Category: Public Info

Photo Caption: Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella (right), recently presented Taylor Jensen of Scotch Plains with an outstanding achievement award for her performance as Belle in Beauty and the Beast. The performance took place in Scotch Plains at the Alan Augustine Park as part of the STARS Theater Program. The STARS Theatre Program is composed of talented local youth of all ages with a love of acting. The program has been running since 2007 and is sponsored by the Township of Scotch Plains’ Recreation Department.

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 at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella (2nd L) speaks with (from left) Joe Steiner and Beth Welsh of the Suburban Chamber of Commerce and Summit City Council President Richard Madden at the chamber’s July First Friday business breakfast event at the Grand Summit Hotel. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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 at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj

Union County – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks & Community Renewal are happy to announce the next evening of “Family Fun and Flix” – the free summer entertainment and film series on Tuesday evenings – on July 17 at Warinanco Park. The evening will feature a display of natural artifacts followed by a showing of the animated adventure, “Happy Feet Two,” which will give families a chance to enjoy an outdoor activity and catch a movie under the stars in a Union County park.

“Family Fun and Flix begins at dusk, but come early to the park to enjoy interesting preview activities at 7:30 p.m. that are fun for the whole family,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “Bring a blanket or beach chair to claim your spot on the lawn or save a seat in the bleachers – either way, the early birds are sure to like the preview activity before each movie.”

Come to Warinanco Park, on the border of Elizabeth and Roselle, on Tuesday, July 17 at 7:30 p.m. when naturalists from Trailside Nature & Science Center will display some of the natural wonders found in Union County’s Watchung Reservation. Then sit back at dusk and watch as the Master of Tap, Mumble the penguin, learns that his son is reluctant to dance in the 2011 animated musical adventure, “Happy Feet Two” featuring the voices of Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Sofia Vergara, Hank Azaria, and Brad Pitt.

The other dates and locations for this summer’s Family Fun and Flix are:

• Tuesday, July 24 at Warinanco Park: The Trailside Ecovan will display pelts, gemstones and other natural wonders before the animated action comedy, “Puss in Boots.”
• Tuesday, August 7 at Meisel Park in Springfield: Take part in National Night Out, starting at 6 p.m., before viewing the concert film, “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never.”
• Tuesday, August 14 at Conant Park in Hillside: The Trailside Ecovan will feature a program about reptiles, before the animated action comedy spy film, “Cars 2.”

All movies start at dusk, weather permitting. For more information, call the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal at 908-527-4900. For program and rain information call 908-558-4079 after 3:00 p.m. on the day of the show.

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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 Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella (L), Vice Chairman Linda Carter (2nd L) and Freeholder Vernell Wright watch as Coach Jorge Alvarez works with children during a Soccer for Kids with Disabilities workshop in Warinanco Park in Roselle. Expanding public recreation opportunities for children with autism and other disabilities is one of the Freeholder Chairman’s 2012 “Putting People First” initiatives. For information on programs for people with disabilities, visit the web site: ucnj.org/recreation-for-people-with-disabilities; call the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal, Programs for the Disabled at 908-527-4806; or e-mail mheisey@ucnj.org.  (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 at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj

The Union County Summer Arts Festival concert series continues its 52nd season of music on Wednesday evening, July 18, with a performance of classic blues, rock and jazz by the multi-talented Rob Paparozzi and Etruscan Soul. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, led by Chairman Alexander Mirabella, invites the public to attend this free concert that begins at 7:30 p.m. in Echo Lake Park in Mountainside.

New Jersey-based singer and harmonica player Rob Paparozzi has been a blues performer since 1967. But his versatility is evidenced in his work on Broadway, movies and TV, and in the diverse list of musicians Rob has worked with, including Bruce Springsteen, B.B. King, Les Paul, Whitney Houston, Jimmy McGriff, Carole King, Phoebe Snow, Bernard Purdie, James Galway, Dolly Parton, The Original Blues Brothers, Blood Sweat & Tears, and The Hudson River Rats. Rob and his seven-piece band will entertain Union County music lovers with their soulfulness and imagination in a variety of musical styles and sensibilities.

“Bring the entire family for a fun-filled musical evening in Echo Lake Park,” said Freeholder Chairman Mirabella. “Pack a picnic basket, bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on, and enjoy the sounds of summer under the stars.”

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

The Summer Arts Festival concerts continue throughout July and August on Wednesdays beginning at 7:30 p.m. This summer’s concerts will be held at Echo Lake Park on the Mountainside-Westfield border and at Oak Ridge Park in Clark. Lawn chairs, blankets and picnic baskets are encouraged. Refreshments and snacks will be available from vendors.

