Category: Public Info

PLAINFIELD—The Young Men of Resilience and Daybreak Community Development Corporation held a holiday celebration for families in need this weekend at Plainfield High School. Their mission is to provide gifts to 100 families on this year. The families they assist is comprised of single parent households, foster parent households, low income households and households that have been affected by the absence of parent in home due to illness and/or incarceration.

In these photos, Donna Albanese of Dairy Queen of Plainfield, in collaboration with the Union County Freeholder Board, was able to provide refurbished, donated bicycles to children as gifts for the holidays. Freeholders Alexander Mirabella, of Fanwood, and Linda Carter, of Plainfield, were on hand for the presentation. (photos by Manuel Ramirez, Union County)

Union County — Union County Freeholder Chairman-elect Alexander Mirabella will announce his chairman’s initiatives during County Government’s Reorganization at the County Courthouse on Sunday, January 8th at noon.

Freeholder Angel Estrada, of Elizabeth, will be sworn to a new term; Freeholder Christopher Hudak, of Linden, will be sworn into his first full term, and Vernell Wright, of Union, will be sworn into her first term as Freeholder. Freeholder Linda Carter, of Plainfield, is also anticipated to become Vice Chairman of the Board.

Freeholders will also vote to fill numerous positions on county advisory boards and to adopt the board’s 2012 schedule and procedural rules.

TIME: Sunday, January 8th, Noon
PLACE: UNION COUNTY COURTHOUSE,
2 BROAD STREET
JUDGE CASSIDY’S CHAMBERS
ELIZABETH, NJ

Each year, FEMA’s Ready Campaign promotes Resolve to be Ready, a public awareness drive that encourages individuals and community leaders to make the resolution to put together a family communications plan, and take other simple steps to be prepared.

Roughly half of all Americans make New Year’s resolutions and commit to improving their lifestyles or reaching a long-term goal. This year, why not make a resolution that is easy to keep – and can save lives and protect property. For 2012, Resolve to be Ready for emergencies by taking simple steps to prepare your family, your home, your business, and your community in the face of potential disaster.

Our Resolve to Be Ready Toolkit contains ways you can engage your family, friends, employees and constituents to make this important New Year’s resolution. We encourage you to utilize the enclosed products for your office’s Website, posters, sample e-mails and articles that you can share. So why not make a Resolution that can make a difference when disaster strikes. Learn how at www.Ready.gov/Resolve.

2011 has seen more billion-dollar natural disasters than any year on record, according to the National Climatic Data Center. Major storms from Hurricane Irene, which battered the U.S. East Coast, to the spring tornadoes that brought devastation from Wisconsin to Texas, we don’t know where or when emergencies or disasters will strike. During the first 11 months of this year there have been 97 major disasters declared.

Now is the time to think about basic needs you, your family and your pets will need in advance of an emergency; how will you communicate, what supplies you need to keep in your home, car or office. The more you know about what to do in an emergency, the more confident and secure you will feel in your abilities to manage through a disaster.

You can start by taking these simple steps:

> Be informed. Know the hazards and risks in your area. And learn what you need to do to get ready for them.

> Make a family emergency plan, so you know how you would communicate with and find your loved ones if a disaster hit. For example, think about how you would reach your kids at school. Your spouse at work. If you had to evacuate, where would you go. Thinking this through in advance will make a big difference.

> Build an emergency supply kit – both at home and in the car – that includes water, food and first aid supplies to help you survive if you lose power or get stranded in your car. This is especially important for dealing with icy roads and snowstorms this winter.

> Get Involved – Be an advocate and educator for safety and emergency preparedness within your community. Contact your local Citizen Corps.

Using modern-day technology can help individuals and families prepare, adapt and recover from disruptions brought on by emergencies or disasters. FEMA reminds all Americans to implement the following in advance of an emergency:

> Learn how to send updates via text and internet from your mobile phone to your contacts and social channels in case voice communications are not available;

> Store your important documents such as personal and financial records in the cloud or on a secure and remote area or flash or jump drive that you can keep readily available so they can be accessed from anywhere; and

> Create an Emergency Information Document at Ready.gov by using the Family Emergency Plan template in Google Docs or by downloading the Ready Family Emergency Plan to record your emergency plans.

History has shown us that the government can’t do it alone when it comes to preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters. FEMA is only part of our nation’s emergency management team – along with our other federal partners, state and local governments, non-profit and voluntary organizations, the private sector and most importantly: the public.

Learn more by visiting Ready.gov or Listo.gov.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Rahway, N.J. – Union County and participating municipalities are about to see millions of dollars in savings and direct budget relief under the terms of a deal between the Union County Utilities Authority and Covanta Energy, officials announced today.

An extended lease approved by the Union County Utilities Authority will reduce its waste disposal costs and will pass on those dramatic savings to the county government and the 14 municipalities that use the authority for their communities’ waste disposal. Under the deal Covanta Energy will continue to manage its energy-generating solid waste incinerator facility here until 2031.

Because the lease deal is in effect retroactively as of January 1, 2011, municipalities will receive rebate checks for their waste disposal costs during 2011.

“We are thrilled to have been able to strike a deal that puts money immediately back into the budgets of municipalities during tough economic tough times and ensuring those continued savings into the future,” said Daniel Sullivan, acting executive director of the Union County Utilities Authority.

According to the Authority, the following municipalities will immediately be receiving direct reimbursements, Elizabeth, $658,000; Garwood, $16,000; Hillside, $101,000; Kenilworth, $30,000; Linden, $148,000; New Providence, $41,000; Plainfield, $235,000; Rahway, $158,000

Roselle, $95,000; Roselle Park, $54,000; Springfield, $67,000; Summit, $90,000; Union, $269,000; Winfield, $9,800.

“Union County has taken an innovative approach by maximizing an asset to deliver taxpayer savings,” Freeholder Chairman Deborah P. Scanlon said. “This is a win-win situation. At the same time, we are guaranteeing that our municipalities maintain low disposal rates at the Resource Recovery Facility.”

The extended lease will reduce the towns’ costs by $12 per ton of waste, which will amount to a combined $100 million over the length of the lease, or $4 million per year. The authority will also provide $500,000 in solid waste grants to waste generators in the seven non-contract municipalities equating to an additional savings of $3 per ton.

That savings will go towards the municipalities’ continuing services such as fire and police departments. It will help the cash-strapped towns avoid potential layoffs and other cost-saving measures recently instituted.

Union County itself will see a savings of $1.5 million per year from the authority that will be used to provide tax relief to citizens.

“I would like to thank the leadership of the Union County Utilities Authority and Covanta for recognizing the potential benefits this opportunity presented and then working together to bring real and significant financial relief to the people of Union County” said John Kulish, chairman of the Union County Utilities Authority. “This is a great example of how governments and their private partners can provide results rather than rhetoric.”

“Covanta is proud to be part of a successful collaboration with 14 Union County municipalities and the Union County Utilities Authority resulting in an agreement that directly benefits their residents. The lease extension not only secures long term sustainable solid waste disposal for the County, but will also save taxpayers millions of dollars,” said Seth Myones, president, Covanta Americas.

“In addition to the financial benefits this transaction brings to municipalities, the deal ensures that the Union County Energy-from-Waste Facility will continue to supply reliable, renewable electricity to thousands of County homes while reducing greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change,” added Paul Stauder, senior vice president of business management, Covanta Americas.

The Union County Utilities Authority is a public body corporate and politic of the State, which was created in accordance with the provisions of the Act, by ordinance of the Board of Chosen Freeholders of the County, adopted on June 5, 1986, as amended on December 11, 1986. The Authority has been designated by the County as the implementing agency for theUnion County District Solid Waste Management Plan. As the implementing agency for the Plan, the Authority is empowered to plan, acquire, construct, maintain and operate (or cause to be planned, acquired, constructed, maintained and operated) facilities for the processing, disposal and/or recycling of solid waste in an environmentally sound manner. To learn more, visit the Union County Utilities Authority online at www.ucua.org .

Union County Freeholder Chairman Deborah Scanlon (R) congratulates the Union County College Men’s Soccer Team on becoming the Region XIX National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) champions for the 2011 season. They are joined by Union County College President Margaret McMenamin (L). (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, NJ — Boy Scouts from Troop 80 of Cranford pitched in last month to help improve garden beds cultivated by the Master Gardeners of Union County at the Trailside Demonstration Garden in the Watchung Reservation, in Mountainside. All together, the scouts, parent volunteers, and Master Gardeners laid down six cubic yards of mushroom compost soil in just two hours.  The soil was purchased with a generous grant from the Rotary Club of Westfield.

The enriched soil will add nutrients to the garden beds in the Master Gardeners flagship Community Sharing Garden, Sharing Garden Annex and Herb Garden, to help prepare for a successful growing season next year.

“Troop 80 is to be commended for its work at the Trailside Demonstration Garden,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Deborah Scanlon. “By lending a helping hand to the Master Gardeners fresh produce donation efforts, Troop 80 has helped to ensure that our local food banks can continue providing nutritious meals to those in need next year.”

The three gardens produce 29 varieties of vegetables and herbs, which the Master Gardeners donate to local food pantries and community kitchens. Since 2002, the Master Gardeners have donated 16,567 pounds of produce to help feed the hungry in Union County.

“It is an integral part of the Boy Scouts’ mission to raise young men who value service and are involved in their communities,” said Scout Master Roy Walton, who explained that community service is one of the requirements to advance in rank.

Led by Walton and members of the Master Gardeners, Scout Troop 80 tackled the gigantic pile of mushroom compost soil with wheelbarrows, shovels and forks, first loading the wheelbarrows with the soil, then adding the soil to the garden beds.

The Scouts also added the composted soil to the Flower Cutting Gardens.  Flowers grown in these gardens are made into bouquets and donated for cancer patients and survivors at Overlook Hospital’s Carol G. Simon Cancer Center, the Wellness Community of Central Jersey, the Susan G. Komen North Jersey Foundation, and the Emmanuel Foundation of Scotch Plains.

Since 2007, the Master Gardeners have donated more than 900 bouquets of cut flowers and greens to brighten the lives of cancer patients and survivors.

“Yes, the boys were tired after moving all that compost, but I think they were proud of themselves being able to do all that hard work,” said Walton. “I think they made the connection between the work they did and how it helps others in the community.”

Scout Troop 80 meets on Mondays, 7:30 – 9:00 pm, at the First Presbyterian Church in Cranford.

The Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County is a volunteer program of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, supported in part by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Master Gardeners are headquartered at the Extension offices in the Union County services building in Westfield and perform many community service projects throughout the County.

For more information about the Master Gardeners and all Extension programs and activities, call the Extension offices at 908-654-9854 or visit www.ucnj.org.

The members of Cranford Scout Troop 80 left no soil unturned last month when they shoveled six cubic yards of mushroom compost to enrich vegetable, herb and flower beds cultivated by the Union County Master Gardeners at the Trailside Demonstration Garden in the Watchung Reservation, in Mountainside. The project was funded with a grant from the Rotary Club of Westfield.  Since 2002, the Master Gardeners have grown more than 16,500 pounds of produce for community food banks, and donated more than 900 bouquets of flowers to local cancer centers and hospitals.  Photo credit: Richard Leister, Master Gardeners of Union County.

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.

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.

WESTFIELD, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announced today the results of an audit conducted by the National Passport Center of the Passport Services offered by her Westfield Office.

“After a site visit to our Westfield Office in September, Daniel Cook, Program Analyst for the National Passport Center, a division of the U.S. State Department, made an evaluation of the facility,” Ms. Rajoppi said. “The analyst assessed our passport agents and reported that they had the highest level of proficiency and experience.”

“This is an exceptionally well run program,” said the Acceptance Facility Oversight Analyst in a recent letter to County Clerk Rajoppi. “Each Agent was proficient with acceptance procedures and clearly committed to providing quality customer service. Thank you for your time and commitment.”

The County Clerk operates two passport offices to serve the residents of Union County: the main office in the Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, (908) 527-4966; and the annex office located at 300 North Avenue East, in Westfield, (908) 654-9859.

“We invite anyone who needs a passport to visit either one of our locations; visit our website atwww.ucnj.org/government/county-clerk/Passports or call us for further information,” Ms. Rajoppi said. “Our highly qualified staff is ready to assist you with the application process, passport photographs, and information about expedited delivery from the State Department.”

The Westfield Annex is the only County Clerk’s office in the state that is open during evening hours. The Westfield Annex is open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. The Elizabeth office is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

-end-

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 Sheriff Ralph Froehlich (center), Sgt. Marianne Hopko and Officers Kim Weber and MaryBeth Gray thank (from left) Luciana Marques, Pamela Schiffner and Sergio Cuevas from Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in Cranford for the donation of several hundred toys, children’s clothing and $1,200 in gift cards to the Union County Sheriff’s Officers “Tree of Hope” holiday drive for needy children. The donations came from the staff at the Cranford office of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. Contributions of money (tax-deductible), toys and clothing can be sent to: Union County Sheriff’s Officers “Tree of Hope,” Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, N.J., 07207. For more information, call the “Tree of Hope” hotline at 908-629-2158. (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

Registration for Spring Classes Begins January 3rd

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Spring will be here before you know it, and Union County’s Watchung Stable in Mountainside is busy preparing for the start of a new season of riding lessons. Register now for classes that begin Friday, March 16.

“Horseback riding in the Watchung Reservation is a real treat,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Deborah Scanlon. “Our lesson program at Watchung Stable is a great way to learn how to ride. The riding program has been in existence since 1935 and I am pleased to say that more than 40,000 girls and boys have participated in this wonderful activity.”

Registration opens on Tuesday, January 3, and is ongoing until classes are full. The cost to participate is $231 for Union County residents for ten classes, and $324 for out-of-county participants. Uniforms and helmets are required and must be provided at the rider’s expense. Forms, fees and proof of age for new riders must be submitted in-person at Watchung Stable, located at 1160 Summit Lane in Mountainside. Registration hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

All applicants for riding lessons must be nine years of age or older. Class and troop assignments are based upon riding ability as determined by the Stable management. Applicants with previous experience may be asked to demonstrate their riding ability in order to be placed in the appropriate group. Classes are held Tuesdays through Saturdays. The Spring Troop program will last for ten weeks beginning March 16, and will culminate with the Spring Troop Horse Show.

Watchung Stable also features adult lessons, for people 18 years of age and older, beginning Sunday, March 18. Eight-ride class sessions for adults are available on Sunday afternoons
at 12:45 p.m. and on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 a.m.

For further information and to obtain registration materials, call (908) 789-3665 or emailstablequestions@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 .

Jacklyn Beviano of the 4-H Dog Obedience Club (right) and Susan Gruskos paint snowmen door stops at the Union County 4-H Holiday Gift Night last month. Both girls are residents of Linden.  Gift Night is an annual event open to all children in Union County. For information on the Dog Obedience Club and many other Union County 4-H clubs and activities for children, contact 4-H Agent James Nichnadowicz at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County offices, 908-654-9854 or nichnadowicz@njaes.rutgers.edu.

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The Rutgers Cooperative Extension is supported in part by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. 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.