News-pourri

A 19-year education veteran from the Irvington school district was named the new principal of Franklin High School at the April 28 Board of Education meeting. Cheryl A. Clark, most recently the principal of Irvington’s University Elementary School, was unanimously approved by the school board. The position carries a salary of about $130,000 per year, said board president Ed Potosnak.

The Board of Education April 28 went on record as opposing a charter school proposed for Cortelyous Lane. Alarmed by the steady increase in the amount of taxes needing to be diverted to the handful of charter schools attended by Franklin students – in 2016-17, that figure is estimated to be $9 million – the board approved a resolution stating that …

The long-delayed plan to dredge the Delaware & Raritan Canal took a small step forward at the April 26 Township Council meeting, with the Council approving two resolutions providing for staging sites along Canal Road. The resolutions allow the New Jersey Water Supply Authority, which will conduct the dredging, to use East Millstone Park and the John J. Flemer Preserve …

A group including the management team of Oak Crest Day Camp and a township resident who in 2005 won “The Apprentice” television program has submitted an application with the state to open a charter school in Franklin. If approved, the Ailanthus Charter School would be the third in the township. The school would be targeted to students in Franklin and …

Detectives from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office have interviewed “numerous people” in their investigation of the April 9 shootout in New Brunswick between a township resident and police that left the man dead. That was one of the bits of information revealed by the Rev. DeForest Soaries, head pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, during a telephonic press conference April …

More than 400 job-seekers showed up that the Imperia on Easton Avenue April 13 hoping to make a connection with their next employer. The event was the second job fair sponsored by state Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-17). Co-hosting was state Asemblyman Andrew Wicker, (D-16), the Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Imperia.

Fire fighters and other first responders from around the region gathered at the East Franklin Volunteer Fire Company firehouse April 11 to remember one of their own who died in the line of duty. The occasion was the 10th anniversary of the death of Kevin Apuzzio, a member of East Franklin who was killed the morning of April 11, 2006. …

A 30-year veteran township policeman was picked March 30 by the Somerset County Democratic Committee to run for Somerset County Sheriff. Lt. Darrin Russo, who will be retiring from the township department on July 1, was chosen at the Democrats’ annual convention. The current Sheriff, Frank Provenzano, has held the position since 2002.

It is now illegal to smoke on any township-owned property. The Township Council on March 22 passed on second reading an ordinance banning smoking in all township parks, recreational facilities and athletic fields, as well as all municipally owned buildings.

State Assemblyman Joe Danielsen, D-17, was the top individual fundraiser in the 2016 St. Baldrick’s Foundation head-shaving event at the North Plainfield Fire Department. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation funds childhood cancer research. The head shaving was held at the fire department’s headquarters on March 19.