Lakeview treasures unearthed for exhibit Tour of mansion like a stroll through Jamesburg's past BY MARY ANNE ROSS Correspondent       Modern-day residents may not be so inclined to just toss that broken teapot into the backyard or drop it under the floorboards. But in the 19th century, before the days of regular garbage pickup, that's exactly what people did. Little did they know that a hundred years later histori... More ... $1.4M project calls for barn restoration Monroe's Dey Farm will be historic village with working farm BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       Monroe officials have approved funding for restoration work at the Dey Farm so that it can open as a historic village, perhaps as early as next year. The Township Council approved a bond ordinance in the amount of $1.44 million for various improvements at the farm, which dates back ... More ... Butterfly survey hatches in E. Bruns.       EAST BRUNSWICK - The township's Friends of the Environmental Commission are asking residents to help with a townwide butterfly survey for 2007. Organizers want to determine the types of butterflies that inhabit the region and their relative abundance, according to Richard Wolfert, a me... More ... Environmental panel to sponsor nature walk       The Lawrence Brook Watershed Partnership (LBWP) will host a 1 1/2- to 2-mile nature walk from 10 a.m. to noon on July 14 at Keystone Park/Joseph P. Chagnon Wildlife Area, East Brunswick Participants should meet in the parking lot on Emerson Street, which is the first right turn f... More ... Families invited to 'Super Simon Sez Show'       The township of East Brunswick Division of Recreation will present a "Super Simon Sez Show" at 7 p.m. on July 18 around the East Brunswick municipal pond, Ryders Lane. Clowns will entertain from 6:30-7 p.m. The event is the second in a series of Wonderful Wednesdays outdoor family... More ... Summer camps designed to build self-confidence       The Monroe Municipal Alliance Committee will offer a variety of free confidence-building summer camps at Mill Lake School, 115 Monmouth Road. All camps are presented in an age-appropriate manner, using a variety of teaching methods including dialogue, role-play, literature, song, dance ... More ... Travel-agent seminar scheduled for July 17       The next Home-Based Travel Agent Seminar will be held at 6:30 p.m. on July 17 at The East Grand Buffet, 6 Edgeboro Road, East Brunswick. All travel agents are invited to attend. Guests are welcome. Cost is $10, including dinner buffet, beverage, tax and tip. More ... Coalition plans events, seeks beautification Committees to focus on different aspects of revitalizing Jamesburg BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       JAMESBURG - Summer for many is a time to relax or take off from work. Not for the Jamesburg Revitalization Coalition. More ... Stahl continues stand against municipal tab Despite tax increase, Neary says budget maintains status quo BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       EAST BRUNSWICK - Township officials are anxiously awaiting word from the state regarding aid for the 2007 municipal budget. On Monday, the Township Council amended the $62 million budget to include certain expenditures in the state-imposed cap and to correct a mathematical er... More ... Prize-winning artist      Sandy Cao, of East Brunswick, grand-prize winner in U.S. Rep. Rush Holt's annual Congressional Art Competition for high school art students from New Jersey's 12th District, is pictured with the congressman outside the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. Cao's 22-by-28-inch medium pencil work "... More ... Residents organize to save Forney house Group appeals zoning board approval of bank branch BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       MILLTOWN - Residents looking to save the Forney house and Clinic from demolition have taken their efforts a step further. The John C. Evans Project, a group of Milltown residents who incorporated as a nonprofit in May, is working to prevent Valley National Bank from replacing the n... More ... Vietnam hero honored 42 years after his death VFW pays tribute to soldier who played on post grounds as kid BY MARY ANNE ROSS Correspondent       It's been more than four decades, but women still smile when they remember how handsome he was. Robert L. Murphy, who grew up in Old Bridge and went off to fight in Vietnam, never to return, was honored by his family, friends and local dignitaries and veterans last week during a Fou... More ... Library preparing for temporary move For-sale items being liquidated; collection being scrutinized BY BRIAN DONAHUE Staff Writer       SOUTH RIVER - Borough library employees are gearing up for the facility's temporary relocation by liquidating the book-sale department and trimming the overall catalog. The several hundred for-sale books and other materials donated to the library are being sold by the Friends of th... More ... Budgerigar/Parakeet Show coming to Monroe       The Tri-State Budgerigar Society will sponsor its 17th annual Budgerigar/Parakeet Show from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 21 at Knights of Columbus Hall, 83 E. Lincoln Ave., Monroe. Registration will close at 10 a.m. Judging will follow. More ... Residents hold out hope of developing properties Chance of building new homes hinges on completion of road BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       MILLTOWN - An unfinished road has left several property owners at a dead-end. Though the two unconnected portions of Leonard Road have been that way for years, the possible ceding of a borough-owned easement to two Harkins Road residents would preclude the road from ever being comp... More ... Writer travels a new road with 'Highwaymen' Visits Old Bridge to sign copies of DC Comics book BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       Imagine a world where a dead Bill Clinton is fond of sending dramatic videotapes of himself to washed-up vigilantes, the Centers for Disease Control imprisons superhuman she-terrorists and the world's most evil villain is a top U.S. government official. More ... Man, 44, gets assault by auto after collision with boy, 10       EAST BRUNSWICK - A township man was arrested after he allegedly struck and injured a 10-year-old pedestrian while driving his car in front of a shopping center and then left the scene. Police said Troy Samuels, 44, was driving in the parking lot of Dick's Sporting Goods at 8:48 p.m. Sa... More ... Youth to hear offenders on drug, alcohol abuse       South River Parks and Recreation will host a Project P.R.I.D.E. presentation at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 1 in the cafetorium at South River Middle School, 3 Montgomery St. The event, presented by the New Jersey Department of Corrections, will bring minimum-custody offenders from a state-correc... More ... 'Harry Potter' fans to celebrate at library       A "Harry Potter" party will be held at 7 p.m. on July 23 at the South River Public Library, 55 Appleby Ave. All activities will be conducted by Kim and Daniela, devoted "Potter" followers. For more information and to reserve, call (732) 254-2488. More ... Baby talk      PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff Steffi Dibartolo teaches a "Baby & Me" class Friday at the East Brunswick Public Library, offering instruction on simple sign language so that new mothers can communicate more easily with their babies. More ... Town may reconsider Harts Lane rezoning Developer wants to build 400 senior housing units BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       EAST BRUNSWICK - The Township Council is considering rezoning a 41-acre property on Harts Lane to allow for age-restricted housing. The property, owned by developer M. Alfieri Co. Inc., of Edison, abuts both Harts and Tices lanes, and is currently zoned to allow uses such as ... More ... Historic village celebrates new Crandall Play Area BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       EAST BRUNSWICK - It may be in an old part of town, but the Crandall Play Area is as good as new. The newly revitalized pocket park, whose former playground equipment was removed due to safety standards, was dedicated in a ceremony Sunday afternoon. The park is located on a quarter-ac... More ... State: More research needed on school site Further archeological tests needed for state to approve land swap BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       MONROE - Plans for the land swap needed to build a new high school have hit another snag. On July 5, the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) requested further research to be done at the Thompson Park site where the school is slated to be built, to ensure that the Len... More ... Police say gang activity remains on rise in N.J. BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - At least one high-ranking state police official recently stated that gang activity in New Jersey is on the rise and is not only confined to urban areas. This was part of Sgt. Ron Hampton's message during his presentation as part of the New Jersey Gang Summit 2007 Focus ... More ... Autopsy shows drowning likely cause of man's death       OLD BRIDGE - Authorities investigating the death of a 62-year-old Sayreville man whose body was found in the surf at the Laurence Harbor beach July 1 believe that the man drowned. Preliminary findings of an autopsy performed on Thomas J. Newsome indicate that "his death was consistent ... More ... Celebrating the light within Jamesburg man among artists taking part in exhibit BY LINDA DeNICOLA Staff Writer       Inspiring art works by six New Jersey-based artists explore the spiritual side of life. According to Jeff Clapp, who organized the exhibit, "Igniting the Light Within" celebrates the spirit within each of us. The new show, which opened at the Art Alliance July 7, fuses togethe... More ... Former factory site to be replaced by warehouse BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       SOUTH BRUNSWICK - A lot that once contained an old, abandoned factory will now likely play host to a 481,730-square-foot warehouse. More ... Group seeks pledge from Corzine on toll road sale BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       A public interest research group has called on Gov. Jon Corzine to pledge not to sell the state's toll roads if the deal does not adhere to a series of monetization principles. More ... In the Service       Air Force Staff Sgt. Courtney L. Bowden, daughter of Donna R. and Allen C. Reynolds of East Brunswick, has deployed overseas to a forward operating base in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mission objectives focus on force protection, peacekeeping, stabilization, security and counter-insur... More ...