By Jan Brant. A recent opinion piece written by Deana Luchs included an incomplete quotation from my testimony before the State Legislature in Trenton on the negative impacts of warehouse proliferation in Franklin.

Contracts totaling $1.7 million were approved by the Township Council at its October 28 meeting. The contracts awarded were:

SURPRISE DONATION – Franklin Food Bank executive director Derek Smith, left, hugs Township Councilman Alex Kharazi after Kharazi announced a $5,000 donation to the food bank from the Masjid-e-Ali on Cedar Grove Avenue. Franklin Food Bank executive director Derek Smith walked into the October 28 Township Council meeting prepared to tell members about the dire situation many township residents face …

HERITAGE MONTH HONOREE – Vimal Sodhani thanks the Township Council for recognizing Hindu Heritage Month at the October 28 meeting. A local Hindu community leader was feted at the October 28 Township Council meeting. Vimal Sodhani, of the Sodhani Foundation, was featured during the Council’s annual recognition of Hindu Heritage Month.

Video courtesy of Robert Trautmann. There were no reported injuries in a multi-unit fire on Amethyst Way during the morning of October 29, although several families were displaced.

The Franklin Township school district is one of 31 throughout the state which recently received a state grant to help train teachers to improve student literacy. The District received a $50,000 Reading Intervention for Secondary Engagement (RISE) grant for secondary and high school students.

Antonio Benamer of Somerset passed away on October 26 at St. Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick. He was 68. Born in Quezon Province, Philippines, he immigrated to the United States in 1986, settling first in New York City before moving to Hammonton, then Somerset. He worked as a Registered Nurse at the Somerset Woods Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in …

NEW AD – Anthony Brito thanks the Board of Education October 28 after he was named the new Franklin High School Athletic Director. The Board of Education on October 28 picked a seasoned veteran to be the next Franklin High School Athletic Director. Anthony Brito, a 27-year district veteran, previously served as Assistant Athletic Director.

NEW FPS PRINCIPAL – Angela Pape speaks to the Board of Education October 28 after being named the new principal at Franklin Park Elementary School. Angela Pape was named the new Franklin Park Elementary School principal by the Board of Education at its October 28 meeting. A 13-year veteran of Franklin schools, Pape replaces former FPS principal Jennifer Stein, who …

Township officials are spreading the word about a fraudulent email purporting to be from the Township Planning Board. According to the Township IT department, the email appears to come from “Planning Commission Franklin Township,” with the email Planning-Co.FranklinTownship@usa.com.