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Passage Theatre Company recently updates its management team for community sustainability

 

Passage Theater Company announced changes to its management team that will assist the state capitol’s only professional theater company with its vision to become a more adept and sustainable part of the community.

 

C. Ryanne Domingues, who has led the theater’s programming as Artistic Director for more than six years, has accepted a full-time position at Rider University as Assistant Professor in the BFA Acting program of the Department of Performing Arts. She will continue to work with Passage Theater in a part-time role to develop new, original programming through the 2024-2025 season, including the highly anticipated production of Ghetto Gods in Divineland.

 

“We are just delighted that Rider University recognized Ryanne’s amazing artistic voice and teaching talent and that she will have this opportunity to shape the next generation of theatre professionals,” said Caroline Wylie, president of Passage Theater’s board of directors.

 

Managing Director Brishen Miller was promoted to Executive Artistic Director, reflecting his innovative leadership and the additional responsibilities he’s taking on to ensure the theater’s continued success going forward.

 

Founded in 1985, Passage Theater at Trenton’s historical Mill Hill Playhouse is committed to creating and producing socially relevant new plays and arts programming the deeply resonate with and reflect our community.

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D&R Greenway Land Trust announces first ever Harvest Moon Ball on Sept. 30 at the new Discovery Center at Point Breeze in Bordentown

D&R Greenway Land Trust’s Harvest Moon Ball, featuring musicians and theatre performers, will be held at the Discovery Center at Point Breeze on the evening of Sept. 30, at 101 Park Street, Bordentown, N.J.

— Justin Lee Jazz Trio

 

The event starts at 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. to support the historic and ecologically important property.

 

In the tradition of Joseph Bonaparte, the exiled King of Spain who entertained prominent scientists, artists and leaders here in the 1820s and 1830s, guests are invited to dress as someone who once visited Point Breeze or to come as you are to see who’s who. Prominent people who walked on this land in the 19th century included the Marquis de Lafyette, Dolley Madison, John Quincy Adams, Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, John James Audubon, Louis Mailliard, and Joseph Bonaparte’s daughter Zenaide for whom a dove was named. Thirteen thousand years of history provides a creative playground for the imagination of partygoers who choose to participate in the parade of characters.

Improv performances and music by a jazz trio will keep the mood swinging throughout the evening. Libations and desserts and cheeses from Toscano, a popular Bordentown restaurant, will be served under the full harvest moon.

“We designed this to be an affordable, community-focused event to get people out on the land in an unforgettable setting,” says Linda Mead, D&R Greenway’s president and CEO. “Sunset is magic at Point Breeze. Watching the full moon rise will make this night shine on under the Harvest Moon, like the song!”

— Welcome to the Discovery Center at Point Breeze

 

This fun garden party will be inspired by the unexpected.  Pegasus Theatre, sponsored by Bordentown Arts, a community-based nonprofit, will perform improv. Principals Peter Alexander and Jennifer Nasta Zefutie will bring their theatrical storytelling to an intimate setting inside the Discovery Center, opened in May 2023, surrounded by colorful exhibits, art, and artifacts of note.

Bordentown’s vibrant arts scene received a boost in the last few years from the recently formed Bordentown Arts.

 

“There’s an insane amount of talent in this one square mile – just as there’s an insane amount of history!” exults Leon Stanley, who founded the nonprofit in 2020 to support arts and cultural experiences within Bordentown City, where he lives with his wife, gallery owner C.J. Mugavero.

 

“We want Bordentown to be the best it can be,” says Stanley.

 

“The arts bring a quality of life, are a driver of the economy, and dovetail with the city’s reputation as a restaurant town.”

 

Musician Justin Lee will lead a talented jazz trio with guitarist Raúl Abbad and singer Monika Ryan, a New York style classic jazz singer who recently released her fourteenth album, “Playfully.” A local resident, Lee is no stranger to Point Breeze; he played a virtuoso solo of both the US national anthem and the French national anthem on Bastille Day when a delegation from Bordentown’s French sister city, Mortefontaine, visited the preserved property. He’s thrilled that Point Breeze will now be a multi-faceted community asset.

— Joseph Bonaparte original oil painting circa 1819 on display at the Discovery Center

 

“I’m excited that my kids will get to enjoy the open space and the programs.”

