Category: Public Info

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the second lecture in its spring “Trailside Talks” series, for adults and high school students at the Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside.   These spring programs are free to the public. Donations are welcomed.    

On Saturday, May 13 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. NASA Solar Ambassador Paul Cirillo returns to Trailside to enthrall audiences with a lecture on the great American solar eclipse of 2017.   In August of this year, a total eclipse of the sun will be visible in the United States along a 70 mile wide path from Oregon to South Carolina.  This will be the first solar eclipse visible since 1979. This is a rare and once in a lifetime event.  Cirillo will lead listeners through the history of eclipses and how and why they happen and how to best prepare to view this year’s best astronomical event.

“This spring offers and excellent line up of interesting speakers from Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ and the NASA Solar System Ambassador Speaker’s Bureau.  The spring adult programs offer a perfect invitation for a visit,” notes Freeholder Chairman, Bruce H. Bergen.

The final lecture of the series is “Pollinators” on Saturday, June 3 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.   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.

Historic American Revolutionary War battle re-enactment to occur on June 24th and 25th in Clark

The Battle of Short Hills planning committee and the Brigade of the American Revolution are happy to announce the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders  are co-sponsoring the Battle of Short Hills 240th Anniversary re-enactment at Oak Ridge Park in Clark on Saturday, June 24th and Sunday,  June 25th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is free to the public.

“We are pleased to co-sponsor an event that highlights the historic importance of Union County in the founding of our Country,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen. “This re-enactment brings history alive and reminds us of the sacrifices our founders made in the name of liberty and love of Country.”

Paul Tofani, a participant and one of the organizers of the event thanked the Freeholder Board for their co-sponsorship.

“This is a great step forward for public education on our history,” said Tofani. “This event will bring to life what took place here and help our visitors to understand the complexity of the foundation of our nation. We appreciate the co-sponsorship and the opportunity to present this in a County park.”

Preceding the battle the night before (Friday, June 23rd), the New Jersey Symphony will also perform a free concert beginning 6:30 p.m. at Oak Ridge as part of annual Union County’s Summer Arts Festival series of concerts.

At the Battle of Short Hills in late June 1777, a numerically inferior force of 2,500 Local New Jersey and Pennsylvania troops serving in the Continental Line, along with patriot militia, achieved a strategic victory against over 10,000 British and Hessians troops seeking to trap the main body of Washington’s army. This strategic victory prevented almost certain destruction, allowing the Americans a tactical retreat to the Watchung Mountains. 

The battle took place on June 26, 1777, at Scotch Plains and Metuchen, New Jersey, stretching through Clark (where the re-enactment is being staged) and all the way to Westfield. Despite the name, no fighting occurred in modern-day Short Hills, a section of Millburn.

On a related note, the Frazee House in Scotch Plains is a Union County landmark made famous by its sheer survival for more than 230 years and by the tale of Elizabeth “Aunt Betty” Frazee’s legendary confrontation with a British general during the battle of Short Hills. The house, constructed by Gershom Frazee,  has received official recognition on the National Register of Historic Places and the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. The Frazee House is located at 1451 Raritan Road, near Terrill Road, Scotch Plains, NJ.

The County of Union also maintains a Battle of Short Hills historic trail link, which outlines the other historic sites in Union County, including Plainfield and Fanwood: https://ucnj.org/parks-recreation/paths-trails-greenways/battle-of-short-hills/

Visitors to Oak Ridge park should note that portions of the park, including the public parking lot, will be closed from June 23 to 26th for the re-enactment to be set up and take place. Also those attending  are advised to bring hats, sunscreen and water as the re-enactment will take place in an open field at the height of summer.

Those wishing more information on this event or who may be interested in participating should go to either the event’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BoSH2017/

The contest was open to students from 4th thought 8th grade from schools throughout Union County. The winners were selected by a group of volunteer judges. This event is sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders in cooperation with the Union County Shade Tree Advisory Board.

Union County Freeholder Angel G. Estrada presents Evelyn Burnett Marchione with a resolution congratulating her on being named Linden’s 2017 Outstanding Senior Citizen of the Year by the Linden Department of Public Property and Community Services during the city’s 59th annual Senior Citizen Day ceremony at the John T. Gregorio Recreation Center in Linden.

The contest, co-sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and The National Arts Program Foundation, was open to Union County employees and their families. The exhibit will be open to the public weekdays until May 23, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Elizabethtown Gas Company, located at Liberty Hall Center, 1085 Morris Avenue in Union Township.

Necessary safety work will require road closure and detours

New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced a railroad crossing rehabilitation project that will require a week long closure and detour of Rahway Avenue in Westfield, Union County.

