JEFF GRANIT staff East Brunswick High School cheerleader Shannon Hussey performs the pregame routine for the Thanksgiving Day homecoming game. The Bears defeated Old Bridge, 35-14. See Sports. More ... Board to ask for $41.9M more for school Dec. 11 Construction costs have risen since $83M bond was approved BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       Monroe Township voters will soon have the opportunity to provide the missing cornerstone for the building of the new high school in Thompson Park. A Dec. 11 referendum will ask residents for an additional $41.9 million to see the project through to completion. More ... 67% electric rate hike looming in So. River GOP, Dems at odds over increase expected to take effect Jan. 1 BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer       Residents in South River may face as much as a 67 percent increase in their electric rate next year. The Borough Council on Monday voted 3-1 to introduce an ordinance increasing the rate. The three Republican members voted in favor, while the lone dissenter was council President David Sliker, a D... More ... Teens' driving habits placed under scrutiny Special commission hears suggestions from parents, students BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       What can be done to decrease the startling recent spike in motor vehicle accidents involving teenagers was the topic of a public hearing conducted by the Governor's Teen Driver Study Commission on Nov. 19 at Colts Neck High School. More ... $676K tax refund, lack of disclosure at issue Councilman: Tower Center refund may affect 2008 budget BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       EAST BRUNSWICK - Tower Center II has been awarded a $676,000 tax refund, and at least one council member is upset that it was not made public. The refund was agreed upon in October, but Councilman David Stahl said it was only after he inquired that the Township Council received notification. More ... Sidewalk will soon run border to border in boro BY BRIAN DONAHUE Staff Writer       HELMETTA - Thanks to a $100,000 grant from Middlesex County, the borough will be able to finally have a sidewalk that stretches from one end of town to the other along Main Street. Borough officials will accept the check from county officials at an upcoming meeting of the Board of Chosen Freehol... More ... Man seeks help bringing music to New Orleans Spare instruments sought for children in devastated areas BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       EAST BRUNSWICK - New Orleans is famous for its music, so it's only fitting that the beleaguered city be refitted with musical instruments. Local musician Michael Meade will visit the Crescent City in December to bring instruments he's been collecting to children and schools in areas still devast... More ... Work to begin on place where wishes come true Make-A-Wish group gets started on 'magical' building in Monroe       MONROE - The Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Jersey will break ground tomorrow on a castle-like building that will be one of a kind on the East Coast. The 20,000-square-foot structure, to be called the Samuel & Josephine Plumeri Wishing Place, will be located on Perrineville Road, off Route 33 wes... More ... Get the word out: Poets bring art to sports town Wordsmith eager to start weekly poetry nights at E.B. café BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       EAST BRUNSWICK - The world of poetry seems to be beckoning Cyndi Dawson, and she is whole-heartedly heeding the call. After a hiatus from performing and sharing her work in numerous venues back in the 1980s, the veteran East Brunswick poet is again ready for action. Circumstances seem to be alig... More ... New lawsuit pending on high school issue BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       MONROE - While school officials breathe a sigh of relief after surmounting various obstacles involved in getting the new high school built, there may be a new one on the horizon. Richard Walling, a vocal opponent of the high school being located in a section of Thompson Park, filed a federal law... More ... Pets perish in E.B. house fire      JEFF GRANIT staff The windows and doors of a house on Biernacki Court, East Brunswick, are boarded after a fire swept through the house Monday afternoon, killing a pet dog and two cats. The homeowner arrived home to find the house on fire and called 911. Police found heavy smoke and visible flames u... More ... Bear to Bear      PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff East Brunswick High School cheerleader Lucy Toto doesn't seem daunted by the Bears' mascot during the pregame homecoming ceremony on Thanksgiving Day. East Brunswick went on to defeat Old Bridge in the traditional "Battle of Route 18" by a score of 35-14. More ... Dems don't get support for $3.3M bicycle path Republicans refuse to second motion on bonding for project BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer       SOUTH RIVER - Plans to create a pedestrian walkway along an old railway are officially on hold, despite the efforts of borough Democrats. On Monday, council President David Sliker, a Democrat, moved to amend bonding for the $3.3 million project, but he did not get a second from any of the other ... More ... Restrictions may change for curbside pickup in E.B. BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       EAST BRUNSWICK - The township is tightening restrictions on trash and recyclables, meaning residents and contractors have to be more careful with how they dispose of the materials. The Township Council has introduced an ordinance that would make several changes to the way trash and recyclables a... More ... Book writing is new goal of hockey player Former New Jersey Devil Chico Resch meets fans, signs autographs BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer       NORTH BRUNSWICK - Devils fans got to meet the team's original goaltender and current color commentator at his book signing on Nov. 15. "He is so friendly," Cranford resident Nancy Dango said. "He always comes down to the stands and says hi to fans. More ...