Category: Public Info

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the launch of the Non-Profit Consortium Leadership Fellows Institute with its first class of 24 recruits from local non-profit organizations. The program is a partnership with the Union County Non-Profit Consortium, with the goal of developing the next generation of informed, effective executives in the non-profit sector.

“The Non-Profit Leadership Fellows Institute is one of my Chairman’s Initiatives for 2017, and we all have high hopes that its impact will ripple out to benefit the Union County community for many years to come,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “I’d like to thank my colleagues on the Board, the Non-Profit Consortium and our private sector supporters for shepherding this program from the drawing board to its launch today.”

The Non-Profit Leadership Fellows Institute represents the first, focused investment that County government has made to support skills and training for the next generation of non-profit executive leaders. The program builds on the Freeholder Board’s workforce development initiatives, aimed at ensuring that important economic sectors can draw from a rich pool of talent.
“It is difficult to overstate how important it is to ensure that our non-profits continue to benefit from informed, effective and seasoned leadership,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, who is the Freeholder Board liaison to the Human Services Advisory Board. “As we are all very much aware, non-profits are one of the bedrock foundations of the Union County community, especially so for those that provide the essential services that sustain our social safety net.”

Bergen noted that, the contributions that non-profits make to communal well-being, they also provide unique, high quality employment opportunities and volunteer experiences that enrich life throughout Union County.

“Although it is a commonplace to define the non-profit and private sectors by their differences, with this program we hope to bring the best of both together: the passion for social justice and human empathy, and the confidence, know-how and management skills that enable an organization to grow and thrive,” he said.

The Union County Non-Profit Leadership Fellows Institute is a public-private partnership, and it is made possible by a commitment of $5,000 in seed money from County government, $500 contributions made by the non-profits for each candidate they send to the Institute, and the generosity of private sector sponsors.

Each of the 24 participants will attend 11 skill-building sessions based on a dynamic, interactive model. Peer learning is also an important element of the development program.

For more information about participating in or supporting the Non-Profit Leadership Fellows Institute, contact Pamela Capaci, CEO, Prevention Links, 121-125 Chestnut Street, 3rd Floor, Roselle (office phone: 732-381-4100, cell: 908-307-9080, email pcapaci@preventionlinks.org)

Scotch Plains, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that the next mobile paper-shredding event for personal documents will take place on Saturday, October 7 in Scotch Plains. The events are free for all Union County residents.

“Union County’s free document shredding service helps residents fight identity theft, by providing a secure, convenient way to dispose of sensitive documents,” says Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen. “This program also complements our other green initiatives by promoting recycling and environmental conservation.”

The October 7 shredding event will take place at the Union County Vocational Technical School, located at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains, rain or shine.

The next shredding will be offered on Thursday, October 12 at Galloping Hill Golf Course, located at 3 Golf Drive in Kenilworth.

Both shredding events will run from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Shredding events may end before 1:00 pm if the shredding trucks reach capacity.

All Union County residents are eligible to use the paper-shredding service. Participants should bring their documents in paper bags, and must remove plastic bindings and paper clips. All documents must be dry and unbound.

In an effort to accommodate everyone, there is a limit of four 10-pound bags or boxes per person. Residents should use their municipal recycling program to dispose of magazines, mailers and other non-confidential papers. A list of recycling contacts for all 21 municipalities in Union County is available at ucnj.org/recycle.

The mobile shredding program is funded through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Recycling Enhancement Act Grant Funds. For directions to the October shredding events, and for information on all Union County recycling programs, call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889 or visit online at ucnj.org/recycle.

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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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Music in the Mills” Features Music & Dance

ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce “Music in the Mills”, formerly “Art in the Gardens”, an October celebration of National Arts and Humanities Month, will take place Columbus Day Weekend October 7th, 8th and 9th in The Mills at Jersey Gardens in Elizabeth, New Jersey. “Music in the Mills” features instrumental, vocal and dance performances in the Center Court of the Mall. This annual event is coordinated by the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Union County Department of Parks & Recreation.
“Music in the Mills is an excellent opportunity for a busy Union County venue to host local talent and present it to a wide and diverse audience,” said Freeholder Bruce Bergen. “The Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to have this annual event in Union County.”

