Category: Public Info

County residents seeking an active and fun community service opportunity are invited to join the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County community volunteer program. No previous experience with gardening is required. All Master Gardeners are trained and certified by Rutgers experts.

Applications for the 32nd annual Master Gardner class training series in Union County are now being accepted. Classes begin on October 15 and go until the end of May 2020.

“The Master Gardeners program provides both seasoned gardeners and beginners with the chance to serve their community while expanding their knowledge of gardening,” said Union County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The Freeholder Board is proud to support our Master Gardeners who have touched the lives of countless Union County residents throughout the years.”

The mission of the Master Gardeners is to share knowledge, experience, and love of gardening through community activities including neighborhood garden and beautification projects, education, and outreach to seniors and the disabled.

In return for the training, Master Gardeners are involved with many outreach activities.  They maintain a 1.5 acre demonstration garden at Trailside in the Watchung Reservation.  Master Gardeners raise vegetables, herbs and small fruit in the garden for donation to local food pantries.  Master Gardeners offer educational programs for school groups and tours for community organizations at the demonstration garden.  Other services are a Garden Helpline, which residents can call or email for gardening advice, at (908) 654-9852 and mastergardeners@ucnj.org. 

The Master Gardeners program is run by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County. It is supported by the Freeholder Board as part of a national county-based community agriculture program under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Extension offices are located in the County’s Colleen Fraser Building in Westfield, and the Demonstration Garden is located in the County’s Watchung Reservation near the Trailside Nature and Science Center.

A $200 materials fee will be due upon acceptance to the program which covers all textbooks, notebooks and class materials. Trainees commit to at least 6 hours of volunteer service before training is completed, and a total of 60 hours of service over a period of 12 to 18 months.

To obtain a Master Gardeners application and more information on all programs of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, visit the Rutgers University Master Gardener Application Site. Questions can be directed to the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County by calling (908) 654-9854, Ext. 2 or Ext. 4. 

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

Union County, NJ — The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders in conjunction with the Conserve Wildlife Foundation invites educators to attend a teacher training workshop, Falcon Cam in the Classroom, on Thursday, October 17 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Union County’s Trailside Nature & Science Center, located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside. 

Pairs of peregrine falcons have nested on the roof of the Union County Courthouse in midtown Elizabeth every year since 2005. The Falcon Cam was installed 2016 as an initiative of the Freeholder Board to serve as a research and public education tool. Conserve Wildlife is Union County’s educational partner in the initiative.

“The Falcon Cam allows the public to observe this fascinating bird of prey while helping to gather information to ensure its survival,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.  “The Freeholder Board is proud to offer this free workshop as it provides a unique teaching opportunity for students in addition to providing the chance to appreciate our County’s extensive park system.”

The workshop will feature Stephanie D’Alessio, Director of Education for the Conserve Wildlife Foundation. Ms. D’Alessio will discuss how teachers can use the Union County Falcon Web Cam in the classroom, to help students learn about the ecology and adaptations of the peregrine falcon.

The Tenafly Nature Center will also bring an owl, a red-tailed hawk and other live raptors to demonstrate the predator and prey relationships, wildlife rehabilitation and issues facing avian wildlife.

Sample lesson plans will be provided, and participants can earn five professional education credits. Breakfast and lunch will also be provided as part of the workshop.

The workshop is free and open to teachers of Kindergarten through 8^th grade levels and who live or work in Union County. Pre-registration is required at ucnj.org/trailside. 

For more information about these programs or other activities at Trailside, please call 908-789-3670 or visit ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a facility of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.

This program is made possible by a grant from Philips 66.

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.

Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski and Freeholders Christopher Hudak, Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded, Angel G. Estrada and Sergio Granados and Union County Surrogate James LaCorte joined former State Senator Raymond Lesniak, local officials and members of the General Pulaski Memorial Parade Committee of St. Theresa from Linden at the 2nd Annual Union County Pulaski Day Flag Raising in front of the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth.

Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announces that Vote-by-Mail ballots will be available in the County Clerk’s Offices in Elizabeth and Westfield starting on Tuesday, October 1 to registered voters who wish to cast their Vote-by-Mail ballot for the 2019 General Election.

Election Day 2019 is on Tuesday, November 5. The deadline to apply for a Vote-By-Mail ballot through the mail is Tuesday, October 29 and the application must be received by the County Clerk’s Office before or on this date.

The deadline to apply in person at the County Clerk’s office is Monday, November 4, by 3:00 p.m.

“We encourage voters to use a Vote-by-Mail ballot. It is a secure, convenient way to avoid a last-minute rush or unforeseen delays on Election Day,” said Ms. Rajoppi.

