County of Union, New JerseyDefault category for all normal press releases
Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski congratulates Class 13-01 on graduating the Union County Sheriff’s Office K9 Training Academy during their graduation ceremony in Mountainside. The graduates are (from left) South Plainfield Police Officer Mark Bullock & K9 Blitz, United States Park Police Officer Bekim Cobaj & K9 Vice and South Plainfield Police Officer Michael Grasso & K9 Kaiser.
(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
Union County Freeholders Vernell Wright (L) and Bette Jane Kowalski present a resolution to Union Police Director Daniel Zieser in honor of National Police Week during the Township of Union’s Annual Police Awards ceremony.
(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
CRANFORD, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders will sponsor a Household Special Waste Collection event on Saturday, June 1, so Union County residents can get rid of outdated or unwanted household chemicals, mercury thermostats, propane tanks, and automobile tires in an environmentally safe manner.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 collection will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cranford campus of Union County College, located at 1033 Springfield Ave., 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 Linda Carter. “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 Freeholder Vice Chairman Christopher Hudak, liaison to the Union County Solid Waste Advisory Council. “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 1 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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MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Claudia Savickas, 15, of Westfield, practices her equestrian skills while riding Mason during her regular Watchung Mounted Troop lesson at Watchung Stable in Mountainside. Claudia has been riding for seven years. She will be one of 300 other participants at Watchung Stable’s 80th Anniversary Spring Troop Show over the weekend of May 24-26. Riding competition events begin Friday evening and continue throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday. Spectators are encouraged to come and watch at no charge! Watchung Stable, located at 1160 Summit Lane in Mountainside, is a facility of the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal administered by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. For more information about riding lessons or equestrian programs call Watchung Stable at 908-789-3665, or e-mail questions to stablequestions@ucnj.org.
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Union County Freeholders, members of the State’s 22nd District legislative delegation, the Linden Youth Soccer Association, and City of Linden municipal officials, including Mayor and Council, were on hand to formally dedicate and cut the ribbon on new soccer and softball playing fields at Wheeler Park in Linden on Saturday.
The County fields were renovated and made new with field turf and new lights, enabling their year-round usage for soccer, softball and other usage. (Photo by Sebastian D’Elia)
l. to r. Linden Councilwoman Michele Yamakaitis, Charisse Cosby-Hurling, Linden Ward 5 Councilwoman Rhashonna Cosby-Hurling, Union County Freeholder Vice Chair Christopher Hudak, Catie Hudak, Union County Freeholder Chair Linda Carter, Union County Freeholder Mohamed Jalloh, Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, Ward 6 Linden Councilman Robert Sadowski, Linden Mayor Richard Gerbounka, State Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-22) and State Senator Nick Scutari (D-22). At bottom are honorary uniforms given to the Freeholders by the Linden Youth Soccer Association.
SPRINGFIELD, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that the 2013 Teen Arts Touring Exhibit will begin this year’s tour at the Springfield Public Library, located at 66 Mountain Avenue in Springfield. It will be on display through June 10th during regular library hours.
The exhibit consists of 65 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. 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 and 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 as it goes on tour throughout Union County.”
The public is invited to a reception honoring the student artists on Tuesday, May 21, at 7:00 p.m. in the Springfield Library. 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 call 711, or E-mail: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.
