Cartoon character used to undermine candidate       Staffer dresses as Bob the Builder, hands out anti-Karabinchak fliers BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer Rob Karabinchak doesn't think Bob the Builder is such a bad guy. More ...       St. Joseph High School's Chase McDonald puts a brutal hit on South Brunswick's Zach Zenda in front of the Falcons' net during Sunday's GMC Tournament final in North Brunswick, won by the Vikings, 9-8. More ... Woman kidnapped at knifepoint, and robbed Suspect forced woman to take out $3,600 from bank BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       EDISON - Police are looking for a black male with braided hair who is suspected of kidnapping, assaulting and robbing a township woman, police said. A 61-year-old resident was kidnapped at knifepoint on May 19 and forced to withdraw $3,600 in cash from two area banks. More ... Smart Growth planner suggests 'town core' Believes answer to Rtes. 1 & 27 problems lies in having a downtown BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       EDISON- Three towns, two bustling thoroughfares and three downtowns: that is Hannah Twaddel's vision for Routes 1 and 27. The representative from Renaissance Planning Group told residents at the Stelton Community Center on May 17 that after months of residents' input and conceptual... More ... Experiencing Edison PHOTOS BY SCOTT FRIEDMAN       (Clockwise from top) Harrison Lee, 9, of Edison gets ready to pedal during the "Experience Edison/Metuchen Bike Ride," co-sponsored by both towns, on Sunday. Riders pedal past the Edison Municipal Building for a beautiful day of biking during the bike ride. Several cyclists take a break i... More ... Group collects backpacks filled with goodwill National program collects needed items for foster children BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       WOODBRIDGE - Iselin resident Helen Evens hopes the 10th annual Backpack Campaign program yields the largest donation to date. More ... Dump truck broadsided by freight train on Inman Driver attempted U-turn, got stuck on track; no injuries reported BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       EDISON - A dump truck being used in the construction of the second rail track along the Conrail line was struck by a train as it attempted to make a U-turn on Friday morning, according to Edison police Lt. Joseph Shannon. Thomas Franco, 37, of East Brunswick was operating the truck... More ... Students, teacher keep up fight vs. multiple sclerosis BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer       Rennie Rankin may have what some people would consider a limitation, but anyone who knows her would tell you her multiple sclerosis is not a limitation. Rankin, a resident of North Bruns-wick is a teacher at Freehold High School, Freehold Borough. More ... Sharp-eyed neighbor foils alleged robbery       METUCHEN - A neighbor's keen observation led to the arrest of a 51-year-old Roselle man last week, police said. Police arrested and charged Mark Banks for burglary and theft to a Pleasant Place residence at 12:14 p.m. on May 17, police said. More ... For the love of Bob A Shore music legend pays tribute to birthday boy Dylan BY TOM CHESEK Correspondent       'I think Dylan's still very vital," explains Pat Guadagno over a late breakfast at Amy's Omelette House. The conversation, which for the past 10 minutes or so has touched upon the recorded highs and lows of Bob Dylan's career, pauses as a familiar scratchy harmonica emerges from the backg... More ... Talk show gives mom wheelchair-accessible van Kelly Ripa presented van to mother of daughter with MS BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       It was a wish come true for Colonia resident Barbara Pineiro and her daughter Ilene. "They told us we were going outside to plant a tree for Earth Day," said Ilene, who works as a teacher's aide at Sacred Heart Elementary School in Newark with her mother. More ... Tickets on sale for Darfur benefit concert BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       SOUTH BRUNSWICK - Local high schoolers and their supporters hope to draw 1,000 people to a concert benefiting the victims of the conflict in Darfur. Almost a full year in the making, final preparations are now under way for the June 9 event - Woodlot '07. More ... Township man, 20, arrested for lewdness, stalking       EDISON - A 20-year-old Edison resident was arrested last Wednesday for allegedly exposing himself to a township woman on three separate occasions, police said. Christopher J. Noto was arrested by Edison police after a 25-year-old woman reported he had repeatedly exposed himself to her ... More ... With positive message, local rapper wins Essence contest "God's Plan" takes home magazine's grand prize for songwriting BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       WOODBRIDGE - Seventeen-year-old Justin "Jae Guttah" McGibbon said music has always been a big part of his life and songwriting has come natural to him. "I've been writing songs since I was in sixth grade," said McGibbon. "I started seriously writing songs in ninth grade and have wr... More ...