Latest / Lawrence Together / Grants, Meetings, Taxes, Tours, and a Blood Drive: This Week in Lawrence
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 Thursday, August 13th, 2026. Let's get started. State Senator Shirley Turner has secured a two million dollar grant for the Lawrence Neighborhood Center. The funding will pay for necessary repairs and bring the building up to code for occupancy, an important step toward reopening the center as a hub for residents and community programs. In transportation news, Interstate 295 southbound, from Exit 69B to Route 206 southbound, is closed and detoured as a noise barrier installation project continues in Lawrence, Mercer County. The closure began in early June and is expected to continue through August. In addition, the right lane on Interstate 295 southbound, just before Exit 69B, is closed to allow for construction barrier installation. The Township of Lawrence is discontinuing the use of its P O Box six zero zero six as a mailing address. All correspondence, including payments, should now be mailed to Township of Lawrence, twenty two oh seven Lawrence Road, Lawrence Township, New Jersey, zero eight six four eight. If you have scheduled payments set up, be sure to update them to reflect this change. Turning to taxes, third quarter 2026 tax amounts are now available on the township website. Tax bills were mailed on August 6th, and the due date has been extended. 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's office at six oh nine, eight four four, seven zero four one. Now let's move on to news from the Recreation Department. Fall and winter programs are here, with a variety of fun and engaging activities for youth and adults. Keep following along for updates on program information and registration. Registration is also open for the Lawrence Lightning Swim Team, though space is limited. Evaluations for new swimmers will be held in late September, with exact dates to be announced. For adults, the township is offering a new Adult Walking Program, a leisurely stroll through Lawrence Township parks. The group will meet on Mondays, September 28th, October 5th, October 12th, October 19th, October 26th, and November 2nd, from nine o'clock to nine forty five in the morning. The first walk begins at Village Park's Yeger Pavilion, with the group visiting a variety of parks in the weeks that follow. And for seniors, the Lawrence Senior Center has its August calendar and Senior Connect information available online. Call the Senior Center at six oh nine, eight four four, seven zero four eight to register for programs. For general Recreation Department questions, call six oh nine, eight four four, seven zero six seven. Next, news from the Health Department. If you or a neighbor could use some support, the department's nursing services include vaccinations, blood pressure monitoring, and community resource assistance. You can reach them at six oh nine, eight four four, seven zero nine four. It's also a good time to remember dog licensing. Animal Control is currently contacting more than five hundred dog owners with delinquent licenses, and beginning in June, summonses may be issued for unlicensed dogs. A nine dollar late fee is currently in effect, and rabies vaccinations must be valid through November 2026. If you have questions about your application or your dog's rabies expiration, please contact the Clerk's Office. Finally, the Lawrence Health Department has free at-home COVID-19 test kits available, provided by Mercer County. Feel free to stop by while supplies last. For more information, call the Health Department at six oh nine, eight four four, seven zero eight nine. Now, an update from the Police Department. The Lawrence Township Police Department is partnering with the American Red Cross for a Blood Drive this month. It will take place Wednesday, August 19th, from two o'clock to nine o'clock in the evening, at twenty two eleven Lawrence Road. To schedule an appointment, enter the sponsor code Lawrenceville P D Community. The department is also hiring. They're 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 can submit your resume to Lawrence Police at Lawrence T W P dot com. Now for this week's meeting schedule. The Planning Board meeting scheduled for Monday, August 17th, at seven o'clock in the evening has been canceled. The Township Council will meet Tuesday, August 18th, at six o'clock in the evening. The Zoning Board meeting scheduled for Wednesday, August 19th, at seven o'clock in the evening has been canceled. And the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday, August 20th, at six thirty in the evening has also been canceled. The meeting schedule is subject to change for reorganization, so check the township website for the latest updates. Let's wrap up with some community resources and events. The Lawrence Historical Society invites everyone to a free public tour of the 1761 Brearley House on Sunday, August 16th, at two fifteen in the afternoon. The Brearley House is located at one hundred Meadow Road. The Mercer County Board of Elections is holding an Election Board Worker Recruitment Day Celebration on Thursday, August 20th, at five o'clock in the evening, at the Mercer County Office Park, fourteen forty Parkside Avenue in Ewing. It's a great opportunity for first-time applicants to sign up, meet the Board of Elections staff, and see voting equipment up close. Mark your calendars for the Full Moon Ride and Walk on the Lawrence Hopewell Trail, happening Saturday, September 26th, at six forty five in the evening, at Rosedale Park. Cyclists and walkers alike are welcome, with a bonfire and s'mores to follow. The Lawrence Hopewell Trail is also collecting bike donations for Spokes and Skills, a free youth cycling program run with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Mercer County. If you have a children's bike collecting dust, reach out to claire at L H trail dot org. For homeowners who've experienced financial hardship, the Emergency Rescue Mortgage Assistance program, known as ERMA, offers help to eligible homeowners who've had a significant decrease in income or increase in expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualifying homeowners must own and occupy an eligible one to four unit primary residence, meet household income limits, and have been current on their mortgage and property taxes as of January 2020. If the heat has you or a neighbor struggling, Mercer County maintains an updated list of cooling centers throughout the county during heat waves. And if you or someone you know needs food assistance, the Mercer County Food Finder connects residents to more than one hundred food pantries, youth meals, and grab and go options, all through an online map with dates, times, and locations. The Mercer County Library System also offers a variety of community events, including programs at the Lawrence Branch. Check their online calendar for what's coming up. New Jersey has also launched a new Disability Information Hub, an easy to use website with information on programs, services, and resources for people with disabilities, their families, and caregivers. And a reminder that if you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, or experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, help is available. You can call or text nine eight eight to connect with trained crisis counselors. Finally, if you're looking to get involved, volunteer opportunities are available through 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.