Community Building

Anita and Obiora Okagbue outside their new home. (Photo: Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity.) Submitted by Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity. On a crisp, sunny Saturday morning – the day after Valentine’s Day – a large group gathered on the front lawn of Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity’s 53rd home, to celebrate and congratulate their newest partner-homeowner family, the Okagbues.

The Somerset County Democratic Committee Black Caucus (SCDCBC) will be hosting its Fifth Annual Scholarship Luncheon Fundraiser in honor of future political leaders from 2-6 p.m. March 7 at the Bridgewater Manor, 1251 Rout 206, Bridgewater. Tickets for the event are $65.

Felix and Nucky, left to right, at their “wedding” on Valentine’s Day. It’s not too often you hear a wedding officiant end a ceremony by telling the happy couple that, “you may now sniff each other,” but that’s just what Mayor Phil Kramer found himself doing on Valentine’s Day. Kramer ended his day of conducting weddings at the Municipal Complex …

Tickets are on sale now for the second annual Empty Bowls fundraising event to benefit the Franklin Food Bank. (File photo.) Tickets are now on sale for the second annual Empty Bowls event, set for March 22 at the DoubleTree by Hilton at 200 Atrium Drive in Somerset. Empty Bowls is a community effort to raise both money and awareness …

Rider registration and event sponsorships are now being accepted for the 2020 Franklin Food Bank Tour de Franklin. (Photo: Franklin Food Bank.) Submitted by the Franklin Food Bank. The Tour de Franklin Charity Bike Ride will be held this year on Sunday April 26, at Franklin High School.

Somerset County Freeholder Director Shanel Robinson speaks after receiving her commendation from the Somerset County Democratic Committee’s Black Caucus. Township resident and Somerset County Freeholder Director Shanel Robinson was one of two African-American trailblazers honored Feb. 1 by the Somerset County Democratic Committee’s Black Caucus during its Black History Month celebration. Robinson is the first African-American woman to serve as …

County Freeholder Director Shanel Robinson will be among those honored at the Somerset County Democratic Committee’s Black Caucus Black History Month event. Township resident Shanel Robinson, the first African-American woman to serve as Somerset County Freeholder Director, will be honored February 1 by the Somerset County Democratic Committee’s Black Caucus. The event is set for 2-5 p.m. at the township …

State Education Commissioner Lamont Repollet, center, speaks with state Assemblyman Joe Danielsen, left, and Danielsen’s Chief of Staff, Wayne Dibofsky, at the annual Franklin Community Breakfast. Education can be a method to manifest Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of a “just society,” the state’s education commissioner said January 20. Lamont Repollet, the Franklin resident who was elevated from Asbury …

Census information was relayed in a number of ways, including through these Census coloring books. Somerset County brought its Census 2020 roadshow to the township on January 18, offering education under the guise of entertainment at one of the township schools. The event was called “Winterfest 2020,” a nod to Census 2020 and the county administration’s desire to have as …

Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders Director Shanel Robinson is given the Oath of Office by Gov. Phil Murphy at the Freeholders’ reorganization meeting. Robinson is the first African-American to be named Freeholder Director. SOMERVILLE – Franklin Township residents played a pivotal part in the historic 2020 Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders reorganization meeting on January 3. A packed …