Community Building

Franklin Township native son Vito Mistretta, in blue shirt, was honored with his own day at the Oct. 22 Township Council meeting. Oct. 22 was officially declared “Vito Mistretta Day” by the Township Council, in honor of a lifelong township resident credited with helping start the Hamilton Street redevelopment. Mistretta, owner of Vito’s Head Shop on Hamilton Street, is an …

The second iteration of the Franklin Township Police Department’s “pink car” was officially unveiled Oct. 10. Representatives from the police department, township officials and members of the Sister2Sister Network – the non-profit organization benefiting from the FTPD’s “Pink Patch” fundraising program – were on hand for what’s become an annual event.

U.S. Marine recruit Daniel DeAngelis, left, credits FTPD Sgt. Ariel Almora with turning his life around. Franklin Township Police Sergeant Ariel Almora has been acting as a drill instructor in the Somerset County and FTPD youth police academies for years. Although he deals with dozens of young men and women in those sessions, he said he’s never sure if he’s …

The annual Franklin Day Festival drew sunny skies and thousands of visitors Sept. 28 to Colonial Park. Along with the usual craft vendors, township booths and food vendors, there were kids’ games, an antique car show and a visit from New Jersey National Army Guard soldiers via a Blackhawk helicopter landing.

Firefighters, EMTs and their supporters gathered at St. Matthias Church on John F. Kennedy Boulevard Sept. 11 to once again honor first responders who died in the terrorist attacks 18 years ago. Participants came from departments across the township to hear the names of the firefighters, EMTs and police officers killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon …

The township on Sept. 10 held its annual Patriot Day Memorial Ceremony, remembering the six Franklin residents who died in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The event was held at the township’s 9-11 Memorial Garden, next to the main branch of the township library.

Left to right, Mike Mesaros, Dennis Diken, Marshall Crenshaw and Jim Babjak, the Smithereens, performed Sept. 7 at a benefit for the Franklin Food Bank. In what its organizer hopes will become an annual event, a township farm resonated with the sound of rock ‘n roll on Sept. 7 to raise money for the Franklin Food Bank. The inaugural concert …

The annual Week of the People back to school event was held Aug. 24 at Naimann Williams Park. The day featured games, food, musical entertainment, presentations by local groups and a student backpack and school supply giveaway.

Balloons in honor of loved ones lost to violence are released at the 2017 Week of the People event. (File photo.) The 48th annual Week of the People back-to-school event is set to run from 2-7 p.m. Aug. 24 at Naimann Williams Park on Matilda Avenue. The free event will provide educational essentials to children grades K-12, as well as …

The tour raises money to fund prostate screenings and other outreach efforts. (File photo). There’s still time to register for the annual RCDCU “Bike to Fight Prostate Cancer” bike tour. The event is set from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 21, and will start and finish at Franklin Middle School – Hamilton Street Campus, 415 Francis St.