News-pourri

The township’s annual “Patriots’ Day” observance of the September 11 terrorist attacks will be held virtually this year. (File photo.) The official township observance of the September 11 terrorist attacks will be held virtually this year, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement was made by Township Manager Robert Vornlocker during the Township Council’s September 8 meeting. In …

The Franklin Township Police department started a three-day celebration of its new Hamilton Street Community Relations Bureau on September 1. Helping out with the celebration was FTPD PBA Local 145 and the Week of The People organization, which partnered to give local students school supplies in backpacks. The new bureau is located at 935 Hamilton Street, which at its opening …

More than 160 school district employees were furloughed as a result of the district’s change to an all-remote school opening next month. The employees fell into four categories: 36 duty aides, 27 food service workers, 87 paraprofessionals, and 18 safety officers. The Board of Education approved the furloughs without comment at its August 27 meeting. “The furloughed support staff hold …

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 …

Somerset County Freeholder Director Shanel Robinson said she welcomes the board’s name change to County Commissioners. (File photo.) Somerset County’s top elected officials will get a name change come next year, a change that some say is a long time coming. Gov. Phil Murphy on August 21 signed into law a bill officially changing the name of the state’s County …

One of the classic cars that participated in Somerset Woods’ Classic Car Parade. Residents at the Somerset Woods Rehabilitation and Nursing Center and Canal Walk development received a treat on August 21: a rolling classic car show. Owners of more than two dozen classic cars – including a few from the 1920s – participated in the car parade which started …

The 13th annual RCDCU ride to fight prostate cancer will be virtual this year. (File photo.) The annual Renaissance Cyclists Defeating Cancer United “Bike to Fight Prostate Cancer” will be held virtually on September 19 and 20. Money raised by the ride, which offers cyclists 10-, 30- and 50-mile routes through the township and its environs, will be donated to …

Schools Superintendent John Ravally explained the reasons for the district temporarily scrapping its in-person instruction plan for this Fall. The prospect of having more than 125 of the district’s roughly 800 certificated teachers not show up in the classrooms on a daily basis this Fall forced school officials’ hands in deciding against the planned in-person option for most of Franklin …

With 39 percent of students opting for the remote learning learning plan for the 2020-21 school year, the district is asking for County permission to delay the start of in-person learning until November 30. Schools Superintendent John Ravally said in an August 18 phone blast to district families that the district decided to ask the Somerset County Executive County Superintendent …

First-term school board member Michelle Shelton resigned on August 10. (File photo.) There are now seven people running for three available Board of Education seats, with the August 10 resignation of Board member Michelle Shelton. The Board accepted Shelton’s resignation at its August 12 meeting. Shelton, whose first term ends at the end of this year, said she resigned because …