Community Building

Mother Nature cooperated May 28 and the township’s Memorial Day commemoration once again included a parade down DeMott Lane. Participants in the parade included the township’s Boy Scout, Girl Scout and Cub Scout troops, the Franklin High School Warrior Marching Band, and a contingent from the Canal Walk Veterans Association. A formal ceremony, including a flyover by a U.S. Coast …

The inaugural Graduation Conference, sponsored by the Warrior For Life Scholarship Foundation and the Franklin Youth Initiative is set for noon to 3 p.m. June 17 at the township Community/Senior Center in the Municipal Complex on DeMott Lane. The event is designed to provide resources to township students and families focused on pre-college programming, post-high school planning, and career readiness. …

Submitted by ZTrek. The annual ZTrek fundraising cycling event is slated to take off July 28 from the ZCC Children’s Christian Ministry Church in Zarepath. ZTrek is a cycling event designed to raise money and awareness for people in need. Started by a small group of dedicated cyclists in 2007 riding 500 miles over several days, the event is now …

It was delayed by two days because of rain, but the annual St. Matthias carnival formally opened on May 17. The carnival is the largest fund-raiser for the church, the St. Matthias School and various missions supported by the church. The field was a bit muddy is spots from all the rain of the past few days but that did …

Construction of the performance gazebo in the Municipal Complex on Demott Lane is underway, even as its organizing committee is still seeking donations. The 38-foot-wide gazebo will be built near the township library and is seen as a place for the presentation of various forms of entertainment, including music, plays, and dramatic readings. The organizing committee – Bill Grippo, John …

By PJ Parker Amid the sights and sounds of hammers and saws, ladders and buckets of paint, more than 25 women pitched in May 5 to construct two homes on Delmonico Avenue for two families in the Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity program on Women Build Day. Women Build is a nationwide week-long event sponsored by Lowe’s Companies in conjunction …

More than 700 cyclists helped to raise about $78,000 in the 29th annual Tour de Franklin on April 29. The tour is the largest fundraiser for the Franklin Food Bank. The tour offered a variety of routes, from 10 miles to 62 miles, all of which started and ended at Franklin High School. Lisa Frey, chairperson of the ride’s planning …

Sierra Leonians gathered at Naaman Williams Park April 28 to celebrate the 57th anniversary of their nation’s independence. The day was marked with music, food and the ceremonial raising of the Sierre Leonian flag on one of the park’s flag poles. A proclamation commemorating Sierra Leone Day from the Township Council was read by Deputy Mayor Shanel Robinson. Other township …

More than 900 pounds of food and $600 in donations was gathered April 28 for the Franklin Food Bank at the two township Stop and Shop supermarkets. The donations were made as part of the chain’s second annual “Feeding Our Families” food drive. Stop and Shop stores are located in Rutgers Plaza on Easton Avenue and on Route 27 in …

Submitted by Somerset County Public Information Office. Youth Leadership Somerset, a leadership development program for Somerset County youth entering grades 9-12, is accepting applications for the 2018-2019 program year, which runs September through May. Classes are held one Saturday per month for approximately four to six hours. The application deadline is Monday, May 16. “Somerset County is dedicated to investing …