Incumbent state Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-17) easily won election to his first full term in the lower house in the Nov. 3 election. Danielsen’s running mate, Joseph Egan of New Brunswick, also won his re-election bid. Danielsen was chosen by the district Democrats to replace former Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula upon the latter’s appointment to a seat on the state Board …

Bridgewater, NJ – Somerset Patriots right-handed pitcher Connor Little has signed with the Atlanta Braves organization.   He marks the sixth player that spent time with the Patriots this season to be signed by a major league organization, joining Edwin Quirarte (San Francisco Giants), Mickey Storey (Los Angeles Dodgers), Chris Marrero (Chicago White Sox), Sean Bierman (Baltimore Orioles) and Lucas …

An editorial analysis. A political flier put out last weekend by the Somerset County Republican Organization supporting the mayoral bid of Chris Kelly has ruffled the feathers of his Democratic rival. And probably with good reason. The flier, which features a cartoon of a man with a Pinocchio-like nose, criticizes Township Councilman Phil Kramer for what it calls his self-styling …

By William Galtieri, Somerset. When Chris Kelly ran in 2007 his message was clear that the only way to control taxes is to control spending. Now as acting mayor, he has reversed that opinion doing the complete opposite. He has voted to spend more of taxpayers’ money, wanting to spend more than anyone else on the Township Council but not …

There were plenty of opportunities for little ghouls and goblins to fill up their Trick-or-Treat bags on Oct. 31, even before it was time to ring neighborhood doorbells. Events at Franklin Middle School and the municipal complex featured trunk-or-treating, with enough candy on hand to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth. The middle school event was actually put on by MacAfee Road …

By Richard Seamon, Somerset. My involvement in the Franklin Township School District began in 1998 when I attended a Board of Education meeting due to a transportation issue for my oldest child who was entering Kindergarten. With a younger child at home and a third child on the way, it became very clear to my wife and I that we …

FR&A Editorial Analysis. Here’s a question: When is an election not an election? The question arises because of a campaign sign distributed by township Republicans in support of their mayoral and township council candidates. “Re-Elect Mayor Chris Kelly,” it reads. Re-elect? Kelly won an election? In the opinion of township Republican chairman Bob LaCorte, the answer is “yes.” “Since Chris was …

Children from throughout the school district gathered Oct. 29 at Franklin High School for candy, games and spooky fun. The occasion was the annual “Safe Halloween” night, organized by the high school’s student government, with participation by many of its clubs and organizations. “This event was created to give the students of Franklin a good and safe environment to trick …

A six-vehicle crash on Oct. 29 closed part of Easton Avenue for two hours and sent one person to the hospital, police said. The crash,which happened during the morning rush hour, involved a tractor-trailer, police said. Police received numerous calls about the crash at about 7:19 a.m., according to a press release about the incident. Arriving officers shut down Easton Ave. between …

Troops serving overseas will once again be the beneficiaries of candy collected during the annual Halloween Candy Buyback at Advanced Dental Arts, 738 Easton Ave. The buyback will be held from 3-6 p.m. on Nov. 3 and 4. Dr. Joseph Haddad and his staff have been buying back Halloween candy for several years. In the past two years, the practice …