Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds Union County residents that the County Clerks’ Elections Office in Elizabeth and Westfield will be open for special hours on Saturday, November 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., for anyone wishing to obtain an application for a Vote-By-Mail ballot in person.

“If desired, voters can apply for a Vote-by-Mail ballot, fill out their ballot and cast it in a secure collection box at the Elizabeth or Westfield office, all in one visit,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “I encourage voters to use Vote-by-Mail, and my office provides this ‘One-Stop’ service to help ensure that the process is user-friendly and convenient.”

Voters not using the County Clerk’s One-Stop service must return their Vote-by-Mail ballots to the Union County Board of Elections by mail or in person by Election Day.

To use the One-Stop service at the Elizabeth and Westfield offices, a 2015 state law requires voters to provide a New Jersey driver’s license or New Jersey identification card with their photo, name, address and signature.

Voters may apply for a Vote-by-Mail ballot in person at both locations until Monday, November 6 at 3:00 p.m.

Voters can also download a Vote-by-Mail application through the County Clerk’s unioncountyvotes.com elections website and Union County Votes app, or request an application by mail by contacting the Elections Office at 908-527-4996 or ucvote@ucnj.org.

The Election Office is located at the County Clerk’s Main Office in the Union County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street in midtown Elizabeth. To access the Election Office during special Saturday Vote-by-Mail hours, voters must use the rear entrance of the Courthouse on Elizabethtown Plaza. The Election Office is located in Room 113.

The Annex Office in Westfield is located in the Colleen Fraser Building at the Union County complex, at 300 North Avenue East. Street and lot parking are available, and mass transit is nearby.

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Visit the County Clerk’s new elections website, unioncountyvotes.com.

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Union County, NJ – The Union County Rape Crisis Center (RCC) needs volunteer advocates to assist victims of sexual violence. The Rape Crisis Center will train volunteers during daytime sessions at the Colleen Fraser Building at the Union County complex at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield.  Prior to training, each volunteer must come to the Rape Crisis Center for an informal interview.

“These volunteers serve Union County residents during a physical and emotional crisis in their lives,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergens. “Volunteer advocates guide victims through legal and medical systems while providing emotional support, and respecting the strict confidentiality of each case.”

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.

For further information about volunteering, and to schedule an interview, call the Union County Rape Crisis Center at 908-233-7273. Additional information about volunteering is available at the Rape Crisis Center’s blog, www.unioncountyrapecrisiscenter.blogspot.com.

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

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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 – Are you concerned about the environment and want to learn how to make a difference? For the first time, the Rutgers Cooperative Extension will offer its Environmental Steward Program in Union County.

The Environmental Steward program is designed to help non-scientists to learn more about the science behind the environmental issues impacting their communities.

“The Freeholder Board strongly supports the Rutgers Cooperative Extension in its mission of connecting the public with scientific research,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “As a sister program to the Extension’s popular Master Gardener and Tree Steward programs, the new Environmental Steward course will enable residents to learn valuable skills and insights from the experts, and apply their knowledge to help create more healthful, sustainable communities.”

Participants in the Environmental Stewards program will attend classroom training sessions taught by experts from Rutgers University and non-profit organizations.

The series of classes begins on Friday, January 26. All sessions will be held on Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County offices, located in the Colleen Fraser Building at the county services complex in Westfield, at 300 North Avenue East.

Class topics include climate change, soil health, energy conservation, water resource protection, invasive species and open space management, habitat conservation, protecting pollinators, and environmental policy. Optional fieldtrips to environmentally significant sites around the state are included as part of the program.

To become a certified Rutgers Environmental Steward, graduates of the class portion of the program complete a 60-hour volunteer internship of their choosing. Internships are unique and intended to align with the passion of the individual, the needs of the program, and the community.

Applications are now being accepted to join the program. The application deadline is Wednesday, January 24.

Applications and more details are available online at envirostewards.rutgers.edu. For additional assistance contact Michele Bakacs at Rutgers, bakacs@njaes.rutgers.edu or 732-398-5274.

Environmental Stewards of Union County is an all-volunteer program run by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, supported in part by the Freeholder Board. The Extension joins Union County in a nationwide system designed to deliver science-based information to local communities, under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

For more information about Union County Extension programs, including 4-H, visit ucnj.org/RCE.

Quick links to all environmental programs and activities in Union County 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.

