News-pourri

TUESDAY NIGHT TALK – Township leaders spoke about security in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war. Religious, political and law enforcement leaders were brought together online October 17 for an installment of the FTPD’s Tuesday Night Talks, this one dealing with security in the wake of the Israeli-Hamas war. Hosted by Township Public Safety Director Quovella Maeweather, the roughly hour-long …

A “Why We Vote” town hall meeting is set for 6-8 p.m. October 26 at Franklin Middle School – Sampson G. Smith campus, 1649 Amwell Road. The town hall is sponsored by the Central Jersey Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, the League of Women Voters of the Greater New Brunswick Area (GNBA), the New Brunswick Area Branch …

NO MORE WAREHOUSES – Environmental Commissioner Robin Suydam said at the meeting that too many trees have already been sacrificed for development. The Environmental Commission on October 16 decided to recommend that the Township Zoning Board of Adjustment not approve an application for a warehouse at Weston Canal and Cottontail roads. The application, submitted by Somerset Properties Realty, calls for …

CALL FOR MERCY – Rabbi Eli Garfinkel speaks during the Vigil for Israel, held October 11 at Temple Beth El on Hamilton Street. The Rabbi of Temple Beth El on Hamilton Street told his congregation that hatred of all Palestinians is not the productive response to the terror attacks carried out in Israel over the weekend by a Palestinian-linked terrorist …

LOCAL HISTORIAN – Township Councilman Ram Anbarasan holds up the book, Community Collection for Kingston NJ, written by Kingston resident Markus McParland (right.) A 14-year-old Kingston historian was commended October 10 by the Township Council for his work in creating a book about the history of his home town. Marcus McParland was an 8th Grader at the Ying Hua International …

CHECK PRESENTATION – State Assemblyman Joe Danielsen talks about the $1.5 million he secured in the state budget for the Franklin Township Youth Center and Somerset County Action Program. A $1.5 million state budget appropriation for the Franklin Township Youth Center and the Somerset County Action Program was delivered at the October 10 Township Council meeting by state Assemblyman Joe …

More than 100 runners and walkers showed up at Colonial Park on a rainy October 7 morning determined to accomplish what they signed up to do: raise money for the Sister2Sister organization and help women suffering from breast cancer. This was the 18th running of the organization’s Run/Walk 4 Life, which is always held on the first Saturday of October, …

RATE INCREASE EXPLAINED – FTSA executive director Joe Danielsen explains the need for a 10 percent rate hike in this year’s budget at the October 3 Sewerage Authority Commission meeting. Customers of the Franklin Township Sewerage Authority will notice a slight increase in their quarterly bills as a 10 percent rate hike takes effect in November. The rate hike was …

GENERATIONAL FARMING DISCUSSED – The Generational Farmer panel at Somerset County’s Influencing Agriculture Conference included (l-r) Carol English of English Farm in Basking Ridge; Matt Puskas of Middlebush Farm in Franklin Township; and Jimmy Abma of Abma’s Farms in Hillsborough and Doug Van Nuys of Hillsboro Farm. A township farmer was among 13 Somerset County farmers who participated in panel …

An application to build a 91,000-square-foot warehouse on a vacant lot on Atrium Drive is set to be heard October 4 by the Planning Board. The one-story building would have 81,065-square-feet of warehouse space, a mezzanine, 43 parking spaces and 13 loading docks, according to the application. The project is targeted for a roughly 5-acre plot on Atrium Drive extension, …