Beginning at 7 a.m. Monday, May 8, until 7 p.m. Friday, May 12, the two-way traffic on Rahway Avenue in Westfield, which becomes Westfield Avenue in Clark is scheduled to be closed at the railroad crossing between Terminal Avenue in Clark and Lamberts Mill Road in Westfield. The existing railroad crossing will be removed and replaced with a new concrete crossing and asphalt approach. The following detours will remain in place:

Westfield Avenue Detour

• Motorists from Westfield Avenue in Clark will be directed to use Terminal Avenue/L’Oreal Way
• Make a left onto Central Avenue
• Make a left onto West Grove Street in Westfield and follow to Rahway Avenue

Rahway Avenue Detour

• Motorists from Rahway Avenue in Westfield will be directed to use West Grove Street
• Make a right onto Central Avenue
• Make a right onto Terminal Avenue/L’Oreal Way in Clark and follow to Westfield Avenue

The traffic detour will be coordinated with the local police. If work is completed earlier, the roadway will be reopened accordingly.
In order to provide safer and smoother railroad crossing in Westfield, the existing crossings will be replaced with new asphalt crossings and new asphalt approaches. This federally-funded project is included within NJDOT’s railroad grade-crossing safety program which repairs, upgrades, or removes approximately 30 crossings each year, statewide.

The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website www.511nj.org for real-time travel information and for NJDOT news follow us on Twitter @NJDOT_info.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that the 2017 Union County Means Green Community Garden Grants program has awarded matching funds for 20 garden projects in nine different municipalities. The gardens will provide donations of fresh produce to those in need as well as education, recreation, civic service and social opportunities for gardeners and their communities.

The new round of funding follows on the success of the 2016 Union County Means Green Community Garden Grants program, an initiative of Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.

“This year’s group of awardees demonstrates that the community garden movement touches Union County residents of all ages and from all walks of life,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “On behalf of the Freeholder Board I wish our awardees all the best for an enriching experience and a bountiful harvest.”

The 2017 UC Means Green garden grant program is administered by the non-profit organization Groundwork Elizabeth on behalf of Freeholder Board. Groundwork also administered the 2016 program, which covered 19 projects in 10 municipalities.

“Groundwork’s expert guidance helped to ensure a successful first year for the grant program,” said Bergen. “We’re pleased to have them on board again to administer the 2017 round of funding.”

“Many Union County residents are eager to reach out and help those in need, and community gardens provide an opportunity to participate in a service activity while also spending time out in the fresh air with friends and neighbors,” said Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados, who chairs the Union County Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund. “It is especially meaningful to engage our young people in raising and donating fresh produce, both as an educational experience and because helps them to see that even at a very young age they can still have a positive impact on the health and well-being of their families and the whole community.”

To help fill the demand for educational gardens, this year Granados introduced a new community garden funding program for schools called Union County Kids Dig In. Also administered by Groundwork, the new program is funding garden projects at 32 schools.

“We are thrilled to administer UC Kids Dig In and UC Means Green on behalf of the Freeholder Board,” said Groundwork Executive Director Jonathan Phillips. “Interest in community gardening is strong all across Union County, from our cities to our suburban areas.  Growing food locally helps build healthier families, and often improves vacant and underused land for the benefit and enjoyment of local residents.”

The 2017 UC Means Green awardees are:

Elizabeth

• Make the Road New Jersey Community Garden (located at the Snyder Academy)
• Elmora Branch Library Community Garden
• E’Port Community Garden (sponsored by Prevention Links)
• I.S.C. Vera Verde (located at Portuguese Instructive Social Club)
• Jewish Family Service Community Vegetable Garden
• Elizabeth Branch Community Garden (Gateway Family YMCA)
• Trinitas Community Garden (Trinitas Hospital)

Fanwood

• Fanwood Borough Hall Pollinator and Butterfly Garden

New Providence

• New Providence Community Garden

Plainfield

• Planting Seeds Community Garden #1 (located at Mt. Zion AME Church)
• Richmond Towers Garden Club
• Grace’s Community Garden (located at Grace Episcopal Church)

Roselle

• East 1^st Avenue Garden (Community Access Unlimited)
• BT and Diane Mathis Garden (Roselle Department of Recreation)

Scotch Plains

• Brunner Children’s Garden (Howard B. Brunner School)
• Scotch Plains-Fanwood Community Garden (located on the grounds of Frazee House)

Summit

• Mary Reinhart Stackhouse Education Center Children’s Garden (Reeves-Reed Arboretum)

Union Township

• Union Township Community Garden (located at Eleanor R. Erickson Park)
• WISE Center Branch Community Garden (Gateway Family Y)

Westfield

• Westfield Food Pantry (Holy Trinity Church)

UC Means Green and UC Kids Dig In awardees become members of Groundwork’s Come Grow With Us! community garden program, which provides seedlings and other resources to its members.

