More than 1,000 homes are being added to Somerset County’s dual-stream recycling program in the township. Those added to the program will begin receiving two 65-gallon containers for the recyclables on March 12, according to a notice from the county recycling division. The new recycling program will begin on March 26. In November 2018, about 420 township households were switched …
Read More »Rutgers Master Gardeners’ Helpline Activated March 1
Starting March 1, the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Somerset County open their free helpline to provide one-on-one answers for homeowner lawn, garden, and landscaping questions and challenges. Comprised of highly trained volunteers, the Rutgers Master Gardeners are great for supporting the communities needs in plant and insect identification, home landscaping and gardening, weed identification, as well as other areas if …
Read More »Environmental Commission Hears Presentation On Spotted Lanternfly Threat
George Hamilton, from Rutgers University’s entomology department, talks to the Environmental Commission about the spotted lanternfly at the commission’s Nov. 4 meeting. Somerset County was recently added to the list of quarantined counties by state agricultural officials trying to battle an invasive insect that can wreak havoc if left unchecked. Somerset County joins Burlington, Camden, Hunterdon, Mercer, Salem, and Warren …
Read More »‘Forest Bathing’ at Colonial Park Gardens
The Colonial Park Gardens staff will present a unique program, “Forest Bathing,” on Saturday, September 7 at the Colonial Park Gardens, Parking Lot A. The program will run from noon to 2 p.m. The Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, which translates as “forest bathing”, is intended to help foster a connection with nature that feeds the mind, body, and spirit. Off …
Read More »Open Space Committee Recommends Fine-Tuning To Hunting Program
Members of the Open Space Advisory Committee recommended some changes to the township’s hunting program. The number of permits for most of the township’s hunting sites should be increased for the 2019-20 hunting season, the township Open Space Advisory Committee decided at its June 18 meeting. Committee members hope that doing so will increase the number of deer culled during …
Read More »More Than 100 Turn Out To Clean Stream In Honor Of John Clyde
An estimated 150 people gathered at the Franklin-New Brunswick border on Hamilton Street April 13 to carry on the legacy of the man who started the township stream cleanings decades ago. The inaugural John Clyde Memorial Stream Cleanup at Mile Run was attended by township residents and representatives, as well as by members of a handful of local environmental groups. …
Read More »Somerset County ‘Walk, Bike, Hike’ Project Brought Out For Public Review And Comment
SOMERVILLE – With a labyrinth of proposed bike lanes and shared use paths, Franklin Township figures to play a large role in Somerset County’s “Walk, Bike, Hike Somerset County” plan. The plan, still in its early stages, outlines the first stage of upgrades and redesigns for the county’s trails and bike systems, according to a press release about the meeting. …
Read More »‘Drive Electric Earth Day’ Features Benefits Of Electric Vehicles
The township Green Team and Environmental Commission are hosting a Drive Electric Earth Day from 5:30-8 p.m. April 23 in the township Community/Senior Center parking lot, off DeMott Lane. Sponsored by Plug-In America, the event will feature more than a dozen models of electric vehicles, including the best selling Tesla Model 3, according to a press release about the event. …
Read More »Two Somerset Women Among Newest Somerset County Master Gardener Intern Class
Two township women are among 12 newly minted interns of the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Somerset County program. Amy Xiang and Karen Davis, both of Somerset, completed their six months of horticultural training, and graduated earlier this month. The educational part of the curriculum focused on botany, soil, lawn care, pruning techniques, entomology, pest and disease control, landscape design, vegetable and …
Read More »Arbor Day Celebration Set For Naaman Williams Park
A tree planting and tree giveaway at Naaman Williams Park on Matilda Avenue will mark the township’s commemoration of Arbor Day. The April 27 event is scheduled to be held from 10 a.m. to noon. The township Shade Tree Commission is sponsoring the event, at which 225 tree seedlings will be given away. The seedling distribution is part of the …
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