Tag: chairman granados

Union County, NJ – The skies are finally clearing, the outlook is bright for a beautiful weekend, and all of Union County is invited to turn out for the first ever “Rockin’ the Reservation” fall family fun fest at the Watchung Reservation in Mountainside on Sunday, September 30, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

“This new event combines our most popular fall season activities with a whole new roster of live performances and hands-on activities that everyone can enjoy, all day long,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados.

As a newly updated and expanded version of Union County’s annual harvest festival, Rockin’ the Reservation features traditional activities of the season including a pumpkin patch, petting zoo, pony rides and a scarecrow building station.

Adding to fun is a new lineup of art, craft, music, and dance activities along with non-stop live performances: a DJ, country bands, dance and art demonstrations, and much more.

Admission for children age 7 and under is free. For ages 8 and over, admission is $5.00. Additional modest fees may apply to some of the activities.

Visitors can also tour the nearby Sensory Friendly Trail, a new all-access feature that invites all ages and abilities to explore the out-of-doors. The trail is free to all and is open from dawn to dusk every day.

Rockin’ the Reservation takes place on the grounds of Union County’s Trailside Nature and Science Center, located in the Watchung Reservation at 451 New Providence Road in Mountainside. Trailside is open every day from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Free parking is available at Trailside and at the nearby Loop playground.

For more details and a full schedule visit ucnj.org/fall or call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation, 908-527-4900.

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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds residents that support and guidance for victims of sexual violence is available through the Union County Rape Crisis Center, a 24/7 hotline that connects victims with trained, volunteer advocates.

The advocates provide guidance by phone and may also accompany victims for medical, legal and other services.

“Victims of sexual violence come from all walks of life, and the events of the past few weeks underscore the need for a supportive, non-judgmental source of reliable information and guidance that is available to everyone,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Our volunteer advocates perform an invaluable service for residents who are facing a life crisis, and I encourage anyone needing assistance to call the Rape Crisis Center at 908-233-7273.

The Rape Crisis Center has been a volunteer program of the Union County Department of Human Services since 1984. For more information about the program and its services, visit the Rape Crisis Center blog at unioncountyrapecrisiscenter.blogspot.com, call 908-233-7273 or email rcc@ucnj.org.

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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.

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Union County, NJ – World renowned guitarist, composer, arranger and teacher Carlos Alomar will be the featured speaker for a free Hispanic Heritage Month event on Tuesday, October 2, at 11:00 a.m., at the Sidney F. Lessner Building located at the Union County College campus in Elizabeth, at 12 West Jersey Street.

Mr. Alomar is best known for his 30-year collaboration with David Bowie including the breakthrough hit “Fame,” and for his work with Chuck Berry, James Brown, Paul McCartney, Simple Minds, Mick Jagger, Iggy Pop, Arcadia, The Pretenders, Alicia Keys and the Argentine rock band Soda Stereo among many others.

“It is an honor to welcome Mr. Alomar to join with all Union County residents in celebrating our diverse heritage,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “With his amazing breadth of experience here at home and around the world, Carlos Alomar unites people from every walk of life in the simple joy of music. He embodies the basic American values of diversity, creativity, mutual respect, and giving back to the community.”

At age 17, Alomar became the youngest guitarist in the history of the Apollo Theater, walking on stage and winning over a dubious crowd with solo versions of Motown hits by The Supremes and Junior Walker. He soon became a guitarist in the Apollo’s house band, performed with James Brown, and by the early 70s was a sought-after session musician for RCA Recording Studios in New York.

Mr. Alomar currently serves as the president of the New York chapter of The Recording Academy, the organization responsible for the Grammy Awards. He joined the teaching staff of Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken as an adjunct professor of Music and Technology, and was honored as the school’s first “Distinguished Artist in Residence” in 2010.

The free event is sponsored by the Freeholder Board through the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, and is funded in part by the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of Cultural Affairs in the Department of State.

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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.

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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders will present a free workshop, “Emergency Preparedness for Arts & Cultural Organizations,” on Tuesday, October 2 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Warinanco Sports Center in Roselle.

“Planning ahead for emergencies is vital for the long term survival of any business, and the same applies to our nonprofit and cultural community,” Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Our arts and cultural organizations are an important part of the Union County economy. We want to help ensure that they can connect with resources to help them manage a crisis effectively, and recover as quickly as possible afterwards.”

Attendees will learn about the disaster planning process and contents of a disaster plan, hear about business continuity issues and receive information about resources to help with planning in order to protect people and property.

