Community Building

SCHOOL DONATIONS – Makeda Fryson and Kwame Breedy of the Tripe B Foundation, and Claremont Elementary School vice-principal Angela Pape (left to right) talk about the supply donation made by the Foundation to the school. A township-based foundation made the wishes of a number of Claremont Elementary School teachers come true October 28 with the donation of $7,100 worth of …

RECOUNTING FAMILY HORRORS – Board of Education member Sami Shaban speaks to the crowd about the many members of his family who were killed in Gaza since the 1940s. Colonial Park’s Knob Hill Pavilion was the scene October 27 of a gathering showcasing Palestinian culture. Called “Connect with Palestine,” organizers designed the event to highlight the art, culture and heritage …

AFFORDABLE HOUSING NUMBERS EXPLAINED – Township attorney Lou Rainone discusses the state Department of Community Affairs report giving guidance on towns’ affordable housing obligations for the next decade. Township planning officials are studying a state Department of Community Affairs report, released last week, designed to provide guidance on state towns’ affordable housing obligation over the next decade. The report, described …

Singers and dancers ruled the night October 18 at the inaugural Franklin’s Got Talent: Youth Edition variety show held at Franklin Middle School’s Sampson G. Smith campus. The stars of the show were Franklin students from all schools in the township: the traditional township schools, plus Central Jersey College Prep Charter School, Thomas Edison EnergySmart Charter School and Cedar Hill …

Balmy weather on October 13 served as a backdrop for a number of events in the township. Franklin High School Project Graduation held the first of what will be three clothing drives. The organization get paid by the pound for the clothes, which are sent to needy people overseas. We stopped in at the event, held at Franklin Middle School …

The 100th anniversary celebration for the Kingston Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 continued on October 5 with a short program and a barbecue. The celebrations began with a dinner on February 29, the actual day in 1924 on which the fire company was started. There was also a parade in July, said George Luck Jr., chairman of the 100th Anniversary …

More than 1,000 high school students ventured out to the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens on Somerset Street October 5 to meet with representatives of colleges and trades in the church’s second annual College Fair. The goal of the event, said the Rev. Danté Quick, the church’s pastor, is to “expose young people to future opportunities around higher education …

Approximately 300 people gathered at the Ukrainian Cultural Center on Davidson Avenue October 5 to help Second Chance for Animals in its biggest fundraiser of the year. Second Chance is the organization that provides the bulk of operating expenses for the Franklin Township Animal Shelter. The event sold out weeks ago, and is one of the hottest tickets among the …

The work of about 24 township artists was on display October 5 in the second annual “Not Quite Wine & Cheese Art Opening,” held at the Franklin Township Senior/Community Center. The inaugural event was held last year in the municipal building lobby, but response to it had organizer Saffie Kallon thinking maybe a bigger space was needed this year. Kallon, …

The 19th annual edition of the Sister 2 Sister 5K Run/Walk for Life was held under sunny skies in Colonial Park on October 5. Hundreds of walkers and runners – spanning the age gap from child to senior citizen – showed up to show their support for the 24-year-old organization headquartered on Hamilton Street. Sister 2 Sister’s mission is to …