ERIC SUCAR staff Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac talks to a small audience gathered along Grove Street on April 10 to kick off the Slow Down in Our Town pedestrian safety campaign. Story, page 3. More ... Architect to do study for animal shelter site Manalapan firm got $22K to survey vacant buildings for shelter BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       Woodbridge Township awarded a competitive contract to Michael V. Testa of Manalapan for his architectural design services for the long-awaited public animal shelter at last week's council meeting. The contract is in an amount not to exceed $22,300. More ... Visioning mtg consensus: Be more like Metuchen Fords and Hopelawn residents would like more of a downtown BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       WOODBRIDGE - Fords resident Lisa Daly said she just wants to be able to walk in downtown Fords on a nice spring and summer day pushing her baby in the carriage. "The streets are so poor," she said. "The sidewalks on the side streets should be a violation and the curbing should be r... More ... Defense: Defendant did not conduct Internet searches Searches for poison and 'how to commit murder' were found on computer BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       NEW BRUNSWICK - Someone was on William and Melanie McGuire's home desktop computer searching the words "undetectable poisons" and "how to purchase a gun without a permit" and that person, the defense contends, was not Melanie McGuire. More ... Defense rests with McGuire opting not to testify Jury heard character witnesses on final day of defense's case BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       NEW BRUNSWICK - As Melanie McGuire's defense attorneys rested her case after only four days of witness testimony last week, McGuire decided that she would not take the stand. More ... Immigration deported Parikh on April 12 Parikh had accused Edison police officer of assault BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       EDISON - Rajnikant Parikh, the Edison resident who accused the Edison Police department of brutality following a Fourth of July arrest last year, was deported to his native India on Thursday following charges that he was in the country illegally. More ... James Gandolfini supports Asbury, independent films 'Sopranos' star premieres short at G.S. Film Festival BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer       It was reminiscent of the dream when the fish spoke to Tony Soprano to let him know it was time for Big Pussy to go. On an overcast March 24, actor James Gandolfini again walked down the Asbury Park boardwalk, only this time the situation wasn't scripted by "The Sopranos" writers. More ... Survivor tells story of life in hiding Neighbor of Anne Frank tells students how he survived the Holocaust BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer       EDISON - Looking back on it now, it was a lie that saved Jerry von Halle's life. It was not enough to save his brother, or his father later on. But it saved his life, sure enough. The irony of it is, he lied about slowly dying. More ... Woodbridge begins program to advance pedestrian safety Township is third in county to participate in Slow Down in Our Town BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       WOODBRIDGE - The township has become the third town in Middlesex County to participate in the countywide Slow Down in Our Town pedestrian safety campaign. The bright yellow lawn signs, which depict two children playing catch with their pet dog as a car approaches, were placed along... More ... Struben, Curcic off ballot at least for now GOP candidates to seek redress in Superior Court over ballot signatures BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       WOODBRIDGE - Two Republican candidates running for the Township Council-at-Large seats this November will take Township Municipal Clerk, John Mitch's decision to remove two names from the ballot to Superior Court, this week. More ... Big Wheelin'      PHOTOS BY SCOTT PILLING staff Above: Cameron Battito, 3, gets a firsthand look at the operator's seat of a modified grass cutter during the "Big Wheels" show at the Woodbridge Community Center on April 11. Top right: A bird's-eye view of some of the "big wheels" at the event. Right: Mark Competello ... More ...