News-pourri

AMERICAN YELLOWWOOD – An American Yellowwood Tree, one of three varieties offered in the shade tree sale. Township residents can once again purchase shade trees through the annual Franklin Township shade tree sale. Trees, which cost $110 each, are available on a first-come, first-served basis by registering online at  https://franklintwp.seamlessdocs.com/f/ShadeTreeSale

40th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT – The Raritan Valley Symphonic Band will perform at Franklin High School on April 28. The Raritan Valley Symphonic Band celebrates the 40th anniversary of their first concert at their annual free spring concert at 4 p.m. April 28 at Franklin High School, 500 Elizabeth Ave. Musical Director William Berz will lead the band’s performance of five …

Submitted by the FTEC. The Franklin Township Environmental Commission invites all residents for engaging presentations prepared in collaboration with the New Jersey Electric Vehicle Association (NJEVA).

MAKING HIS POINT – Planning Board member Robert Thomas makes comments about the proposed Old New Brunswick Road warehouse during the April 17 Planning Board hearing on the matter. The developer of a proposed warehouse on Old New Brunswick Road was told April 17, in so many words, to get its act together and return to the Planning Board with …

STIFF OPPOSITION – Area residents gather at a 2018 meeting to show their opposition to the proposed NESE project. (File photo.) The company behind a $1 billion, multi-state gas pipeline proposal that would include a compressor station in the township has decided to walk away from the project. Williams-TRANSCO told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on April 10 that it …

CLEANUP VOLUNTEERS – Seeley’s Run was the target of the annual John Clyde Stream Cleanup on April 13. Pictured are the volunteers before starting their work. (Photo courtesy of the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership.) About 100 people were expected to gather in a rear parking lot at Somerset Village on Easton Avenue April 13 for the annual stream cleanup sponsored …

NUMBERS MAN – Township Manager Robert Vornlocker broke down the 2024 municipal budget at the April 9 Township Council meeting. Skyrocketing mandated costs are behind a small municipal portion tax increase included in the Township Council’s 2024 budget. Final numbers weren’t available at the April 9 Township Council meeting when the budget was introduced, but the bottom line is the …

ORDINANCE DEFEATED – An ordinance that would have removed a 2,000-foot distance requirement between liquor stores, promoted by Mayor Phil Kramer, was defeated after facing stiff opposition from township liquor store owners. An ordinance that would have eliminated the requirement that liquor stores be located at least 2,000 feet from each other was defeated at the April 9 Township Council …

SUPPORTING THE PROGRAM – Deputy Mayor Ed Potosnak said he now supported the Council contributing $300,000 to a construction trades program for Franklin High School students. With an enrollment-based “guardrail” in place, the Township Council on April 9 voted to partner with the Board of Education to offer some Franklin High School students training in the construction trades. The Council …

TRYING TO MAKE HIS CASE – Sidney Singer, vice president of leasing for Levin Properties, testifies before the Zoning Board on April 4. Township residents packed the Council Chamber on April 4 for the first of what promises to be several Zoning Board of Adjustment hearings on a proposal to convert the former K-Mart building in Rutgers Plaza into a …