Category: Public Info

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Autumn will be here in a few weeks and Union County’s Watchung Stable is busy preparing for a new season of Watchung Mounted Troop riding lessons.

“Horseback riding in the Watchung Reservation is a real treat and our lesson program at the Watchung Stable is a great way to learn how to ride,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “Watchung Stable has been in existence since 1935, and I am proud to say that more than 40,000 girls and boys have participated in this wonderful program.”

All applicants for riding lessons must be nine years of age or older. Class and troop assignments are based upon riding ability as determined by the Stable management. Applicants with previous experience may be asked to demonstrate their riding ability in order to be placed in the appropriate class.

Riding classes are held Tuesdays through Saturdays. Fall Troop lessons will last for ten weeks beginning Sept. 3 and will culminate with the Fall Troop Horse Show. The cost to participate begins at $255 for ten classes, and varies with Union County residency status and troop assignment. Uniforms and helmets are required and must be provided at the rider’s expense

Watchung Stable also features adult lessons, for people 18 years of age and older, also beginning the week of Sept. 3. Adult lessons are an eight-week program available on Sundays at 12:45 p.m. or Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. Beginner through advanced lessons are available on both days.

Registration forms and fees must be submitted in-person at the 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. Tuesday through Sunday. For further information, and to obtain registration materials, call (908) 789-3665 or emailstablequestions@ucnj.org.

Union County, NJ –The Union County 4-H Pet Clubs are seeking adult volunteers to lead their programs for the upcoming school year. Club leaders will work with small groups of children, helping them to learn the basics of animal care while developing important life skills including teamwork, leadership, organization and public speaking.

Union County 4-H is part of the national 4-H youth development program. It is run by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County and supported in part by the Freeholder Board.

“The Freeholder Board is very proud of our 4-H volunteers, who perform a wonderful community outreach service,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “Taking care of the family pet is a big responsibility and the Union County 4-H Pet Clubs are here to help children learn how to pitch in.”

The clubs seeking adult leaders are the 3rd Grade 4-H Pet Club, which meets from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month during the school year, and the 4th/5th Grade 4-H Pet Club, which meets from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. on the second Saturday.

Both clubs meet at the Extension offices in the Colleen Fraser Building in Westfield, at 300 North Avenue East.

No previous experience in working with children is needed. 4-H provides club leaders with training, guidance and support, including ideas for hands-on activities, games, and crafts. 4-H also recruits members for the clubs, and arranges for parents to provide additional help during meetings.

To apply to lead a 4-H Pet Club, or to find out more about Union County 4-H, contact Union County 4-H Agent James Nichnadowicz at 908-654-9854 or Nichnadowicz@njaes.rutgers.edu, or visit ucnj.org/rce.

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Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperative Extension educational programs are offered to all without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, military service, veteran status, and any other category protected by law. Rutgers Cooperative Extension encourages individuals with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you need special accommodations, have questions about physical access, or require alternate means for program information, please contact your local Extension Office. Contact the State Extension Director’s Office if you have concerns related to discrimination, 848-932-3584.

Photo caption (photo attached): Forty students and guests from Shiyan High School in Liaoning Province, China, visited the Barack Obama Green Charter High School in Plainfield earlier this week. The cultural and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) mingling program highlights the educational programs and global connections that the school provides to students in the Plainfield district. On hand to greet the group were (l-r) Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter, Principal Kate Reilly, Freeholder Vernell Wright and Steven King, founder and Executive Director of the school. (credit: County of Union, NJ).

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

CLARK, NJ – The Union County Summer Arts Festival concert series concludes its 53rd annual summer of music on Wednesday, August 28, with a performance of popular rock hits from the 1960s by The British Invasion Tribute. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, led by Chairman Linda Carter, invites the public to attend this free concert at Oak Ridge Park in Clark. A special Veterans Appreciation Program at 7:00 p.m. will precede the outdoor concert.

The British Invasion Tribute has opened for the Beach Boys, Ringo Starr, the Rascals and other top acts. Their show is a musical tour that spans the 1960s and really is three shows in one. First, they play songs by iconic British groups such as The Zombies, Dave Clark Five, the Rolling Stones, Manfred Mann, and the Hollies. Next comes the American Response, with smash hits by the Beach Boys, the Monkees, Simon & Garfunkel, the Mamas and the Papas, Paul Revere and the Raiders, and others. The concert concludes with an extraordinary tribute to the lads from Liverpool: The Beatles!

“Bring the entire family for a night of popular hits from the ‘60s at Oak Ridge Park,” said Freeholder Chairman Carter. “And be sure to get to the park early with your picnic basket, lawn chairs or blankets so you can show your appreciation for the brave men and women who have served our county in the military.”

The Union County information van will be at the concert site with personnel from the Union County Department of Public Safety, including the Union County Police, the Division of Emergency Management, the Division of Health, the Office of Consumer Affairs and other knowledgeable staff to answer questions and offer information about programs and activities that are available to Union County residents. Public Safety staff also will be collecting your expired or unwanted medications for safe disposal.

The Veterans Appreciation Program will begin at 7 p.m. on Aug. 28, followed by the concert at 7:30 p.m. in Oak Ridge Park. Lawn chairs, blankets and picnic baskets are encouraged. Refreshments will be available from vendors, including ice cream, cotton candy and snacks from “The Ice Cream Man.” Pulled pork, hamburgers and specialty hot dogs will be available from “Marci’s Dog House,” winner of Best Topping and Best Truck categories on the 2012 Munchmobile tour of New Jersey.

