News-pourri

Two cooling centers have been opened in the township in advance of the high heat and humidity expected in the area over the next few days. The township Office of Emergency Management has issued a severe heat and humidity warning.

EXPLAINING THE PLAN – Malvika Apte, an engineer who created the Township’s proposed affordable housing plan covering the next 10 years, describes the plan before the Planning Board on June 18. UPDATE: The Township Council at its June 24 meeting endorsed the Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan. Next stop is the state Affordable Housing Dispute Resolution Program. …

Newkirk and Evergreen Resurfacing -Concrete work to begin on or about June 16, weather permitting. Milling and paving will begin when concrete work is completed. Rodgers Ave Area Resurfacing -All paving completed. Restoration and striping still to be completed.

EXPLAINING THE INCREASE – Mayor Phil Kramer explained the different tiers of the proposed water rate hikes at the June 12 meeting. Water rates will increase this year between 5 percent and 27.5 percent under an ordinance amendment approved at the June 24 Township Council meeting. The actual amount of each water increase would be based on a user’s consumption of …

More than 150 people gathered in and around the township Cultural Arts Gazebo June 12 to renew their opposition to a project they thought they’d already defeated. The group rallied in the wake of the decision by Texas-based Williams-Transco to petition the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reinstate their three-state project that would include building a 32,000-horsepower, natural gas-powered twin-turbine …

READY TO COUNT – Ballot tabulations being dropped off to the municipal building on June 10. Local incumbent candidates appear to be leading in their races for their party’s nominations, according to unofficial results from the 2025 primary election on June 10. Township Councilman Carl Wright (D-Ward 4) and state Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-17) were the only candidates facing primary …

SPECIAL RECOGNITION – Franklin Food Bank Executive Director with U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar at the Congressional Hunger Center’s annual Hunger Leadership Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Franklin Food Bank.) The Franklin Food Bank was recently recognized nationally with the 2025 Community Champion Hunger Leadership Award at the Congressional Hunger Center’s annual Hunger Leadership Awards Dinner. Food Bank Executive Director Derek Smith accepted the award on behalf …

HONORING EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS – Rebekah Solomon, principal at Franklin Middle School – Sampson G. Smith Campus speaks about her school’s educators being honored. Twenty teachers and teachers’ aides were honored June 5 as the best in the district at the annual Educators of the Year Breakfast, held at the Imperia by Dhaba on Easton Avenue. Each of the District’s 10 …

TARGET AREA – An aerial view of the properties targeted in the Planning Board’s June 4 resolution. Five parcels totaling about 3.5 acres, located along Franklin Boulevard near Lewis Street, were designated as being in need of redevelopment by the Planning Board at its June 4 meeting. The five lots are being eyed by Township officials for affordable housing, a …

PLANNING THE PARTY – Historic Commissioner Bob LaCorte talks about the ideas being formed for the Township’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding. The newly minted chairman of the as-yet-unnamed committee to plan the Township’s commemoration of the country’s 250th anniversary recently gave a few sneak peeks into early planning of the event. Bob LaCorte, who was …