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Union County, NJ — In September, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders presented the first Union County LGBTQ Pride event in recent history. Dozens of families shared their stories with event organizers and elected officials at Union County’s Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic, an event organized to celebrate diversity and marriage equality. On Friday, October 13, Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen, Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, Rahway Mayor Samson D. Steinman and over a dozen LGBTQ allies stood in support of equality with Union County (Rahway) residents to raise awareness and support equality for same-sex families in Union County.

“Following conversations with parents at the Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic last month, it has become clear that many same-sex couples with children have important questions regarding legal guardianship,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “The Freeholder Board proudly supports all families in Union County. We stand as allies and advocates for our families that deserve full equality. We support changes in State laws that alleviate the extensive financial and emotional burden to gain legal parental rights.”

Misunderstanding of the laws could have adverse effects on married same-sex families in the event of a crisis. The concern at the center of many conversations during the September family Pride event is the issues of “second-parent adoptions” and legal guardianship of children in same-sex families.

Overwhelmingly, LGBTQ allies and parents assume that the 2015 US Supreme Court ruling in support of same-sex marriage resolved equality issues for the married LGBTQ community — the benefits of which are being challenged daily by states nationwide.

While states are redefining the legal benefits and securities of marriage across the country – challenging the extent of the marriage equality ruling – same-sex married couples cannot rely on “marital presumption” (a rule generally applied to children born of a man and a woman) or a child’s birth certificate (New Jersey allows both parents regardless of sexual orientation to be listed on a child’s birth certificate), and thus these families are seeking second-parent adoptions to secure legal parental rights of their children.

While the process of second-parent adoptions is different from state to state, the financial and emotional burden of the process is felt by all same-sex couples who seek the security of legal parentage of their child.

Union County residents and same-sex married couple, Christy Wilson and Danni Newbury, familiar with the second-parent adoption process from their first daughter in 2013 – prior to the 2015 US Supreme Court ruling – like many same-sex couples, were surprised to learn that they would need to endure the second-parent adoption experience again for their second-child in 2017.

“When we were ready to have a second child, we assumed my rights as the second parent were secured with the Federal marriage equality ruling,” noted Ms. Newbury the non-biological parent of the same-sex couple’s children. “It wasn’t until after our daughter was born that we checked in with a lawyer. We were surprised, but relieved that we looked into it.”

“Given the priorities of the administration in Washington, we must do all we can legally to protect the security of our family,” said Ms. Wilson, birth-mother of both children to Ms. Wilson and Ms. Newbury.

In New Jersey, the second-parent adoption process takes months, costs upwards of $3,500, includes fingerprinting, state and FBI background checks, and culminates with a hearing in front of a Judge — all to demonstrate that the second-parent of same-sex couples is fit to be granted legal parental rights to a child that they financially and emotionally helped to conceive.

“The unfortunate situation is that some same-sex families assume that because they are married or because the names of both parents are listed on the child’s birth certificate, both parents have legal parental rights,” noted Ms. Newbury, an employee of the County of Union in the Office of Public Information. “In the case of most same-sex married couples, that is not accurate.”

On Friday, October 13, backed by LGBTQ equality allies, Ms. Wilson and Ms. Newbury shared the second-parent adoption proceeding experience with friends, family and colleagues in an effort to raise awareness about the need for same-sex families to understand and explore their legal options to protect their families, and also to seek support for changing New Jersey State laws to represent a more just and equal process for same-sex couples to secure parental guardianship – an effort that has garnered support by elected officials from Rahway and Union County, as well as State Legislators in Trenton.

“Pride events matter because inequalities are not always obvious,” said Freeholder Bruce H. Bergen. “When a community comes together to voice their need for support, it’s important to acknowledge their concerns and work with them toward full equality.”

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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 – Bring the kids, bring a friend, because once again it’s that time to ride the rails into history.

On October 21 and 22, Union County celebrates Four Centuries In A Weekend, when historic sites and museums across the County open their doors to the public, free of charge.

Many of the sites are within walking distance of the train stations across the County, with some sites offering free shuttle service.

Kean University will once again provide free trolley service from NJ Transit’s Union Station to Liberty Hall Museum. Meanwhile, Mountainside will provide a free shuttle that will make a loop from the Westfield train station to the Deserted Village, with stops at the Miller-Cory Museum, the Reeve House and Mountainside’s Deacon Hetfield House, before reaching the Deserted Village, where the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation sponsors a host of activities and tours for young and old alike.

“It’s a fun outing, with a train ride and a little history along the way,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski. “Many of the towns’ historic sites are within walking distance of the stations,” she said, noting that the County has put together a list of all the sites along the County’s three train lines.

The list is available online at the Four Centuries website, ucnj.org/4C (scroll down to see “Visit Union County’s Historic Sites via Mass Transit” or go to ucnj.org/trainthrutime).

