The Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to announce the return of Union County’s Model Train Show and Open House this holiday season. For three consecutive weekends, from Friday, November 28th to Sunday, December 14th, this family-friendly event welcomes visitors and train lovers of all ages to explore the captivating world of model railroads, learn about local train history, and appreciate the craftsmanship firsthand through engaging tours and demonstrations. The event will be held at the A. Paul Mallory Railroad Center, located at 295 Jefferson Avenue in Union.
“Our annual model train show is a holiday favorite in Union County; once you attend, you’ll understand why. It’s an opportunity for adults and children alike to take a break from their screens, reconnect, and enjoy what Union County has to offer,” said Union County Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “The Commissioner Board and I are thrilled to continue supporting the Model Railroad Club, who organize the show, for creating this unique and engaging experience that residents look forward to each year. We can’t wait to see everyone there!”
This year’s show showcases the magic of model railroading, where special trains traverse across an expansive 11,000 square foot layout. Families can tour the trains and layout up close, getting an insider’s peek at the ongoing expansion. See how hand-laid tracks and scenery are meticulously crafted, and learn about the planning and engineering efforts that go into the club’s bi-level corkscrew loop. The 2025 show will also feature over 200 model train cars on a 1,600 square foot layout to tell the story of NJ railroads in the 1950s.
In addition to the HO-scale trains featured on the show, visitors can enjoy G-scale and N-scale layouts, a small play area for kids, a snack shop filled with delicious treats for purchase, and a railroad-themed gift shop to take home memorabilia from their experience. Jenny returns to share her story of growing up along the Trenton Northern railroad in a scripted show, “Jenny’s Coming Home”, running at the bottom of every hour.
The 2025 Model Train Show and Open House’s opening weekend will run from Friday, November 28, through Sunday, November 30, followed by a second weekend on Saturday, December 6, and Sunday, December 7. The event will conclude with a final weekend on Saturday, December 13, and Sunday, December 14. Visitors are welcome to attend the event from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day.
Tickets are $10 per adult, $5 per child, and $8 per senior aged 60 and older. Children ages 2 and under are free. All tickets to the 2025 Model Train Show and Open House will be sold at the door. For more information, please call 908-964-9724 or visit themodelrailroadclub.org.
The Model Railroad Club, Inc. is a tax-exempt public charity affiliated with the Union County Department of Parks & Recreation. All proceeds support the operations of The Model Railroad Club, Inc., one of the largest railroad clubs in New Jersey. The Club has approximately 170 volunteer members who help to fulfill the mission of the club to educate the general public about the railroads and the industries they served in the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania areas. For more information about The Model Railroad Club and its activities, please visit themodelrailroadclub.org.
For more information about all programs and activities hosted by the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation, please visit ucnj.org/parks.
The Union County Board of County Commissioners is proud to present an exhibit highlighting the artwork created during the County’s inaugural Plein Air event last month at the Deserted Village. The exhibit is currently on view at the Commissioners Gallery, located on the 6th floor of the Union County Administration Building, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, with gallery hours from 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday.
“This exhibit showcases the incredible talent of our local artists while celebrating one of our county’s most historic sites,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “We are proud to support programs that bring people together through creativity and cultural expression.”
Plein Air, French for “outdoors”, is a term used to refer to artwork created outdoors capturing the natural light and elements directly from the scene. The event, hosted on September 27, was the first of its kind in Union County. Over 20 artists from throughout Union County and surrounding counties attended, painting a variety of scenes from the Deserted Village in Berkeley Heights.
The exhibit will be on display through November 21. Due to the success and popularity of the September 2025 event, the event will take place once again in September 2026.
“We were delighted to see the turnout at the Plein Air event in September. Deserted Village is a perfect place to paint outdoors, and the artists produced many beautiful and accomplished works,” said Union County Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Advisory Board.
The Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, part of the Department of Parks and Recreation, coordinated the Plein Air program, as well as the exhibits displayed at the Commissioners Gallery. For further information about this and other programs and services related to the arts and history in Union County, contact the Office at 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202; telephone (908) 558-2550; or e-mail: culturalinfo@ucnj.org. NJ relay users dial 711.
The Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to announce the final recycling events of the 2025 season. Residents are invited to participate in the last scrap metal recycling drop-offs of the 2025 season, taking place on Thursday, November 6th, and Saturday, November 15th, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., rain or shine. These programs are offered free of charge to all Union County residents.
“By working together with residents through our annual recycling program, we have significantly reduced the amount of waste going to local landfills while giving old, unused, or broken items a new purpose; it’s been a win-win for our environment and community,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “I want to encourage everyone to join us in finishing the year strong by taking part in these final scrap metal recycling events of the season, as we keep building a more sustainable future in Union County.”
As of the end of October, the Union County paper shredding and household hazardous waste (HHW) event seasons are complete. The 2026 schedule should be released by January 1, 2026. You will be able to find this schedule at the Union County’s Bureau of Recycling and Planning’s homepage, which is https://ucnj.org/recycling/.
Union County will hold its final Scrap Metal events of the year on Thursday, November 6th Saturday, November 15th, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at two convenient locations:
Rahway: Rahway River Park (follow Park Drive, Rahway off St. George’s Avenue to service yard across from swimming pool)
Accepted items include refrigerators (with doors removed), metal cabinets, appliances, bicycles, aluminum scrap, air conditioners, and other metal household goods. The scrap metal program runs on the first Thursday and third Saturday of each month from April through November.
All Union County recycling events are contact-free and drive-up only. All of the events are held rain or shine. Residents must remain in their cars while staff unloads materials from their trunks. Union County Recycling Programs are funded through Recycling Enhancement Act (REA) funds, which are applied for and received by the County of Union from the NJDEP.
If you are in need of resources to help dispose of household hazardous waste or recycle scrap metal during the event off-season, or have any other recycling question, please do not hesitate to contact the Bureau of Recycling & Planning at 908-654-9890 or by filling out the online form at our website (ucnj.org/recycle/). Residents may also contact their municipal recycling coordinator for more details about recycling in their community.
Union County Board of Elections Administrator Nicole DiRado advises Union County residents that eleven locations have been selected for those wishing to cast their vote early, in-person for the 2025 General Election. Any registered, Union County voter can use any of these sites to vote in-person, by machine from Saturday, October 25 through Sunday, November 2, 2025.
“New Jersey has expanded voters’ rights by introducing early voting in 2021,” said Ms. DiRado. “We encourage voters to use early voting, or a vote by mail ballot, to cast their vote ahead of Election Day. Making a plan to cast your vote is important and there are now more options in New Jersey than ever before.”
Berkeley Heights: Berkeley Heights Municipal Building, 29 Park Avenue
Cranford: Union College of Union County, 1033 Springfield Avenue, Nomahegan Building, Room N4
Elizabeth: Sampson Center, 800 Anna Street
New Providence: DeCorso Center, 15 E. Fourth St.
Plainfield: Union College of Union County, Church Street between 2nd and 3rd Aves.
Rahway: Rahway Recreation Center, 275 E. Milton Avenue
Roselle: Amalfe Center, 1268 Shaffer Avenue
Union Twp: Union Township Senior Center, 652 Rahway Ave.
Union Twp: Kean University, 1000 Morris Avenue, North Avenue Academic Building (corner of Morris & North Avenues)
Union Township: Payne Community Meeting Center, 333 Russell Street, Vauxhall
Westfield: Westfield Memorial Pool, 713 Cumberland Street.
All of these early voting locations will be open during the following hours:
Saturday, October 25, 10am – 8pm
Sunday, October 26, 10am – 6pm
Monday, October 27, 10am – 8pm
Tuesday, October 28, 10am – 8pm
Wednesday, October 29, 10am – 8pm
Thursday, October 30, 10am – 8pm
Friday, October 31,10am – 8pm
Saturday, November 1, 2024, 10am – 8pm
Sunday, November 2, 10am – 6pm
Upon arriving at an early voting location, voters will sign in on an electronic poll book. The electronic poll book will print a bar code on the ballot card so the voting machine knows which ballot to activate. The ballot card will be inserted into the voting machine which begins the process for the voter.
Please note that these locations are for in-person, machine voting only. Mail-in ballots cannot be submitted at these locations.
