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Downtown packed Sat. with Festiville, Arts
Main Street in downtown Somerville on Saturday, May 18th will be closed to traffic and serve as the stage for a merry-go-round of family-friendly street performers that have dazzled crowds far and wide at street fairs, festivals, circuses, amusement parks, theaters and late-night television. The inaugural Somerville Festiville street fair sponsored by the Downtown Somerville Alliance will energize Main Street with music, entertainers, food vendors, a kids’ petting zoo, face painting and more between Bridge Street and Davenport Street...
read moreHot dogs and porkers racing for charities
Down the stretch they come . . . and the winner by a snout is – Piggly Wiggly, followed in second by Pork Roll & Cheese, with Squeals of Delight third and bringing up the rear, Pork Butt. Somerville’s inaugural Festiville sponsored by the Downtown Somerville Alliance will feature the first-ever Pig Races on West Main Street Saturday, May 18, beginning at noon. There will be five races, one per hour, including a few “Hot Dog” races. A field of four Dachshunds will also trot out to the starting gate – complete with hot dog...
read moreImmaculate Conception kids selected for band
Eleven students from Immaculate Conception School were recently named to the Central Jersey Music Educators Association (CJMEA) Elementary Honors Band. These young musicians were chosen by CJMEA after being recommended by their teacher, ICS Band Director, Mrs. Genevieve Webber. The students attended a full-day practice prior to performing before an audience of parents and friends at Rahway Middle School. Immaculate Conception School provides a comprehensive instrumental music program for students in Grades 4-8. Pictures here are (back row,...
read more‘Arts on Division’ coming May 16 – 19
The annual Arts On Division is coming back to Somerville May 16-19. Arts On Division is an outdoor festival of the arts in downtown Somerville. Enjoy live performances including dramatic readings, dance, music, and meet-the-author events. The four day celebration also includes pop up galleries of diverse fine art including painting, sculpture, photography, and printmaking, and more – all available for purchase. Admission is FREE so come and experience a great weekend in Downtown Somerville. The Somerville Arts Initiative is a coalition of...
read more“Festiville” coming to downtown Somerville
Downtown Somerville’s merchants will strutting their stuff Saturday, May 18, from noon to 5 p.m. during the Festiville Street Fest, formerly known as Somerville Sampler Day. Main Street will be closed from Bridge Street to Doughty for sidewalk sales and offerings from restaurants while live music and street performers entertain visitors. Businesses, schools, churches, and service organizations will be showing off their best. And there will be lots of entertainment is set for kids including petting zoos, pony rides, live music, rides,...
read moreSomerville library undergoing renovations
The Somerville Public Library, a branch of the Somerset County Library System, will be undergoing renovation work. In order to accommodate the construction schedule, the adult services section will close on May 10. Renovation work is expected to take all summer, with an expected reopening date to occur in mid-September. The work will create a teen area in the loft, where the majority of adult fiction is currently housed. In addition, an enclosed meeting space will be created in what is now the main reading area of the library. A refurbished...
read moreChanges made in collection of yard waste
There have been major changes in household trash pickup. According to the borough: No yard waste will be collected with household trash. All yard waste other than grass will be collected in-house by D.P.W. Grass will be collected by trash hauler along with regular collection. Grass must be bagged and not in cans or barrels. Twigs, leaves and other small yard waste should be placed in clear plastic bags or paper leaf bags and set out to the curb any time, no schedule. Any grass bags will count as one of your four can limit. Yard waste in bags...
read moreYMCA names Karyn Lightcap interim CEO
Karyn Lightcap, chief financial officer for the nonprofit Somerset Valley YMCA, last week was named interim chief executive officer, providing leadership for the Y’s three branches located in Bridgewater, Hillsborough and Somerville, Andrea Thorne, board chair of the Somerset Valley YMCA has announced. Lightcap has been the Y’s chief financial officer for two years. She is stepping into the CEO position in the absence of Paul Kieltyka as he recovers from health issues. “Karyn has already demonstrated amazing leadership qualities...
read moreFamilies invited to YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day
On Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Somerville Family YMCA Branch of the Somerset Valley YMCA is celebrating YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day® with a free community event to get kids moving and learning, and families living healthier. Radio Disney will be on-site as part of the festivities from 11a.m. – 1 p.m. Healthy Kids Day is the Y’s national initiative to improve the health and well-being of families and to help them get a jump on creating a healthier summer. The Somerville YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day will feature fun active...
