New state law forces rebid of traffic contract Opening of bids after holiday violated new law; some fear legal action BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       A new state law and a communication snafu conspired to cause the Edison Township council to reject bids received for a traffic-calming device on Grove Ave. The law, for which council President Charles Tomaro said he did not know the reasoning, was signed into effect by Gov. Jon Cor... More ...       Jeanette Miller and Joy Williamson, from the Perth Amboy Garden Club, experience the scent of the Hawaiian plumeria at the annual garden show at the New Jersey Convention Center in Edison on Saturday. More ... Matching funds extended for Tower renovations Tower Corp. has six months to raise money to be matched by feds BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       EDISON - Armed with a congressional resolution signed into law by President George W. Bush, and a six-month extension on matching federal funds, the Edison Memorial Tower Corp. is gearing up to raise the remaining $279,000 needed to renovate the aging obelisk on Christie Street in Menlo ... More ... La Partie D'Isabell       At left, Isabel Villacis, who was born with cerebral palsy, smiles as she spends some time with her mother, Ana, during "La Partie D'Isabell," a vaudeville-style fundraiser her friend Kathryn Heitman help set up to make Isabell's life dream to travel to Paris come true. The event was held at ... More ... Three arrested in alleged train assault BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       METUCHEN - Police arrested three of four suspects in connection with an aggravated assault upon a NJ Transit employee last week. The assault occurred at 5:29 p.m. on Feb. 12 on the train platform in Metuchen. More ... The real 'Garden' State      (Clockwise, beginning with top left): Paige Leszcynski, 3, from Trenton, checks out the daffodils during a visit to the annual garden show at the New Jersey Convention Center in Edison on Feb. 17. Nicole Massa, 5, walks down the "yellow brick road" in the "Wizard of Oz" garden. Sand artist Chuck Sel... More ... Bill sparks debate over health vs. parents' rights Some fear mandating cancer vaccine for girls may promote promiscuity BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       A new bill before the state Assembly would require all girls entering the seventh grade to be immunized against the virus responsible for most cervical cancers and genital warts. Proponents argue that the vaccine can save countless lives, but opponents say it removes parents' rights to be... More ... HPV infections have no signs or symptoms       The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the name of a group of viruses that includes more than 100 different strains or types, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Internet Web site on sexually transmitted diseases. More than 30 of these viruses are transmitted sexual... More ... Twp. approves purchase of 2 hybrid cars Council hopes to seek more environment and cost-saving measures BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       EDISON - The township is taking one small step to go green with the purchasing of two hybrid vehicles to be added to the municipal fleet. The council passed two resolutions to allow the purchase of a 2007 Toyota Prius hybrid and a Ford Escape hybrid vehicle. The cars would cost a t... More ... Motorcycle fundraiser to benefit Gabriel Sibilia Motorcycle run benefits a different local child each year BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       WOODBRIDGE - Karen Perricone didn't have to think twice when choosing who to sponsor for the ninth annual John Perricone Memorial Dollars for Danielle Motorcycle Run this June. "We were starting to look who to sponsor [in January] and then we heard about Gabriel," said Karen, who h... More ... Residents, agencies meet to discuss routes 1 & 27 Agencies, township take 1-on-1 approach to hearing residents' concerns BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       EDISON - Members of several state and local agencies met with residents at the Stelton Community Center on Feb. 8 in the second Smart Growth Planning Summit held in the past three months. More ... Sayreville, Avenel men guilty in burglary ring Break-ins typically occurred at apartments during daytime       Three area men pleaded guilty last week in connection with a series of apartment burglaries that took place in Edison and Woodbridge over the past two years. More ...