Latest / Lawrence Together / Latest in Lawrence, April 16
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 16th, 2026. Let's get started. We have a full edition this week, so let's dive right in with some important township announcements. The Planning Board will hold a public hearing this Monday, April 20th, at seven in the evening at the Municipal Building, located at 2207 Lawrence Road, in the Lower Level Conference Room. The hearing concerns a preliminary investigation of the property at 3641 Lawrenceville Road and its potential designation as an Area in Need of Redevelopment. Also important for all residents: 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, please update them to reflect this new address. From the Tax Collector's office: First Half 2026 Sewer Bills were mailed on March 16th and are due by the close of business on Monday, April 27th to avoid penalty. Current amounts are available and payable on the Township website. You can reach the Tax Collector at 609-844-7041. Now for a great story from the Lawrence Township Fire Department. On April 14th, career and volunteer firefighters came together for a historic training milestone, joining as one unified team for the first time. This came just after the launch of a new twenty-four-hour schedule for career staff on April 13th. The training was led by Deputy Chiefs Ray Nagy and Mike Oakley, with hands-on instruction from Lieutenant Todd Lenarski, and focused on safely operating Ladder Tower 20. The department summed it up perfectly: one team, one mission, one community. For Emergency Management questions, call 609-844-7116. Moving on to Public Works, there are two spring programs you will want to know about. The Mulch Delivery Program is running now through May 3rd, or until supplies run out. Lawrence Township residents can order natural ground wood chips delivered free to their driveway. Three yards cost thirty-three dollars, six yards cost sixty-six dollars, and nine yards cost ninety-nine dollars. The limit is nine yards per household. Order forms are available at the Lawrence Township Ecological Facility at 3701 Princeton Pike, or at the Department of Public Works at 240 Bakers Basin Road. Payment must be made by check, though credit cards are accepted at the Eco Center. Call 609-587-1894 for more information. Also for the month of April, Public Works is conducting special spring leaf collections by zone. Leaves must be separated from brush and placed at the curb, ten feet from storm drains. For zone schedules and questions, call Public Works at 609-587-1894. Now let's head over to the Recreation Department, which has a packed lineup of programs for all ages. Spring and summer registration is open now. One highlight is the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Creators Camp, coming this summer at the Lawrence Nature Center for children ages 6 to 12. Two one-week sessions are available: Coding and Circuits, running July 6th through July 10th, and Motion and Machines, running August 24th through August 28th. Both sessions run from nine in the morning to four in the afternoon. To register, visit CommunityPass or call 609-844-7064. Later this month, the Town Wide Yard Sale takes place April 25th and 26th, from eight in the morning to two in the afternoon. Come find great deals and help reduce waste by reusing and repurposing items across the community. And start planning ahead for the Lawrence Township Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony, coming up Saturday, May 23rd. Groups interested in participating can register through the Recreation Department. For more information, call Recreation at 609-844-7067. Over at the Lawrence Senior Center, a free spring Sewing Club is forming. Led by Marie Tagliaferri, the club runs Thursdays from May 7th through May 28th at twelve-thirty in the afternoon in the Art Room at 30 East Darrah Lane. It is open to Lawrence residents age 60 and up at any skill level, and is limited to six students. The class will work on a quilted square project, and participants can bring their own sewing machine or share the ones available at the center. To register, call the Senior Center at 609-844-7048. From the Health Department, a few important updates. The Lawrence Health Department offers a free monthly pediatric clinic for uninsured children. Kids receive a physical exam and immunizations from a board-certified pediatrician. To schedule an appointment, call 609-844-7094. The Health Department is located at 2207 Lawrence Road in Lawrenceville. Free at-home COVID-19 test kits are also available at the Health Department, provided by Mercer County, while supplies last. Stop by the Municipal Building North Entrance, Monday through Friday from eight-thirty in the morning to four-thirty in the afternoon. With spring pollen season underway, the Health Department also reminds residents to monitor pollen forecasts, take allergy or asthma medications as prescribed, shower after spending time outdoors, and keep windows closed during high-pollen