Category: Public Info

Union County Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella joined Union County Public Safety Director Andrew Moran at the Union County Mobile Test Unit at the Southside Firehouse in Scotch Plains. The Union County Mobile Test Unit is continuing to visit local communities to provide free COVID-19 tests for residents this fall. No car is required. All sites are available on a walk-up basis. For more details and to view the most recent schedule online visit ucnj.org/covid19/testing/walk-up-locations, or call 908-214-7107 for assistance. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

October 6, 2020

Dear Editor:

The Governor and Legislature have ordered an unprecedented change in the November 3 General Election. Here are the main points Union County voters need to know:

• The 2020 General Election will be conducted primarily through Vote-by-Mail ballots.
• As required by state law, the County Clerk’s Elections Division has mailed General Election Vote-by-Mail ballots to all registered voters. The first mailing was concluded on October 3, and there will be two additional mailings in October.
• If your General Election ballot does not arrive by October 25, or if you have lost or damaged your ballot, please contact the County Clerk’s Elections Division for assistance by phone at 908-527-4996 or by email at ucvote@ucnj.org.
• Voters with disabilities who cannot use a regular Vote-by-Mail ballot can contact the Elections Division to obtain an accessible ballot.
• Voters are encouraged to return their Vote-by-Mail ballots as soon as possible.
• Return your Vote-by-Mail ballot by U.S. Postal Service (postage is prepaid), deposit it in any of 22 secure ballot drop boxes located in throughout the County, or hand-deliver it to the Board of Elections office in Elizabeth, or to the County Clerk’s offices in Elizabeth or Westfield. Please note that your ballot must be sealed in both the certificate envelope and the mailing envelope, regardless of which method you choose.
• For hand delivery to the Board of Elections or County Clerk, the voter must sign a register and present a valid New Jersey driver’s license or other official New Jersey identification as required by state law.
• A limited number of polling places will be open on Election Day, November 3. You can bring your Vote-by-Mail ballot to your designated polling place, but remember that it must be sealed inside both the certificate and mailing envelopes.
• ADA-accessible voting machines will be available at the polling sites on Election Day only for voters with disabilities that prevent them from filling out a paper ballot.
• The General Election Vote-by-Mail ballots are clearly marked “General Election” at the top. Ballots marked “Primary Election” are from the July 7 Primary Election and should be discarded. Voters who have mistakenly used a Primary ballot can still vote in the General Election with their General Election Vote-by-Mail ballot.

Throughout the 2020 election cycle, my focus has been on ensuring that voters understand the options available to them. My office has been using all available tools, including media, social media, the unioncountyvotes.com website, the UC Votes app for mobile devices, and the Union County First Alert system, to disseminate accurate, up-to-date information to the public.

We have also created a how-to-vote brochure, which has been sent to each voter with their Vote-by-Mail ballot. In addition, we have created a step-by-step video on how to use a Vote-by-Mail ballot, which can be viewed at unioncountyvotes.com/how-to-vote.

Voters can also track their Vote-by-Mail ballot by using the New Jersey Division of Elections Ballot Tracker tool. More details are available at unioncountyvotes.com/track-my-ballot.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Elections Division at 908-527-4996, or email ucvote@ucnj.org.

Sincerely,

Joanne Rajoppi

Union County Clerk

Distribution is a joint effort with Community FoodBank of New Jersey. Produce will be distributed on a first come-first served basis.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Freeholder Board announced the County will hold an emergency drive-up food distribution for Union County residents to aid those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic on Saturday, October 10^th, beginning at 9 a.m. at Kean University, located at 1000 Morris Avenue, in Union. The distribution will take place in the parking lot located at the intersection of North Ave. and Morris Ave.  The food distribution will be first-come, first-served and no registration is required.

The food distribution is being sponsored and coordinated by the County of Union and the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

Feeding America, of which CFBNJ is a member, projects a 56% increase in food insecurity throughout New Jersey as a result of COVID-19–an additional 432,000 residents. This rate is higher than the national average of 46% and greater than any of New Jersey’s neighboring states.

In Union County, specifically, the projected food insecurity rate has risen from 8.2% to 12.9%.

“The Freeholder Board and the County will continue to schedule these drive-up food distributions as they have become a lifeline to many of our residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

“The food distributions ensure that our residents receive the necessary resources to support them during this time,” said Freeholder Sergio Granados who also serves as Liaison to the Human Services Advisory Board. “We thank the Community FoodBank of New Jersey and volunteers involved in coordinating this effort.”

