If you’ve been scrolling through local social media or catching up on the scuttlebutt at the corner deli, you know it’s been a busy start to the year in Somerset County. Honestly, trying to keep up with franklin township nj news feels like a full-time job lately. Between the shakeups in our schools and some pretty heavy-duty zoning changes that are going to reshape our backyard, there is a lot to digest.
Big Changes at the Board of Ed
The biggest bombshell? Schools Superintendent John Ravally is officially calling it a career. He announced his retirement recently, and he’s set to step down at the end of this current school year. That is a massive hole to fill. Ravally has been the face of the district through some incredibly lean and some incredibly productive years.
While that’s happening, the Board of Education (BOE) held its reorganization. Dr. Natalia Hopkins was picked to lead as President for 2026, with Bill Inocencio serving as Vice President. They’ve got a full plate immediately. We aren't just talking about finding a new superintendent; they are also managing the 2026-2027 registration cycles. If you have a little one, heads up: PK3 and K-12 registration opens on February 1, 2026. PK4 follows on April 6.
The Warehouse Wars and New Ordinances
Development is always the hot-button issue here. You can’t drive down Mettlers Road or Elizabeth Avenue without seeing someone talking about it. The Township Council just introduced a handful of ordinances specifically targeting the Affordable Housing Plan.
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But let’s talk about the elephant in the room: warehouses.
The Planning Board is basically trying to put a leash on the "Business and Industry" (B-I) zones. They recently moved to make warehouses a "conditionally-permitted use" rather than just letting them pop up wherever. They are also rezoning chunks of Mettlers Road back to Rural Residential and Agricultural. It's a clear signal that the town is trying to protect what’s left of our open space from becoming a sea of loading docks.
Quick Local Snapshots
- Hamilton Street Fire: A nasty fire broke out on January 7th in a detached garage on Hamilton Street. It spread to a shed on Brookline Avenue. Thankfully, crews from East Franklin, Community, and Somerset Fire and Rescue got it under control with no injuries reported.
- MLK Breakfast: The annual Dr. Martin Luther King Community Breakfast is happening Monday, January 19, 2026, at 9:00 AM. It’s always a packed house.
- Police Tech: Congressman Tom Kean Jr. just announced about $3.8 million in federal funding for the district, and a chunk of that is going toward 89 new tri-band radios for the Franklin Township Police Department.
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It's not all hard news and politics, though. The Franklin Youth Center is pushing hard for new memberships for 2026—it's free for residents in grades 6-12. If you're over 55, the "Forever 55" programs are doing everything from coffee painting to instrument meditation this month.
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One thing that kinda caught people off guard was the zoning board hearing for the Ukrainian Cultural Center. It apparently ended in a bit of chaos recently. People are passionate about how their neighborhoods look, and sometimes that passion boils over in the municipal building.
What’s Coming Up Next?
If you are looking to get involved or just need to get your chores done, keep these dates in your calendar:
- January 16, 2026: No school for students. It's a teacher in-service day.
- January 19, 2026: Schools and municipal offices are closed for MLK Day.
- January 21, 2026: The Planning Board meets again at 7:30 PM. Expect more talk about those zoning amendments.
- January 29, 2026: The Food Composting Workshop that got bumped from earlier this month is finally happening at 6:30 PM in the Council Chambers.
The township is definitely in a transition phase. With a new police radio system coming online, a search for a new schools chief starting, and the ongoing battle over how many warehouses we actually need, 2026 is already looking like a turning point.
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Keep an eye on the curbside, too. Christmas tree pickup is still rolling, but remember that snow removal always takes priority if the weather turns south. If you haven't licensed your dog yet, the clerk’s office is waiting for you. It's the little things that keep this place running while the big stuff gets sorted out in the council chambers.
Your Action Plan:
- Register your students: Set a reminder for February 1st if you have a child entering the district for the 2026-2027 year.
- Attend the BOE Meeting: The next session is January 29th at 7:30 PM. If you have thoughts on the superintendent search, that’s where to be.
- Check your recycling: Pickups have been lagging in some zones; leave your bins out if they haven't been hit by the usual time.
- Get a Youth Center pass: If you have a teenager, get them signed up for a free membership to give them a safe spot after school.