SCOTT FRIEDMAN Jessica Bortnick, 13, of East Brunswick, makes a splash at the bottom of a water slide at the Crystal Springs Aquatic Center, Dunhams Corner Road, on Sunday before the clouds rolled in for the week. More ... County works with boro on concerns about park Athletic fields to be located on Rt. 1 at border of two towns BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       Middlesex County officials have made changes in their plans for a park in Milltown in order to satisfy the concerns of some residents. "To their credit, along with CME [Associates], they looked at our concerns and made some pretty significant changes," Milltown Councilman Randy Fark... More ... Five years, 902 DWI arrests for police unit Small EBPD team has one role: to seek out drunken drivers BY BRIAN DONAHUE Staff Writer       Take Patrolman James Angermeier's word for it: There are drunks to be arrested on East Brunswick roads every night of the week. When he goes out in his unmarked car for his regular 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. shift, his record shows that he will make one to four arrests for driving while intox... More ... $100K helps Helmetta control taxes       HELMETTA - Residents will pay an average of $151 more in property taxes for 2007 now that the Borough Council has adopted its municipal budget for the year. The borough's property tax rate will increase by 8.2 cents to $1.91 per $100 of assessed valuation. That is due to a 5.4-cent hik... More ... D-14 candidates iron out details for debates Republicans challenge opponents to sign pledge to campaign fairly BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       Democratic and Republican Assembly candidates in District 14 have made plans to hold a debate sometime this coming fall. The campaign managers for the respective sides are currently in discussion to work out the logistics of the event. More ... 'Mother Goose Magic'      PHOTOSBY ANDREW MILLER staff Clockwise from top: Parents and toddlers gather at the East Brunswick Public Library yesterday for the weekly "Mother Goose Magic" program. Ten-month-old Sam Fung, of East Brunswick, claps as his grandmother, Sarina Lee, of Old Bridge, holds him up. Librarian Jos... More ... Old Bridge approves building dept. takeover South River construction office to be disbanded BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer       South River will disband its building department and Old Bridge will take over its services, pending state approval of the towns' interlocal agreement. A split South River Borough Council approved the shared-services agreement last month, and the Old Bridge Township Council followed... More ... Retiring chief lauded for improving force Karkoska is expected to be succeeded by acting chief Horvath BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       JAMESBURG - Police Chief Paul Karkoska came full circle in the town he protected. Attending Jamesburg schools in his youth, he returned there often during his 25-year career with the police force. Now that he is retiring, the children with whom he has formed bonds, along with borou... More ... Small army of volunteers giving school a new look BY MARY ANNE ROSS Correspondent       MILLTOWN - Fifty is a good age for a make-over, and that is exactly what Our Lady of Lourdes School will get this week. Built in 1957 on Cleveland Avenue, the school and its grounds have been well maintained, but are nonetheless starting to show their years. More ... Borough to beef up DWI enforcement       HELMETTA - Borough police will use extra patrols to stop drunken drivers on the roads through Sept. 3. The stepped-up patrols are being funded with a grant as part of New Jersey's "Over the Limit, Under Arrest" 2007 campaign. Many departments around the state have extra officers on the... More ... Environmental panel to sponsor nature walk       The Lawrence Brook Watershed Partnership (LBWP) will host a 1 1/2- to 2-Mile Figure-8 Nature Walk from noon to 2 p.m. on Aug. 26 at Thompson Park, Monroe. Brian Racin, LBWP member and chairman of the South River Environmental and Shade Tree Commission, will lead the walk on park trails. More ... Dancers invited to Sept. 9, 16 auditions       The New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble will hold auditions for its fall season on Sept. 9 and 16 in the dance studios at the Simon Forum and Athletic Center at Drew University, 26 Madison Ave., Madison. Auditions for dancers age 9-12 will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon; tryouts for ages... More ... Police sgt. pleads guilty in theft from program       MILLTOWN - After pleading guilty to stealing money from a youth police program, borough Police Sgt. Eric Rahn is expected to be sentenced to probation and will forfeit his employment as an officer. Rahn, 41, of Milltown, pleaded guilty to third-degree official misconduct before state S... More ... Aquatic center      SCOTT FRIEDMAN Bailin Pollard, 7, of Montgomery, makes his way across the lily pads with the encouragement of his dad, Stephen, at the Crystal Springs Aquatic Center, Dunhams Corner Road, on Sunday before the clouds rolled in for the week. More ... Teen uses vacations to help world's poorest kids Vishal Jain recalls humanitarian trips to Bangalore, Belize BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       EAST BRUNSWICK - Vishal Jain, a 16-year-old East Brunswick High School student, doesn't just have a vision of a better world. He's working to make it a reality. Vishal spent his spring break and part of his summer in two of the poorest sections of the world, volunteering to help ch... More ... Councilman fears builder will extend business leases Neary: No reason to think redevelopment is in jeopardy BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       EAST BRUNSWICK - In the absence of building plans submitted for the Golden Triangle redevelopment, officials are wondering if the businesses operating there will stick around longer than expected. More ... RE/MAX named third best military-spouse employer in U.S.       An innovative employment program has earned RE/MAX third place honors on The Military Spouse Magazine ranking of "2007 Top 10 Military Spouse Friendly Employers." Operation RE/MAX, created in cooperation with the Department of Defense, helps military spouses and former military personn... More ...