Category: Public Info

 

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholders Alexander Mirabella and Vernell Wright present a resolution in honor of Police Week to Union County Police Captain Martin Mogensen, Union County Prosecutor’s Office Captain James Russo, Union County Sheriff’s Captain Dennis Burke and members of the Union County SWAT team after a special weapons and tactics demonstration at the SWAT Range in Springfield. They were joined by Acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park. Mayors, police chiefs and officials from municipalities throughout Union County attended the informative SWAT demonstration. National Police Week takes place from Sunday, May 15 through Saturday, May 21, 2016. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is looking for artisans and crafts people to demonstrate Early American work and craft skills and to sell their hand-crafted wares at Union County’s 35th Annual Harvest Festival.  The event is a celebration of Early American life featuring music, children’s crafts, games, demonstrations and displays, a petting zoo and much more. The Harvest Festival will take place, rain or shine, at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside on Sunday, September 25, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

“The Watchung Reservation is the perfect venue for visitors of all ages to come and experience early American Culture and history,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “Each year this event has proven to be fascinating and fun-filled for all who attend”.

The Union County Harvest Festival is a popular event that attracts over 3,500 visitors each year. By participating, demonstrators and vendors of hand-crafted goods will receive excellent exposure and have the opportunity to educate others about their craft or work skill and the Early American period in general. Examples of the handicrafts and work skills being sought are: blacksmithing, candle making, broom making, shoe making, hat making, jewelry making, and quilting and other colonial or Native American crafts or skills.

For details about how to participate, please call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at (908) 527- 4106.

For more information on Trailside Nature and Science Center please visit www.ucnj.org/trailside.

Union County, NJ – What’s in your backyard? Aside from ordinary denizens like deer, rabbits and raccoons, Union County is home to hundreds of fascinating plant and animal species. Union County residents and visitors are invited to encounter some of these unique and unusual neighbors at Bio-Blitz 2016, the 12^th annual ‘round-the-clock, 24-hour snapshot survey of flora and fauna in County parks.

Bio-Blitz 2016 will begin Friday June 10 at 5:00 p.m. and continue through the night and the following day for 24 hours, concluding at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 11.

“Bio-Blitz is packed with activities for all ages, and it provides you with a chance to meet the naturalists and science professionals who work to catalog and conserve our natural environment,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “I encourage you to come and visit Bio-Blitz 2016, especially if there is an aspiring scientist in your family.”

For Bio-Blitz 2016, survey teams of professional scientists and naturalists will spread out among three County parks: Kawameeh Park in Union Township, Black Brook Park in Kenilworth, and the Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth.

The public is invited to watch the survey teams in action and participate in many other activities and programs. Kawameeh Park in Union Township will serve as the “Bio-Blitz Central” headquarters. Members of the public can visit Bio-Blitz Central for walk-in activities, exhibits and ongoing programs any time starting at 5:00 p.m. on Friday June 10.

Among the ongoing activities for all ages at Bio-Blitz Central are live exhibits, an “insect lab,” hands-on displays, and many opportunities to interact with survey teams as they examine and catalog their samples.

Visitors to Bio-Blitz Central can also sign up for scheduled nature tours and activities. All of the activities are free and no other pre-registration is required. Free shuttles are also available for most of the activities taking place at Black Brook Park and Galloping Hill.

Bird walks, mammal surveys, foraging for wild edibles, a geocaching demonstration, nature photography, night-time insect trapping and the popular “Frog Slog” are among the many scheduled activities.

Bio-Blitz is sponsored by the Freeholder Board with the generous support of many partners and sponsors.

For complete information about Bio-Blitz 2016 including a schedule of programs and activities visit ucnj.org/bio-blitz.

Professional scientists and other knowledgeable experts who are interested in joining a survey team can join online at ucnj.org/bio-blitz until June 1. For more information about joining a team or volunteering in another capacity, please contact Betty Ann Kelly, Union County Department of Parks and Recreation, at bkelly@ucnj.org.

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Photo credit: Hadel Go.

Union County, NJ – Union County residents who are interested in becoming certified Home Health Aides can enroll in a training program offered through the Union County Department of Human Services this summer. Upon completing the program, students will have the knowledge and skills required for certification by the New Jersey State Board of Nursing.    

“This program was developed to provide home care professionals in Union County with reliable, accurate guidance,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “By training and supporting our workforce, we can help ensure that our elderly and disabled residents live independently at home and stay connected with their communities.”

Union County established the training program in 1986 to address the growing need for in-home care. 

To be considered for acceptance into the program, applicants must be 18 years of age, U.S. citizens or qualified aliens, and have the ability to read, write and speak English proficiently.

