SCOTT FRIEDMAN Conner Smith, 6, watches the opening-day ceremonies for the Sayre Woods South Little League Saturday. The league, entering its 48th season, cut the ribbon on its first clubhouse, a 700-square-foot building made possible due to the efforts of league board members and families, and the ... More ... Weber back on board; two newcomers get in Old Bridge voters turn down incumbents, approve their budget BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       Voters approved a zero tax increase budget, and opted for a new slate of Old Bridge Board of Education members in the school election April 15. Donna Andriani, Owen Henry and Frank Weber will take the places of board members Frank Piccillo, Fred Colabella and Gail Kubicke. More ... Play ball      PHOTOS BY SCOTT FRIEDMAN Above: Second-baseman Demitriue Pate shows his team's frustration as a ball is hit in the gap. Right: Dylan Maimone pitched a shutout game to lead the Mets to victory on opening day of the Sayre Woods South Little League season Saturday at the field complex, Fox Street. More ... Playing up support for youth with Crohn's Sixth-grader's original play will benefit girl, 5, battling chronic disease BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       OLD BRIDGE - With Alexis Vanore in kindergarten and Amanda Mulligan in sixth grade, it might seem the two youngsters live in "Two Different Worlds." Their mothers, long-time close friends, serve as the girls' connection, which has made Amanda aware of Alexis' illness - Crohn's disease. More ... Retail vacancies on rise on central N.J. corridors Rates still lower than northern areas, brokerage firm says       The vacancy rate in retail properties along central New Jersey's four largest shopping corridors edged up to 4.7 percent in 2007 from 4.3 percent a year ago, according to an Old Bridge-based retail real estate brokerage. In its annual study of the markets along routes 1, 9, 18 and 35, R.J. Brunel... More ... Local firefighter leads new statewide alliance       SAYREVILLE- Richard J. Kosmoski, of the borough's Parlin section, has been selected to lead the New Jersey Fire Chiefs Alliance. The alliance is comprised of the top three fire chiefs' associations in the state - the New Jersey Career Fire Chiefs, the New Jersey State Fire Chiefs Association and ... More ... Walkers, donations sought for 'Miracle Mile' in O.B. BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       OLD BRIDGE - The owner of a township salon is doing more than transforming looks. RobertHollenfer is doing his part to help transform lives. "I wanted to reach out to the public in other ways than making them look pretty," Hollenfer said. More ... Stylin' Scouts      PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Top: Isabella Niedzwiecki, 6, was among the Girl Scouts from St. Ambrose Troop 81297 who visited Old Bridge High School Friday to have their hair cut by the high school's cosmetology students. Working on Isabella are Jaclyn Pynckels and Michele Miglino, both 17. Bottom: M... More ... Voters OK incumbents but not their school tab Macagnone, Lembo, Batko win second Board of Ed. terms BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer       SAYREVILLE - Three Board of Education members won re-election, but their celebration was cut short by the defeat of the budget last week. "I take this as a failure and we need to fix this," board President Michael Macagnone said regarding the budget. More ... Beck proposals address commuter bus service       State Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-12th District) announced that she has introduced a package of three bills designed to improve commuter bus service in New Jersey, and said she has written a letter to Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Sen. More ...      CHRIS KELLY staff Monmouth University students Jared Mazur, of Sayreville, (from left) Christian Mambelli, of Sea Bright, and Eric Mikos, of Old Bridge, pedal into Lake Topanemus Park, Freehold, to help with the annual cleanup April 5. The trio, which rode from the campus in West Long Branch, are me... More ... Worker injured in machine accident       SAYREVILLE - A factory worker at a local steel mill suffered an injury while on the job last week. The Morgan First Aid Squad was dispatched to the scene of the Gerdau Ameristeel mill on North Crossman Road at 2:51 p.m. April 15. More ... Coach can't bow head, take knee as team prays Judges say Borden's history would signal religious endorsement BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer       EAST BRUNSWICK - A federal appeals court has sided with the school district in prohibiting football coach Marcus Borden from participating in team prayers, but the legal decision may not be the last in a case that has received national media attention. More ... Survey to gather info on Jewish population Demographic study to help groups address social service needs BY MARY ANNE ROSS Correspondent       A local group that supports Jewish humanitarian needs is hoping to garner more information about the area's Jewish population through a telephone survey commencing this June. More ... 5K celebrates memory of East Brunswick native       The Jersey Shore Running Club will host its fourth annual Lake Como 5K Run Saturday, and as in the past two years it will honor the memory of the late East Brunswick resident Grania Maggio. Maggio, who was a member of the running club, was hit by a car and killed after attending a Dave Matthews B... More ... Injury association has prevention on the brain Family support, accident awareness offered by organization BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer       NORTH BRUNSWICK - A new township agency is getting a head start on preventing potential injuries. The Brain Injury Association of New Jersey, a self-funded, chartered affiliate of the Brain Injury Association of America, recently moved from Edison to 825 Georges Road in North Brunswick. More ... Celebration marks end to a long, bumpy road Dignitaries help Monroe break ground on new high school BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer       MONROE- Some thought it could not be done. Others tried to prevent it. Still others were driven to make it a reality. For all of these groups, Friday was a big day. School, township, county and state officials, along with students and residents, gathered to take part in the groundbreaking for the... 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