The Kingston Presbyterian Church on March 4 received the go-ahead from the Historic Preservation Advisory Commission to use “modern” materials in the restoration of the church steeple. That restoration also means that a church bell will once again ring from the steeple, the commission was told.

Words and Pictures by Barbara Lawrence. Farms and farmers are a part of the Cuban experiment to expand their economy through small business.

Eight township residents will hit the runway in the Immaculata High School Fashion Show and Luncheon set for 11 a.m. April 6 at the Doubletree Hotel on Davidson Avenue. Run by the school’s Spartan Club as a fundraiser for the school’s technology upgrades, the fashion show will feature formal, casual and active wear selections from local stores, including Stein Mart, …

UPDATE 2: The Manville Causeway bridge is now closed,  according to a state Department of Transportation spokesman. Repairs to the Manville Causeway bridge and part of Route 518 will mean road closures and detours into the summer.

Franklin High School girls’ basketball coach Audrey Taylor said the teams’ game plan March 4 against Ridge High School was to “press them early cause some chaos and try to get the ball so we could get some easy points.” And did they ever.

A planned March 13 cleanup of a Blackwells Mills Road property has been postponed because of the snow, a state Department of Environmental Protection spokesman said. “We’re rescheduling it for late March or early April,” DEP spokesman Bob Considine said.

The Somerset Patriots have announced the return of right-handed pitcher Mike Solbach. Solbach played for Somerset during the 2012 season before having his contract purchased by the Colorado Rockies organization and reporting to Double-A.

A proposal to build a Buddhist temple on Hamilton Street ran afoul of the township Environmental Commission at its March 4 meeting. That’s because the developers, the Phuoc Duyen Buddhist Association of New Jersey, want to take down a number of mature trees on the property.

The Board of Education paid its attorney nearly $20,000 for legal work connected with negotiating with the former schools Superintendent to leave his position before his contract ran out. Add that to the approximately $55,000 payout given to former Superintendent Edward Seto, and the total bill to have him leave before the end of June comes to about $75,000.

The Franklin Township Municipal Youth Services Commission was recently presented with a $5,000 grant for its Youth Council, Franklin Youth Prevention and Empowerment program and Boys Council. The ceremonial check was presented by Freeholder Peter Palmer to Youth Initiative coordinator Bruce Medley.