The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
The late chairman of the township Environmental Commission and a local school’s youth group were honored at the Nov. 28 Township Council meeting for their environmental efforts.
The commission used the council meeting as its platform for awarding its annual Stewardship Awards to the late Arnold Vernick – the commission’s former chairman who died earlier this year – and the St. Matthias Youth Group.
Vernick’s widow, Lynn and sons Jeff and Ken were on hand to accept the plaque from current commission chairman Walter Andrews.
Vernick’s “passion for protecting our environment and his volunteer work as chairman of this commission is one of his proudest achievements,” his widow said. “I know that Arnold enjoyed working with so many of you on this committee, he often spoke about working on the wonderful projects and accomplishments you worked on for the well-being of Franklin Township and its residents.”
“The Vernick family … truly appreciates this recognition and we wish you all continued success in your future endeavors,” she said.
The St. Matthias group received a stewardship award for its cleaning of the Seely’s Brook.
The plaque awarded to the group is “in recognition of outstanding efforts to protect and preserve the environment and their environmental stewardship and education,” Andrews said.
Speaking for the group, St. Matthias 3rd Grade teacher Cathy Allegro said, “We’d like to thank the mayor and council and all of our friends here today. We’ve had a lot of great success, collected an immense amount of garbage.”
“We’re very involved in stewardship, we think it’s very important,” she said. “Taking care of the Earth is what we do.”
