Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello reminds Mercer County voters that sample ballots for the upcoming General Election on Nov. 7, 2023 are now available for online viewing.
“As your County Clerk, I urge voters to go to our website and read their sample ballots carefully, so that they can familiarize themselves with the candidates and questions, as well as other election-related information,” said Sollami Covello.
Early Voting for the Nov. 7, 2023 General Election will take place from Oct. 28 to Nov. 5, Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Voters can find locations for early voting, here https://www.mercercounty.org/government/county-clerk/elections.
Vote by Mail applications may also be found at the above web address. Vote by Mail ballots may be returned to any Drop Box location, found here https://www.mercercounty.org/government/county-clerk/elections/vote-by-mail-drop-box-location. Voted ballots may also be mailed back (postage pre-paid), or returned to the Mercer County Board of Elections located at 930 Spruce St., Trenton, by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
To Vote by Mail, you may also visit our office at 209 S. Broad St., 2nd floor, Trenton, during business hours, 8:30-4:30 Monday through Friday. For polling location information, please visit https://nj.gov/state/elections/vote-polling-location.shtml.
For additional information about the upcoming election, contact Sue Hansen at 609-989-6495.
Originally known as Grupo Pesado, the norteño group Pesado was founded by frontman/accordionist Beto Zapata and Pepe Elizondo (bajo sexto, vocals) in 1993 in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. They debuted with the album Ayudame a Olvidar, released by MCM. Llego el Amor followed in 1994, soon achieving gold status.
Los Invasores de Nuevo León is a Mexican norteño group founded in 1980. They have been considered the greatest school of modern norteño groups and are one of the great references of this musical genre. Their hits include “Laurita Garza,” “Clave 7,” “Ni Dada La Quiero,” “La Costumbre,” “Bajo Mil Llaves,” “What a Woman’s Value,” “Aguanta Corazón,” “My New House,” “La Vieja Banca” and “A Mi Que Me Quedo” to mention a few.
Los Cardenales de Nuevo León are a Grammy-winning norteño group from Mexico whose bajo sexto and accordion-driven sound has influenced hundreds of succeeding groups in the genre. They emerged from their native Monterrey in 1982, playing social events. Their self-titled debut album was issued the same year and received enough airplay and regional popularity that the band was able to tour extensively in the region.
Passage Theater Company announced changes to its management team that will assist the state capitol’s only professional theater company with its vision to become a more adept and sustainable part of the community.
C. Ryanne Domingues, who has led the theater’s programming as Artistic Director for more than six years, has accepted a full-time position at Rider University as Assistant Professor in the BFA Acting program of the Department of Performing Arts. She will continue to work with Passage Theater in a part-time role to develop new, original programming through the 2024-2025 season, including the highly anticipated production of Ghetto Gods in Divineland.
“We are just delighted that Rider University recognized Ryanne’s amazing artistic voice and teaching talent and that she will have this opportunity to shape the next generation of theatre professionals,” said Caroline Wylie, president of Passage Theater’s board of directors.
Managing Director Brishen Miller was promoted to Executive Artistic Director, reflecting his innovative leadership and the additional responsibilities he’s taking on to ensure the theater’s continued success going forward.
Founded in 1985, Passage Theater at Trenton’s historical Mill Hill Playhouse is committed to creating and producing socially relevant new plays and arts programming the deeply resonate with and reflect our community.
D&R Greenway Land Trust’s Harvest Moon Ball, featuring musicians and theatre performers, will be held at the Discovery Center at Point Breeze on the evening of Sept. 30, at 101 Park Street, Bordentown, N.J.
— Justin Lee Jazz Trio
The event starts at 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. to support the historic and ecologically important property.
In the tradition of Joseph Bonaparte, the exiled King of Spain who entertained prominent scientists, artists and leaders here in the 1820s and 1830s, guests are invited to dress as someone who once visited Point Breeze or to come as you are to see who’s who. Prominent people who walked on this land in the 19th century included the Marquis de Lafyette, Dolley Madison, John Quincy Adams, Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, John James Audubon, Louis Mailliard, and Joseph Bonaparte’s daughter Zenaide for whom a dove was named. Thirteen thousand years of history provides a creative playground for the imagination of partygoers who choose to participate in the parade of characters.
Improv performances and music by a jazz trio will keep the mood swinging throughout the evening. Libations and desserts and cheeses from Toscano, a popular Bordentown restaurant, will be served under the full harvest moon.
