News-pourri

The Zoning Board of Adjustment got its first peek at a proposed retail/residential development on Hamilton Street, a project township officials hope will herald the renaissance of the business district. The proposal, made by Recon Services LLC of Rocky Hill, is for a building encompassing the block of Hamilton Street between Ambrose and Home streets, the ground floor of which would …

The 2014-2015 school year violence and vandalism report contained a mixed bag of results. On the one hand, reported violence, weapon and drug infractions and harassment, intimidation and bullying by students decreased in the district as a whole.

Three township residents arrived at Veterans’ Memorial Park before 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 to find that the annual commemoration was not going to happen. Rather than just leave, the three decided to hold their own short ceremony.

Despite a continued objection emailed from a member of the township’s historic preservation commission, the Township Council Nov. 10 voted to replace the Hageman House roof with a synthetic material. Tom Gale, vice chairman of the Historic Preservation Advisory Commission, had argued in September that the roof should be replaced with natural slate.

The Township Council at its Nov. 1o meeting declared Nov. 13 as “World Pancreatic Cancer Day” in the township. With Rachel Shaw of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network looking on, Deputy Mayor Kimberly Francois read the council’s proclamation into the record.

Add Burger King to the list of Easton Avenue fast-food restaurants undergoing makeovers. The restaurant, located in Rutgers Plaza, received the go-ahead for its renovation on Nov. 9 from the Historic Preservation Advisory Commission. The commission’s approval was needed because the restaurant is within 1,000 feet of the Delaware & Raritan Canal.

The Meadows Foundation recently received a $63,150 2015 Somerset County Historic Preservation Grant for the Symen Van Wickle House off Easton Avenue. The money will be used to fund an historic structures report, according to a release from the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

The two hot topics of the past year or so failed to manifest themselves at the voting booth in the Nov. 3 election, an FR&A analysis of the results shows. Although they were the subjects of several heated Township Council meetings and endless debates on social media, the development of Middlebush and Catalpa parks failed to result in the threatened voter …

Township Councilman Phil Kramer handily won the mayor’s race, and his Democratic running mates swept the Township Council race in the Nov. 3 election. With all districts reporting, Kramer, currently a councilman from Ward 3, garnered 5,045 votes and his challenger, current Mayor Chris Kelly, received 3,208 votes.

Two incumbents and a newcomer won election to the Board of Education in the Nov. 3 election. Board members Richard Seamon and Margaret Steele and first-time member Laurie Merris will start their new terms in January 2016.