This week’s podcast features news about the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletics Association investigating a possible bias incident at a boys’ basketball game, the “Call for Peace” town meeting held at Parkside Community Center, and comings and goings at the Board of Education. Music is “The Holy Child” by Ikos David Clifton with the choirs of Peterborough Cathedral.

The Board of Education wants to hear from former township students. The board at its Dec. 20 meeting approved the release of two surveys, one targeted to Franklin High School graduates in the classes of 2016, 2017 and 2018, and a second aimed at students from all Franklin schools. The surveys will help the district “develop a base of former …

Dominador Mandapat passed away December 22 at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in Somerville. He was 69 years of age. Mr. Mandapat was born in the Philippines and came to the United States as a young man. He lived for a time in Seattle before relocating to the New Brunswick area. He has resided in the Somerset section of Franklin Township …

The Franklin Food Bank recently received a $1,200 donation from Unity Bank and its employees. The donation, made through the bank’s Somerset office, was part of $22,800 in donations made to 19 food pantries in New Jersey and Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, according to a press release from the Clinton-base company. The money, a record for the fundraiser, was donated by …

625 New Brunswick Rd., Somerset, NJ 08873 (732) 563-4213 Open Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.   Individual Computer & PED (Personal Electronic Devices) Instruction with Mike Dias – Tuesday, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.**Call (732) 563-4213 to schedule an appointment. Check the monthly calendar for schedule updates.** Circuit Training – Thursday, 9:15 a.m. Have fun while performing cardiovascular exercises that raise …

The Board of Education Dec. 20 used the last meeting of the year to say thank-you and goodbye to two members who will not return next year. Bord members Margaret Steele and Rich Seamon decided not to run for re-election in November. Steele has served one four-year term, while Seamon has served more than 10 years, on and off, since …

A pledge to create a “men’s coalition” to deal with the problems confronting young black men in the township was the outcome Dec. 18 of a “Community Town Hall” held at the Parkside community room. The event, moderated by members of the Nation of Islam’s Muhammad Mosque No. 85, headquartered on Hamilton Street, consisted of comments from a panel and …

A 47-year-old New York woman has been charged with prostitution after a month-long investigation into a township massage parlor. Yuhong J. Chen was arrested at about 1:45 p.m. Dec. 11 at Healthy Tone Spa on Route 27, according to a press release from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office. The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force and …

John Ehid, better known as “Uncle Chick” by some of his nieces and nephews, passed on December 15 at The Chelsea at in Warren. He was 90 years old. Mr. Ehid was born November 28, 1928 in New Brunswick to the late Abraham and Mary (Beyrouty) Ehid. He was raised in New Brunswick and relocated to Piscataway where he lived …

Barbara Sylvers, 92, passed away on Dec. 18. She was born in Kokomo, Indiana and named Barbara Mae Johnson on June 25, 1926 to Nina Broadnax and Willis Johnson. “Barb Mae”, as she was called by her friends and family in Kokomo, graduated from Kokomo High School in June 1943 and continued her education by completing 2 years of business …