Monthly Digest/Noticias Del Mes E-Newspapers Search: Reset S e r v i n g t he E i g h t V i l l a g es of F ra n k l in T o w ns h ip in S om e rset C o u n t y , N . J . PRS R T STD US Postage Paid Permit No. 1239 Bellmaw r , NJ EC R WSS Local Residential Customer V o l . V I I, N o . X T op N e ws of S ept e m b e r 2024 FR & A is LIVE! S c an QRs t o vie w . T he F r anklin R e p o r t e r & A d v o c a t e W e s p o k e w i t h Si s t e r 2 Sis - t e r p r esid e n t D o r o t h y R ee d and Bo a r d of E d u c a t i o n m e m b e r B i l l G r ip p o a b o u t B r e a s t C an c e r A w a r e ne s s M o n t h . B o t h R ee d and b y t he d ise a se. W e s p o k e w i t h t he o w n e r i n K in g s to n, o ne of t he t o w n s h i p ’ s n e w e s t c a n n a b is d i s p e n sa r ie s . W e w e r e t h r i l l e d t o p l a y a r o le i n t he r e t u r n of b e a u - t i f u l A us t r a l ian Sh e p h e r d p u p p y C y r u s t o h is f a m il y , f r o m h o me. W e s p o k e w i t h re p r es e n t a - t i v es of t he G r e a t e r S o m e r - set Y M C A and f u nd r a is e r B i l l G r ip p o a b o u t t he $750,000 d o n a t i o n t o t he f u t u r e F r a n k l i n T o w n s h i p Y , p r es e n t e d b y s t a t e As - s e m b l y m an J o e D a n iels e n . N e w s t ud e n t s w e r e not t he o n ly o nes w ho c ele br a t e d t he i r fi r s t d a y i n H i l l c r e s t S ch o o l o n S e p t e m b e r 5, t he n e w p r i nc i p a l d i d , t o o . L o r r i V a c c a r o, w ho t o o k t he helm of H i l l c r e s t o n J u ly 1, d e c l a r e d h e r fi r s t d a y w i t h s t ud e n t s and s t aff i n t he buil d in g a s “ a m a z in g . ” “ The c h ild r e n w e r e i n - c r e d i b ly e x ci t e d t o b e b ack i n t he buil d in g and t o s e e each o t h e r a g a i n, t o s e e t he i r o ld t each e rs and g et t o m e et t he i r n e w o nes , ” she s a i d . “I w a s a b le t o v isit e v e r y c l a s s r o o m and it ’ s a l i v e. I t ’ s a l i v e . ” “ I t ’ s n i c e t o h a v e a build - in g g o f r o m sil e n c e t o fi l l e d w i t h l a u g h t e r and s m iles and g i g g l in g and a l l of th a t , ” she s a i d . V a c c a r o, w ho c ame f r o m t he M o r r is S ch o o l Di s t r ict, w a s n am e d t o lead t he P r e - K t o 5 t h G r ade sch o o l b y t he B o a r d of E d u c a t i o n o n M a y 23. She r e p l a c es l o n g t i me p r i nc i p a l A l b e r t F i c o, w ho r e - t i r e d a t t he e nd of l a s t sch o o l yea r . V a c c a r o s a id p re p a r in g f o r o p e n i n g d a y w a s a “ t eam eff o r t . ” “ P re p a r in g f o r t o d a y w a s a t eam eff o r t b e t w e e n t he f r o n t offi c e s t a ff , c e n t r a l offi c e s t a ff , l o o k in g a t sch e d ul i n g and m a k in g s u r e th a t w e h ad t he s u p p l ies th a t w e n ee d - e d f o r t he s t ud e n t s, th a t t he r o o m s w e r e set u p, th a t t h e y w e r e clean and o r g a n iz e d , END IN SIGHT? – F r anklin T o wnship F i r e D istri c t 3 C ommission chairman Sher r od M iddle t on said in a p r ess r elease th a t a c omp r omise has been st r uck in the c o n t r a c t dispu t e with the E ast F r anklin V olu n t eer F i r e D epa r tme n t . ( F ile pho t o .) T he c o n t r act d i s p u t e b e t w e e n t he F r a n k - l i n T o w n s h i p F i r e Di s t r ict 3 C o m m i s si o n e rs and E a s t F r a n k l i n V o l u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t m a y b e head e d t o a close. O r it m a y not. I n a p r e s s r ele a se i s s u e d o n O c t o b e r 3 b y t he Di s t r ict B o a r d of C o m m i s si o n e r s ’ pu b l ic r e l a t i o n s fi r m, t he C o m m i s si o n e rs s a id th a t t he d i s p u t e “ h a s mo v e d clos e r t o r es o l u t i o n w i t h a n e w ly p r o - p os e d c o m p r o m ise . ” A c c o r d in g t o t he r ele a se, t he m a i n s t ic k i n g p o i n t i n t he p r o p os e d c o n t r act w a s th a t t he E F V FD “ o b j e c t e d t o t he r e mo v a l of l a n g u a g e th a t g a v e t he fi r e c o m p a n y t he p o w e r t o o v e r r ide p o l icies e n ac t e d b y t he F i r e C o m m i s si o n e rs— an a u t h o r i t y not g r a n t e d t o a n y o t h e r fi r e c o m p a n y i n F r a n k l i n T o w n s h i p . ” “ Th is p r o v isi o n, u n i q ue t o F i r e Di s t r ict 3, u nd e r - m i n e d t he a u t h o r i t y of t he F i r e C o m m i s si o n e rs, w ho a r e el e c t e d t o r e p r es e n t t he i n t e r - e s t s of t a x p a y e rs , ” a c c o r d in g t o t he p r e s s r ele a se. “ The n e w c o n t r act, w h ich t he o t h - e r v o l u n t e e r fi r e c o m p a n y i n F i r e Di s t r ict 3 a cc e p t e d , s e e k s t o c o r r e ct t h is i m b a l an c e and b r in g F i r e Di s t r ict 3 ’ s a g r e e - m e n t w i t h i t s v o l u n t e e r fi r e c o m p a n ies i n l i ne w i t h t he r e s t of t he t o w n s h i p ’ s fi r e c o m p a n ie s . ” F i r e Di s t r ict 3 is c o m - p r is e d of t w o d e p a r t m e n t s, E F V FD and C o m m u n i t y V o l u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t. The c o n t r act, w h ich ex - p i r e d i n A p r i l , h a s b e e n ex - t e nd e d s e v e r a l t i mes s i n c e t h e n . The c u r r e n t e x p i r a t i o n d a t e w a s S e p t e m b e r 30, b u t h a s b e e n e x t e nd e d u n t il an a g r e e m e n t is r each e d . C o m m i s si o n C h a i rm an Sh e r r o d M id d le to n h a s s a id i n t he p a s t th a t if t he t w o sides c a n not c o me t o an a g r e e m e n t, t he C o m m i s si o n C o n ti n u e d o n P a g e 6. F i r e Dis t r ict , E FVFD Con t r a ct Dispute May Be C lose T o Resolu t ion Hi l lc r est S c h o o l ’ s N e w P r incipal S a y s Dis t r ict ‘ S p eaks T o My Hea r t ’ ON THE JOB – Hillc r est E leme n ta r y S choo l ’ s new principa l , L orri V a c c a r o , said the distri c t ’ s di v ersi t y is one r eason she chose t o c ome he r e . C o n ti n u e d o n P a g e 7. DeMott H ome Si g n F i r e Und e r In v esti g ation P o l i c e and fi r e offici a ls a r e i n v e s t i g a t i n g t he S e p t e m b e r 7 b u r n i n g of t w o si g n s o n t he f r o n t l a w n of a D e M o t t Lane h o me. P o l i c e r e s p o nd e d t o t he h o me a t a b o u t 8:32 a . m . af - t e r r e c ei vi n g m u l t i p le c a l ls a b o u t t he fi r e, a c c o r d in g t o a p r e s s r ele a se f r o m t he F r a n k - l i n T o w n s h i p P o l i c e D e p a r t - m e n t. R e s p o n d i n g offi c e rs fo u nd t he r e m a i n s of t w o si g n s, and t he i r mo u n t in g h a r d w a r e, w h ich w e r e d am - a g e d b y t he fi r e, a c c o r d in g t o t he r ele a se. O ne of t he si g n s, w h ich i n i t i a l ly r ead ( e x p le t i v e) B id e n and w a s l a t e r s w i t ch e d t o ( e x p le t i v e) H a r r is, r ef e r - r in g t o P r esid e n t J o e B id e n and Vi ce - P r esid e n t Ka m a l a H a r r is, c a u s e d a m i n o r c o n - t r o v e r s y i n t he t o w n s h i p, g e n e r a t in g s o me sh o r t- l i v e d p r o t e s t s . The o t h e r si g n, mo u n t - e d b e h i nd t he f o r m e r , r ead “ F r e e d o m O v e r F ea r . ” The p r o p e r t y o w n e rs, R o b e r t K a s h i n s k y and C r ys - t a l N a g y , r e s p o nd e d t o t he i ncid e n t w i t h a s t a t e m e n t pu b l ish e d i n t he F r a n k l i n R e - p o r t e r , and w h ich c an b e r ead i n i t s e n t i r e t y h e r e. “ The r i g h t t o c r i t icize o u r g o v e r n m e n t w i t ho u t p r os - e c u t i o n is e n s h r i n e d i n o u r C o n s t i t u t i o n, and it is w h a t s e p a r a t es u s f r o m t o t a l i t a r ian c o u n t r ies w ho j a il p o l i t i c a l op p o n e n t s , ” t h e y w r o t e. “ F o r o v e r a yea r , l o c a l offici a ls h a v e b e e n t r y in g t o sil e n c e o u r f r e e d o m of s p ee ch, f r o m o u r M a y o r t o o u r t o w n R e - pu b l i c an Ch a i r w o m an t o o u r A s s e m b l y m a n . ” C o n ti n u e d o n P a g e 7. S e r v i n g t he E i g h t V i l l ag es of F ra n k l in T o w ns h ip in S om e rset C o u n t y , N . J . PRS RT STD US Postage Paid Permit No. 1239 Bellmaw r , NJ EC R WSS Local Residential Customer V o l . V I I, N o . X I T op N e ws of O c to b e r 2024 FR & A is LIVE! S c an QRs t o vie w . T he F r anklin R e p o r t e r & A d v o c a t e I t w a s a b e a ut i f u l d a y O c t o b e r 12 f o r t he a n nu a l B le s s in g of t he A n i m a ls a t t he F r a n k l i n T o w n s h i p A n i m a l She lt e r . W e s p e a k w i t h C a y l ia W a l l a c e, H ead C o ach of t he F r a n k l i n H i g h S ch o o l D an c e T eam, a b o u t t he t ea m ’ s u p - c o m in g n a t i o n a ls c o m - p e t i t i o n i n O r l ando, F l . A t t he E a s t F r a n k l i n V o l - u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t o p e n ho u se,. s p e a k in g w i t h C h ief D an K r u sh - in s k y . F r o m t he F r a n k l i n H i g h S ch o o l H o m e c o m in g A w a r d W i n n in g F r a n k l i n H i g h S ch o o l M a r c h in g B and A m o r e th an 6 - m o n t h s t andoff e nd e d O c - t o b e r 8 w h e n a n e w c o n t r act w a s si g n e d b y t he E a s t F r a n k l i n V o l u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t and t he F i r e Di s t r ict 3 Bo a r d of C o m m is - si o n e r s . E F V FD h a s b e e n o p e r a t - in g w i t ho u t a c o n t r act s i n c e A p r il 1, w h e n fi r e d e p a r t - m e n t br a s s r e f u s e d t o si g n t he n e w p r o p os e d a g r e e m e n t. The Di s t r ict e n t e rs i n t o yea r ly c o n t r ac t s w i t h fi r e d e p a r t m e n t s w h ich a l l o w t he d e p a r t m e n t s t o fi g h t fi r e s . F ir e Di s t r ict 3 c o n t a i n s r o u g h ly 30,000 r esid e n t s, and a lso i nc l udes C o m m u n i t y V o l u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t. C o m m u n i t y si g n e d t he n e w c o n t r act i n M a r c h . A t t he c r ux of t he i s s ue w i t h E a s t F r a n k l i n w e r e n e w s t i p u l at i o n s t he C o m m is - si o n e rs i nc l ud e d i n t he p r o - p os e d c o n t r act, t o w h ich t he E F V FD m e m b e rs h i p o b j e ct - e d . Those s t i p u l a t i on s i n - c l ud e d re mo vin g n e w p o l icies g i vin g fi r e c h ie f s i n p u t i n t o p r o p os e d p o l i c y c h a n g es, i n - s t a ll in g n e w v id e o and a u d io r e c o r d in g d e v i c es i n d e p a r t - m e n t v e h icles and a p p a r a t u s, and e n d in g r e i mb u rs e m e n t f o r fi r e fi g h t e r s ’ p e rs o n a l p r o p e r t y d a m a g e d o r lo s t w h ile r e s p o n d in g t o c a l l s . Bo a r d Ch a i rm an Sh err o d M id d le to n d r e w t he i r e of t he E F V FD m e m b e rs h i p w h e n he t h r e a t e n e d t o s hu t d o w n t he fi r e d e p a r t m e n t, r e c l a i m a l l a p p a r a tu s and fi r efi g h t - in g g ear – w h ich t he Di s t r ict o w n s and p a ys t o sto r e a t t he E F V FD f o r e ho u se – and h i r e p e r d i e m fi r efi g h t e rs t o b r i d g e t he g a p . Bu t E F V FD r e f u s e d t o bu d g e, c u l m i n a t in g i n a S e p - t e m b e r 17 m e e t in g am o n g C o m m i s si o n e r K e n ne t h R ei d , Bo a r d C l e r k F a t i i m a B r a x to n, and t w o m e m b e rs of E F V F D , w h ich r e s u lt e d i n t he a g r e e m e n t si g n e d o n O c - t o b e r 8. E F V FD C h ief D an K r u - s h i n s k i s a id t he n e w c o n t r act w a s a v ic to r y f o r t he fi r e de - p a r t m e n t. “ W e g ot 100% w h a t w e w a n t e d , ” he s a id a ft e r t he m e e t in g . The n e w c o n t r ac t s c o n - t a i n s a s t i p u l a t i o n th a t if t he d e p a r t m e n t c h ie f s o b j e ct t o a n y n e w p o l i c y p r o p os e d b y t he C o m m i s si o n e rs, a w r it - F i r e Dis t r ict 3 Con t r a ct Dispute Ends ; MAKING