News-pourri

FORMER CHAIRMAN – Bob LaCorte, left, longtime leader of township Republicans, resigned in the middle of an effort to oust him from his position. (File photo.) The longtime chairman of the Franklin Township Republican Municipal Committee earlier this year resigned in the midst of a bid by dissatisfied committee members to oust him. Bob LaCorte, who served as the Municipal …

The township Environmental Commission has scheduled two cleanups for later this month. The first is set for Mile Run at 9:30 a.m. to noon on April 15, while the second clean-up is set for Naaman Williams Park, from 3-6 p.m. on April 19. For Mile Run cleanup, the Commission is partnering with the New Brunswick Environmental Commission (NBEC), Lower Raritan …

SCOUT’S HONOR – Dalton Vassanella speaks at the conclusion of his Eagle Scout Court of Honor April 2 at St. Matthias Church. Boy Scout Troop 154 formally welcomed its newest Eagle Scout with an Eagle Scout Court of Honor on April 2. Dalton Vassanella, a senior at St. Joseph’s High School in Metuchen, was given his Eagle Scout Court of …

A Republican candidate for Township Council has been disqualified by the Township Clerk on residency issues. James Holzheimer, a retired Franklin Township Police Officer, had hoped to run for one of the three At-Large Council seats up for grabs in November. But his petition for the June 6 primary election was disqualified by Township Clerk Ann Marie McCarthy, she said …

UP, UP, AND AWAY – Stephen White of COSI uses a model rocket to make a point during one of his presentations to students at Pine Grove Manor School on March 31. Students at Pine Grove Manor Elementary School were the beneficiaries March 31 of a special partnership between the Franklin Food Bank and an Ohio-based science museum. The museum, …

Submitted by the Somerset County Board of County Commissioners. The Somerset County Board of Commissioners is utilizing American Rescue Plan funds to support a second year of Franklin Township YMCA’s Camp SOAR at Colonial Park for under-resourced children from Bound Brook, Manville, Franklin, and South Bound Brook. The Commissioners agreed to fund an additional three weeks in 2023 to extend the Camp SOAR …

NEWEST EAGLE SCOUT – Dalton Vassanella speaks after receiving his commendation from the Township Council. The Township’s newest Eagle Scout received a commendation March 28 from the Township Council. The Scout, Dalton Vassanella, is the son of Township Councilman James Vassanella (D-Ward 5.) The younger Vassanella was awarded his commendation by Mayor Phil Kramer with Vassanella’s father, the Assistant Scoutmaster …

BATTER UP – Somerset County Commissioners Director Shanel Robinson selected the winners of Patriots tickets to use in the Commissioners’ suite at the ballpark. (Graphic: Somerset County Commissioners.) Two township non-profit organizations are among 40 in Somerset County which will receive Somerset Patriots’ tickets for use this season in the Somerset County Commissioners’ private suite at TD Bank Ballpark in …

Township Democratic and Republican candidates for Mayor and At-Large Township Council seats submitted their nominating petitions for the June 6 primary election. The deadline for submissions was 4 p.m. March 27 The candidates are: Democrats (all incumbents, except for Kharazi): Mayor: Phil Kramer Township Council: Kimberly Francois, Ram Anbarasan, Alex Kharazi Republicans: Mayor: Brian Levine Township Council: Alhaji Noah Fofanah, …

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION – Vendors are sought for the 2023 Juneteenth celebration, slated to be held in Naaman Williams Park. (File photo.) Following the success of its inaugural Juneteenth Parade and Celebration, the SCDC Black Caucus is looking for vendors to participate in this year’s Juneteenth Parade and Celebration to be held on Saturday, June 17, 2023 in Naaman Williams Park.  …