Category: Public Info

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

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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 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.

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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)

Union County, NJ – Educators and afterschool program staff can add to their toolkit of hands-on science activities by attending the next Design It! Explore It! series of professional development workshops. The programs were created by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development program and the New Jersey School-Age Care Coalition.

“This program helps educators bring high-tech subject matter down to earth with familiar materials and fun activities,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “When students can engage with important science and engineering concepts and practice teamwork at a young age, they gain a firm platform for future academic success.”

The Design It! Explore It! workshops include everything educators need to introduce science and engineering activities to students in grades 2-8, with an emphasis on working in teams.

Ongoing support from professionals with the Rutgers 4-H program is also part of the package.

• Design It! includes balls and tracks, gliders, paper bridges, rubber band-powered cars, straw Rockets and trebuchets (trebuchet refers to a mechanical device used for launching objects into the air). 
• Explore It! includes cake chemistry, heating a house and an oven, measuring ourselves, sinking and floating, siphon systems and wiring a house.

The workshops will be held during the 2016-2017 school year in October, January and March at the Cook Student Center at Rutgers University in New Brunswick.

Online enrollment and payment are due by June 17, 2016.  For information on enrollment packages visit nj4h.rutgers.edu/educators. For questions about the program contact Chad Ripberger, Rutgers 4-H, ripberger@rce.rutgers.edu (questions about enrollment and payment may be directed to  Mike MacEwan, NJ SACC, mmacewan@njsacc.org).

In Union County, the Rutgers Co-operative Extension provides many learning and volunteer opportunities for children and adults, including 4-H Clubs for students in grades 1-12, and the Master Gardener and Master Tree Stewards community service programs. For more information about programs in Union County visit ucnj.org/rce or call the Extension offices in Westfield, 908-654-9854.

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 – The volunteer members of the Union County Rape Crisis Center have provided advocacy and guidance to victims of sexual violence since 1984, and this spring there are openings for new volunteers.

“In the 32-year history of the Rape Crisis Center, our volunteers have provided thousands of people – male and female, young and old — with the support they need to face a critical period in their lives,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “If you are looking for an opportunity to serve the Union County community, I encourage you to contact the Rape Crisis Center now.”

The Rape Crisis Center is a division of the Union County Department of Human Services. A core of professional staff coordinates and mentors the volunteer corps of trained Advocates.

All Advocates undergo a training series that enables them to provide guidance over the phone through the Rape Crisis Center hotline. Advocates may also accompany victims to medical or legal procedures.

“Tragically, in many cases of sexual violence the victim has no family or friend to go with them for medical attention or to provide statements,” said Bergen. “In such cases our volunteers fill a critical gap with empathy and emotional support as well as reliable guidance. They can make all the difference to people who are rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of a trauma.”

Prospective volunteers must be over 18, hold a valid driver’s license, and have their own vehicle.

Before becoming eligible for the training course, volunteers must also contact the Rape Crisis Center at 908-233-7273 or email rcc@ucnj.org to schedule an in-person interview.

The next training course begins on Tuesday evening, April 5, and continues twice weekly for a total of 17 sessions, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., until May 31.

All sessions take place at the Rape Crisis Center offices in Westfield at the Colleen Fraser county services building, 300 North Avenue East.

To find out more about the volunteer experience, contact the Rape Crisis Center at 908-233-7273 or rcc@ucnj.org, or visit online at unioncountyrapecrisiscenter.blogspot.com.

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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.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Vice Chairman Sergio Granados joined Freeholders Linda Carter, Angel G. Estrada, Christopher Hudak and Alexander Mirabella in welcoming New York Jets Head Coach Todd Bowles, an Elizabeth native, and New York Yankees great Sparky Lyle as the guest speakers at the 80th Annual Union County Baseball Association Hot Stove Awards Dinner in Clark.

The Freeholders also congratulated the five new members inducted into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame: Joe Alvarez of Elizabeth, Ray Crepeau of Linden, Wally Engelhardt of Elizabeth, Bruce Henderson of Rahway, and Damien Kane of Roselle.

Among the young local athletes honored for their achievements are: P.J. Walker and Jahad Thomas, graduates of Elizabeth High School; Jackie Lima, graduate of Linden High School; Zack Lipshitz, graduate of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School; Gianna Randazza of Arthur L. Johnson Regional High School; and Kathleen Walsh, graduate of Linden High School.

The awards dinner is sponsored by the Union County Baseball Association (UCBA), in cooperation with the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation. Since 1937, the Hot Stove League Baseball Dinner has been the primary fund-raiser for the UCBA’s summer and fall programs for young ballplayers.

(Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)