One side effect of the new Franklin Middle School schedule, administrators say, is that it will relieve students of the need to carry backpacks through the school. And that suits FMS principal Reginald Davenport just fine. “I have a real problem with kids carrying backpacks all day long,” he said. “I don’t want anything to happen in the classes. It’s …

Come Sept. 1, Franklin Middle School students will be greeted with a new schedule, one designed to decrease hall congestion and allow teachers to focus on students. The schedule will divide the roughly 1,100 students in grades 7 and 8 into four “teams” in each grade of about 125 students each. Each student team will have assigned to it an …

Keith Buik, 52, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, August 10 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. Mr. Buik was born in Plainfield, the son of Albert and Jacquelyn (Gardner) Buik. He lived in Ocean Grove before settling in Hillsborough. Keith attended Seton Hall University and earned his Master’s degree in technology. He worked for many years as …

Central Islip, NY – The Long Island Ducks (18-14, 58-44) had been 48-1 when leading after seven innings, but the Somerset Patriots (17-17, 54-49) erased a 4-3 deficit in the eighth inning by scoring four runs to win 7-4 Thursday evening at Bethpage Ballpark. The teams split the four game midweek series and finished 10-10 against each other in 2016. …

Bridgewater, NJ – The Somerset Patriots, along with the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 452, will honor veterans and current military members before the Patriots game on Sunday, August 28, with gates opening at 4:00 pm at TD Bank Ballpark. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for the special ceremony expected to begin at 4:15 pm.   The event’s guest …

The Township Council next month will formally oppose a natural gas pipeline compressor station proposed for a site in Franklin Park. The decision came after a nearly four-hour special meeting Aug. 10, during which representatives from Williams-Transco – the company proposing the compressor station – were peppered with questions and comments by council members, area residents and environmental activists. The resolution …

Aug. 3 During the daytime hours a residence on Church Street was burglarized by an unknown actor. There were no signs of forced entry. Approximately $3000 in electronics and other property was taken. During the morning hours an unknown actor broke the window of a vehicle parked on Easton Avenue. The approximate value of the window was $250 Sometime during …

  Up to 300 township youths who are spotted doing good deeds by Franklin Township police will be rewarded with a free Slurpee drink. The FTPD is participating in the 21st annual Operation Chill by 7-Eleven, a national community service program. The coupons are used to “enhance relations with the young people of their cities by rewarding them for good …

Central Islip, NY – David Vidal, Aharon Eggleston, and Eric Farris all blasted home runs as the Somerset Patriots (16-17, 54-49) powered their way to a 7-4 victory over the Long Island Ducks (18-13, 58-43) Wednesday evening at Bethpage Ballpark. All seven runs occurred with two outs.   “Right now everything is a grind,” said Eric Farris who leads the …

Bridgewater, NJ- The Somerset Patriots have announced that they will host Star Wars Night on Monday, August 15th at TD Bank Ballpark. The first pitch against the York Revolution is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.   The Patriots will welcome members of the 501st Legion of Star Wars Costume Organization dressed as your favorite Star Wars characters, including Stormtroopers, Jedis and …