#51 Nov 13, 26

Thanking Our Veterans and Getting Ready for the Holidays

📝 Producer's Notes

Time-sensitive items: Fall show (Nov 12–14), Handbag Bingo and cookie sale (Nov 13), Spiritwear store (ends Nov 13), and Texas Roadhouse fundraiser (ends Nov 15) may have passed by publication. Gatsby is kept in the script with all three dates. Handbag Bingo, cookie sale, Spiritwear, and Texas Roadhouse are in show notes only.
Omitted as already past: AFI Club slime workshop (Nov 11), Candela Brothers fundraiser (Nov 12), conference scheduling portal (closed Nov 10).
Undefined acronym omitted: "AFI" is never expanded in the source, so the AFI slime event and AFI Mini Mart are not in the script.
Acronyms expanded by Claude: LTEF = Lawrence Township Education Foundation; CVC = Colonial Valley Conference; WWP-North = West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North. Please verify.
COVID-19 kept as "COVID nineteen" since it is spoken as a word.
Date discrepancies: Musical Boot Camp is listed as "Wednesday, December 1," but Dec 1, 2026 is a Tuesday (script omits the weekday). Fall conferences list "November 24, 2025," treated as 2026. Powderpuff text says "2026 title," while the photo banner reads "Seniors – 2027" (class year).
Address discrepancy: Footer and COVID kit flyer say "2207 Lawrenceville Road"; body text says "2207 Lawrence Road." Body text used.
Phone discrepancies: Nursing flyer lists 609-844-7094 vs. Health Dept 609-844-7089 (script uses 7089). Jolly Trolley uses 609-844-7064 vs. Rec Dept 609-844-7067 (both used as listed).
Sensitive content: 988 crisis line included in gentle, family-friendly wording.
Omitted from audio: Diwali greeting and attendance infographic (trimmed for length), Club Hub, bell schedule, rotation calendar, Survey Says polls, Words to Live By quotes, Word Power, Operation Blue Angel, and Township Quick Links (link-only or reference content).

🇺🇸 Thank You, Veterans

Chief Kevin Reading and the Lawrence Township Police Department, along with Lawrence High School, honored all who have served and are serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

🏛️ Township Announcements

Municipal offices closed Thursday, Nov 26 and Friday, Nov 27 for Thanksgiving.
New Arts Commission created by Township Council. Interested residents should complete an application.
Address change: PO Box 6006 is being discontinued. Mail all correspondence and payments to Township of Lawrence, 2207 Lawrence Road, Lawrence Township, NJ 08648. Update scheduled payments.

💰 Annual Tax Sale

Public auction of municipal tax liens (not real property). Preregistration and W-9 required; no admittance without preregistration.

Date Time Location
| Friday, Nov 20 | 10:00 AM | Council Chambers, 2207 Lawrence Road

🍂 Public Works

Leaf collection runs through Dec 31, 2026, street by street, with three collections per zone. Place loose leaves at the curb, at least 10 feet from storm drains and no more than 4 feet from the pavement edge. Brush collection is suspended in November and December. Yard waste resumes January 2027.

Bulk collection becomes appointment-based starting Dec 4, 2026. Book at Lawrencetwp.com ("bulk collection") or call 609-587-1894. Limit three bulky items. Fencing in 4-ft lengths, carpet in tied sections no wider than 5 ft and under 50 lbs, mattresses fully wrapped in plastic, windows and mirrors taped with an X. Metal appliances by appointment only. No construction materials.

🎄 Recreation

Jolly Trolley: $12 per person (2 and under free as lap passengers; out-of-town fees doubled), up to 4 participants, one entry per family. Trolleys are not handicap accessible; an accessible vehicle may follow on request.

🩺 Health Department

Nursing services for homebound rural residents: vaccinations, blood pressure monitoring, and community resource assistance. Free at-home COVID-19 test kits at the Municipal Building North Entrance, Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–4:30 PM, while supplies last.

🚓 Police Department

New RECON Power e-bikes for bicycle patrol on parks, the Lawrence Hopewell Trail, and the D&R Canal Path. Now hiring per diem Public Safety Telecommunicators at $25.91/hr; prior 9-1-1 dispatch experience required. Email resumes to LawrencePolice@LawrenceTwp.com. Also see Operation Blue Angel (details and registration in newsletter).

📅 Boards and Committees

Schedules may change; check the Township website for locations and agendas.

🤝 Community Resources

🐦 News from the Nest (Lawrence High School)

Next newsletter: Tuesday, Dec 1.

Día de Muertos: LHS AP Spanish students visited Ben Franklin School second graders on Oct 29 for the seventh year of a collaboration between Jennifer Skorupa and Alyssa Katz.

Powderpuff: Seniors beat juniors 47–40 on Nov 4.

🎭 Upcoming at LHS

Thanksgiving break: Early dismissal Nov 23, 24, and 25. School closed Nov 26 and 27.

🥫 Donation Drives and Fundraisers

Food Drive and Penny Wars: Nov 16–20 (Student Council)
K-Cup Collection: by Mon, Nov 16 (LMS/LHS PTO)
BookSmiles: Wade Bullard's book bin at the LHS front entrance (19,000+ books so far)
Apple Cider and Donuts: Class of 2030; pre-order Nov 16–20 at lunch, pickup Mon, Nov 23 after school
Boys Basketball Shirts: $20 ($23 XXL and up); order by Nov 20
LTEF Handbag Bingo: Fri, Nov 13, West Trenton Volunteer Fire Company (21+)
NHD Club Cookie Sale: Fri, Nov 13, $1
Spiritwear Store: extended through Nov 13
Texas Roadhouse Fundraiser: through Nov 15 (PTO)

🌟 Brag Bag

Students joined Troop 28 scouts and Lawrence Historical Society members on Nov 7 to clean up the Port Mercer Canal House. Alumnus Nate Kunkel (Class of 2024) was named the Historical Society's Director of Social Media.

📞 Contacts