Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces the first in a series of programs in remembrance of the Centennial of World War I. The keynote event will be a free lecture by Dr. Mark D. Van Ells, author of the acclaimed book America and World War I: A Traveler’s Guide, on Monday, April 3, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the historic Snyder Academy, 42 Broad Street in midtown Elizabeth.

The United States formally entered World War I on April 6, 1917.

“Dr. Van Ells offers fascinating insights about the challenges our country faced as we mobilized for war and sent thousands off to fight in foreign lands,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, who is the liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board.

Dr. Van Ells is Professor of History at Queensborough Community College in New York.

America and World War I: A Traveler’s Guide, includes details about major battles and battlefields as well as memorials, museums and other points of interest to the traveler, along with maps and photographs.

A question and answer period and meet-and-greet session with Dr. Ells will follow the lecture.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to view a display of original sheet music from the World War I era provided by Mr. Charles Shallcross, President of the Union County Historical Society.

Pre-registration is suggested but not required. To register or to receive more information, contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage at 908-436-2912 or jprescott@ucnj.org.

This program is coordinated by the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Recreation, and funded in part through the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.

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

Connect with Union County on social media.

 Photo : Courtesy of Dr. Mark D. Van Ells.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the first Family Pride CommUNITY Picnic in Union County, celebrating marriage equality in the state of New Jersey, on Saturday, June 17, 2017 from 12:00 noon until 4:00 p.m. at Rahway River Park.

“This inclusive family event is an opportunity to bring our families, friends and neighbors together to celebrate the strength of our diversity, and to honor the great strides we’ve made in the movement for equality,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.

Since the federal marriage equality ruling in 2015, thousands of same-sex couples have married state-wide. The free Family Pride CommUNITY Picnic event aims to reach beyond the Union County boarders and invites all families across the state to join us to celebrate Pride.

A celebration of all families, Union County’s first Family Pride CommUNITY Picnic will feature music, arts and crafts, family field day games, inflatable bounce houses, playground fun, and many other family activities. Families are invited to pack a picnic, a blanket or lawn chairs and head out to the park for an afternoon of fun! Food trucks will also be on site for those who wish to purchase lunch.

A family equality rally will kick off at 1:00 p.m. with special guest speakers and performances. Families are invited to bring hand-held signs that celebrate their family.

“This inclusive event aims to celebrate all families in our community,” said Freeholder Chairman Bergen. “It is our hope that when we look out across Rahway River Park on June 17 at all of the families at the Pride family event, we’ll see the diversity of what family looks like.”

In 2013, New Jersey became the 14^th state with marriage equality, granting same-sex couples the security of marriage in New Jersey. In 2015 the Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage nationwide. While same-sex couple have been creating and supporting families for centuries in the state of New Jersey, it was with this landmark ruling that the profound union of marriage was granted to all Americans to uphold, as Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy stated in the 2015 ruling, ‘the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family.”

Families are invited to visit the vendor and resource tables for giveaways and information. Equality and family advocacy organizations will also set up tables alongside the Freeholder Board Information van with general information, and support and networking resources.

For more information visit ucnj.org/Pride, or find the UC Family Pride CommUNITY Picnic event page at Facebook.com/CountyOfUnion, or call the Union County Office of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4900.

Please note new location: this event will take place at Extension offices in the Colleen Fraser Building at the County complex in Westfield, at 300 North Avenue East.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the 5^th Annual Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County Community Gardening Conference on Saturday, March 25, 2017, from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm.

The “Get Your Vegetable Garden Growing: Home-School-Community” conference is geared towards teachers, volunteers and community organizations interested in establishing or improving school and community gardens.  Home gardeners are welcome, too.

“If you have an interest in starting a school or community garden, or if you’d like to get expert guidance on your backyard garden, come to “Get Your Vegetable Garden Growing,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “It’s a great way to help ensure that you have a healthy, bountiful harvest.”

The conference features workshops on starting a community garden, composting and pest management as well as container, rain and enabling gardens.  Healthy snacks from the garden and food safety will also be addressed.

Rutgers faculty and Master Gardeners will be conducting the workshops. Teachers in attendance will be awarded four CEU’s. 

Registration is required. The fee is $50.00 including lunch.

For more information visit ucnj.org/rce and follow the “View full brochure” link or call Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County at 908-654-9854 (option 2).

To register on line visit tinyurl.com/2017GardeningConference.

The Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County is supported in part by the Freeholder Board. For all programs and activities visit ucnj.org/rce.

