In a fast meeting April 8, the Board of Education selected Illinois-based ECRA Group to lead a search for the new schools Superintendent. The company, which has an office in Jersey City, will charge the district an $18,500 basic consultation fee for the search, plus expenses.

Bridgewater, NJ – The Somerset Patriots have announced the signings of left-handed pitcher Zach Kroenke and Matt Zielinski and utility player Dennis Raben. Kroenke has Major League experience with the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he pitched in seven games in 2010 and 2011.

Ankit Modi, the owner of the new 7-11 convenience store at Franklin Boulevard and Hamilton Street, said April 11 that he was “overwhelmed” by the response to his grand opening celebration. Modi, who has owned the Exxon station and the store for a number of years, switched from a Tiger Mart to 7-11 several months ago. The grand opening celebration …

Hillcrest School students got a reprieve from their regular curriculum April 9 to spend the day learning about financial literacy. The lessons were provided by Franklin High School’s Future Business Leaders of America Club and members of Rutgers University’s Phi Beta Lambda organization, under the auspices of the Junior Achievement program.

A partisan debate over new sidewalks and road resurfacing projects punctuated the introduction of the 2014 budget at the April 8 Township Council meeting. But when the dust settled, the proposed $57 million spending plan – which calls for a 3.6 percent increase in the amount to be raised by taxes – was introduced.

Peter Stavrianidis, owner of Venus Jewelers in Rutgers Plaza, Easton Avenue, will give a free presentation on “Marketing Yourself in Business and in Life” 4-6 p.m. April 17 at the Imperia, 1714 Easton Ave. Sponsored by the Franklin Township Chamber of Commerce and Venus Jewelers, the presentation will be hosted by the Rutgers Chinese Student & Scholar Association.

A township woman who was reported to be bleeding from her arm was found by police to have inflicted the wounds herself. Police received a 9-1-1 call shortly after 10 a.m. April 8, reporting that a woman was seen walking near Hamilton Street and Franklin Boulevard, bleeding from her arm.

Obianuju A. Enworom, a senior at Mt. St. Mary’s Academy in Watchung, is one of 700 students nationwide to win a National Achievement Scholarship. Enworom, whose probable field of study is law, was awarded $2,500 by the program, which is administered by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

A 3-story hotel, a car care center and a nursing home are just a few of the construction projects planned or underway in the township. Also on tap: a medical office building and the second half of a retail center.

Bridgewater, NJ- The Somerset Patriots have announced the signings of right-handed pitchers Kyler Newby, Mike Demark, and Gary Moran. Newby has experience in the Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, and Oakland Athletics organizations, including three seasons at the Triple-A level.