Category: Public Info

Stroll & Roll is cancelled. It is rescheduled for Sunday, Nov. 6.

Union County, NJ – What kinds of crawling, hopping, walking, flying, swimming and slithering creatures can you meet in Union County’s Kawameeh Park, Black Brook Park and Galloping Hill Golf Course? You can find out by coming to the 12^th annual Union County Bio-Blitz, taking place this year on Friday June 10 and Saturday June 11.

At Bio-Blitz, scores of volunteer scientists comb through forests, fields, and waterways to survey flora and fauna. Nature fans of all ages are invited to come and observe the work, and enjoy free hands-on activities during the 24-hour, ‘round-the-clock event.

“As one of Union County’s most popular events, Bio-Blitz has become an annual rite of spring for hundreds of residents and visitors,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “It enables them to experience a close encounter with our natural environment, while scientists create a record of species diversity in our public parks.”

Bio-Blitz 2016 begins at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 10, when teams of experts fan out to catalog species in all three parks.

The main staging area for public activities, “Bio-Blitz Central,” also opens beginning at 5:00. Bio-Blitz Central is located off Kawameeh Drive in Kawameeh Park. The survey teams also stage their outdoor labs there, and visitors are welcome to come and mingle with the scientists and ask questions about their work.

“Bio-Blitz is a unique, fun opportunity to enjoy the rich legacy of conservationists from our past, and to learn from a new generation of naturalists and scientists,” said Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados, the Freeholder Board’s liaison to the Parks Department.

At Bio-Blitz Central, visitors can enjoy hands-on activities and displays, including traditional favorites like exhibits of live fish, snakes and turtles, the hands-on tree table, a live hawk and owl demonstration by Giselle Smisko, and the Junior Scientist tent for youngsters.

Visitors can also sign up for scheduled activities and tours. The scheduled activities and guided walks kick off with a wild edible walk at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, followed by a hands-on nature photography workshop by local nature photographer Jackie Dickert. Participants should bring their cameras or smart phones.

Also on Friday, the Frog Slog with Trailside Nature & Science Center naturalists will have participants searching for frogs, toads, tadpoles and more in a nearby wetland.

After dark the fun continues with an “owl prowl,” led by Emile DeVito, a late-night star watch with Marc Rogoff, a presentation by naturalist Blaine Rothauser under the Bio-Blitz Central tent titled “Moths: the Silent Majority,” and an insect-trapping session.

On Saturday, the public can join members of the Bird Team for an early morning bird walk at 7:00 a.m., or help the Mammal Team search for mammals while checking live traps and track stations to see who was roaming the woods at night.

Stream Play, led by the Aquatic Insect Team and Trailside, will take visitors on a stream-sampling expedition. An electro-fishing demonstration by the Fish Team and the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife, a hunt for spore-bearing plants, and a nearby “Mini-Blitz” are among many other activities Saturday activities scheduled from early morning until Bio-Blitz comes to an end at 5:00 p.m.

Highlights this year include a return visit by the Northern New Jersey Cachers, who will provide a geocaching demonstration. In a first for Bio-Blitz, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services will present a new program about Canada goose management for the homeowner.

Convenient, free street parking is available on Kawameeh Drive and in the adjacent Kawameeh Middle School parking lot. Overflow parking will also be available at the Union Township municipal parking lot, where free shuttles will take participants to and from Bio-Blitz Central.

Bio-Blitz 2016 prizes include colorful native plants donated by Toadshade Wildflower Farm and an exclusive guided tour of nearby South Mountain Reservation by noted ecologist Dr. Emile DeVito of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation and Rahway River Watershed Association (date to be arranged with the prizewinner).

Free giveaways are also available from other exhibitors, and visitors to the Junior Scientist tent can get a free bird identification chart and other prizes when they play “Bio-Blitz Bingo.”

All Bio-Blitz activities are free and open on a walk-in basis. Visitors are asked to sign up for scheduled activities when they arrive at Bio-Blitz Central, and to be aware of recommended age groups for some of the activities. 

The Union County parks system is one of the first county-based park systems to be created in the entire country. Its roots date back to the 1920’s, when local conservationists successfully urged the preservation of open space in the rapidly developing suburbs.

Since then, the original group of five parks has grown to include 36 parks that host hundreds of species of plants and animals, along with numerous facilities for team sports and fitness including boating, hiking, biking, ice skating swimming, picnicking, cross-country skiing, fishing, horseback riding and archery.

Bio-Blitz is sponsored by the Freeholder Board with the generous assistance of volunteer scientists and support staff, and numerous local businesses and organizations including Shoprite of Clark, Sledgehammer Coffee Works of Cranford, Whole Foods of Union, Jenkinsons Aquarium of Point Pleasant, the Staten Island Zoo, the Rahway River Watershed Association, Wild Birds Unlimited of Scotch Plains, BR Environmental,  the Gregorio Family of Elizabeth, XAdmins graphic arts, and Toadshade Wildflower Farm.

