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Women’s History Month features Val Ackerman, first female president of USA Basketball

During Women’s History Month, supporters of WHM recognize Val Ackerman, standout athlete, sports executive and former lawyer.

 

Photo courtesy: Big East Directory

A graduate of  Hopewell Valley Central High School, Ackerman set the school’s varsity basketball career record for points scored, 1,466, a record by any basketball player, male or female.

 

Among her list of accomplishments on and off the court, is that she was the first president of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the first female president of USA Basketball for the 2005–2008 term. During her term, she oversaw a restructuring of the USA Basketball Board of Directors, and gold medal performances by the men’s and women’s basketball teams at the Beijing Olympics. Ackerman was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.

 

In a 2022 Sports Illustrated column, Ackerman said, “When I reflect on the story of women’s sports in our country, I sometimes think about my grandmother, Barbara Radecky Voscek, who immigrated to the U.S. in the early 1900s from what is now Slovakia. She raised seven children (including my mom, the youngest), first in western Pennsylvania, where my grandfather worked as a coal miner, and then in a row house in Trenton, N.J., after Grandpop found work in an auto factory instead. Grandmom didn’t speak English, so I never really got to know her, but I’m mesmerized—and inspired—to this day by her courage, her resourcefulness and the many sacrifices she made in search of a better life for herself and her family.”

 

“Women’s sports have an analogous narrative—they’ve been propelled by people courageous enough to take chances and break down walls, who’ve been relentless in their quest for equality and respect and who were willing to be the first so that others could later reap the gains. To those who fought for Title IX and for every milestone since: I can hardly put into words my gratitude for your vision and determination. To the next generation of women athletes and leaders: Carry on, ladies. You’ve been given a start, but there’s still plenty of groundbreaking, leading and fighting left to be done,” she said.

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Mercer County to purchase fast chargers for electric vehicles

TRENTON, N.J. – Mercer County will continue adding to the electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure with the purchase of four Level 3 EV chargers to be installed at two County facilities, County Executive Brian M. Hughes recently announced.

Photo: An electric vehicle using a Level 2 charger at the Mercer County Administration Building in Trenton.

 

A resolution authorizing a contract with Timothy P. Bryan Electric Company Inc. for the purchase and installation of the ChargePoint Express250 Level 3 EV chargers – two at the Mercer County Administration Building, 640 South Broad St., Trenton, and two at the Mercer County Improvement Authority, 80 Hamilton Ave., Trenton — was approved by the Board of County Commissioners at its March 9 meeting. The contract is for an amount not to exceed $532,410.78.

 

Level 3 chargers – which use direct current and are known as fast chargers — can recharge a plug-in electric vehicle at a rate of 60 to 80 miles of drivable range per 20 minutes of charging time, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).

 

“The installation of these fast chargers is the next step in our efforts to support electric vehicle infrastructure,” Mr. Hughes said, noting that Mercer last year installed dual-port Level 2 charging stations at 11 County facilities.

 

“It also helps continue to raise awareness about the environmental benefits of gasoline alternatives as we further our commitment to increasing sustainable practices throughout the County.”

The NJDEP has awarded Mercer County $75,000 through the It Pay$ to Plug In Grant program and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities has awarded Mercer $150,000 through the Clean Energy Electric Vehicle Tourism Grant Program to help offset costs associated with the purchase, installation and maintenance of the Level 3 EV chargers, Mr. Hughes said.

 

The remaining costs will be paid with Sustainability Capital Funds.

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Local News Regulations & Security

Mercer County Correction Center recently passes the NJ state inspection requirements

A recent annual inspection of the Mercer County Correction Center found the facility to be in full compliance with the requirements of the “Manual Standards for New Jersey Adult County Correctional Facilities,” County Exec. Brian M. Hughes announced.

 

The inspection was conducted in January by the New Jersey Department of Corrections, through its Office of County Services.

 

“I congratulate Warden Charles Ellis and his supervisors, officers, health care workers, and other staff members on this achievement,” Mr. Hughes said.

 

“The daily challenges they face in operating a century-old facility are enormous, and they are to be commended for ensuring the jail operates at a level that meets the state’s requirements.”

 

Among the many areas covered by the inspection were planning and design; personnel; training and staff development; management information system and records; use and control of security equipment; food service; sanitation; medical, dental and health services; access to the courts; disciplinary procedures; fiscal management; visits; and inmate services and programs.

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Mercer County Park installs ropes course, zip line for fun adventures

Mercer County Exec. Brian M. Hughes wants Mercer County Park visitors to know that the unusual-looking structure being built across the road from the Festival Grounds is the first leg of construction of a new ropes course and zip line area.

Photo: Park Commission Executive Director Watson, County Executive Hughes and Park Commissioner Jim Schulz view the ropes course being built by Capela Construction Inc.

 

Park users will be able to take an aerial adventure crossing bridges, balancing on ropes, climbing through obstacles, and riding the zip line. The ropes course will offer various levels of difficulty for children and adults alike.

 

“We are constantly looking for ways to attract new users to our park system and stay on the cutting edge of outdoor recreation offerings, so I’m excited that our Mercer County Park Commission under Executive Director Aaron T. Watson, advanced this project,” Mr. Hughes said.

 

“I’m confident it will be well received and be another economic generator in our long list of active recreation amenities. Watch for its opening this summer.”

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Annual Mercer Bike Drive will support Boys & Girls Clubs

Mercer County and the Park Commission will host their third annual Bike Drive on Saturday, April 8, County Exec. Brian M. Hughes announced.

 

The County takes your old bikes — no matter the condition — and gives them to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer County Bike Exchange, a volunteer-run organization that repairs donated bikes and sells them at modest prices at its Ewing location at Capitol Plaza, with proceeds benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs directly. Donations are tax-deductible.

 

“Our first two Bike Drives were a big success,” Mr. Hughes said, “and we’re happy to help promote bike-riding for both transportation and pleasure while helping in the efforts to make low-cost bicycles available to low- and moderate-income families.”

 

To donate a bike, drop it off on Saturday, April 8, between 12 noon and 4 p.m. at one of two locations: Ranger Headquarters at Mercer County Park in West Windsor, or the Historic Hunt House at 197 Blackwell Road in Hopewell Township. The rain date is April 15.

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Culture Local News Regulations & Security

Nadine Taub, known as an early leader in women’s rights

Nadine Taub, born Jan. 21, 1943, in Princeton, was an American lawyer who laid the essential groundwork for women’s rights in the workplace, defending and winning the first sexual harassment case in the US in 1977.

Taub played a pivotal, but largely unrecognized role in the development of sexual harassment law in the United States.

 

As part of a group of young female lawyers in the 1970s, including Ruther Bader Ginsburg, Nancy Stearns, and others, Taub made legal history by winning cases which argued that the Constitution protected women’s rights.

 

Taub graduated from Yale Law School in 1968, and in 1973 began teaching at Rutgers University. While teaching, she continued to work as an active lawyer and as faculty advisor for the Women’s Rights Law Reporter — the first U.S. legal periodical to focus exclusively on the field of women’s right law — and a member of the New Jersey Task Force on Domestic Violence.

 

Also in the 1970s, she founded the Women’s Rights Litigation Clinic (WRC) of Rutgers Law School, the first of its kind in the country.

 

As the WRC director, Taub worked with students on many of the most important cases in her career, from establishing sexual harassment as a form of sex discrimination, to developing ways for battered women to get protection from their attackers.

 

In 2017, Rutgers honored her by creating a scholar’s position in her name. Taub died in June 2020.

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Mercer County celebrates National Consumer Protection Week

Unveils new online complaint form

 

To mark National Consumer Protection Week, March 5-11, 2023, Mercer County Exec. Brian M. Hughes announces the county’s new simplified filing process for consumers who believe their rights have been violated and wish to make complaint with the County’s Consumer Affairs office.

Photo: Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes at the annual Consumer Bowl

 

“If you believe you’ve been cheated or victimized by an unscrupulous business, our professionals in the Mercer Consumer Affairs office can be your advocate,” Mr. Hughes said.

 

To file a complaint online, consumers can go directly to the fillable form at: https://mercercountyconaffnj.govqa.us/WEBAPP/_rs/(S(moareydl225kumool0fbnhcy))/supporthome.aspx

 

Mercer’s Division of Consumer Affairs can assist consumers in other ways, too. NCPW is a time when government agencies, consumer protection groups, and organizations like ours work together to share information about consumer rights and help people learn to spot, report, and avoid scams.

 

For instance, are you looking to protect yourself from fraud, identity theft, and scams? Wondering about the best way to improve your credit, shop for a used car, or how to maximize your security online?

 

Mercer County Division of Consumer Affairs can help.

 

“Here in Mercer County, our office is available to host events to educate and inform about current scams, consumer protection, how to know if a contractor is registered, and more,” Mr. Hughes said. “Year round, our Consumer Affairs and Weights and Measures teams are in the field ensuring that you get what you pay for, and you know with whom you’re dealing by investigating complaints or patterns of fraud and enforcing the Consumer Fraud Act and state regulations.”

 

Go to https://www.mercercounty.org/departments/consumer-affairs for more information. Also, visit ftc.gov to learn how to get free consumer education materials and read the latest from consumer protection experts.

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Mercer Meadows to close Wednesday for prescribed burning

The Pole Farm, Reed Bryan Farm and Hunt House regions of Mercer Meadows will be closed to the public beginning Wednesday, March 8, until further notice, for prescribed burning.

