Category: Public Info

The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites seniors and their caregivers to visit their local “ASK”, or Aging Services Kiosk, this September. These services provide an opportunity for attendees to meet with experienced professionals who can offer expert guidance on senior programs and resources and help with form completion. Bilingual staff will be available at several events to offer support in Spanish.

“With all of the amazing technological advances we have today, there is still something truly special and personal about having a face-to-face conversation. Our ASK events are designed to make it easy and convenient for seniors and caregivers to stop by their local library and connect with our friendly and knowledgeable staff in person,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded. “I encourage our senior community to visit one of our ASK events this month to receive the guidance and resources they need.”

The ASK program is administered by the Division on Aging within Union County’s Department of Human Services. It offers adults aged 60 and older and their caregivers a friendly and convenient avenue to discover valuable programs and services and speak individually with a Division on Aging professional.

Staff at the ASK events can also help older adults and caregivers connect with various services, including home-delivered meals, respite care, home care, adult day care, and support services for caregivers. Any Union County senior or caregiver can visit any kiosk, regardless of their hometown. No appointment or pre-registration is needed. Below are the upcoming ASK events in September:

Wednesday, September 4th
(Bilingual staff is available)
Union Public Library
1060 Stuyvesant Avenue, Roselle
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Tuesday, September 10th
Westfield Memorial Library
550 East Broad Street, Westfield
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Tuesday, September 17th
(Bilingual staff is available)
Elizabeth Public Library – Main
11 South Broad Street, Elizabeth
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Thursday, September 19th
(Bilingual staff is available)
Clark Public Library
303 Westfield Avenue, Clark
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Wednesday, September 25th
Cranford Public Library
224 Walnut Avenue, Cranford
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

“The Division on Aging is dedicated to promoting the self-sufficiency and dignity of our senior community by providing access to essential resources including transportation, home-delivered meals, and caregiving resources,” Commissioner Vice-Chairwoman Lourdes Leon, Liaison to the Advisory Council on Aging. “We are committed to supporting our elderly residents as they embark on this new chapter of life. Please reach out to our Division on Aging or visit one of our Aging Services Kiosks whenever you have questions or need assistance.”

For more information about the ASK events and any other services for seniors in Union County, contact the Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection at 1-888-280-8226 toll-free or visit online at ucnj.org/dhs/aging.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners and the Union County Department of Parks & Recreation are calling on residents who cherish the outdoors to make a difference in their community by becoming Trail Stewards through the revitalized Adopt-A-Trail Program. This volunteer opportunity is perfect for those who enjoy hiking, nature, and are looking for a meaningful way to give back by helping maintain and preserve the trails that wind through Union County’s beautiful parks.

“As someone who values our natural spaces, I am excited to see the community come together to preserve and enhance the trails that make Union County’s parks so special,” said Commissioner Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded. “Becoming a Trail Steward is a wonderful way to give back while enjoying the beauty of our environment.”

To further this initiative, a Trail Stewards Orientation will be held on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the historic Masker’s Barn, nestled within the Deserted Village of the Watchung Reservation. This session will provide prospective Trail Stewards with an overview of the program, indoor training, and a presentation by Union County Park Environmental Services Staff. Attendees will also learn about the specific responsibilities and benefits of becoming a Trail Steward.

Participants in the program are asked to commit to a two-year stewardship, during which they will actively monitor their adopted trails and submit quarterly reports on trail conditions and necessary maintenance. This hands-on involvement will help ensure the continued health and safety of the trail system, benefiting all who visit Union County’s parks.

If you have a passion for nature and want to play an active role in protecting Union County’s natural resources, now is the perfect time to get involved. Sign up for the orientation and take the first step towards becoming a Trail Steward today.

The Union County Adopt-A-Trail Program is designed to engage the community in the stewardship of local parks by providing volunteers with the training and tools they need to monitor and maintain the trails. Trail Stewards play a vital role in keeping these outdoor spaces safe, accessible, and enjoyable for all.

For more information or to sign up, visit https://ucnj.org/trail-stewards-orientation/ or contact Union County Park Environmental Services at park.env.services@ucnj.org or call 908-789-3683.

Union County Board of Elections Administrator Nicole DiRado advises Union County residents that five locations have been selected for those wishing to cast their vote early, in-person for the 10^th Congressional District Special General Election. Any registered Union County voter can use any of these sites to vote in-person, by machine from Sunday, September 8, 2024 through Monday, September 16, 2024.

