ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT – Schools Superintendent John Ravally will retire at the end of this school year, ending an 11-year tenure in the district. Schools Superintendent John Ravally has notified the Board of Education that he intends to retire at the end of June, ending an 11-year stewardship of district schools. Ravally notified school board members of his intention in a …

MAKING A POINT – Chris Szalay, an engineer for the 14-home project, gestures while he testifies at the January 7 Planning Board meeting. The developer of a proposed 14-unit luxury home community on Cedar Grove Lane was sent back to the drawing board by the Planning Board on January 7. Board members objected to a number of the plan’s elements, …

12/07/2025 Patrol recovered a stolen motor vehicle in the area of Reler Ln. during the morning hours. The vehicle was unoccupied, and the suspect(s) is unknown. The reporting jurisdiction was notified of the recovery.

NEW BOE LEADERSHIP – Dr. Dennis Hopkins, president, and Erika Inocencio, vice president, after their election at the January 6 Board of Education reorganization meeting. Dr. Dennis Hopkins was picked as president, and Erika Inocencio as vice president, at the Board of Education January 6 reorganization meeting. Also at the meeting, newly elected members Clara Wilson and Meher Pervaaz-Rafiq were …

BLOWER BAN PROPOSAL – Environmental Commissioner Arnold Schmidt has proposed banning fossil fuel-powered leaf blowers six months out of the year. A suggested Township ordinance amendment that would ban the use of gas-powered leaf blowers six months out of the year was the main topic of discussion at the January 5 Environmental Advisory Commission meeting. The idea was brought up …

CAN’T STOP HER – Franklin’s Alivia Stewart has her eyes on the goal January 5 during the Lady Warriors’ game against Watchung Hills. Junior Alivia Stewart led the Lady Warriors to an overwhelming win over Watchung Hills January 5, powering Franklin to a 71-25 victory. Stewart led all players with 19 points, and also recorded seven rebounds, two assists, a …

RE-ENACTING HISTORY – Re-enactors portraying General George Washington and Generals Nathanael Greene and John Sullivan at the “Conference on Horseback” January 4 in Kingston. Several hundred people gathered along Church Street in Kingston on January 4 to witness an event that has not been seen in 249 years. It was on January 3, 1777, on a hill in Kingston in …

ALL SMILES – Gov.-Elect Mikie Sherrill shares a laugh with Township Councilwoman Shepa Uddin after the latter was sworn in to her new term at the January 3 Township Council reorganization meeting. The five newly elected Township Council members had a special guest swear them in at the January 3 Township Council reorganization meeting: Gov.-Elect Mikie Sherrill. During the afternoon …

Michael W. Mento, of Burlington, passed away on January 1 at home, surrounded by his family. He was 68. Born in New Brunswick and raised in Franklin Township, he lived in Monroe and Seaside Heights before settling in Burlington in 2025 with his wife, Kim, and dog, Lily. He worked as an Engineering Inspector for Franklin Township for more than …

Anthony T. Pagano, 64, passed away on December 30, 2025 at his home in New Brunswick. Born on February 22, 1961, in New Brunswick, he was the son of the late Anthony and Marie (Boelhower) Pagano. Anthony was raised in Somerset and later lived in North Brunswick before returning to New Brunswick, where he made his home. Anthony was a …