 “Some sites, like Fanwood, are right at the train station,” Kowalski said.  “Others have further walks but if it is a beautiful fall day, it may be just the day to enjoy a leisurely stroll.”

“Four Centuries is such a great event,” Kowalski added. “A train ride is just the icing on the cake and adds to the fun of learning about our area’s incredibly rich history.”

NJ Transit allows children to ride free on weekends. Monthly commuter passes are also valid. For those wishing to cycle from a train station, be sure to check with NJ Transit’s guidelines for bringing bikes aboard the trains.

Long before the Raritan Valley Line, there was the Central Railroad of New Jersey. From stations across Union County, from Plainfield to Elizabeth, it was possible to board a train to Chicago, or from Jersey City, to board a ferry to New York City. The CNJ is long gone, however some of the historic sites along the route remain, and you can ride the train to visit some of them.

For quick links to all transportation options countywide visit Union County ConneXions at ucnj.org/connect.

For more information and complete details on all Four Centuries in a Weekend events visit ucnj.org/parks-recreation/cultural-heritage-affairs or contact the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 908-558-2550 (NJ Relay Users dial 711) or culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

The Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs is a division of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation, which offers enriching public programs and activities all year. Visit online at ucnj.org/parks or call 908-527-4900.

Photo credit (light enhanced): Kean University Trolley by Kristen DeMatos.

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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 – A limited number of camping slots for RV enthusiasts will be set aside in the Deserted Village during the Four Centuries In A Weekend history event under a Union County Parks trial program.

The eight slots will be created in a field in the Deserted Village located in the 2,200-acre Watchung Reservation, part of the Union County parks system. All RVs (recreational vehicles) must be self-sustaining as there are no utilities on site.

“Heritage tourism is still an untapped reservoir in Union County, where our roots go back to pre-Revolutionary War days,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen.

“In the short time since we announced our involvement with the Passport To Your National Parks stamp program, we’ve received inquiries from out of state residents about our annual history celebration,” Bergen said. “We know there is a significant number of people who travel with RVs around the country to see parks and historic sites and add new stamps to their collection.”

Union County is one of 14 counties in the National Park Service’s Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage. Because of that designation, Revolutionary War era sites across the County are eligible to participate in the Passport To Your National Parks program.

Under the coordination of the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, and additional funding from Union County Parks & Recreation, nearly 30 stamps were purchased and distributed to the sites, to be unveiled during Four Centuries In a Weekend, October 21 and 22. A complete list and description of all the sites open to the public that weekend is at ucnj.org/4C.

The eight available camping slots must be reserved through the Union County Parks Reservation Desk in Westfield and will be handled on a first come-first served basis. The registered owner of the RV is required to sign a Temporary RV Permit available for download at ucnj.org/DV, and a Special Event Application available at ucnj.org/parks-activities.

To contact the Reservation Desk, call 908-654-9805 or email parkrequest@ucnj.org.

All recreational vehicles need to arrive by 10 p.m. on Friday, October 20 and may stay through Monday noon, October 23.

Potential campers should also know that open fires are prohibited in this temporary camping area. The fee for weekend will be similar to the fee at the Scout Camping Area near Trailside Nature & Science Center, $30 for county residents and $60 for out-of-county residents.

While visitors will certainly want to visit historic sites across the county, the Deserted Village will be hosting two days full of free activities, from hayrides to tours to games and face-painting for kids.

More information about the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage in New Jersey is available at revolutionarynj.org.

For more information and complete details on all Four Centuries in a Weekend events, visit ucnj.org/4C or contact the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 908-558-2550 (NJ Relay Users dial 711) or culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

The Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs is a division of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation, which offers enriching public programs and activities all year. For more information visit ucnj.org/parks-recreation or call 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.

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Union County, NJ – If your love of history is stronger than your fear of zombies, then mark Saturday night, October 21, in your calendar.

As part of the Four Centuries in a Weekend history event, the Rev. Chaz Hutchison, pastor of the Scotch Plains Baptist Church, will lead a lantern tour of one of the oldest cemeteries in the area. The tour starts at 5:30 p.m. and will run approximately one hour.

“Pastor Hutchison is known for exploring many old cemeteries in the area. We appreciate his taking the time to share what he has learned over the years,” said Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski.

“The cemetery includes the graves of some of the earliest European settlers in our area. You may recognize some for the streets that were named after them,” she said.

The cemetery, which the church has maintained since 1747, extends from Mountain Avenue to Grand Street, and from Park Avenue to Forest Road.

