DRAWING A BEAD – Lady Warrior Iyanna Cotten prepares to collect one of her three points from the foul line during Franklin’s January 11 game against Gil St. Bernard’s. The Franklin High School girls’ basketball team’s difficult season continued January 11, when the Lady Warriors fell to Gil St. Bernard’s 68-42. Gill controlled the game from the start, building a …

INSISTED ON REALIGNMENT – Planning Board member Robert Thomas told Jain Center representatives that they agreed to move their driveway alignment years ago, but had yet to do it. Representatives of a township temple were once again unsuccessful January 3 in getting Planning Board approvals for a decorative archway planned for the temple’s driveway on Cedar Grove Lane. The difficulty …

Gabrielle Davis and Samantha Miel of Franklin Park were named to the Dean’s List at the University of Connecticut for the spring 2023 semester.  Kristen Morley of Somerset has earned a Master of Science in Cybersecurity from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Morley was among approximately 1,725 undergraduate and graduate students who earned degrees during the Summer 2023 semester.

Marie Catapano, 91, passed away on January 5. Born on July 22, 1932, in Buffalo, NY, to the late Peter and Mary Catapano, Marie’s journey took her from Buffalo to Brooklyn, Queens, and finally Somerset, where she built a cherished life. Marie embarked on a remarkable career, beginning at Hunter Steven Company in New York before becoming a part owner …

NEW BOARD PRESIDENT – Ardaman Singh reacts after she was voted in as school board president at the Board’s January 4 reorganization meeting. Board of Education members Ardaman Singh and Sami Shaban were chosen by their colleagues as Board president and vice-president, respectively, at the January 4 reorganization meeting. Also at the meeting, Board newcomers Erica Inocencio and Jimmie Parker …

Fayomi D. Wyse of Somerset passed away on December 15 at the Care One at East Brunswick Nursing Home. He was 76. Born and raised in Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa, he had lived in Somerset since 1992. Fayomi worked in Electrical and Janitorial Services at the Care One Nursing Home in East Brunswick. He was very proud of his …

TAKING THE OATH – Mayor Phil Kramer takes the Oath of Office while his wife, Laurie, looks on. Councilmember Ed Potosnak was voted in as Deputy Mayor at the January 2 Township Council reorganization meeting. Also at the meeting, re-elected At-Large Councilmembers Kimberly Francois and Ram Anbarasan and newcomer Alex Kharazi and Mayor Phil Kramer were sworn in.

Stacey Ane Gondek, 56, of Franklin Park, died on December 18, 2023 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick surrounded by her loving family.  Born in South Amboy, she resided most of her life in Sayreville before moving to Franklin Park. Stacey owned and operated Confectionately Yours where she would always greet you with a big smile and warm hug. Daughter of …

MAN OF THE YEAR – Derek Smith took over the reins of the Franklin Food Bank in mid-2022. “Public servant” is usually a moniker reserved for elected officials. But a person doesn’t necessarily have to win an election to serve the public, as exemplified by the Franklin Food Bank’s Executive Director, Derek Smith, who the Franklin Reporter & Advocate is …

Application deadline to be included in the lottery: Thursday, February 15, 11:59 pm All prospective K-12 parents/guardians can apply for their child(ren). Applications may be submitted online at www.cjcollegeprep.org between January 1, 2024, and February 15, 2024, for the school year 2024-25.