News-pourri

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.