Trenton-Mercer Airport in Ewing Township will get a new passenger terminal to accommodate the dramatic increase in the number of travelers since Frontier Airlines began flying out of the facility in 2012. Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes described the nearly $50 -million project during his annual State of the County address January 21 at a luncheon sponsored by the MIDJersey Chamber of Commerce at the Hyatt Regency Princeton. “The growth at the airport has been incredible,” Mr. Hughes said. “Close to a million passengers move through the airport each year.” In the fall of 2014, a $7-million project to enlarge the waiting area, add a new baggage claim facility, and expand parking lots was undertaken, financed by funds recovered through airport revenue. But it wasn’t enough. The growing popularity of the small airfield off of Interstate 95 has created an increasing need for more space both inside and outside the terminal. “At current levels, we will continue to bring $2 million per year through the airport, and those funds are avail-
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able to reinvest into future improvements,” Mr. Hughes said. “Our region can support even further growth at the airport. But the passenger terminal is almost 50 years old, and much too small and outdated to handle that volume. We will miss too many opportunities if we don’t address this issue now.” The County will “expedite the planning process and move aggressively” to design and build a new terminal. The project could take up to four years. Before the Denver-based Frontier Airlines took over operations of the airfield, several carriers had tried and failed to turn it into a viable alternative to Philadelphia and Newark airports. The most recent was Eastwind, in 1995. Most residents were unfamiliar with Frontier when the airline came in, but the carrier has successfully marketed itself as a more convenient, and often less costly alternative to the larger carriers at bigger airports. Education, Mercer at Play Also at the meeting, Mr. Hughes announced the creation of the Mercer County Partnership for Educational Attainment, to strengthen the credentials of the local workforce. “Economists agree that education is the single most important factor in determining regional economic success,” he said. “And improving educational
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attainment is probably the single most important thing we can do for the future of our region.” Jianping Wang, the new president of Mercer County Community College, will serve as chair of the panel. The presidents of Princeton, Rider, and Thomas Edison State universities, and The College of New Jers ey, have been asked to participate, Mr. Hughes said. His goal for the new commission, which will also include business leaders and other stakeholders, is to increase the percentage of the County’s workforce with a college degree or equivalent by one percent, or about 2,500 people, over the next five years. M r. H u g h e s s p o ke of plans to authorize a second round of grants for the Mercer at Play program, which provides grants to municipalities for construction or rehabilitation of local recreational facilities. The object is to encourage people, particularly children, to use the facilities to improve their health and fitness. —Anne Levin
Bonaparte’s Estate Is Topic of Trent House Talk
On Saturday, January 30 at 1 p.m. at the Trent House Museum in Trenton, Richard Veit will deliver an illustrated lecture titled “A Monument to Fallen Royalty: Rediscovering Joseph Bonaparte’s Point Breeze Estate in Bordentown, New Jersey.” Recent archaeological excavations in Bordentown have
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unearthed the remains of Joseph Bonaparte’s palatial estate, Point Breeze. Joseph, the elder brother of Napoleon Bonaparte and former King of Spain and Naples, fled to the United States in 1815 and lived in New Jersey until 1839, where he acted as an unofficial cultural attaché. Bonaparte held the largest library and art collection in the country at the time, and entertained many of the leading intellectuals, politicians, artists, and military figures. His passion was landscape architecture, and at Point Breeze he designed a unique 1900-acre picturesque landscape. This intriguing pre-
sentation will examine the archaeological evidence of the life of New Jersey’s only king in exile. Mr. Veit is professor of anthropology and chair of the department of history and anthropology at Monmouth University. In 2007 he was the recipient of Monmouth University’s distinguished teacher award. He teaches courses on archaeology, New Jersey history, Native Americans, and historic preservation. He has authored or coauthored numerous articles and reviews and five books including Digging New Jersey’s Past: Historical Archaeology in the
Garden State (Rutgers Press 2002), New Jersey Cemeteries and Tombstones History in the Landscape (co-authored by Mark Nonestied, Rutgers Press 2008), and New Jersey: A History of the Garden State (co-authored with Maxine Lurie, Rutgers Press 2012). Admission is $10 ($8 for members). The Trent House is at 15 Market Street, where there is ample free parking. Complimentary light refreshments will be served. For more information and driving directions, visit www. williamtrenthouse.org or call (609) 989-3027.
Photo by Zach Teris for dmhphotographer.com
Photo by Zach Teris for dmhphotographer.com
Jae Ko, Force of Nature, Shiro (detail), 2015, recycled Kraft paper, dimensions variable, Courtesy of the Artist
Seward Johnson, On Poppied Hill, 1999, cast bronze, aluminum, 1/8; 96” x 84” x 60”, Courtesy of the Sculpture Foundation Inc. Photo by David W. Steele.
MAKE IT A WONDERFUL WINTER AT GFS SPECIAL WINTER HOURS & SAVINGS
In the frosty winter months it may be blustery outside, but indoors at Grounds For Sculpture, it’s always warm and chock full of things to do, see, hear, and taste. Take advantage From January 2 - March 1, 2016, GFS will be open Tuesday - Sunday, of all that we have for you. 10am-5pm. Purchase online admission and save!
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7 • TOWN TOPICS, PRINCETON, N.J., WEDNESDAY, JANuARY 27, 2016
New Passenger Terminal Planned For the Trenton-Mercer Airport