Category: Public Info

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that a selection of prize-winning art work by Union County employees and their family members is on display through July 11 in the Freeholders Gallery, located on the 6^th floor of the Union County Administration Building, Elizabethtown Plaza at Rahway Avenue, in Elizabeth. The gallery is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays.

The art display presents a select sampling of 17 pieces from among the 133 creations judged at the recent 16^th annual “National Arts Program Exhibit and Contest for Union County Employees and Their Families.” The exhibit and contest is a result of a partnership with the National Arts Program Foundation which provides prize money and valuable support to display the work of talented artists of all ages.

“The artistic talent of our Union County employees, retired County employees, County program volunteers and their family members is very impressive,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “We have artists who excel in painting, photography and other visual arts, and we are proud to put their work on display. We thank the National Arts Program Foundation and Elizabethtown Gas Company for hosting the May 3^rd awards reception and providing space for Union County employees and their families to display their talent in the original exhibit.”

Listed alphabetically by town are all the award-winning employee artists (or their family members) and the awards they won at the original exhibit and contest. Not all of the award-winning pieces are able to be displayed at the Freeholders Gallery exhibit.

Clark: Ryan Frees (First Place, Amateur); Tegan Frees (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under); Lucas Origliato (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under); and Olivia Origliato (First Place, Youth 12 and Under). Cranford: Christina Barlik (Second Place, Teen 13-18); Spencer Hargiss (First Place, Amateur); Elizabeth Illing (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under); and Betty Ann Kelly (Honorable Mention, Intermediate). Elizabeth: Brianna & Elianna Borga (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under); Emil Bustamante (Honorable Mention, Amateur); and Dario Scholis (First Place, Professional). Freeland: Ali McKittrick (Third Place, Intermediate); Seyona McKittrick (Third Place, Teen 13-18). Garwood: Sophia Malcolm (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under); and Kelly Sullivan (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18). Georgetown: Judith Gault (Honorable Mention, Amateur) and Tatiana Gault (Art Education Award, Teen 13-18). Hillside: Abraham H. Feria (Honorable Mention, Amateur) and Femi Muftau (Third Place, Youth 12 and Under). Kenilworth: Maria Anderson (Honorable Mention, Intermediate). Leonardo: Eryn Knapp (First Place, Teen 13-18). Linden: Charisse Cosby-Hurling (Second Place, Youth 12 and Under) and Christine Marti-Millward (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18). Manalapan: Alyssa & Bianco Capolupo (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18). Monroe: Richa Wadhawan (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18). North Bergen: Gabriella Marino (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18). Old Bridge: Allana McQueen (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18). Piscataway: Shelley Morgan (Second Place, Amateur). Rahway: Donna Farrell (Third Place, Amateur); Gabriella Lynch (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under); Danni Newbury (Second Place, Intermediate); Christina Wilson (Second Place, Professional); and Eleanor Wilson-Newbury (Honorable Mention, Youth 12 and Under). Scotch Plains: Charles Rubin (Best in Show, Intermediate). Summit: Agnieszka Solawa (Honorable Mention, Professional). Towson: Molly McGuire (Honorable Mention, Teen 13-18). Westfield: Mary K. Bannworth (Honorable Mention, Intermediate); Gina Minichino (Third Place, Professional); Angelo Paparella (Honorable Mention, Professional) and Mary Paynter (Honorable Mention, Professional).

Additional support for this event was provided by a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Department of State, 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, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth NJ 07202. Telephone: (908) 558-2550. NJ Relay users dial 711. Or send E-mail to: culturalinfo@ucnj.org

Total of $1.5 million in grants awarded third year in a row under grant program initiated in 2015

Union County, NJ — The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders today announced the third annual Union County Infrastructure and Municipal Aid matching grants have been awarded to all 21 municipalities for a total of $1.5 million, mainly targeting road resurfacing.  

“Union County is a key transportation hub in the New York-New Jersey metro region, so this County funding benefits our local residents and businesses as well as commuters, visitors and shipping companies,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “Heavy rains this spring have exacerbated the damage normally incurred during a typical winter, making it all the more imperative to ensure that road repair continues apace this year.”

The Union County Infrastructure and Municipal Aid program was conceived by Freeholder Christopher Hudak in 2015 and developed through the County Freeholder Fiscal Committee. It is designed to stimulate the development of projects of economic, social, transportation and governmental importance to local municipalities.