The vote-by-mail process begins when the voter applies for a ballot. There are several ways to obtain an application form:

• Download an application form through the County Clerk’s elections website at com.
• Request a form by mail or email by using the free Union County Votes mobile app, calling the County Clerk’s elections division at 908-527-4996, or emailing the County Clerk at ucvote@ucnj.org.
• Pick up a form at a local municipal building, or at the County Clerk’s offices in Elizabeth and Westfield.

Ms. Rajoppi also reminds residents to allow ample time to apply for a Vote-by-Mail ballot, receive it, and cast it.

“Under a new state law, Vote-by-Mail applicants can now choose to automatically receive their ballots for every election, so please be sure to read the form carefully and check the option that works best for you,” said Ms. Rajoppi.

Voters can mail their ballot back or cast it in person at the County Clerk’s offices in Elizabeth and Westfield. The law requires that voters choosing this option present a valid New Jersey driver’s license or a New Jersey-issued identification card.

For those voters who mail their ballot, it must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received within 48 hours of Election Day to be counted.

Ms. Rajoppi emphasized that every valid Vote-by-Mail ballot is counted and entered into the official, certified results for each election.

The Main Office of the County Clerk is located in Room 113 at the Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, in Elizabeth. Regular office hours in Elizabeth are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The County Clerk’s Westfield Annex is located in the Colleen Fraser Building, 300 North Avenue East in Westfield. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays. 

For more details about all County Clerk programs and services including passports and deed recording, 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 reminds residents that free scrap metal drop off sites are open in October.  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.”

Scrap metal drop off will be accepted Thursday, October 3 and Saturday, October 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 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

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

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. The app can be downloaded 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.

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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

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, October 26th, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Nokia corporate campus located at the intersection of 600 Mountain Avenue and Ryder Way in New Providence.

“Union County’s Household Hazardous Waste events provide a free, convenient opportunity for residents to remove unwanted chemicals and other potentially hazardous items from their homes and yards, and dispose of them safely,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.

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 (water-based 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.

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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that the next two free mobile paper shredding events of 2019 for personal and confidential documents will be held on Saturday, October 5 in Scotch Plains and Thursday, October 17 in Kenilworth.

“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 next shredding event will be on Saturday, October 5 at the Union County Vo-Tech, located at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.   The shredding event on Thursday, October 17 will be at Galloping Hill Golf Course, located at 3 Golf Drive in Kenilworth.

Both events will run from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Shredding events will end before 1:00 p.m. if the shredding truck(s) reach capacity.  The events will take place rain or shine.

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. Please note that paper that is already shredded 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 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.

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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders in conjunction with the Union County Office on Women and Union County College present a free public informational panel discussion entitled “Women in S.T.E.M.,” aimed at encouraging women to explore careers traditionally held by men.

The event will be held in Room N-4 of the Cranford Campus of Union County College, located at 1033 Springfield Avenue on Wednesday, October 2^nd from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

“Science, Technology, Engineering and Math are industries notoriously dominated by men,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The panel will address gender equality in the workplace, among the many issues. Women represent nearly half of the United States workforce, but only make up about 29% of the S.T.E.M. workforce.” 

A panel of high-profile professional women will be discussing their own journeys to a career in the S.T.E.M. fields, as well as the challenges women face in landing these careers, and accessing job-related resources.

The panelists will also review different types of career paths in various S.T.E.M fields, and provide attendees with information on the qualifications and background required for each field.

Women in S.T.E.M. is a free event but pre-registration is required online at ucnj.org/women.

For more information contact Jennifer Erdos, Coordinator, Union County Office on Women, at jerdos@ucnj.org or call 908-527-4216.

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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 and the Department of Parks and Recreation are pleased to offer a new series of programs this fall, Nature Walks for Seniors. This series, open to adults age 55 and older, will run on Wednesday mornings from October 16 through November 6 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The walks are free and will take place on the Sensory Friendly Trail at Trailside Nature & Science Center in Mountainside.

Spiderman: Into The Spider-Verse will be played at Plainfield High School on Friday, September 27^th at 7PM. The movie will be seen at Plainfield High School as part of Union County’s programming for Hispanic Heritage Month and is being conducted in partnership with the Plainfield Board of Education. The movie will be in English with subtitles in Spanish.

“I am pleased that Union County is partnering with the Plainfield Board of Education to present this movie to the Plainfield community as part of Hispanic Heritage Month,” said Freeholder Rebecca Williams. “Cultural events like these are important to improving the quality of life enjoyed by all Union County residents.”

The movie viewing is free and open to the public. Popcorn will also be provided to moviegoers, free of charge.

For more details on this or other programs organized by the Union County Department of Parks & Recreation, visit www.ucnj.org/calendar or call the Parks Department at 908-527-4900.