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OCTOBER 2020 FREE

‘Safe and secure’ New Jersey joins list of states conducting elections by mail

By MiChele Alperin

The Lawrence Little League 12-year-old All-Stars pose with the District 12 Tournament 2nd-place trophy Sept. 12, 2020. Pictured are (front) Colin Cody, Deacon Moore, Tyler Gantz, David Holland, Saran Sida, (back) Joe Lech, Seneca Sumners, Shane Mitchell, coach Joe Lech, Connor Willever, Aidan Crowley, Aiden Poot, Jaxson Matchum, manager Mike Crowley and coaches Martin Sumners and Sean Willever. Missing are coach Ken Dobkin and catcher Drew Dobkin. (Photo by Rich Fisher.)

Pride of Lawrence Little League AllStar team wins 7 straight to make title game

By RiCh Fisher

It took a while, but Lawrence Little League is becoming a formidable figure in the New Jersey District 12 Little League Tournament.

In 2018, Lawrence’s 12-yearold All-Stars won the district title for the first time since 1976. Last summer, the 11-yearolds were district runners-up and the nucleus of that team returned in September to battle

its way into the championship round before falling to Robbinsville at Sunnybrae Little League’s Ed Nevius Field.

The numbers are not entirely where the administration would like them, but the organization is at least making a name for itself after years of lying dormant.

“I think the league is doing very well,” said Mike Crowley, who managed this year’s 12s.

“But the reality is we have ups and downs each year. We didn’t have a 12-year-old team last year. We only had three or four 12s registered to play. There was discussion of bringing all these kids up last year but they weren’t where they are now.

“It’s ebb and flow, but I think

our 10-year-olds and 9s were solid this year. The team from two years ago had an amazing run, Last year, the 11s got to the finals (losing to Sunnybrae), and we did the same as 12s this year. So it’s been a pretty good run the past few years. We’re definitely excited about Lawrence baseball.”

And while this year’s run did not quite equal the 2018 squad, it was nearly as impressive as Lawrence had to reach the finals the hardest way possible.

LLL dropped into the elimination bracket after just one game; meaning it would have to win seven straight to earn the championship. By comparison, See BASEBALL, Page 9

In an atmosphere rife with misinformation and political divisiveness, confusing messages have spawned concerns about mail-in voting—a process that has proven safe and secure in the several states where it is now the norm.

The western states of Utah, Arizona, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii and Colorado have for years conducted their elections entirely or mostly by mail-in ballot. New Jersey will join them for this year, after Gov. Phil Murphy issued Executive Order No. 177, mandating all active registered New Jersey voters receive a mail-in ballot with prepaid return postage for the Nov. 3 general election. In Mercer County, ballots began to be mailed to voters in the last week of September.

This switch has not sat well with some, and disinformation about the process and safety of vote-at-home elections started to spread as a result. One piece of disinformation—one that could land voters in jail— came from President Donald Trump, who suggested to North Carolina citizens Sept.

HEALTH

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STARTING ON PG 5

2 that they vote twice, once by mail and once at the polls, to test the security of the system. Anyone who follows the president’s suggestion would be committing voter fraud, a third-degree crime that could lead to a felony conviction.

Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes, in a September 18 email, called Trump’s suggestion “absurd.”

In the same email, Hughes offered reassurances about the safety of voting by mail.

“Don’t be distracted by baseless claims that seek to undermine the voting process,” he wrote. “Studies have shown that voting fraud in the United States is extremely rare, and states where voting now is done almost entirely by mail are said to report very little fraud.”

In fact, New Jersey compares signatures on mail-in ballots to those on file in the Statewide Voter Registration System. The Board of Elections also has processes in place to flag ballots for voters who are not registered, have passed away or do not live in the county or state.

“So we can set those aside for investigation and if need be rejection,” Board of Elections chairman Anthony Francioso, a Republican, wrote in an email.

Mercer County clerk Paula Sollami Covello, who is responsible for issuing vote-by-mail ballots in the county, said there See VOTING, Page 10

Election preview, Page 14

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Thanks to township, Colonial Lake Park will continue to be salve for the soul

By Jim Hooker

The pair of bald eagles that swept with great splendor into southern Lawrence Township’s Colonial Lake Park for daily feedings from the lake’s shallow waters had rarely, if ever, been seen there before their sudden appearance in the early, wintry months of 2018.

The great blue heron, stately and eyecatching in its own right with its cloak of blue-gray feathery elegance, had long held sway as the reigning exotic species, surveying its kingdom from atop the broad dam at the 25-acre troutstocked lake’s southeastern terminus.

The appearance of the pair of majestic eagles—sometimes joined by a third— in the skies and the tree tops surrounding the lake quickly and unceremoniously dislodged the great blue from its regal station as top bird in the eyes of many. Newcomers and regulars alike flocked to the park for a look at our nation’s awe-inspiring national symbol soaring overhead in search of prey.

As it turned out, the great blue heron ceded his spot for a good cause. The eagles arrived as if by divine intervention just as a grassroots effort was gathering steam to oppose a plan that was quietly being floated to build a threestory, 120-plus room extended stay hotel in an area that everyone thought was the park’s interior but instead was some 6 acres of woodland and open space privately owned by the proprietors of the Colonial Lanes, a nearby bowling alley that sits just behind a slice of the lake’s sparsely wooded northwest shoreline.

The great birds quickly became a lure for talented local photographers posting to the pro-conservation group’s Facebook page, Save Colonial Lake, which had ballooned to more than a thousand members. More wildlife photos followed—multi-colored wood ducks and diving osprey sharing space on the page with beaver swimming, a shy raccoon playfully climbing a tree, deer browsing, and kingfishers eyeing the water from a shoreline perch.

The park’s importance as a critical

wildlife habitat and recreation area—it also features three tennis courts, a children’s playground, an open field dotting several acres on the western end, and plenty of fishing—just a mile from the capital city border and directly alongside Business Route 1, began to gain traction and popularity, and thus defenders.

The groundswell of support grew for the township to buy the property by tapping into its own open space funds—raised by a special levy Lawrence taxpayers twice overwhelmingly approved by referendum in the late ‘90s and early 2000s.

The town council and manager Kevin Nerwinski weren’t legally permitted to say whether they’d support such a plan because the Sheft family, which owned the property, had the legal right to develop it under commercial zoning statutes. Any appeal from the developer that might flow from a denial of the plan by the township’s planning board would have had to go before then-Mayor Chris Bobbitt and the council; so members had to remain publicly neutral.

The citizen’s group continued to push their cause, gathering 5,000 change.org signatures while advocating at Town Hall, through their own social media, the local press, and among key individuals and conservation groups. These included former Mayor Pam Mount, who also heads the Lawrence Conservation Foundation; leading conservationist Jay Watson of Lawrence, who handled assessment and appraisal of the property while with the Princeton-based D&R Greenway Land Trust; the Lawrence Nature Center headed by Teresita Bastides-Heron, and Paul Larson, the indefatigable chairman of the town council’s Trails, Open Space and Stewardship Advisory Committee.

After many months of negotiation with the Shefts, the township announced a plan to purchase the property by cobbling together its own open space funds with generous commitments from Mercer County and State of New Jersey open space funds. The citizens’ group pledged to raise funds toward park improvements as well.

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But the final signing to complete the sale somehow remained stubbornly undone, leaving the deal in an apparent legal limbo that stretched for nearly two years.

During that time, the citizen’s group became a registered nonprofit, Friends of Colonial Lake Park, Inc. The Facebook page grew to more than 1,500 members, and its name was changed to Friends of Colonial Lake, since the park no longer officially needed saving.

The park became more popular than ever for the surrounding area during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, as options for recreation and entertainment became few and far between for individuals and families who needed a place to ease high levels of stress and worry.

Finally, the paperwork to seal the deal

for $3.65 million paid out over several annual installments was signed without ceremony by the Shefts and the township on July 17. The township issued a press release announcing the sale.

Meanwhile, the bald eagles continue to soar over the lake while the great blue herons and countless other wildlife offer unrivaled thrills to visitors daily. The setting brings an incalculable benefit to the people of Lawrence Township and Mercer County as both sanctuary and salve for the soul that the park has always been and now thankfully will continue to be.

Jim Hooker is president of the Friends of Colonial Lake Park and a member of the town council’s Trails, Open Space and Stewardship Advisory Committee.

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October 2020 | Lawrence Gazette3

INBOX

How to vote by mail in November’s general election Voting for the Nov. 3, 2020 general election will be markedly different than voting the traditional way of entering a voting booth and pressing the buttons next to your preferred candidates.

However, under COVID-19, using a mail-in ballot is the preferred choice in New Jersey. Voters in Mercer County will start to receive their mail-in ballots the week of Sept. 28, 2020. The Mercer County Clerk will mail every registered voter a mail-in ballot. The ballot can be returned via the United States Post Office, dropping in one of the secure ballot drop boxes located throughout the county, at your polling location and—as we get closer to the election—by hand delivering to the Mercer County Board of Elections.

If you wish to vote in person, a notice will be sent to your attention as to your polling location. In accordance with Executive Order No. 177, voting in person can occur in two-ways: (1) voting booth only if you qualify as a disabled voter; (2) you will be provided a paper ballot to complete.

To ensure the counting of your mailin ballot, please follow these rules to help in processing your ballot.

