Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ – Got cabin fever? Join Union County Parks, Friends of Lenape Park and birder Frank Budney tonight, March 16, for a Woodcock Watch at Lenape Park, from 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.

Woodcocks or timberdoodles are short, stocky shorebirds in the sandpiper family with long bills. They spend most of their time in shrubby forests.

The male woodcock, famous for its beautiful mating flight and courtship behavior, is often considered a harbinger of spring.

For this informal presentation, there will be a brief introduction and then participants will head to the nearby field to listen for woodcocks and observe the male’s flight.

The program starts promptly at 6:45 p.m. Dress warm and bring a flashlight.

To register, email bkelly@ucnj.org. The Woodcock Watch is free and open to adults and children ages 10 years and up with adult.

Participants will meet at the old Trap & Skeet field house, accessed via the main park entrance off Kenilworth Boulevard in Cranford (for map visit mapquest.com at  mapq.st/1M3VkhU).

For more information on programs in Union County Parks, call 908-527-4900.

(Photo credit: Courtesy of US Department of Agriculture).

Union County, NJ – In Union County, hundreds of bridges and culverts help keep the traffic flowing over railways, waterways, and other obstacles – 470 bridges and culverts, to be exact. Keeping them in good repair is an ongoing task, and this year a new group of projects to improve five bridges is getting under way.

“Union County is one of the most important transportation hubs on the eastern seaboard, and we take that responsibility very seriously,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “With this upcoming group of projects, we aim to ensure that our bridges and culverts are compliant with modern standards.”

Many of the bridges and culverts in Union County were designed and constructed generations ago, when vehicular traffic was lighter and safety standards were not fully developed. The County prioritizes upgrades in consultation with state and federal transportation agencies.

At its regular meeting on February 19, the Freeholder Board approved the award of contracts for design, construction administration, and inspection services for the replacement of the following five bridges:

• Netherwood Avenue and Wells Road (Plainfield/North Plainfield, over Green Brook), construction expected to begin in spring 2017.
• East Hazelwood Avenue and Main Street (Rahway, over the Rahway River), construction expected in summer 2016.
• Mountain Avenue and Sherbrook Drive (Berkeley Heights, over a stream), construction expected in summer 2016.
• Martine Avenue and Mary Ellen Lane (Scotch Plains, over a stream), construction expected in summer 2016.
• Central Avenue and Clover Street (Westfield, over a stream), construction expected in summer 2016.

This year, work will also start on a total of six previously approved bridge and culvert projects in Summit, Plainfield, Scotch Plains, Springfield, and Rahway. Road resurfacing this year is scheduled for County roads in Elizabeth, Berkeley Heights, Cranford, Fanwood, Kenilworth, Rahway, Roselle, Plainfield, Scotch Plains, Springfield, Summit and Westfield.

At the February 19 meeting the Freeholder Board also approved resolutions that formally close out contracts for three recently completed projects. One for was replacement of the deck on the Summer Street Bridge in Elizabeth. The other two were for replacement of two culverts, one at Valley Road and Glenside in Berkeley Heights, and the other at First Avenue and Locust in Roselle.

In addition, the Board approved three intersection improvements in Summit that will begin work this spring. That brings the total number slated for this year to 11. The other eight intersections are in Hillside, Union, Westfield, Garwood, Elizabeth and Roselle Park.

Mass transit services are also getting a boost from the Freeholder Board, which authorized an agreement between the County, New Jersey Transit, and the Township of Springfield to install two new bus shelters. The new shelters will complement a third new shelter to be installed by Springfield on the northbound side of Mountain Avenue, near Morris Avenue.

To keep up to date on any major changes in traffic patterns resulting from bridge replacement or other roadwork, visit the Union County Road Construction Update page at ucnj.org/traffic.

To report a pothole or any other issue with a County road, use an online form available through the Union County Department of Public Works and Facilities Management at ucnj.org, or call 908-789-3660.

For all mass transit information, visit Union County ConneXions at ucnj.org/connect.

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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.

Investigators are seeking assistance from the public in locating an autistic Elizabeth boy who was reported missing overnight.

David Isaac Bardales, 12, was last seen shortly before 9 p.m. Thursday, March 12 on the 400 block of Rosehill Place in Elizabeth.

Bardales, who also answers to the name Jamie Fernandez, is approximately 5-foot-4, 150 pounds, with brown eyes, a medium skin tone, and short black hair. He last was seen carrying a black backpack containing an  Xbox game console and wearing a green hooded sweatshirt, black pants, and gray sneakers.  

