Author: Web Site Administrator

Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan would like to extend the following invitation:

Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan, Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi and Union County Surrogate James LaCorte congratulate the top winners of the 2016 “My County” poster contest sponsored by the Union County Constitutional Officers.

The top winners of the contest are (from 2^nd left): Reed Cabral (1st place) from St. Bartholomew Academy in Scotch Plains, Tatiana Fecowycz (2nd place) from Holy Trinity Interparochial School in Westfield, Julia Polo (3rd place) from St. John the Apostle Elementary School in Clark and Jonathan Moncayo (4th place) from the Ronald Reagan Academy #30 in Elizabeth.

More than 200 fourth grade students from schools throughout Union County entered the contest.

(Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan swears in newly promoted Sheriff’s Sergeant Ryan Wilson of Kenilworth during a ceremony at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. Holding the Bible is Sergeant Wilson’s wife Jennifer.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan, Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados and Elizabeth Councilman Manny Grova congratulate newly promoted Sheriff’s Captain Mark Banek of Clark, Lieutenant Carlo Caparruva of Elizabeth and Sergeant David Pepe of Clark during a ceremony at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen, Sheriff Joe Cryan, Elizabeth Councilman William Gallman, Union County College President Margaret McMenamin, Union County Human Service Director Frank Guzzo and Sean Lacon of Blessed Ministries joined Senator Raymond J. Lesniak in kicking off the Senator’s pilot program which leverages private donations to assist food stamp recipients to either find a job or participate in a training or work-related program that maintains their benefits.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Sheriff Joe Cryan,  Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, and a number of other elected officials, educational, clergy and non-profit leaders today joined with Senator Raymond J. Lesniak in kicking off the Senator’s pilot program which leverages private donations to assist food stamp recipients to either find a job or participate in a training or work-related program that maintains their benefits.

The pilot program comes amidst news that as many as 11,000 -20,000 New Jersey residents—and as many as 1,500 in Union County—could lose their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by November.  This is the result of the Christie Administration’s decision not to seek an extension (or waiver) of benefits from the Federal Government for single, able-bodied adults (18-49 years of age) without dependents who receive SNAP benefits. The announcement was also timely given that March is National Nutrition Month, a campaign that focuses on the importance of food choices.

“The pilot program is the right thing to do, not only for Union County residents who receive SNAP benefits, but for all of New Jersey’s residents who may lack the means to put food on their table,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “We’re proud to stand with Senator Lesniak in kicking off this important initiative.”

The legislation, S-2366, entitled “the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Demonstration Project was signed into law in 2013, and was sponsored by Lesniak and Senator Joseph F. Vitale of Middlesex. The bill has the state Department of Human Services partner with local agencies, non-profits, and colleges and universities to provide food stamp recipients with job training funded by private foundations with matching funds from the federal government.

“The program is unique in that it matches private sector money to Federal  money—at no cost to the state–in funding jobs training programs for SNAP recipients,” said Senator Lesniak. “At a time when many of our residents are still struggling to pay for food and now facing the loss of benefits, we call upon the state Department of Human Services to expand the pilot program across the state.”

Mayor Bollwage noted: “This Job Training and Placement PILOT program for SNAP recipients will increase options for residents, enable them to acquire and hone skills as well as enhance their abilities. From assisting with retaining benefits to improving the overall quality of life, this initiative supports the wellness of our community.”

The state Department of Human Services selected two non-profits, Blessed Ministries Inc. and YouthBuild, Newark Inc., to run pilot programs that would help as many as 400 or so SNAP recipients in four counties—Union, Essex, Hudson and Passaic Counties—to find work or engage in a work-related activity or program that would help them retain benefits.

Blessed Ministries Inc.’s pilot program was funded in part through a $500,000 donation from the Nicholson Foundation of Newark, and matched through U.S. Department of Labor funds passed through the State Division of Family Development. YouthBuild, Newark Inc.’s programming is supported by the U.S. Department of Labor, multiple State agencies, the Victoria and Prudential Foundations, and other public and private sources.

“We’re excited to have been chosen to work with Union County among the counties in our service area,” said Sean LaCon, Chairman and Founder of Blessed Ministries. “We’ve developed a rapid advancement and employment program which will help SNAP recipients with the skills they need to find employment.” LaCon also thanked Lesniak and the Nicholson Foundation for their support.

“This pilot brings much-needed resources to work that is often overlooked in State and federal policy discussions for a population that is vital to communities and families thriving,” cited YouthBuild Newark’s Founding Executive Director Robert Clark.  “We are eager to build upon Senator Lesniak’s vision and collaborate with partners such as the Urban League of Essex County to maximize its impact.”

