Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ — Student members of Union County 4-H Archery Club I and Club II spent the day on Sunday, February 3 at the St. Joseph Social Service Center in Elizabeth, where they made 230 sandwiches for people in need.

“Our 4-H clubs help students develop important life skills and engage with civic service,” said Freeholder Chair Betty Jane Kowalski. “On behalf of the Freeholder Board, I would like to thank the members of the Archery clubs for lending a hand to help ensure that healthy food is available for everyone in the community.”

Union County 4-H clubs are organized around contemporary topics like Anime, Lego Robotics, S.T.E.M. and Fashion Design, as well as more traditional favorites including horticulture, cooking and archery.

Students can also join a Variety Club and explore topics of their own creation. For older students, 4-H offers membership in the Community Service Club, which plans and conducts community service programs throughout Union County.

Union County 4-H is run by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County and supported in part by the Freeholder Board with offices at the County complex in Westfield, at 300 North Avenue East. It is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s national 4-H youth development program.

4-H clubs first began forming in 1902. Today they make up the largest youth program in the country, with nearly 6 million student participants and 540,000 adult volunteers nationwide.

According to a recent national study, 4-H participants are more likely to get better grades in school, seek out science classes, see themselves going to college, avoid risky behavior, and make positive contributions to their communities.

For more information about joining a Union County 4-H club or volunteering as an adult club leader, contact Union County 4-H Agent James Nichnadowicz at jnichnadowicz@ucnj.org or 908-654-9854, or visit online at ucnj.org/rce.

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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 Human Relations Commission
Our mission is to actively encourage, develop, promote, and strengthen respect for human rights and cultural diversity among the people of Union County.
Contact : Karen E. Positan, 908-889-9028; kpositan@ucnj.org

Parents, guardians, and adult mentors of elementary and middle school-aged children who are interested in learning how they can “Help Your Child Succeed In School” are invited to attend a free educational presentation, 6:30-8:15 p.m. on Monday, March 18 at Plainfield High School, 950 Park Avenue in Plainfield.

Parents can decide when they pre-register whether to take part in the highly interactive presentation in English or Spanish. Union County Division of Youth Services instructor Jennifer Scott will conduct the English presentation, while Tonya Mustipher will present in Spanish. Both workshops will be presented in the school cafeteria.

“There are so many aspects that need to be considered for a student to succeed in school,” said Jo Ann Hamilton, Co-Chair of the Union County Human Relations Commission (UCHRC), the program sponsor, who recently retired from a long career in education. “Relationships with peers, study habits, homework, and communication with teachers and their school, as well as between parents and their children, are important, but there are so many other facets as well.”

“Parents who have attended previous iterations of this presentation have said they have greatly benefitted from the interactive dialogue created within an open forum in which they can speak honestly, ask questions, and get answers about dealing with specific issues,” added UCHRC co-chair Mark Spivey, Director of Communications for the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.

The presenters will identify issues, strategies, and resources to help parents improve their children’s well-being and academic performance. The program, sponsored by the Union County Human Relations Commission, will be kicked off by UCHRC Commissioners Alfred Brown, a Plainfield resident and Reverend of Cranford Baptist Church, and Esmeralda Vargas. 

The program is being co-sponsored by the Office of the Union County Superintendent of Schools, the Union County Division of Youth Services, and Plainfield Public Schools.

Light refreshments will be served. Free parking is available, and the facility is wheelchair-accessible.

Pre-registration for this free program is required. Register online at www.ucnj.org/uchrc.  

For more information, please call 908-889-9028 or email uchrc@ucnj.org.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites members of the public to explore African-American history with Dr. Melissa Cooper, Assistant Professor of History at Rutgers University Newark, in celebration of Black History Month. Dr. Cooper will present a talk titled, “The Great Migration: The Black Southerner in the Nation’s Imagination,” at noon on Wednesday, February 20, at the Cranford Campus of Union County College, 1033 Springfield Avenue, Room N4.

The event is free and open to the public. No pre-registration is required.

“Dr. Cooper has made significant contributions to our understanding of American history, by exploring the attitudes that shaped conventional social science interpretations of the African-American experience during the last century,” said Union County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “Her insights are keenly relevant today and we are looking forward to a lively and informative discussion.”

Dr. Cooper is a writer, historian, professor and author of the groundbreaking study, Making Gullah: A History of Sapelo Islanders, Race, and the American Imagination.

In Making Gullah, Cooper upends the conventional study of Sapelo Island by refocusing the observational lens on those who studied the islanders and their culture. She unmasks the connections between the rise of the social sciences in the 1920’s, the voodoo craze during the interwar years, the black studies movement, and black land loss and land struggles in coastal black communities in the Low Country.

Dr. Cooper has discussed her work in numerous public appearances as well as on radio and podcasts. Interest in her work has reached beyond academic communities in the United States, leading to presentations at international conferences in the Dominican Republic, the U.K., Canada and Spain.

Dr. Cooper is currently an Assistant Professor of History at Rutgers University-Newark and has been a member of the faculty at the University of South Carolina and Columbia University.

For more information about “The Great Migration: The Black Southerner in the Nation’s Imagination,” visit the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs online at ucnj.org/cultural, call 908-558-2550 or email culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

This free event is sponsored by the Freeholder Board through the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, and is funded in part by the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of Cultural Affairs in the Department of State.

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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 invites residents of all ages to enjoy events and activities all winter at the Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside. Programs for toddlers and young children continue each week throughout the month of February, along with a special “February Festivities” series of programs for adults and families with older children age five and up during Presidents Day weekend.

“As the gateway to Watchung Reservation, Trailside helps to provide Union County residents and visitors of all ages with a deeper appreciation for our natural heritage and our responsibilities as environmental stewards all year long,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “Our February activities provide an enjoyable break from the winter routine and an educational experience, too.”

For toddlers and children up to age three (with adult), Trailside offers the Toddler Time series. Children ages three and four (with adult) are invited to join the Two of Us series, and children ages four to six can participate in the Small Fry Days drop-off series.

All three programs feature hands-on exploration, crafts and other fun activities, with a focus on local flora and fauna in the 

Watchung Reservation.

Kicking off the February Festivities series is George Washington Remembers New Jersey on Friday, February 15 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Attendees will join General Washington as he reminisces about the war years that earned New Jersey its reputation as the “Cockpit of the Revolution.” This presentation is made possible by support from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities. Admission is free.

February Festivities continues on Saturday and Monday with the following programs for children age five and up accompanied by an adult (pre-registration is required and a modest fee applies):

• Saturday, February 16, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. — Hoo-Hoo Eats Who. Meet some neighborhood owls and learn how to dissect and study owl pellets.

 

• Saturday, February 16, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — The Journey of Sap to Syrup. See how real maple syrup is made from the sap of a real sugar maple tree (admission to this event is free).

 

• Saturday, February 16, 1:30 p.m. 2:15 p.m. – Meet Live Birds Of Prey. Learn about eagles, falcons and other birds of prey, featuring live birds, demonstrations and hands-on artifacts.

 

• Saturday, February 16, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. — Animal Clue Winter Walk. Search for signs that animal neighbors have visited and enjoy a campfire with hot chocolate and toast marshmallows.

 

• Monday, February 18 – Hoo-Hoo Eats Who returns from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

 

• Monday, February 18 – The Journey of Sap to Syrup returns from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

 

• Monday, February 18 – Matinee Magic with Joe Fischer, featuring a magic, audience participation, and comedy for children ages five and with parent (space is limited for this program).

For more details and pre-registration information for all Trailside programs, visit online at ucnj.org/trailside, call 908-789-3670 or email trailside@ucnj.org.

Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

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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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please be aware that extremely cold temperatures are expected Wednesday night and into Thursday. Conditions may be life threatening in case of prolonged exposure.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Commission on the Status of Women is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2019 Women of Excellence Awards. Eleven Union County women were cited for their outstanding contributions at the January 24^th meeting of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

“For 27 years, the Freeholder Board has recognized women among us who lead, serve, and inspire. Today it is more important than ever to raise awareness about the influence of women in every sphere of the Union County community, from business and legal affairs to public service and education,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “These awards recognize the contributions made by women who make a positive difference in the quality of life for everyone in the County.”

The Union County women being recognized for their accomplishments by the Commission on the Status of Women are:

Amy Cairns of Summit, Government Service

Antonietta LaVecchia of Summit, Business/Community Activist

Clea Carchia of Rahway, Arts/Graphic Design

Dawn McDonald of Scotch Plains, Education

Dr. Julia Grimes of Westfield, Medicine/Health & Wellness

Iliana Chevres of Elizabeth, Special Needs Advocacy

Kay Coats Macrae of Springfield, Theater Arts

Marlene Olson Hamm of Rahway, Environmental Advocacy

Mary Zimmermann of Summit, Lifetime Achievement

Michele Dabal of New Providence, Humanitarian Activities

Sandra Jackson of Linden, Youth Advocacy

The awardees will be honored at the annual Women of Excellence Gala Awards Dinner, to be held on March 29, 2019 at the Gran Centurions in Clark.

Each awardee will be presented with an engraved Women of Excellence plaque and a Freeholder Resolution in their honor recognizing their impact on the Union County community.

