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A look at the efforts of companies and governments to build their own satellite networks that can deliver internet connectivity anywhere on Earth

—  Elon Musk’s Starlink may soon face new competition from satellite companies offering internet service, available from anywhere on Earth where you can see the sky 

 

Christopher Mims / Wall Street Journal:

 

 

A new generation of satellites is redefining what’s possible in space.

They are radically different from what has been the standard for almost the entire history of humans hurling things into orbit. They tantalize potential customers—including governments, businesses and consumers—with the promise of fast, always-on internet access, anywhere on Earth, anytime.

Thousands of this new kind of satellite are already operational, most of them powering the Starlink satellite network from Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which counts more than two million customers in 60 countries around the world, including Ukraine, where it has been critical to that country’s war with Russia, and Iran, where the network is helping citizens get around that country’s internet blockade.

Starlink may soon have plenty of competition, as countries and companies race to build their own internet-delivering constellations of satellites using this technology.

Efforts to build such networks, often in a public-private partnership, are currently under way in China, Europe, Taiwan, Canada and Germany. And last week

launched the first two satellites of what the company has said will ultimately be thousands in a network that will go head-to-head with Musk’s offering.

 

Most of these new satellites will be just a few hundred miles above Earth’s surface, where they can communicate with the ground much more quickly than the older generation of satellites in higher orbit. Because they’re constantly passing over the horizon, receivers and transmitters on the ground—like Starlink’s pizza-size antennas—must constantly hop their connection to the next satellite to come into view, which adds to the technical challenge.

Engineers are meeting that challenge. Better rockets have enabled cheaper and more frequent launches. New software makes the satellites reprogrammable and upgradable from the ground. And new kinds of antennas and digital innards for satellites are allowing space-based networks to deliver fast internet connectivity to pretty much anyplace on Earth a person can get an unobstructed view of the sky.

Read more here:

A look at the efforts of companies and governments to build their own satellite networks that can deliver internet connectivity anywhere on Earth

 

 

— Techmeme

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Celebrating Osprey Point’s grand opening: Little Ferry’s newest senior housing community

LITTLE FERRY – Local, state, and federal officials recently united in celebration at the grand opening of Osprey Point, a groundbreaking senior housing development featuring 85 affordable senior rental apartments with essential supportive housing services

Osprey Point serves as a prime example of the profound impact that creating affordable housing in close proximity to essential services and amenities can have on enhancing the quality of life for both seniors and individuals with special needs. Notably, 68 of these apartments are specifically designated for residents aged 55 or older, strategically positioned near a community center offering vital services to help seniors maintain an active and independent lifestyle. An additional 22 units are dedicated to residents with special needs, 14 of which are apartments tailored for individuals living with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, while the remaining 8 are supported apartments designed to cater to those in need of mental health services.

While Osprey Point’s three-story building extends a warm welcome to residents and guests and contains meticulously designed apartments, what truly sets it apart is its unwavering commitment to providing high-quality affordable housing opportunities with independent and supported living options to seniors and vulnerable populations at affordable rates.

“Osprey Point represents inclusivity and affordability, ensuring that Little Ferry seniors have an affordable and secure place to call home, as well as a state-of-the-art community space that brings all Little Ferry residents together,” stated NJHMFA Executive Director Melanie Walter. “Affordable housing for seniors helps long-time residents and workers remain in their hometowns, which is critical to preserving a community’s roots while helping it grow and thrive. NJHMFA is committed to providing support to older New Jersey residents with limited or fixed incomes, enabling them to age comfortably in place while preserving their independence and dignity.”

Situated in a peaceful residential neighborhood, Osprey Point offers its residents easy access to the surrounding parks, trails, gardens, and outdoor seating, while simultaneously being a short drive from numerous shops, grocery stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues to meet residents’ needs. For residents who enjoy birdwatching, Mehrhof Pond is conveniently located next door, while those seeking faster-paced entertainment options will find the Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment Complex and the MetLife Sports Complex just a five-minute drive away.

“For decades it’s been a dream. We wanted to give our senior population on a fixed income an affordable, safe, housing option. We were thrilled to realize that dream and officially open the complex this week,” said Little Ferry Mayor Mauro Raguseo. “This building is more than just a beautiful structure of bricks and mortar.  For so many it represents hope and financial stability for the future.  It means our seniors have an opportunity to stay in the community they love.  It is a shining example of what can be accomplished if we have a vision and work together in a public-private partnership to get things done.”

For residents with special needs, Vantage Health System will provide social services and intensive on-site support to promote personal independence, life skills, and integration into the community.

