Pearl Harbor memories remain vivid to veterans Brookdale event looks back at Japanese attack 65 years later BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN — Will you remember Pearl Harbor? Dec. 7, 1941, “The day that will live in infamy,” is steadily being forgotten it seems, remembered only by those old enough to recall the devastating attack. Survivors, of course, remember every detail. More ... Teacher indicted for inappropriate behavior BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       WOODBRIDGE — A Middlesex County grand jury has indicted a 31-year-old Colonia High School teacher on three charges that stemmed from an inappropriate relationship he was having with a 17-year-old student. Michael Petak, of Marlboro, was charged with official misconduct, witness tamper... More ... Conrail receives third summons from township Health and nuisance complaints continue at Motiva Rail Yard BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       WOODBRIDGE — Township health inspectors issued a third notice of violation to Conrail charging excessive train noise at the Motiva Refinery yard in Sewaren last week. “I have instructed inspectors assigned to the township health department to conduct around-the-clock monitoring of C... More ... Kiddie Keep Well Camp party       PHOTOS BY SCOTT PILLING staff Top: Jeff Dynof, 11, scans the names on the presents under the Kiddie Keep Well Camp tree, searching for his own on Dec. 9. Below: Donna McCann chooses between cakes and pies at the party. More ... Grant guru has brought $500K to PD over 4 years Patrolman moonlights as grant writer for Police Department BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       METUCHEN — Writing grants has become Patrolman David Liantonio’s specialty. Over the last four years, Liantonio brought in $551,209 worth of state and county grants for the borough’s Police Department. “Dave has been invaluable in that area for the department,” said Police C... More ... Kazakh boy helps couple create family Couple wanted to give orphan from Kazakhstan a home in America BY JAY BODAS Staff Writer       METUCHEN — One of the borough’s newest residents now calls Metuchen, as well as the entire United States, home for the very first time. Earlier this summer, residents Jonathan and Lisa Miller brought home T.J., a 2-year-old boy from Kazakhstan, adopting him as their own son. More ... Land swap OK’d despite residents’ objections Planning Board says banquet hall can trade land with Hatco Co. BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       WOODBRIDGE — The township Zoning Board recently approved the application granting Albert Jasani, who owns Royal Albert’s Palace on King Georges Post Road in Fords, the ability to swap a portion of his property with his adjacent neighbor, Hatco Corp. More ... Stabbing and stomping at area nightclub BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       WOODBRIDGE — Two men were injured — one stabbed and one stomped on — during a large fight that took place at the Cameo Night Club on Rahway Avenue last week. The incident occurred at 1:13 a.m. on Dec. 10, police said. Police were dispatched to the Cameo on a report of aggravate... More ... Woodbridge officer found guilty of sexual assault Officer assaulted stepson over 3 years starting when boy was 14 BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       WOODBRIDGE — After two full days of deliberation, a jury has found Douglas Karlson, a veteran Woodbridge police officer, guilty of sexually assaulting his stepson, 26, beginning when the boy was 14 years old. The assault took place over a three-year period. More ... Health Center honored for 50 years of service BY JAY BODAS Staff Writer       EDISON — Making it through last week’s E. coli outbreak was but one more milestone in the 50-year history of the township health center, which was recognized at a recent rededication ceremony. “We have doctors, nurses, and other staff who work every day in the trenches,” said John Gru... More ... Metuchen lit its annual Holiday Tree on Friday. SCOTT PILLING staff       The tree lighting was postponed from Dec. 1 because of inclement weather. More ... Residents, officials wary of school consolidation School officials question cost savings, while state Senate postpones vote BY JAY BODAS Staff Writer       Would consolidating the Metuchen school district with that of Edison lower residents’ property taxes? And even if it did, would those savings be worth it? Those were just some of the questions high on the minds of the 300 parents, school officials, and local and state-level politici... More ... Area Taco Bells stepping up sanitation efforts Edison boy infected with E. coli taken out of intensive care BY JAY BODAS Staff Writer       EDISON — No specific food product has yet been conclusively identified as being the cause of a recent multistate outbreak of E. coli infection associated with Taco Bell restaurants, officials said on Sunday. As of then, up to 61 individuals were reported to the U.S. Centers for Dise... More ... Tree-lighting festivities       Above, the Nativity story had three Wise Men, but the Metuchen Holiday Tree lighting had four sax players. Connor Babos, John Lombardi, Christian Patel and Daniel Ayzenberg of the Edgar Middle School performed before the tree lighting. At right, 7-year-old Amy Owens watched the festivities on... More ... Edison recording has date with space station Shuttle commander and Edison native takes recording aboard BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       EDISON — When the Space Shuttle Discovery launched on Saturday night, it had aboard two stowaways — Thomas Edison and Theodore Roosevelt. A recording made by Edison of Roosevelt in 1912 is accompanying the astronauts bound for the International Space Station, courtesy of Discovery C... More ... Choi raises $100K from campaign fundraiser BY JAY BODAS Staff Writer       EDISON — Mayor Jun Choi added a little over $100,000 to his war chest from a fundraiser held recently at the new Mirage banquet hall on Oak Tree Road. Several hundred people were in attendance, ranging from a few members of the township council to former and current governors James Fl... More ...