 

The prescribed burn that had been scheduled for Feb. 14 was postponed. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service has determined that the weather conditions on March 8 will be safe and suitable for prescribed burning. Rosedale Park will remain open. For your safety, please observe all closure signage posted at parking lots and on the trails.

 

The fire will be lit, monitored and managed by Forest Fire Service officials who have undergone rigorous training and are experienced in conducting safe and effective prescribed burns. Specific conditions must be met in order to burn, including temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed and direction. All appropriate safety measures and precautions will be taken by those performing the burn, including having a contingency plan. While the burn is in progress and until the Section Warden has deemed the fire out, there will be law enforcement and fire personnel, equipment and vehicles present at Mercer Meadows and surrounding areas.

 

Forest Fire Service officials and Mercer County Park Commission staff will be on site and actively monitoring the burn site until it is determined the park is safe to reopen to the public. Local police and fire departments have been made aware of the activities.

 

In the days following the prescribed burn, it is normal to see smoldering and smoking logs and debris. If you believe fire is a threat, call 1-877-WARNDEP. Once the park is reopened, park users are encouraged to please stay on the trails.

 

For thousands of years, fire has been an active part of the New Jersey landscape.  Fires caused by natural conditions, lightning strikes, or fires intentionally set by Native Americans shaped the ecological communities present in our state today.  With the current lack of intermittent fire, many of the species that evolved with this disturbance have suffered. Properly conducted prescribed burns can replace the natural fire disturbance that was historically a piece of the New Jersey natural lands. Fire encourages native seed germination, reduces invasive plant pressure, and cycles nutrients into the soil; these effects all aid in increasing habitat quality and diversity, while promoting forest regeneration and grassland establishment.

 

While managing invasive species and promoting habitat regeneration and enhancement is an important component of the burn plan for Mercer Meadows, the Park Commission anticipates the burn to have additional benefits such as reducing hazardous fuel loads to prevent unplanned, higher-intensity wildfires. Prescribed burns have also been successful in reducing tick and insect pest populations.

 

In addition to the Park Commission, land managers throughout the State have been using this management tool for its ecological benefits and to reduce the chance of unplanned forest fires.

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Culture Local News

Mercer County celebrates Joyce L. McDade, first female freeholder clerk, during Women’s History Month of March

March is Women’s History Month! Mercer County draws strength and inspiration from women who came before us, and the remarkable women working among us today. They are part of our story, and a truly balanced and inclusive history recognizes how important women have always been in American society. 

 

Joyce McDade
Photo: The plaque in the vestibule of the McDade Administration Building in Trenton.

The heart of Mercer County government operations is the McDade Administration Building at 640 S. Broad St., Trenton. But do you know the namesake?

In 1987, the County Administration Building was renamed and dedicated to the memory of Joyce L. McDade, who served the public as the Clerk to the Board of Freeholders, now known as commissioners, from 1974 to 1986.

Mrs. McDade was the first female freeholder clerk as well as being the first woman to hold a top-level administrative position in the history of Mercer County. She was succeeded in 1987 by Jerlene “Cookie” Worthy, who today continues to serve as Clerk to the Board, overseeing that office and its myriad duties.

 

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Mercer County Exec. Hughes, Clerk Sollami Covello recently lead 2023 Black History Month celebration

Black history is American history

To a packed room, Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes and County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello co-hosted Mercer’s Annual Black History Month Celebration on Feb. 24.

Participants joined in song, storytelling and the sharing of history of African Americans and their contributions to the United States, during the event held at the McDade Administration Building Cafe.

This year’s special guests were members of the families of Gladys Hedgepeth and Berline Williams. Kyle Hedgepeth enraptured the audience with an accounting of his family’s part in the landmark legal case.

He recounted that Gladys Hedgepeth and Berline Williams of Trenton filed suit against the Trenton School Board when their children were refused admission to the newly built Junior High School No. 2. The new school was only a few blocks from their homes in the Wilbur section of the City, while the segregated Lincoln School was 2 miles away. With the assistance of the NAACP, Hedgepeth and Williams successfully fought the school district’s segregationist policy, and the landmark New Jersey Supreme Court case bears their names.

 

The case became a precedent for the Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954 and continued to influence many Affirmative Action and equal opportunity policies in New Jersey’s education system, as well as the eradication of laws supporting discrimination in New Jersey.

In addition to Clerk Sollami Covello and Mr. Hughes, others who spoke included Jocelyn White, retired Trenton educator; the Rev. Dr. John H. Harris Jr., pastor; and members of the Williams Family. Mercer County Deputy Superintendent of Elections Walker Worthy Jr. was the spirited emcee.

Additionally, Mercer County’s own Kya Collins, performed a soulful rendition of Ella Fitzgerald’s Summertime, composed in 1934 by George Gershwin for the opera “Porgy and Bess.”  The original featured a cast of classically trained African-American singers—a daring artistic choice at the time.