By Bill Connell. I know all of Franklin’s leaders on a first-name basis and I think this is important.  It is irrelevant if I agree or disagree with any one of them on any one topic.  There are 9 people on the Township Council for a reason. You can only hope the average of those opinions is productive. Don’t Miss Out! No …

CDBG APPLICATIONS EXPLAINED – Deborah Mitchell, the Township’s CDBG program administrator, talks about some of the 16 applications submitted for grants. A public hearing on applications for nearly $350,000 in Community Development Block Grant money was held at the March 26 Township Council meeting. The public hearing is part of the process of awarding the grants, the money for which …

THE JOY OF MUSIC – SCVTHS Band Club members recently brought a little joy to Bridgeway Senior Healthcare in Bridgewater. Pictured are (l-r) club advisor Sr. Guillermo Reina, club President Vaanya Salwan of Bridgewater, Srishti Kishore of Hillsborough, Bhumija Grandhe of Bridgewater, Aarika Patel of Skillman, and club Vice President Margaret Kim of Somerset. (Photo: SCVTHS.) A township woman was among the …

By Alex Grosso. I am writing to encourage the residents of Franklin Township to cast their votes in support of Brian Levine for the Mayor of Franklin Township. Brian’s time as Mayor, over 11 years, followed by his role as a County Commissioner, shows his strong dedication to public service. Don’t Miss Out! No other media outlet covering Franklin Township …

NJ HOMELAND SECURITY CHIEF – Laurie Doran, director of the state Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, speaks during the Masjid-e-Ali Interfaith Iftar March 22. Representatives of multiple faith traditions gathered at Masjid-e-Ali on Cedar Grove Lane March 22 for the mosque’s annual Intra- and Interfaith Iftar. The event is held during Ramadan, a month-long Muslim observance of fasting and …

PLANS OUTLINED – Sylvester Elliott, lead pastor at ECG New Jersey, tells the Zoning Board of the church’s plans for the space. A 1,600-square-foot retail space at Veronica Plaza will become a house of worship following a March 21 approval by the Zoning Board of Adjustment. The approval for ECG New Jersey came with conditions, including no more than 49 …

By Bill Connell. In fairness to Joe Danielsen I need to write one more letter regarding the Open Public Records Act, since he is moving in a direction I was hoping to see. Don’t Miss Out! No other media outlet covering Franklin Township brings you the depth of information presented by the Franklin Reporter & Advocate. Period. We are the …

TALKING NUMBERS – Schools Superintendent John Ravally reviews the preliminary 2024-25 school district budget at the March 20 Board of Education meeting. A steep cut in state aid and a multi-million dollar increase in charter school tuition presented stiff challenges, but school district officials said the proposed 2024-25 budget should only result in a minor increase in the school portion …

GRAND OPENING – Leaf Haus co-owner Shani Madaminova, assisted by Township Councilman Ram Anbarasan, cuts the ribbon at the Leaf Haus grand opening in August, 2023. (File photo). Sales taxes paid by the township’s four operating cannabis dispensaries totaled to more than $200,000 in 2023, a Township official said. Township Manager Robert Vornlocker said the Township received $201,076 from the …

BUDGET TALKS – The Township Council held its second budget hearing of the year, a three-hour affair – on March 19. A hike in township water utility rates may be in the offing. If it comes to pass, the rate hike would be the second such increase in two years. Don’t Miss Out! No other media outlet covering Franklin Township …