• $250,000 grant to aid Levoy
MILLVILLE - The Levoy Theater is on track to open in one year if all goes to plan for the 100-year-old High Street landmark.

• Animal cruelty pair fined
COMMERCIAL TWP. - A couple charged with abuse-related violations against a pair of horses, found emaciated and skeletal in late April, and one sheep in Port Norris pleaded guilty Thursday night in municipal court following a string of delays.

• Midgets playing in states
BRIDGETON - When Sam Miletta coaches, he walks a hundred miles.

• Police Blotter
MILLVILLE

• Sunday's parade anchors busy Bridgeton weekends
BRIDGETON - The city's going to be a busy place over the next two weekends, with the recreation department, Main Street Association and holiday parade committee doing their best to get everyone into the holiday spirit.

• Surprise! Surprise! Austino sworn in
BRIDGETON - With his wife, father and mother-in-law nearby, Bob Austino was sworn in as Cumberland County's newest sheriff on Thursday.

• Teen pregnancy prevention SAFE
BRIDGETON - Bridgeton School District Superintendent Vic Gilson said Thursday that a teen pregnancy prevention initiative announced this week has his full support.

• Vandals wreck fields
UPPER DEERFIELD TWP. - Vandals are tearing away at the Little League facilities adjacent to the municipal building on Route 77, Committeeman John Daddario and several residents said at the township committee meeting Thursday night.

• Accident victims ID'd
By JEAN JONES

• Carmel Fire Co. history
DEERFIELD TWP. - Carmel Volunteer Fire Company is permanently closed, as far as the township committee is concerned.

• Fruit, veggie market sprouts
BRIDGETON - In its first public event since opening in October, the Rutgers Food Innovation Center on Wednesday hosted the president of the country's largest produce growers association for a town hall-style, question-and-answer forum.

• Loaded school bus causes crash with car
By JEAN JONES

• Police Blotter
BRIDGETON

• Sexual assault fight on
MILLVILLE - Claire Riley, supervisor of the Cumberland County Sexual Assault Program, said Wednesday she was pleased with the turnout at the first of three meetings of a new group whose goal is to choose new strategies to combat sexual violence.

• So vets can rest in peace
HOPEWELL TWP. - The Cumberland County Veterans Cemetery has restricted its public visiting times to daytime hours only.

• Teen pregnancy tackled
BRIDGETON - Through comprehensive education and healthcare, Community Health Care and South Jersey Healthcare hope to make a difference in Cumberland County's high teen pregnancy rate when past efforts have failed.

• Woodland Country Day School kicks off Toys for Tots drive
Special to the News

• $2,000 for help at library
COMMERCIAL TWP. - There is "a lot of good stuff happening" at the Robbinstown Public Library, in Port Norris, and Nancy Ruth Jackson wants residents to know about it.

• Accused Millville teacher waives initial hearing
BRIDGETON - A 28-year-old Millville teacher who authorities said plotted to have his ex-girlfriend murdered will not appear in court Wednesday following his arrest Nov. 22.

• Fisher wants ag sec. position
BRIDGETON - Assemblyman Doug Fisher could be New Jersey's next secretary of agriculture.

• Millville people scream for help
MILLVILLE - City commission on Tuesday passed its own economic stimulus plan for downtown businesses suffering under tough times.

• New troopers on road
By JEAN JONES

• Police Blotter
MILLVILLE

• Silverton seeks $2M to consolidate here
MILLVILLE - One of the city's largest employers may receive a $2 million loan to help move its Florida-based facilities north to its Millville waterfront location, in a consolidation officials hope will stabilize the hurting business.

• Teenage pregnancy fight united
VINELAND - Non-profits FamCare, New Vizzions Inc., and others are giving their support to a countywide effort to combat teen pregnancy spearheaded by Community Health Care, Inc. and South Jersey Healthcare.

• Two helicopters at Vineland accident
VINELAND - Vineland police continue to investigate a serious two-car collision at Main Street and Roberts Road that left two people injured Tuesday night.

• Vineland woman killed in Monroe Twp. crash
MONROE TWP. - A 34-year old Vineland woman was killed Monday afternoon in a two-vehicle collision which sent another woman to the hospital.

• Bomb threat reported at elementary school
From staff reports

• Dryer fire displaces family
From staff reports

• It's official: Recession
By JEANNINE AVERSA

• Man falls from rooftop at Rt. 47 shopping center
MILLVILLE - A man was airlifted Monday afternoon after falling about 20 feet from a roof at Union Lake Crossing shopping center, according to police.