Other partners include Kawameeh Middle School Environmental Club, Elizabeth River/Arthur Kill Watershed Association, Groundwork Elizabeth Green Team, New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team, New Jersey Mycological Association, NJDEP Watershed Ambassador Program, NJDEP Office of Communications and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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 contact Betty Ann Kelly, Union County Department of Parks and Recreation, at bkelly@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 Clerk Joanne Rajoppi speaks with Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen at the County Clerk’s new exhibit of unique presidential campaign memorabilia from years past in the Union County Courthouse Rotunda in Elizabeth. The exhibit includes campaign buttons, original newspaper clips and historic election results along with ballot memorabilia.

The Courthouse Rotunda is a designated historic landmark located at the front of the County Courthouse complex, at 2 Broad Street in the heart of the midtown Elizabeth shopping district. It is easily accessible by mass transit, and ample public parking is located nearby at the J. Christian Bollwage Parking Garage.

County Clerk Rajoppi invites members of the public to visit the historic Courthouse Rotunda from now until November.

The exhibit is designed to grow as the 2016 election season progresses. Union County residents who would like to contribute their personal memorabilia can contact Donna Connell at 908-527-4787 in the Clerk’s office.

For complete details on all County Clerk election services, including Vote-By-Mail deadlines and extended office hours, call 908-527-4996 or visit online at ucnj.org/county-clerk/elections.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski, Alexander Mirabella and Vernell Wright joined Robert Jeans of the Kenilworth Veterans Center and VFW Post 2230 and Jim Daly of the Union County Flag Guardian Committee at Graceland Cemetery in Kenilworth where volunteers placed American flags on the graves of veterans in honor of Memorial Day. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders supplied more than 30,000 flags to mark veterans’ graves throughout Union County. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi is pleased to announce that sample ballots for the June 7 Primary Day are now available on the Union County Votes! mobile app and the County Clerk’s website, ucnj.org/county-clerk.

“The Union County Votes!” app provides mobile users with a convenient way to catch up on election information and familiarize themselves with the candidates,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “The app also includes quick links to the official campaign website of each candidate, to help connect voters with accurate information directly from the source.”

Union County Votes! is available as a free download for mobile phones and tablets.

Ms. Rajoppi also reminds Union County residents that any registered voter can cast their vote early for any reason, by using a Vote-By-Mail ballot.

Voters should allow 3-5 business to mail their ballot back in time to be counted on Primary Day.

The deadline for requesting a Vote-By-Mail ballot by mail was May 31. Voters can still obtain a Vote-By-Mail ballot in person after that date, by visiting the County Clerk’s Main Office in Elizabeth or the Annex in Westfield.

Voters who obtain their ballot in person can also use the County Clerk’s convenient One-Stop service to fill out their ballot and cast it in a secure collection box, all in the same visit.

“If you find yourself running short on time as June 7 approaches, the One-Stop service helps to ensure that your voice will be heard in this Presidential election cycle,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “Any eligible voter can cast a Vote-By-Mail ballot in person at my offices, until 3:00 p.m. on Monday, June 6.”

Under a new state law, voters who opt to use the One-Stop service will need to show a New Jersey driver’s license or other New Jersey ID that provides their name, address and photo.

For complete details on all County Clerk election services, including Vote-By-Mail deadlines and extended office hours for One-Stop service, call 908-527-4996, download the free Union County Votes app or visit online at ucnj.org/county-clerk/elections.

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The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders would like to remind you of several free recycling events coming up this month.
Union County’s Scrap Metal Recycling continues in June with events on the first Thursday (June 2nd ) and Third Saturday (June 18th) of each month. There are three (3) locations in Union County for residents to drop off their metal for recycling, one in Cranford, Rahway and Westfield. All locations will be open from 9 am to 12 pm. Residents can drop off old appliances, microwaves, air conditioners, and metal lawn furniture to name a few.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation announces a new and exciting season of summer camps and family programs at Trailside Nature and Science Center.  

“Trailside summer programs offer the perfect opportunity for adults and children of all ages to explore the out-of-doors while learning all about nature,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. Space remains in camps for pre-first – 6th grade!  Register in person daily at Trailside from noon – 4:45 p.m. or online at www.ucnj.org/trailside and select the Online Registration tab.

“These camps offer interesting subject matter to both children and adults, which allows families to participate together in learning about the wonders of nature,” said Vice Chairman Sergio Granados.

