After a two-year absence, Somerset County Freeholder Brian Levine was once again in the township library on March 12, squaring off against a bunch of kids. Levine, also the township’s former mayor, went up against 11 members of the library’s chess club in a rotating game. The last time he did this was in December 2014, when he faced half …

Bridgewater, NJ- Former Somerset Patriots right-handed pitcher Donovan Hand has been signed by the New York Mets to a minor league deal. Last season for Somerset, Hand pitched 103 innings over 24 games and struck out 77 batters before leaving the team at the start of the playoffs for personal reasons. Prior to joining Somerset, Hand had two years of …

Representatives of a handful of faith traditions in the township showed their support for one another March 11 in a “Solidarity and Brotherhood Prayer” held at Temple Beth El on Hamilton Street. The idea of leaders at Masjid-e-Ali Mosque, the event was held during the synagogue’s Shabbat Zachor, or “Sabbath of Remembering,” an observance held yearly before the Purim holiday. …

Calling it a “new milestone to help the community,” a founder of the Masjid-e-Ali Mosque is applauding the decision to move three polling locations to the Cedar Grove Lane house of worship. Somerset County Board of Electors on March 9 approved the requested move to the mosque of polling locations for voting districts 14, 15 from the Quailbrook Senior Citizens …

A 74-year-old township woman suffered possible life-threatening injuries and two other people were injured in a March 9 auto accident at the intersection of Arden Street and Girard Avenue. Police said Priscilla Roberson, 74, of Somerset, had to be “heavily extracted” from her 1993 Volvo after the early afternoon accident, which, police said, was apparently caused when Roberson drove through …

Bridgewater, NJ – The Somerset Patriots have signed outfielder Chris Grayson for the 2017 season. His rights were acquired in a trade with the Washington Wildthings of the Frontier League for a Player To Be Named Later earlier this off-season.   “I have always wanted to play in the Atlantic League, so I am very excited,” said Grayson. “What the …

Franklin township residents are making waves at colleges and universities. Here’s the latest: Students at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Florham Campus, located in Madison, have been named to the Dean’s and Honors Lists for the Fall 2016 semester: Danah Lassiter, Amy Slobodzian, Gabrielle Kissi, Katlin Gagliardi, Ashley Krushinski, Anthony Casisa and Mark Carr, all of Somerset, and Dylan Coker and Salma …

The Franklin High School vocal music department’s production of “Sister Act” will debut at 7:30 p.m. March 10 in the school’s theater. “Sister Act” is based on the hit 1992 eponymous movie, about a lounge singer on the run from her mob boyfriend after she accidentally witness him kill a suspected informant. The singer, Deloris Van Cartier, goes to the …

Andrew Covert passed away March 8 at his home in Somerset. He was 23 years old. Andrew was born in Somerville and was a lifelong resident of Franklin Township. He went to Franklin Schools and Somerset County Vo-Tech. He was a mechanic by trade and worked at Jiffy lube and most recently Tom’s Auto Repair on Hamilton Street in Somerset. …

Edna Karlin, 88, a beloved teacher from Franklin Township, passed away on March 8, at Regency Heritage Care Center in Somerset. Mrs. Karlin was born July 17, 1928 in Manhattan, New York to the late Irving and Matilda (Pickard) Levin. She lived in Bronx, NY, for a few years before settling in Somerset with her family. Edna earned her Bachelor’s …