hazardous Waste events offer Union County residents a free, environmentally responsible way to dispose of outdated or unwanted household chemicals, mercury thermostats and thermometers, propane tanks and automobile tires (limit of 8 per household with rims off) among many other products.

The list of accepted items also includes oil-based paints and varnishes, antifreeze, aerosol cans, pool chemicals, corrosives, pesticides, herbicides, solvents, thinners, fire extinguishers, motor oil and oil filters, gasoline, batteries, thermostats, fluorescent bulbs (unbroken), mercury switches, and more.

Please note that latex paint (water-based) wall paint is NOT accepted at these events.  To dispose of unwanted latex paint, residents are advised to use it, donate it, or dry the paint in the can and discard it in regular household garbage with the lid off. To help dry out paint, add kitty litter, newspaper or a product called waste paint hardener.

Union County’s Household Hazardous Waste events are drop-off only and contact-free. Participants should load their items in their trunk or other area easily accessed by staff.

Participants must remain in their vehicles while staff at the site unloads their items.

Only materials in original or labeled containers will be accepted. No containers larger than five gallons will be accepted.

For more details about all Union County recycling programs, including a complete list of the materials that will be accepted at the April 1 event, visit ucnj.org/recycle.

The Household Hazardous Waste collection event will be held rain or shine, for Union County residents only, not for businesses. Proof of Union County residency is required. For more information, please call the Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889.

For quick links to all environmental programs and activities in Union County visit The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connection.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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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 Elections is seeking bilingual poll workers for Primary Election Day on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 and General Election Day, Tuesday, November 7, 2023. In addition to receiving a stipend of $300.00 for the day, poll workers perform a valuable civic service by helping to ensure that every eligible voter can exercise their right to vote on Election Day.

“Bilingual poll workers are especially helpful in our diverse community, so we encourage everyone with a second language, specifically Spanish, to participate in this very important civic service,” said Board of Elections Administrator Nicole DiRado.

Any Union County resident who is 18 years or older, and registered to vote in Union County, can qualify to become a poll worker.

No experience is needed. Before Election Day, each new poll worker must attend an in-person training course.

Persons interested in becoming a poll worker are advised to apply now in order to reserve a spot.

For more information and to obtain an application form, visit the Poll Worker Resources page at the Board of Elections website, ucnj.org/pollworker. To request an application form by mail, call the Board of Elections at 908-527-4236 or email pollworker@ucnj.org.

For all Union County Board of Elections information visit online at ucnj.org/ucboe.

Union County Surrogate Christopher Hudak announced a new system to help Union County residents schedule appointments for Surrogate services, including matters related to wills, adoptions, guardianships, and more.

“As Surrogate, I am charged with serving all of our residents in a professional and efficient manner during a time in their lives that may be difficult,” said Union County Surrogate Christopher Hudak. “With demand for services increasing, we have transitioned to a more efficient system that will allow us to accommodate more cases daily.”

Residents can now call 908-527-4280 or email ucsurrogate@ucnj.org to schedule an appointment with the Surrogate’s office. Appointments are scheduled Monday through Friday, between 8:30AM–12:30PM and 1:30PM–4:00PM. Walk-ins are accepted, but appointments are preferred in order to serve residents most effectively. The Surrogate’s office cannot guarantee particular wait times for walk-ins.

The role of a County Surrogate is to oversee the probate of wills, qualification of will executors, appointment of administrators for those estates without wills, and qualification of guardians for incapacitated persons and minors, as well as certain matters related to adoption. The Surrogate also operates the Surrogate’s Intermingled Trust Fund for Minors and Incapacitated Persons. The Surrogate is a Constitutional Officer who is elected to the position every five years.

For more information, visit ucnj.org/surrogate, email ucsurrogate@ucnj.org, or call 908-527-4280. Follow Surrogate Hudak on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SurrogateChristopherHudak.

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announces that the County Clerk’s Passport Office has been recognized for excellent performance by the U.S. Department of State with a Certificate of Achievement, indicating that all required standards have been met or exceeded.

The Passport Office of the Union County Clerk assists members of the public in preparing and submitting their applications to the State Department for new passports and renewals.

“As an official Agent for State Department passport services, my office provides the public with meticulous, timely attention to the details of submitting an application to the State Department, commensurate with the vital role that passports play in the ability of our residents to travel overseas, whether for business, employment, education, family matters or leisure,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “I am very proud of my staff and I thank them for their dedication to excellence.”