For rain information call the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal at (908) 558-4079 after 3 p.m. on the day of the concert, or visit the Union County web site: www.ucnj.org

CLARK, NJ – The Union County Summer Arts Festival concert series continues its 53rd season of music Wednesday, August 21, with a performance of Reggae and other Caribbean music by Verdict. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, led by Chairman Linda Carter, invites the public to attend this free concert that begins at 7:30 p.m. in Oak Ridge Park in Clark.

Verdict is a lively group that plays music with Caribbean flavor. Originally from Neptune, New Jersey, they’ve been playing music together since 1993, specializing in reggae, soca and calypso. Verdict has delighted audiences from the Stone Pony in Asbury Park to Miami Beach, San Juan and Trinidad – and even to the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art. They’re one of the hottest bands in the area and they return to Oak Ridge Park with their personal blend of beach music and popular tunes from Down the Shore.

“Bring the entire family for a night of summertime beach songs at Oak Ridge Park,” said Freeholder Chairman Carter. “Pack a picnic basket, bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on, and enjoy the sandy sounds under the stars.”

The Union County information van will be at the concert site with personnel from Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, Runnells Specialized Hospital and other knowledgeable staff to answer questions and offer information about programs and activities that are available to Union County residents.

The Summer Arts Festival concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. The concerts in August will be at Oak Ridge Park in Clark. Lawn chairs, blankets and picnic baskets are encouraged. Refreshments will be available from vendors, including ice cream, cotton candy and snacks from “The Ice Cream Man.” Pulled pork, hamburgers and specialty hot dogs will be available from “Marci’s Dog House,” winner of Best Topping and Best Truck categories on the 2012 Munchmobile tour of New Jersey.

The concluding free concert in the 2013 Union County Summer Arts Festival series will be on Wednesday, August 28, when The British Invasion Tribute will perform at Oak Ridge Park. A special Veterans Appreciation Program will take place at 7:00 p.m. before the concert.

For rain information call the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal at (908) 558-4079 after 3 p.m. on the day of the scheduled concert, or visit the Union County web site: www.ucnj.org

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Union County Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter and Freeholder Bruce Bergen (R) joined Union County Public Safety Director Andrew Moran and McGruff the Crime Dog at the National Night Out event hosted by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders on August 6 in Meisel Park in Springfield. National Night Out, sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, is a campaign geared toward generating drug and crime awareness and prevention throughout the country.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Members of the public, in low- and moderate- income households may be eligible to receive up to $50,000 in assistance to purchase a single-family home in Union County, as part of the Sandy Homebuyer Assistance Program (SHAP).  The assistance will be provided in the form of a subordinate mortgage that will be forgiven at a rate of 20% a year, to be forgiven in full on the 6th anniversary date of the loan.

“Not only does this program help stimulate the market for new and restored homes in our area,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter, “But it is also a  great opportunity for anyone looking to become a homeowner.”

Rather than attempting to find rental units in increasingly expensive leasing markets, the SHAP program provides an increased opportunity and financial incentive for qualified applicants to purchase homes in the nine counties most severely impacted by Superstorm Sandy. The funds used for this program are part of a $25 million allocation of CDBG-DR (Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery) funds that are expected to assist approximately 500 homebuyers.

To be eligible for the program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Applicants must meet CDBG low and moderate income (“LMI”) guidelines (less than or equal to 80% AMI).
• Applicants must have a minimum credit score of 620.
• Applicants must qualify for a first mortgage to purchase the unit.Applicant cannot own other real estate.

The program is currently in a 90-day pilot phase where applicants must currently live and purchase a new home in one of the designated areas, however after the pilot phase is complete the program will be open to anyone purchasing a home within the nine counties.

For additional information on the program and its requirements please visithttp://www.state.nj.us/dca/hmfa/homeownership/buyers/shap/.

Fact Sheet, Frequently Asked Questions and Project Overview

Union County Freeholders Bruce Bergen and Bette Jane Kowalski congratulate (from left) Michael Padula of Kenilworth, Vinny Figueredo of Roselle Park and Marvin Hamilton of Elizabeth on being named outstanding players in the Union County Baseball Association’s 2013 summer youth leagues during the end-of-season picnic in Warinanco Park in Roselle. They each received the John “Butch” Henry Award for their respective leagues. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Bruce Bergen congratulates the more than 60 students who completed the Union County Freeholders College for Teens program at Union County College in Cranford. This summer the students from throughout Union County completed the three-week program which offers teens in grades 8 through 12 opportunities to explore a variety of career choices while experiencing life on a college campus. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites the public to attend Learn to Be Salt Savvy, a two-hour class designed to help County residents lower their blood pressure and trim their salt intake down to “heart smart” levels, while enjoying great-tasting meals. The class will be conducted by Rutgers University nutrition expert Dr. Karen Ensle, head of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, supported in part by the Freeholder Board.

Learn to Be Salt Savvy is scheduled for Thursday, August 22, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 pm. at the Extension offices in Westfield, at 300 North Avenue East. A $5.00 materials fee will be collected at the door and pre-registration is required by contacting Judi Laganga at the Extension, 908-654-9854 (option 2), orjlaganga@ucnj.org.

(credit: some rights reserved by katerha

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

Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperative Extension educational programs are offered to all without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, military service, veteran status, and any other category protected by law. Rutgers Cooperative Extension encourages individuals with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you need special accommodations, have questions about physical access, or require alternate means for program information, please contact your local Extension Office. Contact the State Extension Director’s Office if you have concerns related to discrimination, 848-932-3584.