Category: Public Info

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders presents a resolution to Assemblywoman Linda Carter (D-22) of Plainfield commending her for her outstanding leadership as a former Union County Freeholder since being sworn into her first term in 2010. In 2013, Assemblywoman Carter made history as the first African-American woman to Chair the Union County Freeholder Board. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders commends former Freeholder Carter for her years of service to the County of Union and its residents and wishes her many years of success in the New Jersey State Assembly. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Study addresses flooding in Cranford, Kenilworth, Garwood, Rahway, Springfield and Union and surrounding counties

Key federal legislation that would among other items, address flooding concerns in Union County and other central New Jersey locations is advancing—thanks in part to the efforts of Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker.

Freeholder Vice Chair Bette Jane Kowalski (of Cranford) and Freeholder Bruce Bergen (of Springfield) have been long advocating for the completion of the Rahway River Basin Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study, which  provides a blueprint on how to protect central New Jersey communities from Rahway River flooding—including Cranford, Kenilworth, Springfield, Union, Rahway and Garwood in Union County.

“The study is designed to provide a long-lasting solution to a problem that has plagued many of our municipalities for years, if not decades, causing tens of millions in property damage,” said Freeholder Vice Chair Kowalski. “We applaud the efforts of Senators Bookers and Menendez that have brought this important issue for a final vote.”

Freeholder Bergen, who has long worked with a Union County Mayor’s Committee to address flooding, also thanked both Senators, adding: “The bill not only expedites the completion of the study, but would also urge the Secretary of the Army to proceed directly through the Army Corps of Engineers to project preconstruction, engineering, and design.”

Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados also expressed his appreciation to both Senators—and to Freeholders Bergen and Kowalski for their diligence in staying on the issue through the years on the Board.

“While there is still a final vote pending,  I would like to thank both my colleagues—Freeholders Bergen and Kowalski for their perseverance and efforts with our Senators to advance such critical legislation that would protect Union County residents and their homes from flood damage,” Chairman Granados said.

Support for the funding, completion and implementation of the study is included in America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018—bipartisan legislation that includes provisions both Booker and Menendez fought for to expedite critical flood mitigation projects, strengthen the nation’s aging water infrastructure, and help boost the water utility workforce. The bill now heads to the full Senate for a vote after being passed by the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee, which Booker is a member of.

“Investing in our water infrastructure is critical to the health and safety of our state’s residents, and to New Jersey’s and our nation’s economic success,” said Senator Booker. “This legislation will help protect New Jersey communities from flooding and extreme weather, provide the necessary job training to strengthen our water utility workforce, rebuild our crumbling drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, and create jobs. I look forward to continuing our bipartisan work to move this bill through the full Senate.”

In 2016, Booker and Menendez successfully included several New Jersey priorities in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) authorization, including the Rahway River Basin Flood Risk Management, Hereford Inlet to Cape May Inlet, Hudson Raritan Estuary, and the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites residents and visitors of all ages to celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of National Trails Day at the Watchung Reservation on Saturday, June 2, with a volunteer trail restoration project in the morning followed by an afternoon of special programs and activities.

The trail restoration project will take place rain or shine from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Participants will be treated to a continental breakfast and learn how to repair a section of trail bed. The project also involves removing invasive plants.

“Walking the peaceful, rustic trails of the Watchung Reservation is a rare pleasure in today’s bustling world,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Our volunteers work hard to keep the trails in shape for all to enjoy, and we truly appreciate their efforts.”

Trail work participants must be seven years of age or older and children must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration is required by contacting bkelly@uncj.org.

In the afternoon, Union County’s Trailside Nature & Science Center will offer a full slate of activities and programs for all ages, including four guided walks. Each walk has a different theme: sensory awareness, geocaching, leading a hike through blazed trails, and basics of birding.

This year marks the 50^th Anniversary of the National Trails System Act, signed into law by President Johnson on October 2, 1968.

For full schedule of National Trails Day activities and other programs at Trailside, call 908-789-3670 or visit online at ucnj.org/trailside.   

The Trailside Nature & Science Center is located in the Watchung Reservation in Mountainside, at 452 New Providence Road.

