Category: Public Info

Union County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholder Christopher Hudak present a resolution to County of Union 911 Telecommunicator Joy Allen of Plainfield commending her for her efforts to assist in the delivery of a baby over the phone on June 28, 2019. They were join by Union County Director of Public Safety Andrew Moran.

Allen’s efforts proved to be successful in the end, the newborn child was delivered safely and first responders were able to bring the baby and the mother to the hospital. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholders Angel G. Estrada and Sergio Granados present a resolution to Cónsul Ana Lorena Siria de Lara commending her for her outstanding leadership and community involvement as the El Salvadorian Consul of New Jersey and Delaware. She is leaving the post after four years of service. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders present a resolution to Freeholder Vice Chairman Alexander Mirabella congratulating him on being inducted into the New Jersey Association of Counties’ inaugural Freeholder Hall of Fame in recognition of his 20 years of service as a Union County Freeholder.

They were joined by Assemblywoman Linda Carter. Freeholder Vice Chairman Mirabella of Fanwood, who was first elected in 1997, has led initiatives to preserve hundreds of acres of open space, expand park space, create new recreational facilities for youth, grow the County’s various educational institutions, create the state’s first Office on LGBTQ Affairs, expand services to those with special needs, and create new workforce and economic development initiatives. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ — Union County residents of all ages with special needs are invited to participate in Paint by the Pond, on Sunday, August 4, at Mindowaskin Park, located at 385 E. Broad Street in Westfield. This event is free and sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Union County Office for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs and the Town of Westfield.

“Union County has hosted Paint by the Pond for the last few years at other County parks and it has received an enthusiastic response from the public,” said Union County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The Freeholder Board is proud to offer our special needs residents the opportunity to participate in this program that encourages their creativity while enjoying yet another beautiful park within our County.”

The Paint by the Pond project encourages participants to express themselves and create art by s painting cardboard model houses. The cardboard houses will be floated on the pond and participants will be allowed to take their creations home with them.

“I am thrilled to see the Paint by the Pond event come to my hometown,” said Freeholder Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded. “This collaboration with the Town of Westfield helps our special needs residents explore their artistic side.”

Paint by the Pond will have two sessions available for participants to choose from. The morning session runs from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and the afternoon session runs from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The event is free to attend and is open to special needs residents of all ages, but pre-registration is required. To pre-register, residents should visit ucnj.org/opdsn-reg.

“We are thrilled to host Paint by the Pond in Westfield for the special needs community,” said Westfield Mayor Shelley Brindle. “This is a terrific initiative that supports one of my administration’s key priorities to ensure that Westfield is accessible and inclusive for all. I am grateful to the County for providing programs like this for the benefit of our residents and taxpayers.”

For more information on the Paint by the Pond program, please contact Manny Ramirez at the Union County Office for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs by phone at (908) 527-4781 or email at mramirez@ucnj.org.

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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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Union County, NJ — Union County residents have an opportunity to “think globally, act locally” by joining the Master Tree Stewards of Union County, an all-volunteer organization dedicated to educating the public about the role of trees in the environment.

Each year, the volunteer Tree Stewards fan out across Union County to teach a fun lesson on trees to fourth grade students. No experience is needed.

In addition to classroom lessons, Tree Steward volunteers have created new “Tree Trails” along walking paths in Union County parks, to help visitors identify and learn about trees of distinction in the community.

“Our Master Tree Stewards provide an important service by helping students learn how trees benefit their neighborhoods,” said Freeholder Chair Kowalski. “Scientists say that trees improve the environment by replenishing oxygen and filtering pollutants from the air, as well as absorbing water in areas in flood areas.”

On a local level, trees help keep neighborhoods cool in the summer. They also help reduce airborne pollution, storm water runoff, erosion, and flooding. Studies have also shown that trees improve local property values and contribute to overall community well-being.

On a global level, a recent study suggests that planting 1.2 trillion additional trees would provide enough storage capacity to offset 10 years of carbon dioxide emissions, helping to counteract the impacts of climate change.

All Master Tree Stewards receive training and support from the staff of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, a program supported in part by the Freeholder Board with offices at the Union County complex, 300 North Avenue East in Westfield.

The training consists mainly of guided walks in local nature preserves during the fall season.

For more information about the joining the Master Tree Stewards program visit the Extension online at ucnj.org/rce or contact Union County 4-H Agent James Nichnadowicz at the Extension office in Westfield, 908-654-9854 (ext. 4) or jnichnadowicz@ucnj.org.

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

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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.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds residents that free scrap metal drop off sites are open all summer long.  A wide variety of metal goods, from household appliances to gutters and sheds, are included in the program.

“This countywide program helps to fill a service gap in some Union County municipalities that currently have no pickup for scrap metal recycling,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “As a community, we benefit across the board by recycling more and throwing away less waste – and we also stand to gain some revenue from the program.”

The scrap metal recycling program is available for use by households, commercial establishments, nonprofit agencies and other organizations. It is available the first Thursday and third Saturday of each month, from April through November.

During the month of August the dates will be Thursday, August 1 and Saturday, August 17.  All programs run from 9:00 a.m. to12:00 noon.  