Voters who plan to use a mail-in ballot can deposit it in any of the twenty-four (24) Board of Elections’ secure drop boxes in Union County, return it to the Board of Elections by U.S. Postal Service, or hand-deliver it to the Board of Elections office in Elizabeth by November 4, 2025 at 8pm.
Voters who choose to vote in person on Election Day, November 4, must use their designated polling place.
For more information, including a list of drop box locations and an online polling place finder, visit the Board of Elections online at ucnj.org/ucboe, email ucboe@ucnj.org, or call 908-527-4123.
Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds all voters who received a vote-by-mail ballot to complete and return it before the Election Day deadline.
“My office sent out more than 44,000 ballots, and to date, only 13,244, or approximately 33%, have been returned to the Board of Elections,” Clerk Joanne Rajoppi said. “I urge voters to open their ballots when they receive them, take a few minutes to fill them out and then return them either to the post office or deposit them in one of the many election drop boxes around the county. This way you are ensured that your vote will be counted on election day.”
Voters have three ways to return a completed ballot before Election Day on November 4. To vote by mail, ballots must be postmarked on or before November 4, and received by the Union County Board of Elections by November 10. Alternately, ballots can be retuned in one of Union County’s secure drop boxes by 8:00pm on November 4th. Voters can also deliver their ballot directly to the Union County Board of Elections Office from 8:00am-4:00pm, Monday through Friday, at 271 N Broad Street in Elizabeth.
For more information about early voting, drop box locations, or Election Day deadlines, visit www.unioncountyvotes.com or contact the office at 908-527-4996 or email ucvote@ucnj.org.
Enjoy seasonal & historical activities for all ages at the Deserted Village of Feltville in Union County
A bas relief wood carving created by Nicaraguan artist Roberto de la Selva will be on display at the Deserted Village of Feltville during the Four Centuries in a Weekend program.
The Union County Board of County Commissioners announces thatthe Deserted Village of Feltville will once again host an annual open house featuring old-fashioned children’s games, apple cider pressing, an archaeological activity, and guided tours as part of Union County’s Four Centuries in a Weekend event this Saturday and Sunday, October 18 and 19, from noon to 5:00 p.m. each day.
“The Deserted Village of Feltville is a Union County treasure, full of natural beauty with a rich history that dates back to the 19th century,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes Leon. “There’s something for everyone to enjoy! You can take a guided tour, try making apple cider, roast marshmallows, and learn more about this historic landmark with family and friends. I hope to see you there!”
All activities for the Four Centuries weekend are rain or shine, and are free of charge. Enter the Deserted Village parking lot from Glenside Avenue (use GPS address 1 Cataract Hollow Road, Berkeley Heights). A haywagon provides barrier-free access to key sites within the 130-acre historic district. Visitors can pick up a free self-tour guidebook at the parking lot, or use their cell phones to take an audio tour.
The Deserted Village of Feltville is located in Union County’s Watchung Reservation. It was established in 1845 by entrepreneur David Felt, who built a printing mill, housing for his workers, and other buildings for communal use by Feltville’s 175 residents. As part of the weekend’s festivities, the “ghost” of David Felt will stroll the grounds of the Deserted Village and converse with visitors, telling tales of the factory town he built and recounting memories of the people who worked in his mill, on his farm, and in his store and school. At 1:00 pm each day, Mr. Felt will offer a 30-minute long armchair tour from the porch of his general store, with an interactive opportunity for children.
Other activities for children will include old-fashioned games on the Deserted Village’s grass tennis court, writing with a quill pen and ink, and searching for artifacts at the site of David Felt’s house. A small apple orchard has been recreated to recall the 600-acre farm established by Mr. Felt to provide food for the villagers. Visitors can taste the apple cider being pressed by Boy Scout Troop 23 of Elizabeth.
Visitors can also bring their National Parks Passport to the general store and get it stamped, thanks to Union County’s inclusion in the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area. While at the General Store, visitors are invited to view exhibits of artifacts, photographs and maps depicting the history of the Deserted Village across four centuries. Photos from the late 1800’s that were just found this year will be on display. Nostalgic candy, snacks, toys and games will be sold at the store. Families are also invited to pack a picnic and use one of the nearby picnic tables.
