Environment

The Franklin Township Shade Tree Commission is holding its seventh annual shade tree sale through Feb. 7 The trees being offered this year are Red Maple and Zelcova for shade, and the ornamentals, Sweet Bay Magnolia and Redbud. Prices are $60 for one, $100 for two and $135 for three. The trees measure 6- to 8-feet tall; there are only …

Township residents may notice a change in the taste ad smell of their drinking water starting later this month, as New Jersey American Water temporarily switches its water treatment process. The company will change from using chloramine to using free chlorine to treat water at several plants, including the Canal Road Water Treatment Plant in Somerset, from about Jan. 21 …

A plan for a township agricultural heritage center on Jan. 8 crept a little closer to being included in the township’s Master Plan. Two members of the township’s Historical Preservation Advisory Commission – Barbara Lawrence and Andrew Gurian – appeared before the Planning Board to ask that it include their project in the plan. Doing so, they said, would give …

Residents wishing to recycle their Christmas trees may do so from Dec. 26, 2013 to Jan. 31, 2014 at Parking Lot F in Colonial Park, 156 Mettlers Rd. Trees will be accepted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week. The recycling is sponsored by the Somerset County Park Commission. Each family is limited to one natural tree. …

The extent to which trees were cleared at Middlebush Park sparked some comments from two Environmental Commission members at the Dec. 2 meeting. Commission vice-chair Arnold Schmidt and member David Triggs voiced some concern over the number of trees that were cleared for the park, and over the lack of a buffer between the park and nearby residents. “It looks …

The First Saturday of the Month recycling drop offs for regular waste and electronics are set for Dec. 7 in Somerset and Bridgewater. Residents with electronics that need to be recycled can bring them between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. to Newtech Recycling, 600A Apgar Dr. The company also accepts “e-waste” weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents with …

A plan to turn the Stoothoff-Gunther farmstead on South Middlebush Road into an agricultural historic site was presented to the Township Council at its Nov. 26 meeting. The Franklin Agricultural Heritage Center, as it would be called, would draw an estimated 17,000 visitors a year and provide a place for recreation, education and preservation, the council was told by Barbara …

Design changes to a proposed church at Cedar Grove Lane and Como Drive were given a positive reception Nov. 18 by the township Environmental Commission. The church, Edison-NJ Tabernacle Church, is scheduled to appear before the township Zoning Board of Adjustment at its January 9, 2014 meeting. The church has been asking for and receiving postponements on its application since …

The Township Council paid homage to one of its own at the Nov. 12 meeting, honoring former Mayor John Clyde with a commendation for his work on the Trails Advisory Committee. Clyde recently resigned from the committee, a member of which he has been since 2005. Clyde resigned “so others could participate as members, Township Councilman Phil Kramer said. Clyde’s …

Think of it as a high-tech scavenger hunt. That’s how some describe geo caching, the sport of finding hidden items on trails, using maps and GPS devices. It’s popular around the world, and on Oct. 27, a northern New Jersey caching group helped launch the trail at the Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve’s Cache Trail off Canal Road. Between 50 and …