Category: Public Info

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the opening of a new senior café in Scotch Plains on Tuesday, May 1 at the Shady Rest Clubhouse at the Scotch Hills Country Club, 820 Jerusalem Road. The historic site is a meeting place for Scotch Plains seniors, and is currently owned by the Township of Scotch Plains. Built in the 1920’s, it was the first African-American owned golf course in the United States. 

Seniors are invited to come to the opening of the café on Tuesday, May 1 for lunch beginning at 11:30 a.m. Food will be served until at approximately 12:15 p.m. The lunches will then continue to be served once a week—weekly on Tuesdays, during the same time span.

“This is the 24^th group meal site for senior adults, age 60 and older, in Union County and it is open to seniors from any of the 21 municipalities in the County,” stated Sergio Granados, Chairman of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. “We are pleased to offer new places for our seniors to meet and share lunch together. A nutritionally balanced lunch will be served with the help of local volunteers.”

Scotch Plains Mayor Al Smith said, “As Mayor, and on behalf of the entire Council, I am proud to continue our commitment to serve all seniors with well-rounded programming to address their needs. The Senior Café is a wonderful addition to the programing provided through the Township for seniors. I look forward to attending some of the lunches myself!”

Freeholder Al Mirabella, also Scotch Plains Municipal Manager, noted: “The Township of Scotch Plains is always looking for ways to expand our programming for our Senior Citizens. This weekly nutrition program, held in the newly refurbished Shady Rest, is a wonderful opportunity for our seniors to meet, socialize and share a meal.” 

The program will be run by Scotch Plains, under the supervision of County officials. The meals, which are paid through Federal grant funds, consist of a hot protein entre, vegetable or salad, potato, pasta or rice, bread, milk, and soup or juice.

The suggested donation is $1.75 per meal.  If one person in a couple is under age 60, the suggested donation is $4.00.

Countywide in 2017, the Union County Division on Aging delivered 166,835 group meals at 23 senior sites. Another 224,337 “Meals on Wheels” meals were delivered to the homes of the frail elderly, for a total of 391,172 meals.

A nutritionist in the Division on Aging designs meals that meet healthy nutrient requirements, also known as the Recommended Dietary Allowance. In addition, the nutritionist provides health and wellness presentations about food choices, physical activity, and seasonal produce.

For further information about nutrition programs offered by the Division on Aging, contact Kathleen Malkiewicz by phone at 908-527-4877 or by email at kmalkiewicz@ucnj.org.

For information about all services and programs for seniors and their families visit ucnj.org/aging.

Union County, NJ – Union County residents seeking information about services available for senior adults age 60 and up can visit the Aging Service Kiosk (ASK) at five locations in May to speak with staff from the county’s Department of Human Services, Division on Aging.

Staff will be present at public libraries in Linden, Mountainside, Clark, Fanwood and Union.

“The ASK program brings our experienced staff to local communities, where they are more accessible to seniors, family members and caregivers who are looking for helpful resources and programs,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados.

Through the ASK program, staff from the Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection travel throughout Union County providing information about home delivered meals, respite care, home care, adult day care support services for caregivers and more.

Assistance with completing applications and forms is also provided.

Any Union County resident, family member or caregiver, can visit any ASK event. The May 2018 dates and locations are:

Wednesday, May 9

Linden Public Library

31 E. Henry Street

Linden, 07036

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

 

Friday, May 11

Mountainside Public Library

Constitution Plaza

Mountainside, 07092

12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

 

Monday, May 14

Clark Public Library

303 Westfield Avenue

Clark, 07066

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

 

Wednesday, May 23

Fanwood Public Library

5 Forest Road

Fanwood, 07023

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

 

Tuesday, May 29

Union Public Library

1980 Morris Avenue

Union, 07083

12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

 

All Union County residents are welcome to attend the ASK events.

The Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection’s goal is to promote wellness, independence, dignity and choice for seniors and their families. It is one of 670 “Area Agencies on Aging” nationwide established under the federal Older Americans Act. The division has information printed in both English and Spanish.

