The Rev. DeForest “Buster” Soaries said July 21 that he will call for a federal investigation of whether a Franklin man’s civil rights were violated when he was killed in a shootout with township police. Several hours later, unrelated to Soaries’ statement, the Rutgers University chapter of Black Lives Matter took to the streets in New Brunswick, marching and chanting …

A policy prohibiting discrimination against transgender students caused a minor controversy at the July 21 Board of Education meeting. Board member Pat Stanley failed to garner any support for her motion to table voting on the policy, a move she made after saying the board seemed in a rush to approve it. Under the policy, the school board “will accept a student’s …

By Somerset County Freeholder Brian Levine. I will say, up front, that I may have broken the rules. It just seemed like a good idea at the time. On Day 3 of the Republican National Convention, I arrived at our venue, The Quicken Loans Arena (known as “the Q”) as I had on the previous days. After going through security, …

Bridgewater, NJ – David Vidal hit a walk off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead the Somerset Patriots (7-7, 45-39) over the Sugar Land Skeeters (8-7, 43-42) 5-4 before 7,825 fans at TD Bank Ballpark on Thursday evening.   With one out in the ninth, Vidal launched a solo shot (9) over the left field wall …

Bridgewater, NJ- The Somerset Patriots have announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Jim Miller.   Miller enters his first season with the Somerset Patriots and in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He owns five seasons of Major League service, most recently with the New York Yankees in 2014. Miller, who also played in the big leagues with the Baltimore …

Elementary school students gathered in a park in Somerset Mews July 20 learned a few lessons in what to do in case of a fire. The two dozen or so students were there as part of the school district’s summer “Books in the Park” program, which for 14 years has been encouraging youths to read through lending them new and …

Piazza Orsillo took the first game July 20 of a Best-of-Three championship series in the township’s Over 50 Softball League. Their opponents, Resta’s Care Care, came close to at least tying in the game’s final frame, but a bases-loaded ground out ended the rally. Game two of the series is scheduled to be played July 22 and game three, if …

A 23-year veteran of the township police force has developed a self-defense course geared to young women preparing to strike out on their own. In addition to his experience as a police officer, Capt. Greg Borlan is also a 4th Degree Black Belt in Combat Hapkido, from which he has culled some key defensive moves for his class, called “PINKS,” an acronym …

By Somerset County Freeholder Brian Levine. As with most endeavors, the exciting and high intensity portions – the actual attendance at the Republic National Convention – is intense. The more mundane procedures, such as communications and logistics, are just as important. As for the latter… The RNC provided us with an app for our smart phones to keep track of …

Bridgewater, NJ – The Sugar Land Skeeters (8-6, 43-41) defeated the Somerset Patriots (6-7, 44-39) 6-4 at TD Bank Ballpark in the second game of a day-night double header on Wednesday evening.   The Patriots took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single by David Vidal and a sacrifice fly by Bryan LaHair.   The Skeeters …