The 10^th Congressional District includes Cranford, Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, parts of Linden including Ward 1, Ward 3 (Districts 1 & 4), Ward 4, Ward 5, Ward 8, Ward 9, Ward 10, Roselle, Roselle Park and Union.

“New Jersey has expanded voters’ rights by introducing early voting in 2021,” said Ms. DiRado. “We encourage voters to use early voting, or a vote by mail ballot, to cast their vote ahead of Election Day.  Making a plan to cast your vote is important and there are now more options in New Jersey than ever before.”

• Cranford: Union College, 1033 Springfield Avenue, Nomahegan Building, Room N4, Near the Guard Booth – Parking in Lot 1
• Kenilworth: Kenilworth Recreation Center, 565 Boulevard
• Roselle: Amalfe Community Center, 1268 Shaffer Avenue
  Roselle Park: Cassano Community Center, 314 Chestnut Street
• Union Township: Union Township Senior Center, 652 Rahway Avenue

All of these early voting locations will be open during the following hours:

• Monday through Saturday: 10am – 8pm
• Sunday: 10am – 6pm

Upon arriving at an early voting location, voters will sign in on an electronic poll book.  The electronic poll book will print a bar code on the ballot card so the voting machine knows which ballot to activate.  The ballot card will be inserted into the voting machine which begins the process for the voter.

Please note that these locations are for machine voting only. Mail-in ballots cannot be submitted at these locations.

Voters who plan to use a mail-in ballot can deposit it in any of the Board of Elections’ secure drop boxes in Union County, return it to the Board of Elections by U.S. Postal Service, or hand-deliver it to the Board of Elections office in Elizabeth by September 18, 2024 at 8pm.

Voters who choose to vote in person on Election Day, September 18, 2024, must use their designated polling place.

For more information, including a list of drop box locations and an online polling place finder, visit the Board of Elections online at ucnj.org/ucboe, email ucboe@ucnj.org, or call 908-527-4123.

The Union County Board of Elections announces that the voter registration deadline for the September 17, 2024 10^th Congressional District Special Primary Election is Wednesday, August 28.

The state is hosting a Special Election in the 10^th Congressional District to fill the vacancy created by the untimely passing of Congressman Donald Payne. 

The 10^th Congressional District includes Cranford, Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, parts of Linden including Ward 1, Ward 3 (Districts 1 & 4), Ward 4, Ward 5, Ward 8, Ward 9, Ward 10, Roselle, Roselle Park and Union.

“There are multiple options for residents to register to vote in time for the upcoming election,” said Union County Board of Elections Administrator, Nicole DiRado. “Those eligible to vote can apply online, by mail or in person in order to register.”

The Union County Board of Elections office is open Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to accept Voter Registration Forms. On the August 28, 2024 voter registration deadline, the Board of Elections Office will remain open until 9:00 p.m. to receive forms.

Municipal Clerk offices can also provide and accept voter registration forms.

Voter registration forms in both English and Spanish can also be downloaded from the Union County Board of Elections website at ucnj.org/boe/voter-registration-information. Be sure to print and sign the form before returning.

To register online, eligible residents should visit: voter.svrs.nj.gov/register and follow the Online Voter Registration instructions. Your County Commissioner of Registration will notify you if your application is accepted. If it is not accepted, you will be notified on how to complete and/or correct the application.

You can register to vote if:

• You are a United States citizen
• You will be 18 years old by the next election
• You will be a resident of the State and county for 30 days before the election
• You are NOT currently serving a sentence because of a felony conviction
• As of March 17, 2020, persons currently on parole or probation are entitled to vote.
•  

To receive a voter registration form by mail, call the Board of Elections at 908-527-4123.

Union County Board of Elections Administrator Nicole DiRado informs voters that the polling place list and drop box locations for the Scotch Plains – Fanwood Special School Election are available on the UCBOE website at www.ucnj.org/ucboe.

The Scotch Plains – Fanwood Special School Election will be held on September 17, 2024 from 2pm – 8pm.  The polling locations being used in the Special School Election are the same locations as a typical Primary and General Election.

The secure ballot drop boxes are and will remain open through the close of the polls on September 17, 2024 at 8:00pm. Drop boxes are under camera surveillance 24/7, available to voters 24/7 and ADA accessible. 

