Council, board chop nearly $1.2M off tab Budget adjusted to keep elementary guidance program BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       Faced with council-ordered cuts they could not live with, the Old Bridge Board of Education restructured its budget to ensure that the elementary school guidance counseling program stays intact. The board met with the Township Council for a final hearing Monday night on the defeated... More ...       Sayreville's skate park, located in Kennedy Park, Washington Road, has been in heavy use with the onset of spring. On Tuesday, Kerri Valvano, 19, is seen hanging out as her boyfriend skateboards on the ramps. More ... Apartment resident pleads for protection Police say man, 41, and daughter were assaulted by juveniles BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer       SAYREVILLE - Reports of an assault and criminal mischief Friday are the latest in a series of incidents at Winding Woods apartments that has one outspoken resident and borough officials concerned. Friday's alleged assault of a 41-year-old man took place at 7:41 p.m. at the basketba... More ... Family fun      Above: Cody Hoffman (front) plays keep-away with Michael Ruggiero during the Old Bridge Soccer League's family picnic at the township's fields on Ticetown Road Saturday. Below: Alec Meza, 9, has some fun inside an inflatable amusement. More ... Four alumni inducted into h.s. Hall of Fame Honorees' careers range from actor to funeral director BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer       SAYREVILLE - The Sayreville War Memorial High School Hall of Fame gained a doctor, actor, educator and funeral director at its annual banquet earlier this month. Dr. Patricia O'Connor Dreyfuss, Greg Evigan, Jeffrey Osowski and Carmen F. Spezzi were inducted at a May 5 ceremony coo... More ... OBHS team races to get the motor runnin' Two in automotive program take fourth in state competition BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       OLD BRIDGE - Two Old Bridge High School students recently took part in a different sort of car race. David Haggiag and Justin Lehr, both seniors, took fourth place in the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition May 15, each securing $8,000 in scholarship funds. More ... Memorial Day services set for this weekend       Local communities are gearing up to honor those who have fought for their country with a host of events this weekend, including parades and more solemn services. Residents are invited to attend the Memorial Day ceremonies, watch the parade or simply do their part by reflecting on those ... More ... Town mourns loss of friend, dispatcher Libby Anne Flynn, 50, helped save lives via assistance over phone BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer       OLD BRIDGE - A police dispatcher who is credited with saving lives passed away last week after falling unconscious during her midnight shift at the police station. Libby Anne Flynn, 50, a Cliffwood Beach native who was hired by the township in 1990, went unconscious around 4 a.m. M... More ... Program hits the right notes at cancer center Live music used to relieve stress, lift spirits of patients BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       EAST BRUNSWICK - - Patients at the Central Jersey Oncology Center are getting some extra treatment that doesn't come from medicine. Every few weeks, patients are treated to live musical performances in the waiting room and offices from a variety of local artists. The live music has... More ... Tavern, boro come to terms on license Johnny G's has been operating on temporary license since last fall BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer       SAYREVILLE - Johnny G's bar will stay open for business after all. The borough is expected to issue a permanent liquor license for the bar in the coming weeks as per a settlement reached in a state court, according to bar owner John Golaszewski. More ... Food drive       Kersten Roehsler, a Sayreville resident and promotions director for Middlesex County College's radio station, delivers food to Jackie Goedesky of the food pantry at Saint James Episcopal Church, Edison. More ... Reviving the lost art of good manners Teaching etiquette in an age of e-mails and texting BY KATHY HALL Correspondent       For etiquette expert Laurajane Wikoff, good manners are more than knowing the proper use of a dinner napkin. They are an antidote to the stresses of today's hectic, computer-focused lifestyle and a crucial component of social, interpersonal and business success. More ... Final demolition begins at snuff mill Developer expects some housing units occupied in early '08 BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       HELMETTA - As bricks from a warehouse building of the snuff mill tumbled to the ground, it marked the end of one era, and the beginning of a new one. Mayor Nancy Martin, members of the Borough Council and representatives of Kaplan Cos. came together at the mill Tuesday to herald th... More ... Fun in the park      Above, Lori Ransom and daughter Sydney take advantage of the beautiful weather Tuesday afternoon by walking their dog, Rosco, at Kennedy Park. At right, Anthony Consiglio, 19, gets some air Tuesday as he jumps over Kevin Zolea (l) and Stephen Sahai at Sayreville's skate park, Washington Road. More ... Old Bridge man convicted of assault on two officers       A state Superior Court jury has convicted an Old Bridge resident of second-degree aggravated assault by eluding and two counts of third degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) stemming from an incident in Manalapan in which two Englishtown police officers were injured. More ... Teen accused of threat to shoot people at EBHS 16-year-old arrested for alleged posting on Internet Web site BY BRIAN DONAHUE Staff Writer       EAST BRUNSWICK - A 16-year-old student at East Brunswick High School was arrested Monday for allegedly telling an Internet forum that he intended to shoot 35 people at the school before detonating himself. The male student, who was not found to possess any weapons or means of carry... More ...