News-pourri

MAKING ART – Attendees at the Muslim Heritage Month event in the Township Library January 10 make Turkish mosaics. The art and culture of Turkey was on display January 10 at the Township Library’s Muslim Heritage Month observance. The event was co-sponsored by the library and the Muslim Heritage Month Coalition. Don’t Miss Out! No other media outlet covering Franklin Township …

INTRODUCING THE CONCEPT – John Grib, representing the developer of the proposed storage space, talks about it at the Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting. The developer of a proposed outdoor storage space on State Route 27 is reviewing its plans after appearing before the Zoning Board of Adjustment on January 8. The reconsideration came after it became apparent that Board …

ENGINEER’S TESTIMONY – Joe Holzapfel testifies about the proposed warehouse on Davidson Avenue at the January 7 Planning Board meeting. A 37,000-square-foot warehouse planned for a site on Davidson Avenue was approved January 7 by the Planning Board. The warehouse will be located behind an existing building housing a light manufacturing business. Don’t Miss Out! No other media outlet covering …

ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT – Schools Superintendent John Ravally will retire at the end of this school year, ending an 11-year tenure in the district. Schools Superintendent John Ravally has notified the Board of Education that he intends to retire at the end of June, ending an 11-year stewardship of district schools. Ravally notified school board members of his intention in a …

MAKING A POINT – Chris Szalay, an engineer for the 14-home project, gestures while he testifies at the January 7 Planning Board meeting. The developer of a proposed 14-unit luxury home community on Cedar Grove Lane was sent back to the drawing board by the Planning Board on January 7. Board members objected to a number of the plan’s elements, …

NEW BOE LEADERSHIP – Dr. Dennis Hopkins, president, and Erika Inocencio, vice president, after their election at the January 6 Board of Education reorganization meeting. Dr. Dennis Hopkins was picked as president, and Erika Inocencio as vice president, at the Board of Education January 6 reorganization meeting. Also at the meeting, newly elected members Clara Wilson and Meher Pervaaz-Rafiq were …

BLOWER BAN PROPOSAL – Environmental Commissioner Arnold Schmidt has proposed banning fossil fuel-powered leaf blowers six months out of the year. A suggested Township ordinance amendment that would ban the use of gas-powered leaf blowers six months out of the year was the main topic of discussion at the January 5 Environmental Advisory Commission meeting. The idea was brought up …

RE-ENACTING HISTORY – Re-enactors portraying General George Washington and Generals Nathanael Greene and John Sullivan at the “Conference on Horseback” January 4 in Kingston. Several hundred people gathered along Church Street in Kingston on January 4 to witness an event that has not been seen in 249 years. It was on January 3, 1777, on a hill in Kingston in …

ALL SMILES – Gov.-Elect Mikie Sherrill shares a laugh with Township Councilwoman Shepa Uddin after the latter was sworn in to her new term at the January 3 Township Council reorganization meeting. The five newly elected Township Council members had a special guest swear them in at the January 3 Township Council reorganization meeting: Gov.-Elect Mikie Sherrill. During the afternoon …

ONE LAST PICTURE – Outgoing Board of Education members Ardaman Singh, Walter Jackson and Nancy LaCorte (left to right, holding plaques) pose with schools Superintendent John Ravally, former Board member Michael Smith, Mayor Phil Kramer and Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (left to right) at the December 18 Board meeting. The three departing Board of Education members received many accolades during their …