SCOTT FRIEDMAN Olga Jimenez-Delgado (r), of the Middlesex County Division of Solid Waste Management, helps Mindy Chervin, of North Brunswick, empty her old paperwork into a truck during a free paper-shredding event held at the North Brunswick Municipal Building on Saturday. More ... Manslaughter trial ends in hung jury State must decide by December whether to proceed with retrial BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer       After six days of deliberation, a state Superior Court jury could not unanimously decide if Robert Knutsen was guilty of the aggravated manslaughter of his godson, 3-year-old Nikolas Chavez, in November 2005. Knutsen, 31, a former North Brunswick and current Middletown resident, has been on trial... More ... North Brunswick At stake: Four-year mayoral term and two three-year Township Council terms       Francis "Mac" Womack* (D) Running for: Mayor Age: 51 Residency: 20 years Occupation: Attorney Political positions: Mayor for three years; former councilman; former Democratic committeeman; former member of the Affordable Housing Committee More ... Group scares up chilling stories Garden State Horror Writers offers support for writers of dark genre BY LARRY RAPPOPORT Correspondent       What frightens you? Is it a tarantula the size of a Hummer? A psychologically deranged killer? Or perhaps dinner with the in-laws? There's one group in New Jersey that you might say is an authority on the subject of fear. Enter the Garden State Horror Writers (cue the spooky haunted mansion musi... More ... Middlesex County freeholder race       DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES Stephen J. "Pete" Dalina Age: 77 Residence: Fords, Woodbridge Occupation: Retired bar and restaurant owner Position: Freeholder since 1990; deputy director since 1994; chairman of the Department of Parks and Recreation More ... District involved in two lawsuits over comp time BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer       NORTH BRUNSWICK - The Board of Education has filed a lawsuit against former Business Administrator Marshall Sigall alleging he wrongly claimed compensatory days. Former acting Superintendent Geri Margin, meanwhile, has filed action against the board to receive payment for compensatory days she s... More ... L'Oreal strikes deal to occupy Route 1 building BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer       NORTH BRUNSWICK - The municipality has found a way to make up some tax revenues through a new business venture in town. L'Oreal USA has completed a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement to occupy a major research and development facility on Route 1 north by Milltown Road. More ... Official advises reuse of leaves as lawn fertilizer BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer       NORTH BRUNSWICK - The Township Environmental Commission is asking residents to put the brakes on their rakes during the autumn season. Removing fallen leaves and clearing dead vegetation deprives many species of food and habitats, according to Mark Hommer, the chairman of the commission. More ... Scouting for treats      JEFF GRANIT staff Austin Shulas waddles to the next trick-or-treat table during the North Brunswick Boy and Girl Scouts' Trunk-or-Treat program in North Brunswick on Friday. More ... Police estimate five gangs have operated in S.B. BY CHRIS MURINO Staff Writer       SOUTH BRUNSWICK - The 2007 Street Gang Survey released by the New Jersey State Police showed a 10 percent increase in gang activity since the last survey in 2004. Out of 25 municipalities in Middlesex County, 17 of them, including South Brunswick, reported a gang presence. More ... Masons 'rat out' firm for non-union work Inflatable rodent, protesters set up in front of N.B. schools BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer       NORTH BRUNSWICK - A group of local unionized masons are picketing the construction jobs at Parsons and Judd Elementary schools and Linwood Middle School because non-union workers were hired to complete the work. More ... Libertarian denied funds for exclusion from debate Assembly candidate in Clean Elections district sought help from ELEC BY CHRIS MURINO Staff Writer       Libertarian state Assembly candidate Jason Scheurer applied for and was denied rescue funds under the Fair and Clean Elections (FACE) Pilot Project that is taking place in the 14th District. Scheurer was not allowed to take part in a televised News 12 New Jersey interview forum that the other fou... More ... Candidate criticized for using clerk as driver State Senate hopeful Singh dismisses issue as GOP 'mudslinging' BY CHRIS MURINO Staff Writer       Democratic state Senate hopeful Seema Singh was driven to and from events by an office clerk during her time as ratepayer advocate, according to a 2006 audit by the New Jersey state Legislature. More ... Town enjoys frightening fun in a local haunt Halloween hayride, trails raise funds for South Brunswick causes BY CHRIS MURINO Staff Writer       SOUTH BRUNSWICK - It was a typical Halloween weekend in South Brunswick: ghoulish creatures walking around, a bonfire raging, kids dancing and playing, and of course, Dardani's Haunted Trail and Hayride scaring the daylights out of thousands at Woodlot Park last weekend. More ...