They must also be physically capable of participating in class work such as lifting, getting patients out of bed, giving bed baths, aiding transfers for those with limited mobility, and other related patient care.

The $75.00 registration fee includes the cost of the textbook and workbook. There also is an $80.00 application fee payable to the New Jersey State Board of Nursing. A passport size photo is required to be attached to the application.

Persons interested in registering must first arrange for a pre-program interview by calling Donna Farrell, Union County Division on Aging, at 908-527-4858. 

Space in the class is limited and applicants are advised to call now for an interview appointment. Interviews will be conducted in June.

The program will begin on July 11 and continue to August 4, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. from Monday through Thursday each week. All sessions will be held at Jewish Family Services, 655 Westfield Avenue in Elizabeth.

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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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On Wednesday, May 12th, Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados, Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, and County Manager Alfred Faella  enjoyed the spectacular performances of the very talented High School students throughout Union County at the Union County Teen Arts Showcase at the Union County Performing Arts Center.

Freeholder Kowalski and County Manager Faella served as Emcees and were taken back by the extreme talents.  Vice Chairman Granados was also in awe as he watched from the audience. There is no wonder why 13 groups will move on to the State Festival to represent the County in June.

(From left) Union County Freeholder Vernell Wright presented certificates of recognition and congratulated Clarissa Robles of Elizabeth, Queen King of Hillside, Kristina Geiger of Clark, Joe Narciso of New Providence, Sgt. Johnny Henderson of Plainfield, Alexis Monaco of Roselle Park, Lt. Thomas Nugent of Roselle and Bill Ilaria of Cranford on being named the 2016 Union County Municipal Volunteers of the Year by the Local Advisory Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (LACADA) at the group’s annual volunteer recognition dinner in Union.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The left lane of the Bridge (NY bound) will fully close on May 15 and May 21 – anticipate 15-minute delay during left lane closure only.

 

May 15 – Sunday

• High Speed E-ZPass closes at 11pm
• Left Lane on Bridge closes from 11pm till 5am

 

High-Speed E-ZPass lanes closed – all day – anticipate 15 minute delays during peak traffic period each day.

• May 16 – Monday
• May 17 – Tuesday
• May 18 – Wednesday
• May 19 – Thursday
• May 20 – Friday

 

May 21 – Saturday

• Left lane on Bridge (NY bound) closes from 12:01am till 10am – anticipate 15 minute delays during left lane closure only.
• Project completed – both High Speed E-ZPass lanes open at 10am

Orchestra will kick off Union County’s Summer Arts Festival Series with program featuring movie selections, as well as works from Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Beethoven and Rossini

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ—The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra will kick off the 56th annual Summer Arts Festival Concert Series at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside on Friday June 24th at 7:30 p.m.

The Orchestra will perform musical selections from :Ghostbusters,” “Star Wars,” “The Godfather: Part III,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Moulin Rouge,”  and “Batman” as well as pieces from Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Beethoven, and Rossini.

The show is free, and visitors are urged to pack a picnic basket, bring lawn chairs or blankets. Refreshments and snacks will also be available from vendors. As with all festival concerts throughout the Summer, attendees can also participate in Union County Get Fit Yoga program beginning at 6:30 p.m. Bring a mat or beach towel and participate in the healthy activities for the entire family.

“The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra is one of the state’s cultural treasures and we are excited to feature them as our opening act for our Summer Arts Festival,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “We encourage our residents to enjoy the music under the stars, and a memorable night of classical entertainment.”

Named “a vital, artistically significant musical organization” by The Wall Street Journal, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO) embodies that vitality through its statewide presence and critically acclaimed performances, education partnerships and unparalleled access to music and the Orchestra’s superb musicians.

The NJSO presents classical, pops and family programs, as well as outdoor summer concerts and special events throughout the state. For more information about the NJSO, please go to http://www.njsymphony.org/

The other free concerts in the Union County Summer Arts Festival series are scheduled for Wednesday nights throughout July in Echo Lake and then in August at Oak Ridge Park in Clark:

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Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen joined Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan, Undersheriff Michael Frank, Captain Dennis Burke and Sheriff’s Chaplin Father Phillip Latronico as Sergeants Brian Howarth and Ryan Wilson placed a wreath in memory of K-9 Lorcan at the Union County Sheriff’s K-9 Monument in Summit during a memorial service for K-9 Lorcan.

They were joined by Sheriff’s K-9 Officers Ashley Current, Tim O’Grady, Bryan Frew and Detective Anthony Gialanella.

K-9 Lorcan, who passed away in March, was Sgt. Wilson’s partner. He joined the Union County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit in May 2009 and was trained in patrol and narcotics detection.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)