Community Building

Building on the success of previous year’s parade, the Somerset County Juneteenth Committee will celebrate Juneteenth with a Juneteenth Parade at 11 a.m. June 15. The Grand Marshalls for this year’s parade are Civil Rights Activist Larry Hamm, Chairman of the People’s Organization for Progress and a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, and Bishop George Searight, Founder and Senior …

READY TO ROLL – Somerset County Sheriff Darren Russo (pointing) and Mayor Phil Kramer (right) talk before the 2024 Police Unity Tour set off for Washington, D.C. Four Franklin Township police officers were among nearly 400 men and women in blue who assembled in front of the Public Safety Building on DeMott Lane on a very rainy May 10 in …

Nine township middle and high school students were recently honored with Paul Robeson Youth Achievement Awards, given by the Raritan Valley Community College’s Paul Robeson Institute for Ethics, Leadership and Social Justice. In addition to heavy Franklin representation among the current student honorees, the April 11 awards ceremony’s keynote speaker was Tiana Joy Jackson, a member of the 2019 state …

A food drive to benefit the Franklin Food Bank is set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 5 at Stop & Shop, 3333 Route 27, In Franklin Park. The drive is sponsored by the Central Jersey Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. This event underscores the Sorority’s commitment to public service and its mission to foster the …

JOYFUL DAY – Canal Walk HOA Board of Directors member Bruce Blum and Erick Kasner, commander of the Canal Walk Veterans Club (left to right) cut the ribbon at the dedication of the development’s refurbished Veterans Park. Canal Walk’s military veterans gathered April 24 to dedicate a refurbished Veterans’ Park and celebrate the baker’s dozen among them who received awards …

AMERICAN YELLOWWOOD – An American Yellowwood Tree, one of three varieties offered in the shade tree sale. Township residents can once again purchase shade trees through the annual Franklin Township shade tree sale. Trees, which cost $110 each, are available on a first-come, first-served basis by registering online at  https://franklintwp.seamlessdocs.com/f/ShadeTreeSale 🌳FAQs: – Only Franklin Township Residents can purchase a tree …

40th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT – The Raritan Valley Symphonic Band will perform at Franklin High School on April 28. The Raritan Valley Symphonic Band celebrates the 40th anniversary of their first concert at their annual free spring concert at 4 p.m. April 28 at Franklin High School, 500 Elizabeth Ave. Musical Director William Berz will lead the band’s performance of five …

STIFF OPPOSITION – Area residents gather at a 2018 meeting to show their opposition to the proposed NESE project. (File photo.) The company behind a $1 billion, multi-state gas pipeline proposal that would include a compressor station in the township has decided to walk away from the project. Williams-TRANSCO told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on April 10 that it …

CLEANUP VOLUNTEERS – Seeley’s Run was the target of the annual John Clyde Stream Cleanup on April 13. Pictured are the volunteers before starting their work. (Photo courtesy of the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership.) About 100 people were expected to gather in a rear parking lot at Somerset Village on Easton Avenue April 13 for the annual stream cleanup sponsored …

The Franklin Food Bank’s 35th Annual Tour de Franklin Charity Bike Ride is set for April 28 at Franklin High School. The Tour de Franklin is the Franklin Food Bank’s largest annual fundraising event, attracting up to 800 cyclists to provide critical funding for the Food Bank’s operations. It has also grown into a Spring tradition in Franklin Township, when …