The Franklin High School girls’ and boys’ bowling squads defeated Woodbridge High School by identical 3-1 scores Jan. 14 at Brunswick Zone Carolier Lanes, North Brunswick. The boys won the first and third games of their match with scores of 1,088-788 and 1,031-928, respectively. The team barely lost the second game by a score of 987-971. The girls took the …

Township residents may notice a change in the taste ad smell of their drinking water starting later this month, as New Jersey American Water temporarily switches its water treatment process. The company will change from using chloramine to using free chlorine to treat water at several plants, including the Canal Road Water Treatment Plant in Somerset, from about Jan. 21 …

More than 160 telephone lines owned by Verizon were damaged June 14 by water, causing phone service outages to homes, businesses, the Board of Education and the police department. Phone service at Hillcrest Elementary School was restored by late in the afternoon of Jan. 15, said district spokeswoman Mary Clark. Also affected was the district’s buildings and grounds department. Verizon …

The state Assembly on Jan. 13 gave final approval for a new vanity license plate for the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, which suits Township Councilman Carl R.A. Wright (D-Ward 4) just fine. “I love the idea,” Wright said. Wright makes no secret of his affection for his college fraternal organization. At the Jan. 1, 2014 council reorganization, Wright sported a …

Students at the Thomas Edison EnergySmart Charter School recently heard from a Kung-Fu expert on bullying, and donated books and sports equipment to an NFL charity drive. Sifu Karl Romain, a member of the United International Kung Fu Hall of Fame, made his second visit to the Cortelyous Road school on Jan. 9, bringing a message of self-confidence and bullying …

The Jan. 6 schools closing over the bus contract crisis used the last of the district’s four “snow days,” schools Superintendent Edward Seto said in a message to parents. If schools need to be closed for the remainder of the school year, the district will have to take away scheduled vacation days, he said in the message, posted Jan. 10 …

Measures co-sponsored by state Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula, D-17, that support granting Filipino nationals Temporary Protected Status in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan and would allow for pediatric respite facilities in the state saw action recently. The Assembly on Jan. 6 passed a resolution that would urge the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to grant the TPS status to …

The Villagers Theatre, 475 DeMott Lane, Somerset, will hold auditions for its March performances of “Emma and the Lost Unicorns” on Jan. 13 and 14. Callbacks as necessary will be held Jan. 16. The show will be directed by Jerome John, produced by Marie Fiorello and staged managed by Laura Christine. According to the Villagers’ Web site, the story is …

Local artists are invited to submit pictures of up to five samples of their work for consideration of inclusion in the Somerset County Office on Aging and Disability Services‘ spring art exhibits. The exhibits will run from Feb. 3 to May 30 at the Quail Brook Senior Center on New Brunswick Road and the Somerset County Senior Wellness Center in …

The Family Dollar Store on Hamilton Street will sport a new, larger sign when it reopens. The Zoning Board on Jan. 9 approved the placement of a new sign on the store that is about 13 square feet larger than the previous sign. The increase is due to a change in the corporate logo, said Ira Weiner, the store franchisee’s …