JEFF GRANIT staff Shaina Paulraj, 15, tries on a bonnet during a living history re-enactment held Friday outside Monroe Township High School. The event, sponsored by the History Department, featured demonstrations by the 43rd New York Infantry Volunteers. More ... Local volunteer charged with sexual assault Historical group prez allegedly assaulted female family member BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       The president of the Jamesburg Historical Association has been jailed on charges he sexually assaulted a female family member when she was between the ages of 3 and 7. More ... Mid State Lanes in its final frame Route 18 alley expected to close in early May BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       When Mid State Lanes shuts its doors next month, it will mark the end of an era. A fixture in East Brunswick for about half a century, the bowling alley at the Mid State Mall, Route 18, is expected to close because its owner was unable to negotiate a new lease agreement with the lan... More ... Printmaking      PHOTOSBY SCOTT PILLING staff Above: Andie Gerthe and Kyle VanWageninge work on their prints March 28 when master artists from the Printmaking Council of New Jersey spent part of the day at Appleby Elementary School in Spotswood. Students worked on monoprints, silkscreens, calligraphy, drypoint print... More ... For the Record       A building pictured in the March 29 Sentinel was misidentified as the old Asbury Fuel building, which Spotswood officials have cited for violations. The vacant building pictured, the former Benny's Tavern, is owned by a different party. More ... E.B. man, 42, charged with attempted murder       EAST BRUNSWICK - A township man was arrested March 28 after a hang-up 911 call led police to his girlfriend's apartment. Upon arrival at the Civic Center Drive apartment at 12:10 p.m., patrol officers and detectives discovered that the girlfriend had been attacked with a knife and stru... More ... A cut above the rest Local middle-schooler has been running his business for two years BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer       EAST BRUNSWICK - Twelve-year-old Billy Kloos has a green thumb, both from gardening and from making money. The seventh-grader began B.K.'s Lawn Service two years ago, developing a legitimate business out of his love of cutting grass with his father, his enjoyment of the outdoors an... More ... Inverso out, Baroni in for state Senate race Jamesburg resident will seek Assembly seat for Republicans BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       State Sen. Peter Inverso has announced that he will not be seeking a sixth term in the Legislature to focus more on his work and family life. Inverso (R-Middlesex/Mercer) has endorsed Assemblyman Bill Baroni as his successor, and Baroni enthusiastically embraced the idea by announci... More ... Boro recognizes group's efforts to help disabled BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       SPOTSWOOD - When Margaret Griscti began fighting for the rights of developmentally disabled persons, she couldn't have imagined that it would take 30 years to attain victory. Griscti, who was recently honored by the Spotswood Borough Council, has been fighting to ensure proper safety... More ... Fundraisers       April 5 + Book Sale, sponsored by the Spotswood Public Library, during regular hours, at the library, 548 Main St. Hardcover books, paperbacks, children's books, audiocassettes, VHS videos. Paperbacks sell for 50 cents each or three for $1, hardcovers for 75 cents and up, VHS videos for... More ... R.U. a Knights fan?      Rutgers University football players Brian Leonard (r) and Anthony Cali recently visited Immaculate Conception School's 4-year-old prekindergarten class in Spotswood. Also pictured are John Slover (l) and Anthony Melnick, both of Monroe. More ... Five arrested in alleged drug distribution rings       SAYREVILLE - - Two unrelated narcotics investigations led to the arrests of five suspects recently and the recovery of some large quantities of heroin and cocaine. The two sets of arrests were the result of investigations conducted by both the Sayreville and Old Bridge police narcotics... More ... Re-enactment      PHOTOSBY JEFF GRANIT staff Above: Re-enactors Capt. Glenn Jones (l-r) and Pvts. Tom Edridge, Robert Suckiel and Bob Goyne, of the 43rd New York Infantry Volunteers talk with one another at the Union regiment's encampment Friday outside Monroe Township High School. Below: Students check out one of th... More ... Winkler helps private school raise $150,000       EAST BRUNSWICK - Described as one of the most successful fundraising events in the history of the Solomon Schechter Day School of Raritan Valley, the recent "An Evening With Henry Winkler" generated more than $150,000 in donations for the school. More ... Sunday snarl      STEVEN M. BARON Route 18 in East Brunswick was shut down between Cranbury Road and Arthur Street Sunday afternoon when a Dish Network van crashed into a telephone pole, severing the pole in half and coming to rest on a car displayed for sale at Sheldon Motors. The driver of the van escaped injury, b... More ... Council at odds over budget, bike path issues Municipal budget includes tax increase; library improvements BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer       SOUTH RIVER - A municipal budget introduced by the Borough Council would increase municipal taxes by about $73 on the average borough home. The $13.8 million budget is up $200,000 over last year's, according to Council President David Sliker, who noted the council was able to bring... More ...