A MESSAGE FROM COUNTY EXECUTIVE BRIAN M. HUGHES
This edition of our Mercer Monthly newsletter highlights County government news as well as events that are taking place in October. You’ll find information about important dates relating to the upcoming general election; the County’s home energy assistance program, whose new season begins Oct. 3; the creative and challenging corn maze at Howell Farm; seasonal leaf pickup on County roads; and more.
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Also featured are upcoming events including document shredding hosted by the Mercer County Improvement Authority on Oct. 8; and events taking place at the CURE Insurance Arena. And there’s a lot more going on at our parks and elsewhere throughout the fall. I hope you enjoy reading about some of the many exciting things taking place in Mercer County.
Brian M. Hughes
Mercer County Executive
ELECTION INFORMATION
Are you registered to vote?
The voter registration deadline for the upcoming General Election is October 18, 2022.
- To register to vote, fill out your application online here, or request a paper application here.
- Not sure if you're a registered voter? You can click here to check your status or update your information.
- Are you a student? Click here for information on student registration and voting.
Early Voting Polling Locations
Early Voting begins Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022.
Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
All registered voters can now cast their ballot in person, using a voting machine, during a nine-day period prior to Election Day, which is Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. You can choose to vote when it's most convenient for your schedule.
No matter where you live in your county, you can vote your specific ballot at any of Mercer County's designated in-person early voting locations.
There are seven early voting sites located throughout the County. The locations are as follows:
- East Windsor - Mercer County Hickory Corner Library, 138 Hickory Corner Road
- Ewing – Mercer County Office Park, 1440 Parkside Ave.
- Hamilton - Colonial Fire Company, 801 Kuser Road, Hamilton
- Lawrence - Mercer County Lawrence Library, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence
- Pennington – Pennington Fire Company, 120 Bromel Place, Pennington
- Princeton – Princeton Shopping Center Unit 260, 301 N. Harrison St.
- Trenton – Trenton Fire Department, 244 Perry St. Trenton
Secured Mail-In Ballot Drop Box Locations
EAST WINDSOR:
- East Windsor Police Station– 80 One Mile Road, East Windsor, NJ, 08520 (Municipal Court)
EWING:
- Ewing Municipal Building – 2 Jake Garzio Drive, Ewing, NJ, 08628 (In Front)
Mercer County Office Complex- 1440 Parkside Ave., Ewing, NJ 08638 (In front of building entrance along curb)
- The College of New Jersey, 1872 Pennington Road, Ewing, NJ 08618 (In front of the Administrative Services Building)
HAMILTON:
- Hamilton Golf/Call Center – 5 Justice Samuel A. Alito Way, Hamilton, NJ, 08619
- Hamilton Municipal Building – 2090 Greenwood Avenue, Hamilton, NJ, 08609 (Left side of building)
- Nottingham Firehouse – 200 Mercer St., Hamilton Square, NJ, 08690 (Right side of building)
HIGHTSTOWN:
- Hightstown Firehouse #1 – 140 N. Main St., Hightstown, NJ, 08520 (Front of building)
HOPEWELL TWP:
- Hopewell Township Administration Building – 201 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Hopewell, NJ 08560 (at the intersection of Scotch Road)
LAWRENCE:
- Board of Elections - 930 Spruce St., Lawrence, NJ 08648
- Lawrence Municipal Building – 2207 Lawrenceville Road, (Rt 206) Lawrence, NJ 08648 (North Side-Right Side of the Municipal Building)
PRINCETON:
- Princeton Municipal Building – 400 Witherspoon St., Princeton, NJ, 08540 (Front of building, facing Witherspoon)
- Princeton University Wawa/Dinky Station- 152 Alexander St., Princeton, NJ 08540 (On the circle)
ROBBINSVILLE:
- Robbinsville Municipal Building -- 2298 NJ-33, Robbinsville, NJ 08691 (In back parking lot of Municipal Building)
TRENTON:
- County Clerk’s Office- Courthouse Annex - 209 S. Broad St., Trenton, NJ, 08608 (in front)
- Trenton City Hall – 319 E. State St., Trenton, NJ, 08608 (In back/ near Municipal Clerk's Office)
- Henry J. Austin Center – 321 N. Warren St., Trenton, NJ, 08618 (Corner of Tucker)
Trenton Central High School – 400 Chambers St., Trenton, NJ, 08609 (across from McDonald’s)
WEST WINDSOR:
- West Windsor Municipal Complex- 271 Clarksville Road, West Windsor, NJ,08550 (Between the Municipal building and the Senior Center)
POLLING LOCATIONS:
Provisional ballots will be available at the polling location in the event that the mail-in-ballots were not received and the registered voter would like to vote in this election.
