MercerMe

Democracy on the Corner
2025-07-24 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-07-31 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-08-07 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-08-14 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-08-21 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-08-28 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-09-04 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-09-11 17:30 - 18:30 (America/New_York) and 7 more dates | Hopewell Borough Downtown, Broad Street, Hopewell, NJ, 08525, United States
Join community members every Thursday at 5:30pm at the corner of Greenwood and Broad for a peaceful, visible demonstration of resistance. Participants bring signs and stand together in opposition to what they describe as illegal, unhealthy, and unconscionable actions by the current federal government. The weekly gathering offers comfort, connection, and solidarity among like-minded neighbors, and serves as a reminder to commuters that the community continues to stand up and speak out. The gathering typically lasts about an hour.

The Time to Hear is Here
2025-09-04 18:00
Discover the surprising prevalence of hearing loss among the elderly and learn about the latest options available to help those affected. Join Ron Gottardi from the non-profit organization “The Time to Hear is Here” for an enlightening discussion on hearing health on Thursday, September 4, 6pm. Ron will explore why Medicare should cover hearing aids, advances in hearing technology, helpful cell phone apps, shopping tips, and more. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

Pennington Summer Concert
2025-09-05 18:00 - 21:00 | Howe Commons, 65 S Main St, Pennington, NJ, 08534, United States
Join your friends and neighbors at Howe Commons in the heart of downtown Pennington Borough on Friday, September 5, 2025 from 6pm to 9pm for fantastic tunes. Event hosted by Pennington Borough Parks and Recreation.

Clear the Clutter
2025-09-09 11:00 | Mercer County Library – Hopewell Branch, 245 Pennington Titusville Road, Pennington, NJ, United States
A challenge for many homeowners is going through their “stuff” at home, deciding what to do with everything, and finding the motivation to get through this dreaded process. Join Olga St. Pierre to talk about common clutter misconceptions, make an action plan to get and stay motivated, and even get the family and kids involved! Registration is requested.

The History of Public Education in Lawrence Township
2025-09-17 19:00
What Did We Learn and When Did We Learn It?:
The History of Public Education in Lawrence Township
Wednesday, September 17, 7:00 pm

Two hundred years ago the world of Lawrence Township school children was nothing like it is today. But many of the education questions their parents faced sound familiar: where should schooling happen, who should be educated, and who should pay for it? Learn how different generations of Lawrence citizens answered these questions and how our public schools coped with rapid suburbanization and a changing society.
Plus, you’ll take a visual tour of all of the schools, past and present. Presented by Dennis Waters, former Lawrence Township historian and current member of the Mercer County Library Commission. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

Hopewell Tour des Arts
2025-09-27 11:00 - 2025-09-28 17:00 | Hopewell Boro Train Station, Railroad Place, Hopewell, NJ, 08525, United States
Hopewell Tour des Arts opens the doors of local artists’ studios and pop-up art spaces to the public. During this unique FREE event on Saturday 9/27 and Sunday 9/28 from 11am to 5pm, visitors can interact with the artists, watch them work, and purchase artwork in a variety of mediums. Based in the Hopewell Borough Train Station (2 Railroad Place, Hopewell NJ), the tour features a walkable map of locations where art enthusiasts can enjoy innovative works of art at their own pace. Hopewell Tour des Arts is brought to you by the Hopewell Valley Arts Council. For more information, visit hvartscouncil.org.

MCLS Book Festival: Keynote Speaker Alicia Ostriker
2025-09-27 12:00 | Mercer County Library – Lawrence Branch, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ, United States
Saturday, September 27, 12:00 pm

Lawrence Headquarters Branch

2751 Brunswick Pike

Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

609-883-8292

Join us for a rare opportunity to hear acclaimed poet and scholar Alicia Ostriker at the inaugural MCLS Book Festival. With 19 poetry collections to her name—including her latest, The Holy and Broken Bliss: Poems in Plague Time—Ostriker brings a voice both urgent and timeless. Twice nominated for the National Book Award and a former New York State Poet Laureate, she will read from her new work and sign books following the presentation. Don’t miss this profound literary moment with one of America’s most resonant poetic voices. Registration is requested.

Manhattan’s Little Syria
2025-09-30 18:30
Did you know that the first Arabic-speaking community in the United States was in New York City? If the answer is no, you’re not alone. Until Linda Jacobs’ book, Strangers in the West, was published in 2012, the story of that community had been lost. Even the descendants of the people who lived there (among whom were Jacobs’ grandparents) didn’t know about it! Jacobs will talk about reconstructing the colony, name by name, its connection to the many smaller Syrian colonies in New Jersey, and her newest research on Tuesday, September 30, 6:30 pm. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

Family Story Time
2025-10-01 10:30 - 11:00 | Pennington Public Library, 30 North Main Street, Pennington, NJ, 08534, United States
Join us in the children’s area for our family story time, where we enjoy stories, music and more!
No registration required. Please check our website for updates. Wednesdays at 10:30 am, except for the last week of each month.
Visit our page featuring a curated list of Virtual Story Times and Crafts
Pennington Public Library
30 N Main Street, Pennington, NJ 08534
609-737-0404

Artists’ Choice Art Show
2025-10-09 15:00 - 17:00 | Mercer County Library – Hopewell Branch, 245 Pennington Titusville Road, Pennington, NJ, United States
Thursday, October 9, 3:00 – 5:00 pm

Join us for the opening of the Artists’ Choice Art Show. Tour the beautiful art painted by members of Artists’ Choice, a Hopewell Valley senior art group. You’ll have the opportunity to mingle with artists, as well as community members. Refreshments are provided by Brandywine Living in Pennington. Paintings will remain in the library on exhibit for the month of October. Registration is not required.

Hopewell Branch

245 Pennington-Titusville Road

Pennington, NJ 08534

609-737-2610

Movie in Kunkel Park
2025-10-12 17:00 | Kunkel Park, Pennington, NJ, United States
Join the Pennington Borough Parks and Recreation Department as they host a movie at Kunkel Park on October 12, 2025 at 5pm. Please contact Pennington Borough for details.

Art Talk: Is it Manet or Monet?
2025-10-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Pennington Public Library, 30 North Main Street, Pennington, NJ, 08534, United States
October 15 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm via Zoom

Is it Manet or Monet?
Presenter: Janet Mandel, Arts Educator
October 15 and October 22, 2025 @ 7 PM via Zoom

Registration required: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ViPpjxO2StWna-diel-1Ww
What a difference a vowel makes! Édouard Manet and Claude Monet were two giants of the 19th Century avant-garde who influenced each other in profound ways. However, many aspects of their personal lives, artistic technique, and even philosophical ambitions were radically distinct. In this two-part talk, we will examine these likenesses and differences through the lens of their remarkable works, and you will become an expert in the comparison! Manet in Part 1 and Monet and a quiz in Part 2! Bring a pencil!
Please note that this program is two parts. You need only register once to join both sessions. You may also choose to attend only one session, though it is meant to be a two-part experience. Thanks!
Sponsored by the Friends of the Pennington Public Library and the Hopewell Valley Arts Council.
About Our Presenter: Janet Mandel taught in New Jersey’s public schools for 32 years, the last eighteen of which were at Columbia High School in Maplewood, where she taught English, art history, and World Languages and Cultures. Now retired, Janet presents illustrated talks on a variety of art history topics at adult schools, libraries, museums, senior centers, community centers, and similar venues.
Pennington Public Library
30 N Main Street, Pennington, NJ 08534
609-737-0404

Haunted Hopewell
2025-10-18 15:00 - 17:00 | Woolsey Park, 203 Washington Crossing- Pennington Road, Hopewell, NJ, United States
Come join the fun at our 5th Annual Haunted Hopewell event on Saturday, October 18th, from 3–5pm at Woolsey Park! We’ve got trick-or-treating, games, crafts, a photo spot, a DJ, and tons of Halloween fun for kids of all ages!
Grab your costumes, bring your friends, and get ready for a fang-tastic afternoon full of laughs, candy, and fall fun!
This event is FREE and open to everyone — it’s sure to be a boo-tiful day you won’t want to miss!

Celia Reisman | In Plain View
2025-10-18 17:30 - 19:30 | Morpeth contemporary, 43 West Broad St, Hopewell, NJ, 08525, United States
An astute observer of the world around her, Reisman’s subjects are in plain view. What at first glance what appears to be a faithful depiction of a believable place, on further study reveals a complex imaginative journey of color and form.
Earning a BFA from Carnegie Mellon and MFA from Yale Reisman came to representation backwards: abstraction first, from her student days and then direct observation.
She finds her domestic surroundings no matter how seemingly mundane rich with interpretation. Juxtaposing architecture and nature she invents her own world, both familiar and unexpected.
Celia Reisman’s work has been exhibited in shows across the United States. Reisman was awarded a Purchase Prize by the American Academy of Arts and Letters Invitational Exhibition, and was given a Survey Exhibition at the Michener Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
She has taught at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Swarthmore College, and Dartmouth College.

Finding the Right Fit: Exploring Senior Living Choices
2025-10-21 14:00 - 15:00
Tuesday, October 21, 2:00 pm
It’s never too early to start preparing for your future or your parent’s future. Join this workshop to explore a range of living options, including independent and assisted living communities, 50+ communities, and aging in place. You’ll gain valuable insights into these choices and learn key factors to consider as you plan for the next chapter. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

Author Talk: Courtly Intrigue & Whispers as Weapons with Historical Fiction Queen Philippa Gregory
2025-10-29 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom Online
Coined as the “queen of British historical fiction,” Philippa Gregory returns to the infamous Tudor Court with a tale that is both timely and timeless. We invite you to sit down with us for an intriguing conversation with Gregory about her newest novel Boleyn Traitor.
Jane Boleyn watches from the shadows of the Tudor Court, where secrets are currency, every choice is dangerous, and even the faintest whisper can seal the fate of queens. For Jane, survival demands playing every role required of her: a loving wife who conceals her doubts, a devoted sister to Anne Boleyn at the height of her power, and an obedient spy who carefully wields her words. But in a court ruled by ambition and a tyrant’s sword, Jane must rely on her sharp wit and skillful maneuvering to outthink those around her, knowing that one wrong move could cost her everything.
With a rich tapestry of new historical insights and lyrical language honed over decades of writing, Gregory’s return to the Tudors is a new definition of this most fascinating era. As the world becomes more extreme and unpredictable, Jane’s story of survival and ingenuity offers a compelling parallel, serving as both a powerful historical narrative and an echo of the challenges we face. This is a riveting tale of loyalty and betrayal, ambition and love—one that should not be missed by readers this fall.
About the Author: Dr. Philippa Gregory is one of the world’s foremost historical novelists. She wrote her first ever novel, Wideacre, when she was completing her PhD in eighteenth-century literature and it sold worldwide, heralding a new era for historical fiction. Her flair for blending history and imagination developed into a signature style and Philippa went on to write many bestselling novels, including The Other Boleyn Girl and The White Queen.
Dr. Gregory studied history at the University of Sussex and was awarded a PhD by the University of Edinburgh where she is a Regent and was made Alumna of the Year in 2009. She holds an honorary degree from Teesside University, and is a fellow of the Universities of Sussex and Cardiff. Philippa is a member of the Society of Authors and in 2016, was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Historical Fiction Award by the Historical Writers’ Association. In 2018, she was awarded an Honorary Platinum Award by Neilsen for achieving significant lifetime sales across her entire book output. In 2021, she was awarded a CBE for services to literature and to her charity Gardens for the Gambia, and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