HIS C ASE – E ast F r anklin V olu n t eer F i r e D epa r tme n t C hief Dan K r ushins k i speaks t o the F i r e D istri c t 3 B oa r d of C ommissioners on O c t ober 8. Continued on P age 7 A t o w n s h i p - b a s e d fo u n d a t i o n m ade t he w ishes of a n u m - b e r of C l a r e m o n t E l e m e n t a r y S ch o o l t each e rs c o me t r ue O c t o b e r 28 w i t h t he d o n a - t i o n of $7,100 w o r t h of s e n - s o r y t eac h in g a id s . The s u p p l ies, d o n a t e d b y t he T r i p le B F o u n d a t i o n, w i l l b e u s e d i n t he sch o o l ’ s ne u r o - d i v e r g e n t p r o g r am i n g r ades P r e - K t o 6, s a id v i ce - p r i nc i p a l An g e l a P a p e. The s u p p l ies w e r e o n t each e r s ’ “w ish l i st s , ” w h ich w e r e s u b m i tt e d t o t he F o u n - d a t i o n f o r f u l fi l lm e n t, P a p e s a i d . “ I t ’ s t o he l p w i t h t he i r s e n s o r y n ee ds , ” P a p e s a i d . “ S o t h e r e ’ s d iff e r e n t fi d g e t s, t h e r e ’ s d iff e r e n t b a l an c e b o a r ds, st e p p in g sto nes t o he l p w i t h p r op r i o c e p t i v e ac - t i v i t ie s . ” P r op r i o c e p t i o n is a s e n se th a t le t s u s p er c ei v e t he l o c a - t i o n and mo v e m e n t s of o u r bo dy p a r t s, a cc o r d in g t o S ci - e n c eD i r e ct . c o m . A lso d o n a t e d w e r e c a lm - in g s u p p l ies, t i m e rs, k i ne t ic san d , and s e n s o r y t a b les t o p u t t he sand o r wa t e r i n, P a p e s a i d . The F o u n d a t i o n w a s f o r m e d b y t w o si b l in g s, M a k e d a F r ys o n and h e r b r o t h e r , K w ame B r ee d y , and g e t s i t s n ame f r o m t he m a t r i - a r c h s of t he i r f a m il y . “ BB B s t ands f o r t he m a - t r ia r c h s of o u r f a m il y , ” F r ys o n s a i d . “ M y g r andmo t h e r , Ch a r lo tt e B a yl e y ; m y m o m, J e nn y B r ee d y , and m y a u n t, C e cily B a r r in g to n . The F o u n d a t i o n ’ s m is - si o n, she s a i d , “ is r e a l ly t o jus t ta p i n t o o u r c o m m u n i t ies, s p e cifi c a l ly f o r o u r ne u r o d i - ve r g e n t st ud e n t s, o u r eld e r l y , a n y o ne i n o u r c o m m u n i t y th a t is i n n ee d . ” “ W e g r e w u p h er e, w e w e n t t h r o u g h o u r e n t ir e e d - u c a t i o n h e r e , ” she s a i d . “ O u r g o a l w a s t o g i v e b ac k , b e - c a u se th a t w a s t he g o a l of m y g r andmo t h e r , Ch a r lo tt e B a i - l e y . A nd so b e c a u se of th a t, w e jus t w a n t e d t o m a k e s u r e th a t w e ac h i e v e t h is m i s si o n . ” F r ys o n s a id she w a s a s ub - s t i t u t e t each e r a t C l a r e m o n t, so she k n e w fi r s t- h and t he n ee ds of t he s t ud e n t s i n th a t p r o g r a m . “ A nd t hese s t ud e n t s h er e, jus t b a s e d o n m y o w n p e rs o n - a l e x p er i e n c e, I w a s a b le t o s e e fi r s t- h and w h a t it is w h e n t h e y a r e a b le t o ha v e a cc e s s t o c e r t a i n r eso u r c es , ” she s a i d . “ L et ’ s g i v e t h e m w h a t t h e y n ee d e d t h er e, and t h e n w e’ l l build f r o m th a t and g ro w . S o w e ’ r e e x ci t e d t o s e e w h er e t h is g o es f r o m h e r e, and w e ’ r e h o p in g th a t p e o p le w i l l s e e t he g oo d th a t w e ’ r e t r y in g t o do, h o p e f ul ly d o n a t e t o o u r fo u n d a t i o n and a l l o w u s t o ha v e a m uch l ar g e r i m p act and r eac h . ” Th is i s n ’ t t he fi r s t t i me t he F o u n d a t i o n h a s off e r e d a he l p in g h an d , b u t t h is do - n a t i o n is t he l ar g e s t, F r ys o n s a i d . T o wnship F ounda t ion Donates $7K In S enso r y S upplies T o C la r emont E lementa r y SCHOOL DON A TIONS – Ma k eda F r yson and K w ame B r eedy of the T riple B F ound a tion, and Cl a r emo n t E leme n ta r y S chool vi c e -principal A ngela P ape (le f t t o rig h t) talk about the supply don a tion made b y the F ound a tion t o the schoo l . Continued on P age 7 Noticias Del Mes S e r v i n g t he E i g h t V i l l a g es of F ra n k l in T o w ns h ip in S om e rset C o u n t y , N . J . PRS R T STD US Postage Paid Permit No. 1239 Bellmaw r , NJ EC R WSS Local Residential Customer V o l . V I I, N o . X T op N e ws of S ept e m b e r 2024 FR & A is LIVE! S c an QRs t o vie w . T he F r anklin R e p o r t e r & A d v o c a t e W e s p o k e w i t h Si s t e r 2 Sis - t e r p r esid e n t D o r o t h y R ee d and Bo a r d of E d u c a t i o n m e m b e r B i l l G r ip p o a b o u t B r e a s t C an c e r A w a r e ne s s M o n t h . B o t h R ee d and b y t he d ise a se. W e s p o k e w i t h t he o w n e r i n K in g s to n, o ne of t he t o w n s h i p ’ s n e w e s t c a n n a b is d i s p e n sa r ie s . W e w e r e t h r i l l e d t o p l a y a r o le i n t he r e t u r n of b e a u - t i f u l A us t r a l ian Sh e p h e r d p u p p y C y r u s t o h is f a m il y , f r o m h o me. W e s p o k e w i t h re p r es e n t a - t i v es of t he G r e a t e r S o m e r - set Y M C A and f u nd r a is e r B i l l G r ip p o a b o u t t he $750,000 d o n a t i o n t o t he f u t u r e F r a n k l i n T o w n s h i p Y , p r es e n t e d b y s t a t e As - s e m b l y m an J o e D a n iels e n . N e w s t ud e n t s w e r e not t he o n ly o nes w ho c ele br a t e d t he i r fi r s t d a y i n H i l l c r e s t S ch o o l o n S e p t e m b e r 5, t he n e w p r i nc i p a l d i d , t o o . L o r r i V a c c a r o, w ho t o o k t he helm of H i l l c r e s t o n J u ly 1, d e c l a r e d h e r fi r s t d a y w i t h s t ud e n t s and s t aff i n t he buil d in g a s “ a m a z in g . ” “ The c h ild r e n w e r e i n - c r e d i b ly e x ci t e d t o b e b ack i n t he buil d in g and t o s e e each o t h e r a g a i n, t o s e e t he i r o ld t each e rs and g et t o m e et t he i r n e w o nes , ” she s a i d . “I w a s a b le t o v isit e v e r y c l a s s r o o m and it ’ s a l i v e. I t ’ s a l i v e . ” “ I t ’ s n i c e t o h a v e a build - in g g o f r o m sil e n c e t o fi l l e d w i t h l a u g h t e r and s m iles and g i g g l in g and a l l of th a t , ” she s a i d . V a c c a r o, w ho c ame f r o m t he M o r r is S ch o o l Di s t r ict, w a s n am e d t o lead t he P r e - K t o 5 t h G r ade sch o o l b y t he B o a r d of E d u c a t i o n o n M a y 23. She r e p l a c es l o n g t i me p r i nc i p a l A l b e r t F i c o, w ho r e - t i r e d a t t he e nd of l a s t sch o o l yea r . V a c c a r o s a id p re p a r in g f o r o p e n i n g d a y w a s a “ t eam eff o r t . ” “ P re p a r in g f o r t o d a y w a s a t eam eff o r t b e t w e e n t he f r o n t offi c e s t a ff , c e n t r a l offi c e s t a ff , l o o k in g a t sch e d ul i n g and m a k in g s u r e th a t w e h ad t he s u p p l ies th a t w e n ee d - e d f o r t he s t ud e n t s, th a t t he r o o m s w e r e set u p, th a t t h e y w e r e clean and o r g a n iz e d , END IN SIGHT? – F r anklin T o wnship F i r e D istri c t 3 C ommission chairman Sher r od M iddle t on said in a p r ess r elease th a t a c omp r omise has been st r uck in the c o n t r a c t dispu t e with the E ast F r anklin V olu n t eer F i r e D epa r tme n t . ( F ile pho t o .) T he c o n t r act d i s p u t e b e t w e e n t he F r a n k - l i n T o w n s h i p F i r e Di s t r ict 3 C o m m i s si o n e rs and E a s t F r a n k l i n V o l u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t m a y b e head e d t o a close. O r it m a y not. I n a p r e s s r ele a se i s s u e d o n O c t o b e r 3 b y t he Di s t r ict B o a r d of C o m m i s si o n e r s ’ pu b l ic r e l a t i o n s fi r m, t he C o m m i s si o n e rs s a id th a t t he d i s p u t e “ h a s mo v e d clos e r t o r es o l u t i o n w i t h a n e w ly p r o - p os e d c o m p r o m ise . ” A c c o r d in g t o t he r ele a se, t he m a i n s t ic k i n g p o i n t i n t he p r o p os e d c o n t r act w a s th a t t he E F V FD “ o b j e c t e d t o t he r e mo v a l of l a n g u a g e th a t g a v e t he fi r e c o m p a n y t he p o w e r t o o v e r r ide p o l icies e n ac t e d b y t he F i r e C o m m i s si o n e rs— an a u t h o r i t y not g r a n t e d t o a n y o t h e r fi r e c o m p a n y i n F r a n k l i n T o w n s h i p . ” “ Th is p r o v isi o n, u n i q ue t o F i r e Di s t r ict 3, u nd e r - m i n e d t he a u t h o r i t y of t he F i r e C o m m i s si o n e rs, w ho a r e el e c t e d t o r e p r es e n t t he i n t e r - e s t s of t a x p a y e rs , ” a c c o r d in g t o t he p r e s s r ele a se. “ The n e w c o n t r act, w h ich t he o t h - e r v o l u n t e e r fi r e c o m p a n y i n F i r e Di s t r ict 3 a cc e p t e d , s e e k s t o c o r r e ct t h is i m b a l an c e and b r in g F i r e Di s t r ict 3 ’ s a g r e e - m e n t w i t h i t s v o l u n t e e r fi r e c o m p a n ies i n l i ne w i t h t he r e s t of t he t o w n s h i p ’ s fi r e c o m p a n ie s . ” F i r e Di s t r ict 3 is c o m - p r is e d of t w o d e p a r t m e n t s, E F V FD and C o m m u n i t y V o l u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t. The c o n t r act, w h ich ex - p i r e d i n A p r i l , h a s b e e n ex - t e nd e d s e v e r a l t i mes s i n c e t h e n . The c u r r e n t e x p i r a t i o n d a t e w a s S e p t e m b e r 30, b u t h a s b e e n e x t e nd e d u n t il an a g r e e m e n t is r each e d . C o m m i s si o n C h a i rm an Sh e r r o d M id d le to n h a s s a id i n t he p a s t th a t if t he t w o sides c a n not c o me t o an a g r e e m e n t, t he C o m m i s si o n C o n ti n u e d o n P a g e 6. F i r e Dis t r ict , E FVFD Con t r a ct Dispute May Be C lose T o Resolu t ion Hi l lc r est S c h o o l ’ s N e w P r incipal S a y s Dis t r ict ‘ S p eaks T o My Hea r t ’ ON THE JOB – Hillc r est E leme n ta r y S choo l ’ s new principa l , L orri V a c c a r o , said the distri c t ’ s di v ersi t y is one r eason she chose t o c ome he r e . C o n ti n u e d o n P a g e 7. DeMott H ome Si g n F i r e Und e r In v esti g ation P o l i c e and fi r e offici a ls a r e i n v e s t i g a t i n g t he S e p t e m b e r 7 b u r n i n g of t w o si g n s o n t he f r o n t l a w n of a D e M o t t Lane h o me. P o l i c e r e s p o nd e d t o t he h o me a t a b o u t 8:32 a . m . af - t e r r e c ei vi n g m u l t i p le c a l ls a b o u t t he fi r e, a c c o r d in g t o a p r e s s r ele a se f r o m t he F r a n k - l i n T o w n s h i p P o l i c e D e p a r t - m e n t. R e s p o n d i n g offi c e rs fo u nd t he r e m a i n s of t w o si g n s, and t he i r mo u n t in g h a r d w a r e, w h ich w e r e d am - a g e d b y t he fi r e, a c c o r d in g t o t he r ele a se. O ne of t he si g n s, w h ich i n i t i a l ly r ead ( e x p le t i v e) B id e n and w a s l a t e r s w i t ch e d t o ( e x p le t i v e) H a r r is, r ef e r - r in g t o P r esid e n t J o e B id e n and Vi ce - P r esid e n t Ka m a l a H a r r is, c a u s e d a m i n o r c o n - t r o v e r s y i n t he t o w n s h i p, g e n e r a t in g s o me sh o r t- l i v e d p r o t e s t s . The o t h e r si g n, mo u n t - e d b e h i nd t he f o r m e r , r ead “ F r e e d o m O v e r F ea r . ” The p r o p e r t y o w n e rs, R o b e r t K a s h i n s k y and C r ys - t a l N a g y , r e s p o nd e d t o t he i ncid e n t w i t h a s t a t e m e n t pu b l ish e d i n t he F r a n k l i n R e - p o r t e r , and w h ich c an b e r ead i n i t s e n t i r e t y h e r e. “ The r i g h t t o c r i t icize o u r g o v e r n m e n t w i t ho u t p r os - e c u t i o n is e n s h r i n e d i n o u r C o n s t i t u t i o n, and it is w h a t s e p a r a t es u s f r o m t o t a l i t a r ian c o u n t r ies w ho j a il p o l i t i c a l op p o n e n t s , ” t h e y w r o t e. “ F o r o v e r a yea r , l o c a l offici a ls h a v e b e e n t r y in g t o sil e n c e o u r f r e e d o m of s p ee ch, f r o m o u r M a y o r t o o u r t o w n R e - pu b l i c an