Saying that it’s the state’s obligation to “maximize” every child’s “God-given potential,” Gov. Chris Christie on May 16 said that New Jersey’s commitment to charter school expansion “will be strong” for at least the rest of his term. Christie made his statements at the Thomas Edison EnergySmart Charter School on Cortelyous Lane, after touring the school with its principal, Oguz …

Eight township police officers will receive Valor Awards May 16 from the 200 Club of Somerset County. The awards will be presented at a luncheon held at The Palace on Davison Avenue.

By Michael D. Purzycki, Somerset. On May 15, President Obama was scheduled to deliver the commencement address to the class of 2016 at Rutgers University. If it was like the commencement addresses that most people give, it encouraged graduates to aim high, pursue their passions, and believe that anything is achievable. If so, it may have been uplifting, but perhaps not …

More than 100 dogs in various shapes, sizes and colors gathered at Colonial Park May 15 for the annual dog walk benefiting Second Chance for Animals. SCFA is the organization that funds the Franklin Township Animal Shelter. The “Paws for a Cause” also featured more than 50 vendors, representing everything from animal product distributors to veterinarians. Total receipts were not immediately …

Bridgewater, NJ – The Lancaster Barnstormers (10-13) took the three game series over the Somerset Patriots (17-7) with a 6-4 win on Sunday afternoon at TD Bank Ballpark.  

Bridgewater, NJ – The Somerset Patriots and their partners at Spearhead Staffing have hired 11-year old Neelesh Thanasegaran of Warren as the 2016 Kid CEO.  

Bridgewater, NJ – The Lancaster Barnstormers (9-13) scored nine unanswered runs to overcome an 8-2 deficit and defeat the Somerset Patriots (17-6) 11-8 on Saturday evening at TD Bank Ballpark.  

The Princeton Hyatt Regency was once again the venue for the Franklin High School prom. More than 500 students reportedly participated in the evening, which included a cocktail hour, dinner and dancing.

The school district’s top teachers and educational support professionals were honored May 13 in a ceremony at the Somerset County Vocational and Technical High School in Bridgewater. Each of the district’s nine schools celebrated one teacher of the year and one educational support professional of the year during the breakfast program.

Update 2: Sterlacci won the $100,000 tournament in the episode which aired May 13. The win qualifies him for the program’s Tournament of Champions.