Union Vicinage to Celebrate 15th Annual Adoption Day

The Union Vicinage will hold its 15th annual National Adoption Day celebration on Friday, Nov. 17, Assignment Judge Lisa Miralles Walsh, along with Family Division Presiding Judge Thomas J. Walsh, announced today. 

The event will take place at the Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad St., Elizabeth, where Superior Court Judges Gavin Handwerker, Paul Nieves, and Chanel Hudson will preside over five adoptions beginning at 9 a.m. Families who have adopted throughout the year also will join the festivities.

Breakfast will be provided by the Union County Surrogate’s Office. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Union County Inc. arranged for gift baskets created with donations from the community, students from the Bears that Care program at David Brearley High School in Kenilworth, and other organizations, for the families. 

The celebration will include face painting, balloon creations, and bracelet making. Union County Sheriff’s Office employees will dress as superheroes and have arranged for an ice cream truck. Dave Pilmenstein will take the families’ first family portrait.

National Adoption Day is an annual event in which courts and communities in all 50 states join to raise public awareness of the need for adoptive homes, to finalize thousands of adoptions, and to celebrate families who adopt.

Although adoption proceedings are closed to the public, reporters can contact Sandra Thaler-Gerber, civil division manager, at 908-787-1650, ext. 21491 with requests to interview willing families after their adoption proceedings conclude.