Category: Public Info

Union County Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella (L) and Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich (R) congratulate the winners of the Union County Sheriff’s Second Annual Police Pistol Competition at the Union County Sheriff’s Firearms Training Facility in Springfield. Sgt. Jerry Plum (2nd L) of the Plainfield Police Department won first place, Sgt. Carlo Caparruva (C) of the Union County Sheriff’s Office won second place and Sgt. William Bizun of the Linden Police Department won third place. Twenty-eight officers from the Union County Sheriff’s Office and the Plainfield, Linden, Roselle, Roselle Park, Kean University, Hillside, Mountainside, Summit, Springfield, Kenilworth and Union County Police Departments competed. (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

Union County Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella (3rd R), Vice Chairman Linda Carter (4th R), Public Safety Director Andrew Moran (2nd R) and Union County Police Chief Daniel Vaniska (R) visit members of Union County Police PBA Local 73 at the Habitat for Humanity project on West Fourth Street in Plainfield where members of PBA Local 73 volunteered and helped build a house that will go to a deserving member of the community. (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

NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ – The County of Union will sponsor a recycling event for electronic equipment and unwanted paper documents on Saturday, Oct. 27, so Union County residents can get rid of unwanted computers, televisions and other electronic equipment, and shred old personal documents in a secure and environmentally proper manner.

The special recycling event will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Alcatel-Lucent Technologies facility, 600 Mountain Avenue, New Providence 07974.

All residents of Union County are eligible to participate at no cost. There is a limit of six electronic items and/or four bags/boxes of paper per car.

“Computer monitors and old televisions are the source of a considerable amount of lead – about five pounds per screen,” said Freeholder Christopher Hudak, liaison to the Union County Solid Waste Advisory Board. “Up to 95 percent of most electronic appliances can be recycled. This is a responsible way to keep hazardous heavy metals out of our environment.”

A complete list of the materials that will be accepted on Oct. 27 is available at the Union County Bureau of Recycling and Planning website: www.ucnj.org/recycle. All that residents need to do is drive to the site with their electronic equipment and unwanted personal documents. Workers at the site will unload the vehicles. Pre-registration is not required for this collection.

Refrigerators, washers and dryers, microwaves, and air conditioners will not be accepted on Oct. 27. These items will be accepted at Union County’s new scrap metal recycling program which is conducted twice each month in Clark, Mountainside, Rahway and Westfield. Visit the Union County website at www.ucnj.org/recyclefor more information about the new scrap metal recycling program.

The electronics collection will be held rain or shine, for Union County residents only and not for businesses. Proof of Union County residency is required.

In addition to the special Oct. 27 electronics recycling event sponsored by the County of Union, there are other local opportunities for residents to recycle electronic equipment. Visit www.ucnj.org/recycle for more computer and electronics recycling options.

The Oct. 27 paper-shredding event will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine. The shredding event will end before 2:00 p.m. if the shredding truck reaches capacity.

“Union County’s mobile document-shredding service helps residents eliminate clutter in their homes and also fight identity theft,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “It is a cost-effective way to assist our recycling efforts and it ties in with our other Go Green Initiatives.”

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 mobile shredding program is paid for through New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Recycling Enhancement Act Grant Funds.

Shredding may be cancelled in the event of extreme bad weather. Please call the Recycling Hotline for more information about future events, directions, or event day cancellation at 908-654-9889 or visit us online atwww.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 athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj .

Union County Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski and Mohamed Jalloh (R) present Barry O’Donovan of Cranford with a resolution congratulating him on receiving the United States Business Administration’s Phoenix Award for his efforts to rebuild his business, the Kilkenny House Restaurant & Pub in Cranford, that was severely damaged by flooding following Hurricane Irene in August 2011. Phoenix Awards are given to individuals (business owners, volunteers and public officials) whose efforts and contributions have enabled their businesses or communities to recover successfully from a disaster.   (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

Union County Freeholders Vernell Wright (L) and Bette Jane Kowalski (2nd L) and Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi (R) welcome Dr. Linda Caldwell Epps to the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. Dr. Epps, past-president of the New Jersey Historical Society, spoke about the Underground Railroad in the period leading up to the Civil War. The lecture by Dr. Epps was presented by the Union County Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee. (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

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ – Visitors to the Deserted Village of Feltville/Glenside Park in the Watchung Reservation will have an opportunity on Saturday, October 20, and Sunday, October 21, to dig into the history of the Deserted Village, literally. Using an archaeologist’s trowel, visitors can dig through a box of soil in search of an artifact related to Feltville’s past. Children will be allowed to keep what they find during the weekend-long open house of the historic site, as part of Union County’s “Four Centuries in a Weekend” celebration.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20, and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 21, most of the Village’s buildings and grounds can be seen from a hayride, which will run continuously both days. The ghost of David Felt will lead a two-hour guided tour of the site starting at 2 p.m. each day. County staff will provide a 45-minute version of the tour at various times.

