Five million miles and one heck of a view Astronaut returns after space flight; Edison names day in his honor BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       Flying in space is like being at the top of a roller coaster, waiting for the drop. For astronaut Mark Polansky, it took two weeks to come down. Polansky, an Edison native and graduate of J.P. Stevens High School, returned to his alma mater Monday after commanding STS-116, the space... More ... County program could mean 'greener' future Local officials meet to discuss county's sustainability plan BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       EDISON - Middlesex County is coming out of its industrial past and trading concrete gray for environmental "green." Two hundred local, county and school officials met May 2 at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Hall in Edison to attend workshops on ways communities throughout the cou... More ... Wordfest brings literary performance to Metuchen Twenty authors and one old theater welcome lovers of the written word BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       METUCHEN - Paul Watkins came to Wordfest 2007 to ward off schizophrenia. The acclaimed author of "Stand Before Your God" and "The Ice Soldier" joined 18 other authors, poets and musicians at the annual literature event May 5 to read from his newest work and support the burgeoning M... More ...       Clockwise from top left: N.J. State Police pilot Mike Giordano talks with members of the public on May 1 at St. Joseph's High School, Metuchen, about what it is like to be a helicopter pilot for the state police. Karan Sachdeva, 17, gets a look inside the cockpit of a state police helicopte... More ... Fire at motor lodge injures two       EDISON - A fire ripped through a local motel on May 3 causing heavy damage and injuries to at least two people, according to Edison police. The fire began around 6:30 p.m. at the Edison Motor Lodge on Route 1 in Edison, according to Lt. Joseph Shannon. The fire was first observed by po... More ... Route 1 widening project in doubt State officials indicate work may cost too much BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       Hints that the widening of Route 1 may be officially off the table has raised the ire of South Brunswick officials, who are now making plans to exert pressure on the state government. More ... Council to consider mixed use for town center BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       METUCHEN - When resident Justin Manley heard about the proposed town center concept for the old Stop & Shop site on Middlesex and Central avenues, he was floored. More ...