News-pourri

FRANKLIN’S FAMOUS – Members of the Franklin High School Madrigals show the commendations they were awarded December 9 by the Township Council for being named NBC’s “Star Choir” for 2025. The Franklin High School Madrigals’ victory tour continued on December 9 when they received a commendation from the Township Council. The Madrigals, performing under the name, GoldN’Blues Choir, was named …

There were no increases in the Fire District Commissioners’ stipends approved December 9 by the Township Council. The proposed stipends were approved by voters in the four districts in the February Fire Election. The Council approved the following stipends: Fire District No. 1 $9,000.00 (Commissioners except Chair) Fire District No. 1 $9,500.00 (Chairman) Fire District No. 2 $8,250.00 each Fire …

EXPLAINING THE PROJECT – Engineer Tyler Vandervalk explains the modified proposal for a convenience store/gas station on Elizabeth Avenue at the December 4 Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting. A proposal to turn a car repair shop into a convenience store at Elizabeth and Cedar avenues ran into heavy flak at the December 4 Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting. The plan, …

ONE MORE TIME – Engineer Shri Kotdawla talks about the changes made to plans for a retail/office center at New Brunswick Road and Davidson Avenue at the December 3 Planning Board meeting. The third time was the charm for a developer wishing to build a 25,000-square-foot mixed-use retail/office center at the corner of Davidson Avenue and New Brunswick Road. The …

EXPLAINING THE CONCEPT – Township Open Space Consultant Tara Kenyon describes Stormwater Management Utilities to the Environmental Commission at its December 1 meeting. The township Environmental Commission wants Franklin to join the small roster of New Jersey towns that charge landowners a fee for the the amount of stormwater runoff generated on their property. The Commission at its December 1 …

BRIDGE TO BE REPLACED – The Griggstown Causeway bridge is one of two in the township slated to be replaced next year by the state Department of Transportation. State transportation officials are readying plans to replace two bridges in the township, starting next year. The year-long replacement work will be conducted on the Griggstown Causeway and the Chapel Drive bridges …

GRANT RECEIVED – Pictured, from left to right, (front), Josephine Taranto, Preservation Planner for Somerset County’s Department of Engineering and Planning; Jane Kiernan, Treasurer of the Franklin Inn – Van Liew Homestead Association; Nancy Hohnstine, Trustee of the Franklin Inn – Van Liew Homestead Association; Barbara ten Broeke, President of the Franklin Inn – Van Liew Homestead Association; Suzanne Ochse, …

SAYING THANKS – Flanked by FTPD Captains Vincent Wilson and Brandon Domotor, and acting Public Safety Director Lloyd Fredericks, former Public Safety Director Quovella Maeweather speaks at the November 25 Township Council meeting. Quovella Maeweather, the Township’s former Public Safety Director, was honored at the November 25 Township Council meeting Maeweather, who is now a Deputy Chief in the Johns …

WORDS OF WISDOM – Rod Brundidge, a Franklin High School vice-principal, speaks to Road to Success students at their annual Thanksgiving celebration. Thanksgiving came two days early for students enrolled in the school district’s Road To Success program. Road To Success is an alternative high school program, the mission of which is “prepare enrolled students to graduate high school and …

WINNERS! – The Franklin High School GoldN’Blues Choir – also known as The Madrigals – will perform in the Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting ceremony, broadcast on NBC. (Photo NBC 4 New York.) Franklin High School’s GoldN’Blues Choir – also known as the Madrigal Choir – on November 25 was selected to sing for NBC’s broadcast of “Christmas in Rockefeller Center,” …