To the Editor: New Year’s Updates from the County Clerk
Happy New Year! Another year has gone by and we welcome the new year with optimism. As we step into 2024, I extend my warmest wishes for a year filled with joy, prosperity and new beginnings. And hopefully, some travel. This column is going to be dedicated to obtaining or renewing your passport and also obtaining or renewing yourself as a notary public, two services my office provides.
It’s true that nothing can ruin a trip more than finding out you need a valid passport to travel to exciting island destination and that your passport is expired.
With all of the planning that goes into a trip abroad, some travelers will sometimes delay applying for a new passport until it is too late. My office recommends that you take a look at your passport and its expiration date well in advance of your trip departure so you are not forced to rush at the last minute.
The good news is that routine service time for passport processing by the U.S. Department of State now takes four to six weeks, which is less time than last year. An expedited application will take at least two to four weeks. We are here to serve you and have two offices with extended hours and Saturday hours that are here to assist with your passport needs. Our Trenton Office is located at 209 South Broad Street and an appointment is not required. Our County Connection Office in Hamilton is located at 957 Route 33 (near Paxon Avenue) and while appointments are not required, they are recommended for guaranteed service. For a full list of the office hours, please visit the Mercer County Clerk’s Passport Services page.
In addition to encouraging Mercer residents to renew and apply for passports well before their departure, my office would also like to provide some tips for international travel.
Travel Tips. Make a copy of the first two pages of your passport before leaving for your trip. Travel with your passport on your person and put the two pages in your checked bag. This prevents you from losing both at the same time.
If you lose your passport abroad, you then have to go to the US consulate and it can be difficult to get back to the United States.
If you leave your passport at any location, make sure it is in a secure location — ideally a locked safe.
To apply for a US Passport, residents need:
1) Proof of U.S. citizenship in the form of a state certified birth certificate, a U.S. naturalization certificate, or a previous U.S. Passport;
2) Proof of identity in the form of a current driver’s license or state issued identification card. Passport photos may be taken on-site. There will also be a fee, which must be paid by check or money order.
The process may be extensive, but it is to help protect you from identity fraud and other security threats. We are here to answer any questions you have and assist you in whatever way we can. Feel free to call our office at 609-989-6465.
The County Clerk’s Office also swears in those who wish to become a Notary Public. Notary services are vital for various transactions, and we are here to make the process convenient for you.
The first step of the process is to apply to become a notary through the NJ Department of the Treasury, that paperwork can be found online here. The Department of the Treasury can be reached directly at 609-292-6748.
Once you receive your commission from the State of NJ in the mail, then you can come into our Trenton office any day of the week to be sworn in.
We also swear in notaries at our County Connection Office in Hamilton once a month (every first Thursday of the month.) The dates can be found on the Mercer County Clerk’s Website here Mercer County Clerk Notary Public Services, or below. Appointments for Notary Nights can be scheduled by phone at 609-989-6466.
Here is the Notary Schedule for 2024 at the County Connection:
February 1, 2024
March 7, 2024
April 4, 2024
May 2, 2024
June 6, 2024
July 11, 2024 (second Thurdsay due to the July 4th holiday)
August 1, 2024
September 5, 2024
October 3, 2024
November 7, 2024
December 5, 2024
As your Mercer County Clerk, my staff and I are dedicated to providing efficient and accessible services to meet your needs. Wishing you a fantastic year ahead!
Opportunities: Call for Vendors
The Arts Council of Princeton is accepting applications for vendors to participate in the Princeton Art Bazaar set for Saturday, May 4, on Paul Robeson Place in downtown Princeton. The rain date is Sunday, May 5.
The vendor application deadline is Friday, March 15, at 11:59 p.m. This annual pop-up market is an exciting opportunity to promote your craft and sell your wares to our enthusiastic and loyal attendees.
The market runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Artists are responsible for staffing their booth for the entirety of the sale. Artists may apply as a pair/group, but each artist must be represented in application.
Artists will be assigned 10’ x 10’ spaces and are responsible for their own display, including providing your own table, tent, display stands, racks for cards, jewelry, etc. Artists must provide bags and/or wrapping materials.
It is the artists’ responsibility to have a change fund to handle both cash sales and a mobile device to accept credit cards. Please note that cellphone reception in Princeton can be unreliable.
Non-refundable fees:
Application fee: $25
Booth fee: $170
Upon submitting your application, you will be redirected to a secure payment site to complete the $25 application fee. Your application will be considered incomplete if payment is failed to be made. If accepted, you will receive instructions to complete further requirements. Proceeds support ACP community programming.
Visit www.artscouncilofprinceton.org to complete an application.
Call for Volunteers
Villagers Theatre is seeking energetic, motivated individuals to assist in our upcoming production of “Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka” in a number of capacities — from rehearsals to performances, backstage to front-of-house.
Available opportunities include positions in: choreography, music direction, scenic design and painting, costume design and construction, lighting and sound design, props design, stage crew, hair and makeup, and wardrobe.
All are welcome to volunteer, regardless of experience. The theater is located at 475 DeMott Lane, Somerset. Visit www.villagerstheatre.org for more information or to sign up.
Call for Singers
The Hopewell Valley Chorus launches its spring 2024 season on Mondays, January 29 and February 5, with open rehearsals. There is no charge to attend and participate. Meet artistic director Heather Mitchell, DMA, and current members, while sampling the chorus’ spring repertoire: the John Rutter arrangement of Gabriel Fauré’s “Requiem” and Joshua Fishbein’s “Out of the Ashes of the Holocaust.” Seasonal membership is $75. This does not include music scores, which members purchase individually. Guests are welcome to “look on” with members at these rehearsals.
All rehearsals are held from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the chorus room at Hopewell Valley Regional High School, 259 Pennington Titusville Road, Pennington. For more information, email hopewellvalleychorus@gmail.com.
