News-pourri

A gateway to the township will get a much-needed upgrade, thanks to an Aug. 3 Zoning Board of Adjustment approval. A site plan application for an assisted living facility and a 119-room hotel, targeted for the roughly 9-acre Easton Avenue location of Venue 1850 banquet hall and the former Econo Lodge hotel near Route 287, won board approval.

Nissan North America received Planning Board approval Aug. 2 to build a 200,000-square-foot addition to its warehouse at Pierce Street and Cottontail Lane. The addition will be used to house large parts for collision repairs, servicing Nissan dealerships throughout the Northeast, Nissan’s Kenneth Fielder told the board.

Two pieces of legislation co-sponsored by state Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-17) have become law, and a third awaits Gov. Chris Christie’s approval. The first is part of a legislative package sponsored by Danielsen and Assembly Democrats Lou Greenwald, Gordon Johnson, Bruce R. Land, Bob Andrzejczak, Vince Mazzeo, Eric Houghtaling, Dan Benson, Patricia Jones, and Raj Mukherji to provide mental health …

BRIDGEWATER – Franklin Township residents’ success was celebrated July 27 at the Franklin Community Night held at TD Bank Ballpark. Sponsored by the Franklin Reporter & Advocate and the Business Alliance of Franklin Township, and presented by the Somerset Patriots, the evening was also a fundraiser for the township-based Sisters Network of Central New Jersey.

Update: The proposed township youth center on Lewis Street should be a multi-purpose building that can be modified to reflect changing tastes through the years, and be one where youth can go to learn, play and keep out of trouble. That seemed to be the consensus July 25 of about 50 residents who gathered in the Franklin Middle School library …

A $23,057.25 merit bonus for schools Superintendent John Ravally was approved by the Board of Education. The board approved the bonus, the terms of which had been negotiated last year, at its July 19 special meeting.

Township Democrats gathered in Colonial Park July 22 for their annual summer picnic. There was the usual hamburgers and hot dogs, watermelon and desserts, but this year saw something new: freshly made pizza.

The South Middlebush Road property eyed for a temple and gathering hall is up for sale. The 16-acre parcel at 630 South Middlebush Road, which includes a four-bedroom, four-bathroom home, is listed at $1.2 million.

The old Somerset County Social Services building on Franklin Boulevard would give way to a new, four-story mixed use development under a plan proffered by the Rev. DeForest “Buster” Soaries. Soaries’ Corporate Community Connections, Inc. owns the property, plans for which include razing the current building and building a new structure with retail, office and residential units. Soaries is senior …

An idea to place a “performance gazebo” on township property next to the library’s main branch was given conditional support July 11 by the Township Council. The gazebo would be donated to the township, but paid for by private donations and managed by the Franklin Township Cultural Arts Council.