Categories
Local Events

Cultural and recreational activities — locally

 

Art Happenings

JUNE 12, 2 p.m.
Sundaes on the Veranda 

Trenton City Museum
299 Parkside Ave, Trenton
(609) 989-1191 | ellarslie.org

Build your own sundae in an artisan-made bowl! Family fun in support of Trenton City Museum. Click here for more info.

Art Opportunities

DEADLINE JULY 18
Mercer County Senior Art Show

Mercer County Cultural & Heritage Commission
640 South Broad Street, Trenton
mercercounty.org

The Mercer County Senior Art Show is open to any Mercer County resident age 60 or older. All first-place winners from the County Show are automatically included in the New Jersey Senior Citizen Art Show.

For more information visit mercercounty.org

LINK TO REGISTER BELOW
http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=ssqssfyab&oeidk=a07ej2x5tfb885de14c

Concerts

JUNE 10 – JUNE 25
The Princeton Festival

The Princeton Festival
(609) 759-1979 | princetonfestival.org

  • Seven Deadly Sins, June 10, 2022 at 7:30 pm
  • Scalia/Ginsburg – The Impresario, June 11, 12 & 18, 2022 at 7:00 pm
  • What Makes it Great?, June 13, 2022 at 7:00 pm
  • Schubert’s Late String Quartets, June 14, 2022 at 7:00 pm
  • Stephen Sondheim Tribute, June 15, 2022 at 7:00 pm
  • The Sebastians, June 16, 2022 at 7:30 pm
  • Albert Herring, June 17 & 19, 2022 at 7:00 pm
  • Time For Three, June 21, 2022 at 7:00 pm
  • Aaron Diehl Trio, June 22, 2022 at 7:00 pm
  • Festival Chorus, June 23, 2022 at 7:00 pm
  • Broadway POPS!, June 24, 2022 at 7:00 pm
  • Family POPS!, June 25, 2022 at 7:00 pm

JUNE 12, 6 p.m.
Stretto Youth Chamber Orchestra

Stretto Youth Chamber Orchestra
(484) 467-9194 | strettoyouthchamberorchestra.org

Stretto Spring Concert at Trinity Cathedral, 801 W. State St, Trenton

JUNE 16, 7:30 p.m.
Argus Quartet

Princeton Summer Chamber Concerts
Woolworth Music Center, Princeton University, Princeton
(609) 570-8404 | princetonsummerchamberconcerts.org

Free tickets available June 9 at tickets.princeton.edu

JUNE 18, 1 & 3 p.m.
Stretto Youth Chamber Orchestra

Stretto Youth Chamber Orchestra
(484) 467-9194 | strettoyouthchamberorchestra.org

Trinity Stings solo recitals at Trinity Cathedral, 801 W. State St, Trenton

JUNE 26, 2 p.m.
Diderot String Quartet

Princeton Summer Chamber Concerts
Woolworth Music Center, Princeton University, Princeton
(609) 570-8404 | princetonsummerchamberconcerts.org

Free tickets available June 9th at tickets.princeton.edu

Celebration

JUNE 17 – JUNE 18
Juneteenth Weekend Celebration

The African American Cultural Collaborative of Mercer County
Mill Hill Park, Downtown Trenton
taacf.com

The African American Cultural Collaborative of Mercer County (AACCofMC) in partnership with the NJ Legislative District 15 (Senator Shirley Turner, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds Jackson and Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli) Outdoor Equity Alliance are planning the Juneteenth Celebration.  This event is scheduled for Friday, June 17 through Saturday, June 18, 2022 in the capital City of Trenton. As a Collaborative, we endeavor to be “more than just a festival.” The goal of the Collaborative is to Educate, Empower and Unite Africans in the diaspora through cultural arts, health and wellness, entertainment and sports. The purpose of this carefully planned and socially distanced event is to highlight a few very poignant and current issues through displays of culture, collaboration, commerce, unity and education. We are working closely with the City of Trenton and other partners to ensure public safety. For more information visit taacf.com


JUNE 13, 7 p.m.
Stories of Slavery in New Jersey

The Mercer County Library, Lawrence Headquarters Branch
2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville
(609) 883-8294 | mcl.org

June 19, also known as Juneteenth, is the oldest known holiday that commemorates the end of slavery. It marks the date in 1865 when the last group of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned that they were free under the Emancipation Proclamation. As a federal holiday, it is a time to time to reflect on the past and look to the future. Author Rick Geffken reveals stories from New Jersey’s history of slavery.