The beautifully restored circa-1882 Masker’s Barn carriage house will be open for the weekend. Visitors can tour the building and then linger outside to roast marshmallows around a campfire with the ghost of Anna Malloy, wife of an early caretaker.
Moving even farther back in time, visitors can take a short walk to a small family graveyard on a hillside just behind the church and general store. John Willcocks, a New Jersey militia soldier who fought in the Revolutionary War along with General George Washington’s regular army, will greet visitors. He will explain how the discovery of a human tooth started a quest to find the unmarked graves of two dozen members of the Willcocks and Badgley families. Archival research and non-invasive archaeological investigation revealed the site of the missing cemetery, which has been cleared and marked.
The Deserted Village has seen many changes since its origin as David Felt’s business enterprise. Over the years it has been used as a farm for fancy cattle, a summer resort called Glenside Park, relief housing during the Great Depression, and an outdoor education center. By the 1970’s, the Deserted Village was all but forgotten.
Fortunately, restoration work has been ongoing since 1985. Felt’s general store now serves as a visitor center. Masker’s Barn is a rental venue that hosts 100 events each year. Plans are progressing for projects authorized by the Union County Board of County Commissioners for new roofs, building restoration work, museum exhibits, and improvements to the Barn.
Special programming on the Four Centuries weekend will be provided by historian Priscilla Hayes. Ms. Hayes inherited her lifelong love of this area from her grandfather – historian and genealogist Edwin Baldwin of Summit – who took her and her siblings there as children. She has been using her skills as a freelance writer and retired attorney to author booklets describing how this one small village illuminates nearly all of New Jersey history. In 2022, she launched a website at www.feltvillefeatures.com, where each month she writes about some facet of Deserted Village history.
On October 18and 19, at 2:00 p.m., Hayes will discuss the life and works of a distinguished Latin American artist named Roberto de la Selva, and the discovery and restoration of murals painted by him in the Deserted Village. On Sunday, she will be joined on Zoom by Ron Burkard, an Oklahoma resident who owns an extensive collection of de la Selva’s artwork.
In 1927, De la Selva, a native of Nicaragua, painted colorful images depicting rural Mexican life directly on the plaster walls of one of the Glenside Park cottages. De la Selva became renowned as a bas relief sculptor in wood, working as part of the movement known as Mexican Modernism in which artists such as Diego Rivera and José Clemente Orozco celebrated post-Revolution social reform and the heritage of indigenous cultures. But the Deserted Village murals are the only murals he is known to have painted.
An exhibit of De la Selva’s work, including a bas-relief wood carving, will form a backdrop to Hayes’ presentation. After she finishes, the ghost of De la Selva will present a short monologue. Then Hayes and David Felt will lead a guided tour through the Village.
For more information about the Deserted Village of Feltville, visit the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation online at ucnj.org/dv.
“In addition to the Deserted Village, our Four Centuries weekend event has over 30 participating sites throughout the county that will be open to the public, providing visitors with opportunities to explore the parks and historic landmarks of Union County like never before,” said Union County Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski, Liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Advisory Board.
Four Centuries in a Weekend is funded in part by a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, part of the Division of Cultural Affairs in the Department of State, and is organized by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, in collaboration with staff and volunteers at the sites and is sponsored by the Union County Board of County Commissioners.
For locations, hours, special events, and other details about more than 30 other historical sites participating in Four Centuries in a Weekend this year, visit the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs ucnj.org/parks-recreation/cultural-heritage-affairs, www.ucnj.org/4c or call (908) 558-2550.
The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites residents to join an engaging Hispanic Leadership Panel Discussion marking the conclusion of the 2025 Hispanic Heritage Month festivities. The free seminar will feature distinguished speakers, including New Jersey State Senator and Senate Majority Leader, Teresa Ruiz, as well as Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes Leon and Commissioner Sergio Granados.
The event will take place on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at UCNJ Union College of Union County in Cranford, NJ. Student leaders are invited to a private meet-and-greet session, where they can connect with fellow undergrads, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The program will formally open to the public at 12:15 p.m. with a Welcome and Introduction, followed by the panel presentation from 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. The program will conclude with a Q&A session, during which all attendees are invited to participate.
