If you’re planning on driving into Hillsborough next week, after the Labor Day holiday, you’ll need to know that the state is planning some road work in the area of the Route 206 bypass that may affect your travel time. According to Somerset County officials: Amwell Road (CR 514): On Wednesday September 4, 2013, Local police will control the traffic …

Programs in Water Pilates, hydro, deep water exercises and aqua boot camp are being offered to people aged 60 and older by the Somerset Valley YMCA in the Bridgewater Aquatic Center, 601 Garretson Rd. Registration for the courses ends Sept. 6. The cost is $35 for each 10-week session. No registrations will be accepted after the deadline, and no refunds …

U.S. Rep. Rush Holt, D-12, joined 98 Republican House members in signing a letter urging President Obama to involve Congress in any decisions on U.S. military action in Syria. Other members of the New Jersey delegation who joined Holt in signing the letter were Rep. Scott Garrett, R-5 and Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2. Holt was one of 18 House Democrats …

Franklin residents can have an impact on the type of cultural events presented by Somerset County. The Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission is asking for responses to its cultural assessment survey. The survey will help guide the county in future cultural offerings, said Freeholder Patricia Walsh, the Freeholder liaison to the commission. “Your responses will provide us with insights …

So you’ve heard of Twitter, but you’re not quite sure how you can use it to build your business? The Somerset County Business Partnership is holding a “Business Builder” breakfast workshop to address that question, as well as the overall issue of using social media as a business-building tool. The breakfast is set for 8-9:30 a.m. Sept. 10 at the …

Welcome to the Franklin Reporter & Advocate, your online news source for Franklin Township. I’m Bill Bowman, the Franklin Reporter publisher and editor and a township resident for more than 25 years. My first instinct was to write “inaugural edition,” because that’s what this would be had this been a “traditional” paper publication. But times have changed since I started …

Could township police one day “predict” where crime is going to happen? Representatives from PredPol, the company that has developed software it claims can predict crime, have met with several township officials and others, including Chief of Police Lawrence W. Roberts, have viewed a Web-based presentation on the product. The meetings were held at the suggestion of Township Councilman Phillip …

Backyard composting workshops for county residents are set for 10-11:30 a.m. and 6:30-8 p.m. Sept. 12 in conference room “B” of the Somerset County Emergency Services Training Academy, 402 Roycefield Rd. Hillsborough. Participants will learn how to compost kitchen and yard debris into a “black gold” organic material for use in the yard, garden and for houseplants, according to a …

The next First Saturday of the Month drop-off day is Sept. 7, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Somerset County Recycling Center, 40 Polhemus Lane, Bridgewater. Accepted at the event are up to eight tires – with or without rims, scrap metal, used motor oil, oil filters, antifreeze and usual curbside materials, including chipboard items and plastic bottles …

The next hazardous waste drop-off for Somerset County residents is set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Branchburg Township Public Works garage, 34 Kenbury Rd. in the township. Household hazardous waste includes banned or outdated pesticides, antifreeze, transmission fluids, brake fluids, wet cell car batteries, motor oil (2-gallon maximum), ammonia-based cleaners, gasoline, kerosene, oil-based paints, pool …