Puppet show       CHRIS KELLY staff Tom Tucker plays the part of a mischievous rabbit during the Tucker's Tales puppet show Sunday at Old Bridge Public Library. More ... Misconceptions abound about police, traffic laws Metuchen officer dispels myth about ticket quotas; formerprosecutor addresses DWI issues BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       Most people have their own perception and misconceptions about the police - good and bad - but some misconceptions can be answered simply by asking a member of a police department. For instance, do cops operate on a quota basis to raise revenue for the town? More ... Traffic laws we don't know or simply ignore Passing on the right or hanging tassels from a rearview mirror can get you tickets in the Garden State BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer       You see the flashing red lights in the rearview mirror and you don't know why. You weren't speeding, and you know that you came to a full stop at that stop sign back there. More ... Polos, Pulomena begin new terms as freeholders BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer       EDISON - John Pulomena and H. James Polos were sworn in as Middlesex County freeholders and David B. Crabiel resumed the position of board director for the 12th consecutive year during a reorganizational meeting held at the Middlesex County College Performing Arts Center on Friday. More ... Weiss, Volkert move up to captain at OBPD Two others named lieutenants; 10 new officers join force BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       OLD BRIDGE - Four veterans of the township police department have moved up in the ranks. Police Chief Tom Collow honored the officers, two of whom became captains, as they were sworn in to their new positions while family and friends looked on during the Township Council's reorgani... More ... Woman seeks help so she can help poor kids Student spends breaks helping children in Central America BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       OLD BRIDGE - This year during spring break, while many girls and guys are going wild in places like Cancun and Daytona Beach, Wendy Chan will be helping those less fortunate. Along with other members of a service organization called Alpha Phi Omega (APO), 20-year-old Chan will trav... More ... County looks at Old Bridge for next care center       OLD BRIDGE - Middlesex County officials have two township sites in mind for the construction of a new long-term care center. The facility, designed to meet the growing demand for quality health-care facilities in the county, would be the county's third nursing and rehabilitative care c... More ... Local woman indicted on murder plot charges       SAYREVILLE - - A borough woman was indicted last week on charges she attempted to have her husband murdered in 2003. Christine Palumbo, 46, of Vanloan Avenue, is charged with conspiring with Joseph P. Cheeka, 28, of Roselle Park, Union County, to hire a hit man to kill her husband, Vin... More ... Councilman's action described as unethical Maher contends there was no conflict with nomination to MUA BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       OLD BRIDGE - Two members of the Township Council are alleging that Councilman Dennis Maher acted in a conflict of interest when making a nomination for a commissioner's post on the municipal utilities authority (MUA) Monday. More ... Family fun      PHOTOS BYSCOTT FRIEDMAN Above: Nicole Adams, 12, of Old Bridge, offers some support and encouragement to Alyssa Farnkopf, 5, during an open skating session Sunday at the Old Bridge Arena. At left: Old Bridge residents Billy Crane, 15 (l-r), Tim Crane, 13, Autumn Kipper, 6, and Mark Kipper enjoy... More ... Work begins on offices near parkway exit       OLD BRIDGE - Denholtz Associates, a New Jersey-based real estate development company, recently broke ground on a new 53,000-square-foot office building at Metropark South II. Denholtz acquired the 2.7-acre development site from Kara Homes last summer. More ... Amanda, 8, and Dana Mellon CHRIS KELLY staff      Amanda, 8, and Dana Mellon (right), 9, participate in a puppet show presented by Tucker's Tales on Sunday at Old Bridge Public Library. At left is Tom Tucker, whose Pennsylvania-based group offered four bear-themed stories for local children. More ... Galante gets OK after dropping townhouses Residents 'cautiously happy' about outcome of Zoning Board case BY MARY ANNE ROSS Correspondent       An Old Bridge builder won approval to construct an office building on Route 516 last week, but only after he dropped controversial plans for 16 townhouses on the same site. The Zoning Board of Adjustment unanimously granted preliminary approval to T. Galante Properties to build an 1... More ... Violent crowd brings police from 4 towns Dozens involved in fights outside Rt. 35 night spot, police say       Some 80 people were involved in a fracas outside the Colosseum nightclub recently, according to Sayreville police. Officers responded to the Route 35 club, which recently started providing live adult dancing entertainment, at 1:55 a.m. Dec. 28, to find several hundred people in the pa... More ...