A hands-on demonstration of apples being pressed into cider will be ongoing over the weekend of Oct. 20-21. Nearby, children can play old-fashioned games. Elsewhere in the Village, visitors can hear the director of the Feltville Archaeology Project explain how the site of David Felt’s house was discovered. Masker’s Barn will be open throughout the weekend.

All of these activities are offered free of charge. Light refreshments will be available for purchase. Picnic tables are available for families wanting to pack a lunch.

“The Union County Freeholder Board is very appreciative to the New Jersey Historical Commission for funding that helped us to open the Church/Store Building and Masker’s Barn to the public this year,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “Since the beginning of June, these historic buildings have been open from noon to 5 p.m. on weekends, and will continue to be so until the Thanksgiving weekend.”

Feltville was a thriving mill town from 1845 to 1860. After being sold by David Felt, the village wasted away and became deserted, but was reborn in 1882 as Glenside Park, a summer resort. This business closed in 1916 and the Village was again briefly deserted until being purchased by the Union County Park Commission during the 1920’s.

Feltville’s general store and church building was restored in 1998 and subsequently opened as a visitor center. In addition to restrooms and other visitor services, this building houses an exhibit of artifacts, photographs and paintings that depict the Village’s history across four centuries. Visitors may pick up a map and narrative at Feltville’s parking lot at any time for a self-guided tour. Restoration of the resort-era carriage house called Masker’s Barn was completed last year. During the restoration, the building was actually levitated and held in mid-air for months as the foundation was replaced.

All activities for the Four Centuries weekend are rain or shine. Enter the Deserted Village via Cataract Hollow Road, off of Glenside Avenue on the Berkeley Heights side of the Watchung Reservation. Wear warm clothes and sturdy walking shoes.

Information about 23 other Four Centuries in a Weekend sites is available from the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, telephone: (908) 558-2550; e-mail: culturalinfo@ucnj.org; or by visiting the Union County website at www.ucnj.org and clicking on “Fall Activities in 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 .

Union County –The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that County of Union will host a Veterans Job Fair on Thursday, October 25th from 9a.m. to 1p.m. at VFW Post 2230 located at 33 S. 21st St in Kenilworth.

“Our community of veterans is extremely important to us here in Union County,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “We are constantly seeking new and innovative partnerships to engage them and help provide new job opportunities.”

The upcoming job fair, which is also open to active duty military personnel, is expected to bring veterans together with approximately 50 employers in an effort to network and make connections for new employment opportunities.

Among the participating organizations are:

• Wells Fargo
• Prudential
• Barnabas Health
• NJ Transit
• Helmets to Hardhats (NJ Building and Construction trades)
• Home Depot
• Cablevision
• Weichert Realtors
• Frito Lay

With help from partners like the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Developmnt, the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, and Lyons Veterans Administration Medical Center, the Job Fair is being offered free of charge to veterans, active duty military personnel, and their families.

Representatives will be on site with information on veterans’ benefits, the GI Bill, as well as other State and County sponsored services. A representative from Lyons VA Medical Center will also be present to conduct health screenings, and the NJ State Library will be participating offering hands-on demonstrations of their Job and Career Accelerator and Career Transitions resources.

As part of his 2012 “Putting People First Initiatives,” Chairman Mirabella recognized the need to enhance outreach to local veterans through the Union County’s Office of Veterans Affairs.

Working in conjunction with their office and the Department of Parks and Community Renewal they are also offering active duty military personnel a number of complementary passes to recreational programs in the County parks system for the duration of 2012.

For additional information on the Veteran’s Job Fair please contact Elizabeth L. Sebring of the Union County Department of Human Services at (908) 527-4890 or via email at esebring@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.

Union County, NJ – Union County’s annual Red Ribbon Day features a full day of free activities and fun for children, all in the cause of raising awareness about preventing drug and alcohol abuse. This year, Red Ribbon Day will be held on Saturday, October 20 at Oak Ridge Park on Oak Ridge Road in Clark, including a 5K Run and Family Fun Walk.