Ch a i r w o m an t o o u r A s s e m b l y m a n . ” C o n ti n u e d o n P a g e 7. S e r v i n g t he E i g h t V i l l ag es of F ra n k l in T o w ns h ip in S om e rset C o u n t y , N . J . PRS RT STD US Postage Paid Permit No. 1239 Bellmaw r , NJ EC R WSS Local Residential Customer V o l . V I I, N o . X I T op N e ws of O c to b e r 2024 FR & A is LIVE! S c an QRs t o vie w . T he F r anklin R e p o r t e r & A d v o c a t e I t w a s a b e a ut i f u l d a y O c t o b e r 12 f o r t he a n nu a l B le s s in g of t he A n i m a ls a t t he F r a n k l i n T o w n s h i p A n i m a l She lt e r . W e s p e a k w i t h C a y l ia W a l l a c e, H ead C o ach of t he F r a n k l i n H i g h S ch o o l D an c e T eam, a b o u t t he t ea m ’ s u p - c o m in g n a t i o n a ls c o m - p e t i t i o n i n O r l ando, F l . A t t he E a s t F r a n k l i n V o l - u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t o p e n ho u se,. s p e a k in g w i t h C h ief D an K r u sh - in s k y . F r o m t he F r a n k l i n H i g h S ch o o l H o m e c o m in g A w a r d W i n n in g F r a n k l i n H i g h S ch o o l M a r c h in g B and A m o r e th an 6 - m o n t h s t andoff e nd e d O c - t o b e r 8 w h e n a n e w c o n t r act w a s si g n e d b y t he E a s t F r a n k l i n V o l u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t and t he F i r e Di s t r ict 3 Bo a r d of C o m m is - si o n e r s . E F V FD h a s b e e n o p e r a t - in g w i t ho u t a c o n t r act s i n c e A p r il 1, w h e n fi r e d e p a r t - m e n t br a s s r e f u s e d t o si g n t he n e w p r o p os e d a g r e e m e n t. The Di s t r ict e n t e rs i n t o yea r ly c o n t r ac t s w i t h fi r e d e p a r t m e n t s w h ich a l l o w t he d e p a r t m e n t s t o fi g h t fi r e s . F ir e Di s t r ict 3 c o n t a i n s r o u g h ly 30,000 r esid e n t s, and a lso i nc l udes C o m m u n i t y V o l u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t. C o m m u n i t y si g n e d t he n e w c o n t r act i n M a r c h . A t t he c r ux of t he i s s ue w i t h E a s t F r a n k l i n w e r e n e w s t i p u l at i o n s t he C o m m is - si o n e rs i nc l ud e d i n t he p r o - p os e d c o n t r act, t o w h ich t he E F V FD m e m b e rs h i p o b j e ct - e d . Those s t i p u l a t i on s i n - c l ud e d re mo vin g n e w p o l icies g i vin g fi r e c h ie f s i n p u t i n t o p r o p os e d p o l i c y c h a n g es, i n - s t a ll in g n e w v id e o and a u d io r e c o r d in g d e v i c es i n d e p a r t - m e n t v e h icles and a p p a r a t u s, and e n d in g r e i mb u rs e m e n t f o r fi r e fi g h t e r s ’ p e rs o n a l p r o p e r t y d a m a g e d o r lo s t w h ile r e s p o n d in g t o c a l l s . Bo a r d Ch a i rm an Sh err o d M id d le to n d r e w t he i r e of t he E F V FD m e m b e rs h i p w h e n he t h r e a t e n e d t o s hu t d o w n t he fi r e d e p a r t m e n t, r e c l a i m a l l a p p a r a tu s and fi r efi g h t - in g g ear – w h ich t he Di s t r ict o w n s and p a ys t o sto r e a t t he E F V FD f o r e ho u se – and h i r e p e r d i e m fi r efi g h t e rs t o b r i d g e t he g a p . Bu t E F V FD r e f u s e d t o bu d g e, c u l m i n a t in g i n a S e p - t e m b e r 17 m e e t in g am o n g C o m m i s si o n e r K e n ne t h R ei d , Bo a r d C l e r k F a t i i m a B r a x to n, and t w o m e m b e rs of E F V F D , w h ich r e s u lt e d i n t he a g r e e m e n t si g n e d o n O c - t o b e r 8. E F V FD C h ief D an K r u - s h i n s k i s a id t he n e w c o n t r act w a s a v ic to r y f o r t he fi r e de - p a r t m e n t. “ W e g ot 100% w h a t w e w a n t e d , ” he s a id a ft e r t he m e e t in g . The n e w c o n t r ac t s c o n - t a i n s a s t i p u l a t i o n th a t if t he d e p a r t m e n t c h ie f s o b j e ct t o a n y n e w p o l i c y p r o p os e d b y t he C o m m i s si o n e rs, a w r it - F i r e Dis t r ict 3 Con t r a ct Dispute Ends ; MAKING HIS C ASE – E ast F r anklin V olu n t eer F i r e D epa r tme n t C hief Dan K r ushins k i speaks t o the F i r e D istri c t 3 B oa r d of C ommissioners on O c t ober 8. Continued on P age 7 A t o w n s h i p - b a s e d fo u n d a t i o n m ade t he w ishes of a n u m - b e r of C l a r e m o n t E l e m e n t a r y S ch o o l t each e rs c o me t r ue O c t o b e r 28 w i t h t he d o n a - t i o n of $7,100 w o r t h of s e n - s o r y t eac h in g a id s . The s u p p l ies, d o n a t e d b y t he T r i p le B F o u n d a t i o n, w i l l b e u s e d i n t he sch o o l ’ s ne u r o - d i v e r g e n t p r o g r am i n g r ades P r e - K t o 6, s a id v i ce - p r i nc i p a l An g e l a P a p e. The s u p p l ies w e r e o n t each e r s ’ “w ish l i st s , ” w h ich w e r e s u b m i tt e d t o t he F o u n - d a t i o n f o r f u l fi l lm e n t, P a p e s a i d . “ I t ’ s t o he l p w i t h t he i r s e n s o r y n ee ds , ” P a p e s a i d . “ S o t h e r e ’ s d iff e r e n t fi d g e t s, t h e r e ’ s d iff e r e n t b a l an c e b o a r ds, st e p p in g sto nes t o he l p w i t h p r op r i o c e p t i v e ac - t i v i t ie s . ” P r op r i o c e p t i o n is a s e n se th a t le t s u s p er c ei v e t he l o c a - t i o n and mo v e m e n t s of o u r bo dy p a r t s, a cc o r d in g t o S ci - e n c eD i r e ct . c o m . A lso d o n a t e d w e r e c a lm - in g s u p p l ies, t i m e rs, k i ne t ic san d , and s e n s o r y t a b les t o p u t t he sand o r wa t e r i n, P a p e s a i d . The F o u n d a t i o n w a s f o r m e d b y t w o si b l in g s, M a k e d a F r ys o n and h e r b r o t h e r , K w ame B r ee d y , and g e t s i t s n ame f r o m t he m a t r i - a r c h s of t he i r f a m il y . “ BB B s t ands f o r t he m a - t r ia r c h s of o u r f a m il y , ” F r ys o n s a i d . “ M y g r andmo t h e r , Ch a r lo tt e B a yl e y ; m y m o m, J e nn y B r ee d y , and m y a u n t, C e cily B a r r in g to n . The F o u n d a t i o n ’ s m is - si o n, she s a i d , “ is r e a l ly t o jus t ta p i n t o o u r c o m m u n i t ies, s p e cifi c a l ly f o r o u r ne u r o d i - ve r g e n t st ud e n t s, o u r eld e r l y , a n y o ne i n o u r c o m m u n i t y th a t is i n n ee d . ” “ W e g r e w u p h er e, w e w e n t t h r o u g h o u r e n t ir e e d - u c a t i o n h e r e , ” she s a i d . “ O u r g o a l w a s t o g i v e b ac k , b e - c a u se th a t w a s t he g o a l of m y g r andmo t h e r , Ch a r lo tt e B a i - l e y . A nd so b e c a u se of th a t, w e jus t w a n t e d t o m a k e s u r e th a t w e ac h i e v e t h is m i s si o n . ” F r ys o n s a id she w a s a s ub - s t i t u t e t each e r a t C l a r e m o n t, so she k n e w fi r s t- h and t he n ee ds of t he s t ud e n t s i n th a t p r o g r a m . “ A nd t hese s t ud e n t s h er e, jus t b a s e d o n m y o w n p e rs o n - a l e x p er i e n c e, I w a s a b le t o s e e fi r s t- h and w h a t it is w h e n t h e y a r e a b le t o ha v e a cc e s s t o c e r t a i n r eso u r c es , ” she s a i d . “ L et ’ s g i v e t h e m w h a t t h e y n ee d e d t h er e, and t h e n w e’ l l build f r o m th a t and g ro w . S o w e ’ r e e x ci t e d t o s e e w h er e t h is g o es f r o m h e r e, and w e ’ r e h o p in g th a t p e o p le w i l l s e e t he g oo d th a t w e ’ r e t r y in g t o do, h o p e f ul ly d o n a t e t o o u r fo u n d a t i o n and a l l o w u s t o ha v e a m uch l ar g e r i m p act and r eac h . ” Th is i s n ’ t t he fi r s t t i me t he F o u n d a t i o n h a s off e r e d a he l p in g h an d , b u t t h is do - n a t i o n is t he l ar g e s t, F r ys o n s a i d . T o wnship F ounda t ion Donates $7K In S enso r y S upplies T o C la r emont E lementa r y SCHOOL DON A TIONS – Ma k eda F r yson and K w ame B r eedy of the T riple B F ound a tion, and Cl a r emo n t E leme n ta r y S chool vi c e -principal A ngela P ape (le f t t o rig h t) talk about the supply don a tion made b y the F ound a tion t o the schoo l . Continued on P age 7 2024 S e r v i n g t he E i g h t V i l l a g es of F ra n k l in T o w ns h ip in S om e rset C o u n t y , N . J . PRS R T STD US Postage Paid Permit No. 1239 Bellmaw r , NJ EC R WSS Local Residential Customer V o l . V I I, N o . X T op N e ws of S ept e m b e r 2024 FR & A is LIVE! S c an QRs t o vie w . T he F r anklin R e p o r t e r & A d v o c a t e W e s p o k e w i t h Si s t e r 2 Sis - t e r p r esid e n t D o r o t h y R ee d and Bo a r d of E d u c a t i o n m e m b e r B i l l G r ip p o a b o u t B r e a s t C an c e r A w a r e ne s s M o n t h . B o t h R ee d and b y t he d ise a se. W e s p o k e w i t h t he o w n e r i n K in g s to n, o ne of t he t o w n s h i p ’ s n e w e s t c a n n a b is d i s p e n sa r ie s . W e w e r e t h r i l l e d t o p l a y a r o le i n t he r e t u r n of b e a u - t i f u l A us t r a l ian Sh e p h e r d p u p p y C y r u s t o h is f a m il y , f r o m h o me. W e s p o k e w i t h re p r es e n t a - t i v es of t he G r e a t e r S o m e r - set Y M C A and f u nd r a is e r B i l l G r ip p o a b o u t t he $750,000 d o n a t i o n t o t he f u t u r e F r a n k l i n T o w n s h i p Y , p r es e n t e d b y s t a t e As - s e m b l y m an J o e D a n iels e n . N e w s t ud e n t s w e r e not t he o n ly o nes w ho c ele br a t e d t he i r fi r s t d a y i n H i l l c r e s t S ch o o l o n S e p t e m b e r 5, t he n e w p r i nc i p a l d i d , t o o . L o r r i V a c c a r o, w ho t o o k t he helm of H i l l c r e s t o n J u ly 1, d e c l a r e d h e r fi r s t d a y w i t h s t ud e n t s and s t aff i n t he buil d in g a s “ a m a z in g . ” “ The c h ild r e n w e r e i n - c r e d i b ly e x ci t e d t o b e b ack i n t he buil d in g and t o s e e each o t h e r a g a i n, t o s e e t he i r o ld t each e rs and g et t o m e et t he i r n e w o nes , ” she s a i d . “I w a s a b le t o v isit e v e r y c l a s s r o o m and it ’ s a l i v e. I t ’ s a l i v e . ” “ I t ’ s n i c e t o h a v e a build - in g g o f r o m sil e n c e t o fi l l e d w i t h l a u g h t e r and s m iles and g i g g l in g and a l l of th a t , ” she s a i d . V a c c a r o, w ho c ame f r o m t he M o r r is S ch o o l Di s t r ict, w a s n am e d t o lead t he P r e - K t o 5 t h G r ade sch o o l b y t he B o a r d of E d u c a t i o n o n M a y 23. She r e p l a c es l o n g t i me p r i nc i p a l A l b e r t F i c o, w ho r e - t i r e d a t t he e nd of l a s t sch o o l yea r . V a c c a r o s a id p re p a r in g f o r o p e n i n g d a y w a s a “ t eam eff o r t . ” “ P re p a r in g f o r t o d a y w a s a t eam eff o r t b e t w e e n t he f r o n t offi c e s t a ff , c e n t r a l offi c e s t a ff , l o o k in g a t sch e d ul i n g and m a k in g s u r e th a t w e h ad t he s u p p l ies th a t w e n ee d - e d f o r t he s t ud e n t s, th a t t he r o o m s w e r e set u p, th a t t h e y w e r e clean and o r g a n iz e d , END IN SIGHT? – F r anklin T o wnship F i r e D istri c t 3 C ommission chairman Sher r od M iddle t on said in a p r ess r elease th a t a c omp r omise has been st r uck in the c o n t r a c t dispu t e with the E ast F r anklin V olu n t eer F i r e D epa r tme n t . ( F ile pho t o .) T he c o n t r act d i s p u t e b e t w e e n t he F r a n k - l i n T o w n s h i p F i r e Di s t r ict 3 C o m m i s si o n e rs and E a s t F r a n k l i n V o l u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t m a y b e head e d t o a close. O r it m a y not. I n a p r e s s r ele a se i s s u e d o n O c t o b e r 3 b y t he Di s t r ict B o a r d of C o m m i s si o n e r s ’ pu b l ic r e l a t i o n s fi r m, t he C o m m i s si o n e rs s a id th a t t he d i s p u t e “ h a s mo v e d clos e r t o r es o l u t i o n w i t h a n e w ly p r o - p os e d c o m p r o m ise . ” A c c o r d in g t o t he r ele a se, t he m a i n s t ic k i n g p o i n t i n t he p r o p os e d c o n t r act w a s th a t t he E F V FD “ o b j e c t e d t o t he r e mo v a l of l a n g u a g e th a t g a v e t he fi r e c o m p a n y t he p o w e r t o o v e r r ide p o l icies e n ac t e d b y t he F i r e C o m m i s si o n e rs— an a u t h o r i t y not g r a n t e d t o a n y o t h e r fi r e c o m p a n y i n F r a n k l i n T o w n s h i p . ” “ Th is p r o v isi o n, u n i q ue t o F i r e Di s t r ict 3, u nd e r - m i n e d t he a u t h o r i t y of t he F i r e C o m m i s si o n e rs, w ho a r e el e c t e d t o r e p r es e n t t he i n t e r - e s t s of t a x p a y e rs , ” a c c o r d in g t o t he p r e s s r ele a se. “ The n e w c o n t r act, w h ich t he o t h - e r v o l u n t e e r fi r e c o m p a n y i n F i r e Di s t r ict 3 a cc e p t e d , s e e k s t o c o r r e ct t h is i m b a l an c e and b r in g F i r e Di s t r ict 3 ’ s a g r e e - m e n t w i t h i t s v o l u n t e e r fi r e c o m p a n ies i n l i ne w i t h t he r e s t of t he t o w n s h i p ’ s fi r e c o m p a n ie s . ” F i r e Di s t r ict 3 is c o m - p r is e d of t w o d e p a r t m e n t s, E F V FD and C o m m u n i t y V o l u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t. The c o n t r act, w h ich ex - p i r e d i n A p r i l , h a s b e e n ex - t e nd e d s e v e r a l t i mes s i n c e t h e n . The c u r r e n t e x p i r a t i o n d a t e w a s S e p t e m b e r 30, b u t h a s b e e n e x t e nd e d u n t il an a g r e e m e n t is r each e d . C o m m i s si o n C h a i rm an Sh e r r o d M id d le to n h a s s a id i n t he p a s t th a t if t he t w o sides c a n not c o me t o an a g r e e m e n t, t he C o m m i s si o n C o n ti n u e d o n P a g e 6. F i r e Dis t r ict , E FVFD Con t r a ct Dispute May Be C lose T o Resolu t ion Hi l lc r est S c h o o l ’ s N e w P r incipal S a y s Dis t r ict ‘ S p eaks T o My Hea r t ’ ON THE JOB – Hillc r est E leme n ta r y S choo l ’ s new principa l , L orri V a c c a r o , said the distri c t ’ s di v ersi t y is one r eason she chose t o c ome he r e . C o n ti n u e d o n P a g e 7. DeMott H ome Si g n F i r e Und e r In v esti g ation P o l i c e and fi r e offici a ls a r e i n v e s t i g a t i n g t he S e p t e m b e r 7 b u r n i n g of t w o si g n s o n t he f r o n t l a w n of a D e M o t t Lane h o me. P o l i c e r e s p o nd e d t o t he h o me a t a b o u t 8:32 a . m . af - t e r r e c ei vi n g m u l t i p le c a l ls a b o u t t he fi r e, a c c o r d in g t o a p r e s s r ele a se f r o m t he F r a n k - l i n T o w n s h i p P o l i c e D e p a r t - m e n t. R e s p o n d i n g offi c e rs fo u nd t he r e m a i n s of t w o si g n s, and t he i r mo u n t in g h a r d w a r e, w h ich w e r e d am - a g e d b y t he fi r e, a c c o r d in g t o t he r ele a se. O ne of t he si g n s, w h ich i n i t i a l ly r ead ( e x p le t i v e) B id e n and w a s l a t e r s w i t ch e d t o ( e x p le t i v e) H a r r is, r ef e r - r in g t o P r esid e n t J o e B id e n and Vi ce - P r esid e n t Ka m a l a H a r r is, c a u s e d a m i n o r c o n - t r o v e r s y i n t he t o w n s h i p, g e n e r a t in g s o me sh o r t- l i v e d p r o t e s t s . The o t h e r si g n, mo u n t - e d b e h i nd t he f o r m e r , r ead “ F r e e d o m O v e r F ea r . ” The p r o p e r t y o w n e rs, R o b e r t K a s h i n s k y and C r ys - t a l N a g y , r e s p o nd e d t o t he i ncid e n t w i t h a s t a t e m e n t pu b l ish e d i n t he F r a n k l i n R e - p o r t e r , and w h ich c an b e r ead i n i t s e n t i r e t y h e r e. “ The r i g h t t o c r i t icize o u r g o v e r n m e n t w i t ho u t p r os - e c u t i o n is e n s h r i n e d i n o u r C o n s t i t u t i o n, and it is w h a t s e p a r a t es u s f r o m t o t a l i t a r ian c o u n t r ies w ho j a il p o l i t i c a l op p o n e n t s , ” t h e y w r o t e. “ F o r o v e r a yea r , l o c a l offici a ls h a v e b e e n t r y in g t o sil e n c e o u r f r e e d o m of s p ee ch, f r o m o u r M a y o r t o o u r t o w n R e - pu b l i c an Ch a i r w o m an t o o u r A s s e m b l y m a n . ” C o n ti n u e d o n P a g e 7. S e r v i n g t he E i g h t V i l l ag es of F ra n k l in T o w ns h ip in S om e rset C o u n t y , N . J . PRS RT STD US Postage Paid Permit No. 1239 Bellmaw r , NJ EC R WSS Local Residential Customer V o l . V I I, N o . X I T op N e ws of O c to b e r 2024 FR & A is LIVE! S c an QRs t o vie w . T he F r anklin R e p o r t e r & A d v o c a t e I t w a s a b e a ut i f u l d a y O c t o b e r 12 f o r t he a n nu a l B le s s in g of t he A n i m a ls a t t he F r a n k l i n T o w n s h i p A n i m a l She lt e r . W e s p e a k w i t h C a y l ia W a l l a c e, H ead C o ach of t he F r a n k l i n H i g h S ch o o l D an c e T eam, a b o u t t he t ea m ’ s u p - c o m in g n a t i o n a ls c o m - p e t i t i o n i n O r l ando, F l . A t t he E a s t F r a n k l i n V o l - u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t o p e n ho u se,. s p e a k in g w i t h C h ief D an K r u sh - in s k y . F r o m t he F r a n k l i n H i g h S ch o o l H o m e c o m in g A w a r d W i n n in g F r a n k l i n H i g h S ch o o l M a r c h in g B and A m o r e th an 6 - m o n t h s t andoff e nd e d O c - t o b e r 8 w h e n a n e w c o n t r act w a s si g n e d b y t he E a s t F r a n k l i n V o l u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t and t he F i r e Di s t r ict 3 Bo a r d of C o m m is - si o n e r s . E F V FD h a s b e e n o p e r a t - in g w i t ho u t a c o n t r act s i n c e A p r il 1, w h e n fi r e d e p a r t - m e n t br a s s r e f u s e d t o si g n t he n e w p r o p os e d a g r e e m e n t. The Di s t r ict e n t e rs i n t o yea r ly c o n t r ac t s w i t h fi r e d e p a r t m e n t s w h ich a l l o w t he d e p a r t m e n t s t o fi g h t fi r e s . F ir e Di s t r ict 3 c o n t a i n s r o u g h ly 30,000 r esid e n t s, and a lso i nc l udes C o m m u n i t y V o l u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t. C o m m u n i t y si g n e d t he n e w c o n t r act i n M a r c h . A t t he c r ux of t he i s s ue w i t h E a s t F r a n k l i n w e r e n e w s t i p u l at i o n s t he C o m m is - si o n e rs i nc l ud e d i n t he p r o - p os e d c o n t r act, t o w h ich t he E F V FD m e m b e rs h i p o b j e ct - e d . Those s t i p u l a t i on s i n - c l ud e d re mo vin g n e w p o l icies g i vin g fi r e c h ie f s i n p u t i n t o p r o p os e d p o l i c y c h a n g es, i n - s t a ll in g n e w v id e o and a u d io r e c o r d in g d e v i c es i n d e p a r t - m e n t v e h icles and a p p a r a t u s, and e n d in g r e i mb u rs e m e n t f o r fi r e fi g h t e r s ’ p e rs o n a l p r o p e r t y d a m a g e d o r lo s t w h ile r e s p o n d in g t o c a l l s . Bo a r d Ch a i rm an Sh err o d M id d le to n d r e w t he i r e of t he E F V FD m e m b e rs h i p w h e n he t h r e a t e n e d t o s hu t d o w n t he fi r e d e p a r t m e n t, r e c l a i m a l l a p p a r a tu s and fi r efi g h t - in g g ear – w h ich t he Di s t r ict o w n s and p a ys t o sto r e a t t he E F V FD f o r e ho u se – and h i r e p e r d i e m fi r efi g h t e rs t o b r i d g e t he g a p . Bu t E F V FD r e f u s e d t o bu d g e, c u l m i n a t in g i n a S e p - t e m b e r 17 m e e t in g am o n g C o m m i s si o n e r K e n ne t h R ei d , Bo a r d C l e r k F a t i i m a B r a x to n, and t w o m e m b e rs of E F V F D , w h ich r e s u lt e d i n t he a g r e e m e n t si g n e d o n O c - t o b e r 8. E F V FD C h ief D an K r u - s h i n s k i s a id t he n e w c o n t r act w a s a v ic to r y f o r t he fi r e de - p a r t m e n t. “ W e g ot 100% w h a t w e w a n t e d , ” he s a id a ft e r t he m e e t in g . The n e w c o n t r ac t s c o n - t a i n s a s t i p u l a t i o n th a t if t he d e p a r t m e n t c h ie f s o b j e ct t o a n y n e w p o l i c y p r o p os e d b y t he C o m m i s si o n e rs, a w r it - F i r e Dis t r ict 3 Con t r a ct Dispute Ends ; MAKING HIS C ASE – E ast F r anklin V olu n t eer F i r e D epa r tme n t C hief Dan K r ushins k i speaks t o the F i r e D istri c t 3 B oa r d of C ommissioners on O c t ober 8. Continued on P age 7 A t o w n s h i p - b a s e d fo u n d a t i o n m ade t he w ishes of a n u m - b e r of C l a r e m o n t E l e m e n t a r y S ch o o l t each e rs c o me t r ue O c t o b e r 28 w i t h t he d o n a - t i o n of $7,100 w o r t h of s e n - s o r y t eac h in g a id s . The s u p p l ies, d o n a t e d b y t he T r i p le B F o u n d a t i o n, w i l l b e u s e d i n t he sch o o l ’ s ne u r o - d i v e r g e n t p r o g r am i n g r ades P r e - K t o 6, s a id v i ce - p r i nc i p a l An g e l a P a p e. The s u p p l ies w e r e o n t each e r s ’ “w ish l i st s , ” w h ich w e r e s u b m i tt e d t o t he F o u n - d a t i o n f o r f u l fi l lm e n t, P a p e s a i d . “ I t ’ s t o he l p w i t h t he i r s e n s o r y n ee ds , ” P a p e s a i d . “ S o t h e r e ’ s d iff e r e n t fi d g e t s, t h e r e ’ s d iff e r e n t b a l an c e b o a r ds, st e p p in g sto nes t o he l p w i t h p r op r i o c e p t i v e ac - t i v i t ie s . ” P r op r i o c e p t i o n is a s e n se th a t le t s u s p er c ei v e t he l o c a - t i o n and mo v e m e n t s of o u r bo dy p a r t s, a cc o r d in g t o S ci - e n c eD i r e ct . c o m . A lso d o n a t e d w e r e c a lm - in g s u p p l ies, t i m e rs, k i ne t ic san d , and s e n s o r y t a b les t o p u t t he sand o r wa t e r i n, P a p e s a i d . The F o u n d a t i o n w a s f o r m e d b y t w o si b l in g s, M a k e d a F r ys o n and h e r b r o t h e r , K w ame B r ee d y , and g e t s i t s n ame f r o m t he m a t r i - a r c h s of t he i r f a m il y . “ BB B s t ands f o r t he m a - t r ia r c h s of o u r f a m il y , ” F r ys o n s a i d . “ M y g r andmo t h e r , Ch a r lo tt e B a yl e y ; m y m o m, J e nn y B r ee d y , and m y a u n t, C e cily B a r r in g to n . The F o u n d a t i o n ’ s m is - si o n, she s a i d , “ is r e a l ly t o jus t ta p i n t o o u r c o m m u n i t ies, s p e cifi c a l ly f o r o u r ne u r o d i - ve r g e n t st ud e n t s, o u r eld e r l y , a n y o ne i n o u r c o m m u n i t y th a t is i n n ee d . ” “ W e g r e w u p h er e, w e w e n t t h r o u g h o u r e n t ir e e d - u c a t i o n h e r e , ” she s a i d . “ O u r g o a l w a s t o g i v e b ac k , b e - c a u se th a t w a s t he g o a l of m y g r andmo t h e r , Ch a r lo tt e B a i - l e y . A nd so b e c a u se of th a t, w e jus t w a n t e d t o m a k e s u r e th a t w e ac h i e v e t h is m i s si o n . ” F r ys o n s a id she w a s a s ub - s t i t u t e t each e r a t C l a r e m o n t, so she k n e w fi r s t- h and t he n ee ds of t he s t ud e n t s i n th a t p r o g r a m . “ A nd t hese s t ud e n t s h er e, jus t b a s e d o n m y o w n p e rs o n - a l e x p er i e n c e, I w a s a b le t o s e e fi r s t- h and w h a t it is w h e n t h e y a r e a b le t o ha v e a cc e s s t o c e r t a i n r eso u r c es , ” she s a i d . “ L et ’ s g i v e t h e m w h a t t h e y n ee d e d t h er e, and t h e n w e’ l l build f r o m th a t and g ro w . S o w e ’ r e e x ci t e d t o s e e w h er e t h is g o es f r o m h e r e, and w e ’ r e h o p in g th a t p e o p le w i l l s e e t he g oo d th a t w e ’ r e t r y in g t o do, h o p e f ul ly d o n a t e t o o u r fo u n d a t i o n and a l l o w u s t o ha v e a m uch l ar g e r i m p act and r eac h . ” Th is i s n ’ t t he fi r s t t i me t he F o u n d a t i o n h a s off e r e d a he l p in g h an d , b u t t h is do - n a t i o n is t he l ar g e s t, F r ys o n s a i d . T o wnship F ounda t ion Donates $7K In S enso r y S upplies T o C la r emont E lementa r y SCHOOL DON A TIONS – Ma k eda F r yson and K w ame B r eedy of the T riple B F ound a tion, and Cl a r emo n t E leme n ta r y S chool vi c e -principal A ngela P ape (le f t t o rig h t) talk about the supply don a tion made b y the F ound a tion t o the schoo l . Continued on P age 