News-pourri

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.

Franklin High School’s Class of 2020 will be honored with “Vote N’ Vibe Summer Kickback” from 5-7 p.m. Aug. 15 at FHS’s Warriors Stadium. The event is sponsored by the Franklin-based non-profit, Clued Up.

Schools Superintendent John Ravally answered parents’ questions about school reopening during a teleconference on Aug. 4. (File photo.) Free coronavirus testing for school district staff, students and their families is in the planning stages, and could be offered by the end of the month. That was one of the nuggets of information provided by schools Superintendent John Ravally August 4 …

On the eve of a virtual town hall meeting to discuss the school district’s reopening plan, nearly 10 percent of the township’s student population will start the school year learning at home. District spokeswoman Mary Clark said that as of the afternoon of Aug. 3, the district was notified that 666 students would opt for the remote-learning option offered by …

The township-sponsored COVID-19 testing program held at houses of worship is on track to test nearly 1,200 people in its first two days. About 545 people were tested on July 27 at St. Matthias Church, and 600 people have registered for the July 31 testing at the former Consolata Missionaries property on Route 27.

A policy that acknowledges historic and current “personal and institutional racism” in the school district, as well as a commitment to overcome it, was introduced on first reading at the July 23 Board of Education meeting. In its “anti-racism” policy, the Board pledged to “end the predictive value of race and ensure the success of each individual student and staff …