News-pourri

The notion of “paying it forward” can be traced back to the ancient Greeks; it is the idea that one does not repay a kindness one was granted back to the benefactor, but, rather, finds someone else in the same situation and lends a similar helping hand. “Paying it forward” has been explored in plays, books and movies through the …

The Board of Education wants to hear from former township students. The board at its Dec. 20 meeting approved the release of two surveys, one targeted to Franklin High School graduates in the classes of 2016, 2017 and 2018, and a second aimed at students from all Franklin schools. The surveys will help the district “develop a base of former …

The Board of Education Dec. 20 used the last meeting of the year to say thank-you and goodbye to two members who will not return next year. Bord members Margaret Steele and Rich Seamon decided not to run for re-election in November. Steele has served one four-year term, while Seamon has served more than 10 years, on and off, since …

A pledge to create a “men’s coalition” to deal with the problems confronting young black men in the township was the outcome Dec. 18 of a “Community Town Hall” held at the Parkside community room. The event, moderated by members of the Nation of Islam’s Muhammad Mosque No. 85, headquartered on Hamilton Street, consisted of comments from a panel and …

This week’s podcast features news about the Township Council’s decision to censure Councilman Rajiv Prasad, news about our presiding Municipal Court Judge and the start of the Franklin High School Lady Warriors’ basketball team’s promising season start. Music is “Winter Sunshine” by pianist Evgeny Grinko.        

An ordinance that would allow the limited use of digital signs is making its way through the township approval process. The Planning Board got the first look at it during its Dec. 12 meeting. The ordinance will then go to the Township Council, which is expected to introduce it in early January. The proposed ordinance will return to the Planning …

Despite a last-minute attempt to water it down, a resolution censuring Township Councilman Rajiv Prasad was unanimously passed at the Dec. 11 Council meeting. The resolution expresses the Council’s sense that Prasad (D-At Large) has “engaged in multiple actions in his official capacity as an elected official that are improper for a person in his position,” and that the actions …

A vote to censure Township Councilman Rajiv Prasad is scheduled for the council’s Dec. 11 meeting. The agenda item, called an “add-on,” was added to the agenda on Dec. 10. Township Democrats regularly caucus on the Sunday before a council meeting. Prasad (D-At Large) has been courting controversy for the past three years, the most recent with the revelation that …

We’re proud to introduce Franklin Reporter & Advocate Radio, a weekly podcast that will look at the top stories of the previous week, speak to a topical Newsmaker or two, and take a peek into the week ahead. This week’s Newsmaker is Franklin High School Girls’ Basketball Coach Audrey Taylor, who gave us some of her time to talk about …

Franklin High School was the scene Dec. 8 of a holiday festival, courtesy of a Newark-based foundation. The Three Doctors Foundation, a group created to promote a message of health, education and youth mentoring, brought its annual Positive Peer Challenge and Holiday Health Basketball Benefit to Warrior Country. The day consisted of a vendor fair, displays by a number of …