The Union County Freeholders’ Local Advisory Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (LACADA) volunteers will be honored at the annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner, Tuesday, May 7 at 6:00 p.m. at the Galloping Hill Caterers, 325 Chestnut Street, Union, NJ.

“The Freeholders strongly support the Municipal Alliances’ LACADA citizen volunteers who work at the grass-roots level in their communities to prevent substance abuse and promote healthy lifestyles among children, teens, adults and families,” said Bette Jane Kowalski, Chair of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.  “These residents give their time, their skills, and their hearts to help those in need. They inspire us all to keep reaching out—and away from substance dependence—to build a healthy life.” 

This year the Freeholders, through the County’s Department of Human Services, Division of Individual and Family Support Services, are proud to pay special tribute to the following 10 volunteers:

• Jaimie Wronski of Clark;
• Detective Nadia Jones of Cranford;
• Virginia Marinelli of Garwood;
• Lorraine Messiah of Hillside;
• Jamie Lugo of Kenilworth;
• Thomas A. Solsky of Linden;
• Tara Smith of New Providence;
• Ashley Davis of Plainfield;
• Malika DeJesus Quevedo of Roselle, and
• Jaimie DeDea of Westfield, the “Union County Municipal Alliance Volunteer of the Year.”

By state law members of the Municipal Alliance are appointed by the governing body (Board of Chosen Freeholders) from a variety of community stakeholders including representation from education, health, law enforcement, faith-based entities, business, civic groups, non-profit organizations, and government officials. Municipal Alliance members develop alcohol and drug addiction prevention and treatment plans to address local priorities. These plans are reviewed by the LACADA and the Freeholder Board.  Funding comes from the state’s Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (GCADA) and the Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Last year in Union County nearly 300 citizen volunteers from 19 municipalities participated in their Municipal Alliance alcohol and drug abuse education and prevention activities presented countywide, including presentations to parents through public school events such as Back-to-School nights.  In 2019 Union County will receive $536,201 from the state for Municipal Alliance activities. 

For more information about Union County’s substance abuse services, call the Union County Department of Human Services, Division of Individual and Family Support Services, 908-527-4844.  The link to the Alliance webpage is https://ucnj.org/departments/human-services/alliance-to-prevent-alcoholism-and-drug-abuse/.

UNION COUNTY, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that the mobile paper-shredding program is on the move and coming to a town near you.  Warinanco Park will host a paper shredding event on Friday, May 3^rd in the parking lot across from the Warinanco Sports Complex.  Then on Saturday, May 11^th paper shredding will take place at Nokia-Bell Labs, located at 600 Mountain Avenue in New Providence.  Union County College in Cranford will host a shredding event on Saturday, June 1^st. 

“Union County’s mobile document-shredding service helps residents fight identity theft by providing a convenient and secure way to dispose of your confidential documents,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The paper shredding events are part of Union County’s Green Initiatives and the Freeholder Board is pleased to offer this service to our residents.”

All events will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., rain or shine.  The events will end before 1:00 p.m. if the shredding trucks reach capacity.

All Union County residents are eligible to take advantage of 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.

Documents are put into 96-gallon containers provided by the shredding company. The items are then dumped 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, shipped to paper mills and used as pulp.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders also wants to remind residents to download the free Recycle Coach app for easy access to all 2019 Municipal Recycling Dates and Events. 

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 https://ucnj.org/recycling/. For quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities visit The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connect.”

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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 – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce a free workshop on Thursday evening, May 16, to explain the application process for the 2019 Union County HEART (History, Education, Arts Reaching Thousands) Grant Program and the 2020 Local Arts Grant Program. Representatives of nonprofit organizations in Union County as well as individual professional artists and scholars are invited to attend.

The workshop will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Liberty Hall Museum, Wagon Shed Building, 1003 Morris Avenue in Union Township. It is free of charge, but pre-registration is recommended.

“These grant programs serve as a catalyst to strengthen Union County’s non-profit organizations, artists and scholars, enhancing their capacity to provide enriching projects relating to history, the arts and humanities,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “Our grant recipients share their creative energy with our community, and the Freeholder Board is proud to support them.”

