Ricardo Benson apparently doesn’t believe in wasting time. Even before the Lakewood resident opened his store – Custom Tees And More – on Hamilton Street, he was already working to give back to his adopted community. Benson’s store is a Marine Corps “Toys for Tots” collection spot, and he has also signed up for a virtual food drive for the …

  The holidays are popping up all over the township. Sales were the main topic on Dec. 3, with several organizations – the Griggstown Historical Society, the Millstone Valley Preservation Coalition and St. Matthias Home School Association – offering wares for those early shoppers. The old Griggstown Schoolhouse on Canal Road was the site for the “Greens and Goodies” sale …

  What started as an idea more than seven years ago came to fruition Dec. 2, with the groundbreaking for the Claremont Road Elementary School. School district and township officials, district principals and others gathered on a somewhat muddy field to witness the event, set to the backdrop of ground-clearing equipment moving in the distance. The school was the keystone …

  The 2016 holiday season was formally kicked off Dec. 2 with the annual township tree lighting at the municipal complex on DeMott Lane. Following the tree lighting, attendees were led by members of Boy Scout Troop 154 and drummer Sneh Patel to the Community/Senior Center for hot cocoa and apple cider, cookies and entertainment. Those taking the stage included …

  Organizers of the inaugural “Designer Bag Bingo” held at Franklin High School Dec. 2 by the Sisters Network of Central New Jersey proclaimed the event a success. “Everybody is having a lot of fun,” said the Network’s Linda Darby. “It’s a good night for a good cause,” said chapter president Dorothy Reed. The Sisters Network of Central New Jersey …

  Township officials were among the invited guests to what turned out to be a “wall-breaking” Dec. 2 at Akorn Pharmaceuticals. The event was billed as a “meet-and-greet” by Akorn to give officials an idea of the  work that was about to begin in a $7 million project to refit a 15,000-square-foot Veronica Avenue building and two other spaces into …

Mrs. Dorothy McGee, 55, passed away Dec. 1 at her home in Greensboro, N.C. with her family by her side. Mrs. McGee was born in New Brunswick and lived in Highland Park and Franklin Township for many years before moving to Greensboro, N.C. 5 years ago. She was employed by Somerset County Social Services as a Childcare Professional. She also …

A township family received a huge helping of holiday cheer right before Thanksgiving when they were reunited with a family pet who had been missing for nearly six years. The delayed homecoming of Mr. Moe, the family’s rescued beagle, came about after officials at the Monmouth County SPCA in Eatontown picked him up as a stray and checked the dog’s …

Central Jersey College Prep Charter School threw itself a party on Nov. 29, one with national implications. The school celebrated its inclusion in the 2016 class of National Blue Ribbon Schools, an award bestowed by the U.S. Department of Education. School administrators, teachers, students, parents and local dignitaries watched a short video about the school, then listened to some selections …

Bridgewater, NJ- The Somerset Patriots have announced that right-handed pitcher Alexis Candelario has been signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.   Candelario had two stints during the 2016 season with the Somerset Patriots. He first joined the team in mid-June before having his contract purchased by Veracruz of the Mexican League. He re-joined Somerset at the end of August …