Register to vote: You have until Oct. 13 to register to vote. The Superintendent of Elections

is the office to contact to address any registration issues.

Do not remove the certificate: Your mail-in ballot will come with one outer envelope, one inner envelope, and the ballot. Once you complete your ballot, it is to be placed inside the envelope that has a detachable flap. Do not detach that flap.

Then insert the entire inner envelope in the pre-paid postage envelope that will allow for delivery to the Mercer County Board of Elections.

Complete and sign the certificate: The Mercer County Board of Elections will remove your signed certificate once we can match your signature. Your ballot is then placed with other ballots, so your vote will remain anonymous. The certificate is saved and archived.

Certification signature: If you registered to vote and think your signature has changed over time,

please update your signature on file.

You can download a voter registration application from the New Jersey Division of Elections website and check “Signature Update” at the top of the application.

If your signature does not match, you will receive a letter from the Mercer County Board of Elections, providing you with the opportunity to correct or cure your signature. Please complete and return this letter under the time frame permitted.

Completing your ballot: Please use blue or black ink only and follow the directions for filling-in the circle. A ballot is read by a computer scanner that tabulates votes, and it will not read red ink or pencil.

Counting your ballot: When your ballot is received and vetted, it will be placed with the ballots to be counted. The ballot will be separated from the inner envelope and

To ensure the counting of your ballot, follow these rules.

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4  Lawrence Gazette | October 2020

HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? The Lawrence Gazette welcomes letters to the editor. Please send your letters to editor Rob Anthes at ranthes@ communitynews.org. Deadline for our next issue is Oct. 15, 2020.

LAWRENCE GAZETTE EDITOR Rob Anthes (Ext. 124) CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Michele Alperin, Rich Fisher CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST Kevin Nerwinski ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Mark Nebbia (Ext. 115)

Community News Service 15 Princess Road, Suite K Lawrence, NJ 08648 Phone: (609) 396-1511 News: news@communitynews.org Events: events@communitynews.org Sports: sports@communitynews.org Letters: ranthes@communitynews.org Website: lawrencegazette.com Facebook: facebook.com/lawrencegazette Twitter: twitter.com/mercerspace

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Anthony Francioso, Esq., Chairman (Republican) Mary Corrigan, Secretary (Democrat) Anthony J. Conti (Republican) Jill Moyer (Democrat) The authors compose the Mercer County Board of Elections, the bipartisan board that oversees the collection of mail-in ballots and tabulates the results.

We are a newsroom of your neighbors. The Lawrence Gazette is for local people, by local people. As part of the community, the Gazette does more than just report the news—it connects businesses with their customers, organizations with their members and neighbors with one another. As such, our staff sets out to make our town a closer place by giving readers a reliable source to turn to when they want to know what’s going on in their neighborhood.

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placed in the group of ballots to be scanned. The ballots will be grouped by municipality. The ballot will be processed and read by a computer scanner. The scanning is supervised by the Mercer County Board of Elections and an outside vendor. The scanning system is a secure and private system.

Do not miss the deadline: If you plan on mailing your ballot, please make sure your ballot is postmarked no later than Nov. 3, 2020. If you decide to place your ballot in a secured ballot drop box or deliver in person, it must be placed in the drop box no later than 8 p.m. on Nov. 3, 2020.

An award-winning publication of Community News Service, LLC © Copyright 2020 All rights reserved.

CO-PUBLISHER Jamie Griswold

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HEALTH

OCTOBER 2020

@capitalhealthnj

HEADLINES

B I - M O N T H LY N E W S F R O M C A P I TA L H E A LT H

CAPITAL HEALTH BECOMES REGION’S

FIRST CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN ROBOTIC SURGERY Capital Health confirms its role as a nationally recognized health care leader with world-class expertise and advanced technology.

In August, Capital Health Medical Center- Hopewell was designated a Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery”by Surgical Review Corporation (SRC). The Center of Excellence accreditation distinguishes Capital Health as having met rigorous, internationally recognized standards in providing the safest, highest quality of care and surgical capabilities.

“Capital Health’s designation as a Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery affirms our commitment of providing patients along the Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York corridor with access to the most advanced medical technologies, expert physicians, and world-class, patient care close to home,” said DR. CATALDO DORIA, medical director of the Capital Health Cancer Center and physician director of the Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery.

Robotic-assisted surgery — sometimes referred to as highprecision surgery — may be an option to traditional surgery.

Considered minimally invasive, robotic-assisted surgery is known for its many benefits including smaller incisions, lower risk of infection, less pain, and faster recoveries. It can be used to as a treatment for many cancers, including colon, gynecologic, head and neck, liver, lung, prostate, and pancreatic cancers.

Under the direction of Dr. Doria, expertise within the hospital’s robotic surgery program has grown dramatically. In 2019, Capital Health’s surgeons performed more than 550 robotic surgery

cases, making it the leading hospital in the country for single robot cases. The surgical team has also expanded to include surgeons with highly specialized expertise including: … ASHLEE GODSHALK RUGGLES, MD, colorectal surgeon … ERIC MAYER, MD, director, Urologic Robotic Surgery, Capital Health – Urology Specialists … JOYCE VARUGHESE, MD, FACOG, medical director, Gynecologic Oncology … AFRICA F. WALLACE, MD, director, Thoracic Surgery As part of Capital Health’s commitment to provide the highest level of quality care and expertise, it recently invested in a dual console for its da Vinci® surgical platform to provide for a wider range of surgeries and its growing roster of surgeons with minimally invasive surgical experience. The dual console also enables a second surgeon to assist in surgeries and serves as a conduit for future surgical training.

To learn more Capital Health’s Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery, please visit capitalhealth.org.

Health Headlines by Capital Health | Lawrence Gazette5

CAPITAL HEALTH MEDICAL GROUP ADDS THREE FELLOWSHIP TRAINED RHEUMATOLOGISTS TO SPECIALTY PRACTICE Capital Health Medical Group recently welcomed DRS. WILLIAM TORELLI, SEHRIS KHAWAJA, and RISHI PATEL, fellowship trained rheumatologists, to its Capital Health – Rheumatology Specialists practice. With this expansion, Capital Health continues to meet an important need for diagnosing and treating autoimmune conditions and diseases that affect the joints, muscles and bones that cause pain, swelling, stiffness, and deformity.

William Torelli, DO

The new providers join Dr. Sajina Prabhakaran in the medical office building at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell, located at Two Capital Way, Suite 550, Pennington, New Jersey 08534. New offices will also open soon in Newtown, Pennsylvania and Bordentown, New Jersey.

“Rheumatology is a very complex area of specialization, and we’re pleased to have Dr. Khawaja, Dr. Patel and Dr. Torelli join our team,” said Dr. Joshua Eisenberg, chief medical officer of the Capital Health Medical Group. “Their training and experience add great depth to the services that are available at Capital Health – Rheumatology Specialists, and we’re pleased to offer the residents of our community a growing team of specialists to accurately diagnose these complicated conditions and develop personalized treatment plans that are carefully coordinated with referring physicians.”

DR. TORELLI received his medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and completed his internal medicine residency at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania. He was fellowship trained in rheumatology, including training in musculoskeletal ultrasound, at Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Torelli is a member of the American College of Physicians and the American Osteopathic Association.

DR. PATEL received his medical degree at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and completed his internal medicine residency at Cooper University Hospital/Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in Camden, New Jersey. He completed his rheumatology fellowship at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Medical Center, part of Northwell Health/Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra University in Great Neck, New York.

Fluent in English and Gujarati (and conversant in Hindi and Spanish), Dr. Patel is a member of the American College of Rheumatology and the American College of Physicians.

6Lawrence Gazette | Health Headlines by Capital Health

Rishi Patel, MD

Sehris Khawaja, DO

DR. KHAWAJA received her medical degree at West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her internal medicine residency at Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She was fellowship trained in rheumatology at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., during which time she also provided care for patients at the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Dr. Khawaja is a member of the American College of Rheumatology, American College of Physicians, and the Association of Women in Rheumatology.

Appointments with Dr. William Torelli, Dr. Sehris Khawaja, and Dr. Rishi Patel can be scheduled by calling 609.303.4360. For more information, visit capitalrheumatology.org.

The team at Capital Health – Rheumatology Specialists treats conditions that include (but are not limited to) rheumatoid arthritis, gout, pseudogout, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, psoriatic arthritis, enteropathic arthritis, lupus, Sjogren’s syndrome, mixed connective tissue disease, vasculitis, and scleroderma. With cutting-edge testing and imaging technology conveniently available under one roof at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell, the rheumatology team provides diagnoses and care plans tailored to each patient, which can include medication such as steroids, disease modifying agents, or biologics (genetically-engineered from human genes).

Other treatment options may include therapeutic ultrasound-guided joint aspirations and injections offered on an outpatient basis to help relieve pain and pressure. Through prescriptions and careful monitoring, the team at Capital Health – Rheumatology Specialists works with patients to reduce immune responsiveness, control the symptoms of their disease, and help prevent potential long-term complications.

Capital Health – Rheumatology Specialists is part of the larger Capital Health Medical Group, an extensive network of care with more than 400 primary and specialty care providers across three counties in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

For more information, visit capitalmedicalgroup.org.

