Category: Public Info

WESTFIELD, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce 2012 funding for the Union County HEART (History, Education, Arts Reaching Thousands) Grant Program.

The application process for a HEART grant will be explained at a workshop for Union County non-profit organizations, individual artists and scholars. The workshop will be held on Thursday, May 17, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Union County Annex (Passport Office), 300 North Avenue East, in Westfield. Although the workshop is free of charge, pre-registration is suggested.

“The response to the HEART Grant Program in past years has been exciting,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The recipients are a wonderful mix of creative individuals – poets and writers, historians, painters, photographers, musicians and dancers – plus arts, history and other cultural organizations and civic groups.”

Recognizing the importance of culture and the arts to the county’s quality of life and economy, this innovative program supports projects related to history, the arts and humanities, and demonstrates a commitment to the artists and non-profit organizations of Union County.

“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,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board. “These cultural assets are a vital part of community life, well being, economic development and cultural heritage tourism in Union County.”

For additional information or to register for the HEART Grant workshop, 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 E-mail: culturalinfo@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.

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Birding Basics Weekend, for adults ages 18 and older, will be presented on Friday, May 18, and Saturday, May 19, in the Watchung Reservation. On Friday, from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at Trailside Nature & Science Center, Trailside naturalist Joe Filo will lecture on bird watching basics. On Saturday, from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. at the Deserted Village, Mr. Filo will lead a bird-watching walk in an area where you are sure to witness a great variety of spring birds. The fee for each program is $10 for Union County residents and $15 for out-of-county participants. Pre-registration is preferred, but walk-ins will be accommodated as space permits. For information on this weekend program, call Trailside at 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Community Renewal are pleased to offer a special two-part presentation on bird watching basics on Friday, May 18, and Saturday, May 19, at Trailside Nature & Science Center in the Watchung Reservation. Adults, ages 18 and older are welcome to join Trailside naturalist Joe Filo for a two-part presentation that will heighten bird-watching skills.

“As a beautiful spring is upon us, Trailside offers a perfect program to encourage us to enjoy the variety of birds that migrate through this area,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The evening lecture and morning bird walk offer knowledge about birds combined with the experience of witnessing these magnificent creatures in a peaceful setting.”

The Friday lecture, “Bird Watching for Beginners,” runs from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at the Trailside Visitor Center. On the following morning, Saturday, May 19, birders will meet at the Deserted Village parking lot off Glenside Avenue at 7:30 a.m. for a two-hour bird walk. The cost for each program is $10 for Union County residents and $15 for out-of-county participants. Bird watching enthusiasts may take either or both programs. Pre-registration is preferred but walk-ins will be accommodated as space permits.

Beginning birders will appreciate the Friday evening lecture, which offers strategies and tips for identifying our lively avian neighbors as well as how to choose binoculars. Participants will learn the songs and calls of common birds of the Watchung Reservation. The lecture will take place at the Trailside Visitor Center.

The bird-watching walk on Saturday morning convenes at the Deserted Village, one of the best locations for bird watching in all of Union County. Amateurs and experts are invited to explore this unique area and witness the incredible variety of spring migrant birds. Be sure to bring your binoculars and field guide if you have them and wear sturdy walking shoes.

For information on the Birding Basics, or any other upcoming programs and events at Trailside, call 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside.  Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

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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.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders encourages the public to celebrate cultural diversity by attending the Multicultural Fair hosted by the Union County Vo-Tech School in Scotch Plains on Saturday, May 12 from 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

“We are privileged to live in a County that encompasses many people from various cultural backgrounds and ethnicities,” noted Freeholder Mohamed Jalloh. “The Freeholder Board is proud to support the Vo-Tech school and we urge people to take part in the celebration.”

As part of the Multicultural Fair, school clubs and organizations will have booths with a display of games, cultural dancing, music and many activities for adults and children. It is a day of fun, music, and food that gives participants the opportunity to experience cultural diversity on various levels.

With help from Breadsmith in Cranford, Pinho’s Bakery in Roselle and Barshay’s restaurant in Roselle, admission to this event is offered free of charge to the public. Half of the proceeds from food and booth sales will benefit “Water is Life,” a charity that supplies filtering straws to people in third world countries in an effort to prevent water-related illnesses.

