Category: Public Info

In observance of National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW), the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders encourages Union County residents and parents to make vaccinating their children a priority and to talk to family and friends about protecting their children with vaccines.

During the week of April 16-23, Union County will observe NIIW, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initiative designed to raise awareness about the importance of childhood immunizations.

“National Infant Immunization Week provides a valuable opportunity for our community to increase awareness of the importance for children to be vaccinated and the success of immunizations in preventing deadly diseases,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “Childhood vaccinations are one of the best ways for parents to protect their children against vaccine-preventable diseases.”

Vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing disease and death. They not only help protect vaccinated individuals, but also help protect entire communities by preventing and reducing the spread of infectious diseases. Among children born during 1994-2013, vaccination will prevent an estimated 322 million illnesses, 21 million hospitalizations, and 732,000 deaths over the course of their lifetimes.

Each year, thousands of children become ill from diseases that could have been prevented by basic childhood immunizations. Countless more miss time from day care and school because they are under-immunized or inappropriately immunized.

Check your child’s immunization records and make sure they are up-to-date in their shots. For copies of your child’s immunization records, talk to your doctor.

If you’re concerned about the cost of shots, the Union County Immunization Center, offered through the Department of Human Services, can help. Children who are uninsured, Medicaid-eligible, Native American or Alaska native, or have insurance that does not cover the cost of the vaccine can get their shots free of cost through the Union County Immunization Center. 

Located at 40 Parker Rd in Elizabeth, the UC Immunization Center is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more information about childhood immunizations, or to make an appointment call 908-965-3868.

Union County together with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, will be hosting two Public Information Center meetings to inform local residents, officials, businesses and the general public of the intersection safety improvement project for West Seventh Street (CR 601) in the City of Plainfield. The project includes three intersections (Central Avenue, Grant Avenue and Plainfield Avenue) and is being funding through the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority using the Federal Highway Administration’s Highway Safety Improvement Program Funds.

The purpose of these meetings are to inform the public and solicit input and comments on the proposed improvements. These meetings are open to all members of the public. County engineering staff, a NJTPA representative and the consulting design engineer will be available to answer questions.

• Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2016
• Time: 2:00 pm and 7:00 p.m.
• Place: Plainfield Senior Center, 400 East Front Street, Plainfield, NJ

Written comments will be accepted through Friday, April 29, 2016. Comments may be mailed, faxed, or emailed to:

Freeholder Board’s UCACT Program Supports American premiere of “passionate, funny, uplifting” musical by Joe Slabe on April 21

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to support American Theater Group (ATG), one of New Jersey’s newest nonprofit theatre companies, in the American premiere of Joe Slabe’s new musical Crossing Swords at UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage in Rahway April 21 to May 1.

“Through the Union County Advancing Community Theatre program, the Freeholder Board is proud to support performing arts events that celebrate creativity, engage the community, and encourage cultural tourism.” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen. “American Theater Group brings to Union County the opportunity for residents to experience the transformative power of theatre, which brings important social and economic impacts to the community.”

Directed by Igor Goldin, Crossing Swords is a passionate, funny and uplifting new musical by Joe Slabe about three high school students who attempt to put on a production of the classic play Cyrano de Bergerac. When rehearsals get underway jealousies simmer, tempers fly, and passions ignite as life imitates art. Crossing Swords features Broadway veterans Sarah Dacey Charles and Steven Hauck, and introduces exciting newcomers Chase Crandell, Ali Gordon, Jeremy Greenbaum.

Crossing Swords appeared at the New York Musical Festival (NYMF) in 2013 where it received five Awards for Excellence. “When we first saw the piece at NYMTF, we knew that this is the type of theater we want to produce: heartfelt, uplifting, and passionate” says ATG’s Producing Artistic James N. Vagias.  “As a theater company, we look to find exciting new voices in musical theater, and we are honored to be part of Crossing Swords journey, and to introduce our audiences to the incredibly talented Joe Slabe”.

Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders through the Union County Advancing Community Theatre (UCACT) program, ATG’s production of Crossing Swords will run from April 21 to May 1 at UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage in Rahway. For more information or to purchase tickets visit ucpac.org or call the UCPAC box office at 732-499-8226.

American Theater Group is one of New Jersey’s newest nonprofit professional theater companies.  Founded by New Jersey natives Jim Vagias, Joe Mancuso and Rick Sordelet, and under the Board leadership of Tony-Award winning actress Michele Pawk, ATG’s mission is to produce works by American Playwrights, with an emphasis on the development of new works and undeservedly neglected classics, and to nurture the audiences and artists of tomorrow by strong arts-in-education programming.  Now in its fourth season, ATG’ produces in the new state of the art facility, Hamilton Stage, an intimate 199 seat theater that is operated by the Union County Performing Arts Center.

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.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders will sponsor a Household Special Waste Collection event on Saturday, April 23, so Union County residents can get rid of outdated or unwanted household chemicals, mercury thermostats, propane tanks, and automobile tires in an environmentally safe manner. The household hazardous waste collection will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools campus, 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains, near the John H. Stamler Police Academy.

Residents of Union County are eligible to participate at no cost. Pre-registration is not required for this special Saturday collection.

“The special household waste recycling program for Union County residents is particularly important as we become more aware of the need for proper disposal of hazardous items that are found around the home,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “The result of our effort is safer homes and a cleaner environment for our families and our neighbors.”

All that residents need to do is drive to the site with their household special waste, propane tanks, automobile tires, and mercury thermostats. Workers at the site will unload the vehicles.

“Household special waste” includes oil-based paint and varnish, antifreeze, aerosol cans, pool chemicals, corrosives, pesticides, herbicides, solvents, thinners, fire extinguishers, motor oil and oil filters, gasoline, batteries, thermostats, fluorescent bulbs (unbroken), blood pressure devices, and mercury switches. Only materials in original or labeled containers will be accepted. No containers larger than five gallons will be accepted.

Latex (water-based) paint and empty cans will not be accepted. They should be disposed of in with the regular garbage. Leftover latex paint can be air-dried or, to hasten the drying process, kitty litter and/or newspaper can be added to hasten the drying.

“This is a great opportunity to recycle up to eight tires and dispose of old chemical containers that are cluttering up the basement or the garage, or taking up space under the kitchen sink,” said Freeholder Christopher Hudak, liaison to the Union County Solid Waste Advisory Council. “Our homes become safer once they are rid of hazardous and combustible waste.”

There is a limit of eight automobile tires (without rims) per household. This is a household recycling event. No businesses, please.

A complete list of the materials that will be accepted on April 23 is available at the Union County Bureau of Recycling and Planning web site: www.ucnj.org/recycle . The next scheduled household hazardous waste collection will be on June 11 at the Union County College campus in Cranford.

The household hazardous waste collection will be held rain or shine, for Union County residents only and not for businesses. Proof of Union County residency is required. For more information, please call the Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders are announcing that another 100 work at home, full-time private employment jobs will be available through the Union County Workforce Innovation Business Center.

In fulfillment of Chairman Bruce Bergen’s Veterans initiatives for 2016, Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados, also the liaison to the Workforce Investment Board, is announcing Veterans will be given preference in hiring. If interested, you must register for the informational session being held on Friday, April 29th, 10 a.m. at the Mills at Jersey Gardens in Elizabeth.

For more information, and to register, please go to:
www.ucnj.org/w…/100-work-at-home-full-time-jobs-registration

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that the next mobile paper-shredding program for personal, confidential documents will visit Roselle on Earth Day, Friday, April 22.

“Union County’s mobile document-shredding service helps residents fight identity theft by providing a convenient way to shred your confidential documents,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen. “It promotes our County recycling efforts and ties in with Union County’s other Green Initiatives.”

The April 22nd shredding event will take place near the Ice Skating Rink in Warinanco Park, off Park Street and Thompson Avenue in Roselle. NEXCUT Shredding of Elizabeth will be shredding personal documents from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. The event will end before 1 p.m. if the shredding truck reaches capacity.

