Category: Public Info

Locally grown flowers, veggie seedlings, shrubs, and deer-resistant varieties are among the hundreds of plants for sale at the 26^th annual Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County Spring Garden Fair and Plant Sale this Sunday, May 17, noon to 4:00 p.m. at the Demonstration Garden by the Trailside Nature and Science Center in the Watchung Reservation, in Mountainside. Admission is free, parking is free, and the Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer all of your gardening questions. Demos, garden tours, and activities for children included. For more information visit Union County online, ucnj.org.

(Photo: Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County)

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ELIZABETH, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds registered voters that sample ballots for the Primary Election on Tuesday, June 2, may be reviewed on-line by visiting the County Clerk’s website or by using the new app, “Union County Votes.”

“As a former school board member, Mayor and Freeholder myself, I know the importance of an informed electorate,” Ms. Rajoppi said. “My website is designed to help voters familiarize themselves with local candidates in all 21 Union County municipalities. The free app, Union County Votes, is another way to access election information for those who use a mobile device.”

The names of candidates running for the Republican or Democratic nominations for the New Jersey General Assembly, County Clerk, County Freeholders and Municipal offices in the June 2 Primary Election are posted at www.ucnj.org/sample-ballots.

Information about the upcoming Primary Election also can be found by using the new app, “Union County Votes,” which is designed to help Union County residents connect quickly and easily with accurate information about voting and elections. The app is available for Apple and Android devices and it has active hyperlinks, phone numbers and e-mail addresses.

“The Union County Votes app enables voters to view sample ballots, find their polling place, request vote-by-mail ballot applications and voter registration forms,” Ms. Rajoppi added. “The app also provides information for people interested in becoming poll workers or running for office, including election filing dates and district maps.”

The County Clerk’s responsibilities include administering election laws within and for the County of Union and its 21 municipalities for primary, general, school board and special elections including acceptance of nominating petitions, designing ballots, mailing “Vote By Mail” ballots and tabulating voting results for the public record.

More information about sample ballots for the Primary Election can be obtained by calling the County Clerk’s Office at 908-527-4996 or by visiting the office at 2 Broad Street, Room 113, Elizabeth NJ 07207. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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(From 2^nd left) Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh, Freeholders Linda Carter and Alexander Mirabella welcomed Kristina Hahn (C), the Head of Consumer Package Goods at Google Inc, to the third annual Union County Women Mean Business (UCWMB) Summit at the Clubhouse at the Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth.

They were joined by Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (L) and Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi (2^nd R).

Hahn delivered the keynote address at the event that was designed to help women grow their business networks and build critical skills. UCWMB is an initiative of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Vernell Wright presents a resolution to Union Township Police Director Daniel Zieser in honor of National Police Week during the Township of Union’s Annual Police Awards ceremony. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Clark ShopRite, Krause Dental Care co-sponsor screening at Clark ShopRite on Saturday, May 16^th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Union County, NJ – In an effort aimed at promoting the early detection of oral cancer, the Union County Office of Health Management through the Chronic Disease Coalition of Middlesex and Union Counties have partnered with the Clark Township Health Department, Clark ShopRite and Dr. Kurt M. Krause, D.M.D. from Krause Dental Care in Cranford, New Jersey, to provide free oral cancer screenings.

In Union County, the Oral Cancer screening will take place at the Clark ShopRite, 76 Central Avenue in Clark, on Saturday, May 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All attendees will qualify to enter a drawing for a door prize courtesy of Clark Township Health Department.

“I’d like to thank all our partners involved in this screening for raising public awareness about reducing oral cancer risks,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “Oral cancer screenings can save lives and are an effective means of cancer detection at an early, highly curable stage.”

Oral cancer is not a rare disease. Approximately 43,250 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer every year in the US. It kills one person every hour of every day, and over 115 new individuals will be diagnosed with it each day. The good news is that it can often be found early in its development, through a simple, painless, and quick screening. With early detection, survival rates are high and the side-effects from treatment are at their lowest.

Like other screenings you engage in, oral cancer screenings are an effective means of finding cancer at its early, highly curable stages. The Chronic Disease Coalition of Middlesex and Union Counties urge you to make oral cancer screening part of your annual health check-ups.

For more information about Oral Cancer Screening, please call the Union County Office of Health Management at 908-518-5620.

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Mountainside, NJ – The Saturday Outdoor Adventures program series at Trailside Nature and Science Center offers families themed hikes and nature related talks.  These free programs are presented by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation.  The programs begin at 2:00 p.m. at the Trailside Visitor Center. 

Join Trailside Park Naturalists for Trees of Trailside on May 16^th which explores the variety of trees and how to identify them by their bark, leaves and branches.  Find out which trees were used by the Native Americans for food, shelter and medicine.  On May 23^rd, Backyard Habitats takes family explorers into Trailside’s wildlife habitat for an afternoon of discovery. Find out some simple steps you can do to make your home more wildlife friendly.  The final program on May 30^th is Salamander Search.  Participants will hike to near-by wetland areas to search under rocks and logs for redback, northern two-lined and slimy salamanders.

“Trailside provides a unique outdoor environment for adults and families to have fun while learning about and enjoying the natural world around them,” stated Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh.

For additional information about these offerings, upcoming programs or special events at Trailside, please call 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside.  Trailside Nature & Science center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.    

