SCOTT FRIEDMAN Former Metuchen resident Mark Stephen visits his favorite salon for the holiday cut-a-thon, which supports Metuchen Pulls Together, at the All About U Salon and Spa in Metuchen on Monday. More ... Board of Ed. dismisses Superintendent Toth Administrator placed on paid leave until contract expires in 2010 BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       The Edison Board of Education narrowly voted to place Superintendent Carol Toth on paid administrative leave until her contract expires in 2010. The vote took place late during the Nov. 19 board meeting. Director of Personnel John DiMuzio will serve as acting superintendent in the meantime. More ... Three must recuse selves from Stop & Shop hearing Land ownership raises questions of conflict BY JAY BODAS Correspondent       Aconflict of interest. This was the reason given at the Nov. 19 Metuchen Borough Council meeting as to why three members of the borough government who also sit on the Planning Board have voluntarily recused themselves from hearing a Planning Board application on how to redevelop the former Stop & ... More ... Welcoming winter      PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Clockwise from above: The Metuchen High School marching band entertains the crowd at the Metuchen Area Chamber of Commerce's 54th annual Winter Festival Parade on Nov. 25. Girl Scout Troop 81652 gets into the holiday spirit. The Nutcracker makes an appearance at the parad... More ... A mother's nightmare, a son's ordeal Woman shares experience of son's murder trial, tells her story through book BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       METUCHEN - Hope and faith helped Ann Matthiews deal with every mother's nightmare. In her first book, "Angels Don't Lie," which is part nonfiction and part fiction, Matthiews' 20-year-old son, whom she names Nick Stern in the book, More ... Police substation at Menlo Park Mall reopens BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       EDISON - Township and police officials announced the opening of the Edison Police Substation at the Menlo Park Mall on Nov. 19. The substation is a self-contained police headquarters where officers can quickly respond to incidents during the busier-than-usual holiday season. More ... Rep. Ferguson announces he will not run in 2008 BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       U.S. Rep. Mike Ferguson, (R-7th District) who represents parts of Edison and Woodbridge as well as other areas, has declared that he will not be seeking re-election in 2008. Citing a desire to spend more time with his family, he announced his retirement from the House of Representatives in a state... More ... Holiday cut-a-thon      SCOTT FRIEDMAN Former Metuchen resident Amber Stephen, of Washington, made a special trip back to her favorite salon for the holiday cut-a-thon, which supports Metuchen Pulls Together, at All About U Salon and Spa, Metuchen on Monday. More ... Author hopes you'll say, 'Oh yes' to 'Oh No, Domino!' BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       METUCHEN - Kim Adlerman's idea of circles evolved from the wallpaper border hanging in her daughter Rochelle's room when she was 3 years old, eventually turning into her newly published children's book, "Oh No, Domino!" with music by her husband, Danny. More ... BBB: Play smart when buying tickets online       With the college football and National Football League (NFL) seasons under way, Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning sports fans to be on the lookout for fraudulent sellers when shopping for hard-to-get tickets online. More ... Outdoor Navratri festival nixed for next year 103 noise complaints cited as reason festival must find new location BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       EDISON - Organizers for Edison's open-air Navratri festival will need to find a new venue next year. Responding to a large number of noise complaints from neighbors, Edison Township has declined to give its permission to hold the multiweekend cultural festival outdoors next year. More ... Metuchen will post council meetings online BY JAY BODAS Correspondent       METUCHEN - Don't have time to attend Borough Council meetings in person? Then watch them over the Internet at your leisure. "There are new additions to the borough Web site, featuring videotapes of the council meetings," said Borough Administrator William Boerth at the Nov. 19 meeting of the Bo... More ... Baubles, bangles, all things bright and shiny Tiffany & Co. takes its place in Central Jersey BY CARA SCHULTZ Correspondent       Brilliant diamonds, lustrous sterling silver and gleaming gold jewelry are designed to dazzle even the most blasé shopper who peruses the display cases at the newly opened Tiffany & Co. at 105 Broad St. The arrival of the iconic jeweler is considered by many to be a coup that solidifies the ... More ... Teens' driving habits placed under scrutiny Special commission hears suggestions from parents, students BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       What can be done to decrease the startling recent spike in motor vehicle accidents involving teenagers was the topic of a public hearing conducted by the Governor's Teen Driver Study Commission on Nov. 19 at Colts Neck High School. More ... Police foil heroin sale BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       METUCHEN - Detectives were able to foil a drug transaction of heroin at the corner of Bounty Street and Amboy Avenue last week, according to police. Police arrested and charged John E. More ... Armed men rob day spa, bind victims in duct tape BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       EDISON - The Halo Day Spa on Woodbridge Avenue was robbed at gunpoint, with the suspects leaving employees and patrons bound with duct tape as they made off with $500 cash, a cell phone and the facility's VCR. According to Sgt. More ...