Please email hopeprogs@mcl.org to register to receive a link to program.

JUNE 19, 4 p.m.
Stretto Youth Chamber Orchestra

Stretto Youth Chamber Orchestra
(484) 467-9194 | strettoyouthchamberorchestra.org

Juneteenth concert at 300 Witherspoon St., Princeton

Dance

JUNE 3, 8 p.m.
Dance, Princeton, Dance: Outdoor PRIDE Dance Party

The Arts Council of Princeton
102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton
(609) 924-8777 | artscouncilofprinceton.org

Dance, Princeton, Dance is BACK to celebrate Pride Month.

Join us for our first dance party since 2019! This time, we’ll bust a move outdoors in the early summer evening air. Join us under the twinkle lights as our parking lot transforms into Princeton’s best club with danceable tunes and a celebration of Princeton’s LGBTQ+ community and allies.

Exhibition

 

JUNE 25 – OCTOBER 2
Ellarslie Open 

Trenton City Museum
299 Parkside Ave., Trenton
(609) 989-1191 | ellarslie.org

We are thrilled to launch the 2022 Ellarslie Open! Since its early 1980s launch, the show has evolved into a premier annual juried exhibition for the New York, Pennsylvania, and New York region – and beyond. Many of the 1,000+ local and regional artists who have shown at the Trenton City Museum first became known to the museum through their work in the Ellarslie Open. Sidelined in 2020, the Open returned in 2021 with its call for art on the callforentry.orgdigital entry system, connecting it with longtime and new entrants alike. The 2021 show featured a diverse and bold array of 137 works selected from 619 entered.

Public reception June 26, 1-4 p.m.

FESTIVALS

JUNE 11, 11 a.m.
Mercer County Cultural Festival & Food Truck Rally

Mercer County Cultural & Heritage Commission
640 South Broad Street, Trenton
mercercounty.org

Join us rain or shine for Mercer County’s 10th Annual Cultural Festival & Food Truck Rally on Saturday, June 11, 2022 at Mercer County Park, West Windsor. The festival is FREE to attend and is FREE to park. There will be traditional dance and musical performances, heritage artisans, art demonstrations, international food trucks, a Biergarten, children’s activities, and more!!!!

For more information contact Mercer County Division of Culture & Heritage 609-278-2712 or culturalfestival@mercercounty.org / http://www.mercercounty.org/…/culture…/cultural-festival

https://www.facebook.com/events/499455968435697?active_tab=about

 

HISTORY

JUNE 4, 10 a.m.
Open House: Washington Crossing Radio Control Flyer Association

The Mercer County Library, Hopewell Branch
245 Pennington-Titusville Road
(609) 737-2610 | mcl.org

The Washington Crossing Radio Control Flyers Association will have all types of model aircraft on display throughout the library. Members will be available to answer questions about building and flying model aircraft, as well as any inquiries about the association in general.

JUNE 5, 2 p.m.
Bridge to The American Revolution Day

The Bridge Academy
1958 Lawrenceville Road B, Lawrenceville
(609) 844-0770 | bridgeacademynj.org

A day to celebrate our Revolutionary War history at 1900 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville.
(Parking at Adath Israel—1958 Lawrenceville Road)
Featuring: Re-enactors, demonstrations, snacks, crafts, games, and our historic plaques

JUNE  5, 2 p.m.
IN PERSON: Major William Trent, Revolution,
and the Lower Ferry

William Trent House
15 Market Street
(609) 989-3027 | williamtrenthouse.org

William Trent, the Philadelphia merchant who bought 1,000 acres at the Falls of the Delaware in 1714 and established Trent’s Town there, had a son who was his namesake. The younger William Trent was commissioned by the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia to establish a fort at the Forks of the Ohio, near present-day Pittsburgh, to defend British interests. After the War in 1769 he sailed to England to petition for recompense for funds expended in that cause. Upon returning in the summer of 1775, he learned of fighting in Massachusetts and the colonies in an uproar. With the Revolutionary War looming closer to New Jersey, Trent would propose a new colony, operate a ferry business and plantation in south Trenton, and finally make the decision between King and country.  

Jason Cherry will describe the role that William Trent’s son and the Lower Ferry played in the Revolutionary War, drawing on his continuing research into the life and times of the younger Trent.

