News-pourri

CLOTHING FOR A CAUSE – FHS students collect clothing donations February 8 at FMS-Sampson G. Smith campus. Dozens of bags of gently worn clothing were dropped off February 8 at the Franklin Middle School’s Sampson G. Smith campus for the semi-annual clothing drive to benefit Project Graduation. The drives are held in the Winter and Spring, and are among the …

GOING TO BAT FOR HOA – Paul Schneier, a principal with Fleet Franklin, testifies at the February 7 Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing. A township homeowners’ association was given permission by the Zoning Board of Adjustment on February 6 to not build a part of its development included in its 2019 approval. The permission came in the form of a …

RAISING QUESTIONS – Library Trustee Zachary Lichtmann spurred a conversation about “rating” library books at the Trustees’ January 22 meeting. A lengthy discussion among Franklin Township Public Library trustees at their last meeting resulted in the Trustees deciding to not pre-emptively assign “ratings” to books placed in the Children’s or Young Adult sections of township libraries. One of the reasons, …

Submitted By Jenny Kafas, Franklin Township Environmental Commission Volunteer We can’t wait for The Franklin Township Environmental Commission’s screening of “Common Ground,” a documentary all about the power of regenerative agriculture, followed by a panel discussion with Jason DeSalvo of Cold Brook Farm, Michele Logan of Maranatha Farm, and Ron Weiss, M.D, of Ethos Farm.  It all takes place on …

TACKLING FOOD INSECURITY – Sami Shaban, head of the Food Insecurity and Safety Coalition, speaks at the January 29 meeting in the Community/Senior Center. Work by the Franklin Township Food Insecurity and Safety Coalition begun in 2024 resumed on January 29, with representatives from various walks of township life meeting at the Community/Senior center to lay out strategies to end …

The Franklin Township school district will not share students’ immigration status with federal officials, nor will it immediately allow immigration officials immediate access to students, families, or faculty, according to guidelines published on the District’s web site. The web pages, which went live on January 29, are meant to provide information and resources to the District’s immigrant population. “Franklin Township …

Township Estimate Is 91 Units Smaller Than The State’s Non-Binding Recommendation EXPLAINING THE NEW SYSTEM – Township Manager Robert Vornlocker explains the new state affordable housing program during the January 28 Township Council meeting. The Township should accommodate 623 new affordable housing units in the next 10 years, according to a resolution approved by the Township Council at its January …

RUNNING AGAIN – State Assemblyman Joe Danielsen recently announced that he is running for re-election. (File photo.) State Assemblyman and township resident Joe Danielsen and his running mate recently announced their re-election campaign. Danielsen, a Democrat, represents the 17th Legislative District in the lower House, along with Assemblyman Kevin Egan. The 17th Legislative District is comprised of Franklin, New Brunswick, …

VET HELPING VETS – State Assemblyman Joe Damielsen (D-17) welcomes attendees at his veterans’ information program on Jan. 22. Representatives from a host of social service organizations were on hand January 22 as part of an information program for military veterans sponsored by state Assemblyman Joe Danielsen. The event, held in the Municipal Building on DeMott Lane, was the first …

KEYNOTE SPEAKER – U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman speaks to attendees at the 28th annual Franklin Township Community Breakfast, sponsored by the Franklin Township Dr. Martin Luther King Community Foundation. Efforts to erase Black history, to ban books and to stifle discussions of racism must be resisted, in the spirit of the teachings of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, …