The first ever Harvest Moon Ball celebrates that Point Breeze is now a Bordentown treasure, preserved forever. Point Breeze is an apt location to celebrate, as well, the recent election to D&R Greenway’s Board of Trustees of longtime Bordentown public servant, former mayor James E. (Jim) Lynch, Jr.

As Bordentown’s mayor in 2020, Jim Lynch seized a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to preserve Point Breeze – and with it, the unique character of the small city. Developers had been salivating over the site.

 

“The Divine Word Fathers, who were here for 80 years, were hounded by developers who wanted to build warehouses or a thousand condos,” Lynch recalls.  D&R Greenway and State Green Acres partners joined with the city to permanently preserve the land.

Lynch, now a City Commissioner, joined D&R Greenway’s Board of Trustees in 2023, the latest chapter in a 34-year relationship. “I started working on behalf of Bordentown with D&R Greenway in 1989 [the land trust’s founding year], and it just blossomed from there.” Joining the Board “is a great honor for me,” he says.

For Point Breeze, says Jim Lynch, “The best is yet to come.”

 

The ticket price of $60.  Admission to the Harvest Moon Ball on Sept. 30 is via advance ticket purchase by Sept. 25 at www.drgreenway.org or by calling (609) 924-4646.  Limited tickets will be available at the door, first come, first served. Proceeds benefit D&R Greenway’s Discovery Center at Point Breeze.

About D&R Greenway Land Trust: D&R Greenway Land Trust is an accredited nonprofit that has reached a new milestone of over 22,000 acres of land preserved throughout central New Jersey since 1989. By protecting land in perpetuity and creating public trails, it gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. The land trust’s preserved farms and community gardens provide local organic food for residents of the region—including those most in need. Through strategic land conservation and stewardship, D&R Greenway combats climate change, protects birds and wildlife, and ensures clean drinking water for future generations. D&R Greenway’s mission is centered on connecting land with people from all walks of life. www.drgreenway.org; info@drgreenway.org. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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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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D&R GreenwayLand Trust announces fall 2023 Native Plant Sale dates for Sept.

PRINCETON, N.J. — D&R Greenway announces a wide variety of healthy local plants are ready for purchase at their annual Fall Native Plant Sale taking place on Friday, Sept. 22: 2:30 pm-5:30 pm and Saturday, Sept. 23: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Carolina Allspice

 

Planting natives enhances home gardens in natural beauty, attracts butterflies and birds in the landscape, and contributes to protection of a healthy bioregion. The Nursery is on the grounds of D&R Greenway’s Conservation Campus at the Johnson Education Center, One Preservation Place, [off Rosedale Road] Princeton, N.J. 08540.  Native Plant Sale proceeds support D&R Greenway’s preservation and stewardship mission. www.drgreenway.org.

Tina Notas, Director of Land Stewardship for D&R Greenway, remarks, “Fall is a great time to plant natives!  Give them a head start for the next growing season.”

Noted biologist, professor and author Doug Tallamy, is a biodiversity warrior.  In the Summer 2023 issue of Saving Land from the national Land Trust Alliance, he is quoted as saying, “In my view, the only way to achieve E. O. Wilson’s dream of protecting the natural world on at least half of the planet, as described in his 2016 book “Half Earth,” is to coexist with nature, in the same place, at the same time. We must bury forever the notion that humans are here and nature is someplace else, for there are no longer enough “someplace else’s” to meet the need. We have persisted for the last century in the misguided belief that humans can only thrive when segregated from the natural world, and, as a result, the U.S. has formally protected only 12% of its land. We can achieve Wilson’s lofty goals without excluding the human enterprise, but the key to doing this is to practice conservation not only in protected wild lands, but also outside of parks and preserves: where we live, work, farm and play.”

 

Wild Geranium

D&R Greenway’s CEO Linda Mead encourages local residents to support D&R Greenway’s land protection work and biodiversity by purchasing natives for your backyard at the nonprofit organization’s Native Plant Sale, “This provides every one of us a way we can do good while helping D&R Greenway’s work to do well.”

D&R Greenway’s native trees, shrubs, perennial wildflowers, grasses, and ferns are grown either on-site or purchased from reputable local native-plant growers. Native Plant Nursery specimens are grown from locally sourced starter plants, and are free of harmful nicotinoid insecticides. Planting natives that evolved locally requires less maintenance, in terms of fertilizer, water and pesticides.  Possibilities include the popular Cardinal Flower, as well as Evening Primrose, Scarlet Oak, Sweet Joe Pye, and Trumpet Honeysuckle, among others. Visit our website at www.drgreenway.org

Swamp Milkweed

About D&R Greenway Land Trust: D&R Greenway Land Trust is an accredited nonprofit that has reached a new milestone of over 22,000 acres of land preserved throughout central New Jersey since 1989 and 44 miles of trails.

