Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ – Educators and afterschool program staff have a chance to learn hands on activities that give students real-life experience with engineering and scientific exploration. It’s all part of the Design It! Explore It! workshop series offered by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension’s 4-H Youth Development program.

These professional development workshops provide everything educators need to introduce the activities to an afterschool program for students in grades 2-8. Ongoing support from Rutgers 4-H is also included.

“No matter where their career takes them, students with a good STEM background develop valuable life skills including observation and science-based inquiry,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed Jalloh. “Reinforcing those skills in a relaxed, informal setting is a good addition to an educator’s toolkit.”

Design It! and Explore It! help students engage with science and technology topics through fun, hands-on projects including gliders, straw rockets, and cake chemistry.

The programs were created by Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development and the New Jersey School-Age Care Coalition, which have also partnered to introduce the two programs to educators throughout New Jersey.

Registration closes on June 12. To reserve a place, visit the Extension at Rutgers University, nj4h.rutgers.edu/educators. Questions may be directed to Chad Ripberger at Rutgers 4-H,  ripberger@rce.rutgers.edu. 

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.

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Union County, NJ – High schools throughout Union County have banded together to help students in need, by collecting and distributing donated school supplies. The campaign, called “Donate to Educate” – Schools Supplying Schools, was created by a group of high school students in the second annual UC STEP summit, held last year.

UC STEP (the Union County Student Training and Enrichment Program) is a daylong summit that brings high school sophomores and juniors together from all walks of life, to practice leadership skills and develop civic projects that engage the whole Union County community.

“In the first annual UC STEP our students set a high bar, and I’d like to thank this year’s participants for coming through with another worthy project,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed Jalloh.

Throughout the spring, students at participating high schools will be hard at work, organizing activities to publicize Donate to Educate, and encourage donations. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Union County are also partnering in the campaign.

Along with school supplies, financial donations are part of the campaign. The students will be selling Donate to Educate stylus pens, ear buds, and wristbands to help raise funds to purchase school supplies.

“UC STEP provides a way for young people from different parts of Union County to work together as a team, and pull the whole community together with them,” said Freeholder Linda Carter, who developed UC STEP as Chairman in 2013. “It is a tremendous learning opportunity for the students and for all of us.”

The high schools participating so far are: Academy for Performing Arts, Academy for Allied Health Sciences (both part of the UC Vo-Tech school district), Arthur L. Johnson, Barack Obama Green Charter, Cranford, Governor Livingston, Jonathon Dayton, Linden, Plainfield, Roselle Catholic, Summit, UC TEAMS, Union, and Union Catholic.

Each school has a drop-off box for Donate to Educate donations. Drop-off boxes are also located at the County Administration Building and other locations throughout the county.

To find the drop-off box closest to you, visit the interactive map at ucnj2.org/uc-step.

To participate as a high school or business, or to make a financial donation please contact UC-STEP by email at ucstep@ucnj.org or call Deana Mesaros, 908-659-7412. More information about UC-STEP is available at ucnj2.org.

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Please join the County of Union online at ucnj.org, on Facebook at ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter at twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

Union County, NJ — (From left) Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh and Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski speak with artist Katie Gallagher from Cranford High School during the Union County Teen Arts Festival at Union County College in Cranford. The Union County Teen Arts Festival is an annual two-day celebration of the arts sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders through the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Recreation. The event is open to all students from public, charter, private and parochial middle and high schools in Union County. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ –Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Bruce Bergen (R) and Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski (L) joined U.S. Senator Robert Menendez at a press conference in Garwood where he unveiled new legislation designed to stimulate the growth of good, sustainable jobs by highlighting businesses that both make American-made products and support American workers and incentivizing others to follow their lead. The Senator toured the Pen Company of America (PCA) in Garwood where he was joined by local elected officials, business owners and advocates when he announced his plans to introduce the America Star Act. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Bruce Bergen (3^rd L) and Freeholder Vernell Wright (4^th L) joined Springfield Mayor David Barnett and town officials in cutting the ribbon opening the Raymond Chisholm Community Youth Wing in Springfield. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County – Union County’s Sensory Friendly Theatre series brings the adventures of the Berenstain Bears to life on stage at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway on Sunday, March 29 at 2 PM.

All tickets are $8 per person and can be purchased through the Union County Performing Arts Center at ucpac.org or by calling the Box Office at 732-499-8226.

“The sensory-friendly performance series is designed to offer a relaxed and safe theatre environment for children and adults with sensory sensitivity, developmental and learning disabilities,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “The Freeholder board is proud to offer a performance series that helps make art accessible to everyone.”

Adapted from the classic children’s book series by Stan and Jan Berenstain, The Berenstain Bears LIVE! in Family Matters, the Musical brings everyone’s favorite bear family to life in a thrilling theatrical experience that the entire family will enjoy.

As always, Bear Country is not without its complications: Brother Bear’s grades are slipping, Sister Bear still has a few things to learn about making new friends, and Papa Bear just can’t stop eating junk food. Thankfully, we can always depend on Mama Bear and her loving patience to help set things right.

Implementing the supportive atmosphere at the performance is the organization Autism Friendly Spaces, which provides specialists to train staff and volunteers on working with children with autism and other special needs during Sensory Friendly Theatre performances, while providing comfort and help to families.