The HEART workshop will provide guidelines for completing applications for funding in 2019. The Local Arts Grant Program will cover guidelines for funding activities that take place between January 1 and December 31, 2020 and will cover the components of a successful application, from the description of a project, all the way to the budget and marketing plan.

Funding for the Local Arts Grant comes from the New Jersey Council on the Arts, Department of State, a partner of the national Endowment for the Arts.

For additional information visit: https://ucnj.org/parks-recreation/cultural-heritage-affairs/funding-opportunities/. To register  contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 908-558-2550. NJ Relay users dial 711, or E-mail: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj .

Union County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholders Rebecca Williams, Christopher Hudak and Sergio Granados joined Union County Deputy County Manager Amy Wagner in congratulating the winners of the 18th Annual Art Contest for County of Union Employees and their families during the awards reception at Liberty Hall Center in Union. Presented in partnership with the National Arts Program, the exhibit will be open to the public weekdays until May 21; from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Liberty Hall Center is located at 1085 Morris Avenue in Union Township. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ- The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that 31 Union County libraries, schools, and arts organizations will receive a total of $67,000 in funding through the 2019 Union County Local Arts Grant Program. The grant program is funded by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

“On behalf of the Freeholder Board, I would like to thank our 2019 awardees for their contributions to the quality of life in Union County, by increasing and diversifying public participation and access to the arts, as well as fostering the growth and development of our local artists,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.

Funding for the Local Arts Grant program is part of a block grant of $144,813 awarded to the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. The remainder of the block grant is used for a technical assistance workshops and a variety of public programs organized by the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs including Teen Arts and the Senior Citizen Art Show.

For information about all programs of the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, visit ucnj.org/parks-recreation, call 908-558-2550 or e-mail culturalinfo@ucnj.org. NJ relay users dial 711.

The 2019 Union County Local Arts Grant Program award recipients are:

Cranford

CDC Community Theatre: General operating support for affordable, family-friendly, live theatre, with several productions annually. $3,500

Celebration Singers: General operating support for popular music programs by a large adult chorus, children’s chorus and a young adult chorus, performed at various venues in the county. $2,800

Elizabeth

Community Access Unlimited: Multi-disciplinary arts program for adults and youth with developmental or other disabilities. $2,600

Elizabeth Public Library: A series of free fall concerts, featuring performances by local and regional artists, held primarily at the main Broad St. branch. $2,800

United Way of Greater Union County: The “Learning Mi Way” program brings music, stories and activities to childcare-center preschoolers. $1,400

YWCA of Eastern Union County: Art classes for women and children recovering from domestic violence are held in a local shelter. $2,400

Fanwood

Life Drawing Studio Group: A series of life-drawing classes for adults (with live model); and portfolio development workshops for people applying to art school. $1,500

Kenilworth

Kenilworth Public Library: Presenting “The Bard on the Boulevard,” a series of free performances by Hudson Shakespeare Company; plus an art program for children presented as part of a reading program. $1,000

Linden

Linden Public Library: Presenting a multi-disciplinary series of family and child-oriented events. $1600

Plainfield

Community Educational & Cultural Association, Inc.: Crescent Concerts presents concerts of primarily classical music, including vocal and instrumental artists, both professional and amateur. $3,100

City of Plainfield Senior Citizens Center: The Center offers classes and activities for senior citizens including drama, photography and crafts. $2,300

duCret School of Art: General operating support for high-quality visual art classes for adults, teens and children, offered in studios within a historic building. $3,100

Ivy Visions Charitable Arm / Alpha Kappa Alpha: A free showcase for Black History Month, featuring dynamic African-American artists, such as singers, dancers, musicians and storytellers. $1,700

King’s Daughter’s Day School: Supporting the work of a music teacher to conduct music sessions for children attending summer-camp and daycare sessions. $1,600

Plainfield Symphony Society: Operating for nearly a century, the Plainfield Symphony presents four concerts and two family concerts for diverse audiences. $3,300

