News-pourri

A local banquet hall owner received Planning Board approval to build two homes on Amwell Road. Rupen Patel, the owner of The Imperia on Easton Avenue and the new Springhill Suites hotel on Cedar Grove Lane, wants to build the homes for family members who work at the businesses, the board was told. Patel also recently received approval to build …

The Hamilton Street Advisory Board will ask the Township Council for a modification to the township’s anti-graffiti ordinance. Board members decided at their April 3 meeting to make a suggestion that the ordinance’s compliance time be shortened from 90 days to 30 days. The request originated with the FTPD’s community police team members, who said a shorter time frame would …

Press Release Submitted by Rochelle Kipnis. Daryl J. Kipnis, Esq., who has received the endorsements of the Middlesex County Republican Organization and Somerset County Republican Organization in connection with his candidacy for the New Jersey State Senate in the 17th Legislative District, packed Panico’s Restaurant in New Brunswick wall to wall with supporters as he joined forces with the renowned …

Republican parties in Middlesex and Somerset counties have endorsed an all-Franklin Township slate for the state Assembly and Senate races in the 17th Legislative District. The candidates are all newcomers to the political scene: Daryl Kipnis for senate and Nadine Wilkins and Robert Quinn for assembly. Somerset County Republicans made their endorsements several weeks ago, their Middlesex County counterparts picked …

A divided Board of Education on March 23 introduced major changes to its policy regulating sponsorship signage, and who in the district can solicit sponsors. The changes restrict sponsorship advertising – such as banners – to only the high school athletic complex, meaning the football stadium and the gym. The underlying policy, which was approved in 2010, allowed sponsorship signage …

Two township residents are among the candidates Somerset County Democrats picked March 23 to run under their banner in November. State Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-17) was nominated to run for re-election, and Township Councilwoman Shanel Robinson (D-At Large) was picked to run for an open seat on the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders. County Democrats met at Asbury Hall …

Nearly three dozen water sources in seven township schools contain levels of lead higher than is considered safe by federal standards. The levels of lead found in the water ranged from 15.6 parts per billion (ppb) to 1,720 ppb. Federal guidelines recommend that lead levels in water in excess of 15 ppb be remediated because of health concerns. The affected …

Girl Scout Week, National Nutrition Month Hindu and Muslim holidays and Women’s History Month were acknowledged at the March 15 Township Council meeting. The council proclaimed March 12-18 as Girl Scout week in the township in a proclamation that noted nearly 300 township girls participate in the scouting program. A number of Girl Scouts from Girl Scout Service Unit 67 …

A ban on the sale in the township of animals bred in puppy and kitten mills is the “appropriate way to move,” Mayor Phil Kramer said on March 15. The mayor was responding to criticism leveled by a township resident of a proposed ordinance amendment to do just that. Scott Siegel told the council that he felt the proposed ban on mill-bred animals would be …

The Township Council is “moving at the right speed” to answer calls for Franklin to join the list of American towns that will not enforce national immigration laws, Mayor Phil Kramer said March 15. Kramer was responding to Emerson Road resident Manijeh Saba, who asked the Township Council to declare Franklin a “sanctuary city.” Sanctuary cities  declare themselves safe for …