DANIEL HULSHIZER staff Ashley Adase sings karaoke with her mother, Jeanette, during the Woodbridge YMCA's Holiday Extravaganza at the Woodbridge Community Center on Dec. 7. More ... Woodbridge seeking input on master plan First of many public hearings took place on Dec. 6 BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       Fred Heyer and Susan S. Gruel, principals in the New Brunswick planning firm Heyer, Gruel & Associates, want to know what the residents of Woodbridge Township like and dislike about the place they call home. "If people are not pleased [with the way their community is being built], the master plan... More ... N.J. Transit to stop idling trains starting next year BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       NEWARK - Richard Sarles, NJ Transit executive director, announced in November that NJ Transit would move to a new policy that would significantly reduce the historic practice of diesel locomotive idling, effective Jan. 1. More ... Report favors increased federal regulation of tobacco Analysis says move would save country, state billions of dollars BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       NEW BRUNSWICK - A new report released by the Campaign for Tobacco- Free Kids says that if the U.S. Congress passes legislation to give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA] new authority to regulate tobacco products, the new law would save the state $1.1 billion in tobacco-related health-ca... More ... 'I'm this many'      DANIEL HULSHIZER staff Daniel Cavill, 4, of Perth Amboy, counts his age on his fingers for Santa Claus at the Woodbridge YMCA's Holiday Extravaganza at the Woodbridge Community Center on Dec. 7. More ... Coalition seeks equitable result on school aid Action in Trenton is on the horizon as tax bills rise BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer       The expectation of a new school funding formula being unveiled prior to the Thanksgiving holiday did not pan out. A spokesperson for the New Jersey Department of Education (DOE) said there is a general consensus among Gov. More ... Legislators debate need for capital punishment BY CHRIS MURINO Staff Writer       People on both sides of the death penalty debate are striving to have their voices heard as the New Jersey Legislature inches toward abolishing capital punishment. On Dec. 3, after a hearing on the issue, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee approved a bill by a vote of 8-4 that would a... More ... 'The Golden Compass' lacks direction BY CHRIS GAETANO Movie Critic       New Line Cinema release Di rected by: Chris Weitz Starring: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Dakota Blue Richards, Ian McKellen Running time: 113 minutes Classified: PG-13 'The Golden Compass," from which the film directed by Chris Weitz derives its name, is a mystical device with the ability to... More ...