Community Building

More than 200 cyclists – a new record – showed up Sept. 16 for the annual RCDCU Ride Against Prostate Cancer. The ride, sponsored by Renaissance Cyclists Defeating Cancer United, began and ended at Franklin Middle School. Cyclists and walkers had a variety of routs to choose from: 3-mile walk and bike, and 10-, 30- and 50-mile rides. Shirley Spruill, …

Township Councilwoman Shanel Robinson (D-At Large) is among a group of area community leaders spearheading an effort to gather items needed by survivors of Hurricane Henry in Texas. Robinson is joined on the Somerset-Middlesex county steering committee by New Brunswick City Council President Glen Fleming, community advocate Tormel Pittman and philanthropist Ashton Burrell of Highland Park. “I am all too …

Township officials, faith leaders, first responders and others on Sept. 12 honored the six township residents who were killed in the terrorist attacks in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. The Franklin Township Police Department’s Honor Guard and members of St. Matthias Cub Scout Pack 195 led the Pledge of Allegiance, and welcoming remarks were given by Township Councilman …

The Franklin Reporter & Advocate recently asked readers of our Facebook page to share with us their most prominent memory of the terrorist attacks on Sept 11, 2001. We preset them here, in commemoration of the 16th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Chris Lynn Schwarz: Trying to go on with the school day …

https://www.facebook.com/franklinreporter/videos/1269749599803416/ Franklin Reporter & Advocate co-publisher PJ Parker interviews Kim Vannote, co-founder of the John Basilone Memorial Foundation, and Collette Reap, general manager of the Stage House Tavern, left to right, during the restaurant’s second annual fundraiser for the foundation. The Stage House restaurant on Amwell Road was once again the location for a fundraiser barbecue for the Basilone Memorial …

Members of the late Naaman Williams’ family showed up from all corners of the country Aug. 26 for the re-dedication of the park that bears his name. Th event, commemorating the 35th anniversary of the renaming of Hamilton Park to Naaman Williams Memorial Park, was the kickoff for the annual Week of the People celebration. Music, games, entertainment and food …

https://www.facebook.com/franklinreporter/videos/1261544800623896/ Update: A delegation of representatives from Sierra Leone visited the township Aug. 25 to ask for help for the survivors of a deadly mudslide in their country, and to thank officials for hosting a donation drop-off point. Lead by Amadu Koroma, Sierra Leone’s Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations, the group first visited the Masjid-e-Ali Mosque on Cedar Grove …

Township police officials are hoping to roll out their “Coffee With A Cop” program next month. Det. Sean Hebbon, who heads the department’s Community Policing effort, said Aug. 7 that plans are in the works for the program to be held throughout the township. “We’re working with some of the businesses to get it advertised,” Hebbon told the Hamilton Street …

By Makinrola Orafidiya. Approximately $1,000 was raised Aug. 5 during the launch party for the Warrior for Life Foundation, held at Ovations in South Bound Brook. That’s in addition to the more than $5,000 already raised by the organization, all of which is targeted to raise funds to provide scholarships to Franklin High School students for higher education programs. Members …

BRIDGEWATER – Franklin Township residents’ success was celebrated July 27 at the Franklin Community Night held at TD Bank Ballpark. Sponsored by the Franklin Reporter & Advocate and the Business Alliance of Franklin Township, and presented by the Somerset Patriots, the evening was also a fundraiser for the township-based Sisters Network of Central New Jersey. The pre-game festivities were all …