“Many of our UC Means Green awardees also receive support from their local municipalities,” said Bergen. “It’s a wonderful illustration of the ways in which County funding can enhance local resources to benefit more residents.”

The Union County community garden movement is also supported by community organizations and private sector partners, and it has even attracted state and federal interest.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has partnered with Groundwork through the More PEAS permaculture initiative, resulting in the construction of more than 100 new community garden beds in Elizabeth earlier this month.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Conservation Resource Service has also begun to partner with Groundwork in of support Union County community gardens. The agency traditionally provides assistance to rural farmers. Its interest in Union County is part of a new initiative to reach urban farmers and community gardens.

Rounding out the community garden picture in Union County is the Rutgers Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden. Located by the County’s Trailside Nature and Science Center, the garden has donated thousands of pounds of fresh produce for local food pantries and offers a variety of community education programs.

The Master Gardeners is an all-volunteer organization run by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County and supported by the Freeholder Board, as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s national Extension system.

For quick links to Union County environmental programs and more information about the Union County Extension, visit The Green Connection.

Photo caption: An empty field behind the historic Frazee House was transformed into the Scotch Plains – Fanwood Community Garden last year with the help of Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen’s Union County Means Green garden grant initiative.

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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 28th Annual Union County Spring Garden Fair and Plant Sale will be held on Sunday, May 21, 2017 rain or shine, from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Demonstration Garden complex at the Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside.  The Fair is a project of the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County in cooperation with the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. 

The Spring Garden Fair features hundreds of plants and for sale including deer resistant, drought tolerant and fragrant verities, and easy-to-grow vegetables, herbs and ornamentals for beginner gardeners.

“The Master Gardeners is an all-volunteer organization, and all proceeds from the sale go to fund the many service projects and activities they provide for the Union County community, said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “The Garden Fair is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to their work while adding color and greenery to your home, yard and neighborhood.”

Among the many highlights of the sale are heirloom tomatoes and tomato varieties ideal for containers and small gardens, hot peppers, hanging baskets and houseplants along with annual and perennial flowers for the garden.

Of special interest to tomato lovers are the Rutgers 250 and the Ramapo F1 Hybrid varieties.

The Rutgers 250 tomato is the new result from crossing the same parent varieties as the original ‘Rutgers’ tomato that was released by Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) in 1934. Rutgers 250 was selected for high fruit quality and flavor and was named in honor of the University’s 250th anniver­sary (the number of plants an individual can purchase may be limited due to demand). 

The Ramapo F1 Hybrid tomato was developed at Rutgers NJAES and first released in 1968. It was prized by gardeners for its great flavor, fruit quality, reliability, and productivity. Ramapo seed was unavailable for many years but Rutgers NJAES continued receiving requests for this popular tomato and eventually reintroduced Ramapo F-1 seeds in 2008.

Other Spring Garden Fair highlights include: 

• Free Garden Helpline clinic and Rutgers information fact sheets for gardening problems. Residents are encouraged to bring plant and insect samples for diagnosis
• Union County Division of Mosquito Control Supervisors available to answer questions
• Rutgers Soil Test Kits will be available for sale
• Square Foot Gardening display and informal presentation all day
• Free children’s activities, including making bird feeders and planting seeds. Children must be accompanied by parent or guardian.
• 4-H Master Tree Steward display
• Guided tours of the Demonstration Garden complex including our vegetable and herb gardens
• “The Cupcake Café” will have home-baked goods 
• Arts & Crafts table with hand painted bird house gourds grown in the garden, along with other items made by Master Gardeners
• A Gardening “Odds & Ends” table with various new and slightly used gardening items
• Applications to become a Master Gardener will be available for the new Master Gardener class starting next fall.

The Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside, in the Watchung Reservation. Free parking for the Spring Garden Fair is available in the Reservation at the Scout Camping Area, and in the parking lot at the corner of New Providence Road and Coles Avenue. Additional free parking is available in the nearby Loop playground area. Please note – no pets are allowed in the Garden Fair.

Visitors who plan to purchase plants are advised to bring a small wagon for ease of conveyance. 

Rutgers Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who assist Rutgers NJAES) in its mission to deliver horticulture programs and information to the general public. Anyone with an interest in gardening and a commitment to volunteer service can become a Master Gardener. No previous education or training in horticulture is required. 

