Category: Public Info

The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites students to join a 4-H club  this coming fall and explore popular fields ranging from cooking, sewing, photography, archery, robotics, and more. Youth in 1^st grade through their first year after graduating from high school can join 4-H Clubs. In a 4-H Club, students can explore a new hobby, meet like-minded friends, and learn leadership skills.

“4-H clubs provide a fantastic opportunity for our youth to make friends, learn new skills, and boost their self-confidence,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “As they explore their individual abilities throughout the year, each student gains a deeper understanding of themselves, what they enjoy, and what they are capable of achieving. It’s truly a rewarding experience for participants. I encourage all interested students to join a 4-H club before classes fill up.”

The majority of the clubs meet at Union County’s Colleen Fraser Building, located at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield, on either Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. 4-H Clubs are organized by age and topic. The members meet with an adult club leader on a monthly basis during the school year to plan activities and programs.

Each club emphasizes the ability of students to learn, organize, and communicate with activities appropriate for their age. For the school year 2025 – 2026, the clubs and their meeting times are listed below;

• Variety Club (different topics with crafts and show-and-tell), grades 1-3. 2^nd Sunday; 4 to 5 p.m.
• Cooking Clubs (prepare deserts, main courses and more), grades 7-12;3rd Friday; 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. Grades 4^th through 6^th; 1^st Friday, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m.
• Community Service Club (plant trees, works at food bank, teach younger youth), grades 8-12. 1^st and 3^rd Sat. 1 to 3 p.m.
• Sewing Club (learn how to hand sew and use a machine), grades 6-12. 2^nd Sat;10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Lego Robotics Club (work with NXT kits and Spike) grades 4-7^th; 1^st. Sat. ;11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Craft Club (have fun with paints, fabrics and more) grades 4 – 12. 2^nd Friday;7:30 to 9 p.m.
• Engineering Club (make model cars, bridges, and learn about electric) grades 4-12; 3^rd Sat.;9:30 to 11 a.m.
• Archery Club (learn basics and more advanced techniques) grades 4-12; 1^st and 3^rd Sat,; 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
• Photography Club ( learn basics of using a camera) grades 4-12; 3^rd Sunday; 1 to 3 p.m.
• Garden Club( How to start plants from seeds) grades 4-12; 1^st and 3^rd Sat.;10 a.m. to noon.
• 4-H Dog Care Club ( Basics of grooming, feeding, and play) 2^nd Sunday; 2 to 3:30 p.m.  

“As a former 4-H club member, I can say this experience is invaluable for students. They learn to see the bigger picture, understanding that the skills and abilities they develop are not only important for their own futures, but also for the future of our community,” said Union County Commissioner and Rutgers Cooperative Extension Liaison, Bette Jane Kowalski.

Union County 4-H is run by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County and supported in part by the Union County Commissioner Board, with offices at 151 Grant St, Berkley Heights. The national 4-H youth program is the largest youth development program in the U.S. As a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 4-H encourages students to develop expertise in a subject of their own choosing, and share their knowledge to benefit their community.

Participation in 4-H is associated with better grades at school, and a stronger interest in taking science classes, attending college, and contributing to the community.

4-H Clubs run from October to June. To sign up for a club or more details , please email James Nichnadowicz Union County  4H Youth Development Agent at jnichnadowicz@ucnj.org or call 908-654-9854 ext. 3. Also see the website

For more information about all Union County Extension programs, including 4-H, Master Tree Stewards and Master Gardeners, visit ucnj.org/rce.

Please be advised, Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying County and Municipal Parks Friday morning, August 8, 2025, between the hours of 3:00 A.M. to 7:00 A.M. (Weather Permitting). Check below for the list of Parks 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.

