General News

Township library director January Adams, right, speaks to the Board of Education while Board of Trustee member Nicholas Ciampa looks on in this file photo. The Franklin Township Public Library has received a $1.3 million state grant for the construction of a new branch. The grant is part of the state Library Construction Bond Act, according to a press release …

Somerset County officials are working on designating COVID-19 vaccination sites in the county, a spokesman said on December 21. Two vaccines – by New York-based Pfizer and Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Moderna – have been given emergency use approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are now being shipped to states. The state and county are following guidelines created by …

FTPD Lieutenant Jolanda Lacewell is the first female Black police lieutenant in township history. A bit of township history was commemorated at the December 8 Township Council meeting when the FTPD’s first female Black lieutenant was among 11 command-level officers who received their ceremonial swearings-in. Lt. Jolanda Lacewell, a 24-year veteran with the Franklin Township Police Department, and her 10 …

Coronavirus restrictions have resulted in changes to some in-person polling places for the November 3 election. The changes are as follows: Kingston Presbyterian Church, Griggstown Fire House, Wynnefield Club House, and Beacon Hill Club House have been changed to Griggstown Fire House, 1037 Canal Road, South of Bunker Hill, for Districts 1 through 7.Society Hill III Club House, the Board …

FTPD Captains Phil Rizzo, Brian Regan and Sean Hebbon, clockwise from top left, were formally sworn in at the October 13 Township Council meeting. The three newest Captains in the Franklin Township Police Department were formally sworn in at the October 13 virtual Township Council meeting. Included in the trio was Capt. Sean Hebbon, the first African-American to rise to …

Natalia Minkovsky, Carla Ulbrich and Mary Mcginley, left to right, at the DeMott Lane Post Office during the “Save The Postal Service” day of action. Three area women stationed themselves in front of the U.S. Post Office on DeMott Lane August 25 as part of a national effort to show support for the embattled Postal Service. The “Save the Postal …

A township resident will serve as the Vice-Chairman of the Somerset County Republican Organization beginning July 23. Ravikanth “Ravi” Kolla, a long-time township resident, is running on the “Unity 2020” ticket, which is unopposed at the July 23 SCRO executive board election. “Ravi has put Franklin GOP and the Somerset County GOP on the social media map,” incoming Somerset GOP …

Six Mile Run Reservoir Site could be open to privatization under a plan approved by the Murphy administration. (Graphic: NJ Trails Association.) The Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park and Six Mile Run Reservoir Site could be part of a program included in a stop-gap budget measure that will open state parks to privatization. Both areas fall within Franklin’s boundaries. …

Update: The group showed up again on July 2, but township police shut the meeting down shortly after it started. FTPD Lt. Phil Rizzo said the department “received several complaints about the group including loud music and ‘rowdy’ behavior. Upon arriving and speaking with the group they left without incident.” Original Story: A large gathering of self-described car enthusiasts suddenly …

Protestors hold up their signs during a rally before the march to the police station. Hundreds of people marched up DeMott Lane June 4 in a continuing protest against police brutality and for racial justice. The march, as was the one earlier in the week in Franklin and others ocurring around the world, was spurred by the killing of Minneapolis …