Chairwoman Lourdes Leon, a Cuban-born leader and lifelong resident of Elizabeth, has dedicated her career to breaking barriers and empowering others. In 2020, she made history as the first Hispanic woman elected to the Union County Board of County Commissioners, and earlier this year became the first to serve as Chairwoman. With more than 27 years in education — rising from a teacher’s aide to Principal — Leon credits her experience in the classroom for shaping her collaborative, community-focused approach to leadership. Her work in public service continues to reflect those same core values: opportunity, equity, and ensuring every resident has the tools to succeed.
“Being selected to speak in this year’s Hispanic Leadership panel is an honor, but also sharing the stage with a Latin force like Teresa Ruiz, who has championed our children and the education system while blazing a trail for all Latinas—it’s something that, as an educator, public servant, and Cuban, makes me feel incredibly proud,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes Leon. “I am excited to share my insights and encourage everyone to come and join us in a discussion that is sure to inspire and uplift our community.”
Commissioner Sergio Granados made history in 2013, as the youngest Commissioner in Union County and one of the youngest Democratic county officials in New Jersey. Over the past 12 years, he has championed equality, inclusion, and cultural pride—launching the County’s first Hispanic Heritage Month flag raising and annual celebrations. Granados also led the creation of the Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs, the Office for People with Disabilities and Special Needs, and the Office of Community Engagement and Diversity—each the first of its kind in New Jersey—reflecting his ongoing commitment to building a stronger, more inclusive Union County for all residents.
“Coming back to Union College always brings me back to my roots,” said Commissioner Sergio Granados. “As someone of Salvadoran and Portuguese heritage who grew up in Elizabeth, just a few miles from here, my journey has always been centered on giving back and creating opportunities for others. I was shaped by neighbors, mentors, and moments that showed me how leadership can truly change lives. When we sit with students and young leaders today, we’re not just sharing advice — we’re passing on the responsibility to continue what we started. My hope is that every student walks away knowing that leadership isn’t a title or a destination — it’s a lifelong commitment to service, equity, and community.”
Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz made history in 2007 as the first Puerto Rican elected to the New Jersey State Senate and today serves as the highest-ranking Latina legislator in the state. A lifelong advocate for education and equity, she has championed expanded access to early childhood programs, ensured all qualifying students receive free breakfast and lunch, and advanced laws promoting curriculum diversity. Ruiz has also served as Chair of the Senate Education Committee, Assistant Majority Leader, and Vice Chair of the Essex County Democratic Party. A graduate of Drew University, she is a 2010 Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow and completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at Harvard’s Kennedy School.
“Chairwoman Leon and Commissioner Granados are two trailblazing leaders whose work continues to leave a lasting impact on Union County, and I am honored to join them to share our experiences and perspectives as Latinos in public service,” said Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz. “As we come together this Latino Heritage Month, let us celebrate the powerful legacy of Latino leadership in every space, reflect on the progress we’ve made, and show the next generation that their culture is a source of strength and a foundation for limitless possibilities.”
The Hispanic Leadership event is free to attend, but pre-registration is required. Interested participants may register at ucnj.org/hhm.
This event is supported in part by a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State’s Division of Cultural Affairs. It is organized by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in collaboration with UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ.
“Learning about the different cultures that exist within Union County strengthens us as a community and transcends differences, allowing us to come together in celebration of our own uniqueness while also recognizing our shared humanity,” said Union County Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski, Liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Advisory Board. “We thank our Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs for organizing these engaging events that make everyone in our community feel valued and heard.”
For more information on this or other Cultural and Heritage events, please contact John Prescott at 908-436-2912 or via email at jprescott@ucnj.org.
The Union County Board of County Commissioners is proud to announce that fourteen Union County artists have been selected as award-winners in the 59th annual New Jersey Senior Citizens Art Show. The exhibit includes more than 300 outstanding original works of art created by both professional and non-professional artists, ages 60 and up, from twenty of the state’s twenty-one counties.
Every artwork displayed in the state exhibit already received a First-Place award for its media category at a juried county-level show. Artworks by nineteen Union County seniors advanced to the state show, which is now on view to the public. These Union County artists were awarded at the state level for their work:
Audrey Yankielun (Westfield), was awarded the distinction of Best of Show by a Professional Artist for her craft work, created using thousands of postage stamps.