Dates and locations of upcoming ASK program stops are posted in local newspapers, the Senior News, Facebook, Twitter and the Union County website, ucnj.org.

For further information about the Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection, call the division’s toll-free number: 1-888-280-8226, call 908-527-4870 or 908-527-4858, 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.

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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that the 17^th Annual National Arts Program Exhibit for County of Union Employees is now on display in the atrium of Liberty Hall Center in Union Township, at 1085 Morris Avenue.

The exhibit includes more than 160 pieces. It is open to view by the public weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. until May 22.

“I would like to thank Elizabethtown Gas for supporting the arts and providing this beautiful showcase for Union County employees, volunteers, retirees and their families,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “This annual exhibit reflects the thoughtfulness, diversity and creativity that are emblematic of a strong community, both within County government and throughout the Union County family.”

The art exhibit is presented in partnership with the National Arts Program, which provides funding for the exhibit and prizes. A May 2 reception honoring the prize winning artists will be hosted and funded by Elizabethtown Gas.

“The Freeholder Board shares the goal of enabling people to express themselves and communicate through the arts, and we are very proud to partner with the National Arts Program and Elizabethtown Gas in this endeavor,” said Freeholder Bruce H. Bergen, who is the liaison to the Union County Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board.

A panel of three professional judges will determine the prize winning pieces:

Frank Falotico recently retired as the Director of the duCret School of Art in Plainfield. Mr. Falotico has a B.A. in Fine Art from Monmouth College, is a graduate of the duCret School of Art and studied at the Art Students League in New York. He has exhibited his paintings in numerous shows in New Jersey and New York including the Swain Galleries in Plainfield, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, Rutgers University, and the Salmagundi Club in New York City.

Gail Holy received her M.Ed. in Art Education at the Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, and studied painting and art history at Rutgers University. Ms. Holy taught studio art at the high school level for five years in the New Jersey public schools. She is currently employed as an Assistant Director for the Kean University College of Education’s Teaching Performance Center, where she works with student teachers. Gail has had a number of careers in the arts field, including a position as a professor of art education at Kean University, as a field supervisor who observed student art teachers in the classroom, a curatorial assistant for the Mary H. Dana Women Artists Series at Douglass College, and as a Senior Director for the Universal Music Group in New York, where she managed the copyright division and licensed MCA copyrights. Ms. Holy’s recent work-in-progress is a series of monoprints.

Kirsten Sejda is a Ceramicist and Printmaker who recently received her MFA at New Jersey City University. She received her BFA from NJCU as well. For the past seven years, Ms. Sejda has been the technician and studio manager for NJCU’s Ceramics and Fine Arts departments. Prior to this, she worked as an educator at various arts institutions throughout the state. She has exhibited nationally, most recently at the Wet Paint MFA Biennial in Chicago.

The National Arts Program is in its 33^rd year, with 86 annual programs in 38 states, providing a free and open opportunity for people to present their talents, at any level, in free, public exhibitions. The National Arts Program is sponsored by The National Arts Program Foundation of Malvern, Pennsylvania. To learn more about the program, visit thenationalartsprogram.org.

For more information about the Employee Art Exhibit and all other programs and activities of the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs call 908- 558-2550 (NJ relay users dial 711), e-mail culturalinfo@ucnj.org or visit online at ucnj.org/parks-recreation/cultural-heritage-affairs.

Additional support for the Employee Art Exhibit is provided by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

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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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ELIZABETH, NJ–The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites youngsters ages 4 to 12 years old to participate in “Paint by the Pond.”

This will be the third year for this interactive art project which will take place on Saturday, May 12 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the pond in Warinanco Park.

The pond is located near the snack bar and basketball courts.

The “Paint by the Pond” project will teach families about the importance of recycling while encouraging children to paint on cardboard, creating art from materials usually thrown away.

There will also be miniature houses made with the cardboard boxes floating in the pond at Warinanco Park during the event.

“This year we will be back at the pond at Warinanco Park where young artists will be able to capture the glorious colors of spring,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados.

