Tag: chairman granados

$134,600 distributed to 15 municipalities across Union County

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that 15 municipalities have received a total of $134,600 in Recycling Enhancement Grants. The grant program, which aims at improving local recycling rates, is administered by Union County with funding from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

“Union County is proud to partner with our municipal governments to conserve resources and protect the environment, by providing the equipment and infrastructure that helps our residents send more waste into the recycling stream,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados.

To receive a Recycling Enhancement Grant, applicants must submit detailed plans that fit specific requirements for promoting recycling and protecting the environment.

The projects that received funding include infrastructure improvements to public recycling centers, and new recycling bins or storage containers for schools, parks, train stations and other public facilities.

The municipalities that received funding from the 2018 Recycling Enhancement Grant program are:

Berkeley Heights: $7,200

Clark – $10,000

Cranford – $7,500

Elizabeth – $10,000

Hillside – $7,600

Kenilworth – $9,000

Linden – $9,500

New Providence – $10,000

Rahway – $10,000

Roselle – $10,000

Scotch Plains – $7,800

Springfield – $6,000

Summit – $10,000

Union Township – $10,000

Westfield – $10,000

Total: $134,600

The grants support the goals of Chairman Granados’s Moving Union County Forward “Plant a Seed” initiative for engaging and the public in conservation and environmental education.

The Freeholder Board is also encouraging all residents to sign up for “Recycle Coach,” a free app that makes it easier to stay up to date about countywide recycling information and municipal recycling schedules. More information on the Recycle Coach app can be found at ucnj.org/recycling/recycle-coach-app.

For more details on all upcoming recycling events, and contact information for municipal recycling coordinators, visit ucnj.org/recycling.

Quick links to all Union County environmental programs can be found at https://ucnj.org/green-connection.

 

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds residents that trained counselors at NJ Hopeline will provide confidential, anonymous guidance for people who may be having suicidal thoughts, or who know someone at risk.

NJHopeline may be contacted 24/7 by phone at 855-654-6735 or by live chat at njhopeline.com.

In addition, Union County residents can contact the County’s Behavioral Health office during regular business hours at 908-527-4846 for information on local resources for counseling and treatment.

“The recent deaths of designer Kate Spade and chef Anthony Bourdain remind us that anyone, at any stage or station of life, can be overwhelmed by their circumstances,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “If you have the warning signs of suicide, or if you know someone who has these signs, please reach out to NJ Hopeline, or to anyone who can offer help.”

Common warning signs of suicide include talking about feeling trapped, hopeless or in unbearable pain; researching ways to kill oneself, such as obtaining a gun; and behavior changes involving sleep habits, drugs, alcohol or mood swings.

Behavioral Health is part of the Union County Department of Human Services, Division of Planning. More information is available at ucnj.org/departments/human-services.

NJ Hopeline is administered by Rutgers University Behavior Health Care, a member of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The  Lifeline may be contacted for help at 1-800-273-8255.

Photo credit: by Jeff Turner/flickr.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs hosted its first “Back in Time” history program last week at the Deserted Village of Feltville in the Watchung Reservation. The new program aims to provide an interactive learning opportunity for County residents including those with disabilities and special needs.

“The Freeholder Board is proud to support our parks, our history and our local historical organizations, and we strive to ensure that our recreational programs are accessible to all Union County residents,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “The ‘Back in Time’ event combined all of these elements into an enriching and educational experience.”

“Back in Time” featured representatives in historically accurate costumes from the Deserted Village and two other historic sites in Union County, the Miller-Cory House in Westfield and the Caldwell Parsonage in Union.

Each of the sites portrayed a different time period: Colonial life for the Miller-Cory House, the Revolutionary War for the Caldwell Parsonage, and the Early Industrial Period for the Deserted Village.

The event was attended by 22 clients from the Arc of Union County, a nonprofit organization located in Springfield with a mission to empower and support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

The participants handled and smelled herbs commonly used during in Colonial times, played popular games of the Revolutionary War era like hopscotch and nine-pin bowling, and explored artifacts and documents at the Deserted Village, the site of an Early Industrial paper mill and planned community owned by the 19^th century entrepreneur David Felt.

Back in Time was developed by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, which is funded in part by a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a Division of Cultural Affairs in the New Jersey Department of State.

For information on Back in Time and other activities of the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, call 908-558-2550, email culturalinfo@ucnj.org, or visit online at ucnj.org/parks-recreation.

The Back in Time program supports the goals of the Union County Office for People with Special Needs. The first office of its kind in New Jersey, the Office for People with Special Needs was established under Chairman Granados’s 2018 Moving Union County Forward initiatives for inclusiveness, diversity and individual empowerment.

To learn more about services and resources provided through the Office of Special Needs, contact Manuel Ramirez at mramirez@ucnj.org or call 908-527-4781.

For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Photo Credit (photo attached): An instructor in historical costume provides a glimpse into Union County’s past for participants in the “Back in Time” event hosted by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs. County of Union, NJ.

Union County, NJ – Union County is offering a free electronics recycling event on Saturday, June 30 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools campus, 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.

Any Union County resident may bring unwanted televisions, computers, printers, and other electronic equipment to this e-cycling site. There is a limit of six items per vehicle. 

“Through this free event, Union County residents can help conserve resources and keep hazardous materials out of the environment. Everyone can make a real difference by using this opportunity to clear their homes, basements and garages of old computers and other unwanted electronic goods,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados.

“In addition to our countywide events, we also encourage residents to stay up to date with their local curbside pickup programs,” added Chairman Granados. “These local programs benefit when residents stay informed and follow the instructions for proper recycling.”

For more details on local curbside recycling visit the “Curbside Recycling” link at ucnj.org/recycling or contact a local recycling coordinator.

Union County residents can also sign up for Recycle Coach, a free app that makes it easy to keep up to date with countywide recycling information and municipal recycling schedules. For more information visit ucnj.org/recycling/recycle-coach-app.

Countywide recycling supports Chairman Granados’s Moving Union County Forward “Plant a Seed” initiative for environmental engagement, education and empowerment.

For more details on all upcoming recycling events including paper shredding and household hazardous waste visit ucnj.org/recycling. Quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities can be found at The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connection.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

 

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present an exhibit of drawings by Plainfield resident Mel Holston, located in the gallery space at the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 633 Pearl Street in Elizabeth.

A selection of Mr. Holston’s work titled, “Motherland: Life in Black and White,” will be on display at the gallery until August 10. Gallery hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.

“We are delighted to have Mel Holston’s drawings on display. He reflects and amplifies the diversity of artistic expression in our community, which makes Union County such an exciting and enriching place to live and visit,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “This exhibit showcases Mr. Holston’s skills as a master of pen-and-ink figurative drawing and design.”

Mr. Holston has lived in Plainfield since 1993, and is well known in local arts and culture circles. He is a former and long-time member of Plainfield’s Cultural and Heritage Commission.

A lifelong resident of New Jersey, Mr. Holston studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and Jersey City State College. He taught art in the Jersey City School System from 1978 to 1995 and was named Jersey City Teacher of the Year in 1990.

He works in a wide variety of media and is widely recognized for his finely detailed pen-and-ink drawings on African themes and traditions.

Mr. Holstein won First Place in the 2018 Union County Senior Citizen Art Exhibit in the category of Acrylic Painting by a Professional. He has also exhibited extensively and has won many distinguished awards throughout his long career as an artist.

His museum and gallery shows include: Logoa Duncan Gallery, New York and Paris; Jersey City Museum & Science Center; Drake House Museum, Plainfield; Newark Museum; Rutgers University, Newark; Chicago Museum of Science & Industry; Renaissance Gallery, South Orange; Brockman Gallery, Los Angeles; the Association of Caribbean-American Artists, Brooklyn; and in Havana, Cuba.

The Pearl Street Gallery accommodates works that may be hung on a wall. Union County artists interested in exhibiting in the gallery are welcome to apply.

For more information about the Pearl Street Gallery and other programs involving the arts, culture and historic preservation in Union County, call the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 908-558-2550 (NJ Relay users can dial 711), email culturalinfo@ucnj.org or visit online at ucnj.org/parks-recreation.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce a special free event, Good Plants and Bad Plants: How to Tell the Difference and Support Healthy Ecosystems, on Wednesday, May 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Trailside Nature & Science Center, 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside.

The event is free but pre-registration is required by emailing watershed7@ucnj.org.

Landscapers and property managers are encouraged to attend, as well as homeowners, gardeners, civic and environmental organizations, and members of the public who are interested in conserving native species.

“Conserving our natural heritage is something that practically anyone in Union County can support, whether it’s eliminating invasive species from your own property, helping to preserve native plants in our public parks, or educating yourself and sharing your knowledge with others,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados.

Attendees will learn why native plants are important, how to select beneficial native plants for their property or business, and how to help foster a healthy, diverse ecosystem in the Union County community.

Good Plants and Bad Plants is presented by Mike Van Clef, an expert on rare and invasive species and co-founder of the New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team. Mr. Van Clef has 25 years of experience in the field of ecological health monitoring and natural resource policy.

This event is a special presentation by the Department of Parks and Recreation Environmental Services office through the New Jersey Watershed Ambassador Program and is part of Chairman Grandados’s 2018 Plant A Seed initiative, designed to empower Union County residents of all ages through environmental engagement and education.

For additional information or to find more about nature conservation in Union County parks visit the Adopt-a-Park program online at ucnj.org/parks or call 908-789-3683.

For quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities visit The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connect.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County, NJ — A long winter is setting the stage for a promising summer growing season, and gardening enthusiasts can stock up on plants, seedlings and other supplies at the 29th annual Master Gardeners of Union County Spring Garden Fair and Plant Sale.

The Spring Garden Fair takes place this year on Sunday May 20, 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. on the grounds of the Union County Demonstration Garden, located by the Trailside Nature and Science Center in the Watchung Reservation at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside.

“The Spring Garden Fair is a fun, inspiring and educational way to kick off the growing season,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Come and stock up on plants and other supplies for a healthy, beautiful yard or garden, and get expert guidance from the Master Gardeners of Union County.”

As always, admission to the Garden Fair is free, and parking is also free. Visitors are advised that all sales are cash only. All proceeds go to civic activities of the Master Gardeners, including raising and donating fresh produce, community beautification and education, and a scholarship fund.

“The Master Gardeners volunteers make outstanding contributions to life in Union County, and I encourage everyone interested in community service to come to the Garden Fair, speak with our volunteers and find out how you can participate in this worthwhile program,” said Chairman Granados.

Among the hundreds of plants and seedlings offered for sale, the Spring Garden Fair features deer resistant, drought tolerant and fragrant plants that thrive in Union County, including many easy-to-grow plants for beginner gardeners.

The Spring Garden Fair is also known for a large selection of herbs and tomatoes including the popular Ramapo and the Rutgers 250.

Along with plants, baked goods, books, crafts, and garden supplies for sale, the Spring Garden Fair offers free activities for gardeners of all ages including:

• Guided tours of the Demonstration Garden including the vegetable and herb gardens.
• Displays and information for Square Foot Gardening, Invasive Plants and Mosquito Control.
• Information on joining the Master Gardeners and the 4-H Master Tree Stewards.
• Children’s activities (children must be accompanied by adult during activities).
• Garden clinic and Rutgers information fact sheets for troubleshooting garden problems.

Attendees can bring plant and insect samples for diagnosis, and Rutgers soil test kits are available for sale.

Free parking is located nearby at the Trailside Nature and Science Center parking lot and the Scout Camping Area in the Watchung Reservation. Additional free parking is available in the Loop playground area, located a short walk away on the other side of the Trailside Center.

Visitors are advised to bring a small wagon to convey their purchases. Pets are not permitted at the Garden Fair.

The Spring Garden Fair is organized each year by the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County, an all-volunteer organization run by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County and supported in part by the Freeholder Board. Anyone with an interest in gardening and volunteer service can become a Master Gardener. No previous education or training in horticulture is required. 

Among the Master Gardeners many volunteer services are the free Garden Helpline (908-654-9852) where residents can receive gardening advice, horticulture programs for people with special needs, and a community gardening speakers’ bureau.

The group’s work in the Union County Demonstration Garden has yielded thousands of pounds of fresh produce for local food pantries and many donations of cut flowers to cancer centers along with other projects and programs.

For more information on the Master Gardeners program contact Tamisha Hopkins at the Extension, 908-654-9854 (ext. 2), or visit online at ucnj.org/rce.

The Extension offices are located in the Colleen Frasier county services building, 300 North Avenue East in Westfield.

More information on the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County is available at mastergardeners-uc.org.

For quick links to all Union County programs related to gardening, sustainability and nature conservation visit The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connection.

 

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

 Union County, NJ — The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that a free workshop on Thursday evening, May 17, will explain the application process for the 2018 Union County HEART (History, Education, Arts, Reaching Thousands) Grant Program and the Union County 2019 Local Arts Grant Program.

The workshop will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Liberty Hall Museum, Wagon Shed Building, 1003 Morris Avenue in Union Township. The workshop is free of charge, but pre-registration is suggested.

“The response to our grant programs has been enthusiastic and inspiring in past years, and we are very excited about the upcoming season,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Our grant recipients represent a full spectrum of creative endeavor, and these programs enable them to provide the benefits of enrichment through the arts to thousands of Union County residents each year.”

“This workshop helps individuals, non-profit groups and arts organizations craft grant proposals that include all of the necessary elements, including project descriptions and budgets,” said Freeholder Bruce H. Bergen, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board.  

The workshop will explain the application process for both programs. The 2018 HEART grant is for projects related to local history, the arts or humanities undertaken by non-profit organizations, individual artists and scholars and is funded through the Freeholder Board. The Union County 2019 Local Arts Grant Program is for arts organizations or arts projects produced by non-arts organizations.

Funds for the Local Arts Program are made available through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Projects eligible for consideration for 2018 HEART grants must take place between September 1, 2018 and March 31, 2019. Organizations eligible for consideration for 2019 Local Arts Program grants must conduct arts activities taking place between January 1 and December 31, 2019.

The application deadline for both grant programs is June 22, 2018.

To pre-register or obtain additional information about the 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.

For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

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The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that a total of 18 new miles of County roads will be repaved this season in 14 municipalities. Work will begin later this summer.

“Keeping our roads in top condition ensures our residents and those traveling through our area a safe and enjoyable driving experience,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados.  “Union County is one of the region’s most powerful and effective transportation hubs, and we aim to keep it that way.”

Freeholder Vice Chair Bette Jane Kowalski, who heads the Public Works and Facilities Freeholder Committee, added:  “The County maintains more than 174 miles of roadway. Resurfacing makes our roadways not only safer to navigate for both drivers and pedestrians, but also more efficient.”

The 2018 Roads Resurfacing program will begin later this summer after the County completes the 2017 Roads Resurfacing program.

The 2018 Road Resurfacing program will cost approximately $7.5 million, with an approximate 50-50 funding split between the County and the State Transportation Trust Fund.

The work will be conducted at night when possible, in order to minimize the need for detours during peak travel periods.

The roads scheduled for resurfacing in 2018 are:

Municipality	Street	From	To
Berkeley Heights	Mountain Avenue	Horseshoe	Diamond Hill Road
Clark/Scotch Plains	Martine/Lake Ave	Raritan Road	Oak Ridge Road
Fanwood/Scotch	North & Midway	Terrill Road	E. Broad Street
Hillside	Liberty Avenue	Conant Street	Hillside Ave
Linden/Roselle	Wood Avenue	Raritan Road	Route 27
Mountainside/Springfield	Summit Road	Route 78	Route 22
New Providence	South Street	Springfield	Mountain Avenue
Plainfield	E. 7th Street	Roosevelt	Terrill Road
Rahway	Lawrence Street	E. Grand Ave	Woodbridge  Road
Rahway	Grand Avenue	Route 27	Route 1& 9
Summit	River Rd	County	JFK Parkway
Union	Stuyvesant	Vaux Hall Road	Essex County Line

For up-to-date information on road closures and other travel advisories related to County road and bridge projects, visit the interactive Road Construction Update page at ucnj.org/traffic.

To report potholes on County roads, use the convenient online form at ucnj.org/pothole.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholder Linda Carter present resolutions to TAPinto Roselle/Roselle Park and TAPinto Elizabeth Publisher Kathy Lloyd, Plainfield Councilwoman Rebecca Williams and Union County College Gay-Straight Alliance President Tiffany Santana in honor of Union County recognizing Thursday, April 26, 2018 as “Lesbian Visibility Day.” They were joined by Union County Office of LGBTQ Services Coordinator Danni Newbury and Union County Office on Women Coordinator Jennifer Erdos. The Freeholder Board supports a day of visibility for individuals such as these women who have carved their way through uncharted territories spreading awareness and providing support and advocacy to Union County’s lesbian community. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)