After more than 40 years as a pharmacist, Jim Forino is finally putting away his mortar and pestle. The Somerset father of three spent the bulk of his career at the Somerset Park Pharmacy on Easton Avenue before moving on to the Shop Rite on Elizabeth Avenue, ending at the Shop Rite location in Stirling. His last day is Dec. …

By PJ Parker. Temple Beth El on Amwell Road was the site Dec. 4 of the traditional lighting of the Menorah candles to commemorate the eight-day celebration of Hanukkah. In addition to congregation members, also in attendance were Mayor Phil Kramer; Alex Kharazi, president of the Franklin Township Interfaith Council, and Township Councilman Rajiv Prasad (D-At Large). Hanukkah commemorates the …

A 90-year-old tradition was carried on Dec. 2 with the lighting of the holiday tree in the East Millstone Square. Sponsored by the Millstone Valley Fire Department, the lighting ceremony featured the annual reading of “The Night Before Christmas” and a reception thrown by the East Millstone First Aid Squad. “This is an important part of our town, of our …

Ocean State Job Lot celebrated the grand opening of its Franklin Park store Dec. 1 by giving gifts to local organizations. The Rhode Island-based discount retailer opened its 133rd store in the country and fifth store in New Jersey at the Franklin Towne Center, at the corner of Route 27 and South Middlebush Road. A donation of $1,000 was made …

Ordinances establishing a “Do Not Knock” list for door-to-door vendors and creating four-way stops on Pierce Street were introduced at the Nov. 27 Township Council meeting. Township Councilman James Vassanella (D-Ward 5) said the “Do Not Knock” ordinance would create a master list of residents who do not wish to be solicited by door-to-door vendors. The list would be given …

625 New Brunswick Rd., Somerset, NJ 08873 (732) 563-4213 Open Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Individual Computer & PED (Personal Electronic Devices) Instruction with Mike Dias – Tuesday, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. **Please call (732) 563-4213 to schedule an appointment. Check the monthly calendar for a schedule.** Healthy Bones Exercise Class with Joan Ackerman – Monday, …

Hillcrest Elementary School has joined the list of township schools designated as “Future Ready.” The school’s “Future Ready” team was honored at the Nov. 29 Board of Education meeting. The New Jersey Future Ready Schools program is an offshoot of the national effort to boost digital learning in the nation’s schools. To be certified, schools must win a certain number …

A flier from a New Jersey based white nationalist group was found over the summer in a “mini library” in Kingston. The flier, from the NJ European Heritage Association, promoted the idea that there is an insufficient number of “European” babies being born in the United States, according to an email written about the incident by a member of the …

Township Councilman Rajiv Prasad has ended his self-imposed exile from council business, attending the Nov. 27 meeting and facing his supporters and detractors. The embattled Prasad (D-At Large) came under fire in recent months for the way in which he handled the approval process for a proposed “Peace and Non-Violence” monument park on some township open space, and for a …

A newly instituted ban on left turns from three streets onto Easton Avenue was roundly criticized by area residents at the Nov. 27 Township Council meeting. The council at its Nov. 8 meeting approved the ordinance, which bans left turns from Walnut Avenue, Culver Street and Lakeside Avenue onto Easton Avenue. The ban comes in the wake of an Oct. …