Ice lessons      SCOTT PILLING staff Stanislav Joukov gives his figure skating pupil, Lauren O'Neil, some help during the figure skating class at United Skates in the Woodbridge Community Center. More ... Local cop gets 17 years for sexual assault Woodbridge cop took half-nude photos of teen, assaulted stepson BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       Douglas Karlson, a veteran Woodbridge police officer, was sentenced to up to 17 years in prison last week for taking hundreds of suggestive photographs of a 15-year-old Colonia girl and, in a separate case, for sexually assaulting his stepson, 26, beginning when the boy was 14 years old. More ... N.J. still sorting out legal details of civil unions Whether institution is recognized elsewhere varies from state to state BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       Same-sex couples all over New Jersey applied for civil union licenses when a new law that allows them to took effect last week. While the moment was seen by rights groups as a step forward, it was also seen as a sharp reminder that gay and lesbian couples still cannot technically g... More ... Colonia Senior Citizens Club day trip calendar       The Colonia Senior Citizens Club has announced several trips and events for the coming new year. The club sponsors Atlantic City day trips on the third Monday of each month. The trip leaves from St. John Vianney Church parking lot on Inman Avenue at 11 a.m. For more information, c... More ... Bowlers: Score another strike against leukemia Fifth annual Memorial Bowling Event to fund blood cancer research BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       WOODBRIDGE - Avenel resident Stephen Cohorsky III has kept his father's memory alive for the past five years through the annual Stephen Cohorsky Jr. Memorial Bowling Benefit for the Cancer Institute of New Jersey. The benefit marks its fifth year since Stephen J. Cohorsky Jr., who ... More ... Mayor seeks budget rider to help raise funds for shelter Account would allow for private money to be raised for animal shelter BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       WOODBRIDGE - With ideas still up in the air for the public animal shelter, Mayor John E. McCormac announced last week that he will seek a budget rider to allow for the private donation of funds to assist in the care and housing of abandoned animals. More ... Teen fits definition of a vocabulary wiz BY MARY ANNE ROSS Correspondent       There's a new game in town, and Alex Silady, 14, of Edison, could be its next national champion. The ninth-grader at John P. Stevens High School in Edison is one of six finalists from New Jersey in the first National Vocabulary Championship, a new competition for high-school-age stude... More ... Motiva: expansion will mitigate train noise Residents are wary of plan and the effect on property values BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       WOODBRIDGE - Motiva Enterprises, Conrail and Norfolk Southern representatives presented a plan that would relieve some of the noise problems from the Motiva Refinery rail cars for Sewaren residents, but not all of it. "Currently, there are three train movements," said Sean Murphy... More ... Graceful moves      SCOTT PILLING staff Abbey Grau, 13, works on some of her moves during the figure skating class at United Skates in the Woodbridge Community Center. More ... Funeral home providing free bereavement support       The Costello-Runyon Funeral Home, 568 Middlesex Ave., Metuchen, continues to offer a bereavement support group. Ongoing sessions are held every Wednesday and Thursday morning from 10:30 a.m. to noon, as well as Wednesday evening from 7-8:30 p.m. The program, which is free of charge, tak... More ... St. Andrew's church to host trip to Italy       The Rev. David Kosmoski of St. Andrew's Roman Catholic Church in Avenel is hosting an 11-day pilgrimage to Italy - visiting Venice, Florence, Assisi, and Rome - from March 19 -29. The trip is arranged by NAWAS Travel, Darien, Conn. More ... Business radio show finds a hungry audience BY MARY ANNE ROSS Correspondent       MONROE - Milton Paris is taking his show on the road. Literally. Paris is the creator and host of the half-hour radio talk show "Getting Ahead in Business," which airs on WCTC-1450 AM at 9:30 a.m. on Saturdays. The program, which focuses on topics of interest to business people, has ... More ... Juveniles charged with throwing rocks from bridge Rocks hit cars on GSP, Route 9, sending 9-month-old to hospital BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       WOODBRIDGE - Township police and the New Jersey State Police charged two Hopelawn juveniles -one 14 years old, one 17 years old - last week with over 90 counts of aggravated assault, criminal mischief, and interference with transportation each. More ...