Environment

Franklin Township was spared the brunt of the season’s first snow storm. Updated 11/27/14: A winter storm that had been forecast to drop between 5 and 10 inches of snow in the Franklin area Nov. 26 fizzled, leaving the township with little more than an inch of snow, but lots of slush and ice. The National Weather Service says there’s …

Resident furor over a proposal to build an active recreation park on the Catalpa farm property, as well as other park-related controversies, prompted the township’s Open Space Advisory Committee to ask for an inventory of all playing fields in Franklin. Saying it would help them when reviewing future park development plans, members of the township’s Open Space Advisory Committee Nov. 18 …

Fran Varacalli, left, was part of a Leadership Somerset team that built a rain garden for Somerville. Photo: Leadership Somerset.   Don’t Miss Out! No other media outlet covering Franklin Township brings you the depth of information presented by the Franklin Reporter & Advocate. Period. We are the only truly independent media serving the Eight Villages. But we can only …

The dining hall at Rutgers Prep is one example of the school’s environmental stewardship recognized by the township Environmental Commission. The Rutgers Preparatory School on Easton Avenue will receive an award from the township’s Environmental Commission for the school’s “many contributions to the environment of Franklin Township.” Don’t Miss Out! No other media outlet covering Franklin Township brings you the depth …

Pictured are the three recycling containers that would have been used in the township. In the center and at the right are the 45- and 95-gallon containers used in the single-stream recycling program. Photo: Somerset County. The Somerset County pilot single-stream recycling program that was set to begin in the township this month has been put on hold. Don’t Miss …

About 50 residents around the area planned for Catalpa Park appeared at the Sept. 16 Open Space Advisory Committee meeting to express their displeasure with the idea. Faced with public backlash over plans for Middlebush Park and the proposed Catalpa Park, the township’s Open Space Advisory Committee on Sept. 16 voted to recommend a one-year moratorium on new township-financed park development. …

An ordinance designed to save water by limiting how some residents can water their lawns was introduced at the Township Council’s Aug. 12 meeting. The ordinance has been a pet project of Councilman Ted Chase (D-Ward 1) for several years. Chase thought the ordinance was going to be introduced in March, but objections brought by Deputy Mayor Brian Regan (D-At …

Township Councilman Ted Chase (D-Ward 1), the council liaison to the Environmental Commission, noted that one application under review planned to remove trees on township property. A plan by an Edison developer to remove 25 trees from a Hillcrest Avenue property drew the ire of the Environmental Commission at its Aug. 18 meeting. Don’t Miss Out! No other media outlet …

Volunteers from Catalent Pharma Solutions spread mulch along the Lois Howe Nature Trail at Somerset County Park Commission Colonial Park. Photo: Somerset County Park Commission. A group of 35 volunteers from Catalent Pharma Solutions, Somerset, helped beautify a part of Colonial Park recently. Don’t Miss Out! No other media outlet covering Franklin Township brings you the depth of information presented …

A “garden party” was held July 19 in the perennial garden at Colonial Park. Hosted by the Somerset County Park Commission’s Horticultural Department, the “party” featured music, speakers and plant-related items for sale. Don’t Miss Out! No other media outlet covering Franklin Township brings you the depth of information presented by the Franklin Reporter & Advocate. Period. We are the only …