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Princeton High School’s Simon Schenk wins the Group IV pole vault. Page 10A
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District to increase security at high school By Philip Sean Curran Staff Writer
The Princeton School District is looking to hire four part-time security “personnel” for Princeton High School, said Superintendent of Schools Stephen C. Cochrane, in comments Friday seemingly at odds with his remarks after last week’s security breach at PHS. They will work different shifts covering the morning and the afternoon hours, Cochrane said. They would not be armed but would be trained in security pro-
cedures, he said. The cost of hiring them was not immediately available. His comments come after the school massacre in Parkland, Florida, on Wednesday, in which a former student killed 17 people. It also came after the district had a security breach of its own at PHS last week. A man, who turned out to be a former student, entered the high school, around 7:20 a.m. Feb. 6, through an unlocked door and remained inside for what Princeton Police estimated could have been
up to 45 minutes. He did not make contact with students and staff, police said. Officials waited around an hour, from the time a student notified a teacher of seeing the individual, around 7:45 a.m., before they notified police after being unable to locate him themselves. Students had to shelter in place. In an interview afterward, Cochrane said the district would not be hiring security guards for the school. Asked about his statements last week and those this week, See SECURITY, Page 9
School bus security breached in Cranbury By Philip Sean Curran Staff Writer
The 25-year-old man who got into Princeton High School Feb. 6 took a school bus from Cranbury in the morning to get there, law enforcement said, as a previously undisclosed detail became public about the security breach. Princeton Police Lt. Chris Morgan said Tuesday that the
man, a Cranbury resident and former PHS student whose name has not been released, “was by himself when he boarded the bus.” “It was a school bus picking up other students in Cranbury when he boarded the bus,” Lt. Morgan said. Police did not have a total for how many students were on the bus at the time. See BUS, Page 9
Westminster buyer is identified By Philip Sean Curran Staff Writer
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A Chinese education company moved a step closer to acquiring Rider University’s Westminster Choir College and two other entities and the Princeton campus for $40 million, as Rider said Wednesday it had signed a “non-binding term sheet” with the company. The announcement removed the veil of secrecy over the closeddoor negotiations between Rider and Beijing Kaiwen Education Technology Co., with the arrangement keeping Westminster in Princeton. The deal was reported first by Reuters early Wednesday morning by the news agency’s Hong Kong bureau. Kaiwen runs two k-12 schools in Beijing, according to a Rider news release Wednesday. The deal, which still needs to be finalized and get regulatory approval, also includes the Westminster Conservatory of Music and Westminster Continuing Education. “Kaiwen Education put forth an impressive proposal rooted in their sincere interest in the Westminster brand and in keeping the institution as a part of the Princeton community,” Rider President Gregory G. Dell’Omo said in the release. “We are eager to continue collaborating with Kaiwen Education to develop a binding agreement, the next step in this process.” Rider said Kaiwen “intends” to offer employment to Westminster faculty and staff “as well as continue committed student aid at the time of closing in the form of endowed scholarships, tuition discounts and other grant obligations.” Two consultants will help in some critical areas. Catherine JarSee BUYER, Page 9
Photo by Scott Friedman
Life is a cabaret Sarah Donner and Mark Applegate perform Broadway melodies during the sixth annual Cabernet Cabaret, presented by The Arts Council of Princeton, on Feb 16. The theme of this year’s Cabernet Cabaret performance was “Defying Gravity: Songs of Journeys & Transformation.”
EMT extraordinaire Princeton High senior loves being a first responder By Philip Sean Curran Staff Writer
There’s something about riding down Nassau Street in an ambulance, with the lights and siren on, that first responder Lana Musa can’t get enough of. “There’s literally nothing better than that,” said Musa, a senior at Princeton High School, who, when she is not doing classwork, is in the business of saving lives as a volunteer for the Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad. “I love it, I absolutely love it,” said Musa, 18, in a recent interview at the squad headquarters on North Harrison Street. “Interacting with the people in our community is great.” In 2017, she did a lot of interacting with the public. She took more calls, 282, than any other squad member — unusual for a high schooler. Last month, at the squad’s installation dinner, she was recognized for her accomplishment, a high honor within PFARS.
Musa estimates that she does 50 to 80 hours of shifts each month, and also responds to calls when she is off duty. In the summer, she was doing more than that, around 150 hours a month. “It definitely takes a lot of time management, that’s for sure,” she said of balancing her responsibilities at school and at the squad. “And I’m not going to lie, I definitely lost some sleep because of PFARS.” When she does sleep, it is done at the edge of her pager going off; if a call comes in during the wee hours of the morning, she will rouse herself, get on the road and respond to whatever emergency awaits her. Yet she finds it manageable, as she can squeeze in some studying and schoolwork when she is at the squad. She embraces the challenges that come with being an EMT and relishes the camaraderie of other squad members. “We kind of make riding a fun thing. It doesn’t feel like work at all,” she said. “I absolutely enjoy it.”
Courtesy photo
From left to right, the Musa family: Lana, Adam, Susan and Dahlia, all volunteers with PFARS. Volunteering for PFARS runs in the Musa family. One of her older sisters, Susan, now attending Mercer County Community College, was the first to join when Lana was 14. The three other siblings followed suit. “Our mom loves it,” Lana Musa said. “She’ll hear a cool call
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go off on the pager and she’ll drive to see it, just to do a drive by.” “She’s very involved,” said Adam Musa, Lana’s twin brother, of his mother. In Lana Musa’s case, she joined, in the summer of 2016, as a cadet, and has remained ever See EMT, Page 9
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2A The Princeton Packet
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Friday, February 23, 2018
PRINCETON
Town turns to private sector to tackle business challenges By Philip Sean Curran Staff Writer
Mayor Liz Lempert, whose town faces the same difficulties seen nationally in supporting retail stores, has turned to the private sector to work with the municipality to find ways to aid the local economy. She sits on a newly formed 16-membereconomic development commission that includes other municipal representatives and business leaders including restaurateur Jack Morrison, Peter M. Crowley, president and CEO of the Princeton Re-
gional Chamber of Commerce and Lori Rabon, vice president of Palmer Square Properties, among others. They are responsible for producing an economic development report and, per a council resolution, they have until Jan. 1, 2019 to craft a “framework” for the document. The commission met for the first time last week. Yet as the group looks to start working, businesses are leaving. Tomorrow’s Heirlooms, located on Chambers Street, became the latest to announce it was closing. In January, businesswoman Lisa Jones announced that
after 13 years, she was closing her store on Witherspoon Street. In a press release posted on a store window, she explained she had faced a 33-percent rent hike as part of her lease renewal — something she could not accept. Those and other departures represent the further erosion of retail stores, at a time when Internet shopping is popular and when Princeton is increasingly becoming home to foodrelated businesses. In speaking to reporters last week, Mayor Lempert touched on concerns about the downtown and the re-
tail sector and vacant office space in the northern end of Princeton. She said, for example, the committee would collect data on vacancy rates and rents and “benchmark” that to other communities. “I hope that the committee starts to address some of the challenges that Princeton faces in maintaining the business model that we’ve had, maintaining businesses in our downtown and what we can do to help bring those in,” Crowley said Feb.15 by phone. In terms of addressing the local regulatory burden, Mayor Lempert said
the town would explore ways to make applications to the municipality be a “more seamless process.” She said the main shopping district is also an historic district, which means projects have to go through another layer of municipal approval. “And are there things we can be doing to make that process easier, more transparent?” she asked rhetorically. On the tax burden, she said the municipality is “trying to do our best in terms of controlling costs.” Yet she pointed to how the municipal budget makes up only around 20
percent of the property tax bill, with the schools at around 50 percent and the county at around 30 percent making up the rest. As retail stores close, Princeton, conversely, has seen an influx of food establishments. Asked if she thought there were too many of them, Mayor Lempert said “variety is important” but cautioned the town has “limited tools, as a municipality, to pick and chose what establishments go where.” “I don’t think it’s the role of the municipality,” she said, “to be handpicking which business goes in which shop.”
LAWRENCE
Police seek suspect who struck gas attendant with car By Lea Kahn Staff Writer
Lawrence Township police are searching for a gray Nissan Altima sedan that struck a gas attendant at the QuickChek convenience store, causing seri-
ous injuries to the attendant, around 1:30 p.m. Feb. 19. The gas attendant was struck in the parking lot outside the convenience store on the Brunswick Circle Extension after he tried to
stop the driver of the Nissan, which had just hit a silver Honda SUV, police said. The 35-year-old gas attendant suffered head and leg injuries, and was listed in critical condition at Capital
Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, police said. The driver of the Nissan Altima was last seen wearing a bandana and a sweatshirt. The car has window tint on the front and rear door windows,
police said. The accident is under investigation by Officer Andres Mejia and Detectives Joseph Radlinsky and Daniel Gladney of the Lawrence Township Police Department, and the Mercer County Prosecu-
tor’s Office’s Serious Collision Unit. Anyone who saw the accident or who can identify the driver and the car should call the Lawrence Township Police Department at 609896-1111.
