News-pourri

Tara Kenyon, the township’s Open Space Consultant, talks to the Open Space Advisory Committee about the Health Assessment project. People who live in the southern end of Franklin Township have the longest life expectancy of any group of residents anywhere else in Somerset County. Using Census data paired with the Township ward maps, township researches found that Ward 1 residents …

Township Councilman James Vassanella speaks about the former K Mart property during the November 10 Township Council meeting. The topic of what’s to be done with the former K Mart building in Rutgers Plaza generated some spirited discussion at the November 10 Township Council meeting. The topic was broached by several members of the Franklin Township Chamber of Commerce, who …

Legislation designed to enhance security at large venues – co-sponsored by state Assemblyman Joe Danielsen – was signed into law on November 14 by Gov. Phil Murphy. The bill – S721 – requires sports and entertainment facilities capable of seating more than 5,000 people, movie theaters capable of seating more than 1,000 people, and places of worship capable of seating …

FTPD Sgt. Ariel Almora speaks during the Township’s Veterans’ Day observance. The Township’s annual Veterans’ Day observance was held indoors this year, but the drizzle outside didn’t dampen the spirits of those who attended. The event was MC’d by U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Steve Gillooly, and featured a rendition of the Star Spangled Banner by PJ Parker and keynote …

Canal Walk resident Kiki Anastasakos reads her group’s wish-list to the Township Council. Canal Walk residents opposed to what they call warehouse sprawl in the township presented the Township Council on November 10 with a “wish-list” of actions they say would protect residents from the ill effects of warehouses. The group, calling itself the Citizens Warehouse Action Group, came together …

An artist’s rendering of the new restaurant’s layout. A 62-seat, 4,400-square-foot McDonald’s targeted for Rutgers Plaza on Easton Avenue was approved November 9 by the Planning Board. The Board, holding a special meeting to hear the application, also approved several variances for the project, including ones allowing for more signs than normally approved, and for a free-standing sign facing Easton …

Election workers bring voting machine tapes to the municipal building. The three Board of Education incumbents were victorious, and the public question concerning energy aggregation was passed in the November 8 election, according to the final results certified by the Somerset County Clerk. Don’t Miss Out! No other media outlet covering Franklin Township brings you the depth of information presented …

Environmental Commission member Robin Suydam suggested that the Commission broaden the scope of a proposed “green roof” ordinance. Members of the township’s Environmental Commission will soon begin crafting a proposed ordinance that would require large new commercial buildings to have some form of “green” roof in their design. That design could include solar or wind energy capturing units, or complete …

Somerset County Sheriff Darrin J. Russo, Officer David Daneker and Branchburg 6th Grader Timmy Meister introduced K-9 to the world at the naming ceremony. (Photo: Somerset County Sheriff’s Office.) After sifting through more than 1,000 suggestions submitted by county residents, Somerset County Sheriff’s Office officials have decided on the new name for the office’s newest K-9 member: Patriot. Don’t Miss …

This building is thought to be the last ice house in Kingston. (Photo: Vince Dominach). A decrepit structure on the property of the New School for Music Study on Route 27 in Kingston will soon be razed, but not before local historians get a last look at it. The structure sits nestled among trees and bushes on the property. The …