Instrumental groups, vocal groups, pianists, dancers, theater performances and visual artists were selected from the 3,500 students who participated at the 2015 Teen Arts Festival at Union County College in Cranford on March 19th and 20th.  The annual Festival is sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and coordinated by the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Recreation.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is looking for artisans and crafts people to demonstrate Early American work and craft skills and to sell their hand-crafted wares at Union County’s 34^th Annual Harvest Festival.  The event is a celebration of Early American life featuring music, children’s crafts, games, demonstrations and displays, a petting zoo and much more. The Harvest Festival will take place, rain or shine, at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside on Sunday, September 27, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

“This event gives those in attendance an opportunity to see early American culture and history come to life while walking through the festival grounds in the picturesque Watchung Reservation,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “Visitors of all ages will enjoy this fascinating, fun-filled event.”

The Union County Harvest Festival is a popular event that attracts nearly 4,000 visitors each year. By participating, demonstrators and vendors of hand-crafted goods will receive excellent exposure and have the opportunity to educate others about their craft or work skill and the Early American period in general. Examples of the handicrafts and work skills being sought are: blacksmithing, candle making,  broom making, shoe making, hat making, jewelry making, quilting and other colonial or native American crafts or skills.

For details about how to participate, please call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at (908) 527-4106.

For more information on Trailside Nature and Science Center please visit www.ucnj.org/trailside.

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Photo credit (photo cropped): Basket weaver Valerie Hinojosa via flickr.com, creative commons license.

Union County, NJ – How many different plant and animal species populate Union County’s Watchung Reservation? The answer will be forthcoming next month, when 150 volunteer scientists and naturalists comb through forests, fields, and waterways for Bio-Blitz, an annual survey of wildlife in County parks. Nature fans of all ages are invited to observe the work and enjoy free hands-on activities during the 24-hour, ‘round-the-clock celebration of local flora and fauna, including games, prizes and giveaways.

Bio-Blitz 2015 begins at the Watchung Reservation at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 12, and wraps up at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 13.

“Watchung Reservation is home to hundreds of plant and animal species, and many of them are hidden away from view, said Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “This is a rare chance to explore the secret life of our Union County parks with the experts, so I encourage everyone to stop by and join us at ‘Bio-Blitz Central’ in June.”

Bio-Blitz Central is the staging area for the survey teams, public activities and exhibits. It will be located behind the old museum on the grounds of the Trailside Nature & Science Center in the Watchung Reservation, 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside, where convenient free parking is available.

“This year we are offering new ‘trending topics’ activities like geocaching and meditation walks, along with traditional Bio-Blitz favorites such as exhibits of live fish, snakes and turtles, the hands-on tree table, the hawk and owl demonstration, and our Junior Scientist tent for youngsters,” said Freeholder Sergio Granados, the Freeholder Board’s liaison to the Department of Parks and Recreation. “Come and explore our rich natural heritage with your family and friends.”

Exhibits at Bio-Blitz Central are open for public view throughout the event. Scheduled activities for the public kick off at 5:00 p.m. on Friday with a wild edible walk, followed by a visit to a baiting station to identify animal tracks, a “Photo-Blitz” nature photography workshop, and a “sitting circle” listening to nature’s twilight concert. After dark, the fun continues with the “owl prowl,” a late-night star watch, and a midnight insect-trapping session.

On Saturday, visitors can join naturalists on a stream-sampling expedition, an electro-fishing demonstration, a hunt for spore-bearing plants and a nearby “Mini-Blitz” among other activities. The day starts with an early morning bird walk at 7:00 a.m. and activities continue throughout the morning and afternoon, until 5:00 p.m.

New this year, Bio-Blitz 2015 features a geocaching demonstration from the organization Northern New Jersey Cachers and a guided “Yoga labyrinth walk” by SKY Yoga of Fanwood. Friday’s nature photography workshop is also new.

The all-volunteer Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County will be on hand Saturday starting at 11:00 a.m., to provide expert gardening advice along with tours of the Demonstration Garden. They will also offer a free bird feeder craft activity for youngsters.

Along with the immersive nature experience, Bio-Blitz 2015 will provide visitors with a chance to win prizes including an exclusive guided tour of the Pine Barrens by noted ecologist Dr. Emil Devito of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation. The tour is donated by the Rahway River Watershed Association, and it will take place on a date to be arranged with the prizewinner.

Other free giveaways are also available from exhibitors, and visitors to the Junior Scientist tent can get a free poster and play “Bio-Blitz Bingo.”

All Bio-Blitz activities are free and open on a walk-in basis. Visitors are asked to sign up for scheduled activities at the Info Tent when they arrive at Bio-Blitz Central, and to be aware of recommended age groups for some of the activities. 

Bio-Blitz is made possible by the Freeholder Board with many generous contributions from volunteer scientists and support staff, and local businesses and organizations including Shoprite of Clark, Starbucks of Westfield, Whole Foods of Union, Jenkinson’s Aquarium of Point Pleasant, the Staten Island Zoo, the Rahway River Watershed Association, Wild Birds Unlimited of Scotch Plains, BR Environmental, XAdmins graphic arts, SKY Yoga of Fanwood, Tony and Natalie Gregorio of Elizabeth, and Toadshade Nursery.

For more information about free public activities at Bio-Blitz 2015, visit ucnj.org/bio-blitz.

Information to register as an exhibitor or an expert survey team member is also available at ucnj.org/bio-blitz (the registration deadline is June 4).

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