Capital Health Earns

NATIONAL LGBTQ HEALTH CARE EQUALITY LEADER DESIGNATION Capital Health has earned designation as an LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader in the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) 2020 survey administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. HEI is the national LGBTQ benchmarking tool that evaluates health care facilities’ policies and practices related to the equity and inclusion of their Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) patients, visitors and employees. To earn this designation, Capital Health received an overall survey score of 100.

“Capital Health’s designation as an LGBTQ Health Care Equality Leader affirms our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in the care we deliver to our patients,

our relationship with the communities we serve and the support we provide for our employees,” said DR. ERIC I. SCHWARTZ, vice president of Community Health and Transformation and executive director of Capital Health’s Institute for Urban Care.

“We believe our diversity is our strength, and programs like our Pride Initiative help ensure that we provide a safe and inclusive environment for everyone, including our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer employees, patients and visitors.”

Every year, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation recognizes the health care facilities that participate in the HEI survey for their dedication and commitment to LGBTQ inclusion. Of the 765 health care facilities that participated in the 2020 survey, Capital Health was one of 495 to earn top honors as an LGBTQ Health Care

Keeping It Real With VIRTUAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR EXPECTING PARENTS In the best of times, preparing for the birth of a child can be a time of joy and anxiety. In the midst of a pandemic, the experience may seem overwhelming. To safely provide guidance and instruction during these uncertain times, Capital Health now offers virtual childbirth and parenting education programs on the popular Zoom platform.

“Capital Health is an established health care leader with a long history of helping families get off to healthy starts in Mercer, Burlington, and Bucks counties,” said Meredith Coronato, coordinator of Capital Health’s Childbirth and Parent Education Program. “The health and well-being of our community is always our top priority, so we’re taking our childbirth and parent education programs online in response to the COVID-19 crisis to make sure expecting parents safely get the information they need to keep their growing families on the road to good health.”

Capital Health’s Childbirth and Parent Education Program offers a range of classes to help prepare expecting mothers and partners to be the best parents possible by teaching them about the process of birth, how to care for their infants, and how to access sources of support following the birth of their babies. Classes are taught by experienced, certified childbirth educators and board certified lactation consultants using the remote Zoom format.

For a complete listing of program offerings, or to register for a class, visit capitalhealth.org/childbirth.

Equality Leader designation. Capital Health upholds a model of equality and respect for the LGBTQ community by providing a welcoming environment for LGBTQ clients, consumers, patients and staff; offering training opportunities to all employees to better serve the LGBTQ community; and implementing the Pride Initiative to demonstrate its commitment to inclusion to the community at large.

To learn more about Capital Health’s commitment to providing equitable health care to all patients regardless of sexual orientation, gender, race or religion, visit capitalhealth.org/pride.

UPCOMING VIRTUAL CHILDBIRTH AND PARENTING EDUCATION PROGRAMS BABY CARE BASICS VIRTUAL CLASS October 13, 2020 at 6 p.m.

November 10, 2020 at 6 p.m.

November 24, 2020 at 6 p.m.

December 8, 2020 at 6 p.m.

December 22, 2020 at 6 p.m.

Taught by an experienced, certified childbirth and parent educator, this class helps prepare first-time expectant parents to care for their newborn.

ASK THE LACTATION CONSULTANT AND CHILDBIRTH EDUCATOR Second Thursday of the Month at 2 p.m.

An opportunity for expectant parents to ask any questions they have about their upcoming birth experience at Capital Health.

UNDERSTANDING BIRTH ONE-DAY CONDENSED PREPARED VIRTUAL CHILDBIRTH CLASS October 10, 2020 at 9 a.m.

October 24, 2020 at 9 a.m.

November 7, 2020 at 9 a.m.

November 21, 2020 at 9 a.m.

December 5, 2020 at 9 a.m.

December 19, 2020 at 9 a.m.

Class is taught by an experienced, certified childbirth educator, this is an intensive day to prepare the expectant woman and her labor support person for the birth experience.

VIRTUAL NEW PARENT SUPPORT GROUP Mondays at 1 p.m.

The free support group for new parents with babies under one year old is facilitated by a board certified lactation consultant from Capital Health’s Lactation Center.

VIRTUAL PREPARED CHILDBIRTH 4-WEEK SERIES Beginning October 6, 2020 at 6:30 p.m.

Beginning November 6, 2020 at 6:30 p.m.

Beginning December 2, 2020 at 6:30 p.m.

Taught by an experienced, certified childbirth educator, this series consists of four weekly two-hour classes to prepare the expectant woman and her support person for the labor and birth experience.

UNDERSTANDING BREASTFEEDING VIRTUAL CLASS October 19, 2020 at 6 p.m.

November 2, 2020 at 6 p.m.

November 16, 2020 at 6 p.m.

November 30, 2020 at 6 p.m.

December 7, 2020 at 6 p.m.

Taught by a board certified lactation consultant from Capital Health’s Lactation Center, this class is taken before the birth of the baby.

Health Headlines by Capital Health | Lawrence Gazette7

Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists is now scheduling appointments in Bordentown (1 Third Street), but will eventually move to the new, state-of-the-art Capital Health – Bordentown facility (pictured above). Appointments are also available in Hamilton.

NEW OFFICE IN BORDENTOWN FOR CAPITAL HEALTH

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists, part of Capital Health Medical Group, is now scheduling appointments at a new office location at 1 Third Street, Bordentown, New Jersey 08505 (just off Park Street). Current and new patients can now see DRS. CHRISTI WESTON and ARVIND BHASKER, as well as licensed clinical social workers KRISTIN CARDONA-COCCIA and CHELSEA HOAGLAND, at the new secondary location. The phone number is 609.689.5725 and office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

“During these unprecedented times, many people are facing a variety of mental health challenges,” said Dr. Christi Weston, medical director of Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists.

“We’re happy to expand our presence in Burlington County and make access to this important area of specialization more convenient to those who need it most in that part of Capital Health’s service area.”

As part of Capital Health’s expansion into Burlington County, construction of its multi-specialty Capital Health – Bordentown facility is nearing completion. Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists will eventually relocate to this new, state-of-the art building, which is currently home to Capital Health Primary Care – Bordentown and specialists from Rothman Orthopaedic Institute.

According to the National Institutes for Health, more than 44 million adults in the United States are living with a mental health issue, yet less than half of them receive treatment. Addressing the need for behavioral health services in our community, the team at Capital Health Behavioral Health Specialists provides compassionate psychiatric care and counseling services in a warm, calming environment. The team of highly skilled psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists and advanced practice clinicians use innovative treatment modalities to help people overcome obstacles and lead healthier, happier lives. They diagnose and treat a broad range of behavioral health conditions and offer a variety of psychotherapy groups that provide safe, comfortable and non-judgmental spaces to help people connect with others who share similar struggles and together learn skills to improve their lives.

To schedule an appointment with a Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists provider at their Hamilton or Bordentown locations, call 609.689.5725 or visit capitalhealth.org/behavioralhealth for more information.

8Lawrence Gazette | Health Headlines by Capital Health

Therapy for Adults Experiencing Depression SHIFT: Group Thursdays | 2 p.m. | Location: Zoom Meetings* Facilitator: Kristen Cardona – Coccia *You will receive Zoom meeting details after registration is complete.

SHIFT will teach you new, healthier ways of thinking, feeling and behaving while you gain new perspectives on how to manage your depression.

Group therapy provides benefits that individual therapy may not. Psychologists say, in fact, that group members are almost always surprised by how rewarding the group experience can be. Groups can act as a support network and a sounding board. Other members of the group often help you come up with specific ideas for improving a difficult situation or life challenge, and hold you accountable along the way.

Regularly talking and listening to others also helps you put your own problems in perspective. Oftentimes, you may feel like you are the only one struggling — but you’re not.

It can be a relief to hear others discuss what they’re going through and realize you’re not alone. … Fatigue or loss of energy almost every day SYMPTOMS … Feelings of worthlessness or guilt of DEPRESSION almost every day may include: … Impaired concentration, indecisiveness … Insomnia or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping) almost every day … Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in almost all activities nearly every day (called anhedonia, this symptom can be indicated by reports from significant others) … Restlessness or feeling slowed down … Recurring thoughts of death or suicide … Significant weight loss or gain (a change of more than 5 percent of body weight in a month) The time to SHIFT to a healthier, happier you is now.

To sign up, call Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists at 609.689.5725. This group therapy program will be billed to your health insurance.

BASEBALL continued from Page 1 eventual champ Robbinsville played just four games, and had a huge pitching advantage.

“It would have been so much different if we won that first game,” said pitcher/ first baseman Aiden Crowley, the manager’s son and team’s top performer.

“We would have had the advantage.

Starting off in the loser’s bracket you have to pitch your pitchers a ton.”

Crowley was one of the top hurlers in the tournament but unfortunately ran into an equal on opening night. In the district’s most anticipated first-round match-up, Sunnybrae’s Josh Klena threw a one-hitter with 13 strikeouts in a 2-0 win. Klena outdueled Crowley, who allowed just one earned run.

“We knew who we were facing that first game,” Mike Crowley said. “We were tight. We were facing one of the two best pitchers in the tournament, and he pitched like it. We played a helluva game and gave up one earned run and that was enough to lose. You put yourself in that hole right away and you know it’s a long week ahead of you.”

The coaching staff—which included Martin Sumners, Sean Willever and onthe-field strategy coach Ken Dobkin— stressed that the players could only focus on one inning at a time and not worry about the big picture.

