News-pourri

The latest quarterly financial reports submitted by the two major candidates for the 12th Congressional District show the incumbent with a tremendous economic advantage over her challenger. As of Sept. 30, incumbent U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D) had $293,537.36 cash on hand. Her Republican challenger, Franklin attorney Daryl Kipnis, reported $1,548.57 in cash.

The company that is redeveloping the Churchill-Millstone roads area says it needs another 10 years to finish the task, and its founder wasn’t above putting some not-so-subtle pressure on a township agency to get it. Edward Martoglio, founder of the RPM Redevelopment Group of Montclair, told the township Redevelopment Agency’s Board of Commissioners Oct. 15 that a proposed low-density housing …

By PJ Parker. The Somerset Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company No. 1 held its annual open house Oct. 13 at its fire house on Hollywood Avenue.

The land swap between the township and school district is all but a done deal with the Oct. 9 final passage by the Township Council of an ordinance approving it. The Board of Education approved the deal at its September meeting.

It appears that the idea to form a citizen’s committee to rework an idea for a “Peace and Non-Violence” memorial is on ice, at least for now. There were no takers at the Oct. 9 Township Council meeting when Mayor Phil Kramer asked for comments from the council, after giving his opinion that it would be difficult to discuss “what …

Embattled Township Councilman Rajiv Prasad has decided to take some time away from council business. A statement from Prasad (D-At Large) to that effect was read at the Oct. 9 Township Council meeting by Township Clerk Ann Marie McCarthy.

Sunday alcohol sales would be permitted during the same times as the rest of the week under an ordinance amendment set to be introduced at the Oct. 9 Township Council meeting. Currently, Sunday sales of alcohol are restricted to noon to 2 a.m., in restaurants and noon to 10 p.m. in liquor stores.

Children were the focus of the annual Safety Fair, held by the Middlebush Volunteer Fire Department on Oct. 6. Games, arts and crafts, and hands-on demonstrations of firefighting techniques and equipment highlighted the day.

The group that for the past 10 years has acted as the repository for donations earmarked for a proposed “Peace and Non-Violence” monument park on Oct. 2 took the first steps toward divesting itself of the money, and effectively killing the project. The Franklin Township Community Foundation is holding more than $79,000 donated to the monument effort. Money was donated …

Members of the Franklin Township Police Department will don pink patches this month as part of a department-wide fundraising effort for breast cancer awareness. The Pink Patch Project is a collaborative effort among the Los Angeles County Police Chiefs’ Association and public safety organizations around the country, according to the group’s Facebook page. The goal of the project is to …