Sayreville names new construction official Borough pressed disciplinary charges against predecessor BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer       As disciplinary hearings continue for the former head of the town's construction office, Sayreville officials appointed Kirk Miick as the new construction official Monday. Mayor Kennedy O'Brien and five of the six Borough Council members approved Miick for the position, a move that ... More ...       Fred Morsell, of Montana, plays abolitionist movement leader Frederick Douglass during a program sponsored by the Sayreville Human Relations Commission Sunday at Sayreville War Memorial High School. More ... Contamination found in ground along creek DEP testing of tract shows high levels of lead BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       Unusually high levels of lead were discovered in the ground along Margaret's Creek in Old Bridge, according to tests conducted by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). "While this is certainly nothing for residents to panic about, it is something that, I want to en... More ... Event to raise funds for cystic fibrosis research Parents of 2-year-old with disease advocate for medical research BY MARY ANNE ROSS Correspondent       OLD BRIDGE - Kerryann and Ken Silvestri are in a race against time. The couple's 2 1/2-year-old son Anthony was born with cystic fibrosis, which brings a much shorter life expectancy than the average person. There are several variants of the disease. More ... Boro man arrested after chase into Staten Island BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer       SAYREVILLE - A car chase that began in the borough ended with the suspect flipping his vehicle over in Staten Island last week. The pursuit began at approximately 9:17 p.m. April 16, when officer Jason Mader was on patrol in the area of Raritan Street and Main Street and observed a 1... More ... EWA finds carcinogens in Raritan River Group alleges chemical facility is discharging chemicals into river BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       EDISON - An area environmental group has alleged that a significant amount of the carcinogens benzene and 4-chloroaniline has been discharged into Raritan River near the township boat basin. More ... Car windows broken in incident at motel BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer       SAYREVILLE - Criminal mischief was reported Monday night at the Parkway Motor Inn on the southbound side of Routes 9 and 35. Police were dispatched to the motel shortly before midnight on a report of a fight involving a large crowd. More ... Metuchen woman walking to fund suicide prevention All-night charity walk to raise money/awareness for depression/suicide BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       METUCHEN - Sometimes it is in the darkest of hours that healing begins. That is the theme of the "Out of the Darkness" walk, a 20-mile jaunt through New York City from sundown to sunup in the city that never sleeps, to raise money and provide solidarity for people who have dealt w... More ... Standing oration       In portraying Frederick Douglass Sunday during a performance at Sayreville War Memorial High School, Fred Morsell conveyed the abolitionist leader's message that, with education, anything can be accomplished. Douglass, one of the most prominent figures in African American history, lived f... More ... Green thumb       John Chen, of Edison, loosens up the roots of a shrub before planting it during an April 14 reforestation effort by volunteers at the John A. Phillips Preserve, Old Bridge. More ... So. Bruns. man charged in sexual assault of boy, 7       EAST BRUNSWICK - Police arrested a South Brunswick man Friday on charges he sexually assaulted a 7-year-old boy in the bathroom of the Macy's department store in the Brunswick Square Mall. Authorities charged that Charles Waldron, 28, of Ridge Road in the Dayton section, sexually assau... More ...