News-pourri

FINISHING TOUCHES – Environmental Commissioner Arnold Schmidt talks about his proposed ordinance amendment banning fossil fuel-power leaf blowers most of the year. A proposed ordinance amendment that would ban fossil fuel-powered leaf blowers eight months of the year was sent to the Township Council by the Environmental Commission at its March 16 meeting.

The Board of Education approved several contracts at its most recent meeting. The contracts approved by the Board at its February 26 meeting were: An updated professional service contract with Learning Ally, Inc. and Franklin Township Public Schools to provide access to Audiobook Solution and Excite Reading early literacy program for students for the 2025-2026 school year at no cost …

‘SCUSE ME WHILE I SKY – The action was fast during the high school and middle school games at the annual Bruce Medley March Madness event at the Youth Center March 14. Basketball was the order of the day March 14 at the Franklin Youth Center on Lewis Street. The occasion was the annual Bruce Medley March Madness event, in …

The region’s roller-coaster weather is expected to continue for the next few days, with the recent warm weather giving way to colder-than-normal temperatures next week.

THANKFUL TO BE ALIVE – Jeffrey Selman of Arkansas was revived by three Franklin Township Police Officers when he collapsed on a job site at Church Street and Route 27 on January 19th. Three Franklin Township police officers who helped save a man’s life in January were honored March 10 by the Township Council.

ADVOCATING FOR THE PROGRAM – Ajah Daniels, a recent graduate of the Civil Construction Program, tells the Township Council that it should be continued. Ten recent graduates of a civil construction course program funded by the Township through a COVID-era grant were honored March 10 by the Council.

The essential and often overlooked roles women played in the American Revolution will be displayed March 28 in a special Women’s History Month living history event at Franklin Middle School – Sampson G. Smith campus, 1649 Amwell Road. Sponsored by the Franklin 250 Committee, the free, all-ages program, “Could You Do It? The Women Who Carried The Revolution,” is scheduled …

This year’s July 4th celebration may have an added feature: drones. Mayor Phil Kramer is looking into finding a sponsor for a 15-minute lighted drone show to supplement the traditional fireworks display, he said at the March 9 Township Council budget hearing.

SPEAKING OF PEACE – Local organizer Michael Steinbrück speaks at the second peace vigil, held March 8 at the township Veterans’ Memorial Park in the Municipal Complex on DeMott Lane. Two township school children were left abandoned in their car last week after their father was detained by federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a local organizer said on …

ENGINEER TESTIFIES – Greg Oman, center, the project’s engineer, tells the Planning Board that his firm employed an arborist to study the trees on the target land. An application for a 14-unit housing development on Cedar Grove Lane was approved March 4 by the Planning Board, but there was a hitch. The applicant, Odin Duhn, wanted to make the development …