News-pourri

VIGIL ORGANIZER – Township resident Michael Steinbrück organized a vigil in front of the Municipal Building on March 1 in response to the U.S./Israeli bombing of Iran. About 60 people showed up in front of the township Municipal Building on March 1 for an impromptu peace vigil, in response to the U.S./Israeli bombing of Iran. The vigil was organized by …

THANKING THE SCHOOL BOARD – Jason Yanchuck, the newly minted district Assistant Athletic Director, speaks to the school board at the February 26 meeting. A high school track coach was named as the new district Assistant Athletic Director at the February 26 Board of Education meeting. Jason Yanchuck, who is the Franklin High School girls’ track & field team coach, …

EXPLAINING THE ACADEMY – Amy Arsiwala and Eric Siegal talk about the new Warrior NexTech Academy for middle school students, set to debut in the fall of 2026. The new Warrior NexTech Academy for middle schoolers was unveiled at the February 26 Board of Education meeting. The program is designed as a “school-within-a-school,” with students from both the Hamilton Street …

The search firm helping the Board of Education with its search for a new schools Superintendent has set two public meetings in March to receive input from township residents. The sessions are scheduled for 7-8:30 p.m. on March 5 and March 9. The March 5 session will be virtual, while the March 9 session will be in-person. Schools Superintendent John …

Ordinances that expand who can conduct marriages, change the late date for pet registrations, and modify the fees and accepted materials for convenience center drop-offs were introduced by the Township Council at its February 24 meeting. The first ordinance, 4498-26, deals with fees and other matters related to the convenience center. The ordinance raises by $5 the various fees for …

FROM ACTING TO PERMANENT – Lloyd Fredericks, who will be appointed the township’s next Public Safety Director on February 25, speaks to the Township Council at its February 24 meeting. Acting Public Safety Director Lloyd Fredericks will be formally appointed to the post on February 25. Township Manager Robert Vornlocker made the announcement at the February 24 Township Council meeting. …

AIRING HER COMPLAINTS – Township resident Deborah Inman told the Township Council that they need to closely monitor the contractors hired to plow township streets. A township resident’s dissatisfaction with how snow from the recent storm was plowed on her street led to a shouting match between her and a Township Councilman at the February 24 Township Council meeting. The …

EXPLAINING RESOLUTION – Mayor Phil Kramer talks about the proposed resolution banning federal immigration enforcement actions on Township property at the February 24 Township Council meeting. Federal immigration authorities are banned from conducting civil immigration enforcement actions on Township property under a resolution approved by the Township Council at its February 24 meeting. The resolution bans the immigration enforcement actions …

THE BIG DUMP – As much as 18 inches of snow fell in the township from February 22-23, according to the state Climatologist. The snowstorm that dumped between 14 inches and 18 inches of snow in the township from February 22-23 was “formidable,” but did not even crack the top 10 in terms of total snowfall, the state Climatologist said. …

ENGINEERING TESTIMONY – Mitchell Ardman, the engineer for Tahweed Dahwah Center Masjid, testifies at the February 19 Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting. Zoning Board of Adjustment hearings on a proposal to build a 19,000-square-foot mosque on a 16-acre South Middlebush Road tract resumed on February 19, and all indications are that this will not be a smooth process. The project’s …