MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Bear Scout Stephen Kenny, 8, reacts as his car "Golden Streak" wins the first heat of the Pinewood Derby race during the annual event by the Metuchen Cub Scout Pack 69 on Friday at the Metuchen YMCA. More ... Toth: Time is now for school renovations Edison schools super seeks support for $79M renovation project BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       With the population of the Edison school district approaching maximum capacity and projections predicting an influx of approximately 1,500 students by 2010, the Board of Education has passed a resolution to put a $79 million bond referendum on the April ballot to build additions to a doze... More ... Holt bill would demand paper record of votes Once defeated, proposal getting a second look with new Democratic majority BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       A new bill put forth by U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (12th District) would mandate that all electronic voting machines produce a voter-verified paper trail, but some critics have voiced concern over security and funding. The bill itself, called HR811, was originally proposed and defeated by ... More ... Residents speak out about freeze on cop jobs Mayor: State's prop. tax reform bills are to blame for hold on jobs BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       METUCHEN - Borough resident Suzanne Andrews said the focus of the mayor and the Borough Council is in the wrong place when they're not deciding to replace the two borough police officers who left through attrition last month. "You are being adversaries to the police department that... More ... Council honors police for armed robbery incident BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       EDISON - More than a dozen members of the Edison Police Department received a commendation from the township council for participation in the arrest of four people suspected of armed robbery on Feb. 19. More ... Derby time      PHOTOSBYMIGUELJUAREZ staff Left: Ananth Balasubramanian boasts about the features of his Mega XL derby car during the Cub Scout pack 69 annual Pinewood Derby at the YMCA in Metuchen on Friday. Above: Paul Trevidic and his Alien Rocket Ship car as it stops in the pit for some repairs by Bob Wagner. More ... Sharma auction postponed; council tabled ordinance Council to vote on $15M ordinance March 12, cites time extension BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       EDISON - The approval of a $15 million bond ordinance to purchase the 27-acre Sharma tract from the now bankrupt Kara Homes and preserving it as open space, has been tabled again by the township council. More ... DEP finds hazardous materials in ILR landfill Contaminants were found on site of proposed 500K-sq.-ft. warehouse BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       EDISON - The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued a pair of violations to Industrial Land Reclaiming Inc., owners of the landfill of the same name, for hazardous waste that was found in the soil outside of the landfill wall. More ...