Category: Public Info

Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak (2nd R) and (from L) Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski, Linda Carter and Angel G. Estrada cut the ribbon officially opening the new Loop playground in the Watchung Reservation. For more information about Union County Parks visithttps://ucnj.org/community/Parks-Community-Renewal/parks-facilities/parks. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Mountainside, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation are pleased to  offer a  lecture, “Butterflies, Beauty, Grace and Drama,” for adults, 18 years and older, on Wednesday evening,  May 7,  from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside.

Dr. Jeffrey Glassberg, author of “A Swift Guide to Butterflies of North America,” will present a slide-illustrated lecture on the diversity and dazzling beauty of butterflies. You’ll discover the importance of butterflies to the environment and also find out how you can create your own butterfly garden and increase the world’s population of butterflies.

The fee for this program is $10 per person for Union County residents and $12 for out-of-county participants. Pre-registration is required as space is limited. Walk-ins are welcome if space permits. For additional information about this and other programs or upcoming events at Trailside, call 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Mountainside, NJ – Discover the importance of butterflies – such as the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail –to the environment and to people at Trailside Nature & Science Center on Wednesday, May 7, from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. Adults, ages 18 and older, are invited to join Dr. Jeffrey Glassberg, author of “A Swift Guide to Butterflies of North America,” for a slideshow and lecture on the diversity and beauty of these dazzling insects. The fee for this program is $10 per person for Union County residents and $12 for out-of-county residents. Pre-registration is required as space is limited; walk-ins are welcome if space permits. For additional information about this and other programs or upcoming events at Trailside, 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.

Union County Freeholder Alexander Mirabella (C) presents a resolution to Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr in honor of the borough’s 25th Anniversary Celebration of Earth Day. They are joined by (from left) Fanwood Councilmen Tom Kranz and Kevin Boris, John Celardo of the Fanwood Historic Preservation Commission and Council President Russell Huegel. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Enjoy your Mother’s Day in a special way! Union County’s Watchung Stable offers two Mother’s Day guided trail rides on Sunday, May 11, at 9:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., for everyone 9 years of age or older.

“The Watchung Reservation is a 2,000-acre park which offers everyone a chance to experience the natural beauty of a forest, right in Mountainside! Horseback riding in the Watchung Reservation is a real treat,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “You see so much of the park as well as get some fresh air and exercise.”

You must register in advance and in-person for the Mother’s Day rides. Payment is required at the time of registration. The cost for a Union County resident is $32 per person and $45 for out-of-county participants. No experience is necessary; these rides are held at a walking pace only. After each ride, the Watchung Stables Auxiliary will provide light refreshments in the Watchung Stable assembly room.

Watchung Stable also regularly offers guided trail rides that are held on Saturdays at 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. Visitors are accommodated on a first come, first served basis, weather permitting. Experience is not required. The cost of a trail ride is the rental fee: $32 in-county; $45 for out-of-county riders.

Private trail rides are also available for individuals or parties up to approximately 15 people. The cost is the rental fee plus an additional $32 for the private instructor. These rides are scheduled at mutually convenient times on weekdays and weekends. Please call to schedule your ride today.

The trail rides and Mother’s Day Rides are held at Watchung Stable, located at 1160 Summit Lane in Mountainside. Office hours are 9:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.

For further information, call (908) 789-3665 during the normal office hours or email questions tostablequestions@ucnj.org.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak (R) and Freeholders Linda Carter (L) and Alexander Mirabella (2nd R) present 12-year-old Zachary Brooks of Summit with a resolution commending and thanking him for his efforts to raise awareness about autism. They are joined by his parents, Scott and Elisa Brooks. Zachary’s twin brother, Jack, has autism. The Freeholder Board also declared April as Autism Awareness Month in Union County. For more information about Autism Awareness Month, visit autismspeaks.org.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announces that a “One-Stop” service is available for Union County voters at the Westfield and Elizabeth offices of the County Clerk beginning on April 28.

“Eligible voters are able to apply for a Vote-By-Mail ballot for the New Jersey Primary Election in person at either of my offices, receive their ballot and cast the ballot at the same time,” Ms. Rajoppi said. “This one-stop voting service is available at my Westfield office as well as at the main office in Elizabeth. The deadline to apply for Vote-By-Mail for the June 3 Primary Election is May 27 by mail-in application; the deadline to apply in person is Monday, June 2 by 3 p.m.”

“The service in Westfield and Elizabeth makes voting more accessible, particularly at the Westfield office with its convenient Saturday office hours and evening hours during the week,” Ms. Rajoppi added. “With the important June 3 Primary Election for U.S. Senate, Congressional seats, County and Municipal offices approaching quickly, my office is working to make the voting process as fast and convenient as we can for everyone who is registered to vote.”

The opportunity to Vote-By-Mail in Westfield and Elizabeth is another service available at the County Clerk’s two offices, along with passport application and renewal services, registration of Trade Names, and the application and swearing in of Notaries Public.

