Lisa Cospito, a first-grader at Our Lady of Lourdes School JEFF GRANIT staff      in Milltown, adjusts her antlers as language arts teacher Lucia Oman helps her write a letter to Santa Claus last week. Seventh-graders also visited the first-grade classroom to More ... Boro seeks support for redevelopment Some question fact that plan would still allow use of eminent domain BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer       Mayor Robert Szegeti is seeking a mutual agreement with South River property owners in the three areas that are targeted for redevelopment. The borough’s once-controversial redevelopment plan is moving forward, as mayor and Borough Council have officially received the latest plan at... More ... Programs scheduled at Monroe Senior Center       A variety of upcoming activities will be offered at the Monroe Township Senior Center, 1 Municipal Plaza. For more information and to register for events, call the center at (732) 521-6111, unless otherwise indicated. Marvin Fischer will bring “The Music of Gershwin” to life throu... More ... Dreidel House highlights local Hanukkah celebration       EAST BRUNSWICK — A megasized Dreidel House with a built-in theater, a colorful Lego menorah, hot latkes and doughnuts will greet shoppers at the Brunswick Square Mall on Saturday. The Chabad of East Brunswick’s annual Hanukkah Festival will be held in the J.C. Penney Court at 6:30 p.m. More ... Holiday writing       JEFF GRANIT staff Seventh-grader Katie La-Cava helps the first-graders at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Milltown write letters to Santa Dec. 4. More ... Colorful, digital, musical gifts a hit for teens in ’06 BY MOLLY MAGIER Student Writer       Like everyone else, us teens want everything. Well, we don’t expect you to wrap that in a box and put a large bow on it, but there are a few practical things that would make us smile this holiday season. For instance, anything relating to iPods is a surefire way to buy a successful pr... More ... Spotswood gets $230K grant for Madie project BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       SPOTSWOOD — A $230,000 grant will defray the costs of repaving Madie Avenue, one of the roads officials have sought to improve. Mayor Barry Zagnit announced that the borough was selected to receive funding from the state Department of Transportation’s 2007 municipal aid program. More ... Township man charged with threatening police       EAST BRUNSWICK — A township man was jailed Sunday after he allegedly threatened to harm police officers who were called to his home. The man later kicked out the windows of two police cars. Police went to the Civic Center Drive home of Kenneth M. Rittman, 41, after receiving a 911 call ... More ... Traffic signal coming to prominent location Work at Perrineville, Schoolhouse roads coming in spring BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       MONROE — The township has been given the green light to put up a traffic signal at the heavily-trafficked intersection of Perrineville and Schoolhouse roads. The roadways will also be widened approaching the intersection, with new curbing put in. More ... Store owner keeps beat in prominent blues band Ed Trygar’s Chuck Lambert Band to play in global blues contest BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer       The Chuck Lambert Band has got the blues, but it also has reason to cheer, with a recent victory in the 2006 Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundation Battle of the Bands. Ed Trygar, a South River resident and hardware store owner, is the drummer for the five-member blues band from cen... More ... ‘Same sweet kid,’ but now he’s a movie star Jesse Eisenberg, 23, tells local audience about his roles in major films BY MARY ANNE ROSS Correspondent       EAST BRUNSWICK — Fans of the township’s Fine Film series had a special treat Sunday. Jesse Eisenberg, a township native with a growing list of big-screen acting credits, came to the East Brunswick Public Library to chat with the audience before and after a screening of his new film,... More ... New Jersey’s standardbred industry on shaky ground Breeders call for bigger purses and slot machines at the racetracks BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer       UPPER FREEHOLD — While the annual standardbred horse sale in Harrisburg, Pa., on Nov. 3-8 set record numbers this year, local breeders have concerns about the economics of New Jersey’s standardbred industry. The yearling auction held during the sale’s first two days had total sa... More ... Damage minimal after car strikes front of store       HELMETTA — A convenience store was closed for part of the day Friday after a customer accidentally crashed into the front of the building. The accident occurred at 9:42 a.m. when a 1992 Honda Accord being driven by Lauren Lopez, 21, of Monroe, hit the front door area of Helmetta Foods, ... More ... Forum probes the pitfalls of life as a teenage girl MADD founder tells county students they can change their world BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer       MONROE — Girls just wanna have fun. And learn. And be social. And share their experiences. The third annual Young Women’s Conference, hosted by the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence of Middlesex County and the Middlesex County Substance Abuse Coalition, was the perfect... More ... Demolition approaches on Helmetta water tank BY BRIAN DONAHUE Staff Writer       HELMETTA — With the last of three cell-phone companies relocating its antennae to the borough’s new water tower, the demolition of the old tower is imminent. The old water tower, which dates to at least 1925, will be added to the list of structures to be demolished by Kaplan Cos. More ... Scout goes to bat for oft-dreaded creature BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       Thanks to Keith Obzut, Milltown has gone batty.The 16-year-old Eagle Scout decided to earn the highest Scout rank attainable by completing a project dealing with bats. “I wanted to educate the community on bats because bats have gotten a bad image from movies and Halloween, when i... More ...