Speak Out!

By Scott Siegel, Somerset. My opponent talks of stable taxes, smart budgeting, against future development and increased transparency. He fails on all four. From 2011 to 2016 only three of the 22 governmental units in Somerset County have raised taxes higher than Franklin Township. Statewide, towns that have recent financials online we rank in the bottom 23 percent. If you …

By John Felix and Linda Darby, Somerset. The last sentence of Dr. John Ravally’s letter announcing the resignation of Franklin High School’s principal tells parents that the district “will begin actively seeking a permanent principal for Franklin High School as soon as possible.” Like many like-minded parents who have been advocating/pleading for continuity, consistency, stability and scholarship leadership at FHS, …

By Bill Connell, Somerset. Driving down Elizabeth Avenue I saw a Will Galtieri sign, he is running for council. It put me on a train of thought: The average age of a politician around here is probably 55. William is slightly younger. I got to wondering what it really means and I concluded nothing in the case of William. At …

by Rizwan A. Rizvi. Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year. Since the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, Muharram moves from year to year when compared with the Gregorian calendar. The word “Muharram” means “Forbidden” and is derived from the word harām, meaning “sinful”. It is …

By Imam Rizwan Rizvi, Masjid-e-Ali Mosque. Eid al-Adha is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims worldwide as a commemoration of Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son, as commanded by Allah. It is reported in Quran: “When his son was old enough to work with him, he said, ‘My son, I have had a dream that I must sacrifice you. …

By Willietta Gombeh, Co-Founder of Compassion For Peace and Child Survival Sierra Leone. Peace and Child Survival Sierra Leone, otherwise known as CPCSSL, is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit operating both here in the United States and in the affected area of Freetown Sierra Leone. CPCSSL is proud to say that we have over 12 years of service in the …

By Barbara Cuthbert, Griggstown. Thank you to Dr. Alex Kharazi of Franklin Township’s Interfaith Council for organizing Sunday evening’s vigil to reaffirm the community’s commitment to unity and solidarity in rejection of any form of racism, hate and bigotry. Thank you as well to the spiritual, governmental and educational leaders who clearly and passionately expressed dedication to speak out if …

 By Mayor Phil Kramer, East Millstone. Thank you Alex for your kind words and I’d like to thank all the folks at St. Matthias and others who have helped organize this event.  But most of all I would like to thank all of you for being here today.  At this time of great peril, you are the true patriots, the …

By Bill Connell, Somerset. I was out to dinner recently with a friend who knows I have spoken at more then a few public meetings. He asked “do you lose your hearing when you speak?’” The question made me think about what is happening to my body when I speak. I don’t go deaf but I do feel my body …

By Silvia Ascarelli, West Windsor. Thank you, Franklin Township officials, for closing a section of Canal Road for “Walk and Roll” on July 30. On behalf of all who participated in the East Coast Greenway’s 7-mile bike ride – “Following in the footsteps of George Washington … and his spy” – I want you to know we had a wonderful …