CHRIS KELLY staff St. Thomas student Kateri Noble, 13, of Monroe, is one of 124 students representing 19 central New Jersey elementary schools competing in the second annual Mathematics Competitions sponsored by St. Joseph High School, Metuchen, on Jan. 12. For more photos, see page 3. More ... Police may have director instead of chief Choi nominates DEA agent for potential new police director position BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       The Edison Police Department may face a drastic change in its command structure if a proposal by Mayor Jun Choi is approved by the Township Council. During a press conference on Jan. More ... Lost Boy, now man, recounts tale of survival Sudanese CivilWar survivor tells of flight through Africa, to the U.S. BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       METUCHEN - At the age of 7, Abraham Awolich found himself displaced from his home in Sudan and alone. "We all had to run away and hide," said Awolich, who in 1988 fled his home on foot without his family. "I wasn't withmy family at the time we started running away. My family also fled. I turned ... More ... New members take their seats on Metuchen council Dyas tapped as council president; Cammarano to fill Vahalla's council term BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       METUCHEN - After 12 years, the borough has a new mayor in addition to three new faces. In a private ceremony on New Year's Day and a second ceremony during the Jan. 6 reorganization meeting, Thomas Vahalla, 58, took the reins as mayor of Metuchen. More ... Police report 22 car burglaries in one weekend Only one car that was burglarized was actually locked BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       METUCHEN - After a rash of motor vehicle burglaries that plagued the borough last weekend, Police Officer David Liantonio said it's important for people to lock their car doors. "These [suspects] preyed on people who left their car doors open," he said. "We had only one [out of 23 incidents] wher... More ... District to hold series of budget presentations BY JAY BODAS Correspondent       METUCHEN - The new year will bring with it a new round of school budget discussions and a raise for the borough Board of Education (BOE) business administrator. "Every year, we start our discussion of the budget with a presentation based on data for you," said schools Superintendent Theresa Sina... More ... Council: No more houses Council passes resolution declaring general aversion to residential development BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       EDISON- The Township Council has pledged to oppose and resist any new residential development that can be helped. Through a resolution passed during the council's Jan. 9 meeting, the council unanimously approved what was described by Council President Robert Diehl as a mission statement against re... More ... Edison Animal Shelter to undergo 'green' renovations Grant will let facility be first 'green' animal shelter in New Jersey BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       EDISON - The Edison Animal Shelter will be getting a $100,000 face-lift thanks to a county grant that was unanimously approved during a Jan. 9 Township Council meeting. The grant, coming out of the Sustainable Economic Growth Improvement Fund,will turn the building into the first environmentally ... More ...