Multi-day breakfast and lunch “Go Packs” will be distributed to township students at 30 bus stops on five days in March and April, beginning March 26. The bus deliveries are in addition to the two-day-a-week “Go Pack” distribution now ongoing from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at four township schools: Franklin Middle School – Sampson G. Smith campus, Hillcrest, Elizabeth Avenue and Pine …

By Bill Grippo. Dear Friends,

A $168 million preliminary budget for the 2020-2021 school year was adopted March 23 by the Board of Education. The board met in a conference call due to the continuing coronavirus pandemic.

Mary G. Liuzzi, 93, passed away on March 22 at her home in Somerset. Mrs. Liuzzi was born March 30, 1926 in New York, NY to the late Carmine and Antonietta Giulio. She was raised in New York City and then moved to Elmsford, NY, where she lived for many years before relocating to Somerset 13 years ago. Mary was …

The school district will reduce the number of days it is handing out “Go Packs” of food. (File photo). The school district has cut the number of days it is distributing food as a result of Gov. Phil Murphy’s latest Executive Order regarding the coronavirus. Schools Superintendent John Ravally said that the district made the change because it is “trying …

A 73-year-old township man is Franklin’s first fatality attributed to the coronavirus, and a 9-year-old child is among four new cases, authorities said March 22. The man who died was the township’s first recorded positive coronavirus case, according to a person with knowledge of the circumstances. He also had underlying medical issues, the person said. As of March 22, a …

“Nonessential” businesses are asked to donate their personal protection equipment for the benefit of RWJ University Hospital – Somerset and local first responders. The effort, scheduled to run from March 23-28, is being coordinated by the Somerset County Office of Emergency Management, and was started as a means to respond to low supplies of the equipment. According to a press …

Mr. Edward F Lubowicki passed away from complications of cancer on March 20 at Haven Hospice Center at JFK Hospital in Edison. He was 92 years old. Mr. Lubowicki was born in Highland Park and was a graduate of Highland Park High School. He lived in Edison for many years before moving to Somerset in 1975. He was a longtime …

There are now six confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease in Franklin, as of March 20. Of the three newest, one person is in their 30s and two are in their 20s. They join three men in their 70s who have already been diagnosed, at least one of whom is in a hospital.

A group of township residents have banded together to offer their help to Franklinites who might need it while the coronavirus emergency exists. Referring to themselves as “Neighbors Helping Neighbors,” the group sees its mission as being “a truly grassroots campaign to mobilize volunteers to help those in need,” according to its web site. Initially, the group will offer non-contact …