The workshop will be conducted by Ellen Korpar, an emergency preparedness expert and a staff member and volunteer with the Red Cross. Ms. Korpar has been involved in the response to 17 nationally declared disasters, working primarily with cultural organizations.

The workshop is funded in part by a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. It is presented through the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, in the Department of Parks and Recreation.

The workshop is free but pre-registration is required by October 1.

To register, use the online form for the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at ucnj.org/parks.

For more information about the workshop, email the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at culturalinfo@ucnj.org, or call 908-558-2550 (NJ Relay users dial 711).

Additional information about all Cultural and Heritage Affairs programs and activities, visit online at ucnj.org/parks-recreation/cultural-heritage-affairs.

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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.

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Five local leaders honored for community achievement

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites the community to join the County’s first Hispanic Heritage Celebration on Sunday, September 23rd, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Union County Performing Arts Center, 1601 Irving Street in Rahway. The Freeholder Board is partnering with the City of Rahway for the event, which is free and open to the general public.

The event is free but pre-registration is requested. To register, use the online form at ucnj.org/hispanic-heritage-celebration.

The event includes live performances, an awards ceremony, food tastings and more. Public parking is available at the Performing Arts Center’s Hamilton Stage location nearby, at 360 Hamilton Street.

“It is an honor, as Chairman, to host the County’s first Hispanic Heritage event. Now more than ever, it is important to celebrate the diversity and cultural ties that build a strong, inclusive community,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados, who is of Salvadoran-American descent. “Hispanics continue to make major contributions in all aspects of American life. Whether in the sphere of civic service, entrepreneurship, innovation, or arts and entertainment, the influence of Hispanic culture is built into the DNA of our great nation.”

Attendees are invited to explore the richness of the Hispanic culture through various musical and dance performances, art and entertainment. The day’s activities will be capped off with a performance by the Mike Ramirez Salsa Band.

Five local leaders will be honored for their community achievements. The 2018 Hispanic Heritage Honorees are:

• Edwin Gomez – Elizabeth: Business Award
• Maritza Martinez – Plainfield: Community Engagement Award
• Louis DeMondo – Kenilworth: Public Safety Award
• Jeremy Mojica – Rahway: Community Leadership Award
• Frank Cuesta – Elizabeth: Education Award

Chairman Granados will be joined by Freeholder Angel Estrada to present the awards, along with local officials.

The Hispanic Heritage Month event is coordinated through the Union County Office of Community Engagement and Diversity. The office is part of Freeholder Chairman Granados’s 2018 “Moving Union County Forward” initiatives for supporting inclusion, individual empowerment and community engagement in Union County. For more information please contact the office coordinator, Nathalie Hernandez, at nahernandez@ucnj.org or 908-527-4880.

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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.

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Union County, NJ – On Saturday, October 27 Union County residents with unwanted guns in their possession can turn them in for up to $250 each at either of two locations, in Elizabeth and Plainfield. Anyone turning in a gun may do so anonymously.

“Gun buyback events have safely taken hundreds of guns off the streets and out of our homes and neighborhoods. Buybacks also help raise awareness about the risk of gun violence in our community,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “If you have a gun in your possession that you no longer want, for any reason, I encourage you to participate in the October 27 buyback.”

Gun buybacks are designed to enable anyone to turn in any gun, in any condition, with no questions asked. The program provides for residents to turn in up to three firearms and receive up to $250 for each weapon.

People with guns to turn in can bring them to either the Elizabeth or Plainfield location any time between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 27:

Elizabeth: The Macedonia Baptist Church, at 1251 Fairmount Avenue.

Plainfield: The Visions of God Family Worship Church, 350 Leland Avenue.

Participants are advised that weapons transported by car must be put in a closed container and kept in the trunk.

To reduce any risk of theft or mishap, participants are also advised to proceed directly to the drop-off location, without making any stops for errands or social calls.

The gun buyback event is supported by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and sponsored by the Union County Prosecutor and the Union County Sheriff with the Union County Division of Police and the police departments of the cities of Elizabeth and Plainfield.

For questions about the buyback event, call the Union County Department of Public Safety at 908-654-9816. (908) 654.9816

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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.

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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the first graduating class of the new Non-Profit Consortium Leadership Fellows Institute. The 44 graduates were recruited from local non-profit organizations in partnership with the Union County Non-Profit Consortium, with the goal of developing the next generation of informed, effective executives in the non-profit sector.

