Category: Public Info

ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present an exhibit of photographs by Agnieszka Solawa of Summit in the gallery space at the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, located in the historic St. John’s Parsonage at 633 Pearl Street in Elizabeth. A selection of her work entitled “Inspired” is on display at the Pearl Street Gallery through March 27. The public is invited to enjoy the exhibit during regular gallery hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

“The talent and diversity of our county artists assure an inspiring variety of exhibits at the Pearl Street Gallery,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Union County Cultural and Heritage Advisory Board. “We are pleased to display Ms. Solawa’s beautiful photographs.”

Agnieszka Solawa was born in Krakow, Poland, where she grew up surrounded by art. Her mother was an artist and her father was chief architect of the city of Krakow and a professor at the School of Architecture. Agnieszka’s family immigrated to South Africa to escape from communism. She earned a Diploma of Fine Art from the Pretoria and Cape Town Universities and a BA in Architecture from the University of Cape Town. In Paris, France, she studied Graphic Arts at the “Atelier 17.” She later won a scholarship to study art and Italian language at the University of Urbino in Italy.

In 1987, Agnieszka Solawa moved to Summit, New Jersey with her husband Sam, who also is an architect and photographer. Throughout her career, Agnieszka participated in many exhibitions in Italy, France, South Africa and the United States. Her paintings and photographs are in many private collections. Her recent exhibits include: Solo Exhibition of Photography, Millburn Public Library; Solo Exhibition of Paintings, Westfield Memorial Library; Solo Exhibition of Jewelry, New Providence Memorial Library; “Holy Lives”, Juried Show, Therese A. Maloney Art Gallery, Morristown, NJ; and “Seasons”, 3rd Annual Photography Contest, The Donald B. Palmer Museum, Springfield, NJ.

Agnieszka continued her photography and painting while working as an architect/interior designer at Donghia Associates and later as an architect at the Port Authority of NY & NJ. She also is a jewelry designer and a singer. To see her work, visit her website www.solawa.com .

Union County artists (whose works can be hung on a wall) interested in exhibiting in the gallery space are welcome to apply. For more information about the Pearl Street Gallery or other programs, please contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth NJ 07202. Free on-site parking is available. Telephone 908-558-2550. NJ Relay users can dial 711. Send E-mail to: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the 2015 Union County Advancing Community Theatre (UCACT) grant program. As part of Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh’s “Investing in Union County” 2015 initiatives, the UCACT grant program aims to engage the creative life of our community through enriching community theatre experiences that promote economic and social well-being.

“Community theatre is a collaborative art with important economic, cultural, and social benefits,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “Investment in community theatre is an investment in Union County.”

The UCACT grant program was created in response to the remarkable success of RENT at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway last November. The production was staged by the Linden-based community theatre organization Mystic Vision Players in partnership with the Union County Performing Arts Center, and sponsored by the Freeholder Board.

“The overwhelming audience response to the production is proof that community theatre has a place in Union County,” said Freeholder Chairman Jalloh.

The mission of the UCACT grant program is to support and encourage the performing arts in Union County.  Recognizing the importance of the arts in society, UCACT seeks to fund Union County-based community theater companies that contribute to the advancement or preservation of theater as an art form.

“Public support is crucial to ensuring accessibility of the arts to all people,” said Chairman Jalloh. “UCACT aims to provide a venue that draws people together to participate in collaborative community theatre experiences that enrich and engage the greater Union County community.”

The UCACT grant program seeks to assist the artistic community in the County of Union by providing support that will promote high quality theatre productions, encourage new programming, set a high bar for artistic challenges, and help make live theater more accessible to all.

The application deadline for the UCACT grant program is March 1, 2015. Early submissions will be evaluated upon receipt. Applications submitted after the deadline will be considered based on funding availability.

Grant applications can be downloaded online at ucnj.org/ucact. For additional information or to receive a grant application by mail contact Victoria Durbin Drake, chief of staff, Freeholder Board at 908-558-2278.

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County Surrogate James S. LaCorte, Sheriff Joseph Cryan, Freeholders Christopher Hudak, Angel G. Estrada and Vernell Wright Begin New Terms

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UNION COUNTY COURTHOUSE, ELIZABETH—Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh today announced a comprehensive series of initiatives for 2015, entitled “Investing in Union County” that includes new announcements in economic development, arts, education, quality of life improvements and public safety.