read moreMan pleads guilty to preparing false tax returns
Eric Majette, 52, a tax return preparer and owner and operator of the Berrisford Group, located in Somerville, pleaded guilty today to corruptly endeavoring to obstruct and impede the Internal Revenue laws and to preparing a false tax return, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced. On Jan. 17, 2013, a federal grand jury sitting in Trenton, N.J., returned a superseding indictment, charging Majette with twenty-nine counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns for clients and one count of...
read moreCounty building to reopen after measles scare
The Somerset County Human Services Building at 27 Warren St. will reopen to the public at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, March 18. The building was closed Thursday and Friday while county employees were tested for immunity to measles. A suspected case of measles – which has not yet been confirmed – was identified last week in an individual who was at 27 Warren St. and at a number of other locations. For more information and a list of dates and locations, visit http://bit.ly/2013Measles. A small window of exposure, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on March...
read moreValerie Gibson is the consummate volunteer
Valerie Gibson is the consummate volunteer, willing to work, eager to help, always available and asks nothing in return. A longtime Somerville resident, Valerie has a strong sense of civic pride and stands ready to give back to the community she loves. “Every community depends on volunteers,” said April Sette, executive director of the Somerville Professional & Business Association. “We need people like Valerie to get involved, that’s what makes a community thrive and support itself. “Valerie does that, she does a lot of amazing...
read more‘Ville woman performs at UMDNJ fundraiser
NEWARK, N.J.—On February 28, 2013, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey community joined together on the Newark campus for “UMDNJ’s Got Talent,” an event that raised $1,030.50 for those affected by Hurricane Sandy. More than 300 people from across UMDNJ’s campuses as well as the general public crowded into the Grand Foyer of UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School to view artwork and performances by faculty, staff and students. Acts included singers, poets, musicians—even a Nixon impersonator and a hula-hoop dancer who...
read moreIC students place first in math contest
Students in Mrs. Carol Goett’s Advanced Math classes at Immaculate Conception School in Somerville recently participated in the annual St. Joseph High School Mathematics Contest. The contest, which was comprised of individual and team competitions, involved a 16-question, 45-minute exam covering topics in algebra, geometry, and other math topics. The ICS team, which included students in 7th and 8th grade, placed 7th among the 20 participating schools, and 1st among the 11 Catholic schools competing. Pictured here are team members Sarah Law,...
read moreYMCA hosts gymnastics meet
The Somerville Family YMCA, a branch of the Somerset Valley YMCA, hosted 50 gymnasts competing from Somerset Valley, Fanwood Scotch Plains and South Mountain YMCAs on Saturday, Feb. 9. It was the second-ever home meet held at this Y, with the first one held in February 2012. The meet was for entry-level competitors, but the Y is raising money for equipment, including a bigger spring floor that would allow it to host all levels of Y teams in the future. With parent volunteers from the new YMCA Gymnastics Parents Group helping to coordinate the...
read moreOne person hospitalized in morning house fire
One person was flown to St. Barnabus Hospital’s burn center after a Sunday morning house on at 123 W. Orchard St., according to Somerville fire official Barry VanHorn. A New Jersey State Police medevac helicopter landed at Somerville High School and flew the victim to the burn center around 11:30 a.m. The victim’s condition was not immediately released. At the scene while firefighters were knocking down hot spots, VanHorn declined to release any additional information about the cause or extent of the fire. Mutual aid was called...
read moreSBPA hosting B2B networking event
The Somerville Business & Professional Association will host its first Business 2 Business Networking event of the year Jan. 31 at Alfonso’s Family Trattoria, 99 W. Main St. beginning at 5:30 p.m. SBPA Executive Director April Sette will introduce Anthony Loftus of Somerville Lumber, the newly-elected president and other officers: Paul Sanford, Sanford Jewelers, vice president; John Harrity, Somerville School of Music, secretary and Lorraine Sarra, WWA, treasurer. The 2013 SBPA Board of Directors includes: Val Gibson, Senior Arts &...
