News-pourri

Deborah Mitchell, who administers the township’s CDBG program, speaks to the Council at its March 22 meeting. Representatives from some of the organizations asking for more than $150,000 in federal grants made their pitches before the Township Council on March 22. The money is coming from the federal Community Development Block Grant program, which is designed to fund programs that …

Armando Quiroz was named to the newly created Supervisor of World Languages position at the school board’s March 17 meeting. The Board of Education on March 17 hired a veteran Spanish teacher to fill its newly created World Languages supervisor position. Armando Quiroz most recently was the Supervisor of World Languages and ESL for the Summit school system, a position …

Schools Superintendent John Ravally said that the County’s improving COVID-19 situation led to the recommendation to lift the indoor mask mandate in schools. Anticipating low Covid-19 activity in the Township and Somerset County, the Board of Education on March 17 voted to remove the mandatory indoor mask mandate as of March 21. Schools Superintendent John Ravally said at the meeting …

An artist’s rendering of a Belmont Drive warehouse approved by the Planning Board. A 150,000-square-foot warehouse on Belmont Drive was approved March 16 by the Planning Board. The developer, South Plainfield-based The Harbor Group, will raze an existing one-story office building to build the warehouse. Part of the application entailed moving a property line between two lots; an office building …

A $2 million decrease in water utility collections may lead to a rate increase during the year, the Township Council was told on March 15. Township auditor Andrew Hodulik told the Council during its second budget hearing that the utility’s fund balance decreased from $10 million to $8 million over the last year. “You’re probably going to look at a …

An online portal designed to prevent underage drinking, drug use, and teen dating violence was recently launched by two non-profit organizations. EmPoWER Somerset and Safe Communities Coalition of Somerset / Hunterdon Counties have partnered to create the web site, SoberTruth4Youth.org. The portal features eight short videos developed by the Safe Communities Coalition and other community partners such as Safe+Sound Somerset …

Mayor Phil Kramer broached the idea of returning to in-person meetings at the March 8 Township Council meeting. Maybe the third time is the charm. The Township Council on March 8 decided to allow for the resumption of in-person township meetings starting in April. Masks will still have to be worn in township buildings, and senior citizens participating in clubs …

Some of the hundreds of people who gathered February 28 at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Orthodox Memorial Church for a prayer vigil for the Ukrainian people. Several hundred people gathered February 28 outside the St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Memorial Church the evening of February 28 to participate in a candlelight vigil for the people of Ukraine. Hosted by Archbishop Daniel, President …

Deputy Mayor Crystal Pruitt was one of a number of Franklin residents included on the 2022 InsiderNJ African-American Power List. (File Photo). Five Franklin residents have been named to the 2022 InsiderNJ African-American Power List. The list includes more than 100 Black leaders in the state, representing politicians, community activists, and religious leaders, among others. Topping the list for Franklin, …

Schools Superintendent John Ravally said February 24 that township students will have to wear masks indoors until Somerset County’s Covid-19 activity decreases. Township students “are expected” to continue wearing masks when indoors, at least until the county’s Covid-19 activity level drops to its lowest possible level. The school district administration is also recommending that students continue wearing masks on school …