JUNE  12, 2 p.m.
IN PERSON & VIRTUAL: Jewish Life in Trenton

William Trent House
15 Market Street
(609) 989-3027 | williamtrenthouse.org

Arthur Finkle, chair of the Trenton Jewish Historical Society, will describe the history of the Russian Jewish community in the Trent House neighborhood in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
While doing archival research for the society, Mr. Finkle, whose roots in Trenton reach back three generations, realized there was no fully documented work on the city’s Jewish history — so he wrote one. The book that grew out of his studies, Trenton’s Jews: Beginning, Adaptation and Achieving the American Dream, was published in 2016 by Hadassa Word Press.

This free program will be offered both in-person in the Visitor Center at the William Trent House Museum, 15 Market Street, Trenton (across from the Hughes Justice Complex) and via Zoom at https://tinyurl.com/TrentonJews.


JUNE 22, 7 p.m.
New Jersey Shipwrecks

The Mercer County Library, Ewing Branch
61 Scotch Road Ewing
(609) 882-3148 | mcl.org

Stop the Bleed is a national awareness campaign and call-to-action intended to cultivate grassroots efforts that encourage bystanders to become trained, equipped, and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives. Presented by instructors Kat Dombrowski, BSN, RN, and Carol Raymond, EMT. from Penn Medicine Princeton Health. Registration is required.

JUNE 28, 7 p.m.
History of the Jersey Shore

The Mercer County Library, Ewing Branch
42 Robbinsville-Allentown Road, Robbinsville
(609) 259-2150 | mcl.org

Join author and photographer Kevin Woyce for a colorful tour of New Jersey’s coastal history, from the long-ago days of lighthouses and shipwrecks to the founding of today’s most popular summer resorts. Registration is required.

Lectures

JUNE 7, 7 pm
The Life and Work of Georgia O’Keefe, “Mother of American Modernism”

The Mercer County Library, Lawrence Headquarters Branch
2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville
(609) 883-8294 | mcl.org

Join us as Jeanne Johnson, famed for her hourlong in-depth studies of artists, guides us through the life and work of Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986), “Mother of American Modernism”. O’Keeffe is mostly known for her paintings of enlarged flowers, however, throughout her long career she painted a range of subjects—from New York skyscrapers to desert scenes, cow skulls, and adobe architecture. O’Keeffe’s work was highly skilled and so precise it oscillated between realism and abstraction. Viewing a retrospective of her work, you will learn facts and people associated with Georgia that you may not know, people who inspired her, some who hurt her, some that she hurt. Please email hopeprogs@mcl.org to register to receive a link to program.

JUNE 9, 7 pm
Virtual: Preserving Family Photographs

Pennington Public Library
30 North Main Street, Pennington
(609) 737-0404 | penningtonlibrary.org

Thursday, June 9 @ 7 pm via Zoom
Presenter: Gary Saretzky
Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_m6x_cKABRiiBF4tb0ouagg

Since the introduction of photographic portrait studios in 1840, photographs have been among the most treasured of family records. While most are long-lasting when stored optimally in archives, they are all too often prone to fading and discoloration when stored in  the home environment. In this lecture, photographer and archivist Gary Saretzky will provide guidance on how to extend the life of family photographs so that they can be passed down to future generations. The lecture includes examples of how old photographs can be enhanced or restored in the computer after digitization.

JUNE 23, 7 pm
Virtual: Henri Matisse: Master of Color, Magician of Modernism

Pennington Public Library
30 North Main Street, Pennington
(609) 737-0404 | penningtonlibrary.org

Henri Matisse: Master of Color, Magician of Modernism
Thursday, June 23, @ 7 pm via Zoom
Presenter: Janet Mandel, Arts Educator
Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oaeRQYLcR4yik8udzis4sA

The remarkable career of Henri Matisse, one of the most influential artists of the Twentieth Century, fundamentally altered the course of modern art. Spanning six and a half decades, his vast creative output encompassed painting, drawing, sculpture, graphic arts, and paper cutouts. This talk will examine his extraordinary life and many of his important works. His friend and sometime rival Pablo Picasso once said, “All things considered, there is only Matisse.”

Literature

JUNE 9, 7 pm
Virtual Poetry Circle

The Mercer County Library, Lawrence Headquarters Branch
2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville
(609) 883-8294 | mcl.org

Many people were inspired by Amanda Gorman’s poetry reciting at President Joe Biden’s Inauguration. When a poem is read in front of a worldwide audience through television and the internet, it is a high-profile example of a 21st-century “occasional poem”. When it gives hope to all, unites people from left and right, and has the power to heal different kinds of wounds, it is truly as what the great German poet Goethe declared – “Occasional Poetry is the highest kind.” Many great occasional poems commemorate events, mark history and celebrate life. Come and join our MCLS poetry circle discussion to learn more occasional poems from Walt Whitman, Maya Angelou, Seamus Heaney, Carol Ann Duffy, W. H. Auden, Carl Sandberg, Stanley Kunitz, and Bob Dylan. Sharon, a librarian for the Lawrence Branch, will lead the discussion.

Please email hopeprogs@mcl.org to register to receive a link to program.

Nature

JUNE  4, 10 a.m.
Dairying

Howell Living History Farm
70 Woodens Lane
(609) 737-3299 | howellfarm.org

Farmers invite you to join a local farmer as he demonstrates handling and milking a farm cow. Learn about cow breeds, milk and cream production, history, and more! In the farmhouse, you can also help make cheese and butter, before churning and tasting a batch of old-fashioned ice cream.

A children’s craft program will be available from 11:00 to 3:00 for a small materials fee.


JUNE  11, 10 a.m.
Old-Time Baseball Game

Howell Living History Farm
70 Woodens Lane
(609) 737-3299 | howellfarm.org

Take to the field with the Bulls or the Hogs and play ball! Howell Farm’s two teams play by 19th-century Town Ball rules, and invite visitors of all ages to step up to the plate as “Striker” and face off against the “Thrower.” But be careful of the Referee, who sits in a chair on the field and charges fines of up to 5 cents for breaking the rules!

11 a.m. – Watch the Flemington Neshanocks face off against the Elizabeth Resolutes in a historic baseball club match

1:30 p.m. – Join Howell Farm’s own Hogs and Bulls for a public game on the farmhouse lawn


JUNE 11, 12 pm
31st Annual Mill Hill Garden Tour

Mill Hill House & Garden Tours
http://trentonmillhill.org/events/

Celebrate the beauty of spring at the 31st annual Garden Tour on Saturday, June 11 from 12 pm-5 pm! Residents of Trenton’s Historic Mill Hill Neighborhood will open their unique gardens, big and small, to any and all visitors, garden lovers, and architecture buffs. About 15 gardens and public spaces will be open. Come take a look behind the house facades to see the private sanctuaries and public spaces of the neighborhood, including several gardens that are new this year!

Tickets are available online for the top of every hour, or purchase tickets day-of at Artworks. Children under 12 can attend for free. Please respect any masking preferences indicated by signage at each garden entrance at the owner’s discretion. Children under 12 can attend for free. Please respect any masking preferences indicated by signage at each garden entrance at the owner’s discretion.

https://connect.intuit.com/portal/app/CommerceNetwork/view/scs-v1-7248caac9bca4b88b3c85695d7e999e739a47359a0454cc0b2bf9e5351ef36723b4ee626bf3d4667a1d9dd79b89cf061?locale=EN_US


JUNE  18, 10 a.m.
People of Pleasant Valley Tours

Howell Living History Farm
70 Woodens Lane
(609) 737-3299 | howellfarm.org

The history of a rural farm community will be the focus of this program, which features tours of the houses in the Pleasant Valley Rural Historic District.

A Howell Farm interpreter leads visitors on a tour to the homes of gristmiller John Phillips, his farmer-son Henry, Henry’s blacksmith-son Lewis—as well as the Pleasant Valley one-room schoolhouse—and tells their stories along with those of other members of the community. Additionally, shorter tours of the Howell Farm farmhouse will be scheduled throughout the day.

People of Pleasant Valley Tours (90 minutes): 11:00, 2:00

Farmhouse-Only Tours (30 minutes): 10:30, 12:30, 1:30, 3:30

A children’s craft program will be available from 11:00 to 3:00 for a small materials fee.

JUNE  25, 10 a.m.
Wheat Harvest & Wheat Weaving

Howell Living History Farm
70 Woodens Lane
(609) 737-3299 | howellfarm.org

When last fall’s wheat crop is finally ready to harvest, farmers will need your help in the field to follow behind the horses and gather up sheaves of wheat bundled by the McCormick Reaper-Binder. Next you’ll assemble the sheaves into shocks for drying outside. In the barnyard there will also be a wheat weaving demonstration.

A children’s craft program will be available from 11:00 to 3:00 for a small materials fee.

Theater

JUNE 4, 7 p.m.; JUNE 10, 11, 17 and 18, 8 p.m.
Jazz in June Festival

McCarter Theatre, 91 University Place, Princeton
(609) 258-2787 | mccarter.org

  • Gregory Porter, June 4, 2022 at 7 pm
  • Joshua Redman, June 10, 2022 at 8 pm
  • Christian Sands Quartet, June 11, 2022 at 8 pm
  • Helen Sung Quartet, June 17, 2022 at 8 pm
  • Jazzmeia Horn, June 18, 2022 at 8 pm


JUNE 3 & 4, 8 p.m.
JUNE 5, 2 p.m.
Present Laughter

Kelsey Theatre
1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor
(609) 570-3333 | kelsey.mccc.edu

Noel Coward’s totally-irresistible and semi-autobiographical comedy follows a self-obsessed actor in the midst of a mid-life crisis. Freely indulging his considerable appetite for wine, women and sleeping late, the theatre’s favorite leading man suddenly finds himself caught between fawning ingénues, crazed playwrights, secret trysts and unexpected twists.  We welcome The MTM Players to the Kelsey Theatre family as they bring you this crazy British farce.  BUY TICKETS NOW!

JUNE 10 & 17, 8 p.m.
JUNE 11 & 18, 2 p.m.
JUNE 12 & 19, 2 p.m.
Two Gentlemen Of Verona

Kelsey Theatre
1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor
(609) 570-3333 | kelsey.mccc.edu

Young Proteus only has eyes for his hometown sweetheart, Julia. But one look at the beautiful Silvia on a trip to Milan changes everything. Now he’s smitten with his best friend’s lover, but Julia has no intention of going away quietly. Events spin out of control as romantic rivals face off in this wild comic tale. Shakespeare 70’s staging of The Bard’s comic adventure brings out all the usual suspects: young love, hilarious servants, and disguised genders. And did we mention a clever dog?

Workshops

JUNE 18 & 25, 10 a.m.
REMOTE LEARNING: Adobe Lightroom: The Basics and More

Princeton Photo Workshop
Herrontown Road, Princeton
princetonphotoworkshop.com/classes

Adobe Lightroom offers an amazing level of productivity and efficiency with simple, user-friendly steps that let you take control of your photographic workflow.
Session 1: Learn how use the Library Module to import and organize your photos, with an introduction to processing. 
Session 2: 
We’ll introduce you to the Develop Module, with tools to reduce distortion, straighten images, and adjust exposure, clarity, highlights and shadows in the entire image, plus NEW TOOLS that allow you to modify specific areas of the image.

Categories
Environment Lifestyle Local News Sports & Gaming

Park Commission opens Hopewell Valley Golf Course

The Mercer County Park Commission and the County of Mercer held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the Hopewell Valley Golf Course, a newly acquired property of the Park Commission.

 

Photo: Ribbon-cutting with Park Commission Executive Director Aaron T. Watson and dignitaries.

 

This 186-acre, 18-hole course includes a clubhouse, ballroom, three Har-Tru tennis courts, three platform tennis courts and a pool. The facility is now fully operational and open to the public and provides new amenities for residents of the County and beyond.

 

“Most of our active recreational facilities are located in our main park in West Windsor, and I am pleased that residents in this part of our beautiful County now have a top-notch park where they can swim, play golf and tennis, and dine, all while taking in spectacular views,’’ said Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes.

 

Photo: A view of the golf course from the clubhouse.

 

At the ribbon-cutting celebration, Park Commission Executive Director Aaron T. Watson was joined by Chief of Staff Kelvin S. Ganges, County Administrato, Lillian L. Nazzaro, Planning Director Leslie Floyd, County Commissioners Nina Melker, Lucylle Walter and Andrew Koontz, and members of the Park Commission. Signing of the first tee flag and ceremonial first tee shot, taken by Park Commission President James Schulz, were honored in celebration of the full opening of the course.

 

“This facility opens so much potential for the Park Commission and we are thrilled to finally be able to welcome the public to this incredible new asset,” Mr. Watson said. “This acquisition expands our golf and tennis offerings, and the addition of a pool gives us the opportunity to provide something new and exciting in the County and opens the door to new programs and events at this location.”

 

Photo: From left, Park Commission Deputy Director Joe Pizza; Bert Sanford, a Hopewell Valley Golf Club member for more than 55 years who boasts two career holes-in-one; and Park Commission Executive Director Aaron T. Watson.

 

Mercer County’s award-winning Tennis Center is located in Mercer County Park, and the county operates four additional golf courses.

 

Hopewell Valley Golf Club is located on Pennington-Hopewell Road in Hopewell Township. The tennis courts and pool are open from Memorial Day to Labor Day and the golf course and club house are open year-round, course conditions weather permitting.

 

To book a tee time for Hopewell Valley Golf Course, visitwww.golfmercercounty.com. For tennis reservations, call (609) 448-8007. Mercer County Tennis ID holders can book a court usingwww.courtreserve.com. Pool sessions must be booked online through Community Pass. Users can create an account and register for an early or afternoon session byclicking here.

Categories
Culture Local News

Trenton-Mercer Airport conducts required-FAA exercise

 TRENTON, N.J. — Front-line responders from more than a dozen Mercer County, State, and municipal agencies, as well as other emergency stakeholders, took part in a federally required Airport Emergency Plan (AEP) Review conducted by Trenton-Mercer Airport last Wednesday.

 

Under FAA regulations, Trenton-Mercer Airport must complete an AEP review annually. In 2023, the airport will conduct a full-scale emergency drill, which it does every three years as mandated by the FAA. Photo: Trenton-Mercer Airport Manager Melinda Montgomery leads a review of the Airport Emergency Plan on May 25, 2022.

 

The purpose of the event held May 25 at the Township of Ewing’s conference center, was to fully review and discuss the AEP to ensure that the document continues to be maintained in a manner consistent with the National Incident Management System/Incident Command System. A “Table-top” review also was performed, where participants discussed a fictional emergency scenario and their agencies proposed responses to it.

 

“Should a major incident occur at Trenton-Mercer Airport, agencies at the local, state and federal levels must be able to provide a seamlessly coordinated response,” said Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes. “This review allows emergency stakeholders to familiarize themselves with the plan and each other, thereby increasing the effectiveness of our response in the event of an actual airport emergency.”

 

In addition to Trenton-Mercer Airport staff, TTN Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF)-Station 34, and Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, Airport Division, a number of other County agencies were represented, including the County Executive’s Office, Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Emergency Services Communications Center, County coordinators for EMS and Fire, and the Prosecutor’s Office. Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transportation Security Administration, FBI, New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit, New Jersey Office of Homeland Security, New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, Midwest Air Traffic Control Services, New Jersey Division of Aeronautics, Ewing Township Police Department, Ewing Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Ewing OEM, West Trenton Fire Company-Station 33, Prospect Heights Volunteer Fire Co., Ewing Township Fire Co., Capital Health, Frontier Airlines, Philadelphia International Airport, and Worldwide Flight Services also participated.

 

Under FAA regulations, Trenton-Mercer Airport must complete an AEP review annually. In 2023, the airport will conduct a full-scale emergency drill, which it does every three years as mandated by the FAA.

Categories
Culture Local News

Mercer County offers fresh produce vouchers to qualifying, older adults

TRENTON, N.J. — Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes announced that starting June 1, the Mercer County Office on Aging/Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) will begin accepting applications for the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, which provides vouchers for the purchase of fresh, nutritious, unprepared foods such as fruits, vegetables and herbs to low-income older adults.

 

 

“With foods provided from authorized farmers, the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program not only helps increase the nutritional health of our communities, but also increases the demand for locally grown produce and boosts the income of farmers who produce and sell locally grown products,” Mr. Hughes said. Last year, the Office on Aging/ADRC distributed vouchers to 1,430 Mercer County older adults, he added.

 

Eligible older adults will receive vouchers for use at participating farm stands. To qualify for this program, you must be able to verify that:

  • You are 60 years of age or older
  • You live in Mercer County
  • Your income does not exceed $23,828 per year ($1,986 monthly) if applying as a single person or $32,227 per year ($2,686 monthly) if applying as a couple*

 

Those eligible will receive five $6 vouchers for a total of $30 to spend. Vouchers will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. When you receive your vouchers, you also will get a listing of participating markets and vendors.

“The farmers market program offers older adults an increased opportunity to make nutritious fresh fruits and vegetables part of their daily eating choices,” Mr. Hughes said. “It also helps the older adult who may be struggling financially to get the most for their money.”

If you, a family member, or friend could benefit from this program or if you have any questions regarding it, please call the Office on Aging/ADRC at 609-989-6661 or email ADRC@mercercounty.org.

 

*Income guidelines vary for household sizes of three or more and also will change July 1 for all household sizes. Please contact the Office on Aging/Aging & Disability Resource Connection for further details.

Categories
Culture Lifestyle Local News

Report highlights quality of life in Mercer

TRENTON, N.J. – Many of Mercer County’s attributes were highlighted in U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of the nation’s Best Places to Live in 2022-2023, which placed the Trenton metro area – consisting of Mercer County — near the top in the “Best Places to Live for Quality of Life” category.

Photo: A concert in Mill Hill Park in Trenton

U.S. News analyzed 150 metro areas in the United States to find the best places to live based on quality of life and the job market in each metro area, as well as the value of living there, and people’s desire to live there. The publication cited the Trenton metro area’s convenient location, diverse economy, educational resources, parks, and variety of entertainment options as some of its most desirable features.

“I have always felt that Mercer County offers benefits unmatched by any other region in the United States,” said Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes. “Our first-rate educational institutions, employment opportunities, open space and recreational facilities, and cultural and historical offerings are among the things that create the wonderful quality of life that a person can find here.”

 

U.S. News stated that its Quality-of-Life Index “measures how satisfied residents are with their daily lives by metro area, and takes into account factors like crime, quality and availability of health care, quality of education and average commute time.”

 

Photo: The College of New Jersey in Ewing.

 

The Trenton metro area was ranked fifth for quality of life after the Ann Arbor, Mich.; Boulder, Colo.; San Jose, Calif.; and Naples Fla. metro areas.

 

“We couldn’t agree more with this area being one of the best places to live and would go further to say it’s one of the best places to work and play as well,” said Hal English, President/CEO of the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber.

 

“With our abundance of parks and recreation, fantastic array of different type restaurants and our entertainment venues such as the Grounds for Sculpture, CURE Arena and the Trenton Thunder – to name a few, we are blessed.”

Categories
Culture Local News News Now!

Mercer County to hold Memorial Day observance

Photo: Veterans’ memorial in Greenwood Cemetery, Hamilton

 

 

TRENTON, N.J. — Mercer County’s annual Memorial Day observance will take place Sunday, May 29, at 11 a.m. in the Veteran Section at Greenwood Cemetery, 1800 Hamilton Ave., Hamilton.

“I encourage everyone to pause during the holiday weekend to honor the men and women of our armed forces who gave their lives protecting our freedom,” said Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes. “All are invited to attend the county’s annual remembrance service at Greenwood Cemetery.”

Col. Walter F. Conner, USMC (Ret), will deliver the keynote address at the event, which is organized each year by the Mercer County Division of Veteran Services.

Categories
Culture Local News

Most County government offices to close for Memorial Day

TRENTON, N.J. — Most Mercer County government offices will be closed Monday, May 30, 2022, in observance of Memorial Day.

 

 

All branches of the Mercer County Library System will be closed Saturday, May 28, through Monday, May 30.

 

In addition to being closed on Memorial Day, the County Connection office in Hamilton will be closed Saturday, May 28.

 

The following County offices and facilities will remain open:

·       Trenton-Mercer Airport (except for administrative offices)

·       Correction Center

·       Sheriff’s Office

·       Emergency Services Communication Center.

 

The following Mercer County Park Commission facilities will be open on Memorial Day:

  • Marina at Mercer County Park, noon to 6 p.m.; Tennis Center, 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.;
  • all five County golf courses, 6 a.m. (first tee time) to 7:30 p.m.
  • Hopewell Valley Pool will be open Memorial Day weekend (Saturday-Monday), 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and then will be open weekends only through June 19.
  • The Wildlife Center will accept patients by appointment only from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 28, through Monday, May 30.
  • The outdoor education area will be open free of charge for self-guided tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Howell Living History Farm, Mercer County Stables, Tulpehaking Nature Center and Park Commission administrative offices will be closed on Memorial Day.

 

For more information on Park Commission facilities, visit www.mercercountyparks.org.

Categories
Business Environment Lifestyle Local News

NJ phases out single-use plastic and paper shopping bags at grocery stores

The “Bag Up NJ” campaign is the New Jersey Clean Communities Council’s new single use plastic and paper bag ban outreach campaign, which has a simple message: Bring your own reusable bag(s) when you shop.

 

 

This campaign educates and reminds consumers about their options for sustainability at the checkout counter. Consumers can bring their own reusable bags when they shop and recycle their plastic bags.

 

On Nov. 4, 2020, Governor Phil Murphy and the New Jersey Legislature enacted the most progressive bag ban law in the country. The law prevents litter and encourages the use of reusable bags by phasing out single-use plastic and paper bags.

 

The law bans plastic bags, regardless of thickness, at grocery stores and retail outlets, as well as paper bags at grocery stores measuring more than 2,500 square feet. It also bans polystyrene foam food service products; and makes plastic straws at restaurants available only upon request.

While we often hear about the environmental impact of disposable plastic bags, it is important to remember that disposable paper bags have a significant impact on the environment too.