“On behalf of the Freeholder Board, I am very proud to congratulate the inaugural class of the Non-Profit Consortium Leadership Fellows Institute, said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Non-profits are an important part of the foundation that sustains our social safety net, and they also provide high quality employment opportunities and volunteer experiences that enrich life in our community. With the skills gained through this program, our graduates will make a real difference in the lives of Union County residents, especially those who need a helping hand.”

The Non-Profit Leadership Fellows Institute was launched in 2017 by Freeholder Bruce H. Bergen, when he served as Chairman. It represents the first, focused investment that County government has made to support skills and training for the next generation of non-profit executive leaders.

“The program builds on our workforce development initiatives, which are aimed at ensuring that important economic sectors in Union County can draw from a rich pool of talent,” said Freeholder Bergen. “Through the Leadership Fellows Institute, we can help ensure that our non-profits continue to benefit from informed, effective and seasoned leadership.”

The Union County Non-Profit Leadership Fellows Institute is a public-private partnership funded through $5,000 in seed money from County government, $500 contributions made by the non-profit organizations for each candidate they send to the Institute, and the generosity of private sector sponsors.

Of the 44 graduates, 22 were sponsored through the Freeholder Board and 22 were sponsored through the nonprofit organization Community Access Unlimited.

Each of the participants attended 11 skill-building sessions based on a dynamic, interactive model. Peer learning is also an important element of the development program.

For more information about participating in or supporting the Non-Profit Leadership Fellows Institute, Sidney Blanchard, Executive Director, Community Access Unlimited at 908-354-3040 or sblanchard@caunj.org.

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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.

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Union County, NJ – Seniors at the Peterstown Community Center in Elizabeth celebrated the delivery of a new waist-high “senior” garden bed earlier this week, with the help of Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados, Groundwork Elizabeth Executive Director Jonathan Phillips and others. The new bed was funded through a grant from the Union County Means Green Community Garden Grants program.

“Gardeners in Union County know that summer does not mark the end of the growing season,” said Chairman Granados. “Many crops thrive in cool, rainy weather, and the Freeholder Board is proud to help our seniors enjoy the many benefits of a community garden throughout the fall months. The unique senior beds provide space for those using wheelchairs and other devices, so they can participate in garden activities along with their friends and neighbors.”

The senior bed was built and installed by staff from Groundwork. The raised height and slanted sides of the new bed enable seniors and people with disabilities to enjoy gardening from a standing or sitting position, rather than bending or kneeling.

Groundwork staff also provided seniors at the Peterstown Community Center with a gardening workshop, demonstrating how to plant the new bed with lettuce and radish seedlings for a fall harvest. The senior bed joins a sprawling layout of garden beds already established at the Peterstown Center, located at 408 Palmer Street.

This year the garden yielded a bumper crop of fresh eggplant, tomatoes, basil, kale and much more.

The Union County Means Green grant program began in 2016 with the aim of introducing the benefits of community gardening to residents throughout Union County, including fresh produce, educational activities, recreation and community service. The program is funded by the Freeholder Board and administered by Groundwork Elizabeth as part of the organization’s “Come Grow with Us” community garden network.

The Freeholder Board also supports the Master Gardeners program, which trains and certifies members of the public to provide gardening guidance and activities for their communities. The program is run by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, with offices at the Union County complex in Westfield and a large demonstration garden in Mountainside.

The next Master Gardeners training session is coming up this fall. Any Union County resident can join, regardless of experience. For more information visit the Extension online at ucnj.org/rce or contact Tamisha Hopkins at thopkins@ucnj.org or 908-654-9854, extension 2.

For more information about Groundwork Elizabeth and Come Grow with Us, visit online at groundworkelizabeth.org, call 908-289-0262, or email elizabethnj@groundworkusa.org.

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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.

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Union County, NJ — The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is please to present artwork from the “Art from the HEART” fine arts program, now on display at the Freeholders Gallery through September 28. The public is invited to visit the Freeholders Gallery any time during regular business hours weekdays from 9:00 am to 5:00 p.m. It is located on the 6^th floor of the Union County Administration Building, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza in Elizabeth.

“Art from the HEART provides a way for seniors to express themselves creatively and share their unique views of the world with the public at large,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “The Freeholder Board is proud to support this program, which provides an enriching experience for seniors and the whole Union County community.”

The Art from the HEART exhibition is a partnership between the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey and SAGE Eldercare, both located in Summit, and is made possible in part by a HEART (History, Education, Arts Reaching Thousands) grant from the Freeholder Board.  Additional funding is provided by individual donors.

