News-pourri

The Franklin Reporter & Advocate was out and about on October 28 and 29, bringing you donations, parties and fundraisers. Om October 28, we were at the Franklin Food Bank HQ on Churchill Road where the food bank received a nearly $7,000 cash donation from the Sodhani Foundation and members of the Canal Walk community. Here’s a video of the …

Township registered voters can begin casting their ballots in the November 8 election on October 29, at the Senior/Community Center, 505 DeMott Lane. The township location is one of six polling locations in Somerset County that are open for early voting through November 6. The polls are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and 10 a.m. …

Deputy Mayor Crystal Pruitt suggested that the Town Hall be held in December. An informational town hall on planning and zoning concepts is being planned by the Township Council, and will probably be held in the beginning of December. The idea for the town hall was broached by Councilman James Vassanella and comes in the wake of questions and concerns …

Three township residents were among five people honored October 22 at the National Civics Day celebration held at the Franklin Youth Center on Lewis Street. Township residents honored during the ceremony were Somerset County Commissioner Director Shanel Robinson, who was given the Unity Award; the Rev. Catina Jackson, who was given the #CitizenStrong Award, and Week of the People president …

Schools Superintendent John Ravally tells the school board about the Warrior Health Center proposal. In a move it hopes will cut health care costs for its employees, the Board of Education on October 20 approved a long-term lease for office space that will be used as a health center. The Franklin Township Public Schools Warrior Health Center at 61 Veronica …

Genesi Miles speaks at the Board of Education meeting October 20, after she was formally named as Pine Grove Manor school’s new principal. A temporary action last month became permanent on October 20 when the Board of Education named Genesi Miles as the new principal of Pine Grove Manor School. MIles served as the school’s acting principal since September, when …

A Franklin Park School student decorates her pumpkin Oct. 19 during the school’s Unity Day celebration. Although it’s been celebrated for years, Unity Day 2022 was a first for some students at Franklin Park School. The difference? They got to feel what it was like to go pumpkin-picking. The students never left the school property; the “field” was the school’s …

Planning Board chairman Michael Orsini told the applicant’s attorney that he thought their project was too big for the space they had. It’s back to the drawing board for a township church that has wanted since 1999 to raze its building and rise again from the ashes. Macedonia Church of God in Christ was told by the Planning Board that …

State Assemblyman Joe Danielsen has written what supporters call the strictest set of laws regulating the concealed carrying of guns in the country. (File photo.) A bill whose supporters say will create the strictest concealed-carry law in the country – and who fully expect it to be challenged in court – was introduced in the state Legislature on October 13. …

The new Middlebush skate park is open. The new Middlebush Park skate park is already garnering attention. The new park, located next to the basketball courts, is smaller than the one it replaced, but is considered by skaters as an upgrade. The $309,000 skate park is made entirely of poured concrete, vastly different than the metal ramps that were placed …