A double-dog dare       Jeremey Edelstein, 5, of Monroe, takes a lick of a reindeer ice sculpture carved by Metuchen taxidermist Johnny Shersick at the neighborhood family holiday party at Express Automotive in Metuchen last Wednesday. More ... No minute like the last one       Left to right: Grace Fong, 3, of Metuchen, and her brother, Luke, 4, sheepishly talk with Santa at the "last minute shopping night" benefit sponsored by Learning Is an Art at the American Legion Post No. 65 in Metuchen last Wednesday. More ... Board approves Route 1 parking lot expansion Environmental group protests plan that requires 450-tree forest clear-cut BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       EDISON - The Edison Township Planning Board voted to grant preliminary approval to the creation of a 2-acre parking lot for a business that details and repairs Ferraris andMaseratis, during its Dec. 17 meeting. More ... Governor announces health-care expansion BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       WOODBRIDGE- Beginning Jan. 1, all New Jersey children will have access to affordable health insurance, according state officials. Gov. Jon S. Corzine and state Sen. Joseph F. Vitale (D-19) announced the final piece of the New Jersey Family Care program in Tiny Town USA, the soft play area for chi... More ... Hats off to 'em Local knitters make more than 200 hats for cancer patients BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       EDISON - With a goal of making 200 knit hats for cancer patients, an effort that began in October, a group of ladies from the Catholic Campus Ministry at Middlesex County College have reached their goal - and more. More ... Santa's lost reindeer       Curious children gather around a reindeer ice sculpture carved by Metuchen taxidermist Johnny Shersick at the neighborhood family holiday party at Express Automotive in Metuchen last Wednesday. More ... Edison train station to gain 350 additional parking spaces BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       EDISON - The Edison train station, long perceived to lack adequate commuter parking spaces, will soon be adding room for an additional 350 vehicles, with first priority given to Edison residents. The announcement was made by Edison Mayor Jun Choi early on Dec. 19. More ... Prisoners tell local kids realities of crime, jail BY MARY ANNE ROSS Correspondent       EAST BRUNSWICK - Four state prisonersmetwith a group of local youngsters recently, telling themto "choose freedom." During a "Straight Talk" presentation sponsored by the East Brunswick Police Youth Services programNov. 19, the inmates, all in their 20s, chronicled the decisions they made, small... More ...