About three dozen of the district’s substitute teachers showed up at the Nov. 21 Board of Education meeting to once again ask that the pay hike they were promised last year be put into effect. The teachers have been showing up regularly since September, asking the board to reverse a June decision to cut their per day pay by as …

A 26-year-old Somerset man who police said tried to kill a township police officer during a struggle last summer has been indicted on several charges, including attempted murder. An indictment charging Archie L. Ashley with five counts of 1st Degree attempted murder, 1st Degree disarming a police officer, 2nd Degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, 3rd Degree …

Deep divisions among groups of members and a feeling of overall failure permeate the 2013 self-evaluations completed earlier this year by the Board of Education members. “We are so fractured we cannot function,” one board member commented. “Plus, we are forcing the administration to spend time and money on board related in fighting (sic). My biggest failure as a board …

Adoptee advocates around the country will turn their attention to securing original birth certificates during the 8tha annual National Adoption Day observances on Nov. 23. Advocates are asking supporters with face book accounts to change their profile pictures to a pink graphic with the words, “Got your birth certificate? Adoptees don’t.”

Ernest T. Nilsson, 94, died on November 16, 2013 surrounded by those he loved.   He was born in the Bushwick Section on Blecker Street in Brooklyn N.Y. on September 6, 1919 to his dear parents Ernst and Anna Zittsman Nilsson. Ernest was a Professional Engineer for Nilsson Engineering in Somerset; served in the U.S. Army during World War II as …

Kimberly Briganti of Raritan Borough told police she was driving down Easton Avenue when the car ahead of hers, driven by Emma Holbrook of North Plainfield, stopped suddenly. Briganti said she could not avoid hitting the rear of Holbrook’s car. The impact sent Holbrook’s car into one ahead of hers, driven by Ruth Betzer of Somerset. Betzer said a car …

Nov. 18 Donna Zsoldos of North Brunswick was driving down Route 27, near Route 518, when a deer suddenly ran out in front of her car. Zsoldos told police she could not avoid hitting the animal.

The fourth annual “Project Warm Your Heart” clothing drive for needy children is underway. The Somerset County Commission on the Status of Women is seeking donations of new or gently used coats, mittens, gloves, scarves and hats for children of families served by the Food Bank Network of Somerset County. Deadline for donations is Dec. 6.

A Somerset family’s creation will be among the dozens of trees at the 36th annual “Festival of Trees” at the Environmental Education Center, 190 Lord Stirling Rd., Basking Ridge. The Lyons’ family’s tree is entitled, “Peace and Goodwill.”

Help in paying rent for low-income residents is available from the Somerset County Homelessness Trust Fund. The fund’s Rental Assistance Program will provide up to 15 months of assistance and case management to help them increase their chances of staying within teh county, according to a press release about the program.