This edition of our Mercer Monthly newsletter highlights County government news as well as events that are taking place in February. You’ll find a story about my State of the County address, announcements about the start for Small Business Grant applications and awards that will be presented to our County engineering team, and more County news.

Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes presented a three-pronged plan to guide his administration’s efforts over the next several years in the 2023 State of the County remarks he presented to the Board of Commissioners on Jan. 26.

Speaking to an overflow crowd at the County Administration Building, Mr. Hughes addressed a report issued this week by the Office of the State Comptroller, updated the board and public on several major projects that are under way, and with an eye toward the future outlined his “Mercer Forward” plan that focuses on three specific areas: a “thriving and inclusive economy”; “healthy residents”; and “environmental sustainability.” Read more.

Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes is pleased to announce the launch of the Mercer County Small Business Grant Program. The Grant program, which dedicates $3.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to provide direct aid to Mercer County small businesses that have likely experienced hardship from the COVID-19 disaster. The focus will be on businesses that have physical storefronts in Mercer with a maximum amount of $10,000 allocated per grant.

"Small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities and local economy, providing jobs, careers and opportunity,” the County Executive said. “Successful businesses put money back into Mercer County through paychecks and taxes, which support the creation of other new small businesses.” Read more.

The Mercer County Engineer and two County transportation projects will be honored by a professional engineers’ organization later this month, County Executive Brian M. Hughes announced.

County Engineer Basit (Sunny) Muzaffar, P.E., will receive this year’s Government Service Award from the Professional Engineers Society of Mercer County (PESMC), and two County projects – the Rosedale Road mini-roundabout in Princeton and the Lower Ferry Road bridge over Gold Run in Ewing – will receive Engineering Project of the Year awards, Mr. Hughes said. Read more.

Mercer County recently assisted the D&R Greenway Land Trust in preserving about 44 acres in Hopewell Township to protect high-quality wildlife habitat, including mature forest, wetlands and a stream corridor, County Executive Brian M. Hughes said.

A resolution authorizing an Open Space Assistance Project Agreement with D&R Greenway that helped the organization acquire a conservation easement on 43.92 acres of the Forrester property on Marshalls Corner-Woodsville Road was among the proposals submitted by Mr. Hughes that received Board of County Commissioners approval on Jan. 26. Read more.

Forty-four cadets who made up the 28th basic class of police officers took part in the Mercer County Police Academy commencement held Jan. 27 in the gymnasium at Mercer County Community College.

An audience of several hundred family members, friends, Mercer County dignitaries and law enforcement officials from around State of New Jersey saw the cadets receive graduation certificates to officially make them police officers. Read more.

The speed limit along a section of Bear Tavern Road (County Route 579) in Hopewell Township, including the Bear Tavern Elementary School zone, would be lowered by 5 to 10 mph under an ordinance that Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes presented to the Board of County Commissioners last week.

The ordinance would lower the speed limit from 45 mph to 35 mph from 1,000 feet north of Maddock Road to Washington Crossing-Pennington Road (County Route 546), and from 30 mph to 25 mph when passing through the Bear Tavern Elementary School zone while “25 mph When Flashing” signs are operating during recess or while children are going to or leaving school during opening or closing hours. Read more.

Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes has been named to the 2023 Board of Directors for the New Jersey Association of Counties (NJAC). The 2023 Board of Directors and slate of executive officers were sworn in at NJAC’s annual reorganization meeting held Jan. 27 at the New Jersey State House.

“NJAC does important work on behalf of county governments throughout the state,” Mr. Hughes said. “I’m honored to serve in this position, and look forward to working with the board to help the organization achieve its goals in 2023.” Other Mercer County representatives on this year’s board are County Commissioner John A. Cimino, vice chairperson; and Surrogate Diane Gerofsky.

NJAC is committed to advocating for legislation, regulations and policy directives that empower county governments to operate more efficiently and effectively. As a non-partisan organization that represents the only true regional form of government in the State with a proactive and unified voice, NJAC is dedicated to enhancing the level of service provided and saving valuable taxpayer dollars. For more information, visit NJAC’s website at www.njac.org.

The State of New Jersey is extending the application deadline and expanding eligibility for the new ANCHOR property tax relief program, which provides property tax relief to New Jersey residents who owned or rented their principal residence on Oct. 1, 2019, and meet the income limits.

The application deadline has been extended to Feb. 28, 2023, giving taxpayers an additional month to apply. Also, tenants (renters) who had previously been ineligible are now eligible to apply for the benefit. To apply, go to https://anchor.nj.gov or click on the image.

February 2023 is the last month households enrolled in the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will receive emergency SNAP benefits. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government provided additional financial support to SNAP recipients. That support is expiring after February 2023.

Starting in March 2023, enrolled households will receive only their regular monthly benefit amount. Those whose regular monthly SNAP benefit is less than $50 will receive a supplemental  payment from NJ SNAP to bring their total benefit to $50.

SNAP households are encouraged to check their benefits before the next trip to the grocery store. SNAP recipients can check their benefit details at any time by logging into the online portal, with the Connect EBT mobile app, or by calling 800-997-3333. For more information, visit https://NJSNAP.gov.

Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is now open

LIHEAP is a federally funded program helping eligible Mercer families, older adults and individuals pay a portion of their winter home heating costs. Click here for more information and click the flyer for income parameters.

February is Black History Month

American history resonates with the names of great African-American men and women, and Black History Month is our nation's way of showing respect and recognition for the hard work of and sacrifices made by African Americans. Mercer County throughout the month will celebrate because Black History is American History! Hosting an event? Tell us about it by emailing contacus1@mercercounty.org.

Click here for a calendar of events.

The Mercer County Park Commission will begin accepting reservations for the five county-owned picnic areas and the Mercer County Campground on Feb. 14 at noon for the 2023 season. The West and East Picnic Areas in Mercer County Park, Rosedale Picnic Area in Mercer Meadows, Princeton Country Club Picnic Area in West Windsor and Valley Road Picnic Area in Hopewell Township, and the campsites located at the East Picnic Area of Mercer County Park, are open to in-county and out-of-county residents.

Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis and can only be made online through Community Pass. Click here to create your Community Pass account. Log-in to make your reservation using either MasterCard or Visa.

For more information, call the Recreation and Events Center at 609-443-8560 or visit the Picnic & Campgrounds page on the Mercer County website.

The 2023 season at Howell Living History Farm in Hopewell Township is under way, including a full schedule of Saturday events that the whole family can enjoy. Saturday programs planned this coming month are as follows:

Feb. 4 – Tap the Sugar Maples; Feb. 11 – Old-Fashioned Valentine’s Day; Feb. 18 – Maple Sugaring; Feb. 25 – Maple Sugaring

Click here for Howell Farm’s 2023 calendar of events.

Lace up your skates!

The Mercer County Skating Center, located in Mercer County Park in West Windsor, is open for the 2022-2023 season. Find the complete public skating schedule, as well information on skating lessons and private parties, here or call 609-371-1766.

Upcoming events and shows include: 

• Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live "Glow Party," Feb. 10-12
• Harlem Globetrotters, Feb. 18
• East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals, Feb. 24-25
• WWE 'Road to WrestleMania,' March 5
• Disney on Ice, March 16-19
• Los Tigres Del Norte, April 14
• Tropicaliente! May 6

TICKET ORDERS

The Hedgepeth-Williams lawsuit would lead the state Supreme Court to make a historic ruling -- abolishing racial segregation in New Jersey.

In 1943, Gladys Hedgepeth and Berline Williams of Trenton filed suit against the Trenton School Board when their children were refused admission to the newly built Junior High School No. 2. The new school was only a few blocks from their homes in the Wilbur section of the City, while the segregated Lincoln School was 2 miles away. With the assistance of the NAACP, Hedgepeth and Williams successfully fought the school district’s segregationist policy, and the landmark New Jersey Supreme Court case bears their names. The case became a precedent for the Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954 and continued to influence many Affirmative Action and equal opportunity policies in New Jersey’s education system, as well as the eradication of laws supporting discrimination in New Jersey.

Pictured: Berline Williams, Attorney Robert Queen, Leon Williams, Gladys Hedgepeth, Janet Hedgepeth. 

Clinics for all ages

Wednesday, March 1, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., Mercer Office Park, 1440 Parkside Ave., Ewing 08638

Pediatric clinics – 6 months to 11 years only

Saturday, Feb. 25, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Ewing Branch of Mercer County Library System, 61 Scotch Road, Ewing 08628

Saturday, April 1, West Windsor Branch of Mercer County Library System, 333 North Post Road, Princeton Junction 08550

Saturday, April 29, Lawrence Headquarters Branch of Mercer County Library System, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence 08648

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.