Environment

About 40 people gathered the morning of April 12 at the rear of Somerset Village on Easton Avenue to help clean up Seeley’s Brook. Led by the John Clyde, Township Councilman Ted Chase (D-Ward 1), the township Environmental Commission and the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Alliance, the group – which included Brownies from Troop 60607 – climbed up and down the …

More than 50 trees were scheduled April 5 to be picked up by residents during the township Shade Tree Commission’s annual sale. The trees were available at the township’s Convenience Center at Berry and School streets. Commission chairman Chris Williams and member Bob Hudak were on hand to distribute the trees. Residents were able to purchase the trees late last …

An Earth Day display designed to “educate the public about the technology and benefits of solar energy in saving energy and improving our environment” is running at the Franklin Township Public Library, 485 DeMott Lane, Somerset, through April 30. The Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity’s Theta Psi Lambda chapter’s Green Committee has partnered with Green Power Energy of Annandale and the …

Update 2: The Blackwells Mills and Griggstown causeways were reopened early in the morning of April 2. The Blackwells Mills and Griggstown causeways were closed March 30 due to flooding from heavy rain of the previous two days. The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for that general area until 2 p.m. March 31. Rain is expected to …

One of the state’s top environmental law enforcers has a message for those who would illegally dump on state-owned open space. “You do not want to be the next person we catch doing this,” the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Knute Jensen said against a backdrop of mounds of dumped items on state-owned property off Blackwells Mills Road. Jensen joined …

A crackdown on illegal dumping in state parks, forests, wildlife management areas and natural areas will be announced by the state’s top environmental officers at noon March 27 at a Blackwells Mills Road site. State Department of Environmental Commissioner Bob Martin and DEP Deputy Commissioner Michele Siekerka will announced the effort at the Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park location …

Hydraulic fracturing – fracking – is now banned in the township, thanks to an ordinance amendment passed March 25 by the Township Council. Fracking is a process by which natural gas is extracted from the Earth. Proponents say it’s a safe process, while opponents say it poses numerous health and environmental threats. The amendment to the township’s quarrying and blasting …

Although they’re not sure it would ever happen in Franklin, the Township Council at its March 11 meeting introduced an ordinance to ban fracking. The vote was not unanimous; Mayor Brian Levine (R), saying there really isn’t any opportunity for the practice within township borders, voted against it. The amendment to the township’s quarrying and blasting ordinance is the result …

Township Councilman Ted Chase has waited four years to get his water conservation ordinance introduced, and it looks as though he’ll have to wait a while longer. The ordinance was set to be introduced on first reading at the council’s March 11 meeting. But objections raised by Deputy Mayor Brian Regan (D-At Large) convinced his fellow council members to hold …

Guided nature walks, sponsored by the Franklin Township open space program, are being offered through the spring and summer months. The walks are free and plotted along easy terrain. The May and June walks will be led by NJ Audubon naturalists. The July and August walks will be led by two township residents and avid birders, Chris and Paula Williams. …