“We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for your dedication and participating in the Passport Acceptance Agent Program,” the State Department wrote last month, in a letter notifying the County Clerk of the award. “The program analyst that performed your facility’s audit was very impressed with your facility and found everything in compliance with the Passport Agent Reference Guide.”

The letter also emphasized that the audit revealed no areas in need of required improvements, underscoring a remarkably high level of performance for passport agents.

Union County residents can use two convenient office locations in Elizabeth and Westfield to access passport services in person from the County Clerk.

Appointments are required online at ucnj.org/county-clerk/county-clerk.

For details on office locations and hours, visit the Passport Office online at ucnj.org/county-clerk/passport-services.

For additional assistance by phone call the Elizabeth office at 908-527-4966, or call the Westfield office at 908-654-9859.

More information about all County Clerk programs and services is available at ucnj.org/county-clerk or call 908-527-4787.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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The Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to announce that works from the Westfield Art Association are currently on exhibit at the Commissioners Gallery, located in the Union County Administration Building, 6^th Floor, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza in Elizabeth. The exhibit will be on display until May 6.

“Our Union County artists enrich the whole community with their insights and perspectives on the world around us. The Westfield Art Association has been sharing their artistic journey and inspiring countless Union County residents since 1922, and we are honored to host their exhibit at the Commissioners Gallery,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados.

The Westfield Art Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, completely volunteer organization that has provides art education and public exhibitions, and continues to encourage its many members in the pursuit of individual artistic goals and growth. For more information visit westfieldartassociation.org.

The Commissioners gallery is open during regular weekday business hours, and on Thursday evenings when public Commissioner meetings are in session. To view the schedule of meetings visit ucnj.org/commissioners/schedule.

Exhibits at the Commissioners Gallery are coordinated by the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, a division of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.

For more information about the exhibit, the Commissioners’ Gallery, grant programs and other activities, e-mail culturalinfo@ucnj.org or call 908-558-2550(NJ relay users dial 711), or visit online at ucnj.org/cultural.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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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 County Commissioners invites bird watchers and nature fans to join Pete Axelrod of Friends of The Great Swamp for the annual Woodcock Talk & Walk workshop on Monday, March 13, in the Watchung Reservation beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Participants will meet at Masker’s Barn in the Deserted Village of Feltville, in the Berkeley Heights section of the Watchung Reservation. Masker’s Barn is located at the far end of Cataract Hollow Road in the Deserted Village. GPS users can plug in “13 Cataract Hollow Road, Berkeley Heights” and follow road to the end).

“The American Woodcock requires a range of very specific habitats, so it’s a great source of pride that our Union County park system offers enough variety to provide homes for this unusual bird,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados. “The annual Talk and Walk event helps our residents and visitors learn about the Woodcock, and learn about our efforts to preserve and protect our natural heritage, too.”

The event is free and open to adults and children age 10 and up with an adult. Pre-registration is requested by completing an online form at ucnj.org/parks-recreation/woodcock-walk-talk.

Hosted by the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation, the annual Woodcock Talk & Walk provides seasoned birders and beginners alike with the chance to catch a glimpse of the American Woodcock and learn more about this unusual and elusive bird.

The American Woodcock is known by a variety of colorful names including Timberdoodle, Labrador Twister, Night Partridge, Mudbat and Bog Sucker.  The species is most commonly referred to as the Woodcock due to its preference for wooded areas.

American Woodcocks are drawn to moist forests and require dense woodland, providing ample cover and food. In the spring, the bird seeks out forest clearings, abandoned fields spotted with low brush or open fields next to forest edges to serve as courtship sites.  In preparation for mating, male Woodcocks establish individual territories known as singing grounds.

The most fascinating attribute of the American Woodcock is the acrobatic courtship displays performed by the males.  As part of their mating ritual, a displaying male on the ground will emit a nasal, buzzing call referred to as a peent, to attract females. He then takes flight and ascends 200 or 300 feet. All the while, musical twittering sounds are made by the male’s wings. Afterwards, he will spiral or zigzag back to the ground while producing a liquid chirp.

The Talk & Walk event will begin with a brief presentation on the American Woodcock in Masker’s Barn. The presentation is followed by a short walk of approximately 1,000 feet to a nearby meadow, where participants can listen for telltale sounds of the Woodcock.

Participants are advised to dress warmly, wear sturdy shoes and bring a flashlight. 

For more information on activities and programs in Union County parks, visit ucnj.org/parks or call 908-527-4900.

