County of Union, New JerseyDefault category for all normal press releases
Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Christopher Hudak (3rd R) and Freeholders Sergio Granados (2ndL) and Bruce Bergen (3rd L) joined Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky (2nd R) of Bris Avremy in lighting a Menorah in Phil Rizzuto Park in Elizabeth celebrating Chanukah. They were joined by Union County Manager Alfred Faella (L) and Shterney Kanelsky (R). (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
With winter fast approaching, the Union County Board of Freeholders and the Office of Emergency Management encourages those who have not signed up for the UC FIRST ALERT Emergency Notification System to sign up as soon as possible.
UC FIRST ALERT provides Union County emergency management officials with the ability to quickly deliver messages to targeted areas or the entire county and alert residents during emergency situations. This can be done either by text message or email. First Alert can also be used to notify residents about special events, traffic issues and other items, if so desired. It is offered as an opt-in service to residents and as a shared service to municipalities.
To sign up, please go to:
https://www.ucfirstalert.org/
MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Usher in the holidays with the sights and sounds of the season at the 30th Annual Holiday Nature Craft Show at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Community Renewal are pleased to present this seasonal craft show and charity drive at Trailside on Sunday, Dec. 8, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The price of admission is an item of dry or canned food or a new, unwrapped toy to be distributed through local charities.
“While shopping at the Nature Craft Show for unique gifts for friends and family, visitors will be treated to a festive afternoon of activities, including greetings from Santa and Mrs. Claus,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “Adding to the holiday atmosphere, carolers will entice visitors to join them in a sing-along and decorated trees will be on display.”
Staff from various Union County departments and community organizations will decorate trees in the Trailside Visitor Center. All the trees, ornaments, and gift cards collected will be distributed to Union County families in need. Visitors are encouraged to stop by each holiday tree and vote on their favorite decoration theme for this year.
With a large selection of handcrafted items available at the show, you will certainly be able to check some names off your gift list. More than 40 vendors will be selling nature-themed items such as ornaments, home décor, jewelry, pottery, stained glass, recycled items, and much more. Light refreshments will be available for purchase throughout the day.
Children will be able to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus from noon to 4:30 p.m., and free children’s face-painting will be offered to keep the little ones entertained. The day’s activities in Trailside’s auditorium will include illuminating seasonal lights of the Union County tree and menorah at 4:30 p.m.
For additional information about the Holiday Nature Craft Show please call Trailside at 908-789-3670, or go towww.ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road (at Coles Avenue) in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that the 2013 Union County Teen Arts Touring Exhibit is on display at the Freeholders Gallery located in the Union County Administration Building, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth. The art work is on display through January 3rdduring regular office hours.
The exhibit consists of 55 pieces of art selected from more than 650 visual art works shown at the 2013 Union County Teen Arts Festival held in March at Union County College in Cranford. The annual event is administered by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Community Renewal.
“The artwork in this exhibit is exceptional. The fact that the artists are teenagers makes the show even more outstanding,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “I encourage everyone to get out and see this fun, lively exhibit while it tours around Union County.”
For information about the Teen Arts program, contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth 07202; telephone (908) 558-2550. NJ Relay service users should call 711 or email culturalinfo@ucnj.org.
Berkeley Heights
Columbia Middle School
Alice Gao
Governor Livingston High School
Michael Horwath
Clark
Mother Seton RHS
Nathalia Palacios
Elizabeth
Abraham Lincoln School
Evelyn Huiloti
Benedictine Academy
Angie Mery
Charles Hudson School
Isidra Alvarado Vasques
Dr. Orlando Edreira Academy
Jezebel Jimenez
Elizabeth HS – Dwyer House
Jefferson Torres
Elizabeth HS – Edison House
Robert McCall
Elizabeth HS – Hamilton Academy
Evelyn Lopez
Elizabeth HS – Jefferson House
Chrysthel Jean-Louis
David Simancas
Cindy Montalvo
Elizabeth HS – Lower Academy
Yilian Borroto
Elizabeth HS – Upper Academy
Nicole Capelo
Sung Soon DeSouza
Elmora School
Jayline Rodriguez
Louveture-Lafayette School
Katuiska Zuniga
Mabel G. Holmes School
Santiago Hoyos
Nicholas M. Butler School
Ramon Rivera
Nicholas S. LaCorte School
Oscar Heredia
T.C. Reilly School
Eqequiel Carvalo
William F. Halloran School
Harmonie Garcia
Woodrow Wilson School
Irene Negron
Hillside
Hillside HS
Kameron Kee
Walter O. Krumbiegel MS
Samantha Felipe
Kenilworth
David Brearley HS
Erick Soriano
Melissa Dudukvich
Linden
Linden HS
Adrianna Rendon
Kylie Vorob
McManus MS
Kara Depczynski
Soehl MS
Nicholas Francisco
Mountainside
Deerfield MS
Isabella DiCosmo
New Providence
New Providence HS
Adrienne Cirotti
Christie Shaw
New Providence MS
Licheng Yang
Plainfield
Cook School
Fritz Mersola
Plainfield Academy of Arts
Sebastian Nunez
Gabrielle Lugbauer
Plainfield HS
Erika Jackson
Union County TEAMS Charter School
Gabrielle Labady
Stephany Vargas
Roselle
Abraham Clark HS
Zulis Linares
Ti-Reece Vaughn
Grace Wilday Jr. HS
Agape DeLeon
Scotch Plains
Union County Vo-Tech HS
Bre’on Johnson
Austin McCaffrey
Summit
Oratory Preparatory School
Alex McDonald
Union
Union HS
Wislet Dazime
Armando Flores
Westfield
Hillcrest Academy South
Kadeem Venus
Lamberts Mill Academy
Genesis Malacara
Winfield
Winfield School
Corey Hallari
Union County, NJ – This little fellow is an American Woodcock who was probably on his way south for the holidays when he lost his way in Elizabeth. Union County Parks & Community Renewal employee Margaret Heisey spotted him inside the Chris Bollwage Parking Garage and he was safely released into Mattano Park by Union County Vicinage employee and longtime parks volunteer Natalie Gregorio. Union County’s park system provides important habitat for migratory birds along the Atlantic Flyway, a major north-south route.(photo: Natalie Gregorio)
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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 — The Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County offers the following food safety tips for holiday cooking:
Thaw frozen turkeys in the refrigerator (3-4 days for a 15 lb. turkey)
The Cooperative Extension of Union County is supported in part by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. For additional food safety tips call the USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline, 1-888-674-6854.
