County Offers Residents Free Firewood For Winter

Residents will be able to pick up firewood on Saturday, Jan. 26, from 9 a.m. to noon at Parking Lot 4 in Mercer County Park, West Windsor Township.

Editor's Note: The following is a news release issued by Mercer County. Mercer County is offering its residents free firewood for the winter months. Residents will be able to pick up firewood on Saturday, Jan. 26, from 9 a.m. to noon at Parking Lot 4 in Mercer County Park, West Windsor. The lot is located next to the Skating Center and by Mechanics Road. Residents are advised that firewood will not be split, but will be in manageable pieces, and will be distributed up to a half-cord per vehicle on a first-come, first-served basis. Because this free service is offered only to Mercer County residents, participants are asked to present their driver’s license when picking up to ensure proof of residency. Chainsaws or any other wood-cutting …

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Take Precautions in Frigid Weather

“It is imperative that people take the necessary steps to stay warm and to check up on friends and loved ones who may be more sensitive to the bitter cold," Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes said.

  The weather is frigid outside and it's important for residents to take precautions, Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes said. “After what began as a very mild winter, the entire region is expecting frigid temperatures for the rest of the week,” said Hughes. “It is imperative that people take the necessary steps to stay warm and to check up on friends and loved ones who may be more sensitive to the bitter cold.”  A cold front moving in this week is expected to bring temperatures in the low 20s, but wind chills are making it feel like single digits, according to the National Weather Service. The blast of arctic air could last through Thursday, Jan. 24. For emergencies related to the cold weather, Mercer County residents should call 911…

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Mercer County Toy Drive Generates Hundreds of Gifts for Local Children

Donations were made by employees and friends of the Mercer County government.

Editor's Note: The following is a news release issued by the Mercer County administration. Thanks to the generosity of scores of employees and friends of Mercer County government, local children will have a very merry holiday this year as County Executive Brian M. Hughes delivered piles of donated gifts to Gateway Head Start on Dec. 20. Hughes, who delivered the gifts in person to the John O. Wilson Neighborhood Center in Hamilton, was eagerly greeted by Gateway preschoolers. Gateway’s Family Advocate Barbara Chapman warmly thanked Mr. Hughes, saying the gifts will greatly help families of the preschool provide a bright holiday to their children. Gateway Head Start serves 87 children and their families. “I am moved by the compassion our …

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Trenton-Mercer Named Host Airport for 2014 National Special Olympics

The 2014 Special Olympics USA National Games to be held in Mercer County from June 14 to June 21, 2014.

  Editor's Note: The following is a news release issued by the Mercer County administration Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes on Tuesday announced that Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN) has been selected as the Host Airport for the 2014 Special Olympics USA National Games to be held in Mercer County from June 14, 2014, to June 21, 2014. The selection was first announced by Cessna Aircraft Co. officials at the 65th annual National Business Aviation Association Convention in Orlando, Fla. With the selection of New Jersey as the site of the 2014 Games, Cessna started looking at area airports that could host the Citation Special Olympics Airlift. This airlift, made up of volunteer pilots and their companies’ Cessna Citation aircraft, provides…

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Mercer County Opens FEMA Registration Site

Residents can ask questions or sign up for assistance seven days a week between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

  Mercer County will set up an in-person registration site where residents can meet with FEMA and U.S. Small Business Administration representatives to apply for funding or to get answers to questions. A center is now open at Mercer County Community College's Fine Arts building. The site will operate seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., until FEMA determines it has reached those who seek potential reimbursement, usually 4 to 6 weeks. No appointment is necessary. Mercer County residents can apply for different types of assistance, including temporary housing, repair, replacement, Disaster Unemployment Assistance and Small Business Administration disaster loans. Homeowners, renters and business owners who suffered damage must bring with them…

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Hurricane Sandy

Middlesex and Mercer Counties Hardest Hit by Nor'easter Athena, says PSEG

The two central New Jersey counties had the highest impact from Wednesday's storm that brought heavy, wet snow and downed power lines to the area.

Middlesex and Mercer Counties took the brunt of Nor'easter Athena's heavy, sodden snow Wednesday, said Ralph LaRossa, president and chief operating officer of PSE&G in a morning conference call. LaRossa said he had had a meeting with mayors from the area in East Brunswick yesterday when a 69,000 volt line in the substation there blew but was quickly repaired. As of Thursday morning, 40,000 PSE&G customers were impacted by up to six inches of snow from the nor'easter, while 70,000 customers were still suffering from the lack of electricity from Hurricane Sandy last week. "We've been making fantastic progress," LaRossa said, pointing out that many of the linemen, including ones from states that have never seen snow in Athena quantities, …

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Hurricane Sandy

Mercer County Seeking Inclusion in Federal Disaster Declaration

With prelimiary assessments of local and county government expenditures related to Hurricane Sandy now topping $2.8 million, Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes has reached out to Gov. Christie for help getting the county deemed a "disaster area."

Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes today (Nov. 2) reached out to the office of Gov. Chris Christie to confirm with the governor that Mercer County will be included among the next counties to be designated disaster areas by the federal government. This designation is important in that it will allow Mercer to apply for U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) federal disaster aid to areas affected by Hurricane Sandy beginning Oct. 26, 2012. The assistance is important in that it can include grants for temporary housing, home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of this disaster. “Not a …

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Hurricane Sandy

Preliminary Mercer Damage Estimate: Over $2.5 Million

Mercer County emergency management teams have conducted Preliminary Damage Assessments of local and county government expenditures related to storm “protective measures” and cleanup.

Update, Nov. 2: Preliminary Mercer County damage estimates are now over $2.8 million.   With roughly half of Mercer County electrical customers still without power and more than 90 traffic signals inoperable throughout the county, Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes on Wednesday (Oct. 31) called for the closure of all Mercer County government offices and courts on Thursday, Nov. 1, and Friday, Nov. 2, to allow work crews to continue restoration of county infrastructure. “Municipal, county and state crews have been working around the clock to get our network of roads reopened, but anyone who has traveled in and around Mercer County knows that navigation is a real challenge right now,” Hughes said on Wednesday. “We still have a long way …

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Hurricane Sandy

Stay Off the Roads, Mercer County Executive Urges

Mercer County offices will be closed on Tuesday. Trenton-Mercer Airport closed at noon today due to the wind forecast and absence of inbound and outbound flights.

Editor's Note: The following is a storm update sent out by the Mercer County administration at 3 p.m. today, Monday, Oct. 29. Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes is urging residents and businesses to stay off the roads as Hurricane Sandy intensifies because high water or downed trees and wires will make some roads impassable. “This storm is going to get worse,” Hughes said. “We need to keep the roads clear to allow utility companies and local public works crews to do the work that’s needed to get the roads reopened,” he said. “For that reason and, of course, for your own safety, please stay home. We appreciate your cooperation.” Mercer County Officials also warned of possible prolonged power outages and remind residents that any downed…

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