John M. Martinez, a devoted family man, proud veteran, and longtime Merrill Lynch employee, passed away peacefully on January 11 at the Veterans Hospital in East Orange. He was 91. Born on October 14, 1933, in Gibraltar, John served his country with honor in the United States Marines as a Military Police Officer during the Korean War, where he saw …

Kevin Fahy of Somerset is one of more than 900 Lebanon Valley College students named to the Dean’s List for the Fall 2024 semester. Dean’s list students must maintain a GPA of at least 3.4 out of 4.0. Fahy is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in creative arts and English at The Valley and is a graduate of Saint Joseph’s …

ISLAMIC HERITAGE DISPLAYED – Samina Sattar, Amir Muhammad, and Sara Kharazi-Didehvar, left to right, at the Muslim Heritage Month exhibit January 12 at the Franklin Township Library. The contribution of Muslims to American culture was the focus of a exhibition held January 12 at the Franklin Township Library’s main branch on DeMott Lane. The displays, which lined the library’s Community …

SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT – Ardaman Singh was unanimously re-elected as president at the January 7 Board of Education reorganization meeting. Board of Education member Ardaman Singh was returned as Board president, and Dr. Dennis Hopkins was elected vice-president at the January 7 Board of Education reorganization meeting. Newcomer Nicolas DiMeglio was sworn into the seat he won in the November …

Sybil Claire Reid-Prugh of Somerset passed away on January 6 at home. She was 80. Born in Newark, she lived in Somerset for more than 50 years. She was a self-employed social worker, based out of Somerset. Sybil also enjoyed kayaking, having experience in more than 100 streams as a Class 2+ paddler. She was predeceased by her daughter, Sharon …

Sheuli Gupta, of Somerset, passed away on January 3 at home. She was 90. Sheuli Gupta, born in Sylhet, Undivided India, came from the Dutta-Choudhury family, a household known for its artistic and entrepreneurial spirit. Sheuli had nine siblings, all brought up in a large joint family compound with several generations and cousins living simultaneously. Her teenage years were marked …

Robert Hosh passed away on December 24 at the New Jersey Veteran’s Memorial Home in Menlo Park. He was 84 years old. Mr. Hosh was born in Livingston, Louisiana. He was raised in Louisiana and Michigan then enlisted in the Unites States Army. He served our country faithfully before being honorably discharged. He received an undergraduate degree from the University …

DOUBLE-TEAMED – Freshman Lady Warrior Nola Bright looks for an open teammate during the January 2, 2025 game against Pingry. The Franklin High School Lady Warriors basketball team on January 2 stopped a six-game skid and handed The Pingry School their first defeat this season with a 59-49 win. The win was powered by Sophomore Aleah Sunkin’s double-double, with a …

Margaret (Peggy) Cleary was born in New Brunswick and lived in Highland Park before moving to Somerset in 1958. Peggy attended Mt. St. Mary’s Academy in Watchung and went on to graduate from Georgian Court University. She was awarded an honorary doctorate from the college in the early 90s. Peg worked in the business her father founded, WA Cleary Corporation …

FR&A WOMAN OF THE YEAR – Animal Control Officer Katie Nordhaus has devoted her career to taking care of domestic animals and wildlife in the Township. Here she is pictured with Eden, and “Santa Bob” Passano during a Second Chance for Animals fundraiser. (Photo by Chris M. Junior). The French novelist François-Anatole Thibault – better known as Anatole France – …