Category: Public Info

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to invite educators, civic group leaders and other aspiring gardeners to the fourth annual community gardening workshop, “Get Your Vegetable Garden Growing,” on Saturday, February 27.

Presented by experts from the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, the workshop will take place at the Union County Vo-Tech Schools campus in Scotch Plains, at 1776 Raritan Road. Pre-registration is required by February 17. Continuing Education Unit credits are available.

“The urban gardening movement provides County residents of all ages with new opportunities for education, recreation and improved nutrition,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “The Freeholder Board is very proud to support the Extension in its efforts to help our local gardeners achieve a healthy and successful harvest.”

Attendees can choose from the following four topics:

• Seed Starting & Container Gardening
• Cooking with Kids for a Healthy Life
• Starting a Community Garden
• Improving Your Soil through Composting.

The event also includes a panel Q&A session with experienced gardeners and a keynote address by Laura Lawson, Rutgers University Dean of Agricultural & Urban programs.

The fee for “Get Your Vegetable Garden Growing” is $25.00, which includes lunch and all materials. More details and a brochure with a registration form are available at the Union County website, ucnj.org.

To register online, visit tinyurl.com/schoolgardenconference by February 17. Registrations are also accepted by mail. To request a brochure and registration form by mail, call the Extension office in Westfield at 908-654-9854.

The Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County is a program of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. Supported in part by the Freeholder Board, it is part of a national network organized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to foster youth development and community health. For more information other Union County Extension programs including 4-H, Master Gardeners and Master Tree Stewards, visit ucnj.org/rce.

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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Union County, NJ — The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that applications will be accepted for the second round of Union County Infrastructure and Municipal Aid grants for a 30-day period beginning on January 26 and concluding on February 26.

The grant program began in 2015 to assist projects of economic, social, transport and governmental importance to local municipalities.

“In its first year, the Infrastructure and Municipal Aid grant program helped to fill critical gaps in State and Federal funding for local projects,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “The response from our municipalities was overwhelmingly positive, and we are looking forward to another round of County funding that will help improve transportation conditions in our communities.”

The Infrastructure program was developed through the County Freeholder’s Fiscal Committee in 2015, chaired by Freeholder Christopher Hudak, which includes Freeholders Alexander Mirabella, Sergio Granados and Angel Estrada.

This year’s matching grant initiative will again make available a total of $1.5 million to Union County’s 21 municipalities, covering projects undertaken in calendar year 2016. The funding for the grant is provided through the proceeds from the sale of Runnells Specialized Hospital.

Based on the response to last year’s round of funding and surveys conducted through the County’s public outreach efforts, the 2016 grant program will focus mainly on road repair and resurfacing. Applications for other types of projects will be accepted, but special consideration will be given to applications associated with municipal roadway improvements.

The grant program is part of Freeholder Chairman Bergen’s “Move. Connect. Grow” 2016 transportation initiative, designed to enhance the movement of people and goods in and around Union County.

Other elements of the initiative include:

• Completion of the Union County Transportation Master Plan, a key planning tool.
• Creation of new bike paths.
• Continued advocacy for regional transportation improvements, including expansion of “one-seat” rail service to New York City from Union County, and for the construction of the new Gateway Tunnel rail project.

In addition, last week the Freeholder Board authorized the beginning of engineering design work for improvements to four key crossings, the Elm Street Bridge in Westfield, the West Tracy Road Bridge in Mountainside, the Hussa Street Bridge in Linden, and the Irving Street Bridge in Rahway.

Application forms for the Union County Infrastructure and Municipal Aid grant program may be viewed on the County website, ucnj.org/infrastructure-application.

Each of the twenty-one municipalities may apply for one or more projects. Projects must be current initiatives, and all funding awarded must be expended by December 31, 2016. The application period will be limited to 30 days, commencing on January 26 and concluding on February 26.

Municipalities interested in applying for the grant should contact Kathleen Addessa at the Union County Department of Economic Development to obtain the application form, 908-527-4087 or kaddessa@ucnj.org.

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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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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that engineering design work is beginning for the reconstruction of two bridges and the replacement of two others, located in Linden, Mountainside, Rahway and Westfield. The awards represent a major step forward for the projects.

The work is part of “Move. Connect. Grow.,” Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen’s sweeping initiative to upgrade, improve and expand the transportation network in Union County for all forms of travel including motor vehicles, mass transit, cycling and walking.

“The benefits of the bridge improvements will ripple through our municipalities, to central New Jersey and beyond,” said Bergen. “I am looking forward to working with our state and federal partner agencies to secure additional funding so we can continue to move forward.”

The four bridge projects now beginning the design phase are:

• Elm Street Bridge, Westfield
• West Tracy Road Bridge, Mountainside
• Hussa Street Bridge, Linden
• Irving Street Bridge, Rahway

“Union County is responsible for 470 bridges and culverts, many of which provide critical transportation links both on a local and regional level,” said Bergen. “Maintaining and updating these crossings is a key responsibility that the Freeholder Board takes very seriously.”

