Union County News
By FRED J. AUN
July 23, 2025
UNION COUNTY, NJ — First responders in Union County now have access to a new mental health support system, thanks to a partnership between the Union County Sheriff’s Department and GoMo Health, a digital health company.The new “First Responder Resiliency Program” aims to help police, firefighters, ...
CRANFORD, N.J. — Adam Sandler has returned to the Garden State, this time not in front of the camera but behind it, producing a new Netflix film starring his teenage daughter, Sunny Sandler. Production on “Don't Say Good Luck” is underway in Cranford, with filming expected to continue over the next ...
ELIZABETH, NJ — There is now a county-run family health clinic that will provide health and wellness services to residents without insurance.Services include free tuberculosis testing for uninsured individuals in all of Union County.They also include free wellness visits for children under 5 ...
WESTFIELD, NJ – Westfield native James Reynolds, a U.S. Navy lieutenant, was recently highlighted by the Navy for his service as a weapons officer on a submarine.Reynolds, a 2013 graduate of St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City, is serving on the USS Scranton based at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego, ...
CRANFORD, N.J. –At 87 years old, Victor M. Richel still shows up to work seven days a week — not out of obligation, but out of conviction. The longtime Berkeley Heights resident and respected business leader has spent decades shaping Union County through a rare blend of corporate insight and civic ...
ELIZABETH, NJ — The Union County Board of Commissioners are trying to prevent county residents from receiving cuts to their health insurance coverage, which could happen under a bill that is currently being reviewed by U.S. Congress.The commissioners are joining with the American Federation of ...
Union County, NJ — Each year, every Union County school athletic department chooses a male and female graduating senior athlete who exemplifies both athletic and academic success. Such students are leaders in their schools and communities and demonstrate the qualities of tenacity, integrity, ...
SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — Changes are coming to the grass baseball and soccer field on the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools campus.A $3,484,252 grant was awarded to Applied Landscaping to upgrade the field to a multipurpose artificial turf field with new player benches, awnings, a storage shed ...
WESTFIELD, NJ — As invasive plants continue to dominate residential landscapes, the Union County chapter of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey responded by hosting its inaugural native garden tour on Saturday. The chapter’s steering committee turned five private home gardens in Westfield and ...
SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — A legal battle is ongoing between Union County and the companies responsible for doing structural work to the Ash Brook Golf Course clubhouse building in 2016. Meanwhile, the clubhouse is closed for repairs.The county sued the companies in February 2024, claiming they used a ...
UNION COUNTY, NJ — The county Board of Commissioners adopted a $534 million budget this spring that increases the county-wide tax levy by 1.75 percent.The tax levy, which is the amount of money that’s raised in property taxes, increased by the same percentage that it did in 2024 for the county ...
UNION COUNTY, NJ — Two commissioners will not be returning to the Union County Board of Commissioners next year.Bette Jane Kowalski will be retiring this December after having served on the board for just over 21 years. Sergio Granados is not seeking re-election to the board because he is running ...
ELIZABETH, NJ — The county Board of Commissioners has adopted a $534 million budget for the upcoming year.The 2025 budget was put together around the time the Trump Administration announced that it wants to cut $11 billion in health and human services. For New Jersey, that would be $350 million in ...
ELIZABETH, NJ — Advocates for immigrant rights, worker union members and local residents urged the Union County Board of Commissioners not to allow the county jail property to become a detention center for undocumented immigrants during the commissioners' meeting Thursday night.The public turnout ...
MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ— A few months after the Echo Lake Dog Park in Mountainside reopened, the park is yet again closed, dampening plans for doggy play dates. The Echo Lake Dog Park closed on April 14 for a “necessary re-seeding of the turf” which is anticipated to take six to eight weeks, a notice on ...
ELIZABETH, NJ – How the Union County Jail will be used in the future is unknown now that the Union County Board of Commissioners approved two resolutions Thursday night, permitting the building to be sold and the lot it sits on to be subdivided into two separate lots.Selling the jail building is a ...
UNION COUNTY, NJ — The county is facing another lawsuit from Dobco, Inc, a Wayne-based construction company responsible for the challenge that led to work being stopped three years ago on a $145 million project to build a new government complex in Elizabeth. Greg Trif, the attorney representing ...
UNION COUNTY, NJ - Union County is hiring poll workers to help voters during Election Day on June 10. Union County says poll workers will earn $300 for the day, starting at 5:15 a.m. and going through at least 8:15 p.m. after polls close. Application is open to any Union County resident 16 years of ...
UNION, NJ - A crisp, perfect March day set the stage for the 2025 Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade, as marchers and spectators filled the streets of Union to celebrate Irish tradition and community spirit. The 28th annual parade honored youth athletics, showcasing the county's commitment to ...
KENILWORTH, NJ - Flagstar Bank in Kenilworth recently hosted a business networking event that saw 40 attendees comprising businesses from throughout the area. The event was sponsored by the Kenilworth Chamber of Commerce.At the event, area business leaders shared information about their respective ...
UNION COUNTY, NJ — The Union County Rape Crisis Center is adding more volunteers.Volunteers will be trained at the center’s offices this March and April to provide emotional support, crisis counseling and advocacy to individuals who have experienced situations involving sexual violence.“They will ...
UNION COUNTY, NJ — The county prosecutor’s office is rolling out a plan to train all county first responders to recognize and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges.The prosecutor’s office has launched a Mental Health First Aid training and certification initiative in ...
UNION COUNTY, NJ — Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi on Wednesday advised that the U.S. Department of State has stopped issuing passports with the “X” gender marker, which prior to Jan. 20 was available to non-binary individuals who do not identify as strictly male or female. As a result, ...
UNION COUNTY, NJ — Three Union County Parks will get upgrades if they’re approved for Green Acres funding through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.Unami Park in Garwood and Westfield would get ADA-compliant improvements, including an inclusive playground and an ADA-compliant ...
ELIZABETH, NJ — Salaries for the members of the Union County Board of Commissioners and other county officials are expected to increase from what they were in 2024.The 2025 salaries are expected to be approved at the Commissioners' next meeting, scheduled for Feb. 6. Top paid county positions for ...
WESTFIELD, NJ — Parents often encourage their children to do the right thing even when no one is watching. But for millions of viewers, this message of acting with integrity recently spotlighted a Westfield resident, mother of five and Union County Commissioner whose chance visit to Manny’s Diner ...
MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ — Has your pooch been missing Echo Lake Dog Park? You should be able to bring Fido once again starting Jan. 31, county officials estimate.The dog park has been closed to the public since August as improvements, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, took place.The improvements ...
ELIZABETH, NJ — Union County is spending more money to house its inmates in other counties.The Union County Board of County Commissioners recently approved a $1.726 million spending increase that covered the cost of relocating Union County inmates to the Essex County Correctional Facility in ...
ELIZABETH, NJ — The Union County Board of County Commissioners has a new chairperson.Commissioner Lourdes Leon was sworn in as the new chairwoman during the commissioners' installation ceremony and reorganization meeting on Monday, Jan. 6.Leon replaces Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded, who served as ...
ELIZABETH, NJ — The Union County Board of County Commissioners has a new chairperson.Commissioner Lourdes Leon was sworn in as the new chairwoman during the commissioners' installation ceremony and reorganization meeting on Monday, Jan. 6.Leon replaces Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded, who served as ...