A township military couple wed by Mayor Brian Levine in 2011 surprised the Mayor at the April 22 Township Council meeting with a commemorative plaque from Afghanistan. Army Sgt. Santos Avilez and his wife, Air Force Sgt. Grisselle Avilez, presented Levine with the plaque during the meeting’s public portion. The plaque includes a flag flown in a combat mission over …

Children in grades Kindergarten to 12 have until April 30 to enter Venus Jewelers’ annual Mother’s Day contest by submitting a poem describing why their mother is their hero. While all who enter will receive a gemstone, six grand prize winners will receive gemstone hearts, according to a release about the contest. The contest’s goal is to help children celebrate …

Township police received a 911 call of a brush fire at Middlebush Park, DeMott Lane, at a bout 1:58 p.m. April 23, according to Police Department spokesman Sgt. Philip Rizzo. Rizzo said the fire was quickly extinguished with no reported injuries. There was no word on what caused the fire. Firefighters from several companies, including Middlebush and Elizabeth Avenue, responded. …

All but one of the 11 members of the nascent Hamilton Street Advisory Board were named April 22 by the Township Council, although the final picks were not unanimous. The 10 names were drawn from a list of 15 business owners and residents of the Hamilton Street business district. The district runs from about Franklin Boulevard to near the New …

Somerset County high school seniors are eligible to participate in the “Personal Safety for High School Seniors” program 6-9 p.m. May 28 and June 11 at the Somerset County Emergency Services Academy 402 Roycefield Rd., Hillsborough. Covered topics will include victimization, predators, situational awareness, personal safety tips, identifying potential safety issues, dealing with a physical confrontation, being a good witness …

Somerset County’s centenarians will be honored May 21 with a luncheon at the Regency Heritage Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 380 DeMott Lane. The county Office on Aging and Disability is looking for centenarians to honor. The deadline to respond is May 2. “We are asking residents to help the Office on Aging and Disability Services honor Somerset County centenarians,” Somerset …

The 4th Annual Spring Adult Bocce League will begin play at Colonial Park on May 6. Sponsored by the Somerset County Park Commission, the league is open to adults aged 18 and older. Teams of four players each will play on the eight permanent professional bocce courts located near Parking Lot F off Mettlers Road. League play will be from …

The culmination of a 13-year effort to protect the historic and scenic Millstone Valley area from development was celebrated April 19 with the opening of the restored Griggstown Bridgetender’s House and Muletenders’ Barracks. The house, which was once home to the Griggstown causeway bridgetender and his family when mule barges plied the Delaware River canal, will serve as the visitor’s …

Like their fellow believers around the world, congregants of Somerset Presbyterian Church and St. Matthias Catholic Church observed Good Friday April 18. The Presbyterian Church held a special “Seven Last Words of Jesus” program starting at noon. The church invited ministers from six local congregations to speak on each of the seven sentences said to have been uttered by Jesus …

Bridgewater, NJ- Former NFL wide receiver and Plainfield, NJ native Donald Jones will be working out with the Somerset Patriots during Spring Training. Jones joined the team on Thursday morning and took batting practice during the Patriots workout before their scheduled game against the Camden Riversharks. He will be with the team for the next few days of Spring Training. …