To help fund the Elm Street Bridge project, Union County has received a grant of $750,000 from the NJDOT Local Aid Grant under the agency’s 2015-Local Bridges Future Needs Program. Located at the intersection of Orchard Street, the existing bridge was built in 1926. It is similar to a culvert and the work will involve addressing underground utilities. The entire bridge will be removed and replaced.

For the West Tracy Road project, Union County has received Local Aid Grant of $300,000 from NJDOT for construction work. The bridge was built in 1935. The superstructure is a reinforced concrete slab, which will be removed and replaced.

The Hussa Street Bridge was built in 1956. This project also involves removal and replacement of the superstructure, which consists of precast box beams. An NJDOT grant of $700,000 will be applied to construction.

The Irving Street project is particularly complex because of the historic nature of the bridge, which was built in 1900, and its location in a densely developed downtown district with adjacent buildings. Union County has applied for an NJDOT grant of $1 million for construction.

In addition to accelerating the County’s bridge reconstruction program, Chairman Bergen’s “Move. Connect. Grow.” initiative includes:

• Continuation of the Infrastructure Grant program, which provides Union County grants to municipalities for local projects, with a focus on road repaving.
• Completion of the Union County Transportation Master Plan, a key planning tool.
• Creation of new bike paths.
• Continued advocacy for regional transportation improvements, including expansion of “one-seat” rail service to New York City from Union County, and for the construction of the new Gateway Tunnel rail project.

For up-to-date information on road closures and other travel advisories related to County infrastructure road and bridge projects, visit the interactive Road Construction Update page at ucnj.org.

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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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Performance Examines Artistry of Former Westfield Resident

CRANFORD, NJ – The poetry and music of famed African-American writer Langston Hughes will be explored and celebrated during a special free event on Monday evening, February 1, at 7:00 p.m. in the Roy Smith Theatre on the campus of Union County College, 1033 Springfield Avenue, Cranford NJ 07016.

Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Recreation, this free performance will celebrate the birth of James Mercer Langston Hughes on Feb. 1, 1902, in Joplin, Missouri. Host Terrance McKnight will present a live adaptation of his radio documentary, “I, Too, Sing America: Music in the Life of Langston Hughes,” which was produced for WQXR, New York Public Radio. The performance at the Roy Smith Theatre will include live music and dramatic readings.

“Langston Hughes captured the full spirit of his times, from the glory of the Harlem Renaissance to the suffering and daily struggles of African-Americans.  His legacy continues to inspire us to seek truth and beauty in all humanity,” said Union County Freeholder Linda Carter.

In this one hour presentation, Terrance McKnight takes us on a journey through Hughes’ life and work, and through his love for and contributions to music and the shaping of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920’s.

“Langston Hughes believed in bringing his work to audiences all over the nation, and Terrance McKnight enables a new generation to experience the excitement of a live performance by a great American author,” said Bette Jane Kowalski, Freeholder liaison for Cultural and Heritage Affairs. “It is sure to be an entertaining and informative evening, and we hope you will come and join us.”

Langston Hughes (1902-1967) was a poet, novelist, playwright and social activist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form known as jazz poetry. Hughes loved music. He wrote songs, opera librettos and gospel plays, and traveled with his record collection. A longtime resident of Harlem in New York City, Langston Hughes also lived in Westfield, New Jersey in the early 1930’s.

Terrance McKnight is the weekday evening host on WQXR. His musical experiences – from glee club soloist and accomplished pianist, to professor at Morehouse College – have consistently juxtaposed the European Classical tradition alongside American classic traditions, such as jazz, gospel, African-American spirituals and other musical genres.

Admission to “Music in the Life of Langston Hughes” is free of charge, but pre-registration is required. To register and reserve a seat, call the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 908-558-2550 or use the online form at the Cultural and Heritage page on the Union County website, ucnj.org.

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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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Due to access and staffing issues in the wake of Saturday’s snow storm, the Union County Deer Management Program scheduled for Monday, January 25 is postponed to Wednesday, January 27.

Learn more about this program at www.ucnj.org/deer

With an oncoming storm expected to blanket the area this weekend, the Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds residents that five Union County parks are designated for sledding:

“We urge all our residents who wish to sled to follow these guidelines and have a safe enjoyable time in our County Parks,” Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen said.

To avoid tree hazards, sledders in Union County parks are strongly advised to avoid sledding devices that cannot be steered. Downhill skiing is strictly prohibited in all County parks, but cross-country skiing is permitted in the following parks:

Skating on natural waterways in County parks is contingent on the availability of at least four inches of clear ice as measured by Parks officials in accordance with widely accepted safety standards. No waterways have met that standard so far this winter.

