Community Building

The Franklin Reporter & Advocate was out and about on October 28 and 29, bringing you donations, parties and fundraisers. Om October 28, we were at the Franklin Food Bank HQ on Churchill Road where the food bank received a nearly $7,000 cash donation from the Sodhani Foundation and members of the Canal Walk community. Here’s a video of the …

Three township residents were among five people honored October 22 at the National Civics Day celebration held at the Franklin Youth Center on Lewis Street. Township residents honored during the ceremony were Somerset County Commissioner Director Shanel Robinson, who was given the Unity Award; the Rev. Catina Jackson, who was given the #CitizenStrong Award, and Week of the People president …

A Franklin Park School student decorates her pumpkin Oct. 19 during the school’s Unity Day celebration. Although it’s been celebrated for years, Unity Day 2022 was a first for some students at Franklin Park School. The difference? They got to feel what it was like to go pumpkin-picking. The students never left the school property; the “field” was the school’s …

The new Middlebush skate park is open. The new Middlebush Park skate park is already garnering attention. The new park, located next to the basketball courts, is smaller than the one it replaced, but is considered by skaters as an upgrade. The $309,000 skate park is made entirely of poured concrete, vastly different than the metal ramps that were placed …

Dorothy Reed, right, president of Sister 2 Sister, was at the October 11 Township Council meeting to receive the Council’s proclamation on Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Township Council on October 11 formally declared October as Breast Cancer Awareness month in the township, and gave a nod to a local organization helping women going through the disease. Dorothy Reed, president …

The first weekend in October saw a number of events occur in Franklin. On October 7, the Franklin High School senior field hockey players were celebrated with their senior night. Those honored were Tabatha Alegria, team co-captain Rebecca Russo, team co-captain Molly Smith, team co-captain Samantha Gordon, Taylor Hoyte, Amanda Gutierrez, Thara Muhammad, and Noelia Abreu. Watch a video of …

Just about 200 cyclists and walkers showed up at the Franklin Township Senior/Community Center September 17 for the annual Renaissance Cyclists Defeating cancer United charity bike-a-thon. The RCDCU event has been going on for 15 years – with some time off for the Covid pandemic – and has raised more than $31,000 for prostate cancer awareness. Offered were a 3-mile …

More than 1,200 backpacks were distributed to area children through the annual backpack drive run by the office of state Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-17). The backpacks were distributed to children throughout the 17th District. Danielsen’s goal was to reach more families than the drive had in the past and ensure each child has the supplies they need to succeed this …

Cyclists from the tr-state area will once again gather in the township on September 17 for the annual RCDCU fundraising ride. (File photo.) Community residents, local business owners and others will gear up to take part in the Renaissance Cyclist Defeating Cancer United Inc. (RCDCU) 2022 Bike-A-Thon “ Bike to Fight Prostate Cancer” on September 17, to raise money to …

Gene Grosso has been picking up litter on streets and in parks for the past several years. (Photo: Aanya Tolat). By Aanya Tolat, Special to the Reporter For the past seven years, Gene Grosso, a resident of Canal Walk, has been taking the time to clean up the litter on several different streets. From 4:30-5 a.m., four days a week, …