Possible destinations Bardales is believed to have had in mind include School No. 23 on Union Avenue in Elizabeth, Carteret Park, or the Murray Street or South Elmora Avenue corridors.

Investigators with the Elizabeth Police Department, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, and the New Jersey State Police are actively involved in the search for Bardales. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is being urged to contact the Elizabeth Police Department at 908-558-2000.

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation are pleased to announce the 2015 Wildlife Photography Contest at Trailside Nature & Science Center.  Amateur photographers, ages six through adult, are invited to enter their original photographs of wild animals in their natural habitat.

“Wild animals are challenging photographic subjects and the Wildlife Photography Contest is a great opportunity for people of all ages to put their skills to the test and attempt to capture animals in their natural habitat,” stated Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh.

Last year the winners of the Wildlife Photography Contested included Jim Duffy of Linden in the adult category for ages 18 and older for his photo of a snowy owl, Danielle Mandile of Berkeley Heights in the 12 – 17 year old category for her spiny orb weaver spider photo and Clemente Brogca in the 6 – 11 year old category for his photo of a Canada goose.

Only images of wildlife species native to the United States are eligible for submission.  Images of exotic wildlife, pets or domestic animals will not be considered.  Individuals may enter a maximum of two photographs.   Entries must be un-matted, un-framed 5” X 7” black and white or color prints.  Entries must be received or postmarked no later than Friday, April 10, 2015. 

Photographs entered into the Wildlife Photography Contest will be judged by local professional photographers for originality, composition, technical excellence and artistic merit.  Participants can enter one of three age groups; 6 – 11, 12 – 17 or 18 and older.  Four winners in each age group will have their photographs published in Trailside’s 2016 calendar.  Winners will be announced on Sunday, April 26, 2015 during Trailside’s Wild Earth Fest event.  All photographs will be displayed at Trailside’s Visitor Center through May 29, 2015.

            To obtain a brochure with the complete list of rules and entry form for the Wildlife Photography contest, call Trailside at 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside.   Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Union County, NJ – Now that milder weather is here, road crews will be out in force to repair the many potholes that cropped up this winter.

“This has been an especially difficult winter, and we want to get our roads back in shape as quickly as possible,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “As you drive, please be mindful that crews will be working in the roadways.”

County roads are identified by their blue route signs, which include the letters “CR” followed by a three-digit number.

To report a pothole or any other issue with a County road, use an online form available through the Union County Department of Public Works and Facilities Management at ucnj.org.

Persons without Internet access can report potholes on Union County roads by calling 908-789-3660.

For potholes on state highways, call the New Jersey Department of Transportation at 1-800-POTHOLE or use the online form at nj.gov/transportation.

For local roads, contact the municipality in which the road is located. Website links for all 21 Union County municipalities are available through the County website, ucnj.org/municipalities.

To plan your commute around major road projects that may disrupt traffic patterns in Union County, visit the “Road Construction Update” page at ucnj.org/traffic. For all mass transit information, visit Union County ConneXions at ucnj.org/connect.

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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.

Photo credit (cropped): Courtesy of NJ DOT.

Union County, NJ – A group of 54 teachers and community volunteers braved the icy grip of winter to get a running start on the spring planting season, at last month’s “Get Your Youth and Community Garden Growing” conference. The event was conducted by experts from the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County at the County’s Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside.

“We had a great turnout for this conference. Everyone left with useful information on how to do a community garden — just what we needed on a snowy day in February!” said Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, who stopped by to greet participants.

The conference covered all the basics of starting a successful garden for educational purposes, along with specialty topics including a session on how to grow strawberries.

“These educators and volunteers will reach hundreds of young people and adults with hands-on messages about good nutrition, environmental stewardship, neighborhood improvement, teamwork, and just plain fun,” Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh noted. “On behalf of the Freeholder Board, I wish them all a successful garden and a bountiful harvest.”

Union County gardeners can get free, expert help throughout the growing season by contacting the Gardening Helpline at 908-654-9852 or mastergardeners@ucnj.org.

Gardeners can also get face time with the experts – and purchase vegetable seedlings, herbs, and flowering plants – at the annual Spring Garden Fair coming up on Sunday, May 17, at the Demonstration Garden adjacent to Trailside.

The free Gardening Helpline is a project of the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County, an all-volunteer group run by the Extension with the support of the Freeholder Board. The group is based at the Extension offices in the County’s Colleen Fraser Building in Westfield. Among their many civic projects, Master Gardeners cultivate the elaborate grounds of the Demonstration Garden and host the Spring Garden Fair.

