News-pourri

BIDDING ADIEU – Orvyl Wilson, the district’s Director of School Management, speaks to the Board of Education September 26 after his upcoming retirement was announced. After nearly a half-century in education, the only person to have served as principal in both Franklin High Schools is set to retire. Orvyl Wilson, who started his educational career in 1976 as a teacher …

GIVING THANKS – David Carcieri, CEO of the Greater Somerset County YMCA, expresses his thanks for the $750,000 allocated by the state and distributed by state Assemblyman Joe Danielsen for the construction of a Y in Franklin. The fundraising campaign for a township-based YMCA branch got a large boost from the state on September 24. State Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-17) …

HAPPY REUNION – Abie Bangura (second from left) holds Cyrus, her 8-month-old puppy, who wandered away from home on September 22. Puppies were made for happy endings. That was the case recently for township resident Abie Bangura and her family who were happily reunited with Cyrus, their 8-month-old Mini Australian Shepherd. Bangura was frantic when Cyrus wandered away from their …

More than 200 bicyclists and walkers signed up for the 15th annual RCDCU Bike-a-Thon for Prostate Cancer Awareness, held September 21. The event started and ended at the township Senior/Community Center Cyclists chose from routes of 10, 30 and 50 miles, while walkers had a 3-mile walk along DeMott Lane and New Brunswick Road. Final numbers on the amount raised …

EXPLAINING THE PLAN – Sohum Gupta, a local Boy Scout, explains his Eagle Scout project to the Open Space Advisory Committee. A township Boy Scout recently received support from the Open Space Advisory Committee for his Eagle Scout project. The committee on September 17 unanimously voted to provide $928 to the Scout, Sohum Gupta,to subsidize the costs of the project, …

RIDING FOR CHARITY – The annual RCDCU fundraising ride for prostate cancer awareness is set to kick off on September 21 at the Township Community/Senior Center. (File photo.) The annual RCDCU Bike-A-Thon to fight prostate cancer is set for 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. September 21. The bike-a-thon’s start and finish is at the Franklin Township Community/Senior Center, 505 DeMott …

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – The Somerset County Office on Aging is looking for centenarians to celebrate. Submitted by the Somerset County Office on Aging. The Somerset County Office on Aging and Disabilities Services is seeking nominations for residents who are 100 years and older in recognition of National Centenarian’s Day. Centenarians will be honored at a special luncheon on September 23 …

A clinic designed to help people with expunging criminal convictions from their record is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. October 1 at First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, 771 Somerset Street. The clinic, entitled “Clean Slate,” is sponsored by the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender, FBCLG, state Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-17) and Somerset County. During the …

ENGINEER’S TESTIMONY – Jackie L. Giordano, the project’s engineer, testifies at the September 5 Zoning Board meeting. The Zoning Board of Adjustment recently approved a 51,000-square-foot warehouse at Weston Canal Road and Cottontail Lane. The warehouse application was the first such application heard by a township land use board since the Township Council banned warehouses in early 2023. The six …

READY, SET, SCHOOL! – Students in Grades 6-12 were given a back-to-school celebration September 7 at the Franklin Youth Center. Members of the Franklin Township Youth Center were treated to a special event on September 7: A Back-To-School festival. The students, in grades 6 through 12, were offered activities such as laser tag in the gym and computer games, and …