Category: Public Info

Union County – On August 25th members of the Union County 4H Dog Obedience Club visited the Hunterdon County 4H Dog Contest to cheer on fellow 4H-er Hanarae Force (4th L) of Roselle Park in the Pre-novice Dog Obedience contest. Hanarae and her dog Max won first place. Also pictured are: Assistant Club Leader Carol Fricke (L), of Cranford; Christina Beviano (2nd L), Ashley Fine (3rd L), Club Leader Bryan Johnson (2ndR), and Jaclyn Beviano (R ) all of whom are from Linden.(Photo Courtesy of the Rutgers Extension of Union County)

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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 athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

“Rutgers Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity program provider and employer. Contact your local Extension Office for information regarding special needs or accommodations. Contact the State Extension Director’s Office if you have concerns related to discrimination, 732-932-5000, ext. 584.”

Union County – In preparation for the upcoming holiday weekend, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, in connection with the Bureau of Mosquito Control, are reminding residents to take precautions against the West Nile Virus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, some of the most effective methods to avoid mosquito bites include:

• Use an  EPA-registered insect repellent while enjoying the outdoors.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when weather permits.
• Avoid the outdoors at dawn, dusk and in the early evening which are peak mosquito biting times.
• Install or repair window and door screens.

In an effort to curb the insects’ activity for the upcoming long weekend, the Bureau of Mosquito Control will continue its ongoing program of monitoring and control this evening with adulticide sprayings at Oak Ridge and Esposito parks in Clark.

Operations will also be conducted in the residential areas of the following towns: Berkeley Heights, Clark, Cranford, Elizabeth, Hillside, Kenilworth, Linden, New Providence, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Springfield, Union, Westfield.

For a listing of streets included in this evening’s scheduled operations visit www.ucnj.org/mc or call the Union County Bureau of Mosquito Control at 908-654-9834/654-9873.

For additional information on the West Nile virus visit the CDC’s website, www.cdc.gov.

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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 athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

Union County – Union County Freeholder Angel G. Estrada (L), presents a resolution to Jeri Beaumont R.D. (R ) at her retirement party on August 29 at Mario’s Tutto Bene in Union. The resolution acknowledged Beaumont’s many years of service to the residents of Union County where she served as Nutrition Director with the Department of Human Services since October, 2001.

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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 athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders welcomes residents to attend the free Fall Speaker Series addressing alcohol and drug addiction, prevention and treatment. The series is funded by the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse through the Municipal Alliance, and coordinated by the Union County Department of Human Services.

The four evening presentations are scheduled for September 19 in Rahway, October 3 in Scotch Plains, October 17 in Cranford, and November 14 in Union.

“The Freeholder Board strongly supports the Municipal Alliance’s citizen volunteers who work at the grassroots level to prevent substance abuse and promote healthy lifestyles among children, teens and adults,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The Fall Speaker Series will provide valuable knowledge about health and safety issues in an informative yet entertaining way.”

The first three presentations will be made by John Kriger, a popular speaker at national and international conferences who has worked with local, state  and federal agencies, colleges, school districts, corporations, and, non-profits throughout the United States. Mr. Kriger is a professional alcohol and drug counselor, and trainer who addresses individual and family issues in school, at work and at home.  He is the author of The Pond: A Small Book About Big Changes.

Mr. Kriger will present “Family Dynamics of Addiction” on:

• Wednesday, September 19 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Rahway Public Library, 2 City Hall Plaza, Rahway.
• Wednesday, October 3 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, 667 Westfield Road, Scotch Plains.
• On Wednesday, October 17, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Mr. Kriger will present “Adolescent Trends: For Adults Only” at the Cranford Community Center, 220 Walnut Avenue, Cranford.

The fourth and final presentation will be made by Michael Litterer of Prevention Links. Titled “Prescription 101: Prescription Medication and Heroin Abuse & Addiction,” it will be held on Wednesday, November 14 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Kean University’s STEM Auditorium, 1000 Morris Avenue in Union.

Prevention Links is a private, not-for-profit organization based in Roselle, which has taken a leadership role in the prevention of drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse. The agency’s goal is to provide substance abuse information and resources for individuals, families, schools and businesses throughout Union County.

