SCOTT FRIEDMAN Jahazel Byrom, 6, of New Brunswick, looks ready to give this cute kitten a home at the open house at the Woodbridge Animal Shelter on April 27. More ... Gun threat prompts school lockdown Some parents feel alert system should provide more information BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       Schools Superintendent Vincent Smith stressed to the public that the school administration took the proper precautions during the lockdown that occurred at the Fords Middle School on April 18, but admitted that it was not perfect. More ... Tooling Around the Township      Top left: Greg Bedard, Woodbridge Township's 3rd Ward councilman, measures the rapid progression of repairs just before lunch at the residence of his neighbor Chris Vandevaarst's house in Avenel during the annual Tooling Around the Township event on April 26. During the event, neighbors and voluntee... More ... Bill would give towns power to place traffic signs BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer       A New Jersey assemblyman is crafting legislation that would relieve local municipalities from needing state approval to place street signs. According to Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-19th District), the author of the bill, the purpose of the legislation is to streamline traffic management and in... More ... ALS walk enters fifth year in Woodbridge BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       WOODBRIDGE- As the fifth annualWalk to Defeat ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) approaches in the township, Abby Anderson reminisces about her father, Ira, who battled ALS for 38 months, and the accomplishments that she and other ALS advocates achieved on Capitol Hill. More ... Cancer charity walk scheduled for June 20 BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer       WOODBRIDGE - Bette Ann Pinkham and Debbie Caffarelli don't want their daughters to go through what they have gone through with breast cancer. "We want to be part of the cure of cancer," said Pinkham, who is a two-time breast cancer survivor. More ... Fake water company employees rob two homes Robberies are second such incidents in both Woodbridge and Edison BY CHRIS GAETANO and KATHY CHANG Staff Writers       Police in both Edison and Woodbridge Townships have reported robberies involving people who used disguises as water company employees to gain access to their victims' homes. One incident involved a 65-year-old woman living on Midwood Road. According to Lt. Joseph Shannon, Edison Police Department... More ... Verifying water employee credentials       EDISON- Police have advised residents to be cautious when people say they are from the local water company. They have offered the following tips: • If you did not initiate contact with the company they say they are from, do not let them inside your home. Traditional utility companies will c... More ... Panel warns of dangers of underage drinking BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer       NORTH BRUNSWICK - Half of the middle school students inMiddlesex County have used alcohol. Many New Jersey students report their first use of alcohol at age 11. Half of teen car accidents involve drinking and driving, andmore than 50 percent of youth suicides involves alcohol. More ...