News-pourri

ARTIST’S RENDERING – An exhibit showing what the proposed charging stations at WaWa would look like was presented at the April 15 Planning Board meeting. The Township Planning Board on April 15 approved an application for a major electric vehicle charging upgrade at the Wawa gas station and convenience store at 607 Somerset St., paving the way for 12 EV …

The Township Council opened its April 14 meeting with a flurry of commendations and proclamations, recognizing a local service club’s donation to the Franklin Food Bank, celebrating the township’s business community, and designating April as the official month for multiple awareness and heritage causes. From food security to “Dark Skies,” the evening’s recognitions painted a portrait of a community that …

The New Jersey Department of Labor issued two stop-work orders April 8 against a township-based excavating company, halting work at a college and public library construction site after investigators uncovered wage theft and multiple labor law violations. Artur Alves Excavating Inc. of Elizabeth Avenue was ordered to stop work at The College of New Jersey in Ewing and at the …

MAKING HER CASE – Somerset County Commission Director and Franklin resident Shanel Robinson answers a question during the April 11 Congressional District 12 candidates’ forum held at First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens. The 13 candidates running for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives’ 12th District faced off April 11 at a forum held at the First …

REMEMBERING HIS SON – Dr. Joseph Apuzzio remembers his late son, Kevin, at the 20th anniversary memorial of the younger Apuzzio’s line-of-duty death on April 11. Looking on is East Franklin Fire Chief Dan Krushinski. Two decades have passed since Kevin Apuzzio ran into a burning home to rescue a stranger, but for those gathered April 11 at the East …

THE PEP TALK – Township Environmental Commission member Stan Jaracz speaks to volunteers April 11 at the start of the annual John Clyde Memorial Stream Cleanup at Seeley’s Run. Armed with grabbers and garbage bags, dozens of volunteers gathered in the morning of April 11 to scour the banks of Seeley’s Run for the annual John Clyde Stream Cleanup. The …

DESIGN EXPLANATION – Architect Bill Feinberg talks about the materials that will be used on the proposed shopping center at Route 27 and Clover Place. A proposed shopping center and restaurant on a site that once housed Somerset County’s first courthouse drew scrutiny from the Township Historic Preservation Advisory Commission on April 7, with members calling for ground-penetrating radar surveys, …

EXPLAINING THE NEED – Somerset Bible Baptist Church Pastor Brian Fisher tells the Zoning Board why the church needs the proposed gymnasium at the April 2 hearing. Variances that would help pave the way for construction of a 1-story gymnasium behind the Somerset Bible Baptist Church on Cedar Grove Lane were approved April 2 by the township Zoning Board of …

STREAM CLEANUP SET – You never know what you’re going to find dumped near a stream. The township Environmental Commission has set the date for the annual John Clyde stream cleanup at Seeley’s Brook. (File photo.) The Franklin Township Environmental Commission’s annual John Clyde Stream Cleanup is set for 9 a.m. to noon on April 11 at Seeley’s Run at …

SPEGG-TACULAR – One of the many children who took part in the April 4 Easter Egg Hunt at First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens on Route 27. Two local organizations — a volunteer fire department and a church — welcomed hundreds of children April 4 for Easter egg hunts open to the entire community. Don’t Miss Out! No other media …