ANDREW MILLER staff Adam Stoler, 7, Metuchen, carves a face into a pumpkin held by Pam Berenfeld of Metuchen as his friend, Tal Berenfeld, 7, looks on during a pumpkin-carving event at the Metuchen Senior Center on Oct. 27. More ... Questions persist about lack of detailed budget document Tentative budget of $116M receives heavy criticism for many reasons BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       Edison's tentative budget of $116 million was savagely excoriated by the Township Council and by the assembled public who had arrived for the proposed spending plan's public hearing Oct. 24. More ... Student actors Frank in upcoming production St. Joseph's H.S. to put on stage production of 'Diary of Anne Frank' BY JAY BODAS Correspondent       METUCHEN - St. Joseph High School Theatre Company will present the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, "The Diary of Anne Frank," on Nov. 8, 9 and 10 at 7:30 p.m. and on Nov. 11 at 3 p.m. It is being performed by about a dozen students from local schools who have been preparing for the past two months. More ... Buono: Elected state comptroller needed for N.J. BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       Sen. Barbara Buono, incumbent Democratic candidate for the state Senate's 18th legislative district, which includes Edison and Metuchen, believes that the state should do more to aid local school districts while, at the same time, increasing oversight of its own expenses. More ... Brown: State must cut spending, encourage business BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       New Jersey, says 18th District Republican state Senate candidate Dan Brown, is living far beyond its means, and this fact is weighing heavily on its residents. Skeptical of various proposals intended to increase revenues, such as asset monetization, the matrimonial attorney from East Brunswick fee... More ... Metuchen candidates debate for mayor, council seats Development, spending, police management among topics discussed BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       METUCHEN - Hot topics, from consolidation and the proposed plans of the former Stop & Shop site to police scheduling and morale, were discussed at the debate between the Democratic and Republican candidates for mayor and council last week. More ... Six vie for county freeholder seats       The following candidates are running for three seats on the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders. DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES Stephen J. More ... Tricks, treats at local haunted houses BY JAY BODAS Correspondent       EDISON - Some Halloweens, it can be just plain torture scaring up something fun to do. But not this year. Over the weekend Edison and Woodbridge townships each played host to a sprawling haunted house, where thousands were given a good fright. More ... Candidates vie for mayor, council seats Traffic, taxes and development cited as primary issues in race BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       The plans for the former Stop & Shop site at the intersection of Middlesex and Central avenues, property taxes, and traffic are the major issues in the race for the part-time mayoral position and the two available seats on the Metuchen dais. More ...