Latest / Lawrence Together / Tax Bills, Trail Rides, and Comfort Pillows
Transcript
- Welcome to Lawrence Together, your community podcast for Lawrence Township, New Jersey. Today's episode covers news and updates from Latest in Lawrence, dated September 3rd, twenty twenty six. Let's get started. We'll start with township news. There's a ramp closure to be aware of. Interstate two ninety-five southbound, from Exit 69B to Route two oh six southbound, is scheduled to be closed and detoured as part of a noise barrier installation project in Lawrence, Mercer County. The right lane on Interstate two ninety-five southbound, just before Exit 69B, is also scheduled to close so crews can install a construction barrier ahead of the ramp closure. If you use that stretch regularly, it's worth checking the township website for the latest status before you head out. There's also an important update on mailing addresses. The Township of Lawrence is discontinuing the use of P.O. Box six oh oh six. Going forward, all correspondence, including payments, should be mailed to Township of Lawrence, two two oh seven Lawrence Road, Lawrence Township, New Jersey, zero eight six four eight. If you have scheduled payments set up through your bank, be sure to update them to reflect this change. Now, a quick note from the Tax Collector. Third quarter taxes for twenty twenty six are available on the township website, and tax bills were mailed on August 6th with an extended due date. The last day to pay third quarter taxes without penalty is Tuesday, September 8th, by close of business, with no further grace period. Late payments will be charged interest back to August 1st. For questions, you can reach the Tax Collector at six oh nine, eight four four, seven oh four one. Over in the Recreation Department, fall and winter programs are underway, with a variety of activities for youth and adults. Keep following along for updates on registration. The department is also hiring a full time Recreation Leader to help plan and support programs, special events, and senior activities for residents of all ages. Applications close September 4th, so if you enjoy working with the community, now's the time to apply. If you're looking for something active, there's a pick up style, co-ed adult volleyball league open to all skill levels. It runs Tuesdays from October 13th through May 4th at the Lawrence Intermediate School gym, from six thirty to eight thirty in the evening. For kids, youth basketball returns this winter with clinics and leagues for first and second grade, third through eighth grade girls and boys divisions, and a high school league. Most age groups begin Saturdays starting December 5th, with the high school league beginning December 12th. Registration and volunteer coach sign ups are open now through the recreation website. At the Senior Center, you can find the September activities calendar and Senior Connect newsletter on the township website, and you can call the Lawrence Senior Center at six oh nine, eight four four, seven oh four eight to register for programs. The Senior Center's Create to Donate program is also looking for donated fabric and sewing supplies to help make comfort pillows for cancer patients. Donations can be dropped off at the Senior Center at thirty East Darrah Lane, and every bit helps. For questions, call that same number, six oh nine, eight four four, seven oh four eight. For anything else with the Recreation Department, you can reach them at six oh nine, eight four four, seven oh six seven. From the Health Department, the nursing team offers vaccinations, blood pressure monitoring, and community resource assistance. If you need help, you can reach them at six oh nine, eight four four, seven oh nine four. This is also a good time to remind everyone to license your dog. Animal Control has been contacting more than five hundred dog owners with delinquent licenses, and summonses may be issued for unlicensed dogs. A nine dollar late fee is currently in effect, and rabies vaccinations must remain valid through November of twenty twenty six. If you have questions about your application or your dog's rabies expiration, contact the Clerk's Office. And if you're due for a booster, the Health Department has free at home COVID nineteen test kits provided by Mercer County, available while supplies last. For general Health Department questions, call six oh nine, eight four four, seven oh eight nine. The Police Department has two updates to share. First, the Lawrence Township Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge two oh nine, is hosting its annual golf outing on October 21st at Mercer Oaks West in West Windsor, New Jersey. Registration includes eighteen holes of golf with a one o'clock shotgun start, lunch, food at the turn, a post round meal, an open bar throughout the event, and a fifty fifty raffle with door prizes. The cost is one hundred eighty dollars per golfer, and the registration deadline is September 21st. Second, the Police Department is currently accepting resumes for per diem Public Safety Telecommunicators to serve as dispatchers, the vital link between officers and the public. If you're interested and meet the minimum qualifications, you're encouraged to submit your resume. A quick look at upcoming board and committee meetings. The Recreation Advisory Committee meets today, Thursday, September 3rd, at six thirty in the evening. On Tuesday, September 8th, the Health Advisory Board meets at five fifteen in the evening, and the Public Safety Committee and the Business and Economic Growth Committee both meet that same day, at six thirty and seven o'clock in the evening respectively. The Senior Executive Committee meets Wednesday, September 9th, at nine thirty in the morning. As always, the meeting schedule is subject to change for reorganization, so check the township website for any cancellations. For meeting locations and agendas, contact the Municipal Clerk at six oh nine, eight four four, seven oh oh one. Finally, some community happenings worth marking on your calendar. The Lawrence Township Environmental Education Foundation has a busy September lined up, including a Sound Bath for Relaxation on September 6th, National Trail Mix Day on September 9th, and another Sound Bath for Relaxation on September 18th. The Lawrence Historical Society is holding its Canal House Challenge on Sunday, September 13th, from ten in the morning to four in the afternoon, at multiple locations. All five historic homes along the Delaware and Raritan Canal open to the public at the same time, the only day of the year that happens, and visitors who make it to every site win a prize. The Mercer County Library System is hosting a comic book workshop with Ignatz award winning graphic novelist Mike Dawson as part of its Book Festival. It's recommended for ages eight and up, with limited space, on Saturday, September 26th, from ten in the morning to three in the afternoon, at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch. That same day, the Lawrence Hopewell Trail is hosting its twenty twenty six Full Moon Ride and Walk at Rosedale Park. Decorate your bike and join in for a six mile ride or a one mile walk, with music, a DJ, and food vendors. Check in starts at seven in the evening, with the ride and walk beginning at seven thirty. If you have old electronics to get rid of, the township offers electronics recycling drop off on Wednesdays, from seven thirty to eleven forty five in the morning and again from twelve thirty to two thirty in the afternoon, at the Joseph H. Mayer Junior Ecological Center on three seven oh one Princeton Pike. Proof of residency is required. For homeowners who've experienced financial hardship, the Emergency Rescue Mortgage Assistance program offers help to eligible residents affected by COVID nineteen. To qualify, you must own and occupy an eligible one to four unit primary residence, have experienced a COVID nineteen related financial hardship that made it hard to stay current on your mortgage, meet household income limits, and have been current on your mortgage and property taxes as of January twenty twenty. Details are available through the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. And a reminder that support is always available. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or a mental health or substance use crisis, you can call or text nine, eight, eight, to connect with trained crisis counselors any time. That's all for this edition of Lawrence Together. If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe so you never miss an update from our community. Thanks for listening, and we'll see you next time.