Category: Public Info

Free “Wellness Wednesday” webinar series continues in July.

Union County, NJ – Nutrition and health experts from the Rutgers Cooperative Extension have been sharing their knowledge with the Union County community this summer through the “Wellness on Wednesday” free live webinars. The weekly series focuses on simple tips for improving diet and overall well-being while saving money.

“The Rutgers Cooperative Extension has continued to connect the public with fact based guidance for healthy living,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The new Wellness on Wednesday series is especially welcome at this time, as many families are coping with the economic impact of the outbreak.”

Wellness on Wednesday features experts from the Rutgers University Department of Family & Community Health Sciences.

The series takes place every Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. until August 26. Each session last approximately 45 minutes. Participants will need a computer, tablet, or smart phone with speakers.

Two live webinars remain in July:

July 22 – Easy Changes, Make Healthy Eating a Habit: Easy Changes to your diet are possible by choosing nutritious foods from a variety of food categories.  Learn which ones will make the biggest impact on your health.  Hosted by Karen Ensle, EdD, RDN, FAND, CFCS, FCHS Educator, Union County (register at go.rutgers.edu/g7o5c6tt).

July 29 – Let’s Go Nuts: There is so much we can do with nuts. Together let us find out how we can incorporate nuts in our meal plans. Are they fattening? Is it the good fat or the bad fat? Join this webinar to find out about easy ways to go “nuts.” Hosted by Shailja Mathur, M.S., M.Ed., RDN, FCHS Educator, Middlesex County register at go.rutgers.edu/zmqgpf02).

Topics coming up in August include reading nutrition labels, how to spot hidden sugars, eating healthy on a budget, and convenient ways to add more fruits and veggies to your diet. More details and registration links for these programs are available at sebsnjaesnews.rutgers.edu.

The Rutgers Cooperative Extension is dedicated to connecting the public with science based knowledge that can be applied to improve daily life. It is supported in part by the Freeholder Board through the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, with offices at the County Complex at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield.

Wellness on Wednesdays is part of the Extension’s efforts to continue serving the public.

For more Extension online programs, including environmental topics, yard and garden care, and 4-H clubs for youth, visit the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County online at ucnj.org/rce.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance for using the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University, 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 – Children and families in Union County who love nature can visit the Trailside Nature and Science Center website every week for a “virtual summer camp” experience that includes original nature videos, craft ideas and more. The program is part of a series of online activities offered by Trailside during the COVID-19 outbreak.

“The Freeholder Board is proud to offer the option of a virtual summer camp experience for children and families of all ages,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “We also encourage participants in the online program to explore Union County parks this summer – and of course, we continue to urge everyone to observe social distance, wear masks, and wash hands frequently in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

The virtual summer camp offers a wide variety of engaging videos and activities created and curated by Trailside’s team of professional naturalists, highlighting a new theme every week.

Campers can follow along with Trailside naturalists to explore ponds and streams, trees, bugs, birds, animal homes, and more in Union County’s Watchung Reservation.

The first topic, Turtle Time, is currently available on the Trailside website, ucnj.org/trailside. Take a virtual nature walk with Timber the Eastern Box Turtle as he looks for worms and other tasty snacks, play turtle word search and matching games, learn fun facts about turtles, and do an easy turtle craft.

For more information about virtual summer camp and many other free nature programs available online during the COVID-19 outbreak, call Trailside at 908-789-3670 or visit ucnj.org/trailside. 

Organized activities in Union County parks are limited during the COVID-19 outbreak in accordance with statewide public health guidelines, and Trailside is closed to the public until further notice.

All visitors to Union County parks must observe social distance guidelines in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Masks are strongly recommended. For more information and updates on permitted activities in Union County parks visit online at ucnj.org/parks-recreation.

Trailside Nature & Science Center is located in the Watchung Reservation, at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside, and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance for using the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University, 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.

Initial Round of Program would provide grants up to $20,000 for impacted small businesses with 25 or less employees

The Union County Freeholder Board today announced the initial-round launch of the Union County Covid-19 Relief Grant Program for small businesses that have been impacted by the health emergency.

