News-pourri

Nearly three dozen water sources in seven township schools contain levels of lead higher than is considered safe by federal standards. The levels of lead found in the water ranged from 15.6 parts per billion (ppb) to 1,720 ppb. Federal guidelines recommend that lead levels in water in excess of 15 ppb be remediated because of health concerns.

Girl Scout Week, National Nutrition Month Hindu and Muslim holidays and Women’s History Month were acknowledged at the March 15 Township Council meeting. The council proclaimed March 12-18 as Girl Scout week in the township in a proclamation that noted nearly 300 township girls participate in the scouting program.

A ban on the sale in the township of animals bred in puppy and kitten mills is the “appropriate way to move,” Mayor Phil Kramer said on March 15. The mayor was responding to criticism leveled by a township resident of a proposed ordinance amendment to do just that.

The Township Council is “moving at the right speed” to answer calls for Franklin to join the list of American towns that will not enforce national immigration laws, Mayor Phil Kramer said March 15. Kramer was responding to Emerson Road resident Manijeh Saba, who asked the Township Council to declare Franklin a “sanctuary city.” Sanctuary cities  declare themselves safe for …

Calling it a “new milestone to help the community,” a founder of the Masjid-e-Ali Mosque is applauding the decision to move three polling locations to the Cedar Grove Lane house of worship. Somerset County Board of Electors on March 9 approved the requested move to the mosque of polling locations for voting districts 14, 15 from the Quailbrook Senior Citizens …

The final piece of what the property owner calls an “event center” on Cedar Grove Lane received approval March 2 from the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Rukh Cedar Grove Lane Properties received an amended site plan approval for a stand-alone restaurant on the property shared by the recently opened Springhill Suites and The Imperia catering hall.

The school district’s state-mandated support of charter schools could hit $20 million over the next three years, attendees at a Feb. 22 anti-charter school growth forum were told. The money would be needed to support the expansion of the Thomas Edison EnergySmart Charter School, the Central Jersey College Prep Charter School and the proposed Ailanthus Charter School, schools Superintendent John …

Members of the East Franklin Fire Department spent Feb. 18 washing cars for a good cause. The fire fighters were raising money for the family of Finderne Fire Company #3 Ex-Chief Craig Ally, whose 3-year-old daughter, Sadie, is suffering from kidney cancer.

A South Plainfield company that supplies hardware to window and door manufacturers will soon move into the township, thanks to Planning Board approval it won on Feb. 15. The company, Vision Industries Group, will occupy a two-story, office/warehouse building on Elizabeth Avenue, abutting the Heller Industrial Park.

The Township Council is moving closer to voting on an ordinance amendment prohibiting the use of traditional loud fireworks by private businesses and organizations. Responding to complaints from residents about the noise, Mayor Phil Kramer last year asked Township Manager Robert Vornlocker to look into the availability of “quiet” fireworks.