Local man indicted for murder in Applebee’s shooting By Lea Kahn Staff Writer
A 27-year-old Lawrence Township man has been indicted on murder and other offenses after he shot another man in the head at the Applebee’s Restau-
rant on Route 1 in Lawrence Township in November 2017. Noel Powell III, 27, of Fountayne Lane in Lawrence, was indicted on the murder charge, as well as unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlaw-
ful purpose by a Mercer County grand jury last week. Powell allegedly walked up to Devin Smith, 23, also of Lawrence Township, and shot him in the head as he sat at the bar at the Applebee’s Restaurant
shortly after midnight on Nov. 14, 2017. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene. The gunman, later identified as Powell, fled the scene in a dark-colored SUV. Powell was taken into custody several days
later at his home by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the U.S. Marshal’s NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force. Powell remains in custody at the Mercer County Correction Center.
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Friday, February 23, 2018
The Princeton Packet 3A
PRINCETON
University head to discuss campus plan with town officials By Philip Sean Curran Staff Writer
The growth of the Princeton University campus figures to be the main point of conversation when university President Christopher L. Eisgruber meets Monday with municipal officials, their first gettogether since 2016. “I think people, for the most part, just want to come and just have a dialogue, keep an open dialogue, and to see where everyone is, where the university’s at and where we are,” Councilman Lance Liverman said this week. Since becoming president in 2013, Eisgruber has met regularly with town officials, in a public setting, that gives Mayor Liz Lempert and the council as well as the community an opportunity to ask him questions. But there was no meeting in 2017, in part, to wait for the release of the campus plan that came out in December.
The document laid out a “framework” to guide decision-makers at the university on where to grow the campus, with an eye toward expanding into West Windsor, on land across from Lake Carnegie, and building a new dorm in Princeton to accommodate a growing undergraduate student body, among other things. “The annual conversation among President Eisgruber, Mayor Lempert and the council is expected to focus on the university’s campus plan,” university spokesman Michael E. Hotchkiss said by email Tuesday. The council meeting is scheduled for Monday at 7 p.m., in Monument Hall, the former Borough Hall, in what is a smaller venue than the regular council meeting room in Witherspoon Hall. The public is not expected to have a chance to ask Eisgruber questions, in a departure from past practice. Mayor Lempert said
questions “should be directed at council” and noted this Eisgruber meeting “is different in that it’s a part of our regular council meeting.” Aside from development, other topics are expected to arise as well, like sexual assaults on campus. “I believe it’s a concern of the council and it’s an issue we all take extremely seriously,” Mayor Lempert said. “And President Eisgruber has also expressed his deep concern.“ The issue of sex crimes at American colleges had attracted national attention in recent years. While the university reports small numbers of rapes in its federally mandated crime reports every year, that has not translated into people being criminally charged. “The town wants to create an environment where victims feel safe and secure coming forward,” Mayor Lempert said. “But the truth is we don’t control the court system that they would go
through. And there are a lot of different reasons why people choose to pursue a case and why they don’t.” The university is moving in phases to change the look of the southern entrance to campus, along Alexander Street, from Route 1. First, it did the area around the train station. Next, the university is expected to turn its attention to an area known as “lower Alexander,” where it owns properties. The university had been interested in having the area rezoned, back in 2011, but things got put on hold pending the merger of the two Princetons. “Well, it depends on what they have in mind for redevelopment,” said Liverman when asked how receptive the town would be to a zoning change. “I may not be on council when this is decided,” said Liverman, now in his last year on the governing body, “but I know from, over all the years that I’ve served, it
Town gets Bloomberg grant to help eco-friendly project By Philip Sean Curran Staff Writer
A foundation started by former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg will give Princeton up to $100,000 and provide technical support for an eco-friendly project aimed at having less food waste go into landfills. The town along with its partners will work to test ways to help residents “correctly” and “fully” sort their waste, so that trash goes in one container and food waste in another, a town official said this week. “There will be a combi-
nation of trying different techniques out to help people do better sorting and also testing what they’re actually throwing in the trash,” Mayor Liz Lempert said Wednesday. Other details, like how to recruit homeowners, to participate, need to be worked out, she said. The town already has a voluntary food waste collection program, in which about 1,270 households last year put food scraps and other compostable items into separate green containers that get collected and
turned into compost. For a time last year and into this year, the waste was going to a facility, in Atlantic County, that turned it into fuel and electricity. The town’s seven-yearold program diverts trash from landfills, an average of 400 to 500 tons per year. Also, the town will look at having a piece of equipment to turn food into compost, either located within the municipality or nearby. That would save on hauling costs of transporting the waste and mean less truck pollution. Mayor Lempert
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said Princeton University already has a so-called “biodigester.” “The technology is relatively new, and there are several different methods out there,” she said. “So part of what we’ll be doing, in the next six months, is figuring out the feasibility of different methods of converting the food waste into compost.” Princeton is in the running for a $5 million grand prize, along with the other 34 “Champion Cities” that the Bloomberg Philanthropies has recognized.
always depends on what they’re actually looking at.” The campus plan had floated the prospect of a hotel going on Alexander. Princeton Councilman David Cohen said this week that if Nassau Hall decides to build a hotel, the town would like to see it go in Princeton, which would contribute tax revenue for the municipality. Eventually, the university is looking to build on its golf course in that part of town, but that is not expected anytime soon. For his part, Cohen, a freshman councilman, will have his first chance as a member of the governing body to sit across from Eisgruber. He said he was “mostly” interested in discussing areas where the two sides can collaborate, like
using expertise the university has to help with the climate action plan for the municipality “The university’s really ahead of the town in terms of adopting sustainable practices for how they run the campus,” he said. “And so they’ve got a lot of expertise that they can share with us.” Officials have talked of the healthy state of relations between Nassau Hall and the town, something that was not always the case. The two sides are in the midst of seven-yearagreement that began in 2014 for Nassau Hall to give the municipality annual monetary contributions totaling $21.7 million. Cohen said he was “pretty happy” with relations between the two sides.
BRIGHT IDEA
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liked your smile more, why not make a change for the better? Teeth can be whitened and their appearance improved by several methods of cosmetic dentistry. It is truly amazing what can be accomplished in a short time that can enhance your appearance for the rest of your life. Comprehensive, quality, gentle dental care for patients of all ages is available at 192 Tamarack Circle, Skillman. New patients are always welcome here; call 609-9248300 for an appointment. “Our commitment is to relationships of partnership, respect, and appreciation.” “We offer cosmetic and family dentistry as well as Zoom!® and Invisalign®.” Please e-mail your questions or comments to: drjamescally@yahoo.com
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TOWN FORUM 4A
The Princeton Packet
Friday, February 23, 2018
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Stuart turned out to be the finest educational experience
To the editor: Is it true that Princeton is going to experiment with open classrooms again? Good! More students will have the same opportunity that I was given, when open classrooms were first implemented in the early 1970s. I was in fifth grade then at Witherspoon School, and my parents were alarmed at the prospect of my entering middle school where sixth, seventh and eighth grades were going to be taught as a group, with no age divisions. With six kids at home my parents relied on the public school system, and for the most part it served us well. However, I remember clearly the day my parents sat me down and told me they were going to take me out of public school and enroll me at Stuart. They explained that I would be there for three years, after
SOLUTIONS
which I would return to the public school system for high school. I distinctly remember them saying that they didn’t want me to lose three years of my education, and this was the only way they could ensure that my education would continue on track. Those three years at Stuart were the best three years of my young life, and I am grateful that my parents had the wisdom and foresight to send me there. Of course they would never have done it if the Princeton School Board had not attempted this (failed) experiment with open classrooms, so ultimately I owe my Stuart experience to the school board at that time. Yes, I did complete three years at Stuart, and when I entered Princeton High I was academically advanced - so much so that they ran out of classes for me in my favorite subject and had to enroll me at Princeton University as a non-matriculated student. I was a good student before Stuart, and an excellent student afterwards. Not only did Stuart catapult me academically beyond my peers, but also it taught me that I could achieve anything I wanted in life, and that being a girl
was irrelevant to my life choices. That was a pretty bold message in 1970, just one year after Princeton University first accepted female students. Stuart was way ahead of its time then, and continues to educate and inspire girls from pre-K through 12 to catapult past their peers. Registration for their “Lead Like A Girl” conference sold out within 24 hours, with 1,100 attendees and a waiting list of 400 more. I’m all in favor of open classrooms in the Princeton Public Schools. It was the reason why I had the great privilege of attending Stuart for those three years, and that experience transformed me as a person, as a girl and as a woman. I have no doubt that implementing the open classroom experiment again will give many more young girls the opportunity to experience the finest education that this town has to offer - at Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart.