Residents who wish to pick up food must arrive in a car; walk-ups will not be accommodated.

Upon arrival, each driver will have to present identification with their name and address and indicate how many people reside in their household. Recipients will receive an emergency box of non-perishable items and fresh produce, with enough to sustain a family for several days. Please note that only one box of food will be provided per vehicle. This event will take place, rain or shine.

“The increase in need for food assistance among our New Jersey neighbors during this crisis has been staggering, presenting a greater challenge than anything that the FoodBank has faced throughout its 45-year history,” said Carlos Rodriguez, President & CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. “Partnerships like the one that we have with Union County are what allow the FoodBank to continue its unprecedented response, reaching more individuals and families in need than ever before.”

This event will run in compliance with state COVID-19 orders, regarding social distancing and other protocols. All recipients must remain in their cars with windows rolled up at all times, otherwise masks are required. Food boxes will be placed in the trunk or truck bed of the vehicle by volunteers.

For a list of all future Food Distribution events, visit: https://ucnj.org/covid19/food-distribution-events/.

For questions and more information, residents may call the UCDHS Director’s Action Line at 888-845-3434 or 908-558-2288.

To learn more about the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, visit: https://cfbnj.org/.

For more information and updates on all Union County services and resources during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance for using the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University and the Mobile Test Unit walk-up sites, visit the new Union County COVID-19 website at ucnj.org/covid19.

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.

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The Board of Chosen Freeholders wishes to remind residents that the popular “Wildlife Wednesdays” program will continue to run each Wednesday through the end of October, with a new starting time of 6:00 PM. The previous starting time was 2:00 PM.

“Union County is striving to bring educational programs directly to our children that may not be accessible to everyone during these challenging times, and Wildlife Wednesdays is a great example of them,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “I encourage residents to register for any or all of these free programs and learn more about animals and the critical role they play in our environment.”

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. Once registered, attendees will receive a confirmation and Zoom login information via email.        

Wildlife Wednesdays is sponsored by Union County’s Clean Communities Grant Program as educators will raise awareness on how litter can be harmful to wildlife.   Rizzo’s Wildlife World educators will bring the classroom to you and present a myriad of wildlife critters. These programs aim to discourage littering to protect the diverse wildlife found in County parks.

October 7^th’s program will feature Rainforest Animals, while October 14^th’s program will features animals that use camouflage. Stay tuned for information on future programs. 

For more information on upcoming Wildlife Wednesday, please visit www.ucnj.org/recycling/wildlife-wednesdays. 

Voters are reminded to use the Vote-by-Mail ballot marked “General Election” to participate in the 2020 General Election.

Vote-by-Mail ballots marked “Primary Election” cannot be used.

Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi alerts Union County voters not to use any Vote-by-Mail ballot marked “Primary Election” to cast their vote in the 2020 General Election. The only Vote-by-Mail ballot to be used in the General Election is clearly marked “General Election” at the top.

“Please take a look at the top of your Vote-by-Mail ballot, and make sure it says ‘General Election,’ said Ms. Rajoppi. “My office has been made aware that some voters are using ballots from the July 7 Primary Election, which was held last summer. The Primary ballots cannot be used for the General Election. If you have one, rip it up and discard it in your recycling bin.”

Voters who mistakenly used a Primary Election ballot can still vote in the General Election. They can use their General Election Vote-by-Mail ballot, and their Primary ballot will be discarded.

Voters can call the County Clerk’s Elections Division at 908-527-4996, or email ucvote@ucnj.org for assistance with any questions regarding their Vote-by-Mail Ballot.

Voters who have not yet received their General Election Vote-by-Mail ballot can estimate the approximate time of arrival by checking the schedule of mailings on the home page of the County Clerk’s elections website, unioncountyvotes.com, and allowing up to eight days for delivery.

For a step-by-step video on how to use a Vote-by-Mail ballot, visit the County Clerk’s elections website, unioncountyvotes.com/how-to-vote.

Every voter can help the General Election run as smoothly as possible by filling out and returning their General Election Vote-by-Mail ballot as soon as possible after they receive it.

Several different early voting methods are available now, and are in effect until the polls close at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3.

Please note that the ballot must be enclosed in its certificate envelope, which then must be placed in its mailing envelope.

