Latest / Lawrence Together / Get Outside, Lawrence: Yard Sales, Cleanups, and Spring Events
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 April 23rd, 2026, and Lawrence QuickNews from Lawrence Township Public Schools, also dated April 23rd, 2026. Let's get started. We have a lot to cover today, so let's dive in. First, an important administrative update from the Township. The Township of Lawrence is discontinuing the use of P O Box 6006 as a mailing address. Going forward, all correspondence, including payments, should be sent to: Township of Lawrence, 2207 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrence Township, New Jersey, 08648. If you have any scheduled payments set up, be sure to update them to reflect this change. From the Tax Collector's office, a timely reminder: first-half 2026 sewer bills are due by the close of business this coming Monday, April 27th. Missing that deadline will result in a penalty. Current amounts are available and payable on the township website. For questions, reach the Tax Collector at 609-844-7041. The Department of Public Works has two programs running this month. The first is the Mulch Delivery Program. Lawrence Township residents can order natural ground wood chips delivered free to their driveway. Pricing is thirty-three dollars for three yards, sixty-six dollars for six yards, or ninety-nine dollars for nine yards, with a limit of nine yards per household. The program runs through May 3rd, or until supplies run out. To place an order, visit the Lawrence Township Ecological Facility at 3701 Princeton Pike, or the Department of Public Works at 240 Bakers Basin Road. Checks are accepted at both locations, and credit cards at the Eco Center only. Call 609-587-1894 for more information. The second Public Works item is the April Special Spring Leaf Collection. Throughout April, the department is collecting leaves by zone. Please place leaves at the curb, keep them separated from brush, and position them at least ten feet from storm drains. Questions? Again, call 609-587-1894. Now, before we get to this weekend's events, we want to highlight a remarkable evening coming up next month that the entire community will want to know about. On Wednesday, May 13th at six-thirty in the evening, Every Child Valued invites the entire Lawrence Township community to Lawrence High School at 2525 Princeton Pike for a landmark evening called Before the Dream: The Untold Story of Young Martin Luther King, Junior. Admission is completely free and open to everyone, but an R S V P is requested to help with planning. The evening begins with the presentation of the Every Child Valued Award for Service to Mr. Fred Vereen, Junior, honoring his more than seventy-five years of dedicated service to the residents of Lawrence Township. That is an extraordinary legacy, and a wonderful way to open the night. Following the award, Stanford University's Doctor Lerone A. Martin takes the stage. Doctor Martin is the director of the Martin Luther King, Junior Research and Education Institute, and he has a personal connection to our community: he earned his Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and once lived right here in Lawrence Township. He will be sharing insights from his brand-new book, Young King: The Making of Martin Luther King, Junior, published by HarperCollins in May 2026. The book tells the story of Doctor King as a teenager, before he became a world-renowned figure, and explores who he was while he was still becoming. After the talk, there will be a community question and answer session, a reception with free food, and an opportunity to purchase and have your copy of the book personally signed by Doctor Martin. This is a free, family-friendly event, and a remarkable opportunity to celebrate Lawrence Township's own history and community spirit. For more information and to R S V P, visit link dot local lawrence dot com slash young king. Now let's talk about what is coming up this weekend. The big one is the Town Wide Yard Sale. This Saturday, April 25th, and Sunday, April 26th, garage sales will be popping up all across Lawrence Township from 8:00 in the morning to 2:00 in the afternoon, rain or shine. Head to the Recreation Department's website for a list of participating homes and a town map. Also on Saturday morning, April 25th, from 9:00 to 11:00am, the Friends of Colonial Lake Park are hosting a Shoreline Clean Up at Colonial Lake Park. Come join your neighbors in keeping the park and lake looking great. Supplies will be provided. On Sunday, April 26th at 2:00pm, the Lawrence Historical Society is hosting a free in-person event at the Lawrence High School Auditorium exploring how baseball took root and grew in New Jersey from 1855 to 1880. It is a great outing for history lovers of all ages. Looking ahead, the Lawrence Hopewell Trail is hosting its first annual 5K and Fun Run on Saturday, May 2nd, at 9:00am. Open to runners, walkers, and families, the event supports efforts to complete the trail's 20-mile loop connecting Lawrence and Hopewell Townships. Early registration discounts are available. Details are on the township Recreation website. Mark your calendars for the Lawrence Township Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony on Saturday, May 23rd. Groups are encouraged to register to march, including veterans, scouts, community organizations, marching bands, and more. Register online at www dot lawrencetwp dot com slash departments slash recreation, by emailing recreation at lawrencetwp dot com, or by calling 609-844-7067. From the Recreation Department, the Junior Golf Clinic runs Tuesdays from May 19th through June 16th, from 4:00 to 5:00pm at Lawrence Veterans Park. Open to grades one through six, all skill levels welcome. And at the Lawrence Senior Center, a free Memoir Writing class meets every Wednesday from 2:00 to 4:00pm at 30 East Darrah Lane, led by published memoirist Kathy Saretzky. Call 609-844-7048 to register. From the Health Department: free at-home COVID-19 test kits are available at the Lawrence Township Health Department while supplies last, at 2207 Lawrenceville Road, Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Call 609-844-7089 for more. The Arm In Arm Mobile Food Pantry also visits the Lawrence Headquarters Branch Library at 2751 