News-pourri

Township Councilwoman Crystal Pruitt kicked off a Council discussion about racial equality at the June 9 Township Council meeting. The issue of racial equality and equity was discussed by Township Council members during the June 9 Council meeting. This was the Council’s first meeting since two racial equality and anti-police brutality marches were held in the township. Some Council members …

Saying there’s no time to arrange for the program, the township has canceled the annual summer camp in favor of a virtual camp. Township Manager Robert Vornlocker made the announcement during the Township Council’s June 9 virtual meeting.

The Township Council on June 9 passed a resolution condemning the murder of Minneapolis resident George Floyd. Floyd was killed when a former Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. The former cop has been hit with several charges, including 2nd Degree Murder.

Protestors hold up their signs during a rally before the march to the police station. Hundreds of people marched up DeMott Lane June 4 in a continuing protest against police brutality and for racial justice. The march, as was the one earlier in the week in Franklin and others ocurring around the world, was spurred by the killing of Minneapolis …

Schools Superintendent John Ravally, in a letter representing the district’s senior leadership team, said they wanted to assure the district that they “are motivated to bring change to the systemic racism that has oppressed Black and Brown people in this country for far too long.” (File photo). The color of a person’s skin “should not dictate how one is treated …

Franklin native Jasmin Bonner leads hundreds of protest marchers through the streets of Franklin in a Black Lives Matter-sponsored event on May 31. Hundreds of protesters – possibly up to 1,000 – took to the streets of Franklin on May 31 to call for for an end to institutionalized violence against African-Americans. Organized by Black Lives Matter, the protestors gathered …

School officials are making changes to what the Franklin High School Class of 2020 graduation will look like in the wake of Gov. Phil Murphy’s approval of modified in-person celebrations. What was originally scheduled for two weeks in June – namely, a drive-through, socially distanced ceremony – will now be held the week of July 13, according to a district …

High schoolers are invited to apply to Somerset County Youth Leadership Somerset program, which runs from September 2020 through May, 2021. The sessions are held one Saturday a month and last four to six hours. Applications must be received by May 31, and candidates will be selected by the end of June. Those accepted to the program will receive a …

The FHS Class of 2020’s graduation observance will be unlike any other. The Franklin High School Class of 2020’s graduation will be much different than in years’ past, and will include a short visit to the campus and a virtual reality presentation by an alum. Details of what the graduation observance will be were included in a letter to parents …

Schools Superintendent John Ravally is working with superintendents across the county to devise re-opening plans for schools in September. (File photo.) School officials are planning how buildings will reopen come September, and are making contingency plans if they don’t. Schools Superintendent John Ravally is working with other Somerset County superintendents and the Somerset County Executive Superintendent of Schools to devise …