General News

TIRED OF THE FIGHT – Planning Board member Robert Thomas said he just didn’t care any longer about a house of worship’s plans to construct an arch on their driveway on Cedar Grove Lane without realigning the driveway with one across the street. It took about eight months, but the Jain Center on Cedar Grove Lane won approval for a …

THE MAYOR SPEAKS – Newark Mayor Ras Baraka speaks during the Somerset County Democratic Committee’s Black Caucus’ celebration of Black History Month on February 3. Speaking to a cheering audience in the Township Senior/Community Center, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka on February 3 delivered a fiery speech honoring “champions of justice” in the African-American community and extolling those in attendance to …

KEYNOTE SPEAKER – Dr. Francine Conway, Chancellor of Rutgers University – New Brunswick, speaks at the annual Community Breakfast. Transformation through psychological health was the keynote theme of the 26th Dr. Martin Luther King Community Foundation’s annual community breakfast at the DoubleTree Hotel on January 15. That theme, tied to the teachings of Dr. King, was delivered by the event’s …

WHIRLING DERVISH – A Sufi whirling dancer performs during the inaugural Muslim Heritage Month celebration at the Senior/Community Center. The inaugural Muslim Heritage Month celebration in the township – called Noor Night – attracted hundreds of people to the Senior/Community Center in the Municipal Complex on January 14. Gov. Phil Murphy signed the legislation designating January as Muslim Heritage Month in …

GEARING UP – Riders get ready to embark on the 34th annual Tour de Franklin charity ride in April, 2023. (File Photo.) The 35th Annual Tour de Franklin Charity Bike Ride benefiting the Franklin Food Bank is set for April 28 at the Franklin High School. The Tour de Franklin is the Franklin Food Bank’s largest annual fundraising event and …

INSISTED ON REALIGNMENT – Planning Board member Robert Thomas told Jain Center representatives that they agreed to move their driveway alignment years ago, but had yet to do it. Representatives of a township temple were once again unsuccessful January 3 in getting Planning Board approvals for a decorative archway planned for the temple’s driveway on Cedar Grove Lane. The difficulty …

MLK BREAKFAST – The annual Dr. Martin Luther King Community Breakfast is always well-attended. (File Photo.) The 2024 Annual Franklin Township Dr. Martin Luther King Community Breakfast is set for 8:30 a.m. January 15, 2024 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Somerset. Francine Conway, Chancellor of Rutgers University – New Brunswick, will be the event’s keynote speaker. Rutgers has …

(Submitted by the Somerset County Public Information Office) Help save the environment by recycling a Christmas tree at the Somerset County Park Commission’s free, annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program from Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023, to Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024. Residents can drop off their trees at Colonial Park Gardens or North Branch Park. Free mulch will be available at the drop-off …

HEALTH MATTERS – Saffie Kallon, foreground, discusses the health assessment report with the Township Council as Tara Kenyon looks on. The results of a nearly two-year study of data, demographics and surveys on the factors that affect the health of Franklin Township residents was previewed at the December 12 Township Council meeting. The information was presented by Tara Kenyon, the Township’s …

WORK STOPPED – The Township construction department has issued violations and a stop work order on the refurbishment of the Guglielmo Marconi Memorial Park at Easton Avenue and John F. Kennedy Boulevard. Work has been stopped on the refurbishment of the Guglielmo Marconi Memorial Park on John F. Kennedy Boulevard after it was discovered that Somerset County had not approved …