The following locations are available for the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Special School Election:

• Cranford Community Center
• Union College of Union County – Cranford Campus
• Elizabeth: Union County Board of Elections
• Fanwood Historic Train Station
• Garwood Public Library
• Hillside Senior Center
• Kenilworth Recreation Building
• Linden: Raymond Wood Bauer Promenade
• Roselle Borough Hall Annex
• Roselle Park – Union County Emergency Services Building
• Scotch Plains Public Library; and Fraser Building
• Union Township Municipal Building
• Union Township: Kean University
• Westfield – Fraser Building

For a complete list of polling locations and ballot drop boxes in Union County, please visit the Board of Elections website online at ucnj.org/boe.

Please be advised, Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying for Adult mosquitoes Wednesday, August 14, 2024, between the hours of 6:00PM to 11:00PM (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 Hts. – Grant St., River Rd. Area, Mt. Carmel Area, Kuntz Av., Camptown Dr., Park Av., Hamilton Av., Plainfield Av., Columbia Av., Rutgers Av., Princeton Av.
• Clark – Miller Av., Riverside Dr., King St., Emerald Pl., Conger Way Area
• Cranford – Carol Ct., Roselle Av., Orchard St., Harold Johnson Pl.
• Fanwood – Farley Av., Hunter Av., La Grande Av.
• Hillside – Aldine St., King St., Harvard Av. Area,
• Linden – Tremley Pt. Area
• New Providence – Gales Dr. Area, Union Av., Magnolia Dr.
• Plainfield – Rock Av., (PMUA), Bradford St., Watson Av., Everett Pl., Ironbound Av., Woodmere Pl.
• Rahway – Elston Av., Randolph Av., Leesville Av. Area, Linden Av., Walking Path between Whittier St. and Elizabeth Av., Egolf Dr., Kline Pl., Desisto Dr. Area
• Roselle – Drake Av., Harrison Av., Chandler Av., Jouet St., Spruce St., Oak Av.
• Roselle Park – Sheridan Av., W Webster Av., Laurel Av.
• Scotch Plains – Pheasant Ln., Lamberts Mill Rd. (RWJ Fitness), Martine Extension, Country Club Ln.,
• Summit – Kent Pl. (Summit Recycling Center)
• Union – White Wood Rd. Area, Vauxhall Rd.
• Westfield – Ripley Pl., Cacciola Pl., Stirling Pl., Livingston St., Laurel Pl.
• Winfield – Wavecrest Av., Union County Pkwy.
• County Park – Rutgers

The Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to announce that applications for the 2025 Union County History Re-Grant Program for Special Projects and General Operating Support are available on Thursday, August 8^th. All eligible non-profit organizations in Union County are invited to apply.  

“The History Re-Grant program was designed to support the preservation of Union County’s rich historical legacy, which continues to thrive in our museums, local libraries, and various historical organizations today,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded. “I encourage all eligible organizations to seize this opportunity and apply.”

Applicant organizations must be based in Union County, and the programming covered by the grant must take place in Union County during 2025. 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 20, 2024, 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.

“The organizations we support through this grant provide valuable resources for our residents to creatively and engagingly explore the past, fostering a sense of belonging and appreciation for the diverse culture in the community,” said Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski, Liaison to the Union County Cultural and Heritage Advisory Board.

For additional information on the Re-Grant program and other grant programs administered by the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, visit ucnj.org/parks-recreation/cultural-heritage-affairs/funding-opportunities.

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 Elections announces that the voter registration deadline for the September 17, 2024 Scotch Plains-Fanwood Special School Election is Tuesday, August 27, 2024.

“There are multiple options for residents to register to vote in time for the upcoming election,” said Union County Board of Elections Administrator, Nicole DiRado. “Those eligible to vote can apply online, by mail or in person in order to register.”

The Union County Board of Elections office is open Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to accept Voter Registration Forms. On the August 27, 2024 voter registration deadline, the Board of Elections Office will remain open until 9:00 p.m. to receive forms.

Municipal Clerk offices can also provide and accept voter registration forms.

Voter registration forms in both English and Spanish can also be downloaded from the Union County Board of Elections website at ucnj.org/boe/voter-registration-information. Be sure to print and sign the form before returning.

To register online, eligible residents should visit: voter.svrs.nj.gov/register and follow the Online Voter Registration instructions. Your County Commissioner of Registration will notify you if your application is accepted. If it is not accepted, you will be notified on how to complete and/or correct the application.

