The Sampson G. Smith Players on Jan. 18 were busily rehearsing their upcoming production of “The Wizard of Oz.” The show will be performed at 7 p.m. on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, 2, 7 and 8, and 2 p.m. on Feb. 2 and 9.

Just barely out of the realm of “startup” itself, a Somerset-based business aims to help fledgling businesses take root, and established firms grow. JuiceTank, 220 Davidson Ave., was started by cousins Mukesh and Charlie Patel, two self-described “serial entrepreneurs.”

They’re just temporary fixes, but crews from the township and Somerset County have been traveling township roads over the past week filling in potholes that seem to appear about this time of year. The mixture of lots of moisture, then cold and warm temperatures, as we’ve had over the last several weeks, makes the perfect recipe for bone-rattling potholes, township …

By Shelby Copeland Correspondent. The Franklin High School girls’ varsity basketball team staged a second-half comeback Jan. 16 to beat the Bridgewater-Raritan High School squad 49-47 at home.

The Franklin High School girls’ bowling team continued their wining ways Jan. 14 with a 5-2 win over Hunterdon Central at West Hunterdon Lanes in Frenchtown. The Franklin girls won the first and third games with total pin counts of 682-653 and 772-695.

The Franklin High School girls’ and boys’ bowling squads defeated Woodbridge High School by identical 3-1 scores Jan. 14 at Brunswick Zone Carolier Lanes, North Brunswick. The boys won the first and third games of their match with scores of 1,088-788 and 1,031-928, respectively. The team barely lost the second game by a score of 987-971.

Township residents may notice a change in the taste ad smell of their drinking water starting later this month, as New Jersey American Water temporarily switches its water treatment process. The company will change from using chloramine to using free chlorine to treat water at several plants, including the Canal Road Water Treatment Plant in Somerset, from about Jan. 21 …

More than 160 telephone lines owned by Verizon were damaged June 14 by water, causing phone service outages to homes, businesses, the Board of Education and the police department. Phone service at Hillcrest Elementary School was restored by late in the afternoon of Jan. 15, said district spokeswoman Mary Clark. Also affected was the district’s buildings and grounds department.

The state Assembly on Jan. 13 gave final approval for a new vanity license plate for the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, which suits Township Councilman Carl R.A. Wright (D-Ward 4) just fine. “I love the idea,” Wright said.

Students at the Thomas Edison EnergySmart Charter School recently heard from a Kung-Fu expert on bullying, and donated books and sports equipment to an NFL charity drive. Sifu Karl Romain, a member of the United International Kung Fu Hall of Fame, made his second visit to the Cortelyous Road school on Jan. 9, bringing a message of self-confidence and bullying …