About Us

MercerMe provides the news – hyperlocal, independent, reliable, and digital — to Hopewell Valley in New Jersey, since 2013. Run exclusively by members of this community, MercerMe relies on reader subscriptions and advertising partners to keep the news coming.

Our Mission: MercerMe is dedicated to providing reliable, comprehensive, and free daily news coverage for Hopewell Valley, empowering our community through timely reporting on local government, events, and issues that matter. As the sole consistent news source in this news desert, we strive to uphold community journalism and foster an informed, engaged, and connected community.

MercerMe encourages guest posts, photography and calendar submissions, letters to the editor, tips on news, feedback, and more. We’d love to hear from you!

Our Staff

Mary Galioto

Mary Galioto resides in Hopewell Township, where she raises her two fantastic kids. She is deeply engaged in the community, serving as the PR & Media Coordinator for the Hopewell Valley Arts Council and Vice-Chair of the Hopewell Township Tourism & Economic Development Advisory Committee. Mary founded MercerMe and currently serves as Interim Editor. Committed to keeping residents informed, Mary works tirelessly to deliver reliable news through MercerMe. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the arts and nature and taking things way too seriously.

Kelly Beamon

Kelly Beamon is MercerMe’s editor and a lifelong journalist whose first reporting job was on the business desk of The Trenton Times in 1993. Since then she has progressed from local beat reporter to editor for national publications at Dow Jones, Time Inc, and Hearst. As a staff editor for Architectural Record, Interior Design, and This Old House magazines she specialized in writing about buildings and their systems, and honed a deep knowledge of best practices in training and supporting junior staff and freelancers, as well as managing budgets and audience engagement. In returning to Mercer County in 2021 (after 20 years in New York City) with her two school-aged children, Kelly has rekindled her love of community news and journalism that serves people, birds, and starry night skies. When she isn’t sleuthing out a story for Mercerme, she’ll be dividing her time in Hopewell between parenting and running Punk Junk, her specially-themed pop-up thrift store.

Our Story

• In 2013, MercerMe emerged from a humble mommy-blog, founded by Mary Galioto and two friends, evolving into the community-focused news outlet we are today.
• Under Galioto’s leadership, MercerMe was officially established in December 2013, dedicated to providing essential news coverage to Hopewell Valley.
• In 2014, MercerMe received a Grow and Strengthen Grant and valuable mentorship from Montclair State University’s Center for Cooperative Media, further solidifying our commitment to quality journalism.
• From 2014 to 2016, we were honored to publish “Mommy Mayor,” a column by Lawrence Township’s former mayor, Cathleen Lewis, offering insights into work-life balance and public service.
• To enhance community engagement, MercerMe began accepting Letters to the Editor in October 2014, fostering open dialogue and ensuring our role as the community’s trusted news source.
• Our popular column, The Taste Chase, led by Pennington resident Renata Barnes, has delighted readers with reviews of the tastiest treats across Mercer County, offering a delectable exploration of local cuisine.
• MercerMe’s Cut Throat Cookie, an innovative and spirited cookie contest, has become a cherished tradition, showcasing the community’s baking prowess and camaraderie under the guidance of dedicated supporters like Renata Barnes.
• In 2024, MercerMe was selected to participate in the NJ Civic Information Consortium Technology & Sustainability Accelerator, receiving a grant to enhance our digital capabilities and overall sustainability. This nine-month program aims to help news organizations across New Jersey grow their audience, improve digital revenue efforts, and strengthen technology platforms.

Disclosures: Mary Galioto was previously married to and shares children with the current mayor of Hopewell Borough. Galioto is a freelance public relations and media coordinator for the Hopewell Valley Arts Council. She is also the vice chair of the Hopewell Township Tourism and Economic Development Advisory Committee.