Category: Public Info

Workshop for Museums, Schools & Non-Profit History Groups, April 20

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces the availability of two types of history grants for Union County-based non-profit groups and diverse organizations through the FY 2016 Union County History Re-grant Program funded by the New Jersey Historical Commission. The program is administered by the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Recreation.

A history grant-writing workshop will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20, at The Carter House in Summit. Grant applications will be available at the workshop.

“The grant-writing workshop is intended for Union County-based non-profit historical societies, schools, museums, libraries, municipal governments and other groups seeking funding for a history project or event that promotes better understanding of Union County and New Jersey history,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board.

There are general standards of eligibility as well as specific requirements for each grant:

• General Operating Support (GOS) grants provide assistance for the basic costs of operation (e.g. programming, preservation of collections, salaries, marketing, etc.) to Union County based historical societies, house museums or historic sites only. The maximum GOS grant request is $7,500.
• Special Project (SP) grants support history organizations, museums, schools, libraries and similar organizations with collections or programming relating to Union County and New Jersey state history. The maximum SP grant request is $5,000.  

To confirm attendance (recommended) at the April 20th workshop or to receive more information, contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth 07202. Telephone: (908) 436-2912. E-mail requests to jprescott@ucnj.org.

Funding for this program is made available through the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to support People Helping People, a nonprofit community organization based in Rahway, to produce the internationally acclaimed dark comedy God of Carnage at UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage in Rahway this weekend, April 7-9.

Embracing the art of theatre to address an important social issue, People Helping People’s production of God of Carnage gets to the root and nature of how society deals with bullying.

“The Union County Advancing Community Theatre program seeks to provide opportunities that draw people together to participate in collaborative art experiences,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen. “The Freeholder Board is very proud to support the creative efforts of the community organization People Helping People to help explore important social issues and bring them to life on stage.”

Directed by Andrea Clinton, God of Carnage is a fast, furious and very, very funny, dark comedy about two sets of parents who meet to discuss the unruly behavior of their 11-year-old sons. However, in their own union, when niceties and manners go out the window, the God of Carnage rears its ugly head.

Written by Yasmina Reza and translated by Christopher Hampton, this Tony-award winning play is recommended for mature audiences.

Founded by Union County resident Andrea Clinton, People Helping People’s Arts and Entertainment program seeks to uncover life events through the art of theatre. “We chose to produce God of Carnage because it is a play that reflects everyday people, their conversations, their belief structures, behavior and disguises,” said director Andrea Clinton. “This play offers audiences a dialogue and imagery of everyday life events and issues, and we believe it’s a play that helps audiences examine their lives and choices.”

Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders through the Union County Advancing Community Theatre (UCACT) program, People Helping People’s production of God of Carnage will run for four performances at UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage this weekend, Thursday, April 7 and Friday, April 8 at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 9 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. General Admission tickets are just $20. Student, Senior and Group discounts are also available through the UCPAC Box Office. For more information or to purchase tickets visit ucpac.org or call the UCPAC box office at 732-499-8226.

The UCACT program launched in 2015 as a special initiative of Freeholder Mohamed S. Jalloh during his chairmanship and continues on the footsteps of last year’s success, which included a diverse body of work including two original plays, a student production, a new community theatre organization, among others featuring the high-quality artistic talent of many Union County residents.

The UCACT program aims to provide a strategic platform to support the development of Union County’s rich theatre talent by leveraging existing resources and broadening the definition of economic development and public recreation to include support for community theatre. For more information about UCACT visit ucnj.org/ucact.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders have launched a new online resource center webpage for Veterans at www.ucnj.org/uc-hero

The webpage is part of Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen’s “UC HERO” initiative for 2016 in honor of Veterans and is a guide to services at the different levels of government, including County Government. The “UC HERO” initiative involves outreach, as well as raising awareness about available services for Veterans through various County agencies, including the County’s Office of Veterans’ Affairs, the County Clerk, the Division on Aging, health and mental health referral services, and job opportunities through the Workforce Innovation Business Center.

“We owe an unending debt of gratitude to all the brave men and women who have made a great sacrifice for our country and committed themselves to maintaining our freedom,” said Freeholder Bruce H. Bergen. “We’ve designed this webpage to serve as a helpful guide for Veterans at all stages of life.”

The webpage contains links for the Federal Veterans Administration, various State and County agencies,  retirement planning, transportation, education, job training, health care, mental health services, end of life planning, and more.

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados was honored by the Urban League of Union County Young Professionals at their 3^rd Annual Black Tie Affair in Union. Kendall Givens and Crystal Orr of the Urban League’s Young Professionals presented the Vice Chairman with the Outstanding Work in Government and Civil Service award for his commitment to the Union County community and his continued efforts to achieve social and economic equality among all residents.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

New stage in bridge deck project removes temporary work zone

New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced a traffic shift to the right-side of the bridge for the removal of a construction work zone on the Route 22 westbound over Burke Parkway bridge replacement project in Union County.

Starting at 10 p.m. tonight Friday, April 1 until 8 a.m. Saturday, April 2 and from 10 p.m. Saturday, April 2, until 8 a.m. Sunday, April 3, NJDOT’s contractor Power Concrete, Co. Inc., is scheduled to temporarily close travel lanes on Route 22 westbound to remove concrete barriers and signage. The overnight operations will shift motorists onto the right-side of the bridge, removing the temporary single-lane 11-foot cattle chute currently on either side of a center work zone on the bridge. Route 22 eastbound will not be affected.

The $2 million bridge deck replacement project is expected to be completed in the spring of 2016. The project is being constructed in stages, which began with the new deck and parapets. Each stage is re-constructing approximately one third of the bridge deck at a time. The bridge deck replacement project includes milling and paving the bridge approaches, and reconstructing the guide rail, sidewalk, and curb. As the project progresses, NJDOT will provide information before any closures or detours are implemented.

NJDOT will be using Variable Message Signs to provide advance notification to motorists of traffic pattern changes associated with the work.

The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website www.511nj.org for real-time travel information and for NJDOT news follow us on Twitter @NJDOT_info.

All of Union County is invited to help high school students with a new student-created civic campaign this year called “Garments & Gear – Greatness for Years.” The campaign is aimed at helping ensure that all student athletes can obtain the necessary equipment and clothing, regardless of their financial situation.

Garments & Gear was developed by high school students participating in UC STEP, the Union County Student Training and Enrichment Program, an initiative of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

“This exemplary civic campaign will help ensure that finances are no obstacle to students who want to engage in school sports with their friends and classmates,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “It’s a great way to show that the Union County community respects and supports all young people who desire to work hard and excel.”

In the Garments & Gear campaign, high school students from across Union County will collect new and gently used sports equipment and clothing, raise funds by selling Garments & Gear merchandise, and reach out to the community for additional donations.

“Garments & Gear really demonstrates the value of having students brainstorm on civic projects,” said Freeholder Linda Carter, who conceived and launched the first UC STEP during her term as Chairman in 2013. “These young people recognized a significant need among their peers, and they envisioned how we can all step up together and pitch in.”

UC STEP is an annual youth development seminar and civic engagement project for high school juniors and seniors. This year’s UC STEP seminar was held in December with the participation of 195 students from 27 public, private and charter schools throughout Union County.

Each year, the highlight of the UC STEP seminar is the creation of original civic engagement campaigns by teams of student from different schools, working together for the first time. One of the campaigns is ultimately selected as a countywide project supported by the Freeholder Board. Garments & Gear was created by “Team Red,” consisting of 15 members from 12 schools.

Participating in the Garments & Gear campaign this spring are schools that were also represented on Team Red, including Cranford High School, David Brearley High School, John E. Dwyer Academy, Linden High School, New Providence High School, Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, St. Mary’s High School, UC Vo-Tech High School, Union High School, Roselle Catholic High School, and Plainfield High School.

Governor Livingston High School, Union County TEAMS Charter School, Rahway High School, and Jonathan Dayton are also participating in the campaign.

Union County residents, businesses, organizations and local agencies can participate in Garments & Gear by bringing donations of new or gently used clothing and equipment to drop-off sites, listed on the County website at ucnj.org/uc-step.

To find out how to participate in Garments & Gear with additional funding call UC STEP at 908-659-7412 or email ucstep@ucnj.org.

The campaign will wrap up on Saturday, April 30.

Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County Environmental and Resource Management Agent Michele Bakacs speak with Pedro Esteve, Lorraine MacNamara and Penny Blackmond of the Richmond Towers Garden Club in Plainfield. Freeholder Kowalski spoke with club members about Freeholder Chairman’s Bruce H. Bergen’s Union County Means Green initiative which includes a new “Community Garden Grant” program for new and existing gardens.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholders Christopher Hudak, Vernell Wright, Linda Carter and Bette Jane Kowalski presented a resolution to Sage Eldercare Executive Director Fred Jenny, Deputy Director Angela Sullivan, Sage Meals on Wheels Director Marianne Kranz and the Sage Eldercare Board of Trustees congratulating the organization in Summit on 50 years of serving Meals on Wheels.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Vice Chairman Sergio Granados will receive community service awards from the nonprofit organization Community Access Unlimited during its annual Awards Night Celebration on Tuesday, April 5 in Scotch Plains.

Chairman Bergen will receive the Excellence in Community Living Award, and Vice Chairman Granados will receive the Community Services & Partnership Award for an individual.

Chairman Bergen was born and raised in Cranford, and has been a resident of Springfield for almost 30 years. He has practiced law in New Jersey for 35 years while engaging in numerous civic projects. First elected to the Freeholder Board in 2012, Bergen has been named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Cranford Rotary Club and received an International Citizenship and Civic Award from the Springfield B’nai B’rith.

“I thank Community Access Unlimited for this award. It is a testimony to the many Union County residents with whom I have connected over the years, including those at Community Access, who have dedicated their lives to helping others,” said Bergen. “I look forward to many more years of service, working with kind and caring people who give their time generously to make our community stronger.”

“Since first becoming elected to the Freeholder Board, I have sought to champion the cause of people with special needs, worked to create more opportunities in the community for employment and recreation, and to help ensure that their voices are heard,” said Granados. “I am profoundly grateful to Community Access for its very fruitful partnership with Union County, which has enabled us to have a positive, lifelong impact on people with special needs.”

Chairman Bergen’s 2016  Initiatives, “One County, One Community,” include enhancing services for the County’s seniors and veterans, and programs for transportation and economic development, and the environment. As a Freeholder, Bergen’s areas of focus have also included open space preservation and funding for local recreation projects, improvements to commuter rail service on the Raritan Valley line, and long term solutions to flooding along the Raritan River.

Vice Chairman Granados was elected to his first term as a Freeholder in 2013, becoming one of the youngest Freeholders in the state of New Jersey. A native of Elizabeth, he has a long record of volunteerism and activism in the community that encompasses many cultural and civic organizations.

Among his the main initiatives, Granados has concentrating on strengthening and expanding County services that improve the quality of life for people with special needs. As the liaison to the Workforce Development Board he has overseen efforts to create hundreds of new jobs, including new job opportunities for people with special needs through such initiatives such as work-from-home employment.

As the liaison to the Department of Parks and Recreation, Granados has also worked to expand the County’s recreation resources for people with special needs, such as the County’s first  fully wheelchair accessible and spectrum-friendly playground, slated to open in the summer of 2016 at Mattano Park in Elizabeth. He was also instrumental in bringing the 2015 National Junior Disability Championships to Union County parks.

Community Access Unlimited is a non-profit agency based in Elizabeth that provides support services for youth and adults with disabilities. For more information visit online at caunj.org, call 908-354-3040 or email info@caunj.org.

#  #

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:

Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan, Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados and Elizabeth Councilman Manny Grova congratulate newly promoted Sheriff’s Captain Mark Banek of Clark, Lieutenant Carlo Caparruva of Elizabeth and Sergeant David Pepe of Clark during a ceremony at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)