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Community Leaders Honored for Service

Union County, NJ – Linda Carter (seated r.), Vice Chairman of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, joined in honoring members of the Union County Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. for their outstanding community leadership at a ceremony and scholarship benefit earlier this year (standing, l-r): Mary L. Clowney, NANBPWC Co-chairperson; Leland McGee, A.L.J., Professional Man of the Year; Jennifer Lewis-Hall, Professional Woman of the Year; Diane Toliver, Business Woman of the Year; Lonzella P. Brice, Sojourner Truth Award; Malcolm Nettingham, Valor Award; Sheldon Williams, Man of the Year; Sheila R. Greenwood, Co-chairperson; (seated l.) Delois I. Dawson, President. (Photo: NANBPWC)

 

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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.

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Clark Unico and Government Officials Honor Italian Heritage Essay Winners

As part of the Clark UNICO’s sixth annual Italian-American Feast, UNICO celebrated Italian Heritage and Columbus Day on Sunday, Oct. 7th at a noon ceremony on the grounds of the feast.

Town Council members, UNICO members and officers, township,county, and school district personnel participated in the heritage ceremony. Student essay winners read aloud their essays. (PHOTO BY SEBASTIAN D’ELIA, COUNTY OF UNION AND PLAINFIELDS’ UNICO)

BOTTOM ROW: Ryan LaRosa, fifth grade, Hehnly Elementary School (essay on Leonardo DaVinci), Benjamin Sweeney, fifth grade, Valley Road Elementary school (essay on Christopher Columbus), Anthony Rizzuto, ninth grade, Arthur L. Johnson High School (essay on Rudy Giuliani), Marissa Petronella, seventh grade, Kumpf Middle School (essay on Vince Lombardi), Kelly Meade, seventh grade, St. John the Apostle (essay on Christopher Columbus).

TOP ROW: Clark Schools Superintendent Kenneth Knops, Clark Board of Education Vice President and Clark UNICO member Henry Varriano, Clark Councilman Richard Kazanowski, Clark Councilwoman Angel Albanese, Clark Councilman Brian Toal, Clark Councilman Alvin Barr, Clark Mayor Sal Bonnacorso, Union County Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella, UNICO District X Governor Robert Bengivenga, Clark UNICO President and Clark Recreation Director Ralph Bernardo, UNICO Past National President and Plainfields’ UNICO member Renato Biribin.

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Literacy Volunteers of Union County Office Opens in Roselle

Union County Freeholders Mohamed Jalloh (L) and Bette Jane Kowalski (R), Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (2nd L) and Literacy Volunteers of Union County Executive Director Elizabeth Gloeggler joined Roselle Mayor Jamel Holley as he cut the ribbon officially opening the new Literacy Volunteers of Union County office on Chestnut St. in Roselle. For more information, visit www.lvaunion.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 athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

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Elizabeth Library Celebrates 100 Years

(From left) Union County Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella and Freeholders Mohamed Jalloh and Bette Jane Kowalski present a resolution to Elizabeth Library Director Dorothy M. Key in honor of the library celebrating 100 years. They are joined by Elizabeth City Councilmen William Gallman and Frank Mazza. (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

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Union County Teen Arts Exhibit on Display at Les Malamut Gallery in Union

UNION, 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 Les Malamut Gallery located in the lower level of the Union Public Library, 1980 Morris Avenue in Union. The art exhibit is on display through October 26th during regular library hours. For more information on the gallery, please visit:http://lesmalamutartgallery.wordpress.com/.

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 as it goes on tour throughout Union County.”

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 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

 

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 .

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County Clerk Extends Saturday Office Hours for Last-Minute Presidential Election Mail-In Voters; Sample Ballots May Be Viewed on Clerk’s Website

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi will open her offices in Elizabeth and Westfield on Saturdays, October 13, 20, 27 and November 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for voters seeking last-minute Vote-By-Mail ballots. The office in Elizabeth at the Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, Room 113, and the office in Westfield at 300 North Avenue East, will be open as a public service for those voters who choose the Vote-By-Mail option for the Presidential Election to be held on Tuesday, November 6.

“Every voter should have the opportunity to cast his or her ballot in the general election for federal, county, municipal and school board offices, and public questions,” Rajoppi said. “We want to ensure that even those who have a last-minute change of plans can have a chance to vote.”

Sample ballots for the Presidential Election in each Union County municipality may be viewed by going to the County Clerk’s website: https://ucnj.org/sample-ballots.

“By opening the Elizabeth office on the four Saturdays before the general election, along with the Westfield office, which has regular Saturday hours throughout the year, we hope to assist those citizens whose work schedules or other commitments keep them from applying to Vote-By-Mail during the work week,” Rajoppi said.

Voters will be able to drop off their completed mail-in ballot, formerly known as an absentee ballot, at the Union County Clerk’s offices in Elizabeth and Westfield. This option allows voters to pick up their ballots, vote in privacy and deposit them in a secured lockbox – all at the same office through 3:00 p.m. on Monday, November 5. Completed ballots will be kept in a secure lockbox under the control of the Union County Board of Elections, who will collect them for counting.

“Voters used to pick up absentee ballots at the Clerk’s office and then had to drive across town to deliver them to the Board of Elections,” Rajoppi said. “This option makes voting more accessible, particularly for senior citizens.”

The regular office hours at the Westfield Annex of the County Clerk are 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays. The regular office hours in Elizabeth are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The County Clerk’s office has processed more than 10,000 mail-in ballots to date for the Presidential Election and expects the number to exceed 17,000 by Election Day, Tuesday, November 6.

To obtain a Vote-By-Mail application, voters may download the form at the Clerk’s website: https://ucnj.org/vote-by-mail, but they must bring the completed application to either of the County Clerk’s offices by Saturday, November 3, between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., or on Monday, November 5, before 3:00 p.m. For more information, please contact the County Clerk’s office at 908-527-4996.

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Union County Holds Fourth Annual Columbus Day Flag Raising

Union County Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella emceed a prominent list of speakers celebrating the raising of the flag at the fourth annual Union County Columbus Day Flag raising event. Governor James J. Florio was the keynote speaker for this year’s event.

Freeholder Angel Estrada, Freeholder Mohamed Jalloh, Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella, Father Thomas Provenzano, SDB, Pastor, St. Anthony’s Church, UNICO Past National President Renato Biribin, Italian Voice Publisher Cesarina Earl, Union County Surrogate James LaCorte, Governor James J. Florio, UNICO District X Governor Robert Bengivenga, Italian American ONE VOICE Coalition founder Manny Alfano, Union County Communications Director Sebastian D’Elia, Bayway Catering President Michael Giunta, Elizabeth Councilman Frank Mazza, Freeholder Vernell Wright. (photo: James Lowney)

Front row: Elizabeth Councilman Frank Mazza, Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella, Governor James J. Florio, Father Anthony Provenzano of St. Anthony’s Church, Freeholder Mohamed S. Jalloh, Bayway Catering President Michael Giunta, UNICO District X Governor Robert Bengivenga, UNICO Past National President Renato Biribin, Italian voice Publisher Cesarina Earl, Italian American ONE VOICE Coalition founder Manny Alfano. (Photo: James Lowney, County of Union)

The Honorable former Governor James J. Florio (photo: James J. Lowney)

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YWCA Eastern Union County Honors Freeholder Estrada

Union County Freeholder Vernell Wright (R) and Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (2nd R) congratulate Freeholder Angel G. Estrada as he is honored by the YWCA Eastern Union County at the organization’s 2012 Empowering Women Cocktail Reception. They are joined by YWCA EUC Executive Director Janice Lilien (L) and Board of Directors President Teresa Austin. (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.

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Free Seminar on Alcohol and Drug Addiction

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders welcomes residents to attend “Adolescent Trends: For Adults Only,” the third in a series of free seminars addressing the family dynamics of alcohol and drug addiction, prevention and treatment. The seminar is scheduled for Wednesday October 17, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Cranford Community Center, 220 Walnut Avenue in Cranford.

The seminar will be conducted by John Kriger, a professional alcohol and drug counselor who has worked with government agencies, colleges, school districts, corporations and non-profits. Mr. Kriger is the author of The Pond: A Small Book About Big Changes.

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.  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.

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Union County History Comes Alive during “Four Centuries in a Weekend,” Oct. 20-21

nion County’s annual public heritage event, “Four Centuries in a Weekend: A Journey through Union County’s History,” will take place Saturday, Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 21 from noon to 5 p.m. Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, with the cooperation of staff and volunteers at 24 house museums and historic sites, the two-day free event opens the doors to 400 years of history throughout the county.

“Four Centuries in a Weekend began in 1994 when 16 historic sites and the County of Union organized a weekend event to tell the story of how Elizabethtown of 1664 evolved into the 21 municipalities of today’s Union County,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “This year, a beautifully restored mansion and church, Revolutionary War burial grounds, quaint house museums, special exhibitions and tours showcase the county’s treasure trove of history.”

Special family-friendly highlights of Four Centuries in a Weekend include:

n  An exhibit at Liberty Hall in Union that focuses on the role of slaves and servants from the time of its original owner, Governor William Livingston, to that of the last occupant, Mary Alice Barney Kean;

  • The Cannon Ball House in Springfield will commemorate Civil War veteran Captain Edward H. Wade who died of wounds received at Antietam, Maryland on Sept. 17, 1862;
  • A living history program at Oswald J. Nitschke House in Kenilworth commemorates 100 years of girl scouting with an historic interpreter portraying Juliette Gordon Law, founder of Girl Scouts USA;
  • The Crane-Phillips House in Cranford presents an encampment by Civil War re-enactors, Company D, 2ndRhode Island volunteers, in honor of local Civil War veterans;
  • The Osborn Cannonball House in Scotch Plains presents an exhibit featuring bridal fashions and accessories from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.

Journey on to Boxwood Hall in Elizabeth, the 1772 home of Elias Boudinot, President of the Continental Congress; tour the restored Revolutionary War burial grounds at the First Presbyterian Church of Elizabeth, the oldest English-speaking congregation in New Jersey; and visit the Caldwell Parsonage at Connecticut Farms in Union, an American Revolutionary site that was home to the “Fighting Parson,” James Caldwell and his wife, Hannah.

A visit to Hillside will bring you to the Woodruff House/Eaton Store, built in 1735; and the historic Evergreen Cemetery, a virtual museum of funerary art. In Rahway you’ll be welcome at the Merchants and Drovers Tavern, a restored early 19th century hotel, and you can tour the Union County Performing Arts Center, a beautifully restored classic Vaudeville venue.

When you stop at the Dr. William Robinson Plantation in Clark, you’ll discover a post-medieval English-style house where Dr. Robinson practiced healing with plants and herbs.

At the Abraham Clark House, home to a signer of the Declaration of Independence, you’ll learn about Early American life and the history of Roselle. In the Roselle Park Museum, housed in the Charles E. Stone Store, you’ll be standing in the first electrically-lighted store in the world.

Three authentic 18th century farmhouses are open for touring: the Miller-Cory House in Westfield; the Salt Box Museum in New Providence; and the Nathaniel Drake House in Plainfield, which was used as George Washington’s headquarters during the Revolutionary War.

Venturing into the Watchung Mountains, you’ll find the Deacon Andrew Hetfield House in Mountainside, home to the Hetfield family for 186 years; stroll through the Deserted Village of Feltville-Glenside Park in the Watchung Reservation, an 1845 town created by businessman David Felt; visit the Littell-Lord Farmstead in Berkeley Heights, a reminder of the County’s agricultural past; and explore Summit, with its Twin Maples, a stately neoclassical mansion; the Carter House, the city’s oldest house, built in the 1740’s; and the Summit Playhouse, a Richardsonian Romanesque structure with a 120-seat auditorium.

Children can earn a Time Traveler’s Certificate and a Four Centuries Patch by visiting and obtaining a Time Traveler Passport at any of the sites, having it stamped and returning the completed form to the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs.

For free copies of the Four Centuries in a Weekend tour booklet, map and further information, telephone 908-558-2550 weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 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 .