Complete details about the Deserted Village are available at ucnj.org/dv.

For quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities, including the popular Adopt-a-Trail and Adopt-a-Park programs and the Peregrine Falcon Cam, visit The Green Connection at ucnj.org/green-connection.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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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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[Updated] The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites resident with disabilities and special needs ages 16 and up to attend a reserved viewing of Sight Unseen, an international exhibit of artwork by blind photographers, in partnership with Kean University Galleries. The event will take place at the Kean University Human Rights Institute on Friday, March 24, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Participation is free of charge but registration in advance is required. To register, visit Union County’s secure online registration page at https://secure.rec1.com/NJ/union-county-nj. Please note that space is limited.

“Sight Unseen is an incredible event that will really get the attention of all of those who attend, especially our residents with disabilities and special needs, for whom Kean University is providing a viewing on the evening of the 24th,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados. “This special viewing will help empower these members of the Union County community to know that anyone can be creative, no matter what the disability may be. Art is expressive. It impacts our imagination and perception as we see the artist’s overall sense of their own innovative process. I would like to thank Kean University for working with Union County’s vision of inclusiveness to extend this invitation.”

“This exhibition of fascinating photographs, made all the more incredible by the fact that they were taken by blind photographers, aligns with Kean’s focus on accessibility, equity and inclusion,” said Kean University President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed. D. “Kean is proud to present a reserved viewing of photos that challenge us to broaden our perspectives and see art in a new light.”

“The photographers featured in Sight Unseen remind viewers that it’s not about sight, it’s about vision. An inclusive world is a better world. The Galleries are honored to partner with the Union County Office of Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs to connect the community to impactful art,” said Lynette Zimmerman, the Executive Director of Galleries at Kean University.

The exhibit is taking place until Friday, April 14 at the Human Rights Institute Gallery, located at the Human Rights Institute at the Kean University Campus, 1000 Morris Avenue in Union Township. Parking is available in the Visitor’s Lot next to Kean Hall.

Information about visiting hours for the general public is available from Kean University Galleries at galleries.kean.edu/exhibitions.

The reserved viewing of Sight Unseen is a program of the Union County Office for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs, under the Division of Individual and Family Support Services of the Union County Department of Human Services. The Office hosts seasonal events and recreational activities throughout the year. To register for all activities, visit ucnj.org/opdsn-reg.

For more information about activities and support services offered through the Office for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs visit ucnj.org/special-needs. To contact the office, use the online form at ucnj.org/special-needs, or call 908-527-4807 or 908-527-4781.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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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 County Commissioners is proud to announce the launch of the new Commissioners’ Literary Circle Book Club, presented in celebration of Women’s History Month 2023 by the women of the Commissioner Board: Vice Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded, and Commissioners Bette Jane Kowalski, Rebecca Williams, Lourdes Leon and Dr. Angela R. Garretson.

Union County residents who are interested in joining the new Commissioners’ Literary Circle Book Club can register online at ucnj.org/bookclub23 to participate in community discussions on Zoom.

“I fully support our women Commissioners in launching this new initiative, and what better month to do so than Women’s History Month,” said Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados. “This is a great way for all women across Union County to connect with like-minded readers, and a fantastic opportunity to hear different perspectives, ask questions and overall connect as a County. I encourage everyone who loves to read or is looking to meet new people in their community to join.”

“As Commissioners in the first majority-female Commissioner Board in New Jersey history, we are proud to raise our voices in celebration of women writers who share their enriching insights with readers both here in the United States and around the world,” said Vice Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded.

Each month, members of the Commissioners Literary Circle Book Club will read and discuss a book recommended by a female member of the Commissioner Board. Spanning works of fiction as well as biographies and other non-fiction, the selections will highlight strong female characters, authors, and historical figures.

The first Commissioners’ Literary Circle book is More Stories We Tell: The Best Contemporary Short Stories by North American Women, selected by Commissioner Williams.

“The theme of Women’s History Month 2023 is ‘Celebrating Women Who Tell our Stories,’ and More Stories We Tell conveys the rich variety of storytelling among contemporary women writers,” said Commissioner Williams. “The collection includes 24 works by Joyce Carol Oates, Margaret Atwood, Mary Gaitskill, Alice Munro, Sandra Cisneros, Lorrie Moore, and many more literary lights.”

More Stories We Tell: The Best Contemporary Short Stories by North American Women was published by Pantheon in 2004 and edited by Wendy Martin, chair of the Department of English at Claremont Graduate University in California. It is a followup to her 1990 collection, We are the Stories We Tell.

The Commissioners Literary Circle is a project of the Union County Office on Women in the Department of Economic Development. For more information visit online at ucnj.org/women or contact the Office Coordinator, Jen Erdos, at jerdos@ucnj.org

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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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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In recognition of Arbor Day 2023, the Union County Board of County Commissioners is once again partnering with the Union County Shade Tree Advisory Board to provide free trees for local schools.

“These trees will stand on school grounds for years to come, as living reminders of the importance of conserving and protecting our natural resources,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados. “We encourage schools to apply for a free tree in celebration of Arbor Day, and provide their students with a wonderful hands-on experience in environmental stewardship.”

“Planting trees is one of the most simple, yet effective ways in which to improve the quality of life in our communities. We hope that participating in this Arbor Day program inspires our youth to continue helping with environmental projects in their communities and beyond,” said Commissioner Lourdes Leon, who is the Commissioner Board Liaison to the Shade Tree Advisory Board.

Studies have shown that trees improve property values and provide many other civic and environmental benefits, such as absorbing airborne pollutants, keeping neighborhoods cool in the summer, preventing soil erosion, and helping to alleviate flooding.

In addition to the tree giveaway, the Commissioner Board also sponsors an annual Arbor Day poetry contest, provides municipalities with tree-for-tree matching grants, and supports the Master Tree Stewards volunteer tree conservation program.

This year’s free Arbor Day tree is a tree native to the northeast, the Flowering Eastern Redbud. They are about five feet tall and weigh about 20 pounds. When fully grown they will be about 15-20 feet tall.

The trees are available to schools on a first come, first serve basis while supplies last.

The deadline for free tree requests is April 1. Schools may contact Madeline Brigantino, Assistant to the Director, Union County Department of Engineering, Public Works and Facilities Management, mbrigantino@ucnj.org or 908-789-3653 to request a tree.

For schools that receive a tree, free sessions in tree planting and care are available to students, teachers, and parent volunteers through the Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H Master Tree Steward Program. The tree care sessions will be held at Oak Ridge Park in Clark on Tuesday, April 18 and Wednesday, April 19.

Arbor Day has been a National Observance since 1872, encouraging the public to plant and care for trees.  This year Arbor Day falls on Friday, April 28.

To find out more about the value of trees in urban communities, use the free, user-friendly iTree online tool developed by the U.S. Forestry Service, the Arbor Day Foundation and other partners. Visit iTreeTools.org for details.

For more information about the 4-H and Master Tree Steward programs, contact Jim Nichnadowicz, Rutgers 4-H agent, 908-654-9854 or jnichdadowicz@ucnj.org. No experience is needed to join the Tree Steward program. A training course is held each year, featuring guided walks in area parks and nature preserves.

The Rutgers Cooperative Extension is supported in part by the Commissioner Board and is headquartered in the Colleen Frasier Building at the Union County complex in Westfield, at 300 North Avenue East. For information on all Extension programs, including Master Tree Stewards, Master Gardeners, Environmental Stewards, and the 4-H youth development program visit ucnj.org/rce.

For quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities, visit The Green Connection online at ucnj.org/green-connection.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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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 Clerk Joanne Rajoppi advises Springfield residents that sample ballots for the upcoming Special School Election in Springfield will be mailed to voters beginning on Wednesday, March 1.

The Special School Election will be held on Tuesday, March 14.

“The sample ballots provide every eligible voter with an opportunity to review the school questions ahead of time,” said Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi. “We advise voters to check their mail for the sample ballots and open them promptly, to avoid losing or misplacing them.”

A Vote-by-Mail ballot drop box is available at the Chisholm Community Center at 100 South Springfield Avenue in Springfield.

The sample ballots are also available online at the County Clerk’s elections website, unioncountyvotes.com.

Voters who have not chosen to receive their Vote-by-Mail ballot automatically can apply for a Vote-by-Mail ballot online through the County Clerk’s elections website, in person at the County Clerk’s Annex Office in Westfield, or by mail. The deadline to apply by mail is Tuesday, March 7.

The County Clerk’s Annex Office is located in the Colleen Fraser Building at the Union County Complex, 300 North Avenue East in Westfield. The hours are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 .pm.

For more information about the County Clerk’s election services visit unioncountyvotes.com or contact the Elections Division at 908-527-4996 or ucvote@ucnj.org.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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