“We knew we just had to win,” said catcher Connor Willever, whose brother Ryan, a former Lawrence High player, threw some batting practice to acclimate the youngsters to faster pitching. “We had to hit, score runs, play defense and try and get to the championships.”

The road back started with a 21-0 win over HTRBA. Crowley didn’t just have a career day, he had an entire career by going 4-for-4 with three home runs, two grand slams and 11 RBI. Drew Dobkin, whose grandfather, Bernard F. Rogers Jr., passed away just hours after the victory, went 4-for-4 with three RBI. Deacon Moore pitched a four-inning three-hitter and had three hits along with Willever.

“After the game I told Aiden ‘I just want you to know you sucked tonight, you didn’t hit four grand slams, you only hit two,’” his dad said with a laugh.

That was followed by a 9-1 win over West Windsor in which Crowley threw a three-hitter with 6 strikeouts and Willever had two RBI. Unfortunately for Lawrence, due to the pitch-count rule Crowley would not be able to pitch again unless LLL made it to the winnertake-all “if” game.

“He came into his own this year,” Mike Crowley said. “His control improved.

He’s never had that before. He’s always thrown pretty hard but the control came this year.”

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Next up was East Windsor in a rivalry that always caused a few upset stomachs.

“Every game with them ends in some sort of craziness,” Crowley said. “The last time we played them in a district game they had a walk-off win against us.”

It was time for revenge. Shane Mitchell’s two-run double helped get the game to extra innings and, in the bottom of the eighth, Crowley doubled home slickfielding second baseman Shane Sumners for a pulsating victory.

That set up a rematch with Sunnybrae, which was coming off a winner’s bracket final loss to Robbinsville. The ‘Brae had used Klena the night before and opted not to start its second best hurler against Lawrence.

What unfolded will rank as one of the most memorable nights in LLL District 12 history.

In the bottom of the second Aiden Poot singled and Dobkin, who had come straight from his grandfather’s funeral, walloped a two-run home run.

Two innings later, Crowley singled, Poot was hit by a pitch and Dobkin dropped a triple down the right field line and eventually scored on David Holland’s single.

Moore went on to pitch a six-hit, 5-0 shutout in a game that would make movie script writers proud.

The victory was dedicated to Rogers, whose photo hung in the dugout.

“It was amazing,” Aiden Crowley said.

“It was very emotional. Drew was actually crying.”

“We played Sunnybrae in travel ball and in districts and we never won until that night,” Mike Crowley added. “Then

you have the Dobkin story. That whole emotion was built into everything; people were crying because of what Drew did.”

Not to be overlooked was Moore.

“Deacon has been a very good pitcher,” Cowley said. “He’s been our guy for the past several years so he’s always been solid. He’s got the best control and best location on the team. And Poot, who’s been one of our third or fourth starters, really blossomed this year.”

But a perfect storm worked completely against Lawrence in the finals on Saturday, Sep. 12. The players were emotionally drained after Dobkin’s big night, but had to return in just 13 hours to meet well-rested Robbinsville. They also did not have Crowley, Moore or Poot available to pitch. Nor was Dobkin or his dad there, as a larger celebration of his grandfather’s life was being held that day.

“Just the emotion that went into Friday night, and to come in and have to play first thing in the morning, you could see there was nothing left,” Mike Crowley said.

Throw in the fact Robbinsville had played just three games to Lawrence’s five and had its top two pitchers available, and it’s not surprising that RLL scored early and often en route to a 14-1 victory.

“It was really tough coming back after last night,” Aiden Crowley said. “Plus we didn’t have Drew today after he did his thing last night, that hurt us.”

As it is, Lawrence Township has plenty to feel proud about when it comes to their young players.

“They just kept fighting,” Mike Crowley said.

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Lawrence resident Joey DeLauretis of BSA Troop 27 completed his Eagle Scout project near the Nature Center at Washington Crossing State Park. The scouts built a walkway where the trail frequently washes out by repurposing wood from a railroad bridge, making for a better experience for hikers and joggers on the trail. Pictured are (front) Ryan Fobare, Nickola Langford, (back) Ryan McGann, CJ Caponi, Joey DeLauretis, Alex Scarlota, Caleb Collins and Sean Geherty.

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October 2020 | Lawrence Gazette9

VOTING continued from Page 1 has never been an incidence of fraud in Mercer County involving vote-by-mail.

In fact, the number of voters who wish to permanently vote by mail has grown “markedly” in recent years, Sollami Covello said.

Voting fraud is exceedingly rare in the United States, whether for mail-in ballots or otherwise. Conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, which maintains a database of fraudulent voting incidences, found 204 cases of fraudulent use of mail Family and Elder Law ballots among the 250 million votes cast Asset Protection by-mail ballot nationally. Of these, 143 resulted in criminal convictions.

- Wills Overall, there were 1,200 cases of - Living Wills voter fraud, or 0.000006 percent of total - Trusts votes cast. It equals about one case per - Power of Attorney state every six or seven years. Accord- Divorce ing to the database, New Jersey has - Child Support seen 16 instances of voter fraud since - Real Estate Closing 2003, with nine criminal convictions.

Another piece of disinformation used (609) 882-2200 • 903 Parkway Avenue • Ewing, NJ 08618 to denigrate voting by mail comes again Klgscottb@verizon.net from the president, who claimed in April that if the United States switched to allmail voting “you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again.” In an Aug. 26 article in “Science” magazine, Warren Cornwall reported on two independent studies that refute this claim.

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PRINCETON, NJ SPRUCE STREET National Vote At Home Institute COLD SOIL ROAD TRENTON FARMER’S MARKET PRINCETON, NJ SPRUCE STREET national policy director Audrey Kline works with election officials to optimize administrative processes and laws for both mail and in-person votCOLD SOIL ROAD TRENTON FARMER’S MARKET SOIL ROAD TRENTON FARMER’S MARKET ing. She’s noticed a cultural divide ully stocked farm COLD store open daily with safety measures PRINCETON, NJ SPRUCE STREET PRINCETON, NJ SPRUCE STREET between the eastern and western United States, where mail-in ballots STAY HEALTHY WITH FRESH & LOCAL FOOD STAY HEALTHY WITH FRESH &FARMER’S LOCAL COLD SOIL ROAD TRENTON MARKET FOOD have been far more common than in PRINCETON, NJ SPRUCE STREET measures Fully stocked farm store open daily with safety Fully stocked farm store open daily with safety measures the East, more so than a partisan one COLD SOIL ROAD TRENTON FARMER’S MARKET when it comes to mail-in ballots.

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complete the ballot by carefully following instructions and then choosing one of several ways to ensure its arrival at the Board of Elections.

Below is a guide to voting in Mercer County in the Nov. 3 election, where we explain the process, as well as providing details on how to register or update your registration and how to check online to ensure your ballot has arrived.

Who can vote?

To vote, you must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years old on election day, and a resident of Mercer County for 30 days before the election. New Jersey citizens on parole and probation may register and vote in all elections, although currently incarcerated individuals may not.

Make sure you are registered Voters in the Nov. 3 election must be registered by October 13, 2020.

Active, registered voters began receiving mail-in ballots the week of Sept. 28.

But what if you are not an active voter? “Inactive voters”—those for whom official election mail was returned to election officials or those who have not voted in two consecutive federal elections—are still considered registered. If you do not receive a ballot, contact the Mercer County Clerk’s office at vote@mercercounty.org or by phone at (609) 989-6465. Alternatively, complete a provisional (paper) ballot at your polling place on Election Day. To register to vote (or to submit a name change, an address change, a signature update, or a change in political party affiliation or non-affiliation), you must either complete a paper voter registration application and return it to the Superintendent of Elections, 640 S. Broad Street, PO Box 8068, Trenton, NJ 08650, or register online at voter.svrs.nj.gov/register, where you can click on “Register to Vote!” to access both of these options.

Sollami Covello is also advising residents to update or verify their voter registration information with a current physical address. If a voter will be away between late September and Election Day, please apply to vote by mail ahead of time, noting the special temporary mailing address required.

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Complete your ballot carefully and on time

Along with your mail-in ballot, you will also find an outer envelope with prepaid postage that will allow delivery to the Mercer County Board of Elections and an inner envelope with a detachable flap (do not detach this flap but be sure to sign it; election officials will detach it later as part of the secure counting process). After you complete your ballot and sign the flap, you will place your completed ballot inside the envelope that has the flap; the last step will be to insert the entire inner envelope inside the outer envelope.

Make sure to use only blue or black ink when filling in the circles by the candidates of your choice—because the computer scanner that reads the ballots and tabulates the votes will only read blue or black ink; it does not read red ink or pencil.

Submit your ballot or vote in-person After completing your ballot, you have four options for submitting it: (1) Mail it via the U.S. Postal Service; check mail pick-up times on the post-office box where you submit your ballot, which must be postmarked by Election Day, Nov. 3, to be counted; however, the ballot will be counted as long as it is received by Nov. 10.

(2) Drop it in a secured drop box (monitored 24/7 by camera) by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3 at one of 15 Mercer County loca-

tions. A complete list of drop box locations appears at the end of this article.

Given recent issues in the news about the U.S. Postal Service, Kline says, “Drop boxes are a really important option because it gives people a little bit of an extra option but also they get that confidence level a little higher.”

