Gov. Chris Christie called for an end to realty transfer fees and limits on campaign spending in a town hall meeting held April 15 at the N.J. National Guard Armory on Hamilton Street. This was the third time Christie has visited the township during his two terms as governor.

A special presentation of “The Seven Last Words of Jesus” will be held from noon to 3 p.m. April 18 at the Somerset Presbyterian Church, 100 John F. Kennedy Blvd. in Somerset. The program will be an ecumenical service, with ministers of various area congregations delivering the messages.

The Franklin Reporter & Advocate was at the Somerset Patriots Fan Fest on April 12. We have two photo galleries for you, one of general fan pictures, and our mega-gallery of the kids (of all ages) who ran the bases. Enjoy!

Bridgewater, NJ- The Somerset Patriots have announced that they have re-signed left-handed pitcher Roy Merritt. Merritt finished the 2013 season with a 4-2 record, a 1.96 ERA, and 71 strikeouts in 64.1 innings pitched in 38 games.

A number of homes on Drake Road were evacuated April 12 after a live hand grenade was found in one of them. Police said the grenade was later found to be inert and not in danger of exploding.

Bridgewater, NJ- The Somerset Patriots have invited left-handed pitcher J.D. Reichenbach and infielder Scott Kelly to join the team at Spring Training from their open player tryouts held at TD Bank Ballpark on Saturday, April 12th. Reichenbach has experience in the Cleveland Indians organization, reaching the Triple-A level briefly in 2011.

About 40 people gathered the morning of April 12 at the rear of Somerset Village on Easton Avenue to help clean up Seeley’s Brook. Led by the John Clyde, Township Councilman Ted Chase (D-Ward 1), the township Environmental Commission and the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Alliance, the group – which included Brownies from Troop 60607 – climbed up and down the …

Five township-based organizations have won Community Box seats for various games at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater for the 2014 Somerset Patriots season. The winning organizations, picked by Somerset County Freeholder Director Patrick Scaglione in a drawing, are: Elizabeth Avenue Volunteer Fire Company Station 26, Cub Scout Pack 113, Boy Scout Troop 195, Canal Walk Home Owners Association and the …

Actor and author Hill Harper will be the keynote speaker for the “Arts in the Afternoon” program presented at 1 p.m. April 13 at the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, 771 Somerset St. in Somerset. Hill will do a book signing of his latest release, “Letters to an Incarcerated Brother” during the program, which is sponsored by the church’s …

Several groups hoping to get Community Development Block Grant funding for projects ranging from helping homeowners who are facing foreclosure to renovating kitchens in a senior residence made their pitches April 8 before the Township Council. The council’s finance committee will review all 14 grant applications and make its recommendations at a later date. The township received $254,170 in CDBG …