Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2020 Union County Means Green community garden grants program. The UC Means Green program supports improved nutrition as well as new opportunities for recreation, social activities, education and community service through the experience of growing fresh produce in local neighborhoods.

“UC Means Green enables gardeners of all ages and abilities  to work cooperatively, share with the community, and enjoy the satisfaction of growing fresh food,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

UC Means Green was launched by the Freeholder Board in 2016. Since then, it has helped to transform bare fields and empty lots into thriving centers for community activities, with thousands of pounds of fresh produce raised for local consumption and donated to local food pantries.

Any Union County municipality or local nonprofit organization with 501-(c)-3 tax exempt status is welcome to apply for a UC Means Green grant. Groups organized as LLCs or other commercial entities are not eligible to apply. Gardens must be located on municipal property or on property owned by a non-profit organization (gardens located on privately owned or commercial property are not eligible).

In addition to traditional soil-based gardens, eligible garden types include but are not limited to rooftop gardens, vertical gardens, aeroponic gardens, mushroom gardens, milk crate gardens, pollinator gardens (must include food-producing plants), rain gardens (must include pollinator-attracting and food-producing plants), hay bale gardens, forest gardens and more.

Applications for a 2020 grant are due by March 27.

The non-profit organization Groundwork Elizabeth administers UC Means Green on behalf of the Freeholder Board. For more information and a downloadable application form, visit Union County online at ucnj.org/garden-grant or contact Groundwork Elizabeth, 908-289-0262 or info@groundworkelizabeth.org.

#  #

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 Chosen Freeholders reminds residents to be aware of phone scammers posing as employees of the Social Security Administration. A new report from the United States Senate Committee on Aging finds that Social Security impersonation calls are now the nation’s most-reported phone scam.

“All residents should be aware of how to protect themselves and guard their sensitive information. Reporting all suspected scams to the Social Security Administration will help protect others from becoming victims,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

If a person claiming to be from the Social Security Administration calls, residents are reminded to not send money or provide any personal or banking information. Suspicious phone calls should be reported to https://oig.ssa.gov.

Here are some warning signs for residents to look out for:

• A caller says that there is a problem with your Social Security number or account.
• A caller demands immediate payment.
• A caller requests you pay a fine or debt with retail gift cards, cash, wire transfers, or pre-paid debit cards.
• A caller threatens you with arrest or other legal action.

Residents can learn more about Social Security-related scams at https://oig.ssa.gov/scam.

#  #

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 – Whether it’s leadership, sales, inclusion, culture, change, or customer service, building a business is all about relationships. That is the theme of the fourth annual Union County Means Business Networking Breakfast, featuring internationally known leadership coach Tony Chatman. All Union County business owners, managers and entrepreneurs are welcome to attend.

Limited seating is available for the event, on Wednesday, February 19 at 8:30 a.m. at the Kean University STEM Building, 1075 Morris Avenue in Union Township. Breakfast is included and preregistration is required online at ucnj.org/ucmb.

“Mr. Chatman is known for his focus on leveraging character and personality to bring out the best in people, and improve overall effectiveness,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “We are delighted to welcome him to the Union County Means Business networking series.”

Tony Chatman has worked with hundreds of corporations and government agencies including the Chase Bank, Estee Lauder, NOAA and NASA.

Union County Means Business is an initiative of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, aimed at connecting the business community with hands-on guidance and resources for growth.

For more information about the Networking Breakfast and other Union County Means Business programs, visit ucnj.org/ucmb or contact Deana Mesaros by phone at 908-659-7412 or by email at dmesaros@ucnj.org.

#  #

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.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that applications for the 2020 UC Kids Dig In grant program have been sent to all school districts in Union County. The program is designed to help schools provide students with new educational and community service activities, by building and tending vegetable gardens on their premises.

All schools in Union County with students in grades pre-K through 12 are eligible to apply for a Kids Dig In grant. The grants are funded through the Union County Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund.

“School gardens offer many opportunities for hands-on learning across a range of academic subjects, and they also encourage students to learn about soil health, water conservation, pollinator preservation, and other environmental topics related to gardening,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

“UC Kids Dig In received an enthusiastic response from the start, and this year we hope to attract even more participants,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak, Vice Chairman of the Trust Fund. “School gardens can be used to engage students in STEM topics and other subjects while providing healthy, inclusive outdoor activities.”

The UC Kids Dig In began in 2017 as an initiative of Freeholder Sergio Granados, Chairman of the Trust Fund. Now in its fourth year, the program has issued 172 grants for school gardens.

“UC Kids Dig In teaches kids about growing their own healthy food options and empowers them to help those in need, by donating 30% of their harvest to benefit local food pantries and shelters,” said Granados. “The grants are relatively small in size but their impact on the Union County community is enormous.”

Prior experience in gardening is not needed to qualify for a UC Kids Dig In grant. Awardees receive guidance from the UC Kids Dig In grant administrator, Groundwork Elizabeth.

Grant application forms have been sent to school superintendents in all Union County school districts. The deadline for submissions is Monday, March 20 at 5:00 p.m.

Principals and educators who are interested in having their school apply for a grant can contact Victoria Durbin-Drake, Administrator, Office of the Union County Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund at vdurbin@ucnj.org or 908-558-2277.

