News-pourri

Township Councilman Rajiv Prasad in September appeared to ask for the township manager’s help in fixing several parking tickets issued to parishioners of an East Millstone church. In a response email, Township Manager Robert Vornlocker blasted Prasad, telling him it was “inappropriate” for Prasad to be involved in the matter. Prasad (D-At Large), in a Sept. 6 email to Vornlocker, …

Ordinances establishing a “Do Not Knock” list for door-to-door vendors and creating four-way stops on Pierce Street were introduced at the Nov. 27 Township Council meeting. Township Councilman James Vassanella (D-Ward 5) said the “Do Not Knock” ordinance would create a master list of residents who do not wish to be solicited by door-to-door vendors. The list would be given …

Hillcrest Elementary School has joined the list of township schools designated as “Future Ready.” The school’s “Future Ready” team was honored at the Nov. 29 Board of Education meeting. The New Jersey Future Ready Schools program is an offshoot of the national effort to boost digital learning in the nation’s schools. To be certified, schools must win a certain number …

A flier from a New Jersey based white nationalist group was found over the summer in a “mini library” in Kingston. The flier, from the NJ European Heritage Association, promoted the idea that there is an insufficient number of “European” babies being born in the United States, according to an email written about the incident by a member of the …

Township Councilman Rajiv Prasad has ended his self-imposed exile from council business, attending the Nov. 27 meeting and facing his supporters and detractors. The embattled Prasad (D-At Large) came under fire in recent months for the way in which he handled the approval process for a proposed “Peace and Non-Violence” monument park on some township open space, and for a …

A newly instituted ban on left turns from three streets onto Easton Avenue was roundly criticized by area residents at the Nov. 27 Township Council meeting. The council at its Nov. 8 meeting approved the ordinance, which bans left turns from Walnut Avenue, Culver Street and Lakeside Avenue onto Easton Avenue. The ban comes in the wake of an Oct. …

A DeMott Lane resident started spreading the Christmas cheer a little earlier than usual this year, but for a good reason. Ralph Biondi doesn’t create the colorful Christmas playland in his front yard simply because he likes the lights and the holiday, which he does. “I’m fascinated with the lights, I love Christmas,” he said. “To me, it’s the greatest …

By PJ Parker. Santa began his rounds early in Franklin on Nov. 24 at the Franklin Township Animal Shelter on DeMott Lane for its annual Santa Open House. Santa Bob Pezzano, past-president of Second Chance for Animals – the organization that helps fund the shelter – greeted animal lovers of all ages, as well as a few canine visitors. “This …

Township students received $11,000 in scholarships Nov. 23 at the second annual Warrior 4 Life Scholarship Foundation gala. Two longtime community leaders were also honored as “Warriors for Life” during the evening. More than 200 people gathered at The Imperia on Easton Avenue to celebrate the recipients and honor the people for whom the scholarships are named. The foundation was …

More than a dozen families in the township and a neighboring town will have a happy Thanksgiving this year, thanks to a local church and the FTPD PBA. Members of True 2 Life Ministries and representatives of Franklin Township Police PBA Local 154 traveled throughout the eight villages and into South Bound Brook to deliver complete Thanksgiving dinners: turkeys, stuffing …