The Women of Excellence awards are sponsored by the Freeholder Board and the Union County Commission on the Status of Women, with the Union County Office on Women. 

For any questions or to get more information about the Women of Excellence awards program, contact Elizabeth Sebring, Union County Department of Human Services, at 908-527-4890 or esebring@ucnj.org or Jen Erdos, Secretary to the Commission on the Status of Women, at 908-527-4216 or jerdos@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.

 

Connect with Union County on social media.

 

 

Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski, and Freeholders Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded and Sergio Granados today joined with Human Services Administrators and employees in Elizabeth as they gathered food, diapers and hygiene products to be distributed to federal employees impacted by the shutdown and also for residents of Union County that have applied for SNAP and need emergency assistance.  The efforts are being organized through the Freeholder Board and through the Division of Social Services.

l. to r. Division of Social Services Director Charles Gillon, Freeholder Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded,  Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski,  Division of Social Service employees Felice Twaddle and  Tina Lopez, Human Services Director Debbie-Ann Anderson,  and Freeholder Sergio Granados.

Residents are welcome to continue to contribute feminine hygiene products and diapers for distribution through the Community Food Bank at the following County government locations:

• Union County Administration Building Lobby- 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth
• Union County Socials Services Building located at-
  • 342 Westminster Ave., Elizabeth
  • 200 West 2^nd St., Plainfield
• Froehlich Public Safety Building-400 North Ave., East, Westfield
• Engineering & Public Works Building-2325 South Ave., Scotch Plains

Offices are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. For More Information: Contact the Office of Community Engagement & Diversity Office: Nathalie Hernandez, nahernandez@ucnj.org

Jaime Segal (908) 709-7501
Nicole Torella (908) 709-7112

Union County College is waiving tuition for Union County residents who are impacted/furloughed employees and/or their dependents. At the announcement on January 25, 2019, Union’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin was joined by the College’s Board of Trustees Chairman Victor M. Richel and Union County Freeholder Sergio Granados, on behalf of Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski, at the College’s Elizabeth campus.

“By providing tuition waivers, we hope to help ease the financial stress on our students during this difficult time. We want them to be able to put food on the table, pay their rent or mortgage, and stay in school,” stated Board of Trustees Chairman Richel. “Student success is our priority.”

“Union County College’s decision to offer tuition waivers is another way in which we can help support Union County residents during this difficult time. We are thankful to the College for taking this proactive step,” stated Union County Freeholder Chair Kowalski.

There are an estimated 460 federal employees who live in Union County. The government shutdown is currently the longest in the nation’s history. Tuition waivers aim to ease the financial burden on furloughed federal employees by allowing students to continue their education. Individuals who are eligible should visit a Student Services Center in Cranford, Elizabeth, or Plainfield to register for the College’s Later Start semester which begins on February 4, 2019.

Union County College is a public comprehensive community college providing quality, affordable, accessible educational programs that serve the greater Union County region. The first of New Jersey’s 19 Associate degree colleges, Union County College has been serving both career-minded and transfer-oriented students since 1933. The College enrolls almost 20,000 credit, non-credit and continuing education students and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Many programs lead to the Associate in Arts, Science and Applied Science degrees.

Union County, NJ – On January 24, students in the UC STEP youth development program were presented with resolutions by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, congratulating them on winning the 2019 UC Step Civic Engagement challenge. UC STEP is a Freeholder initiative that provides high school students with opportunities to create countywide community service programs.

Each December, students from throughout Union County gather at the annual UC STEP Summit, where they divide into teams and participate in leadership workshops. As a highlight of the day’s activities, each team creates a countywide community service program. The winning campaigns are supported by the Freeholder Board each spring.

More than 200 students participated in the UC STEP summit last December.

“This year we asked our UC STEP participants for their ideas on the theme of suicide prevention. Their responses impressed us with their thoughtfulness, sensitivity, and grasp of the issues. We have combined two of them into one campaign, to make an even bigger impact,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.

The new campaign is called “Link Up for Life-5K.” It combines a 5-K fundraiser with a display of linked-together messages. The display is intended to represent support for those who are struggling.

“Through this fundraising event and the display of messages, we hope to demonstrate that Union County residents are aware of and care about supporting family, friends and strangers alike who need a guiding light in troubled times,” said Freeholder Chair Kowalski.

Funds raise through Link Up for Life-5K will benefit Caring Contact, an award-winning, volunteer-staffed caring and crisis hotline and listening community serving the central and northern New Jersey community. Caring Contact is based in Westfield.

The winning campaigns were created by students in the Color Group Orange and the Color Group Blue teams.