County Parks

• Clark – Oak Ridge
• Cranford – Nomahegan, Mohawk
• Garwood – Unami
• Hillside – Conant
• Mountainside – Echo Lake, Watchung Res. Loop Area, Science Center
• Plainfield – Cedar Brook, Green Brook
• Roselle – Warinanco
• Springfield – Meisel

Municipal Parks

• Plainfield – Milt Campbell
• Union – Biertuempful, Kearse

Please be advised, Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying for mosquitoes Wednesday August 6, 2025, 2025, between the hours of 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM 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 Heights – Grant St. Area, Garfield St., Shadow Ln., Kuntz Ave., Camptown Dr., La Secla Pl. Delmore Av.
• Clark – Hillside Ave., Autumn Ave., Elm St., Whittier Rd., Oak St. Area, Blake Dr., Schmidt Ln. Valley Rd., Clauss Rd, Old Raritan Rd., Madison Hill Rd.
• Cranford – Kenilworth Blvd.
• Hillside – Harvard Ave., Cornell Pl., John St.
• Kenilworth – Dorset Dr. Area, Water Co. Rd.,  
• Linden – Tremley Point Rd., Tremley Pt. Area, Carnegie St., E. Curtis St., Union St.
• Mountainside – Summit Ln., Museum Area, Watchung Res. Loop Area
• New Providence – Charnwood Rd., Runnymede Pkwy.
• Plainfield – Jefferson Ave., 1^st St., Reeves Ter., Wiley Ave., McCrea Pl., Edwin Pl., Pinewood Ter. Area
• Rahway – Elston St., Randolph Ave., Leesville Av., Wall St., Dudley Ct., Egolf Dr. Walking Path between Whitter St. and Linden Ave.
• Roselle Park – W. Grant St., Hawthorne St., Meadow St., Walking path, between Galloping Hill Rd. and Chestnut St.
• Scotch Plains – Stoneleigh Dr., Frank St.
• Springfield – Oakland Ave., Waverly Ave., Cottage Ln., Marion Ave.
• Summit – Stockton Rd., Stiles Rd. Summit Recycling Center
• Union – Richard Ter., Elaine Ter., Florence Dr., Rahway Ave., Gifford Ct. Area, Vaux Hall 2000 Block, Interlux Paint Property on Morris Ave.

Union County Commissioners Alexander Mirabella and Sergio Granados have been appointed to key national leadership positions by the National Association of Counties (NACo) for the 2025–2026 term. These prestigious appointments reflect Union County’s growing influence in shaping national policy priorities that directly impact residents at the local level.

Commissioner Alexander Mirabella has been appointed:

• Vice Chair of the International Economic Development Innovation Council
• Vice Chair of the Finance, Pensions and Intergovernmental Affairs Steering Committee
• Member of the Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC)
• New Jersey’s sole representative on the NACo Board of Directors

Commissioner Sergio Granados has been appointed:

• Member of the Healthy Counties Innovation Council
• Member of the International Economic Development Innovation Council
• Member of the Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC)

“These appointments are more than titles—they’re opportunities to continue the work we’ve led here in Union County on a national scale,” said Commissioner Mirabella. “Locally, we’ve championed long-term investments in infrastructure, supported small businesses through pandemic recovery and beyond, and expanded access to affordable housing through home improvement and first-time buyer programs. We’ve also prioritized park upgrades, open space preservation, and transit access—initiatives that create stronger, more connected communities. My continued role on the NACo Board gives us a powerful platform to share those successes and help counties across the country grow in ways that are responsible, resilient, and community-driven.”

These appointments also align with NACo’s 2025–2026 “County Storytellers” initiative, which encourages county leaders to uplift their communities by sharing data-driven stories that inspire trust, innovation, and connection.

“We’ve taken a comprehensive approach in Union County—expanding mental health services across all 21 towns through programs like ARRIVE Together, launching our first-ever youth-led mental health summit at Kean University, and opening our Union County Family Health Clinic to provide free wellness care to uninsured families,” said Commissioner Granados. “We’ve also focused on family, youth and senior nutrition, and helped residents stay rooted through job training, workforce development, and housing support. These NACo appointments give us the chance to bring Union County’s inclusive, people-first approach to the national stage, ensuring every resident—not just here, but everywhere—has a fair shot at stability and success.”

Founded in 1935, the National Association of Counties (NACo) represents nearly 40,000 county elected officials and 3.6 million county employees nationwide. NACo advocates for county priorities in federal policymaking, promotes best practices, supports leadership development, and strengthens local communities through collaboration and innovation.

For more information on NACo and its committees, visit www.naco.org.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to announce that applications for the 2026 Union County History Re-Grant Program for Special Projects and General Operating Support are now available. All eligible non-profit organizations in Union County are invited to apply.

“Our History Re-Grant Program helps fund local libraries, museums, and non-profit historical organizations, enabling them to continue providing our community with the quality educational experiences and engaging programs we look forward to each year,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “I encourage all eligible organizations to take advantage of this opportunity and apply today.”

Applicant organizations must be based in Union County, and the programming covered by the grant must take place in Union County during 2026. 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 19th, 2025 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.

“Union County has a rich and vast history, and there is much to explore and learn about here,” said Union County Commissioner and Liaison to the Union County Cultural and Heritage Advisory Board, Bette Jane Kowalski. “We are happy to use this grant to continue supporting the organizations that dedicate their time and effort to making this exploration a fun and rewarding adventure for our residents.”

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 County Commissioners and the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs are pleased to announce that applications to the 2026 Local Arts grant program are now being accepted. The Union County Local Arts Program, known as “LAP,” supports arts programming produced by both arts organizations and non-arts organizations located in and serving residents of Union County.

“Our Local Arts grant program provides necessary funding and support to these organizations so they can remain focused on developing the inclusive projects, quality artistic programs, and cultural events Union County is known for,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “I strongly encourage eligible organizations that offer arts programming to take advantage of this opportunity and apply.”

The 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. Two types of grants are available under this program:

• General Operating Support grants are available to nonprofit arts organizations. The maximum request is $15,000, and the request cannot exceed 40% of the organization’s projected 2026 budget.
• Special Project grants are available to both arts organizations and non-arts organizations (including nonprofits, libraries, and units of local government) to fund a specific arts project, such as a performance series. The maximum request is $5,000. Matching funds are required.

“Local art events offer more than just entertainment for our residents; they contribute to the vibrancy and cultural legacy of this community,” said Union County Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski, Liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Advisory Board. “I’m looking forward to seeing the great work that our awardees come up with in 2026!”

Arts activities must take place in Union County during 2026. Applications must be completed online using the Grant portal. Funds will be awarded to applicants that demonstrate a high degree of professionalism in arts programming. The deadline to submit a completed LAP application is September 24, 2025.

Full details, including eligibility requirements, are outlined in the Local Arts Grant 2026 Guidelines.

The Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs administers the Local Arts Grant, as well as the History Grant and the HEART Grant. Guidelines for all three grant programs are available at ucnj.org/parks-recreation/cultural-heritage-affairs/funding-opportunities/.

A Grant Workshop including a Q&A will be held on Thursday, August 7, from 3:00–4:30 pm on Zoom, offering information and guidance about the three grant programs. Register to attend the Grant Workshop at https://ucnj.org/cha-workshop/.

For questions about the Local Arts program, or to obtain the link to the grant portal to begin an application, contact the LAP Grant Coordinator, Martha Sturm at msturm@ucnj.org.

Please be advised, Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying county and municipal parks Wednesday morning, August 6, 2025, between the hours of 3:00 A.M. to 7:00 A.M. (Weather Permitting). Check below for the list of Parks 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.

County Parks

• Linden – Wheeler
• Rahway – Rahway
• Roselle – Warinanco
• Scotch Plains – Ponderosa

Municipal Parks

• Linden – Memorial Field
• Rahway – Flannagan
• Westfield – Tamaques

The Union County Board of County Commissioners welcomes seniors and caregivers to explore the wide range of senior programs and resources available at upcoming Aging Services Kiosk (ASK) events in August. These events allow attendees to meet face-to-face with experienced professionals who can provide expert guidance and assistance with a variety of services, including form completion. Bilingual staff will be available on two dates in August to provide support in Spanish.