“We designed this to be an affordable, community-focused event to get people out on the land in an unforgettable setting,” says Linda Mead, D&R Greenway’s president and CEO. “Sunset is magic at Point Breeze. Watching the full moon rise will make this night shine on under the Harvest Moon, like the song!”
— Welcome to the Discovery Center at Point Breeze
This fun garden party will be inspired by the unexpected. Pegasus Theatre, sponsored by Bordentown Arts, a community-based nonprofit, will perform improv. Principals Peter Alexander and Jennifer Nasta Zefutie will bring their theatrical storytelling to an intimate setting inside the Discovery Center, opened in May 2023, surrounded by colorful exhibits, art, and artifacts of note.
Bordentown’s vibrant arts scene received a boost in the last few years from the recently formed Bordentown Arts.
“There’s an insane amount of talent in this one square mile – just as there’s an insane amount of history!” exults Leon Stanley, who founded the nonprofit in 2020 to support arts and cultural experiences within Bordentown City, where he lives with his wife, gallery owner C.J. Mugavero.
“We want Bordentown to be the best it can be,” says Stanley.
“The arts bring a quality of life, are a driver of the economy, and dovetail with the city’s reputation as a restaurant town.”
Musician Justin Lee will lead a talented jazz trio with guitarist Raúl Abbad and singer Monika Ryan, a New York style classic jazz singer who recently released her fourteenth album, “Playfully.” A local resident, Lee is no stranger to Point Breeze; he played a virtuoso solo of both the US national anthem and the French national anthem on Bastille Day when a delegation from Bordentown’s French sister city, Mortefontaine, visited the preserved property. He’s thrilled that Point Breeze will now be a multi-faceted community asset.
— Joseph Bonaparte original oil painting circa 1819 on display at the Discovery Center
“I’m excited that my kids will get to enjoy the open space and the programs.”
The first ever Harvest Moon Ball celebrates that Point Breeze is now a Bordentown treasure, preserved forever. Point Breeze is an apt location to celebrate, as well, the recent election to D&R Greenway’s Board of Trustees of longtime Bordentown public servant, former mayor James E. (Jim) Lynch, Jr.
As Bordentown’s mayor in 2020, Jim Lynch seized a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to preserve Point Breeze – and with it, the unique character of the small city. Developers had been salivating over the site.
“The Divine Word Fathers, who were here for 80 years, were hounded by developers who wanted to build warehouses or a thousand condos,” Lynch recalls. D&R Greenway and State Green Acres partners joined with the city to permanently preserve the land.
Lynch, now a City Commissioner, joined D&R Greenway’s Board of Trustees in 2023, the latest chapter in a 34-year relationship. “I started working on behalf of Bordentown with D&R Greenway in 1989 [the land trust’s founding year], and it just blossomed from there.” Joining the Board “is a great honor for me,” he says.
For Point Breeze, says Jim Lynch, “The best is yet to come.”
The ticket price of $60. Admission to the Harvest Moon Ball on Sept. 30 is via advance ticket purchase by Sept. 25 at www.drgreenway.org or by calling (609) 924-4646. Limited tickets will be available at the door, first come, first served. Proceeds benefit D&R Greenway’s Discovery Center at Point Breeze.
About D&R Greenway Land Trust: D&R Greenway Land Trust is an accredited nonprofit that has reached a new milestone of over 22,000 acres of land preserved throughout central New Jersey since 1989. By protecting land in perpetuity and creating public trails, it gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. The land trust’s preserved farms and community gardens provide local organic food for residents of the region—including those most in need. Through strategic land conservation and stewardship, D&R Greenway combats climate change, protects birds and wildlife, and ensures clean drinking water for future generations. D&R Greenway’s mission is centered on connecting land with people from all walks of life. www.drgreenway.org; info@drgreenway.org. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
COCOA BEACH, Fla. — The decision to retire from the Navy after 26 years wasn’t an easy one for Capt. William Toti, who says he had come to love his time in the service.
He knew he wanted a viable second career in the civilian market, and, as a commanding officer, he was told throughout the military transitioning program that all a civilian company would want from him was “good leadership” — advice he calls “The Great Lie” in his book, From CO to CEO: A Practical Guide for Transitioning from Military to Industry Leadership.
“Transitioning to industry is a stressful enough condition as it is, but when the military actively tells you things that are absolutely one hundred percent wrong, and start you headed down the wrong path, that makes that stress level go up even further,” Toti said during an interview.