Barbara J. Clarke Princeton
Huck Fairman
Creating an action plan to reach a fossil-free future
Recently Sustainable Princeton and the University’s Environmental Institute (PEI) hosted a panel to address strategies, or action planning, necessary to arrive at a fossil-free future. Ashley Dawson, this year’s PEI visiting professor in environmental humanities, opened the panel’s presentation by asking: why is action planning, at numerous levels, essential? The reasons he listed are: (1) The pledges made by nations at the Paris Climate Conference are not being met; (2) Our planet is continuing to warm and is heading toward a six-degree F rise, possibly by 2050. (3) Where now our atmosphere holds 400 parts per million (PPM) of CO2, by 2100 it could rise to 600 PPM. (4) Already, Dawson reminded us, our planet has experienced a number of calamities: hurricanes, typhoons, ocean rise, melting glaciers, droughts, floods, fires, water and food shortages. He noted that by 2100 the southern half of Florida is likely to be under water. But to move away from fossil fuels, which reach into all aspects of our modern communities, will take careful and comprehensive planning. At the same time, he warned, that even with all of today’s environmental problems, the oil and gas companies continue to advocate more drilling and usage. The good news is that in some countries, including ours, emissions have de-
clined - a start but clearly not enough. An excellent, local role model in this regard is Princeton University, which has taken steps to reach Net Zero emissions by 2050. The next speaker was Sustainable Princeton’s Program Director, Christine Symington, who announced that SP has received a grant to create a town climate action plan. She reminded the audience that Central Jersey has recently experienced a town-closing hurricane and several road-closing, homes-flooding rains. And she noted that the local research organization, Climate Central, has predicted that while today we can expect six days per year of over 95 degrees, in 2100 that is likely to rise to 49 days per year. Along with these temperature rises will come increases in mosquitoes and ticks, a decline in air quality, and challenges to the survival of local agriculture. To have any hope of countering these changes, town, counties and states need to formulate “mitigation” strategies and “resiliency” strategies. These will require that communities plan for, and fund, the preservation of, and the changing futures of: energy, land use and transportation, natural and built environments, water, waste, and resiliency. Furthermore, to promote the viability of these elements, communities will need to ensure that the new
strategies preserve social equity, as well as economic and environmental sustainability. So how will these strategies be conceived and realized? First, current baselines or inventories need to be established. Second, targets need to be envisioned and detailed. Thereafter, forecasts, planning, budgeting and funding, and eventually tracking, all need to be included in future plans. And these are not requirements that can be simply and arbitrarily drafted. To reduce local emissions, changes in building codes and behavioral patterns will be necessary. A steering committee to coordinate all of this will also be necessary, along with considerations of social needs - jobs, affordable housing, schooling and legal assistance - in order to bring all members of a community along. The categories of community actors that need to be involved in the planning are: the municipal components, businesses, non-profits, and schools and institutions. Ideally, all should be consulted and brought into the discussion. (Here Symington noted that a PU undergraduate group, the Tiger Challenge Team, has begun reaching out to the community to learn about and involve neighbors, neighborhoods, and other constituencies.) At this point, the third member of the panel, Aurash Khawarzad, the director
of policy and strategy at Race Forward and the Center for Social Inclusion, picked up the discussion. His focus was on the need for community leaders to learn what people want. It is important for all to understand that the coming changes, necessary for viability, will not affect all equally, nor will all be able to respond on their own equally. Some will need help to make the required changes, say in housing, utilities, and transportation. Or, to put it another way, social justice must be included in future thinking and planning. And this necessitates recognizing that some social systems, such as governments, schools, transportation, health systems, etc., are not designed to respond to, or are not sufficiently aware of, the disparate needs of community members. To establish a sustainable community, all members must be acknowledged and taken into account. In fact, Khawarzad observed, it is this very inclusion in community planning that “builds capacity,” — something needed to move ahead. And as climate change, and the strategies to deal with it, are new, so must the community responses be new. Thus the panel left its audience with a clearer sense of the complexities in planning for the climate change that is upon us, and for the climate changes coming.
Without its ‘understory’ layer, the forest will collapse By Michele S. Byers
STATE WE’RE IN
Forrest Gump claimed life is like a box of chocolates, and a healthy forest is like a layer cake. At the bottom of the cake is the “understory” layer, with seedlings, saplings, woody shrubs and other plants. Next up is the “mid-story,” with taller young trees and larger shrubs. The “canopy,” with the oldest, largest trees is the top layer of the cake!
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What happens to a cake if the lower layer is pulled out? It collapses. And, ecologically, that’s what could happen to forests in central New Jersey. According to Dr. Jay Kelly, a biology professor at Raritan Valley Community College who is studying forest health, many forests are in trouble because their lower understory layers are disappearing. “They’re being decimated by deer and invasive plants,” he explains. Kelly assesses forest health by comparing current conditions to those of 50 to 70 years ago. This study uses a “treasure trove of data” collected by former Rutgers professor Murray Buell from 1948 to 1972. Buell studied forests at 13 sites in four central New Jersey counties, including the Watchung Reservation, Jockey Hollow, Hacklebarney State Park, Voorhees State Park, Duke Island Park, Johnson Park, Mettlars Woods, Cushetunk Mountain, Musconetcong Mountain and Herrontown Woods. “Those studies were conducted prior to the deer population explosion,” Kelly said, noting that white-tailed deer essentially vanished from New Jersey prior to 1948 and didn’t rebound until decades later.
that further promotes a healthy understory for more native plants. What can be done? Kelly evaluated ways to control deer and keep New Jersey’s forest understory healthy. Deer fences are expensive, he said, but effective. When deer are kept out, native plants regenerate and outcompete invasive plants. This is good news not just for the understory, but for the entire forest. Controlling deer populations through contraceptives is still experimental and is expensive and not very effective. Allowing recreational hunting in public forests is not highly effective. Culling deer with trained sharpshooters is effective, but costly and controversial. It’s clear to Kelly that some combination of these deer control measures is needed. If the number of deer per square mile isn’t reduced, he said, thousands of forest plants and animals will not survive. To learn more about preserving New Jersey’s land and natural resources, visit the New Jersey Conservation Foundation website at www.njconservation.org or contact me at info@njconservation.org.
Kelly and his students surveyed these same forests … and the differences today are astounding! While Buell counted an average of 10 deer per square mile in central New Jersey forests, the number today is closer to 70 deer per square mile! “We found deer numbers over 300 per square mile in some places,” Kelly said. “It’s been catastrophic for the understory plants.” The number of medium and large trees has decreased only slightly since Buell’s time, but saplings have plummeted by 85 percent and small trees by 90 percent. “If this trend continues, we’re actually going to be losing forest as the older trees die, because there are no new trees to replace them,” Kelly said. When native saplings and plants are eaten by deer, they often don’t grow back. Instead, invasive plants spring up in their place. These invasives aren’t appealing to deer, or to native insects and birds. “Our forests are actually more invasive than native at this point,” laments Kelly. Why is it important to keep native plants in our forests? Without them, the forest loses its rich diversity and reMichele S. Byers is executive direcsiliency to droughts and floods. A healthy, biodiverse forest also helps break down tor of the New Jersey Conservation dead plants and recycles them into soil Foundation in Morristown.
Friday, February 23, 2018
The Princeton Packet 5A
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MONTGOMERY
School district shares responsibility of safety with parents By Lea Kahn Staff Writer
In the wake of the shooting deaths of 17 students and staff at a Florida high school last week, Montgomery Township Public School District officials have reached out to parents to assure them that steps are being taken to ensure their children’s safety. The school district takes its responsibility for student safety seriously, Superintendent of Schools
Nancy Gartenberg said. School district officials work closely with the Montgomery Township Police Department, day in and day out. In addition, the school district has comprehensive safety plans in place, which students and staff practice monthly, Gartenberg said. The district conducts a variety of “situational” drills with the students, and has done so for many years, she said. And while the school
district is doing all that it can, there is a role for parents to play in their child’s safety - starting with an awareness of their child’s interests and the interests of their child’s friends, Gartenberg said. “Now, more than ever and with the increased use of technology, their friends may not be obvious to you. Please make it your goal to get to know your child’s friends and those with whom your child associates,”
Gartenberg said. One common thread in the spate of school shootings that began in Columbine, Colo., in 1999 is mental health, she said. “In all cases, this was a factor,” she said. Gartenberg urged parents to contact school district officials if they have any concerns about their child’s mental wellbeing or that of another student in the Montgomery school district, or even another school district.
“Go with your gut whether you are a coach, a babysitter, a bus driver, drive a carpool or are a dance teacher. We all may interact with students at one time or another, and they may share with someone that they are hurting,” she said. Those students can be helped, but only if school district officials are alerted, Gartenberg said. The notifications to school district officials are confidential, she said. The school district’s
professional staff is highly trained and skilled to support students in a variety of ways, she said, and that’s why parents and students should not hesitate to reach out for help. “As school leaders, we are in a position of significant responsibility for the safety of your children. As always, our staff arrives each morning to school with the highest priority being to keep our children safe so they are able to learn,” Gartenberg said.
LAWRENCE
School district reassures parents, promotes a culture of safety By Lea Kahn Staff Writer
Even before the shooting deaths of 17 students and staff at a Florida high school last week, Lawrence Township school district officials had taken steps to ensure student safety ranging from locked doors to security cameras. That was the message that Superintendent of Schools Crystal Edwards conveyed to students, parents and staff in the Lawrence Township Public Schools this week in a letter to parents and guardians. The safety of the stu-
dents and staff is the school district’s top priority, Dr. Edwards said. The school district has comprehensive safety, prevention, emergency response and crisis plans in place, which are reviewed and updated annually, she said. And now that voters have approved a $25.1 million bond referendum, added security measures will be put in place in the schools, including adding vestibules in the schools that do not have them, Dr. Edwards said. Those measures were included in the bond referendum, which was put to a vote in January.
