Category: Public Info

Union County Freeholder Bruce Bergen looks on as the first of a series of signs officially designating the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail is installed in Springfield, his hometown.  One of the newest historic trails in the National Parks System, the Washington-Rochambeau trail runs from Rhode Island to Virginia. Union County is the first county in New Jersey to mark the trail, which runs through Scotch Plains, Westfield, Mountainside, Springfield and Summit.  The trail marks the contribution of the French in enabling the defeat of the British in the Revolutionary War.  The Union County portion of the trail will be formally dedicated in Echo Lake Park on Monday, which is also Bastille Day.  To learn more about the trail, go to:http://www.nps.gov/waro/index.htm

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Mark your calendars for the summer Wednesday Matinee Series at Trailside Nature & Science Center in Mountainside. This family entertainment series begins at 1:30 p.m. each week and runs approximately 45 minutes. All shows are recommended for children ages 4 and older. Admission is $5 per person, or $4 per senior citizen (62 & older with ID). Tickets go on sale at 1:00 p.m. on the day of the program. No strollers, please.

“The Wednesday Matinee Series at Trailside is a fun way for families to share a summer afternoon together,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “These air-conditioned programs will teach, engage and delight both children and adults.”

On Wednesday, July 16, magician Joe Fischer will astound, baffle, delight, thrill and entertain the audience with his “Fantasy, Illusion and Magic” performance. Mr. Fischer has an outstanding rapport with children. His ability to communicate on their level makes this a show of real magic!

On July 23rd, you won’t want to miss “Rizzo’s Reptiles.” Blending nature, environment and conservation, this program features live snakes, turtles and an alligator as you learn about the wonders of reptiles.

 

“Kids Going Green,” the July 30 program, will teach the audience how small things that we do can add up to big change! Delight in a fast-paced puppet show where Goldilocks is searching for a planet to live on that is Just Right!

On August 6th, a Mad Science Show called “Up, Up and Away” will amaze you while it teaches about earth’s atmospheric pressure. Watch a hovercraft in action and observe a vortex generator create giant smoke rings. This show is visually exciting with lots of audience participation.

On August 13th, “The Science of Magic” with Lisa Lou will reveal the secrets of magic, using magnetism, light, air, condensation, optical illusion and more.

The last matinee of the summer, on August 20, will be “Mammal Mania.” Back by popular demand, Travis Gale of Wallaby Tales will present an interactive show that allows families to get an up-close and personal look at live animals from around the world. This last matinee is sponsored by The Trailside Museum Association, an organization dedicated to assisting Trailside staff in their ongoing efforts to educate people in all aspects of nature, science and conservation by assisting with funding, volunteering and advocacy.

For more information about the Wednesday Matinee Series or other upcoming programs and special events, please call 908-789-3670 or visit the Trailside website at www.ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a facility of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation.

 

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Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak (2nd R), Vice Chairman Mohamed Jalloh (2nd L) and Freeholders (from L) Linda Carter, Alexander Mirabella, Angel Estrada, and Vernell Wright joined Assemblyman Jerry Green (3rd L) at the annual Central Jersey Fourth of July Parade in Plainfield. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Linden’s Wheeler Park first of six installations Countywide as part of
Freeholder Chairman Hudak’s initiatives

WHEELER PARK, LINDEN, NJ—-The  County of Union today activated the first of a series of Countywide WIFI installations at the park’s John Russell Wheeler Pool and the nearby playground as part of Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak’s initiatives for 2014.

“Pool and playground users at Wheeler Park now are able to access the web-based information and services they need when they need it—for free,” Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak said. “Whether it is surfing the web poolside, mapping out the day, setting alarms at home, or posting photos of their children in action, it now becomes a reality for our residents.”

While the pool opens and closes seasonally, WIFI service will be available year-round at the park’s playground, Hudak noted.

Other scheduled installations that will occur throughout the year include:

• The Union County Clerk’s Office at the Colleen Fraser Building at the Public Safety Complex on North Avenue in Westfield. WIFI service will be up and functioning tomorrow.
• Nomahegan Park playground, Cranford. WIFI service will be available tomorrow.
• Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside: WIFI service is anticipated to begin by the end of July, and will include classrooms.
• Warinanco (Park) Skating facility, Roselle—WIFI service will be installed and ready in September.
• Walter Ulrich Memorial Pool at Rahway River Park: installation will be completed by the end of the Summer season.