Statewide, 884,937 residents—or roughly one of every ten New Jersey residents—receive SNAP benefits. In Union County, 49,578 residents, including 24,462 children—receive SNAP benefits according to a December, 2015 New Jersey Department of Human Services report. A recent study by the Food Research and Action Center, a non-profit group, indicates the number could be much higher since the State of New Jersey ranks among the 15 worst nationally in reaching SNAP-eligible people.

Union County Human Services Director Frank Guzzo explained that in order to enroll in a jobs training program such as Blessed Ministries and YouthBuild Newark, Inc., Union County SNAP clients must first be found eligible and referred through County Human Services personnel at one of the County’s One Stop Centers.

The State has sent out letters to single, able-bodied adults without dependents (known as ABAWDs) who receive SNAP benefits and who face a potential loss of benefits due to the loss of waivers, asking them to report on the following dates for an informational session and assessment:

• One Stop Elizabeth Center (921 Elizabeth Avenue): March 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, 31st and April 6.  Sessions will begin 1:30 pm
• One Stop Plainfield Center (200 W. Second Street):  March 18, April 1, 15th at 9 am and 1 p.m.

Anyone who has questions about their benefits should call the statewide SNAP Hotline at 855-450-3109.

A significant portion of SNAP recipients are low-income, low skill residents with limited job prospects, who are more likely to lack basic skills in reading, writing, and math, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). Many SNAP recipients are also homeless, according to Linda Flores-Tober, Executive Director of the Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless.

“Every year, we are seeing more and more homeless people access our services,” said Flores-Tober. “Any effort that addresses food insecurity among the homeless and poor is certainly welcome, but we certainly have a long way to go in the state.”

According to a U.S. Department of Labor study released in 2015, New Jersey’s long term jobless rate remains among the highest in the nation with more than 40 percent of its unemployed residents having been jobless at least 27 weeks. Only New Mexico and Washington D.C. posted higher rates. The impact from the state’s persistently sluggish recovery is being felt at New Jersey’s food banks, which have seen the ongoing, record demand dramatically shrink their inventory. 

The latest report from Feeding America, a nutritional advocacy group, shows more than 1.1 million people across the state face hunger, and almost 400,000 of them are children.  That puts New Jersey’s overall food insecurity rate at more than 12%, but children fare worse, with their food insecurity rate now 18%, and nearly one in five facing hunger.

“This is an ongoing crisis that many residents in New Jersey may not be aware of,” said Debra Vizzi, President and CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, which is headquartered in Hillside. “We applaud any effort to assist SNAP recipients maintain their benefits or find work, and to call attention to the hunger crisis in New Jersey.”

Pastor Carmine Pernini, of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rahway who is representing the Union County Interfaith Coordinating Council, added: “As first responders in our congregations and communities, clergy see and know firsthand how essential SNAP is to quality of life for so many. It is our hope that the funding of SNAP remain in place in support of those most in need of help in keeping food on their table for them and their families.”

Union County College President Margaret M. McMenamin, who also joined the announcement, was recently notified by the state that at least 100 SNAP clients will be seeking the College’s services for training and placement services—in a program unrelated to Lesniak’s pilot project. The program will be funded through the State Department of Labor Workforce Development and will providing training and placement for

“These are people who need a boost: to learn a new skill or to build on the educational credentials they already have,” McMenamin said. “That’s what community colleges do. We welcome our neediest residents with open arms and give them that boost toward achieving a better life.”

The kick-off to Lesniak’s SNAP Pilot program initiative was held at the African American Cultural and Learning Center on Spring Street in Elizabeth. Scheduled speakers included Senator Lesniak, Freeholder Chairman Bergen, Mayor Bollwage, Sheriff Cryan, Sean LaCon of Blessed Ministries, YouthBuild Newark Board Member Craig Drinkard, Linda Flores-Tober of the Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless, Debra Vizzi of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Union County College President Dr. Margaret McMenamin, Pastor Carmine Pernini of the Union County Interfaith Coordinating Council, Pastor Carlos J. Torres, 7th Day Adventist Church with four branches in Elizabeth,  Frank Guzzo, Director of the Union County Department of Human Services, members of the Clergy and SNAP clients. 

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The County of Union’s Freeholders and Sheriff’s Officers participated reading to children during Union County’s Education Association’s annual Read Across America event. 

Sheriff Officers read to students in Clark, Union Township, Roselle Park and Plainfield.

Read Across America is a reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading in honor of the birthday of children’s author Dr. Seuss on March 2.