For more information on this exciting event, please call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at (908) 527-4900.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announces that Gold Star Parent identification cards are now available from her office, for mothers and fathers of military service members who died while on active duty.

A new state law authorizes counties in New Jersey to issue the card, which provides for free access to New Jersey state parks, forests and beaches, and the New Jersey State Museum.

“The Gold Star Parent card recognizes that sons and daughters will always be remembered and honored by their parents and by the Union County community,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “My office is proud to provide these cards as a modest token of gratitude for the sacrifice that families in our community have made in service to our country.”

Gold Star is a military designation with roots in World War I, when households flew flags with a blue star for each immediate family member serving in the military. A gold star replaced the blue in case of casualty in uniform, signaling the family’s sacrifice to their neighbors and their community.

Union County is the third county in New Jersey to offer the cards. Ocean County and Cape May also offer them.

In addition to biological parents, the new law enables legal guardians, adoptive parents and other custodians to qualify for a card.

Union County residents may apply for the card in person at the County Clerk’s Elizabeth or Westfield office. Appropriate documentation is required, including a Federal DD Form 1300 report of casualty and proof of the applicant’s relationship to the deceased.

For more details about applying for a Gold Star Parent card in Union County, including hours and directions for the County Clerk’s Elizabeth and Westfield offices, visit online at ucnj.org/county-clerk or call 908-527-4787.

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Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholder Bruce H. Bergen joined State Senator Nicholas Scutari, Acting Union County Prosecutor Michael Monahan, Union County Police Chief Chris Debbie, Union County Undersheriff Amilcar Colon, Union County Public Safety Director Andrew Moran, Friends of the Union County Child Advocacy Center President Drew Ertman and Union County Assistant Prosecutor Lyndsay Ruotolo at the 4th annual Race 4 the Children 5K Fundraiser in Warinanco Park in Roselle.
 
All proceeds benefit the Child Advocacy Center of Union County. The event is co-sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the City of Elizabeth. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ—The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation invite families with children of all ages and adults alike to climb aboard a variety of public safety vehicles at this year’s “Touch A Truck” event on Sunday afternoon, April 29. The event will run from 11:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M., weather permitting in the Lower Loop Parking Lot of the Watchung Reservation.

There will also be a quiet hour, from 11:00 A.M. until 12:00 P.M. where children sensitive to noise will be able to enjoy the vehicles on display.

“Youngsters will have an opportunity to attend Touch A Truck at the Loop in the Watchung Reservation and get a close up look at these magnificent machines,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “They will also have the chance to climb aboard and experience the excitement of being behind the wheel.”

Hazmat will offer its big rig, and the Union County Department of Public Works will return with its mammoth white milling machine which is used to strip the top off of roads to prepare them for paving. The companion vehicle, the paver, will also be there, along with a bucket truck used for high tree trimming.

Attendees can also see multiple trucks with snow plows, payloaders, and hook/flatbed tow. And of course, fire department truck equipment from the Mountainside Fire Department is also planned for display.

This year’s Touch A Truck event will feature a special display from the Fire Museum, a 1975 Piece Custom pumper, retired from Mine Hill Fire Department.

Admission to the Touch A Truck event is $5 per person, with children 6 years old and under admitted free. The price of admission also includes admission to Wild Earth Fest.

The Loop Area is located just off Tracy Drive in Mountainside, in between Glenside Avenue and Summit Road. It features a very popular playground area for kids, and the concession stand will be open. Visitors may also visit the Watchung Stable and the Deserted Village of Feltville/Glenside Park. Also, Lake Surprise is just a short walk where residents can see the new dam.

For more information on Touch a Truck, or any event in the Union County Parks System, please visit our website at ucnj.org/parks.

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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 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. The events will be held at the Main Library in historic midtown Elizabeth, at 11 South Broad Street.

 “Our free public libraries are the backbone of American democracy. They are places where people from all walks of life can meet on an equal footing, and pillars of strength for those seeking opportunities for self-improvement,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “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.” 

The three events are:

Wednesday, June 13 at 6:00 p.m. — A panel discussion with representatives of the six towns that have or had a Carnegie Library. The event includes PowerPoint presentations, pictures, and documents associated with the six buildings.

