Bikers hit road to raise money for charity Ride takes them from Merrill Park to Hunterdon County and back BY COLLEEN LUTOLF Staff Writer      Most any biker would agree that Sunday was a perfect day to ride. The sun was shining, but it wasn’t too hot, and a light breeze was blowing that could cool the sweat off any biker’s bandannaed brow. More ... Blackout sets residents, local businesses back BY ELAINE VAN DEVELDE Staff Writer      The township of Edison could have used a little help from its namesake, Thomas Alva Edison, last week. More ... Planners OK 3.25 million sq. ft. of warehouse space BY COLLEEN LUTOLF Staff Writer      WOODBRIDGE — The Planning Board voted unanimously last week to grant preliminary approval to a project that would redevelop 290 acres of contaminated Port Reading and Carteret land with 3. More ... Volunteer receives Jack Fay civic award BY COLLEEN LUTOLF Staff Writer      WOODBRIDGE — Former Township Councilman Bob Sobieski has been named this year’s Jack Fay Civic Award recipient. More ... Police nab suspect in auto theft, bar incident      WOODBRIDGE — Police arrested and charged Felix Rodiguez, 39, Avenel, with possession of stolen property, aggravated assault, resisting arrest, possession of a weapon and contempt of court at 4:51 a.m. May 8. More ... Woman charged with sale of pirated material WOODBRIDGE — Police allege that a woman they were trying to arrest became violent toward herself May 7.      Two officers on bicycle patrol were speaking with the owner of Angelo’s Pizza on Amboy Avenue around 5:05 p.m. when Yuehong Xi, 38, Corona, N.Y., entered the store with a piece of rolling luggage and shouted "DVD! More ... Flasher strikes again      WOODBRIDGE — Police said a man exposed himself to several juveniles at the corner of Mereline Avenue and Homer Court in Avenel at around 5 p.m. May 10. More ... County teen arts fest runs the gamut BY BRYAN SABELLA Staff Writer      EDISON — Local artists still in their teens got a chance to experience virtually every facet of the arts, from painting, singing and dancing to acting, writing poetry and radio announcing. More ... Local unit shipping out to Guantanamo Bay BY COLLEEN LUTOLF Staff Writer      WOODBRIDGE — Members of the Woodbridge National Guard will take a piece of the township with them when they leave their Main Street post for a new locale — Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. More ... Housing subsidy withheld from 72 local families BY COLLEEN LUTOLF Staff Writer      WOODBRIDGE — Residents occupying 72 low-income households in the township were recently notified that federal housing subsidies they receive have been suspended indefinitely. More ... Gas station employee shot during robbery      WOODBRIDGE — Police are seeking four suspects in an armed robbery Friday, in which a gas station attendant was shot in the arm . More ... Governor pushes property-tax relief plan BY COLLEEN LUTOLF Staff Writer      In a tour to promote his new tax relief plan, Gov. James E. McGreevey stopped in the Middlesex County seat last week to meet with local reporters at the New Brunswick Senior Resource Center. More ... Local skateboard legend spreads positive word Edison native Mike Vallely among pioneers of street skating BY BRYAN SABELLA Staff Writer      On a humid May afternoon professional skateboarders Mike Vallely, Charlie Wilkins and Stacy Lowery are in mid-demonstration at the skate park in Sayreville’s Kennedy Park when someone yells "Do a back-flip!" More ... Town, YMCA forge preservation partnership BY ELAINE VAN DEVELDE Staff Writer      William Lovett will tell you that there is such a thing as a happy ending in this preservation struggle in an area where traffic and commercial developments outnumber patches of green. More ... Borough sets rules, fees for well-used park BY JOLENE HART Staff Writer      SAYREVILLE — Since its opening eight months ago, the borough’s skate park has become a regional destination for skateboarders of all abilities. More ... Parkway toll plan unveiled      By year’s end, drivers on the Garden State Parkway will only have to pay tolls on one side of the major toll plazas in Sayreville and Asbury Park. More ... Memorial’s completion brings town together BY COLLEEN LUTOLF Staff Writer      WOODBRIDGE — More than 100 residents gathered at Honor Roll Veterans Memorial Saturday to celebrate the restoration of the once crumbling monument. More ...