Fire Marshal on Alarm Batteries, School's Out through the Weekend

Here's what you need to know for Thursday.

• Remember, parents and guardians: The New Jersey Education Association Teachers' Convention gets underway Thursday, which means public schools will be closed Thursday and Friday. While we are alerting parents, if your student is a college-bound high school senior, be aware that Friday is  the last day to register for the Dec. 7 SAT. 
  
• Sparta Recreation hosts a one day only, six-hour AARP Safety Driving Course made specifically for mature motorists. The class, which runs from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. qualifies you for a reduced insurance premium with many companies.  The cost of the program is $12 for AARP members or $14 for non-members. Registration forms are available in the Sparta Recreation Office. Make checks payable to “AARP.”
  
• The United Way Caregivers Coalition holds its monthly meeting in Sussex Thursday from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Tri-Co Federal Credit Union, 47 Route 206 in Augusta. Members are welcome to bring lunch and eat during the gathering, and people interested in caregiving are are welcome to join. For more details, contact Robin Ennis at 908-579-3040.
• There will be a general meeting of the Hopatcong Seniors Thursday. The gathering takes place at the Hopatcong Senior Center, 32 Lakeside Blvd., at 9:30 a.m.
• Hopatcong Chief Fire Marshal Rich Cook is encouraging residents: Change your smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm batteries. He warned that with chilling temperatures and the rash of extreme weather that the area has experienced, it is vital that these potentially lifesaving devices be in good working order. Fall and the switch to Daylight Savings Time generally is the time of year when people are urged to change their batteries.
• Keeping It Clean: In Hopatcong, sanitation crews will follow Garbage Pickup Schedule C and Recycling Schedule B. In Sparta, check with the online schedule.