Quick links to more information about Trailside, Union County parks, and all of Union County’s environmental programs and activities are available 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 Sheriff Peter Corvelli announced today that the Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health, will offer training on traumatic events in the workplace, Peer-to-Peer Counseling, and mental health wellbeing for Officers and Supervisors.

The trainings, led by Princeton House professionals, are the first in their kind in New Jersey offered at a Sheriff’s Office. They are being offered free of charge, in conjunction with the PBA and are voluntary for rank-and-file members (approximately 200 Supervisors and Officers) of the Sheriff’s Office. The trainings are expected to begin in September (on-site at the County complex in Elizabeth), and last two months.

“Union County Supervisors and Officers are the first on scene at many tragic and violent incidents,” said Sheriff Corvelli. “They make decisions in split seconds under stressful conditions in order to protect the citizens and courts of Union County. By offering this training, we hope to help promote balance and enhance the wellbeing of those who protect and serve.”

The trainings, which are being led by Michael Bizzarro, Ph.D., Director of First Responder Treatment Services at Princeton House (and a former Police Officer and military veteran) and Ken Burkert, a retired Union County Corrections Officer who was the State PBA Vice President (and a Chairman of the Peer Assistance Response Team for the PBA), offer tools for officers to help manage stress and trauma of the job.

“The training is also designed to assist officers in identifying signs of stress in their peers. In a group of individuals who always run toward danger to protect others, there is often an inability to notice when troubling events have taken their toll. Our training can help officers detect problems before they become tragedies,” said Dr. Bizzarro.

Mike Heller, Union County Sheriff’s Officer and the Union delegate to the PBA, added:

“This program gives our Officers and Supervisors an important tool in dealing with the stress in their jobs,” said Heller, who is also a member of the Peer Assistance Response team for the PBA, which among its programs, provides a counseling component for its members. “The stress and trauma is a side of the job no one likes to talk about—and having this program which encourages them to talk and share their issues, will not only assist our men and women in their jobs, but in their daily lives and overall mental health.”

First Responder Treatment Services at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health provides customized care for law enforcement officers, firefighters, military personnel, EMTs, and other first responders while they are in treatment at Princeton House, an inpatient hospital for those with mental health and substance use disorders. Princeton House intensive outpatient and partial hospital programs also feature trauma tracks for men and women in Princeton, Eatontown, Hamilton, Mooresetown and North Brunswick.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that prize winning artworks by Union County employees and their family members are on display through July 10 in the Freeholders Gallery, located on the 6^th floor of the Union County Administration Building, at 10 Elizabethtown Plaza in Elizabeth. The gallery is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays.

The exhibit presents 17 pieces selected from among the 162 works judged at the recent 17^th Annual National Arts Program Exhibit for County of Union Employees. The full exhibit was on display at Liberty Hall Center through May 22 in partnership with Elizabethtown Gas and the National Arts Program Foundation, which provides prizes and support for artists from all walks of life.

“The works on display at the Administration Building demonstrate the rich diversity of Union County with an inspiring range of creative emotion, imagination and skill, said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “We are fortunate to have the support of the National Arts Program and Elizabethtown Gas, for providing outstanding artists in our community with the opportunity to bring their works to the public.”

Including the 17 works at the Freeholders Gallery, the following artists received prizes from the Annual National Arts Program (listed alphabetically by municipality):

Berkeley Heights: Linda Brazaitis (Third Place, Intermediate) and Sergei Kent (Honorable Mention, Amateur)

Clark: Ryan Frees (First Place, Amateur)

Cranford: Dianna Strom (Honorable Mention, Professional)

Edison: Ruth Brown (Honorable Mention, Professional)

Elizabeth: Alessandra Alma (First Place, Professional), Natalie Barrueco (Honorable Mention, Intermediate), Natalie Gregorio (Honorable Mention, Intermediate), Thomas Osorio (First Place, Youth 12 and Under) and Dario Scholis (Second Place, Professional)

Garwood: Sophia Malcolm (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under) and Kelly Sullivan (Honorable Mention, Amateur)

Georgetown: Judith Gault (Honorable Mention, Amateur) and Tatiana Gault (Art Education Award, Teen 13-18)

