Category: Public Info

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholders Linda Carter and Bette Jane Kowalski  presented resolutions to the 2016 Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal Frank McGovern, General Chairwoman Kerry Ricci and Parade Adjutant Jessica Cunningham congratulating them on the 20^th annual parade. The 2016 Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 12 on Morris Avenue in Union.

For more information please visit www.unioncountystpatricksdayparade.com.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

NJ TRANSIT Rail Operations faces the prospect of a system wide shutdown should the membership of its rail union opt to participate in a work stoppage that if were to occur, would affect Union County residents commutes.

View NJ Transit’s website for more details and their contingency plan.

The County of Union’s Freeholders and Sheriff’s Officers participated reading to children during Union County’s Education Association’s annual Read Across America event. 

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados joined Freeholders Linda Carter, Vernell Wright, Bette Jane Kowalski, Christopher Hudak,Alexander Mirabella and County Manager Alfred Faella in reading to children at the Barnes & Noble bookstore in Springfield and at many schools across Union County during the Union County Education Association’s annual Read Across America event. 

Sheriff Officers  read to students in Clark, Union Township and Plainfield.

Read Across America is a reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading in honor of the birthday of children’s author Dr. Seuss on March 2.

New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced lane closures and a wide-load only truck detour as the Route 22 westbound over Burke Parkway bridge replacement project advances to stage 3 in Union County.

Starting at 10 p.m. tomorrow Friday, March 4 until 8 a.m. Saturday, March 5 and also from Saturday, March 5 at 10 p.m. until 9 a.m. Sunday, March 6, NJDOT’s contractor Power Concrete, Co. Inc., is scheduled to temporarily close travel lanes on the Route 22 westbound bridge over Burke Parkway to install concrete barriers and signage.

The overnight operations will split traffic into a single-lane 11-foot cattle chute on either side of a center work zone on the bridge. The new traffic pattern will direct motorists to travel on the newly constructed deck on the north and south side of the center work zone. This temporary traffic pattern will allow the bridge deck project to enter stage 3 in construction. Route 22 eastbound will not be affected.

The following wide-load only truck detour will be in place:

Wide-load truck detour from Route 22 westbound

• Wide-load trucks traveling westbound on Route 22 in Union will be directed onto Morris Avenue/Route 82 westbound.
• From Morris Avenue/Route 82 westbound trucks will be directed to make a left onto Meisel Avenue/Route 124.
• Trucks will continue on Meisel Avenue/Route 124 and stay right as the road splits. Meisel Avenue will turn into South Springfield Avenue/CR577.
• From South Springfield Avenue/CR577, trucks will be directed back onto Route 22 westbound.

NJDOT recommends that motorists plan their trips accordingly and prepare for delays in the region.

The third stage of construction is part of a $2 million bridge deck replacement project 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.

Union County, NJ – The teens and pre-teens of today are exposed to a growing minefield of online bullying, often masked by colorful nicknames like ghosting, swatting, trolling and catfishing. Find out more about new tactics used by cyber bullies – and how to fight back – by coming to “Bullying & Our Children” a special public discussion on Wednesday March 30, 5:30 – 8:00 p.m., at the Peterstown Community Center, 418 Palmer Street in Elizabeth.

The event is free and no pre-registration is required. Light refreshments will be served.

“Knowledge is the most effective strategy for helping your children navigate the online world safely and confidently,” said Union County Freeholder Bruce H. Bergen. “This is an important event for parents, caregivers and anyone who works with youth.”

Bullying & Our Children features a presentation by Detective Nicholas Veltre of the Juvenile Unit, Union County Prosecutor’s Office. The event is sponsored by the Freeholder Board through the Division of Youth Services of the Union County Department of Human Services.

For more information on Bullying & Our Children, visit the Division of Youth Services online at ucnj.org/youth or call 908-558-2520.

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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 – Union County Freeholder Christopher Hudak presented Ryan T. Kowalenko of Clark with a Freeholder Board resolution honoring his attainment of Eagle Scout rank during a ceremony in Clark on February 26. Hudak, who is also an Eagle Scout, noted that for his qualifying project Kowalenko took on the complex task of organizing a large group of Scouts and other volunteers to improve the parking area and storage sheds for the Clark Office of Emergency Management, carrying on a long family history of involvement in emergency services for the community.

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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 upcoming “Union County Means Green” networking event has been approved for continuing education credits.

Union County Means Green is a free breakfast networking session and seminar for local business owners and managers in Union County, featuring sustainability experts from leading national and local companies. Municipal agencies, non-profits and educators are also welcome to attend.

