Feds come to the aid of local flood victims Disaster Recovery Center being operated at Borough Park BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has set up shop in Milltown in response to last month's nor'easter. And the disaster relief workers are expected to stick around until everyone who suffered damages has had the chance to receive help. More ...       Central Elementary School third-graders Michael Meseha (from left), Alana Sackman, Phillip Willis and Kelly Joyce do a "Cotton-Eyed Joe" line dance during Pioneer Day at the East Brunswick school May 4. Students spent the day working at centers set up to focus on farm life, home life and sc... More ... Students unveil ideas for borough's future Revitalization to begin with short-term projects BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       A vision for the future of Jamesburg has taken shape. A team of three graduate students from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University shared suggestions as well as findings they gleaned from working with the Jamesburg Revitalization Coalitio... More ... Municipal costs, taxes on rise in Spotswood Borough awaits word on aid for '07 budget with 7-cent tax rate hike BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       SPOTSWOOD - The municipal tax rate would rise by about 7 cents this year under a budget introduced by the Borough Council, but officials hope to receive state aid to lower that hike. The council will adopt the $8.33 million budget this summer when the state issues its extraordinary... More ... Public warned not to swim in the So. River Drowning of man, 47, is third death in river since last July BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer       The South River has claimed its third drowning victim in the past year. Sebastiao Oliveira, 47, of South River, drowned in the river that separates the borough from Sayreville earlier this month. More ... Charity softball game to benefit local girl, 8 Police, firefighters, EMTs to play ball for Frost second-grader BY BRIAN DONAHUE Staff Writer       EAST BRUNSWICK - The township's emergency personnel will step up to the plate Saturday to score one for a local 8-year-old girl who has Ewing's sarcoma. The fourth annual Guns & Hoses softball game will pit East Brunswick police officers against the town's volunteer firefighters an... More ... Councilman upset over Golden Triangle papers Mayor's agreement entitles bank to land should builder default BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       EAST BRUNSWICK - If Toll Brothers defaults on its agreement to purchase the Golden Triangle redevelopment area, a bank would have to take over as owner of the Route 18 property. In August 2006, Mayor William Nary signed a subordination agreement allowing National City Bank to be th... More ... Town looks to unload land off Rues, Cranbury BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       EAST BRUNSWICK - The Township Council last week adopted an ordinance that declares a portion of township-owned property at Rues Lane and Cranbury Road as surplus. Part of the land, which amounts to less than an acre, will be given to Middlesex County. The rest will be sold, according... More ... E.B. police charge three with setting brush fires       EAST BRUNSWICK - A township man and two residents of South River are accused of setting a series of brush fires at various locations over the past three months. The trio was arrested May 9 after police responded to a brush fire at 7:46 p.m. in the area of Port Street and Helmetta Boule... More ... Police believe man, 70, committed suicide in lake       EAST BRUNSWICK - A 70-year-old township man whose body was found in Farrington Lake at 4:45 a.m. yesterday is believed to have committed suicide. Family members reported the man missing at 11:22 p.m. on Tuesday, about five hours before his body was discovered by police. The man had las... More ... County program could mean 'greener' future Local officials meet to discuss county's sustainability plan BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       EDISON - Middlesex County is coming out of its industrial past and trading concrete gray for environmental "green." Two hundred local, county and school officials met May 2 at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Hall in Edison to attend workshops on ways communities throughout the cou... More ... Community arts center bids come in too high BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       EAST BRUNSWICK - The township may have to wait a little bit longer for its new arts center and theater. The Township Council last week rejected a set of bids for construction of the community arts center, which will replace the former Playhouse 22. More ...