Both the certificate and the mailing envelopes are required, regardless of which early voting method the voter chooses.

The options are:

• Send it to the Union County Board of Elections by U.S. Postal Service (postage is prepaid).

• Deposit it in any Union County Board of Elections secure ballot drop-off box, conveniently located in all 21 municipalities. Any Union County voter can use any drop-off box in Union County, regardless of their residence. The boxes are available on a 24/7 basis until 8:00 p.m. on November 3.
• Hand deliver it to the Union County Board of Elections or County Clerk’s offices. These offices will be open for ballot delivery until 8:00 p.m. on November 3. Please note that hand delivery requires voters to present New Jersey identification and sign a register.
• Designate a ballot bearer to deposit it in a drop-off box, or hand deliver it to the Board of Elections or County Clerk’s offices (instructions are printed on the ballot).

In addition, on Election Day voters can bring their Vote-by-Mail ballot to their designated polling place. Again, the ballot must be enclosed in both the certificate and the mailing envelopes.

To see the list of polling places, visit unioncountyvotes.com/where-do-i-vote.

Voters who come to their polling place without a Vote-by-Mail ballot will be provided with a provisional paper ballot to use. ADA-accessible voting machines are available only for voters with disabilities.

To track the status of their Vote-by-Mail ballot, voters can use the New Jersey Division of Elections Ballot Tracker tool. More details are available at unioncountyvotes.com/track-my-ballot.

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.

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Featuring A.J. “Buddy” Fortunato of the Italian Tribune, Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella, UNICO representatives, Italian American ONE VOICE Coalition

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announced that Union County’s 12th Annual Columbus Day Flag Raising event is set for Friday, Oct. 9th, at 1 p.m., on the steps of the historic Union County Courthouse. A.J. “Buddy” Fortunato, publisher of the Italian Tribune, will be this year’s special guest speaker.

“We continue to honor the achievements and contributions of Italian Americans who have made amazing contributions in all facets of life to America,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella, who is emceeing the program. 

Other speakers include UNICO District X Governor Anthony Bengivenga, who is also on the Executive Board of the Italian American ONE VOICE Coalition.  The County will honor members of UNICO District X and the Plainfields’ Chapter of UNICO with a resolution.

A.J. “Buddy” Fortunato is the Publisher of The Italian Tribune newspaper, the nation’s premiere Italian American weekly publication since 1931. Buddy has long been a dynamic, dedicated member of the Italian American community and a champion for Italian heritage and culture in the United States. Born and raised in Montclair, New Jersey, he graduated from Montclair High School and obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from Rider College.

Few high school athletes have matched the level of Buddy’s achievements. He was an outstanding varsity baseball and football player at MHS, receiving First Team All-State honors in his sophomore, junior and senior years. He was also honored with the prestigious AAU Athletic Award. In 1999, Fortunato was selected as one of the Top Scholastic Athletes of the 20^th Century by The Star Ledger.

Following his graduation from college, Mr. Fortunato began his career in finance with Merrill Lynch in New York City. He was elected to the New Jersey State Assembly in 1977 and served for eight years

After leaving the legislature, Buddy became increasingly interested in the preservation and promotion of Italian American culture and heritage. His love for and pride in his Sicilian heritage eventually led him to purchase the Italian Tribune from his mother-in-law in 1999, at which time he assumed the position of Publisher. Under Fortunato’s leadership, the scope and influence of the English language Italian newspaper has increased on a grand scale.

He has received many awards and accolades from the Italian government and UNICO, and was inducted into the National Italian American Hall of Fame. Buddy was knighted in St. Patrick’s Cathedral as a Knight of Malta, the highest honor the Catholic Church bestows on a lay person.

Buddy and his wife of 48 years, Marion (Alagna) have two children, Jeffrey (Aleksandra) Fortunato and Sissy (James Hurley) and five grandchildren, Austin, Dallas and Lilliana Hurley and Alli and Jeffrey Fortunato.

As per the flag raising, UNICO is the nation’s largest Italian American service organization whose chapters and members engage in promoting and defending Italian culture and heritage, as well as providing scholarships, engaging in community service and other philanthropic endeavors.

UNICO District X and Plainfields’ UNICO work to organize and co-sponsor Union County’s Columbus Day event. The Italian American ONE VOICE Coalition is an Italian-American anti-bias organization formed of members nationwide that fights stereotypes and advocates on issues impacting Italian Americans.

