Category: Public Info

Press release from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

During Columbus Day weekend – Friday night, October 7, through Monday afternoon, October 10 – the Port Authority will close the Goethals Bridge from that Friday night into the following morning, and institute traffic diversions through the remainder of the three-day weekend on connecting roads in Staten Island, N.Y. and Elizabeth, N.J. 

Travel delays are expected throughout the three-day weekend, especially during peak travel times.  The Bayonne Bridge and Outerbridge Crossing will remain fully open through Columbus Day weekend as alternate routes.

The lane closures and diversions are necessary to facilitate a component of the Goethals Bridge Replacement Project – specifically, the demolition and replacement of the Travis Spur Rail Bridge which carries Conrail tracks over I-278 in Staten Island, immediately west of the Goethals Bridge toll plaza. 

The rail bridge must be replaced to enable the expansion of the roadway approaching the Goethals Bridge from a total of four lanes (two eastbound and two westbound) to a total of six lanes (three in each direction).  The twin spans of the new Goethals Bridge, currently under construction, will have a total of six, 12-foot-wide lanes, a significant improvement over the existing bridge’s four, 10-foot lanes.

Construction work during Columbus Day weekend will require the following lane closures and diversions:

The Goethals Bridge will be fully closed from 10 p.m. Friday, October 7 through 8 a.m. Saturday, October 8.  

• At 8 a.m. Saturday, October 8, the Goethals Bridge will reopen, and traffic diversions will be implemented on I-278 and Gulf Road in Staten Island, between the toll plaza and the bridge.  These diversions will be in place until 3 p.m. Monday, October 10 and are expected to result in traffic delays.

• These traffic diversions will include temporarily diverting I-278 eastbound traffic onto Gulf Road, and temporarily diverting I-278 westbound traffic onto the I-278 eastbound lanes.  

• Traffic will return to its normal configuration at approximately 3 p.m. Monday, October 10. 

To avoid expected delays, drivers are encouraged to avoid using the Goethals Bridge throughout the weekend, and consider instead using the Bayonne Bridge or Outerbridge Crossing as alternatives.

Following this work, the Port Authority will implement nightly lane closures on I-278 between the toll plaza and the Goethals Bridge in order to repave and expand the lanes approaching the Goethals Bridge.

Union County Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski and Vernell Wright joined Union County Manager Alfred Faella, Union County Human Services Director Frank Guzzo, Union Township Supervisor of Senior Citizen Activities Phyllis Monguso and Fran Benson, Natalie Zarrillo and Donna Farrell of the Union County Division on Aging at the 2017 Area Plan public meeting for seniors at the Union Township Senior Citizens Center.

The Area Plan is part of a statewide planning process for senior citizens services that includes meetings in local communities to ensure that seniors have the opportunity to voice their needs, concerns, and ideas.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds seniors and other residents to be aware of consumer scams reported in the area by the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.

“It is always a good practice to be vigilant, especially when it comes to foundational services like your utility bill and tax returns,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “Never give out personal information over the phone, and always check an official website or phone number to confirm that you are dealing with a reliable source.”

In one recent scam, fraudsters contacted their victims by phone and claimed to represent the utility PSE&G. They threatened to cut off services unless the victim immediately paid their bill using a pre-paid card.

“If you get such a call, hang up immediately. You can contact PSE&G with any questions you may have, and you can find their official contact information on one of your past utility bills.” said Bergen.

Another recent scam involves robo-calls threatening the victim with a “lawsuit” by the Internal Revenue Service.

“Tax scams used to be more frequent around the spring tax return season, but now they have become a year-round problem,” said Freeholder Angel G. Estrada, who chairs the Freeholder Board’s Public Safety Committee.

Residents who receive calls regarding an IRS lawsuit should hang up immediately. IRS scams can be reported to the Treasury Department by using the online fraud reporting system at treasury.gov.

Estrada also advised residents that a consumer complaint has been filed against several New Jersey companies for selling senior wireless alert systems that failed to work or were never delivered.

The companies involved are named Life Aid Connect, Safety Alert USA LLC, Med Aid Alert and Mobile Alert, Inc.

Residents who have had similar experiences with these companies can call the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs at 800-242-5846 or 973-504-6200 to register their complaint.

For more information about consumer frauds and how to avoid them, visit the Anti-Fraud Toolkit, a new online information hub created by the Division of Consumer Affairs at FightingFraud.nj.gov.

The Anti-Fraud Toolkit includes downloadable tip sheets in English and Spanish on avoiding consumer fraud, with a focus on scams that target seniors.