• Police Blotter
BRIDGETON

• Preparing deeds for sheriff sale bid
BRIDGETON - Bob Austino has yet to be sworn-in as Cumberland County sheriff, but steps are already being taken to rid the county sheriff's office of what he has described as "cronyism" within the department.

• Taking AIDS on Main Street
BRIDGETON - Monday marked the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day - a day when individuals and organizations around the world come together to bring attention to the AIDS epidemic.

• All cities looking for clue
WOODBURY - The Goodwill Store, a consignment shop, a car dealership, Polsky's, The Art Lounge.

• Bank robber may be tied to Aug. 6 heist
MILLVILLE - Police are investigating the possibility of Friday's robbery of Millville Savings Bank by a lone man as being connected to a similar heist on Aug. 6.

• Bridgeton's parade Sunday at 2 p.m.
BRIDGETON - Santa Claus decided it was too cloudy and rainy all day for girls and boys and families to enjoy the Bridgeton Christmas parade Sunday afternoon.

• Dropped charges expunged
BRIDGETON - A Superior Court judge granted a motion earlier this month to expunge incoming sheriff Bob Austino's criminal history.

• Liquor busts in Bridgeton
BRIDGETON - Two liquor stores and a bar face fines by the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control after an undercover police operation resulted in beer being sold to two underage police officers Wednesday evening.

• Shoppers answer the ring
UPPER DEERFIELD TWP - With the economy the way it is, the Bridgeton Salvation Army knows it's in deep.

• Shoppers answer the ring
UPPER DEERFIELD TWP - With the economy the way it is, the Bridgeton Salvation Army knows it's in deep.

• SPCA column
By BEV GRECO

• Swansea Vineyards offers wine tasting
SHILOH - Searching liquor store aisles during the holidays for the right wine can bring a yearning for warmer times and places.

• Black Friday Shoppers show kinder spirits
Consumers are showing they can adjust to bad market news, even on Black Friday.

• Millville Savings Bank robbed
MILLVILLE - Authorities are investigating a bank robbery that happened at Millville Savings Bank, around noon, Friday.

• Record crowds ring in season
MILLVILLE Ð In a time when many in the city, let alone the country as a whole, were in need of some holiday cheer, residents came out in droves for the annual Millville Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade, which itself enjoyed its largest year since its inception.

• Christmas Parade coming to town Sunday
BRIDGETON - Kids: Get working on your Christmas wish lists.

• Gridiron rivals meet for game 137
VINELAND - Not many towns can boast of a gridiron rivalry older than that between the Vineland Fighting Clan and the Millville Thunderbolts.

• Kell consideration on hold until 2009
BRIDGETON - If former Cumberland County trial chief Tina Kell is being considered for a county prosecutor post, her appointment will not come until 2009.

• Bridgeton Library letter
To the Citizens of Bridgeton, Cumberland County - and beyond:

• Good shepherds feed the hungry
BRIDGETON - A line of those hungry for a midday meal stretched from the church parking lot, downstairs into the basement, in which lies the "Good Shepherd Dining Room."

• Millville has the spirit
MILLVILLE - Spirit is about painting half your orange truck blue and not worrying if the paint will come off.

• Millville teacher charged in plot
MILLVILLE - A 28-year-old alternative school teacher at Millville Senior High School was arrested Saturday in connection with an alleged plot to have his ex-girlfriend kidnapped, sexually assaulted and murdered.

• Post office in the parking building?
BRIDGETON - The city's mayor gave his support Tuesday to a proposal by the county to refurbish the neglected Vine Street School, in addition to building a 300-car parking garage on the site.

• Save the Library is mobilizing
BRIDGETON - City officials know a decision to close the library would be a tough pill to swallow for their constituency.

• Vineland duo faces more charges
From staff reports

• 16 are bilked out of $1.3M
From staff reports

• $800 billion bailout
By MARTIN CRUTSINGER

• Freeholders OK two CCC trustees
BRIDGETON - Cumberland County freeholders appointed two new members to the Cumberland County College Trustee Board following an executive session Monday night.

• He's sailing to Key West in masted canoe
FAIRFIELD TWP. - Tim Eakins of Windsor, Conn., set sail from Hartford the second week of October on a trip perhaps rougher than that of the Mayflower.

• Juveniles sentenced
From staff reports

• Letter to CCTEC parents
"To the Parents of Cumberland County TEC students:

• Motorsports park adds 11 huge trees
MILLVILLE - The New Jersey Motorsports Park on Tuesday became the proud owner of 11, 25-foot trees to be placed at various sites throughout the complex.

