Community Building

MAKING ART – Attendees at the Muslim Heritage Month event in the Township Library January 10 make Turkish mosaics. The art and culture of Turkey was on display January 10 at the Township Library’s Muslim Heritage Month observance. The event was co-sponsored by the library and the Muslim Heritage Month Coalition. Ayeshah Ali, a library Trustee and member of the coalition, …

RE-ENACTING HISTORY – Re-enactors portraying General George Washington and Generals Nathanael Greene and John Sullivan at the “Conference on Horseback” January 4 in Kingston. Several hundred people gathered along Church Street in Kingston on January 4 to witness an event that has not been seen in 249 years. It was on January 3, 1777, on a hill in Kingston in …

The Franklin Township Police Department’s Community Relations Bureau on December 20 held its 5th Annual Holiday Toy and Clothing distribution at the CRB headquarters on Hamilton Street. The fifth year of the event is a “milestone that reflects the continued generosity and community spirit of Franklin Township residents and local partners,” FTPD spokesman Capt. Vincent Wilson said in a release …

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,” …

State Assemblyman Joe Danielsen is once again hosting his annual Head-To-Toe clothing drive. New or clean, gently used winter clothing donations for children aged 3-16 years are being accepted at his legislative office at 334 Elizabeth Avenue until January 16, 2026. Recommended donations are hats, scarves, mittens, gloves, and socks. For more information, call (732) 247-3999, or email asmdanielsen@njleg.org.   …

TRADITION CONTINUES – Vimal Sodhani, founder of the Sodhani Foundation, speaks at the November 20 Board of Education meeting. The township school district was once again the beneficiary of a local philanthropist’s largess. Vimal Sodhani, founder of the Sodhani Foundation, at the November 20 Board of Education meeting presented the district with a $10,000 donation for this year’s Invention Competition. …

Township crafters and artists have until noon on November 19 to submit their applications for the 47th Annual Festival of Trees to showcase their tree-decorating artistry at the Environmental Education Center in Basking Ridge. More than 40 trees featuring themes chosen by the decorators will fill the EEC’s large open rooms as local musicians play visitors through the exhibition. The …

READY TO WIN – Thomas J. Kavanaugh VFW Post 2290’s hall was packed on November 15 for the fourth annual Middlebush Volunteer Fire Department Ladies’ Auxiliary Tricky Tray fundraiser. More than 300 people on November 15 made the annual pilgrimage to the Manville VFW hall for the annual tricky tray fundraiser held by the Middlebush Volunteer Fire Department’s Ladies’ Auxiliary. …

The Franklin Food Bank is one of 14 food assistance organizations receiving a total of $1 million from RWJBarnabas Health. The Food Bank Network of Somerset County and Elijah’s Promise of New Brunswick are also among the organizations receiving grants. The grants are meant to help combat food insecurity in light of the interruption in federal food assistance benefits, including …