News-pourri

With less than two weeks before Election Day, several hundred Somerset County Democrats gathered in the township Oct. 27 for one last pep rally. And leading the cheers was the man who tops the statewide Democratic ticket, gubernatorial candidate Phil Murphy.

PISCATAWAY – The two major party candidates for state Senate from the 17th Legislative District went toe-to-toe Oct. 25 in a late-campaign debate at Piscataway High School. Incumbent Democrat Sen. Bob Smith – whose hometown is Piscataway – and his Republican challenger, Franklin Township resident Daryl Kipnis, spent about an hour making the case for their election on Nov. 7.

Proclamations acknowledging Red Ribbon Week and Husain Day were presented at the Oct. 24 Township Council meeting. Oct. 23-31 was proclaimed Red Ribbon Week at the request of Alice Osipowitz, the township’s recreation director and head of the Municipal Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse.

The township has already provided for more than enough low- and moderate-income housing to meet its Mt. Laurel obligations through 2025, a township official said in the wake of an affordable housing agreement approval. An agreement between the township and the Fair Share Housing Center, approved at the Township Council’s Oct. 10 meeting,  sets Franklin’s “fair share” of affordable housing …

Update: As expected, the Board of Education Oct. 19 accepted the resignation of the Franklin High School principal, and appointed an interim. Former principal Cheryl Clark abruptly resigned Oct. 13, citing personal reasons.

More than $5,300 was raised Oct. 14 for the Franklin Food bank during the seventh annual D&R River Canal Fest. That total included about $1,200 from Franklin High School students who donated the proceeds of their sales of ceramic items.

Part of the Rutgers Plaza parking lot on Easton Avenue was turned into a construction zone Oct. 12, as Habitat for Humanity volunteers started working on a new house. This was the second time that the Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity has paired with radio station WMGQ (Magic 98.3) for “The House Built With Magic” program, said Laura Rawlins, the …

With just over three weeks to go until the general election, township Democrats got a boost Oct. 12 by a visit from their gubernatorial candidate. Phil Murphy, the former ambassador and now the state Democrat’s hope to retake the governor’s office, showed up at a fundraiser for the Democrats’ 17th Legislative District candidates, state Sen. Bob Smith and state Assemblymen …

Part of the Stop & Shop parking lot on Easton Avenue will become a construction area for a new Habitat for Humanity home. The “House Built With Magic” event will run from about 8 a.m. Oct. 12 through 3 p.m. Oct. 13. It is sponsored by Stop & Shop, Magic 98.3 and WCTC to benefit the Habitat for Humanity Raritan …

About 300 people ran and walked Oct. 7 to raise money for a township organization that helps women suffering from breast cancer. The 12th annual Sisters Network of Central New Jersey’s Breast Cancer Awareness Race/Walk 4Life, held in Colonial Park, featured a timed 5K race and a 1-mile walk challenge.