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

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen, Vice Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski attend the 2017 Union County Teen Arts Festival at Union County College in Cranford. The Union County Teen Arts Festival is an annual two-day celebration of the arts sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders through the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Recreation. The event is open to all students from public, charter, private and parochial middle and high schools in Union County. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholders Linda Carter (outer right) and Mohamed S. Jalloh (far left) present a resolution to singer/songwriter Alexis Morrast (holding resolution) of Plainfield congratulating her on winning first prize at “Showtime at the Apollo,” a brand-new one-hour special and reimagining of the classic talent showcase series. Morrast was also joined by her parents (inset) Lorenzo and Tiffany Morrast. Alexis Morrast, a 10th grader at Plainfield Academy for the Arts & Advanced Studies (PAAAS), won on February 1 at the Fox show hosted by Steve Harvey. (photo by Sebastian D’Elia, Public Information Director, Union County)

ELIZABETH, NJ – Art and history enthusiasts are invited to join County’s first “History Paint Night Social” event and enjoy a unique opportunity to practice artwork in a relaxed, social atmosphere. No experience is necessary.

Participants will be provided with materials and artistic instruction for rendering a scene from the rich history of Union County.

History Paint Night will be held on Tuesday, March 28, at the historic Snyder Academy at 42 Broad Street in midtown Elizabeth, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Participants may bring wine and snacks for their enjoyment.

Space is limited. Pre-registration is encouraged but not required. A fee of $20.00 per participant includes all materials.

History Paint Night Social is sponsored by the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Recreation, with funding through the New Jersey Historical Commission.

To register or get more details call the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 908-436-2912 or email jprescott@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 – Bird watchers and nature fans of all kinds have another chance to spot an unusual and elusive bird in Union County parks. A “Woodcock Walk” event cancelled due to the storm on March 14 has been rescheduled to Friday, March 24 beginning at 6:15 p.m. in the Watchung Reservation.

Another Woodcock Walk will also take place as scheduled on Tuesday March 21 in Lenape Park at 6:00 p.m.

The two events are free and open to adults and children age 10 and up with an adult. Pre-registration is required by emailing the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at bkelly@ucnj.org.

The American Woodcock goes by a variety of colorful names including timberdoodle, Labrador twister, night partridge and bog sucker. Its distinctive behavior is highlighted by an airborne dance performed by the males, which observers have described as mesmerizing.

The Watchung Reservation group will meet at Masker’s Barn in the Deserted Village, 13 Cataract Hollow Road in Berkeley Heights.

The Lenape Park group will meet at the old Trap and Skeet field house near the main entrance to Lenape Park, off Kenilworth Boulevard (County Road 509) in Cranford, between Nomahegan Road and Dorset Drive.

For more information on activities and programs in Union County parks, and to find out about volunteering with Union County Adopt-a-Park, call 908-527-4900 or visit ucnj.org/parks.

For quick links to all Union County environmental and sustainability programs visit The Green Connection online 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 Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen, Vice Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholders Mohamed S. Jalloh, Bette Jane Kowalski, Angel G. Estrada, Christopher Hudak and Vernell Wright march in the 21st Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Morris Avenue in Union. They we joined by Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan, Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, Congressman Leonard Lance and other elected officials.

Following Tuesday’s Winter Storm, Most Flights Fully Booked at Laguardia, Kennedy and Newark Liberty Airports on Wednesday

• Airports Expect Significant Vehicle Traffic Tomorrow
• Travelers are Urged to Call Their Airlines Prior To Traveling to the Airports
• Passengers Without a Confirmed Flight Should Not Come To the Airports
• All Travelers are Advised to Use Mass Transit Options including the JFK AirTrain, EWR AirTrain and LaGuardia Link Q70 Bus
• Nearly 3,000 Tuesday Flights Cancelled at LaGuardia, Kennedy and Newark Liberty Airports; 99% of all Tuesday flights at LaGuardia Cancelled

Following today’s winter storm and nearly 3,000 flight cancellations, LaGuardia, Kennedy and Newark Liberty Airports are expecting significant vehicular traffic on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.  Due to the severe weather, roughly 99 percent of all flights at LaGuardia were cancelled on Tuesday. Many flights on Wednesday are already fully booked, and prior to travelling to the airport, passengers are urged to call their airlines. Travelers without confirmed flights should not come to LaGuardia, Kennedy or Newark Liberty airports. 

All passengers heading to LaGuardia, JFK and Newark Liberty are advised to use mass transit including the JFK AirTrain, EWR AirTrain and Q70 LaGuardia Link.

The Port Authority has an on-site Traffic Command Center at LaGuardia that monitors traffic conditions and deploys staff and resources where necessary. Airport traffic conditions are regularly updated and communicated via social media Facebook, or @LGAairport on Twitter and LaGuardiaAirport.com.  Additional tips for passengers and motorists can be found on the airport’s website at http://laguardiaairport.com/news/winter-weather

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen presents resolutions to ShopRite Associates Sandy Dellaportas and Paul Hadsall congratulating them on spear-heading the Fighting Hunger from the Heart initiative at the ShopRite of Clark to raise awareness of the issue of hunger and providing funds to hunger-fighting charities.

Paul and Sandy are featured on a special edition Cheerios box that will be sold exclusively at ShopRite stores during the month of March.

Chairman Bergen also presented a resolution to Clark ShopRite Manager Dominic Romeo congratulating him and his staff on raising money during National Hunger Awareness Month last September for food banks in the communities that ShopRite serves.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)