The other free concerts in the Union County Summer Arts Festival series include:

July 25 – The Sensational Soul Cruisers; at Echo Lake Park.
Aug. 1 – Classic Rock Revue with Rick Cantor Band & The Broadcasters; at Oak Ridge Park.
Aug. 8 – American Rapture; at Oak Ridge Park.
Aug. 15 – JoBonanno & The Godsons; at Oak Ridge Park.
Aug. 22 – The B Street Band (The Original Springsteen Tribute); at Oak Ridge Park.

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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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 .

SUMMIT, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that the 2012 Union County Teen Arts Touring Exhibit is on display at the Bouras Galleries, located at 25 DeForest Avenue in Summit. The art exhibit will be on display through August 31st. The Galleries are open to the public. For more information on gallery hours please call Linda Cole at 908-277-6054.

The exhibit consists of 61 pieces of art selected from more than 700 visual art works shown at the 2012 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,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The fact that the artists are teenagers makes the show even more outstanding. I encourage everyone to get out and see this fun, lively exhibit while it is on tour throughout Union County.”

For information about the Teen Arts program, please contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth NJ 07202; telephone (908) 558-2550. NJ Relay service users should call 711, or email: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

2012 TEEN ARTS EXHIBIT – The exhibiting students are:

Berkeley Heights
Columbia Middle School
Allison Yang

Governor Livingston HS
Amanda Berlinski
Laura Young

Clark
AL Johnson HS
Samantha Ring
Jimmy Douglas

Mother Seton Regional HS
Catherine Bialkowski

Cranford
Cranford HS
Lya Finston
Emily Schindler
Aaron Black

Cranford Achievement Center
Di-Jon Hodges

Hillside Avenue School
Sabrina Landsman

Orange Avenue School
Mackenzie Moonan

St. Michael School
Kianu Montenegro

Elizabeth
Abraham Lincoln School
Aldaberto Martinez

Charles Hudson School
Jayson Araaujo

Dr. Orlando Edreira School
Christian Heredia

Elizabeth HS – Dwyer House
Leydy Ramirez

Elizabeth HS – Edison House
Andre Acevedo

Elizabeth HS – Hamilton Academy
Alondra Guzman

Elizabeth HS – Jefferson House
Stephanie Rodriguez
Joel Zamora

Elizabeth HS – Lower Academy
Beatriz Carvalho

Elizabeth HS – Upper Academy
Christian Marin

Madison-Monroe School
Lizcary Amarante

Nicholas M. Butler School
Tatiana Herr

Nicholas S. LaCorte School
Zafiro Lopez

St. Mary of the Assumption
Elmi Ventura

T.C. Reilly School
Nelson Rodriguez

William F. Halloran School
Stephanie Liscano

Woodrow Wilson School
Noelia Aqudela

Hillside
Hillside HS
Rushana Boswell

Walter O. Krumbiegel MS
Chisom Nwosu

Kenilworth
David Brearley HS
Daniel Lezcano
Eric Soriano

Linden
Linden HS
Jose Ferero

McManus MS
Anthony Munoz

Soehl MS
Deanna Sheehy

Mountainside
Deerfield MS
Rory McQuillan

New Providence
New Providence HS
Coleen Preston

New Providence MS
Kristen Potter

Plainfield
Central Jersey Arts School
Corainna Frias

Cook School
Kiantau Darrell

Hubbard MS
Ely Sandoval

Maxon MS
Kevin Jimenez

Plainfield Academy of Arts
Jason Palan
Jasmine Medina

Roselle
Abraham Clark HS
Bryan Williams
Giavanni Shim

Grace Wilday Jr. HS
Bryce Moore

Scotch Plains
Union County Vo-Tech HS
Antonio Bejarano
Gabrielle McCavey

Springfield
FM Gaudineer MS
Ahmed Zaky

Jonathan Dayton HS
Rachel Zolotarsky
Tanya Vernik
Danielle DiFiore

Summit
Oratory Preparatory School
Alex McDonald

Union
Union HS
Steven Trujillo
Kevanique Bennett

Westfield
Edison Intermediate School
Hailey Reilly

Lamberts Mill Academy
Liz Marie Soto

Winfield
Winfield School
Lindsey Caverly

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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 .