• Police Blotter
BRIDGETON

• Seabreeze thinking buyout?
FAIRFIELD TWP. - Six Seabreeze homeowners have offered to sell their properties to the state Department of Environmental Protection, DEP spokeswoman Karen Hershey said on Tuesday.

• Thanksgiving services
The Bridgeton Christian Minister's Association is sponsoring a Community Thanksgiving Eve Service on Wednesday, Nov. 26, at 7 p.m., at Berean Baptist Temple on the corner of Fayette and Vine streets. Ten Bridgeton churchs will participate in leading the service, with special music provided by five of those churches. The evening message, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" will be provided by Pastor Isaac DeShields. All are welcome to join in praise and thanks to God.

• 14 year old arrested in purse thefts
BRIDGETON - Police believe they've gotten to the bottom of a rash of recent purse-snatchings and robberies in the city where Hispanic men and women were the targets.

• Body armor vest grants awarded
The New Jersey Attorney General's office on Monday announced $4 million in grants to local law enforcement agencies to purchase or replace body armor vests.

• CCC trustee vote off
BRIDGETON - Cumberland County freeholders had planned to vote Monday night to appoint two new members to the Cumberland County College trustee board, but the appointments were briefly put on hold.

• Community News Briefs
BRIDGETON

• Fogg arrested for Pike Lanes gunfire
DEERFIELD TWP. - A 45-year-old Alloway Township man was arrested earlier this month on charges that he fired a handgun at the owner of a local bowling alley.

• Land deal along Cohansey bleak
BRIDGETON - Officials hope to have a better idea by year's end whether a $1.3 million land deal between the Bridgeton Municipal Port Authority and developer Good Harvest LLC will ever be finalized.

• Man awakes from coma
MILLVILLE - A man who had been comatose for nearly two weeks awoke Thursday to tell his wife he had been assaulted while walking home from a bar, causing his injuries.

• Man is held for sex with 12-year-old girl
BRIDGETON - Police on Friday arrested and charged a Cohansey Street man with sexually assaulting a 12-year-old Minnesota girl he had met while reportedly visiting family in the Midwest state earlier this year.

• Millville Blotter
MILLVILLE

• Oakview manager charged with theft
MILLVILLE - Police have charged Oakview Apartments former property manager with stealing more than $4,000 in rent money from tenants.

• Police Blotter
BRIDGETON

• Police looking for blue Camaro after chase
MILLVILLE - Police are searching for the driver of a blue Chevrolet Camaro that eluded officers in a high speed chase back and forth across routes 47 and 55 late night Friday into early Saturday a week ago.

• Prosecutor's Office may stay in Bridgeton
BRIDGETON - For a little more than $10 million, a Somerville architectural group is proposing a solution to Bridgeton's parking problems that would coincide with renovating one of the city's more historic buildings.

• Salvation Army kettles in place
BRIDGETON - The city Salvation Army's red kettles were placed in front of area stores over the weekend, kicking off the mission's biggest annual fundraiser.

• Truck leaks oil on street
MILLVILLE - An unknown oil truck leaked what appeared to be diesel fuel over a three-block portion of Main Street Monday, causing a motorcyclist to later lose control and suffer back injuries in an accident.

• Did you bet on heating oil prices?
Those who purchased heating oil at a fixed price back in the summer fearing skyrocketing oil costs may be kicking themselves now, as prices have dropped significantly since crude oil peaked in July.

• Giveaway is inundated
BRIDGETON -- Winter has gripped the region early with its cold, cruel hands.

• Hard economic times
BRIDGETON - When the city's only bookstore is preparing to close, it should come as no surprise that one of its many delicatessens ceased operations earlier this month.

• Message for cancer patients
It's hard to imagine and impossible to know the wear on one's soul and psyche in dealing with the modern scourge of cancer.

• SPCA column
By BEV GRECO

• Thompson is newest freeholder
VINELAND - The county Democratic organization on Saturday nominated Nelson Thompson, union member and county Planning Board member, to replace Doug Rainear on the freeholder board.

• CRHS teacher deployed overseas
UPPER DEERFIELD TWP. - Most of the time, Michael Griffith teaches students at Cumberland Regional High School how to make a living from the land.

• Parents upset over porn star in school
VINELAND - Some parents in the city school district are upset over reports that an aide in a local elementary school had a previous career as a porn star.