Rahway

Rahway Valley Jerseyaires: General operating support for singers to learn, rehearse, and perform barbershop-style choral music for the public in varied settings. $1,800

Scotch Plains

Chinese American Music Ensemble: Enables adult and youth choruses to practice a variety of vocal music, with emphasis on Chinese-language songs, and to perform an annual concert in Westfield.  $1,500

Jewish Community Center of Central NJ: An annual Jewish Film Festival of award-winning movies, shown at the Rialto Theatre in Westfield. $1,700

Springfield

Friends of Springfield Library: A film series for the general public, including high-quality foreign films, classic films, and selections for children and teens. $1,100

Summit

Afternoon Music, Inc.: Classical and jazz chamber music concerts, featuring vocal and instrumental professionals; free admission for seniors and students. $1,500

Concord Singers: General operating support for a women’s community chorus – an ensemble of novices and experienced singers performing two concerts annually. $1,900

Connection for Women and Families: Free dance workshops for the public; and visual art activities during an after-school program held at Summit public schools. $2,500

Continuo Arts Foundation: Supporting the inter-generational singing group, Seniors Sing!  $2,400

Summit Chorale: General operating support for the Summit Chorale’s annual season of four concerts.  $2,800

Summit Public Library: A series of music concerts and theater performances for all ages, with special emphasis on senior citizens and families.  $1,700

Summit Symphony Orchestra: The Young Artist Competition provides young musicians the opportunity to perform in concert with a full symphony. $1,900

Westfield

Choral Art Society of New Jersey, Inc.: General operating support to enable vocational singers to study classical choral music and perform several concerts annually. $2600

Community Players of Westfield: General operating support for four theatre productions, presented by volunteers and amateurs at Community Players’ own playhouse. $3,300

New Jersey Workshop for the Arts: The Music Connection program provides free instrumental music lessons to families with a disabled child, including use of instruments. The program fosters creative partnership between parents and children. – $2,000

Oratorio Singers: General operating support for a volunteer chorus that performs an annual concert of significant choral literature, along with professional orchestra and professional soloists. $2,100

The August Symphony Orchestra: Presenting a free summer concert of classical music performed by a full orchestra composed of local musicians (including students) and professional soloists. $1,500

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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 – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that for the first time, the County will raise the Portuguese Flag in commemoration of the Day of Portugal, Camões and the Communities. The event will take place on Thursday, May 30 at 6:30pm in front of the Union County Court House, located at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth. The event is free and all residents are invited to attend.

The event is being co-sponsored by the Portuguese American Leadership Council of the United States (PALCUS). PALCUS is a national non-profit based in the Washington D.C. area with a defined mission to be the national voice that advocates for and promotes the advancement of the Portuguese-American community economically, professionally, culturally and politically.

“Union County is home to over 18,000 Portuguese-Americans,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The Freeholder Board is proud to acknowledge the contributions of this very active and hard-working community to our county over the years, by flying the Portuguese Flag over the County Seat for the first time.”

The Portuguese-American Community will be celebrating what has come to be known as “Portugal Day” throughout the month of June with various celebrations in several municipalities. Festivities include parades, outdoor festivals with food and ethnic dance, bike tours, golf tournaments and fishing derbies.

“Our County is made stronger by its diversity and inclusion. I invite all residents from the County of Union to participate in, and support this first ever Union County Portuguese Flag Raising,” said Freeholder Sergio Granados.  “As a Freeholder of Portuguese descent, I am especially proud of the accomplishments of the Portuguese-American community across the country and especially within Union County. This flag raising brings together the Portuguese Community across the County to showcase our pride and unity.”

The flag-raising will include ethnic dance, and the singing of both “The Star Spangled Banner” as well as “A Portuguesa,” the national anthem of Portugal.

“PALCUS is grateful to have been given the opportunity to co-sponsor the first Portuguese Flag raising in Union County,” said PALCUS Vice-Chair Katherine Soares. “We strive to give a voice to the 1.34 million Portuguese-Americans in the United States. Events such as these are yet another form of allowing them to be heard.”