The grant program will make available a total of $2 million in CARES Act relief funds. Out of this funding, the program will provide grants up to $20,000 to eligible small businesses to cover three month’s rent, property mortgage, utility and insurance expenses. The grant will be available to small businesses located within the boundaries of Union County with 25 or less employees prior to the COVID emergency.

“Union County’s small businesses are the life-blood of our communities and our downtowns,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “These businesses, which contribute so much to our quality of life as a whole, have been devastated by the COVID-19 emergency and need our assistance. The survival of these businesses is vital to Union County, and we encourage our small businesses to apply for a grant once the program is available.”

The Union County Covid-19 Relief Grant Program is funded by the COVID- Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act Federal relief fund. The County of Union will begin accepting applications for the program through an online portal beginning Thursday at 10 a.m., July 16^th at www.ucnj.org/covid-grant Questions about the County’s grant programs can be sent to dmesaros@ucnj.org

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to invite all residents of Union County, age 6o or older, to register for the Union County Senior Citizens’ Virtual Art Exhibit. Qualifying works of art will be displayed online this fall from October 12 to December 30. This year’s Senior Art Exhibit is being held entirely online due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The deadline to register is Friday, Sept. 4, 2020. Registration online is required, and a digital image of the artwork entry must be submitted to complete the registration.

“Each year the Senior Art Exhibit provides senior residents with an opportunity to share their view of the world through their artwork,” said Freeholder Chairman Mirabella. “Although we are doing things virtually this year we are proud to support this program, which highlights the skills and insights of senior artists in the County.”

The Senior Art Exhibit is an annual program presented and coordinated by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs. Artists at any level of skill or experience are invited to register, including amateurs, non-professionals and working professionals. To qualify, the artwork must have been created within the past three years and must be an original creation of the artist.

Registrants can enter a work in a variety of categories: acrylic painting, oil painting, watercolor, pastel, works on paper (drawing), photography, digital art (excluding digital photography), mixed media, printmaking, sculpture, and craft.

All artworks entered will be judged by a panel of professional artists. In each art category, separate awards will be given to professionals and non-professionals. First-place winners in all categories will go on to compete at the state level in the New Jersey Senior Citizens Art Show, also being held online this fall.

For complete information and to register, visit the Union County website at www.ucnj.org/senior-art.

For seniors who do not have internet access, a relative or friend with an email address may assist and register on behalf of the artist, or staff at the Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs will assist the artist with registration by phone. For assistance or questions, or to receive complete instructions by mail or email, call 908-558-2552, or email culturalinfo@ucnj.org. Relay users dial 711.

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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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This morning Union County Freeholder Andrea Staten, Rebecca Williams and Assemblywoman Linda S. Carter joined the United Way of Greater Union County and members of County Government at the Kenilworth Veterans Center to distribute food donated by Amazon.com through the United Way to various social service organizations throughout Union County. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The Union County Freeholder Board is pleased to announce a new virtual education initiative aimed at teaching children about animals and the important role they play in the environment. 

Wildlife Wednesdays kicks off on Wednesday, July 22^nd with a program entitled “Frogs, Toads and Turtles” which will explain the difference between frogs and toads and turtles and tortoises.   The second program, Mammals, will be the following Wednesday, July 29^th.  The presentations will begin at 7:00 p.m. and last approximately 45 minutes. 

Participation is free and open to all county residents.   Pre-registration is required and capacity is limited to the first 100 families who sign up.  The programs will be held on Zoom so a valid email and Zoom access are necessary to participate.

Wildlife Wednesdays is a collaboration of efforts between the Departments of Parks and Recreation and Engineering, Public Works and Facilities.  Rizzo’s Wildlife World has been invited to bring the classroom to you and present a myriad of wildlife critters.  The Bureau of Recycling is utilizing clean communities grant funds to sponsor programs of this nature in an effort to raise awareness on how litter can harm wildlife.  These programs aim to discourage littering to protect the diverse wildlife found in County parks.

“The Freeholder Board is pleased to offer these virtual presentations of wildlife to our residents,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “With parks reopening and outdoor activities resuming, it’s important to remember to keep our parks clean and litter free so that we can enjoy the space while respecting the wildlife by keeping their habitats safe.”

