Religion

ENGINEERING TESTIMONY – Mitchell Ardman, the engineer for Tahweed Dahwah Center Masjid, testifies at the February 19 Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting. Zoning Board of Adjustment hearings on a proposal to build a 19,000-square-foot mosque on a 16-acre South Middlebush Road tract resumed on February 19, and all indications are that this will not be a smooth process. The project’s …

CEREMONIAL LIGHTING – Township Councilwoman Shepa Uddin, mayor Phil Kramer, Deputy Mayor Alex Kharazi, and Township Councilmen Shubhendu Singh and Ram Anbarasan (left to right) after the ceremonial Moon Crescent was lit at the Township’s annual Ramadan Lighting ceremony. More than 150 people gathered at the Franklin Township Senior/Community Center February 15 for the township’s annual Ramadan Lighting of the …

About 200 people gathered in the St. Matthias School cafeteria February 7 for the annual “Night of Winners” tricky tray fundraiser. The theme for this year was Mardi Gras, and attendees came decked out in masks, beads and headware. Don’t Miss Out! No other media outlet covering Franklin Township brings you the depth of information presented by the Franklin Reporter …

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 …

ARTIST’S RENDERING – The Tawheed Dawah Center is looking to change the approved building design and get permission for a more intense use than was approved for its predecessor. The Zoning Board of Adjustment is set to hear on November 20 an application for a 19,000-square-foot mosque targeted for a South Middlebush Road parcel that had previously been approved for …

SURPRISE DONATION – Franklin Food Bank executive director Derek Smith, left, hugs Township Councilman Alex Kharazi after Kharazi announced a $5,000 donation to the food bank from the Masjid-e-Ali on Cedar Grove Avenue. Franklin Food Bank executive director Derek Smith walked into the October 28 Township Council meeting prepared to tell members about the dire situation many township residents face …

NEW PARISH LEADER – The Rev. Tom Lanza greets St. Matthias parishioners after his installation ceremony on October 12. The Catholic Community of St. Matthias’ faithful filled the pews October 12 for the Rite of Installation of its new parish priest, The Rev. Thomas Lanza. Lanza succeeds The Rev. Abraham Orapankal, who served as the parish priest since 2018. Don’t …

PROTESTING THE PRELATES – A group of Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA congregants yell at a van carrying two church prelates as it drives away following a Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting on September 18. Chaos erupted after the September 18 Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting when members of the Ukrainian community chased two top prelates of the Ukrainian …

PRAYERS FOR THE COUNTRY – The Rev. Sonya Redd reads a prayer during the Franklin Township Interfaith Coalition’s observance of the National Day of Prayer May 1 in Veterans Memorial Park. Members of Franklin Township’s faith-based community gathered at Veterans Memorial Park on DeMott Lane on May 1 for the annual observance of the National Day of Prayer. The observance …

VISITING MAYOR – Newark Mayor Ras Baraka speaks during the annual Interfaith Iftar held March 16 at Masjid-e-Ali on Cedar Grove Lane. Speeches, charitable donations and, of course, food, were featured at the annual Interfaith Iftar held at the Masjid-e-Ali mosque on Cedar Grove Lane. An Iftar meal is eaten at dusk by Muslims observing the holy month of Ramadan. …