Please Note: To find out your voting district, please contact the Superintendent of Elections Office at 609-989-6750.
Election poll workers wanted!
Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello reminds that the state has increased the rate of pay for election workers from $200 per day to $300 per day. In July, the governor signed legislation amending an existing law to allow minors between the ages of 16 and 18 to work a full day at the polls on election days. The upcoming general election is set for Nov. 8, 2022. Click here or on the image to apply.
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NEWS
Howell Farm corn maze open weekends throughout October
Howell Living History Farm's all-new 2022 “Carousel” corn maze is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in October.
Visitors are invited to “get lost” in a 4-acre cornfield with pathways cut in the shape of an old-fashioned carousel — and find eight “puzzle pieces” located in hidden mailboxes to complete their personal map of the maze. Also hidden in the pathways are answers to trivia and crossword games about the history of carousels and other retro amusement park rides in New Jersey, New York and countries across the world. The maze design is inspired by a circa-1930s traveling carousel that was recently donated to Howell Farm.
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The maze courtyard also features a pumpkin patch, hayrides, food tent and kids’ hay-bale maze.
Admission to the maze is $12 for visitors ages 13 and up, $10 for ages 5-12, and free for ages 4 and under. The maze is located at 17 Valley Road, Hopewell Township 08530. For corn maze dates and hours, and to purchase tickets online, visit www.howellfarm.org/corn-maze.
Breakfast seminar to highlight Foreign Trade Zone benefits
Mercer County invites businesses that import products from international markets to attend a free, informative seminar, The Mercer County Foreign Trade Zone Breakfast, on Thursday, Oct. 13. The seminar, which includes a continental breakfast, will take place from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at the Boathouse at Mercer Lake, 334 South Post Road, Mercer County Park in West Windsor.
The program will feature presentations by Christopher Kemp, a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) Board official at the U.S. Department of Commerce, and Mercer County representatives who will offer insight into the benefits and expectations of the FTZ. In addition, the County recently reduced its FTZ fee schedule, generating further savings for operators and making the FTZ rates the lowest in New Jersey.
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Located throughout Mercer County, the Mercer FTZ allows companies to achieve duty deferral, reduction and/or elimination on products that they purchase oversees.
For more information or to register, please contact Mercer County Business Advocate Darren Stewart at (609) 989-6912 or darrenstewart@mercercounty.org.
Fire Prevention Week: ‘Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape.’
As Fire Prevention Week approaches, Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes is taking this opportunity to remind residents that there are simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe.
Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 9-15, is sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and this year’s campaign focuses on planning and practicing a home fire escape, so you know what to do when the smoke alarm sounds.
The NFPA provides the following tips for creating a Home Safety Action Plan:
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- Smoke alarms should be installed in every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement.
- Test all of your smoke alarms by pushing the test button. If it makes a loud beep, beep, beep sound, you know it’s working. If there is no sound or the sound is low, it’s time to replace the battery. If the smoke alarm is older than 10 years old, you need to replace the whole unit.
- If your smoke alarm makes a “chirp,” that means it needs a new battery. Change the battery right away.
- Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the alarm and what to do when it sounds.
- Draw a map of your home, marking two ways out of each room, including windows and doors. • Children, older adults and people with disabilities may need assistance to wake up and get out. Make sure they are part of the plan.
- Make sure all escape routes are clear and that doors and windows open easily.
- Pick an outside meeting place (something permanent like a neighbor’s house, a light post, mailbox or stop sign) that is a safe distance in front of your home where everyone can meet.
- Everyone in the home should know the fire department’s emergency number and how to call once they are safely outside.
For more information about fire safety, visit www.nfpa.org.
Park Commission deer management program under way
The Mercer County Park Commission is conducting a deer management program at Mercer County Park, Mercer Meadows and Baldpate Mountain. This program is meant to reduce the overabundant deer herd in the greater Mercer County region.
Bow hunting for County deer management hunters began at parks on Sept. 10. Hunting is permitted Monday through Saturday until Feb. 18, 2023. The parks will remain open to the public during bow hunting season.
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Firearm hunting will occur at Baldpate Mountain and the area north of Mercer Lake at Mercer County Park beginning Monday, Dec. 5 through Saturday, Dec. 10, and every Wednesday through Saturday thereafter through Feb. 11. The parks/regions will be closed to the public when firearms are in use. There will be no hunting on Sunday.
Hunting is only permitted by those who have applied for and met all the requirements to participate in the program.
All parks will have posted signage at parking areas and trail heads displaying the hunting schedule and closure dates as a reminder and notice to the public. Park rangers will patrol the parks during closures to ensure public safety.
Read More: Deer management program under way
Seasonal leaf pickup on County roads begins week of Oct. 31
Live on a county roadway? Mercer County Department of Transportation & Infrastructure kicks off leaf collection season the week of Oct. 31. Mercer County adheres to all local ordinances. If your municipality requires leaves to be bagged, they must also be bagged on county routes. Click to download or print the 2022 schedule. |
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Student loan debt plan explained
You're not alone: New 3-digit code '988' for mental health crisis
The Federal Communications Commission recently approved a new 3-digit dialing code, 988, for mental health crisis and suicide prevention. 988 will connect people to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Compassionate, accessible care and support will be available for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress, thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crisis. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
The 988 line will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for calls, texts, and chat. Learn more at www.nj.gov/humanservices/dmhas/initiatives/988/
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Most County government offices to be closed for Columbus Day
Most Mercer County government offices and facilities, including all branches of the Mercer County Library System, will be closed Monday, Oct. 10, 2022, in observance of Columbus Day.
The following County facilities will remain open: Trenton-Mercer Airport (except administrative offices), Correction Center, Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Services Communications Center.
The following Mercer County Park Commission facilities will be open on Monday, Oct. 10: Tennis Center, 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; all five County golf courses, 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Mercer County Stables, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Wildlife Center, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. by appointment only. The Tulpehaking Nature Center, Howell Living History Farm, Howell Farm corn maze and Park Commission administrative offices will be closed. For more information on Park Commission facilities, visit www.mercercountyparks.org.
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Roadwork and Construction Projects on County Roads
Click here for project duration, details and detours.
Bridge Projects
Lower Ferry Road (Structure 415.2)
On or about Monday, Aug. 1, the bridge on Lower Ferry Road over Gold Run will be under construction and closed to all except local residents on either side of the bridge.
Milling and Resurfacing Projects
Chambers Street (CR 626), Trenton/Hamilton
On or about Wednesday, Sept. 28, from Liberty Street to South Broad Street.
EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mercer County to host document shredding event Oct. 8
The Mercer County Improvement Authority will host a drop-off program on Saturday, Oct. 8, for easy and secure shredding of personal documents. Shredding will take place rain or shine from 9 a.m. to noon at Lot 4, 641 South Broad St., Trenton, across from the Mercer County Administration Building. Click here or on the flyer for more information.
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Upcoming shows at Mercer's CURE Arena!
Arena to welcome new professional Box Lacrosse Team this fall. Read more.
Other upcoming events and shows include:
- Jeff Dunham: Seriously?! Oct. 23 (rescheduled)
- Shreya Ghoshal, Nov. 4
- Rider versus Penn State Wrestling, Dec. 2
- Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market, Dec. 10-11
- Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live "Glow Party," Feb. 10-12
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MERCER FAST FACTS!
Stoutsburg Cemetery
Stoutsburg Cemetery off Province Line Road in Hopewell Township, a field tucked into the Sourland Mountains overlooking the Hopewell Valley surrounding Princeton, was a burial ground for some of the first African-American settlers in the region. Historians and authors Elain Buck and Beverly Mills in their book, If These Stones Could Talk: African American Presence in the Hopewell Valley, Sourland Mountain, and Surrounding Regions of New Jersey, uncovered a trove of buried history about enslaved people in New Jersey, including the stories of their own families. The authors tell about the region’s history, military history, and the impact of faith and churches on African Americans; and meet descendants from the Sourland Mountain region.
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OCTOBER MEETINGS CALENDAR
Click for meeting locations.
- Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m., Agriculture Development Board
- Oct. 5, 9:30 a.m., Traumatic Loss Coalition
- Oct. 10, Columbus Day, offices closed
- Oct. 11, 1:30 p.m., Continuum of Care; 5 p.m., Open Space Preservation, 6 p.m., County Commissioners
- Oct. 12, 9 a.m., Planning Board; 6 p.m., Status of Women; 6:30 p.m., Youth Firestarters
- Oct. 13, 5:45 p.m., Mental Health Board; 6 p.m., County Commissioners
- Oct. 18, 10 a.m., Human Services Advisory Council; 11:30 a.m., Nutrition Advisory Council
- Oct. 19, 3 p.m. LACADA/CASS
- Oct. 20, 1 p.m., Youth Services Committee; 2 p.m., Advisory Council on Aging; 2 p.m., MOATES
- Oct. 24, 2 p.m., Continuum of Care Executive Committee
- Oct. 25, 9:30 a.m.,Professional Advisory Committee
- Oct. 26, 2 p.m., Gang Task Force
- Oct. 27, 9:30 a.m., CIACC; 11 a.m., CIACC subcommittee
- Oct. 28, 10:30 a.m., Minority Concerns Committee
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