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Interim police chief named EDITED BY BILL SANSERVINO
Lieutenant Kevin Reading, Jr. has been appointed as Interim Police Chief of the Lawrence Township Police Department, effective January 1, 2025. Reading will replace Chief Christopher Longo, who is retiring after 25 years of service. Reading, currently the head of the department’s Investigation Division, brings more than 20 years of law enforcement experience to the role. His work includes oversight of complex criminal investigations and participation in more than 500 cases with the Mercer County Shooting Response Team. He has served as the lead detective in over 60 investigations. “Lt. Reading’s proven track record in law enforcement and leadership makes him well-qualified to serve as Interim Chief,” said Municipal Manager Kevin Nerwinski. “His experience in criminal investigations, team management, and community relations will be valuable assets in this role.” Reading joined the department in 2002, progressing through the ranks from patrol officer to lieutenant in 2023. His accolades include being named Lawrence Township Police Officer of the Year in 2014 and receiving multiple commendations for his service. Reading’s appointment follows Chief Longo’s tenure, which saw the department’s 100th anniversary and strengthened community relations. See NEWS, Page 3
BY BILL SANSERVINO
Lawrence High School swimmer Zoey Snellings during a recent competition. (Contributed photo.)
Lawrence’s Snellings thrives in the pool and classroom BY RICH FISHER
Just think how impressive Zoey Snellings will be once she figures things out. In discussing how she balances high school academics with swimming, the Lawrence High junior said, “Every day it’s a little different, I have to choose which one I need to focus on. I’m still figuring it out.”
And while doing this “figuring,” all she has accomplished in her first two years of high school is amass a 4.4 weighted grade point average while taking advanced placement courses; and reach the finals in all four of her events at last year’s Mercer County Championship meet. She is one of the Cardinals top See SNELLINGS, Page 15
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New Jersey municipalities are once again under the gun to build thousands of units of affordable housing thanks to a new state law passed earlier this year. Every town in the state is currently up against a Jan. 31 deadline to pass a binding resolution to formally adopt their affordable housing obligation for the next decade. The goal is to address a statewide demand for almost 150,000 low- and moderate-income units. In addition to the resolution, the law also requires municipalities to adopt a Housing Element and Fair Share Plan by June 30 this year. Under numbers released by the state earlier this year, Mercer County towns would be required to rehabilitate a total of 1,800 existing affordable units (mostly in the City of Trenton) as well as provide for the construction of 3,500 new units. Because the construction of these affordable units is often subsidized through the construction of market rate housing, it could result in tens of thousands of new houses in Mercer County alone. In March, Gov. Phil Murphy and the state legislature approved new affordable See AFFORDABLE, Page 5
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