For each of the special performances in the Sensory Friendly Theatre series, the theatre environment at the Union County PAC will be adjusted to provide a sensory-friendly, comfortable and judgment-free space that is welcoming for all families. For more information on what to expect at a Sensory Friendly Theatre performance visit ucpac.org.

The Sensory Friendly Theatre series is presented by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The performance of The Berenstain Bears LIVE! in Family Matters, the Musical is made possible in part by funding from the NJ Department of Community Affairs through a Recreational Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities Grant.

The next performance in the Sensory Friendly Theatre series is New Jersey Ballet’s performance of the classic tale of Cinderella on Sunday, May 3, 2015 at 3 PM – come see why this story is one of their most popular ballets for families. In June don’t miss a rollicking family concert featuring a two-time Grammy nominees Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could performing songs that celebrate children of all abilities on Sunday, July 31 at 10 AM and 1PM.

For more information or to purchase tickets call the Union County Performing Arts Center, 732-499-8226 or visit ucpac.org. The UCPAC Box Office, located at 1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 AM until 5 PM and is also open late on Thursdays until 8 PM.

For information on additional Union County recreational programs for people with disabilities age five and up, call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4806 or visit ucnj.org.

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Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

UNION COUNTY, NJ (March 18, 2015) – Healthcare Quality Strategies, Inc. (HQSI), a member of the Quality Insights Quality Innovation Network, is partnering with the Plainfield Senior Center as well as the Plainfield Public Library to provide free diabetes education as part of the Everyone with Diabetes Counts (EDC) program. The EDC program is a national initiative of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The program offers free workshops that are open to people with diabetes, their family members and caregivers.

The free workshops follow the Diabetes Self-Management Program created by the Stanford School of Medicine. Workshops help individuals learn how to manage their own health and are designed to help participants take control of their diabetes and change their life. Participants will learn about diabetes and its risks, the role of diet and exercise, how to deal with pain and fatigue, managing medications, the importance of doctor exams, maintaining willpower and much more.

The first set of the free six-week workshop series will be offered at the Plainfield Senior Center on 400 East Front Street in Plainfield, NJ, each Wednesday from April 1, 2015 to May 6, 2015.

The time is 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and the exact dates are: 4/1/15, 4/8/15, 4/15/15, 4/22/15, 4/29/15, and 5/6/15. *SENIORS ONLY* can receive more information or register by calling Colin Baptiste at (908) 753-3506.

The second set of the free six-week workshop series will be offered at the Plainfield Public Library on 800 Park Avenue in Plainfield, NJ, each Friday from April 10, 2015 to May 15, 2015.

The scheduled time is 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and the exact dates are: 4/10/15, 4/17/15, 4/24/15, 5/1/15, 5/8/15, and 5/15/15. For more information or to register for these workshops, contact Karen Hale, M.Ed., Outreach Coordinator, at (732) 238-5570 ext: 2032 or khale@hqsi.org.

CRANFORD, NJ – The County of Union will sponsor a recycling event for electronic equipment on Saturday, March 28, so Union County residents can get rid of unwanted computers, televisions and other electronic equipment in an environmentally proper manner.

The special E-cycling event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the campus of Union County College located at 1033 Springfield Avenue in Cranford. All residents of Union County are eligible to participate at no cost. There is a limit of six electronic items per car.

“Computer monitors, old televisions and other electronic devices are the source of a considerable amount of dangerous material, including lead, mercury, cadmium and PCBs – and it is unlawful to dispose of them with the regular garbage,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “Up to 95 percent of most electronic appliances can be recycled. This is a responsible way to keep hazardous heavy metals out of our environment.”

Electronic equipment that will be accepted on March 28 includes computer monitors, hard drives, modems, keyboards, CPU’s, mice, printers, scanners, speakers, televisions, tablets and e-readers, VCR’s, fax machines, telephones, circuit boards, CD’s, DVD’s and video cassettes.

All that residents need to do is drive to the site with their unwanted electronic equipment. Workers at the site will unload the vehicles.

Pre-registration is not required for this special Saturday collection.

Refrigerators, washers and dryers, microwaves, and air conditioners will not be accepted, but they are accepted at Union County’s Scrap Metal Recycling Program.

A complete list of the materials that will be accepted on March 28 is available at the Union County Bureau of Recycling and Planning website: www.ucnj.org/recycle.

The electronics collection will be held rain or shine, for Union County residents only and not for businesses. Proof of Union County residency is required.

In addition to the special March 28 recycling event sponsored by the County of Union, there are local businesses as well as 14 municipalities that provide E-cycling opportunities for residents. Visit the website www.ucnj.org/recycle or call your municipal recycling coordinator for more computer and electronics recycling options.

An alternative drop-off program for recycling electronics equipment is available Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Newtech Recycling, located at 600-A Apgar Drive, Somerset NJ 08873; 732-564-3110. Visit www.newtechrecycling.com .

For more information about recycling events, please call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908- 654-9889.

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Image credit: Public domain/clipart.

(From left) Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh and Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski speak with artist Katie Gallagher from Cranford High School during the Union County Teen Arts Festival at Union County College in Cranford. The Union County Teen Arts Festival is an annual two-day celebration of the arts sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders through the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Recreation. The event is open to all students from public, charter, private and parochial middle and high schools in Union County. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)