The program is administered by the Department of Economic Development. This year’s Fiscal Committee is chaired by Freeholder Alexander Mirabella and includes Vice Chairman Sergio Granados, and Freeholders Lind Carter and Mohamed Jalloh.

As part of his Chairman’s initiatives for 2016, Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen asked grant applicants to focus on road improvements, given the toll on local roads over the past several winters. This year, 19 of the 21 grants involve road improvements.

“The end result of several bad winters and tight municipal budgets during a time of shrinking state and federal funding have placed a strain on local roads,” said Freeholder Christopher Hudak. “Our goal is to leverage County dollars to help our municipalities cover the funding gap and focus on the urgent need for repaving.”

The matching grant initiative makes available approximately $1.5 million to Union County’s 21 municipalities, assisting them to accomplish tasks undertaken in calendar year 2017. The funding for the grant is provided through the proceeds from the sale of Runnells Specialized Hospital in 2014.

The following matching grants have been awarded through the Union County Infrastructure and Municipal Aid program:

Township of Berkeley Heights:  $50,000.00

Roadway Improvement Project

 

Township of Clark:  $50,000.00

Roadway Improvement Project

 

Township of Cranford:  $90,000.00

Roadway Improvement Project

 

City of Elizabeth:  $105,000.00

Installation of Traffic Signals

 

Borough of Fanwood:  $55,000.00

Roadway Improvement Project

 

Borough of Garwood  $55,000.00

Roadway Improvement Project

 

Township of Hillside:  $55,000.00

Roadway & Facilities Improvement Projects

 

Borough of Kenilworth:  $75,000.00

Rehabilitation of Facilities, Housing Master Plan, Traffic Signal Study

 

City of Linden:  $100,000.00

Roadway Improvement Project

 

Borough of Mountainside:  $50,000.00

Roadway Improvement Project

 

Borough of New Providence:  $55,000.00

Roadway Improvement Project

 

City of Plainfield:  $100,000.00

Roadway Improvement Project

 

City of Rahway:  $65,000.00

Roadway Improvement Project

 

Borough of Roselle:  $60,000.00

Roadway Improvement Project

 

Borough of Roselle Park:  $55,000.00

Roadway Improvement Project

 

Township of Scotch Plains:  $90,000.00

Park Facilities and Road Improvement Projects

 

Township of Springfield:  $75,000.00

Roadway Improvement Project

 

City of Summit:  $100,000.00

Roadway Improvement Project

 

Township of Union:  $100,000.00

Roadway Improvement Project

 

Town of Westfield:  $100,000.00

Roadway Improvement Project

 

Township of Winfield:  $15,000.00

Facility Improvements: Municipal Building & Police Department

Residents and other travelers are advised to check with their municipality regarding improvement projects on local roads.

For information on scheduled improvements to Union County roads (identified by their blue signs and three-digit route numbers) visit the interactive map on at ucnj.org/traffic.

A list of contacts is available on the County website, ucnj.org, for reporting potholes on local, County and State roads.

For links to all forms of transportation in and around Union County visit Union County ConneXions at ucnj.org/connect.

#  #

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 Freeholders Linda Carter and Alexander Mirabella present a resolution and a check to students and educators from Union County Vocational-Technical Schools (UCVTS) in Scotch Plains in honor of the school winning the 2017 Union County Student Training and Enrichment Program (UC STEP) challenge.

UCVTS collected the most food donations during the “Kans 4 Kids” food drive under the annual UC STEP youth leadership program and won the $1,000 Start Now grant.

Roselle Park High School, Linden High School, Governor Livingston High School in Berkeley Heights and Union County Teams Charter School in Plainfield received honorable mention grants of $250 each.

More than 100 students from 14 high schools participated in the friendly competition collecting 5,120 pounds of food for donation to the Community Food Bank in Hillside.
UC STEP was created to provide high school students the opportunity to develop a countywide community service around a topic they feel is important, while teaching them leadership and personal growth skills and responsibility within their communities.

(Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Total of $1.5 million in grants awarded third year in a row under grant program initiated in 2015

Union County, NJ — The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders today announced the third annual Union County Infrastructure and Municipal Aid matching grants have been awarded to all 21 municipalities for a total of $1.5 million, mainly targeting road resurfacing.  

“Union County is a key transportation hub in the New York-New Jersey metro region, so this County funding benefits our local residents and businesses as well as commuters, visitors and shipping companies,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “Heavy rains this spring have exacerbated the damage normally incurred during a typical winter, making it all the more imperative to ensure that road repair continues apace this year.”

The Union County Infrastructure and Municipal Aid program was conceived by Freeholder Christopher Hudak in 2015 and developed through the County Freeholder Fiscal Committee. It is designed to stimulate the development of projects of economic, social, transportation and governmental importance to local municipalities.

The program is administered by the Department of Economic Development. This year’s Fiscal Committee is chaired by Freeholder Alexander Mirabella and includes Vice Chairman Sergio Granados, and Freeholders Lind Carter and Mohamed Jalloh.

As part of his Chairman’s initiatives for 2016, Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen asked grant applicants to focus on road improvements, given the toll on local roads over the past several winters. This year, 19 of the 21 grants involve road improvements.

“The end result of several bad winters and tight municipal budgets during a time of shrinking state and federal funding have placed a strain on local roads,” said Freeholder Christopher Hudak. “Our goal is to leverage County dollars to help our municipalities cover the funding gap and focus on the urgent need for repaving.”

The matching grant initiative makes available approximately $1.5 million to Union County’s 21 municipalities, assisting them to accomplish tasks undertaken in calendar year 2017. The funding for the grant is provided through the proceeds from the sale of Runnells Specialized Hospital in 2014.

The following matching grants have been awarded through the Union County Infrastructure and Municipal Aid program:

• Township of Berkeley Heights:  $50,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• Township of Clark:  $50,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• Township of Cranford:  $90,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• City of Elizabeth:  $105,000.00 Installation of Traffic Signals
• Borough of Fanwood:  $55,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• Borough of Garwood  $55,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• Township of Hillside:  $55,000.00 Roadway & Facilities Improvement Projects
• Borough of Kenilworth:  $75,000.00 Rehabilitation of Facilities, Housing Master Plan, Traffic Signal Study
• City of Linden:  $100,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• Borough of Mountainside:  $50,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• Borough of New Providence:  $55,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• City of Plainfield:  $100,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• City of Rahway:  $65,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• Borough of Roselle:  $60,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• Borough of Roselle Park:  $55,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• Township of Scotch Plains:  $90,000.00 Park Facilities and Road Improvement Projects
• Township of Springfield:  $75,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• City of Summit:  $100,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• Township of Union:  $100,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• Town of Westfield:  $100,000.00 Roadway Improvement Project
• Township of Winfield:  $15,000.00 Facility Improvements: Municipal Building & Police Department

Residents and other travelers are advised to check with their municipality regarding improvement projects on local roads. For information on scheduled improvements to Union County roads (identified by their blue signs and three-digit route numbers) visit the interactive map on at ucnj.org/traffic. A list of contacts is available on the County website, ucnj.org, for reporting potholes on local, County and State roads. For links to all forms of transportation in and around Union County visit Union County ConneXions at ucnj.org/connect.

(Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholders Alexander Mirabella, Linda Carter, Bette Jane Kowalski and Vernell Wright welcomed Janice Huff, Chief Meteorologist for NBC 4 New York, to the fifth annual Union County Women Mean Business (UCWMB) Summit at the Clubhouse at the Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth. They were joined by Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi.

Huff delivered the keynote address at the event that was designed to help women grow their business networks and build critical skills. UCWMB is an initiative of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Learn more

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation invites everyone to come out to the newly renovated Watchung Stable to enjoy the 84^th Annual Spring Troop Show this coming weekend.

 

The event is scheduled for Friday, May 26 beginning at 4:00 pm, and Saturday, May 27 and Sunday May 28, both of those days beginning at 8:30 am. The Spring Troop Show features riding competition events throughout the weekend, with trophies awarded to the best in a number of equestrian categories. Competition will take place for pre-teens, teenagers and adults.

 

“We look forward to each spring and fall to watching the participants display the riding skills they’ve learned at the Watchung Stable,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen. “It’s always an enjoyable experience to attend the competition and root on all the riders.”

 

Admission to the Spring Troop Show is free, however, no dogs will allowed on the premises during the show.

 

Watchung Stable is located at 1160 Summit Lane in Mountainside. The facility is run by the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.

 

For more information about riding lessons or equestrian programs call Watchung Stable at 908-789-3665, or e-mail questions to stablequestions@ucnj.org.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen joined Freeholders Angel G. Estrada and Bette Jane Kowalski in presenting certificates to Marie Bethea of Plainfield and Joe Yorey of Cranford honoring them as Senior Volunteers of the Year for Older Americans Month. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The Port Authority is prepared to accommodate the nearly six million people who will travel by air, car or rail during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, the traditional start of the summer travel season. The agency has taken proactive measures to ensure travelers have a safe and customer-friendly experience while using Port Authority facilities across the region.

