Renovations complete on Bunns Lane apartments Work served as hands-on experience for students BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       Shakira Foxx couldn't help herself but dart from room to room in her newly renovated two-bedroom apartment on Bunns Lane last week. "It's just breathtaking," said Foxx, who said she would be moving into her new apartment with her son. "It's beautiful. … I love it. More ... Postseason action heats up      JEFF GRANIT staff Colonia's Sasha Hall goes up and shoots between two Cardinal McCarrick defenders during the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament quarterfinal game on Saturday in South Brunswick. McCarrick won the game, 79-41. More ... Fire officials urge: Recycle old smoke detectors BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       WOODBRIDGE - Township and fire officials announced that the month of March has been designated Recycle Smoke Detectors Month. "Usually we would remind residents to change the battery of their smoke detectors as they change their clocks," said Ward 1 Councilman Charles Kenny. More ... One chili day      PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Top: Contestants and tasters participate in Woodbridge Township's chili contest held at Main Street's JJ Bitting Brewing Co. on Feb. 17. Organizers hope to make it an annual event. Above: Courtney Kost, Fords, and Carolyn Gilligan, Avenel, compare chili samples at the tow... More ... Restaurant offers edible tour of Europe Buffet Europa serves ethnic dishes for traditionists, newcomers BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer       NORTH BRUNSWICK - For a trip to Europe without leaving the Brunswick area, Buffet Europa onAaron Road offers home-style selections of Polish, Hungarian, German, Spanish and Italian food on a buffet or ala carte. More ... Family recounts mother's battle with cancer Family speaks about mother's struggle with aggressive brain tumor BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       WOODBRIDGE - In just two days, 65-year-old Beverly Falocco's life changed forever. "My mother [Beverly] called me as she was paying her bills and said, 'Donna, I was able to write my first name, but when I was going to write my last name, it's like either my hand stopped working or my brain forg... More ... Fortin could face 30 years to life for murder conviction Prosecution appeals for life without parole BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       NEW BRUNSWICK - Steven Fortin, who was found guilty on Nov. 29, 2007, in his second trial for the 1994 capital murder of Melissa Padilla in the Avenel section of Woodbridge Township, could be sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 30 years to be served. More ...      CHRIS KELLY staff Colonia's Suzi Ansaldo gives Edison's Gerry Zagorski a sample of the chili she made for Woodbridge Township's chili contest held at Main Street's JJ Bitting Brewing Co. on Feb. 17. More ... For the Record       In the Feb. 13 issue of the Sentinel, the total appropriations and the amount to be raised by taxation for the Hopelawn Fire District No. 8 was incorrectly reported as $6,032,450 and $5,077,415. The correct total appropriations for the Hopelawn Fire District No. 8 totals $632,450. The amount to be... More ... Youth gets 18 months' probation in death of infant BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       WOODBRIDGE - The 9-year-old boy who was charged with the death of an 11- month-old Carteret boy at a home-based day-care center in Iselin last August was sentenced last week to 18 months' probation. The juvenile, identified by the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office only as "J.L. More ...