Toti isn’t alone in feeling unprepared for certain aspects of transitioning to civilian employment. More than 200,000 service members separate from the military each year, and more than half of those surveyed about the process felt as if they had little to no help with the transition.
But Toti is one of the lucky ones. He managed to successfully progress from captain of a nuclear submarine to a captain of industry, and after accumulating more than a decade of firsthand experiences related to transitional challenges for veterans, Toti decided to put it all on paper. From CO to CEO isn’t filled with hand-waving aphorisms, Toti says, but rather, practical nuts-and-bolts advice for veterans and the companies that want to help their military veterans succeed.
“Any company will proudly recite the number of veterans they hire as employees, but none of those companies can tell you how many of those new hire veterans are still with them after five years,” Toti noted. “Did you know that about 50% of military veterans leave their first job within two years of transitioning out of the military? This constitutes millions of dollars of lost investment in employee turnover.”
From CO to CEO can help readers understand:
How and when to make their transition.
How to properly define goals for their future careers.
How to prepare for job interviews, negotiate compensation and land the right position.
What it takes to succeed in today’s defense industry.
The pluses and minuses of 20 career options.
The language and assumptions of civilian business culture.
And much more.
“The book is intended to correct the defects the military injects into its transitioning veterans before they leave service; it’s intended to help companies head off problems in assimilating new veteran employees; and it’s intended to serve as a guide for transitioning veterans to help them understand the business environment and learn new skills necessary for them to succeed,” Toti added.
About the Author
William Toti served for more than 26 years on active duty, culminating as commodore of Submarine Squadron 3, then 15 years as a corporate executive and eventually a CEO. He has been featured in several documentaries, including The Lost Ships of World War II (Fox), USS Indianapolis: The Final Chapter (PBS), USS Indianapolis: Live from the Deep (PBS), USS Indianapolis: The Legacy, 9/11: One Day in America (National Geographic), 9/11: The Pentagon (The History Channel) and 9/11: Inside the Pentagon (PBS).
For more information, please visit https://williamtoti.com, or follow him on Twitter (@william_toti).
Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello is very proud to report, on behalf of the three election offices representing Mercer County, that there are new voting machines for November General Elections.
She said, “our Mercer County Administration and Board of Commissioners have purchased new voting machines for use in the 2023 General Election and beyond.”
Covello said, that the voting machines are Dominion ICX Touchscreen machines, which allow voters to vote, print out their ballot, and then scan the ballot into the scanners for improved accuracy and accountability in the voting process.
“These are the same voting machines the County presently uses for early voting, however now, they will also be used in every voting district in Mercer County on Election Day,” she reported.
It is really a great achievement that our County has made in providing voters with voting machines that produce a verifiable paper trail. Voting advocacy groups urge that a paper trail be a part of any new voting system to allow for a auditable backup to any electronic voting. Why? Because if the computer in the machine fails, you will still have the paper to count and recheck. In fact, the State of New Jersey only certifies voting machines designed with a paper backup for counties to purchase.
Because we have had very positive feedback about the voting machines used in Early Voting, I’m excited for the voting public to try out these new machines in the November General Election. For one, they are simple to use because you just touch the screen and it marks your ballot. No more Sharpie pens will need to be used! Also, voters can enlarge the font on the machine screens and request the ballots to be shown in different languages.
Lastly, the new machines will allow you to print out your ballot and scan it into the scanner. However, if you prefer to hand-mark your ballot, you still can do that by printing out a blank ballot and requesting a marker from the poll worker. Mercer didn’t want to take the ability to hand mark your ballot away.
The new voting machines mean that as a voter, you will have more options in how to cast your vote. You can vote on a new voting machine on Election Day, or you can vote during the Early Voting period at a voting center, several days prior to the election, or you can vote by mail — an option many people prefer because the ballot comes right to your home.
We leaders of our other three County election offices; County Clerk, Office of the Superintendent of Elections, and the Board of Elections, have been preparing videos and news releases to educate the voting public about the new voting machines. These will be released on our County websites and on our social media pages. There will also be new enhanced training classes for poll workers on how to use the new voting machines.
In summation, we want you to know that Mercer County heard the voters and invested in a new voting system to our County in time for the upcoming November General Election. Hopefully, the new voting machines will prove to be a positive addition to our County services for many years to come.
