Community Building

WORDS OF WISDOM – Rod Brundidge, a Franklin High School vice-principal, speaks to Road to Success students at their annual Thanksgiving celebration. Thanksgiving came two days early for students enrolled in the school district’s Road To Success program. Road To Success is an alternative high school program, the mission of which is “prepare enrolled students to graduate high school and …

WINNERS! – The Franklin High School GoldN’Blues Choir – also known as The Madrigals – will perform in the Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting ceremony, broadcast on NBC. (Photo NBC 4 New York.) Franklin High School’s GoldN’Blues Choir – also known as the Madrigal Choir – on November 25 was selected to sing for NBC’s broadcast of “Christmas in Rockefeller Center,” …

State Assemblyman Joe Danielsen is once again hosting his annual Head-To-Toe clothing drive. New or clean, gently used winter clothing donations for children aged 3-16 years are being accepted at his legislative office at 334 Elizabeth Avenue until January 16, 2026. Recommended donations are hats, scarves, mittens, gloves, and socks. For more information, call (732) 247-3999, or email asmdanielsen@njleg.org.   …

TRADITION CONTINUES – Vimal Sodhani, founder of the Sodhani Foundation, speaks at the November 20 Board of Education meeting. The township school district was once again the beneficiary of a local philanthropist’s largess. Vimal Sodhani, founder of the Sodhani Foundation, at the November 20 Board of Education meeting presented the district with a $10,000 donation for this year’s Invention Competition. …

Township crafters and artists have until noon on November 19 to submit their applications for the 47th Annual Festival of Trees to showcase their tree-decorating artistry at the Environmental Education Center in Basking Ridge. More than 40 trees featuring themes chosen by the decorators will fill the EEC’s large open rooms as local musicians play visitors through the exhibition. The …

READY TO WIN – Thomas J. Kavanaugh VFW Post 2290’s hall was packed on November 15 for the fourth annual Middlebush Volunteer Fire Department Ladies’ Auxiliary Tricky Tray fundraiser. More than 300 people on November 15 made the annual pilgrimage to the Manville VFW hall for the annual tricky tray fundraiser held by the Middlebush Volunteer Fire Department’s Ladies’ Auxiliary. …

The Franklin Food Bank is one of 14 food assistance organizations receiving a total of $1 million from RWJBarnabas Health. The Food Bank Network of Somerset County and Elijah’s Promise of New Brunswick are also among the organizations receiving grants. The grants are meant to help combat food insecurity in light of the interruption in federal food assistance benefits, including …

KEYNOTE SPEAKER – Chaplain Lt. Col. Gregory D. Jans speaks during the annual Veterans’ Day observance in the Township Council chamber on November 11. The plight of military veterans dealing with service-related issues was one of the topics touched on at the annual Township Veterans’ Day observance on November 11. Several dozen people gathered in the Township Council chamber for …

Somerset County and The Food Bank Network of Somerset County are partnering to host an emergency food distribution event to support Somerset County residents that receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.  The event will take place at the Somerset County Public Works Complex at 411 Chimney Rock Road, Bridgewater, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on November 15. This free, drive-through …

Entries are being accepted for the Somerset County Park Commission’s 2025 Photo Contest. The contest is open to all Somerset County residents, according to a press release. Shutterbugs are invited to send in their best pictures of Somerset County parks. “Capturing the beauty of Somerset County’s parks was an unexpected and rewarding experience, but having my work recognized in the photo …