Logging on to Union County’s service is easy for WIFI-enabled devices, such as Apple I-Phones and I-pads, Android-based phones and tablets and any other WIFI capable devices. Merely find the WIFI settings and make sure it is turned on. Select “Union County Wi-Fi” as the connection to join. Follow on screen agreements and enjoy.

WIFI service will be free. Safety features are also in place, including having the users to re-login periodically to discourage downloading or streaming of large files which may cause the performance and bandwidth to decrease for other patrons who may be logged on at the same time.

Wi-Fi Access Instructions

W-Fi Signs

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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds residents to prepare for rainy weather, as the Atlantic hurricane season has officially begun and the first tropical storm of the season is working its way up the eastern seaboard.

“Union County will experience some heavy rain and wind in advance of the holiday weekend,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “This is a good opportunity to check how prepared you are for more severe weather events as the hurricane season picks up.”

Since being impacted by Hurricane Irene in August 2010, Union County has experienced a string of damaging weather events including Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

“We have learned to expect the unexpected when it comes to the unusual weather patterns associated with climate change,” said Hudak. “That means it’s more important now than ever to plan ahead for weather-related emergencies.”

Standard emergency preparedness includes maintaining a supply of non-perishable food, fresh water, and basic first aid supplies.

To help County residents prepare, the Union County home page features a new “Plan Ahead for Weather Emergencies” link at ucnj.org. It enables handy access to guidance from the federal emergency website,ready.gov, along with links to websites and social media for Union County and the 21 municipalities.

Additional guidance relating to health and safety before, during, and after a weather emergency is also available from the Centers for Disease Control at cdc.gov.

As part of their emergency preparedness measures, residents and businesses are asked to check their property and secure lightweight yard furniture, trash cans, toys, and other items that could create windblown hazards.

“The most crucial thing to do is to stay informed in the lead-up to an extreme weather event, and follow the guidance of local emergency officials,” Hudak noted. “Your preparedness will enable first responders to focus on helping those in immediate need.”

During emergencies, residents automatically receive warnings on land lines at home, through the reverse-911 system. To receive alerts on cell phones and other mobile devices, residents can join the Union County First Alert system by signing up online at ucfirstalert.org.

“When you receive an alert, follow up by tuning in to your local news reports. You can also bookmark the home page of the Union County website, ucnj.org, where information and updates will be posted,” said Hudak.

Information on the progress of Tropical Storm Arthur is available from the National Hurricane Center atnhc.noaa.gov.

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 – Four students shared the energetic diversity of Union County with their peers from across New Jersey last month, as they participated in the annual 4-H Public Presentation Contest at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

The four were selected for the statewide contest from a pool of 41 participants in the Union County 4-H public speaking event held earlier this year.

“Union County 4-H encourages young people to explore their interests while building communication and leadership skills,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “On behalf of the Freeholder Board, I would like to thank Kyle, Adrian, Vivek, and Angela for their very spirited and capable representation of our Union County community in this statewide event.”

A total of 180 New Jersey 4-H members participated in the statewide contest.  The members from Union County were:

• Kyle Grant, Basketball, 9th grade, Union.
• Adrian Lam, The Art of Juggling, 9th grade, Westfield. Adrian was awarded the medal for Outstanding Presenter in his group.
• Vivek Sreenivasan, Robotics for Fun, 9th grade, Westfield.
• Angela Waldmann, Vocal Performance of “Let it Go” and History of Song, 8th grade, Roselle.

4-H Public Presentations is a youth development program of the statewide Rutgers Cooperative Extension, designed to provide students with experience in creating and delivering a public talk. 4-H members from grades 8-12 who received a score of excellent on their county presentation were eligible to attend the statewide event.

Union County 4-H is run by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, supported in part by the Freeholder Board.

The clubs are open to all Union County students in grades one through 12. Popular clubs include archery, Lego robotics, anime, cooking, horticulture, and living history.

The 4-H activity season runs concurrently with the school year and an Open House is held each September to help students match their interests with a club. For more details and an Open House invitation, visitucnj.org/rce.

