SCOTT PILLING staff Eighth-grader Christina Bloski (r) attempts to get a doughnut off a rope with help from classmate Stephanie Jimenez during Friday's "Almost Anything Goes" event at Sayreville Middle School. More ... Rent hike thrown out, at least until August       O.B. helps senior community avoid 2nd increase in 7 months BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer Residents of Maher Manor in Old Bridge can rest at ease now that a proposed 5 percent rent increase has been quashed. More ... Dems tap Pollando to run for mayor       Buchanan, Misiewicz get party nomination for Boro Council seats BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer Sayreville Borough Council President Thomas Pollando is expected to represent the Democrats this year in a bid to win the mayor's seat from Republican incumbent Kenn... More ... Got milk?      SCOTT PILLING staff Monica Rolin, 5, of Old Bridge, gets a firsthand lesson in milking a goat during a tour of the Cook College farms in North Brunswick Saturday. More ... Amy Rosen       Around Town Being kind is not a major operation I've always secretly wanted to be a singer, but don't have the voice to follow through. I'm told I recently had my five minutes of fame when I got to sing in front of others, but just my luck, I remember none of it. I was u... More ... Manufacturing switch seen as positive for borough Guest Supply seeks OK for change of use at Sayreville facility BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer       SAYREVILLE - A company that manufactures hotel supplies is planning to expand the manufacturing component of its facility on Main Street Extension. Representatives of Guest Supply Inc. presented their proposal to redevelop much of its current warehouse space for manufacturing purpo... More ... Fundraisers       March 29-April 5 + Book Sale, sponsored by the Spotswood Public Library, during regular library hours, at the library, 548 Main St. Hardcover books, paperbacks, children's books, audiocassettes, VHS videos. Paperbacks sell for 50 cents each or three for $1, hardcovers for 75 cents and u... More ... NJ expo ctr. hosts state's first gay wedding expo For same-sex couples, expo offered comfortable place to plan ceremony BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       EDISON - When Jimmy Nieves tied the knot last August, planning the wedding was a piecemeal effort done through magazines and the Internet. But now, with the blessing of the New Jersey Supreme Court and the state Legislature, others like Jimmy can plan the wedding of their dreams, a... More ... Crackin' up      SCOTT PILLING staff Sayreville Middle School student Paul Cunningham cracks the egg as Mohammad Rehan waits for it to land in his cup or on his head in the "Crack 'n' Run" relay portion of "Almost Anything Goes" Friday. More ... Police nab suspect, 19, in burglary of E.B. store       EAST BRUNSWICK - Township police arrested a South River man after responding to a burglary in progress at a cell phone business Friday. Officers arriving at Fast Link Communications Inc., located at 27-B Prospect St., at 12:53 a.m. found a broken window and were able to gain entry to t... More ... Cops: Man threatened to start fire       MONROE - A township man was charged with making terroristic threats March 13, as he allegedly told police that he planned to set a bar on fire. Police arrested Frank Baranoski, 40, of Tyndale Avenue, at 1:10 a.m. after a police officer on routine patrol on Spotswood Englishtown Road fo... More ... Animal Rescue Force to sponsor tricky tray       Animal Rescue Force, East Brunswick, will hold its annual tricky tray beginning at 8 p.m. on April 20 at East Brunswick High School, Cranbury Road. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Prizes will include a 24-inch color television with combination DVD/VCR, a vacuum cleaner, a DVD player, a bic... More ... Cty. unveils new driving simulator for police County hopes to limit police accidents through realistic training BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       EDISON - Practice makes perfect, and Middlesex County Law Enforcement entities now have an opportunity to practice police pursuits in a controlled simulated environment, thanks to new technology purchased by the Middlesex County Freeholders. More ... Mayor seeks council cooperation in 2007 Proposes new agency to work with business owners in Sayreville BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer       SAYREVILLE - Mayor Kennedy O'Brien gave his State of the Borough Address before a crowd of more than 100 at the Sayreville Senior Center last week. The mayor typically gives the address on the first of the year, but O'Brien was hospitalized at that time for inflammation of the panc... More ... Old railroad station first on panel's agenda Committee seeks support for relocation, restoration of depot BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       MILLTOWN - The borough's newly formed Historic Preservation Advisory Committee is looking to save a piece of the Raritan River Railroad's legacy. One of the last standing stations on the historic line, the Washington Avenue depot has become a recent focus of the committee's efforts... More ... Score one for the kids Winding Woods woman overcomes adversity to help children BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer       SAYREVILLE - Residents have taken to calling her the mayor of Winding Woods for her work with neighborhood children. But for Jacqueline Butler, she is just trying to meet the needs of the community. "I am looking to get the [basketball] court fixed and I am trying to keep it ... More ...