This edition of our Mercer Monthly newsletter highlights County government news as well as events that are coming up in June. You’ll find announcements about the grand opening of our Park Commission’s newest facility; the County’s Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, which provides qualifying older adults with vouchers to purchase fresh produce; a four-part Business Survival Series that Mercer County and the UCEDC are offering in person beginning June 8; and the talented fourth-graders who created the winning entries in our first Poster Contest.

The Mercer County Park Commission and the County of Mercer held a ribbon-cutting ceremony May 27 to celebrate the grand opening of the Hopewell Valley Golf Course, a newly acquired property of the Park Commission.

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.

Read more: Park Commission opens Hopewell Valley Golf Course

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/Aging & Disability Resource Connection distributed vouchers to 1,430 Mercer County older adults, he added.

Read more: Mercer offers fresh-produce vouchers

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.

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.”

Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes announces the 2022 Business Survival Series, four free in-person workshops presented by Mercer County and the UCEDC to help Mercer businesses rebound and thrive.

The workshops will be offered on consecutive Wednesdays in June from 6 to 8 p.m. at Mercer County Connection, 957 Highway 33, Hamilton Square Shopping Center, Hamilton. Each workshop will include information about Mercer County’s business incentives and loan programs.

Read more: Business Survival Series begins June 8

Employers: Help build Mercer County’s future workforce at no cost to you. Mercer’s One-Stop Career Center is looking for employers to take part in its Summer Youth Jobs Connection program that provides paid internships and work readiness training to teens and young adults in Mercer County.

The program, which runs from July 6 to Aug. 26, is being funded by a grant from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development and coordinated by the Mercer One-Stop. It will benefit more than 100 youth ages 16 to 24 with summer employment meant to encourage a successful transition to the workforce. Priority is given to those who are economically disadvantaged or have barriers to employment; however, the program is open to all.

If your organization is interested in becoming a work site, please email kbukosky@mercercounty.org.

Most Mercer County government offices, including all branches of the Mercer County Library System, will be closed Monday, June 20, 2022, in observance of Juneteenth, which commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans. 

The following County offices and facilities will remain open: Trenton-Mercer Airport (except for administrative offices), Correction Center, Sheriff’s Office and the Emergency Services Communication Center.

Discover Mercer Lake by boat

What says summer more than a day on the water? The Mercer County Park Marina boat rental is now open for the season. Come out and enjoy the boat rentals at the Marina and explore Mercer Lake with pedal and rowboats and single and double person kayaks. There is no swimming permitted in Mercer Lake, and boat rentals are weather permitting. For any questions or concerns, please call the Marina Office at (609) 448-4004 or visit their webpage at www.mercercountyparks.org.

The Mercer County Improvement Authority's second Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Recycling event of 2022 will be June 4. It's time to visit those corners of your shed, garage and home office to weed out offending products and keep them out of our landfills. Click here or on the flyer for more information.

Summer is coming. Experience nature!

Upcoming Mercer County Park Commission nature programs include:

• “Things With Wings for National Trails Day” – Saturday, June 4, 2 to 3:30 p.m., Tulpehaking Nature Center. Free, all ages. Registration required.
• “Meadow Walk” – Saturday, June 11, 9:30 to 11 a.m., Reed-Bryan lot at Mercer Meadows. Free, ages 12 and up. Registration required.
• “Pontoon Boat Nature Tours” – Wednesday, June 15 and 22 (weather permitting), 8:30 to 10 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. to noon, Mercer County Park Marina. $10 in county, $12 out of county. Ages 6 and up. Boat seats 15 people. Registration required.

For a complete list of Park Commission nature programs and registration information, click here or on the image.

Vaccinations are free regardless of immigration or insurance status. Ages 5 and up are eligible. For the upcoming vaccination schedule and information, click here. 

A helping hand for homeowners in need

If you have experienced a financial hardship and an increase in housing-related expenses associated with the coronavirus pandemic that created a risk of mortgage delinquency, mortgage default, foreclosure or property tax lien, the Homeowner Assistance Fund may be able to help. Click here or on the flyer for more information and to apply.

As a result of COVID-19, many New Jerseyans are facing economic insecurity and are seeking benefits and resources to help them safely get back to work. Mercer’s One-Stop Career Center offers a variety of services to job seekers throughout the county, including free virtual job preparation workshops and links to job listings. Click here for information. The State’s COVID-19 Information Hub provides links to the New Jersey Career Network and other resources.Click here for information.

Working hard to connect the small business community with business opportunities with Mercer County, the Small Business Outreach program announces that Lima Charlie Construction was recently awarded a contract for roadway improvements at Edinburg Road at Old Trenton Road. Lima Charlie Construction, started in 2018 by retired U.S. Army Colonel Jeff Cantor, does the majority of its work in the public sector. Clients include the NJ Turnpike Authority, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the US Coast Guard, PSE&G, NJDOT, NJ Transit, Bank of America, and now Mercer County. Their goal, they say, is to hire as many veterans into the construction industry as possible and provide a way forward for veterans in high paying construction jobs

Lima Charlie Construction is a certified disabled veteran owned business and small business enterprise headquartered in Asbury Park, NJ.