Category: Public Info

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 29, 2014

The State of New Jersey has issued the necessary permits to move forward with the construction of a new dam at Lake Surprise in the Watchung Reservation, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announced today.

Fish will be removed from the lake on Thursday and Friday, May 29th and 30th, with the actual draining of the lake expected to get underway in early June.

“The County’s Engineering Department regularly reviews the conditions of all dams in the county,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “It’s a very old structure and it needs rebuild and repair.”

Work on the new dam is expected to take a year to complete, but may take longer, depending upon weather conditions.  However, county officials are hopeful that the lake will only be out of commission for one summer.

The Lake Surprise project will involve replacing the dam to meet modern dam safety standards. While upgrades have been made to the dam over the years, the dam’s earthen core dates back to 1845.

The areas that will be affected during the construction period are the dam itself and the road from the lower loop parking lot leading to the dam, which will be used by contractors. Workers will be on site from 7:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Ritacco Construction Company Inc. of Belleville, New Jersey was awarded a $3,608,000 contract for the Lake Surprise Dam rehabilitation.

With work being started this summer, it should only affect this summer season. Downstream communities will not be affected by the draining of the lake.

Draining is necessary to assure the safety of the workers who are rebuilding the dam, and it may also have another benefit, by killing off some of the vegetation clogging the lake, according to County officials.

The project will also include improvements to the dam at Seeley’s Pond, which is downstream from Lake Surprise, on the western border of the Watchung Reservation.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 29, 2014

CRANFORD, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders will sponsor a Household Special Waste Collection event on Saturday, June 7, so Union County residents can get rid of outdated or unwanted household chemicals, mercury thermostats, propane tanks, and automobile tires in an environmentally safe manner. The household hazardous waste collection will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Union County College campus, 1033 Springfield Avenue in Cranford, opposite Nomahegan Park.

Residents of Union County are eligible to participate at no cost. Pre-registration is not required for this special Saturday collection.

“The special household waste recycling program for Union County residents is particularly important as we become more aware of the need for proper disposal of hazardous items that are found around the home,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “The result of our effort is safer homes and a cleaner environment for our families and our neighbors.”

All that residents need to do is drive to the site with their household special waste, propane tanks, automobile tires, and mercury thermostats. Workers at the site will unload the vehicles.

“Household special waste” includes oil-based paint and varnish, antifreeze, aerosol cans, pool chemicals, corrosives, pesticides, herbicides, solvents, thinners, fire extinguishers, motor oil and oil filters, gasoline, batteries, thermostats, fluorescent bulbs (unbroken), blood pressure devices, and mercury switches. Only materials in original or labeled containers will be accepted. No containers larger than five gallons will be accepted.

Latex (water-based) paint and empty cans will not be accepted. They should be disposed of in with the regular garbage. Leftover latex paint can be air-dried or, to hasten the drying process, kitty litter and/or newspaper can be added to hasten the drying.

“This is a great opportunity to recycle up to eight tires and dispose of old chemical containers that are cluttering up the basement or the garage, or taking up space under the kitchen sink,” said Chairman Hudak, liaison to the Union County Solid Waste Advisory Board. “Our homes become safer once they are rid of hazardous and combustible waste.”

There is a limit of eight automobile tires (without rims) per household. This is a household recycling event. No businesses, please.

A complete list of the materials that will be accepted on June 7 is available at the Union County Bureau of Recycling and Planning web site:www.ucnj.org/recycle

The household hazardous waste collection will be held rain or shine, for Union County residents only and not for businesses. Proof of Union County residency is required. For more information, please call the Recycling Hotline at (908) 654-9889.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 27, 2014

Union County Freeholders Sergio Granados (L), Alexander Mirabella (2nd R) and Vernell Wright joined Robert Jeans (C) of the Kenilworth Veterans Center and VFW 2230 and Jim Daly of VFW Post 355 at the Graceland Cemetery in Kenilworth where volunteers placed American flags on the graves of veterans in honor of Memorial Day. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders supplied more than 30,000 flags to mark veterans’ graves throughout Union County. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 27, 2014

CLARK, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that its next mobile paper-shredding program for confidential personal documents will be available on Wednesday, June 4, at the Township of Clark DPW facility in Clark.