 

By protecting land in perpetuity and creating public trails, it gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. The land trust’s preserved farms and community gardens provide local organic food for residents of the region—including those most in need. Through strategic land conservation and stewardship, D&R Greenway combats climate change, protects birds and wildlife, and ensures clean drinking water for future generations. D&R Greenway’s mission is centered on connecting land with people from all walks of life. www.drgreenway.org; info@drgreenway.org. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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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

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Governor’s Conference on Housing and Economic Development examines ways to promote affordable housing and community revitalization across New Jersey

TRENTON, N.J.  — For nearly 50 years, New Jersey has been a national trailblazer in creating opportunities for residents to live in housing they can afford anywhere in the state.

This year’s Governor’s Conference on Housing and Economic Development, taking place at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City from Thursday, Sept. 28 to Friday, Sept. 29, is an event held by practitioners for practitioners and will help developers, property owners and managers, planners, housing advocates and local officials continue down that trailblazing path by convening experts to facilitate engaging discussions about ways to provide affordable housing and stimulate economic development in their communities.

The conference is co-hosted by New Jersey’s pre-eminent housing and economic development agencies: The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA), the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), and the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority (NJRA).

“Governor Phil Murphy has made equitable growth and development one of the hallmarks of his administration,” said NJHMFA Executive Director Melanie Walter. “The Governor’s Conference is the annual showcase where administration officials and external stakeholders come together to discuss, educate, and inform each other about the changing conditions and new best practices for development of affordable housing and stimulating community growth in the Garden State.”

The conference will hold a variety of panel discussions and breakout sessions. Attendees will learn ways to engage with communities in planning more equitable futures, revitalizing business and residential districts, and ensuring that every New Jerseyan has the opportunity to benefit from the Garden State’s prosperity and livability.

Attendees at the breakout panels can receive continuing education credits from the National Affordable Housing Management Association, certification maintenance credits from the American Institute of City Planners and continuing legal education credits from the NJRA’s Redevelopment Training Institute for each session pertaining to their fields.

Breakout panels will explore a wide range of topics relating to the financing, siting, development, construction and management of affordable housing and supportive housing for seniors. Topics include the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit (NRTC) program, eviction prevention programs, landlord-tenant laws, infill development, property management, funding opportunities through new state programs, access to new data sources, and policy and regulatory changes from NJHMFA, EDA, and DCA.

In addition to the informative panels, conference attendees will hear from nationally renowned industry professionals during the conference’s two keynote speeches:

Don Peebles, chairman and CEO of The Peebles Corporation, will be the keynote speaker on Sept. 28. As one of America’s most successful real estate entrepreneurs, he is a longtime backer of what his company calls “affirmative development” to empower women and minorities to close the wealth gap. Peebles’ multi-billion-dollar project portfolio spans the nation, exemplifying a commitment to sustainable construction, innovative design, and equitable community development.

Jerrod Delaine, CEO of Legacy Real Estate Development, a company that puts private capital to work building better communities for all, will be the keynote speaker on Sept. 29. Delaine is a renowned scholar and thought leader in urban housing policy, bringing to the conference more than a decade of real estate experience spanning financing, construction, asset management, and design. He also serves as an adjunct professor at New York University, educating the next generation in development, urban economics, and related issues.

Registration: To learn more and register for the 2023 Governor’s Conference, visit njhousingconference.com.

 

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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County to give unserviceable flags a proper sendoff

Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes and the Mercer County Office of Veteran Services invite the public to an official flag decommissioning ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 19, at 6 p.m. at Veterans Park (Klockner Road entrance) in Hamilton Township.

Each year, the Mercer County Office of Veteran Services holds the time-honored decommissioning, also known as “flag retirement.” American flags that have become tattered, soiled or are otherwise no longer fit for display will be burned in a dignified manner in a large pit during the ceremony and the flames will be doused by the Hamilton Township Fire Division.

Individuals and organizations that wish to have an American flag properly disposed of at this year’s ceremony should bring the flag to Mercer County Veteran Services, 1440 Parkside Ave., Ewing; Mercer County Connection, Route 33 at Paxson Avenue, Hamilton; or the County Administration Building, 640 South Broad St., Trenton, no later than Monday, Sept. 11.

