Category: Public Info

More than 40 people including Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados, who organized the event, Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, retired NY Giants stars Chris Snee, Rich Seubert, Charles Way, and Deon Grant joined members of Univision AM and FM Radio, Coors Light,  Operation Rebound—The Challenged Athletes Foundation, representatives of the Elizabeth Board of Education, the County of Union and other members of the NY Giants organization in a cleanup of Warinanco Park in Elizabeth and Roselle.  Dozens of garbage bags were collected in the effort. This is the third year in a row that Vice Chairman Granados has organized a cleanup of a County Park through the Giants, Univision, and Coors Light.

Elizabeth School teacher Edward Dieguez, retired NY Giants player Charles Way,  Jessica Daniels  and Cassie Petty of the NY Giants organization, retired NY Giants players Chris Snee and Rich Seubert,  Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados, Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, and Amanda DiPane of the NY Giants organization.

The Hispanic Law Enforcement Association of Union County, Inc. (HLEAUC, Inc.) has selected to honor Union County Vice Chairman Sergio Granados as a Community Leader for his commitment to the Union County community and his continued efforts to achieve social unity and economic equality among all residents. Vice Chairman Granados will be formally honored at the HLEAUC 25^th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, October 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the Renaissance in Elizabeth, NJ.

“It is truly an honor to be recognized among this year’s law enforcement and community leader honorees – each of whom exemplifies the laudable mission of the HLEAUC,” said Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados. “Achieving diversity in law enforcement and community leadership builds trust in the community and helps to establish effective policing by public safety officials and leaders who are sworn to serve.”

“Freeholder Vice Chairman Granados embodies what our association is all about. He’s a leader in our community who works tirelessly to unite and improve all of the communities throughout Union County. His diligence has made monumental strides throughout and even more for our association,” said Louis DeMondo of Hispanic Law Enforcement Association of Union County, Inc.

Tickets to the HLEAUC 25^th Anniversary Gala are $125 per person and are available now through Friday, October 21. Each ticket includes sit down dinner with meal selection, open bar, and cocktail reception. The evening also includes live music from Grammy-nominee, and New Jersey native Frankie Negron, with music by DJ Frankie Vera.  For more information or to purchase tickets through the HLEACU visit hleauc.org or call (908) 219-9109.

HLEAUC is a non-profit organization comprised of law enforcement officers and community leaders from throughout Union County.  The mission of HLEAUC is to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the Hispanic community, to reaffirm commitment to diversity in employment and to promote integrity and professionalism in law enforcement. Central to the HLEAUC mission is the formation of partnerships with education and civic community groups.

HLEAUC promotes diversity in law enforcement through scholarships, sponsored training and educational programs, as well as outreach programs in partnership with the community – assisting residents of Hispanic heritage to become law enforcement officials and community leaders of the future.

Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados, a native of Elizabeth and community activist who has experience working with non-profits and volunteer organizations, was elected to his first full term to the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholder in 2013 – becoming the youngest Democratic Freeholder ever elected in the State of New Jersey. Granados also holds a Masters in Public Administration from Kean University.

Through his work on the Freeholder Board, Granados has emphasized community outreach and fiscal reform, workforce initiatives that have created over 1,000 job opportunities in 2015 alone,  parks and educational improvements, and additional initiatives to benefit veterans and individuals with disabilities.

In 2015, Granados founded Moving New Jersey Forward, a community-based non-profit, whose mission is to raise awareness and education efforts at the local and national level about social justice issues.

In addition, Granados has a long record of activism, he has served with many organizations, including Hispanos Unidos, the Elizabeth Lions Club, the Portuguese Instructive Social Club, the Elizabeth Portugal Day Committee, Union County Latino-American Chamber of Commerce, New Leaders Council-New Jersey & Shaping Elizabeth.

The HLEAUC 25^th Anniversary Gala will be held on Saturday, October 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the Renaissance in Elizabeth, NJ. For more information about the Hispanic Law Enforcement Association of Union County, Inc. (HLEAUC, Inc.) visit hleauc.org.

In recognition of oral cancer awareness, the Union County Office of Health Management through the Chronic Disease Coalition of Middlesex and Union Counties has once again partnered with Krause Dental Care in Cranford to provide free oral cancer screenings.

Doctor Kurt M. Krause, D.M.D. will be conducting the free oral cancer screenings on Friday,  November 11^th from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. at his office located at 118 North Avenue West, Suite 101 in Cranford. To make an appointment for your complimentary screening please call Doctor Krause at 908-272-3001. 