For more information, please contact Katherine Soares from the Union County Office of Communications and Public Information at katherine.soares@ucnj.org.

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Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds residents that Tuesday, May 14 is the deadline for registering to vote in time for the June 4 Primary Election.

Residents can check their voter registration status online by using the “Am I Registered?” link on the County Clerk’s Union County Votes elections website, or on the free Union County Votes mobile app.

Ms. Rajoppi also reminds residents who are currently age 17 that they can sign up now to automatically register to vote when they turn 18, by using the “Are You 17?” link at the Union County Votes website or mobile app. Seventeen-year-olds who sign up for automatic registration before May 14, and who will turn 18 by June 4, are eligible to participate in the Primary Election.

Voter registration applications are available online at the Union County Votes website and mobile app, through the “Register to Vote” link.

Applications are also available at the County Clerk’s offices in Elizabeth at 2 Broad Street or in Westfield at the Union County complex at 300 North Avenue, and at the Board of Elections offices in Elizabeth at 271 North Broad Street. All municipal clerks also have registration applications available for pickup.

To receive a registration application by mail, contact the County Clerk at 908-527-4787 or email ucvote@ucnj.org.

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

 

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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2019 Union County History Grant Program. These grants are made possible through funding from the New Jersey Historical Commission. Funds are then awarded locally, to historical groups by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs through the Re-Grant Program.

“The Union County History Grant Program is an excellent opportunity to obtain funding that assists County historical groups with operating expenses and other costs,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The Freeholder Board is proud to afford community groups the opportunity to better position themselves and their projects for continued success.”

The 2019 Union County History Grant Program Awardees are:

• Cranford Historical Society $2,200, for General Operating Support.
• duCret School of Art: $1,000, historical preservation of donations to be cleaned, catalogued and displayed.
• Fanwood-Scotch Plains Rotary Frazee House, Inc.: $2,500, for design, development and production of marketing materials.
• Historic Midtown Elizabeth SID: $750, annual historic American Revolutionary War reenactment held during Four Centuries in a Weekend.
• Historical Society of Plainfield: $3,500, for General Operating Support.
• Historical Society of Elizabeth: $3,000, for General Operating Support.
• Linden Public Library: $1750, phase 2 of the digitization of Linden’s historic newspapers.
• Merchants & Drovers Tavern Museum Association: $2,000, for General Operating Support.
• Reeves-Reed Arboretum: $2,300, third year in a series of the Time Capsule Garden, featuring the year 1925.
• Springfield Free Public Library: $1,000, continuation of cataloging and accessioning of the collection in the library museum.
• Springfield Historical Society: $1,000, for General Operating Support.
• Union Township Historical Society: $2,000, for partial restoration and conservation of four historic documents.
• Visual Arts Center of New Jersey: $1,000, for continuation of Exhibitions Archives Project.

The two types of grants available through the History Re-Grant Program are:

• General Operating Support grants: These grants provide assistance for the basic costs of operation, including but not limited to programming, preservation of collections, salaries and marketing. These grants are for Union County based historical societies, house museums or historic sites only. The maximum grant request is $5000.00.
• Special Project grants: These 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 grant request is $3500.00.

For more information on the Union County History Grant receive more information, call the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 908-436-2912 or email John Prescott, jprescott@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 – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that grants have been awarded to 42 garden projects in 14 municipalities through the Union County Means Green Community Garden Grants program.

“Through the UC Means Green program, we bring the benefits of community gardening to people from many different walks of life throughout Union County, including those who may find it difficult to access conventional garden plots,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “This year, our awardees range from historic sites and libraries to facilities for seniors, the homeless, and people with disabilities and special needs.”

“UC Means Green helps Union County residents of all ages improve their nutrition and their awareness of environmental stewardship. Our awardees also provide fresh vegetables for local food pantries, they organize education and recreation events, and they create new opportunities to for our youth to participate in community service,” said Freeholder Vice Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

Grants from UC Means Green have helped to improve existing community gardens, start new gardens and transform empty lots into thriving centers for social and educational activities, with hundreds of pounds of fresh produce consumed and donated to local food pantries each year.