(3) Hand-deliver your ballot to the Mercer County Board of Elections at 640 South Broad Street in Trenton.

This option will not be available initially, but Francioso said the board will accept in-person drop offs at their office closer to Election Day. (4) Hand-deliver your ballot at your polling place on Election Day. The Board of Elections will mail residents the location of their polling place via postcard at least one week prior to the election; each municipality will have at least one polling place open on Election Day. If none of these four options do not work for you, you may go to your polling place on Nov. 3 and complete a provisional (paper) ballet between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. Provisional ballots will be checked against the records of mail-in ballots to ensure that people do not vote twice.

Ewing councilwoman Jennifer Keyes-Maloney said there is a need for matching signatures—both because of potential fraud but also because double voting may be unintended.

“My father had Alzheimer’s,” she said. “I could see him filling out voteby-mail and then he knows he needs to vote on Election Day and goes to [his polling place],” she said.

If you’re voting in person, check to

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What if your signature has changed over time?

Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello recommends that New Jersey voters make sure the signature they registered with looks the same as the one they use today—noting in particular elderly people, those with Parkinson’s disease or even people who registered at age 18 and are now 35. If you are concerned that your signature has changed over time, you need to update your signature on file by submitting a voter registration application and checking “signature update” on top of the application.

If your ballot signature does not appear to match the one on file, the Board of Elections will inform you of this by mail and give you a chance to correct your signature—but you must complete and return their letter within the permitted time frame.

postal system or in a drop box, you can ascertain online whether your ballot has arrived where it belongs. But this requires a little advanced preparation.

Before you can register for the Public Access, where you can check to ensure that your ballot has been received and recorded, you will need your Voter ID number if you registered before 2005 or you will need either your driver’s license number or social security number if you registered after 2005.

To get your Voter ID number, contact Catherine DiCostanzo at (609) 989-6750 or cdicostanzo@mercercounty.org.

To actually register for the Public Access system, go to voter.svrs. nj.gov/auth/sign-up, where you will need to provide your name, date of birth, as well as the ID number appropriate for you. The system will also allow you to see your election history, mail-in ballot history, and provisional ballot history, as well as information about your polling place, upcoming election dates, voting district information, and county election officials.

Counting the votes

The Board of Elections and an outside vendor supervise the scanning of ballots, according to Francioso. The board asserts that “the scanning system is a secure and private system.”

First, the Board of Elections ensures that your signature on the flap of the Track your ballot online inner envelope matches the signature contained within the Statewide Voter If you are worried that somehow Registration System. Only then is the flap your ballot might get lost either in the See VOTING, Page 12

MEET

Gregory

FOR LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION

make sure where your polling place will be; there will be fewer polling places this election, Keyes-Maloney says, both because the election is mostly by-mail and because poll workers, who are often seniors, have been harder to come during the pandemic.

If you have a documented audio or visual impairment, voting machines will be available as an accommodation under the The Americans With Disabilities Act.

Gregory

VOTE TUESDAY NOVEMBER

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VOTING continued from Page 11 detached, saved and archived, and your vetted ballot is placed with other ballots, grouped by municipality. This ensures that your vote will remain anonymous.

The mail-in voting process still has the potential for problems, although New Jersey has taken steps to avert these.

Princeton University computer science professor Andrew Appel, an election security expert, has explored the vote-bymail process and what might go wrong in three posts on the Freedom to Tinker website, hosted by Princeton University’s Center for Technology Policy.

New Jersey, which is facing its first general election using largely vote-bymail ballots, has had to adjust its laws, Appel writes, to allow processing of the envelopes in the weeks before Nov. 3.

This is critically important to ensure that all ballots are counted safely and on-time. States facing large numbers of mail-in ballots, Appel writes, “can’t process all the ballot envelopes on November 3rd—it’s just too labor intensive.”

This early processing of ballots allows some ballot problems to be fixed; for example, if the signature on the envelope flap does not match the signature on file, the voter can be contacted and allowed to fix the ballot.

At a time when postal service has been unusually slow, New Jersey will be counting mail-in ballots that arrive by Nov. 10, as long as they are postmarked by Nov. 3. States that do not accept ballots that arrive after Election Day—even if they are postmarked by Election Day—“may disenfranchise many voters,” Appel

writes. On the other hand, he adds, states like New Jersey that do count ballots as long as they arrive before a preset date may face a different type of problem if the late-arriving ballots shift the election to a different candidate.

These are issues states will have to work through, as Kline suggests that mail-in voting may be the way of the future. In West Coast states, which have used mail-in ballots more, Kline says, “People like it. It is seen as a convenient option. It’s seen as good government.”

Once a state shifts to 60-70% usage of mail-in ballots, it becomes more effective to proactively mail ballots to all voters, Kline said. Both Montana, where any registered voter may vote by absentee ballot, and Arizona, where any registered voter may make a onetime request to get a ballot by mail for all future elections, reached this level of mail-in voting before the pandemic.

In Nevada, election law states that any registered voter may request an absentee ballot for a particular election or may ask to receive an absentee ballot for all elections at which they are eligible to vote. Kline said she spoke with a member of the League of Women Voters in Nevada after the state had done a mostly vote-by-mail election for the first time, and while the state experienced “little hiccups,” officials were generally pleased with the process.

New Jersey has been trending toward a mostly vote-by-mail election the past few years, even without the pandemic.

New Jersey voters can get a ballot for any reason and can be put on the vote-

MERCER COUNTY

LOW-INCOMEMERCER HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP) COUNTY MERCER COUNTY

2020-2021 PROGRAM October 1, 2020 2017-2018BEGINS 2017-2018 ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

The County of Mercer will be accepting applications for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for the 2020-21 season beginning October 1, 2020.

Mercer County will continue accepting applications for the Universal Service Fund (USF) Program year. Residents pay their ownHome heating costs, and meet The Countythroughout of Mercer willthe be accepting applicationswho for the Low-Income Energy Assistance until 31, 2018.

Mercerfinancial County willassistance the following income guidelines, may be eligible to applications receive with their TheProgram County of(LIHEAP) Mercer will beMay accepting for the Low-Income Home continue accepting applications for the Universal Service Fund (USF) Program Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) until May 31, Mercer to County will winter heating bill. Residents with medical conditions may also2018. be eligible receive throughout the year.

Residents who pay their own heating costs, and Service meet theFund (USF) Program continue accepting applications for the Universal cooling assistance:

PROGRAM EXTENDED UNTIL MAY 31

PROGRAM EXTENDED UNTIL MAY 31

following incomethroughout guidelines, may be eligible to receive assistance with their the year.

Residents whofinancial pay their own heating costs, and meet the winter heating bill.

Residents with medical conditions may also be receive assistance with their MONTHLY INCOME GUIDELINES following income guidelines, may be eligible to eligible receivetofinancial cooling assistance.

Dana DRAKE

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12  Lawrence Gazette | October 2020

winter heating bill. Residents with medical conditions may also be eligible to receive

Household Size cooling assistance.

1

USF Program

LIHEAP Program

$1,967

$2,127

MONTHLY INCOME GUIDELINES

MONTHLY INCOME Household Size USF Program LIHEAPGUIDELINES Program $2,658 2 $2,873 1 $1,759 $2,010 Household Size USF Program LIHEAP Program 2 $2,369 $2,707 $3,349 $1,759 $3,404 3 $3,620 $2,010 1 3 $2,978 4 $3,588 2 $2,707 $4,039 $2,369 $4,100 4 $4,367 $3,404 5 $4,198 3 $2,978 $4,797 6 $4,807 $5,494 4 $3,588 $4,730 5 $5,113 $4,100 7 $5,417 5 $4,198 $6,190 $4,797 8 $6,026 $6,887 $5,421 $4,807 6 6 $5,860 $5,494 9 $6,636 $7,584 7 $5,417 $6,190 10 $7,245 $7,935 $6,111 7 $6,607

8 $6,026 $6,887 9 $7,584 $6,802 $6,636 $7,353 10 contact the Mercer County $7,245 To request an application please Housing and Community $7,935 * Federal income limits are subject to change during the program year.

Development Office at (609) 989-6858 or during (609)the 989-6959.

Applications also be *Federal income limits are subject to change program year.

Please call can for incomes above 8 persons. obtained by visiting the Housing office at 640 South Broad Street, 1st floor, Room Due 106, to Covid-19 restrictions, time the public will only ableCounty to enter the building on an as To request at an this application please contact the be Mercer Housing and Community Trenton, NJ 08650. needed basis by appointment only.

If anatin-person appointment is 989-6959. necessary, Applications clients can call Development Office (609) 989-6858 or (609) can609-337also be st 0933 or email heatingappt@mercercounty.org to schedule an appointment. floor, Room obtained by visiting the Housing office at 640 South Broad Street, 1 Locations & Hours: Hamilton Office - County Connection 106, Trenton, NJ 08650. Hamilton Square Shopping Center Trenton Office Beginning October 1, 2020 the County will temporarily be operating an outdoor informational center adjacent to 640 South Broad Street – Rm 106 957 Highway 33 at Paxson Avenue the 640 South Broad Street building. Clients will be able to drop off applications and access information from Trenton, NJ 08650 Hamilton, NJ 08690 Hamilton Office - County Connection Locations & Hours: LIHEAP staff. – 4:30pm M-F 8:30am Tues & Thurs 10:00am-12:00pm (by appt. only) Center Trenton Office Hamilton Square Shopping Saturdays – 4/7 & 5/5 (Wednesday open until 6:30pm) The County will continue to receive applications up until the deadline of Highway July 31,33 2021 by regular mail, fax, 640 South Broad Street – Rm 106 957 at Paxson Avenue 10:00am-1:00pm (walk-ins) Trenton,forms, NJ 08650 08690 and email. Applications, and information can be accessed atHamilton, this site: NJhttp://www.mercercounty.org/ M-F 8:30am – 4:30pm Tues & Thurs 10:00am-12:00pm (by appt. only) departments/housing-community-development/housing-and-community-development-programs Board of Chosen Edward Pattik Saturdays – 4/7 & 5/5 (Wednesday open until 6:30pm) Freeholders Housing Director (walk-ins) Applications can be sent by regular mail, fax, and email: 10:00am-1:00pm * Federal income limits are subject to change during the program year.

8

Mercer County LIHEAP/USF Programs Edward Pattik 106 Housing Director P.O. Box 8068 Trenton, NJ 08650-0068 Brian M. Hughes, County Executive email address: housing@mercercounty.org Fax: 609-278-2758 Board of Chosen Edward Pattik Brian M. Hughes, County Executive Freeholders Housing Director Brian M. Hughes, County Executive Board of Chosen 640 S. Broad St, Room Freeholders

by-mail list permanently. But the state isn’t at the 60-70% participation level that experts like Kline look for yet.

“We were really, really excited to see New Jersey take the full step and just say, ‘You know what? We think that we have enough information, we have secure enough processes that we are going to proactively mail ballots to everyone. And then create other options to handle any issues that come up from that,’” Kline said in June, before New Jersey’s primary.

To further guard against fraud, Kline’s organization is recommending risk-limiting audits for the state, statistical audits that were piloted in New Jersey in several county-level elections in 2019. The audits were piloted as one measure to force New Jersey to abandon its decades-old, paperless touchscreen voting machines in exchange for a voting process that included a more-secure method of voting and a paper trail. Election security experts, like Appel, have been raising the alarm about New Jersey’s voting machines for 15 years now, and urging the state to move to a process that produces a paper trail and can be audited.

Thought it isn’t what anyone envisioned when the year started, the state’s vote-by-mail 2020 general election does just that: produces results with an auditable paper trail.

“Vote-by-mail is very secure,” Kline said. “[Fraud] is just deeply, exceedingly rare. I heard somebody say from the Brennan Center…that you’re more likely to get struck by lightning than to commit voting fraud.”

List of ballot drop boxes for Mercer County

FAMILY DENTISTRY • IMPLANTS • ORTHODONTICS

East Windsor Police Station – 80 One Mile Road, East Windsor Ewing Municipal Building – 2 Jake Garzio Drive, Ewing, in front of the building, to open Oct. 5.

Hamilton Golf Center – 5 Justice Samuel A. Alito Way, Hamilton Hamilton Municipal Building – 2090 Greenwood Ave., Hamilton, to open Oct. 5.

Nottingham Fire House – 200 Mercer St., Hamilton Square, to open Oct. 5.

Hightstown Fire House #1 – 140 N. Main St., Hightstown, to open Oct. 5.

Hopewell Township Administration Building – 201 Washington Crossing – Pennington Road, Titusville (at the intersection of Scotch Road).

Lawrence Municipal Building – 2207 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrence (right side of building), to open Oct. 5.

Princeton Municipal Building – 400 Witherspoon St., Princeton Robbinsville Municipal Building – 2298 Route 33, Robbinsville, to open Oct. 5.

Mercer County Courthouse Annex – 209 S. Broad St., Trenton (in front of County Clerk’s Office).

Trenton City Hall – 319 E State St., Trenton (in back, near Municipal Clerk’s Office), to open Oct. 5.

Henr y J. Austin Center – 321 N. Warren St., Trenton, to open Oct. 5.

Trenton Central High School – 400 Chambers St., Trenton, open Oct. 5.

West Windsor Municipal Building – 271 Clarksville Road, West Windsor, to open Oct. 5.

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October 2020 | Lawrence Gazette13

ELECTION 2020

Crowded field vies for three Board of Ed seats Compiled by Rob Anthes

Nine candidates hope to finish at the front of a crowded field in the race for three seats on the Lawrence Township Board of Education. The top three vote-getters will each receive a 3-year term on the board.

The candidates are Tabitha M. Bellamy-McKinley, incumbent Michele Bowes, Heather Camp, incumbent Dana R. Drake, Patricia Hendricks Farmer, Gregory G. Johnson, Olufunmilola “Funmi” Ladigbolu, incumbent Cathy LeCompte and Jasmine Surti.

Tabitha M. Bellamy-McKinley, 43, is the National Assessment of Educational Progress state coordinator for the New Jersey Department of Education. Bellamy-McKinley holds a bachelor’s in biology from Howard University, a master’s in education from George Washington University, a master’s in educational psychology from the University of Georgia and a doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Georgia. She is a Lawrence High School Varsity Football Booster, a LHS Cheer Booster, a former PTO board member at Ben Franklin and Lawrence Intermediate School and member at Lawrenceville Elemen-

tary School, a current LMS/LHS PTO member and a Project Graduation member. Bellamy-McKinley is also a member of the Mercer County Chapter of Jack and Jill of America and the Omega Zeta Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She serves as president of the National Consortium of State and Regional Educational Research Associations, a special interest group lead within the American Educational Research Association, and is a member of the Northeastern Educational Research Association.

Michele Bowes, 52, has been a member of the Lawrence Township Board of Education since 2016. She is a licensed social worker at SLRC. Bowes earned her bachelor’s in psychology from New York University and a master’s in social work from Columbia University. Over the last decade, she has been involved with school PTOs and the Lawrence Township Education Foundation, served on parent committees and as chair for school book fairs and volunteered as a manager for Lawrence Hamnett Soccer.

Heather Camp, 42, works in civic and community engagement in higher education, most recently as director of community engaged learning at The College of New Jersey. She holds a bach-

elor’s in social work from Calvin College and a master’s in social work from Columbia University. She has served as Lawrenceville Elementary School PTO vice president, on the diversity, inclusion and community engagement committee for Mercer County Courts, as a recreational coach and travel team assistant coach for Lawrence Hamnett Soccer Association, and a grant application reviewer for Sustainable Jersey Sustainable Schools and Mercer County Health and Human Services.

Dana R. Drake, 41, has served on the Lawrence Township Board of Education since 2014. She works as human resources director at New Jersey Infrastructure Bank. Drake holds an associate’s in accounting and a bachelor’s in business and human resources management. She is involved with the Lawrence Township Education Foundation, Millhill Child and Family Development Center, and Adath Israel.

Patricia Hendricks Farmer, 52, is a business associate at Princeton Montessori School. A graduate of Lawrence High School, she holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations from Temple University. She is a FVP of Eggerts Crossing Civic League, co-chair of Princeton Common Ground and a former vice president of New Jer-

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14  Lawrence Gazette | October 2020

Bellamy-McKinley

Bowes

sey Urban Bankers Association.

Gregory G. Johnson, 59, is an attorney. A graduate of Trenton Central High School, Johnson holds a bachelor’s from Florida State University and a juris doctorate from Rutgers University School of Law–Camden. He is a current board member for the Capital Region Minority Chamber of Commerce, and a former board member for the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce. He has volunteered for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mercer County, as a board member for the Lawrence Neighborhood Center and as a coach for recreation basketball and soccer teams in the township. He is a deacon at Union Baptist Church of Trenton. Johnson formerly served as a Lawrence Township committeeperson from District 12.

Olufunmilola “Funmi” Ladigbolu, 39, is an IT administrator. She holds a bachelor’s in psychology from the College of Saint Elizabeth, a master’s in clinical psychology from Long Island University and a master’s in public administration from Pennsylvania State University. Ladigbolu is a board member of Multinational Transitional Housing Program Inc. (a homeless transition program), co-founder of Transformative Love (a community outreach program), and holds roles in various faith-based organizations.

Cathy LeCompte, 61, has served on the Lawrence Township Board of Education since January 2019. She is a marketing designer for Trimble MAPS in Princeton. She holds a BFA in graphic design from Syracuse University. During the past 22 years, LeCompte has been PTO president, served on multiple district parent committees, been involved with the Lawrence Township Education Foundation, Lawrenceville Main Street, Lawrence Hamnett and served on the board of the Lawrenceville Swimming Association.

Jasmine Surti, 43, works in banking as a senior manager of governance and controls. She holds a bachelor’s in liberal arts from Eugene Lang College, and a MBA in project management from Lehigh University. Surti has volunteered as a Girl Scout parent, a Womanspace Domestic Violence Response Team member and a Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America volunteer leader.

The Lawrence Gazette provided the same three policy questions to each candidate, who then had a week to formulate written responses. The first responses from the candidates to the first two questions appear below. Due to space constraints, responses to the third question—“Why should voters elect you?—will appear only online, at communitynews.org.

Camp

Drake

Hendricks Farmer

1. In August, the district announced its intention to begin the school year with remote learning.

With its decision, the district administration released a detailed document on how it plans to conduct this academic year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Would you change anything from that plan? What conditions would you need to return children to hybrid/in-person learning?

Should students wear masks during in-person instruction?

Bellamy-McKinley: The plan lacked proper support for successful implementation. There should be some kind of tech services for students, parents and teachers. Though the Zoom platform has been deployed throughout the country, without proper training, those end users cannot fully access the capabilities to be able to troubleshoot if and when problems arise.

It is almost impossible to determine what would be absolutely necessary to return for in-person instruction.

There are many variables to consider, such as the mobility of students within their families, access to healthcare and proper procedures being followed within the home. The goal however, should be safety.

Bowes: The administration put together a strong and detailed plan that I feel is best given the many challenges that we are facing. The administration worked tirelessly over the summer to make the virtual learning as effective as possible. While it has only been two weeks since the start of school, I believe we made the right decision. The administration continually evaluates the situation to return to school. I feel getting small groups back to school such as special education students, and more opportunities in school for sports, music and extracurricular activities when possible. We all want students back in school. It is difficult to say exactly what conditions would be needed to return to school.

However, if the number of cases are low and the ventilation is good, social distancing and masks will be required.

We also need to be able to transport students safely on the bus and have a strong plan for when a student and staff are sick.

Camp: I believe the August plan, and its execution this fall, has been a significant improvement from the spring, as it has provided more live instruction and smaller breakouts.

However, remote learning is still challenging for elementary children and those with special needs. I would like to see smaller class sizes or children

Johnson

Ladigbolu

taught regularly in smaller breakout groups. The district could also find creative solutions to help children, classmates and teachers form relationships, such as outdoor, socially distanced meet-ups. In order to return, state and federal guidelines and ventilation must be ensured for parents, and masks should be worn.

Drake: Starting the year with remote learning and childcare/learning centers was the right decision.

It prioritizes the safety of students, staff, and our community. Districts that chose hybrid learning are facing COVID-19 outbreaks and switching to remote. The only change I would make is providing easier access (financial, scheduling) to the childcare/learning centers so parents can return to work.

When moving to hybrid learning, the district must consider state rules, local transmission rates, building conditions, teacher’s concerns/safety, bussing, and the financial implications of the plan. Anyone in a school building (students, staff, parents) should wear a

Expires: 10-31-20

LeCompte

Surti

mask; it’s required in New Jersey.

Hendricks Farmer: One significant change I would have made to the plan would have been to allow special needs students to attend in-person school immediately. These students require additional instructional support and parents are not equipped with the special skills needed to provide adequate education.

In order to have hybrid/in-person learning we would need proper Personal Protection Equipment for faculty, staff and students, create cohort classrooms with a 25% of the student population and implement, temperature taking, monitoring of absences, and outdoor classrooms.

Students should be required to wear masks during in-person instruction.

Johnson: Protecting our students, families and staff is our first priority. I firmly believe that the Governor of New Jersey has done an excellent job providing guidelines for reopening our public schools and preparing See SCHOOL, Page 16

Expires: 10-31-20

Expires: 10-31-20

October 2020 | Lawrence Gazette15

SCHOOL continued from Page 15 for this 2020-2021 school year. As the Lawrence Township Public Schools prudently began this school year with virtual learning, I support the superintendent and Board of Education in making sure that we safely reopen our school district. The plan calls for gradual in-person learning in October with many safeguards. I strongly encourage students and staff to wear masks and exercise social distancing as much as possible.

Ladigbolu: I would adjust the current schedule to allow for more flexibility for our students with working parents and teachers of young children. The township should also have multiple sessions, which would not only support working families with multiple children but also faculty and staff members. Our expectation is that our teachers provide our children with quality instruction, but the truth is that some of our teachers are also parents of young children. In speaking

to teachers of small children, many of them have shared that trying to teach and support their own children is a task that has been overwhelming.

LeCompte: I would not have changed anything from the opening of school plan. I felt we needed to focus on a robust virtual learning plan first with teacher training, then move to hybrid learning. We need to bring back the students who have the toughest time with remote learning, special education and kindergarten students first.

If all the students and teachers stay healthy, then we can begin to bring back the student body at-large. All students need to be in school for in-person learning, which is the ultimate goal. A strong virtual plan is critical not only to start, but also for continuity in case there is a spike in the outbreak later this fall. Next we need to ensure we can keep our students, teachers, and staff healthy on-site, which means good ventilation and social distancing, not only in classrooms but on buses, too.

16  Lawrence Gazette | October 2020

I do feel students should wear masks.

In the warmer weather, I would like to see some learning take place outside where the students and teachers can take a break from wearing a mask.

Surti: The August plan was an improvement over the spring plan, which had to be implemented very quickly. As a parent I am happy that students now have scheduled class meetings with their teachers. An improvement would be to provide specifics on return to school for students with special needs and elementary schools. To return to hybrid/in-person learning, a first step would be to ensure that LTPS could comply with the state guidelines for social distancing during transportation and instruction. I believe students should wear masks during in-person instruction, as in many of the schools in New Jersey which reopened.

2. The deaths of Black Americans like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor this summer have launched conversations on racial equity around the country. In Lawrence Township, this conversation has centered on the school district in particular. Do you believe the district has done enough to ensure equity in its schools? How can the Board of Education include more diverse voices in its decision making?

Bellamy-McKinley: LTPS has had many conversations, trainings and workshops on equity and diversity, however there has been a gross misstep regarding communicating the work to the community. With the “Black in Lawrence” petition this summer, there was an awakening that over 1,000 citizens within the township were concerned with the district’s commitment to equity for all students. Upon further communications through board meetings, it became apparent that perhaps some of the things being undertaken by the district were not front facing, so that there became a large undercurrent of mistrust. I would like to see that change.

Bowes: No. While the district has made significant progress and we have responded to many issues regarding equity, there is much more to do. We need to continue to refine our restorative justice program, increase the diversity of our staff, improve communication with the community, and continue to reflect on the experience in the classroom for students to be more inclusive and provide a safe environment. The board and the administration need to improve conversations with the community and have specific meetings to focus on diversity and the school experience.

The school needs to do more training for the community, staff and students.

There will always be need for growth and improvement.

Camp: LTPS made great strides over the summer to address and communicate its inequities, and these efforts must continue. The kids of LTPS need teachers, staff and administrators that look like them. Curriculum should include authors of diverse ethnic backgrounds, and inclusive

of various populations. Additionally, efforts should be made to have our enrollment in AP courses mirror the racial makeup of the LHS population. Finally, we need more inclusive, restorative approaches to teaching and discipline. To engage diverse voices the Board could host dialogic town hall meetings at each LTPS school, vary meeting times, and have community residents on committees.

Drake: Equity, inclusion, and antiracism are historical/national problems; there is no reason LTPS can’t be a leader for change and growth. During my tenure, LTPS strived to learn and grow (i.e., establish CJ Pride, create an Equity Committee; hire consultants to train board members, administrators, and staff; and develop the equity warriors program). It’s a good start, but certainly not enough. We need to look at our curriculum, equitable access to services, and facilitating dialog with our diverse community.

The Board has been and continues to be, committed to including diverse voices to help create an equitable experience for all in Lawrence.

Hendricks Farmer: No. The district must do more, and this is one of the contributing factors for my candidacy. The district has to actively pursue the recruitment of teachers, and administrators that reflect all of Lawrence. This would help in addressing the issues about race that have plagued our school community for decades. In my conversations with parents, students and community groups, there is consensus that the district is not doing enough to represent diverse points of view. In the current local and national climate, now more than ever, Lawrencians must stand united to contribute in our many voices to the education of our children.

Johnson: I believe the Board of Education must do a better job making all students feel welcomed and valued. Reading the stories of Black families, students, and teachers being marginalized, funneled into remedial education programs and away from honors, gifted and talented and advanced placement, lack of racial diversity of staff and the over-policing of Black students was sad, disheartening, and a painful reminder of my own family’s experience in the Lawrence Township Public Schools. This realization became apparent that I could no longer sit on the sidelines but had to offer my unique set of skills and experiences as a former school board attorney and practicing attorney to my community.

Ladigbolu: The equity task force is on the right track by providing metrics on the disproportional suspension rates of minority students. We should also have similar metrics analyzing the number of minority students that are enrolled in advanced placement classes. Having these kinds of metrics will help us to see where the gaps are, educate our community and give us an opportunity to address blind spots.

Consider this scenario. Two children, one Caucasian and the other a child of color, attend the district school from

pre-k to 12 and have earned similar grades. One ends up in advanced placement classes and the other in basic or lower level courses. Why and how does this happen in our districts?

LeCompte: Equity in our schools is a never-ending process that requires vigilantly examining our institution from every perspective. When we find inequities, we need to understand how they happened and take action to adjust. We have certainly made strides in the past, and should be proud of those changes, but more is needed to minimize bias and provide our students with a learning environment that allows them to grow. The board is always open to listening to parents and the community. The district’s goal is to improve the dialogue on race and all forms of bias. We will work to ensure our faculty and students fully consider the effects of racism, not only within our school walls but within the community and the world at-large. There have been multiple meetings where

the community can voice their opinions and raise their concerns over equity. The board will continue to actively engage, listen and act.

Surti: While there have been some efforts towards the goal of equity, the pace of change has been slow, and the transparency and visibility of the existing programs need to be improved.

The Lawrence Township community is seeking an open dialogue with the Board of Education, but board meetings are structured with a limited opportunity for public comment. To include more diverse voices in its decision making, the board should try to create more opportunities for meaningful dialogue and coordinated action with the community such as town hall meetings, parent groups and community-led committees.

