Ask Sue Degrassi of Somerset what she looks for in a Christmas tree, and she’s quick to answer. “I like one that’s full,” she said, as she and her husband, Giuliano, picked out a tree in a lot in Rutgers Plaza, Easton Avenue.

A 58-year-old Somerset man was indicted Dec. 13 by a Somerset County Grand Jury on a charge that he stole more than $85,000 from the Federation of Gujarati Associations in North America. Girishcha Patel was arrested on Sept. 21 and charged with 2nd-Degree theft, according to an October 22 release from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.

It’s looking as though the school district’s planned $85 million referendum won’t be held until at least September. Board member Richard Seamon told his colleagues at the Dec. 12 meeting that the district had not yet heard back from the state Department of Education on grant requests that would help offset the project’s largest costs, and there’s no definite date …

For the third time in three years, schools Superintendent Edward Seto has suggested privatizing the district’s paraprofessionals. Seto made his latest suggestion at the Board of Education’s Dec. 12 meeting.

By Bill Connell, Somerset. As a parent and active member of the community, I often get into conversations about the type of people we want as leaders.  The common themes are kind, honest, and straight speaking.  Mr. Seamon is all of these things. We had him as a school board member and we let him go.

The former assistant principal of Elizabeth Avenue Elementary School was going to be fired had he not resigned on Dec. 8, according to the district schools Superintendent. John Norton notified the district on Dec. 8 that he would be resigning his position for “personal reasons,” and sent in a  letter stating the same on Dec. 9, district spokeswoman Mary Clark …

Resolutions to buy nine RADAR units for township police cars and a dump truck with a plow were approved at the Dec. 11 Township Council meeting. The council also voted to award bids for HVAC maintenance and repairs for township buildings, extend its current snow plowing contract and increases in two attorneys’ retainers at the meeting.

Hector Homblert of North Brunswick told police that he was driving down Easton Avenue, near John F. Kennedy Boulevard, when a deer ran into the street and hit his car. §

The wintry weather of Dec. 8 caused 17 traffic accidents in the township, according to township police spokesman Sgt. Phil Rizzo. Here’s a sampling: Shirley Thomas of Somerset told police that she was driving on Veronica Avenue when she lost control of her car on the slippery road and hit a tree. Police said Thomas was driving too fast for …

The Franklin Township High School boys’ bowling team improved their record to 2 and 1 while handing the Edison High School team its first loss in a match Dec. 6 at Brunswick Zone – Carolier Lanes in North Brunswick. The girls team is still in search of its first win, falling to the Edison girls 4-0 at the same venue.