It also includes the new Real-Time Fraud Alerts email network, which delivers quick, accurate information about new scams.

Union County residents are also encouraged to report possible frauds and scams to the Union County Office of Consumer Affairs. To file a complaint online visit ucnj.org/public-safety or call 908-654-9840.

Another protective measure is to ensure that sensitive personal documents are shredded and securely disposed. Union County sponsors a regular series of free, secure paper shredding events throughout the spring, summer and fall. For details on upcoming events visit ucnj.org/recycling.

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 Freeholder is proud to sponsor the one-night comedy performance by SINBAD at the Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) in Rahway on Saturday, October 29 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets are on sale now and range from $25 to $55. Tickets can be purchased by calling the UCPAC box office at 732-499-8226 or by visiting ucpac.org.

“The Freeholder Board is proud to sponsor the one-night performance by legendary comedian Sinbad at the UCPAC,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “The UCPAC plays a vital role in the county’s arts and cultural tourism development strategy aimed at strengthening the creative capacity of our communities and providing our residents with diverse cultural and entertainment opportunities.”

Get your tickets now for the one night riotous performance from the veteran comedian as he shares his hilarious life observations with his signatures “hit ‘em in the face” style.

Sinbad has kept audiences laughing for three decades in television, notable 1990s films and standup. He starred in his own television show “The Sinbad Show,” and has made appearances on other programs such as “Saturday Night Live” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” receiving critical acclaim for his guest spot. Sinbad made his film debut in “Necessary Roughness” and also had leading roles in “Jingle All the Way,” “Houseguest” and “First Kid.” He was ranked by Comedy Central as one of the top 100 standup comedians of all time and has built a loyal following with his knack for telling stories onstage. The comedian claims to make story and joke-telling “profound but not profane,” and credits his father, a preacher, with his desire to keep his comedy clean.

For more information or to purchase tickets call the Union County Performing Arts Center Box Office at 732-499-8226 or visit ucpac.org. The UCPAC Box Office, located at 1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 AM until 5:00 PM and is also open late on Thursdays until 8:00 PM.

The Union County Performing Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by a Board of Trustees, and relies on support from individuals and community partners to advance its mission of engaging County residents and visitors with enriching experiences in the arts. For more info visit ucpac.org.

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholders Linda Carter, Christopher Hudak and Bette Jane Kowalski join Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, Union County Manager Alfred Faella, members of the Elizabeth City Council and Board of Education in cutting the ribbon officially opening Union County’s first inclusive public playground in Mattano Park in Elizabeth. The ceremony took place during Union County’s Family Fun Day in the park. Fun for all ages and abilities, the new inclusive playground at Mattano Park features a variety of accessible play equipment including a Merry-Go-All, Roller Slide, Roller Table, Swing Seats, and more. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the awarding of passenger vans to 18 municipalities in Union County in support of Chairman Bruce H. Bergen’s “Seniors in Motion” initiative for 2016.

The vans are expected to arrive in November. The initiative, which was last implemented in 2001, will provide municipalities that requested it, with a passenger van (purchased by the County) for senior transport.

“We recognize seniors as an integral part of our community,” said Freeholder Chairman Bergen. “The ‘Seniors in Motion’ initiative has been successful in the past and we are happy to see it continue to enhance the lives of seniors throughout the county.”

Eight municipalities received the requested 12-passenger van and ten received the 15-passenger van. Union County funded $495,000 for the initiative. Each van will provide transportation for the seniors in their town.

The communities will keep the vehicle for its lifetime and will be responsible for insurance, maintenance, and the provision of qualified drivers who have a Commercial Drivers’ License (CDL) for the 15-passenger van. Some municipalities that participated in the 2001 initiative, had maintained their aging vehicles, and contacted the County about renewing the initiative this year.

The towns receiving a van are: Berkeley Heights, Clark, Cranford, Elizabeth, Hillside, Kenilworth, Linden, Mountainside, New Providence, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Springfield, Summit, Union, and Winfield Park.

Bergen declared 2016 as “the Year of the Senior,” announcing several programs offering various services for seniors.

Additionally, Union County’s existing Paratransit system will continue to provide rides, at minimal cost, for transportation to medical treatments and other related activities. The Paratransit fleet can accommodate those in wheelchairs and walkers and makes regularly scheduled trips to the Lyons VA Medical Center and the East Orange VA Medical Center.

Video outlining the recent Union County Means Business Expo. The event offered local businesses an opportunity to showcase their products or services, network with other business leaders, expand their customer base and generate market awareness.

The Business Expo is the first business to business trade show networking event presented by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders in conjunction with Union County Means Business (UCMB) through the Union County Workforce Development Board and partnering organizations.

Art and Music Gone Wild on Stage – Fun for the Whole Family

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to bring a sensory-friendly performance of the exciting, interactive, and spectacular ARTRAGEOUS to the stage at the Union County Performing Arts Center this Sunday, October 2 at 3:00 p.m.

All tickets are $8 per person and can be purchased through the Union County Performing Arts Center at ucpac.org or by calling the Box Office at 732-499-8226.

“The series of sensory-friendly music, theater, and dance performances offer a relaxed and safe environment for audiences and are specially adapted to help reduce disturbances and increase access for children and adults of all abilities,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “The Freeholder Board is proud to partner with the visual and performing artists of Artrageous to bring this fun, interactive, family event to the community.”

ARTRAGEOUS! is the one of a kind interactive art and music experience that has CBS raving “Go see this show!” Giant works of art jump to life with amazing speed unveiling larger than life icons and masterpieces in just moments, all the while there is constant activity on stage, attracting your attention and delighting your senses with energy, spirit and action. Have all this live painting accompanied by amazing vocals, creative choreography, high energy live music with unforgettable audience interaction and you will have experienced a journey of wild inspiration and fun – its Artrageous.

For each of the performances in Union County’s Sensory Friendly Theatre series the theatre environment at the Union County Performing Arts Center is adjusted to provide a sensory-friendly, comfortable and judgment-free space that is welcoming for all families.

Autism Friendly Spaces implements the supportive atmosphere at each of the sensory-friendly performances. For more information on what to expect at a Sensory Friendly Theatre performance visit ucpac.org/sensory-friendly-theatre.

Additional support for the sensory-friendly performance of Artrageous is provided by CRBard Inc.

For more information or to purchase tickets call the Union County Performing Arts Center, 732-499-8226 or visit ucpac.org. The UCPAC Box Office, located at 1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 AM until 5:00 PM and is also open late on Thursdays until 8:00 PM.

For information on additional Union County recreational programs for people with disabilities age five and up, call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4781 or visit ucnj.org.

Union County Freeholders Linda Carter, Christopher Hudak, Bette Jane Kowalski and Alexander Mirabella congratulate the Kelly-Ebbe  family from Rahway/Scotch Plains, the Hudak family from Linden and the Salfi family from North Caldwell on winning the scarecrow contest at the 35th Annual Harvest Festival at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Invited honorees include men who found pipe bomb, bar owner who reported suspect, Linden Police officers who made apprehension and various law enforcement agencies

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders will honor a number of individuals and agencies this Thursday at its regular Freeholder Meeting in Elizabeth in connection with their heroic efforts in finding and defusing pipe bombs and the arrest of a suspect believed to have been involved with the incident.

The presentation begins around 7 p.m. at the Freeholder Chambers on the 6^th floor of the Union County Administration Building at 10 Elizabethtown Plaza.

Those who will be honored include the two men—Lee Parker and Ivan White–who found the suspicious backpack in Elizabeth containing the pipe bombs and then reported it to Elizabeth police; Harinder Bains, the Linden bar/deli owner who reported the suspect wanted in connection with the pipe bombs; and the two Linden Police officers, Angel Padilla and Peter Hammer, who apprehended the suspect in connection with the incident.

Other agencies who will be honored include the Union County Bomb Squad, which safely handled the pipe bombs, the Union County Police who responded to the scene where the pipe bombs were discovered and also to the scene of the apprehension in Linden, the Union County Sheriff’s K-9 Squad, which was responded to the scene of the pipe bombs and was used throughout the area and incident; the Linden Police department as a whole unit for their role in the apprehension; the Elizabeth Police and Fire Departments as a whole which responded to the pipe bomb incident and notified all other agencies.

“As you can see, there was no shortage of civic and law enforcement heroes who stepped up and responded to ensure the safety of our County as a whole,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen. “We look forward to honoring them all.”

Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados noted: “This incident was a model example of bravery, teamwork and cooperation among agencies and the public which resulted in a quick apprehension. We salute all those whose quick and selfless actions contributed to the positive result for our community.”

The public and media are invited to attend the meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. Address: Freeholder Meeting room, 6^th floor, Union County Administration Building, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth, NJ 07207. Parking is available in the J. Christian Bollwage Parking deck at the corner of Elizabethtown Plaza and E. Jersey Street.

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.