The grant program launched in 2016 and is administered on behalf of the Freeholder Board by the non-profit organization Groundwork Elizabeth.

This year Union County Means Green awarded pre-budgeted grants for starting new gardens, including a choice of raised beds, waist-high accessible beds for seniors and people with disabilities, or “Earth Boxes” that enable gardening in tight spaces.

The program also awarded  block grants for expanding or improving gardens,  pre-budgeted grants for starting pollinator plots that include edible plants, and pre-budgeted grants for hydroponic gardens, enabling the gardening experience to continue throughout the winter months.

The 2019 awardees are:                                  

Berkeley Heights

Berkeley Heights Environmental Commission (2 accessible beds, $1300); Berkeley Heights Learning Community Garden at Littell-Lord Farmstead

Cranford

Hanson Park Conservancy (2 accessible beds, $500); Hanson Park Conservancy Community Garden, 38 Springfield Avenue

Elizabeth

Housing Authority City of Elizabeth (2 accessible beds, $1300); Farley Towers Community Garden, 33 Cherry Street

BEAM Housing Services, Inc. (6 Earth Boxes + 1 accessible bed, $1300);

Heritage Village Garden, 225 Second Street

YMCA of Eastern Union County (garden improvements, $500); The Gateway Family YMCA Child Care Center, 1150 Dickinson Street

City of Elizabeth (garden improvements, $500); Peterstown Senior Garden, 418 Palmer Street,

City of Elizabeth (2 accessible beds, $1300); The Stephen Sampson Center Garden, 800 Anna Street

City of Elizabeth (4 raised beds, $1300); The Liberty Square Garden in Love, Liberty Square Senior Citizen Center

Jewish Family Service of Central NJ (hydroponic garden, $3000); Jewish Family Service Urban Community Vegetable Garden, 655 Westfield Avenue

PISC Vira Verde Nova Mocidade (garden improvements, $500); Vira Verde Nova Mocidade Garden, 417 US Highway 1

Josephine’s Place (garden improvements $500); Josephine’s Place Garden of Peace, 622 Elizabeth Avenue

Prevention Links (2 raised beds +1 accessible bed, $1300); E’Port Community Center Garden, 250 Second Street

YMCA of Eastern Union County (pollinator garden, $750); YMCA  Elizabeth Branch Community Garden, 135 Madison Avenue

Linden

Communities in Cooperation, Inc. (garden improvements, $500); CIC Community Garden, 1025 John Street, Linden

New Providence

New Providence United Methodist Church/New Providence Garden Club (pollinator garden, $750); Serenity Garden, 1441 Springfield Avenue

New Providence Memorial Library (pollinator garden, $750); The Library Garden, 377 Elkwood Avenue

Plainfield

DuCret School of Art (6 Earth Boxes + 1 accessible bed, $1300); DuCret Community Garden, 1030 Central Avenue

Richmond Towers Residence Association (hydroponic garden, $3000); Richmond Towers Residence Association Gardens, 520 E. Front Street

Be the Change — Kean University (hydroponic garden, $3000); Park Hotel Edible Landscape, 123 West 7th Street

Cedarbrook Park Apartments (4 raised beds, $1300); Cedarbrook Park Apartments Community Garden, 1272 Park Avenue

Youth Felicitares/Stone Square Mason Lodge (4 raised beds, $1300); Queen City Community Garden, Berkeley Terrace

Rahway

City of Rahway (garden improvements, $500); Rahway Community Garden, 537 Central Avenue

Rahway Community Action Organization (garden improvements, $500); RCAO Community Garden, 809 E. Hazelwood Avenue

Roselle

Amalfe Senior and Community Center, garden improvements, $500); BT Mathis and Diane Mathis Community Garden, 1268 Shaffer Avenue

Roselle Park

Roselle Park Environmental Commission (pollinator garden, $750); Roselle Park Community Garden, 133 Valley Road

Roselle Park Environmental Commission (garden improvements, $500); Roselle Park Community Garden, 133 Valley Road