Vestibules, which are placed at the front entry to a school building, serve to funnel visitors to the main office to sign in. Vestibules will be added to the Lawrence Intermediate and Lawrence Middle schools, and the Slackwood and Eldridge Park elementary schools. Vestibules are in place at the other schools. “While security cameras, locked exterior doors and detainment vestibules help to protect our children, we know that our biggest resource to keep our children safe is the people who care for them. Our staff and students at each school
routinely practice emergency preparedness drills as a proactive measure,” Dr. Edwards said. The Lawrence Township Police Department conducts an active shooter drill at each of the seven schools, she said. Police and administrators review what took place during the drills and work together to make improvements. “Police and emergency response officers also visit our schools and work with school personnel to teach children how to spot warning signs of dangerous situations,” she said. But most importantly,
Dr. Edwards said, the school district is promoting a culture where everyone has a responsibility to be vigilant and focused on safety. Dr. Edwards suggested that parents or guardians talk to their children about the importance of sharing with a responsible adult any information that could be perceived to be threatening to the community. “As a community, we must work together to protect our students,” she said. “We must be diligent about monitoring our children’s social media activity and looking for warning signs
that may suggest that our children or others may be in trouble or danger.” Dr. Edwards emphasized that parents need to know that if they are concerned about their child and believe the child needs additional support, help is available through the schools by contacting the guidance office at the child’s school. Wrapping up, Dr. Edwards advised parents to comfort their children in what has become a scary and unpredictable world by telling them they are loved and that the important people in their lives are doing all they can to keep them safe.
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6A The Princeton Packet
www.princetonpacket.com
Friday, February 23, 2018
CALENDAR Wed., Feb. 28
Retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal, former Commander of United States Forces Afghanistan and the International Security Assistance Forces Afghanistan, will discuss “The Purpose of the Spartan Army: Diplomacy and Military Force in Today’s World,” at 6 p.m. in McCosh Hall Room 10 on the Princeton University campus. A retired four-star general, McChrystal’s 34 years in the U.S. Army include stints commanding the Joint Special Operations Command (the nation’s premier military counter-terrorism force) and the 75th Ranger Regiment. He is credited with creating a revolution in warfare that fuses intelligence and operations. After retiring from the military in 2010, General McChrystal co-founded the McChrystal Group LLC and heads the Aspen Institute Franklin Project to encourage
and promote national service. He is a Senior Fellow at Yale’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, where he teaches a course on leadership. He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the Naval War College. This event, free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Walter E. Edge Lecture Series, with no ticket or reservation is required. For further information on this and other events in the series, please see lectures.princeton.edu.
Tues., March 6 Parents Workshop: “The Capacity to be Alone in the Era of Social Networks” will be held at 7 p.m. at The Jewish Center Princeton, 435 Nassau St. The event will be presented by Dr. Dana Fuchs, a clinical psychologist with a private practice in Princeton. She will discuss the importance of the capacity to be alone for emotional growth, the process of
developing this capacity and its potential compromises. She will also address what parents and educators can do to assist in the development of healthy aloneness. The event is free and open to the community. For more information, contact the TJC office (609) 921-0100 x 200 or info@thejewishcenter.org.
Sun., March 11 “The Launch of the Rosenstein Haggadah” will be presented at 5 p.m. at The Jewish Center Princeton, 435 Nassau St. The program will be edited by Shoshana Silberman, a teacher, principal, consultant and author of eight books. In 1987, upon encouragement of parents at TJC, she created a Haggadah with features that did not exist at the time. A Family Haggadah was published and became an “accidental” best seller, with more than a million copies sold. She never lost her fascination and
deep love for Haggadot and now has teamed up with renowned artist Morechai Rosenstein whose work she has long admired and collected. Rosenstein is an acclaimed artist who uses calligraphy and bold colors to illustrate key expressions and verses from Jewish tradition. He has traveled the world creating and displaying unique pieces of art that now beautify homes, synagogues and communal spaces. The event is free and open to the community. The event is free for The Jewish Center members and $10 for nonmembers. RSVP is required. For more information,contact the TJC office (609) 921-0100 x 200 or info@thejewishcenter.org.
Mon., March 12 Joint Princeton PFLAG and Transgender-Net meeting at Trinity Church from 7 to 9 p.m. at 33 S. Mercer St. PFLAG is a support group for
families and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals. Ramona Sharples, a 25year-old trans woman, UX designer, and comic artist based in San Francisco, will share her experience of coming out, transitioning on the job, and being an out, trans millennial in the workplace. Her presentation will be followed by confidential, non-judgmental peer-facilitated discussion. Newcomers welcome. Visit www.pflagprinceton.org for more information.
Mon., March 19 The 24th annual Albert Einstein Memorial Lecture, dedicated to scientific inquiry and growth, will start at 5:30 p.m. at Dodds Auditorium in Robertson Hall on the campus of Princeton University. The featured speaker is D. Carol Greider, 2007 Nobel Prize winner for physiology. The event is free and open to the public and is sponsored
by the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce with support from Princeton University’s Office of Community and Regional Affairs. Advance registration is required at www.princetonchamber.org.
Sun., March 25
The eighth annual Princeton 5K road race is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Presented by Princeton Pacers Running, the race benefits the Princeton High School Cross Country and Track & Field Programs. The USATF-sanctioned course begins and ends at Walnut Lane and Guyot Avenue, between Princeton High School and John Witherspoon Middle School. Entry fee is $30; $25 for Princeton High School athletes. Race T-shirts are guaranteed for first 350 registrants. For online registration and information visit www.princeton5k.com.
Friday, February 23, 2018
www.princetonpacket.com
The Princeton Packet 7A
PACKET BRIEFS Princeton library receives Dream literacy grant
Princeton Public Library has been selected as one of 20 public libraries nationwide to receive a $10,000 American Dream Literacy Initiative grant from the American Library Association (ALA) and Dollar General Literacy Foundation. The library will use the funds for “Learn English at the Library,” an initiative featuring new and expanded programming, collections and services to help adults develop English language literacy skills. The new and expanded services will help build community connections and encourage contribution to local civic discourse and engagement. Additionally, they will help the library fulfill its mission to bridge cultural divides and offer opportunities for everyone. Princeton Public Library was selected for the grant through a competitive, peer-reviewed application process. Eighty-five public libraries applied for the 20 available grants. The American Dream Literacy Initiative, a grant offering of the American Library Association, is made possible by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.
NMG plans second annual Health and Wellness Expo
Newspaper Media Group will host its second annual Health and Wellness Expo on Sunday, Feb. 25, from noon to 3 p.m. at MarketFair, located at 3535 Route 1 in Princeton. The event will provide the community with information, resources and interactive activities for people of all ages. The event is free to attend, but registration is requested. For more information and to reserve your spot, visit https://nmg.ticketleap.com/wellness2. For more information about participating in this event, contact Michele Nesbihal at mnesbihal@centraljersey.com.
La Convivencia to present social justice conference
La Convivencia will have its first social justice and interfaith leadership conference from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 11, at Princeton University’s Carl Fields Center, 58 Prospect Ave. in Princeton. This half-day conference will feature speakers, leadership workshops, youth workshops, and Latin, Spanish and Sephardic music by Zorzal Music Ensemble. Keynote speakers include Dr. Ruha Benjamin of Princeton University and Dr. Patricia Fernandez-Kelly of Princeton University and Chair of LALDEF Latin American legal defense education fund. Dr. Benjamin is an associate professor of African American Studies at Princeton University. Her work investigates the social dimensions of science, technology, race, and
medicine, with a focus on the tension between innovation, inequity, and social justice. Dr. Fernandez-Kelly is a senior lecturer in the Department of Sociology at Princeton University and as a research associate in the Office of Population Research. Her field of interest is international development with an emphasis on immigration, race, ethnicity, and gender. Leadership workshops will be presented by Dr. Colleen Sears (TCNJ); Rev. Sara Lilja (Director of LEAMNJ); Chief Robert Garofalo (WW Police Dept): Chief Nicholas K. Sutter (Princeton Police Department); Rabbi Eric B. Wisnia (Beth Chaim); Muhammad Mendes (Muslim Center of Greater Princeton); Rev. Peter Froehlke (Prince of Peace Lutheran Church); Tahirih Smith (Baha’i Community Activist); Sue Roy Esq.; Fatima Mughal (Community Activist); Robt-Seda Schreiber (Social Justice Activist); Zain & Bilal Sultan (Co-founders of La Convivencia and Youth Workshop Leaders) All are welcomed to come and explore our workshops to develop leadership and advocacy skills as well as important knowledge and understanding of critical social justice. Spaces are limited. Conference sponsors include: NIOT Princeton, GLSEN Central New Jersey; Kidsbridge Tolerance Center; Windsor Hightstown Area Ministerium, Muslim Center of Greater Princeton, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Islamic Society of Central Jersey, and the Carl A. Fields Center for Equality & Cultural Understanding. La Convivencia is a New Jersey-based non-profit organization whose mission is to honor and celebrate the differences and shared values of a pluralistic community based on the principals of acceptance, trust and mutual respect. By uniting a diverse citizenry through community service and civic engagement, we seek to create a more inclusive and peaceful society. For more information visit www.laconvivencia.org or email laconvivencia.peace@gmail.com.
