News-pourri

A total of 32 school district retiring employees – including schools Superintendent John Ravally – were acknowledged at the June 23 Board of Education meeting. Ravally, who served as Superintendent for 11 years, and Franklin High School Class of 2026 vice principal Rod Brundidge, who was with the District for 24 years, received separate commendations from the Board.

The Board of Education at its June 23 meeting approved contracts worth $757,526.83. The contracts approved are:

VALEDICTORY ADDRESS – Rohan Amin, the Franklin High School Class of 2026 Valedictorian, at the June 26 graduation ceremony in Warrior Stadium. Franklin High School sent off its Class of 2026 on June 26 with a commencement ceremony at Warrior Stadium, where the Salutatorian challenged graduates to push past the “what ifs” that come with looking backward instead of forward.

CLASS SPEAKER – Denise Harper, president of Franklin Middle School – Hamilton Street campus 8th Grade, speaks during the FMS Moving Up Ceremony June 26 at Franklin High School. Students from Franklin Middle School’s Hamilton Street and Sampson G. Smith campuses gathered at Franklin High School on June 25 for their 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony, marking the end of …

HAVIN’ A PARTY – Township Councilman Ram Anbarasan announced on June 23 that a FIFA final game watch party will be held at Franklin High School. A watch party for the final championship game of the FIFA World Cup will be held from 3-6 p.m. July 19 at Franklin High School.

EXPLAINING THE CHANGES – Township Manager Robert Vornlocker describes the changes to the Township’s cannabis regulations at the June 23 Township Council meeting. Operating a cannabis business in Franklin Township is about to get more expensive.

LATE HUSBAND HONORED – Linda Williams, left looks on as Township Councilwoman Kimberly Francois reads a proclamation about her late husband, Earl C. Williams, at the June 23 Council meeting. The 1971 National League Rookie of the Year was honored June 23 by the Township Council, which voted to rename the township street he lived on in his honor.

FOOD BANK POETRY SLAM – Derek Smith, executive director of the Franklin Food Bank, speaks during the 2026 “Rising Tides of Hunger” poetry contest finals, June 16 at Franklin Middle School – Sampson G. Smith campus. More than a dozen students from across the school district won prizes recently in the second annual Rising Tides of Hunger Poetry Contest, sponsored …

PLANNING BOARD HOUSEKEEPING – The Planning Board on June 17 considered a number of changes and revisions to the Township’s Master Plan. The Township Planning Board on June 17 voted to forward two ordinances to the Township Council stemming from recommendations in the Township’s Master Plan Reexamination Report, approving a sweeping consolidation of the township’s cluster subdivision regulations and endorsing …

TEACHING THE CHILDREN – Franklin Food Bank Executive Director Derek Smith speaks to a group of students from the Sadiq School during a tour of the food bank headquarters. Students from the Sadiq School on Cedar Grove Avenue donated hundreds of dollars to the Franklin Food Bank on June 17, money that they earned by selling hand-made items.