News-pourri

Mayor Phil Kramer cuts the ribbon at the Franklin Food Bank’s dedication of its new Churchill Avenue headquarters. To the left of Kramer is Food Bank Executive Director Frank Hasner and Board of Trustees President Elayne Glick. The Franklin Food Bank on July 14 celebrated the “culmination of a long-term vision” with the grand opening of its new facility on …

State Assemblyman Joe Danielsen speaks to the Township Council at its July 9 meeting. About $1 million of the state’s Fiscal Year 2020 budget targeted for a township stream project was frozen by Gov. Phil Murphy, but a local state Assemblyman has promised to fight for it. The $1.1 million was to go to restoration efforts along DeRussey’s Brook, which …

State Assemblyman Joe Danielsen, seen here at a backpack giveaway at Hillcrest Elementary School, is once again looking for donations for the program. State Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-17) is looking for school supply donations for his annual backpack drive. The backpacks are distributed in September to students who live in the 17th Legislative District.

Robert Vallario, right, QuickChek’s site selector, testifies during the July 11 Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing. An application for a QuickCheck convenience store with an eight-bay gas station won approval July 11 from the Zoning Board of Adjustment. The store is targeted for a 3-acre plot in a larger development bordered by Easton Avenue, Worlds Fair Drive and the Route …

Township Manager Robert Vornlocker discusses the ordinance amendment that would create a Public Safety Director’s position overseeing the police department. An ordinance amendment that would replace the Franklin Township Police Chief’s position with a Public Safety Director was unanimously introduced at the July 9 Township Council meeting. The change comes at a time when the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office has …

The heads of the two unions representing township police officers say they were blindsided by the Township Council’s move to eliminate the Police Chief and Deputy Chief positions in favor of a Public Safety Director. The two union presidents say their members would prefer the department stay under a Chief/Deputy Chief command structure.

Township Manager Robert Vornlocker would appoint and supervise the Public Safety Director. (File photo.) An ordinance amendment that would replace the Chief and Deputy Chief of Police with a Public Safety Director is expected to be introduced at the July 9 Township Council meeting. The ordinance amendment would also increase the number of Captains in the department from one to …

State Assemblyman Joe Danielsen at one of the public hearings on medical marijuana held in 2018. The state’s medical marijuana program will undergo expansion and changes thanks to a bill, co-sponsored by a township-based state Assemblyman, that was signed into law July 2 by Gov. Phil Murphy. The bill, A-20, will create more medical marijuana dispensaries, make it easier for …

A team from the Franklin Middle School SGS/HSC Players Set Design Team created this model of the Friendship 7 Mercury capsule that took John Glenn around the Earth. Photo: Raritan Valley Community College. Their work is generally not seen outside of the township, but this year the Franklin Middle School SGS/HSC Players Set Design Team created something that is literally …

FHS Boy’s Track Coach Dashaun Gourdine and schools Superintendent John Ravally (left to right) look on as Township Councilman Carl Wright reads a commendation at the June 25 Council meeting. Commendations were awarded by the Township Council June 25 to schools Superintendent John Ravally and members of Franklin High School’s championship boy’s track team. Ravally was honored for being named …