Scotch Plains

Township of Scotch Plains (garden improvements, $3000); Scotch Plains Community Garden at Frazee House

Scotch Plains Garden Club (2 accessible beds, $1300); Scotch Plains Community Garden at Frazee House

Scotch Plains-Fanwood YMCA (hydroponic Garden, $3000); YMCA Square Foot Garden, 1340 Martine Avenue

Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish/Township of Scotch Plains (garden improvements, $2000); Community Garden of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church,  1571 S. Martine Avenue

Springfield

Township of Springfield (garden improvements, $1500); Springfield Township Community Garden  

Township of Springfield (pollinator garden, $750); Springfield Township Pollinator Garden, N. Trivett Avenue and Center Street

Springfield Free Public Library (2 raised beds + 1 accessible bed, $1300); Lettuce Read and Grow Garden, 66 Mountain Avenue

Summit

Summit Area YMCA (garden improvements, $500); Summit ACHIEVE Community Garden, Beauvoir Place and Beauvoir Avenue

Union Township

Union Township Adult Community Development (2 accessible beds, $1300); Thomas A. Ehrhart Gardens, 100 Francis Court

Union Senior Residents Housing Corporation (hydroponic garden, $3000); James Schaefer Garden, 35 W. Summer Avenue   

YMCA of Eastern Union County (hydroponic garden, $3000); Gateway Family YMCA Five Points Branch Community Garden, 201 Tucker Avenue

Township of Union (2 accessible beds, $1300); Township of Union Community Garden, Eleanor R. Erickson Park, Liberty Avenue

YMCA of Eastern Union County (garden improvements, $500); Gateway Family YMCA W.I.S.E Center Branch at United Methodist Church

Westfield

First United Methodist Church of Westfield/Westfield Community Center (garden improvements, $500); Justice Garden, 1 East Broad Street

Additionally, YWCA Eastern Union County received an award of $3000 for a hydroponic garden, for its “Growing for Health” project at a domestic violence shelter in Union County.

For more information about Groundwork Elizabeth visit online at groundworkelizabeth.org.

For quick links to all Union County environmental programs, activities and services 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.

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Union County, NJ — Gardening enthusiasts can stock up on plants, seedlings and other supplies — and shop for a cause, too — at the 30th annual Master Gardeners of Union County Spring Garden Fair and Plant Sale.  The Spring Garden Fair is known for a large selection of flowers, herbs, and vegetables including the popular Ramapo and Rutgers 250 tomatoes.

The event takes place on Sunday, May 19, from noon to 4:00 p.m., on the grounds of the Union County Demonstration Garden at the Trailside Nature and Science Center in the Watchung Reservation, 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside. All proceeds from sales at the Garden Fair go to support the many community service projects of Master Gardener volunteers, including donations of fresh produce to local food pantries, educational events for youth and adults, programs for people with special needs, and more.

“On behalf of the Freeholder Board, I would like to thank our Master Gardener volunteers for their many contributions to the quality of life in Union County,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowlaski. “A visit to the Garden Fair is a fun, inspiring way to kick off the growing season while contributing to a good cause, too.”

Visitors are advised to bring a small wagon to convey their purchases. As always, admission to the Garden Fair is free, and parking is also free. Please note that credit cards are not accepted, and pets are not permitted at the Garden Fair.

Among the hundreds of plants and seedlings offered for sale, the Spring Garden Fair features deer resistant, drought tolerant and fragrant plants that thrive in Union County, including native species and many easy-to-grow plants for beginner gardeners.

Along with plants, baked goods, crafts, and gently used garden supplies for sale, the Spring Garden Fair offers free activities for gardeners of all ages including:

• Guided tours of the Demonstration Garden including the vegetable and herb gardens.
• Displays and information for Square Foot Gardening, Invasive Plants and Mosquito Control.
• Information on joining the Rutgers Master Gardeners, Environmental Stewards and 4-H Master Tree Stewards.
• Children’s activities (children must be accompanied by parent or guardian).
• Garden clinic and Rutgers information fact sheets for troubleshooting garden problems.
• Attendees can bring plant and insect samples for diagnosis.
• Rutgers soil test kits are available for sale.

