CHRIS KELLY staff Parkview School students Matthew Tarrant (l-r), Nin Aprile and Justin Dekovics, dressed as immigrants, wait in line during a re-enactment of the Ellis Island experience on Immigration Day Friday in Milltown. The second-graders completed a unit on the subject, including researching ... More ... Snuff mill project slows with real estate market New state COAH regulations may also affect redevelopment BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer       The redeveloper of Helmetta's historic snuff mill is proceeding with the $70 million housing and retail project despite delays. Highland Park-based Kaplan Cos. demolished nine buildings and an old water tower on the 32- acre former Helme Tobacco Co. site, which has been vacant since the snuff mil... More ... Council members say school tab will be cut Teachers plead with E.B. officials to uphold budget BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       Though it has yet to decide how much to cut from the defeated school budget, East Brunswick Township Council members said they will heed voters' call by making reductions. That word comes despite pleas for township schoolteachers that the council uphold the budget as proposed by the Board of Educ... More ... 'Senior Prom'      PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff Above: Many couples enjoy the dancing during the fourth annual "Senior Prom" at Monroe Township High School April 15. The event, organized by high school students, included dinner, dancing and music performed by the school bands. Right: Sylvia Katz (center) and other local... More ... For 18 teens, no good deed goes unrewarded Nominations sought through May 9; MTV's Colie to present awards BY MARY ANNE ROSS Correspondent       EAST BRUNSWICK - If it takes a village to raise a child, Rabbi Aryeh Goodman is certainly involving the whole village. Everyone from town officials and educators to corporations and even an MTV star have responded enthusiastically to the Chabad of East Brunswick rabbi's latest community program ... More ... Police arrest Brooklyn man in series of thefts from cars       SPOTSWOOD - A routine motor vehicle stop last week led to the arrest of a man accused of stealing from numerous parked cars in neighboring East Brunswick. Borough police stopped a vehicle in which Igor Roshko, 20, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was a passenger at 3:59 a.m.April 22, and found him to be under... More ... Youngster's message: Kids get arthritis too Girl, 13, raising funds, awareness with walkathon in Monroe BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       MONROE- When eighth-grader Katie Lassiter is forced to sit out of baseball and other games she enjoys during gym class, her classmates might not understand why. Some do not know that Katie is affected by juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) - but that is something she is hoping to change. More ... Photos, drawings tell of town's rich history Visual presentation on Jamesburg's past delights audience BY MARY ANNE ROSS Correspondent       JAMESBURG - The "Jamesburg of Yesteryear" was brought to life recently, courtesy of a slide show that featured 200 photos, postcards, and drawings of homes, businesses, churches and public places in the community from the 1860s to the modern day. More ... Monroe man allegedly served as spy for Israel       MONROE - A township man stands accused of conspiring to provide documents concerning nuclear weapons to Israel more than 20 years ago, when he worked for the U.S. Army. More ... Klemp says party head has undemocratic ways Councilman hoped to get Democrats' nod for mayoral run BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       EAST BRUNSWICK - Councilman Donald Klemp is calling for the ouster of the local Democratic Party's chairman. The Democratic councilman, who is finishing his third four-year term and is not seeking re-election, is asking that Shawn Taylor resign his posts as head of the East Brunswick Democratic ... More ... Mayor says So. River faces many challenges BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer       SOUTH RIVER - The borough is facing a significant financial crisis, Mayor Raymond Eppinger noted in a speech looking at his administration's first 100 days in office. "My purpose this evening is to give you, the residents, a sense of what we have found, what we are doing and where we hope to go,... More ... Youngster revs up 3rd annual racing benefit BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       Rocky Cagno saw more than a refreshing beverage two years ago when the Frost Elementary School, East Brunswick, held a lemonade stand fundraiser to support a fellow student who was battling cancer. Then in third grade, Rocky decided he wanted to do more to help children with cancer. In doing so,... More ... New councilman supports stable taxes, good services Patrick Smith appointed to replace Caputo on council BY BRIAN DONAHUE Staff Writer       HELMETTA - Patrick Smith has known government since he was a kid. At 16, he took a job as a custodian at the municipal building in East Brunswick, where he grew up. That same year, he became a volunteer firefighter in the township, a role he continued through his 20s in both East Brunswick and H... More ... Officials fuming over state's rejection of aid application Spotswood applied for aid due to expected loss of $374K BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       SPOTSWOOD - To borough officials, it was a case of insult added to injury. The state Department of Community Affairs (DCA) rejected the borough's application for extraordinary state aid to help with this year's municipal budget, saying the town applied for the aid after the deadline. More ...