Community Building

An estimated 20,000 people made their way to Colonial Park Sept. 23 for the fourth annual Franklin Day Festival in Colonial Park. Festival-goers were treated to a variety of events, from musical acts, to cultural performances, games, activities, a classic car show and, of course, food.

A variety of events await visitors to the fourth annual Franklin Day Festival, set for noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 23. Last ear’s event, held in Colonial Park, drew more than 10,000 visitors, and organizers say they expect more this year.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.