Scrap metal from any municipality may be brought to either of the following drop-off centers:

• Cranford: Emergency Services/Traffic Enforcement, 151 Kenilworth Boulevard
• Rahway: Service Yard in Rahway River Park (near swimming pool), St. Georges Avenue

Acceptable items for recycling include aluminum scrap, aluminum cans, aluminum siding, bicycles, brass, copper, dishwashers, electric fans, fencing (chain/wire), freezers, gutters, irons, lawn furniture, metal cabinets, metal sheds, microwaves, pots and pans, railings, refrigerators, stoves, tire rims, toasters, washers and dryers, window frames (no glass), and wire hangers.

The Freeholder Board also reminds residents to download the free Recycle Coach app for the latest news and information on all countywide and local recycling programs, located at ucnj.org/recycle.

For more information, upcoming dates and directions to all Union County recycling programs and locations, visit the Bureau of Recycling and Planning website at ucnj.org/recycle or call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889.

Quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities are located at The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connection.

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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 – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that the next free mobile paper shredding event of 2019 for personal and confidential documents will be available on Saturday, August 10, at Kean University in Union Township, 1100 Morris Avenue.

“Union County’s mobile document shredding service helps residents fight identity theft by providing a convenient way to shred your confidential documents,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “It promotes our County recycling efforts and ties in with other Green Initiatives in Union County.”

The August 10 shredding event will take place at Kean University on Morris Avenue in Union, in the parking lot adjacent to Green Lane.  The program will run from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., rain or shine.  The shredding event will end before 1:00 p.m. if the shredding truck(s) reach capacity.

After this, the next shredding event will be Thursday, September 12 at the Linden Recycling Center, located at 2 Donaldson Place in Linden, also from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

All Union County residents are eligible to use the paper-shredding service. In an effort to accommodate everyone, there is a limit of four, 10-pound bags or boxes per person. It is preferred that you bring your material in paper bags.

Documents should not be bound. Please remove plastic binders and paperclips. Paper that is wet/damp will not be accepted. Residents should continue to recycle non-confidential papers and magazines with their municipal recycling program.  

Please note that paper that is already shredded will not be accepted. 

Documents are put into 96-gallon containers provided by the shredding company. The items are then placed onto a conveyor belt and shredded on site. Participants are welcome to view the shredding process via a closed-circuit television. The shredded documents are then recycled via local paper mills. 

The mobile shredding program is paid for through New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Recycling Enhancement Act Grant Funds. For more information about future events or directions please call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889 or visit us online at www.ucnj.org/recycle.

The Freeholder Board also reminds residents to download the free Recycle Coach app for the latest news and information on all countywide and local recycling programs, located at www.ucnj.org/recycle.

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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.

Bonus: Ammunition and Fireworks accepted – August event only!

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is offering a simple, easy way for everyone to pitch in and help improve the environment. Residents can safely dispose of unwanted household chemicals and other chemical wastes, by bringing these items to the next Household Hazardous Waste recycling event.  The free event will be held on Saturday, August 3, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Union County Vo-Tech Schools campus located at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.

The Union County Police Bomb Squad will also be on hand at the event to collect unwanted ammunition and fireworks from residents.

“The Household Hazardous Waste event is one of the most critical ways Union County residents can help make a real difference in protecting the environment,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “This event also offers a special opportunity to safely dispose of ammunition and fireworks, helping to keep our communities secure.”

The Household Hazardous Waste event provides Union County residents with a free, environmentally safe way to dispose of outdated or unwanted household chemicals, mercury thermostats and thermometers, propane tanks, and automobile tires among many other items such as oil-based paint and varnish, antifreeze, aerosol cans, pool chemicals, corrosives, pesticides, herbicides, solvents, thinners, fire extinguishers, motor oil and oil filters, gasoline, batteries, thermostats, fluorescent bulbs (unbroken), and mercury switches.

Residents need only drive to the site with their items for disposal. Once at the site, residents stay in their vehicles while workers unload the items.

Only materials in original or labeled containers will be accepted. No containers larger than five gallons will be accepted. There is a limit of eight automobile tires, without rims, per household.

Please note that latex paint (wall paint) is not accepted. Residents wishing to dispose of latex paint are advised to use it up, donate it or share with a neighbor. If those options are not available, the paint can be dried in the can, and/or mixed with kitty litter or newspaper, then disposed with regular household garbage.

For a complete list of the materials that will be accepted on August 3rd as well as all recycling event dates and locations, please visit ucnj.org/recycle.

The household hazardous waste collection will be held rain or shine, for Union County residents only, not for businesses. Proof of Union County residency is required. For more information, please call the Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889.

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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 residents and visitors are advised that the Family Fun & Flix free outdoor movie with children’s activities scheduled for tonight, Tuesday July 23 in Warinanco Park, has been cancelled due to wet conditions resulting from recent storms. Please join us next Monday evening, July 29, at Rutgers Avenue Park in Hillside as the Family Fun & Flix series continues with a free screening of Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation. Children’s activities begin at 7:30 p.m. and the movie will begin at dusk.

For more information on all programs and activities in Union County parks use the Special Event Calendar link at ucnj.org/parks-activities or call 908-527-4900.

Union County residents and visitors are advised that the Family Fun & Flix free outdoor movie with children’s activities scheduled for tonight, Tuesday July 23 in Warinanco Park, has been cancelled due to wet conditions resulting from recent storms. Please join us next Monday evening, July 29, at Rutgers Avenue Park in Hillside as the Family Fun & Flix series continues with a free screening of Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation. Children’s activities begin at 7:30 p.m. and the movie will begin at dusk.

For more information on all programs and activities in Union County parks use the Special Event Calendar link at ucnj.org/parks-activities or call 908-527-4900.

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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.