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Firefighters and EMS personnel from around the township gathered the evening of Sept. 11 to honor their comrades killed in the terrorist attacks. The service featured a special acknowledgement of former township resident John Collins, a New York City firefighter killed in the attacks, and the reading of the names of firefighters and EMS personnel killed that day.

Hundreds of people took advantage of a 6-hour ban on most automobile traffic along a 4-mile stretch of Canal Road Sept. 8 to bicycle and jog without fear of getting run over. The reason was the inaugural “Bike Without Fear” event, spearheaded by Township Councilman Philip Cramer.

Programs in Water Pilates, hydro, deep water exercises and aqua boot camp are being offered to people aged 60 and older by the Somerset Valley YMCA in the Bridgewater Aquatic Center, 601 Garretson Rd. Registration for the courses ends Sept. 6.

Franklin residents can have an impact on the type of cultural events presented by Somerset County. The Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission is asking for responses to its cultural assessment survey.

Welcome to the Franklin Reporter & Advocate, your online news source for Franklin Township. I’m Bill Bowman, the Franklin Reporter publisher and editor and a township resident for more than 25 years. My first instinct was to write “inaugural edition,” because that’s what this would be had this been a “traditional” paper publication. But times have changed since I started …

UPDATE: The application deadline has been extended to Oct. 25. The Leadership Somerset program is taking applications for its 2014 program.

The center is located at 625 New Brunswick Rd., in Somerset. The center’s hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information call (732) 563-4213. Bingo – Every Thursday

Two “just amazing” senior citizens were honored by the Township Council at its August meeting. Jean Doyle and Irene Calafiore of teh Senior Citizens’ Advsory Committee were presented with Township Council proclamations at the meeting by Deputy Mayor Rozalyn Sherman.

The next targeted “Buy One, Bring One” Friday food donation event is Sept. 20. There is a blue, “BOBO” donation bin in the townshoip municipal building on DeMott Lane.