“At a very young age, children can start to share some thoughts about staying healthy and avoiding danger,” said Freeholder Alexander Mirabella. “Red Ribbon Day is a great opportunity for parents to start talking about the prevention of alcohol and drug abuse in a positive, friendly atmosphere.”

Red Ribbon Day starts with the Red Ribbon 5K Run at 9:30 a.m., followed by the Red Ribbon Family Fun Walk at 10:00 a.m.

From 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. there will be free family activities and games along with musical entertainment and a health fair. A helicopter landing will add to the excitement.

To register online for the Red Ribbon 5K Run or Fun Walk, and to get information on deadlines and fees visitrunsignup.com.

Teams can also raise funds for their own organizations at Red Ribbon Day on a 50-50 basis through the Fun Walk. For 50-50 information visit Prevention Links, a Red Ribbon sponsor, at preventionlinks.org or call 732-381-4100.

The Red Ribbon Drug Awareness Campaign commemorates the life of Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who died at the hands of drug traffickers in Mexico while conducting an undercover investigation of a major drug cartel. Camarena worked his way through college, served in the Marines and became a police officer before joining the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Red Ribbon Day is supported by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Prevention Links and the Union County D.A.R.E. Officers Association

For more information about the Red Ribbon Campaign, Red Ribbon Day and all Red Ribbon activities, visit Prevention Links at preventionlinks.org or call 732-381-4100.

For information about all Union County parks and recreation programs visit ucnj.org or call 908-527-4900.

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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.

ELIZABETH, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds Union County residents that Tuesday, October 16, is the deadline to register to vote and to make address changes within your town or Union County to vote in the upcoming Presidential Election in New Jersey.

“This year’s Presidential Election also offers residents an opportunity to vote for a U.S. Senator and your local member of the U.S. House of Representatives as well as county, municipal and school board officials and public questions. But first you must register to vote by October 16,” Ms. Rajoppi said. “I urge all eligible residents to be part of the process and vote on Tuesday, November 6. Your vote does count.”

To register to vote or to register an address change, forms are available in every municipality at the office of the municipal clerk. Forms also may be obtained by calling the office of the Union County Clerk at 908-527-4996, by visiting the County Clerk’s office at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth or at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield, or by visiting the Union County website: www.ucnj.org/voter-registration.

Voter registration forms and change of address forms must be mailed to the Union County Board of Elections, 271 North Broad Street, Elizabeth NJ 07208 no later than Friday, October 12, in order to be eligible to vote in the General Election on Tuesday, November 6.

To qualify to vote, you also must be a citizen of the United States and at least 18 years old, not serving a sentence, probation, or parole because of a felony conviction, and a resident of New Jersey and Union County for at least 30 days.

Voters are encouraged to Vote-By-Mail, an easy process that has replaced Absentee Voting. To apply to Vote-By-Mail, voters can pick up an application from their municipal clerk, download the form at the Union County website, https://ucnj.org/vote-by-mail, visit the County Clerk’s offices in Elizabeth or Westfield, or contact the Union County Clerk at 908-527-4996.

For more information about voter registration, please call the Union County Board of Elections at 908-527-4123.

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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 Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Community Renewal are pleased to present “Project WET” – a teacher-training workshop for adults, ages 18 and older, on Thursday, October 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside.

“This training workshop is a great opportunity for educators to use Trailside’s resources to learn how to bring a greater awareness and understanding of our environment and natural resources to students,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “Trailside is the perfect environment for teachers and scout leaders to refresh their skills in teaching education about water resources.”

In today’s society, water is often taken for granted. The workshop will provide the necessary tools, resources and lessons for teachers to utilize in the classroom to teach our future leaders about the importance of water in everyday life. Formal and informal educators are invited to join a certified Project WET facilitator for a day of interactive, educational and hands-on activities focusing on water as a valuable resource.

Participants will work cooperatively to discover the properties of water while earning six NJDOE teaching credits. Each person will receive a Project WET curriculum and activity guide with more than 90 interdisciplinary activities and lessons, teacher-tested and classroom-ready for K-12 students. Lessons are correlated to New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards. New Jersey Project WET is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Watershed Management Division and the New Jersey Audubon Society.

Pre-registration is required for this workshop and space is limited. The fee is $15 per person.  Light refreshments will be served during morning registration. Participants are encouraged to bring a lunch.

For information about the Project WET teacher-training workshop or upcoming programs and special events at Trailside, please call 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature and 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 .