The Color Group Orange participants are Lily Gull – Arthur L. Johnson High School; Estalin J. Jadan – Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy – Jasalyn Hardy – Admiral William F. Halsey Leadership Academy; Miguel Campusano and Joseph Espinal – J. Christian Bollwage Finance Academy; Izabella Pinto-Cranford High School; Alexis Pinto – David Brearly High School; Sean McMahon-Governor Livingston High School Omar Chambers-Hillside High School; Ambar Concepcion-John E. Dwyer Technology Academy- Tiffany Gonzalez-Rahway High School; Michele Kamienski-Roselle Park High School-Brooke Arnold – New Providence High School-India Hill-Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Academy; Lourdes Castillo A. Contreras- Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy-Cynthia Diaz and Grace Lawal-U.C. TEAMS; Kayla Hsu-Union County Vocational-Technical Schools and Taylor Phillips-Union High School.

The Color Group Blue participants are Andres Rodriguez and Eduardo Martinez-Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy; Manuela Lopes-Admiral William F. Halsey Leadership Academy; Maryann Atlalla and Briana Nicole Evelyn-Benedictine Academy; Erin Lynskey-Cranford High School; Nick Tarabokia and David Martinez-Governor Livingston High School; Adamaris Vizueth and Jason Alvarez-John E. Dwyer Technology Academy;  Derrick Cosby Hurling and Emily Sznurkowski-Linden High School, Samuel Dorielan-Rahway High School; Matthew L. Burgos and Nina Worthey-Roselle Catholic High School; Justin Cabarle and Sarah Lippin-Roselle Park High School; Antoinette Chango-Scotch Pains-Fanwood High School; Scott Cohen, Summit High School; Larithsa Alcino- Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Academy– Vocational Education High School and Serenity Nova-Union High School.

The Link Up for Life-5K event will take place on April 13. Additional details will be available shortly.

UC STEP stands for Union County Student Training and Enrichment Program. For more information about UC STEP visit ucnj.org/uc-step.

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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.

 

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders presents special programs for families during the Presidents’ Day Holiday weekend.  Programs are recommended for families with children ages five and up.  

“February Festivities at Trailside offers a unique variety of entertaining programs to delight people of all ages,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.

Register online at ucnj.org/trailside.   

Throughout the weekend families are invited to enjoy two special matinee programs that are sure to capture the imagination of young and old.  On Saturday, February 16 Meet LIVE Birds of Prey with a guest speaker from the Tenafly Nature Center. 

Hawks, owls, falcons and eagles have special adaptations that help them survive in the wild. The audience is sure to be captivated with these magnificent animals through demonstrations, hands-on artifacts and, of course, LIVE birds of prey.

On Monday, February 18 adults and children will enjoy an afternoon filled with the perfect blend of magic, audience participation, comedy and excitement in Magic With Joe Fischer.  Matinees begin at 1:30 p.m. and space is limited.

Tickets go on sale at the Visitor Service Desk at 1:00 p.m. on the day of each program.  No strollers please.  The fee is $5.00 per person and $4.00 for seniors. 

Trailside proudly welcomes Wild Birds Unlimited of Scotch Plains to investigate our neighborhood owls.  On February 16 or 18 from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. families are invited to learn about our local owls in Hoo-Hoo Eats Who? Find out how to identify these owls by their calls and explore the special adaptations that make them excellent hunters.

Owls often swallow their prey whole, but parts like teeth, skulls, claws and feathers are too dangerous to pass through the owl’s digestive tract.  These items are expelled by the owl in the form of a pellet.  Families will work together to dissect sterilized owl pellets and identify the skeletal remains of the owl’s prey species. 

A Wild Birds Unlimited bird feeding display will be featured in the lobby throughout the February Festivities event.  Find out what types of seed can be used to attract goldfinch, cardinals and other song birds to your backyard.  Learn about feeders that are frequented by woodpeckers and discover some clever squirrel proofing solutions that prevent squirrels from stealing your seed.

The Journey of Sap to Syrup meets 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 16 or Monday, February 18.  Learn the process of how 100% real maple syrup is made from the sap of the sugar maple tree.  Find out what equipment is needed to collect sap and take a walk to see a tapped sugar maple tree.  Take part in a taste test to see if you can identify the real thing. 

Animal Clue Winter Walk and Campfire, is offered 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 16 or Monday, February 18.  Have fun on a short walk to look for buck rubs, animal tracks, nibbled twigs and other signs that tell us our animal neighbors have visited.  Conclude your outdoor investigation around a warm campfire with hot chocolate and marshmallows.

Registration is required for all family programs and the fee for each workshop is $5/person for residents of Union County and $6/person for out-of-county residents. Walk-ins are welcomed as space permits.

For additional information about the special programs and matinees offered during February Festivities, winter workshops, teacher training or special events, 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 service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

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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.