#  #

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 Angela Garretson and Freeholder Andrea Staten welcomed featured panelists Marilyn D. Davis and Richard T. Thigpen, Esq. to an educational “Lunch and Learn” event in the Union County administration building in Elizabeth. The 2020 Black History Month “Lunch and Learn” event paid tribute to “African-Americans and the Vote.” (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella, Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, Freeholder Angela Garretson, Freeholder Rebecca L. Williams, Freeholder Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded, Freeholder Chris Hudak and Freeholder Andrea Staten presented Rahway Councilman David Brown with the eighth annual Chester Holmes Humanitarian Award during the County’s Black History Month celebration at the historic Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway. They were joined by New Jersey State Senator Nicholas Scutari, former State Senator Raymond Lesniak, Rahway Mayor Raymond Giacobbe, Holmes’ daughter Jackie Grey and friend Candice Frye-Teese.

“Councilman Brown has dedicated his life to public service and to assisting working families, youth and those less-advantaged through his various community endeavors,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “His outstanding contributions to both his hometown of Rahway and Union County exemplify the true meaning and essence of the Chester Holmes Humanitarian Award.”

The Humanitarian Award was created by the Freeholder Board in honor of the late former Freeholder Chester Holmes, who was known for his lifelong dedication to community service.

(Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella, Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, Freeholder Angela Garretson, Freeholder Rebecca L. Williams and Freeholder Chris Hudak joined New York Mets Greats Mookie Wilson and “Doc” Gooden, and Union County Baseball Association President Jim Iozzi in congratulating the new inductees of the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame at the organization’s 84th annual Hot Stove League Dinner in Clark. The Union County Baseball Association also honored student athletes Lauren Buchanan of Union and the players and coaches from the Elmora Youth League.

The four new inductees into the UC Baseball Hall of Fame include:

Jim Dietz of Summit, an All-American catcher at Moravian College (and starting quarterback) and minor leaguer with the Philadelphia Phillies, who returned to Summit to teach math and coach baseball and football for more than 30 years;

Al Mirabella of Fanwood, a Union County Freeholder since 1998 and five-time Chairman of the Board, who has been a longtime advocate for youth baseball leagues and other recreational opportunities throughout Union County;

Gene Mirabella of Roselle Park, an outstanding high school wrestler, AllState pitcher, and captain of the football team, whose pitching success at Brookdale College earned him Region 19 Tournament MVP and Pitcher of the Year, and a stint in the minors with the Cleveland Indians;

Karen Pedersen, formerly of Berkeley Heights and Scotch Plains, the longtime Secretary of the UC Baseball Association, who has helped administer the numerous activities of the UCBA for decades.

(Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ — The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to partner with the Hyacinth Foundation to present Leadership Hyacinth, a two-day advocacy training course for community leaders who want to increase their awareness and advocacy efforts. Leadership Hyacinth also marks the launch of the Union County End the Epidemic public awareness campaign, aimed at increasing participation in advocacy efforts for HIV/AIDS, STI & Hep C.

The free training program will be held on Monday, May 18 and Tuesday May 19 from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM each day at the Warinanco Sports Center, located in Warinanco Park at One Park Drive in Roselle.

Seating is limited and preregistration is required online at ucnj.org/lgbtq.

“Community involvement is crucial to ending the HIV epidemic,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The Freeholder Board is proud to partner with Hyacinth Foundation to increase the impact of their work in our communities. As a special initiative for 2020, Union County joins Governor Murphy in implementing a strategy to end the dual epidemics of HIV and HIV-related stigma, by empowering people with and vulnerable to HIV with accurate and meaningful information.”

Leadership Hyacinth is organized by the Union County Office of LGBTQ Affairs in partnership with Hyacinth Foundation. Upon completion of the program, participants will attain fluency in federal and state HIV/AIDS strategies and policies, and they will be able to use science-based evidence to communicate effectively on broad public health issues, including presentations to policy makers at the local, state and federal level through letters, email, phone calls and face to face meetings. 

 “Today is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, held annually on February 7. Here in the United States, even as we have seen some decreases, the statistics remain alarming for African Americans. Black people continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, and today is a day that we can use to talk about HIV/AIDS – but not only today,” said Freeholder Rebecca Williams, liaison to the Union County LGBTQ Ad Hoc Committee. “Today leaders in all communities affected by HIV/AIDS are encouraged to join the Freeholder Board and Hyacinth Foundation for the leadership advocacy training to learn strategies for increasing their efforts throughout the year to end the epidemic.”

“It’s critically important that the voices of the communities impacted by HIV be heard by legislators and state leaders. Leadership Hyacinth empowers individuals to find their voice and share their stories so that decisions about them are made with them at the table. We are thrilled that Union County has shown its commitment to ending the HIV epidemic, as it will take all of us, working together, to end this epidemic,” said Kathy Ahearn-O’Brien, Executive Director, Hyacinth.

Presented as part of Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella’s 2020 special initiatives, the Union County End the Epidemic HIV/AIDS awareness and advocacy campaign will include a series programs and resources for community leaders and organizations in communities throughout Union County.

Union County’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, under the Department of Economic Development, was established by the Freeholder Board in 2018 and is the first and only county government office of its kind in the State of New Jersey.

The 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.

Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, Freeholder Angela Garretson, Freeholder Andrea Staten, Freeholder Rebecca L. Williams and Freeholder Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded joined the entire Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders in recognizing and commemorating February 9th 2020 as the Centennial Anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment and the right of women to vote in State of New Jersey. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)