News-pourri

Franklin Middle School – Sampson G. Smith campus principal Evelyn Rutledge, foreground, told parents that an “indirect” threat against the school was found to be not credible. (File photo). Township police are investigating an “indirect” threat made against Franklin Middle School’s Sampson G. Smith campus. The threat was found to be not credible, and did not interfere with the school …

World War II veteran Frank DeLuca, seated, with Canal Walk Veterans Club commander Sam Pesci and Bob LaCorte, left to right. Frank DeLuca once surprised his family while they were eating dinner, returning home to Elizabeth after serving three years in the Army during World War II. On December 8, 76 years later, it was DeLuca who was surprised by …

The Planning Board on December 1 approved another use exemption for St. Peter’s office building on Easton Avenue. St. Peter’s University Hospital on December 1 once again won an exemption from a prohibition on medical offices at its Easton Avenue office building, allowing for the transfer of some non-acute care specialties from its New Brunswick hospital. Thanks to the Planning …

The Somerset chapter of Sewa International, a public service group, delivered the last of 1,000 pounds of food to the Franklin Food Bank on December 2. The group had initially donated 300 pounds; this delivery was 700 pounds. The food was mainly collected by student volunteers. The Franklin Reporter & Advocate was there for the donation:

FTPD patrolman Mathew Russo, the Franklin Food Bank’s Mike Clare and FTPD patrolman Kenneth Reid III (left to right) were on hand to help distribute the food. The Franklin Food Bank and Franklin Township Police partnered December 1 to give away more than 700 boxes of produce to those in need. The food distribution was held at the Board of …

Engineer’s rendering of the proposed five-home subdivision off Franklin Boulevard. More than two acres of trees would be cleared under an application for five houses making its way to the township Planning Board. The property is located at 360 Franklin Boulevard, an undeveloped and heavily forested lot directly behind Mt. Carmel Church. The parcel is bordered by Belmar Street and …

Magnolia Road will be closed to through traffic into 2022, due to the replacement of the Magnolia Road bridge. The replacement of the Magnolia Road bridge will probably not be finished until mid-February. That’s the word from Somerset County engineer Matthew Loper, who sent an update letter to the township that was read at the November 22 Council meeting. Work …

The Township Council, and all other Township boards and commissions, may soon return to in-person meetings. Assuming there isn’t a change in coronavirus guidelines from the state, the Township will return to in-person meetings in January. The Township Council will start the return to somewhat normal with its annual reorganization meeting on January 4, 2022. The mandate from Gov. Phil …

Franklin Middle School football coach Blair Wilson, seen here after his team captured the 2019 Middle School Championship, is the pick of many members of the Franklin football community to become the new high school football head coach. Coaches, parents and players showed up en masse at the November 18 Board of Education meeting to lobby for their pick for …

Newly appointed Conerly Road principal David Heras address the school board at the November 18 meeting. The Board of Education appointed one new school principal, and accepted the resignation of another at its November 18 meeting. The Board appointed David Heras as the top educator at Conerly Road School. Heras, who assumes the $128,000-a-year position on January 1, 2022, succeeds …