By Bill Connell, Somerset. I have taken fancy to a new song by Ian Hunter, “Fingers Crossed.” It is about a real life pirate, asking himself at the time of his hanging, am I really a victim of circumstance? This is what was in the back of my mind as listened at the school board meeting…and listened and listened and …

A 26-year-old township man was among two who admitted their roles in a “pay to stay” scheme unraveled by a federal sting. Harpreet Sachdeva, 26, of Somerset, and Sanjeev Sukhija, 35, of North Brunswick, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court to separate informations charging them each with one count of conspiracy to commit …

Lillian Bartlett, 80, passed away surrounded by her family on Monday, September 26th, at her home in Somerset. Mrs. Bartlett was born December 12, 1935 in Elizabeth, the daughter of Edward and Mary (Boselli) Merlo. She lived in Somerset and was previously from Roselle and Springhill, FL. Lillian was in cosmetic sales for Steinbach’s, where she worked for a many …

Franklin Middle School students cheered Sept. 26 as a ceremonial blue ribbon was cut in front of the newly remodeled cafeteria kitchen. The ribbon was cut by Board of Education president Ed Potosnak, surrounded by school and district administrators. Boasting brand new, state-of-the-art equipment, a new floor and a new “traffic flow,” the district hopes the new layout will solve problems that …

Adults who live or work in Somerset County are invited to apply by Oct. 31 for the Leadership Somerset Class of 2017. Benefits of the program include networking with community leaders, discovering Somerset County resources, exploring capacities of positive leadership, enhancing team and leadership skills and making an impact in the community. Leadership Somerset meets once a month, on a …

Hillcrest Elementary PTO won an honorable mention in the “Recycled Playground Challenge,” sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive, ShopRite and TerraCycle. Hillcrest Elementary PTO earned a total of 907 Playground Credits by recycling waste and through online voting to place in the contest. The honorable mention prize winner will receive a $150 Shoprite Gift Card, 500 Colgate kids’ toothbrushes, and 500 Colgate kids’ toothpaste tubes. …

The 3rd annual Franklin Day Festival in Colonial Park was the biggest by far, both in what was offered and the number of attendees. The festival, held Sept. 24, attracted an estimated 10,000 people, said Township Councilwoman Roz Sherman (D-Ward 2), head of the event’s organizing committee and its creator. In addition to food and craft vendors, non-profit organizations and township …

By Cadine Dennison, Franklin. After my attendance of the September 22, 2016 Board of Education meeting, it is my opinion that Central Jersey College Prep students should not be allowed to participate in Franklin Township public school athletics. Charter Schools are often viewed as the solution to the public education problems. Many of those who attend charter schools such as …

The face of Hamilton Street underwent a subtle change Sept. 23 with the opening of the township police’s Pat Gianotto Memorial Community Policing Center. Located at the corner of Hamilton and Main streets, the office will initially be manned four hours a week – from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and 4-6 p.m. on Thursdays – by officers Steven Ellmeyer …

A mother-daughter business that was started in response to an act of discrimination celebrated its 20th anniversary Sept. 23 with a festive gala. ASL Interpreter Referral Service provides sign language interpreters for the deaf, hard-of-hearing and deaf-blind in a variety of settings. The company was founded by Kathy Kady-Hopkins and her mother, Christine Sherwood, and has an office on Clyde …