Partnerships with Regan Development, the Borough of Little Ferry, the Bergen County Office of Community Development, the New Jersey Housing Mortgage Finance Agency, and Berkadia have been indispensable in bringing this vital development to fruition.

“Regan Development is proud to have partnered with the Borough of Little Ferry, the State of New Jersey and its HMFA, DDD and DMHAS, DEP and NJSEA divisions as well as Bergen County, TD Bank and Berkadia to successfully provide 85 high-quality energy, efficient, senior and supportive housing units for Little Ferry residents,” said Larry Regan, President of Regan Development Corporation. “All public and private sector partners came together to overcome the challenges of Covid cost increases and spikes in interest rates to successfully bring the project to occupancy.”

“Bright, safe, affordable housing is essential for our senior communities who deserve to live in comfort,” said Congressman Bill Pascrell (D-NJ-09). “We are in dire need of more quality, affordable senior housing in northern New Jersey. The construction of these apartments supported by federal tax credits will create valuable housing options for seniors and those with special needs in Little Ferry. Every time we open buildings like Osprey Point, we can help improve the lives of more of our neighbors – that’s a good thing.”

“Osprey Point embodies our shared commitment to inclusivity and affordability, providing a secure and affordable home for Bergen County seniors, with direct access to essential amenities,” said Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco. “This development is a testament to the power of partnerships and the impact we can achieve when we work together to address the housing needs of our senior and vulnerable populations, ensuring they can maintain their independence and dignity while enjoying their golden years in the community they love.”

NJHMFA financing, including $2.8 million from the Special Needs Housing Trust Fund and $1.7 million from the Affordable Housing Production Fund Set Aside, played a pivotal role in making this project viable. Unforeseen disruptions during the pandemic required NJHMFA to grant hardship credits and provide additional assistance to ensure construction was able to commence in September 2021.

 

About Us: The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) advances the quality of life for residents of and communities throughout New Jersey by investing in, financing, and facilitating access to affordable rental housing and homeownership opportunities for low and moderate-income families, older adults, and individuals with specialized housing needs. To learn more about NJHMFA, visit:

https://NJHousing.gov/

 

About Us: The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) advances the quality of life for residents of and communities throughout New Jersey by investing in, financing, and facilitating access to affordable rental housing and homeownership opportunities for low and moderate-income families, older adults, and individuals with specialized housing needs. To learn more about NJHMFA, visit: https://NJHousing.gov/

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The US FTC says it remains focused on its appeal opposing Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision and will ‘assess’ the company’s cloud gaming deal with Ubisoft

Diane Bartz / Reuters:

 

 

—  The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Friday it remained focused on its appeal opposing Xbox maker Microsoft’s (MSFT.O) now-closed $69 billion deal to buy Activision (ATVI.O) but would “assess” the company’s agreement with Ubisoft (UBIP.PA).

 

The companies closed their transaction on Friday after winning approval from Britain on condition that they sell the streaming rights to Activision’s games to Ubisoft Entertainment (UBIP.PA) to address the UK regulator’s competition concerns.

 

In the United States, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has also fought the deal, and has an argument scheduled before an appeals court on Dec. 6. The agency said on Friday that it remained focused on that appeal.

“Microsoft and Activision’s new agreement with Ubisoft presents a whole new facet to the merger that will affect American consumers, which the FTC will assess as part of its ongoing administrative proceeding,” added spokeswoman Victoria Graham. “The FTC continues to believe this deal is a threat to competition.”

 

 

Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Susan Fenton

— Techmeme

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Art & Life Culture Government Lifestyle

JFK limited series in development at Netflix from ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ co-writer Eric Roth, Chernin Entertainment

Netflix is developing a limited series based on the life of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, Variety has learned exclusively from sources.

 

The series will be based on the critically acclaimed book “JFK: Coming Of Age In The American Century, 1917-1956” by Fredrik Logevall. The book, originally published in 2020, is the first part of a planned two-volume biography of Kennedy. Part one examines his life from his birth up to his time as the junior U.S. Senators from Massachusetts.

 

Eric Roth is attached to write and executive produce the project. Peter Chernin and Jenno Topping of Chernin Entertainment will also executive produce. The search is currently on for a showrunner.

 

Reps for Netflix did not immediately respond to request for comment.

 

According to sources, Netflix sees the series as something like an American version of “The Crown,” their highly successful show about Queen Elizabeth II and the British royal family, given the highly influential history of the Kennedy family in America. Whether that means the show would follow the same pattern as “The Crown” — in which different actors come in every two seasons to play the main characters as they age — is unclear at this time.