In addition, the Vo-Tech School will also be hosting a food drive with the statewide community service project, New Jersey Future Farmers of America Against Hunger, and will be collecting canned and/or dried goods that will be donated to the Rutgers Against Hunger Program. Donating participants will be given a free plant from the FFA Club for their contributions while supplies last.The Multicultural Fair is a day of cultural awareness created by the Multicultural Club of the Union County Vocational-Technical School District.

For additional information on the Fair, or to purchase a booth for your own Cultural display contact Megan Schneider 908-889-8288 ext. 341, or visit www.wix.com/ucvtsmulticulturalcl/fair2012.

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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 Christopher Hudak (3rd R) and Union County Manager Alfred Faella (R) joined (from left) Charles Newman, President of New Jersey Connect, Linden Mayor Richard Gerbounka, Dr. Phillip Frese, President of the Domus Corporation, Walter Kreher from U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Bishop Manuel A. Cruz and Msgr. Christopher Hynes from the Archdiocese of Newark and Domus Vice President John Westervelt at the dedication ceremony of The Apartments at Saint Elizabeth’s in Linden.

Eleven units of affordable housing for persons with physical disabilities were created at the former Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Convent at 176 Hussa Street thanks to awards from HUD, a grant from the Kessler Foundation and partial funding from the County of Union.

The Domus Corporation and NJ Connect are non-profit organizations partnered to rehabilitate the former convent. The Union County Department of Human Services, Office for the Disabled worked with the two groups to assist in planning the project. (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.

Union County Freeholder Christopher Hudak speaks with Eagle Scouts Vincent Polalowski (C) and Alex Reyes during the City of Linden’s 68th Annual Scouts in Government Day at the John T. Gregorio Recreation Center in Linden. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts took part in the Linden City Council meeting on the evening April 24. (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.

UNION, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that its next mobile paper-shredding program for personal documents will be available on Wednesday, May 16, at the Township of Union DPW facility in Union.

“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 May 16th shredding event will take place at the Department of Public Works facility in Union, located on Swanstrom Place, off Vauxhall Road. 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, June 9, at Union County Vo-Tech in Scotch Plains.

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 atwww.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj .

ELIZABETH, NJ – Paintings by students from art instructor Laura Brown’s classes at the Rahway Senior Center and Amalfe Community Center in Roselle are included in a joint exhibit through May 30. The artwork is on display in the Freeholders Gallery, located on the 6th floor of the Union County Administration Building, Elizabethtown Plaza at Rahway Avenue, Elizabeth. The Gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

“We are always pleased to present this exhibit of talented artists from both the Roselle and Rahway art classes under the tutelage of Laura Brown, who brings out the best in them,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board.

Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, this exhibition features the works of Frances Carter, Mary Ellinger, Roberta Frimpter, Madeline Granieri, Katina Massas, Margaret Najjar, Mary Peter and Deborah Shaw from the Rahway Senior Center class, and Dee Chadwick, Barbara Dixon, Bernard Lichstein, Jeannie Lucas, Carol Norman, Marilyn Savidge, Beth Simonelli and Ann Szabo from the Roselle Art Association group.

The Rahway Senior Center is located at 1306 Esterbrook Avenue, where art classes are conducted regularly. For information about the Rahway Center and its activities, please call Ellen Staunton at 732-827-2016.

The Roselle Art Association paints as a group every Tuesday from 10 a.m. until noon at the
Amalfe Community Center, 1268 Schaffer Avenue, Roselle. For further information, please
call 908-245-6747.

Exhibitions in the Freeholders Gallery are coordinated and curated by Teya David of the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs. For more information about exhibits, programs and services related to the arts and Union County history, contact the Office at 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202; telephone (908) 558-2550, NJ Relay 711, or email culturalinfo@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 atwww.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj .

Union County – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders encourages families and their furry friends to enjoy a day outdoors in support of autismawareness by participating in the North/Central NJ Bark Now walk for Autism Speaks on Saturday, June 2 at Oak Ridge Park in Clark.