The weekend’s scheduled performances are:

Saturday, October 7th:

11am-noon: Estilo Latino Dance Company of Elizabeth

12:30-1:30pm: Maleku Folklore de Costa Rica of Summit

2:00- 3:00pm: Framework Jazz Ensemble

3:30-4:30pm: Lauren Shub and Hal Hirsch Jazz

5:00-6:00pm: United Youth of New Jersey from Elizabeth, theatrical dance, hip hop and rap

6:30-7:30pm Chinese American Music Ensemble of Westfield

Sunday, October 8th:

11:00am-noon: Yasko Koko and the Kokonuts of Garwood, Jazz performers

12:30-1:30pm: Blanca Rosas of Elizabeth, Singer/songwriter

2:00-3:00pm: You and Your Sister, Musical performance

3:30-4:30pm: Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre, Flamenco dancers

5:00-6:00pm: Victor Sinchi, Classical pianist

Monday, October 9th:
11:00-noon: Richard Nobrega Jr., Latin guitarist

12:30-1:30 TJAA Jefferson Arts Liberty Dancers of Elizabeth

2:00-3:00: University of the Philippines Alumni & Friends Traditional String Ensemble

3:30-4:30 Peruvian Dance Team of Elizabeth

5:00-6:00 Jason Chan, Acoustic singer and guitarist

6:30-7:30 Edison Pereyra of Hillside, Classical guitarist

The Mills at Jersey Gardens is located on Kapkowski Road at Exit 13A of the New Jersey Turnpike and features 200 stores all under one roof.
For more information about “Music in the Mills,” contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202 by telephone (908) 558-2550, or New Jersey Relay Users dial 711. They can also be reached via e-mail culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

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Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds voters that they can view and download sample ballots for all 21 municipalities on the County Clerk’s new elections website,  unioncountyvotes.com, and through the newly redesigned Union County Votes app, a free download for mobile devices.

Ms. Rajoppi’s office also mails sample ballots to every registered voter after the close of voter registration, approximately 10 to 14 days before the election.

“The website and app offer a convenient way for voters to familiarize themselves with the ballot before Election Day,” said Rajoppi. “Voters can also view the statements by the candidates for governor online, through the unioncountyvotes.com, website and through the Union County Votes app.

“As an additional service to ensure that every voter can access the gubernatorial candidates’ statements, my office will send a copy of the statements to any Union County resident who requests them,” said Ms. Rajoppi.

Voters who wish to receive the gubernatorial candidate statements by mail, or who have questions about the election process, can call the County Clerk’s Elections Division, 908-527-4996 or email the Elections Division at ucvote@ucnj.org.

For all County Clerk programs and services visit online at ucnj.org/county-clerk or call 908-527-4787.

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

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Union County initiative triples the number of stamp locations in New Jersey overnight.

Union County, NJ – National Parks lovers may go over the moon with the news that Union County’s historic sites are about to unveil nearly 30 unique Passport To Your National Parks cancellation stamps at Four Centuries in a Weekend.

Across the country, people will bring their Passport books to national parks, monuments and other areas overseen by the National Park Service.

Union County is one of 14 New Jersey counties that comprise the NPS’ Crossroads of the Revolution National Heritage area, which recognizes the role New Jersey played in the American Revolution.

Because the Union County area was one of the earliest regions to be settled, there are numerous sites of significance from the Revolutionary War era. These sites will now have their own unique stamp recognizing their inclusion in the National Heritage Area.

“It is a great feeling to be able to help our local historical societies promote their sites,” said Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, who attended a recent Four Centuries meeting and helped distribute the new stamps.

“We know that there are people who travel to sites, in part, to add another stamp to their Passport book,” Kowalski said, noting that there have already been inquiries from Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., as word has started to leak out about the new stamps.

“The Passport stamps, along with our new History Trading Card series, will encourage visitors to see more sites and gain a deeper appreciation of just how rich our history really is,” she said.

Several sites will have two stamps because of their location. For example, the Miller-Cory House in Westfield is a historic site in its own right and is also along the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail, which recognizes the contribution of the French in winning the Revolutionary War.

Several battles in Union County were also memorialized with the stamps.

The new stamps will be released on October 21 and 22 when Union County celebrates Four Centuries in a Weekend. For more information on the event, and exact addresses for the various sites, go to:  ucnj.org/4C.

The new stamp program was coordinated by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs and funded by the County.

The new stamps will be available at these sites:

• In Berkeley Heights, the Deserted Village of Feltville/Glenside Park and the Littell-Lord Farmstead.
• In Clark, at the Dr. William Robinson Plantation-Museum.
• In Elizabeth, at Boxwood Hall, First Presbyterian Church of Elizabeth, Snyder Academy.
• Nathaniel Bonnell Homestead & Belcher-Ogden Mansion, and St. John’s Parsonage.
• In Hillside, at Woodruff House-Eaton Store Museum.
• In Mountainside, at the Deacon Andrew Hetfield House.
• In New Providence, at the Salt Box Museum.
• In Plainfield, at the Drake House Museum and Plainfield Meeting House.
• In Rahway, at Merchants & Drovers Tavern. There will also be a stamp recognizing the King’s Highway.
• In Roselle, at the Abraham Clark Memorial House.
• In Scotch Plains, at Elizabeth and Gershom Frazee House and Osborn Cannonball House.  And at Ashbrook Reservation, to mark the Battle of the Short Hills.
• In Springfield, at the Cannon Ball House. There will also be a stamp for the Battle of Springfield.
• In Summit, at the Carter House.
• In Union, at Liberty Hall, Connecticut Farms Church and Caldwell Parsonage, where there will also be a stamp commemorating the Battle of Connecticut Farms
• In Westfield, at the Miller-Cory House Museum, which will also have a stamp recognizing the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail.

While the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs will continue to offer free Union County Across the Centuries passports at all Union County historic sites, those interested in purchasing a national passport can go to: eparks.com/store/category/30/278/Passport.

Launched by Eastern National in 1986, the Passport To Your National Parks program consists of a guidebook highlighting national parks and provides space for dated ink “cancellation” stamps that enable visitors to commemorate their visit. More information on the program is available at: easternnational.org/what-we-do/passport.

To learn more about the Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs visit ucnj.org/parks-recreation/cultural-heritage-affairs.

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Photo Caption: A FIRST IN THE STATE…Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski presents Al Shipley, from the Merchants & Drovers Tavern, with a “Passport To Your National Parks” cancellation stamp for the Rahway site. Union County, which is part of the National Parks’ Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area, is the first county in New Jersey to roll out these stamps for all its historic sites. Similar stamps can be found at national parks and heritage sites across the United States.

Other recipients who gathered to receive their stamps from Freeholder Kowalski are: Ogden/Belcher (Elizabeth); Woodruff House/Eaton Store Museum (Hillside); Salt Box Museum (New Providence); Caldwell Parsonage (Union); Liberty Hall (Union); Merchants & Drovers Tavern (Rahway); William Robinson Plantation (Clark); Deacon Hetfield House (Mountainside).

  

 

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 — Union County residents seeking information about services for seniors age 60 and older can visit any of seven Aging Services Kiosk (ASK) events in October to speak with experienced staff from the county’s Department of Human Services, Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection.

The October schedule brings ASK events to libraries and other public buildings in Clark, Elizabeth, Fanwood, Linden, Plainfield, Union and Westfield.

“Each of our ASK events is open to all County residents, so please come and join us as at any convenient location,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, who is the Freeholder Board liaison to the Human Services Advisory Board. “The ASK program gives you a chance to discuss your situation with our experienced staff, and learn about resources available to help you.”

The Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection is based in Elizabeth. Through the ASK community outreach program, members of the staff travel throughout Union County to help connect residents with information about home delivered meals, respite care, home care, adult day care support services for caregivers, and more.

The ASK program also enables residents to obtain assistance with completing applications and forms at convenient locations.

