General News

A township woman stopped by Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick Aug. 5 for a reunion of sorts. Tamara D’Ambra, accompanied by her mother, husband and three children, wanted to say “thank you” to the hospital’s Mobile Health Services and medical staff who helped save her life in June. D’Ambra, 44, suffered a major heart attack at home …

By Somerset County Freeholder Brian Levine. Crescendo. Each day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland builds in a type of crescendo as the speakers take the podium to address the delegates during the evening. In turn, each of the four days builds in a crescendo as the days progress. The finale of any national party convention culminates the crescendo …

By Somerset County Freeholder Brian Levine. I will say, up front, that I may have broken the rules. It just seemed like a good idea at the time. On Day 3 of the Republican National Convention, I arrived at our venue, The Quicken Loans Arena (known as “the Q”) as I had on the previous days. After going through security, …

By Somerset County Freeholder Brian Levine. As with most endeavors, the exciting and high intensity portions – the actual attendance at the Republic National Convention – is intense. The more mundane procedures, such as communications and logistics, are just as important. As for the latter… The RNC provided us with an app for our smart phones to keep track of …

Township Democrats held their annual summer picnic July 16 in Colonial Park. In addition to the party faithful, special guests attending the JFK Club’s event included candidates for various township, county and federal offices. “It’s just a way to get people out and see each other outside of what we do politically,” said Ron Jordan, chairman of the Franklin Township …

More than 40 people marched from Naaman Williams Park to the township police headquarters July 11 to remember people of color – including a township resident – who were killed by police. Organized by Leah Madison, a former township resident who now lives in New Brunswick, the march was conducted “in the name of justice,” she said. “Today we peacefully marched from …

Dozens of people from Franklin and the surrounding area gathered at The Den nightclub on Hamilton Street the evening of June 13 for an impromptu vigil for those killed and injured in the attack on an Orlando, Fla. gay bar. More than 100 people were killed or wounded in the one-man attack on patrons at Pulse, a gay bar in …

A Nigerian King on a tour of the United States visited Franklin June 11, bringing messages of peace and the desire to establish economic ties with the township. Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, King of the Yourba people in Nigeria, is leading a delegation of other Nigerian kings and dignitaries in the month-long trip to the U.S. Ogunwisu – known in Nigeria as …

A township police lieutenant will carry the Democrat’s banner in November’s race for Somerset County Sheriff. Darrin Russo handily won his primary June 7 against Alexander E. Clark, a township resident running on the Bernie Sanders ticket. Russo, a 30-year police department veteran who will retire in July, garnered 17,887 votes to Clark’s 10,525. Russo will face Republican incumbent Sheriff …

The replacement of the Route 518 bridge over the D&R Canal is expected to begin on June 1, and will probably last through August. The state Department of Transportation contracted with Tarheel Enterprises of Morgan to perform the $2.8 million bridge replacement. Weekday work, which will occur between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., will result in a closure of the …