Jalloh, a resident of Union, was selected as Chairman of the Union County Freeholder Board at the 158th annual reorganization meeting held in the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. He began serving as Freeholder in 2010. This is his first term as Chairman of the Freeholder Board.

County Surrogate James S. LaCorte and Freeholders Christopher Hudak (last year’s Chairman), Angel G. Estrada and Vernell Wright were sworn in to new terms. Sheriff Joseph Cryan was sworn into his first full term. Freeholder Bruce H. Bergen was appointed as Freeholder Vice Chairman. Freeholders also voted to fill numerous positions on County advisory boards and to adopt the Board’s 2015 schedule and procedural rules.

In reflecting upon a number of tough governmental decisions made by the Freeholder Board over the past several years necessitated by the global recession, Jalloh noted the County is rebounding and must continue to “play offense” through a series of strategic initiatives for the New Year.

“Those steps proved very effective and we have emerged a stronger County government because of it,” Jalloh said. “It is time again for the County to focus on making the investments in our future that will help boost the economy and enhance the quality of life for our residents.”

Jalloh went on to outline his “Investing in Union County” initiatives:

• “Road map to success” – The County will commission a report, conducted through the Bloustein School at Rutgers, that will examine trends in Union County’s overall economy, find strengths and synergies to focus its resources upon, and effectuate positive outcomes.
• “Build a Community of The Arts” – this set of initiatives would build a County-wide arts ecosystem that will grow and stimulate Union County’s economy, including:
  • An Arts Master plan, with assistance from former Rahway Mayor Jim Kennedy, which would catalogue the County’s Arts resources and determine how to best utilize them, market them and move forward with a plan for advancing the arts;
  • The Union County Advancing Community Theatre initiative (UCACT), through which the County would sponsor and promote five or more theatre events at the Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC). This program builds on the recent success of RENT – a pilot of this program that the County initiated in November through a partnership with UCPAC;
  • A new partnership with Union County College to offer classes in acting, dance, and public speaking at UCPAC that will be open to all residents;
  • A “creative placemaking initiative,” which will involve covering traffic control boxes with the artistic expressions of local Artists, aimed at enhancing community arts and revitalization.
• “College Readiness Now” – Develop a partnership with Union County College to expand this pilot program which tests juniors near the end of the academic year to ensure they are prepared for college and help avoid costly remediation courses.
• “Families First initiative” – which includes a partnership involving the United Way of Greater Union County, the Workforce Investment Board, and our Department of Human Services, that would lead to additional after school programs, workforce investment training and support for families;
  • A pilot program with Community Coordinated Child Care (also known as “four C’s”) to serve those who don’t meet eligibility for State subsidized child care;
  • Work with various partners including the Court Administration, the Sheriff’s office, Human Service agencies and the Prosecutors Office, to ensure safety and better services for families affected by domestic violence.
• A series of economic development and workforce initiatives meant to boost the economy and create new opportunities, including:
  • A $2.3 million expansion of the Union County Workforce Investment Board (WIB) program at the Jersey Gardens Mall in Elizabeth to boost job training, job creation and employment programs for County residents;
  • The Entrepreneurship Training Program, which just began through the WIB, is aimed at assisting individuals who want to start and manage their own business; and a partnership with the New Jersey State AFL-CIO (community services agency) to screen and assist qualified, legal, permanent residents who live in Union County with their naturalization;
  • The creation of a Union County economic development response team to approach each Union County municipality about their needs. This would open a dialogue on sharing services, identifying opportunities and maximizing our resources in spurring economic growth;
• Public safety and recreational announcements aimed at improving the quality of life, including:
  • The creation of a new street crimes unit through the Sheriff’s Department that would focus on emerging public safety concerns;
  • Action on a recently completed assessment of our parks, public works and motor vehicle locations to install safety cameras as a deterrent to crime in those locations;
  • Continuing the successful Union County Gun Buyback program with another round coming later this summer;
  • Enhanced development of our parks, such as continuing the “turf and build” program and bike path improvements, as well as roads and infrastructure measures with the goal of increasing recreational opportunities in the County;

Finally, in discussing last year’s developments in Ferguson, Missouri, and Staten Island, Jalloh added that it is “is incumbent upon all of us as government leaders to assist in the effort to maintain or restore the bond of trust between our different communities and our police departments.”

Jalloh has initiated conversations with Assemblyman Green, the Prosecutors office, the Sheriff’s office, and the County’s Public Safety Director regarding programs that could be offered at our Police Academy and through County Police.

“We want to raise the bar of tolerance and professionalism for those in the line of duty, and in turn we hope to create an atmosphere of renewed respect that our officers deserve to making the ultimate sacrifice of putting their own lives on the line,” Jalloh stated.

The Freeholder Chairman closed his speech by quoting President Obama:

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues, County staff and members of the community to effect this change,” Jalloh said.

(All photos: James Lowney/County of Union)

Guest Speaker: Roy White, Former New York Yankees Outfielder and Coach           

The Union County Baseball Association will induct four new members into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame and honor local student athletes for their achievements in 2014 during award ceremonies on Sunday afternoon, February 8.

The 79^th Annual Hot Stove League Baseball Dinner on Feb. 8^th begins at 1:00 p.m. at the L’Affaire Banquet Center, 1099 Route 22 East, in Mountainside. The dinner is sponsored by the Union County Baseball Association, in cooperation with the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.

During the afternoon awards ceremonies, the UCBA will induct four new members into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame: Jorge Comas of Elizabeth, Barry Kaverick of Kenilworth, Richard McCormack of Elizabeth, and Jack Shaw of Roselle Park.

Roy White, former New York Yankees All-Star outfielder and two-time World Series champion, will be the special guest speaker. White played his entire Major League career with the Yankees from 1965 through 1979, compiling a .271 career batting average and a .360 on-base percentage. An excellent defensive player, he led American League left fielders in fielding percentage for four consecutive seasons.

Tickets for the dinner are $45 each. Proceeds will help fund the Union County Summer Youth Baseball League for youngsters 8 to 15 years, and the Fall Teen League.

Since 1937, the Hot Stove League Dinner has been the primary fund-raising effort for the Union County Baseball Association’s summer and fall programs. Over the years, the awards dinner has honored many local and national baseball luminaries – including Phil Rizzuto of Hillside, Don Newcombe of Elizabeth, Joe Collins of Union, Jeff Torborg of Mountainside, Willie Wilson of Summit, and Elliott Maddox of Union.

Tickets for the 79^th Annual Union County Baseball Association Hot Stove League Dinner on Feb. 8^th are available from the Union County Baseball Association by visiting www.UCBA-NJ.org. For more information, please call Jim Iozzi at 908-917-2523.

Union County Freeholder Chairman-elect Mohamed S. Jalloh will announce his initiatives for the New Year during County Government’s Reorganization at the County Courthouse on Sunday, Jan. 4^th. The event begins at 12 p.m.

Those scheduled to be sworn into new terms include:  County Surrogate James La Corte, Sheriff Joseph Cryan, Immediate Past Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak, and  Freeholders Angel G. Estrada and Vernell Wright. Bruce Bergen is expected to be appointed as Freeholder Vice Chairman.

Freeholders will also vote to fill numerous positions on county advisory boards and to adopt the board’s 2015 schedule and more.

• Time: Sunday, January 4th, 12 P.M.
• Place: Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street Judge Cassidy’s Chambers Elizabeth, NJ

The Union County Department of Parks and Recreation has released details of its annual Deer Management Program, which will begin on Monday morning, January 5 in four County parks and one municipal park.  The program will operate in the Watchung Reservation, the Summit portion of Passaic River Park, Ash Brook Reservation, Lenape Park and the Hawk Rise Sanctuary.

Browsing for food by large numbers of deer has caused a loss of forest understory in park areas throughout the northeastern United States.  The overpopulation of deer threatens the survival of the plant and animal communities that are important to the ecology of these parks.

Forest ecologists recommend a density of 20 per square mile in a healthy hardwood forest and as low as 5 per square mile in a forest that has been heavily damaged by browsing.  Spotlight counts conducted by the County in April, 2014 suggested 2014-2015 overwintering densities of about 45 deer per square mile in the Watchung Reservation, 53 per mile in and around Ash Brook Reservation, and over 200 per square mile in and around Lenape and Nomahegan Parks. 

An analysis completed by the County in 2011 showed that roads bordering Lenape and Nomahegan Parks had some of the highest numbers of deer-car collisions in the County.  And in Hawk Rise Sanctuary in Linden, overbrowsing by deer is threatening the survival of hundreds of native plants introduced with the recent construction of a boardwalk.

Since 1995, marksmen in the County of Union’s state-regulated deer management program have reduced the population of white-tailed deer in the Watchung Reservation substantially.  In 2005, hunting was initiated in Ash Brook Reservation and in 2006 in portions of Passaic River Park in Summit.  Three years ago, hunters harvested deer from Lenape Park for the first time.  And last year, the County began to administer deer management in Linden’s Hawk Rise Sanctuary as a shared service.

The Watchung Reservation spans over 2,000 acres in Springfield, Mountainside, Scotch Plains, Summit, Berkeley Heights and Watchung.  Passaic River Park spans 287 acres in Berkeley Heights, New Providence and Summit.  Lenape Park covers 403 acres of land in Cranford, Kenilworth, Union, Springfield and Westfield.  The Ash Brook Reservation encompasses 667 acres in Scotch Plains and Clark.  And the Hawk Rise Sanctuary includes about 45 acres of forest in the City of Linden.

The Union County Deer Management Program will operate on Mondays from January 5 to February 9.  Because of the Dr. Martin Luther King holiday, hunting will occur on Wednesday, January 21 instead of Monday, January 19.  In the event of inclement weather on any other Monday, the hunting activity will be moved to Wednesday that week.  If Wednesday brings inclement weather, the hunting will be moved to Friday.  Hunters will be in the parks from 5:00 a.m. until after dark, but shooting may occur only during daylight hours. 

Thirty-six marksmen have been chosen by the County from among experienced, licensed hunters.  Seventy percent of the hunters have previously participated in Union County’s program, and 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.  Many 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 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 County’s website or contact the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at (908) 789-3682.  Hunters interested in joining this program in a future year can get onto a mailing list for applications through the website.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders joined elected officials and community leaders from the Borough of Garwood on Sunday, December 14 at a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the official opening of the Borough’s new Sports and Recreation Complex.

Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak congratulated the entire Garwood community for their commitment toward creating the state-of-the-art sports and recreation complex. “It’s another reason why Union County is a great place to live and raise a family,” said Hudak.

Through the Kids Recreation Trust Fund, to date the Freeholder Board has awarded $604,700 dollars in matching grant funding to support the 3.2 million dollar sports and recreation complex.

The new complex has a baseball field, a new turf multi-purpose playing field, basketball court, playground, a bocci ball court, a walking path around the perimeter of the complex as well as other amenities.

“The Freeholder Board is proud to support this recreation project and the many others in all of our 21 municipalities,” said Freeholder Bergen, chairman the Union County Open Space, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Trust Fund. “Since 2004, the Kids Recreation Trust Fund matching grant program has helped rebuild, refurbish, expand, or build more than 100 parks and other recreational facilities throughout Union County.”

The Kids Recreation matching grant program, administered through the Union County Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund, was established to help local governments offset the cost of upgrading and building recreational facilities in their municipality.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders honored their outgoing Chairman Christopher Hudak for an outstanding year at the helm of County Government with a plaque in honor of his “Strong Government and Strong Services” Chairman’s initiatives for 2014. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak (right) and (from left) Freeholders Bruce Bergen and Linda Carter present resolutions to Advanced Practice Nurse Beryl Sowah of JFK Medical Center’s Plainfield Health Connection program and program graduates Viola Woods and Angel Torres, and social worker Wilselin Geronimo commending JFK Medical Center and the staff involved in making Plainfield Health Connection such a great success.

The program’s mission is to improve the health of the uninsured and underinsured residents in the greater Plainfield community and reduce healthcare costs through innovative community healthcare with a goal of reducing avoidable utilization of high-cost hospital and emergency department services.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)