Hillsborough: James Caratozzolo (Honorable Mention, Amateur)

Hillside: Ivelisse Inglefield (Second Place, Youth 12 and Under)

Jersey City: Hadieh Afshani (First Place, Professional)

Leonardo: Eryn Knapp (Second Place, Teen 13-18)

Linden: Charisse Cosby-Hurling (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under) and Christine Marti-Millward (Art Education Award, Teen 13-18)

Monroe: Richa Wadhawan (First Place, Teen 13-18) and Rishabh Wahaden (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18)

Old Bridge: Allana McQueen (Third Place, Teen 13-18)

Rahway: Arianna Lespinasse (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under) and Danni Newbury (Honorable Mention, Intermediate)

Roselle: Anthony Waldmann (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18)

Scotch Plains: Kyree Brown-Cook (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under), Marilyn Espinoza (Third Place, Professional), Debra Livingston (Honorable Mention, Professional) and Niyati Shah (Third Place, Youth 12 and Under)

Somerset: Tiina Nummela (Third Place, Amateur)

Springfield: Kat Block (Best in Show, Professional)

Summit: Jeffrey Hankinson (Second Place, Amateur)

Westfield: Mary Paynter (Honorable Mention, Professional), Shane Strano (Second Place, Intermediate) and Barbara Uhr (Honorable Mention, Professional)

Additional support for the exhibit was provided by a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Exhibits at the Freeholders Gallery are coordinated by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs. For more information about this exhibit and other programs and services related to the arts and Union County history, contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at culturalinfo@ucnj.org or call 908-558-2550 (Relay users dial 711).

 

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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: “Mercury Bounty”$5.00 gift card for residents turning in mercury thermostats

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is offering a simple way for everyone to pitch in and help improve environmental health. Residents can safely dispose of unwanted household chemicals and other special waste by bringing these items to Union County’s free Household Hazardous Waste recycling event on Saturday June 9, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., rain or shine, at the Union County College campus in Cranford, at 1033 Springfield Avenue.

As a bonus, the company Covanta is partnering with the Freeholder Board to offer $5.00 Home Depot gift cards for residents turning in old mercury thermostats.

“Our Household Hazardous Waste events provide every Union County household with a convenient way to dispose of harmful chemicals and other items in a safe and responsible manner,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “It’s one of the easiest and most effective ways for everyone to help create a more healthful environment in their homes and in our community.”

“Covanta is proud to partner with Union County for a ‘Mercury Bounty’ take back event,” said Covanta’s Director of Environmental Science and Community Affairs Kenneth Armellino. “Covanta will be offering $5 Home Depot gift cards to any resident who turns in a mercury-containing thermostat.”

Household hazardous wastes that can be brought to the event include mercury thermostats, 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. Workers at the site will unload the vehicles.

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 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 June 9 as well as all Union County 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.

Chairman Granados’s 2018 Moving Union County Forward “Plant a Seed” initiative includes programs that enhance the County’s recycling, conservation and environmental education, including grants for school and community gardens, a new Earth Day discount for compost bins and rain barrels, and support for statewide recycling initiatives.

For quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities visit The Green Connection at 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 is pleased to announce that the annual Farmers’ Market voucher program for seniors will begin again this summer. Starting on June 25, income eligible adults age 60 and up can receive a total of $25 in free vouchers to purchase fresh produce at designated Farmers’ Markets throughout Union County.

The total of $25 is provided in $5 increments, so that seniors can spread out their purchases to ensure freshness.

“The Freeholder Board is proud to support the voucher program, which helps seniors on a budget enjoy the health benefits of fresh produce,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “By encouraging seniors to engage with local New Jersey farmers, the program also creates new opportunities for seniors to connect with their community.”

Eligible Union County adults can apply for the vouchers by visiting any of the designated distribution sites scheduled during June and July on the list below, or by calling the Union County Department of Human Services, Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection toll free at 888-280-8226.

The vouchers may be used at any Farmers’ Market in Union County that displays the yellow and black WIC poster. As a convenience, farmers offering produce for sale will also be present at several of the voucher distribution sites.