Mercer Green Fest set at Rider University More than 75 ecofriendly businesses, organizations, and schools will be offering information and incentives to help you go green and save money at the Mercer Green Fest (formerly known as the Living Local Expo) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday March 17, in the Rider University Student Recreation Center, which is on the main campus, 2083 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, NJ. Mercer Green Fest, which promotes green living for Mercer County families, is presented by Mercer County Sustainability Coalition. All Mercer county residents are invited to join in on having fun going green. Bring the whole family and invite your neighbors. Wear green to the Mercer Green Fest on St. Patrick’s Day. The fair is free and open to the public, rain or shine. Visitors can learn about a wide variety of sustainability issues and exciting community projects such as: energy
efficiency, electric car display, health, exercise, and wellness, walking and bike trails, food waste recycling programs and science fair and robotics projects from area schools and groups. An indoor farmers market will feature a variety of locally produced fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and honey as well as flowers, plants, herbs, and artisan food products. A family friendly lunch celebrating locally grown and seasonal ingredients from Terhune Orchards will be available for purchase all day. There’s plenty for the kids to do too. This year’s event will feature the Grammy Award nominated Miss Amy’s Band. Eyes of the Wild will be presenting a show on wildlife. Lyle Rowling, owner of Advanced Solar, AKA Solar Man will show kids how solar energy is made with a solar panel. Artists from Artworks Trenton will display works that are upcycled from trash. Demonstrations throughout the day will show visitors how to make their own upcycled art. The Mercer Green Fest is presented by the Mercer County Sustainability Coalition which is comprised of East Windsor Clean Communities Advisory Committee and Environmental Commission, Ewing Green Team and Environmental Commission, Hamilton Township Green Team and Environmental Commission, Hightstown Borough Environmental Commission, Hopewell Valley Green Team, Lawrence Township Environmental Resources & Sustainability Green Advisory Committee (ERSGAC), Mercer County Office of Economic Development and Sustainability, Robbinsville Township Green Advisory Committee, Sustainable Lawrence, Sustainable Princeton, Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, City of Trenton Green Team, and the West Windsor Township Environmental Commission. Help the fight against hunger. Bring a non-perishable food item to donate to Homefront and receive a reusable tote bag. For more information on the Mercer Green Fest visit www.mercergreenfest.org.
Home and More Show planned by NMG
Newspaper Media Group will host its second annual Home and More Show on Sunday, March 18, from noon to 3 p.m. at MarketFair, at 3535 Route 1 in Princeton. The event will welcome the community to show new ideas to beautify their home, both through home improvements and interior design. The event will provide information and resources for homeowners. Knowledgeable experts from all areas of home improvement, home furnishings and home design will be on hand to share their specialties. The event is free to attend, but registration is requested. For more information and to reserve your spot, visit https://nmg.ticketleap.com/homeandmore. For more information, contact Michele Nesbihal at mnesbihal@centraljersey.com.
8A The Princeton Packet
www.princetonpacket.com
Friday, February 23, 2018
MERCER COUNTY NOTES Document shredding event Saturday
The Mercer County Improvement Authority will host a document shredding event for County residents on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Parking Lot 4 at 651 South Broad St., across from the County Administration Building in Trenton. Electronics recycling will not take place at this event, which will be held rain or shine. While no registration is necessary, please note that the event is open to Mercer County residents only, and attendees will need to show proof of residency, such as a driver’s license. Up to eight boxes or bags of paper may be discarded. No household chemicals, no commercial businesses. The MCIA’s next household hazardous waste collection and electronics recycling will take place Saturday, April 7, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Dempster Fire Training School, 350 Lawrence Station Road, Lawrence. For more information, individuals should call (609) 2788086 or visit www.mcianj.org.
County seeks locations of potholes
Mercer County takes pothole repairs seriously. While crews regularly patrol our roadways, they simply cannot locate every pothole. That’s why
we are asking for your help. If you see a pothole on a Mercer County roadway, report its location to the county dispatcher by calling 609-530-7510, providing specific information about the location of the pothole including helpful landmarks, travel lane direction, adjacent addresses and any information that could assist the county in locating and repairing the pothole. If you are not certain the road in question is maintained by the Roads Unit, refer to our County Routes and Roadways webpage for listings by municipality: http://www.mercerc o u n t y . o r g / departments/transportationand-infrastructure/highway- division/county-routes-androadways. If the roadway is not under county jurisdiction, the county will forward the information to the proper authority for their action.
Parks now accepting picnic reservations The Mercer County Park Commission is now accepting reservations for the five county-owned picnic areas for the 2018 season. These include the West and East Picnic Areas in Mercer County Park, Rosedale Picnic Area in Mercer Meadows, Princeton Country Club Picnic Area in West Windsor, and Valley Road Picnic Area in Hopewell Township. For a link to the online Community Pass reservation
system, visit the Park Commission website at http://mercercountyparks.org/facilities/picni c-areas. Interested parties should have either a MasterCard or Visa card ready to make a reservation. Reservations will be made automatically on a first-come, first-served basis. For those residents without an Internet connection, reservations also can be made over the phone or in-person at the Recreation Center at 1638 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, NJ 08550. For more information, call the Recreation and Events Center at (609) 443-8560 or visit www.mercercountyparks.org.
RSVP to ‘Women of Achievement’ dinner The Mercer County Commission on the Status of Women will honor six outstanding women this year at its annual awards dinner Tuesday, March 27, at Mercer Oaks Clubhouse in West Windsor. The cocktail reception starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are $45 per person, and advance reservations are required by March 12. Since this event typically sells out, tickets will not be available at the door. Honorees are women who live in Mercer County. This year’s recipients are: Women of Achievement - Regina Arcuri, Doreen Finley, Heidi Kahme and Martha McDougald; Young Women of Achievement - Kate Liu, a junior at The Lawrenceville
School and Elizabeth Araba Aikins, a senior at Robbinsville High School. The Woman of Achievement Award recognizes Mercer County residents who volunteer their time to make the county a better place to live, raise a family, and work. The Young Woman of Achievement Award honors high school students for their outstanding volunteer work within the county. Registration and payment for this reception honoring these Mercer County residents are due March 12.
Wildlife center seeks volunteers The Mercer County Wildlife Center, which accepted and treated more than 2,400 birds, mammals and reptiles in 2017, will be holding orientations for new volunteers at the facility in Hopewell Township. New animals are constantly arriving. Volunteer orientation sessions for 2018 are scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 17, and 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, March 25, at the Wildlife Center. Those who are interested are required to attend only one of the two sessions for this unique opportunity. Volunteers must be able to commit to one four-hour shift per week, from April through September. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and have a current tetanus vaccine, and are required to attend one orientation session. No other sessions will be offered this year. Volunteer duties are varied and include enclosure cleaning, diet preparation, laundry and many other behind-the-scenes opportunities. The Mercer County Wildlife Center is owned by the County of Mercer and operated by the Mercer County Park Commission. The center is located on Route 29 in Hopewell Township, approximately 12 miles north of Trenton. To register for either orientation session, or for more information, contact Volunteer Coordinator Jane Rakos-Yates at jrakosyates@mercercounty.org or call 609- 3030552, ext. 103. For more information about the Mercer County Wildlife Center or other facilities within the Mercer County Park Commission,
visit www.mercercountyparks.org.
Veteran ID cards available U.S. Military veterans residing in Mercer County should now obtain their county photo identification card that also designates their status as a veteran. The low cost identification card is available to all Mercer County veterans in acknowledgement for their service rendered to the United States of America. Outside of this weeklong period, veterans would pay a special reduced fee of $10, half the normal price for an ID card, which makes now the perfect time for veterans to pick up one for free as Veterans Day approaches. There are several benefits for the ID cards which have an increased expiration period of 10 years and include the book and page that indicate where a veteran’s honorable discharge is recorded in the County Clerk’s Office. Also, the ID cards that indicate a veteran’s status have additional benefits as many local retailers now offer discounts to veterans. A booklet of participating vendors and retailers in Mercer can be obtained by anyone who visits to receive their Vet ID card. The requirements for a Mercer County ID card are: must be a Mercer County resident for at least six months; must produce the following: A valid birth certificate with a raised seal, a United State’s passport, or a naturalization certificate, a valid NJ motor vehicle license or voter registration card or, lease agreement. To have their U.S. military veteran status designated on the ID card, veterans must also produce (or have registered) their DD-214 discharge papers with the County Clerk’s Office. Moreover, the recording of a veteran’s DD-214 form is free of charge to all honorably discharged Mercer County veterans. A Certificate of Release Discharge from Active Duty, or DD 214 form for short, is generally issued when a service member is honorably discharged from active military duty. The document contains information normally needed
to verify military service for benefits, retirement, employment, and membership in veterans’ organizations. Veterans can receive their photo ID card by visiting the Mercer County Clerk’s Office at 240 W State Street, 7th floor, in Trenton. The clerk’s office is open from Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For further information on how to obtain a Mercer County photo identification card, call 609-278-7108 or visit www.mercercounty.org.
Home energy assistance available
Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes is reminding residents that assistance is available for energy costs for those who qualify. The county’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), offered in coordination with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, allows individuals meeting various income qualifications to apply for bill payment assistance, energy crisis assistance and energy-related home repairs. LIHEAP is designed to help low-income families and individuals meet home heating and medically necessary cooling costs. This year, the application started Oct. 2, 2017, and runs through April 30, 2018. To be eligible for LIHEAP benefits, the applicant household must be responsible for home heating or cooling costs, either directly or included in the rent; and have gross income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. An eligibility chart can be found on the Mercer County website at https://goo.gl/Lj6jCY. Clients may register at the McDade Administration Building, Room 106, 640 South Broad St., Trenton, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesdays until 6:30 p.m. through April 30, 2018. Clients also may be served during specific hours at County Connection, Route 33 at Paxson Avenue, Hamilton. County Connection hours will be Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon by appointment only, and Saturday, Dec. 16, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome during the Saturday hours.