7 2023 S e r v i n g t he E i g h t V i l l a g es of F ra n k l in T o w ns h ip in S om e rset C o u n t y , N . J . PRS R T STD US Postage Paid Permit No. 1239 Bellmaw r , NJ EC R WSS Local Residential Customer V o l . V I I, N o . X T op N e ws of S ept e m b e r 2024 FR & A is LIVE! S c an QRs t o vie w . T he F r anklin R e p o r t e r & A d v o c a t e W e s p o k e w i t h Si s t e r 2 Sis - t e r p r esid e n t D o r o t h y R ee d and Bo a r d of E d u c a t i o n m e m b e r B i l l G r ip p o a b o u t B r e a s t C an c e r A w a r e ne s s M o n t h . B o t h R ee d and b y t he d ise a se. W e s p o k e w i t h t he o w n e r i n K in g s to n, o ne of t he t o w n s h i p ’ s n e w e s t c a n n a b is d i s p e n sa r ie s . W e w e r e t h r i l l e d t o p l a y a r o le i n t he r e t u r n of b e a u - t i f u l A us t r a l ian Sh e p h e r d p u p p y C y r u s t o h is f a m il y , f r o m h o me. W e s p o k e w i t h re p r es e n t a - t i v es of t he G r e a t e r S o m e r - set Y M C A and f u nd r a is e r B i l l G r ip p o a b o u t t he $750,000 d o n a t i o n t o t he f u t u r e F r a n k l i n T o w n s h i p Y , p r es e n t e d b y s t a t e As - s e m b l y m an J o e D a n iels e n . N e w s t ud e n t s w e r e not t he o n ly o nes w ho c ele br a t e d t he i r fi r s t d a y i n H i l l c r e s t S ch o o l o n S e p t e m b e r 5, t he n e w p r i nc i p a l d i d , t o o . L o r r i V a c c a r o, w ho t o o k t he helm of H i l l c r e s t o n J u ly 1, d e c l a r e d h e r fi r s t d a y w i t h s t ud e n t s and s t aff i n t he buil d in g a s “ a m a z in g . ” “ The c h ild r e n w e r e i n - c r e d i b ly e x ci t e d t o b e b ack i n t he buil d in g and t o s e e each o t h e r a g a i n, t o s e e t he i r o ld t each e rs and g et t o m e et t he i r n e w o nes , ” she s a i d . “I w a s a b le t o v isit e v e r y c l a s s r o o m and it ’ s a l i v e. I t ’ s a l i v e . ” “ I t ’ s n i c e t o h a v e a build - in g g o f r o m sil e n c e t o fi l l e d w i t h l a u g h t e r and s m iles and g i g g l in g and a l l of th a t , ” she s a i d . V a c c a r o, w ho c ame f r o m t he M o r r is S ch o o l Di s t r ict, w a s n am e d t o lead t he P r e - K t o 5 t h G r ade sch o o l b y t he B o a r d of E d u c a t i o n o n M a y 23. She r e p l a c es l o n g t i me p r i nc i p a l A l b e r t F i c o, w ho r e - t i r e d a t t he e nd of l a s t sch o o l yea r . V a c c a r o s a id p re p a r in g f o r o p e n i n g d a y w a s a “ t eam eff o r t . ” “ P re p a r in g f o r t o d a y w a s a t eam eff o r t b e t w e e n t he f r o n t offi c e s t a ff , c e n t r a l offi c e s t a ff , l o o k in g a t sch e d ul i n g and m a k in g s u r e th a t w e h ad t he s u p p l ies th a t w e n ee d - e d f o r t he s t ud e n t s, th a t t he r o o m s w e r e set u p, th a t t h e y w e r e clean and o r g a n iz e d , END IN SIGHT? – F r anklin T o wnship F i r e D istri c t 3 C ommission chairman Sher r od M iddle t on said in a p r ess r elease th a t a c omp r omise has been st r uck in the c o n t r a c t dispu t e with the E ast F r anklin V olu n t eer F i r e D epa r tme n t . ( F ile pho t o .) T he c o n t r act d i s p u t e b e t w e e n t he F r a n k - l i n T o w n s h i p F i r e Di s t r ict 3 C o m m i s si o n e rs and E a s t F r a n k l i n V o l u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t m a y b e head e d t o a close. O r it m a y not. I n a p r e s s r ele a se i s s u e d o n O c t o b e r 3 b y t he Di s t r ict B o a r d of C o m m i s si o n e r s ’ pu b l ic r e l a t i o n s fi r m, t he C o m m i s si o n e rs s a id th a t t he d i s p u t e “ h a s mo v e d clos e r t o r es o l u t i o n w i t h a n e w ly p r o - p os e d c o m p r o m ise . ” A c c o r d in g t o t he r ele a se, t he m a i n s t ic k i n g p o i n t i n t he p r o p os e d c o n t r act w a s th a t t he E F V FD “ o b j e c t e d t o t he r e mo v a l of l a n g u a g e th a t g a v e t he fi r e c o m p a n y t he p o w e r t o o v e r r ide p o l icies e n ac t e d b y t he F i r e C o m m i s si o n e rs— an a u t h o r i t y not g r a n t e d t o a n y o t h e r fi r e c o m p a n y i n F r a n k l i n T o w n s h i p . ” “ Th is p r o v isi o n, u n i q ue t o F i r e Di s t r ict 3, u nd e r - m i n e d t he a u t h o r i t y of t he F i r e C o m m i s si o n e rs, w ho a r e el e c t e d t o r e p r es e n t t he i n t e r - e s t s of t a x p a y e rs , ” a c c o r d in g t o t he p r e s s r ele a se. “ The n e w c o n t r act, w h ich t he o t h - e r v o l u n t e e r fi r e c o m p a n y i n F i r e Di s t r ict 3 a cc e p t e d , s e e k s t o c o r r e ct t h is i m b a l an c e and b r in g F i r e Di s t r ict 3 ’ s a g r e e - m e n t w i t h i t s v o l u n t e e r fi r e c o m p a n ies i n l i ne w i t h t he r e s t of t he t o w n s h i p ’ s fi r e c o m p a n ie s . ” F i r e Di s t r ict 3 is c o m - p r is e d of t w o d e p a r t m e n t s, E F V FD and C o m m u n i t y V o l u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t. The c o n t r act, w h ich ex - p i r e d i n A p r i l , h a s b e e n ex - t e nd e d s e v e r a l t i mes s i n c e t h e n . The c u r r e n t e x p i r a t i o n d a t e w a s S e p t e m b e r 30, b u t h a s b e e n e x t e nd e d u n t il an a g r e e m e n t is r each e d . C o m m i s si o n C h a i rm an Sh e r r o d M id d le to n h a s s a id i n t he p a s t th a t if t he t w o sides c a n not c o me t o an a g r e e m e n t, t he C o m m i s si o n C o n ti n u e d o n P a g e 6. F i r e Dis t r ict , E FVFD Con t r a ct Dispute May Be C lose T o Resolu t ion Hi l lc r est S c h o o l ’ s N e w P r incipal S a y s Dis t r ict ‘ S p eaks T o My Hea r t ’ ON THE JOB – Hillc r est E leme n ta r y S choo l ’ s new principa l , L orri V a c c a r o , said the distri c t ’ s di v ersi t y is one r eason she chose t o c ome he r e . C o n ti n u e d o n P a g e 7. DeMott H ome Si g n F i r e Und e r In v esti g ation P o l i c e and fi r e offici a ls a r e i n v e s t i g a t i n g t he S e p t e m b e r 7 b u r n i n g of t w o si g n s o n t he f r o n t l a w n of a D e M o t t Lane h o me. P o l i c e r e s p o nd e d t o t he h o me a t a b o u t 8:32 a . m . af - t e r r e c ei vi n g m u l t i p le c a l ls a b o u t t he fi r e, a c c o r d in g t o a p r e s s r ele a se f r o m t he F r a n k - l i n T o w n s h i p P o l i c e D e p a r t - m e n t. R e s p o n d i n g offi c e rs fo u nd t he r e m a i n s of t w o si g n s, and t he i r mo u n t in g h a r d w a r e, w h ich w e r e d am - a g e d b y t he fi r e, a c c o r d in g t o t he r ele a se. O ne of t he si g n s, w h ich i n i t i a l ly r ead ( e x p le t i v e) B id e n and w a s l a t e r s w i t ch e d t o ( e x p le t i v e) H a r r is, r ef e r - r in g t o P r esid e n t J o e B id e n and Vi ce - P r esid e n t Ka m a l a H a r r is, c a u s e d a m i n o r c o n - t r o v e r s y i n t he t o w n s h i p, g e n e r a t in g s o me sh o r t- l i v e d p r o t e s t s . The o t h e r si g n, mo u n t - e d b e h i nd t he f o r m e r , r ead “ F r e e d o m O v e r F ea r . ” The p r o p e r t y o w n e rs, R o b e r t K a s h i n s k y and C r ys - t a l N a g y , r e s p o nd e d t o t he i ncid e n t w i t h a s t a t e m e n t pu b l ish e d i n t he F r a n k l i n R e - p o r t e r , and w h ich c an b e r ead i n i t s e n t i r e t y h e r e. “ The r i g h t t o c r i t icize o u r g o v e r n m e n t w i t ho u t p r os - e c u t i o n is e n s h r i n e d i n o u r C o n s t i t u t i o n, and it is w h a t s e p a r a t es u s f r o m t o t a l i t a r ian c o u n t r ies w ho j a il p o l i t i c a l op p o n e n t s , ” t h e y w r o t e. “ F o r o v e r a yea r , l o c a l offici a ls h a v e b e e n t r y in g t o sil e n c e o u r f r e e d o m of s p ee ch, f r o m o u r M a y o r t o o u r t o w n R e - pu b l i c an Ch a i r w o m an t o o u r A s s e m b l y m a n . ” C o n ti n u e d o n P a g e 7. S e r v i n g t he E i g h t V i l l ag es of F ra n k l in T o w ns h ip in S om e rset C o u n t y , N . J . PRS RT STD US Postage Paid Permit No. 1239 Bellmaw r , NJ EC R WSS Local Residential Customer V o l . V I I, N o . X I T op N e ws of O c to b e r 2024 FR & A is LIVE! S c an QRs t o vie w . T he F r anklin R e p o r t e r & A d v o c a t e I t w a s a b e a ut i f u l d a y O c t o b e r 12 f o r t he a n nu a l B le s s in g of t he A n i m a ls a t t he F r a n k l i n T o w n s h i p A n i m a l She lt e r . W e s p e a k w i t h C a y l ia W a l l a c e, H ead C o ach of t he F r a n k l i n H i g h S ch o o l D an c e T eam, a b o u t t he t ea m ’ s u p - c o m in g n a t i o n a ls c o m - p e t i t i o n i n O r l ando, F l . A t t he E a s t F r a n k l i n V o l - u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t o p e n ho u se,. s p e a k in g w i t h C h ief D an K r u sh - in s k y . F r o m t he F r a n k l i n H i g h S ch o o l H o m e c o m in g A w a r d W i n n in g F r a n k l i n H i g h S ch o o l M a r c h in g B and A m o r e th an 6 - m o n t h s t andoff e nd e d O c - t o b e r 8 w h e n a n e w c o n t r act w a s si g n e d b y t he E a s t F r a n k l i n V o l u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t and t he F i r e Di s t r ict 3 Bo a r d of C o m m is - si o n e r s . E F V FD h a s b e e n o p e r a t - in g w i t ho u t a c o n t r act s i n c e A p r il 1, w h e n fi r e d e p a r t - m e n t br a s s r e f u s e d t o si g n t he n e w p r o p os e d a g r e e m e n t. The Di s t r ict e n t e rs i n t o yea r ly c o n t r ac t s w i t h fi r e d e p a r t m e n t s w h ich a l l o w t he d e p a r t m e n t s t o fi g h t fi r e s . F ir e Di s t r ict 3 c o n t a i n s r o u g h ly 30,000 r esid e n t s, and a lso i nc l udes C o m m u n i t y V o l u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t. C o m m u n i t y si g n e d t he n e w c o n t r act i n M a r c h . A t t he c r ux of t he i s s ue w i t h E a s t F r a n k l i n w e r e n e w s t i p u l at i o n s t he C o m m is - si o n e rs i nc l ud e d i n t he p r o - p os e d c o n t r act, t o w h ich t he E F V FD m e m b e rs h i p o b j e ct - e d . Those s t i p u l a t i on s i n - c l ud e d re mo vin g n e w p o l icies g i vin g fi r e c h ie f s i n p u t i n t o p r o p os e d p o l i c y c h a n g es, i n - s t a ll in g n e w v id e o and a u d io r e c o r d in g d e v i c es i n d e p a r t - m e n t v e h icles and a p p a r a t u s, and e n d in g r e i mb u rs e m e n t f o r fi r e fi g h t e r s ’ p e rs o n a l p r o p e r t y d a m a g e d o r lo s t w h ile r e s p o n d in g t o c a l l s . Bo a r d Ch a i rm an Sh err o d M id d le to n d r e w t he i r e of t he E F V FD m e m b e rs h i p w h e n he t h r e a t e n e d t o s hu t d o w n t he fi r e d e p a r t m e n t, r e c l a i m a l l a p p a r a tu s and fi r efi g h t - in g g ear – w h ich t he Di s t r ict o w n s and p a ys t o sto r e a t t he E F V FD f o r e ho u se – and h i r e p e r d i e m fi r efi g h t e rs t o b r i d g e t he g a p . Bu t E F V FD r e f u s e d t o bu d g e, c u l m i n a t in g i n a S e p - t e m b e r 17 m e e t in g am o n g C o m m i s si o n e r K e n ne t h R ei d , Bo a r d C l e r k F a t i i m a B r a x to n, and t w o m e m b e rs of E F V F D , w h ich r e s u lt e d i n t he a g r e e m e n t si g n e d o n O c - t o b e r 8. E F V FD C h ief D an K r u - s h i n s k i s a id t he n e w c o n t r act w a s a v ic to r y f o r t he fi r e de - p a r t m e n t. “ W e g ot 100% w h a t w e w a n t e d , ” he s a id a ft e r t he m e e t in g . The n e w c o n t r ac t s c o n - t a i n s a s t i p u l a t i o n th a t if t he d e p a r t m e n t c h ie f s o b j e ct t o a n y n e w p o l i c y p r o p os e d b y t he C o m m i s si o n e rs, a w r it - F i r e Dis t r ict 3 Con t r a ct Dispute Ends ; MAKING HIS C ASE – E ast F r anklin V olu n t eer F i r e D