County of Union, New JerseyDefault category for all normal press releases
Union County Freeholder Vernell Wright (R) presents a resolution to Veronica Kane of Plainfield wishing her a happy 100th birthday during a party marking her special and noteworthy occasion at Runnells Specialized Hospital in Berkeley Heights. They are joined by Veronica’s daughter, Marilyn Bradley (C). (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
(From left) Union County Freeholder Sergio Granados, Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak and Freeholders Alexander Mirabella and Angel G. Estrada present a resolution to Courtney Dreyfus (2nd L) of Scotch Plains congratulating her on placing Silver in the Triathlon at the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games and on her selection to represent Team USA in the 2015 Special Olympics World Games. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
Union County – RENT, the musical that changed Broadway forever is now playing on the Mainstage at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway. Presented by Mystic Vision Players in partnership with the Union County Performing Arts Center, sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the final two performances are this weekend Friday, November 14, and Saturday, November 15. Tickets are just $15 and can be purchased online atwww.ucpac.org or call the UCPAC box office at 732-499-8226.
“The overwhelming response to this production is proof that the arts have a place in Union County – not only recreationally, but as a powerful source of economic development,” said Freeholder Vice Chairman Mohamed Jalloh. “We hope to be able to continue to find creative ways to showcase all of the talent we have within our boundaries.”
Last weekend’s performances were a smash hit – and the audience is raving!
“Just saw RENT. With this talent and beautiful Theatre… who needs Broadway!” Madeleine V.
“The performance was amazing. Just might come again before it ends.” Felice T.
“I was among the audience last Sat evening. Kudos to the brilliant case, crew, director, lighting/sound engineers. Rent was spectacular. Bravo!!” Anthony N. Jr.
Set in the East Village of New York City, RENT is about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. Winner of the TONY Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, RENT has become a pop cultural phenomenon with songs that rock and a story that resonates with audiences across the country.
Based loosely on Puccini’s La Boheme, Jonathan Larson’s RENT follows a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York’s Lower East Side, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS.
Directed by Howard Whitmore with choreography by Melanie Jefferson and musical direction by David Maglione, Mystic Vision Players’ production stars Jason Gillis as Mark Cohen, Jason Pumarada as Roger Davis, Nikki Ashe as Mimi Marquez, Lyle Dungee as Benny Coffin III, Natasha Kurilew as Maureen Johnson, Jaime Marcinczyk as Joanne Jefferson, Kayson Luis Burgos as Tom Collins, and Michael Miguel as Angel Schunard. Supporting cast includes Jenna Cormey, Kyle C. Garcia, Nicholas Mellina, Wendy Temple, Steven Collins, Kimberly Siggins, Devin J. Hall, Shiva Kiani, Shauna Cutrone, Tyrone Howard, and Bobby Devarona.
Don’t miss your chance to hear the songs that have touched our hearts, and watch the musical that defined a generation – final performances are this Friday, November 14 and Saturday, November 15.
To purchase tickets for this exclusive Union County production, visit www.ucpac.org, or contact the UCPAC’s box office at 732-499-8226.
Presented by Mystic Vision Players in partnership with the Union County Arts Center, sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, this production of RENT is presented through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
Mystic Vision Players is a non-profit theatre company based in Linden, NJ dedicated to the growth and showcasing of all types of performing arts. In 1995, MVP became the resident theatre company of the Linden Cultural & Heritage Committee and has consistently received critical & audience acclaim and nominations as “Outstanding” in areas of Choreography, Acting, Music, and Overall Productions by the NJ Association of Community Theaters.
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More than 20 people including Union County Freeholder Sergio Granados, who organized the event, Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage, Elizabeth Board of Education member Stan Neron and retired NY Giants stars Stephen “touchdown maker” Baker and Chris Snee, joined members of Univision Radio, Coors Light, Union County College, the County of Union and the NY Giants organization in a cleanup of Warinanco Park in Elizabeth, Roselle and Linden. (Photo by Jim Lowney/ County of Union)
Union County, NJ – Every year, the Women of Excellence awards celebrate the diverse contributions that women make to life in Union County. If there is an exceptional woman in your business, school, or volunteer organization, you still have time to nominate her for this wonderful community recognition.