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholders Angel G. Estrada (L), Christopher Hudak (2nd R), and Daniel Sullivan (R) present a resolution to Michael Karlovich congratulating him on his retirement from ConocoPhillips after 38 years of employment.

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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 at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj

RIDING ON A PONY – Watchung Stable Manager Rachel Bechtold gives two-year-old Addie Bozetarnik of Scotch Plains a ride on Macaroni, Watchung Stable’s newest equine addition to the facility located at 1160 Summit Lane in Mountainside. Macaroni will be used for the Children’s Troop Program, trail rides, lead-line rides, birthday parties and a variety of other activities. Call the stable for availability. Watchung Stable 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 regarding programs offered, please call (908) 789-3665, visit www.ucnj.org/stable, or e-mail questions to stablequestions@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 .

RAHWAY, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that its next mobile paper-shredding program for personal documents will be available on Thursday, July 12, at Rahway River Park in Rahway.

“Union County’s mobile document-shredding service helps residents fight identity theft and eliminate clutter in their homes,” said Freeholder Christopher Hudak, liaison to the Solid Waste Advisory Council. “It is a cost-effective way to assist our recycling efforts and it ties in with Union County’s other Go Green Initiatives.”

The July 12th shredding event will take place in the Rahway River Park service yard, off St. Georges Avenue in Rahway. NEXCUT Shredding of Teaneck will be shredding documents at the site from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. The shredding event will end before 1 p.m. if the shredding truck reaches capacity.

All Union County residents are eligible to use the paper-shredding service. In an effort to accommodate everyone, there is a limit of four, 10-pound bags or boxes per person. Documents should not be bound. Please remove plastic binders and paperclips. Paper that is wet/damp will not be accepted. Residents should continue to recycle non-confidential papers and magazines with their municipal recycling program.

Documents are put into 96-gallon containers provided by the shredding company. The items are then dumped onto a conveyor belt and shredded on site. Participants are welcome to view the shredding process via a closed-circuit television. The shredded documents are then recycled, shipped to paper mills and used as pulp. The next shredding event will take place Saturday, August 11th at Kean University in Union.

The mobile shredding program is paid for through New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Recycling Enhancement Act Grant Funds. For more information about future events or directions please call the Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889 or visit us online at www.ucnj.org/recycle .

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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 .

It is really simple. Pay attention when behind the wheel.

Don’t talk on a cell phone while driving. And, more importantly, don’t text while driving. Don’t use your phone at all while driving. The distraction could be deadly.

Driving safely requires a person’s constant attention to the road and to everyone and everything outside of the car. Many things can distract a driver, like adjusting the radio or sipping coffee, but since texting requires visual, manual and cognitive attention simultaneously, it is by far the most alarming distraction.

Almost 5,500 people were killed in accidents involving driver distraction nationwide in 2009, and another 448,000 people were injured, according to the latest figures analyzed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Recently, a newspaper reported that there are more than 3,000 accidents involving cell phones in New Jersey every year. People are injured or die in these crashes. And the numbers are not going down.

The NHTSA also reports that using a cell phone while driving delays reaction time as much as being legally drunk with a blood alcohol concentration of .08. Drivers who use a hand-held device are 4 times more likely to get into an accident serious enough to cause injury, according to the agency. Texting drivers are 23 times more likely to be involved in such a crash.

Our youngest and most inexperienced drivers are most at risk. In 2009, 16% of teen drivers involved in a fatal crash were reported to have been distracted, reports the NHTSA.

Half (52%) of cell-owning teens ages 16-17 say they have talked on a cell phone while driving, according to a survey of 800 young drivers conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project. That translates into 43% of all American teens ages 16-17.

Forty per cent of those surveyed say they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put themselves or others in danger.

Leading by example is a great way to show our young people that distracted driving is dangerous. If parents don’t use a cell phone in the car, the kids will be less likely to. But our best chance of ending distracted driving is to educate everyone, especially the teenagers, about the danger it poses. The NHTSA offers a lot of important information on their website, distracton.gov.

Distractions in everyday life outside of the car can be dangerous as well. There are plenty of other activities that don’t mix with texting.

Recently, a young man riding a bicycle nearly crashed into my car as I was driving because he was texting as he rode along. Don’t text while riding a bike either.

Also, there is no shortage of video of people texting while walking and ending up falling into a water fountain or blindly strolling smack into a wall. Those lucky enough not to get hurt must be at least really embarrassed.

Pay attention to the world around you, especially when you are behind the wheel of a car, and it will be a safer place for everyone.

Ralph Froehlich Union County Sheriff

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 at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj