News-pourri

Township officials and staff were on hand June 17 to witness the lowering of the American flag to half-staff, in memory of the victims of the Orlando mass shooting. Mayor Phillip Kramer, Township Councilwoman Roz Sherman (D-Ward 2) and Township Councilman Charles Onyejiaka (D-Ward 3) were joined by township manager Robert Vornlocker and several residents for the short ceremony.

Dozens of people from Franklin and the surrounding area gathered at The Den nightclub on Hamilton Street the evening of June 13 for an impromptu vigil for those killed and injured in the attack on an Orlando, Fla. gay bar. More than 100 people were killed or wounded in the one-man attack on patrons at Pulse, a gay bar in …

A Nigerian King on a tour of the United States visited Franklin June 11, bringing messages of peace and the desire to establish economic ties with the township. Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, King of the Yourba people in Nigeria, is leading a delegation of other Nigerian kings and dignitaries in the month-long trip to the U.S. Ogunwisu – known in Nigeria as …

A township police lieutenant will carry the Democrat’s banner in November’s race for Somerset County Sheriff. Darrin Russo handily won his primary June 7 against Alexander E. Clark, a township resident running on the Bernie Sanders ticket.

The replacement of the Route 518 bridge over the D&R Canal is expected to begin on June 1, and will probably last through August. The state Department of Transportation contracted with Tarheel Enterprises of Morgan to perform the $2.8 million bridge replacement.

An Eagle Scout, a group of contest winners and two township employees were awarded commendations May 24 by the Township Council. Montgomery resident Shaylen Amin, an Eagle Scout with Boy Scout Troop 46, was commended for the project he used to attain his Eagle rank.

One of the youngest traditional rulers in Nigeria will visit the township in June during a nearly month-long trade mission to the United States. Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi was named the Ooni of Ife – King of the Yoruba people – in October, following the July 2015 death of the previous monarch.

The township-based charter school praised earlier this week by Gov. Chris Christie is under a state-mandated limited enrollment plan to alleviate “concerns” over the school’s student population’s “lack of diversity.” Thomas Edison EnergySmart Charter School on Cortelyous Lane was placed under a restricted enrollment plan for the next five school years by state education commissioner David Hespe as a condition of its …

Two Cedar Hill Preparatory School robotics teams were honored May 10 by the Township Council for their qualification for a world championship tournament in Germany. The teams won “Best Overall” and “Best Programming” at the RoboCup Junior USA Championship in April in New York City.

Patrick Gianotto, a lifelong township resident and key player in the Hamilton street business district redevelopment effort, has died. He was 62. Gianotto, owner of Franklin Electric on Hamilton Street, died April 28 while vacationing in Key West, Fla.