Children ages four and five can enroll in the Living Lenape and Natural Beginnings camp sessions offered afternoons from 1:15-3:45 p.m. on July 5-8 or July 25-28.  Campers will learn all about the Lenape Native Americans; how they lived, games they played and tools they used.  Participants will have fun forming clay pots, making a necklace, practicing throwing corn darts, learning the fox walk and more.  Following a ½-hour break, children will participate in the Natural Beginnings program to learn about herbivores, carnivores, plants and bugs.  Through short hikes, games, crafts and stories children will discover how all living things are connected. 

Nature Discovery Club, Around the World, Arctic, Ocean & Desert and Tropical Treasures are among the camps still available for children entering the first and second grades.  Campers will learn the importance of insects and have fun using bug boxes, dip nets, sweep nets and strainers to catch, identify and release insects living in forests, meadows, streams and ponds in Nature Discovery Club.  “Travel” to different continents in Around the World to learn about polar bears, red panda, platypus and jaguars.  Wear sturdy walking shoes as we hike a different trail each day.  Focus on extreme habitats in Arctic, Ocean and Desert and investigate the special adaptations animals have to survive in these exciting wild places.  Learn the secrets of the world’s rainforests in Tropical Treasures.  Make a rain stick and “catch” poison dart frogs on an outdoor expedition. 

Wild and Rare, Junior Naturalists and Trailside Treks are some of the camps still available for children entering the third and fourth grade.  See a bald eagle and snowy owl up

close on a field trip to the Raptor Trust in Millington as part of the Wild and Rare camp.  Find out why some animals are becoming endangered and discover what you can do to help out.  Use special equipment to catch frogs, tadpoles, giant water bugs, water scorpions and more as you investigate the wetland habitats in the Junior Naturalist camp.  Learn how to use a map and compass to hike to some local points of interest in Trailside Treks.  Spend the week outside hiking to the Deserted Village, Watchung Stable, Lake Surprise and more.

Ocean Wonders explores the diversity of life found in the oceans for children entering the fifth and sixth grade.  Learn about the coral reefs, find out how the creatures of the deep use bioluminescence to survive and use a seine net to catch some ocean dwellers on a field trip to Sandy Hook.  All About Animals will take students on an in-depth look into the animal kingdom.  Meet live snakes and turtles, use binoculars to identify birds and find out how to track local mammals. 

Adults with children of all ages can take part in Friday Family programs.   Participants can make bubbles of all sizes in Bubblemania, beat the heat and catch salamanders in Stream Stroll, catch and release aquatic animals in Pond Search at Seeley’s Pond and take a hike in search of some signs and sounds of local Animal Neighbors.  Visit the Demonstration Garden with Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County in Garden Treasures and see their specialty gardens.

Evening explorations for families are also available during the summer months.  Participants invited to arrive in their pajamas to say good-night to Trailside’s animals and animal neighbors in When I’m Sleepy or dress to get wet and muddy for an Evening Pond Search at Seeley’s Pond.  Prepare to sing-a-long, perform funny skits and laugh out loud in the evening Family Campfires.  Adults with children six and older can sleep overnight and learn to build their own campfire in the Family Campout For Beginners.

For a detailed description of Trailside’s camps and family programs including dates, times and fees, call Trailside at 908-789-3670 or visit us at www.ucnj.org/trailside.  Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholders Vernell Wright, Bette Jane Kowalski and Linda Carter welcomed Community FoodBank of New Jersey President and CEO Debra Vizza and ConnectOne Bank Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer Elizabeth Magennis to the fourth annual Union County Women Mean Business (UCWMB) Summit at the Clubhouse at the Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth. They were joined by and Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi (2nd R).

Vizza delivered the keynote address at the event that was designed to help women grow their business networks and build critical skills. UCWMB is an initiative of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholders Linda Carter and Bette Jane Kowalski present a resolution to Scott Mack, Patti Wilson-Fico, Dryden Watner and Miguel Ortiz of Union County’s chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America thanking the many volunteers and advocates who will be meeting on June 2, 2016 to help find an end to gun violence.

Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America was created to demand action from legislators, state and federal; companies; and educational institutions to establish common-sense gun reforms.

On June 2, Moms Demand Action will hold Wear Orange Day in Union County at 160 Forest Road in Fanwood. Participants will urge residents to wear orange for the day to spread awareness of the extent of gun violence in America. Orange was chosen because hunters wear orange to announce themselves to other hunters when out in the woods and orange is a color that symbolizes the value of human live.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders joins in urging residents to wear orange on June 2, 2016 to honor the fight to end gun violence in America.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski and Sergio Granados joined New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak in congratulating 29 new U.S. citizens during their naturalization ceremony at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. The new citizens came from 16 different countries and 11 of them worked toward citizenship through The We Are One New Jersey Union County Center at the Union County Workforce Innovation Business Center in Elizabeth. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)