For additional information contact 4-H Agent James Nichnadowicz at 908-654-9854 orNichnadowicz@njaes.rutgers.edu, or visit the Extension online at ucnj.org/rce.

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 – For a unique look at trees through the eyes of aspiring young writers visit the Union County website atucnj.org, where you can read 15 winning poems from the 2014 Young Writers of Union County Poetry Contest. The contest is part of Union County’s annual Arbor Day celebration.

“On behalf of the Freeholder Board, I would to thank each student who submitted a poem,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “All of the poems were thoughtful and creative, and together they demonstrate how trees make an enriching contribution to the quality of life here in Union County. It is a real pleasure to share some of these heartfelt words in a public forum.”

The poetry contest is sponsored each year by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Shade Tree Advisory Board. Intended to encourage young people to explore the many contributions that trees make to the Union County, the contest is open to students in all Union County Schools in grades four through eight.

Trees trap airborne pollutants, and they improve local waterways by filtering rainwater and preventing soil erosion. They also help to reduce storm flooding, partly because their leaves intercept rain and give it more time to evaporate before reaching the ground.

Trees can also help Union County residents save on their energy bills. When strategically placed around a home, trees provide shade in the summer that can result in a 50 percent cut on a typical cooling bill. In the winter they act as windbreakers, helping to reduce heating costs.

In recognition of the environmental, public health, and economic benefits of trees, Union County practices a comprehensive approach to tree conservation.

That includes planting new and replacement trees on County property and providing grants for trees on municipal property, as well as supporting the poetry contest and other public outreach efforts.

The Freeholder Board also helps to support the Rutgers 4-H Master Tree Stewards of Union County, who provide classroom lessons and other community service projects relating to tree conservation.

To find out more about tree care in Union County, or to volunteer to join the Master Tree Stewards, contact James Nichnadowicz, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, 908-654-9854 orjnichnadowicz@ucnj.org.

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

Photo: A view of the Sierra Trail in the Watchung Reservation one of 36 Union County parks spanning almost 6,800 acres of preserved open space. (County of Union, NJ).

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Summer is here and Union County’s Watchung Stable is offering a “Summer Savings Special” for all Union County residents from July 5ththrough July 27th .

For every public trail ride scheduled on weekends during the month of July, each trail ride purchased by a Union County resident will receive a discounted rate on that day for a second rider. The cost for the first rider will be $32; the second participant will receive the rate of $20.

The public trail rides are held every Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. or 2:00 p.m. on a first come, first served basis, weather permitting. All participants must be nine years of age or older. A valid form of ID is required to receive a discount.

For those younger riders less than nine years of age, Watchung Stable offers lead lines on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., weather permitting. Lead lines are held on a first come, first served basis. The cost for a lead line is $18 for Union County residents and $26 for out-of-county participants. Lead lines are half-hour rides only.

Watchung Stable also features special private group rides for individuals or groups up to 15 people. These rides need to be set up in advance at a mutually convenient time. The cost of the private rides are the rental fee (in-county $32 per horse; out-of-county $45) and an additional $32 for the instructor. The discounted rate does not apply for private trail rides or lead lines.

The trail rides and lead lines are held at Watchung Stable, which is located at 1160 Summit Lane in Mountainside. Office hours are 9:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. daily.

Watchung Stable is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. For further information, call (908) 789-3665 during the normal office hours; visit www.ucnj.org/stable; or e-mail questions to stablequestions@ucnj.org.

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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that another date has been added to the “Jersey Fresh” Farmers’ Market voucher distribution program. The new date is Tuesday, July 1, at the Elizabeth Avenue Farmers Market in Elizabeth.

“We are very happy to be able to expand the Jersey Fresh program,” said Freeholder Christopher Hudak. “The additional date and location will help provide more eligible seniors with access to fresh, nutritious produce from local farmers.”

 

The Jersey Fresh program enables income-eligible seniors to obtain free vouchers for fresh produce at local Farmers’ Markets.

Each eligible participant will receive vouchers for $20 worth of produce at no cost, in four five-dollar increments.  The vouchers can be used throughout the Farmers Market season, which ends in November.

The amount is broken into four increments so that participants can purchase smaller amounts of produce at a time, helping to ensure freshness.

To qualify, an individual must be at least 60 years of age and have an annual income that does not exceed $21,590. For a married couple, the combined income may not exceed $29,101.

