Buddy cheerleaders a true asset for Middlesex County       It's a proud moment for any community when one of its sports or performance teams wins a national competition, but Middlesex County has something truly special and inspiring in the St. Bart's Buddy Cheerleaders, based in East Brunswick. More ... Coda A somber toast for the coming year (again) GREG BEAN       This column first appeared Jan. 4, 2006. I think it's as appropriate today as it was then. Things haven't gotten much better in the last year, and there's no clear end in sight. I hope you'll pardon the repetition, but I plan to run it every new year until our troops come home. More ...