Please be advised, Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying county and municipal parks Wednesday morning, August 13, 2025, between the hours of 3:00 A.M. to 7:00 A.M. (Weather Permitting). Check below for the list of Parks to be sprayed. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Union County Office of Mosquito Control at 908-654-9834 or 908-654-9835.
Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announces that mail-in ballots for the upcoming Special School Election in Clark will be available beginning Monday, August 11th at the Clerk’s Westfield Office during regular business hours. The Special school election will be held on September 16th, 2025.
Voters are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to vote early and ensure their voices are heard in this important local election. Business hours of the Union County Clerk’s Westfield Office, located at 300 North Avenue East, are below:
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 8:00am to 4:00pm
Tuesday and Thursday, from 8:00am to 7:30pm
Saturday from 9:00am to 1:00pm
For more information about mail-in ballots, early voting, or election deadlines, visit www.unioncountyvotes.com or contact the office at 908-527-4996 or email ucvote@ucnj.org.
Thinking about becoming a substitute teacher? Join us at Kean University on August 20, 2025 for a hands-on workshop that walks you through the entire certification process — no education major required! Learn the steps, meet the experts, and enjoy a pizza lunch while you get closer to the classroom.
The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites students to join a 4-H club this coming fall and explore popular fields ranging from cooking, sewing, photography, archery, robotics, and more. Youth in 1st grade through their first year after graduating from high school can join 4-H Clubs. In a 4-H Club, students can explore a new hobby, meet like-minded friends, and learn leadership skills.
“4-H clubs provide a fantastic opportunity for our youth to make friends, learn new skills, and boost their self-confidence,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “As they explore their individual abilities throughout the year, each student gains a deeper understanding of themselves, what they enjoy, and what they are capable of achieving. It’s truly a rewarding experience for participants. I encourage all interested students to join a 4-H club before classes fill up.”
The majority of the clubs meet at Union County’s Colleen Fraser Building, located at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield, on either Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. 4-H Clubs are organized by age and topic. The members meet with an adult club leader on a monthly basis during the school year to plan activities and programs.
Each club emphasizes the ability of students to learn, organize, and communicate with activities appropriate for their age. For the school year 2025 – 2026, the clubs and their meeting times are listed below;
Variety Club (different topics with crafts and show-and-tell), grades 1-3. 2nd Sunday; 4 to 5 p.m.
Cooking Clubs (prepare deserts, main courses and more), grades 7-12;3rd Friday; 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. Grades 4th through 6th; 1st Friday, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Community Service Club (plant trees, works at food bank, teach younger youth), grades 8-12. 1st and 3rd Sat. 1 to 3 p.m.
Sewing Club (learn how to hand sew and use a machine), grades 6-12. 2nd Sat;10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Lego Robotics Club (work with NXT kits and Spike) grades 4-7th; 1st. Sat. ;11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Craft Club (have fun with paints, fabrics and more) grades 4 – 12. 2nd Friday;7:30 to 9 p.m.
Engineering Club (make model cars, bridges, and learn about electric) grades 4-12; 3rd Sat.;9:30 to 11 a.m.
Archery Club (learn basics and more advanced techniques) grades 4-12; 1st and 3rd Sat,; 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Photography Club ( learn basics of using a camera) grades 4-12; 3rd Sunday; 1 to 3 p.m.
Garden Club( How to start plants from seeds) grades 4-12; 1st and 3rd Sat.;10 a.m. to noon.
4-H Dog Care Club ( Basics of grooming, feeding, and play) 2nd Sunday; 2 to 3:30 p.m.
“As a former 4-H club member, I can say this experience is invaluable for students. They learn to see the bigger picture, understanding that the skills and abilities they develop are not only important for their own futures, but also for the future of our community,” said Union County Commissioner and Rutgers Cooperative Extension Liaison, Bette Jane Kowalski.
Union County 4-H is run by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County and supported in part by the Union County Commissioner Board, with offices at 151 Grant St, Berkley Heights. The national 4-H youth program is the largest youth development program in the U.S. As a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 4-H encourages students to develop expertise in a subject of their own choosing, and share their knowledge to benefit their community.
Participation in 4-H is associated with better grades at school, and a stronger interest in taking science classes, attending college, and contributing to the community.
4-H Clubs run from October to June. To sign up for a club or more details , please email James Nichnadowicz Union County 4H Youth Development Agent at jnichnadowicz@ucnj.org or call 908-654-9854 ext. 3. Also see the website
For more information about all Union County Extension programs, including 4-H, Master Tree Stewards and Master Gardeners, visit ucnj.org/rce.
