We are not just running for the Township Committee; we live here, our families are here, and we are deeply invested in the everyday life of Franklin Township. Defending our town from over-development happens in the committee room, but building a strong, tight-knit community happens out here on the ground.
Whether we are cheering on local athletes or attending local events, our priority is staying connected with you. Take a look at what we’ve been up to recently around town.
Recent Community Highlights
August 27 | Delsea Crusaders Football Home Opener
Great night out with the whole crew watching Delsea bring the heat and grind out a tough 12-6 win against Vineland. Congrats to Coach Kyle Klein on getting his first victory on the board, the guys on the field, and the entire athletic program. Way to set the winning tone for the season. Let’s keep it rolling! Go Crusaders!
August 26 | Main Road School Fundraiser
We had a great time supporting the Main Road School PTO at their school year kickoff fundraiser. Our crew headed down to Serene’s Custard and Golf to enjoy some ice cream, water ice, and 18-hole miniature golf course.
August 25 | Free School Supplies Event
Franklin Township, you have truly outdone yourselves. When Phil Venticinque & Eugene J. Caldwell organized our 3rd community meet and greet, we were completely blown away by the turnout. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬.
At the free school supply pickup at the Franklin Township Library, we saw the beautiful result of that generosity. We were able to help countless families and children get exactly what they need to start the upcoming school year off right. Seeing the smiles and excitement on the kids’ faces as they picked out their gear was incredibly moving.
August 25 | Taking pride in our town starts with simple, everyday actions.
Our public works crew does a great job maintaining our township, but they can’t be everywhere at once. Small things pop up every day. While we were out at the park, the girls and I saw some fence rails that had come down, so we stopped to set them back in place. Teaching our kids that taking pride in our town starts with simple, everyday actions.
It’s always a good day to leave our community a little better than we found it.
August 17 | Our 3rd Community Meet and Greet
Thank you to everyone who packed the room at the VFW. We had some great, honest discussions with the community about the future of Franklin Township, and we appreciated the opportunity to answer your questions directly.
We firmly believe the most productive conversations don’t happen in online comment sections; they happen right here, face-to-face, looking our neighbors in the eye. True leadership means stepping away from the keyboard and standing in front of the community. Standing before the taxpayers to answer your questions directly is exactly the kind of accountability our local government needs.
It was great to get offline and speak with so many of you in the same room. Thank you for a highly productive evening.
August 1 | St. Mary’s Feast of the Assumption Italian Festival
Our family really enjoyed our time at the Feast of the Assumption Italian Festival this weekend. We are lucky to have events like this that bring everyone together and support St. Mary’s Malaga. Between the great food, the live music, and the games for the kids, it was a perfect day out. Huge thanks to St. Mary’s for everything you do for the surrounding community!
July 25 | We attended the local VFW Post 2071 fundraiser
The members there are always so welcoming. I want to thank them for all the events they put on for our town all year round, and for everything they do for Franklin, our local veterans, and their families. As a VFW life member, I know the importance of a strong VFW, and this one is truly one of the best. It is the least we can do to support an organization that gives so much, so I am asking our whole town to make sure we support them right back.
On another note, congratulations to Post 2071 for meeting or exceeding all their All-American 2025-2026 goals, including Community Service, Day of Service, Buddy Poppy, Voice of Democracy, and Patriot’s Pen. Great job to everyone!
July 13 | 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐥𝐢𝐧 𝟏𝟎𝐔 𝐛𝐨𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐬!
It was great being out with the family to back the Franklin 10U team as they walked away with a 13-3 win to take the title. These kids put in the hard work, the pitching was remarkable, every kid on the field gave 110%, and they earned every single run. It’s awesome seeing all their hard work and dedication pay off with a championship.
Even though the win belongs to the players, this is a great moment for coaches who have watched them grow from little T-ballers into a championship team. Thank you to the coaches for dedicating your time and energy to these kids, it definitely does not go unnoticed. Seeing so many people from our town make the trip to support them makes me proud to be part of the Franklin Township Little League family. The whole township is proud of you guys. Great job, team!
July 4 | VFW 4th of July Celebration
My wife and I brought the kids out to the local VFW 4th of July Celebration, and we all had a great time.
Between the Stitch airbrush tattoos for the kids, the ice cream from Toni’s Treats, and the free books from the Friends of the Franklin Township Library, it was a perfect day out.
Thank you to everyone who had a hand in organizing this and giving back to our town!
June 28 | This past Saturday we spent time at the Newfield Terrace Community Day.
They were officially opening the new basketball court and food pantry annex. But the best part of the day was listening to the tributes for Rudolph and Marlene Aikens. Having had the privilege of coaching their son, Rudy, seeing so many people come out to testify about the impact his parents had on their lives really hit home.
Together, Rudolph and Marlene spent over three decades doing the hard work behind the scenes, running the local pantry, mentoring kids, and being the rocks of an entire community. We’re confident that their impact will live on for generations.
To the Aikens family and the Newfield Terrace Community Center, thank you for the legacy you have built. It was a humbling and special day to witness.
June 15 | Another season in the books.