“Our senior community faces numerous challenges that can impact their quality of life. That is why, more than ever, it is essential for seniors and caregivers to have access to services and programs, such as our Aging Services Kiosk,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “This senior-focused initiative has dedicated over nine years to empowering seniors with a wealth of information and resources. I invite you to visit an ASK event this August and discover how this program can serve you.”   

The Aging Services Kiosk is operated explicitly by the Division on Aging, a branch of the Union County Department of Human Services. It offers adults aged 60 and older, along with their caregivers, a friendly and convenient avenue to discover valuable programs and services and speak individually with a Division on Aging professional.

Staff at ASK locations can 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 ASK kiosk, regardless of their hometown.  No appointment or pre-registration is needed. Below are the upcoming ASK events in August:

Thursday, August 14th – Westfield Memorial Library
Bilingual staff available
550 East Broad Street
Westfield, 07090
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Wednesday, August 20th – Hillside Public Library
Bilingual staff available
1409 Liberty Avenue
Hillside, 07205
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Thursday, August 28th – Clark Public Library
303 Westfield Avenue
Clark, 07066
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

“Our ASK events are staffed by knowledgeable experts who act as a true support system for seniors. They take the time to listen, address your questions, help with form completion, and connect you with the latest resources available,” said Union County Commissioner and Liaison to the Advisory Council on Aging, James Baker.

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 is excited to announce that its free virtual series for the LGBTQ community, LGBTQ+ Empowerment Hour, returns on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. on Zoom for a lively and educational discussion about adoption in the LGBTQ community.

To participate in the discussion, please register at ucnj.org/lgbtq

To honor the unofficial LGBTQ+ Family Day this August, the Union County Office of LGBTQ Affairs is collaborating with the Union County Surrogate’s Office for this special edition of Empowerment Hour, focused on building families and protecting their legacies.

“Our LGBTQ Empowerment Hour sessions have become a welcoming space for the LGBTQ+ community and allies to connect, support, and educate one another. Each session is filled with engaging topics, valuable resources, and relatable stories from community members,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “Whether you want to quietly listen and take the information in, or join in on the discussion and share your story, all are welcome to tune in this August for yet another powerful episode.”

According to 2020 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, same-sex couples are four times more likely to adopt children than heterosexual couples.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners and the Office of LGBTQ Affairs have partnered with the Union County Surrogate’s Office to discuss this important topic on the latest Empowerment Hour, live on Zoom. The event will showcase the adoption services offered by the Union County Surrogate’s Office and provide guidance on how to safeguard valuable family assets through estate planning.

“The LGBTQ couple’s journey to parenthood is uniquely different and comes with challenges, and we hope that what we’ll discuss in this episode will better prepare you to embrace this next chapter with confidence,” said Union County Commissioner Rebecca L. Williams, Liaison to the Union County LGBTQ+ Ad Hoc Committee. “This isn’t only about creating a family, but also about sharing your love and commitment, and building a lasting legacy with your partner. We want to encourage you to embrace every step of this adventure, knowing you have the resources and tools in place to build a successful future together.”

The LGBTQ+ Empowerment Hour will be live-streamed on the County of Union Facebook Page. Questions will be taken via Zoom and within the comments section on Facebook. To participate in the discussion, please register at ucnj.org/lgbtq.

“The Surrogate’s Office is happy to collaborate with the Office of LGBTQ  Affairs on passing along vital information to our LGBTQ couples and community,” said Union County Surrogate Christopher Hudak. “When it comes to matters of adoption, it is important that you and your partner are as informed and well-prepared as can be, and I look forward to sharing with you how the Surrogate’s office can serve you during this exciting and life-changing moment.” For more information, please contact Robert Charkowsky, from the Union County Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs, call (908)-527-4273 or email LGBTQ@ucnj.org.

During severe weather events, please only call 911 for life-threatening emergencies.

Call 911 if:

• Someone is trapped or in danger
• There’s a medical emergency
• Lives are at immediate risk

Do NOT call 911 to report:

• Street flooding
• Power outages
• Downed trees with no injuries

Unless someone is trapped or in danger, non-life threating issues should be reported to your local public works or utility company.

Help keep emergency lines open for those who truly need it. Stay safe and stay informed!