Prevention Links has also received a state grant through the Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), to lead the Health and Wellness Coalition of Union County (HAWC). The HAWC works to promote alcohol and other drug education and addiction prevention within Union County and is comprised of members of the prevention network throughout Union County.

All presentations are free and open to the public.  For more information, call Union County Alliance Coordinator Deborah LaNier, Union County Department of Human Services, Division of Planning, 908-527-4852.

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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 athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

Union County, NJ- Union County residents are invited to take part in “MyPlate Makeovers”, a seminar on the importance of following MyPlate guidelines to promote healthy eating habits. The two-hour seminar, developed by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, will be held Monday, September 19, from 7pm to 9pm in the county services building located at 300 North Ave East in Westfield.

“The MyPlate Makover program is a fantastic way for participants to familiarize themselves with MyPlate guidelines and learn how they can look and feel great by making simple modifications to their meals,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

Sponsored in part by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders,  MyPlate Makeovers aims to educate participants on how make healthy meals a part of their total lifestyle by showing them how to prepare enjoyable meals that are low in fat, salt and sugar content.

To register, please contact Judi Laganga at the extension offices at 908-654-9854 or via email atjlaganga@ucnj.org. A $5 fee will be collected at the door and pre-registration is required.

MyPlate is the USDA’s food guidance system comprised of the new MyPlate symbol and other materials to help Americans make healthy food choices and to be active every day. It is designed to remind Americans to eat healthfully and illustrates the five food groups using a familiar mealtime visual, a place setting.

For more information on the MyPlate food guidance system, visit http://www.choosemyplate.gov.

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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 athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj. 

“Rutgers Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity program provider and employer. Contact your local Extension Office for information regarding special needs or accommodations. Contact the State Extension Director’s Office if you have concerns related to discrimination, 732-932-5000, ext. 584.

Union County, NJ – All business owners and managers in Union County are welcome to attend “Public/Private Partnerships,” a free networking breakfast on doing business with government agencies scheduled for Wednesday, September 5, from 8:00 am to 10:00 am at the Holiday Inn in Clark.

The program is part of the successful Union County Means Business series of free networking breakfasts, designed to help the business community connect with local, state and federal resources that are available to help them grow. The series was launched earlier this year as part of Union County Freeholder Chairman Al Mirabella’s 2012 business initiatives in partnership with Union County business entities, colleges and universities.

Pre-registration is required by visiting ucnj.org/ucmeansbusiness, or call the County Manager’s office at 908-527-4200.

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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 athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

Union County – With reports of the mosquito-borne West Nile virus on the rise, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds residents that there are steps they can take to reduce their exposure to mosquito bites.

The Union County Bureau of Mosquito Control has also stepped up its ongoing program of mosquito monitoring and control.

“Mosquitoes emerged much earlier than usual this year, resulting in a larger population,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The Bureau of Mosquito Control has been working diligently to bring those numbers down, and the public can help in this effort, too.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the best way to avoid West Nile virus is to prevent mosquito bites. Some of the most effective methods include:

• Use an  EPA-registered insect repellent while enjoying the outdoors.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when weather permits.
• Avoid the outdoors at dawn, dusk and in the early evening which are peak mosquito biting times.
• Install or repair window and door screens.

Mirabella also advised County residents to check their property for places where stagnant water can collect including clogged rain gutters, empty flower pots and children’s toys.

“Mosquitoes only need a small amount of stagnant water to reproduce, so clearing your property of these breeding areas will help keep the population down,” said Mirabella.

The West Nile virus is spread most often by the bite of an infected mosquito, but sometimes can be spread through blood transfusions, organ transplants, breast feeding, and during pregnancy from mother to child. It is not spread by casual touching.

Although most people infected with West Nile show no signs of being ill, symptoms of West Nile can include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting swollen lymph glands, and at times a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. The symptoms generally develop between 3 and 14 days after being bitten.

In response to the above-average mosquito population this year, the Bureau of Mosquito control has been working with experts from Rutgers University to develop a response that includes surveillance, trapping and mosquito testing along with exterminating mosquito larvae and adults.

The Bureau of Mosquito Control has increased the number of trucks for adulticide operations, and has added thermal fogging, liquid larviciding by truck-mounted sprayers, and barrier treatments.

