Environment

A vocal group of opponents to the proposed Williams-Transco gas compressor station targeted for the township rallied May 2 to let a federal agency know of their feelings. The group, which rallied in front of the township Senior/Community Center in the municipal complex, was comprised of Franklin residents, as well as residents from neighboring towns. Also on hand, across the …

Arbor Day was celebrated on April 28 by the township’s Shade Tree Commission with the planting of the final tree in the Middlebush Park “re-greening” program. The commission, in conjunction with the township Department of Public Works and Parks Department has planted 325 trees over the last two years, said commission chairperson Sara Malone. The types of trees planted included …

Residents opposed to a plan to build a natural gas compressor station near the Trap Rock quarry gathered at a township school April 18 to continue their fight. The session at Franklin Middle School was meant to help opponents of the Williams-Transco plan to build the compressor station gain what’s called intervenor status and to submit comments on a draft …

Township officials will ask the Somerset County Parks Commission for permission to allow hunting on at least one of the county owned golf courses located in Franklin. Township Manager Robert Vornlocker and Tara Kenyon, the township’s open space consultant, will make the request after the idea received the endorsement of the Open Space Advisory Committee at its April 17 meeting. …

Two township residents were among 17 students who graduated in March from Somerset County’s Rutgers Master Gardener Program. Tom Fucaloro and  W “RP”  Raghupathi, both of Somerset, were among those completing the 24-week course. The program consists of in-depth horticultural training covering the study of plant biology, turf, insects, pest and disease control, landscape design, vegetable gardening and the role …

Submitted by the Somerset County Park Commission. The Colonial Park Gardens staff will present a unique program, “Forest Bathing,” from noon to 2 p.m. April 8 and Sept. 9 at the Colonial Park Gardens, Parking Lot A. The Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, which translates as “forest bathing”, is intended to help foster a connection with nature that feeds the mind, …

Submitted by Somerset County Park Commission. When they promised you a rose garden, they should have given you the know-how to keep it healthy and beautiful. The opportunity to gain the knowledge necessary for growing beautiful and sustainable roses is available from the Colonial Park Horticulture staff in collaboration with the Jersey Shore Rose Society. On Saturday March 31, Colonial …

About 160 people attended a “Mayors’ Climate Summit” at Rutgers University Feb. 3, an event that was the brainchild of Mayor Phil Kramer. The summit was held at Rutgers’ Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy in New Brunswick and was attended mainly by mayors and other elected officials from throughout the state. Sponsored by the New Jersey …

With its last recommendation on the subject barely seven months old, the Open Space Advisory Committee Jan. 16 agreed to take a “full-scale” look at the township’s deer hunting program. The decision came after Mayor Phil Kramer told the committee that some members of the Township Council were interested in exploring expanding the program. Discussion on the program will probably …

The draft report on the environmental effects of a proposed natural gas compressor station targeted for the township should be issued in March, according to a Jan. 3 announcement by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. That draft Environmental Impact Statement’s release by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will open a window for public comment before the final EIS is issued …