“Screenings are key to detecting oral cancer, and an early detection can save lives and we certainly urge our residents to see their doctors on this matter,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen. “It is important that we continue to raise awareness about all types of cancer, and I thank the partners who are involved in putting together this service.”

Oral cancer will be diagnosed in an estimated 35,000 Americans this year and will cause approximately 7,500 deaths.  The good news is that it can often be found early in its development, through a simple, painless, and quick screening. With early detection, survival rates are high and the side-effects from treatment are at their lowest.

Like other health screenings, oral cancer screenings are an effective means of finding cancer at its early, highly curable stages. The Chronic Disease Coalition of Middlesex and Union Counties and Doctor Krause urge you to make oral cancer screening part of your annual health check-ups.

Doctor Krause is committed to doing his part to raise awareness of the importance of early detection of this devastating disease.  As with most cancers, early detection dramatically increases the survival rate.  For the third consecutive year, Doctor Krause and his staff are proud to be part of the first line of defense against oral cancer by encouraging yearly oral cancer screenings as well as educating patients as to the risk factors and early signs and symptoms of oral cancer.

To make an appointment for your complimentary screening please call Dr. Krause at (908) 272-3001.  For additional information, please visit Dr. Krause’s website at krausedentalcare.com.

For more information about Oral Cancer Screening, please call the Union County Office of Health Management at 908-518-5620.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholder Alexander Mirabella joined Union County Sheriff Joe Cryan in congratulating the winners of the 6th Annual Union County Sheriff’s Pistol Competition at the Union County Sheriff’s Firearms Training Facility in Springfield.

Officer John Perez of the Roselle Police Department won 1st Place. Sgt. Helder Freire of the Roselle Police Department took 2nd Place. Detective Ken Grady of the Kenilworth Police Department took 3rd Place. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Linda Carter and Union County Manager Alfred Faella met with members of Union County Police PBA Local 73 at the Habitat for Humanity project on East 5th Street in Plainfield. The members of PBA Local 73 volunteer and helped build houses that will go to deserving members of the community. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

A Letter to the Editor from Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi

My office, along with the Union County Board of Elections, is responsible for administering elections in Union County, and we encourage voters to use Vote by Mail ballots. They are convenient and secure, and they enable voters to avoid the risk of a mishap that could prevent them from getting to the polls on Election Day.

Unfortunately, misconceptions about the Vote-by-Mail process can discourage some voters from using this option.

Following are three of the most common myths that my Elections Division has heard from the public:

Myth #1: Vote by Mail ballots are only counted if an election is close.

FALSE. By law, Vote by Mail ballots are always counted. They are counted on Election Day, just like in-person votes at polling places.

After the polls close on Election Day, the Vote by Mail ballots are tallied. The total is added to the numbers from each polling place the next day, and posted to the County Clerk’s website.

Myth #2: Vote by Mail ballots are not private.

FALSE. Your personal identification – name, address or any other information – never goes on a Vote by Mail ballot. Vote by Mail users place their ballot in a special envelope that includes a detachable outer certificate for their name, address and signature. The envelope is not opened by the Board of Elections until after the certificate is detached. Once detached, the certificate cannot be matched to the voter’s ballot.

This method serves two important purposes. First, it ensures every voter that the privacy of their vote is protected. Second, the certificate provides a record that the voter used a Vote by Mail Ballot. In this regard it is similar to the poll books kept at polling places, where the voter’s signature provides a record that a vote was cast in person.

Myth #3: If a voter requests a Vote by Mail ballot and doesn’t use it, they cannot vote in person.

FALSE. A voter who requested a Vote by Mail ballot and did not use it can still go to their polling place on Election Day. Poll workers can confirm if the voter requested a Vote by Mail ballot by looking at the code next to their name (typically this will be “VBM” for Vote by Mail, or “A” for absentee).

If their request is confirmed, the voter cannot use the voting machine. However, they can request a provisional ballot and cast it at the polling place.

Every provisional ballot is reviewed by the Board of Elections. The review process ensures that each ballot has been cast by a registered voter. It also provides an assurance that voters using a Vote by Mail ballot do not also vote at their polling place.

The review process begins the day after Election Day and concludes within seven days.

At the end of the review period, all of the provisional ballots certified by the Board of Elections are tallied and reported to my office. I add these numbers to the Vote by Mail and polling place numbers, and I report the grand total to the public as the official, certified results of the election.