“Union County’s mobile document-shredding service helps residents fight identity theft and eliminate clutter in their homes,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak, liaison to the Solid Waste Advisory Council. “It is a cost-effective way to assist our recycling efforts and it ties in with Union County’s other Go Green Initiatives.”

The June 4th shredding event will take place at the Department of Public Works facility in Clark, located at 315 Westfield Avenue. NEXCUT Shredding of Elizabeth will be shredding documents at the site from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. The shredding event will end before 1 p.m. if the shredding truck reaches capacity.

All Union County residents are eligible to use the paper-shredding service. In an effort to accommodate everyone, there is a limit of four, 10-pound bags or boxes per person. Documents should not be bound. Please remove plastic binders and paperclips. Paper that is wet/damp will not be accepted. Residents should continue to recycle non-confidential papers and magazines with their municipal recycling program.

Documents are put into 96-gallon containers provided by the shredding company. The items are dumped onto a conveyor belt and shredded on site. Participants are welcome to view the shredding process via a closed-circuit television. Shredded documents are then recycled, shipped to paper mills and used as pulp. The next shredding event will take place Sunday, June 22, at the Union County Vo-Tech campus in Scotch Plains.

The mobile shredding program is paid for through New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Recycling Enhancement Act Grant Funds. For more information about future events or directions please call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889 or visit us online atwww.ucnj.org/recycle .

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 23, 2014

Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich swears in Adrian Gardner appointing her to the rank of Sheriff’s Detective during the Union County Sheriff’s Office 2014 Awards Ceremony in Elizabeth. Holding the Bible is Sheriff’s Detective Brian Dustin. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 23, 2014

Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich (3rd L) and Freeholders Vernell Wright (3rd R) and Bette Jane Kowalski congratulate Sheriff’s Officer Sean Conway on being named the 2013 Officer of the Year at the Union County Sheriff’s Office 2014 Awards Ceremony in Elizabeth. They are joined by Undersheriff Vincent Detrolio (L) and Union County Manager Alfred Faella. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich swears in Adrian Gardner appointing her to the rank of Sheriff’s Detective during the Union County Sheriff’s Office 2014 Awards Ceremony in Elizabeth. Holding the Bible is Sheriff’s Detective Brian Dustin. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich (3^rd L) and Freeholders Vernell Wright (3^rd R) and Bette Jane Kowalski congratulate Sheriff’s Officer Sean Conway on being named the 2013 Officer of the Year at the Union County Sheriff’s Office 2014 Awards Ceremony in Elizabeth. They are joined by Undersheriff Vincent Detrolio (L) and Union County Manager Alfred Faella. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 22, 2014

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – With miles of hiking and bridle trails crisscrossing the Watchung Reservation, maintenance and repair is an important, on-going task. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation have the perfect opportunity for trail users who want to “give something back” to the trails they enjoy.

“If you love the great outdoors and love to hike or ride horses in the Watchung Reservation, then you can show your appreciation on National Trails Day,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “The 2,060-acre forest preserve is Union County’s largest park and it offers a variety of trails and scenery for all ages to enjoy.”

You can celebrate our local trails on National Trails Day, Saturday, June 7, by signing up to take a guided hike and/or participate in a trail work project in the Watchung Reservation. Participants should dress to get dirty and/or wet. Meet at the Scout Camping Area behind the greenhouse at Trailside Nature and Science Center’s Visitor Center, located at 452 New Providence Road (at Coles Ave.) in Mountainside.

National Trails Day begins at 8:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast for all pre-registered project volunteers. Anyone interested in doing some trail work should call 908-789-3683 to register, or e-mail: bkelly@ucnj.org. From 8:45 to 10:00 a.m., a Trailside naturalist will take hikers along one of many marked trails in the Watchung Reservation in search of wildlife sights and sounds, animal tracks and interesting plant life along the way. Listen and look for migratory birds that use the Reservation as a rest stop along their trip north.

A trail work project from 10:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. will offer volunteers the chance to repair a section of hiking trail. Volunteers will learn new skills, meet other trail users and have fun while working in the out-of-doors. Bring gloves, a shovel, loppers, pruning shears and/or pick axe if you have them. Some tools will be provided. The event will be held rain or shine. Trail work participants must be seven years of age or older and children must be accompanied by an adult.

For directions to Trailside Nature and Science Center, go to http://goo.gl/maps/WG4g5 or call Trailside: 908-789-3670.

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