Golden Triangle plan approved Toll Bros. gets OK for retail, housing on Route 18 property BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       The East Brunswick Planning Board has granted approvals for Toll Brothers to build the residential and retail components of the Golden Triangle redevelopment. More ... Friends, family recall soldier's selfless spirit Community, military pay final respects to Army paratrooper BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       Hundreds gathered last week to honor and pay final respects to U.S. Army Cpl. Steven R. Koch, 23, who gave his life to protect his country. The many people whose lives were touched by the soldier remembered a courageous, giving and kind young man. More ...      PHOTOS BY STEVEN M. BARON Police and fire officials are investigating a fire that destroyed a vacant farmhouse on Dunhams Corner Road in East Brunswick March 11. Above: The house was completely engulfed in flames when firefighters fromthe Brookview Volunteer Fire Company arrived around 11 p.m. All t... More ... Helmetta tables police force restructuring Council accepts offer of out-of-town officials to help department BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer       HELMETTA - Police chiefs from several area towns were among those packed into a crowded borough hall last week to support Cully Lewis remaining in his capacity as police chief. More ... Park overhaul to include basketball court/ice rink Grants fund work at Mundy park, area near DeVoe Lake BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       SPOTSWOOD - Construction could begin this summer on $500,000 worth of improvements to Mundy Avenue Park. The improved park will have a basketball court that doubles in the winter as an ice skating rink, a small tot lot, a walking path around the park's perimeter and 13 new parking spots for easi... More ... Town seeks state OK for tax levy increase BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       EAST BRUNSWICK - The township is asking the state Local Finance Board to grant a waiver so that this year's proposed tax levy can increase by more than 4 percent. More ... Officials cut travel costs, scrutinize employee OT BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       EAST BRUNSWICK- Travel costs and overtime are just two of the issues township officials are addressing as they examine the municipal budget in depth. The Township Council recently held a workshop and is planning another onMarch 31 to reviewMayorWilliamNeary's proposed $64million budget for 2008. More ... State gives town more time for soccer fields Replacement fields required as condition of school site approval BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       MONROE- The State House Commission granted a six-month extension to the township on Thursday for the completion of soccer fields required as a condition of the land diversion for the new high school site. The township failed to meet the original Jan. 5 deadline for fields to replace those in Thom... More ... South River officials say budget situation is dire Officials ask state for waiver to increase levy, avoid cutting services BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer       SOUTHRIVER- Borough officials are wrestling with a municipal budget that could carry as much as a $364 tax increase on a home assessed at $100,000. The Borough Council voted unanimously to introduce the 2008 municipal budget at itsMarch 10 meeting, when Borough Business Administrator Andrew Saler... More ... Disco will live again at charity fundraiser Friends committed to raising money in battle vs. cancer BY AMY ROSEN Staff Writer       Two busy moms from Manalapan are planning to run, volley and disco the night away in the name of love and charity. Last year Kathy Goldstein and her friend Gabrielle Bachman participated in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Teamin Training programin order to prepare themboth to run in the... More ... Surrogate office opens in borough       SPOTSWOOD - The Middlesex County Surrogate Court has opened a satellite office at the Spotswood Senior Center, 1 Arlington Ave. The satellite office, which opened Tuesday and is the seventh such office in the county, will handle all probate matters, such as wills, administrations and guardianshi... More ... Rotary Club donates signs for safe driving       SPOTSWOOD - In an effort to increase drivers' awareness of hazards on the road, particularly when children are nearby, "Drive Safely" signs were recently installed at each of the borough's four schools. More ... School volleyball game to benefit MS research       The Spotswood High School Octagon Service Club and History Club will sponsor their annual Volleyball Game to Fight Multiple Sclerosis (MS) from 6-8 p.m. on April 22 in the gym at the high school, Summerhill Road. More ... Grants fund rec. initiatives for people with disabilities       EAST BRUNSWICK - The township will receive $20,000 to fund its Daisy Recreation Program, and Middlesex County will get $15,000 for its Recreation Theater Initiative under two grant awards announced recently by local legislators. More ... Public invited to colorectal-cancer seminar       An educational seminar on colorectal cancer will be offered from 6-8:30 p.m. on March 24 in the SisterMarie de Pazzi Conference Center at Saint Peter's University Hospital, 254 EastonAve., New Brunswick. Registration will begin at 5:30 p.m. More ... Helping the community is in one man's blood Martin Engel is honored for running successful blood drives each year BY CHRIS MURINO Staff Writer       SOUTH BRUNSWICK - Martin Engel has been donating blood for 60 years. On Feb. 25, the township blood bank he runs was awarded by America's Blood Centers (ABC) as the most productive small blood drive in the nation. "I started donating blood in 1948 and have continued blood donations since then, u... More ... Eggs-ellent hunt      PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff Top left: Kamryn Pickard, 6, of Monroe, showcases her bonnet during Saturday's Egg Hunt and Bonnet/Top Hat Contest at the Monroe Township Community Center, Monmouth Road. Top right: Bobby Hunter, 5, of Monroe, reaches for an egg buried in the hay. Bottom: Samantha Caffrey... More ... Tailgating ban set for acts that draw younger crowd Public forum set for March 18 on underage drinking at arts center BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer       HOLMDEL- Consumption of alcohol while tailgating at the PNC Bank Arts Center will be limited to older crowds during this summer's concert series. According to Joe Orlando, spokesman for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, which owns and operates the PNC Bank Arts Center, tailgating will be comple... More ... Golf outing will benefit breast cancer research       MONROE - The state chapter of Industrial/ Commercial Real Estate Women (ICREW) will host its seventh annual Golf Classic on May 8 to raise funds for breast cancer research. Event proceeds are earmarked for Play for PINK, a nonprofit organization that advocates for prevention, immediate diagnosis... More ... State department cuts more shift than slash BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       Gov. JonCorzine's proposal to cut three departments in the state government, if it is approved by the Legislature, will be less of an elimination andmore of amerger, according to some state officials. During the governor's budget address on Feb. More ... Fundraisers       March 20-26 • Book Sale, during regular library hours, at the Spotswood Public Library, 548 Main St. Hardcover books, paperbacks, children's books, VHS videos, audiocassettes. Paperbacks, 50 cents each or three for $1; hardcovers, 75 cents and up; VHS videos, $1. All-You-Can-Carry-for-$5 ... More ...