Environment

SAY CHEESE – A student takes a selfie with one of the animals in two petting zoos during the 3rd Annual Green Fair held May 3 at Franklin High School. A ribbon-cutting for the groundbreaking of the new Franklin High School outdoor learning center highlighted the 3rd Annual Green Fair held May 3 at the school. The new center, located …

TALKING CHICKENS – Kate Brown, from the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, speaks about raising hens for eggs April 17 in the Township Council chambers. About two dozen aspiring chicken keepers were provided the ins and outs of raising hens in their backyards at a special forum April 17 hosted by Township Council Member Ed Potosnak. The forum comes in the wake …

STREAM CLEAN-UP – Some of the items recovered during the annual John Clyde Stream Clean-Up of Mile Run on April 12. A number of environmental groups from the township and New Brunswick – including the Franklin Township Environmental Commission – gathered April 12 at the Mile Run entrance on Hamilton Street for their annual stream clean-up. As usual, volunteers carried …

Energy aggregation may finally come to the township in the next approximately six months, the Environmental Commission was told at its April 7 meeting. Township Councilmember Ed Potosnak, the Commission’s liaison to the Council, told commissioners that the Township’s energy consultant has said the summer will probably be a good time to start the long-delayed program. The consultant “thinks the …

STREAM CLEANUP SET – The annual John Clyde stream cleanup is set for April 12. The Franklin Township Environmental Commission has set 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 12 for its annual John Clyde stream cleanup. Volunteers are gathering at Hamilton and Woodbridge streets in New Brunswick. Parking is in the rear lot of Sts. Peter & Paul Byzantine Catholic …

Submitted By Jenny Kafas, Franklin Township Environmental Commission Volunteer We can’t wait for The Franklin Township Environmental Commission’s screening of “Common Ground,” a documentary all about the power of regenerative agriculture, followed by a panel discussion with Jason DeSalvo of Cold Brook Farm, Michele Logan of Maranatha Farm, and Ron Weiss, M.D, of Ethos Farm.  It all takes place on …

A Branchburg company has been issued a notice of violation by state environmental officials for a chemical leak into a tributary of the Raritan River that affected water used by Franklin Township customers of NJ American Water Company. The December 16 leak caused a discoloration and odor in the water used by NJAW customers, although, officials said, there was no …

Supports Proposed Bill – Environmental Commission member Stan Jaracz brought the idea to the Commission. A bill that would hold fossil fuel companies liable for some damage to the state and its residents through climate change was supported by the Environmental Commission at its December 16 meeting. The bill, of which state Sen. Robert Smith (D-17) is a prime Senate …

A film screening and panel discussion about a proposed “Green Amendment” to the state Constitution is set for 7-8 p.m. November 14 at the Board of Education administration building, 2301 Route 27. The event is sponsored by the Franklin Township Environmental Commission. The after-movie panel will include state Sen. Andrew Zwicker (D-16), one of amendment’s prime sponsors; activist, author and …

CHARGING UP – Tara Kenyon, the Township’s Sustainability Consultant, charges a vehicle in the Municipal Complex. (Photo: Franklin Township Environmental Commission.) The Township’s efforts to promote access to electric vehicle charging through workplace charging was recently rewarded with three Electric Vehicle Adoption Leadership certifications. Franklin received from Forth, a transportation electrification non-profit, Gold Certifications for charging stations in the Municipal …