Proof of age, residency and income are required to participate, in the form of a Medicaid card, SSI card, SNAP verification, or annual pension and Social Security income statement.

Registration forms can be obtained at any Senior Nutrition sites and Senior Centers throughout Union County. Participants who have registered may pick up their vouchers at the following locations.

Registration forms are also available at these locations, and produce is for sale at some of them:

Tuesday July 1

Elizabeth Avenue Farmer’s Market

1 Union Square Plaza (Elizabeth Avenue and High Street), Elizabeth

Vouchers distributed 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Farmer will be at this site.

 

Wednesday July 2

Hillside Senior Center

265 Hollywood Ave., Hillside

Vouchers distributed 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

(No farmer at this site)

 

Monday July 7

O’Donnell-Dempsey Senior Center

622 Salem Ave., Elizabeth

Vouchers distributed 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon

(Farmer will be at this site)

 

Wednesday July 9

Liberty Square Senior Center

240 Elizabeth Ave., Elizabeth

Vouchers distributed 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

(No farmer at this site)

 

Thursday July 10

E-Port Commons

205 1st St., Elizabeth

Vouchers distributed 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

(No farmer at this site)

 

Monday July 14

Ann Ferguson Towers

1601 Dill Ave., Linden

Vouchers distributed 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

(Farmer will be at this site)

 

Thursday July 17

Cranford Senior Housing

40 Meeker St. (social center), Cranford

Vouchers distributed 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.

(No farmer at this site)

 

Monday July 21

Farley Towers

33 Cherry St., Elizabeth

Vouchers distributed 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

(No Farmer at this site)

 

Wednesday July 23

Golden Age Towers

200 E. Milton Ave., Rahway

Vouchers distributed 10:00 a.m.  – 12:00 noon

(Farmer will be at this site)

 

Monday July 28

Ford Leonard Towers

69 Division St., Elizabeth

Vouchers distributed 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

(No farmer at this site)

 

Wednesday July 30

Plainfield Senior Center

400 E. Front St., Plainfield

Vouchers distributed 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

(Farmer will be at this site)

 

Only fruits, vegetables and herbs grown in New Jersey can be purchased with the Farmers’ Market Program vouchers. They can be used only at markets displaying the WIC Farmers’ Market poster.

The Farmers’ Market Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and coordinated by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.

For more information about the Farmers’ Market, Union County’s senior nutrition programs or any other senior services, call the Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) toll free, 888-280-8226, or call 908-527-4870.

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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.

photos below

 

ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present an exhibit of photographs by Wolf Kretlow of Roselle in the gallery space at the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, at 633 Pearl Street in Elizabeth. A selection of his work entitled “Union County Impressions” is on display at the Pearl Street Gallery until July 27. Gallery hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

“We are delighted to display Wolf Kretlow’s images of Union County’s historic buildings and scenic parks,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board. “The quality of his work is well known and captures the beauty of our area. We are very glad to present a collection of his work at the Pearl Street Gallery.”

Wolf Kretlow was born in Berlin, Germany and grew up in Munich. He moved to Union County in 1966 and began photographing local scenes, nature and architecture 30 years ago. He is self-trained, studying through photography books, careful observation and conversations on technique with photographers, and years of shooting and printing photographs.

Working with a Sony 35mm SLR digital camera, a variety of lenses, Photoshop and other software programs, and an Epson color printer, he creates vibrant and detailed prints of his beautifully composed photographs. In 2010, Wolf Kretlow won first place in the non-professional photography category in the Union County Senior Art Show. He recently placed second in that category in the 2012 Union County Senior Art Show.

Mr. Kretlow generously shares his talents as a volunteer photographer for the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs. His work has graced the cover of the pamphlet “In & About Union County” and his beautiful photographs of the historic Saint John’s Parsonage, site of the Cultural and Heritage Office, have portrayed the building throughout the seasons.

Wolf photographed events at the Teen Arts Festival in 2011 and 2012, and he documented the New Jersey State Senior Art Show in 2011. He worked as a freelance photographer for the Historic Midtown Elizabeth Special Improvement District, Liberty Hall Museum, and The National Arts Program® for Union County Employees and Their Families. He is a wedding photographer as well.

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. E-mail to:culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj .