By Debbie Stuart Let me start off by saying I am not a political person. Never have been and do not intend to be. I am a 100 percent independent thinker and voter. But this is not about me.

Contracts for goods and services worth more than $1 million were approved by the Township Council at its October 14 meeting. The contracts approved were:

LOOKING FOR COST SAVINGS – Open Space Advisory Committee member Arnold Schmidt raised several questions about the costs associated with the full-blown Catalpa Park plan. The Open Space Advisory Committee on October 21 voted to recommend a scaled-down version of Catalpa Park to the Township Council. The Committee had earlier narrowly defeated a motion to recommend the full version of …

Assemblyman Joe Danielsen A bill co-sponsored by state Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-17) that expands regulations related to travel insurance and travel assistance services was signed into law on October 20 by Gov. Phil Murphy. “I am pleased that Governor Murphy has signed my bill the ‘Travel Insurance Act’ into law,” Danielsen said in a statement. “In particular, the bill deals …

NO KINGS – Some of the estimated 1,500 people who came to the township to participate in the No Kings 2 rally at the Cultural Arts Gazebo. An estimated 1,500 people from the township and elsewhere packed the green at the Franklin Township Cultural Gazebo October 18 for the “No Kings Day 2” rally. The rally was one of reportedly …

By Jenny Kafas Fall was recently described to me as the most nostalgic season. Lately, every time I step outside, feel crisp air and smell the fallen leaves, I am somehow taken right back to my childhood where I spent hours jumping into the proverbial giant-pile-of-leaves. My mom, despite spending years convincing me to rake the leaves in our yard, …

By Kiki Anastasakos. While local elected officials can’t change the world or create a perfect community insulated from market shifts and political chaos, they often do an admirable job shaping a welcoming, safe and affordable environment for all its residents. 

UPDATE: The preliminary investigation shows that the car Rojek was driving was traveling southbound in the northbound lane when the accident occurred, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office. A 51-year-old Somerset woman was killed October 19 as the result of a two-car collision at Easton Avenue and Cedar Grove Lane, police said.

Franklin High School students found out who their Homecoming King and Queen and Court are at the October 18 Homecoming dance, held at the school. Students dined and danced to a DJ, and had pictures taken throughout the evening.

Franklin High School’s football Warriors had a happy Homecoming, with a 40-22 win over Monroe on October 17. With the win, Franklin improves to 4-4 overall, and 1-1 in the Big Central – National Silver division.