The nomination process is simple, and there is no fee. All women age 21 or older who live or work in Union County are eligible. Nominees can work or volunteer in many different fields.
Awardees will receive a certificate and will be celebrated at the 23rd annual Women of Excellence gala awards dinner, to be held on March 20, 2015 at Galloping Hill Caterers in Union Township.
For more information about submitting a nomination, or to download a nomination form, visitucnj.org/women-of-excellence. Questions about the nomination process can be emailed tojoahara1217@gmail.com.
All nominations should be mailed to Jane O’Hara at 708 Newark Avenue, Westfield, NJ 07090 and postmarked no later than December 1, 2014.
The annual Women of Excellence award is sponsored by the Freeholder Board and the Union County Commission on Human Relations.
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Union County, NJ — A large group of students from the Kean University Center For Leadership & Service braved frigid temperatures to contribute to Union County’s Adopt-A-Park program last Sunday, November 16. They removed old fencing and posts, cut back invasive plants, pruned native trees, and picked up trash and leaves in Echo Lake Park. The Center for Leadership has been a regular partner with the Adopt-a-Park Program and the students will face the elements again for another project in December. Most Adopt-a-Park projects are conducted in milder weather, so a special thanks goes out to this group. To find out how your company, organization, or school can join, visit ucnj.org, call 908-789-3683 or email bkelly@ucnj.org. (Photo: Betty Ann Kelly/County of Union)
Union County, NJ — More than 100 residents, staff and volunteers – including more than a dozen student volunteers from Union High School – took part recently in the annual Halloween Party at Runnells Specialized Hospital.
All those in attendance were entertained by the musical duo of “Two for the Road,” featuring singer/guitarist John Adisano and singer Jennifer Rachele. The musicians played a wide range of songs, including a few just for Halloween, and were joined in by many of those at the party.
More than a dozen student volunteers from The Key Club of Union High School spent the entire evening dancing, singing and helping residents enjoy the festivities, which also included refreshments and a costume judging contest.
The event was arranged by Runnells Activities Coordinator Patricia Scott and Assistant Coordinator Jamie Hawkins.
Union County Freeholder Vernell Wright, who also volunteers at the hospital, said, “The staff at Runnells always does a wonderful job with activities, especially for the holidays, and I want to send a special thanks out to the Key Club members from Union High School who volunteered their time and enthusiasm for the Halloween Party.”
Runnells Specialized Hospital is a unique, state-of-the-art hospital that has served the residents of Union County and surrounding areas for more than a century.
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Please join the County of Union online at ucnj.org, on Facebook at ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter attwitter.com/countyofunionnj.
Union County, NJ – Union County Adopt-a-Park volunteers and Merck employees Jihong Yang, Jameson Bothe, Peter Zafian and Dan Xie (back row, l-r) and Jiafang He and Danielle Schultz (front row, l-r) take a well deserved break after repairing a storm-damaged section of trail in the Michael S. Bezega Wetland Observation Area of Rahway River Parkway, in Rahway. Merck volunteers have pitched in since 2003, when new berms, basins, and thousands of native plantings transformed a flood-prone neighborhood into a “green infrastructure” nature conservation site. It is named for United States Army Staff Sgt. Michael S. Bezega, a lifelong Rahway resident who was killed in combat in Vietnam in 1970. Merck is one of many local companies that encourage employees to help preserve and beautify our County parks. For more information on Adopt-a-Park visit ucnj.org, call 908-789-3683, or emailbkelly@ucnj.org.
Photo Credit: Betty Ann Kelly/County of Union.
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Please join the County of Union online at ucnj.org, on Facebook at ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter attwitter.com/countyofunionnj.
PLAINFIELD – Elected officials, transportation professionals and the public are invited to the final 2014 meeting of the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition (RVRC) onMonday, Nov. 17.
Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr, head of the One-Seat Ride Mayors Coalition, along with RVRC Chairman and Somerset County Freeholder Peter Palmer and other Coalition trustees, will recap the 2014 milestones and accomplishments in launching weekday off-peak one-seat ride service earlier this year on the Raritan Valley Rail line.
A PowerPoint presentation will review the events leading up to the March 2014 launch of one-seat ride service as well as the projected January 2015 launch of weekday evening off-peak direct service to Manhattan. The presentation also will highlight the quarterly briefings the Coalition continues to have with NJ Transit, the Oct. 27 Cranford commuter meeting and future efforts that will be needed to secure weekend and weekday peak-hour direct service in the near future.
The Rail Coalition trustees also will provide an update on the initiative’s website (raritanvalleyrail.com) and social-media campaign.
The Nov. 17 meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. in Room 119 at the Union County Community College Plainfield Campus, located 232 E. Second St.
Attendees should park in Parking Lot 2. Go east on East Second Street; make a right turn onto Richmond Street, traveling one block south; and then make a right turn onto East Third Street. Take the second entrance on the left side of East Third Street. Walk across East Third Street from Parking Lot 2, through the walkway entrance for Lot 1, and then straight ahead to the main campus building. There will be signs to follow to the meeting room in the main building.
For a building map go to UCCPlainfield For a map of the parking area go toUCCParking For more information call (908) 412-3599.
The building is a short walk from NJ Transit rail service from the Plainfield train station and the 114 NJ Transit bus route. For NJ Transit bus and rail schedule and fare information, call (973) 275-5555 or visitnjtransit.com
For questions, driving directions or more information, contact the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition at (908) 231-7021, by fax at (908) 707-1749 or by e-mail at rvrc@co.somerset.nj.us
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WESTFIELD, NJ – In honor of Veterans Month, Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds any honorably discharged veteran living in Union County that they can receive a free identification card at the County Clerk’s offices in Westfield and Elizabeth. The wallet-size photo ID card is honored as proof of service in the United States Armed Forces.
“We encourage all of our veterans to bring their original discharge papers to the County Clerk’s Office in either Westfield or Elizabeth and take advantage of this free program,” Rajoppi said. “This ID card service is just one way to say thank you and make veterans’ lives a little easier.”
The Veterans ID Card Act was signed into law in 2012. The card is available to veterans whose original Certificate of Honorable Discharge and/or DD-214 forms are recorded at the Union County Clerk’s office. It can assist veterans in receiving educational benefits, death benefits, licenses, local property tax rebates and discounts at big retailer box stores when presented with other identification.
If a veteran’s discharge papers have never been recorded, the original documents must be presented at either one the Union County Clerk’s offices. Documents will be recorded in the Union County Veterans’ Index, assigned a book and page number and the original documents will be returned to the veteran together with a free certified copy for their records. Photocopies of Honorable Discharge or DD-214 documents cannot be accepted for recording.
If the original discharge documents are lost, veterans can write to the National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63138. Those who have already recorded their documents with the Union County Clerk can call her office at 908-659-7403 for additional information.
“Veterans can be assured that access to their discharge papers is available only to the veteran or immediate family with proof of relationship,” Rajoppi said. “Veterans’ documents are archived in a secure area and they are not accessible to the public.”
Further, for veterans interested in applying for a peddler’s license, which enables the veteran to peddle or vend merchandise in New Jersey, our offices in Elizabeth and Westfield can assist in the application process.
To apply for a veteran’s Peddler’s License, the veteran shall bring his or her Original DD-214 or Honorable Discharge Certificate to the Clerk’s Office and complete an application which must be signed before authorized personnel in the Clerk’s Office. The application will be transmitted to the State for approval. The veteran shall call the office within two weeks for the State’s determination. Then, upon approval, the photo identification card will be issued at the Clerk’s Office. Veterans shall then also contact the municipalities in which they wish to vend to see if there are additional municipal requirements.
The County Clerk’s Office in Westfield, located in the Colleen Fraser Building at 300 North Avenue East, is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. The County Clerk’s Office in Elizabeth, located in the Union County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street, Room 114, is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. If additional information is needed, please call 908-659-7403.
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