2006 in photos      SCOTTPILLING staff Hadi Alim, 5, whispers his wishes while his little brother, Wasi, 3, waits his turn. More ... Parish, Cameroon woman struggle to pay for meds Church seeks help to pay for anti-rejection drugs after transplant BY JAY BODAS Staff Writer       METUCHEN — With 2007 just around the corner, many ordinary wish lists include losing five pounds or taking care of unpaid bills. But for First Presbyterian Church parish member and Middlesex County College student Iya Bekondo, 24, her wish for the year is simply to lead a normal and... More ... For a good little girl       MIGUEL JUAREZ staff On the arms of her mom, Virginia, Halle Edghill, 2, Edison, takes a gift from Santa (East Brunswick Police radio dispatcher Rich Akens) during the annual East Brunswick Police Department’s Christmas Holiday Toy Giveaway at Saint Peter’s University Hospital, New Bruns... More ... Restaurant parking lot revamp may help traffic Zoning Board approves lot renovations, nixes mixed-use building BY JAY BODAS Staff Writer       EDISON — Oak Tree Road’s 25-year-old Edison Family Restaurant will soon get a makeover. The application, which had been continued from an Oct. 31 meeting, was unanimously approved by the Zoning Board at its Dec. 19 meeting. The applicant proposed to increase paving and install... More ... Judge to hear motions in Melanie McGuire case Admissibility of writing samples, audio/video recordings to be decided BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       NEW BRUNSWICK — Motion hearings will be held next month before the anticipated trial of Melanie McGuire, the 34-year-old former fertility clinic nurse accused of killing her husband in their Woodbridge Center Plaza apartment two years ago and later dismembering his body. More ... Last-minute shopping       PHOTOS BYSCOTT PILLING staff Above: Cecilia Albes, Diana Gomes and Mariza Moreira do their last-minute shopping Saturday at the Menlo Park Mall in Edison. At right: This is just one of the thousands of people who were determined to wrap up their shopping. More ... Cameo allowed to open with restrictions The banquet hall turned illegal nightclub to hold banquets only BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       WOODBRIDGE — Colonia resident Diana Moses, who booked her granddaughter Kimberly’s sweet 16 party at the Cameo Banquet Hall on Rahway Avenue for Dec. 22, had no idea the owners voluntarily closed the hall temporarily on Dec. 13, until she read the newspaper. More ... Planning Board mulls giant warehouse BY JAY BODAS Staff Writer       EDISON – An application to the Planning Board for a massive warehouse on Mill Road has been continued to its next meeting. “The applicant is proposing a one-story warehouse that is 47.5 foot. in height,” said Steven Byszewski, engineer for the applicant JERC Partners VII. “There is a ... More ... Suspects wanted in dual robberies of 7-Eleven BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       WOODBRIDGE — The township police department released surveillance photographs of two suspects wanted in two separate, late-night robberies at a 7-Eleven convenience store on Route 1 south in Avenel. The two separate robberies occurred at 10:07 p.m. on Dec. 14 and 10:21 p.m. on Dec. 1... More ... Mayors plan meeting to fight consolidation Metuchen will host summit to rally towns against state bill BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       Boroughs and townships similar to Metuchen will come together the first week of January and fight the state’s proposals for consolidation. “These penalty clauses, specifically S-1 and S-38, show no concern for the voters and are being fought by the League of Municipalities,” said M... More ... A procrastinator’s paradise       SCOTT PILLING staff A bird’s-eye view of an army of shoppers as they march through the Menlo Park Mall seeking 11th hour holiday gifts on Saturday. More ...