Italian-style refreshments and pastries will be served after the program outside the historic Union County Courthouse due to COVID-19 restrictions. All those who are attending are urged to wear a mask and follow COVID-19 protocols.

Parking (pay) is available in the Midtown area at the J. Christian Bollwage Parking deck at Elizabethtown Plaza and Caldwell Place. A second deck is Elizabeth’s Parking Deck No. 6 on Jefferson Avenue and Dickinson Street—the entrance is on Dickinson Street. 

The courthouse is located at 2 Broad St. in Elizabeth at the corner of Rahway Avenue. 

Union County Freeholder Sergio Granados joined Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage in thanking the staff and volunteers at the flu shot site at the Peterstown Community Center in Elizabeth. As the flu season approaches, Union County is offering a series of free flu shot drives in local communities to help ensure that everyone has access to a free seasonal flu vaccine at a convenient location, especially residents who have no health insurance. Protection against seasonal flu is more important than ever before due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Union County Flu Shot Drive is administered by the Union County Office of Health Management in the Department of Public Safety, the Visiting Nurse Association, and volunteers from the Union County Medical Reserve Corps. The Medical Reserve Corps accepts volunteers with a variety of skills both in and out of the medical profession.

For additional updates on Upcoming Flu Drives visit https://ucnj.org/covid19/upcoming-flu-clinics/.

(Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Call for Submissions and Community Support Now Open for Statue, which will become first in state to honor member of LGBTQ community

The family of Marsha P. Johnson, the City of Elizabeth, the Union County Freeholder Board, and Garden State Equality are proud to invite the public to participate in the efforts to honor Marsha P. Johnson with a public monument in her hometown, celebrating both her roots in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and her pivotal role in the vanguard of the modern LGBTQ civil rights movement.  The monument will be the first in the state of New Jersey to honor a member of the LGBTQ community and the first of a trans woman of color.

Those who wish to contribute to the monument project to honor Marsha P. Johnson’s legacy may do so online now at GardenStateEquality.org or charity.gofundme.com/mpjstatue.

Additionally, Garden State Equality is working with the family to establish a scholarship fund – any funds raised through the fundraiser in excess of the monument cost will go to a scholarship fund.

Also, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders proudly invites artists to participate in the open call for submissions for the monument. Information for the submission process is available through the Office of LGBTQ Affairs now online at ucnj.org/lgbtq.  Artists who are interested in submitting shall have previous professional experience in sculpture artistry and include documentation of previous work for reference in the proposal.

“Marsha wasn’t just about trans acceptance or just about gay rights — she was about change for everybody,” said Al Michaels, Marsha’s nephew. “History may not always remember Marsha’s accomplishments – this statue will enshrine her legacy into the fabric of this city.”

Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella said: “Fifty one years ago, black and brown trans women – including Union County’s own Marsha P. Johnson from Elizabeth, New Jersey – led the Stonewall Uprising, fighting back against decades of injustice and police brutality. It’s more important than ever to remember our history, and the Freeholder Board is proud to join this effort to honor one of our own activists who in recent history paved the way.”

The Marsha P. Johnson monument project is a vision of her family.  With the support of the City of Elizabeth, County of Union, Garden State Equality, generous donors and a sculpture artist this monument project will become a reality and stand as a symbol of LGBTQ influence in our American history’s fight for civil rights.

Freeholder Sergio Granados stated: “The milestones achieved in the LGBTQ rights and equality movement were made possible by trailblazers who first stood up for their rights. Marsha P. Johnson was a pioneer for the LGBTQ community and the Union County Freeholder Board is proud to join the efforts to honor her legacy in such a meaningful way.” As Chairman of the Freeholder Board in 2018, Granados established the Union County Office of LGBTQ Affairs, the only government office of its kind in the state of New Jersey to support the LGBTQ community.

Freeholder Rebecca Williams, who is the liaison to the Union County LGBTQ Ad Hoc Committee, stated: “By honoring the memory of those we admire, public monuments reflect who we are. I am proud of our community for recognizing Marsh P. Johnson as a leader in the continued fight to realize the ideals of liberty and equality upon which our nation was founded.”

Elizabeth Councilman At-Large Manny Grova stated: “It is an honor to recognize an Elizabeth native as influential and important to the history of the nation in the fight for equality everywhere. This past month, with Mayor Bollwage’s full support, Elizabeth City Council unanimously passed a resolution dedicating public land for the placement of a monument to honor Marsha P. Johnson.”

