Hello neighbors! It is a crisp January here in the "Township of Lakes," and there is quite a bit happening around town to kick off 2026. Whether you are looking to get involved in local government or just looking for a way to keep the kids busy during these cold weeks, here is the latest update for our Byram community.
🏛️ Town Government & Planning
The Township Council is diving straight into the new year with a heavy focus on the budget.
Budget Workshop: Mark your calendars for Tuesday, January 20th. The Council will hold a budget workshop during the regular session at 7:30 PM. This is a great time to see how our tax dollars are being allocated for the upcoming year.
Committee Openings: If you’re looking to get more involved, several committees are looking for volunteers, including the Environmental Commission and Recreation Committee. It’s a rewarding way to have a direct say in our town’s future.
C.O. Johnson Park: Improvements are still a major topic of discussion. If you haven't seen the "completely inclusive" playground yet, it's a fantastic addition to our community that opened late last year—definitely worth a visit once the ice thaws!
🏫 School District News
It’s been a busy start to the month for the Byram Township Board of Education.
New Leadership: Following the reorganization meeting on January 7th, we officially welcomed our newly elected board members: Nicole Boffoli, Natalee Ruddock Gorousingh, and Melissa Smith.
Upcoming Dates: Just a reminder for parents that schools are closed on Monday, January 19th for Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Teacher In-Service).
Choice Program: If you know anyone looking to move into the district, the 2026-27 School Choice applications are currently being processed. Byram Lakes and the Intermediate School remain highly sought after for their STEM and Mass Media programs.
🎨 Special Events & Recreation
The Recreation Department is making sure "cabin fever" doesn't set in!
Family Movie Night: Grab the blankets and head out on Friday, January 16th for a community movie night.
Winter Workshops: There are several creative outlets this month, including "The ABC's of Art" for the little ones (Saturdays in January) and a Stained Glass Workshop starting January 25th for the adults.
Rabies Clinic: For the pet owners, there is a free rabies vaccination clinic on Saturday, January 24th (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM) at the Otto Kaufman Community Center.
🏀 Sports & Lenape Valley Updates
Our Lenape Valley Patriots are in the thick of the winter season, and they could use some cheers from the stands!
Wrestling: The boys' varsity team has a big match coming up against Kittatinny on Friday, January 16th.
Basketball: Catch the Boys’ Varsity team at home against Dover on January 13th, or the Girls’ Varsity team taking on High Point on January 15th.
Marking Period 2: For the students, the second marking period officially ends this Wednesday, January 14th.
Help Keep Byram Connected! 🌲
If you found this update helpful, please consider forwarding this email to your friends and family here in town. Our goal is to make sure every neighbor—from Wolf Lake to Forest Lakes and everywhere in between—stays in the loop on what’s happening in our backyard.
Know someone who should be on the list? Have them shoot me a message or https://byram.h1.email to get these weekly updates delivered straight to their inbox every Monday morning.
Let’s keep our community informed and connected! See you around town.
