A township man was scammed out of nearly $700,000 in July by a person using an online app, police said. Police said the unidentified man told them that on July 12, he was contacted about investing on the WhatsApp communications app by a person calling themself “Aria Blake.”

08/16/2026 A Newark business was the victim of a theft in the area of Davidson Ave. during the overnight hours. The unknown suspect(s) removed the tires and rims from the reporting person’s rental vehicle. The stolen property was valued at $1,600.

SELLING THE SALE – Township manager Robert Vornlocker told the Township Council on September 8 that the three parcels up for sale serve no purpose for the Township. The Township Council gave final approval Sept. 8 to the sale of three township-owned lots to Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity for the construction of low-income homes, over the objections of a …

By Bill Connell. As a citizen member of the Open Space committee, it is truly interesting the breadth of topics with which we are presented and are asked to give an opinion on.  My favorite was discussing salamanders.  Their presence is an indicator of the health of water.  I had not thought about salamanders since I was a feral child wandering Sealy’s Brook …

Here is the latest on the various road resurfacing projects throughout the township. Please note due to extreme heat and weather conditions these dates are subject to change. 

SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE – Bill Cullen, former Chief of the Elizabeth Avenue Volunteer Fire Department, lead the annual ceremony. Firefighters from across Franklin Township gathered at St. Matthias Catholic Church on September 11 for the 25th annual first responder commemoration service, where the names of every emergency worker killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were read aloud.

By Bill Connell. I have gone down this road before in this space but I feel I need to repeat myself. 

A schematic view of the proposed Catalpa Park. After more than a decade of false starts, redesigns, and bids that came in too high, the Township Council on Sept. 8 took the votes that will finally lead to a Catalpa Park.

LEGAL ADVICE – Township Attorney Lou Rainone told the Township Council on September 8 that it would be “in the public interest” to settle the Williams-TRANSCO eminent domain matter. The Township Council has agreed to accept a total of $600,000 from Williams-Transco for a township-owned easement the Houston-based natural gas company needs to construct a planned natural gas compressor station, …

Friday, Sept. 11 First Responder 9-11Memorial Mass, St. Matthias Church, 168 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Somerset. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Somerset Patriots vs. Hartford Yard Goats, TD Bank Ballpark, Bridgewater, 6:35 p.m. Pregame 25th anniversary tribute with speakers and a video presentation; the club donated more than 2,000 tickets to first responders and their families. Andrew Schulz, Stress Factory Comedy Club, New …