Another season in the books. So proud of how hard my two youngest girls worked on the field this season. Being their coach is great, but treating them to post-game ice cream is the best part. Huge shout out to all the other players this season, the parents, and especially the coaches who volunteer their time for our kids.
May 27 | Took the family over to the Main Road Art Show tonight.
You can tell the kids put a lot of work into these projects. Between the blacklight room and the handprint murals, they had some really creative setups.
With five kids, we’ve been through a lot of school events, but it’s always good to get out and see what the students are working on. It takes a lot of time and coordination to put an event like this together. A huge thank you to the teachers, staff, volunteers, parents, and administrators who made it happen. Great job to all the students involved!
May 25 | VFW Post 2071 Memorial Day Service
I had the honor of attending today’s Memorial Day ceremony and the ribbon cutting for the restored auxiliary building at the VFW. Thank you to the VFW and auxiliary for providing this solemn ceremony for Franklin Township, to the local Scouting organizations whose hard work made the event possible, and to the local leaders who participated.
On a personal note, I included two photos that represent a pretty wild full-circle moment for me. The first is a picture of me in my Marine Corps uniform participating in this exact ceremony 19 years ago. The second is my youngest daughter in that very same spot today. It is hard to believe how fast time goes by.
May 24 | Gloucester County Veterans Memorial Cemetery Service
A rainy and gray afternoon could not take away from the beautiful, solemn Memorial Day ceremony at the Gloucester County Veterans Memorial Cemetery today. It was an absolute honor to attend and stand among the residents, fellow veterans, Gold Star families, and the families of those interred here who weathered the rain to pay their respects.
Thank you to Gloucester County Veterans Affairs and the grounds crew for your dedication to maintaining these hallowed grounds. Furthermore, a profound thank you to the Marine Corps League, the VFW, Veteran Organizations, and the Honor Guard for standing tall today and providing our fallen heroes with the honor and dignity they deserve.
This isn’t just about a great local tradition; it is about the mission behind it. Every dollar raised goes directly toward supporting the Veterans of Foreign Wars, members, veterans, and the families who stand behind them.
I know firsthand how vital this local support system is for our brothers and sisters returning home. The VFW Post 2071 does incredible work ensuring no veteran is left behind, and it is our duty as a community to back them up.
Support your local VFW! Taking care of our neighbors is what Franklin Township does best.
April 20 | Stopped by the grand opening of the Jersey Diner in Malaga with the family today
Stopped by the grand opening of the Jersey Diner in Malaga with the family today, and they did an incredible job with the place. I know so many of us have been waiting for this spot to finally open its doors again after the old Malaga Diner closed.
The renovations look great, and the food is exactly what you want from a local diner. The place was packed, and seeing everyone show up to support a new local business is exactly why I love this community and our neighbors.
April 18 | Friends of the Franklin Township Library book sale.
We stopped by the Friends of the Franklin Township Library, book sale with the family today, and the place is packed wall-to-wall with people and books. Seeing everyone out supporting a great local cause is exactly why I love this community and our neighbors.
If you have some time today, come on out and support the library. You can’t beat stocking up on books for only $0.50 each.
April 17 | Youth sports in full swing
With youth sports in full swing, I want to take a minute to recognize all the parents and neighbors out there volunteering to coach.
We always say we volunteer for the kids, to teach them the game and how to work as a team. But if we’re being honest, being out on that field is just as good for us. It’s a few hours a week where we get to step away from work, put our phones in our pockets, and forget about the daily stress. It’s where we actually get to catch up with our neighbors, share some laughs, and just enjoy being part of the community.
Franklin Township is a great place to raise a family because so many of you are willing to give up your free time to make these programs happen.
Thank you to everyone out on the dirt and the grass this season.
April 14 | WE CAME TOGETHER, AND WE MADE THEM LISTEN.
I have just returned from tonight’s Township Committee meeting, and I want to start by saying thank you. I stepped up to the microphone and did my absolute best to get the answers our taxpayers deserve.
Whether you attended tonight to support the resolutions or to stand against them, it was incredible to see so many residents speak up. Everyone in that room shared one common goal: wanting what is best for the township we love and call home.
Here is the most important update: After hearing from the public, the committee voted NO to the settlement agreement that had been drafted up with the developer
But we have to be honest about how we got into this situation. This crisis did not happen overnight. The township has had many decades to come up with a smart, proactive, alternative plan to meet our obligations, and local leadership completely failed to do so. Because of decades of inaction, we are now stuck in a position where we have to fight off massive corporate developers to protect our town.
The road ahead will not be easy. But seeing our township come together tonight proves that when we stand united, we give ourselves the best possible chance to win. Thank you to everyone who showed up.
March 14 | Little League Field Cleanup
Thank you to everyone who came out to help the Little League this morning!
We put the word out hoping to rally some extra volunteers, but our community completely over-delivered. I’m hearing this was the biggest turnout they’ve had in a long time, and the fields have honestly never looked better for the kids.
Seeing everyone roll up their sleeves and work together is exactly what our town is all about.
If you see us around town, please come say hello.
We mean it when we say our door is always open. Government works best when neighbors listen to neighbors. If you see Phil or Eugene out and about in Franklin Township, please walk up, introduce yourself, and let us know what is on your mind. We are always ready to listen.