Category: Public Info

Elizabeth, NJ–A team of assessors from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) will arrive on Sunday, February 23, 2014 to examine all aspects of the Union County Sheriff’s Office policies and procedures, management, operations and support services, Sheriff Ralph Froehlich announced today.

“Verification by the team that the Union County Sheriff’s Office meets the Commission’s ‘best practice’ standards is part of a voluntary process to achieve accreditation, a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence,” Sheriff Froehlich said. “Having been previously certified by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) and recognized by CALEA, I look forward to re-accreditation.”

As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments by calling 908-527-1843 on Monday, February 24, 2014 between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

Telephone comments are limited to 5 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with the NJSACOP standards. A copy of the standards is available for inspection at the Union County Sheriff’s Office, located at 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth NJ. The local contact is Sergeant Patrick Hora, who can be reached at 908-527-4420.

Anyone wishing to offer written comments about the Union County Sheriff’s Office’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation is requested to write: New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission at 11000 Lincoln Drive West, Suite 12, Marlton, N.J. 08053, or email Accreditation Program Manager, hdelgado@njsacop.org or by phone (856)-334-8943.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office must comply with 100 standards in order to achieve accredited status.

“Accreditation results in greater accountability within the agency, reduced risk and liability exposure, stronger defense against civil lawsuits, increased community advocacy and more confidence in the agency’s ability to operate efficiently and respond to community needs,” Sheriff Froehlich said.

The Accreditation Program Manager for the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police is Harry J. Delgado.

“The assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar New Jersey law enforcement agencies. The assessors will review written materials, interview agency members, and visit offices and other places where compliance with the standards can be observed,” Delgado said. “Once the Commission’s assessors complete their review of the agency, they will report to the full Commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted accredited status.”

Accreditation is valid for a three-year period during which time the agency must submit annual reports attesting to their continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.

The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, through its’ New Jersey Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, is the legitimate authority and accreditation agency in the state of New Jersey. For more information regarding the Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission please write the Commission at New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission at 11,000 Lincoln Drive West, Suite 12, Marlton, N.J. 08053.

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation are pleased to announce a new and exciting season of summer camps and family programs at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside.

“Trailside summer programs offer adults and children a great opportunity to explore the outdoors while learning about nature,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “Each Trailside camp and family program is filled with hands-on, educational activities that encourage a child’s natural curiosity. Theme hikes, games and crafts are all part of the Trailside experience.”

Due to the popularity of Trailside’s summer programs, a lottery system will be used beginning Saturday, Feb. 8 and continuing through Friday, Feb. 21, or until all numbers have been drawn. Union County residents may visit Trailside to draw a lottery number from noon to 5 p.m. daily.  There are more than 500 numbers.

Proof of residency, such as a driver’s license, will be required to draw a number and only one number may be drawn per family/address. Registrants must pick their own lottery ticket for their family, and each registrant’s name, address, lottery number and arrival time will be recorded when the lottery number is chosen. The number drawn will indicate the registrant’s position on line and time of arrival for registration day, scheduled for Saturday, March 1.

Summer Registration will begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday, March 1, for Union County residents who have drawn a lottery ticket. Registrants must bring their ticket with them to register and must be present when their number is called or their position in line will be forfeited. Each ticket holder may only register their child/family.

If a registrant arrives after their number is called, but within their designated registration hour indicated on their lottery ticket, they may register at the end of the one-hour time block. If the registrant misses their one hour time block entirely, they may return at 3:30 p.m. to register. No exceptions will be made.

Registration for out-of-county residents will begin Monday, March 3, from noon to 4:45 p.m.  Lottery tickets will not be required and registration will continue until all programs are filled.

For information about Trailside’s 2014 Summer Camps, including registration procedures, please call Trailside at 908-789-3670 or visit us on the web at www.ucnj.org/trailside. Summer brochures and registration cards will be distributed during the February lottery. 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.

Trailside naturalist Cathleen Bolton leads a group of children on a winter walk to search for squirrel nests, woodpecker holes, buck rubs and other winter wonders in the Watchung Reservation. Registration for the winter series of programs at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside is now under way with workshops including Toddler Time (for adults with children up to three years of age); Two of Us (for adults with children ages 3-4); Small Fry Days (drop-off programs for 4-6 year-olds); Afterschool Explorations (for children in the 1st and 2nd grade); and Trailside Explorers (for children in the 3rd thru 5th grade). These popular programs offer hands-on investigations of the natural world through crafts, hikes and interactive educational activities. Pre-registration is required for all workshops. Please call Trailside at 908-789-3670 for a complete brochure of winter offerings or visit us online at www.ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road, at Coles Ave., in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Due to Monday’s and today’s snow storms, the final day of the 2014 Union County Deer Management Program has been re-scheduled to Friday, February 7.

Hunters will be in Lenape Park, Nomahegan Park, Passaic River Park, Watchung Reservation, the Ash Brook Reservation and the Hawk Rise Sanctuary from 5:00 a.m. until after dark on Friday, February 7, but shooting may occur only during daylight hours.

Thirty-eight marksmen have been chosen by the County from among experienced, licensed hunters. More than half of the hunters have previously participated in Union County’s program; all are serving on a voluntary basis. The hunters will be wearing orange hats or vests and will hunt the deer from elevated positions, at least 20 feet up in the trees, over baited sites.

The hunters may keep any deer carcasses that they harvest. About half of the deer will be processed at a State-approved butcher and the venison will be donated to the needy and homeless through the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

The deer management program will be supervised by the Union County Police and the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. Anyone found hunting on any Union County park property outside the terms of this program will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Citizens observing any such illegal activity are urged to immediately contact the Union County Police at 908-654-9800.

The public should note that these parks will not be closed during the deer management program; however, portions of some roadways inside the park may be closed for short periods if necessary. Park patrons are urged to stay on the marked hiking, walking and bridle trails. Patrons also are urged to keep pets restrained on a leash.

For further information, go to the Union County website at www.ucnj.org/deer or contact the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at (908) 789-3682.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce Get Your School Garden Growing, a full day of workshops from the Rutgers Extension of Union County designed to help educators and community group leaders develop successful gardens for students and youth group members.

Get Your School Garden Growing will be held on Saturday, February 22, at Union County’s Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside.

“For a community garden to thrive, you need team building and organization as well as good gardening skills,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “This workshop will help provide you with the tools you need to pull students and volunteers together in a successful effort.”

The topics to be covered in Get Your School Garden Growing include guidance on working with young gardeners as well as finding suitable sites including sun, soil, and water considerations, pest management, safety consideration for young gardeners, and nutrition awareness including the new USDA “MyPlate” guidelines.

Other topics include hydroponics in the classroom and composting, along with guidance on integrating classroom lessons about soil health, soil biology, and recycling.

“Community gardening has proven to be a valuable exercise in teamwork and nutrition awareness for young people, while also contributing hands-on reinforcement for today’s challenging STEM curriculum,” said Hudak. “Whether you have already started a garden or are planning one, I encourage you to attend.”

Get Your School Garden Growing kicks off a new Chairman’s Initiative that calls for Union County to support community gardening with additional publicity and outreach materials, including new web and print content.

The Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, a program of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, is supported in part by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

The registration deadline for Get Your School Garden Growing is Friday, February 14. A fee of $25 includes lunch and all materials.  For more information visit ucnj.org/rce, call the Union County Extension office in Westfield at 908-654-9854 (press “2”), or email Judith Laganga at the Extension office, jlaganga@ucnj.org.

WESTFIELD, NJ – For a limited time only, the Union County Clerk’s offices in Westfield and Elizabeth are offering free passport photographs as a special incentive for residents to apply for a passport. From Tuesday, January 21, through Saturday, February 1, the normal $10 cost of each photograph will be waived when a resident applies for a new passport or a passport renewal.

“With spring vacations just a couple months away, now is the time to make sure your passport is up-to-date,” said Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi. “My offices are helping travelers save on their vacation expenses by providing free photographs for those who apply for a passport while still providing a full range of passport services with no need for an appointment.”

U.S. citizens must present a valid passport book when entering or re-entering the United States by air. U.S. citizens entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean islands and Bermuda at land borders and sea ports of entry must present a passport book, passport card, or other travel documents approved by the U.S. government.

“Our Elizabeth office opens at 7:30 a.m. and it has experienced, helpful, English and Spanish-speaking certified passport agents ready to assist you in any way we can,” Rajoppi said. “Our Westfield office, which opens at 8 a.m. weekdays, has convenient evening and Saturday hours and also is fully staffed.”

Information about the cost and how to apply for a passport book and/or passport card is available athttp://travel.state.gov. U.S. citizens may also obtain passport information by phone, in English and Spanish, by calling the National Passport Information Center toll-free at 1-877-487-2778.

Passport application forms may be obtained at the County Clerk’s main office in the Union County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth or at the Colleen Fraser Building at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield. Applications for passports and related information also can be found online at: www.ucnj.org/Passports.

“Some countries require passports to be valid for an additional three, six or nine months after your visit,” Rajoppi added. “If your passport is due to expire within nine months of your international travel, you should renew your passport to ensure a smoother journey.”

The Westfield office is the only County Clerk’s office in the state that is open during evening hours. It is open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday; from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; and on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The telephone number in Westfield is 908-654-9859.

The Elizabeth office is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The telephone number in Elizabeth is 908-527-4966. Clients are asked to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to closing time to allow for staff assistance with the passport process.

For more information about obtaining a U.S. passport, please call (908) 527-4966.

UNION, NJ– Union County Sheriff’s Officers acting on an outstanding warrant,  arrested Randy Lydon, 24, of Union, who attempted to flee his Walker Avenue apartment by jumping off the fire escape of the building and into a bush of thorns, where officers apprehended him attempting to scale a backyard fence.

Lydon was arrested on Monday and charged with obstructing the administration of law and  resisting arrest, in addition to his probation violation.  Lydon had been previously arrested in November for distribution of drugs 1,000 feet from a schoolyard. He was treated for minor injuries from the jump and is being held at the Union County Jail.

Sheriff’s Officers credited with making the arrest include Sean Perez, Kevin Sargent and James Miller. Union Township police also assisted.

Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich (3^rd L) and Freeholders Vernell Wright (3^rd R) and Bette Jane Kowalski congratulate Sheriff’s Officer Sean Conway on being named the 2013 Officer of the Year at the Union County Sheriff’s Office 2014 Awards Ceremony in Elizabeth. They are joined by Undersheriff Vincent Detrolio (L) and Union County Manager Alfred Faella. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich swears in Adrian Gardner appointing her to the rank of Sheriff’s Detective during the Union County Sheriff’s Office 2014 Awards Ceremony in Elizabeth. Holding the Bible is Sheriff’s Detective Brian Dustin. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich swore in 7 new officers today. The new officers are (from left) Edgar Jimenez, Johnathan Regan, Romulo Meneses, Sonia Rodriguez, Grisel Arias, Craig Montgomery and Susan Dilollo. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)