For a complete list of activities in Union County parks visit https://ucnj.org/parks-activities/

The Union County Baseball Association will honor local student athletes for their achievements in 2015 and induct five new members into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame during award ceremonies on Sunday afternoon, February 21, in Clark.

The 80^th annual Hot Stove League Baseball Dinner on Feb. 21^st begins at 1:00 p.m. at the Gran Centurions banquet hall, 440 Madison Hill Road, Clark NJ 07066. The dinner is sponsored by the Union County Baseball Association, in cooperation with the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.

Among the honorees at this year’s “Hot Stove” event will be student athletes from local high schools, including: P.J. Walker and Jahad Thomas, graduates of Elizabeth High School who are now teammates at Temple University; Jackie Lima, a graduate of Linden High School who led the Ramapo College Roadrunners to their first NJAC Tournament Championship; Kathleen Walsh, another Linden graduate, who was named to the All Union County First Team and now plays for Walsh University in Ohio; Gianna Randazza, a junior at Arthur L. Johnson Regional High School in Clark, who was named Union County Player of the Year with the Crusaders; and Zack Lipshitz, named Union County Hitter of the Year with the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School Raiders, who now plays for Drew University.

During the afternoon awards ceremonies, the UCBA will induct five new members into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame: Joe Alvarez of Elizabeth, Ray Crepeau of Linden, Wally “Sam” Engelhardt of Elizabeth, Bruce Henderson of Rahway, and Damien Kane of Roselle.

Sparky Lyle, the 1977 Cy Young Award winner and a two-time World Series champion relief pitcher for the New York Yankees, will be the special guest speaker. The celebrated southpaw will always be remembered for his clutch pitching for the Yankees and his book about those days in pinstripes, “The Bronx Zoo.” Sparky Lyle also was the original manager par excellence of the Somerset Patriots during the ballclub’s first 15 years in Bridgewater (1998-2012).

Tickets for the dinner are $50 each. Proceeds will help fund the Union County Summer Youth Baseball League for youngsters 8 to 15 years, and the Fall Wood Bat League for teens.

Since 1937, the Hot Stove League Dinner has been the primary fund-raising effort for the Union County Baseball Association’s summer and fall programs. Over the years, the awards dinner has honored many local and national baseball luminaries – including Phil Rizzuto of Hillside, Don Newcombe of Elizabeth, Joe Collins of Union, Jeff Torborg of Mountainside, Willie Wilson of Summit, and Elliott Maddox of Union.

Tickets for the 80th Annual Union County Baseball Association Hot Stove League Dinner on Feb. 21st are available from the UCBA by visiting www.UCBA-NJ.org or by mailing a check to the Union County Baseball Association, PO Box 176, Fanwood NJ 07023. For more information, please call Jim Iozzi at 908-917-2523.

Union County Freeholder Alexander Mirabella (R) presents a resolution to Nelson “Rocky” Carle (2nd L) of Roselle Park congratulating him on celebrating 50 years of active service with the Roselle Park Fire Department. Firefighter Carle was joined by his wife Lillian. Roselle Park Fire Chief Joseph Signorello also presented Carle with awards. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholders Linda Carter and Alexander Mirabella presented resolutions to members of Team Red from the Union County Student Training and Enrichment Program (UC STEP) congratulating them on winning the Civic Engagement Challenge of 2016 UC STEP.

UC STEP was created to provide high school students the opportunity to develop a countywide community service around a topic they feel is important, while teaching them leadership and personal growth skills and responsibility within their communities.

A total of 195 sophomores and junior high school students from 27 high schools throughout Union County participated in the annual program, which took place in December 2015 at Kean University in Union.

Team Red’s campaign “Garments & Gear – Greatness for Years” won the Civic Engagement Challenge and will be the county-wide community service project undertaken by participating Union County high schools in 2016.

“Garments & Gear – Greatness for Years” will focus on giving less fortunate athletes equipment needed to excel in sports. By collecting items and fundraising to purchase additional supplies, the goal of this program is to give under-privileged athletes the opportunity to play a sport by providing the necessary gear.

Team Red consisted of 15 students from 12 high schools; Anandah Gomez (Barack Obama High School), Erin Readie (Cranford High School), Lindsay Lathrop (David Brearley High School), Ja’Quan Mial (John E. Dwyer Academy), Brendon Joseph Birch (Linden High School), Jasmin Finney-Tillman (Linden High School), Hannah Caminiti (New Providence High School), Jake Canavan (Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School), Taylor Diggs (Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School), Ian MacPherson (Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School), Sheydline Moise (St. Mary’s High School), Shawn Ferreira (UC Vo-Tech High School), Hannah Criollo (Union High School), Marissa Berriios (Roselle Catholic), Jacob Franklin Fopossi Nyemdom (Plainfield High School)

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)