The October 2017 dates and locations are:

Wednesday, October 11

Linden Public Library

31 E. Henry Street

Linden, 07036

10:00 am to 12:00 noon

 

Thursday, October 12

Westfield Community Center

558 W. Broad Street

Westfield, 07090

10:30 am- 12:30 pm

 

Monday, October 16

Clark Public Library

303 Westfield Avenue

Clark, 07066

10:00 am to 12:00 noon

 

Wednesday, October 18

Mountainside Municipal Building

1385 Route 22 East

Mountainside, 07092

11:30 am – 1:30 pm

 

Tuesday, October 24

Union Public Library

1980 Morris Avenue

Union, 07083

12:00 noon to 2:00 pm

 

Wednesday, October 25

Elizabeth Public Library

11 South Broad Street

Elizabeth, 07202

10:00 am to 12:00 noon

 

Also on Wednesday, October 25

Fanwood Public Library

5 Forest Road

Fanwood, 07023

10:00 am to 12:00 noon

 

Thursday, October 26

Plainfield Public Library

800 Park Avenue

Plainfield, 07060

10:00 am – 12:00 noon

All Union County residents are welcome to attend any ASK event.

The mission of the Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection 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. Information is available in both English and Spanish.

Upcoming ASK events are posted on the County website and social media. Residents can also check their local newspapers and websites for ASK dates and locations.

For more information about the Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection, call 888-280-8226 toll free, or 908-527- 4870 or 4858, or visit the Union County website 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 residents seeking an environmentally friendly way to dispose of old metal lawn chairs, appliances and other scrap metal can bring their items to Union County’s free scrap metal recycling program, which offers two drop-off locations on Thursday, October 5 and Saturday, October 21.

Residents can bring their scrap metal items to the Union County Emergency Services Yard at 151 Kenilworth Boulevard in Cranford, or to Union County’s Rahway River Park off St. Georges Avenue in Rahway. Both locations will be available from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

A wide variety of metal household items and fittings are accepted. Residents are reminded that by law, doors must be removed from refrigerators and freezers. Units with doors still attached will not be accepted.

The scrap metal recycling program is free for Union County residents on the first Thursday and third Friday of each month, from April through November. No pre-registration is required.

Residents disposing of computers, televisions and other electronic equipment can bring them to the next free Electronics Recycling Event, scheduled for Saturday, September 21 at the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools campus, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

For full details on Union County’s free recycling events and programs visit the Union County Bureau of Planning and Recycling online at ucnj.org/recycling.

For quick links to all Union County environmental services, programs and activities visit 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.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders sponsored Sunday’s New Jersey Veteran’s Network “Salute to Veterans and Patriots 5K and Fun Run” in Springfield. Hundreds of residents, including Veterans, military personnel and law enforcement personnel ran in the race, and Veterans from each Union County municipality were among those honored in a short ceremony following the race. 

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation are pleased to announce the free lectures for adults 18 years and older and high school students, in the fall season at the Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside. 

“Trailside offers engaging and diverse lecture topics at its popular Visitor Center.  The 2,060 acre reservation is a great destination in fall,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.        

On Tuesday, October 17 from 7:00 to 8:00 P.M., The American Historical Theatre offers a compelling theatrical re-enactment, made possible in part by the New Jersey Council for the Humanities.  Theodore Roosevelt: American in the Arena recreates the time when President McKinley was assassinated in 1901, and Vice President Theodore Roosevelt bounded into Washington, D. C as the youngest President in history.   His vigorous persona helped catapult the U.S. into the new century.  His accomplishments were plentiful and diverse: War hero to Nobel Peace Prize winner, naturalist to imperialist. 

On Saturday, October 21 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.  NASA Solar Ambassador Paul Cirillo will speak on What’s Next For Human Space Travel.  Cirillo, a popular lecturer at Trailside,   will present a fascinating lecture about the future for human space programs planned in the United States, China and Russia.  The lecture also includes the project of the four U.S. commercial companies, Space X, Boeing, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic.  Space tourism, space stations, moon bases and a journey to Mars are the inspiring and thrilling topics discussed.  Learn about these exciting projects and others as we prepare for these upcoming new voyages.

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