News-pourri

TALKING NUMBERS – Schools Superintendent John Ravally reviews the preliminary 2024-25 school district budget at the March 20 Board of Education meeting. A steep cut in state aid and a multi-million dollar increase in charter school tuition presented stiff challenges, but school district officials said the proposed 2024-25 budget should only result in a minor increase in the school portion …

BUDGET TALKS – The Township Council held its second budget hearing of the year, a three-hour affair – on March 19. A hike in township water utility rates may be in the offing. If it comes to pass, the rate hike would be the second such increase in two years. A discussion about the water utility budget during the March …

A LOT TO SMILE ABOUT – Franklin Food Bank Executive Director Derek Smith said he was “humbled” when notified that the organization was awarded a $1 million grant (File photo.) A $1 million grant to the Franklin Food Bank from a foundation founded by MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of billionaire Jeff Bezos, will be put toward a new, larger facility, …

Some members of the Black Youth Awareness Club performed during the event. Strategies on getting through mental trauma were presented March 16 at the Black Family Wellness Expo held at Franklin High School. The event was sponsored by the high school’s Black Youth Awareness and Voice for Change clubs, in conjunction with the Raritan Valley chapter of The Links, Inc., …

GIRL SCOUTS HONORED – Kennedy Price and Yashmee Yatham, and Maya and Ella Pabuwal were honored March 12 by the Township Council for achieving the Girl Scout Silver Award. Commendations to Girl Scouts and proclamations acknowledging holidays were among those issued March 12 by the Township Council. Two teams of two girls each were acknowledged for reaching their Girl Scout …

EXPLAINING THE PLAN – Township Manager Robert Vornlocker brought a proposal to the Council that turned out to be controversial. A nearly hour-long, sometimes heated discussion on partnering with the Board of Education to provide a construction trades training program ended March 12 with the Township Council agreeing to discuss the issue in April. At issue was a proposal for …

BUDGET PROCESS BEGINS – The Township Council met virtually March 11 to begin the annual budget hearing process. Township property owners can expect a tax increase this year that’s larger than hikes in the past several years, Mayor Phil Kramer said during the Township Council’s March 11 budget virtual hearing. One of the bigger factors in the increase is the …

BOWLS A’PLENTY – A variety of bowls were available for attendees as part of the admission price to the fundraiser. Approximately 300 people gathered at the DoubleTree Hotel on Atrium Drive March 10 for the sixth annual Empty Bowls fundraiser for the Franklin Food Bank. The attendees were able to sample food from a handful of local restaurants and shop …

A pre-Ramadan celebration was held March 9 at the township library by a local organization whose mission is to “shine a light on Islam in the Franklin Township community through acts of charity and service,” according to its founder. The Quidma organization – Quidma is the Arabic word for “to serve – hosted the event, held in the library’s main …

School district officials are looking into ways to compensate for the approximately 2 percent cut in state aid for Fiscal Year 2025. The district will receive $21,119,162 in state K-12 aid, a reduction of $386,982 from last year’s figure. A district spokeswoman said the amount cut represents about 6 percent of the equalization aid given to Franklin by the state. …