News-pourri

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 …

ROAD BUCKLED – Work to replace this section of Canal Road is set to begin on July 17. (Photo: Phil Kramer). Work to fix a 60-foot-long section of Canal Road damaged by the recent rainstorm is set to begin on July 17, Mayor Phil Kramer said. Asphalt buckled on the section north of Coppermine Road, forcing a closure in the …

TAKING THE OATH – FTPD Lt. Brandon Domotor is ceremonially sworn in to his new rank at the July 11 Township Council meeting. Four rookies – one of them a township native – and a seasoned officer were ceremonially sworn in to the Franklin Township Police Department at the July 11 Township Council meeting. Also at the meeting, two newly …