Tours, lectures and music were on the bill July 16 for the 17th annual Garden Party in Colonial Park’s perennial garden. “We get quite a few people who come out and enjoy this garden,” said Jim Avens, the manager of the Somerset County Park Commission horticulture department.

Central Islip, NY – The Long Island Ducks (6-2, 46-32) scored multiple runs in the third and fourth innings to swim their way by the Somerset Patriots (5-4, 43-36) 7-0 Saturday evening at Bethpage Ballpark. Despite the lopsided loss, the Patriots bullpen continued to shine. The unit hurled 3.2 scoreless frames. Over the last 11 games, the bullpen has logged …

The Class of 2016 of the Franklin Township Police Youth Academy graduated July 15 in a ceremony held at Franklin Middle School. The nearly three dozen students spent the previous five days drilling, exercising and receiving instruction on a variety of topics, just as they would if they were in the real police academy.

A $500 donation made by Donald Trump to the Villagers Theatre during a 1987 fundraising campaign has garnered some national attention in the form of a July 13 Washington Post story. The story, headlined, “We found something that a charity named in honor of Donald Trump. It is a chair,” was spurred by the Post’s ongoing investigation into claims by Trump …

If you drove past the municipal building’s parking lot on DeMott Lane late in the evening of July 12, you would have seen about 10 cars parked there, their occupants’ faces bathed in the blue light of cell phones. These weren’t people who had attended the just-ended Township Council meeting and were checking up on emails they missed. These were people on a …

Youths’ achievements in scholastics, scouting and sports were highlighted during the July 12 Township Council meeting. The Cedar Hill Preparatory School’s robotics team, which was part of a first place team in an international competition in Germany, was commended by the council for its milestone, as were two DreamCricket Academy cricket teams, one of which won a national tournament and the …

Saying its extended closure could endanger the lives of residents of Franklin and two other towns, the Township Council has asked state officials to resume work on the Route 518 bridge over the Delaware & Raritan Canal. “Not to overstate it, but this is a matter of life and death,” Mayor Phillip Kramer said.

More than 40 people marched from Naaman Williams Park to the township police headquarters July 11 to remember people of color – including a township resident – who were killed by police. Organized by Leah Madison, a former township resident who now lives in New Brunswick, the march was conducted “in the name of justice,” she said.

Religious leaders, township officials and the police department’s top brass met July 11 in the Community/Senior Center to call for unity and peace in the wake of killings in Minnesota, Louisiana and Dallas, Texas. “We stand here today collectively to work in the community to make sure everybody has somebody and to make sure the police department knows that we …

Andrea Circelli and Nicole Salvatico were named to the Spring Dean’s List at Wilkes University. To be named to the Dean’s List, students must obtain a minimum 3.4 grade point average and carry at least 12 credits. Victoria Seamon has been named to Alvernia University’s Dean’s List for the spring 2016 semester. Seamon is studying Occupational Therapy. To be eligible …