Speak Out!

By Debbie Stuart Let me start off by saying I am not a political person. Never have been and do not intend to be. I am a 100 percent independent thinker and voter. But this is not about me. This is about Jan Brant, the candidate for Franklin Township Council Ward 2, who I believe will havea fresh, honest, genuine …

By Jenny Kafas Fall was recently described to me as the most nostalgic season. Lately, every time I step outside, feel crisp air and smell the fallen leaves, I am somehow taken right back to my childhood where I spent hours jumping into the proverbial giant-pile-of-leaves. My mom, despite spending years convincing me to rake the leaves in our yard, …

By Kiki Anastasakos. While local elected officials can’t change the world or create a perfect community insulated from market shifts and political chaos, they often do an admirable job shaping a welcoming, safe and affordable environment for all its residents.  Franklin is one such lucky community. I know. In the past several years, I have spent countless hours in Franklin …

By Deborah M. Inman My name is Deborah M. Inman, and I am writing to express my support for Benjamin Guy III as a candidate for Township Council representing the 4th Ward of Franklin Township. To begin, I would like to state that I am a registered Democrat. My support for Mr. Guy is based on my belief that it …

By Bill Connell. It’s election season.  A tedious time when you have to sort through a lot of noise to make a proper choice. But then you remember some people don’t get that choice, and you are grateful.  More often than not when you vote , you think, I don’t really like this person I am voting for, but it’s my best …

By Bill Connell, Somerset. I was at the recent Township Council meeting where they introduced the latest version of the Cat Colony Ordinance.  Cat colony is a nice way to say feral.   Let’s be real.  Feeding feral cats is really about the basic need for humans to nurture. Parenting is a somewhat narcissistic affair but there is a nurture component.  My kids don’t …

By Bill Connell. “Have you ever had to put your life in another person’s hands? I have.”  This was the angry response from a friend when I made a glib remark about a news story affecting police culture.  More on that later.   I want to take a slightly different view of Beverly Lawson-Mayor Phil Kramer exchange regarding Veterans Month.   I was recently …

By Mayor Phil Kramer. Recently the Franklin Reporter & Advocate published a Letter to the Editor by Beverly Lawson. It stated it was a shame that the Township Council did not pass a proclamation recognizing June as Veterans’ Month. She accused us of playing politics. I was going to let it pass until a friend of mine emailed me saying …

By Beverly Lawson. If you are not aware, June is Veterans’ Month. At the June 12, 2025, council meeting, I asked whether a proclamation would be made in recognition of Veterans’ Month. I received no response. With the final meeting of June scheduled for June 24, I checked the agenda—and once again, there is no mention of veterans, no proclamation, …

By Wm. David Burns. Last year, the Franklin Reporter & Advocate chose Katie Nordhaus, the extraordinary director of our Township’s animal shelter, as its “Woman of the Year.”  It was a wise and well-deserved celebration of her distinguished service. Last week, we had an experience in our little corner of Franklin that reassured me—against lots of evidence to the contrary—that …