You can register to vote if:

• You are a United States citizen
• You will be 18 years old by the next election
• You will be a resident of the State and county for 30 days before the election
• You are NOT currently serving a sentence because of a felony conviction
• As of March 17, 2020, persons currently on parole or probation are entitled to vote.

To receive a voter registration form by mail, call the Board of Elections at 908-527-4123.

“Our veterans are accustomed to handling responsibility, have a strong work ethic, and understand the importance of serving the community with integrity. These qualities are exactly what our workforce needs and what employers are seeking out in potential candidates,” said Commissioner Alexander Mirabella, Liaison to the Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “We encourage all resident veterans, military personnel, and their family members seeking career opportunities to join us on August 21^st and explore the available career options.”

If you wish to have your organization participate as an employer in this event, please reach out to Carolina Marin at 908-527-4343 or ajcbusinessteam@ucnj.org.

Organizations Participating as of August 14th

• U.S. Marshal
• NJ Transit
• Assisting Hands
• Seafarers
• Propel America
• Springpoint
• NJ Veterans Network
• VFW
• Council for Airport Opportunity
• Port Authority
• Kelly Services
• DOL
• Community Hope NJ
• Red Cross
• New Jersey Department of Corrections
• Sheet Metal Workers Local 22 Apprenticeship and Training Program
• New Jersey Reentry Corporation
• ScaVet Technologies LLC (SVT)
• Home Depot
• Linden Police Department
• Tristate Medical

“Our primary aim with this job fair is to give back to our veterans for their service and sacrifice by placing them at the forefront of hiring,” said Commissioner Sergio Granados, Liaison to the Workforce Development Board. “By prioritizing our veterans, we honor their contributions and support their transition to civilian life. Our American Job Center provides exceptional support and resources to help someone find a fulfilling career. I hope to see our veteran population there, as we work together to build a stronger, more inclusive workforce in Union County.”

Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and are encouraged to bring their resumes to the event.

To register for the Veterans Job Fair, please visit ucnj.org/job-fairs.

The Union County American Job Center is supported with funds from the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), totaling $1,700,000. 100% of these services are financed through federal funding sources.

To learn how your business can participate in the Veterans Job Fair or all Union County job fairs, please contact Carolina Marin at (908) 527-4373 or at ajcbusinessteam@ucnj.org.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners and the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs are pleased to announce the opening of the 2025 Local Arts Program (LAP) Grant application period. The LAP Grant provides vital funding for local arts organizations and non-arts organizations that offer arts activities to Union County residents.

“Investing in the arts is an investment in the heart of our community,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded. “This grant program reflects our dedication to supporting arts programs and ensuring that the arts remain accessible to all. I am proud to see Union County continue to support creative initiatives that bring us together and inspire future generations.”

The Grant is divided into two categories: General Operating Support (GOS) and Special Project (SP). GOS grants, which offer a maximum of $15,000, support overall operations of arts organizations. Special Project grants, at a maximum of $5,000, are available to both arts and non-arts organizations for a specific arts project. Matching funds are required.

Applicants must be Union County-based, IRS tax-exempt, and incorporated in New Jersey for at least two years. LAP is also open to libraries, schools and units of government producing an arts project. The application process is conducted online. Grant applications must be submitted by the deadline, September 24, 2024, at 11:59 PM.

The LAP Grant program aims to promote public recognition of the arts, strengthen local arts organizations, increase accessibility and participation in the arts, and foster collaborations within the community. Applicants are encouraged to address special areas of interest, including showcasing New Jersey artists, incorporating diverse programming, reaching underserved communities, and promoting high-quality arts education.

“The Local Arts Grant Program is a testament to our commitment to developing a vibrant cultural landscape in Union County,” said Union County Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski, Liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Advisory Board. “By supporting local arts organizations and innovative projects, we are not only enriching our community but also celebrating the diverse voices and talents that make our county unique.”

Applications must include organizational background, detailed management plans for arts programs or projects, financial plans and budgets, publicity and marketing strategies, and information on accessibility and ADA compliance.

The Union County 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.

For more information or assistance with the application process, contact Martha Sturm, LAP Coordinator, at msturm@ucnj.org or 908-558-2550. Additional inquiries can be directed to culturalinfo@ucnj.org.