Please be advised, Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying County and Municipal Parks Friday morning, August 8, 2025, between the hours of 3:00 A.M. to 7:00 A.M. (Weather Permitting). Check below for the list of Parks to be sprayed. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Union County Office of Mosquito Control at 908-654-9834 or 908-654-9835.
County Parks
Clark – Oak Ridge
Cranford – Nomahegan, Mohawk
Garwood – Unami
Hillside – Conant
Mountainside – Echo Lake, Watchung Res. Loop Area, Science Center
Please be advised, Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying for mosquitoes Wednesday August 6, 2025, 2025, between the hours of 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM Weather Permitting. Check below for a list of areas to be sprayed. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Union County Office of Mosquito Control at 908-654-9834 or 908-654-9835.
Berkeley Heights – Grant St. Area, Garfield St., Shadow Ln., Kuntz Ave., Camptown Dr., La Secla Pl. Delmore Av.
Clark – Hillside Ave., Autumn Ave., Elm St., Whittier Rd., Oak St. Area, Blake Dr., Schmidt Ln. Valley Rd., Clauss Rd, Old Raritan Rd., Madison Hill Rd.
Cranford – Kenilworth Blvd.
Hillside – Harvard Ave., Cornell Pl., John St.
Kenilworth – Dorset Dr. Area, Water Co. Rd.,
Linden – Tremley Point Rd., Tremley Pt. Area, Carnegie St., E. Curtis St., Union St.
Mountainside – Summit Ln., Museum Area, Watchung Res. Loop Area
New Providence – Charnwood Rd., Runnymede Pkwy.
Plainfield – Jefferson Ave., 1st St., Reeves Ter., Wiley Ave., McCrea Pl., Edwin Pl., Pinewood Ter. Area
Rahway – Elston St., Randolph Ave., Leesville Av., Wall St., Dudley Ct., Egolf Dr. Walking Path between Whitter St. and Linden Ave.
Roselle Park – W. Grant St., Hawthorne St., Meadow St., Walking path, between Galloping Hill Rd. and Chestnut St.
Scotch Plains – Stoneleigh Dr., Frank St.
Springfield – Oakland Ave., Waverly Ave., Cottage Ln., Marion Ave.
Summit – Stockton Rd., Stiles Rd. Summit Recycling Center
Union – Richard Ter., Elaine Ter., Florence Dr., Rahway Ave., Gifford Ct. Area, Vaux Hall 2000 Block, Interlux Paint Property on Morris Ave.
Union County Commissioners Alexander Mirabella and Sergio Granados have been appointed to key national leadership positions by the National Association of Counties (NACo) for the 2025–2026 term. These prestigious appointments reflect Union County’s growing influence in shaping national policy priorities that directly impact residents at the local level.
Commissioner Alexander Mirabella has been appointed:
Vice Chair of the International Economic Development Innovation Council
Vice Chair of the Finance, Pensions and Intergovernmental Affairs Steering Committee
Member of the Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC)
New Jersey’s sole representative on the NACo Board of Directors
Commissioner Sergio Granados has been appointed:
Member of the Healthy Counties Innovation Council
Member of the International Economic Development Innovation Council
Member of the Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC)
“These appointments are more than titles—they’re opportunities to continue the work we’ve led here in Union County on a national scale,” said Commissioner Mirabella. “Locally, we’ve championed long-term investments in infrastructure, supported small businesses through pandemic recovery and beyond, and expanded access to affordable housing through home improvement and first-time buyer programs. We’ve also prioritized park upgrades, open space preservation, and transit access—initiatives that create stronger, more connected communities. My continued role on the NACo Board gives us a powerful platform to share those successes and help counties across the country grow in ways that are responsible, resilient, and community-driven.”
These appointments also align with NACo’s 2025–2026 “County Storytellers” initiative, which encourages county leaders to uplift their communities by sharing data-driven stories that inspire trust, innovation, and connection.
“We’ve taken a comprehensive approach in Union County—expanding mental health services across all 21 towns through programs like ARRIVE Together, launching our first-ever youth-led mental health summit at Kean University, and opening our Union County Family Health Clinic to provide free wellness care to uninsured families,” said Commissioner Granados. “We’ve also focused on family, youth and senior nutrition, and helped residents stay rooted through job training, workforce development, and housing support. These NACo appointments give us the chance to bring Union County’s inclusive, people-first approach to the national stage, ensuring every resident—not just here, but everywhere—has a fair shot at stability and success.”