read moreDowntown window decorating winners named
An oversized gingerbread mansion – complete with miniature solar panels on its rear roof – helped Greensleeves Boutique win the Downtown Somerville Christmas Window Decorating Contest. The gingerbread mansion was baked and fabricated by Geri Lordi, district manager of Greensleeves and displayed in the store at 59 West Main Street. Greensleeves received 75 votes. Second place, with 53 votes was awarded to the holiday mannequin display in the windows of Incogneeto vintage clothing, 30 Division St. Third place with 47 votes went to Saffire...
read moreSomerville Library to close for asbestos removal
The Somerville Public Library, located at 35 West End Avenue in Somerville, NJ, will close at 3 pm on Wednesday, January 23 and reopen at approximately 12 noon on Friday, January 25. During that time, asbestos abatement will take place at the library. The library is getting ready to undergo renovations later this year in order to provide better space utilization for patrons’ use and enjoyment. While the asbestos is currently contained and sealed in floor tiles and of no risk to anyone, the tiles must be removed to insure that they are...
read moreImmaculate Conception open house scheduled
Teaching the Catholic faith is the central mission of Immaculate Conception School, Somerville, a parish elementary school serving students in grades Pre-K (age 4) through 8. ICS provides a Christ-centered education that fosters creativity and responsibility and encourages students to be the very best they can be. ICS offers full-day Pre-K and Kindergarten classes, a challenging core curriculum that is consistent with the requirements prescribed by the State of New Jersey, and a wide range of extra-curricular activities. If you are interested...
read more“Willy” Lugo celebrates her 100th birthday
A mass celebrating Wilhermina Lugo’s 100th birthday was offered by her son, Rev. Joseph Lugo Jr. on Monday; January 7th at their home in Bradley Gardens, N.J. Mrs. Lugo, known as ‘Willy’ to her friends has been active in the Bradley Gardens, Raritan and Bridgewater communities for the past half century, ever since she and her late husband, Joseph sold their commercial/retail grocery stores in Manhattan and moved to the tranquil countryside of Bradley Estates following WWII. Wilhermina quickly transitioned from a city business...
read moreBorough launches app to report problems
Need to report a pothole, tall grass, fallen tree, graffiti or a missed garbage pickup? The Borough of Somerville has an app for that. The Borough has implemented the QAlert system, through which residents can use the Internet, an iPhone or Android-powered device to submit service requests to Borough departments. QAlert will provide two new avenues of communication between the Borough and citizens- on the Borough website and from a smart phone- as well as automated routing to ensure that a request for action is quickly forwarded to the right...
read moreLiving Nativity coming to Lutheran Church
A Living Nativity at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 300 Union Avenue, Somerville will be presented on Saturday, Dec 15 at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on the church lawn. This annual event will tell the Christmas story with live actors and animals including a donkey, alpacas and poultry from Norz Hill Farm in Hillsborough, NJ. Goats, rabbits and sheep will also be provided by local 4-Hers including The Wooly Ones Sheep Club. Audience members are invited to pet the animals after each performance and come into the church for refreshments of homemade...
read moreSomerville partners with Somerville & Summerville
Our Somerville has joined forces with Summerville, South Carolina and Somerville, Massachusetts to conduct a drive to assist New Jersey Shore victims. Deliveries will be made to the New Jersey shore on three consecutive Saturdays, throughout December. Mayor William C. Collins of Summerville, South Carolina contacted Mayor Gallagher and wanted to assist immediately. His municipality remembered how New Jersey and the Borough of Somerville assisted his residents during Hurricane Hugo in September of 1989 and wanted to reciprocate. Mayor Joseph A....
read moreScotland, England photos on display at Dessert Plate
“Around Hadrian’s Wall: Photographs of Scotland and the North of England” By Susan Smith-Peter Photographs from my recent trip to Scotland and the North of England are now on display at the Dessert Plate in Somerville. I was amazed at the 360° beauty of the scenery. I wanted to share these images with the public and also to use a portion of the proceeds of their sale to benefit victims of Hurricane Sandy. As a associate professor of history at the College of Staten Island, I have been inspired by my students, many of whom have...
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Somerville Weather
Somerville, Somerset Airport, NJ
Last Updated on May 20 2013, 2:53 pm EDT
Weather by NOAA
Current Conditions: Mostly Cloudy
Temp: 75°F
Wind: Variable at 3mph
Humidity: 74%
Dewpoint: 66.0°F