The Art from the HEART program is celebrating its 18^th year. Lead by art therapist Janice Patrignani, the program encourages self-expression, increases self-esteem, and helps keep participants’ minds active.

The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is the state’s largest institution dedicated exclusively to viewing, making and learning about contemporary art, including a renowned studio art school and a full schedule programs and exhibitions. Its service mission includes a commitment to creating access to the arts for a range of constituents, from at-risk children and youth to people with special needs to senior adults. For more information visit artcenternj.org or call 908-273-9121.

SAGE Eldercare supports the independence, well-being and quality of life of older adults, their families and caregivers, through the provision of client-centered health, social and support services. SAGE offers a wide range of programs and services that support seniors as they face the challenges of later stages in life. For more information, visit sageeldercare.org or call 908-273-5550.

The Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs coordinates the exhibits displayed at the Freeholders Gallery, as a division of the Department of Parks and Recreation. The Cultural and Heritage Affairs offices are located at 633 Pearl Street in Elizabeth.

For more information about Art from the HEART and other programs and services related to the arts and history in Union County, contact the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 908-558-2550 (NJ relay users dial 711) or 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.

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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to partner with the Rutgers School of Public Health, Center for Health, Identity, Behavior & Prevention Studies (CHIBPS) to host a free community forum, “HIV Prevention: U=U, PrEP and PEP-Knowing the Facts,” on Sunday, September 16, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. at Union County College, 1033 Springfield Avenue in Cranford.  Registration is requested at ucnj.org/lgbtq.

Presented in collaboration with the Union County Office of LGBTQ Services, Union County College and UCC’s Gay Straight Alliance, CHIBPS has prepared this community forum to bring together educators, public health professionals, healthcare providers, and most importantly, community members, to discuss HIV prevention and HIV resources in their communities.

Rutgers School of Public Health Dean and Director of CHIBPS, Dr. Perry N. Halkitis, will provide the keynote address followed by an expert panel of speakers from the New Jersey Department of Health and Hyacinth AIDS Foundation.

“HIV stigma is holding back the efforts of public health stakeholders to reach affected communities with prevention strategies and other resources,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “The Freeholder Board is proud to partner with Dr. Perry Halkitis and Rutgers School of Public Health to help overcome that obstacle. Learning the facts about HIV is an important step toward neutralizing fear and bias, and making our community one in which people are empowered to seek guidance without being stigmatized.”

The Prevention Access Campaign: U=U, simply known as U=U or Undetectable = Untransmittable, is a movement advanced by Bruce Reichman in an effort to use treatment of HIV as a means to its prevention. U=U is a ground breaking statement adopted by 700 community partners and 100 countries that recognized a groundswell of research that confirms that a person living with HIV, and who is on effective treatment that reduces the level of HIV to “undetectable,” protects their health and makes them incapable of passing HIV to their partner/s. Additionally, PrEP and PEP are valuable methods of protection against HIV. Both act as preventative and prophylactic measures to guard against becoming infected with HIV.

“Despite the advances of the last decade, only a fraction of Americans are accessing these powerful biomedical resources to either prevent or treat their HIV,” comments Dean Halkitis. “Community forums like this empower the community for and which we work to take control of their health and status with valuable resources and education.”

CHIBPS and the Union County Office of LGBTQ Services organized this event to galvanize the Union County, Newark and surrounding communities to learn about and access the U=U campaign and preventative and prophylactic therapies like PrEP and PEP to protect not only their health, but also their communities.

“According to the CDC, an estimated 1.1 million people are living with HIV in the United States,” said Freeholder Alexander Mirabella. “This community forum is an opportunity for individuals living with HIV and family, friends and allies to get correct answers to their questions in an effort to destigmatize HIV.”

Registration is requested at ucnj.org/lgbtq for this free community forum organized by CHIBPS and the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders through the Office of LGBTQ Services in partnership with Union County College and the UCC Gay Straight Alliance.

Established as part of Chairman Granados’ 2018 Moving Union County Forward initiatives, the Office of LGBTQ Services, under the Division of Outreach and Advocacy in the Department of Human Services, is the first County government office of its kind in the State of New Jersey – and one of four government offices in the nation to support the LGBTQ community, of which only two are county government offices. Union County’s Office of LGBTQ Services offers a platform for leadership and collaboration to support equality, and serves as a catalyst for advocacy, awareness and action on current and emerging issues that impact the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals.

For more information about the Office of LGBTQ Services, contact Danni Newbury, Coordinator, at 908-527-4742 or dnewbury@ucnj.org or visit ucnj.org/lgbtq.

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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.

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