Tickets are subject to convenience and facility fees.
Fans of all ages will experience the thrill of watching their favorite Hot Wheels Monster Trucks in the DARK! This one-of-a-kind show will visit the CURE Insurance Arena from Feb. 9-11, 2024 for four epic performances!
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party brings fans’ favorite Hot Wheels Monster Trucks to life including Mega Wrex™, Tiger Shark™, Demo Derby™, Bone Shaker™, Bigfoot®, Gunkster™, and introducing the brand new HW 5-Alarm™, the firetruck hero of Hot Wheels Monster Trucks! The Glow Party production features a laser light show, spectacular theatrical effects, dance parties, and Hot Wheels toy giveaways. Fans can also witness a special appearance from a transforming robot, plus the high-flyers of Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Freestyle Motocross Team and the electrifying high-flyers of Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live, Freestyle Motocross! Special kids pricing is available for all shows providing a BIG value for the whole family! See the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks up close and personal, exclusively guided by the hosts of Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live in the pre-show VIP Backstage Tour! Experience what happens behind the scenes before all of the smashing and crashing goes down and then watch when the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks come to life. Each pass includes a VIP merchandise bundle exclusive to VIP Experience attendees! Passes are available to purchase while supplies last by adding them on to the ticket order at time of purchase.
The exciting Crash Zone Pre-Show Party will be held 2-1/2 hours before every performance. The unique experience provides fans access to the competition floor to see the outrageous designs and epic size of the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks, plus meet the drivers and get their autographs! Passes will be available to purchase while supplies last by adding them on to the ticket order at time of purchase.
PRINCETON, N.J. — D&R Greenway announces a wide variety of healthy local plants are ready for purchase at their annual Fall Native Plant Sale taking place on Friday, Sept. 22: 2:30 pm-5:30 pm and Saturday, Sept. 23: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Carolina Allspice
Planting natives enhances home gardens in natural beauty, attracts butterflies and birds in the landscape, and contributes to protection of a healthy bioregion. The Nursery is on the grounds of D&R Greenway’s Conservation Campus at the Johnson Education Center, One Preservation Place, [off Rosedale Road] Princeton, N.J. 08540. Native Plant Sale proceeds support D&R Greenway’s preservation and stewardship mission. www.drgreenway.org.
Tina Notas, Director of Land Stewardship for D&R Greenway, remarks, “Fall is a great time to plant natives! Give them a head start for the next growing season.”
Noted biologist, professor and author Doug Tallamy, is a biodiversity warrior. In the Summer 2023 issue of Saving Land from the national Land Trust Alliance, he is quoted as saying, “In my view, the only way to achieve E. O. Wilson’s dream of protecting the natural world on at least half of the planet, as described in his 2016 book “Half Earth,” is to coexist with nature, in the same place, at the same time. We must bury forever the notion that humans are here and nature is someplace else, for there are no longer enough “someplace else’s” to meet the need. We have persisted for the last century in the misguided belief that humans can only thrive when segregated from the natural world, and, as a result, the U.S. has formally protected only 12% of its land. We can achieve Wilson’s lofty goals without excluding the human enterprise, but the key to doing this is to practice conservation not only in protected wild lands, but also outside of parks and preserves: where we live, work, farm and play.”
Wild Geranium
D&R Greenway’s CEO Linda Mead encourages local residents to support D&R Greenway’s land protection work and biodiversity by purchasing natives for your backyard at the nonprofit organization’s Native Plant Sale, “This provides every one of us a way we can do good while helping D&R Greenway’s work to do well.”
D&R Greenway’s native trees, shrubs, perennial wildflowers, grasses, and ferns are grown either on-site or purchased from reputable local native-plant growers. Native Plant Nursery specimens are grown from locally sourced starter plants, and are free of harmful nicotinoid insecticides. Planting natives that evolved locally requires less maintenance, in terms of fertilizer, water and pesticides. Possibilities include the popular Cardinal Flower, as well as Evening Primrose, Scarlet Oak, Sweet Joe Pye, and Trumpet Honeysuckle, among others. Visit our website at www.drgreenway.org
Swamp Milkweed
About D&R Greenway Land Trust: D&R Greenway Land Trust is an accredited nonprofit that has reached a new milestone of over 22,000 acres of land preserved throughout central New Jersey since 1989 and 44 miles of trails.