Wednesday, July 11 at 6:30 p.m. – An opening reception for a new exhibit titled, “A Carnegie Library: The History of the Elizabeth Public Library,” including original materials covering the design, construction, and evolution of Elizabeth’s two Carnegie Libraries. The exhibit will run from July 2 through July 28.

Thursday, August 9 at 4:30 p.m. — Author and Monmouth University librarian Eleonora Dubicki will be the featured speaker sharing research for her article “Carnegie Libraries in New Jersey: 1900-1923.” Ms. Dubicki has published two books and more than a dozen articles on topics in the field of library and information science.

Andrew Carnegie was a hard driving industrialist of the 19^th century who became a leading civic philanthropist in the early 20^th century. A major part of his legacy was the endowment of 1,688 public libraries throughout the country, including six in Union County: Westfield, Plainfield, Cranford, Summit and Elizabeth, which had two.

The Main Library in Elizabeth was constructed in 1912 and is the only one of those six to continue functioning as a library.

“This celebration of the Carnegie Libraries is also a timely reminder of the profound impact that immigrants have on the quality of life in our communities,” said Chairman Granados. “Andrew Carnegie came to this country from Scotland with hardly a dime to his name, and countless millions of Americans have benefited from his legacy.”

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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Photo Credit: Main Library, Elizabeth Public Library.

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 welcomes beginners and experts alike to enjoy a free Open House including archery demonstrations and refreshments at Union County’s Archery Range at Oak Ridge Park in Clark on Saturday, June 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The event is free and open to both in-county and out-of-county residents. Pre-registration by Friday, June 1 is required.

“Our archery range is open from dawn to dusk all year ‘round for the enjoyment of all,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “It is designed to welcome people with disabilities, novices and newcomers, while also providing an Olympic scale environment to satisfy all levels of skill and experience.”

The Open House will feature free demonstrations of Olympic archery, compound bows with 3-D targets, traditional archery, modern equipment, flying discs and more.

Any eligible individual can apply for an annual permit to use the Archery Range. The applicant must show proof of previous safety training, or pass a safety course offered by the Archery Range.

The Archery Range also offers individual and group lessons for beginners on up. All equipment is included with the lessons.

“We provide the equipment for lessons so it’s easy to come and get a feel for the sport,” said Chairman Grandados. “The Archery Range at Oak Ridge Park is the only outdoor, Olympic scale range in the entire area, and we are happy to offer this opportunity to Union County residents and the public at large, too.”

To register for the Open House, visit ucnj.org/parks and click on Reserve Online under Reservations, or call 908-654-9805.

More information on the Archery Range, including the safety lesson schedule, class prices, and range rules, is available at ucnj.org/parks-recreation/archery.

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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 openings are still available in the upcoming training series for Volunteer Advocates for victims of sexual violence. The sessions are scheduled twice weekly beginning on Tuesday, May 1 until Thursday, June 14.

The training is free. No previous experience in counseling is required. Volunteer Advocates work with the professional staff at Union County’s Rape Crisis Center to help victims cope with the legal, medical and emotional aftermath of sexual violence.

“The Freeholder Board is extremely proud of our volunteer advocates, who help restore a sense of community and self-worth to Union County residents who are facing a life crisis,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “If you are looking for a worthwhile volunteer activity that makes a real difference on a person-to-person level, I encourage you to contact the Union County Rape Crisis Center and ask about the upcoming training program.”

Training sessions will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Union County complex in Westfield, at 300 North Avenue East.

Volunteers must be Union County residents at least 18 years of age.  They must hold a valid driver’s license and have their own vehicle. Prior to training, each volunteer must come to the Rape Crisis Center for an informal interview. Volunteers must also attend all training sessions.

For more information about volunteering and to schedule an interview, call the Union County Rape Crisis Center at 908-233-7273.

Visit unioncountyrapecrisiscenter.blogspot.com to learn more about the Rape Crisis Center.

The Rape Crisis Center has been serving Union County residents since 1984, as part of the Union County Department of Human Services.

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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.