 

Papermaking requires large inputs of water, energy, chemicals, and wood, and produces various wastes and emissions that must be controlled or treated. Additionally, paper bags require 10 times the amounts of trucks to deliver the same quantity of bags, resulting in increased truck traffic and diesel emissions.

 

 

The statewide ban on disposable bags went into effect on May 4, 2022. It will create an effective and uniform sustainable policy for all shoppers and business owners in NJ.

 

Reducing waste and litter statewide is a good thing; “This smart, uniform statewide law preempts all local ordinances.” said New Jersey Food Council CEO Linda Doherty, who is also president of the New Jersey Clean Communities Council.

 

Business Compliance:

For more information about business compliance, please contact Bag Up NJ partner New Jersey Business Action Center.

 

More details of the legislation:

The Bag Ban went into effect on May 4, 2022

  • The bill provides that the Department of State in consultation with the state Department of Environmental Protection will establish a program to assist businesses with compliance. This will include FAQs, outreach and educational programs, public service announcements, and distribution of free reusable carryout bags through a partnership with the Clean Communities Program which is receiving $500,000 per year for the first three years after the effective date of the law.
  • One year after enactment, November 4, 2021, plastic straws can only be provided upon request of a customer. Packages of straws and items like juice boxes may still be sold in stores.
  • The bill states that municipalities and counties cannot adopt any new ordinances governing plastic and paper bags, polystyrene, and straws. Ordinances already in effect will be superseded according to the various products’ phase out schedules.
  • The bill provides for penalties: a warning for a first offense, up to $1,000 for a second offense, and up to $5,000 for a third or subsequent offense. Penalties for violations will be deposited in the Clean Communities Program Fund, except that a municipality may retain 30 percent of any penalty it collects.
  • The bill establishes a Plastics Advisory Council in the state Department of Environmental Protection, whose members will monitor implementation of the law and evaluate its effectiveness. The Council will be comprised of 16 members, including 4 representing stores and food service businesses.
Categories
Local News Regulations & Security

Mercer County clerk informs public about updated Real ID options

TRENTON, N.J. — Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello would like to inform Mercer residents that starting May 3, 2023, if you plan to use a driver’s license as proof of identity at airport security or to enter certain federal buildings and facilities, it must be the new, more secure Real ID license.

County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello

A standard driver’s license or non-driver identification card can still be used to drive in New Jersey, but it will no longer be considered a valid form of federal identification.

It must be noted, there is no requirement to get a Real ID license. Standard, non-Real ID licenses will still be issued at the DMV. Passport books and passport cards will also remain as valid proof of identification for international travel and are Real ID-compliant for domestic flights. The Mercer County Clerk’s Office offers both at its Trenton location and at the County Connection site in Hamilton.

Real ID complies with federal standards that impose stronger requirements to prove US residency. Real ID is a more secure, federally mandated document that will be accepted at airports as identification and to enter federal buildings. The intent of Real ID is to ultimately reduce identity theft and fraud, and enhance the nation’s security.

“Don’t wait until 2023 to apply for a passport or to obtain a Real ID from the DMV. The time to do this is now to avoid the expected rush and backlog of appointments,” said Clerk Sollami Covello.

For more information about Real ID and the requirements and documents needed to obtain one, you can visit NJ GOV Real ID. To apply for Real ID, appointments can be scheduled online at NJMVC.gov.

The Mercer County Clerk’s Office offers routine passport services, as well as County IDs and Veteran IDs. If you have any questions about the different forms of IDs, please contact the Clerk’s Office at 609-989-6465. For more information regarding passports, please visit the County Clerk’s website at https://www.mercercounty.org/government/county-clerk. For the County Clerk’s passport office, please call 609-989-6473. Appointments can also be made at the Mercer County Connection, located at 957 NJ-33, Hamilton, NJ. To schedule an appointment at County Connection, please contact the office at 609-890-9800

Categories
Local Events

Morris Day to come to Mercer Co. Park for annual concert series

WHAT TIME IS IT?

It’s time to get your tickets for Morris Day, coming to Mercer County Park on July 22 for our Friday Night Summer Concert Series.

Early bird tickets are $10 and available online until JULY 1. After July 1, tickets will be available online and at the door for $15. Users can only purchase a maximum of 4 TICKETS PER TRANSACTION. All ticket sales are FINAL, there will be NO REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES. $5 parking charge per car. Event is rain or shine.

Guests welcomed to bring lawn chairs, blankets, and sealed bottles of water. Outside food and alcohol, coolers, and glass bottles are PROHIBITED. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change.