For more information contact Judi Laganga at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Office located in Westfield at 908-654-9854, visit the Extension page on the Union County website at ucnj.org/rce, or visit the Master Gardeners website at mastergardeners-uc.org. 

Cooperating Agencies: Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and County Boards of Chosen Freeholders. The Rutgers Cooperative Extension, a unit of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, is an equal opportunity program provider and employer.

For quick links to all Union County environmental and sustainability programs and activities visit The Green Connection 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, NJ – Nine Union County municipalities received an A or A- grade in the 2017 “Best Places to Live” in New Jersey by Niche, a website that produces comprehensive rankings, report cards, and profiles for K-12 Schools, Colleges, and Places to Live.

Rounding out the top areas to live in Union County are: Westfield (A grade, ranked #14 in NJ), Summit (A grade, ranked #27 in NJ), New Providence (A grade, ranked #32 in NJ), Fanwood (A grade, ranked #46 in NJ), Berkeley Heights (A- grade, ranked #59 in NJ), Scotch Plains (A- grade, ranked #79 in NJ), Cranford (A grade, ranked #92 in NJ), Springfield Township (A- grade), and Mountainside (A-).

“On average, all Union County municipalities raked well in the “Places to Live” in New Jersey ratings, illustrating the commitment of the Freeholder Board to maintain a stable quality of life for our residents,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.

The remaining Union County municipalities received an average rating of B (click here for complete list).

To compile the rankings, Niche considered several factors and statistics from multiple federal and local government sources such as the U.S. Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, and other sources to help people better understand an area.

This year, Niche also used community reviews from residents into the rankings. The entire methodology rundown can be found here.

The results are also broken down into several categories, including best places for families, millennials and retirees as well as the top spots for safety, diversity and to buy a house.

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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 is pleased to announce  that 18 Union County municipalities have been awarded “Senior Focus” grants. Designed to support the well-being, safety and quality of life for senior adults in Union County, “Senior Focus” funding may be used for repairs and rehabilitation of senior center facilities or equipment for the centers.

“The senior population of Union County is growing, and with ‘Senior Focus’ we demonstrate our commitment to ensuring that local communities have the resources to continue improving their facilities, programs and services for seniors,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen.

“This initiative is intended to support our senior adults and provide access to services that impact their quality of life,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Human Services Advisory Board.

The“Senior Focus” grant made available awards of up to $25,000 to each of Union County’s 21 municipalities for capital improvements or equipment purchases to enhance their local senior center facilities. Qualifying centers must be owned by the municipality and used exclusively or primarily as a senior center. 

Examples of improvements covered under the grant include ADA access improvements, repairs to or replacement the roof, plumbing and electrical upgrades, and site improvements.

In addition to capital projects, examples of acceptable equipment purchases could include computers/printers, stereos and headphones, and PA systems. The grant program was funded through a combination of County Capital and CDBG funds.

Offered as part of Chairman Bergen’s “Year of the Senior” 2016 initiatives, the new “Senior Focus” program (the last one was offered in 2002) complemented the recently completed “Seniors in Motion” program, which provided vans for senior transportation to the County’s municipalities.

Here is a list of towns that are receiving the grants, and what the money will be used for:

Municipality	Amount	Projected Project
Clark	$25,000	Senior Fitness Equipment
Cranford	$18,462	Bingo System, PA System and 8 Surface Pro Computers
Elizabeth	$24,293	27 Computers
Fanwood	$25,000	Roof, Windows, Window Coverings, PA System, iPad, Microwave
Garwood	$25,000	Roof Repair and PA System
Hillside	$25,000	Exterior Repairs Replace Handicap Ramp
Kenilworth	$23,400	4 doors Retrofit 2 doors Replaced
Linden	$24,000	Ramp Update, Automatic Doors
Mountainside	$25,000	Flooring, Seating, Computer, TV
New Providence	$15,500	100 Chairs, 8 Club Chairs, PA System, Copier
Plainfield	$25,000	Senior Fitness Equipment, Flooring, Sewing machines
Rahway	$25,000	Roof
Roselle	$25,000	Lavatory Upgrades, Parking Lot Lighting, Ice Maker, Ceiling Tiles
Roselle Park	$25,000	Roof
Scotch Plains	$25,000	Bocce Court, Outdoor Seating, PA System, Ceiling Tiles, Chairs, Fitness Equipment, Signage, Tables
Springfield	$25,000	Fitness Equipment, Audio Visual Equipment, Computers
Summit	$25,000	Senior Lounge
Union	$25,000	Senior Center Roof
Total	$430,655