By Mayor Phil Kramer. I read Mr. Bill Connell’s letter to the editor on March 19, 2025 regarding the Open Space budget. Before I begin, full disclosure—Billy and I are friends. That doesn’t stop him from holding my feet to the fire when he thinks it’s important, as it should be. Readers should also know that beyond his role as …

Francis (Frank) McCann passed away quietly at his longtime Somerset home. He was 94 years old. Born and raised in Queens, Frank graduated from NYU with a BS and MBA in economics. While working at Philip Morris, he met Joan, his loving wife of 56 years, who died in 2012. They lived in Queens before moving to Somerset in 1962. …

Township officials have a rough idea of how much money they would ideally need to keep Franklin running in 2025 – more than $72.4 million – and now they have to work out how that amount will be raised, or if it will be reduced. The Township Council wrapped up the second of two virtual budget hearings on March 18, …

Contracts for goods and services totaling $3,185,776 were approved by the Board of Education at its March 18 meeting. The contracts approved were: Don’t Miss Out! No other media outlet covering Franklin Township brings you the depth of information presented by the Franklin Reporter & Advocate. Period. We are the only truly independent media serving the Eight Villages. But we …

Elise Carol Sheinman-Chiola, 70, passed away peacefully at her home in Edison on March 19. Born on January 3, 1955, in Bronx, Elise was the daughter of Seymour and Leah (Weinberg) Sheinman. She spent much of her life in Somerset before settling in Edison. Elise attended Middlesex County College, where she earned her Associate’s Degree. In her early career, she …

FRANKLIN CONTINGENT – Sudhir Shah, Mahesh Muchhala, Deputy Mayor Shepa Uddin, state Assemblyman Joe Danielsen,Mayor Phil Kramer, Jan Brant, Eleanor Ogin, and Roz Sherman (left to right) after the Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee hearing on warehouse proliferation in the state. A contingent of Franklin residents – including Township officials – converged in Trenton on March 20 to offer …

BEAUTY QUEEN AVIATOR – Jabili Kandula, Miss New Jersey USA 2024, speaks to members of the Franklin High School aviation club on March 19. It’s not often that a beauty queen visits Franklin High School. well, it never happens. Until march 19, when Jabili Kandula, Miss New Jersey USA 2024, spent about an hour with members of the FHS aviation …

03/01/2025 A Somerset resident was the victim of a burglary and theft during the overnight hours in the area of Rodney Ave. Four unknown suspects entered the residence via an unlocked rear door. They stole the victim’s purse, and a jacket valued at $240. Inside the purse were keys to the victim’s vehicle, which the suspects also stole. The vehicle …

Geraldine Davis departed this life on March 18 in Somerset. She was born January 6, 1935, in Moore County, North Carolina to the late Carrie Bennett Murchison and William Henry Murchison. She had two brothers, Herman Bennett, and Henry Murchison (both deceased), and two sisters Lilian McGregor and Criss Murchison of North Carolina. She graduated from Berkely High School and …

By Bill Connell, Somerset. I am a citizen member of the Open Space Committee, and I would like to talk to the good citizens of Franklin.    Don’t Miss Out! No other media outlet covering Franklin Township brings you the depth of information presented by the Franklin Reporter & Advocate. Period. We are the only truly independent media serving the Eight …