 

Roth is a highly successful film writer. He won the Academy Award for best adapted screenplay for “Forrest Gump” in 1995. He has been nominated for six more Academy Awards since, including for his work on films like “Munich,” Bradley Cooper’s “A Star Is Born,” and most recently “Dune.” He is also one of the credited writers on Martin Scorsese’s upcoming film “Killers of the Flower Moon.” His other writing credits include “Ali,” “The Good Shepherd,” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” the last of which also earned him an Oscar nomination.

 

He is repped by CAA, Lenore Entertainment Group, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.

 

Chernin Entertainment’s current TV slate includes shows like “P-Valley” at Starz, which has been renewed for a third season, and the upcoming epic “Chief of War” at Apple TV+ starring Jason Momoa. The company also recently co-produced the film “Luther: The Fallen Sun” starring Idris Elba, with Elba reprising the role of Detective Chief Inspector John Luther, and “Dicks: The Musical.”

 

Chernin Entertainment is repped by WME.

 

 

— Variety (EXCLUSIVE)

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Sumner County, Tenn., goes live with Tyler Technologies’ Community Readiness solution to reduce recidivism

Community Readiness will soon be live in more than 70% of all Tennessee correctional facilities

 

PLANO, Texas — (BUSINESS WIRE) — $TYL #TylerTech—Tyler Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: TYL) announced that the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee has successfully gone live with Tyler’s Community Readiness solution.

 

“We are proud to work with Tyler to bring these positive and impactful resources to incarcerated individuals who have not had access to them in the past,” said Jerry Scott, division administrator, Sumner County Sheriff’s Office. “Tyler’s Community Readiness solution will truly help to put these individuals on a path to a better life, ultimately improving and strengthening our local community.”

 

Community Readiness, powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS), is a comprehensive software application that bridges the gap between the jail and the community by connecting residents in jails with local support organizations. These connections will benefit incarcerated individuals in Sumner County by connecting them with resources to gain an education, find a job, locate housing, and otherwise prepare them to be active, healthy contributors to their community after being released from jail.

 

Sumner County’s Sheriff’s Office has deployed Community Readiness in its jail facility. The software offers information and assistance from numerous local community organizations, including the Tennessee Prison Outreach Ministry, American Job Centers, Project Return, Adult and Teen Challenge, and more. The solution not only serves as a crucial resource for those incarcerated, but it also benefits Sumner County’s staff by reducing physical paperwork, allowing them to focus on what is most important to the safety and effectiveness of the facility.

 

“Tyler’s Community Readiness solution is the most advanced re-entry software in the industry,” said Silas Deane III, Community Readiness manager at Tyler. “The software helps to build a future where second chances are not just possible but expected. We are pleased to work closely with Sumner County to break the cycle of recidivism and offer new beginnings to those incarcerated.”

 

Tyler continues to rapidly expand the use of Community Readiness in correctional facilities across the country. Soon, it will be live in more than 70% of jail facilities in Tennessee, including in Williamson County, Chattanooga, Johnson City, and Nashville, with other implementations in process in New Jersey and Florida.

 

About Tyler Technologies, Inc.

Tyler Technologies (NYSE: TYL) provides integrated software and technology services to the public sector. Tyler’s end-to-end solutions empower local, state, and federal government entities to operate efficiently and transparently with residents and each other. By connecting data and processes across disparate systems, Tyler’s solutions transform how clients turn actionable insights into opportunities and solutions for their communities. Tyler has more than 40,000 successful installations across nearly 13,000 locations, with clients in all 50 states, Canada, the Caribbean, Australia, and other international locations. Tyler has been recognized numerous times for growth and innovation, including Government Technology’s GovTech 100 list. More information about Tyler Technologies, an S&P 500 company headquartered in Plano, Texas, can be found at tylertech.com.

#TYL_General

Contacts

Jennifer Kepler

Tyler Technologies

972.713.3770

Media.team@tylertech.com

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Israel attacks condemned by President Biden as TV news plans special reports: ‘Terrorism is never justified’ 

Hamas militants launched a surprise attack inside Israel Saturday, in which they fired thousands of rockets, sent dozens of fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip and kidnapped Israeli civilians and soldiers.

 

The attacks started on a religious holiday (Simchat Torah) weekend in Israel, and nearly 300 people have been killed, according to the New York Times.

 

President Joe Biden shared a statement regarding the attacks in Israel: “This morning, I spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu about the horrific and ongoing attacks in Israel. The United States unequivocally condemns this appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza, and I made clear to Prime Minister Netanyahu that we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the Government and people of Israel. Terrorism is never justified. Israel has a right to defend itself and its people. The United States warns against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation. My Administration’s support for Israel’s security is rock solid and unwavering.”

 

Vice President Kamala Harris posted a statement on X/Twitter, writing that Biden’s and her support for “Israel’s security is unwavering.”