All Union County residents are eligible to use the paper-shredding service. In an effort to accommodate everyone, there is a limit of four, 10-pound bags or boxes per person. This is a garbage-free event so please bring your documents in paper bags if at all possible. Plastic bags and boxes will be returned. Please remove plastic binders and paperclips. Paper that is wet/damp will not be accepted. Residents should continue to recycle non-confidential papers and magazines with their municipal recycling program.

Documents are put into 96-gallon containers provided by the shredding company. The items are then dumped onto a conveyor belt and shredded on site. Participants are welcome to view the shredding process via a closed-circuit television. The shredded documents are then recycled, shipped to paper mills and used as pulp. The next shredding event will take place Friday, April 29^th at Cedar Brook Park in Plainfield.

The mobile shredding program is paid for through New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Recycling Enhancement Act Grant Funds. For more information about future events or directions please call the Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889 or visit us online at www.ucnj.org/recycle .

Union County, NJ – Work on the new Union County Transportation Master Plan is drawing to a close, and the public is invited to get a preview of the final product at an Open House event on Monday, April 25, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Cranford Community Center, 220 Walnut Avenue in Cranford.

“The Union County Transportation Master Plan is a critical planning tool that will help the Freeholder Board and other representatives advocate for improvements in mass transit, bicycle routes, walkable neighborhoods and every other aspect of the ways in which people and goods move in Union County,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “The Open House will provide you with an opportunity to view the components of the plan before the final document is issued.”

At the Open House, members of the public can view maps, photographs and other documents. Transportation experts will be on hand to answer questions and provide brief presentations, and a Spanish translator will be present throughout the event.

The Open House is a free, drop-in event. No pre-registration is required.

“Transportation affects every aspect of our lives and our economy,” said Freeholder Angel G. Estrada, who was recently named First Vice Chair of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority. “I encourage every stakeholder to take this opportunity to talk to the experts and inform yourself about the challenges and opportunities ahead.”

Residents can also participate in an online transportation survey available on the County website at ucnj.org/tmp, where they can register their views on the transportation infrastructure in their communities, and list the areas they would like to see targeted for improvement.

The survey is open until April 30.

Work on the Union County Transportation Master Plan is being conducted by the Union County Bureau of Transportation Planning, Department of Economic Development. Completion is expected in June 2016.

The Union County Transportation Master Plan is funded by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority and Union County.

For more details about the Union County Transportation Master Plan visit ucnj.org/tmp.

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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 Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen joined Acting Union County Prosecutor Grace Park and Janice C. Lilien, Executive Director of the YWCA of Union County, at the third annual Union County C.A.R.E.S. (Community, Action, Response, Education, Safety) Domestic Violence Symposium at Kean University in Union.

The symposium was co-sponsored by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, YWCA Union County, Kean University, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Elizabeth-based Family and Children’s Services, Iris House, and Trinitas Regional Medical Center.

For more information about YWCA domestic violence programs, visit http://www.ywcaunioncounty.org/.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Artist residents of Union County who are 60 years of age or older are invited to participate and exhibit an original work of art which has been completed within the last three years in the annual Union County Senior Citizens Art Exhibit. Entrants may be either amateur/non-professional or professional in status. Any person who meets at least two of the following criteria is considered professional: a) sold the type of art entered in the exhibition through commercial channels; b) exhibited in a professional gallery; c) held professional membership in a guild or association.

The annual Union County Senior Citizens Art Exhibit will be held in the Atrium of the Elizabethtown Gas Company, Liberty Hall Center, 1085 Morris Avenue, Union. The exhibit will run from May 31 to July 12, with an artists’ reception on Wednesday, June 8, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

“We have some amazing senior artists in Union County, and it’s always a pleasure to see their work,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board.