epa r tme n t C hief Dan K r ushins k i speaks t o the F i r e D istri c t 3 B oa r d of C ommissioners on O c t ober 8. Continued on P age 7 A t o w n s h i p - b a s e d fo u n d a t i o n m ade t he w ishes of a n u m - b e r of C l a r e m o n t E l e m e n t a r y S ch o o l t each e rs c o me t r ue O c t o b e r 28 w i t h t he d o n a - t i o n of $7,100 w o r t h of s e n - s o r y t eac h in g a id s . The s u p p l ies, d o n a t e d b y t he T r i p le B F o u n d a t i o n, w i l l b e u s e d i n t he sch o o l ’ s ne u r o - d i v e r g e n t p r o g r am i n g r ades P r e - K t o 6, s a id v i ce - p r i nc i p a l An g e l a P a p e. The s u p p l ies w e r e o n t each e r s ’ “w ish l i st s , ” w h ich w e r e s u b m i tt e d t o t he F o u n - d a t i o n f o r f u l fi l lm e n t, P a p e s a i d . “ I t ’ s t o he l p w i t h t he i r s e n s o r y n ee ds , ” P a p e s a i d . “ S o t h e r e ’ s d iff e r e n t fi d g e t s, t h e r e ’ s d iff e r e n t b a l an c e b o a r ds, st e p p in g sto nes t o he l p w i t h p r op r i o c e p t i v e ac - t i v i t ie s . ” P r op r i o c e p t i o n is a s e n se th a t le t s u s p er c ei v e t he l o c a - t i o n and mo v e m e n t s of o u r bo dy p a r t s, a cc o r d in g t o S ci - e n c eD i r e ct . c o m . A lso d o n a t e d w e r e c a lm - in g s u p p l ies, t i m e rs, k i ne t ic san d , and s e n s o r y t a b les t o p u t t he sand o r wa t e r i n, P a p e s a i d . The F o u n d a t i o n w a s f o r m e d b y t w o si b l in g s, M a k e d a F r ys o n and h e r b r o t h e r , K w ame B r ee d y , and g e t s i t s n ame f r o m t he m a t r i - a r c h s of t he i r f a m il y . “ BB B s t ands f o r t he m a - t r ia r c h s of o u r f a m il y , ” F r ys o n s a i d . “ M y g r andmo t h e r , Ch a r lo tt e B a yl e y ; m y m o m, J e nn y B r ee d y , and m y a u n t, C e cily B a r r in g to n . The F o u n d a t i o n ’ s m is - si o n, she s a i d , “ is r e a l ly t o jus t ta p i n t o o u r c o m m u n i t ies, s p e cifi c a l ly f o r o u r ne u r o d i - ve r g e n t st ud e n t s, o u r eld e r l y , a n y o ne i n o u r c o m m u n i t y th a t is i n n ee d . ” “ W e g r e w u p h er e, w e w e n t t h r o u g h o u r e n t ir e e d - u c a t i o n h e r e , ” she s a i d . “ O u r g o a l w a s t o g i v e b ac k , b e - c a u se th a t w a s t he g o a l of m y g r andmo t h e r , Ch a r lo tt e B a i - l e y . A nd so b e c a u se of th a t, w e jus t w a n t e d t o m a k e s u r e th a t w e ac h i e v e t h is m i s si o n . ” F r ys o n s a id she w a s a s ub - s t i t u t e t each e r a t C l a r e m o n t, so she k n e w fi r s t- h and t he n ee ds of t he s t ud e n t s i n th a t p r o g r a m . “ A nd t hese s t ud e n t s h er e, jus t b a s e d o n m y o w n p e rs o n - a l e x p er i e n c e, I w a s a b le t o s e e fi r s t- h and w h a t it is w h e n t h e y a r e a b le t o ha v e a cc e s s t o c e r t a i n r eso u r c es , ” she s a i d . “ L et ’ s g i v e t h e m w h a t t h e y n ee d e d t h er e, and t h e n w e’ l l build f r o m th a t and g ro w . S o w e ’ r e e x ci t e d t o s e e w h er e t h is g o es f r o m h e r e, and w e ’ r e h o p in g th a t p e o p le w i l l s e e t he g oo d th a t w e ’ r e t r y in g t o do, h o p e f ul ly d o n a t e t o o u r fo u n d a t i o n and a l l o w u s t o ha v e a m uch l ar g e r i m p act and r eac h . ” Th is i s n ’ t t he fi r s t t i me t he F o u n d a t i o n h a s off e r e d a he l p in g h an d , b u t t h is do - n a t i o n is t he l ar g e s t, F r ys o n s a i d . T o wnship F ounda t ion Donates $7K In S enso r y S upplies T o C la r emont E lementa r y SCHOOL DON A TIONS – Ma k eda F r yson and K w ame B r eedy of the T riple B F ound a tion, and Cl a r emo n t E leme n ta r y S chool vi c e -principal A ngela P ape (le f t t o rig h t) talk about the supply don a tion made b y the F ound a tion t o the schoo l . Continued on P age 7 Monthly Digest S e r v i n g t he E i g h t V i l l a g es of F ra n k l in T o w ns h ip in S om e rset C o u n t y , N . J . PRS R T STD US Postage Paid Permit No. 1239 Bellmaw r , NJ EC R WSS Local Residential Customer V o l . V I I, N o . X T op N e ws of S ept e m b e r 2024 FR & A is LIVE! S c an QRs t o vie w . T he F r anklin R e p o r t e r & A d v o c a t e W e s p o k e w i t h Si s t e r 2 Sis - t e r p r esid e n t D o r o t h y R ee d and Bo a r d of E d u c a t i o n m e m b e r B i l l G r ip p o a b o u t B r e a s t C an c e r A w a r e ne s s M o n t h . B o t h R ee d and b y t he d ise a se. W e s p o k e w i t h t he o w n e r i n K in g s to n, o ne of t he t o w n s h i p ’ s n e w e s t c a n n a b is d i s p e n sa r ie s . W e w e r e t h r i l l e d t o p l a y a r o le i n t he r e t u r n of b e a u - t i f u l A us t r a l ian Sh e p h e r d p u p p y C y r u s t o h is f a m il y , f r o m h o me. W e s p o k e w i t h re p r es e n t a - t i v es of t he G r e a t e r S o m e r - set Y M C A and f u nd r a is e r B i l l G r ip p o a b o u t t he $750,000 d o n a t i o n t o t he f u t u r e F r a n k l i n T o w n s h i p Y , p r es e n t e d b y s t a t e As - s e m b l y m an J o e D a n iels e n . N e w s t ud e n t s w e r e not t he o n ly o nes w ho c ele br a t e d t he i r fi r s t d a y i n H i l l c r e s t S ch o o l o n S e p t e m b e r 5, t he n e w p r i nc i p a l d i d , t o o . L o r r i V a c c a r o, w ho t o o k t he helm of H i l l c r e s t o n J u ly 1, d e c l a r e d h e r fi r s t d a y w i t h s t ud e n t s and s t aff i n t he buil d in g a s “ a m a z in g . ” “ The c h ild r e n w e r e i n - c r e d i b ly e x ci t e d t o b e b ack i n t he buil d in g and t o s e e each o t h e r a g a i n, t o s e e t he i r o ld t each e rs and g et t o m e et t he i r n e w o nes , ” she s a i d . “I w a s a b le t o v isit e v e r y c l a s s r o o m and it ’ s a l i v e. I t ’ s a l i v e . ” “ I t ’ s n i c e t o h a v e a build - in g g o f r o m sil e n c e t o fi l l e d w i t h l a u g h t e r and s m iles and g i g g l in g and a l l of th a t , ” she s a i d . V a c c a r o, w ho c ame f r o m t he M o r r is S ch o o l Di s t r ict, w a s n am e d t o lead t he P r e - K t o 5 t h G r ade sch o o l b y t he B o a r d of E d u c a t i o n o n M a y 23. She r e p l a c es l o n g t i me p r i nc i p a l A l b e r t F i c o, w ho r e - t i r e d a t t he e nd of l a s t sch o o l yea r . V a c c a r o s a id p re p a r in g f o r o p e n i n g d a y w a s a “ t eam eff o r t . ” “ P re p a r in g f o r t o d a y w a s a t eam eff o r t b e t w e e n t he f r o n t offi c e s t a ff , c e n t r a l offi c e s t a ff , l o o k in g a t sch e d ul i n g and m a k in g s u r e th a t w e h ad t he s u p p l ies th a t w e n ee d - e d f o r t he s t ud e n t s, th a t t he r o o m s w e r e set u p, th a t t h e y w e r e clean and o r g a n iz e d , END IN SIGHT? – F r anklin T o wnship F i r e D istri c t 3 C ommission chairman Sher r od M iddle t on said in a p r ess r elease th a t a c omp r omise has been st r uck in the c o n t r a c t dispu t e with the E ast F r anklin V olu n t eer F i r e D epa r tme n t . ( F ile pho t o .) T he c o n t r act d i s p u t e b e t w e e n t he F r a n k - l i n T o w n s h i p F i r e Di s t r ict 3 C o m m i s si o n e rs and E a s t F r a n k l i n V o l u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t m a y b e head e d t o a close. O r it m a y not. I n a p r e s s r ele a se i s s u e d o n O c t o b e r 3 b y t he Di s t r ict B o a r d of C o m m i s si o n e r s ’ pu b l ic r e l a t i o n s fi r m, t he C o m m i s si o n e rs s a id th a t t he d i s p u t e “ h a s mo v e d clos e r t o r es o l u t i o n w i t h a n e w ly p r o - p os e d c o m p r o m ise . ” A c c o r d in g t o t he r ele a se, t he m a i n s t ic k i n g p o i n t i n t he p r o p os e d c o n t r act w a s th a t t he E F V FD “ o b j e c t e d t o t he r e mo v a l of l a n g u a g e th a t g a v e t he fi r e c o m p a n y t he p o w e r t o o v e r r ide p o l icies e n ac t e d b y t he F i r e C o m m i s si o n e rs— an a u t h o r i t y not g r a n t e d t o a n y o t h e r fi r e c o m p a n y i n F r a n k l i n T o w n s h i p . ” “ Th is p r o v isi o n, u n i q ue t o F i r e Di s t r ict 3, u nd e r - m i n e d t he a u t h o r i t y of t he F i r e C o m m i s si o n e rs, w ho a r e el e c t e d t o r e p r es e n t t he i n t e r - e s t s of t a x p a y e rs , ” a c c o r d in g t o t he p r e s s r ele a se. “ The n e w c o n t r act, w h ich t he o t h - e r v o l u n t e e r fi r e c o m p a n y i n F i r e Di s t r ict 3 a cc e p t e d , s e e k s t o c o r r e ct t h is i m b a l an c e and b r in g F i r e Di s t r ict 3 ’ s a g r e e - m e n t w i t h i t s v o l u n t e e r fi r e c o m p a n ies i n l i ne w i t h t he r e s t of t he t o w n s h i p ’ s fi r e c o m p a n ie s . ” F i r e Di s t r ict 3 is c o m - p r is e d of t w o d e p a r t m e n t s, E F V FD and C o m m u n i t y V o l u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t. The c o n t r act, w h ich ex - p i r e d i n A p r i l , h a s b e e n ex - t e nd e d s e v e r a l t i mes s i n c e t h e n . The c u r r e n t e x p i r a t i o n d a t e w a s S e p t e m b e r 30, b u t h a s b e e n e x t e nd e d u n t il an a g r e e m e n t is r each e d . C o m m i s si o n C h a i rm an Sh e r r o d M id d le to n h a s s a id i n t he p a s t th a t if t he t w o sides c a n not c o me t o an a g r e e m e n t, t he C o m m i s si o n C o n ti n u e d o n P a g e 6. F i r e Dis t r ict , E FVFD Con t r a ct Dispute May Be C lose T o Resolu t ion Hi l lc r est S c h o o l ’ s N e w P r incipal S a y s Dis t r ict ‘ S p eaks T o My Hea r t ’ ON THE JOB – Hillc r est E leme n ta r y S choo l ’ s new principa l , L orri V a c c a r o , said the distri c t ’ s di v ersi t y is one r eason she chose t o c ome he r e . C o n ti n u e d o n P a g e 7. DeMott H ome Si g n F i r e Und e r In v esti g ation P o l i c e and fi r e offici a ls a r e i n v e s t i g a t i n g t he S e p t e m b e r 7 b u r n i n g of t w o si g n s o n t he f r o n t l a w n of a D e M o t t Lane h o me. P o l i c e r e s p o nd e d t o t he h o me a t a b o u t 8:32 a . m . af - t e r r e c ei vi n g m u l t i p le c a l ls a b o u t t he fi r e, a c c o r d in g t o a p r e s s r ele a se f r o m t he F r a n k - l i n T o w n s h i p P o l i c e D e p a r t - m e n t. R e s p o n d i n g offi c e rs fo u nd t he r e m a i n s of t w o si g n s, and t he i r mo u n t in g h a r d w a r e, w h ich w e r e d am - a g e d b y t he fi r e, a c c o r d in g t o t he r ele a se. O ne of t he si g n s, w h ich i n i t i a l ly r ead ( e x p le t i v e) B id e n and w a s l a t e r s w i t ch e d t o ( e x p le t i v e) H a r r is, r ef e r - r in g t o P r esid e n t J o e B id e n and Vi ce - P r esid e n t Ka m a l a H a r r is, c a u s e d a m i n o r c o n - t r o v e r s y i n t he t o w n s h i p, g e n e r a t in g s o me sh o r t- l i v e d p r o t e s t s . The o t h e r si g n, mo u n t - e d b e h i nd t he f o r m e r , r ead “ F r e e d o m O v e r F ea r . ” The p r o p e r t y o w n e rs, R o b e r t K a s h i n s k y and C r ys - t a l N a g y , r e s p o nd e d t o t he i ncid e n t w i t h a s t a t e m e n t pu b l ish e d i n t he F r a n k l i n R e - p o r t e r , and w h ich c an b e r ead i n i t s e n t i r e t y h e r e. “ The r i g h t t o c r i t icize o u r g o v e r n m e n t w i t ho u t p r os - e c u t i o n is e n s h r i n e d i n o u r C o n s t i t u t i o n, and it is w h a t s e p a r a t es u s f r o m t o t a l i t a r ian c o u n t r ies w ho j a il p o l i t i c a l op p o n e n t s , ” t h e y w r o t e. “ F o r o v e r a yea r , l o c a l offici a ls h a v e b e e n t r y in g t o sil e n c e o u r f r e e d o m of s p ee ch, f r o m o u r M a y o r t o o u r t o w n R e - pu b l i c an Ch a i r w o m an t o o u r A s s e m b l y m a n . ” C o n ti n u e d o n P a g e 7. S e r v i n g t he E i g h t V i l l ag es of F ra n k l in T o w ns h ip in S om e rset C o u n t y , N . J . PRS RT STD US Postage Paid Permit No. 1239 Bellmaw r , NJ EC R WSS Local Residential Customer V o l . V I I, N o . X I T op N e ws of O c to b e r 2024 FR & A is LIVE! S c an QRs t o vie w . T he F r anklin R e p o r t e r & A d v o c a t e I t w a s a b e a ut i f u l d a y O c t o b e r 12 f o r t he a n nu a l B le s s in g of t he A n i m a ls a t t he F r a n k l i n T o w n s h i p A n i m a l She lt e r . W e s p e a k w i t h C a y l ia W a l l a c e, H ead C o ach of t he F r a n k l i n H i g h S ch o o l D an c e T eam, a b o u t t he t ea m ’ s u p - c o m in g n a t i o n a ls c o m - p e t i t i o n i n O r l ando, F l . A t t he E a s t F r a n k l i n V o l - u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t o p e n ho u se,. s p e a k in g w i t h C h ief D an K r u sh - in s k y . F r o m t he F r a n k l i n H i g h S ch o o l H o m e c o m in g A w a r d W i n n in g F r a n k l i n H i g h S ch o o l M a r c h in g B and A m o r e th an 6 - m o n t h s t andoff e nd e d O c - t o b e r 8 w h e n a n e w c o n t r act w a s si g n e d b y t he E a s t F r a n k l i n V o l u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t and t he F i r e Di s t r ict 3 Bo a r d of C o m m is - si o n e r s . E F V FD h a s b e e n o p e r a t - in g w i t ho u t a c o n t r act s i n c e A p r il 1, w h e n fi r e d e p a r t - m e n t br a s s r e f u s e d t o si g n t he n e w p r o p os e d a g r e e m e n t. The Di s t r ict e n t e rs i n t o yea r ly c o n t r ac t s w i t h fi r e d e p a r t m e n t s w h ich a l l o w t he d e p a r t m e n t s t o fi g h t fi r e s . F ir e Di s t r ict 3 c o n t a i n s r o u g h ly 30,000 r esid e n t s, and a lso i nc l udes C o m m u n i t y V o l u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t. C o m m u n i t y si g n e d t he n e w c o n t r act i n M a r c h . A t t he c r ux of t he i s s ue w i t h E a s t F r a n k l i n w e r e n e w s t i p u l at i o n s t he C o m m is - si o n e rs i nc l ud e d i n t he p r o - p os e d c o n t r act, t o w h ich t he E F V FD m e m b e rs h i p o b j e ct - e d . Those s t i p u l a t i on s i n - c l ud e d re mo vin g n e w p o l icies g i vin g fi r e c h ie f s i n p u t i n t o p r o p os e d p o l i c y c h a n g es, i n - s t a ll in g n e w v id e o and a u d io r e c o r d in g d e v i c es i n d e p a r t - m e n t v e h icles and a p p a r a t u s, and e n d in g r e i mb u rs e m e n t f o r fi r e fi g h t e r s ’ p e rs o n a l p r o p e r t y d a m a g e d o r lo s t w h ile r e s p o n d in g t o c a l l s . Bo a r d Ch a i rm an Sh err o d M id d le to n d r e w t he i r e of t he E F V FD m e m b e rs h i p w h e n he t h r e a t e n e d t o s hu t d o w n t he fi r e d e p a r t m e n t, r e c l a i m a l l a p p a r a tu s and fi r efi g h t - in g g ear – w h ich t he Di s t r ict o w n s and p a ys t o sto r e a t t he E F V FD f o r e ho u se – and h i r e p e r d i e m fi r efi g h t e rs t o b r i d g e t he g a p . Bu t E F V FD r e f u s e d t o bu d g e, c u l m i n a t in g i n a S e p - t e m b e r 17 m e e t in g am o n g C o m m i s si o n e r K e n ne t h R ei d , Bo a r d C l e r k F a t i i m a B r a x to n, and t w o m e m b e rs of E F V F D , w h ich r e s u lt e d i n t he a g r e e m e n t si g n e d o n O c - t o b e r 8. E F V FD C h ief D an K r u - s h i n s k i s a id t he n e w c o n t r act w a s a v ic to r y f o r t he fi r e de - p a r t m e n t. “ W e g ot 100% w h a t w e w a n t e d , ” he s a id a ft e r t he m e e t in g . The n e w c o n t r ac t s c o n - t a i n s a s t i p u l a t i o n th a t if t he d e p a r t m e n t c h ie f s o b j e ct t o a n y n e w p o l i c y p r o p os e d b y t he C o m m i s si o n e rs, a w r it - F i r e Dis t r ict 3 Con t r a ct Dispute Ends ; MAKING HIS C ASE – E ast F r anklin V olu n t eer F i r e D epa r tme n t C hief Dan K r ushins k i speaks t o the F i r e D istri c t 3 B oa r d of C ommissioners on O c t ober 8. Continued on P age 7 A t o w n s h i p - b a s e d fo u n d a t i o n m ade t he w ishes of a n u m - b e r of C l a r e m o n t E l e m e n t a r y S ch o o l t each e rs c o me t r ue O c t o b e r 28 w i t h t he d o n a - t i o n of $7,100 w o r t h of s e n - s o r y t eac h in g a id s . The s u p p l ies, d o n a t e d b y t he T r i p le B F o u n d a t i o n, w i l l b e u s e d i n t he sch o o l ’ s ne u r o - d i v e r g e n t p r o g r am i n g r ades P r e - K t o 6, s a id v i ce - p r i nc i p a l An g e l a P a p e. The s u p p l ies w e r e o n t each e r s ’ “w ish l i st s , ” w h ich w e r e s u b m i tt e d t o t he F o u n - d a t i o n f o r f u l fi l lm e n t, P a p e s a i d . “ I t ’ s t o he l p w i t h t he i r s e n s o r y n ee ds , ” P a p e s a i d . “ S o t h e r e ’ s d iff e r e n t fi d g e t s, t h e r e ’ s d iff e r e n t b a l an c e b o a r ds, st e p p in g sto nes t o he l p w i t h p r op r i o c e p t i v e ac - t i v i t ie s . ” P r op r i o c e p t i o n is a s e n se th a t le t s u s p er c ei v e t he l o c a - t i o n and mo v e m e n t s of o u r bo dy p a r t s, a cc o r d in g t o S ci - e n c eD i r e ct . c o m . A lso d o n a t e d w e r e c a lm - in g s u p p l ies, t i m e rs, k i ne t ic san d , and s e n s o r y t a b les t o p u t t he sand o r wa t e r i n, P a p e s a i d . The F o u n d a t i o n w a s f o r m e d b y t w o si b l in g s, M a k e d a F r ys o n and h e r b r o t h e r , K w ame B r ee d y , and g e t s i t s n ame f r o m t he m a t r i - a r c h s of t he i r f a m il y . “ BB B s t ands f o r t he m a - t r ia r c h s of o u r f a m il y , ” F r ys o n s a i d . “ M y g r andmo t h e r , Ch a r lo tt e B a yl e y ; m y m o m, J e nn y B r ee d y , and m y a u n t, C e cily B a r r in g to n . The F o u n d a t i o n ’ s m is - si o n, she s a i d , “ is r e a l ly t o jus t ta p i n t o o u r c o m m u n i t ies, s p e cifi c a l ly f o r o u r ne u r o d i - ve r g e n t st ud e n t s, o u r eld e r l y , a n y o ne i n o u r c o m m u n i t y th a t is i n n ee d . ” “ W e g r e w u p h er e, w e w e n t t h r o u g h o u r e n t ir e e d - u c a t i o n h e r e , ” she s a i d . “ O u r g o a l w a s t o g i v e b ac k , b e - c a u se th a t w a s t he g o a l of m y g r andmo t h e r , Ch a r lo tt e B a i - l e y . A nd so b e c a u se of th a t, w e jus t w a n t e d t o m a k e s u r e th a t w e ac h i e v e t h is m i s si o n . ” F r ys o n s a id she w a s a s ub - s t i t u t e t each e r a t C l a r e m o n t, so she k n e w fi r s t- h and t he n ee ds of t he s t ud e n t s i n th a t p r o g r a m . “ A nd t hese s t ud e n t s h er e, jus t b a s e d o n m y o w n p e rs o n - a l e x p er i e n c e, I w a s a b le t o s e e fi r s t- h and w h a t it is w h e n t h e y a r e a b le t o ha v e a cc e s s t o c e r t a i n r eso u r c es , ” she s a i d . “ L et ’ s g i v e t h e m w h a t t h e y n ee d e d t h er e, and t h e n w e’ l l build f r o m th a t and g ro w . S o w e ’ r e e x ci t e d t o s e e w h er e t h is g o es f r o m h e r e, and w e ’ r e h o p in g th a t p e o p le w i l l s e e t he g oo d th a t w e ’ r e t r y in g t o do, h o p e f ul ly d o n a t e t o o u r fo u n d a t i o n and a l l o w u s t o ha v e a m uch l ar g e r i m p act and r eac h . ” Th is i s n ’ t t he fi r s t t i me t he F o u n d a t i o n h a s off e r e d a he l p in g h an d , b u t t h is do - n a t i o n is t he l ar g e s t, F r ys o n s a i d . T o wnship F ounda t ion Donates $7K In S enso r y S upplies T o C la r emont E lementa r y SCHOOL DON A TIONS – Ma k eda F r yson and K w ame B r eedy of the T riple B F ound a tion, and Cl a r emo n t E leme n ta r y S chool vi c e -principal A ngela P ape (le f t t o rig h t) talk about the supply don a tion made b y the F ound a tion t o the schoo l . Continued on P age 7 2024 S e r v i n g t he E i g h t V i l l a g es of F ra n k l in T o w ns h ip in S om e rset C o u n t y , N . J . PRS R T STD US Postage Paid Permit No. 1239 Bellmaw r , NJ EC R WSS Local Residential Customer V o l . V I I, N o . X T op N e ws of S ept e m b e r 2024 FR & A is LIVE! S c an QRs t o vie w . T he F r anklin R e p o r t e r & A d v o c a t e W e s p o k e w i t h Si s t e r 2 Sis - t e r p r esid e n t D o r o t h y R ee d and Bo a r d of E d u c a t i o n m e m b e r B i l l G r ip p o a b o u t B r e a s t C an c e r A w a r e ne s s M o n t h . B o t h R ee d and b y t he d ise a se. W e s p o k e w i t h t he o w n e r i n K in g s to n, o ne of t he t o w n s h i p ’ s n e w e s t c a n n a b is d i s p e n sa r ie s . W e w e r e t h r i l l e d t o p l a y a r o le i n t he r e t u r n of b e a u - t i f u l A us t r a l ian Sh e p h e r d p u p p y C y r u s t o h is f a m il y , f r o m h o me. W e s p o k e w i t h re p r es e n t a - t i v es of t he G r e a t e r S o m e r - set Y M C A and f u nd r a is e r B i l l G r ip p o a b o u t t he $750,000 d o n a t i o n t o t he f u t u r e F r a n k l i n T o w n s h i p Y , p r es e n t e d b y s t a t e As - s e m b l y m an J o e D a n iels e n . N e w s t ud e n t s w e r e not t he o n ly o nes w ho c ele br a t e d t he i r fi r s t d a y i n H i l l c r e s t S ch o o l o n S e p t e m b e r 5, t he n e w p r i nc i p a l d i d , t o o . L o r r i V a c c a r o, w ho t o o k t he helm of H i l l c r e s t o n J u ly 1, d e c l a r e d h e r fi r s t d a y w i t h s t ud e n t s and s t aff i n t he buil d in g a s “ a m a z in g . ” “ The c h ild r e n w e r e i n - c r e d i b ly e x ci t e d t o b e b ack i n t he buil d in g and t o s e e each o t h e r a g a i n, t o s e e t he i r o ld t each e rs and g et t o m e et t he i r n e w o nes , ” she s a i d . “I w a s a b le t o v isit e v e r y c l a s s r o o m and it ’ s a l i v e. I t ’ s a l i v e . ” “ I t ’ s n i c e t o h a v e a build - in g g o f r o m sil e n c e t o fi l l e d w i t h l a u g h t e r and s m iles and g i g g l in g and a l l of th a t , ” she s a i d . V a c c a r o, w ho c ame f r o m t he M o r r is S ch o o l Di s t r ict, w a s n am e d t o lead t he P r e - K t o 5 t h G r ade sch o o l b y t he B o a r d of E d u c a t i o n o n M a y 23. She r e p l a c es l o n g t i me p r i nc i p a l A l b e r t F i c o, w ho r e - t i r e d a t t he e nd of l a s t sch o o l yea r . V a c c a r o s a id p re p a r in g f o r o p e n i n g d a y w a s a “ t eam eff o r t . ” “ P re p a r in g f o r t o d a y w a s a t eam eff o r t b e t w e e n t he f r o n t offi c e s t a ff , c e n t r a l offi c e s t a ff , l o o k in g a t sch e d ul i n g and m a k in g s u r e th a t w e h ad t he s u p p l ies th a t w e n ee d - e d f o r t he s t ud e n t s, th a t t he r o o m s w e r e set u p, th a t t h e y w e r e clean and o r g a n iz e d , END IN SIGHT? – F r anklin T o wnship F i r e D istri c t 3 C ommission chairman Sher r od M iddle t on said in a p r ess r elease th a t a c omp r omise has been st r uck in the c o n t r a c t dispu t e with the E ast F r anklin V olu n t eer F i r e D epa r tme n t . ( F ile pho t o .) T he c o n t r act d i s p u t e b e t w e e n t he F r a n k - l i n T o w n s h i p F i r e Di s t r ict 3 C o m m i s si o n e rs and E a s t F r a n k l i n V o l u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t m a y b e head e d t o a close. O r it m a y not. I n a p r e s s r ele a se i s s u e d o n O c t o b e r 3 b y t he Di s t r ict B o a r d of C o m m i s si o n e r s ’ pu b l ic r e l a t i o n s fi r m, t he C o m m i s si o n e rs s a id th a t t he d i s p u t e “ h a s mo v e d clos e r t o r es o l u t i o n w i t h a n e w ly p r o - p os e d c o m p r o m ise . ” A c c o r d in g t o t he r ele a se, t he m a i n s t ic k i n g p o i n t i n t he p r o p os e d c o n t r act w a s th a t t he E F V FD “ o b j e c t e d t o t he r e mo v a l of l a n g u a g e th a t g a v e t he fi r e c