News-pourri

DELAYED OPENING – The Franklin Park branch of the Franklin Township Library is now scheduled to be open by the end of April or beginning of May. (File photo.) A delay in the delivery of an electrical panel has delayed the opening of the new Franklin Park branch of the Franklin Township Library. The new branch, located at 64 Clover …

Renaissance Cyclists Defeating Cancer United is set to hold its third annual “Fun & Games Show” fundraiser on April 22 at the Franklin Township Senior/Community Center, 505 DeMott Lane. The event will run from 2-6 p.m. Participants will have the chance to bid on “Price Is Right” Showcases, a basket raffle and a 50/50 raffle Lunch is included in the …

VIVE LES PARTISANS – Michel Mockers speaks after receiving the key to the township from Mayor Phil Kramer. It was 78 years in the making, but Michel Mockers, a member of the French Resistance during World War II, finally received the highest recognition available from his native country at a special ceremony March 21 in the Township Council chamber. Mockers, …

BUDGET QUESTION – Township Councilman James Vassanella asks a question about an aspect of the proposed 2023 budget requests. The final municipal departments made their 2023 budget requests to the Township Council at a special March 21 budget hearing. As is the norm, Township Manager Robert Vornlocker presented the departments’ proposed budgets with respective representatives on hand to answer any …

Local Girl Scouts, and Girl Scout Week, were honored at the March 14 Township Council Meeting. Citations commemorating individual and group efforts were awarded by Mayor Phil Kramer. Molly H. of Troop 60607 (the girls’ last names were not used due to privacy concerns) was commended for achieving the Girl Scouts’ Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can …

FORE A GOOD CAUSE – The annual St. Matthias Golf Classic will take place at the Royce Brook Golf Club’s west course. (Photo: Royce Brook Golf Club.) The annual St. Matthias Golf Classic is set for May 15 at the private West Course of Royce Brook Golf Club, 201 Hamilton Rd. Hillsborough. The event is held to support the St. …

State Assemblyman and township resident Joe Danielsen was endorsed by the Somerset County Democratic Committee in the 2023 primary for the Assembly’s 17th District. Also endorsed were Danielsen’s District 17 running mates, state Sen. Bob Smith and Assemblyman Joe Egan. Danielsen is running for his fifth full two-year term on the Assembly. He replaced former Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula in 2014 …

Franklin Township High School will be one of 26 schools in New Jersey to offer Advanced Placement African American studies, starting in the 2023-2024 school year. The course, created by the College Board, is currently being taught in one New Jersey school and 60 schools across the country. The course is in its first year of a two-year pilot program. …

ACTION! – The designation of Franklin as a “Film Ready Community” by the state is hoped to bring to the township more movie crews, such as this one filming David Duchovny’s “Bucky F*ing Dent” over several days in September 2022. Fresh on the heels of Franklin being designated one of the first “Film Ready Communities” in the state, the Township …

RISING WATER … RATES – Mayor Phil Kramer said increases in what the Township pays for water forced its hand in raising rates to township customers. An ordinance amendment that calls for a 15 percent increase in water rates was introduced on first reading at the March 14 Township Council meeting. The hike would be the first such increase in …