Category: Public Info

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it has reopened the filing period for survivors in all states affected by Superstorm Sandy on December 2, 2015 to apply for low-interest disaster loans. The new filing deadline for physical damage and economic injury losses is December 1, 2016.

“The additional time for businesses, homeowners and renters to request federal disaster loans will go a long way in continuing to support the rebuilding efforts of the communities affected by Superstorm Sandy,” said SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet. “I want to thank the chairmen and ranking members of the Senate and House Small Business Committees for their leadership on this issue. We look forward to working with them to make sure the needs of small businesses are met.”

The recently approved Recovery Improvements for Small Entities (RISE) After Disaster Act of 2015 gives the SBA Administrator the authority to make disaster loans for Superstorm Sandy for a period of one year. The bill authorizes SBA to revise the disaster deadline for major Presidential declarations for Superstorm Sandy in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island. Additionally, SBA will be accepting applications under its related agency declarations for North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Virginia, West Virginia and certain counties in Maryland.

SBA will open disaster centers across select counties in the affected areas and review activity levels on a continuous basis.
Businesses and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private non-profit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible up to $40,000 to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed personal property

Interest rates are as low as 1.688 percent for homeowners and renters, 3 percent for non-profit organizations and 4 percent for businesses with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

Survivors may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Additional details on the locations of recovery centers and the loan application process can be obtained by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is December 1, 2016. The deadline to return economic injury applications is December 1, 2016.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce an exhibit of nature photography by Jacki Dickert entitled, “World of Wonder” at the Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside.

“This exhibit created by Jacki Dickert, offers a window into the spectacular world of nature, in a venue that is perfectly suited to showcase this remarkable work,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohammed S. Jalloh.

Dickert, a New Jersey native and formerly a Naturalist at Trailside, began crafting her own photographic images in 2006 after an inspirational trip to Iceland.   Jacki has traveled all over the world capturing beautiful photos in places such as Alaska, Utah, Oregon and New Zealand.  She has also found inspiring images in local parks and her own backyard.  Her photos reveal a keen eye and talent for translating her appreciation of the natural world to captivating images on a metal slab.   Using the unusual technique of dye sublimation, Dickert allows ink to be fused into aluminum.  Images printed on special paper are laid on prepared metal, and heated, thereby transforming ink to gas, which bonds with the metal.  The process creates photographs which are uniquely vibrant and accessible to the viewer. 

For more information about this exhibit or other activities at Trailside, please call 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside.  Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a facility of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.

Freeholders Angel Estrada and Sergio Granados, both advocates of the immigrant community joined Sheriff Joe Cryan and other dignitaries at ‘Making the Road New Jersey’ celebrate their 1st anniversary and new home office in Elizabeth.

Freeholder Angel Estrada spoke words of encouragement at an anti-bullying seminar held by Le Crème, a modeling and acting school run by Patricia Pinto who led the seminar.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the 2016 Union County Advancing Community Theatre (UCACT) grant program.

The UCACT program aims to engage the creative life of Union County by supporting enriching community theatre experiences that promote economic and social well-being.

“Community theatre is a collaborative art with important economic, cultural, and social benefits,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “Through the UCACT program, the Freeholder Board is proud to provide opportunities that draw people together to participate in collaborative art experiences that enrich and engage the greater Union County community.”

The UCACT grant program 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.

“Union County is home to a thriving, diverse theatre community that provides countless opportunities for enrichment and career development,” said Freeholder Vice Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “The Freeholder Board is very proud to support the arts and the efforts of our local theatre organizations to help them bring the live theatre experience to new audiences.”

The mission of the UCACT grant program is to support and encourage the performing arts in Union County.  The UCACT program began in 2015 as part of Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh’s “Building a Community of the Arts” initiatives.

The UCACT program seeks to assist the artistic community in Union County by providing support that will promote high quality theatre productions, encourage new programming, set a high bar for artistic challenges, and help make live theater more accessible to all.

UCACT grants provide funding to cover the hard costs associated with putting up a production at the Union County Performing Arts Center, as well as marketing and publicity assistance for each production. Through creative partnerships and a holistic approach, the 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.

Grant applications can be downloaded online at ucnj.org/ucact. Applications are being accepted now on a rolling basis. Union County-based non-profit community theatre organizations are strongly encouraged to apply early as grants will be reviewed, announced and awarded on an ongoing basis based on funding availability. Qualifying performances must be presented between January and June 2016.

For additional information or to receive a grant application by mail, please contact Victoria Durbin Drake, Chief of Staff, Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, at 908-558-2278.

Every holiday season for 18 years, Union County Sheriff’s Officers have set up their “Tree of Hope” in the courthouse seeking donations of toys and clothing for needy children throughout the county. Each year the response has been overwhelming.

The “Tree of Hope” was first planted in 1997 when officers encountered children in the courts who were going to experience a less than happy holiday season. The children the officers encountered were homeless or living in shelters, were victims of domestic violence or medically fragile.  Their parents or guardians did not have the financial ability to provide holiday gifts.

Every year since the “Tree of Hope” committee have erected a tree in the Union County Courthouse featuring paper ornaments. Volunteers make the ornaments and write a particular gift on each one.

Monetary donations to help provide additional gifts are also being sought.

Contributions of money (tax-deductible), toys and clothing can be sent to: Union County Sheriff’s Officers Tree of Hope, Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, N.J., 07207. For more information, call the “Tree of Hope” hotline at 908-629-2158.

The following press release from Kean University describes the third annual UC-STEP Summit, held on December 11. UC-STEP is a countywide youth development and community service initiative launched by Freeholder Linda Carter in 2013, when she served as Chairman of the Freeholder Board. For more information about UC-STEP visit ucnj2.org/uc-step.

UNION, N.J. – Hundreds of Union County High School students gathered for the third annual UC STEP Summit on Friday, December 11 at Kean University.  Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the day-long event invites high school sophomores and juniors from throughout Union County to participate in hands-on activities focused on leadership, personal growth and civic engagement.

“It’s never too early for young people to get engaged in their communities.  If you develop a commitment to service now, it will never leave you,” said Kean University Vice President for Operations Phillip Connelly addressing the audience of more than 200 students.

“UC-STEP helps high school students reach beyond the classroom and unite the entire Union County community in a common cause,” said Union County Freeholder Linda Carter, who initiated the program while serving as Freeholder Chairman in 2013. “It’s a valuable life experience for high school students who are seeking to make their mark on the future, and I’d like to thank my colleagues on the Freeholder Board for their continued support.”

UC STEP attendees have the opportunity to participate in workshops such as “You Be the Judge,” which focuses on crafting effective elevator speeches, and “How to Be an Effective Leader,” which focuses on identifying the diversity, concerns and values of others. Students are given the opportunity to attend breakout sessions focused on personal growth and leadership while collaborating with others to work through the day’s activities.

The headline event of UC STEP, the Civic Engagement Challenge, brings students together to brainstorm and create a county-wide community service campaign to be enacted through the Freeholder Board in connection with Union County students. The service initiative that receives the most votes at UC STEP and via the online poll will become a countywide project undertaken by participating Union County high schools. Judged based on involvement, enthusiasm, and creativity, the winning project will receive a $1,000 START NOW Grant from the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

2014’s winning START NOW initiative, “Donate to Educate,” organized a school supply drive throughout Union County. Through joint efforts with the Boys & Girls Club of Union County and Ivy Visions, Inc., the project assembled over 200 backpacks for students in need.

In 2009, Kean created the Center for Leadership and Service. 8,550 Kean students logged more than 52,600 hours of community service in 2015 alone. Kean University has appeared on President Barack Obama’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for five consecutive years.  The alma mater of Congressman Donald Payne Jr. and Union County Freeholders Christopher Hudak, Angel Estrada, Vernell Wright and Sergio Granados, Kean welcomes Union County’s future civic leaders each year at the UC STEP Summit. 

ABOUT KEAN UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1855, Kean University has become one of the largest metropolitan institutions of higher education in the region, boasting a richly diverse student, faculty and staff population. Kean continues to play a key role in the training of teachers and is a hub of educational, technological and cultural enrichment serving nearly 15,000 students. The Nathan Weiss Graduate College offers three doctorate degree programs and more than 60 options for graduate study leading to master’s degrees, professional diplomas or certifications. The University’s five undergraduate colleges offer 50 undergraduate degrees over a full range of academic subjects. With campuses in Union and Toms River, NJ, and Wenzhou, China, Kean University provides a world-class education. Visit Kean online at www.kean.edu. 

