Where is the Township's Nativity Display?

Around this time of year, a life size nativity display would typically sit on the grass to the left of the . Where is it this year?

That manger, which depicts the birth of Jesus according to the canonical gospels, was given to the township in the early 1980s, Administrator Veronica Laureigh said.

“It’s falling a part,” she said. “Sometimes people would go to look at the manger. But it’s not stable to put up. We’re fearful that someone could get hurt.”

Laureigh said that she received concerns from residents that the display was eliminated due to a separation of church and state. It was removed, she said, simply because it was “rickety."

Temporary fixes have been made to the manger in the past but when they pulled it out for this year’s holiday season, it was wrecked beyond repair, she said.

The township has sought to purchase a new nativity but the budget has left little room in these economic times, Laureigh said.

The other option is for a resident to donate a new nativity scene. If that were to happen, a letter would be presented to the township committee at a caucus meeting in order for them to accept the donation, she said.

If you are interested in donating to the township, contact 609-693-1100, ext. 2239.