Audrey Yankielun (Westfield), 1st Place, Craft by a professional artist
Igor Zbrizher (Cranford), 1st Place, Acrylic Painting by a non-professional artist
Toru Ishiyama (Cranford), 3rd Place, Mixed Media by a non-professional artist
Gregory Ruffa (Scotch Plains), 3rd Place, Pastel by a professional artist
Gregory Tyson (Garwood), 3rd Place, Works on Paper by a non-professional artist
Mark Albertson (Westfield), Honorable Mention, Oil Painting by a non-professional artist
Megan Connelly (Roselle Park), Honorable Mention, Craft by a non-professional artist
Veronica Dunscombe (New Providence), Honorable Mention, Sculpture by a professional artist
Paul Federico (Scotch Plains), Honorable Mention, Printmaking by a professional artist
Karen Freudenberger (Berkeley Heights), Honorable Mention, Pastel by a non-professional artist
Susan Haiken (Berkeley Heights), Honorable Mention, Acrylic Painting by a professional artist
Anne Occi (Cranford), Honorable Mention, Watercolor by a professional artist
Wendy Sheridan (Rahway), Honorable Mention, Works on Paper by a professional artist
Dorothy Siclare (Plainfield), Honorable Mention, Oil Painting by a professional artist
“We are proud to see so many talented Union County seniors recognized at the state level,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “The arts are a powerful way for our residents to stay engaged and express themselves. We encourage everyone to experience their creativity firsthand by visiting this wonderful exhibition, either online or in person.”
The New Jersey Senior Citizens Art Show can be viewed online, when available, at www.njseniorarts.com/gallery/ or in person at the main building of Meadow Lakes Senior Living located at 300 Meadow Lakes in East Windsor. The public is invited to view the art show in person, now through November 6, Monday through Saturday, 10:00am – 4:00pm. Groups of 6 or more should call Meadow Lakes in advance at 609-448-4100. Driving directions are found at https://meadowlakesonline.org/contact/directions/.
The art show is a co-sponsored project of Mercer County’s Division of Culture and Heritage and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites residents to attend a free virtual Guardianship Webinar, titled: “Navigating Guardianship for Loved Ones with Special Needs: What Families Need to Know” on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.
“This webinar will offer practical resources and professional insight to help residents better understand guardianship and make informed decisions for their loved ones,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “The Commissioner Board is proud to support programs that connect residents with the knowledge and services they need.”
The session will be held online via Zoom and streamed on Facebook Live. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session with panelists.
Panelists will include representatives from the Union County Surrogate’s Office, Inroads to Opportunities, the Law Office of Christopher A. Kozlowski, and the Elizabeth Parent Support Group.
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Virtual (Zoom & Facebook Live) Free & open to the public
“Families navigating guardianship often face complex and emotional decisions. Through this webinar, we aim to provide clarity and practical tools, while also offering reassurance that no one has to walk this journey alone,” said Union County Surrogate Christopher E. Hudak. “By partnering with the Office for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs, we are ensuring that residents have access to the information and support they need at every step.”
The program is presented in partnership by the Union County Office for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs (OPDSN) and the Union County Surrogate’s Office. It is designed to provide families, caregivers, and community members with helpful information and guidance on the legal guardianship process.
For more information, contact the Union County Office for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs at 908-527-4807, email opdsn@ucnj.org, or visit https://ucnj.org/dhs/opdsn. For more information on this or any other program through the Union County Surrogate’s Office, please contact them at 908-527-4280, email UCSurrogate@ucnj.org, or visit www.ucnj.org/surrogate.
Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announces that sample ballots for the General Election will be mailed in two separate mailing. All registered voters will receive a sample ballot late next week, and new registered voters will receive a sample ballot after the close of voter registration on Tuesday, October 14th.
Sample ballots are a valuable resource for voters to acquaint themselves with the candidates and layout of the ballot. Polling location information and voter instructions are also included.
“I urge voters to review their sample ballots as soon as they receive them,” Clerk Rajoppi said. “You can even bring it with you to the polls,” she added.
For more information about sample ballots, early voting, or election deadlines, visit www.unioncountyvotes.com or contact the office at 908-527-4996 or email ucvote@ucnj.org.