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Local News
Seminary files suit over choir college sale
Buyer Continued from Page 1 jisian will work on the effort to get accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Music, Rider said. Also, Larry Livingston, the chairman of the department of conducting at the University of Southern California’s music school, will also be involved to aid in making all “regulatory approvals” from the state and others are obtained, Rider said. Westminster had been an independent music school until Rider took over in 1992, but last year, the university announced plans to sell. The sale, however, is
The Princeton Packet 9A
www.princetonpacket.com
Friday, February 23, 2018
being challenged. A group of parents and others sued in federal court. “At this point, Rider has still not released the terms of any proposed transaction,” said Bruce I. Afran, attorney for some of the plaintiffs, on Wednesday. “Without knowing the actual terms of a proposal it is impossible to confirm it will even remotely comply with New Jersey non-profit law and the 1991 merger agreement between Rider University and Westminster Choir College. Nothing that Rider has presented will affect in the slightest the pending lawsuits that will continue in full force.” This week, the Princeton
Theological Seminary announced it had sued Rider in state court. The Seminary would be due a $2 million note plus interest if the campus is sold, based on an agreement it had reached with Westminster nearly 30 years ago. The original donor of the land for the Westminster campus had specified, in the 1930s, that the property would become the Seminary’s if the land ceased being used for a choir college. Subsequently, the Seminary and Westminster reached an agreement, in 1991, eliminating that requirement but agreeing that the Seminary would be paid if the land were sold.
By Philip Sean Curran Staff Writer
Princeton Theological Seminary has taken Rider University to court, in the latest twist on Rider’s expected sale of its Westminster Choir College. The Seminary on Tuesday sued Rider in state Superior Court, in Trenton. In a news release announcing the litigation, the Seminary referenced an agreement the donor of the property for the Wesminster campus had made more than 80 years ago as well as later agreements in the 1990s to enable the merger between Westminster and Rider. Sophia Strong Taylor, a wealthy widow and busi-
“It obviously creates a security issue,” Lt. Morgan said. “We’ve had conversations with the school bus company and the school as well.” He said the driver “never recalled seeing that individual board the bus.” For her part, Cranbury Chief School Administrator and Principal Susan L. Genco this week outlined steps that were taken in response to the incident. “Upon receiving notification, we immediately reviewed existing procedures with Dapper Transportation to understand the issue,” she
minster,” said Anne W. Stewart, director of external relations at the Seminary. “But essentially, we’re just asking the court to make a ruling about these agreements.” With Westminster up for sale, the Seminary claimed in a news release that Rider “has not honored the substance of various interinstitutional agreements, which were intended to protect Mrs. Taylor’s wishes.” “We have repeatedly attempted to engage Rider on these issues as news of the proposed sale emerged,” said Seminary President Craig Barnes, “but we have been kept at arm’s length.” He said the Seminary had “no choice” but to sue.
Security
Bus Continued from Page 1
nesswoman, gave Westminster the land in the 1930s, when Westminster was separate from Rider, contingent on the land being used for a choir college. If that ever changed, ownership of the property would pass on to the Seminary, the agreement stipulated. In 1991, however, the Seminary waived that right to get the land back, as part of an agreement with Westminster. In the event, the property was sold, the Seminary would have to be paid a $2 million note with interest. “In the 90s, the Seminary, at Westminster’s request really, entered into these legal agreements to help facilitate the merger between Rider and West-
said by email. “We collaborated with Princeton High School administration, and enhanced procedures have been implemented to require identification for all high school students boarding Princeton-bound Cranbury busses. Additional training for Dapper bus drivers was also provided. “ A Dapper representative did not return a phone call seeking comment this week. It was not immediately clear if the man’s taking the bus was a crime of any sort. Cranbury Police Chief Rickey A. Varga did not return a phone message this week. The former student had entered the school around
7:20 a.m. through an unlocked door and went inside for what police have estimated could have been up to 45 minutes. They have said he did not have contact with students and staff and subsequently left. When police later interviewed him, the man appeared disoriented and was unable to explain why he had gone into the school, Lt. Morgan said. No weapons were found with him, he said, and the former student was not charged. Princeton Superintendent of Schools Stephen C. Cochrane did not respond to a request for comment. The security breach at
PHS occurred one week before the massacre that left 17 dead at a high school in Parkland, Florida. The district last week announced enhanced security measures that include plans to hire part-time security personnel at the high school. “All Princeton schools continue to receive significant attention from multiple layers of the police department,” Lt. Morgan said in referencing the patrol and traffic bureaus and the Safe Neighborhood Unit. “A significant amount of attention has always been given to the schools, especially during arrival and dismissal times. And we will continue to do so.”
Continued from Page 1
ther as a nurse or a doctor. While Musa is young, so are many of the other PFARS members. The bulk of the squad is made up of younger people,
said squad President Mark Freda. Those between the ages of 18 to their mid-20s represent a significant number, including college students.
“You get people when they’re the most enthusiastic, when they have the most energy, when they’re willing to do the most good for the world,” he said.
Yet the experience also helps mold young people — fast. “So there’s a certain level of maturity that you gain really quickly in the
Cochrane differentiated between security “personnel,” who will be “warm” and “welcoming,” in his words, as compared to security “guards.” The step is but one of the things the district is doing to make PHS safer, after a security audit of the school earlier this year. Cochrane said “all doors” would be locked at student arrival times and during the day. Student access to the building will be limited to the front “Tower” entrance and the entrance in the back by the Performing Arts Center, with security monitoring both entry points. Parents and other
visitors will only be allowed to enter at the Tower entrance and have to sign in. “As a district, we are moving ahead with implementing the recommendations of the security audits we conducted at all of our buildings in January,” Cochrane said this week. “The physical safety of our students is paramount.” This latest school massacre again led to calls for tougher gun control laws and for better security at schools. For his part, state Sen. Kip Bateman (R-16) said this week that he is “very concerned about the “continued violence” in the nation’s schools.
EMT Continued from Page 1
since. Responding to a cri-
sis might be a career path,
as she said she is interested
in emergency medicine, ei-
Legal Notices
back of that ambulance.
And you either figure out that you got it or you don’t. And if you don’t, you go away,” said Freda.
Legal Notices Princeton Housing Authority
PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that bid proposals will be received from Bidders classified under N.J.S.A. 27:7-35.2 via the Internet until 10:00:59 A.M. on 3/01/18 downloaded, and publicly opened and read, in the CONFERENCE ROOM-A, 1st Floor F & A Building, New Jersey Department of Transportation, 1035 Parkway Avenue, Trenton, NJ 08625; for: US Route 1, Over US Route 1 Business NB, Deck Replacement, Contract No. 005144380, Township of Lawrence, Mercer County, Federal Project No: NHP-0001(319) UPC NO: 144380 DP No: 18101 Bidders are required to comply with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specifically, the contractor, sub recipient or subcontractor shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, or sex in the performance of this contract. The contractor shall carry out applicable requirements of 49 C.F.R. Part 26 in the award and administration of DOT-assisted contracts. Failure by the contractor to carry out these requirements is a material breach of this contract, which may result in the termination of this contract or such other remedy as the recipient deems appropriate. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:32-44, contractor must submit the Department of Treasury, Division of Revenue Business Registration of the contractor and any named subcontractors prior to contract award or authorization. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 34:11-56.51, contractors must be registered with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Wage and Hour Compliance at the time of bid. The Department, in accordance with Title VI Civil Rights Act of 1964, 78 Stat. 252 U.S.C., 49 C.F.R., Parts 21 and 23 issued pursuant to such Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 will afford minority business enterprises full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not discriminate against any bidder on the grounds of race, color, sex, national origin, or handicap in the project award. Plans, specifications, and bidding information for the proposed work are available at Bid Express website www.bidx.com. You must subscribe to use this service. To subscribe, follow the instructions on the web site. Fees apply to downloading documents and plans and bidding access. The fee schedule is available on the web site. All fees are directly payable to Bid Express. Plans, specifications, and bidding information may be inspected (BUT NOT OBTAINED) by contracting organizations at our various Design Field Offices at the following locations: 200 Stierli Court Mt. Arlington, NJ 07856 Phone: 973-601-6690
One Executive Campus Rt. 70 West Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 Phone: 856-486-6623
New Jersey Department of Transportation Division of Procurement Bureau of Construction Services 1035 Parkway Avenue PO Box 600 Trenton, NJ 08625
Legal Notice
The Princeton Housing Authority has prepared its five-year and annual plans in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and provisions of the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998.
The plans will be available to the public after February 20, 2018 and can be reviewed during normal business hours at the Princeton Housing Authority, 1 Redding Circle, Princeton, NJ 08540.