Following this week’s tragic terrorism attack in Manchester, England, the Port Authority Police Department has stepped up security at all of the agency’s facilities through the Memorial Day weekend.  The actions include increased counter security efforts, such as random bag and vehicle checks, the deployment of special weapons units, as well as the assignment of additional security personnel and equipment at the agency’s bridges, tunnels, airports, PATH rail and other holdings.

Airports

Beginning Friday, May 26, through Tuesday, May 30, the agency expects more than 1.8 million passengers to use the Port Authority’s aviation facilities – a 1.4 percent increase over last year.

The Port Authority expects approximately 839,000 passengers to travel through John F. Kennedy International, approximately 576,000 to travel through Newark Liberty International Airport, an estimated 384,000 to travel through LaGuardia Airport, a projected 15,000 to travel through Atlantic City International Airport and 3,200 to travel through Stewart International Airport.

To handle the high volume of expected air travelers, the Port Authority will staff the airports with hundreds of Customer Care Representatives to assist travelers throughout the holiday weekend. Travelers should check with their carriers on the status of their flight before going to the airport.

Given ongoing redevelopment-related construction, travelers to LaGuardia Airport should plan ahead and check www.laguardiaairport.com for tips and the latest information on parking, mass transit and ground transportation alternatives.

For additional information on how passengers can streamline their trip through screening checkpoints, visit the TSA website at

https://apps.tsa.dhs.gov/mytsa/wait_times_home.aspx.   

Passengers planning to use the Port Authority’s airports during the Memorial Day weekend can sign up for Airport Info Alerts at http://www.airportinfoalerts.com/. This free, mobile subscription service notifies customers about weather delays and parking lot capacities.

Bridges and Tunnels

The Port Authority projects that approximately 3.4 million travelers will use its bridges and tunnels during the holiday weekend. The agency will have a full complement of toll collectors on duty to expedite travel through its crossings.  With passenger traffic expected to be heavier than normal, motorists are encouraged to allow extra time to reach their destination.

All construction on Port Authority bridges and tunnels, with the exception of emergency work, will be suspended from Friday morning through Tuesday morning for the holiday weekend. The Bayonne Bridge will remain opened from 5 a.m. Friday, May 26, through 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 30.

Heavier than normal crowds are expected at the Port Authority Bus Terminal during the holiday getaway and passengers are urged to purchase tickets in advance to avoid waiting in lines prior to their scheduled departure.

To ensure the safety of the traveling public, the Port Authority Police Department will conduct a DWI checkpoint at its facilities throughout the weekend to discourage people from drinking and driving.

To receive the latest travel alerts, travelers are encouraged to register for Port Authority Alerts at www.bridgeandtunnelalerts.com.  Motorists can receive alerts directly to their cell phones or e-mail accounts.

Additionally, travelers are encouraged to download Waze, a free crowdsourced traffic and navigation application. The Port Authority will feed information on lane closures, traffic incidents and other events to the Waze platform in real time.

PATH

The Port Authority projects that approximately 520,000 travelers will use its PATH rail system during the holiday weekend. PATH will operate additional trains as needed on Friday, May 26, to assist commuters leaving early for the holiday weekend. PATH will operate on a normal Saturday schedule on Saturday, May 27.  On Sunday, May 28, PATH will operate on a Sunday schedule. On Monday, May 29, PATH will operate on a Saturday schedule.

For up-to-date service information, riders are encouraged to follow PATH Rail System on Twitter at https://twitter.com/PATHTrain. Riders also can sign up for PATHAlerts at www.pathalerts.com, which provides up to the minute bulletins on PATH service changes.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation are pleased to announce the third and final lecture in the spring “Trailside Talks” series, for adults and high school students at the Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside.   This free program has been funded by the Trailside Museum Association.  Donations are welcomed.          

“This lecture is one not to be missed.  It answers the many questions people are posing about the declining bee population”, notes Freeholder Chairman, Bruce H. Bergen.

On Saturday, June 3 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.  the Trailside Talks Series concludes with “Pollinators.” Butterflies, bumblebees, moths and other creatures help pollinate over 75% of our flowering plants and crops, contributing to over $29 billion in crops each year.  Currently many species of pollinators are struggling to survive.  A naturalist from the Conserve Wildlife Foundation explores why pollinators are crucial to our environment, health, food systems and economy.  Learn how to help the declining species of New Jersey pollinators with simple steps we can take to protect them in our own backyard. 

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.