For information on all Union County Extension programs including 4-H youth clubs, Master Gardeners, Master Tree Stewards, and family wellness initiatives visit ucnj.org/rce or call 908-654-9854.
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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.
WESTFIELD, NJ – The Union County Clerk’s offices in Westfield and Elizabeth are offering a special incentive for residents to apply for a passport during the month of December: the cost of each passport photograph will be reduced to $5.00. This half-price photo offer applies only to applicants for a new passport or a passport renewal during December.
“To jump-start interest in the winter travel season, my offices are giving travelers a break on their vacation expenses while still providing a full range of passport services with no need for an appointment,” said Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi. “Are you ready for that winter getaway you’ve been dreaming about? Now is the time to make sure your passport is up-to-date.”
U.S. citizens must present a valid passport book when entering or re-entering the United States by air. U.S. citizens entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean islands and Bermuda at land borders and sea ports of entry must present a passport book, passport card, or other travel documents approved by the U.S. government.
“Some countries require passports to be valid for an additional three, six or nine months after your visit,” Rajoppi added. “If your passport is due to expire within nine months of your international travel, you should renew your passport to ensure a smoother journey.”
Information about the cost and how to apply for a passport book and/or passport card is available athttp://travel.state.gov. U.S. citizens may also obtain passport information by phone, in English and Spanish, by calling the National Passport Information Center toll-free at 1-877-487-2778.
“Our Elizabeth office opens at 7:30 a.m. and it has experienced, helpful, English and Spanish-speaking certified passport agents ready to assist you in any way we can,” Rajoppi said. “Our Westfield office, which opens at 8 a.m. weekdays, has convenient evening and Saturday hours and also is fully staffed.”
Passport application forms may be obtained at the County Clerk’s main office in the Union County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth or at the Colleen Fraser Building at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield. Applications for passports and related information also can be found online at: ucnj.org/Passports.
The Westfield office is the only County Clerk’s office in the state that is open during evening hours. It is open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday; from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; and on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The telephone number in Westfield is 908-654-9859.
The Elizabeth office is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The telephone number in Elizabeth is 908-527-4966. Clients are asked to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to closing time to allow for staff assistance with the passport process.
For more information about obtaining a U.S. passport, please call (908) 527-4966.
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Union County, NJ — Fall weather is no deterrent to Union County Adopt-A-Park volunteers, who play a key role in improving and maintaining more than 6,600 acres of public open space. Pictured here are members of the Haitian Flag Day Planning Committee in Warinanco Park last Saturday. They picked up litter, collected recyclables, removed weeds and repaired fencing at a shoreline restoration project designed to attract hummingbirds, songbirds, butterflies and other pollinators. To find out more about Adopt-A-Park visitucnj.org/parks or call the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal, 908-789-3683.
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Photo Caption: Margaret Heisey (left), Program Coordinator of Union County’s Recreation Programs for People with Disabilities, presents Alex Jackman (center) of Westfield with a Freeholder sponsored resolution honoring her for her dedication to Autism awareness. The Resolution was presented at the second installment of Union County’s Sensory Friendly Theater Series, which is designed according to guidelines that help to reduce disturbances for youngsters who experience heightened sensory sensitivity due to autism and related disabilities. Heisey and Jackman were joined by Adrienne Robertiello (right), Autism Educator at Children’s Specialized Hospital. (Photo courtesy of the County of Union)
Union County Freeholder Alexander Mirabella presents a resolution to Jazmyn Carrington of Scotch Plains commending her for her quick actions in saving the life of a fellow student at Union County Academy for Performing Arts in Scotch Plains by performing the Heimlich maneuver. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)