Category: Public Info

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Office of Cultural and Affairs, Department of Parks and Recreation invite individuals and organizations to a free program designed to help in overcome the challenges faced both personally and professionally in the business world.

This free program takes place on Monday, November 14, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Liberty Hall Wagon Shed Building, 1003 Morris Ave., Union, NJ.

“This free interactive workshop will provide the processes and tools necessary to establish, implement and hold yourself accountable to your and your organization’s short–and long–term goals,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Union County Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board. “We’re looking forward to a lively and informative session.”

Consultant Susan Koblin Schear, will lead the workshop. She was recently named as Deputy Director for the Newark Arts Council (Newark, NJ). Ms. Schearfounded ARTISIN, LLC in 1995 to offer comprehensive, process-oriented and holistically-based planning and business development, management and implementation services to the arts and cultural sector. As an established speaker, moderator, facilitator and trainer, she designs and presents innovative, customized, professional development workshops and seminars throughout the country. She is a visiting assistant professor at Pratt Institute’s Graduate Arts and Cultural Management Program.

This event is funded in part 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.

The workshop is free, but prior registration is required by November 10.  To register, please email: culturalinfo@ucnj.org or 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.

Union County, NJ – Union County residents and visitors are invited to celebrate the holiday season this year with a trip to one of the largest model train displays in New Jersey, complete with special sound, narration and lighting effects. It’s all taking place at the A. Paul Mallery Model Railroad Center, located in Union County’s Lenape Park.

“Model trains are closely associated with the holiday season, and over the years many Union County families have included the Model Railroad Center in their list of favorite annual traditions,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “The Freeholder Board is very proud to host this unique facility for the enjoyment of one and all.”

The Model Railroad Center is run by the non-profit organization The Model Railroad Club, Inc., under an arrangement with the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.

The Railroad Center’s permanent displays are highlighted by a massive, intricately detailed HO layout and a double-decker N scale layout complete with a miniature circus.

Each November, Model Railroad Club members dress up the facility for the holidays and invite the public to view the layouts enhanced by sound and lighting effects.

 “The Holiday Sound and Light Show has been a fun, educational part of The Model Railroad Club’s efforts to preserve the rich history of our rail system and its role in the development of our region,” said TMRCI President Tim McCollum.

Along with the Holiday Sound and Light show, holiday visitors can refresh themselves at the on-site snack bar and stock up on train themed presents at the gift shop. A toddler play area also provides young children with a chance to rest and stretch their legs.

The Model Railroad Club is dedicated to preserving the rich history of rail transportation in the New Jersey – Pennsylvania region. Club members have earned a reputation for their attention to finely rendered historical and geographical details.

The Sound and Light Show runs throughout public visiting hours. Visitors can stay as long as they wish and observe the show from the overhead gallery surrounding the 40 x 40-foot HO scale layout.

The visitor gallery also wraps around a new 80 x 60-foot HO section currently under construction, where the “bones” of the layout are visible.

“The new section provides visitors with a rare chance to see the painstaking planning and attention to detail that go into a world class model train display,” said Bergen.

The Model Railroad Club has been a fixture in Union County since it was founded in 1949. It is one of the largest railroad clubs in New Jersey. About 170 volunteer members dedicate hours of their time to maintaining and running the trains, creating scenery, and helping to educate the public about the historical role of railways in the region.

New members are always welcome. Current members are always on site during visiting hours to talk about Club activities and explain how to join, or email info@tmrci.org for information on becoming a member.

The 2016 Holiday Sound and Light Show opens on Friday, November 25 from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. It will continue to operate from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Fridays, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturdays, and 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sundays until December 11.

Tickets to the Sound and Light Show are available at TMRCI’s ticket window and gift shop on Saturdays between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Advance tickets are available online on TMRCI’s website at tmrci.org/annual-show.html. Advance tickets are $7.00 for adults, $4.00 for children ages 3 to 15, and $5.00 for seniors age 60 and over. Children under age 2 are free. Prices are higher at the door on the days of the show.

All proceeds support the operation of The Model Railroad Club, Inc. Free parking is available on site and the building is wheelchair accessible.

Directions: The A. Paul Mallery Center is conveniently situated in a mixed-use area of Lenape Park, off Route 22 East in Union Township, behind the Home Depot. Enter the Home Depot parking lot from Route 22 East or from Springfield Road, and go to the far end where the garden center is located. Turn left and follow a small sign to a service road behind the Home Depot. The Mallery Center is at the end of the road.

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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 Freeholder Board is pleased that the Union County Workforce Innovation Business Center is holding a recruiting event for 30 full-time and part-time positions at Community Access Unlimited in Elizabeth.

The event is being held November 1^st from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Workforce Innovation Business Center, at the Mills at Jersey Gardens, 651 Kapkowski Road in Elizabeth.  Pre-registration is required. For information and to register, please call the Center at 908-355-4444 or email baptiste@uccc.edu.

Sat., Oct 22, 2016 from 10 AM to 4 PM at the Plainfield Public Library

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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