 

 

NBC News broadcast a special report on the Hamas’s surprise attack at 6 a.m. ET, featuring “NBC News Now” anchor Joe Fryer and NBC News senior legal correspondent Laura Jarrett. They were joined by NBC News foreign correspondents Raf Sanchez and Richard Engel and foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell.

 

“We haven’t seen something like this, this level of sophistication, to catch the Israelis off guard and to keep this operation moving for hours now. This began at dawn, its is already afternoon in Israel. So, this has been going on for multiple hours now,” said Richard Engel, NBC News chief foreign correspondent, during Saturday’s special report.

 

“I think it’s very likely that we’re going to see an escalation in some sort of small-scale war, maybe bigger scale war, between Hamas and Israel. And I think we’re in the early phases of that right now.”

 

MSNBC announced the news channel will continue live, ongoing coverage of the latest develops in Israel, with Ayman Mohyeldin anchoring coverage live from New York starting at 8 p.m. ET. and José Díaz-Balart picking up coverage from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.

 

Fox News Channel is also presenting continuous coverage of the developing conflict in Israel, with FNC’s foreign correspondent Trey Yingst reporting live from southern Israel. FNC’s chief political anchor and “Special Report’s” Bret Baier will contribute to live coverage throughout the day, while chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin will report from the Pentagon with correspondent Lucas Tomlinson reporting from the White House.

 

 

 

— Variety

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Dept. of Labor awards $5M to train, expand pathways for women in registered apprenticeships, nontraditional occupations

Largest awards of WANTO grants target underrepresentation of women in high-wage industries

 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $5 million to organizations in seven states to increase the numbers of women in Registered Apprenticeship programs and help connect them with good-paying careers in nontraditional occupations where the Biden-Harris administration’s historic infrastructure, manufacturing and clean energy investments are creating sharp job increases.

 

The announcement of the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations grants was made at AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington. Department leaders joined AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler to showcase the work of the labor organization’s Working for America Institute in Birmingham, Alabama. The institute received a $713,892 grant to support its pre-apprenticeship program’s effort to recruit women of color in the region.

 

“To fulfill the promise of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and to rebuild the nation’s economy from the middle out and the bottom up, we can’t afford to leave any talent untapped,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su. “Today, we announced grants that will support organizations that are training women for good-paying jobs — including union jobs — while ensuring an equitable workforce development system that helps to provide a talent pipeline for employers in critical sectors.”

 

This is the department’s largest award of WANTO grants, a 47 percent increase from 2022.

 

“Women make up nearly half of the nation’s workforce but remain vastly underrepresented in industries like construction, which needs more skilled workers needed to fill these high-paying jobs,” said Women’s Bureau Director Wendy Chun-Hoon. “The Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations program prepares women for promising careers and provides the technical assistance to employers and unions to recruit and retain more women effectively.”

 

The WANTO program seeks to increase employment of women in apprenticeships and nontraditional occupations by supporting community-based organizations that develop pre-apprenticeship programs to help women succeed in industries where they are typically underrepresented. These industries include construction, advanced manufacturing, energy, technology and transportation. A portion of the grants awarded can be used to provide participants with support services such as child care, transportation, tuition and work-related gear.

 

Administered by the department’s Women’s Bureau and Employment and Training Administration, the 2023 WANTO grants will fund training programs in Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas and Washington state. The WANTO grant recipients are as follows:

 

Recipient – AFL-CIO Working for America Institute

City – Birmingham

State – AL

Award – $713,892

 

Recipient – Moore Community House

City – Biloxi

State – MS

Award – $714,518

 

Recipient – Hope Renovations

City – Chapel Hill

State – NC

Award – $713,518

 

Recipient – Vincentian Ohio Action Network

City – Columbus

State – OH

Award – $714,518

 

Recipient – Rhode Island Women in the Trades

City – Providence

State – RI

Award – $714,518

 

Recipient – SER-Jobs for Progress of the Texas Gulf Coast Inc.

City – Houston

State – TX

Award – $714,518

 

Recipient – Ada Developers Academy

City – Seattle

State – WA

Award – $714,518

 

Agency
Women’s Bureau
Date
September 28, 2023
Release Number
23-2083-NAT
Media Contact: Grace Hagerty
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Retired Navy captain exposes ‘The Great Lie’ and other lapses in military’s transition assistance program

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).

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Mercer County has new voting machines for the 2023 General Election

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.

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Park Commission to conduct deer management program at Mercer County Park, Mercer Meadows and Baldpate Mountain

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.  

More information including maps can be found by visiting the Mercer County Park Commission’s Deer Management page