Union County Means Green is approved for the following Continuing Education credits:

• Municipal Financial Officer/County Finance Officer – 2 hours (1 hour Financial & Debt Management and 1 hour Office Management)
• Public Works Manager – 2 hours (Government)
• Municipal Clerk – 2 hours (1 hour Finance and 1 hour Professional Development)
• Qualified Purchasing Agent/ Registered Public Purchasing Specialist/ Registered Public Purchasing Official – 2 hours (green purchasing/procurement)
• Certified Recycling Professional – 2 hours

The event is scheduled for Monday, March 7 at the Donald R. Conklin Conference Center at the Kean University STEM building, 1000 Morris Avenue in Union Township (next to Liberty Hall, across from the main campus). For online registration, program schedule and more details visit ucnj.org/ucmb or email the Union County Office of Public Information, info@ucnj.org.

Union County Means Green is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and is sponsored by Covanta Energy.

Union County, NJ – Call it a timberdoodle, Labrador twister, night partridge, or bog sucker, when the American Woodcock makes an appearance you can be sure that spring is on the way. Bird watchers are invited to gather at Lenape Park on the evenings of March 15 and March 22 for the annual Woodcock Walk event, to catch a first glimpse of this odd and reclusive species. The Woodcock Walk is sponsored by the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.

Among other interesting traits, the American Woodcock is known for the distinctive buzzy “peent” calls and mesmerizing airborne dances of the male.

“The American Woodcock is known as a ‘fussy little bird’ because of its need for a diverse habitat, so it’s a real source of pride to know that Lenape Park fits the bill,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “I would also like to thank our presenters for raising awareness about this unique ecotourism opportunity in the Union County parks system.”

This year’s Woodcock Walk will be held on March 15 and March 22 at Lenape Park in Cranford. Both events start promptly at 6:15 p.m., so dress warmly and bring a flashlight.

Both events are free and open to adults and children age 10 and up with an adult. Pre-registration is required by emailing bkelly@ucnj.org.

 Participants will gather at the old trap and skeet range field house by the parking lot, at the main entrance of Lenape Park off Kenilworth Boulevard in Cranford.

Each Woodcock Walk will begin with a brief presentation hosted by birding experts Evelyn Morton and Pete Axelrod. Members of the Friends of Lenape Park will also be on hand. The group is a Union County Adopt-a-Park partner, which oversees the bluebird boxes in the park among other projects.

After the presentation, participants will head into a nearby field to listen for the bird’s unusual call, and to keep watch to catch for a possible glimpse of the male in flight.

Though part of the shorebird family, woodcocks in the eastern U.S. have evolved to live in inland forests. They roost and court in fields, forage for earthworms in dense thickets, and use hardwood forests for nesting and brooding.

For more information on activities and programs in Union County parks, and to find out about volunteering with Union County Adopt-a-Park, call 908-527-4900 or visit ucnj.org/parks.

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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.

Connect with Union County on social media.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to announce that the 2016 Union County Advancing Community Theatre (UCACT) program will continue at UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage in Rahway with the premiere of Wendy’s Shadow, an original musical presented by Mystic Vision Players March 24-26; and the dark comedy God of Carnage presented by People Helping People, Arts and Entertainment April 7-9.

“The Freeholder Board is proud to support the artistic talent of Union County organizations through the UCACT program,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “Both of these productions bring to the community an experience that is both collaborative and engaging.”

In this world premiere production of Wendy’s Shadow, presented by Mystic Vision Players, the mischievous and magical adventure of Peter Pan is retold from Wendy’s grown-up perspective, taking the audience back to Neverland – where dreams are born, and time is never planned – and asks if it’s ever possible to leave the one you loved. With book, music and lyrics by David Maglione, additional lyrics and material by Tomas Ruiz, and original concept by David Maglione and Tomas Ruiz, Wendy’s Shadow features a contemporary folk/rock score. The musical premiere will run for four performances at UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage from Thursday, March 24 through Saturday, March 26 at 8:00 p.m., with a second performance on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.

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.  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 children. Written by Yasmina Reza and translated by Christopher Hampton, this Tony-award winning play is recommended for mature audiences, and will run for four performances at UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage on Thursday, April 7 and Friday, April 8 at 8:00 p.m., with two performances on Saturday, April 9 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders through the UCACT program, both productions will be presented at UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage in Rahway. Ticket prices vary for each production, with student and senior discounts available to both. 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.