Category: Public Info

Series of Pride Month events planned throughout the County in the month of June.

Union County, NJ – In recognition of June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, the Union County Board of County Commissioners invites residents to participate in Pride events organized by the Union County Office of LGBTQ Affairs, as Union County joins communities across the nation in once again celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride Month 2021.

The start of Pride Month 2021 in Union County was celebrated on June 1 with the raising of the PRIDE Flag at 1:00 p.m., at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth.

The program of events throughout the month includes:

• Drive-In Concert featuring the 80’s tribute band Rubix Kube with Union County’s own comedian Amy Colon – Saturday, June 5 at 6:00 p.m. – Union County Vo-Tech campus, Scotch Plains

• Queer Empowerment Hour – The History of PRIDE | How Pride came to be & where we are now – Wednesday, June 9 at 7:00 p.m. – Zoom – register at org/lgbtq.

• Let Me Be Me: a youth empowerment field day for LGBTQ+ and ally youth (student ID required) – Saturday, June 19 at 11:00 a.m. – Warinanco Sports Center (turf field), Roselle

• Family Movie Night featuring How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World – Friday, June 25 (movie starts at dusk) – Union County Vo-Tech campus, Scotch Plains

• LGBTQ Trivia Night – Wednesday, June 30 at 7:00 p.m. – Ash Brook, Scotch Plains

“By celebrating the right of LGBTQ+ persons to be who they are, Pride Month events help to foster a sense of unity among all Union County residents,” said Commissioner Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The Commissioner Board is proud to affirm our continued work for inclusion and acceptance with the celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride events in June.”

“June is an important month for LGBTQ+ residents in Union County, and this Commissioner Board is committed to ensuring that each resident feels included and supported,” said Commissioner Vice Chair Rebecca Williams, liaison to the Commissioner’s LGBTQ Ad Hoc Committee. “The Office of LGBTQ Affairs provides us with a foundation for partnership, tolerance and equality.”

Union County’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, under the Department of Economic Development, was established in 2018 and is the first county government office of its kind in the State of New Jersey and one of four government offices in the nation to support the LGBTQ community, of which only two are county government offices.

Union County’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs offers a platform for leadership and collaboration to support equality, and serves as a catalyst for advocacy, awareness and action on current and emerging issues that impact the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals.

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

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University, the Mobile Test Unit walk-up sites, vaccination information, emergency food distribution 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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Please be advised that this evening’s showing of the Black Panther movie at the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools campus in Scotch Plains has been cancelled due to the weather. The movie will be rescheduled to a date in the future.

Commission for Status on Women to honor 11 County women at free virtual event

Union County, NJ – The Union County Commission on the Status of Women is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2020-2021 Women of Excellence Awards. Eleven Union County women have been selected to receive awards for their outstanding contributions. The awardees will be honored at a virtual event on Friday, June 11 at 6:30 p.m.

The virtual awards ceremony is free for all to attend but pre-registration is required. Residents who wish to pre-register can do so by visiting https://bit.ly/uccsw2021.

“For over 25 years, the Board of County Commissioners has recognized women among us who lead, serve, and inspire. Through their work, they raise awareness about the influence of women in every sphere of the Union County community, from business and legal affairs to public service and education,” said County Commissioner Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “We are proud to acknowledge their contributions towards a positive difference in the quality of life for everyone in the County.”

The Union County women being recognized for their accomplishments by the Commission on the Status of Women are:

Women’s Advocacy – Margot Baruch – Mountainside

Mental Health Advocacy – Joyce Benz – Springfield

Volunteerism – Joan Crout – Westfield

Environmental/Activism – Marian Glenn – Summit

Education – Monica Goncalves – Elizabeth

Lifetime Achievement – Sister Percylee Hart, RSM – Scotch Plains

Healthcare – Pamela Palmieri – Fanwood

Special Education Advocacy – Diana Pinto-Gomez – Fanwood

Entrepreneurial/Medical – Nancy Polow, PhD. – Scotch Plains

Government – Clara Fernandez – Elizabeth

Special Service Award – Judy Jenkins-Gaudino – Summit

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

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

For any questions or to get more information about the Women of Excellence awards program, contact Nancy Malta, Commissioner Administrative Liaison at 908-527-4298 or nmalta@ucnj.org or Jen Erdos, Secretary to the Commission on the Status of Women, at 908-527-4216 or jerdos@ucnj.org.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

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Union County, NJ — The Union County Board of County Commissioners reminds residents that Union County’s free scrap metal recycling drop-off program continues in June. A wide variety of metal goods, from household appliances to gutters and sheds, will be accepted at two countywide collection sites in Cranford and Rahway every month until November.

“This countywide program helps to fill a service gap in some Union County municipalities that currently have no outlet for scrap metal recycling,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman Al Mirabella. “As a community, we benefit across the board by recycling more and throwing away less waste – and we also stand to gain some revenue from the program.”

