Philomena Mandile McAvoy (“Philly”) beloved mother, wife, sister, and grandmother passed away peacefully on December 22 at Regency Heritage Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Somerset. She was 91 years old. Mrs. McAvoy was born in Brooklyn on January 31, 1926 to the late Marie and John Mandile. She attended Bay Ridge High School, and after graduation she worked as a …

Nearly 170 boxes of food were donated by Stop & Shop in Rutgers Plaza to the Franklin Food Bank Dec. 22, courtesy of the store’s customers. The food was donated through Stop & Shop’s “Food for Friends” program, through which customers donated $10 for each box, which was in turn donated to the food bank.

The final Board of Education meeting of 2017 was also the last meeting for members Pat Stanley and Ed Potosnak. Neither Stanley nor Potosnak were re-elected in their November bids.

A 35-year-old township man was sentenced to 60 years in state prison Dec. 21 for the murder of a Perth Amboy man on Valentine’s Day in 2015. Jahmmel Cephas was sentenced in New Brunswick by Superior Court Judge Colleen Flynn to 50 years in state prison for aggravated manslaughter, plus 10 years in prison for begin a certain person prohibited …

Continuing and adding to a tradition begun two Thanksgivings ago, members of a Victor Street church have chosen seven local families to whom they will bring some Christmas joy. True-2-Life Ministries will serve the seven families a traditional Christmas dinner, and distribute gifts to their children, said the church’s Pastor Thomas Lewis.

The Franklin Reporter & Advocate hit the streets again on Dec. 20 to live stream the final installment of our 2017 Holiday Homes of Light Tour. We hope you enjoyed watching it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you.

The East Franklin Fire Department is looking to the public to help one of their own. Fire fighter Jhon Lopez, a Highland Avenue resident, lost all of the tools he uses in his contracting business during a Dec. 12 fire at his home.

The Franklin High School Lady Warriors’ basketball team kicked off the 2017-18 campaign with a heartbreaking loss to cross-town rivals, Rutgers Prep. The defending state champions fought until the end, but Rutgers Prep was able to squeak by with a 47-44 win.

The Somerset County Park Commission will be accepting natural Christmas trees for recycling from Tuesday, December 26, 2017 through Wednesday, January 31, 2018. Somerset County residents may bring their tree to Colonial Park Gardens, Parking Lot F, 156 Mettlers Road in Somerset, Franklin Township or to North Branch Park, at the lighted baseball field, 355 Milltown Road in Bridgewater. Both …

Update: The Township Council tabled the ordinance at its public hearing on Dec. 12. Township Manager Robert Vornlocker suggested the move, saying that he may have a “better way” to keep water rates in synch with rising supplier prices and ensure there is money for needed maintenance and upgrades.