DANIEL HULSHIZER staff Santa Claus, played by Earl Runkel of Avenel, waits for the holiday tree lighting at the municipal building in Woodbridge on Dec. 13. More ... Former General Dynamics site now redevelopment area Planning Board approves designation BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       The Woodbridge Township Planning Board unanimously voted in favor of granting the former General Dynamics site, 150 Avenel St., the designation of redevelopment area last week. More ... Woodbridge, Carteret open new highway Road will help alleviate truck traffic in other parts of town BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       The mayors from Carteret and Woodbridge last week unveiled the opening of the long-awaited extension of the Industrial Highway that spans both townships. Carteret Borough and Woodbridge Township approved the 1.4-mile extension as part of the Port Reading Industrial Park Redevelopment project in M... More ... The holiday season builds momentum      Left to right: Choir member Dave Said has a merry time at the Colonia High School combined choirs' "Winter Wonderland" event at the school Dec. 15. Palak Pandua, 6, of Woodbridge, contemplates the message she's writing on the holiday card she made at the event. Miranda Sica, 7, of Iselin, has a Chri... More ... Colonia residents call for downtown revitalization Traffic, parking cited as concerns during town forum BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       WOODBRIDGE - When Marie Palumbo moved into the Colonia section of the township 45 years ago, all she wanted was a beautiful downtown. "Now it's 45 years later and the downtown looks pathetic," she said. "I have asked every mayor for the past 45 years to beautify the downtown area, but I still ha... More ... Santa has left the building      PHOTOS BY DANIEL HULSHIZER staff Right: Santa and Mrs. Claus, played by husband and wife Earl and Marge Runkel, of Avenel, wait for Mayor John E. McCormac to arrive at the holiday tree lighting in Woodbridge Dec. 13. Below: Santa and Mrs. Claus leave Town Hall after the tree lighting. More ... Firefighters, friends go caroling, caroling BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       WOODBRIDGE - Members of the Avenel Fire Department, along with their families and friends, brought smiles to members of the public with their dulcet voices of holiday cheer over the weekend. The group of approximately 45 people, including Earl Runkel as Santa Claus and his wife, Marge, as Mrs. More ... 'I Am Legend' lives up to its name BY CHRIS GAETANO Movie Critic       Warner Bros. Pictures release Di rected by: Francis Lawrence Starring: Will Smith, Alice Braga, Dash Mihok, Charlie Tahan, Abbey Running time: 110 minutes Classified: R It is fairly safe to say that at this point, the genome has replaced the atom as the ultimate symbol of humanity's collecti... More ... Police seek man who tried to pick up 15-year-old girl BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       WOODBRIDGE - Police are looking for a suspect in an orange and white colored SUV that pulled up along side of a 15-yearold female at the corner of Charles and Lee streets in Hopelawn and asked her numerous times if she would like a ride as she was walking home. More ...