Latest / Lawrence Together / June 11, 2026 – Fireworks, Senior Prom, Juneteenth Celebration & Township Updates
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 June 11th, 2026. Let's get started. Before we dive in, a quick note: this Sunday, June 14th, is Flag Day, a time to honor and reflect on the history of our national flag. We begin with an important administrative update. Lawrence Township is discontinuing the use of P O Box six zero zero six as a mailing address. Going forward, all correspondence, including payments, should be sent to: Township of Lawrence, twenty two oh seven Lawrenceville Road, Lawrence Township, New Jersey, zero eight six four eight. If you have any scheduled payments set to the old address, please update them right away. Tonight, Thursday June 11th, the Township is holding a public information and comment meeting on the Lawrence Township Master Plan. The meeting begins at seven in the evening at the Lawrence Senior Center, located at thirty East Darrah Lane. This is your opportunity to hear an update on the status of the Master Plan, ask questions of the panel, and share your thoughts on the future direction of our township. If you would like to speak, sign in when you arrive. Speakers will be called in sign-in order, with five minutes each. A heads up for drivers: Interstate two ninety five southbound, Exit sixty nine B to Route two oh six southbound, is closed and detoured through August as a noise barrier installation project advances in Lawrence. The right lane on Interstate two ninety five southbound just before Exit sixty nine B is also scheduled to be closed for construction barrier work. Plan your routes accordingly. Mark your calendars: all Lawrence Township municipal offices will be closed on Friday, June 19th, in observance of Juneteenth. Now for some exciting summer news. The Lawrence Township Fireworks are coming on July 1st, with a rain date of July 2nd, at Rider University. Festivities begin at six in the evening, with fireworks lighting up the sky at nine thirty at night. This year's event celebrates America's two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of independence, and the evening is packed with family fun. Expect food trucks, live country music from Jake's Rockin Country Band, children's entertainment including a Bubble Guy from seven to eight in the evening, a Cub Scouts Pack two oh six coloring table for the kids, and glow sticks available to purchase to support the Fireworks Fund. And in the spirit of the two fifty celebration, Ben Franklin will make a special appearance strolling the grounds from seven to nine in the evening, sponsored by the Lawrence Historical Society. Bring the whole family for a night of music, entertainment, and fireworks. June 18th is a big day for the community, with two wonderful events. First, the Third Annual Juneteenth Celebration, organized by the Lawrence Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, runs from ten in the morning to eleven thirty in the morning at the Lawrence Township Municipal Building. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, reach event contact and Committee Chair Paige Johnson by email at paige till johnson at gmail dot com. Also on June 18th is the Lawrence Senior Citizen Prom, from five to eight in the evening at the Lawrence Senior Center, thirty East Darrah Lane. This year's theme is Masquerade, the attire is semi-formal, and music is by D J Dennis Rodgers. The event is open to Lawrence residents sixty and older and is a partnership between the Senior Center and Lawrence High School Interact Club. To sign up or find out about other Senior Center programs throughout June, call the Senior Center at six oh nine, eight four four, seven oh four eight. The Lawrence Township Recreation Department has spring and summer programs available for both youth and adults, with updates on program information and registration added each week. You can reach the Recreation Department at six oh nine, eight four four, seven oh six seven, or follow them on Facebook. One popular offering is Hula Hoop Fitness, back for Summer Session One, running June 23rd through August 4th, with no class on June 30th. Classes are on Tuesdays at Lawrence Veterans Park. Level One, for beginners, meets from five to six in the evening. Level Two, intermediate, meets from six fifteen to seven fifteen. New this summer: drop-in classes are now available. Register through CommunityPass or call six oh nine, eight four four, seven oh six four. A reminder from Animal Control: if your dog is not yet licensed, now is the time to take care of it. More than five hundred dog owners in Lawrence have delinquent licenses, and beginning this month, summonses may be issued. A nine dollar late fee is currently in effect, and rabies vaccinations must be valid through November 2026. Contact the Township Clerk's Office with any questions. The Lawrence Health Department also has free at-home COVID-19 test kits available, provided by Mercer County. Feel free to stop by while supplies last. For questions, call the Health Department at six oh nine, eight four four, seven oh eight nine. From the Lawrence Township Police Department: Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Coordinator Elwood Dasher recently met with Community Care Coordinator Nicholas Henry of Sunrise Detox to strengthen community care partnerships. The conversation focused on Sunrise Detox's detoxification and inpatient treatment programs, which use personalized medical protocols to support individuals on their path to recovery. Here is a look at upcoming board and committee meetings. Tonight, June 11th, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee meets at six thirty in the evening. This meeting was rescheduled from June 18th. Please note the Planning Board Meeting scheduled for Monday June 15th has been cancelled. The Township Council meets Tuesday June 16th at six in the evening, and the Zoning Board meets Wednesday June 17th at seven in the evening. Meeting schedules can change, so check the township website for the latest. For locations and agendas, contact the Municipal Clerk at six oh nine, eight four four, seven oh oh one. Now let us turn to some community resources. With summer heat on the way, Mercer County maintains an updated list of cooling centers across the county. If you or a neighbor are struggling in the heat, check the Mercer County website for a cooling center near you. The Medi-Cool Program is also available for eligible residents this summer. With funding from the Mercer County Department of Human Services Office on Aging, Rise, A Community Service Partnership is providing air conditioning units to Mercer County low-income seniors and adults with disabilities. To find out if you or someone you know qualifies, call six oh nine, four four three, four four six four. If you are a homeowner who has experienced financial hardship related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Emergency Rescue Mortgage Assistance program may be able to help. It provides financial assistance to eligible homeowners who saw a significant decrease in income or increase in expenses due to COVID-19. To qualify, you must own and occupy an eligible one to four unit primary residence, have experienced a pandemic-related financial hardship that left you unable to remain current on mortgage payments, meet household income limits, and have been current on your mortgage and property taxes as of January 2020. Visit n j housing dot gov to apply or find a free housing counselor. You can also call one eight hundred, six four seven, seven five five zero for additional assistance. Mercer County Community College has opened registration for its Fall 2026 semester. Whether you are just starting out or returning to continue your education, the college has courses and support to help you reach your goals. County Executive Benson has announced the launch of the Mercer two fifty website, which highlights Mercer County's critical role in the American Revolution and offers a comprehensive guide to historical sites and events as the county prepares to celebrate the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of American independence. If you or someone you know needs food assistance, Mercer County's Food Finder connects residents with more than one hundred food pantries, youth meals, and grab-and-go options nearby. The Mercer County Library System offers community events throughout the year. Check the event calendar on their website for upcoming programs at the Lawrence Branch. New Jersey has also launched the Disability Information Hub, an easy-to-use website with information on programs, services, and resources for people with disabilities, their families, and caregivers. And finally, if you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, help is available. Call or text nine eight eight to reach trained crisis counselors who are ready to listen, provide support, and connect you with additional help. Looking to give back to the community? Volunteer opportunities are available with the Lawrence Historical Society, Meals on Wheels, and the Lawrence Township Community Foundation. 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.