General News

Seven members of the township police department were honored Nov. 22 during the state Policeman’s Benevolent Association’s annual Valor Award ceremony. Officer Robert Brown was given the Gold Medal of Valor. Brown was nearly shot by a robbery suspect in August, 2013, in a violent struggle behind St. Matthias Church on John F. Kennedy Boulevard. Earlier this year, Brown was …

The costs of complying with federal regulations – the deadline for which is the end of this year – are the real reason why Somerset County is turning off the spigots at public access wells in Colonial Park, according to a county official. Those costs would be incurred if the county decided to bring the wells in conformity with federal regulations, …

A stray cat found in the Emerald Place area has tested positive for rabies, Somerset County officials said. The cat, described as being a black, brown and white tabby, scratched a resident on Nov. 10, according to a release from the county. The cat was taken to the public health laboratory at the state Department of Health for tests, and …

The annual Veterans’ Day observance was held Nov. 11 in Veterans’ Memorial Park, DeMott Lane. The event was held by members of American Legion Jensen-Scalzone Post 478, somerset, and the Canal Walk Veterans Club. Also participating was an honor detachment from the Franklin High School Junior ROTC. The observance was highlighted by the ringing of the memorial bell 11 times by the …

The scheduled closing of Route 518 between Canal Road and Carroll Place has been delayed, according to a statement from Somerset County. The three-quarter mile stretch was originally scheduled to be closed to all traffic between Nov. 10 and 24, and then during work hours from Nov. 24 through Dec. 23. Unspecified delays led to the postponement of that schedule, …

Township property owners who carry flood insurance will see their premiums decrease 5 percent this year, thanks to an improved rating in a voluntary program run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Called the Community Rating System, the program provides incentives to towns to take actions to minimize flood risk that are greater than the floodplain management practices mandated by the National …

A problem with the boiler at Consolata Missionaries, Route 27, has forced a change in the polling place for some districts for the Nov. 4 election. Those voters living in Districts 30 to 34 will now vote at Franklin Park School, 30 Eden St. In a memo to the Township Council, township clerk Anne Marie McCarthy wrote that she was …

The first word township resident Joe Danielsen said as a state Assemblyman was, “Wow.” He didn’t really say it as much as mouth it as he walked up to a microphone in the Assembly chamber Oct. 16 after having been sworn in to the post by Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto. Danielsen, a lifelong township resident, was selected to fill the …

With The Center for Great Expectations as a backdrop, Gov. Chris Christie Oct. 15 announced a $12 million increase for state drug rehabilitation programs similar to the center’s. The Dellwood Lane center, near the Margaret McLaughlin McCarick Care Center, offers counseling and a home to pregnant homeless women with drug addictions, and offers them a chance to end their addiction while …

The annual clothing drive to benefit the Franklin High School Project Graduation program is set for 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 18 at Sampson G. Smith School. Items that are acceptable include gently used clothing, shoes, handbags, stuffed animals, blankets and curtains. Donors are asked to place all items in plastic bags. Project Graduation is an event presented for …