A limited number of vouchers are available and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

To be eligible, a single person’s annual income cannot exceed $22,459 and a married couple’s combined income may not exceed $30,451. Proof of age, residency and income are required at the time of application.

A Medicaid card, SSI, SNAP, annual pension, or Social Security statement may serve as proof of eligibility. Proxies applying on another person’s behalf must present proof of eligibility for that person.

Any eligible Union County resident can apply for a voucher at any of the following distribution sites in June and July:

 

Monday, June 25

Liberty Square Senior Center

240 Elizabeth Avenue, Elizabeth

Vouchers 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

 

Wednesday July 2

Casano Community Center

314 Chestnut Street, Roselle Park

Vouchers 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

 

Wednesday, July 11

Golden Age Towers

200-220 East Milton Avenue, Rahway

Vouchers 10:00 am to 12:00 Noon

Farmer will be at this site

 

Monday, July 16

Ann Ferguson Towers

1601 Dill Avenue, Linden

Vouchers 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 am

Farmer will be at this site

 

Thursday, July 19

Peterstown Community Center

408 Palmer Street, Elizabeth

Vouchers 9:00 am to 11:00 am

 

Monday, July 23

O’Donnell-Dempsey Senior Center

622 Salem Avenue, Elizabeth

Vouchers 9:00 am to 11:00 am

Farmer will be at this site

 

Wednesday, July 25

Plainfield Senior Center

400 East Front Street, Plainfield

Vouchers 10:00 am to 12 noon

Farmer will be at this site

As part of Chairman Granados’s 2018 Moving Union County Forward “Plant a Seed” initiative, the Freeholder Board has also continued funding for the Union County Means Green community garden grant program. The program provides grants to build and improve community vegetable gardens, including gardens for seniors. Twenty-seven garden projects received funding this year.

“The grant program helps to improve access to nutritious, fresh produce for seniors, while also providing an opportunity to expand their social, educational and recreational activities,” said Chairman Granados. Chairman Granados also launched the Union County Kids Dig In grant program to provide funding for gardens at schools in 2017. This year the program funded gardens at 81 schools.

For more information about the Farmers’ Market program or any other services provided by the Union County Department of Human Services, Division of Aging and Disability Resource call 888-280-8226 or 877-222-3737, or visit online at 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.

Union County, NJ – Union County offers free recycling events to help residents clear unwanted items from their homes, yards and garages while helping the environment. In June the schedule begins this Saturday with a free paper shredding event, and continues throughout the month with events for household hazardous waste, electronics and additional paper shredding as well as ongoing drop-off locations for scrap metal.

“Our countywide recycling events help every resident practice environmental stewardship, by conserving resources and keeping toxic materials out of the waste stream,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Everyone can make a difference in the Union County community and in the health of our planet, too.”

“The free paper shredding events also provide our residents with an affordable way to dispose of sensitive personal documents in a safe and secure manner,” added Chairman Granados.

Any Union County resident can use any of these events, regardless of the location.

“These are countywide services open to all residents, so please feel free to use the ones most convenient to your location,” said Granados.

Union County will host two Mobile Paper Shredding Events in June. The first event is scheduled for Saturday, June 2 at Union County College in Cranford at 1033 Springfield Avenue followed by Wednesday, June 6 at the Clark Department of Public Works, located at 315 Westfield Avenue.

Both events run from 9:00 a.m. to approximately 1:00 p.m. They may end before 1:00 if the trucks are filled.

Residents can bring up to four bags of confidential documents for shredding weighing less than 10 pounds each. 

On Saturday, June 9 there will be a Household Hazardous Waste Program at the Union County College campus in Cranford.  The event will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Items for drop off include old pesticides and herbicides, pool chemicals, gasoline, oil-based paints, propane tanks and deck stain, automobile tires and much more. 

On Saturday, June 30 there will be a Computer and Electronics Recycling Event at the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools campus located at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.  This event will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Items for drop off include televisions, computers, monitors, printers, fax machines and DVD players and many more.

There is a limit of six electronic items per vehicle. 

Union County’s Scrap Metal Recycling program also continues in June. These events are held on the first Thursday and Third Saturday of each month. This month’s dates are Thursday, June 7 and Saturday, June 16.

There are two locations in Union County for residents to drop off their metal for recycling, one in Cranford and Rahway.  Both locations are open from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Residents can drop off old appliances, microwaves, bicycles, air conditioners, metal lawn furniture and more.

As part of Union County’s recycling programs, the paper shredding events support the goals of Chairman Granados’s Moving Union County Forward “Plant a Seed” initiative for building participation in recycling countywide, and engaging and the public in conservation and environmental education.

Visit ucnj.org/recycling for more details including directions to the sites, complete lists of accepted items, and schedules for upcoming events.

For quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities, visit The Green Connection at 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.

Rebecca Williams, a former Plainfield Councilwoman, has been appointed to fill an unexpired term on the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Freeholder Williams, who will be ceremonially sworn in at the upcoming Freeholder meeting on June 7^th, was chosen by the Union County Democratic Committee to complete the term left vacant by former Freeholder Linda Carter, who recently resigned to become the State Assemblywoman for the 22^nd District.

“We congratulate Freeholder Williams on her appointment and we look forward to working with her in moving Union County forward,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “On behalf of the Freeholder Board, Directors, and our employees, I welcome her to County government. Her experience as a councilwoman and community roots has helped to prepare her for this new chapter in her life of serving our over 500,000 Union County residents.”

Freeholder Williams said: “It is an honor to represent the people of Union County on the Board of Chosen Freeholders. I look forward to working with all the members of the Board in serving the residents of this great county. I have served as an ethical, dependable, and dedicated public servant at the municipal level, and as an effective advocate on various issues. I am ready to serve. ”

Biography for Freeholder Williams

Known for an emphasis on constituent outreach, fiscal issues and quality of life matters, Freeholder Williams served two terms on the Plainfield City Council.

She served last year as Council President, leading the city council in support of a progressive agenda and economic development that has contributed to Plainfield’s revitalization. Prior to her appointment to the Freeholder Board, she was serving for the third straight year as the Chair of the Council’s Administration and Finance Committee, leading the council to the earliest-ever budget passage multiple years in a row. 

She was also the current Chair of the Public Safety Committee (having served in that role previously for some years), and the liaison to the Plainfield Advisory Commission on Hispanic Affairs.

As Council President, she budgeted (through the council budget) for bilingual translation devices (and a translator). She also worked to ensure that the City agendas were translated into Spanish. Freeholder Williams also took the lead in successfully securing passage of the Earned Sick Leave ordinance for the City of Plainfield to help protect city workers and the city’s public health. Plainfield became only the 12th municipality to pass such a law in New Jersey.

Freeholder Williams has also been in the forefront of LGBTQ advocacy, and last year, hosted a special LGBTQ Pride Month event—a staged play-reading, and Plainfield’s first-ever Pride flag raising event. In addition, she served in the past on the Plainfield Pride Film Festival Committee, and was recently honored for her activism with a resolution by Union County for Lesbian Visibility Day.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites residents and visitors to celebrate the rich legacy of the Carnegie Libraries this summer, with a series of three special events in June, July and August.

All three events will be held at the Elizabeth Public Library in historic midtown Elizabeth, at 11 South Broad Street.

“In honoring the Carnegie Libraries we also pay tribute to the invaluable role of free and equal access to knowledge and information in our communities,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados.

The series kicks off on Wednesday, June 13 at 6:00 p.m. with a panel discussion including all six Union County municipalities that have or had a Carnegie Library. The event features presentations, pictures, and historical documents.

The next two events will be an opening reception for the new Carnegie Library exhibit at the Elizabeth Public Library on Wednesday, July 11 at 6:30 p.m. and a presentation by author and Monmouth University librarian Eleonora Dubicki on her article “Carnegie Libraries in New Jersey: 1900-1923” on Thursday, August 9 at 4:30 p.m.

The Carnegie Library series is a partnership with the Union County of Board of Chosen Freeholders through the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, the Elizabeth Public Library and the New Jersey Studies Academic Alliance.

For more information on all Cultural and Heritage programs in Union County visit on line at ucnj.org, call 908-436-2912 or email culturalinfo@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.