Christian Fuscarino, Executive Director of Garden State Equality stated: “Our movement was born out of fire, bricks and blood at the Stonewall Riots over 50 years ago, where courageous drag queens and transgender women of color — people like New Jersey-native Marsha P. Johnson — stood up, fought back and ignited our movement. It’s time the statues that line our streets represent all of America — we are honored to work with the City of Elizabeth and the County of Union to make this a reality. Most importantly, we look forward to collaborating with local black and brown trans women, and activists of all ages and races that look up to Marsha to make this a reality.” Garden State Equality is a vital partner in the effort to build the monument.

Marsha P. Johnson was a prominent figure in the gay liberation movement, and tireless advocate for homeless LGBTQ young people rejected by their families, those affected by H.I.V. and AIDS, and other marginalized groups. At 23, she was a leader in the monumental Stonewall Uprising of 1969.           

After Stonewall, Marsha was a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front, an activist with ACT UP, and a co-founder of Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries, or S.T.A.R., along with close friend and trans activist Sylvia Rivera.

Internationally, Marsha P. Johnson is one of the most recognized icons in LGBTQ+ history and has been celebrated in a series of books, documentaries, and films. Her actions and words continue to inspire trans activism and resistance and will continue to do so well into the future.

Sculpture artists who are interested in participating in this effort can find the submission details online at ucnj.org/lgbtq or contact Danni Newbury, Union County Office of LGBTQ Affairs at 908-527-4742 or dnewbury@ucnj.org.

Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds voters that her office has produced a how-to video on filling out a Vote-by-Mail ballot. The video features Ms. Rajoppi walking viewers through the procedure, step by step. It is available online, in both English and Spanish versions, at the County Clerk’s elections website, unioncountyvotes.com.

English and Spanish versions of the “How to Vote by Mail” video are also available on the County Clerk’s free UCVotes elections app for mobile devices. 

“My office produced these how-to videos to show voters the correct procedure for filling out their ballot. I encourage both new and experienced voters to review the video if they have any questions about the procedure,” said Ms. Rajoppi.

“With so much disinformation circulating on social media and other platforms, it is very important to go straight to the source for accurate, reliable guidance on Vote-by-Mail and all other aspects of the 2020 General Election,” added Ms. Rajoppi.

Vote-by-Mail ballots are being mailed to all registered Union County voters by the County Clerk on a town-by-town basis, in alphabetical order. The mailings began on September 15 and will conclude at the end of this week.

Voters can estimate when their Vote-by-Mail ballot will arrive by checking the schedule of mailings at unioncountyvotes.com and allowing up to eight days for delivery.

Voters can also follow their ballot online by using the New Jersey Elections Division’s Ballot Tracker tool.

For more information on the 2020 General Election, including options for early voting, visit unioncountyvotes.com.

Voters in need of additional assistance can contact the County Clerk’s Elections Division by phone at 908-527-4996, or by email ucvote@ucnj.org.

For more information about all Union County Clerk programs and services, visit online at ucnj.org/county-clerk or call 908-527-4787.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance on the free Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University and the Mobile Test Unit walk-in schedule, visit ucnj.org/covid19.

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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Union County, NJ – The Union County Freeholder Board is happy to announce that tickets for this year’s Great Pumpkin Sail at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside will go on sale at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 6. Tickets will be available online at www.ucnj.org/ticket.

“The Great Pumpkin Sail is a signature Union County event,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “We look forward to bringing families together to celebrate this annual tradition.”

The Great Pumpkin Sail will take place on November 1 and 2 with four sessions scheduled for each night. The first session will run from 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.; the second session will run from 6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.; the third session will run from 7:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.; and session four will run from 8:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.

Attendees are advised to register early since space is limited. All participants must be wearing a mask and adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Each ticket admits up to six (6) people. There is a limit of 2 tickets per person. There will be no refunds, exchanges or group sales. The cost is $12 per family, and families are limited to six people for in-county residents. Out-of-county residents pay $16 per family and are also limited to six people per family.

Each family ticket includes the right to float one pre-carved Jack-o-Lantern, weighing no more than eight (8) pounds after carving. A family ticket must be purchased in advance in order to float a Jack-o-Lantern.

For further information, please call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at (908) 527-4900.

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

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