2013 TEEN ARTS EXHIBIT
The exhibiting students are:
Berkeley Heights
Columbia MS
Alice Gao
Governor Livingston HS
Michael Horwath
Case Krause
Clark
Mother Seton RHS
Nathalia Palacios
Jovana Georges
Elizabeth
Abraham Lincoln School
Evelyn Huiloti
Benedictine Academy
Angie Mery
Charles Hudson School
Isidra Alvarado Vasques
Dr. Orlando Edreira
Jezebel Jimenez
Joseph Huezo
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
Patrick Castro
Elizabeth HS – Upper Academy
Nicole Capelo
Sung Soon DeSouza
Elmora School
Jayline Rodriguez
Louveture-Lafayette School
Katuiska ZunigaLuis Mercado
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
Gilbert Moreno
Hillside
Hillside HS
Kameron Kee
Walter O. Krumbiegel MS
Samantha Felipe
Kenilworth
David Brearley HS
Brian Almeida
Erick Soriano
Melissa Dudukvich
Linden
Linden HS
Adrianna Rendon
Kylie Vorob
McManus MS
Kara Depczynski
Soehl MS
Nicholas Francisco
Mountainside
Deerfield MS
Isabella DiCosmo
Deidre McLaughlin
New Providence
New Providence HS
Adrienne Cirotti
Christie Shaw
Danielle Pagano
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
Thomas Snyder
Union
Union HS
Wislet Dazime
Armando Flores
Anidale Naguit
Westfield
Hillcrest Academy South
Kadeem Venus
Lamberts Mill Academy
Genesis Malacara
Winfield
Winfield School
Corey Hallari
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“The purpose of Community Action Month is to highlight community action agencies’ role in helping low-income families move out of poverty and achieve independence and economic security,” said Linda Carter, Freeholder Chairman.
According to the 2010 US Census, approximately 53,310 (9.8%) of Union County’s 539,494 children and adults are living in poverty. Last year, the Union County Department of Human Services, in partnership with other community based social services agencies, assisted thousands of residents with food, rent, mortgage, and utility assistance.
Agencies also aided victims of domestic violence, provided emergency, short term assistance to help people avoid foreclosure on their homes, provided emergency/disaster relief; financial literacy training, home buyers education, and workforce development training.
The following agencies will be hosting events on May 17th in celebration of National Community Action Month:
For more information about National Community Action Month events, and services for low income individuals and families contact Leslie Gutierrez, Union County Department of Human Services, Division of Planning, (908) 527-4861. For information about other Union County services and programs, visit www.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 at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.
Union County – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, in connection with Union County College, invite County residents with an interest in the fields of Transportation, Logistics and Distribution to attend an information session on free job training, offered through the Union County Choices program, taking place Thursday, May 16, at Union County College’s Elizabeth Campus, located at 40 West Jersey St.
“Transportation and Logistics is a growing and promising industry,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “There are endless opportunities for trained professionals in these fields, and our goal is to ensure that Union County residents are adequately prepared to compete in the market.”
Careers in these areas are usually found in a wide range of companies in various industries. Occupations in Transportation, Logistics and Distribution generally fall into the following areas: Transportation and Port Operations; Maintenance; Warehousing and Distribution; Supply Chain Management and Logistics; Wholesale Trade; and Corporate Administration (Sales, Marketing, Safety, Purchasing, Information Technology, etc.).
The Union County Choices program, which is one of Carter’s initiatives as Chairman, is geared towards providing a range of skills and sector training to eligible job seekers in Union County’s priority economic development sectors.
The information session is free of charge to attend, and walk-ins are welcome although pre-registration is preferred. To register, or for more information on the Union County Choices program, please contact Gina Tuesta at gtuesta@ucnj.org; for registration purposes, please include your name, contact information and email address.
In addition to attending the information session, to be considered for the Union County Choices program candidates must have a high school diploma or GED, take the TABE test and score at 8th grade level or above, be WIA eligible and complete a criminal background check prior to the start of the training program.
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.
Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that the County’s long-running Horticulture for People with Disabilities program has been recognized for Excellence in Programming by the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association, the state’s leading professional organization in the field of recreation services and land stewardship.
The program was created by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County through its volunteer Master Gardener program, in conjunction with the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal.
“Horticulture for People with Disabilities began 25 years ago on a somewhat modest footing, and over the years we have seen it blossom into a state and national role model,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “The Freeholder Board is very proud of our Master Gardener volunteers, and of all who have worked to make the program an effective and successful one.”
Directed horticulture projects have long been recognized as an effective way to exercise the mind, spirit and body, leading to improved outcomes for people with disabilities. Horticultural therapy can also serve as a pathway to a vocation for both volunteers and participants.