Brunswick Pike every Monday from 2:00 to 4:00pm. The next date is this coming Monday, April 27th. Visit arminarm dot org or call 609-882-9246. From the Police Department: this week is Administrative Professionals Day, and Police Chief Kevin Reading is publicly recognizing Cara Parker, who has served as the Chief's secretary since 2024. Chief Reading praised her professionalism, reliability, and dedication. Congratulations, Cara. Also, officers are now in their fourth week of the Put the Phone Away or Pay campaign, actively enforcing distracted driving laws. Put the phone down, silence notifications, and keep your eyes on the road. For more, visit www dot N J Safe Roads dot com. Upcoming board and committee meetings: the Shade Tree Advisory Committee meets Monday, April 27th, at 7:00pm. The Lawrence Alcohol and Drug Alliance meets Tuesday, April 28th, at 9:00am. The Environmental Resources and Green Advisory Committee also meets Tuesday, April 28th, at 7:00pm. Meeting schedules are subject to change, so check the township website or call the Municipal Clerk at 609-844-7001. Now let's turn to news from Lawrence Township Public Schools. A few important dates right off the top. Today and tomorrow, April 23rd and 24th, Lawrence Intermediate School is holding parent-teacher conferences with early dismissal for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. And on May 6th, the Board of Education will hold its Budget Hearing. Kindergarten registration for the 2026-2027 school year is now open. Students must be five years old on or before October 1st, 2026 to enroll. Proof of residency is required for all enrollments. Registration forms are available on the Lawrence Township Public Schools website. It has been a wonderful week of celebrations across the district. Lawrence Intermediate School held its annual Wellness Day, giving students a full day of hands-on activities including cooking, painting, jewelry making, karate, jump roping, music, karaoke, chess, yoga, and outdoor walks. The goal was to remind everyone that school is about more than academics. Movement, creativity, and connection all matter. Our youngest learners also had a memorable week. The Cardinal Kids at the elementary level celebrated the Week of the Young Child with themed days throughout the week, including Tango Tuesday, Work Together Wednesday, Artsy Thursday, and Fun Friday. Superintendent Doctor Robyn A. Klim even stopped by one PreK class to read with students, which added a special touch to an already joyful week. Earth Day was also celebrated across the district in creative ways. Pre-K students at Lawrence High School made Earth Day crowns after reading books about caring for the planet. Third grade students at Ben Franklin Elementary School published a nature-themed poetry book and debuted it outside in the fresh air. And students at Lawrence Intermediate School explored an outdoor trail featuring twelve lawn signs with environmental facts and original poems written by their fellow students. A wonderful celebration of learning and responsibility. This past Monday, the district held a Take Your Child to Work Day, welcoming the children of school staff for a fun look inside the world of education. From science labs to art rooms to gymnasiums, kids got to see the many people and roles that come together every day to support students. The district also recently held a Strategic Planning Session that brought together more than seventy-five community members, including staff, parents, students, and community members, to share ideas and shape the future of Lawrence Township Public Schools. If you missed it, the next session is on May 27th, and everyone is welcome, even if you did not attend the first one. The Lawrence Township Education Foundation recently hosted its Lawrence Has Talent fundraiser, featuring vocal performances, musicians, karate demonstrations, and an art contest open to all ages. It was a wonderful celebration of the creativity and talent in our community. Now for some upcoming school events you will not want to miss. The Lawrence Middle School Music Department is hosting its first annual Battle of the Bands on Tuesday, April 28th, from 7:00 to 9:00pm. Admission is five dollars and all proceeds go to the music department. Come out and support our talented student musicians. The Lawrence High School Gospel Choir Spring Concert takes place Friday, May 1st, at 6:00pm in the Lawrence High School Auditorium at 2525 Princeton Pike. Admission is five dollars at the door. This is the same choir that won the 2025 Bruce Springsteen Gospel Choir Competition Grand Prize, so expect an incredible evening. And looking ahead to June, the Lawrence Middle School and Lawrence High School Parent-Teacher Organization is organizing a Phillies Night Out on Saturday, June 20th at 7:15pm at Citizens Bank Ballpark. Tickets are seventy dollars each for seats behind home plate. The purchase deadline is May 6th, and tickets are limited. Reach out through the school for the sign-up link. A few community programs also worth knowing about. The College of New Jersey English Department is offering a free Young Writers Workshop for high school students on Saturday, June 6th, from 1:00 to 4:00pm. Spots are limited to the first twenty-five students who register. For details, check the Lawrence Township Public Schools website. And for young artists ages six through thirteen, an Animal Cartoon Drawing Workshop is available, teaching students to create their own cartoon characters. Registration details are on the school website. From the broader community resources section: Mercer County Community College has opened Fall 2026 semester registration. County Executive Benson has launched the Mercer 250 website, a guide to Mercer County's role in the American Revolution ahead of the 250th anniversary of American independence. The Mercer County Food Finder can help connect residents with free meals and groceries nearby. New Jersey's Disability Information Hub offers resources for people with disabilities, their families, and caregivers. And if you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or a mental health or substance use crisis, help is available around the clock. Call or text 9-8-8 to reach a trained crisis counselor. 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.