SCOTT PILLING staff U.S. Marine Mark Milik stands tall at the Edison Senior Center with his proclamation from the mayor as his cousin, Jeanette Milik, proudly looks on. More ... Mayor, seniors honor Marine on his return from Iraq Seniors sent care packages throughout marine's two tours of duty BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       The chaplain spoke proudly of Mark Milik's service to his country. The crowd expressed their happiness as she thanked the Lord for the safe return of "their adopted marine." After two tours of duty in Iraq, Helena and Victor Milik's son Mark has returned home to a proclamatio... More ... Barnes III assumes father's Assembly seat Barnes Jr. confirmed by state Senate as chair of Parole Board BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       For Edison Councilman Peter Barnes III, it is nothing but a family thing.Barnes III took the oath of office on March 15, making him the newest member of the New Jersey State Assembly and allowing him to serve out the remainder of his father's term in office. More ... Computer yields Internet search about murder McGuire's computer also contains searches for guns, chloral hydrate BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       NEW BRUNSWICK - Someone at approximately 5:44 p.m. on April 18, 2004, typed the words "how to commit murder" into a search engine on the Internet on the McGuires' home desktop computer, according to a New Jersey State Police computer forensics expert. More ... No. Bruns. man takes a swing at bat making Says wood from old, waterlogged trees gives hitters more power BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer       Before the land was settled in the Great Lakes region, trees would grow for years on end without disturbance. Thousands upon thousands of acres would grow tall and wide, the canopies of leaves blocking out the sun so that the trunks would grow almost horizontally instead of vertically, cr... More ... Amy Rosen       Around Town Being kind is not a major operation I've always secretly wanted to be a singer, but don't have the voice to follow through. I'm told I recently had my five minutes of fame when I got to sing in front of others, but just my luck, I remember none of it. I was u... More ... Honoring a hero      PHOTOS BYSCOTT PILLING staff Above: Mark Milik listens as Ruth Rasmussen of the Edison Senior Center speaks in honor of him. At right: U.S. Marine Milik is greeted by a resident at the Edison Senior Center as he makes a visit to the center after his second tour of duty in Iraq. More ... McGuire's colleague testifies in murder trial Testifies that the apartment smelled 'like a morgue' BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       NEW BRUNSWICK - Lori Thomas, who was a colleague of Melanie McGuire at the fertility clinic in Morristown, said the day she went to McGuire's Woodbridge Center Plaza apartment at the end of May 2004, it smelled "like a morgue." "It just smelled horrible," said Thomas. "There was a ... More ... Suspected bank robber hits Bank of America Police believe suspect is involved in three other robberies in past month BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       EDISON - An undisclosed amount of money was stolen from a Bank of America branch on Parsonage Road in Edison on Wednesday, March 14, around 9:20 in the morning, according to Lt. Joseph Shannon of the Edison Police Department. More ... Dacey gets Metuchen Dems' endorsement for mayor BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       METUCHEN - Councilman Tim Dacey was given the borough Democratic Party's endorsement to run for mayor in November at a meeting of the Democratic Committee on March 12. More ... County unveils new driving simulator for police County hopes to limit police accidents through realistic training BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       EDISON - Practice makes perfect, and Middlesex County Law Enforcement entities now have an opportunity to practice police pursuits in a controlled simulated environment, thanks to new technology purchased by the Middlesex County Freeholders. More ... New initiative to decrease residential area speeders Mayor, P.D. announce programs to keep speeding at a minimum BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       EDISON - Standing on the steps of the Dr. William Toth Memorial Health Center Wednesday morning, Mayor Jun Choi announced a municipal initiative to put the brakes on speeders in residential areas. More ... South Bruns. wants trucks to hit the road Opposes new state regulations that allow big rigs to use Route 27 BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       South Brunswick officials are planning to fight to get Route 27 exempted from a new set of truck regulations they fear would exacerbate traffic in the area, and hope to enlist some neighbors in their cause. The new state regulations establish a hierarchy of roads consisting of feder... More ... Indian artist showcases landscapes of U.S. BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       METUCHEN - Preeti Sahota takes what she sees in her daily travels as well as overseas, and conveys it in her artwork. "I try to show the fall colors in the wide open spaces," said Sahota. "I am moved by the landscape of the area and region. More ... Children keep history of resistance to Nazis alive Youth opera 'Brundibar' was originally performed in concentration camp BY TAMMY McKILLIP Correspondent       What do 28 children from Holmdel, Colts Neck, Matawan, Keansburg and Middletown have in common with Holocaust survivor Ela Weissberger? A love of music, and a 69-year-old opera. More ...