Inside this issue:
SIX09 Check out our Back to School edition COMMUNITYNEWS.ORG
SEPTEMBER 2021 FREE
On the button
A force for change
down and dirty
Button Society set to hold its 80th anniversary show on Sept. 11
LTPSD hires its first director of equity, diversity and inclusion
By DAN AUBrey
The New Jersey State Button Society will lift its pandemic-induced pause button and celebrate its 80th anniversary tri-state button show at the Union Fire Company and Rescue Square Hall in Titusville on Sept. 11. “It’s a very large banquet hall with good lights and ventilation. We’ll feel safe there,” says NJSBS president Barbara Fox about the gathering that will employ COVIDrelated protocols: masks, reduced capacity, open doors, and outdoor tables. Fox doesn’t expect a huge crowd for the free event, just between 25 or 50, attendees, including member Helene Plank from Lawrence. But she says they will all be big on the small objects bringing them together. The reasons are multi-layered and more than market value, which Fox says can range from 25 cents to $250. One point of collector engagement is the reality that “each button has a story. Its own little history,” says Fox. “Stories come from those who collect buttons – and those who wore the buttons.” Fox puts today’s now common object into a historic perspective when the object now connected with women and See BUTTONS, Page 8
By ReBeKAh SchrOeDer
Offensive lineman Amir Rowell in the upcoming season. The lineman has lost 50 pounds since his junior year. See story on Page 16. (Photo by Rich Fisher.)
2020 Census: Lawrence Township population down By BiLL SANserViNO
Many towns within Mercer County saw varying levels of population growth over the last 10 years, according to information released last month by the U.S. Census Bureau. But there were two towns that didn’t grow at all—Lawrence Township and Hopewell Borough. Both towns, in fact, saw small decreases in population—an oddity for this area of Central New Jersey, which had experienced break-neck
growth since the mid-1980s. The statistics come from the 2020 Census Redistricting Data Summary File, and they provide the first look at detailed information about where people were living as of April 1, 2020. Numbers are available for the nation, states and communities down to the block level. Overall, the population in Mercer County grew by 5.7% from 366,515 to 387,340—an increase of 20,825. This was a slower rate of growth than over the last 30 years. By compari-
son, the county grew by 35,000 residents from 2000-2010, and 25,499 from 1990- 2000. The numbers also show that the county became more diverse. The white population decreased by 20.7% from 225,012 to 178,447. There was a small .9% increase in the Black population from 74,320 to 74,993; and a 48.2% increase in the number of Asians from 32,752 to 48,537. The Hispanic/Latino population was the other group See CENSUS, Page 10
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To better uplift students with multicultural backgrounds, Clifton J. Thompson, III, heads the latest department in charge of change at Lawrence Township Public Schools. He is the new director of equity, diversity and inclusion, a position created just for him. The job, which looks to take on matters of empowerment as well as promoting acceptance, is tailor-made for the former teacher, current administrator and Englewood native. “It’s about understanding how we all feed and play off of each other,” Thompson said. “If we believe we’re all human beings worthy and valued and belong in this space in our communities, even if we’re going through a rough patch and a tough time, we’ll get treated with value and concern, because there’s very few humans that don’t go through a rough patch, through a tough time. That’s about what this work is about.” He is also serving as the district’s affirmative action officer and Title IX CoordinaSee THOMPSON , Page 6
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