Residents wishing to pre-register can do so by visiting ucnj.org/ww. Once registered, attendees will receive a confirmation and Zoom login information via email.                               

For more information on programs and facilities within the Union County Parks and Recreation System, please visit: https://ucnj.org/parks-recreation/.  For more information on recycling events, please visit www.ucnj.org/recycling. 

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 – Berkeley Heights Junior Girl Scout Troop 96330 prepared a video presentation about environmental awareness entitled “The Human Footprint.” This project helped them earn the Bronze Award, the highest award a Junior Girl Scout can achieve.  While maintaining social distancing, the Junior Girl Scouts proudly received their Bronze Award on June 15 during an outdoor ceremony.

“The Freeholder Board is proud to congratulate Troop 96330 on achieving the Bronze Award, in recognition of the effort they made to reach out to the community as a team,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “I encourage everyone to take a look at The Human Footprint and learn how they can take steps to reduce their impact on the environment in our community and beyond.”

The group was scheduled to present their project in person at Union County’s Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside, as part of the 50^th anniversary celebration of Earth Day at the County’s annual Wild Earth Fest event in April. However, Wild Earth Fest was canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. In order to share their findings with others, the girls prepared a video presentation, which can be viewed online through the Trailside home page at ucnj.org/trailside.

As part of their project, the scouts learned about pollution, global warming and deforestation. Each participant chose a different animal and taught viewers about the negative environmental impacts that particular animal is facing.

Through the use of dioramas, posters and puppets, the girls offered ways that residents could help reduce their impact on the environment. The suggestions include reducing the use of single-use plastics, using less fossil fuels and properly disposing of trash. Their findings teach viewers that even small changes can have an impact.

Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

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 Freeholder Chris Hudak, Freeholder Andrea Staten, Freeholder Angela Garretson, Freeholder Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded and Assemblywoman Linda S. Carter joined the United Way of Greater Union County and members of County Government at Union County’s Wheeler Park in Linden to distribute food donated by Amazon.com through the United Way to various social service organizations throughout Union County. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Please join us tomorrow, Tuesday June 30th at 4:00 pm for the third annual Union County Academic Excellence Program – The Quest for Academic Excellence – A County Conversation with 2020 Graduates — live streamed on the County’s Facebook page – ucnj.org/facebook

As part of a broad effort to encourage participation in the 2020 Census, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders has launched a phone bank initiative to remind residents about the importance of returning their 2020 Census survey, and to assist them with any questions they may have.

“The Census count has a direct impact on funding for education, roads, and health care in Union County,” said Freeholder Chair Alexander Mirabella. “There is so much at stake, and the phone banking initiative is an important part of the County’s commitment to achieve a fair and accurate count of all Union County residents. If you have not responded to the 2020 Census and receive a phone call from the Union County phone bank, please take a few minutes to help us meet that goal.”

Union County personnel will operate the phone bank, on temporary reassignment during the COVID-19 outbreak. They are trained to provide reliable guidance on the 2020 Census and provide accurate answers to questions, including those regarding confidentiality and other concerns.

The Union County phone bank will call more than 30,000 individuals during the next few months, targeting hard-to-count areas. The initiative will begin directing calls to low response communities in the City of Plainfield.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the County has employed social media to explain the importance of completing the Census. In addition, 30-second public service announcements featuring Chairman Mirabella in English with Spanish subtitles were aired through various media outlets covering all Union County municipalities.

Other Union County initiatives include the countywide “It Makes Sense to…Come to Your CENSUS 2020” campaign created by high school students who participated in Union County’s annual UC-STEP youth leadership conference in December.

The County will continue to encourage all residents to complete and return the Census questionnaire by mail, phone, or online. The Census has only nine questions and takes about 10 minutes to fill out.

For more help with responding to the U.S. Census, County residents can complete an online survey on the County website at ucnj.org/census

For additional information and assistance on responding, visit the U.S. Census Bureau at 2020census.gov/en/ways-to-respond, or call 844-330-2020. Phone assistance is available from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance on the Union County Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University, 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.