Community Building

Reenactor John Koopman as George Washington at last year’s Walk and Roll event, as local residents walk and bicycle on Canal Road. (Photo: Millstone Valley Preseervation Coalition.) Submitted by the Millstone Valley Preservation Coalition. Reenactors of General George Washington and his valet, Billy Lee, will ride on horseback along Canal Road on August 28, 241 years after the American and …

The organizers of the annual Week of the People festivals are getting last-minute details set in anticipation of their events planned for August 13, 14 and 20. August 13 will see the Back to School Festival from 1-7 p.m. at Naaman WIlliams Park on Matilda Avenue. The highlight of the day will be the distribution of free backpacks to township …

Township Councilman Charles Onyejiaka, left, presents a key to the township to Nigerian King Olusegun Aderemi of Aramako at the August 9 Township Council meeting. Mayor Phil Kramer can add another Nigerian title to his resume. Kramer was dubbed a chief on August 9 by a visiting Nigerian King – Olusegun Aderemi of Aramako, Nigeria – and given a title …

Zach Lichtmann, left, stares into the heavens with three township residents as they look for the International Space Station, which was flying 300 miles overhead during the National Night Out celebration. Hundreds of township residents came out to the Municipal Complex on August 2 for Franklin’s first observance of the National Night Out celebration. The residents were greeted by about …

Mayor Phil Kramer, Assemblyman Joe Danielsen, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and Center for Great Expectations CEO Peg Wright, left to right, talk during the lawmakers’ tour of the Center. Leaders at the Center for Great Expectations – the group that provides services for expectant women at risk and women recovering from substance use, and their young children – thought they …

The 2022 class of the Franklin Township Police Department Youth Academy. A week of physical training, classroom learning and once-in-a-lifetime experiences was capped off at the July 22 Franklin Township Police Department Youth Academy Cadet graduation. The 15 cadets – down from 22 when the program started – were led into the Franklin Middle School – Sampson G. Smith campus …

Canal Walk’s 18-game winning streak was snapped July 22 in a 3-2 loos to the A Team in the Senior Softball League’s opening championship game. The A Team is the defending champion, having won the ultimate series each of the last three years. The next game in the best two out of three series is set for 9:30 a.m. July …

The Township Council handed out a variety of commendations and proclamations at its June 14 meeting. Four Franklin youth who recently medaled in a national Tae Kwon Do tournament were recognized, as well as St. Matthias Church on the occasion of its 60th anniversary. The Council also recognized LGBTQ+ Pride Month and Juneteenth, which is now a federal holiday. Students …

Floats, speeches and music were on tap for the Juneteenth parade and festival held in the township on June 18. Sponsored by the Somerset County Democratic Black Caucus and Week of the People, the parade featured marchers and floats making their way up Highland Avenue and down a stretch of Hamilton Street before turning on to Matilda Avenue and into …

The recipients of the 2022 Warrior4Life Foundation scholarships were honored at a special ceremony June 12 at the Cultural Arts Gazebo in the Municipal Complex. The Warrior4Life Foundation on June 12 held a special ceremony at the township Cultural Arts Gazebo on DeMott Lane to award its latest round of college scholarships. A total of $9,500 was awarded to 10 …