Speak Out!

By Deana Luchs, Somerset. I have noticed the recent slew of the Somerset County GOP negative television campaign ads. Unfortunately, mudslinging has boiled down to the county level in NJ against Democrats Melonie Marano for Freeholder and Darrin Russo for Sheriff and it won’t work. Spreading scurrilous information will do nothing to help the GOP candidates win in November. Melonie …

By Robert Quinn. In the midst of this important election season for Somerset County’s Freeholder and Sheriff races, I wanted to take a moment to comment and provide guidance to my supporters in the public and Republican Party. Several months ago, we saw Tim Pino “lose” to William “Bill” Parenti by a small fraction of votes. Many of Tim’s supporters …

By Bill Connell, Somerset. I use this Speak Out forum liberally, sometimes to express an opinion on a matter or sometimes to encourage something like volunteerism. Volunteerism I believe to be the important quiet engine of Franklin, as for opinions, you know what they say about those, we all have one …. John Felix, my friend, also uses this forum …

By Angela Dubivsky, Franklin Woman’s Club Publicity Chair and Kecia Baptist, Franklin Woman’s Club Membership Chair. The cool mornings and shorter days may mean the end to summer but for Franklin Woman’s Club members, they remind us that the 2019/2020 club year will soon begin! As new members are always welcome, adult women (age 18+) are invited to check out …

Submitted by the Franklin Township Task Force on Compressor Station 206. Our health is harmed by increasing numbers of air quality alert days, heat spells, rainy spells and more climate change effects linked to fossil fuel projects The state Department of Environmental Protection is reviewing permits for over a dozen fossil fuel projects, and one has a deadline for comments …

Submitted by the Franklin Township Task Force on Compressor Station 206. There are only a few more days to let DEP know why they should reject permits for NESE with its Compressor Station 206 in Franklin Township and pipeline under Raritan Bay. The DEP can stop it if they deny the permits again and do so “with prejudice”.  Go to …

By Bill Connell, Somerset. Tuesday night at Township Council was more interesting for who was not there then for who was. The chamber was filled with the usual gadflys and antagonists. I did not see any “normal” citizens or, for that matter, police officers. Nobody beyond the predictable got up and spoke on the matter. This was disappointing. I was …

Submitted by the Franklin Township Task Force on Compressor Station 206. Do you care about breathing polluted air, drinking water of poor quality, and eating poisoned fish? Increased hot and rainy days, more ozone-alert days and flooding, and increased water temperatures threaten our health and economy. Now is the time to speak up – We have until August 23 to …

By Robert Petersen. Overall, time will tell the measure of the decision to have a civilian administrator for the Franklin Township Police Department who is appointed by, and beholden to, the Township Manager. But something else occurred last night that is very troubling. Mayor Phil Kramer’s accusations that those who only had two Township Council meeting opportunities to voice opposition …

By Arnold W. Schmidt. I read with interest that our former Mayor and now Freeholder Brian Levine and other Republicans running for office in Franklin Township are trying to use our current Police Department situation as a politically divisive wedge issue. So far as we know, this problem has been going on for at least three years but possibly further …