Scrap metal drop-off will be accepted on Thursday, June 3 and Saturday, June 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at two drop-off centers:

• Cranford: Emergency Services Building, 151 Kenilworth Boulevard

• Rahway: Rahway River Park (follow Park Drive Rahway off St. Georges to service yard across from swimming pool)

Scrap metal from residents in any Union County municipality may be brought to either of these sites.

The drop-off sites are available on the first Thursday and third Saturday of each month, from April through November.

To receive schedule alerts, and to stay up to date with Union County and local recycling programs, download the free Recycle Coach mobile app.

For everyone’s safety, residents must wear face coverings, keep their windows closed and remain in their vehicles at all times. Materials should be placed in trunk, cargo area or truck bed, easily accessible to staff, for safe no-contact removal from vehicle.

Acceptable items for recycling include air conditioners, aluminum scrap, aluminum siding, bicycles, brass, copper, dishwashers, electric fans, fencing (chain/wire), freezers, gutters, irons, lawn furniture, metal cabinets, metal sheds, microwaves, pots and pans, railings, refrigerators, stoves, tire rims, toasters, washers and dryers, window frames (no glass), and wire hangers.

Please note that plastic-encased dehumidifiers are not accepted.
For more information, upcoming dates and directions to all Union County recycling programs and locations, visit the Bureau of Recycling and Planning website at ucnj.org/recycle or call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889.

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

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University, the Mobile Test Unit walk-up sites, vaccination information, emergency food distribution 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.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Commissioners announces that repair work planned for the Lenape Dam has been postponed until September, due to the large scale of the project and statewide regulations that govern the protection of nesting birds during the breeding season.

The dam project was initially scheduled to begin in June, requiring closure of the eastern portion of the park. Signs to that effect been removed, and the park will remain open to the public until September of this year.

On or about September 1, the eastern part of Lenape Park, from the Rahway River to the Kenilworth border, will be closed to all visitors, including hikers, fishermen and cyclists. Additionally, the eastern bike path, from the Boulevard to 14^th Street, will be closed. The closures will be in effect until the work is completed, which will take approximately four months.

The western section of the park, from the Rahway River to the Westfield border, will remain open to all activities throughout the work period. The western bike path, which runs from the Boulevard to Springfield Avenue in Westfield, will also remain open during the repair work.

The Lenape Dam repairs will bring the dam into compliance with the regulations of the State of New Jersey’s Bureau of Dam Safety, the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection and to ensure the safety of County residents.

The County regrets any inconvenience to the public cause by these mandatory repairs.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University, the Mobile Test Unit walk-up sites, vaccination information, emergency food distribution 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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

This event will observe COVID-19 prevention guidelines.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Commissioners reminds residents that the next free Household Hazardous Waste event will be held on Saturday, June 5, at Union County College, located at 1033 Springfield Avenue in Cranford, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Any Union County resident may participate, regardless of their home town.

“The Household Hazardous Waste events provide a free, convenient opportunity for residents to remove unwanted chemicals and other potentially hazardous items from their homes and yards, and dispose of them safely,” said Commissioner Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “It’s a great way to make a real difference and help keep harmful substances out of the environment.”

The Household Hazardous Waste events provide Union County residents with a free, environmentally safe way to dispose of outdated or unwanted household chemicals, mercury thermostats and thermometers, propane tanks, and automobile tires among many other items such as oil-based paint (no latex paint) and varnish, 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.

Union County’s Household Hazardous Waste events are contact-free. Participants must remain in their vehicles while personnel at the site unload their waste items.

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

Participants must be Union County residents and must observe the following rules for preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus:

• Arrive by vehicle only. No walk-ins accepted.
• Driver and all passengers must wear face coverings at all times.
• Driver and all passengers must stay in vehicle at all times.
• Car windows must be kept closed at all times.
• Materials should be placed in trunk, cargo area or truck bed where they can be easily identified and accessed by staff, who will remove them.

Car tires are accepted at these events. There is a limit of eight automobile tires, without rims, per household.

For a complete list of the materials that will be accepted on June 5, and information about all Union County recycling programs, visit ucnj.org/recycle.

Please note that latex paint (water-based) wall paint is NOT accepted.  Residents wishing to dispose of latex paint 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.

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 more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance for the Test Center, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update.

For general information about COVID-19 and phone contacts for 24/7 assistance with questions, visit 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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of County Commissioners reminds students and youth ages 14-24 that help is available with job placements, internships, tutoring, GED services, career and college counseling, and training and certification courses through the Union County Youth Forward program.

“As a group, Union County residents ages 14-24 have unique needs, circumstances and opportunities to find their footing in the economic life of our community, and the Youth Forward program is designed to connect them with useful, age-appropriate resources,” said Commissioner Board Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

Youth Forward is a job readiness, employment, and youth empowerment program that focuses on paid and unpaid work experiences, comprehensive guidance, counseling and tutoring among other elements, with the goal of enabling Union County youth to develop work-ready skills and  compete in today’s employment environment.