Officer Anastasio Anastasatos reading to Children in the Valley Road School in Clark, NJ

Officer Hanif Davis reading to children in the Hannah Caldwell School in Union, NJ

A note received from a child at the Hannah Caldwell School in Union after Officer Davis read to the class.

Officer Shameko Greene with the staff Cedarbrook School Plainfield, NJ

Below is information provided by the IRS Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). You can attach their link to your website regarding the ongoing IRS Fine Solicitation Scam, and what your constituents can do to avoid becoming a victim.  Here’s the link – https://www.treasury.gov/tigta/.  The information details what to do if you receive one of these calls (best advice – ignore), and where to report the information identifying the caller(s).   

Taxpayers – Beware of IRS Impersonators! Don’t become a victim this filing season

If you believe you have been a victim of an IRS Impersonation Scam, contact the IRS Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).

If you get a call from someone claiming to be with the IRS asking for a payment, here’s what to do:

1. If you owe Federal taxes, or think you might owe taxes, hang up and call the IRS at 800-829-1040. IRS workers can help you with your payment questions.
2. If you do not owe taxes, fill out the “IRS Impersonation scam” form on TIGTA’s website, www.tigta.gov, or call TIGTA at 800-366-4484.
3. You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.FTC.gov. Add “IRS Telephone Scam” to the comments in your complaint.

On Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. Union County Sheriff Joe Cryan presided over a ceremony at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth, promoting Sergeant Nakera Sherman from the rank of Sheriff’s Officer to Sheriff’s Officer Sergeant.

Sergeant Sherman is a 13 year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office.  She resides in Plainfield with her two daughters, Kayla and Jada, both of whom were present at their mother’s side for the ceremony.

Sheriff Cryan administered the oath and addressed the crowded courtroom afterwards.

“It is my honor and pleasure to promote Sergeant Sherman.  She is quite deserving of this promotion.  She has been a consistent performer and professional wherever she has been assigned for her entire career.  I have the utmost confidence in her going forward, and I congratulate her and her family on this milestone,” said Cryan.

Sergeant Sherman briefly addressed the crowd. “I want to thank Sheriff Cryan for his confidence in me,” she said, “And I want to thank my family and God for this opportunity and this challenge.”

Sergeant Sherman will be assigned to the Complex Security Division.

by Joseph Cryan

Last year was a year of change for the Union County Sheriff’s Office, as I was sworn in to my first full three year term. We had a year of progress, with arrests up almost forty percent, the automation of our time and attendance systems, a full scale training exercise for Response to an Active Shooter at the Courthouse Complex, the addition of report management automation and GPS positioning in our cars and the start of implementation of body worn cameras. We also welcomed over 1.2 million unique visitors to the Courthouse Complex without incident or complaint, transported over fifteen thousand prisoners with no incidents, and initiated a new commitment to training for our officers and clerical personnel.

In addition to training our officers, we have significantly advanced the physical security of the Courthouse Complex through improved security screening processes and a new camera and monitoring system. Our ability to see and monitor all areas within the courthouse complex has been dramatically upgraded, providing additional security for all concerned. Also, in this past year we developed a new website (ucnj.org/sheriff), developed the “Union County Sheriff’s Office” mobile app that is available for free download in both the Apple Store and the Play Store for Android devices, and established a Facebook presence (Sheriff Joe Cryan). We welcome you to follow us, and we certainly solicit your input. 

A source of pride for our office is our employees’ commitment to excellence and professionalism in their employment here at the Sheriff’s Office, and their commitment as private citizens to the communities they live in and serve. Our Sheriff’s personnel are your neighbors, and share the same values all folks do. They are coaches of Little League baseball, softball, soccer, basketball and football for our youth, and Big Brothers and Big Sisters here in Union County; they are troop leaders of Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Brownies, and Girl Scouts. Our personnel are members of numerous First Aid Squads, Volunteer Fire Departments and Junior ROTC. They are school Class Mothers, PTA members, they volunteer for beach clean ups, volunteer with the Community Food Bank in Hillside, rescue dogs, volunteer at animal shelters, and participate with The Center for Hope and Hospice.

More than half of our employees contribute regularly to a variety of charities. Last year alone, they donated more than 100 pints of blood. The people I’m proud to lead are members of civic organizations such as the Elks, the Knights of Columbus, VFW, American Legion, and many more. They come to work as professionals each day, perform random acts of kindness more often than I can list, and every day make Union County and their communities a better place to live.

2016 will provide more challenges for us, as each work day does. Building on our foundation of success, I’m confident we are ready to meet what may lie ahead.

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For more information about the Union County Sheriff and 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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