Category: Public Info

Union County Freeholders Christopher Hudak and Angel G. Estrada present a resolution to Michele Dabal, Sue Quiroga and Elizabeth Stamler of NJ Sharing Network recognizing April as National Donate Life Month in Union County. NJ Sharing Network, based in New Providence, is the non-profit organization responsible for the recovery and placement of donated organs and tissue for those in need of a life-saving transplant. For more information, visit www.njsharingnetwork.org. 

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that sixteen Union County organizations will receive a total of $22,000 from the 2017 Union County History Grants Program, made possible from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State. These grants will be used to support special projects or general operating expenses for the county based non-profit history organizations and units of local government, including libraries and schools.

“This grant program gives us the opportunity to help local non-profit groups develop and present important history programs or projects to a wide-ranging audience,’’ said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.

A variety of programs and projects are being developed and presented by the 2017 grant recipients:

• The Clark Library will receive $1,400.00 for digitization of historic newspapers.
• Fanwood-Scotch Plains will use $1,000.00 for the development and design of print marketing materials for the Frazee House.
• The Garwood Historical Committee will use $250.00 for digitization of a World War II newsletter “Gar-words.”
• The Hillside Public Library will use $1,000.00 to transfer Hillside Times microfilm to web portal access.
• The Historical Society of Elizabeth will use $2,000.00 for research and media production staffed by students from Kean University and NJIT.
• The Historical Society of Plainfield will use $2,000.00 for administrative assistance and grounds upkeep.
• Merchants and Drovers Tavern in Rahway will use $1,600.00 for staffing cost and to keep the facility up and running four days a week.
• The Mountainside Historical Preservation Committee will use $1,000.00 for monthly costs, including phone, insurance, and cleaning artifacts.
• The New Providence Historical Society will use $1,000.00 for a Community Lecture Series and workshops.
• The Old First Historic Trust will use $2,000.00 to develop public tour programs.
• The Reeves-Reed Arboretum of Summit will use $2,000.00 for operating costs, marketing and public outreach for programming.
• The African-American Heritage and Learning Center in Rahway will use $1,250.00 for office furniture, a computer and a scanner.
• The Fortnightly Club of Summit will use $500.00 for operating sevices.
• The Union County Historical Society will use $1,000.00 for conservation and preservation of Military and Wedding clothing as well as Quilts.
• The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, located in Summit will use $2,000.00 to produce a walking guild of the Watchung Reservation.
• And the Westfield Historical Society will use $2,000.00 for administrative and operational costs.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to offer the Union County History Grant Program through the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation, Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs. 

Organizations interested in learning more about the History Grant Program or other programs and services should contact the Division of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl St., Elizabeth, NJ 07202. Telephone: 908-558-2550.  Relay users dial 711. Or E-mail: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

New Open Space Grant program to fund gardens at 32 schools at Pre K to 12^th grade schools throughout Union County

UNION COUNTY, NJ—For the first time ever, The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders today announced it has awarded “Union County Kids Dig In!” grants to 32 schools in 12 County municipalities. The grant assistance covers establishing/building of gardens, garden boxes and/or tools and equipment. It is aimed at educating students about gardening and fostering the growth and creation of community gardens at the schools.

“Our goal is to teach children how food is grown, to educate them about nutrition, and to make them think about the environment and the world around them, including their own communities,” said Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados, who thought of the program and worked to create it this year as the Chairman of the Union County Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund. “This is a great way to get everyone involved in community gardening—not only the children, but also their parents, the teachers and local residents.”

Granados noted that the grant requires the donation of a portion of what is grown for community donation, teaching children about charity.

“Studies also show that when children are engaged in gardening programs, their school performances improve and health outcomes improve,” Granados noted.

Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen agreed.

“New Jersey is the Garden State and we have a rich tradition and history of horticulture in the state even with all the changes in density over the years,” Bergen said. “This is a great way to instill the benefits of gardening in our future citizens at a young age.”

The County presented the Union County Kids Dig In! grant program to each school district through its Open Space Trust Fund, offering a total of just under $40,000 in grant assistance through revenues from golf fees administered through the fund.

The grant program covers produce gardens including vegetables, fruits, nuts, berries, herbs and spices, pollinator-attracting plants and plants for pest management. It does not cover ornamental plants or non-producing gardens.

Gardens must agree to set aside 30% of their harvest for community donation and enroll in Come Grow With Us!, a free countywide information and resource sharing network for community gardens.

Those applying for grants were given four options, 1.) to apply for tools and equipment; 2.) to apply for establishing a garden with four raised beds with soil, irrigation, soil amendments, seedlings and provisions for educational programs; 3.)  to apply directly for ten (10) Earthboxes with soil, tools, soil amendments, seedlings and provisions for educational programs; and 4.) To apply for funding covering other garden types including rooftop, hydroponic and any others.

The following is a list of schools that applied and will receive assistance through the Kids Dig In! program:

 

Clark

• Frank K. Hehnly School

Cranford

• Walnut Avenue School
• Lincoln School
• Hillside Avenue School
• Calvary Nursery School & Child Care        

                  

Elizabeth

• Mabel G. Holmes Annex No. 5
• Jerome Dunn Academy School No. 9                                            
• John Marshall School # 20
• Abraham Lincoln School 14
• Albert Einstein Academy School #29
• Thomas A. Edison Career & Technical Academy
• Winfield Scott School #2
• Victor Mravlag School #21
• Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy
• Juan Pablo Duarte- Jose Julian Marti School No. 28
• Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy

Kenilworth

• Saint Theresa School

Linden

• Myles J. Mcmanus Middle School

New Providence

• Morris-Union Jointure Commission
• New Providence High School

Plainfield

• College Achieve Central Charter School                 

Rahway

• Madison School
• Rahway High School

Roselle

• Harrison Elementary School
• Washington Elementary School      

Scotch Plains

1. Ackerman Coles Elementary School
2. William J. Mcginn Elementary School
3. JCC of Central NJ- Brody Family Early Learning Center

Union

• The Deron School Of New Jersey, Inc.

Westfield

• Wesley Hall Preschool & Kindergarten
• Mckinley Elementary School
• Tamaques Elementary School

The program is the second community gardening initiative the County has initiated in the past two years. Last year, Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen announced the Union County Means Green Community Gardening grant program to community gardening organizations. The program will also be renewed this year.

 Photo credit: Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County.

Assemblyman Jamel Holley led the groundbreaking and was joined by Union County Freeholders Chairman Bruce H. Bergen, Vice Chairman Sergio Granados, Freeholders Alexander Mirabella and Vernell Wright and Assemblywoman Annette Quijano at the site of Roselle’s “Mind and Body Complex,” a multi-use facility that will house a new public library, a pre-K and Kindergarten and a recreation center. Also in attendance were Borough Council and Board of Education members, library officials and representatives of the Union County Improvement Authority.

The $56 million project, located between Harrison and Chandler Avenues, has undergone nearly three years of careful planning and community vetting and has been lauded for its cross-agency planning and financing that includes Roselle, Roselle Public Schools, the Union County Improvement Authority and the County of Union.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ—The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation invite families with children of all ages and adults alike to climb aboard a variety of public safety vehicles at this year’s “Touch A Truck” event on Sunday afternoon, April 30. The event will run from 11:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M., rain or shine in the Lower Loop Parking Lot of the Watchung Reservation. There will also be a quiet hour, from 11:00 A.M. until 12:00 P.M. where children sensitive to noise will be able to enjoy the vehicles on display.

“We are once again happy to host Touch A Truck at the Loop in the Watchung Reservation to give youngsters an opportunity to not only see these magnificent machines, but to actually climb aboard and experience the excitement of being behind the wheel,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.

Hazmat will offer its big rig, and the Union County Department of Public Works will return with its mammoth white milling machine which is used to strip the top off of roads to prepare them for paving. The companion vehicle, the paver, will also be there, along with a bucket truck used for high tree trimming.

Attendees can also see multiple trucks with snow plows, payloaders, and hook/flatbed tow. And of course, fire department truck equipment from the Mountainside Fire Department is also planned for display.

This year’s Touch A Truck event will feature a special display from the Fire Museum, a 1974 Piece Custom pumper, retired from Mine Hill Fire Department.

Admission to the Touch A Truck event is $4 per person, with children 6 years old and under admitted free. The price of admission also includes admission to Wild Earth Fest.

The Loop Area is located just off Tracy Drive in Mountainside, in between Glenside Avenue and Summit Road. It features a very popular playground area for kids, and the concession stand will be open. Visitors may also visit the Watchung Stable and the Deserted Village of Feltville/Glenside Park. Also, Lake Surprise is just a short walk where residents can see the new dam.

For more information on Touch A Truck, or any event in the Union County Parks System, please visit our website at ucnj.org/parks.

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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 5^th annual Union County Women Mean Business networking seminar. The popular series brings has brought together Union County businesswomen with experts on hot topics and role models for success every year since 2013.

The special guest speaker for the 2017 Union County Women Mean Business event is Janice Huff, Chief Meteorologist for NBC 4.

“Ms. Huff has gained nationwide recognition for her many contributions to journalism and meteorology, her work on behalf of children in foster care, and her leadership as a mentor in her field,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “She offers a wealth of insights and guidance to everyone who strives for excellence.”

This year’s event will be held on Wednesday, May 17, 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. at The Clubhouse at Galloping Hill, at Union County’s Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth.

The event includes a choice of two breakout sessions helping women to sharpen their communication and networking skills.

Session 1:

• Changing Perceptions: New View, New You
• Powerful Presence: Communicate with Clarity & Confidence
• Tales from the Front Lines: How Local Women Business Owners Continue to Beat the Odds

Session 2:

• Be Decisive: Commit to Financial Success
• From Reactive to Proactive: Are you hirable?
• He Said/She Said: Rock & “Link In” Your Networking Opportunities

The registration fee of $40.00 includes lunch, program, networking cocktail hour (cash bar) and a chance to win prizes including round trip airline tickets.

To register online visit ucnj.org/ucmeansbusiness. For additional information contact Deana Mesaros, dmesaros@ucnj.org or call 908-659-7412.

The 2017 Union County Women Mean Business is sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and its partners, with the generous support of Diamond Sponsor ConnectOne Bank, Gold Sponsor KemperSports, Silver Sponsor Winning Strategies Washing, and Bronze Sponsors Southwest and Suplee, Clooney & Company.

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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.

Please note that due to last week’s cancellation, the regular meeting of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders will be held this Thursday, April 20, 2017 at 7 p.m.  The following Thursday, April 27, 2017 will be a double meeting (agenda meeting and regular meeting.) Also, please note that proposed resolution 2017-329 regarding the Watchung Reservation Trails master Plan has been pulled from the agenda and will not be voted on Thursday, April 20, 2017.

Due to potential health and public safety issues caused by a water main break on Elizabethtown Plaza in Elizabeth, tonight’s Union County Freeholder meeting has been canceled. The rescheduled date will be announced on Monday.