NEW PRINCIPAL – Edgar Vazquez speaks to the Board of Education after being named new principal at Pine Grove Manor Elementary School. Edgar Vazquez was named the new Pine Grove Manor principal by the Board of Education at its June 19 meeting. A 7-year veteran of the school district, Vazquez for the past two years has been the Vice-Principal at …

Two cooling centers have been opened in the township in advance of the high heat and humidity expected in the area over the next few days. The township Office of Emergency Management has issued a severe heat and humidity warning.

GRADUATION SPEAKERS – Valedictorian Semra Suslu and Salutatorian Ansh Parikh during the CJCP graduation ceremony on June 18. Central Jersey College Preps’ Class of 2025 was told to be “leaders with integrity” at its graduation ceremony on June 18 at the Mettlers Road campus. The graduates heard from Jeannine LaRue, who during her career has been an elected official, lobbyist, …

EXPLAINING THE PLAN – Malvika Apte, an engineer who created the Township’s proposed affordable housing plan covering the next 10 years, describes the plan before the Planning Board on June 18. UPDATE: The Township Council at its June 24 meeting endorsed the Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan. Next stop is the state Affordable Housing Dispute Resolution Program. …

Susan Kane passed away on June 15 at Care One Somerset Valley Care Center in Bound Brook. She was 72 years old. Susan was born and raised in Edison to the late Harry and Dorothy (Brause) Willis. She attended the local Edison school system and graduated from high school. She moved shortly after to Somerset where she met her loving …

CELEBRATING STUDENTS – Nikkii Tatum, who runs the Road To Success program, said this year’s class may have the most graduates in its history. Students who completed the alternative high school program “Road To Success” were honored June 17 with an awards ceremony and party. The program’s mission is to, “prepare enrolled students to graduate high school and be college …

By Wm. David Burns. Last year, the Franklin Reporter & Advocate chose Katie Nordhaus, the extraordinary director of our Township’s animal shelter, as its “Woman of the Year.”  It was a wise and well-deserved celebration of her distinguished service.

06/01/2025 A Somerset resident was the victim of theft by deception on 05/31/25. The victim received an e-mail about security software and contacted the phone number provided. The unknown suspect requested $299 for the service which the victim sent. The suspect, however, charged the victim $29,999. The victim realized she was scammed and quickly contacted her bank. The bank was …

By Michelle Petersen. Each year, the Franklin Township Republican Municipal Committee (FTRMC) proudly joins our community at the Juneteenth Festival at Naaman Williams Park. We don’t just show up—we support. We purchase a vendor table, donate hundreds of dollars as sponsors, march in the parade, and joyfully hand out flags, candy, and other patriotic gifts to local children. Rain or …

A 62-year-old Perth Amboy man faces charges including animal cruelty after he was allegedly seen kicking his dog and beating it with a saw in the township. At about 7:18 p.m. on June 7, Franklin Township Police Department received a 9-1-1 call reporting an incident of animal cruelty in the area of Somerset Street, according to a press release from …