Hello neighbors! Happy New Year, Byram. As we settle into January 2026, there’s plenty happening in the "Township of Lakes." Whether you're dodging traffic on 206 or looking for ways to keep the kids busy this winter, here is what’s on the radar for our community this month.
🏛️ Town Government & News
Council Reorganization: The Town Council is holding its Reorganization Meeting tomorrow, January 6th, at 7:30 PM. This is when we’ll see our local officials sworn in and the year’s leadership established.
Budget Season Kickoff: Mark your calendars for January 20th. The Council will hold a Budget Workshop at 7:30 PM (following a 6:30 PM executive session). It’s the best time to see how our tax dollars are being allocated for the coming year.
C.O. Johnson Park Improvements: There’s exciting news regarding our favorite local park! The Township is seeking Green Acres funding to create a Completely Inclusive Playground at C.O. Johnson. This would be a massive win for our families, providing accessible equipment for children of all abilities.
Route 206 Traffic Alert: A quick heads-up for those of you commuting north—the Route 206 gas main workhas been extended. Expect lane closures through February 2nd. Give yourself an extra 10 minutes to get through that stretch near the shopping centers!
🎭 Special Events & Recreation
The Recreation Department has some great "cabin fever" busters lined up for us:
Byram Bowling Day: Grab the family and head over to the lanes on January 11th.
Family Movie Night: The town is hosting a movie night on January 16th—a perfect low-cost way to get the kids out of the house.
Winter Art Classes: The "ABC’s of Art" workshops for preschoolers and kindergarteners start on January 10th(and run every Saturday this month).
Christmas Tree Pickup: Curbside tree collection officially begins this week. Just a reminder to get your trees to the curb early, as the DPW makes their rounds section-by-section.
🍎 School Highlights
Byram Lakes & Intermediate: Welcome back to all the students! A reminder for parents of 8th graders: the Choice Program application timeline for the 2026-27 school year is already being discussed. If you're looking into specialized STEM or Media programs, keep an eye on the upcoming deadlines.
Tech Policy Reminder: Just a friendly neighborly reminder—the schools are strictly enforcing the "no smart watch/cell phone" policy during the day. If your kid got new tech for the holidays, make sure they know it has to stay in the backpack!
🏀 Local Sports
Lenape Valley Patriots: Big congratulations to our Lady Patriots Basketball team! They kicked off the winter season by going 3-0 to win the Hopatcong Holiday Tournament. Special shoutout to Sophomore Samantha Williams for being named Tournament MVP!
Winter Concerts: For those who prefer the "indoor sport" of music, the LVR Winter Concert is scheduled for January 14th at 6:00 PM.
Youth Clinics: The Boys' Basketball team recently hosted a youth clinic for our younger Byram and Stanhope athletes—it’s great to see the high schoolers giving back to the next generation of players.
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