Cranford Calendar
This is a free donation based event:
The Opioid Epidemic: Silently Affecting Our Community
Union County residents can learn about the local impacts of the national opioid crisis first-hand from representatives of the Union County Prosecutor, Sheriff, Police Division and other professionals by attending a free public meeting hosted by the Public Safety Committee of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders titled, The Opioid Epidemic: Silently Affecting Our Community.
The meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 21, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the McManus School auditorium, at 300 Edgewood Road in Linden. Admission is free and no pre-registration is required.
“Opioid abuse impacts the entire community, and that is why we are providing the public with an open discussion about the scope and nature of opioid abuse in Union County, and an assessment of the tools that are available to fight it,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “I encourage all concerned citizens to come and learn how public resources are deployed to fight this epidemic.”
“Although the most recent numbers are encouraging, now is the time to bear down and get to the root of the crisis,” said Freeholder Christopher Hudak, who is the Chairman of the Public Safety Committee. “We are looking forward to hearing from professionals on the front lines of the battle against opioid abuse, and sharing this information with the public.”
The Opioid Epidemic: Silently Affecting Our Community will include:
- Overview of facts and trends about the opioid epidemic in Union County
- Details about the County Prosecutor’s Operation Helping Hands program and CLEAR, a collaborative program including the Union County Department of Public Safety, the Office of the Union County Sheriff, the nonprofit organization Prevention Links, and the Union County Department of Human Services
- Prevention Links presentation on prevention, treatment and recovery featuring personal stories and Recovery Coaches
- Information on Naloxone lifesaving assistance presented by First Responders
- Office of the Union County Sheriff K-9 demonstration and discussion about the impact of fentanyl on drug detection
- Discussion of statewide efforts to combat the opioid epidemic by representatives from the New Jersey Department of Health and Department of Human Services
A question and answer period will follow the presentations.
For more information contact Karen Dinsmore, Assistant Director, Union County Department of Human Services, [email protected]
A drive-up food distribution for Union County residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic will be held on Thursday, July 23, beginning at 9 a.m. at Kean University. Sponsored and coordinated by the County of Union and the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, the food distribution will be first-come, first-served and no registration is required.
Kean University is located at 1000 Morris Avenue in Union. The distribution will take place in the parking lot located at the intersection of North and Morris avenues.
Cranford Walking Tour Inaugurates Historic QR Code Signs
On Sunday, May 22 at 2 p.m., the Cranford Historic Preservation Advisory Board (HPAB) will conduct a walking tour of historic sites with new QR (quick response) codes. The tour will also feature additional facts about the downtown and surrounding areas.
Participants will meet in front of the First Baptist Church of Cranford at 100 High Street, which is the first site on the tour. There is a suggested fee of $5, payable in cash or check (made payable to Cranford Historic Preservation Advisory Board or Cranford HPAB) to help fund its work.
HPAB is a volunteer advisory board appointed by the Cranford Township Committee. Its primary purpose is to help residents recognize the significance of noteworthy historic buildings, steetscapes, and districts to emphasize the importance of preserving these resources so they can be enjoyed by current and future generations. Preserving historic buildings, streetscapes, and districts helps the architectural and aesthetic character of Cranford and its neighborhoods remain intact.
Some of the things that HPAB does to accomplish its goals includes researching properties and districts and applying for Certificates of Eligibility for inclusion on the State and National Historic Registers as well as seeking to have properties and districts designated as historic by the Township.
For more information about the HPAB, visit our website at preservecranford.com.