The rain date for flag retirement is Sept. 20.

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Pedal Power: 2023 Full Moon Bike Ride set for Sept. 30 at Rosedale Park

HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP, N.J. — The Lawrence Hopewell Trail (LHT) and Mercer County Park Commission will host their eighth Full Moon Bike Ride on Saturday, Sept. 30, at Rosedale Lake in Mercer Meadows.

 

The six-mile loop ride on the LHT and other Mercer Meadow trails will offer a magical experience, with twinkling lights under a tree canopy, live music along the trail, glow-in-the-dark features, and a campfire with s’mores near Rosedale Lake. Enter the bike decorating contest for a chance to win fabulous prizes.

 

The Full Moon Bike Ride begins at 7:30 p.m. with a special sendoff near the Rosedale Lake parking area, though participants are welcome to arrive later. Registration will open at 7 p.m., as does the campfire and music. Participants are welcome to arrive early and bring a picnic dinner.

 

Adults and children of all ages are welcome at the activities around Rosedale Lake, with the expectation that adults supervise their children at all times. The Full Moon Bike Ride itself is open to adults and children aged 12 and above.

 

Registration for riders is $20 for adults (18 and over) and $15 for youth (12 to 17). Adult registration is $25 at the event. Details and registration at https://lhtrail.org/annual-fullmoonride/. The 2023 Full Moon Bike Ride T-shirt will be available for pre-purchase.

 

Non-profits can email the LHT (info@lhtrail.org) for group rates. There is no fee for non-riders, though donations are greatly appreciated. The event is a fundraiser for the Lawrence Hopewell Trail, a 501(c)(3) corporation.

 

For riders under 18, helmets are required by law. The LHT encourages helmets for all riders for safety reasons, and also highly recommends the use of front and rear bike lights. Moonlight, even on a clear night, will not fully light the trail in the woods.

 

Participants should use the park entrance on Federal City Road between Blackwell Road and Old Mill Road in Hopewell Township. Please car pool if possible.

 

The rain date is Sunday, Oct. 1, but if rain forces the change, the program will be limited to the bike ride.

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Heat advisory issued; cooling sites open

TRENTON, N.J. — The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for Mercer County and the surrounding area for today, Sept. 6, until 8 p.m. County Executive Brian M. Hughes reminds residents that many cooling sites will be open.

Temperatures today are expected to reach the mid 90s with a heat index (a measure of the combination of heat and humidity) of up to 103 degrees, and Thursday’s forecast is calling for mid-90s temperatures with a heat index of up to 101 degrees. Children, older adults, people with disabilities and pets are most at risk during excessive temperatures.

The New Jersey Department of Health and the Federal Emergency Management Agency offer the following recommendations for staying safe during hot weather:

  • Never leave people or pets in a closed car on a warm day.
  • People without air conditioning should reach out to NJ 2-1-1 for information regarding Cooling Centers: nj211.org/nj-cooling-centers
  • Take cool showers or baths.
  • Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
  • Use your oven less to help reduce the temperature in your home.
  • If you’re outside, find shade. Wear a hat wide enough to protect your face.
  • Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
  • Avoid high-energy activities or working outdoors if possible.
  • Check on family members, older adults and neighbors.
  • Watch for heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
  • Consider pet safety. If pets are outdoors, make sure they have plenty of cool water and access to comfortable shade. Asphalt and dark pavement can be very hot to your pet’s feet.
  • If using a mask, use one that is made of breathable fabric, such as cotton instead of polyester. Don’t wear a mask if you feel yourself overheating or have trouble breathing.

Mercer County Library System branches and municipal senior centers serve as cooling sites, although daily hours of operation vary. These locations are open to all residents. The Ewing, Hickory Corner, Hightstown, Hopewell, Lawrence, Robbinsville, Twin Rivers, and West Windsor library branches are open Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Hollowbrook Branch is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m. The Ewing, Hickory Corner, Lawrence and West Windsor branches are open from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Sundays during the school year.

Call individual senior centers for hours of operation, restrictions and accommodations. Call your local senior center if you don’t see it on the list of confirmed cooling sites below.

Mercer County library branch locations

  • Ewing, 61 Scotch Road
  • Hickory Corner, 138 Hickory Corner Road, East Windsor
  • Hightstown Memorial, 114 Franklin St.
  • Hollowbrook, 320 Hollowbrook Drive, Ewing
  • Hopewell, 245 Pennington-Titusville Road, Pennington
  • Lawrence Headquarters Branch, 2751 Brunswick Pike
  • Robbinsville, 42 Allentown-Robbinsville Road
  • Twin Rivers, 276 Abbington Drive, East Windsor
  • West Windsor, 333 North Post Road

Municipal senior center locations

  • Ewing – Hollowbrook Community Center, 320 Hollowbrook Drive; 609-883-1199
  • Hamilton Senior Center, 409 Cypress Lane; 609-890-3686;
  • Hopewell Valley Senior Center, 395 Reading St., Pennington; 609-537-0236;
  • John O. Wilson Center, 169 Wilfred Avenue, Hamilton; 609-393-6480;
  • Princeton Senior Resource Center, 101 Poor Farm Road, Building B; Suzanne Patterson Building, 45 Stockton St.; 609-751-9699
  • Robbinsville Township Senior Center, 1117 Route 130; 609-259-1567
  • Samuel Naples Senior Center (covering all of Trenton), 611 Chestnut Ave.; 609-989-3462
  • West Windsor Senior Center, 271 Clarksville Road; 609-799-9068

For assistance in coping with the heat or to contact your local cooling site, please call the Mercer County Office on Aging at (609) 989-6661 or toll-free at (877) 222-3737. During non-business hours, residents are encouraged to call 911 if they experience heat-related problems.

For more information regarding heat-related emergencies, please visit www.ready.nj.gov, the National Weather Service Heat Safety Tips and Resourcespage or the National Institute on Aging Hot Weather Safety page.

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Park Commission takes ‘green’ approach to new parking lot

A rolling stone gathers no moss.

But rolling stormwater, called stormwater runoff, can gather much worse than moss, including trash, oil, sediment and other troublesome pollutants. And to make matters worse, without the proper infrastructure, the debris often goes straight into our lakes, streams and rivers.

With this in mind, the Mercer County Park Commission found an opportunity to do its part in mitigating the effects of stormwater runoff by designing “green infrastructure” into a parking lot repaving project at John A. Roebling Memorial Park in Hamilton. The park is home to the Tulpehaking Nature Center, which houses the Park Commission’s Environmental Education Department.

 

“As the Park Commission and Mercer County invest in improvements to our park system, we strive to do so in an environmentally conscious way,” said Park Commission Executive Director Aaron T. Watson.

 

“We know that as stewards of over 10,000 acres of open space in the county, our decisions should improve both the quality of life for residents and the environment as a whole.”

 

Roebling Park is located within the 3,000-acre Abbott Marshlands, the northernmost freshwater tidal marsh in the Delaware River watershed. The stormwater from its parking lot drains directly into Spring Lake and the park’s surrounding freshwater tidal marsh.

 

The Abbott Marshlands attracts rare wildlife such as river otter, American eel, and bald eagle. It is also an important stopover for migratory birds along the Atlantic flyway. Unmanaged stormwater runoff can negatively impact water quality and the local ecosystem, create harmful algal blooms, and increase the possibility of flooding.

 

The stormwater runoff has also eroded portions of the existing parking lot and has made Spring Lake less appealing for fishing and boating.

 

Improvements at the Spring Lake access area are scheduled to begin in early September. The plan includes several rain gardens, a green infrastructure option that is both beautiful and effective in form and function. Rain gardens not only absorb rainwater, but they also filter out pollutants and provide food and shelter for local wildlife. More importantly, the rain gardens at the Spring Lake parking lot will capture stormwater runoff before it flows into the lake.

 

Access to Roebling Park from Sewell Avenue in Hamilton will be temporarily closed to the public during construction, but will be reopened when the project is complete.

Various native shrubs, grasses and perennial wildflowers will be planted in the garden, including northern bayberry, swamp milkweed, and woodland phlox. The colorful blooms amongst the grasses will add to the visual appeal of the garden for both people and pollinators.

 

This is a pilot project, which is being funded through the Mercer County Open Space Trust Fund. The results will inform plans for future upgrades at other park facilities, as the Mercer County Park Commission continues to effectively steward its numerous parks and recreation facilities.

 

For more information on rain gardens and how you could make your own, go to http://water.rutgers.edu/Rain_Gardens/RGWebsite/rginfo.html.