News-pourri

HUSAIN DAY MESSAGE – Amir Ahmed Atozai, representative of the Pakistani Consulate, delivers his message during the Husain Day commemoration at Masjid-e-Ali mosque. Muslims from around the region gathered at Masjid-e-Ali on Cedar Grove lane August 10 for their annual commemoration of Husain Day. The day memorializes Imam Husain, the grandson of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad, who was killed along …

CONSIDERING HIS OPTIONS – Planning Board member Ted Chase said he could not see the advantage of a conforming piece of land being divided into two non-conforming parcels. Two applicants before the Township Planning Board were turned away at the Board’s August 7 meeting. One applicant who wanted to split a large lot in two to build a single-family home …

A State of Emergency starting at 6 p.m. for all 21 counties was announced on August 9 by Acting Governor Tahesha Way. The declaration was made in anticipation of severe storms causing hazardous weather conditions including heavy rain, high winds, and flash flooding due to the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby, according to a press release. The Acting Governor also …

Williams Park Pool is open for the final time this season on August 10, the Park and Recreation Department announced The following swim times are available: 1:00 – 2:30pm 2:30 – 4:00pm 4:00 – 6:00pm Sign up for a swim time at franklintwp.recdesk.com.

FTSA Executive Director Joe Danielsen. The Franklin Township Sewerage authority approved its $17 million 2024-25 budget at its August 6 virtual meeting. The Authority is expecting to bring in $17,016,784 in revenue, with $16,365,901 in appropriations, leaving a $650,883 surplus. The budget includes $3,099,500 in capital appropriations costs for the year. Line items include projects such as the Hamilton Street …

More than 30 ICNA Relief USA volunteers have packed 1,200 backpacks full of school supplies. The backpacks were filled during the organization’s 2024 Back2School Mega event with pencils, notebooks, and folders at the organization’s Somerset office. The backpacks will be distributed to underserved school children at various locations across New Jersey, including Somerset, Edison, Atlantic City, Jersey City, Elizabeth, and …

TALKING TRAFFIC – Karl Pehnke, the Levin Properties’ traffic engineer, testifies at the August 1 Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing. The owner of the Rutgers Plaza shopping center is studying whether a traffic light at the plaza’s John F. Kennedy Boulevard entrance would help mitigate traffic that might be generated by a planned 200-unit apartment building on the site. Levin …

Four candidates – including three incumbents – have filed for the November 5 Board of Education election. Incumbents Laurie Merris, Sami Shaban and Dr. Dennis Hopkins, Jr. are running as a slate under the heading, “Vote All 3.” Newcomer Nicolas DiMeglio, longtime head of the Franklin PTSO and Project Graduation, and the president of the Franklin Township Chamber of Commerce, …

EXPLAINING THE RESULTS – Dan Loughran, the school district’s Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, discusses the results of two assessments taken by Franklin students this past school year. The percentage of Franklin High School juniors with disabilities, and those with special needs, who are considered “graduation-ready” in three academic subjects increased from the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years, the …

ARTIST’S RENDERING – This 18-unit apartment building is planned for several lots located across Hamilton Street from Sophie’s Bistro. Autumn leaves will bring yet another applications for a Hamilton Street-based apartment building to the Planning Board. The Board on October 6 is scheduled to hear the application of Hamilton Street Management, which wants to build a three-story mixed-use building at …