o m p a n y t he p o w e r t o o v e r r ide p o l icies e n ac t e d b y t he F i r e C o m m i s si o n e rs— an a u t h o r i t y not g r a n t e d t o a n y o t h e r fi r e c o m p a n y i n F r a n k l i n T o w n s h i p . ” “ Th is p r o v isi o n, u n i q ue t o F i r e Di s t r ict 3, u nd e r - m i n e d t he a u t h o r i t y of t he F i r e C o m m i s si o n e rs, w ho a r e el e c t e d t o r e p r es e n t t he i n t e r - e s t s of t a x p a y e rs , ” a c c o r d in g t o t he p r e s s r ele a se. “ The n e w c o n t r act, w h ich t he o t h - e r v o l u n t e e r fi r e c o m p a n y i n F i r e Di s t r ict 3 a cc e p t e d , s e e k s t o c o r r e ct t h is i m b a l an c e and b r in g F i r e Di s t r ict 3 ’ s a g r e e - m e n t w i t h i t s v o l u n t e e r fi r e c o m p a n ies i n l i ne w i t h t he r e s t of t he t o w n s h i p ’ s fi r e c o m p a n ie s . ” F i r e Di s t r ict 3 is c o m - p r is e d of t w o d e p a r t m e n t s, E F V FD and C o m m u n i t y V o l u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t. The c o n t r act, w h ich ex - p i r e d i n A p r i l , h a s b e e n ex - t e nd e d s e v e r a l t i mes s i n c e t h e n . The c u r r e n t e x p i r a t i o n d a t e w a s S e p t e m b e r 30, b u t h a s b e e n e x t e nd e d u n t il an a g r e e m e n t is r each e d . C o m m i s si o n C h a i rm an Sh e r r o d M id d le to n h a s s a id i n t he p a s t th a t if t he t w o sides c a n not c o me t o an a g r e e m e n t, t he C o m m i s si o n C o n ti n u e d o n P a g e 6. F i r e Dis t r ict , E FVFD Con t r a ct Dispute May Be C lose T o Resolu t ion Hi l lc r est S c h o o l ’ s N e w P r incipal S a y s Dis t r ict ‘ S p eaks T o My Hea r t ’ ON THE JOB – Hillc r est E leme n ta r y S choo l ’ s new principa l , L orri V a c c a r o , said the distri c t ’ s di v ersi t y is one r eason she chose t o c ome he r e . C o n ti n u e d o n P a g e 7. DeMott H ome Si g n F i r e Und e r In v esti g ation P o l i c e and fi r e offici a ls a r e i n v e s t i g a t i n g t he S e p t e m b e r 7 b u r n i n g of t w o si g n s o n t he f r o n t l a w n of a D e M o t t Lane h o me. P o l i c e r e s p o nd e d t o t he h o me a t a b o u t 8:32 a . m . af - t e r r e c ei vi n g m u l t i p le c a l ls a b o u t t he fi r e, a c c o r d in g t o a p r e s s r ele a se f r o m t he F r a n k - l i n T o w n s h i p P o l i c e D e p a r t - m e n t. R e s p o n d i n g offi c e rs fo u nd t he r e m a i n s of t w o si g n s, and t he i r mo u n t in g h a r d w a r e, w h ich w e r e d am - a g e d b y t he fi r e, a c c o r d in g t o t he r ele a se. O ne of t he si g n s, w h ich i n i t i a l ly r ead ( e x p le t i v e) B id e n and w a s l a t e r s w i t ch e d t o ( e x p le t i v e) H a r r is, r ef e r - r in g t o P r esid e n t J o e B id e n and Vi ce - P r esid e n t Ka m a l a H a r r is, c a u s e d a m i n o r c o n - t r o v e r s y i n t he t o w n s h i p, g e n e r a t in g s o me sh o r t- l i v e d p r o t e s t s . The o t h e r si g n, mo u n t - e d b e h i nd t he f o r m e r , r ead “ F r e e d o m O v e r F ea r . ” The p r o p e r t y o w n e rs, R o b e r t K a s h i n s k y and C r ys - t a l N a g y , r e s p o nd e d t o t he i ncid e n t w i t h a s t a t e m e n t pu b l ish e d i n t he F r a n k l i n R e - p o r t e r , and w h ich c an b e r ead i n i t s e n t i r e t y h e r e. “ The r i g h t t o c r i t icize o u r g o v e r n m e n t w i t ho u t p r os - e c u t i o n is e n s h r i n e d i n o u r C o n s t i t u t i o n, and it is w h a t s e p a r a t es u s f r o m t o t a l i t a r ian c o u n t r ies w ho j a il p o l i t i c a l op p o n e n t s , ” t h e y w r o t e. “ F o r o v e r a yea r , l o c a l offici a ls h a v e b e e n t r y in g t o sil e n c e o u r f r e e d o m of s p ee ch, f r o m o u r M a y o r t o o u r t o w n R e - pu b l i c an Ch a i r w o m an t o o u r A s s e m b l y m a n . ” C o n ti n u e d o n P a g e 7. S e r v i n g t he E i g h t V i l l ag es of F ra n k l in T o w ns h ip in S om e rset C o u n t y , N . J . PRS RT STD US Postage Paid Permit No. 1239 Bellmaw r , NJ EC R WSS Local Residential Customer V o l . V I I, N o . X I T op N e ws of O c to b e r 2024 FR & A is LIVE! S c an QRs t o vie w . T he F r anklin R e p o r t e r & A d v o c a t e I t w a s a b e a ut i f u l d a y O c t o b e r 12 f o r t he a n nu a l B le s s in g of t he A n i m a ls a t t he F r a n k l i n T o w n s h i p A n i m a l She lt e r . W e s p e a k w i t h C a y l ia W a l l a c e, H ead C o ach of t he F r a n k l i n H i g h S ch o o l D an c e T eam, a b o u t t he t ea m ’ s u p - c o m in g n a t i o n a ls c o m - p e t i t i o n i n O r l ando, F l . A t t he E a s t F r a n k l i n V o l - u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t o p e n ho u se,. s p e a k in g w i t h C h ief D an K r u sh - in s k y . F r o m t he F r a n k l i n H i g h S ch o o l H o m e c o m in g A w a r d W i n n in g F r a n k l i n H i g h S ch o o l M a r c h in g B and A m o r e th an 6 - m o n t h s t andoff e nd e d O c - t o b e r 8 w h e n a n e w c o n t r act w a s si g n e d b y t he E a s t F r a n k l i n V o l u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t and t he F i r e Di s t r ict 3 Bo a r d of C o m m is - si o n e r s . E F V FD h a s b e e n o p e r a t - in g w i t ho u t a c o n t r act s i n c e A p r il 1, w h e n fi r e d e p a r t - m e n t br a s s r e f u s e d t o si g n t he n e w p r o p os e d a g r e e m e n t. The Di s t r ict e n t e rs i n t o yea r ly c o n t r ac t s w i t h fi r e d e p a r t m e n t s w h ich a l l o w t he d e p a r t m e n t s t o fi g h t fi r e s . F ir e Di s t r ict 3 c o n t a i n s r o u g h ly 30,000 r esid e n t s, and a lso i nc l udes C o m m u n i t y V o l u n t e e r F i r e D e p a r t m e n t. C o m m u n i t y si g n e d t he n e w c o n t r act i n M a r c h . A t t he c r ux of t he i s s ue w i t h E a s t F r a n k l i n w e r e n e w s t i p u l at i o n s t he C o m m is - si o n e rs i nc l ud e d i n t he p r o - p os e d c o n t r act, t o w h ich t he E F V FD m e m b e rs h i p o b j e ct - e d . Those s t i p u l a t i on s i n - c l ud e d re mo vin g n e w p o l icies g i vin g fi r e c h ie f s i n p u t i n t o p r o p os e d p o l i c y c h a n g es, i n - s t a ll in g n e w v id e o and a u d io r e c o r d in g d e v i c es i n d e p a r t - m e n t v e h icles and a p p a r a t u s, and e n d in g r e i mb u rs e m e n t f o r fi r e fi g h t e r s ’ p e rs o n a l p r o p e r t y d a m a g e d o r lo s t w h ile r e s p o n d in g t o c a l l s . Bo a r d Ch a i rm an Sh err o d M id d le to n d r e w t he i r e of t he E F V FD m e m b e rs h i p w h e n he t h r e a t e n e d t o s hu t d o w n t he fi r e d e p a r t m e n t, r e c l a i m a l l a p p a r a tu s and fi r efi g h t - in g g ear – w h ich t he Di s t r ict o w n s and p a ys t o sto r e a t t he E F V FD f o r e ho u se – and h i r e p e r d i e m fi r efi g h t e rs t o b r i d g e t he g a p . Bu t E F V FD r e f u s e d t o bu d g e, c u l m i n a t in g i n a S e p - t e m b e r 17 m e e t in g am o n g C o m m i s si o n e r K e n ne t h R ei d , Bo a r d C l e r k F a t i i m a B r a x to n, and t w o m e m b e rs of E F V F D , w h ich r e s u lt e d i n t he a g r e e m e n t si g n e d o n O c - t o b e r 8. E F V FD C h ief D an K r u - s h i n s k i s a id t he n e w c o n t r act w a s a v ic to r y f o r t he fi r e de - p a r t m e n t. “ W e g ot 100% w h a t w e w a n t e d , ” he s a id a ft e r t he m e e t in g . The n e w c o n t r ac t s c o n - t a i n s a s t i p u l a t i o n th a t if t he d e p a r t m e n t c h ie f s o b j e ct t o a n y n e w p o l i c y p r o p os e d b y t he C o m m i s si o n e rs, a w r it - F i r e Dis t r ict 3 Con t r a ct Dispute Ends ; MAKING HIS C ASE – E ast F r anklin V olu n t eer F i r e D epa r tme n t C hief Dan K r ushins k i speaks t o the F i r e D istri c t 3 B oa r d of C ommissioners on O c t ober 8. Continued on P age 7 A t o w n s h i p - b a s e d fo u n d a t i o n m ade t he w ishes of a n u m - b e r of C l a r e m o n t E l e m e n t a r y S ch o o l t each e rs c o me t r ue O c t o b e r 28 w i t h t he d o n a - t i o n of $7,100 w o r t h of s e n - s o r y t eac h in g a id s . The s u p p l ies, d o n a t e d b y t he T r i p le B F o u n d a t i o n, w i l l b e u s e d i n t he sch o o l ’ s ne u r o - d i v e r g e n t p r o g r am i n g r ades P r e - K t o 6, s a id v i ce - p r i nc i p a l An g e l a P a p e. The s u p p l ies w e r e o n t each e r s ’ “w ish l i st s , ” w h ich w e r e s u b m i tt e d t o t he F o u n - d a t i o n f o r f u l fi l lm e n t, P a p e s a i d . “ I t ’ s t o he l p w i t h t he i r s e n s o r y n ee ds , ” P a p e s a i d . “ S o t h e r e ’ s d iff e r e n t fi d g e t s, t h e r e ’ s d iff e r e n t b a l an c e b o a r ds, st e p p in g sto nes t o he l p w i t h p r op r i o c e p t i v e ac - t i v i t ie s . ” P r op r i o c e p t i o n is a s e n se th a t le t s u s p er c ei v e t he l o c a - t i o n and mo v e m e n t s of o u r bo dy p a r t s, a cc o r d in g t o S ci - e n c eD i r e ct . c o m . A lso d o n a t e d w e r e c a lm - in g s u p p l ies, t i m e rs, k i ne t ic san d , and s e n s o r y t a b les t o p u t t he sand o r wa t e r i n, P a p e s a i d . The F o u n d a t i o n w a s f o r m e d b y t w o si b l in g s, M a k e d a F r ys o n and h e r b r o t h e r , K w ame B r ee d y , and g e t s i t s n ame f r o m t he m a t r i - a r c h s of t he i r f a m il y . “ BB B s t ands f o r t he m a - t r ia r c h s of o u r f a m il y , ” F r ys o n s a i d . “ M y g r andmo t h e r , Ch a r lo tt e B a yl e y ; m y m o m, J e nn y B r ee d y , and m y a u n t, C e cily B a r r in g to n . The F o u n d a t i o n ’ s m is - si o n, she s a i d , “ is r e a l ly t o jus t ta p i n t o o u r c o m m u n i t ies, s p e cifi c a l ly f o r o u r ne u r o d i - ve r g e n t st ud e n t s, o u r eld e r l y , a n y o ne i n o u r c o m m u n i t y th a t is i n n ee d . ” “ W e g r e w u p h er e, w e w e n t t h r o u g h o u r e n t ir e e d - u c a t i o n h e r e , ” she s a i d . “ O u r g o a l w a s t o g i v e b ac k , b e - c a u se th a t w a s t he g o a l of m y g r andmo t h e r , Ch a r lo tt e B a i - l e y . A nd so b e c a u se of th a t, w e jus t w a n t e d t o m a k e s u r e th a t w e ac h i e v e t h is m i s si o n . ” F r ys o n s a id she w a s a s ub - s t i t u t e t each e r a t C l a r e m o n t, so she k n e w fi r s t- h and t he n ee ds of t he s t ud e n t s i n th a t p r o g r a m . “ A nd t hese s t ud e n t s h er e, jus t b a s e d o n m y o w n p e rs o n - a l e x p er i e n c e, I w a s a b le t o s e e fi r s t- h and w h a t it is w h e n t h e y a r e a b le t o ha v e a cc e s s t o c e r t a i n r eso u r c es , ” she s a i d . “ L et ’ s g i v e t h e m w h a t t h e y n ee d e d t h er e, and t h e n w e’ l l build f r o m th a t and g ro w . S o w e ’ r e e x ci t e d t o s e e w h er e t h is g o es f r o m h e r e, and w e ’ r e h o p in g th a t p e o p le w i l l s e e t he g oo d th a t w e ’ r e t r y in g t o do, h o p e f ul ly d o n a t e t o o u r fo u n d a t i o n and a l l o w u s t o ha v e a m uch l ar g e r i m p act and r eac h . ” Th is i s n ’ t t he fi r s t t i me t he F o u n d a t i o n h a s off e r e d a he l p in g h an d , b u t t h is do - n a t i o n is t he l ar g e s t, F r ys o n s a i d . T o wnship F ounda t ion Donates $7K In S enso r y S upplies T o C la r emont E lementa r y SCHOOL DON A TIONS – Ma k eda F r yson and K w ame B r eedy of the T riple B F ound a tion, and Cl a r emo n t E leme n ta r y S chool vi c e -principal A ngela P ape (le f t t o rig h t) talk about the supply don a tion made b y the F ound a tion t o the schoo l . Continued on P age 7 2023 Share
The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