The roots of the Union County program date back to 1988, when Master Gardener volunteers began offering a biweekly horticultural therapy program at a local health care facility.
The program was an overwhelming success, with a ripple effect that included the establishment of fully accessible outdoor vegetable gardens and an arboretum.
In 2009, Union County expanded its offerings to focus on children with autism, resulting in the Horticulture for Children with Disabilities collaboration between the County, Master Gardeners, Children’s Specialized Hospital, and the local advocacy group Autism Family Times.
“When you see how children in this program gain confidence through participating in new activities and new social situations, you begin to realize how essential these enriching experiences are,” said Freeholder Alexander Mirabella. As Chairman last year, Mirabella initiated the Sensory Friendly Theater series at the Union County Performing Arts Center, for audiences with autism and other sensory sensitivities.
Horticulture for Children with Disabilities consists of six sessions, each led by Master Gardener volunteers at the Demonstration Gardens in Union County’s Watchung Reservation, in Mountainside.
Each volunteer has been trained and certified as a Master Gardener by experts with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, and they also receive sensitivity training from autism educators with Children’s Specialized Hospital.
One important feature of the program is an illustrated weekly “social story,” which participants and their families or caregivers read together in advance of each session.
The reading exercise helps prepare the children to accept a new, unfamiliar event in their weekly routine. Many families also bring a copy with them to the sessions, to help their child navigate the steps in the projects.
Autism Family Times has also played a vital role in the program’s success. The group provides trained peer mentors to offer social support for the participants, engaging them with new friends. That helps the session leaders focusing on providing one-on-one assistance when needed.
In additional to general plant care and garden experiences, the program includes special projects like terrarium planting, herb dish gardens and decoupage.
In addition to the focus on children, the Rutgers Extension and Master Gardeners also developed a specially designed eight-session Introduction to Horticultural Therapy program for all ages.
For this program, which does not require access to a garden, Master Gardeners lead horticultural therapy sessions at care facilities. Staff members at the facility also attend and learn the program, so they can continue to offer as part of their ongoing therapy programming.
For more information on Union County programs for people with disabilities, contact Margaret Heisey of the Department of Parks and Community Renewal, 908-527-4806 or mheisey@ucnj.org.
All Union County recreation events and programs are available online at ucnj.org/parks, or call 908-527-4900.
Master Gardener volunteers perform many acts of community service in Union County, including management of the Demonstration Gardens. No previous experience in horticulture is required to join. For information contact Madeline Flahive at the Rutgers Extension office in Westfield, 908-654-9854 or visit the Master Gardeners online at mastergardeners-uc.org.
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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.
The Union County Baseball Association invites young baseball players – boys and girls – ages 8 to 15, to register for its Summer Youth League baseball teams. This annual youth baseball program is sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Union County Baseball Association, and the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal.
“Since 1945, Union County has offered opportunities for young ballplayers to strengthen their skills and have fun during the summer,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “The Summer Youth League continues this long tradition of providing coaches, umpires, shirts and baseball caps to boys and girls who enjoy participating in baseball games at Warinanco Park.”
All games during the Summer Youth League are played in Warinanco Park, on the border of Elizabeth and Roselle, Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. The games are coached and supervised by Union County Baseball Association staff.
Sign-ups for the summer league will be held at the Warinanco Park Boat House in Roselle on Saturdays June 1, 8, 15 and 22, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon each day. Participants also may register online at www.ucba-nj.org . All those who register will participate in play.
Each player is required to bring a $25 registration fee and a birth certificate to the sign-up. Players must be at least 8 years old by June 21 and cannot be 16 before August 1.
The Summer Youth League is divided into three divisions: a Teen League for 13, 14 and 15-year-olds; a Major League for 11 and 12-year-olds; and a Minor League for 8, 9 and 10-year-old players. Registered players will be notified about Team Assignment Day and the first day of play. There will be no refunds after Team Assignment Day.
An awards picnic will be held on Friday, August 2, to mark the end of the Summer Youth Baseball League. For more information call 908-917-2523, or visit the Union County Baseball Association Website at www.ucba-nj.org .
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