The County Clerk’s Westfield Annex is located in the Colleen Fraser Building, 300 North Avenue East, Westfield 07090. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

The Main Office of the County Clerk is located at the Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, Room 113, Elizabeth, NJ 07207. Regular office hours in Elizabeth are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Vote-By-Mail is an easy, secure process that has replaced the Absentee Ballot. Voters do not need to give a reason why they wish to Vote-By-Mail. To obtain an application form, voters also may pick up the form at their local municipal building; they can download the form at the Union County Clerk’s website: www.ucnj.org/vote-by-mail or they can contact the Union County Clerk at 908-527-4996. The Clerk’s website also includes a video that explains how to fill out the Vote-By-Mail application form.

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Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak (C) cuts the ribbon officially opening the new headquarters of the New Jersey State Golf Association (NJSGA) at the Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth. He is joined by Freeholders Alexander Mirabella, Linda Carter, Bruce Bergen and Sergio Granados, Union County Surrogate James LaCorte, Union County Manager Alfred Faella, NJSGA President Frank O’Brien and other NJSGA officials. For more information about the New Jersey State Golf Association visit www.njsga.org. To learn more about the Galloping Hill Golf Course visitwww.gallopinghillgolfcourse.com. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – Union County Deputy Manager William Reyes will be honored with the Civilian Award for bravery by the New Jersey State Firemen’s Mutual Benevolent Association (FMBA), at the annual FMBA Valor Awards Banquet on Saturday April 26 at the Pines Manor in Edison, New Jersey.

Reyes, who is trained in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, took measures to save the life of Elizabeth resident Salvatore Coppa, who suffered a massive heart attack while attending the Union County Columbus Day flag raising ceremony in Elizabeth on October 9, 2013. He has since recovered.

Coppa is a former Chairman of the Elizabeth chapter of the Italian American service organization UNICO, and he is a member of the Elizabeth Avenue Partnership.

“On behalf of the Freeholder Board, I’d like to congratulate Bill Reyes on receiving this honor, and to thank all of those who were involved in the effort,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak.

Assisting in the rescue and nominated for the award were Courtney Villani, Aida St. John, and Steve Rinaldi, who along with Reyes is in the Union County Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) program.

More information about the FMBA Valor Awards is available from New Jersey FMBA, 732-499-9633, headquartered at 1447 Campbell Street in Rahway.

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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.

The County of Union and the City of Summit have engaged in a shared services, in-house initiative to build an additional 55 parking spaces to the Glenside Avenue Field in the Watchung Reservation. Enclosed are photos of the project, which is expected to be completed over the next few weeks.

Get in “STEP” with Union County Students for a Good Cause

by Christopher Hudak

Chairman, Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders

April 2014

Last December, almost 200 students from 26 high schools across Union County participated in the first ever UC STEP (Union County Student Training and Enrichment Program) Summit, a new program aimed at developing youth leadership skills by engaging young people in countywide civic projects.

The response was enthusiastic, and I am happy to report that the first project to launch out of UC STEP is off to a great start.

The project, called Support 4 Solders, was conceived and designed entirely by a team of UC STEP students during the daylong summit. It won an online public vote for best project.

The vote itself provided a demonstration of how the UC STEP participants translated their day of learning into community engagement. The 192 students who attended the summit generated more than 4,600 responses to the online vote.

Based on the results of the vote, the Freeholder Board is sponsoring Support 4 Soldiers this year as one of my Chairman’s Initiatives, along with the local nonprofit organization Bonds of Courage.

It is the first of what we hope to be an annual series of countywide civic projects created by UC STEP students, so I’d like to pause here and recognize Freeholder Linda Carter, who initiated the UC STEP Summit during her term as Chairman last year.

Support 4 Solders is a coordinated, countywide collection drive for care packages to be sent to active military troops. The list includes healthy snacks, toiletries, and other basic items. The collection period is going on now and it will end on May 15.

Monetary donations to Support 4 Soldiers may also be made directly to Bonds of Courage (bondsofcourage.org), which is headquartered in Westfield.

Distinctive Support 4 Soldiers collection boxes have already been placed at schools, County buildings and other facilities including the Union Township Knights of Columbus, VFW, Elks Lodge #1583, and American Legion Post 35. A complete list of locations and an interactive map are available at ucnj2.org/uc-step.

Support 4 Soldiers participants are also raising funds to offset shipping costs, so you can expect to hear much more about this project in the coming weeks.

Support 4 Soldiers kicked off last month at the Westfield Armory, where the students had a chance to compare notes with other students from all over the county. They also had a chance to meet with members of the military and learn first hand how much their efforts are appreciated.

The young people who created Support 4 Soldiers come from many different walks of life. Out of their diverse experiences, they focused on shared values to come up with an endeavor that encourages us all to embrace our common goals.

I hope you will all join us in pitching in for Support 4 Soldiers.

For more information about Support 4 Soldiers and UC STEP, visit ucnj2.org/uc-step or call the Union County Department of Economic Development, 908-527-4200.

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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.