periods. For more information, call the Health Department at 609-844-7089. The Arm in Arm Mobile Food Pantry continues visiting the Lawrence Headquarters Branch of the Mercer County Library System at 2751 Brunswick Pike, every Monday from two to four in the afternoon. Remaining April dates are the 20th and the 27th. On April 20th, visiting services will include the Mercer County Board of Social Services, Presbyterian Church Voting, the Department of Human Services Community Outreach Program, and Mount Caramel Guild. For more information, visit arm in arm dot org or call 609-882-9246. From the Police Department: April is Alcohol Awareness Month. The department is raising awareness about alcohol misuse and its impact on health, families, and communities. If you or someone you know needs support, resources are available including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helpline at 1-800-662-4357, and Alcoholics Anonymous. Also from the Police Department: the Put the Phone Away or Pay campaign is now in its third week. Officers are actively on patrol looking for distracted drivers and issuing tickets. Fines start at two hundred to four hundred dollars for a first offense, and a third offense can bring fines of six hundred to eight hundred dollars, three motor vehicle points, and a possible ninety-day license suspension. Please put the phone down and drive safely. Here is a quick look at upcoming township meetings. The Planning Board meets this Monday, April 20th, at seven in the evening. The Township Council meets Tuesday, April 21st, at six-thirty in the evening. Meeting schedules are subject to change, so check the Township website for the latest updates. Now, before we get to the full community events calendar, we want to make sure you hear about one truly special event coming next month, and we are giving it the spotlight it deserves. 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, Jr. 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, Jr., 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 Dr. Lerone A. Martin takes the stage. Dr. Martin is the director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. 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, Jr., published by HarperCollins in May 2026. The book tells the story of Dr. 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 Dr. 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, here is the rest of the community events calendar for the coming weeks. Tonight, Friday, April 17th, the Lawrence Township Education Foundation presents the third annual Lawrence Has Talent at Lawrence High School, 2525 Princeton Pike, starting at six in the evening. Fifteen acts will take the stage in this community-wide talent showcase. Tomorrow, Saturday, April 18th, brings two events. Mercer County Community College is hosting Discover Mercer at their West Windsor Campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road, beginning at ten in the morning. If you are considering enrolling for Fall 2026, this is a great opportunity to tour the campus, meet leaders, and explore financial aid options. Also on April 18th, the Lawrence Historical Society presents an Earth Day story time for children ages 2 to 5 at the Mercer County Library Lawrence Branch, beginning at eleven-fifteen in the morning. Registration is required and opens twenty-four hours before the event. On Sunday, April 19th, the Lawrence Environmental Education Foundation hosts a free Spring Festival at the Lawrence Township Nature Center, 481 Drexel Avenue, from eight-thirty in the morning to four in the afternoon. Activities include yoga, a plant swap, a composting workshop, live music, nature walks, and snacks. Admission is free. On Sunday, April 26th at two in the afternoon, the Lawrence Historical Society hosts a free presentation on the roots of baseball in New Jersey, exploring how the game took hold and grew here from 1855 to 1880. That one is at the Lawrence High School Auditorium. On Saturday, May 2nd, the first annual Lawrence Hopewell Trail five-kilometer run takes place at 422 Federal City Road, starting at nine in the morning. Early bird registration is open for both the five-kilometer race and the Fun Run. Mercer County Community College also announces that registration for Fall Semester 2026 is now open. Visit the college's website to enroll. And County Executive Benson has announced the launch of Mercer 250, a new website highlighting Mercer County's role in the American Revolution. As the county prepares to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of American Independence, the site offers a comprehensive guide to historical sites and events for both residents and visitors. If you are 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. And one final note: if you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or a mental health or substance use crisis, help is available. Call or text 9-8-8 to connect with trained crisis counselors. 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.