In other words, regardless of how the vote is cast – in person, by mail, or on a provisional ballot by a registered voter – every vote is counted.

Voters with questions about Vote by Mail or any other election procedures can call the Elections Division at 908-527-4996 for assistance.

Elections information is also available online at our new website, UnionCountyVotes.com and on the free mobile app, Union County Votes.

Joanne Rajoppi

Union County Clerk

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

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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that matching grants have been distributed to 19 municipalities for upgrades to playgrounds and youth athletic facilities through the Kids Recreation Trust Fund. Fourteen municipalities also received matching grants for street trees under the Greening Union County program.

Funding for both programs is provided by the Union County Open Space, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Trust Fund.

“These matching grants enable municipalities to keep their recreational facilities up-to-date, and to maintain attractive treescapes that help filter dust and pollutants in local neighborhoods,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “It is a real pleasure to see the Open Space Trust Fund continue to benefit communities throughout Union County.”

Kids Recreation grants can be used for upgrading municipal parks and recreational facilities. Examples include playground enhancements, renovating baseball fields, resurfacing basketball courts, and safety upgrades.

Greening Union County grant funds are used for purchasing, planting, or maintaining trees on local streets and other municipal properties.

“Together, these two grant programs provide municipal policymakers with more opportunities to enhance their neighborhoods and make improvements in a timely manner, helping to meet the needs of their communities for years to come,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, who is Chairman of the Open Space Trust Fund Board.

The Union County Open Space, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Trust Fund were established by popular referendum in 2000, and began operating in 2001. Since then, it has made more than $17 million in matching grants available to municipalities for local projects.

In addition, the Open Space Trust Fund has enabled the County to acquire more than 300 acres for public recreation, and to upgrade County facilities.

One recent example of the Open Space Trust Fund at work is Snyder Avenue Park in Berkeley Heights. This former industrial site was sought after by developers for housing, but local residents strongly supported a new County park on the site. The facilities now include a turfed and lighted multi-purpose field, a baseball field and a playground with water features.

The 2016 matching grants for the Kids Recreation and Greening Union County programs totaled $1.1 million.

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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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The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that the next mobile paper-shredding program for personal, confidential documents will take place at Nokia – Bell Labs (formerly Alcatel-Lucent Technologies)  located at 600 Mountain Avenue in New Providence on Saturday, October 22^nd.  This will be the final paper shredding event of the 2016 season. The document shredding event will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. 

“Properly disposing of personal documents is one way for resident to protect themselves from identity theft,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen. “Union County’s mobile document-shredding program compliments the County’s recycling efforts and other green initiatives, while giving residents a convenient opportunity to dispose old documents and confidential files safely and securely.”

All Union County residents are eligible to use the paper-shredding service. In an effort to accommodate everyone, there is a limit of four, 10-pound bags or boxes per person. NEXCUT Shredding of Elizabeth will be shredding personal documents from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  The event will end before 1 p.m. if the shredding truck reaches capacity.

This is a garbage-free event so please bring your documents in paper bags if at all possible. Plastic bags and boxes will be returned. Please remove plastic binders and large paper clips.  Paper that is wet/damp will not be accepted. Residents should continue to recycle non-confidential papers and magazines with their municipal recycling program.

Documents are put into 96-gallon containers provided by the shredding company. The items are then dumped onto a conveyor belt and shredded on site. Participants are welcome to view the shredding process via a closed-circuit television. The shredded documents are then recycled, shipped to paper mills and used as pulp.

The mobile shredding program is paid for through New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Recycling Enhancement Act Grant Funds. For more information about future events or directions please call the Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889 or visit us online at www.ucnj.org/recycle.

Union Police Sgt. Michael Boll of the Challenged Athletes Foundation Operation Rebound Racing Team presents certificates of appreciation to the members of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders thanking them for their support of the sports and fitness program for American military personnel, veterans and first responders with physical challenges. Union County has been a proud partner with Sgt. Boll and the organization this year as part of Chairman Bergen’s initiatives for veterans. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Vice Chairman Sergio Granados present a resolution of thanks, appreciation and congratulations to Harinder “Harry” Bains, the owner of a deli and bar in Linden, for his role in the arrest of suspected bomber Ahmad Khan Rahimi last month.

Rahimi is accused of planting bombs in Seaside Park, Elizabeth and New York City and wounding two officers in a firefight with Linden police.

Bains saw the suspect sleeping around his bar, recognized him, and called police helping put an end to manhunt.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)