News-pourri

The Board of Election race isn’t the only one upon which Franklin residents will vote on Nov. 4, but it is arguably the most important. That’s because of all the candidates voters will choose – a U.S. Senator, a member of the Congress, two Somerset County Freeholders and four school board members – the latter category has the most direct …

The pending school referendum, the search for a schools Superintendent and school budget oversight were some of the topics fielded by Board of Education candidates Oct. 30 at a candidates’ night held at Somerset Run. The event, which five of the six school board candidates attended, was sponsored by the Somerset Run Civics Club and the Somerset Adult Communities Civics …

A problem with the boiler at Consolata Missionaries, Route 27, has forced a change in the polling place for some districts for the Nov. 4 election. Those voters living in Districts 30 to 34 will now vote at Franklin Park School, 30 Eden St. In a memo to the Township Council, township clerk Anne Marie McCarthy wrote that she was …

Somerset County Democrats claim that an announcement made earlier this month about the purchase of open space in the township was released before the purchase was actually completed to help boost the campaigns of Republican freeholder candidates. The Democrats say their case is borne out by an email conversation held by Fran Varacalli, the township’s open space consultant, and Tom Boccino, …

A developer working in the Renaissance Redevelopment area along Route 27 was commended Oct. 20 by the township Redevelopment Authority for its project. The company, Redev Group LLC, finished a job started by another redeveloper more than 11 years ago. The company created more than 100 owner-occupied units selling at market rates, factors which earned it the agency’s praise. The …

The ad hoc committee formed to strike a compromise in the dustup over a sound system in Middlebush Park may have accomplished its mission after one meeting. The committee is comprised of four Township Council members, three Middlebush area residents, three representatives from the township’s Pop Warner football program, and a neutral resident. At issue is whether a sound system …

The first word township resident Joe Danielsen said as a state Assemblyman was, “Wow.” He didn’t really say it as much as mouth it as he walked up to a microphone in the Assembly chamber Oct. 16 after having been sworn in to the post by Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto. Danielsen, a lifelong township resident, was selected to fill the …

With The Center for Great Expectations as a backdrop, Gov. Chris Christie Oct. 15 announced a $12 million increase for state drug rehabilitation programs similar to the center’s. The Dellwood Lane center, near the Margaret McLaughlin McCarick Care Center, offers counseling and a home to pregnant homeless women with drug addictions, and offers them a chance to end their addiction while …

Seeking to find a compromise among residents who are for and against installing speakers in Middlebush Park, the Township Council Oct. 14 tabled a proposed ordinance that would have prohibited the use of any type of sound system in the park. Instead, the council decided to form an ad hoc committee comprised of council members and residents to try and hammer …

The annual clothing drive to benefit the Franklin High School Project Graduation program is set for 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 18 at Sampson G. Smith School. Items that are acceptable include gently used clothing, shoes, handbags, stuffed animals, blankets and curtains. Donors are asked to place all items in plastic bags. Project Graduation is an event presented for …