News-pourri

The access trail to the Route 518 hunting parcel is located right behind an area homeowner Lisa Kapsokefalos uses to relax, she said. A Route 518 resident’s complaint about the access point to the township’s newest hunting spot has officials reconsidering its placement. The resident, Lisa Kapsokefalos, is upset that the tract’s access road is just about 12 feet from …

Township Manager Robert Vornlocker detailed the effect of Tropical Storm Ida on Franklin for the Township Council. Tropical Storm Ida was one for the record books, the Township Manager told the Township Council on September 14. Record flood levels of the Raritan and Millstone rivers, more water rescues than remembered in past storms and more streets flooded out than in …

Somerset County Sheriff Darrin Russo reached back to his Italian roots September 14 in helping to bring some comfort to Manville’s first responders. The Sheriff, his top brass and some Sheriff’s Officers teamed up with members of the Italian-American police Society of New Jersey to do what Italians do by nature: they brought food. The benefactors of their largess were …

The 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York, Arlington, Va. and Shanksville, Pa. – and the six Franklin residents who lost their lives that day – was commemorated in two separate ceremonies. Among the 2,977 people killed in the attacks were township natives John Collins, Stephen Joseph, Ganesh K. Ladkat, Vanesha O. Richards, Jeffrey Robinson …

Household items destroyed by Tropical Storm Ida could be picked up starting as early as September 13. Update: The cost for the pickup will be more than $290,000. The Township Council on September 13 will vote on an emergency resolution allocating $223,350 to AshBritt for the pickup, and $69,622.68 to Tetra Tech for the monitoring. Curbside pickup of household items …

A virtual panel discussion entitled “Understanding Franklin’s Racist Past, and How We Get to a Racially Just Future” is set for 7 p.m. September 13. The discussion is sponsored by the JFK Club, the township’s Democratic Club. The event will feature four speakers: Brian Armstong, author of the book, “Franklin Park Tragedy – History of Racism in Franklin.”The Rev. Sonya …

Township government has a contractor assessing the township with the hope of providing curbside pickup for bulk items that were destroyed by Tropical Storm Ida and the flooding it spurred. In a Facebook post, the Township says it’s hoped this pickup will begin in the next few days. Residents are asked to put bulk items damaged and destroyed by Ida …

Township residents whose homes were damaged during Tropical Storm Ida are getting a helping hand from the township. Beginning September 7, residents may take their storm-damaged material to the township Convenience Center, School Avenue and Berry Street, from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at no charge. This is for storm-damaged items only, and only for township residents. Proof of residency …

A number of water rescues were necessary between September 1 and 2 as a result of the floodwaters spurred by Ida. The remnants of Hurricane Ida roared into the township on September 1, dropping torrential rain and causing the Millstone River to rise to nearly historic levels, spurring what one township official called “catastrophic” flooding. Hurricane Ida made landfall in …

If Covid-19 vaccine booster shots begin to roll out around September 20, as is the federal government’s current plan, Somerset County will be ready. That was the word September 1 from Michael McCarty, the County health department’s liaison to the township’s Advisory Board of Health. McCarty told the Board at its regular meeting that the County has dosages of all …