Marking the beginning of Chanukah, Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Bruce H. Bergen, Freeholders Christopher Hudak and Sergio Granados, Union County Manager Alfred Faella, Deputy County Manager William Reyes and other county officials gathered with Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky and representatives from Bris Avrohom of Hillside to light the menorah in Phil Rizzuto Park in Elizabeth.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Filmgoers packed the seats at Hamilton Stage in Rahway on Sunday evening for the Union County premier of the legendary documentary, “Rat Slayer of Hillside NJ,” which captures the real life case of man vs. rat that made headlines around the globe back in 1994. The screening, sponsored by the Freeholder Board, was attended by a costumed rat character and other local luminaries including director and writer Andrew Ruotolo, co-producer Andrew Lessner, and co-director of photography Sean Devaney, who all grew up together in Westfield.

Not in attendance were co-producer Michael Angelo Covino and co-director of photography Zach Kuperstein. Freeholder Chairman Mohamed Sellu Jalloh and Vice Chairman Bruce Bergen were in attendance for the premiere along with Rahway Mayor Samson Steinman.

Learn more about the documentary at https://www.facebook.com/ratslayerofhillsidenj/

New Jersey native Ronald L. Charles served as Associate Director of the Essex County Department of Corrections and as Facility Administrator at Delaney Hall

Ronald L. Charles, a New Jersey native who has extensive experience in managing both public and private correctional facilities in the state, has been hired as the new Director of the Union County Department of Corrections, County officials announced.

Charles is a former Associate Director of the Essex County Department of Corrections, the state’s largest County correctional facility, and has also served in senior level executive positions at Delaney Hall, a private facility.

Charles was hired following a nationwide search conducted by the County following the retirement of former director Brian Riordan, who left in July after seven successful years. During the interim period, Assistant Director George Blaskiewicz had served as acting director.

The County received well over 50 resumes during the job search, and narrowed the list to nearly a dozen finalists before selecting Charles.

“Ronald Charles has an outstanding record of public and private-level experience in corrections,” said County Manager Alfred J. Faella. “He has managed the administrative and fiscal operations of two major correctional facilities, and had his boots on the ground as a corrections officer for many years as well. We look forward to working with him.”

Charles is earning a salary of  $115,000 a year, and started his new job yesterday, following his hiring by the County Manager. He is responsible for the supervision of a total staff of approximately 295 corrections officers and supervisors, 34 civilian employees, and a census count of approximately 720 prisoners, with another 40 under contract at Delaney Hall in Essex County.

Charles will work to continue many of the reforms begun under way at the facility. During the past eight years, the County has focused on reducing its daily census count (number of inmates) at the jail by nearly 30 percent, resulting in operational efficiencies.

The County implemented the findings from the Luminosity study, which has succeeded in reducing operational costs and expenses at the adult facility (Union County Jail) by $1 million.

This report continues to reap benefits by bringing together stakeholders in an effort to reduce unnecessary detention while maintaining public safety and the integrity of the courts process.

Charles said he looks forward to starting his job, and thanked the Freeholder Board and the County Manager for the opportunity to lead the Department of Corrections.

“There is still much to accomplish and there are many challenges before us, but I look forward to working with the County team in providing a safe, secure, productive and efficient facility,” Charles said. 

During a 29-year career in corrections, Charles, who started as an Essex County Corrections Officer,  rose through the ranks meritoriously  to Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain,  Associate Warden  and climbed to the position of Associate Director of the Department in 2006, where until his retirement in 2011, he was responsible  the supervision of more than 700 employees with a operating budget of over $100 Million dollars.  Among his other duties, he authored RFP’s (Requests for Proposal) and contracts, and wrote a financial review process for the budget with department heads and administrative officials.

In 2011, he began work for Delaney Hall Detention Center, a private run facility that contracts with governmental agencies such as Union County and Essex County for its detainees. Over the next four years, he served as a Facility Administrator and then a Facility Training Administrator whose responsibilities included managing the budget, supervising staff, establishing operational plans, and developing lesson plans and learning objectives for professional and leadership  development. 

Charles is a Certified Public Manager (CPM) and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice.  He is  a graduate of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government  Leadership Program and  is a certified instructor with the New Jersey  Department of  Law and Public Safety Police Training Commission and is a certified auditor with the American Correctional Association.