News-pourri

PROTESTING THE PRELATES – A group of Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA congregants yell at a van carrying two church prelates as it drives away following a Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting on September 18. Chaos erupted after the September 18 Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting when members of the Ukrainian community chased two top prelates of the Ukrainian …

EXPLAINING THE PLAN – Engineer Mitchel Ardman reviews the subdivision plan for Temple Beth El at the September 17 Planning Board meeting. A Hamilton Street synagogue received approval on September 17 to cut pieces from two lots to make a third, which would be sold off to a developer for a single-family home. Temple Beth El needs to sell the …

EXPLAINING THE OPTIONS – Darren Mazzei, the Township’s consulting engineer, reviews four options for the construction of Catalpa Park at the September 16 Open Space Advisory Committee meeting. The long-anticipated Catalpa Park is once again the topic of Township conversation, but this time the conversation is focused on finances. The Township Council on September 9 rejected all bids on the …

Following is an update on the Township’s 2025 road resurfacing program. Sebring Rd Area Resurfacing – Contractor working on concrete work.  Sebring Rd Annapolis St – THIS STREET HAS BEEN PULLED FROM THE PROJECT. WILL BE ON FOR NEXT YEAR.  Lexington Rd Phillips Rd – PAVED Francis St – PAVED Link Rd School Ave Lewis St – PAVED Van Doren Ave …

LEADING THE CHARGE – Mayor Phil Kramer led the Franklin delegation in a virtual public comment session run by state environmental officials about permit applications for a controversial natural gas pipeline project. More than 170 area residents – including a healthy contingent from Franklin – took to the Internet September 10 to persuade the state Department of Environmental Protection to …

A variety of performances are set for two stages on Franklin Day, which is scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. on September 13 in the municipal complex on DeMott Lane. Additionally, vendors and organizations will have tables to promote their products and services, and a number of food trucks are also scheduled to be there. On the Main Stage, the …

The Township will once again run its annual curbside leaf collection program starting the last week of October, and running through the end of December. Leaves only can be placed in 30-gallon biodegradable paper bags available at home improvement stores. Leaves should be placed at curbside by 7 a.m. on the Monday of the week scheduled for pickups. Pickup will …

FERAL CAT ADVOCATE – Tamar Thier, a former Franklin residents, speaks in favor of the Township adopting a “Trap, Neuter, Return” program at the September 9 Township Council meeting. An ordinance that regulates the feeding and care of feral cat colonies – and which generated a fair amount of controversy – was finally adopted by the Township Council at its …

FUTURE POOL OWNER – Faisal Iqbal prepares to testify before the Zoning Board of Adjustment September 4. A Bennetts Lane couple’s plan to install an in-ground pool, patio and two sheds was approved September 4 by the Zoning Board of Adjustment. The couple, Faisal and Rehana Iqbal, needed a variance from the Township’s regulation that only 20 percent of a …

RETURN ENGAGEMENT – Shri Kotdawla, the engineer for NPH Real Estate, explains the changes made to the plan at the September 3 Planning Board meeting. For the second consecutive meeting, a developer who wants to build a mixed-use retail center across from the Somerset Run housing development was told by the Planning Board on September 3 to rethink its plan. …