News-pourri

Franklin Park resident Jerry L. Midgette, the Somerset County Election Administrator, is the first African-American elected president of the New Jersey Association of Election Officials. Midgette’s election came during the NJAEO’s annual conference on March 18 in Atlantic City. Midgette, a former election lawyer, is also the first Somerset County election official to lead the organization, according to a press …

U.S. Rep. Rush Holt, D-12, says he hasn’t thought too much about what he’ll do when he leaves Congress next January. “I don’t know if I’ll go back to academia, go to a foundation, work with the (Obama) administration,” he said. How about running for governor? “My next act is very much open,” he said with a smile, after a …

Applications to build two homes on undersized lots on Douglas Avenue and two warehouses on Roosevelt Avenue were approved at the March 5 Planning Board meeting. The home developer, Edison-based Gregory Kingburk,wants to build two, two-story homes with four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, he told teh board. The homes would also have full basements and one-car garages, he said. Paul …

A two-story, 160,000-square-foot addition to Sentinel Datacenters building on Cottontail Lane and Pierce Street could bring 40 new jobs into the township, the Planning Board was told at its March 5 meeting. The company in 2009 converted what was a warehouse into a 168,000-square-foot data center, its attorney, Peter Lanfrit, told the board. He said the company had always planned …

The township Historic Preservation Advisory Commission held two informal hearings at its March 4 meeting, one of which dealt with a building raising and another which dealt with a proposed new home. Joachim Messing of Neuville Drive told the commission that he wants to tear down a garage on property he owns next to his house and build another home. …

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. The commission had to review the plans because Kingston is a state- and nationally …

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. Rehabilitation of the causeway bridge – which traverses the Delaware & Raritan Canal and connects Weston Canal Road with Wilhousky Street in Manville …

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. “The Board of Freeholders is pleased to present funding for so many worthwhile, fun and educational programs for …

Two Somerset County projects that will close township bridges for several months this year and next are just about ready to go. The most immediate project will require the closing of part of Blackwells Mills Road from July through mid-September, while the second project will mean the closure of part of South Middlebush Road for 10 to 12 weeks, probably …

“Several” summonses for not obeying the township’s law regarding sidewalk cleanups after snow storms have been handed out by police since the Valentine’s Day weekend storms, a police spokesman said. Several storms spanning from Feb. 12 to Feb. 18 dumped as much as 20 inches of snow on Franklin Township, according to the New Jersey State Climatologist. The township’s ordinance …