The ten categories of eligible work are: oil; acrylic; watercolor (including gouache); pastel (including chalk, charcoal and oil pastel); drawing and prints (including drawings with pencil, pen, ink, graphite, and prints such as etching, engraving, lithograph, woodcut, monoprint, monotype, silkscreen, etc.); mixed media (combines two or more media, no one of which clearly predominates; including collage and assemblage); sculpture (three dimensional, carved, or constructed in any medium, abstract or figurative, painted or unpainted); craft (one-of-a-kind creations only, no kits or molds); digital/computer art (art generated or altered digitally using software); and photography. Please note: photos taken with a digital camera, digitally altered photos, and images made using a scanner must be entered in the Photography category.

Three professional artists will judge the entries. Awards will go to first, second, third place and honorable mention winners in each category. First Place winners in all categories go on to compete in September at the New Jersey State Senior Citizens Art Show which will take place at the Meadow Lakes retirement community (www.meadowlakesonline.org) in East Windsor.

Hanging artwork, crafts and photos may not exceed 36” nor be less than 10” in any dimension, including matte and frame. Sculpture or 3-D crafts may not exceed 20” in any dimension (measurements include any base for the sculpture). All work must be properly labeled and delivered “show-ready” with screw eyes and wiring ready for hanging. Where necessary, pictures must be protected with glass, Mylar, Plexiglas or other clear material. Plexiglas is strongly recommended on pieces exceeding 24 inches.

For a copy of the application, call Martha Sturm, Senior Arts Coordinator, at the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 908-558-2550, or email culturalinfo@ucnj.org. Relay users dial 711. Mail completed applications to Senior Art Show, Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl St., Elizabeth, NJ 07202; or fax to 908-558-2652 on or before Wednesday, May 18. Completed applications may also be scanned and emailed to msturm@ucnj.org.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that the new Union County Means Green Community Garden Grants program is now accepting grant applications to start a new community garden, or to expand and improve an existing garden. The garden grant program will be administered by the non-profit organization Groundwork Elizabeth under its Come Grow With Us! community garden program.

“Growing fresh produce provides the benefits of improved nutrition, environmental education, recreation, socializing, volunteer opportunities, and neighborhood beautification,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “This new funding opportunity is designed to help local groups assemble the resources they need to bring these positive experiences to their community.”

“The community gardens funded through this program will provide a source of enrichment for many years to come, and I thank Chairman Bergen and the Freeholder Board for introducing this new grant program,” said New Jersey State Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (District 20), whose advocacy for community gardening lead to the founding of Come Grow With Us! in 2009. “Come Grow With Us addresses the goal of making sure everyone has access to locally grown, fresh foods, and the Union County Means Green initiative is a key part of meeting the objective of sustainability and food access.”

The Union County Means Green Community Garden Grants program is part of Chairman Bergen’s 2016 “Union County Means Green” 2016 initiative for environmental outreach. It builds on the County’s support for the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County Master Gardeners program, which focuses on community nutrition and education.    

“This new grant program joins Union County residents with national efforts to raise awareness about the importance of gardening for a fit, healthy community, such as the USDA Peoples Garden Initiative and the Let’s Move! Initiative, and we are very excited to help this movement grow,” said Jonathan Phillips, Executive Director of Groundwork Elizabeth.

Funding from the Union County Means Green Community Garden Grants is available to non-profit civic organizations and agencies including historical societies, community centers, senior centers, municipal agencies or departments, and volunteer civic groups such as municipal Environmental Commissions and neighborhood associations. At this time funding is not available to schools or school districts.

The grants for new gardens are designed to take all of the guesswork out of creating a new community garden. The grant package includes planning, setup, maintenance, education and guidance, all provided in one package by Groundwork Elizabeth’s expert community garden team. Matching grants of up to $3,000 are available.

For existing gardens, matching grants of up to $3,000 are available for expansion or to replace critical infrastructure such as sheds, fences, new soil, and raised beds.

Applications for 2016 are due May 6, 2016. Union County will notify grant recipients by May 16, 2016.

More details and downloadable application forms are available on the County website, at ucnj.org/garden-grants.

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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: