Topics in Brief
A Community Bulletin

Unwanted and unused home medical equipment that will be recycled for use by people in need will be collected on Saturday, June 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Acme Shopping Center at 957 Route 33 in Hamilton. in the Acme Shopping Center at 957 Route 33 in Hamilton. Sponsored by Mercer County and Your ReSource, the collection accept items like wheelchairs, seat cushions, portable ramps, lift chairs, bedside tray tables, walkers, canes, shower chairs, sliding boards, and arm pulleys. Prescription medications or oxygen or helium tanks are not acceptable. Hospital Beds, motorized wheelchairs and scooters, patient lifts and other large heavy pieces of equipment cannot be accepted on collection day. Your ReSource can arrange for collection at another time.

A wet spring season can make conditions just right for mosquito breeding, and Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes reminds County residents to be vigilant about emptying vessels that contain water and can attract mosquitoes.

Residents who do not use proper strategies to prevent tick and mosquito bites can put themselves at risk for illnesses like West Nile virus, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Lyme disease. To keep safe and healthy, Mercer County recommends that families empty all open containers and other sources of standing water; invest in citronella candles, torches, or oil lamps — more environmentally friendly than “bug zappers” that release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere; consider enclosing your balcony, porch, or deck with mosquito netting; use bug spray at all times and make sure to reapply frequently; help children check themselves for ticks, and teach kids what different kinds of ticks look like; give pets regular doses of anti-flea/tick medication, and check them for ticks several times per week; and for extra protection, wear long-sleeve clothing and closed-toe shoes when outdoors between dusk and dawn. For more information contact Mercer County Mosquito Control (609) 530-7516.

The Spread Goodwill Clothing Drive, sponsored by Princeton Self Storage to benefit Goodwill Industries, will be accepting clothing and shoes from now until June 30 at 35 Airpark Road in Princeton during regular business hours. “We are really excited about the Goodwill Drive,” said Property Manager Elinor Brrera. “Goodwill Industries reaches out to youth, seniors, veterans, and military families, immigrants, people with disabilities and others with specialized needs in our communities. In 2010 Goodwill Industries helped nearly 2.4 million people through their employment and training programs. We hope people ‘clean their closets for a cause’ this summer.” For more information visit www.princetonselfstorage.com or call (609) 279-2199.