CLEANUP VOLUNTEERS – Seeley’s Run was the target of the annual John Clyde Stream Cleanup on April 13. Pictured are the volunteers before starting their work. (Photo courtesy of the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership.) About 100 people were expected to gather in a rear parking lot at Somerset Village on Easton Avenue April 13 for the annual stream cleanup sponsored …

Rosario S. LaCorte of Warren, formerly of Berkeley Heights, passed away peacefully with his loving family by his side on April 8 at the age of 95. Rosario was born and raised in Elizabeth, the son of the late Serafina (nee Alfonso) and Rosario S. LaCorte, Sr. He had resided in Berkeley Heights for over 30 years before moving to …

JUST OUT OF REACH – Junior Nyasia Salley in action during the Lady Warriors’ flag football team game against South Hunterdon on April 10. Iyanna Cotten broke through for an 80-yard touchdown run April 10 to help propel the newly minted Franklin High School girls’ flag football team to a 27-6 victory against South Hunterdon. Cotten, a senior better-known for …

NUMBERS MAN – Township Manager Robert Vornlocker broke down the 2024 municipal budget at the April 9 Township Council meeting. Skyrocketing mandated costs are behind a small municipal portion tax increase included in the Township Council’s 2024 budget. Final numbers weren’t available at the April 9 Township Council meeting when the budget was introduced, but the bottom line is the …

ORDINANCE DEFEATED – An ordinance that would have removed a 2,000-foot distance requirement between liquor stores, promoted by Mayor Phil Kramer, was defeated after facing stiff opposition from township liquor store owners. An ordinance that would have eliminated the requirement that liquor stores be located at least 2,000 feet from each other was defeated at the April 9 Township Council …

SUPPORTING THE PROGRAM – Deputy Mayor Ed Potosnak said he now supported the Council contributing $300,000 to a construction trades program for Franklin High School students. With an enrollment-based “guardrail” in place, the Township Council on April 9 voted to partner with the Board of Education to offer some Franklin High School students training in the construction trades. The Council …

TRYING TO MAKE HIS CASE – Sidney Singer, vice president of leasing for Levin Properties, testifies before the Zoning Board on April 4. Township residents packed the Council Chamber on April 4 for the first of what promises to be several Zoning Board of Adjustment hearings on a proposal to convert the former K-Mart building in Rutgers Plaza into a …

Today at 10:23 AM Franklin Township experienced an earthquake which was centered in Lebanon NJ with a magnitude of 4.8. About 18 miles from our municipal complex.  I have contacted our public safety director Quovella Maeweather who indicated the state, which obviously includes Lebanon, has activated the office of emergency management but Somerset County and Franklin have not. There are …

The township is on track to once again have a discount furniture store. Levin Management, the leasing and management agent for Hamilton Street Center, 712 Hamilton Street, announced on April 4 that Red Tag Furniture Outlet has committed to a 5,750-square-foot space in that plaza. Don’t Miss Out! No other media outlet covering Franklin Township brings you the depth of …

The Franklin Food Bank’s 35th Annual Tour de Franklin Charity Bike Ride is set for April 28 at Franklin High School. The Tour de Franklin is the Franklin Food Bank’s largest annual fundraising event, attracting up to 800 cyclists to provide critical funding for the Food Bank’s operations. It has also grown into a Spring tradition in Franklin Township, when …