Founded in 1935, the National Association of Counties (NACo) represents nearly 40,000 county elected officials and 3.6 million county employees nationwide. NACo advocates for county priorities in federal policymaking, promotes best practices, supports leadership development, and strengthens local communities through collaboration and innovation.
For more information on NACo and its committees, visit www.naco.org.
The Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to announce that applications for the 2026 Union County History Re-Grant Program for Special Projects and General Operating Support are now available. All eligible non-profit organizations in Union County are invited to apply.
“Our History Re-Grant Program helps fund local libraries, museums, and non-profit historical organizations, enabling them to continue providing our community with the quality educational experiences and engaging programs we look forward to each year,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “I encourage all eligible organizations to take advantage of this opportunity and apply today.”
Applicant organizations must be based in Union County, and the programming covered by the grant must take place in Union County during 2026. Applications must be submitted online to the Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, a division of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation. To begin the application process and to create an account, request the link to the application portal by emailing John Prescott, History Programs Coordinator, at jprescott@ucnj.org
The application deadline is Friday, September 19th, 2025 at 11:45 p.m. Application materials submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
Eligibility requirements, application components, and other pertinent details are outlined in the complete General Operating Support (GOS) and Special Projects (SP) guidelines.
The Re-Grant Program includes two types of grants:
General Operating Support (GOS) grants provide assistance for the basic costs of operation such as programming, preservation of collections, salaries, marketing, and more. Funding is available to Union County based historical societies, house museums or historic sites only. The maximum GOS grant request is $7,500.
Special Project (SP) grants support history organizations, museums, schools, libraries and similar organizations with collections or programming relating to Union County and New Jersey state history. The maximum SP grant request is $5,000.
“Union County has a rich and vast history, and there is much to explore and learn about here,” said Union County Commissioner and Liaison to the Union County Cultural and Heritage Advisory Board, Bette Jane Kowalski. “We are happy to use this grant to continue supporting the organizations that dedicate their time and effort to making this exploration a fun and rewarding adventure for our residents.”
Funding for the History Re-Grant program is provided by the New Jersey Historical Commission. For clarification, assistance, or questions about applying, please contact John Prescott, History Programs Coordinator, at 908-436-2912 or by email at jprescott@ucnj.org.
The Union County Board of County Commissioners and the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs are pleased to announce that applications to the 2026 Local Arts grant program are now being accepted. The Union County Local Arts Program, known as “LAP,” supports arts programming produced by both arts organizations and non-arts organizations located in and serving residents of Union County.
“Our Local Arts grant program provides necessary funding and support to these organizations so they can remain focused on developing the inclusive projects, quality artistic programs, and cultural events Union County is known for,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “I strongly encourage eligible organizations that offer arts programming to take advantage of this opportunity and apply.”
The Local Arts Program is made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Two types of grants are available under this program:
General Operating Support grants are available to nonprofit arts organizations. The maximum request is $15,000, and the request cannot exceed 40% of the organization’s projected 2026 budget.
Special Project grants are available to both arts organizations and non-arts organizations (including nonprofits, libraries, and units of local government) to fund a specific arts project, such as a performance series. The maximum request is $5,000. Matching funds are required.
“Local art events offer more than just entertainment for our residents; they contribute to the vibrancy and cultural legacy of this community,” said Union County Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski, Liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Advisory Board. “I’m looking forward to seeing the great work that our awardees come up with in 2026!”
Arts activities must take place in Union County during 2026. Applications must be completed online using the Grant portal. Funds will be awarded to applicants that demonstrate a high degree of professionalism in arts programming. The deadline to submit a completed LAP application is September 24, 2025.
A Grant Workshop including a Q&A will be held on Thursday, August 7, from 3:00–4:30 pm on Zoom, offering information and guidance about the three grant programs. Register to attend the Grant Workshop at https://ucnj.org/cha-workshop/.
For questions about the Local Arts program, or to obtain the link to the grant portal to begin an application, contact the LAP Grant Coordinator, Martha Sturm at msturm@ucnj.org.
Please be advised, Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying county and municipal parks Wednesday morning, August 6, 2025, between the hours of 3:00 A.M. to 7:00 A.M. (Weather Permitting). Check below for the list of Parks to be sprayed. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Union County Office of Mosquito Control at 908-654-9834 or 908-654-9835.
