News-pourri

The Center for Great Expectations hopes to raise $7,500 over the next month through a fundraiser at Brunswick Square Mall on Route 18 in East Brunswick. Called the “Baby Bottle Brigade” and running from April 13 through May 11, the fundraiser entails shoppers filling up baby bottles with the change they receive after shopping at the mall’s stores. Shoppers can …

Submitted by Youth Leadership Somerset. Youth Leadership Somerset, a leadership development program for Somerset County youth entering grades 9-12, is accepting applications for the 2019-2020 program year, which runs September through May. Classes are held one Saturday per month for approximately four to six hours. The application deadline is Wednesday, May 15. “Youth Leadership Somerset gives youth an opportunity to …

With “One Franklin, One Family” as their campaign slogan, the four township Republicans running for Mayor and Township Council say they will, “return civility to the council and provide strong checks and balances in the local government.” The four Republican candidates are Beverly Briggs-Lawson, who is running for mayor; Santhosh “Sam” Velu, Alhaji “Noah” Fofanah and Christina Ganzer-Zambri, who are …

Update 1: Mayor Kramer and Ron Jordan, head of the township Democratic Party, have responded to Prasad’s decision to run a challenge. “I look forward to the opportunity to place before the voters my record on issues such as responsible fiscal stewardship, improvements to our community’s quality of life and the implementation of open, transparent and ethical governance in Franklin …

More than three dozen pieces of art and jewelry were up for auction March 31 to benefit a local women’s shelter. The event, “Art With Heart,” was held at Sophie’s Bistro on Hamilton Street. The money raised will benefit Dina’s Dwelling, a project of the Town Clock Community Development Corp. Dina’s Dwelling is comprised of 10-units of long-term housing located …

A local state Assemblymen who played an integral role in proposed legislation designed to expand medial marijuana opportunities in the state said he’s not deterred by the bill’s failure to be voted on this week. The bill, A-10, was paired with another bill that would legalize recreational marijuana. The measures were scheduled to be put up for a vote on …

A bill co-sponsored by state Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-17) designed to expand health insurance coverage for behavioral health care services and enhance enforcement and oversight of mental health parity was approved March 26 by a vote of 73-3. The bill, A-2031, would require plans to provide coverage for medically necessary behavioral health care services and to meet the requirements of …

For the first time since 2008, Rajiv Prasad will not be on the Democratic ticket for an At-Large Township Council seat. Township Democrats have thrown their support to the re-election of Mayor Phil Kramer and At-Large Councilwoman Kimberly Francois, and the election of Councilwoman Crystal Pruitt and newcomer Sivaraman Anbarasan. Ron Jordan, the township Democrats’ chairman, said that Prasad “decided …

The Planning Board on March 20 got an advance look at what the Board of Education plans to do with buildings it has acquired on the former Consolata property along Route 27. The school district and township are swapping properties; in the deal, the township gets the current BOE administration building on Amwell Road, and the school district gets three …

Several months after having sold the first retail consumption liquor license in 13 years, the Township Council on March 12 put another one up for sale. The minimum bid for this one is $225,000, a $25,000 increase over the one sold last November. Bids are due to the Township Clerk’s office by noon on April 24, and all qualified bidders …