Category: Public Info

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.

#  #

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 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.

#  #

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, NJ – The drug Narcan enables family and friends to act quickly to prevent a potentially lethal overdose from taking the life of a loved one, and you can find out how to administer it effectively by taking a free, confidential training class offered by Union County in partnership with JSAS Healthcare, Inc. and the non-profit organization Prevention Links.

“Often, family and friends are the first to be on the scene of an overdose, and they want to be able to help,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “These training classes are a judgment-free zone in which you can learn how to help a loved one – or any member of the public – survive a crisis.”

Narcan, also known as naloxone, is the antidote administered to save someone who has overdosed on heroin or other opioids.

Union County residents can attend either of the following two sessions:

• March 31, 2016, starting promptly at 6:00 p.m. at the Union County Engineering Building, 1^st Floor, 2325 South Avenue in Scotch Plains.

• April 18, 2016, starting promptly at 6:00 p.m. at Raymond Lesniak ESH Recovery High School at Kean University Campus School West, 1000 Morris Avenue in Union.

The Narcan training session is open to anyone who is in an at risk situation in their family or circle of friends for an overdose.  All eligible participants will receive a free Narcan (naloxone) kit and free information and linkage to substance abuse treatment resources.

For more information please contact Nasrene Mondol, the County Alliance Coordinator, at 908-527-4852 or nmondol@ucnj.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.

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.

On Monday, Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados helped raise the Angolan flag with Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage, Commissioner on the Elizabeth Board of Education Maria Carvalho, Angolan Minister of Higher Education Dr. Adao Nascimento, Ambassador to the White House Agostinho Tavares, Vice Council of Angola Norberto Emcoge and Dr. Joao Camacho of Kean University

Union County, NJ – Union County business owners and managers are invited to attend “Union County Means Green,” a free breakfast networking session and seminar with leading national and local companies, designed to share new green strategies for boosting the bottom line and engaging customers.

Municipal agencies, non-profits and educators are also welcome to attend, and eligible attendees will receive two classroom credits for Certified Recycling Professionals.

Union County Means Green includes panel discussions on recycling, green purchasing, waste management, natural landscaping, community engagement and more. Panelists include representatives from Covanta Energy, which is sponsoring the event with the Freeholder Board, and Office Depot, Cox Printers of Linden, and experts from Rutgers University and the New Jersey Sustainable Business Registry among others.

Attendees can also visit with industry and community leaders at informational displays hosted by Waste Management and Kean University as well as Covanta, Office Depot, Cox printers and more.

Union County Means Green 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).

Come early for breakfast and networking beginning at 8:00 a.m. Panel discussions and presentations begin at 8:45 and conclude at 11:00. Attendees are welcome to stay for more networking and casual meeting opportunities until the event closes at 12:00 noon.

Union County Means Green is part of the Freeholder Board’s ongoing Union County Means Business series. For online registration and more information visit ucnj.org/ucmb or email the Union County Office of Public Information, info@ucnj.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:

Please be advised that the Fiscal Affairs Committee of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders will be hosting Special Meetings on the 2016 Budget.

• official public notice click here
• executive budget click here
• budget as introduced click here
• adopted budget click here

Below are dates, locations and powerpoint presentation as they become available.

These meetings of the Fiscal Affairs Committee are not Regular Meetings of the Board of Chosen Freeholders.  No action will be taken. Members of the public are invited to attend, though there will not be a public comment portion. All times and dates are subject to change without notice.

Under the terms of the “Open Public Meetings Act P.L. 1975, C. 231, please be advised that the Fiscal Affairs Committee of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders will be hosting Special Meetings on the 2016 Budget on the following dates:

• Monday, March 7, 2016 at 5:30 p.m. at the Galloping Hill Golf Course Clubhouse, 3 Golf Drive, Kenilworth, NJ, 07033; and
• Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at 5:30 p.m.at the UC Vocational-Technical Schools, Administration Building Board Room, 1776 Raritan Road, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076; and
• Thursday, March 17, 2016 at 5:30 p.m. at the UC Administration Building, 6^th Floor, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth, NJ 07207.

These meetings of the Fiscal Affairs Committee are not Regular Meetings of the Board of Chosen Freeholders.  No action will be taken. Members of the public are invited to attend, though there will not be a public comment portion. All times and dates are subject to change without notice.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Freeholders Alexander Mirabella, Angel G. Estrada, Linda Carter and Christopher Hudak congratulated Elizabeth High School graduates P.J. Walker and Jahd Thomas on receiving the Chris Zusi Memorial Award and Linden High School graduate Jackie Lima on receiving the Joseph R. Lombardi Memorial Award during the 80th Annual Union County Baseball Association Hot Stove Awards Dinner in Clark. They were joined by guest speakers New York Jets Head Coach Todd Bowles, an Elizabeth native, and New York Yankees great Sparky Lyle.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)