News-pourri

BUDGET TIME – Public Safety Director Quovella Maeweather prepares for her comments to the Township Council at its first 2023 budget hearing on March 13. Budget requests for a number of township departments were heard at a special March 13 Township Council hearing. The hearing was one of two that will be held before the township’s 2023 budget is introduced, …

Alex Kharazi, leader of the township Interfaith Coalition, has been tapped by township Democrats to run for a Township Council At-Large seat. (File Photo). A political newcomer and three incumbents will carry the banner for township Democrats in the June 6 primaries for Mayor and At-Large Township Council members. Leading the ticket will be Mayor Phil Kramer, who is seeking …

BUDGET TIME – Schools Superintendent John Ravally explains some elements of the tentative FY 2024 district budget at the school board’s special open Finance committee meeting on March 9. Update: The Board of Education on March 16 voted to introduce it’s tentative FY 2024 budget. It now goes before the Somerset County Executive Superintendent for review, and final adoption in …

SHERIFF’S K-9 UNIT – L to R:  Somerset County S/O Edward Pawlick & K9 Mac, S/O Daniel Soffer & K9 Caesar, S/O David Daneker & K9 Patriot, S/O Michael Kromar & K9 Casanova, S/O Justin Nielsen & K9’s Anna and Benning in front.  (Photo: Somerset County Undersheriff Tim Pino.) Three K-9s in the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office will receive donated bullet …

BUDDING HISTORIAN – 13-year-old Markus McParland described parts of his history book on Kingston to members of the township Historic Preservation Commission on March 7. A 13-year-old Kingston resident is putting the final touches on a voluminous history of the Village and is looking for help in tying up some loose ends. Markus McParland, an 8th Grader at the Yinghua …

Franklin Day returns to Colonial Park this year, and organizers are looking for corporate sponsors, food vendors and exhibitors. The annual festival, which hasn’t been in the park for several years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, will be held from noon to 5 p.m. September 23 at the park’s Knob Hill Grove near Lot C. More than 20,000 Franklin Township …

Franklin Parks & Recreation will host the 2nd annual Franklin’s Forever 55 “Got Talent” show on March 24. The doors will open at 4 p.m. for a prompt start time of 5 p.m. at the Community/Senior Center, 505 DeMott Lane. This free event is sponsored by the Foot Hill Acres Rehabilitation and Nursing Center and will feature local, vivacious seniors who will showcase their …

BROADWAY BOUND – Township resident Ethan Joseph made his Broadway debut at age 11, in “Tina, The Tina Turner Musical. At 12 years old, township resident Ethan Joseph has appeared in a Broadway musical, an independent movie, as well as on Off-Broadway. And from the looks of things, his journey is just beginning. Joseph, a 7th Grader at Timothy Christian …

NEW LIBRARY BRANCH – Library officials expect the current Franklin Park Branch to close around March 21, with this new branch opening several weeks later. The new Franklin Park branch of the Public Library should be opening around the middle of April, a library official recently said. The “tentative” date for a temporary certificate of occupancy for the branch, located …

NEW SIGNS COMING – The Open Space Advisory Committee discussed new signs for Naruta Park, pictured here, and was asked to consider renaming the Negri-Nepote Grasslands Preserve to honor two deceased township residents. The renaming of the Negri-Nepote Grassland Preserve and new signs for what will be Mettler and Naruta Park was discussed at a recent meeting of the Open …