“Statistics show that the number of children being diagnosed with Autism has grown to surpass the  number of children affected by diabetes, AIDD, cancer, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis,  muscular dystrophy  or Down syndrome combined,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The Freeholder Board is proud to support the Bark Now walk, and we encourage County residents to get involved.”

Bark Now is a unique fundraising event that offers a safe and fun day for families impacted by autism. Sponsored by the national organization Autism Speaks, the day includes a two to three-mile dog walk, light refreshments for both humans and their companions and Autism Speaks Family Services for families and participants affected by autism.

Those who desire to participate can get involved in the event in a number of ways. Family and friends can fundraise by forming teams to walk in the event or by sponsoring an individual walker. Volunteers are also needed to staff the event by checking in participants, providing encouragement at water stops and cleaning up after the event.

To register a team or individual, or to get involved in any aspect of the event visitbarknow.autismspeaks.org/north/centralnj. The top five fundraisers will be awarded two tickets to the performance of their choice at the Union County Performing Arts Center, an organization that has worked with Freeholder Chairman Mirabella to develop a Sensory Friendly Theater series, making plays accessible to children and teenagers on the autism spectrum.

Autism is a general term used to describe a group of complex developmental brain disorders caused by a combination of genetic and environmental influences. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by social and behavioral challenges, as well as repetitive behaviors.

An estimated 1 in 88 children in the U.S. is on the autism spectrum with New Jersey amassing the second highest prevalence rate in the nation at 1 in 49 children (1 in 29 boys and 1 in 172 girls).

All Bark Now proceeds will support Autism Speaks’ work, both locally and nationally, to increase awareness about the growing autism health crisis, fund innovative autism research and advocate for the needs of individuals with autism and their families in Union County and beyond.

For additional information contact Natalie Pineiro, Union County Office of Public Information at 908-527-4035 or via email at npineiro@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.

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The popular gentle yoga classes continue at Trailside Nature and Science Center on Tuesday evenings as part of the center’s adult programs. Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Community Renewal, the yoga series for adults 18 years and older will continue each Tuesday evening through June 5.

“These yoga classes, held in the beautiful and tranquil setting of the Trailside Visitor Center, are a great opportunity for busy adults to learn methods for reducing the stresses of daily life,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander  Mirabella.

Each gentle yoga session runs from 7:15 – 8:30 p.m. and the fee for Union County residents is $15 per class and $20 for out-of-county participants. Pre-registration is preferred as space is limited; however, walk-ins are welcome as space permits.

The series of yoga classes is an opportunity to learn and experience Raja yoga techniques for integrating body and mind. Claire M. Bay, a yoga instructor certified by the Chopra Center in New York City, guides the participants in this new pathway of meditation.

Yoga techniques can awaken poise and centered awareness in the midst of everyday life. Participants also learn how to use nature’s healing powers to relieve stress and its symptoms. Soothing music will enhance the overall experience. Doors open 15 minutes prior to each yoga class and participants are asked to bring a yoga mat or pillow.

For additional information about this yoga series or other upcoming adult programs and special events at Trailside, please call 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature & Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

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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 encourages Union County residents to rid their homes of unwanted and expired medication at the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Take Back Initiative this Saturday, April 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

“We receive a lot of inquiries about the best ways to dispose of various kinds of medication,” noted Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “Although we have guidelines the public can refer to on medication disposal, the National Take Back Initiative coordinates safe and reliable drop-off points that are properly staffed to ensure no medication ends up in the wrong hands.”

Take Back events are a tool for reducing the abuse of prescription and non-prescription medications. The goal of the program is to allow citizens to turn unused, unwanted or expired medications in to law enforcement officials who will dispose of the substances in a safe and non-hazardous manner.

During October 2011, Operation Take Back New Jersey collected 9831 pounds of medication state-wide.

Union County Police Department at 300 North Ave East in Westfield will be staffed for collection in addition to various police departments throughout Union County. For a full listing of participating locations visithttps://ucnj.org/community/recycling/medication-disposal.

For additional information on the National Take Back Initiative contact the Union County Bureau of Recycling and Planning at 908-654-9890.

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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.