By protecting land in perpetuity and creating public trails, it gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. The land trust’s preserved farms and community gardens provide local organic food for residents of the region—including those most in need. Through strategic land conservation and stewardship, D&R Greenway combats climate change, protects birds and wildlife, and ensures clean drinking water for future generations. D&R Greenway’s mission is centered on connecting land with people from all walks of life. www.drgreenway.org; info@drgreenway.org. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
For many Americans and many other nations around the globe, Sept. 11, 2001, still brings a gloomy and doomed memory surrounding the tragedy of airplanes crashing into the World Trade Center in New York City on that dreadful day.
Photo by Robert Nesta “Bobby” Stone. The Empire State Building in the middle with the top lit up in blue and the triboro bridge/RFK bridge on the left. The Bruckner Expressway in the Bronx is also featured.
Monday marked the 22nd year since that horror. Families of loved ones lost in the crumbled twin tower buildings, “will never forget” that ugliness.
The act of terrorism on the United States that day caused the deaths of 2,996 individuals, which include 2,997 victims. And, there were 19 hijackers who committed murder-suicide.
Apart from the nearly 3,000 casualties , more than 6,000 were injured in the worst attack against America.
America continues to honor the memories of the lost lives who perished in New York City, Arlington, Va., and Shanksville, Pa.
The Mercer County Park Commission was scheduled to conduct deer management at Mercer County Park, Mercer Meadows and Baldpate Mountain beginning on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. This program is a method for reducing the overabundant deer herd in the greater Mercer County region.
Bow hunting will begin at all parks beginning on Saturday, Sept. 9 and will take place Monday through Saturday until Feb. 17, 2024. The parks will remain open when only bow hunting is being performed.
Firearm hunting will occur at Baldpate Mountain and the area north of Lake Mercer at Mercer County Park beginning Monday, Dec. 4 through Saturday, Dec. 9, and every Wednesday through Saturday thereafter through Feb.10, 2024. The parks/regions will be closed to the public when firearms are in use. There will be no hunting on Sunday.
All parks have posted signage at parking areas and trail heads regarding hunting schedule and closure dates as a reminder and notice to the public. Where possible, orange chains will be placed across trails and entrances to indicate closures, as well as the use of electronic message boards displaying park closure dates. Park Rangers will patrol the parks during closures to enhance public safety.
The Mercer County Park Commission is responsible for overseeing and managing approximately 7,100 acres of parkland throughout the County, with the dual goals of conserving natural resources and providing a variety of recreational opportunities for Mercer County residents.
Ecological stewardship within the parks has become an increasing priority in the past decade, with partnerships in place to facilitate large-scale habitat restoration projects. Current County stewardship efforts include invasive species management, citizen science efforts, meadow restorations, reforestations and wildlife management, which all contribute to improving the ecological health within the park system and the County at large.
One of the largest regional threats to biodiversity of flora and fauna in central New Jersey is the overabundance of white-tailed deer. Heightened levels of herbivory caused by deer overpopulation jeopardizes the native plant understory and overall forest health, degrading habitat value for other wildlife.
Regions within Mercer County have some of the highest deer populations in the state. According to 2021 population estimates, the white-tail deer population density within Hopewell Valley was 109 deer per square mile, and 155 deer per square mile post-birthing. Biologists recommend a density of 20-25 deer per square mile to achieve and maintain a healthy forest, and 10-15 deer per square mile if the forest is already in a degraded condition. In order to address this ecological issue and cooperate with regional efforts, the Park Commission implements its Deer Management Program in several of its parks.
The deer management program complies with all hunting regulations set by the State; the Park Commission has additional rules for the program to ensure the safety of the public and maintain the management ethics of the program. For example, hunting is only permitted by those who have applied for and met all the requirements to participate in the program. All hunting must be done from an elevated tree stand; hunters are not permitted to hunt from the ground. The County has instituted a 75-foot safety buffer on either side of all County authorized trails in the parks within which no hunting activity may take place.
When the parks are open to bow hunting only, park users are urged to stay on County authorized trails, wear bright colors and to keep dogs on leash at all times per Park Commission regulations. Park users are also asked to observe posted closure notices and to refrain from entering the park and areas posted during the closures.
For the past five years, the Park Commission has supported efforts to see that deer harvested from the parks are donated to the Hunters Helping the Hungry program. In that time, the deer management program has donated 352 deer, equivalent to 67,784 servings of venison that have been distributed at local Mercer County food shelters.
