Second Chance for Animals, the organization that funds the Franklin Township Animal Shelter on DeMott Lane, celebrated its 15th anniversary with its 3,000th spaying and a $3,000 donation from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The money will be used for spay/neuter services for all adoptable dogs and cats in the shelter, according to a release …

Brent Scott of Land O Lakes, Fl. was cited Oct. 18 for careless driving, using a cell phone while driving and failure to stop at a stop sign after he was involved in a collision Atrium Drive and Davidson Avenue. Scott said he was driving on Atrium while checking his phone. He told police his car went through the stop …

A Somerset dentist is offering to buy children’s excess Halloween candy and donate it to troops serving overseas. Dr. Joseph Haddad of Advanced Dental Arts, 738 Easton Ave., is offering $5 a pound for excess candy. Children can bring in the candy from 3-6 p.m. on Nov. 4, 5 and 7. “It’s a well-known fact that too much candy can …

Franklin residents who want to have their decorated trees considered for Somerset County’s 36th Annual Festival of Trees have until Nov. 4 to submit applications. Sponsored by the Somerset County Parks Commission, the display will be held at the commission’s Environmental Education Center, 190 Lord Stirling Rd. Basking Ridge, from Dec. 6-29, 2o13. Individuals, local and civic groups, clubs, businesses, …

Auditions for the Villagers Theatre KidsVill holiday show, “Crystal and the Christmas Snowman,” continue at 7 p.m. at the Villagers Theatre, DeMott Lane. Callbacks, if necessary, will be held Oct. 24. The characters are as follows: Josh- 9-11 years old Jessica-11-13 years old Lauren- 13-15 years old Stan the Weather Man- 25+ Father/Foster the Snowman- 35 + Mother/Crystal – 35 …

Although Mayor Brian Levine wondered aloud whether the money could be better spent elsewhere, and at least one councilman was unsure of the contract’s term, the Township Council on Oct. 22 voted to spend $55,000 for software that is touted to allow police departments to “predict” where crime will occur. The idea’s champion on the council, Councilman Phil Kramer (Ward …

Apparently, single young men at 80s dance parties aren’t the only creatures on Earth who talk a lot and strut their stuff to attract the opposite sex. Turns out wild turkeys, do it, too. That and other facts about eastern wild turkeys were offered during a presentation at the Oct. 21 Environmental Commission meeting. Tony McBride, a biologist with the …

By Bill Connell, Somerset. This is to address Mr. Fitzgerald’s concerns. Board involvement is what created this concern. Having studied the board for a few years I feel I can speak to it. One of the problems I have noticed with the board budget is set when the state releases the budget at the last possible moment, so the board …

Incidents of violence, vandalism and harassment are decreasing in all nine of the district schools, according to a district official. Orvyl Wilson, director of school management, told the Board of Education at its Oct. 17 meeting that not only is there a “downward trend” in all of the categories of violence, vandalism, substance abuse and student discipline that are reportable …

  About 60 people from Franklin and surrounding towns gathered Oct. 20 at the Somerset Presbyterian Church on John F. Kennedy Boulevard for the 40th annual CROP Hunger Walk. The church was the operations center for the walk, which involved members of other area churches including St. Matthias, Holy Trinity Lutheran, First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens and Middlebush Reformed …