Park land to be probed for historical value Some say land sought for high school was site of 1700s settlement BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       The Monroe Township Board of Education last week agreed to hold off on coming up with an alternate plan for the new high school until word is received from the state Department of Environmental Protection. The state agency is asking for further investigation into the history of the ... More ...       Students from Warnsdorfer Elementary School in East Brunswick perform a tug-of-war scene during "The Pied Piper's Wild West Show" at the culmination of Theater Week Friday. More ... Sides reach tentative agreement once again E.B. teachers' union, board come to terms after further mediation BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       After more than a year of negotiations, the East Brunswick Board of Education and teachers' union came to terms on a new contract after another marathon negotiations session last week. The agreement, announced at last Thursday's school board meeting, was reached at about 2:30 a.m. b... More ... Neary reflects on past decade and year ahead Mayor touts work to hold on to open space, control property taxes BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       EAST BRUNSWICK - Mayor William Neary had reason to discuss more than just current happenings during his annual State of the Township address last week. This year, he noted, marks the end of a decade since he began serving as mayor. More ... Suspects try to steal 3 cars from Spotswood BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       SPOTSWOOD - Unknown suspects apparently came down from Newark one recent Friday and stole or attempted to steal three vehicles from the same neighborhood. The burglaries and thefts occurred on or around Jan. 19 on Brooklyn, Hudson, and Adirondack avenues, though the thieves were only... More ... Supplies low, demand high at food bank, soup kitchens       NEW BRUNSWICK - Officials from Middlesex County's emergency food network have issued a plea for food donations to help meet increasing demand from the county's neediest residents. More ... Singer works on debut album with solo band Eryn Shewell, 22, for years has performed with a variety of groups BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       EAST BRUNSWICK - - She may be just 22 years old, but Eryn Shewell is not new to the stage. Shewell has been singing most of her life, from church and school choirs to a variety of bands. Now, for the first time, she is heading her own original outfit, the Eryn Shewell Band, while a... More ... New biz administrator on board in So. River Faces challenge with proposed remote meter-reading system BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer       SOUTH RIVER - - They may disagree on many issues, but Republicans and Democrats alike have welcomed Andrew Salerno as the borough's new business administrator. More ... Board OKs five homes for Brooklyn Avenue BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       SPOTSWOOD - Brooklyn Avenue will soon accommodate five new single-family homes and become a through-street traversing what is now a wooded area. The Planning Board approved the application recently, allowing DeStefano Contracting, North Brunswick, to build the new housing on Brooklyn... More ... Judge: Give more info about closed meetings Advocate sued school board over resolutions read for closed sessions BY JESSICA SMITH Correspondent       MONROE - An open public meetings advocate has won a ruling against the township's Board of Education. John Paff sued the board on grounds that it does not include enough information in the resolutions it routinely passes before closed or executive sessions. Last week, state Superio... More ... On Campus       Lindsay Thackara, daughter of Cindi and Wes Thackara of Spotswood, was named to the dean's list for the fall semester at Penn State Berks, Reading, Pa., where she is a freshman majoring in American studies. She is a 2006 graduate of Spotswood High School. More ...