For information on the Master Gardeners, 4-H, and other Extension programs in Union County, visit ucnj.org/rce.

The Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County is a program of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. Supported in part by the Freeholder Board, it is part of a national network organized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to foster youth development and community health.

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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.

Millions of homeowners woke up in their homes this morning thanks to a loan modification. When the threat of foreclosure loomed due to the loss or reduction of income, illness, divorce or other reasons, loan modifications lowered mortgage payments and helped many families stay in their homes and communities.

But did you know scammers are sending fake loan modification packages to get money? More homeowners are learning about the Mortgage Assistance Relief Services (MARS) rule, which made it ILLEGAL to be asked to pay money – for any reason – before the lender approves a loan modification in writing. So scammers created a new trick.

NeighborWorks America wants homeowners to know that scammers may “impersonate” the lender by mailing fake loan modification packages to make the homeowner think the lender has pre-approved a loan modification. The approval may be on letterhead that looks like lender letterhead, and some borrower information may even be accurate. But the contact information will not be from your lender, and there is usually a payment request to start the loan modification. Scammers will ask for these payments – trial payments, reinstatement or processing fees – to be sent to an address not affiliated with your lender or via wire transfer to finalize the modification. This is a scam. 

What can you do? There are five steps to protect yourself from this fake loan modification scam.

To learn more signs, visit NeighborWorks America’s Loan Modification Scam Alert website at http://www.loanscamalert.org.

Union County – The Union County Commission on the Status of Women is pleased to announce the 2015 recipients of the Women of Excellence Awards. The honorees will be celebrated at the 23rd annual Women of Excellence dinner on March 20, 2015, at Galloping Hill Caterers in Union Township

“The Freeholder Board is proud to support the Commission in recognizing the dedication and service of women to their community,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “This year’s nominees are an inspiration to all of us, and I hope that in highlighting their work others will be moved to do the same.”

The Women of Excellence Awards, supported by the Union County Freeholder Board, are presented to recognize and honor distinguished women who reside or work in Union County. The candidates are nominated based on their achievements and the impact of their work on the County of Union in areas like Arts and Humanities, Business, Community Service, Education, Government, Law, Medicine/Health Care and/or Women’s Advocacy.

The 2015 honorees and their respective categories are:

• Karolina Szatkowski- Women’s Advocacy
• Tricia Nering- Humanitarianism
• Kathy Lloyd- Media
• Reverend Joy Mounts- Youth Advocacy
• Ceil Mantia- Lifetime Achievement
• Cynthia Alexander- Community Leader
• Lynne Fitzpatrick- Business Leader
• Amy Boroff- Entrepreneurship
• Erica Bell Foster- Education
• Detective Adrian Gardner- Law Enforcement

Tickets for the dinner are available at $45.00 per person by contacting Carol Lombardo, 908-789-0508.

• Agenda Setting Freeholder Meeting
• Thursday’s Freeholder Agenda Setting Meeting of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders has been canceled due to inclement weather and rescheduled for next Thursday, March 12th, commencing at 7 p.m. The Regular Meeting of the Board of Chosen Freeholders will commence as soon as possible after the Agenda Setting Session.

• Alcohol/Drug Abuse (A/DA) Grant Funds RFP
  • The technical assistance meeting originally scheduled on Thursday, March 5, 2015 at 10AM per the Public Notice and the RFP document for the above RFP has been re-scheduled due to the impending inclement weather in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The technical assistance meeting is now scheduled for and will be held on Friday, March 6, 2015 at 2PM.

Union County, NJ – With another series of winter storms upon us, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds business owners and managers to clear slush, ice, or piles of snow from any designated handicapped parking spaces at their premises.

Curb cuts, ramps, and other accommodations for people with disabilities should also be checked for obstacles, and cleared if necessary.

“It’s required by state law, but more importantly it’s the right thing to do for your customers – and for our friends, neighbors, and visitors who are living with disabilities,” said Freeholder Mohamed S. Jalloh.

Title 39 of the NJ Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulations states that “if snow or ice is obstructing the special parking spaces, curb cuts or other improvement designed for accessibility for the disabled, it shall be removed within 48 hours following the weather condition that caused it ceases.” A person who violates this act shall be liable for a penalty of $200 to $500. 

In addition to commercial properties, the law also applies to schools, nonprofit organizations, and any other facility that has been improved to enable access for people with disabilities.

For information on services for people with disabilities in Union County, call the Union County Office for the Disabled at 908-527-4807 or visit online at ucnj.org. Email inquiries are also welcome at disabilityinfo@ucnj.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.

Image credit: Public domain (clipart).