Franklin High School students who may be interested in police work can get a taste of the training during a 5-day “Police Youth Week” program at the Somerset County Police Academy in Hillsborough. The program, open to all Somerset County high school students – including those who will be entering high school and graduating seniors – is set for 9 …

The 25th Annual Tour de Franklin fundraiser for the Franklin Township Food Bank is set for April 27. The event, which features events ranging from a 62-mile bike tour to a 1-5 mile ride or walk, is the main fundraising event of the year for the township food bank. Events begin at 7:30 a.m. at the Franklin Township Senior and …

This year’s rash of heavy snow storms has forced the township to so far spend about 2.5 times the average in snow removal costs. This year’s cost is about $310,000, said township manager Bob Vornlocker. The yearly average, he said, is about $125,000. The extra money will come from the township’s snow trust fund, into which unused snow removal money …

Update: Quail Brook golf course on New Brunswick Road is also open now. Franklin Township duffers can break out the plaid pants now that the Spooky Brook Golf Course in Colonial Park is open for play. Spooky Brook joins the Neshanic Valley Golf Course in opening for the season. All five of the Somerset County run course pro shops are …

Purchases worth $53,950 and a number of professional and service contracts were awarded by the Township Council at the March 11 meeting. The council approved the $44,000 purchase of technical support for land development software from Spatial Data Logic of Somerset through Feb. 28, 2015. The software is used by a number of township departments, including building, land use, code …

Although they’re not sure it would ever happen in Franklin, the Township Council at its March 11 meeting introduced an ordinance to ban fracking. The vote was not unanimous; Mayor Brian Levine (R), saying there really isn’t any opportunity for the practice within township borders, voted against it. The amendment to the township’s quarrying and blasting ordinance is the result …

By Bill Connell, Somerset. I was at work approving invoices and it reminded me of a question I have.  When approving invoices I ask myself two questions. Did they provide the service? and is there any reason not to pay the bill? What I am about to ask has been asked of the board but not surprisingly, went unacknowledged and …

There was a point in the first quarter of the NJSIAA Group 4 semifinals game against Paterson Eastside when it looked as though the contest was going to be a classic Lady Warriors battle, with both teams trading baskets. The Warriors even took a slight lead, at 13-10. The first hint of trouble came during the final 45 seconds of …

Township Councilman Ted Chase has waited four years to get his water conservation ordinance introduced, and it looks as though he’ll have to wait a while longer. The ordinance was set to be introduced on first reading at the council’s March 11 meeting. But objections raised by Deputy Mayor Brian Regan (D-At Large) convinced his fellow council members to hold …

The township’s more than 300 Girl Scouts and adult volunteers were acknowledged with a mayoral proclamation at the March 11 Township Council session. Members of Girl Scout Unit 67presented an honor guard and led the council and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance at the meeting’s start. The proclamation reads: WHEREAS, March 9-15, 2014 marks Girl Scout Week as designated …