News-pourri

More than 900 pounds of food and $600 in donations was gathered April 28 for the Franklin Food Bank at the two township Stop and Shop supermarkets. The donations were made as part of the chain’s second annual “Feeding Our Families” food drive. Stop and Shop stores are located in Rutgers Plaza on Easton Avenue and on Route 27 in …

Township officials are considering banning parking on Franklin streets when they are snow covered. The idea – still in its infancy – was discussed at a recent meeting of the Township Council’s public works subcommittee, Councilman Ted Chase (D-Ward 1) said at the April 24 council meeting. One major sticking point: how to handle residents who live in areas with …

The township came one step closer April 24 to inoculating itself against lawsuits from developers who want to build housing in Franklin, and the potential of up to 3,000 more homes being built. The Planning Board in a special meeting adopted a housing element and fair share plan that establishes that the township exceeds its obligation to provide for low-and …

The bulk of the township’s limb pickup program should be done by May 7, with the northern section of Franklin completed first. Streets south of the Claremont Road area will be done after that for logistical reasons, Township Manager Robert Vornlocker said at the April 24 Township Council meeting. Vornlocker said after the meeting that pickups are being done using …

“Little Free Libraries” may soon be coming to township parks and trails. The idea to place the small “libraries” in various parts of Franklin was broached by Tara Kenyon – the township’s open space consultant – at the April 17 meeting of the Open Space Advisory Committee. Kenyon’s idea was to place the structures at trail heads and in some …

A plan to construct a new building on Somerset Street that could hold up to three retail stores was approved April 18 by the Planning Board. No brands have as of yet been secured for the new structure, the board was told. The 3,675-square-foot building will be constructed on what is now a wooded, 12,500-square-foot lot, said Joseph Jaworski, the …

An ordinance that would prohibit the takeoff and landing of drones on township-owned property is being readied for the Township Council. The ordinance is being written by township attorney Louis Rainone at the behest of the council’s land use subcommittee, acting on a suggestion by the Open Space Advisory Committee. Township Manager Robert Vornlocker told the Open Space Advisory Committee …

A township resident who is the presumptive Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from the 12th Congressional District successfully fought off a challenge to have his name removed from the June 5 primary ballot. Daryl Kipnis was one of two Republican congressional candidates to fight challenges mounted by the New Jersey Democratic State Committee. Kipnis is looking to …

Submitted by Somerset County Public Information Office. Youth Leadership Somerset, a leadership development program for Somerset County youth entering grades 9-12, is accepting applications for the 2018-2019 program year, which runs September through May. Classes are held one Saturday per month for approximately four to six hours. The application deadline is Monday, May 16. “Somerset County is dedicated to investing …

A total of 17 applications for more than $330,000 in Community Development Block Grants were received by the township for 2018. Representatives of several of the applicants showed up to the March 27 Township Council meeting to make their case for funding. Not all of those requests will be filled. Deborah Mitchell, the township’s CDBG administrator, said that while this …