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Future of Community Center up for discussion BY BILL SANSERVINO
With a rich history rooted in community service and Black civic leadership, the Lawrence Community Center is entering a new chapter — and township officials want residents to help write it. The Lawrence Township Mayor’s Task Force on the Future of the Lawrence Community Center is set to hold a public meeting on Monday, May 13, inviting residents to share input on how the township should use the Eggerts Crossing Road facility. The meeting will be held in the Lawrence High School cafeteria from 6:30–8 p.m. It follows the township’s decision
last year to take over management of the center from HomeFront, a nonprofit that had operated programs there since 2009. Last October, HomeFront consolidated its services at its expanded Lawrenceville campus on Princeton Avenue, paving the way for the township’s recreation department to assume responsibility for the township-owned building. Mayor Patricia Hendricks Farmer said the township plans to make improvements to the facility in the coming months. “We own the building, and we’re looking to make improvements,” she said in an interview with the Gazette. “They’re See COMMUNITY CENTER, Page 8
New leash on life for Capt. Hope Lestician’s love of softball Paul’s Firehouse Dogs how far would Lawrence High School softball sisters Heather, Haley and Hope Lestician. (Photo by Dana Williams.)
a big-time benefit for Cardinals you go if they BY RICH FISHER were sick?
a lot together and softball helps a lot,” Hope said. “It takes our minds off everything else Hope Lestician is the middle child on a going on in our lives, our own problems. The Lawrence High softball team that includes three of us could be fighting one day but we big sister Haley as an assistant coach, and have a game the next day and we go out and little sister Heather as a freshman on the play. varsity. “We actually consider each other the only The siblings have had to endure some people that fully understand one another. No high-profile adversity in their lives, but one else really knows how hard some things always used their favorite lifeline to deal with in our life were, and what we’ve been through it. Welcome to Capital Health. and how it’s changed us as people.” See LESTICIAN Page 11 “We’re pretty close, we’ve been through When someone you care about is sick, you’ll do whatever it takes to make sure they get the best care. And so do we.
Mother-son team takes over beloved Lawrence hot dog stand
BY JOE EMANSKI
Captain Paul’s Firehouse Dogs, the seasonal hot dog stand on Princeton Pike, re-opened for business in April after taking its traditional winter break. That’s not the news. The news is that, for the first time since 2009, Paul
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Because you’d go to the ends of the earth for the people you care about. And we do too. see our newsletter starting on pg 13 Become a part of it today at CapitalHealth.org
Tweedly wasn’t the one opening the doors. In December, Paul Tweedly, aka “Captain Paul,” cited his health as a reason to seek a buyer for the Lawrence-based eatery. Tweedly and wife Janice are the original owners of the restaurant, operating it for the past 15 years. In Patrick Jones and his mother, Debbie, the Tweedlys believe that they have found the right people to take the business forward. See CAPT. PAUL’s, Page 6
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