This edition of our Mercer Monthly newsletter highlights County government news as well as events that are coming up in September. You’ll find articles about the new manager at the Park Commission’s flourishing urban farm in Trenton, and a county program that helps small businesses raise funding directly through retail investors; and announcements about the county’s annual flag decommissioning ceremony and the Full Moon Bike Ride that benefits the nonprofit Lawrence Hopewell Trail.

The Mercer County Park Commission’s Capital City Farm (CCF), a flourishing urban farm in Trenton, recently welcomed its new Farm Manager, Corinne Gordon.

Gordon brings a wealth of experience from her previous role as Farm Specialist for the Carter Historic Farm in Bowling Green, Ohio. Her background in sustainable agriculture and community engagement is a perfect match for the Park Commission’s mission and goals for this vibrant space, which include providing locally grown produce for those with limited access to fresh food, lush floral cutting gardens -- as well as the opportunity to learn about and participate in urban agriculture.

CCF and the Park Commission’s Howell Living History Farm in Hopewell donate tons of fresh produce and grains, including grits and whole wheat flour, to food pantries and soup kitchens throughout Mercer County each year. In 2022, 21 tons of produce were donated. Read more.

Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes recently announced the launch of Mercer’s new Small Business Investment Program to help small businesses raise funding directly through retail investors in their communities and nationwide.

Through a competitive bid process, the County selected SMBX, the online marketplace connecting small businesses and everyday investors, to run the program. This novel initiative was first launched in Washington, D.C., to great success. Mercer is the first New Jersey county to provide this opportunity.

Mercer County has set aside $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding to manage  the program and drive retail investment to at least 30 Mercer County small businesses on the SMBX marketplace. The funds will keep the program free for small businesses. Read more.

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. Read more.

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. The rain date is Sept. 20.

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 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, Hopewell Township.

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. Read more.

Most Mercer County government offices and facilities will be closed Monday, Sept. 4, 2023, in observance of Labor Day.

All branches of the Mercer County Library System will be closed Saturday, Sept. 2, through Monday, Sept. 4.

In addition to being closed on Labor Day, the County Connection office in Hamilton will be closed Saturday, Sept. 2.

The following County facilities will remain open on Labor Day: 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 Labor Day: Marina and Spray Park at Mercer County Park, noon to 6 p.m., weather permitting; Tennis Center, 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and all county golf courses, 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Wildlife Center will accept patients, by appointment only, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Wildlife Center’s Outdoor Education Environment will be open for free self-guided tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Howell Living History Farm, Capital City Farm, Mercer County Stables, Tulpehaking Nature Center and Park Commission administrative offices will be closed. For more information on Park Commission facilities, visit www.mercercounty.org/parks.

Rutgers Master Gardeners of Mercer County will sponsor the 2023 “Bugs Rule!” Insect Festival on Saturday, Sept. 9, at Mercer Educational Gardens, 431A Federal City Road, Hopewell Township. The festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine. Admission is free and on-site parking is available. Learn about the importance of insects in our lives and how they create the biological foundation for all terrestrial ecosystems through fun, hands-on activities!

This year’s festival will feature how insects are important because of their diversity, ecological role and influence on agriculture, human health and natural resources. There will be educational activities for visitors of all ages, including the popular Scavenger Hunt and Metamorphosis game. Other highlights include “Bugs in Water,” and Q&A with  Rutgers Cooperative Extension Horticulturist, Justine Gray and Mercer Master Gardeners. Read more.

Upcoming shows at Mercer's CURE Arena!

Mercer County's CURE Insurance Arena's 2023 schedule has something for everyone. Upcoming events and shows include: 

• Christmas Cantata, New Jersey Region, Sept. 9
• Sid Sriram, Sept. 10
• Jubin Nautiyal, Oct. 1. Cancelled.  All tickets will be refunded at original point of purchase. If you purchased online through cureinsurancearena.com or ticketmaster.com, your credit card will automatically be refunded. If you purchased at the CURE Insurance Arena Box Office, please visit to obtain a refund.
• Aishwarya Majmudar, Oct. 7
• Jui Jitsu World League Northeast Open, Oct. 14
• Jersey Jam! Princeton v. Rutgers Men's Basketball, Nov. 6.
  
• Monster High Live! Dec. 1-3

TICKET ORDERS

The Mercer County Improvement Authority's final Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Recycling event of 2023 will be Saturday, Sept. 23. 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 on the flyer for more information.

The Johnson Trolley Trail is a trail that runs along the old right-of-way line of the former Trolley Rail Line. In the early half of the 20th century, the Trenton-Princeton Traction Company ran a trolley, known as the "Fast Line," through this corridor. At the time a fare cost approximately 10¢ and a one-way trip between Princeton and Trenton took roughly 35 minutes, passing through vast farmland and what is now Olden Avenue, Spruce Street, Eggert Crossing Road, I-295, Lawrenceville Village, and the Municipality of Princeton. 

The Johnson Trolley began operating in 1902 and in its peak year of 1921 carried 1.6 million fares. The Johnson Trolley Line was purchased in 1929 by the Reading Railroad, which ran local freight service until 1973, when the new interstate cut off access to the line. During World War II,  passenger service was stopped and never returned. The Johnson Trolley Line Trail currently occupies only a portion of old right-of-way abandoned by the former trolley company. 

The Johnson Trolley Line Multi-Use Corridor study is being undertaken to identify an alignment to connect and extend old segments of the trail to create a bicycle and pedestrian corridor originating in the City of Trenton, passing through Ewing and Lawrence Townships, to the Municipality of Princeton in Mercer County, New Jersey.