Ronald Spicuzzo passed away on Jan. 8 in Florida. He was 68 years old. Mr. Spicuzzo was born in New Brunswick and lived for many years in Somerset. He was a graduate of Franklin Township High School Class of 1969. He was employed as a laborer with Local 156 in New Brunswick and was a skilled carpenter and furniture maker. …

Issa yousef Sudah passed away on Jan. 6 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. He was 87 years old. He was born in the West Bank in Palestine. He resided in Franklin Park for many years. He worked as an independent business owner and enjoyed a 27-year retirement. He is survived by his wife, Violette Sudah, a …

Glendora Cottrell, 99, died Jan. 8 at her home. She was a lifelong resident of Somerset. Mrs. Cottrell was born May 22, 1918 in New Brunswick to the late Harry and Sarah (Tompkins) Cottrell. She worked for Douglass College, Rutgers University, for many years. She loved to crochet and work in her garden. She was preceded in death by her …

If one believed in omens, one might think that the Hamilton Street Advisory Board’s attempt to brighten the business district for the holiday season was doomed from the start. At least for the part of the effort having to do with stringing holiday lights across the street. First, the lights couldn’t be put up in time because not all of …

State Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-17) has been named chairman of the Assembly’s Regulatory Oversight/Federal Regulation Committee. Danielsen, who was recently sworn in to his second full term as an Assemblyman, was named to the post by Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin (D-19). “I am both honored and humbled by the trust shown to me by Speaker Coughlin in naming me …

Bridgewater, NJ- The Somerset Patriots have announced that 2017 left-handed relief pitcher Keith Hessler has signed with the Colorado Rockies organization. He recently wrapped up his first season with the Patriots. The former major leaguer made 13 appearances with Somerset last season, striking out 13 batters over 13.1 innings pitched. He also made two relief appearances in the postseason over …

Nancy LaCorte was voted president and Ardaman Singh vice president at the Board of Education’s reorganization meeting on Jan. 9. The winners of the 2017 election – newcomers Michele Shelton, Michael Smith and Nishita Desai – were also sworn in during the meeting. Both LaCorte and Singh are in the second year of their current three-year terms. Also at the …

Franklin Township Chief of Police Richard Grammar was formally sworn in to the position on Jan. 9 before an audience comprised of fellow officers, his family and visiting la enforcement dignitaries. Grammar, a 30-year FTPD veteran, is the township’s seventh police chief. In his remarks after being sworn in, Grammar said he would work as hard as he said Township …

The draft report on the environmental effects of a proposed natural gas compressor station targeted for the township should be issued in March, according to a Jan. 3 announcement by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. That draft Environmental Impact Statement’s release by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will open a window for public comment before the final EIS is issued …

Mr. Vytas Ruikis passed away Jan. 3 at his home in Franklin Park. He was 93 years old. Mr. Ruikis was born in Lithuania and came to the United States on the USNS General Stuart Heintzelman through Boston Harbor on the 1950. When he arrived he could not speak English. He bought the newspaper every day and learned how on …