09/28/2025 A Somerset resident was the victim of criminal mischief in the area of Prospect St. during the overnight hours. The unknown suspect(s) damaged the victim’s tires and shattered the back windshield with a rock. The value of the damage was unknown at the time of report. A Somerset resident was the victim of a burglary and theft in the …

Raymond Frank Hills of East Millstone passed away at home on October 28. He was 94 years old. Raymond lived in East Millstone all his life. He attended the East Millstone School as a child, and graduated from Highland Park High School in 1950 where he excelled at track and field. Ray joined the US Navy on April 5, 1951. …

By Jan Brant. A recent opinion piece written by Deana Luchs included an incomplete quotation from my testimony before the State Legislature in Trenton on the negative impacts of warehouse proliferation in Franklin. The article with my testimony can be found here: https://franklinreporter.com/state-assembly-committee-hears-of-franklins-warehouse-woes/. Ms. Luchs quoted me as saying, “I’m not against warehouses.” That was only part of my statement.  I …

Contracts totaling $1.7 million were approved by the Township Council at its October 28 meeting. The contracts awarded were: A 2-year contract worth $800,000 per year for water department supplies to Core & Main of Edison. A 4-year contract worth $5,520 in total to Ricoh USA of Parsippany for a copier lease for the Franklin Township Police Department’s Community Relations …

SURPRISE DONATION – Franklin Food Bank executive director Derek Smith, left, hugs Township Councilman Alex Kharazi after Kharazi announced a $5,000 donation to the food bank from the Masjid-e-Ali on Cedar Grove Avenue. Franklin Food Bank executive director Derek Smith walked into the October 28 Township Council meeting prepared to tell members about the dire situation many township residents face …

HERITAGE MONTH HONOREE – Vimal Sodhani thanks the Township Council for recognizing Hindu Heritage Month at the October 28 meeting. A local Hindu community leader was feted at the October 28 Township Council meeting. Vimal Sodhani, of the Sodhani Foundation, was featured during the Council’s annual recognition of Hindu Heritage Month. Sodhani’s foundation has made numerous charitable donations to a …

Video courtesy of Robert Trautmann. There were no reported injuries in a multi-unit fire on Amethyst Way during the morning of October 29, although several families were displaced. Fire District 2 fire companies were alerted to the blaze at about 8:47 a.m., according to a post on the Franklin Park Fire Department’s web site. Along with Franklin Park, Fire District …

The Franklin Township school district is one of 31 throughout the state which recently received a state grant to help train teachers to improve student literacy. The District received a $50,000 Reading Intervention for Secondary Engagement (RISE) grant for secondary and high school students. The District will use its grant “for professional development to enhance the knowledge of our secondary teachers …

Antonio Benamer of Somerset passed away on October 26 at St. Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick. He was 68. Born in Quezon Province, Philippines, he immigrated to the United States in 1986, settling first in New York City before moving to Hammonton, then Somerset. He worked as a Registered Nurse at the Somerset Woods Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in …

NEW AD – Anthony Brito thanks the Board of Education October 28 after he was named the new Franklin High School Athletic Director. The Board of Education on October 28 picked a seasoned veteran to be the next Franklin High School Athletic Director. Anthony Brito, a 27-year district veteran, previously served as Assistant Athletic Director. Brito replaces Ken Margolin, who …