In the old part of the burying ground may be found the markers of some of the founders of the church. The first Recompense Stanberry and his son, who was instrumental in rebuilding the church after a fire, and numerous members of the family are interred here.

You can also find the grave of Caesar, a freed slave who drove supplies to the American militia fighting the British in the Battle of the Short Hills.

The names Drake, Darby, Stiles, Osborn, Hetfield, Swan, Miller and many others are found in the old plot, while some stones are too worn for identification.

The grave stones, typical for the time, were, for the most part, simple markers, although a few more elaborate monuments are to be found.

For more information and complete details on all Four Centuries in a Weekend events visit ucnj.org/parks-recreation/cultural-heritage-affairs or contact the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 908-558-2550 (NJ Relay Users dial 711) or culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

The Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs is a division of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation, which offers enriching public programs and activities all year. Visit online at ucnj.org/parks or call 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 Clerk Joanne Rajoppi stands at one of the new absentee ballot assistance stations at the County Clerk’s office in Westfield. Absentee ballots are available in the County Clerk’s Offices in Elizabeth and Westfield.

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 information, visit the County Clerk’s new elections website, unioncountyvotes.com, or through the newly redesigned Union County Votes app, a free download for mobile devices.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – Revolutionary War historian and author Robert Mayers will be the guest speaker at Union County’s Four Centuries In A Weekend at the Deserted Village on Sunday, October 22.

Mayers, who plans to discuss Gen. George Washington’s troop movements in the Watchung Mountains, among other topics, will speak at 1 p.m. at Masker’s Barn.  His talk will be followed by a question and answer session and book signing.

“We are fortunate to have an author of Mayers’ caliber come to talk with Union County residents about the history in their backyard,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski.

“When the County created the Battle of the Short Hills Historic Trail several years ago,” Kowalski said, “we recognized the route Washington’s retreating forces took up what is now New Providence Road–just to the west of where everyone will be listening to Mayers’ presentation.”

Mayers’ book, Searching for Yankee Doodle, examines the lives of the common foot soldiers who fought for American independence.

“For most of America’s history, little was known about the identity of these men, why they fought and how the war affected their lives,” Mayers said. “A few were known for their exploits in battle, but most Yankee Doodles appear only on lists of thousands of shadowy names published by each state.”

“Yet the men of the Continental Army were the people most responsible for achieving America’s independence,” he said.

During the course of his years of research into the lives of the “grunts,” Mayers said the research was daunting, but worth it.

“When you read their words and learn more about their daily lives, these soldiers lose their anonymity,” he said.

The Deserted Village is located on Cataract Hollow Road, off Glenside Avenue in Berkeley Heights.  Those planning to attend Mayers’ talk should arrive early, either to walk to the barn or wait for a hay wagon and ride the half-mile to the facility.

Four Centuries In A Weekend, when historic sites across the County are open for the weekend, is coordinated by Union County’s Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs. For more information, go to ucnj.org/4C. 

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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.

A free informational presentation for parents and community members

Parents and community members are invited to attend a free educational presentation, “What Parents Need to Know about Transgender Individuals” being held Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 6:30 p/m. at Baxel Hall on the Union County Vo-Tech Campus, 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.

The purpose of the presentation is to help parents and other adults better understand gender identity and transgender issues, and to provide tips on how to speak with children and adolescents about these sensitive topics, as well as addressing any questions or concerns any attendee may have.

 The presenter, Dr. Paula C. Rodriguez Rust of Spectrum Diversity, LLC, is a renowned professional diversity educator and bullying prevention consultant serving schools, workplaces, and community and professional groups statewide. 

“Parents want to know what to do if a child’s classmate is transgender, what to do if his/her own child is transgender,” Dr. Rust said. “My goal is to help parents better understand what it means to be a transgender person, and how we know if a child is transgender.”

“The program is designed to provide an informational experience to help attendees learn more about the terms that we now hear, including ‘gender identity,’ ‘gender expression,’ and ‘sexual orientation,’ to name a few,” said Nora Mislan, Co-Chair of the Union County Human Relations Commission, one of the program sponsors. “There is a whole new youth culture regarding gender.”

“As individuals explore gender identity, it is important to understand as much about the transgender transition as possible,” said Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.  “The transition experience is different for each person. Some may transition socially, legally, and medically.  Some may transition only socially.  And some may not do any of these.  This workshop will provide important information to help parents and youth navigate gender identity together.”

The program, which is free and open to the public, is being co-sponsored by the Office of the Union County Superintendent of Schools.  For more information, please call 908.889.9028.

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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.