Free parking is located nearby at the Trailside Nature and Science Center parking lot and the Scout Camping Area in the Watchung Reservation. Additional free parking is available in the Loop playground area, located a short walk away on the other side of the Trailside Center.

The Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County is an all-volunteer organization run by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County and supported in part by the Freeholder Board.

Anyone with an interest in gardening and volunteer service can earn Master Gardener certification by successfully completing a series of training classes offered locally. No previous education or training in horticulture is required.

For more information on the Master Gardeners program contact Tamisha Hopkins at the Extension, 908-654-9854 (ext. 2), or visit online at ucnj.org/rce.

The Extension offices are located in the Colleen Frasier building in the Union County Complex at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield.

Union County residents and visitors with an interest in preserving native plant species are also invited to attend the free “Good Plants and Bad Plants” seminar on May 18 at Trailside. A free brochure providing guidance on ornamental native species titled “Plant This, Not That” is also available for download, and a “Plant Swap” and native plant tour will take place in the Demonstration Garden on Thursday evening, June 6, from 5:30p.m. to 8:30 pm. 

For quick links to all Union County programs related to gardening, sustainability and nature conservation visit The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connection.

Directions to Trailside Nature & Science Center:

VIA ROUTE 24 EAST

1. Exit at River Road and follow it into Summit.
2. Turn left at traffic light onto Morris Avenue at Schering Plough.
3. Travel past Overlook Hospital, bear right just before the traffic light and turn immediately left at the next traffic light onto Baltusrol Road. (sign says to Rt. 22).
4. At the top of the hill, turn right at the traffic light onto Summit Lane.
5. At the wooded traffic circle, take the second right and proceed ½ mile to Trailside. Parking lot is on the right.

VIA ROUTE 22 WEST – EXIT #140A ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY SOUTH

1. Take Route 22 West past Springfield exits to Mountainside/New Providence Road exit.
2. Turn right (just before the traffic light) and proceed up the hill.
3. Take the 5th right onto Ackerman Avenue.
4. At the top of the hill, turn right onto Coles Avenue. Trailside’s parking lot is about 1/4 mile on the left hand side.

VIA ROUTE 22 EAST

1. Take Route 22 East to exit marked Mountainside/New Providence Road.
2. Take the jug-handle and turn left toward the traffic light.
3. Cross over Route 22.
4. Proceed as above from #3.

VIA ROUTES 287 & 78 EAST

1. Take Rt. 287 to Rt. 78 to exit 44 (New Providence/Berkeley Heights).
2. Turn left at the traffic light onto Glenside Avenue.
3. Go 1.2 miles and turn right into the Watchung Reservation (Rt. 645 – W.R Tracey Dr.).
4. Proceed past Lake Surprise, uphill and straight past loop picnic area to the wooded traffic circle.
5. At traffic circle take the first right and proceed ½ mile to Trailside. Parking lot is on the right.

VIA ROUTE 78 WEST

1. Take Rt. 78 West to exit 43 (New Providence/Berkeley Heights).
2. Turn right at first light onto McMane Avenue.
3. At T-intersection, turn left onto Glenside Avenue.
4. Proceed as above from #3.

VIA N.J. TURNPIKE NORTH/GARDEN STATE PARKWAY NORTH

1. Take NJ Turnpike to exit 11, Garden State Parkway.
2. Take GSP to Exit 135.
3. Stay to left on exit ramp and enter traffic circle. Proceed around circle, under parkway and straight onto Central Avenue.
4. Follow Central Avenue into the center of Westfield.
5. At T-intersection/traffic light, turn right onto Broad Street and make first left at the next traffic light onto Mountain Avenue.
6. Follow Mountain Avenue to the traffic light in Mountainside.
7. Turn Left onto New Providence Road.
8. Go through the traffic light crossing over Route 22.
9. Proceed uphill and take the 5th right onto Ackerman Avenue.
10. At the top of the hill, turn right onto Coles Avenue. Trailside’s parking lot is about 1/4 mile on the left hand side.

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