This first-of-its-kind program in Union County launched in December last year. It draws on the resources, networks, and experiences of the County’s existing American Job Center employment services program and the Division of Youth Services, both housed in the Department of Human Services.

During the COVID-19 outbreak, the American Job Center has developed new online resources to assist job seekers and employers while limiting in-person contact. The Youth Forward service follows the creation of the new Union County Works online portal last summer.

Youth Forward is funded by a grant under the federal Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act, administered by the Union County Workforce Development Board through the  American Job Center.

Union County residents ages 14-24 can connect with Youth Forward by calling 908-558-2520 or by emailing info.youthforward@ucnj.org, or by filling out the online contact form at ucnj.org/human-services.

For more information, visit online at ucnj.org/youth-forward.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University and the Mobile Test Unit walk-up sites, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 and updates on statewide vaccine planning are 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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County, NJ – In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, the Union County Board of County Commissioners and the Office of Veteran Services will be honoring Vietnam War Veterans at a special Veterans Networking Mixer on Wednesday, May 26 at the Ash Brook Golf Course Clubhouse in Scotch Plains.

The event will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will recognize Vietnam War Era Veterans from municipalities across the county, with a special resolution presented by the Union County Board of County Commissioners.

Veteran service providers will be present to meet all Veterans and their families and discuss any issues regarding veterans benefits and support services.

Due to continuing COVID-19 County guidelines, masks must be worn and attendance is limited. Veterans who would like to attend can contact Veterans Service Coordinator Janna Williams at 908-527-4918 or Veterans Service Officer Kenneth Glick at 908-527-4719, by noon on Wednesday, May 26.

For more information about all programs and services for veterans in Union County visit the Office of Veterans Affairs online at ucnj.org/uc-hero.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Union County COVID-19 Test Center at Kean University, the Mobile Test Unit, vaccination information, emergency food distribution 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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of County Commissioners is proud to announce that Esperanza Spalding will be the next performer in the County’s free drive-in concert series. The event is scheduled for Friday, June 4 at 7:30 pm at the Union County Vo-Tech campus, 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.

The event is free but registration is required online in advance to reserve a spot. Reservations will be available beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, May 28 on the County website at ucnj.org/reserve.

Please note that space is limited and reservations are on a first come, first served basis.

Originally from Portland, Oregon, Esperanza Spalding has made a huge impact in the jazz world. In addition to having six studio albums, Esperanza Spalding was also appointed a Professor of the Practice of Music at Harvard University and made an appearance in a film, Love Beats Rhymes, both in 2017.

“Esperanza Spalding is a four-time Grammy winner, Boston Music Award winner and Soul Train Award winner, and we are very excited to welcome this talented musician in Union County,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

Food and drinks will not be available for purchase, but attendees may bring their own refreshments. Alcohol is strictly prohibited.

Port-o-johns will be available. Masks will be required when using the port-o-johns. Attendees must stay in their vehicles (unless they need to use the port-o-johns).

This event will run in compliance with state COVID-19 guidelines regarding social distancing and other protocols. To help promote social distancing, no walk-ups, bikes, or chairs are permitted. Vehicles will be arranged at least 6 feet apart with adequate social distancing.

This drive-in event is part of Union County’s seasonal series of outdoor concerts. The drive-in format has been adopted during the pandemic in order to help prevent the virus from spreading.

Further details will be available to residents upon reserving tickets.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Union County COVID-19 Test Center at Kean University, the Mobile Test Unit, vaccination information, emergency food distribution 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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County, NJ – The Board of County Commissioners invites residents to the annual Union County LGBTQ Pride Flag Raising Ceremony event on Tuesday, June 1 at 1:00 p.m. on the steps of the Union County Courthouse located at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth. The event is free and all residents are invited to attend.

“Raising the rainbow flag at the County Courthouse is a significant symbol of inclusion and support for the equal rights of LGBTQ people in Union County,” said County Commissioner Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “We are proud to be one of the most diverse counties in New Jersey and continue to work to normalize acceptance.”

“The unity found through Pride events is essential to increasing awareness and advancing civil rights protections for LGBTQ individuals,” said Commissioner Vice Chair Rebecca Williams, liaison to the Commissioner Board’s LGBTQ+ Ad Hoc Committee.

The flag-raising ceremony program will include a Pride Month Proclamation and guest speakers including Union County youth.

This event will run in compliance with state COVID-19 orders regarding social distancing and other protocols.

The Union County Office of LGBTQ Affairs provides a platform for leadership and collaboration to support equality, and serves as a catalyst for advocacy, awareness and action on current and emerging issues that impact the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals.

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

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.

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