News-pourri

The Franklin Township Police Department led the Township’s annual observance of National Night Out August 1 in the Municipal Complex parking lots. This is the 39th year that National Night Out has been observed in the country. The event got its start in 1984 in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pa.

NOT RUNNING – Board of Education members Michael Smith and Nishita Desai will not run for re-election this year. Only one incumbent is among the seven candidates who have filed petitions to run for three open Board of Education seats. Incumbent Bill Grippo is joined on the “Vote All Three” slate by newcomers Erika Innocencio and Jimmie Parker, III.

NEW VICE-PRINCIPAL – Edgar Vazquez Molina speaks to the Board of Education after having been named the new vice-principal at Elizabeth Avenue School. A new vice-principal at Elizabeth Avenue School and dance teacher at Franklin High School were named by the Board of Education at its July 27 meeting. Edgar Vazquez Molina was named as the new vice-principal at EAS, …

GRIEVING MOTHER – Najmah Shah, the mother of a 6-year-old township girl killed on a school bus earlier this month, speaks to the Board of Education at its July 27 meeting. The mother of a 6-year-old girl killed on a school bus earlier this month had two questions for the Board of Education at its July 27 meeting. Najmah Nash …

TRAGIC LOSS – The family of 6-year-old Fajr Atiya Williams is asking for the community’s help in meeting funeral and other expenses. (Photo: GoFundMe.) The family of the 6-year-old disabled girl who was killed July 17 on a Montauk school bus has created a GoFundMe account to help with funeral and other costs. Najmah Nash, the child’s mother, created the …

State Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-17) is once again sponsoring his annual backpack drive for families in his District. Danielsen is collecting donations of backpacks and school supplies now through August 31.

SIGNS APPROVED – Bank of America won Zoning Board approval for three new signs for its Easton Avenue branch, but the approval didn’t come easily. Bank of America won Zoning Board of Adjustment approval for new signs for its Easton Avenue branch on July 20, but the road to that point was a bit bumpy. The bank applied for three …

OPPOSITION IS HEARD – Mary Paist-Goldman testifies about the B9 Schoolhouse warehouse project’s water management plan while attorney Stuart Lieberman looks on. Opponents of a proposed two-warehouse development at Schoolhouse and Mettlers roads got the chance on July 19 to convince the Planning Board that the application should not be approved. The opponents, the majority of whom are Canal Walk …

REVIEWING PLAN – Members of the township Historic Preservation Advisory Commission review plans related to the proposed McDonald’s restaurant targeted for Rutgers Plaza. It took a few go-’rounds, but the McDonald’s Corp. finally got the needed approval from the township Historic Preservation Advisory Commission July 18 for its new restaurant in Rutgers Plaza on Easton Avenue. The sticking point was …

CDBG GRANTS – Deborah Mitchell, administrator of the Township’s Community Development Block Grant program, discusses this year’s program at the Township Council meeting. An application for more than $348,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant money was approved July 11 by the Township Council. The program, overseen by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, is designed to help …