The Bureau will continue its efforts this evening with adulticide sprayings at Snyder Avenue Park in Berkeley Heights, and Oak Ridge and Esposito parks in Clark. Operations will also be conducted in the residential areas of the following towns: Berkeley Heights, Clark, Cranford, Elizabeth, Fanwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, Linden, New Providence, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle, Scotch Plains, Union and Winfield Park.

For a listing of streets included in this evening’s scheduled operations visit https://ucnj.org/mc or call the Union County Bureau of Mosquito Control at 908-654-9834/654-9873.

For additional information on the West Nile virus visit www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile.

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

More than 80 teens from across Union County recently graduated from the Union County Sheriff’s Youth Academy, a program designed to familiarize young people with the role of a police officer. Also, it operates similar to an actual police academy for teens interested in law enforcement.

“The Youth Academy aims to teach our kids about law enforcement and it is a great first step for those interested in the field,” Sheriff Ralph Froehlich said during the graduation ceremony. “And from what I heard from these fine young women and men, we succeeded in all of our goals in this program.”

Sheriff Froehlich also thanked the officers from the various law enforcement agencies that participated in the program including the New Jersey State Police, the FBI, the Union County Police Department and the Union County Corrections.

Participants in the Youth Academy received hands-on experience in a wide variety of emergency services and law enforcement functions and training.  In addition, youths have the opportunity to learn respect for law enforcement through positive interaction during their time in the program.

“Showing them the human element of law enforcement helps our young people connect with officers in a way they never thought they could,” the Sheriff added.

The Sheriff’s Youth Academy is not a ‘boot camp’ for troubled youth. In order to enroll in the program, the youngsters must have a minimum GPA of 2.70 (B- average), letters of reference and write an essay explaining why the student would like to attend the Youth Academy.

During the first week of the program, the teens engaged in a physical training regime twice a day while attending lectures on subjects such as crime scene investigations, K-9 and motor vehicle stops. They also received visits from representatives from several branches of the military, New Jersey State Police and the Secret Service.

The second week of the Youth Academy involved class trips to the Union County SWAT Range, the Union County Jail and the State Police Museum in Trenton.

CAPTION: Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich speaks to members of this summer’s Union County Sheriff’s Youth Academy at the John H. Stamler Police Academy in Scotch Plains.

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. On Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

ELIZABETH, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that 46 artists, historians and local non-profit organizations will receive funding through the 2012 Union County HEART (History, Education, Arts Reaching Thousands) Grant Program.

Recognizing the importance of culture and the arts to our economy and quality of life, the Union County Freeholders established the HEART Grant Program in 1998. This innovative program supports projects related to history, the arts and humanities, and it demonstrates a commitment to the artists and community organizations of Union County. Total funding for this year’s grants is $75,000.

“The recipients of HEART Grants are a wonderful mix of creative individuals – composers and writers, historians, visual artists, musicians and dancers – plus arts, history and other cultural organizations and civic groups,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The response to the program has been exciting ever since its inception.”

“The services provided by these artists, scholars and organizations directly benefit the residents of our county and increase appreciation for the arts, our history, and the humanities,” Freeholder Mirabella added. “These cultural assets are a vital part of community life, well being, economic development and cultural heritage tourism in Union County.”

Artists, educators, civic and historical non-profit organizations that want information about next year’s HEART Grant Program can contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202. Telephone: (908) 558-2550. NJ Relay users dial 711, or send E-mail:culturalinfo@ucnj.org

Union County HEART Grants Awarded 2012 (Total $75,000)

