Community Building

From left, Somerset County Commissioners Director Shanel Robinson, Mayor Phil Kramer, Commissioners’ Deputy Director Melonie Marano, Township Councilman Ram Anbarasan and Township Councilwoman Shepa Uddin cut the ribbon at the Franklin Food Bank’s March 27 re-opening. Township officials and Franklin Food Bank supporters were on hand March 27 to celebrate the “re-opening” of the Food Bank, and to welcome the …

Submitted by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal & Northern New Jersey. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal & Northern New Jersey is seeking volunteers who live or work in Somerset County to become mentors to several local children.   BBBSCNNJ offers one-to-one mentoring for youth ages 6-18 (Littles), providing them with tools and resources to become competent, confident, and …

Some of the hundreds of people who gathered February 28 at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Orthodox Memorial Church for a prayer vigil for the Ukrainian people. Several hundred people gathered February 28 outside the St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Memorial Church the evening of February 28 to participate in a candlelight vigil for the people of Ukraine. Hosted by Archbishop Daniel, President …

SCAP Executive Director Mark Harris told the Human Relations Commission about the new Workforce Development Program offered to township residents. Update: The Township Council on February 22 approved the funding of the program for one year. Up to $250,000 will be allocated from the Township’s share of the federal CARE Act funds. Funding will be allocated on a per-student basis, …

The annual Tour de Franklin charity bike ride is set to return as an in-person event this April. The organizers of the annual Tour de Franklin charity bike ride announced January 24 that they are planning to hold the 2022 ride in-person on April 24. The starting point for the ride, which benefits the Franklin Food Bank, will be at …

Township Girl Scout Grace Glynn won approval from the Committee for her Sensory Trail idea. A township Girl Scout received the Open Space Advisory Committee’s go-ahead for a project at Middlebush Park at its January 18 meeting. The Scout, Grace Glynn, a Scout with Troop 60607, wants to do the project in furtherance of her quest for the Scouts’ Gold …

The annual MLK Foundation Community Breakfast draws hundreds of Franklin residents. (File photo.) Safety concerns spurred by the surge in Covid-19 cases in the township forced the postponement of the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Breakfast. The Franklin Township Dr. Martin Luther King Community Foundation, the organization sponsoring the annual breakfast, announced the postponement on January 13. The breakfast …

State Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-17) is running his annual winter clothing drive until February 15. The Head to Toe clothing drive is seeking donations of winter clothing for children aged 3 to 16 from individuals and community partners throughout the 17th Legislative District. Winter clothing items being sought include hats, scarves, mittens/gloves, and socks.  Last year his office collected more than 1,000 pieces …

Robert “Kash” Kashinsky for Community and the Franklin Republican Club are sponsoring a clothing gift drive for Franklin Township children in foster care. Working with a local agency, Kashinsky set up the drive which has donors pick a child from the provided list, purchase the gifts, and drop them off at his DeMott Lane home, from where they will then …

The Somerset chapter of Sewa International, a public service group, delivered the last of 1,000 pounds of food to the Franklin Food Bank on December 2. The group had initially donated 300 pounds; this delivery was 700 pounds. The food was mainly collected by student volunteers. The Franklin Reporter & Advocate was there for the donation: