Second time's a charm for DCA grant approval Council approved the state grant to study Oak Tree Road BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       One month after narrowly rejecting a state grant for future planning on Oak Tree Road, the Edison Township Council gave its consent, on June 13, to the grant that would provide $50,000 for the study. The state approved the grant the following day, according to Jerry Barca, a spokesm... More ...      CHRIS KELLY staff Shoppers browse through items for sale at the Metuchen Lions Club 35th Annual Flea Market on June 16. More ... Asian Indians take seats on Dem. executive board Parag Patel and Ajay Patel to hold postswithin the party BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       EDISON - The influence of the Asian Indian community began to exert itself on township politics this week with the historic placement of two Asian Indians on the Edison Democratic Committee's executive board. Former Councilman Parag Patel has been appointed as the committee's legal... More ... Globetrotting chef returns to roots with new restaurant Metuchen restaurant owner and chef says there is no place like Jersey BY JESSICA ALFREY Correspondent       METUCHEN - Many people dream about visiting exotic locales, wasting away their days far from their home state. But not everyone thinks that way. Chef John Harkness Jr. has traveled all over the world, from France to Germany to Hawaii, yet he returned to New Jersey to open his... More ... Around Town Buoy oh buoy, did they find fun times Amy Rosen       Our family recently discovered our magic key to spending time together during the summer. We bought a boat. More ... State reaches uneasy compromise on open space Legislature to bond extra funding until long-term solution is agreed on BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       Efforts to renew the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT) through a November ballot referendum faltered as the Legislature missed the deadline to approve the necessary resolutions last week. While some environmental groups wish to pressure the Senate and Assembly into a summer session, ... More ... Strongman competition raises money for charity Competition held to benefit leukemia and lymphoma charities BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       EDISON - With rocks and kegs, Zach Even-Esh wants to build a better you - but first, a better world. The owner, operator of Underground Strength Coach, a strength training facility on Talmadge Road, held a strongman competition on June 17 where high school weight trainers particip... More ... Borough committee picks new Dem. chairman James Graziano gets nod to replace Beverly Passantino as chair BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       METUCHEN - The 25-member borough Democratic Committee unanimously chose James Graziano as their new chairman at the committee's reorganization meeting last week. "I am happy that the committee had the confidence to choose me as their new chairman," said Graziano, who has been a com... More ... Assault charges added in drunken-driving accident BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       METUCHEN - A 22-year-old borough man was arrested and charged with three counts of aggravated assault on June 12 that stemmed from a June 2 accident that left his 1996 Ford Explorer overturned on Central Avenue and three people injured. More ... McGuire judge nixes motions for new trial Melanie McGuire's attorneys say jury was influenced by media BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       NEW BRUNSWICK - State Superior Court Judge Frederick P. DeVesa denied motions filed by Melanie McGuire's defense attorneys on June 18 that called for a new trial for the 34-year-old former fertility clinic nurse. "I am satisfied that this [nine-woman, three-man] jury paid careful a... More ... Annual flea market      CHRISKELLY staff Edison's Chris Maguire looks over old Time and Life magazines to buy during a visit to the Metuchen's Lions Club 35th Annual Flea Market on June 16. More ... Relay for Life walks for the cure in Woodbridge Teams paint Main St. purple, walked to raise funds for Cancer Society BY JESSICA ALFREY Correspondent       WOODBRIDGE - One in three. That is how many people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. In the hope to someday change these numbers, Relay for Life hosted one of its overnight fundraising events at Woodbridge High School on Friday. More ... Edison Tower renovations begin; fundraising continues Deadline for matching funds looms; Tower corp. seeks last-min. donations BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       EDISON - While the concrete may crumble in clumps from the facade of the Edison Memorial Tower, the light still burns in more ways than one. More ... Memorial unveiled to a slave-turned-landowner Historians, officials and descendants gather in tribute to Thomas Titus BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       SOUTH BRUNSWICK - James Shackleford knows where the bodies are buried. He'd like other people to know too. On June 16, Shackleford, before an audience of about two dozen, unveiled a marker dedicating the land where, nearly 200 years ago, a freed slave named Thomas Titus lived, wor... More ...