• Brian Beste, Fanwood, $1,000, presenting art creating and history workshops;
• Candace Waller, Fanwood, $700, presenting dance programs and workshops;
• Danielle Linares Hale, Fanwood, $1,000, intergenerational drawing workshops;
• Kenneth Sack, Summit, $600, “Write Your School Song” workshops at Winfield School;
• Raymond W. Blanks, Rahway, $997, providing photography classes for Rahway youth;
• Sandra Frank, Westfield, $1,000, presenting music education for senior rehab center;
• Valerie Graham, Roselle, $930, presenting free crafts workshops for children;
• Arts Guild New Jersey, Rahway $2,000, Pre-K arts education in Rahway schools;
• Borough of Fanwood, $2,000, presenting Fanwood Cultural Arts Performance Series;
• Borough of New Providence Community Activities, $992, “Faces” children’s portrait project;
• Borough of Roselle Park, Casano Community Center, $1,000, free concert “Legendary Performers and Recordings”;
• Brand New Day, Elizabeth, $2,000, traditional Caribbean music and dance workshops;
• Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company, Union, $1,600, performance with UCAPA at the Vo-Tech black box theater;
• CASA of Union County, Elizabeth, $2,000, arts workshops for child advocates;
• Center for Hope Hospice & Palliative Care, Scotch Plains, $2,000, musical performances for hospice residents;
• Central Presbyterian Church, Summit, $1,500, providing classical music performances;
• City of Rahway, $1,000, hiring artists to make window art for empty storefronts;
• Clark Historical Society, Clark, $2,000, early American life demonstrators at Four Centuries in a Weekend;
• Continuo Arts Foundation, Westfield, $1,500, presenting “Seniors Sing” choral program;

• Cranford Senior Housing, Cranford, $1,000, “Three Tenors” concert for senior residents;
• Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre, Summit, $1,500, producing an original musical play;
• duCret School of Art, Plainfield, $1,500, performing arts program for grades K-12;
• Institute of Music for Children, Elizabeth, $2,500, Friday Teen Arts Night series;

• Elizabeth Avenue Partnership, Elizabeth, $1,900, dance and music events during Hispanic Heritage Month;
• Groundwork Elizabeth, Inc., Elizabeth, $1,600, 10th Annual Tour de Elizabeth bike tour;
• Hillside Public Library, Hillside, $1,818, free arts and cultural workshops for children;

• Josephine’s Place, Elizabeth, $2,500, clay arts projects for immigrant women;
• Language & Enrichment Center Inc, Scotch Plains, $1,000, performances by preschool children of Italian winter songs;
• Literacy Volunteers of Union County, Roselle, $2,500, creating “Connections” a literary publication of student work;
• Mother Seton Regional High School, Clark, $1,000, producing a musical with Union County children;
• Music for All Seasons, Scotch Plains, $2,300, music programs for U.C. Juvenile Detention Center;
• National Council of Jewish Women, U.C. Section, Elizabeth, $2,000, two inter-generational programs: a big band swing dance and a comedy show;
• NJ Intergenerational Orchestra, Berkeley Heights, $2,000, free community concert;
• Occupational Center of U.C., Roselle, $2,000, art classes for people with disabilities;
• Plainfield Division of Parks and Recreation, $1,850, a historical Kwanza celebration with speakers, music and dance;
• Restore Ministries, Inc., Elizabeth, $2,500, “Union County Arts Tour” for youth literary and arts study;
• Second Street Youth Center, Plainfield, $990, a 12-week engineering workshop for children;
• Temple Beth O’r/Beth Torah, Clark, $1,000, free concert by Magevet, Yale’s Jewish a cappella group;
• The Theater Project, Union, $2,000, presenting “A Few Steps in a Stranger’s Shoes” to promote understanding among students;
• Union Township Community Action Organization, Inc., $1,700, Senior Choral performances in nursing homes;
• United Youth of NJ, Elizabeth, $2,000, presenting a play about Harriet Tubman;
• Visual Arts Center of NJ, Summit $2,300, a visual arts program for older adults;
• Westfield Symphony Orchestra, Westfield, $1,600, concert “Home for the Holidays”;
• Women in Conversation, Plainfield, $2,500, reading groups for students and seniors;
• YM-YWHA of Union County, Union, $2,000, “History of Jewish Cultural Impact” lecture series;
• Art in the Garden, through Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, Elizabeth, $1,623, free performances at Jersey Gardens Mall in Elizabeth.

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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 athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj .

Union County Freeholders Angel G. Estrada and Bette Jane Kowalski present Krystina Rambaran of Hillside with a certificate congratulating her on receiving the 2012 Investors Saving Bank Scholarship through the New Jersey Association of Counties Foundation. Krystina is a recent graduate of Union County Vocational-Technical Schools (UCVTHS) in Scotch Plains. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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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. On Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.