Contact editor ROB ANTHES: ranthes@ communitynews.org, (609) 396-1511, ext.

124, facebook.com/RobAnthes, twitter.com/ RobAnthes.

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October 2020 | Lawrence Gazette17

Mind your spine while working from home DR. MARC J. LEVINE ASK THE DOCTOR

More people than ever before are working and going to school at home. With decreased daily mobility and makeshift workspaces, it is important to protect your spine to keep your whole body healthy. Dr. Marc J. Levine, director of orthopedic spine surgery at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, answers your questions.

How can sitting for long periods of time affect the back?

The seated position places a significant amount of pressure on your low back discs. Having an ergonomic appropriate workstation is just as important at home as it is at your office. Take note of what works at home and consider incorporating it to your office at work.

What can be done to create a healthy workspace?

The arrangement of your chair and your computer monitor is essential to creating a healthy workspace at home. A proper chair with lumbar support can help minimize backaches and allows your feet to sit comfortably on the ground, contributing to better posture as you sit and work. Proper positioning of a com-

puter monitor can help maintain your neck in a neutral position and avoid neck pain. Ideally, you want to keep your eyes straight ahead, which may require raising your screen or lowering your chair. The proper use of eyeglasses and contact lens can also help with posture.

What kind of movement can help to maintain spine health during a long day at the computer?

Take time to stretch before you start your day. Take advantage of opportunities to stretch during the day, too. If you prefer, going for a walk to start and end your day is a great way to get some from fresh air and maintain your health. Plan to use some of the time you would normally spend commuting for stretching and aerobic exercise.

What tips do you have for whole families working and going to school at home?

In the world of work, being able to multitask can be a good skill. However, holding a child on your lap while working may not be optimal for the health of your spine. If you or your child is sitting in the same spot for long periods of time, consider changing positions to avoid cramping in any one position. It is also important to eat healthy and hydrate; when the day is over walk away from that desk and exercise.

The latest information on supplements, the science behind the liver shrinking diet, recipes that you can use to heal after surgery, and more. Virtual Class Format. 6:30 p.m.

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Meet Your Better Health Program for VIPs 65+. Also Oct. 27. (609) 584-5900. Explore the benefits of the complimentary Better Health Program, offered by Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton.

Meet Sara I. Ali, MD, specialist in geriatric and internal medicine, to learn about geriatric medicine. Virtual and in-person class formats available. Call to register. 3 p.m.

Monday, OCTOBER 5

Eating Greens to Beat the Blues. (609) 584-5900. Learn quick, easy, and delicious preparations of common green leafy vegetables dense in folate to support brain health. Virtual Class Format.

Call to register. 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, October 6

Ask the Dietitian & Body Fat Screening.

(609) 584-5900. Join Michelle Summerson, MEd, RD, for a one-on-one Q&A, and receive a body fat screening. In person/ Attendance limited. Call to register. 9 a.m.

Friday, October 9

Cholesterol Lipid Profile and Glucose/ Blood Pressure & Stroke Risk Assessment. (609) 584-5900. Simple finger stick.

Fast 12 hours prior. In person/Attendance limited. Call to register. $5. 8:30 a.m.

Monday, October 12

Bariatric Nutrition Basics. (609) 584-5900.

Thursday, October 15

The Science of Habit Change. (609) 5845900. Learn how to apply the current research on motivation to devise strategies for positive change. Virtual Class Format.

11 a.m.

Polypharmacy: Managing Your Medications. Sara I. Ali, MD, Geriatric and Internal Medicine, will lead a discussion on managing multiple medications while treating several illnesses. In-person and virtual formats available. 3 p.m.

Monday, October 19

Fit Families: A Virtual Wellness. Also Oct. 26. (609) 584-5900. This dietitian-directed series will focus on nutrition basics, budget-friendly recipes, and incorporating fitness into daily routines.Virtual Class Format. 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, October 20

Music from the “Crooners”. (609) 5845900. In the mood for a little Frank Sinatra? How about Doris Day & Bing Crosby?

Join Ellen Renee from EllenRenee Productions for a fun-filled hour of memories from the best of times. In-person and virtual formats available. 3 p.m.

The Neurological System. (609) 584-5900.

Join Dr. Jill Giordano Farmer, board certified in neurology, as she discusses Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders.

Virtual Class Format. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

DOCUMENT SHREDDING EVENT Sponsored by the Mercer County Improvement Authority

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020 / 9AM – 12PM Lot 4 / 651 South Broad Street, Trenton (across from Mercer County Administration Building)

MATERIALS ONLY ACCEPTED ON THIS DATE AND TIME, RAIN OR SHINE

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RECYCLES Residential Waste Only / NO COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES Mercer County Residents Only / Proof of Residency Required (Driver’s License) Brian M. Hughes, County Executive / John P. Thurber, Chairman / Phillip S. Miller, Executive Director

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 609-278-8086 OR VISIT WWW.MCIANJ.ORG 18  Lawrence Gazette | October 2020

Reassurance and clarification offered on police charges KEVIN NERWINSKI FROM THE MANAGER’S DESK

Most of you have undoubtedly read newspaper articles about charges being filed against Lawrence Township Police Officer Andres Mejia. The charges filed resulted from an extensive investigation under the direction of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office. It is my understanding that the investigation into actions by this police officer’s handling of a domestic dispute was prompted by facts revealed in an investigation by detectives in the Prosecutor’s Office into a murder occurring in Trenton in late August.

Since I have taken the initiative to create a better line of communication between the municipal government

and the residents of Lawrence Township, remaining completely silent about this matter is simply not an option if I am to have any credibility with you.

Of course, I cannot comment about the facts of the investigation leading to the charges against this officer, nor can I comment (more than I already have) about the ongoing civil action brought against the police chief and the township by a small group of police officers in the PBA at a time when their union contract was being negotiated.

However, I can and I will continue to defend the integrity and honesty of Police Chief Brian Caloiaro and the many police officers who come to work each day honoring their oath and serving their community. I also want to reassure the community that there is no truth whatsoever to the claims of corruption and retaliation being made

against myself and the police chief.

None. I hate having to issue a response to these claims, but I feel like you deserve to hear from me and so do my family members and friends.

For members of the community that may question the integrity and actions of the police chief and me because of comments by an attorney being paid to represent his clients, I simply ask that you think for yourselves and reserve your judgment until these matters conclude, until all of the facts and evidence are made public for you to scrutinize.

Please be mindful of an inconvenient fact that does not bode well for their attorney’s claims: the criminal matter against this officer and the other officers were investigated under the direction of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office. The charges filed

against this police officer and the others were filed by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, not the Lawrence Township Police Department.

I understand conspiracy theories are all the rage right now for all things political and otherwise, but I implore everyone to think this through and don’t lose faith in the leadership of our police department or the township by unsupported claims. By now, you must know that I write probably more than I should, and I could offer much more to you about these matters within our police department, but you and I will have to settle for what has been written and for the facts to come out in due time.

Kevin Nerwinski, a longtime resident of Lawrence, serves as Lawrence Township’s municipal manager.

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COMMUNITYNEWS.ORG October 2020 | Lawrence Gazette19

Notice of Vote-by-Mail Election November 3, 2020 General Election The November 3, 2020 General Election will be conducted primarily via vote-by-mail ballots, which will be sent to all “Active” registered voters without the need for an application to receive a vote-by-mail ballot.

P.L. 2020, c. 72 requires you to sign the certification affixed to the margin of the flap on the inner envelope of the ballot notwithstanding the fact that you may not have applied for this ballot, but instead received this ballot automatically.

You will be provided a postage paid envelope for the return of your ballot through the United States Postal Service. You are not required to attach a stamp. You may also choose to deposit your ballot in one of the secure ballot drop boxes located throughout the county, return your ballot in-person to your County Board of Elections, or deliver your ballot to your assigned polling place on Election Day. Please contact your Board of Elections at 609-989-6522 or www.mercercounty.org/boards-commissions/board-of-elections for convenient ballot drop box locations.

Only you, the voter, can bring your ballot to your polling place on Election Day. If another person will be mailing your ballot, bringing it to a secure ballot drop box, or delivering it to the county Board of Elections, MAKE CERTAIN THAT PERSON COMPLETES THE “BEARER PORTION” ON THE ENVELOPE ADDRESSED TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS BEFORE THE BALLOT IS TAKEN FROM YOU. No person who is a candidate in this election is permitted to serve as a bearer. No person is permitted to serve as a bearer for more than three qualified voters in an election. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW FOR ANYONE EXCEPT YOU, THE VOTER, TO MAIL OR TRANSPORT YOUR BALLOT UNLESS THE OUTER ENVELOPE IS SEALED AND THE “BEARER PORTION” IS COMPLETED. A PERSON MAY BE FINED AND IMPRISONED AND MAY ALSO LOSE THE RIGHT TO VOTE UNTIL RESTORED BY LAW if that person attempts to vote fraudulently by mail-in ballot, prevents the voting of a legal voter, certifies falsely any information, interferes with a person’s secrecy of voting, tampers with ballots or election documents or helps another person to do so.

If you would like to learn the status of your ballot you can call 1-877-NJ-VOTER or go to TrackMyBallot.nj.gov 20  Lawrence Gazette | October 2020