The girls’ tennis team’s seniors were honored on October 14. The dozen Franklin High School seniors on the girls’ tennis team were honored October 14. Each player was acknowledged separately by FHS Athletic Director Ken Margolin and given a special pillow.

The Franklin High School girls’ tennis team celebrated Senior Day in a big way October 14, defeating Somerville High School 4-1. Freshman Pia Donnelly won the first singles match, 6-1 and 6-3, second singles was won by Senior Aditi Jacob, 6-1 and 6-3, and third singles was won by Senior Malinda Quain, 6-4, 6-4.

Township Councilman Ted Chase told the Council that the program is run by volunteers. You’ve heard of the Adopt-a-Road program, now meet the Adopt-a-Drain program. The ambitious program seeks to use volunteers to keep clean the 7,473 storm drain grates located throughout the Eight Villages.

Delays in a project at the National Guard Armory on Hamilton Street have forced the relocation of five township polling places. Township Clerk Ann Marie McCarthy told the Township Council at its October 12 meeting that the Armory “had delays in their asbestos removal project,” and so would not be able to serve as a polling place.

Another eight Franklin residents have tested positive for the coronavirus, the township Office of Emergency Management reported on October 13. That brings to 6,948 the number of Franklin residents who have tested positive for the virus since mid-March 2020, OEM reported. The deaths of 212 Franklin residents have been attributed to the virus, OEM reported. Note: These are the latest reported …

Changes to speed limits on two streets were introduced by the Township Council at its October 12 meeting. The speed limit on Pleasant Plains Road will be lowered to 25 miles per hour, and a stretch of Union Street between Church Street and Laurel Avenue will be lowered to 20 miles per hour.

An ordinance to purchase development rights to an 11.74-acre farm on Coppermine Road was adopted by the Township Council at its October 12 meeting. The Township will pay $311,057 for the rights, which essentially preserves the property, known as the Peacos Farm.

By Bill Connell, Somerset.  This is a a rehash of a letter I wrote previously. My previous submission was too open-ended for some who read it.  That was my goal, but it led to an uncomfortable exchange I need to address and maybe clarify.

The death of another Franklin resident was attributed to the coronavirus, the township Office of Emergency Management reported on October 12. The death was reported on October 9. Also, 21 more Franklin residents reported positive coronavirus tests between October 9-12, OEM reported. There were five new positive tests reported on October 9, 10 more reported on October 10, and six …

The Franklin High School girls’ tennis team split the two doubles matches, but fell short in singles as the Lady Warriors were defeated by the Mountaineers on October 12, 3-2. In Second Singles, Franklin’s Aditi Jacob defeated Maddie Ahlbeck 6-2 and 6-3.