News-pourri

NEW HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL – Genesi Miles speaks to the Board of Education February 27 after being named the new Franklin High School principal. A 5-year veteran of the district school system was named the new Franklin High School principal at the February 27 Board of Education meeting. Genesi Miles is currently the Pine Grove Manor elementary school principal, a …

CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION – State Assemblyman Joe Danielsen has introduced a bill that could lead to women’s reproductive rights being codified in the state Constitution. Saying the state needs to take a “bold and proactive step” to protect women’s reproductive rights in New Jersey, state Assemblyman Joe Danielsen recently made the first move toward codifying that protection in the state Constitution. …

NEW FTPD OFFICERS – Capt. Brandon Domotor and Captain Vincent Wilson, left to right, are ceremonially sworn into their new positions while Public Safety Director Quovella Maeweather holds the Bible at the February 25 Township Council meeting. Seven Franklin Township Police patrol officers were ceremonially sworn in and eight FTPD senior officers were promoted at the February 25 Township Council …

CDBG INFORMATION – Deborah Mitchell, the Township’s CDBG Program Administrator, talks about this year’s program at the Township Council’s February 25 meeting. Uncertainty in the federal government over what programs, if any, will be funded has begun to seep into official Franklin Township. Between the aggressive cost-cutting efforts of the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency and wrangling in Congress …

SINGING FOR RAMADAN – Members of the Little Nasheeds Girls of New Jersey sing during the annual Ramadan Lighting Ceremony held February 23 at the Township Senior/Community Center. The Township’s fifth annual observance of the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan was held on February 23 at the Franklin Township Senior/Community Center. The highlight of the observance was …

STARTING THE EVENT WITH SONG – Jamar Anderson sings “Lift Every Voice and Sing” to begin the Franklin Township Cultural Arts Commission’s Black History Month BASH at the Senior/Community Center. Dance, singing and poetry were the focus of a Black History Month celebration held February 22 at the Franklin Township Senior/Community Center. Sponsored by the township Cultural Arts Commission, the …

MOTHER LANGUAGE CELEBRATION – Performers from the S&R Band & Friends prepare for a song during the International Mother Language Day celebration on February 22. The 25th annual International Mother Language Day was celebrated with speech and song February 22 at the Franklin Township Library’s main branch on DeMott Lane. Created by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization …

NOT PERSUADED – Planning Board Chairman Michael Orsini was not convinced that the Board should vote on final site plan approval for a proposed three-story mixed use building on Hamilton Street. A three-story mixed-used building targeted for Hamilton Street was given preliminary approval by the Planning Board at its February 19 meeting. The building, planned for a half-acre parcel between …

The Somerset Community Action Program (SCAP) and Franklin Township are offering a construction and carpentry certification training program to Franklin Township residents affected by the Covid pandemic. The program begins March 3, with courses offered 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays at the Franklin Township Board of Education administration building, 2301 Route 27. The Civil Construction Program is …

CLOTHING FOR A CAUSE – FHS students collect clothing donations February 8 at FMS-Sampson G. Smith campus. Dozens of bags of gently worn clothing were dropped off February 8 at the Franklin Middle School’s Sampson G. Smith campus for the semi-annual clothing drive to benefit Project Graduation. The drives are held in the Winter and Spring, and are among the …