News-pourri

A $209 million general fund budget for Fiscal Year 2026 was approved April 24 by the Board of Education. The spending plan is powered by a tax levy of $179,484,985. This is not the budget originally introduced by the Board in March. That budget included $6 million in cuts, which would have meant an end to after-school bussing and the …

FIGHTING BACK – State Assemblyman Joe Danielsen talks during the April 23 energy forum about legislation he is sponsoring to help mitigate upcoming electricity rate increases. The state agency responsible for regulating utilities in New Jersey has taken an “all-hands-on-deck” strategy to help mitigate coming spikes in the amount Garden State residents will pay for electricity, residents were told at …

The Township Council approved $1,075,689.24 in purchases of goods and services at its April 8 meeting. The Council awarded: A contract worth $309,650 to Whitfield Schneider Enterprises of West Long Branch for boiler replacement at the Franklin Township Senior/Community center. A contract worth $199,999.48 to Riverview Paving of Hackettstown for the Newkirk and Evergreen resurfacing program. A two-year contract worth …

TALKING CHICKENS – Kate Brown, from the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, speaks about raising hens for eggs April 17 in the Township Council chambers. About two dozen aspiring chicken keepers were provided the ins and outs of raising hens in their backyards at a special forum April 17 hosted by Township Council Member Ed Potosnak. The forum comes in the wake …

PARADE PLANS SET – The annual Memorial Day parade is scheduled for May 26. (File photo.) Franklin Township invites you to a day of pride, remembrance, and community spirit as we commemorate Memorial Day on Monday, May 26, 2025. Join us for a truly special celebration honoring the heroes who have courageously served our nation. The Memorial Day Parade begins …

STREAM CLEAN-UP – Some of the items recovered during the annual John Clyde Stream Clean-Up of Mile Run on April 12. A number of environmental groups from the township and New Brunswick – including the Franklin Township Environmental Commission – gathered April 12 at the Mile Run entrance on Hamilton Street for their annual stream clean-up. As usual, volunteers carried …

FOR HIS APPROVAL – Face painting was just one of the activities offered during the annual Bunny Bonanza on April 12. Bunny ears were the fashion accompaniment of the day at the annual “Bunny Bonanza” celebration held April 12 at the Senior/Community Center on DeMott Lane. Children of all ages had the chance to get their face painted, do arts …

EXPLAINING THE PROGRAM – Schools Superintendent John Ravally explains why the school district needs to increase spending by $11 million at the April 10 Board of Education meeting. An additional $11 million in spending for Fiscal Year 2026 approved April 10 by the Board of Education will allow the reinstatement of many line items that had previously been cut from …

“GOLD STANDARD” – Township Attorney Lou Rainone said at the April 8 Township Council meeting that Franklin has become an example of how towns should plan for affordable housing. The Township will be obligated to provide for the construction of 659 more affordable housing units over the next 10 years, according to a settlement it reached with a builder industry …

HONORING ARAB AMERICANS – Township Councilman Alex Kharazi reads the Council’s Arab American Heritage Month proclamation. To his left is Mahmoud Azmi, who accepted the proclamation. The Township Council formally recognized Arab American Heritage Month at its April 8 meeting. Accepting the proclamation was Prof. Mahmoud Azmi, a township resident and president of The Egyptian American Council. “As values of …