A public hearing will also be held on April 11, 2018 at 11:00 AM at 1 Redding Circle, Princeton, NJ 08540. PP, 1x, 2/23/18 Fee: $17.85 Affidavit: $15.00 THE PARKING AUTHORITY OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WEST WINDSOR MERCER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY Notice to Bidders 2018 LAWN AND LANDSCAPING MAINTENANCE SERVICES For the Princeton Junction Railroad Station
Notice is hereby given that sealed bids for the above project will be received by the West Windsor Parking Authority no later than 11:00 AM prevailing time on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at the Authority’s office in Suite 24 at 64 Princeton Hightstown Road, Princeton Junction, NJ 08550. No bids will be accepted after Thursday March 8, 2018 at 11 AM. Bids must be submitted on the prescribed form in a sealed envelope marked “2018 LAWN AND LANDSCAPE SERVICES”.
Bid documents will be available on or after Thursday, February 15, 2018 and may be examined at the address listed above, Monday through Friday except legal holidays, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm or electronic access can be requested by emailing name, address, contact information and project name to wwpa@actengineers.com. The work under this contract includes the furnishing of all labor, material and equipment necessary or required to complete all work set forth in the contract documents. Work includes lawn and landscape maintenance for the entire Princeton Junction Railroad Station complex, including all parking lots which are maintained by the West Windsor Parking Authority.
Bidders with questions regarding the Bidding Documents shall contact the Authority by e-mail to wwpa@actengineers.com by 12:00 Noon prevailing time on Thursday, March 1, 2018.
The acceptance of any bid by the Authority is contingent upon both a certification that adequate funds are available and approval by the Authority.
Bidders shall comply with the requirements of P.L. 1975, Chapter 127, N.J.S.A. 10:5-31, et seq. & N.J.A.C. 17:27-1.1, et seq. (Affirmative Action) and of P.L. 1963, c. 150 (Prevailing Wage); and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101, et seq.). Scot MacPherson Director of Operations West Windsor Parking Authority
HVN, PP, 2/9/18, 2/16/18, 2/23/18 Fee: $332.64
PP, 1x, 2/23/18 Fee: $43.05 Affidavit: $15.00
Obituaries
Obituaries
Julius Foster III
Julius Foster III was born December 14, 1920 in Princeton NJ and went to his heavenly father on February 17, 2018. He died of complications of dementia and several small strokes. He graduated from Princeton High School, NJ in 1938 and Princeton University in 1942, with a degree in Chemical Engineering. Julius was raised on 16 Hawthorne Street in Princeton.
During WWII Julius worked on the design, construction, and training of operators for a TNT plant in Williamsport, PA. He then worked on the design of a penicillin plant near Princeton, NJ. Julius’ contribution to his country really started when he supported the Manhattan Project in NY and Oak Ridge, Tennessee. In Tennessee he helped develop technologies for the gaseous diffusion process and was heavily involved in construction and operation of the K-25 Gaseous Diffusion Plant until he retired. After his retirement in 1984, with over 40 years of service, he returned to the K-25 site as a subcontractor and supported ongoing projects needing historical knowledge of the plant and its many years of operation. Julius was preceded in death by his mother Helen Foster, father Walter Brooks Foster, brother Walt Brooks Foster Jr., as well as his son Scott Foster. He is survived by Catherine his wife of 75 years, and his sister Janice Gibson. Friends and family may leave their condolences at www.highlandmemorialknoxville. com.
James Burr Coe, 82 Hillsborough, NJ – James Burr Coe 82, of Hillsborough, NJ died February 13, 2018 at RWJ Hospital in New Brunswick following complications from a stroke. Born on November 30, 1935 in Rochester, NY. He lived in Highland Park and Kendall Park before settling in Hillsborough for the past 51 years. He received his BS degree from SUNI Brockport and earned his Masters Degree in Education at Rutgers University. He was employed by Rutgers University and retired in 1993 as an Assistant to the Provost. He is survived by Margaret A. Coe of Linwood, NJ, and three children, his son James Jr. and former wife Kathleen of Fishers, IN, grandchildren Caitlin and Matthew, his daughter Julie and husband Paul Brown of Glen Ridge, NJ, grandchildren, Sean, Owen and Maggie, and his son Jeffrey and wife Lisa of Princeton, NJ, grandchildren Andrew and Timmy. During his retirement he had a love for painting, gardening, spending time in Ocean City, NJ, playing golf with his buddies, and attending his grandchildren’s sporting events. He will be remembered by many as “Pop Pops”, always with a smile, a great listener, a big heart and the man who never missed a beat. We are all blessed to have had him in our lives and he will be missed. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Cancer Institute of NJ at RWJ New Brunswick at Rutgers University. A celebration of life will be held on March 4, 2018 at The Landing in Hillsborough, NJ between 12-4 PM.
SPORTS 10A
The Princeton Packet
WHAT’S UP
RESULTS PDS hockey The Princeton Day School boys’ ice hockey team lost to Wyoming Seminary, 1-0, in the championship game of the Mid-Atlantic Hockey League tournament on Wednesday at Lisa McGraw Rink. Boris Gorelenkov made 11 saves in goal for PDS, which outshot Wyoming Seminary, 29-12, in the loss. The Panthers, who finished the season with a 16-81 record, had advanced to the final with a 4-2 victory over La Salle in the semifinals on Feb. 14. Luke Antonacci scored a pair of goals in the semifinal win.
SCT hoops The third-seeded Montgomery High boys’ basketball team advanced to the semifinals of the Somerset County Tournament with a 61-34 victory over 11th-seeded Hillsborough on Tuesday in the quarterfinals. Kevin Fromelt scored 19 points and Riley Greene added 12 for the Cougars, who improved to 159 with the triumph. Montgomery was scheduled to play at second-seeded Rutgers Prep in the semifinals on Thursday. The seventh-seeded Montgomery girls were eliminated from the SCT with a 70-29 loss to second-seeded Franklin on Tuesday. Kristen Lucht scored nine points in the loss for the Cougars. Montgomery had advanced to the quarterfinals with a 53-52 victory over 10th-seeded Ridge. Lucht scored 16 points in the triumph.
Friday, February 23, 2018
Schenk wins Group IV pole vault By Bob Nuse Sports Editor
Simon Schenk came to the United States from Switzerland a year ago hoping to continue to develop his prowess as a pole vaulter. Now in his second year with the Princeton High track and field team, Schenk, a sophomore, has become one of the premier pole vaulters in New Jersey. He earned that elite status when he cleared 14-feet to win the Group IV title and help the Little Tigers to a fifth-place finish as a team last weekend when the state group championships were contested at the Bennett Center in Toms River. East Orange Campus won the Group IV championship. “I had a real breakthrough last year in May when I broke the school record,” said Schenk, who has since set a new school record at 15-feet, which he has done twice this season. “During the summer and in the fall I was able to gain strength and I worked a lot on technique with my coach. “I joined some clinics during the fall. The coach there knows my school coach and they talk to each other and he had me doing what I was supposed to do. The fall and summer training is for im-
proving the basics and speed and strength. I was mostly with the sprinters in the fall and summer.” Will Hare finished third in the 1,600 meters and Paul Brennan placed 10th in the shot put. Both Hare and Brennan advanced to this weekend’s Meet of Champions, which will be held at the Bennett Center. Brennan qualified as a wild card, as did the Princeton girls 4x400 relay team. The Little Tigers’ Matt Perello will run in the 200-meter showcase, which is an exhibition race. “Last winter I was able to jump a PR at sectionals with 13-feet and after that at Groups I did 13-feet again but was not able to advance,” Schenk said. “The competition was very good. In the spring at sectionals at Hillsborough I was able to jump 14-7 and that was a new school record and with that I able to advance to Groups and then the Meet of Champions.” This winter Schenk has vaulted even higher, including reaching 15-feet at Easterns on Tuesday to finish in third place. He’s continued to make steady progress in the event and still has two years of high school competition to continue to improve. “I started with track in general in Switzerland where I was born,” Schenk said. “I lived there 16
years and around sixth grade I just tried it out once and really liked it. I did other events like throwing and jumping. Then when I moved here in the summer of 2016 just continued with the pole vault. “My teammates are awesome. They try to push me as hard as possible and to higher heights. It has been truly amazing.” Schenk took a big step forward last year and this year his improvement has continued. He’s reached 15-feet and that improvement has come during a winter season where his practice options are often limited. “During the winter we are able to train at Jadwin Gym at Princeton University twice a week and those are my jumping days,” he said. “My base training with speed and strength I still do at school. So if it snows or is raining we’re inside in the hallways or at the gym. We try to get out as much as we can for longer practices.” And while many vaulters seem to be at their best during the outdoor season, Schenk has put together his best performances during the indoor season. “The biggest factor we have is that inside we don’t have problems with the weather,” he said. “There is no wind or rain, which helps a lot. But it is a different atmosphere with so many people together in one
place. It gets a little bit of a claustrophobic feeling. It really depends on the jumper. Some like being outside better because there is more freedom and space. Me, personally, I like inside better because there are no weather conditions to worry about.” Before the outdoor season gets underway, Schenk still has some indoor meets to focus on. He’s set for the Meet of Champions, which will be on Sunday for the boys. And one week after the MOC, he’ll compete in the New Balance Indoor Nationals at the Armory Track and Field Center in New York City. “I was able to qualify for Nationals, which are March 9-11,” Schenk said. “My practice will go through the middle of March and then I will start to prepare for spring track starting with the basics.” The Montgomery boys finished 17th in Group IV with six points, while the Cougar girls were ninth with 14 points. For the boys, Ryan Cashman was third in the 55-meter dash and will head to the Meet of Champions. On the girls’ side, Abrianna Barrett won the high jump with a 5-foot, 4inch effort. Peyton Schnackenberg was fourth in the shot put. All moved on to the MOC this weekend.
Easterns swimming The Stuart Country Day School swim team finished 19th and the Hun School girls were 23rd at the Eastern Interscholastic Swimming and Diving Championships, which were held last weekend at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa. William Penn Charter School won the girls’ title. Hun’s Abbie Danko won the B Final and was ninth overall in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:12.19. Danko was also 23rd in the backstroke. The Raiders’ Emily Ryan finished 19th in the breaststroke. For Stuart, Charlotte Driver finished 23rd in the 100 butterfly and 24th in the 500 freestyle, while Caroline Mullen was 22nd in the breaststroke. The Tartans finished 16th in the 200 medley relay and 18th in the 200 free relay.
UPCOMING State hoops The Montgomery High boys’ basketball team is the No. 5 seed for the Central Jersey, Group IV tournament and will open play at home against 12th-seeded Long Branch on Feb. 27. With a victory, the Cougars would face either fourth-seeded Sayreville or No. 13 Hillsborough in the second round. Colts Neck is the No. 1 seed. The Montgomery girls are the No. 2 seed in the Central Jersey, Group IV tournament and will open play at home on Feb. 27 against 15th-seeded Monroe. With a victory, the Cougars would be the host to either seventh-seeded Sayreville or 10th-seeded Trenton. Princeton is the No. 12 seed and will play at fifth-seeded South Brunswick on Feb. 27. East Brunswick is the No. 1 seed.
Photo by Vince Shea
The Hun School ice hockey team celebrates after capturing its fifth straight Mercer County Tournament title with a 9-4 victory over Princeton at Mercer County Park.
Hun wins fifth straight MCT hockey title By Bob Nuse Sports Editor
The Hun School ice hockey team is the king of the Mercer County Tournament once again. Hun skated to its fifth straight Mercer County Tournament title when it defeated Princeton High, 9-4, in the championship game on Feb. 16 at Mercer County Park. Earning five straight championship is not an easy chore. And what has made this run special for Hun coach Ian McNally is the way the roster has completely turned over during the five-year stretch. “Chris Brake is the third brother to play here,” McNally said after the Raiders earned the title. “He says I have been waiting seven years to play in this game. So those are pretty neat moments. We are on to the second generation of Hun hockey. It is neat to see guys that have seen it before and want it instead of us being new on the scene.” Hun had also knocked off Princeton in the 2017 MCT final, 4-3. The Raiders closed the season with four straight victories to finish with a 13-8-2 record. They had
played Princeton to a 3-3 tie when the teams met in early December, but this time Hun broke open a close game with the final three goals of the second period to turn a 4-3 lead into a 7-3 lead. “I think we had a little more poise,” McNally said. “In the first period everybody is excited. Their buddies are here yelling their name. Both sides were just going 100 miles an hour. In the second period, I think we were able to hang on to the puck a little bit longer to make smarter plays. It is entertaining when everyone is going that fast. We caught our breath a little bit and played a little smarter.” Princeton had jumped to a 2-1 lead on goals by Keith Goldberg and Ben Drezner sandwiched around a goal by the Raiders’ Kyle Mandleur. Hun eventually extended its lead to 6-2 with a strong second period. “It is obviously very neat,” McNally said. “The first two years I was coaching, we were in that other league and we couldn’t join. I had been there to watch the final games and I thought it would be really neat to be in this tournament. So when we were finally able to move out of that Inde-
pendence League, it freed up this week so we said let’s get into the Mercer County Tournament. Since then it has been a pretty wild run. We haven’t lost. It is really special.” Mandleur, a junior, finished with three goals, while freshman Matt Argentina added a pair. The Raiders also received single tallies from Brian Nelson, Joey Hoffman, James McCall and Nick Aubry. Mandleur finished the season with 45 goals. “Even when he misses the shots, they go in,” McNally said. “He is pretty dynamic. There are probably two games a year where he didn’t score multiple goals, let alone any goals. We haven’t had somebody like that come through. We have had some really good players, but not a guy that could score at will like that. And beyond that, this year he wears the (captain’s) C and it has transformed him. He led the day for us.” Princeton made a strong run to the championship game before falling short in its second straight trip to the final. “We had a good start,” Princeton coach Tim Chase said. “We kept it simple. We were dominating the play. We were all over
them. Then we started thinking we are going to start doing something different. We started trying to be fancy on the blue line and we started turning the puck over. Then they grab a lead and we try to do more fancy things and it wasn’t working.” Drezner finished with a pair of goals for the Little Tigers, while Goldberg and Aidan Trainor added the other goals. Princeton reached the final by winning backto-back one-goal games against Robbinsville and Notre Dame. “It was good,” Chase said of the Little Tigers’ run to the finals. “Our kids came through in some pressure situations. We put ourselves behind in games and against a team like Hun you can’t do that.” Princeton bounced back to win its opener in the Public B state tournament, topping Middletown North, 4-1. Colm Trainor scored a pair of goals, while Aidan Trainor and Drezner also scored. The Little Tigers, who are seeded 11th, will face either third-seeded Ridge or 14th-seeded Millburn in the quarterfinals at a date to be determined. For the MCT final, the night belonged to Hun for the fifth straight year.
Friday, February 23, 2018
www.princetonpacket.com
The Princeton Packet 11A
PDS senior fencers have strong finish
Wrestlers Bobchin, Perera win district championships
By Bob Nuse Sports Editor
By Bob Nuse Sports Editor
While they still have plenty of fencing left in their individual careers, Christopher Keil and Sarah Prilutsky were able to conclude their Princeton Day School careers in impressive style. The PDS seniors both came away with championships at the 2018 State Prep Fencing Championships, which were held on Feb. 14 at the Hun School. Keil, a senior, won the individual boys’ foil championship when he defeated David Prilutsky, Sarah’s brother, of Lawrenceville in the final. Sarah Prilutsky was second individually in the girls’ foil and helped her squad to a first-place finish in the team event. “I did win it last year, but this year there were a couple of freshmen that came in that I knew from the national circuit that were tough competition,” Keil said. “I knew it was a possibility that I could win, but not a given. It was a great way to end my senior year. And it was great for the team that we did so well. It’s funny that Sarah and I have been leading our respective weapons and did well at this tournament.” Prilutsky led the girls’ foil to a first-place finish, combining with juniors Nina Kanamaluru and Kaveena Patel to capture the squad title. Hannah Rafferty, a senior, finished third in the epee. On the boys’ side, Keil captured the foil and junior Jacob Tharayil was third in sabre. The epee squad of seniors Luke Zaininger, Rohana Narayanan and Charlie McClatchey finished second. “We were glad to win back-to-back foil champi-
Alec Bobchin is starting to make a habit of winning district wrestling championships. For Emmanual Perera, the experience was a new one. Perera won his first district title when he posted a 2-1 decision over Jaleel Gopaul of Keyport to capture the 126-pound District 18 championship at Red Bank. Perera, a senior, was one of five Montgomery High wrestlers to finish in the top three at the district and advance to the Region 5 tournament that began on Wednesday at Hunterdon Central in Flemington. Princeton High’s Bobchin made it two straight district titles when he pinned Aidan Dillon of Pingry in the 138-pound final at District 19 that was wrestled at Delaware Valley in Alexandria. The eight region tournaments in New Jersey opened on Wednesday and will continue today and then conclude tomorrow. The top four finishers in each weight division from each region advance to the state tournament that will be wrestled March 3 through March 5 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Perera entered the District 18 tournament as the No. 1 seed in his weight class but knew nothing was going to come easy. “Last year I was third at districts and lost in the first round of regions,” said Perera, who improved to 28-4 on the season. “That helped give me the boost that if I worked hard I could jump to that next level.
Courtesy photo
Princeton Day School foil fencers (left to right) Nina Kanamaluru, Sarah Prilutsky and Kaveena Patel finished first in the squad competition at the State Prep Fencing Championships, which were held at the Hun School. onships,” Prilutsky said. “So even though I didn’t win individually, I was still pretty happy with how the team did.” Prilutsky, who will fencing at NYU next year, has been fencing internationally for years. Last weekend she participated in the Junior Olympics, where she finished 19th in a field of over 250 fencers. “I started when I was in third grade,” she said. “My dad used to fence and that was how I got in. I also fence outside of school. It is an individual sport outside of school. So it is nice to have the team environment and people supporting you.” Keil and Prilutsky came to PDS at the same time and will leave as champions. They will both continue to fence outside of school, but have enjoyed their time with the Panthers. While Prilutsky is set to fence at NYU next year, Keil is still narrowing his college choices. Wherever
he goes to school, he’ll continue to keep fencing. The PDS boys finished third overall as a team at the tournament, while the Panther girls placed fifth. The boys’ sabre squad finished third and the foil squad was fourth. For the girls, the epee squad finished fourth. Hun also had a solid day at the prep tournament. The boys finished fifth overall as a team and the girls ended in sixth. On the boys’ side, Cameron Selitto finished second and Richard Chen was sixth in epee. Rocco Mathews was fourth in foil, Danny Hu was sixth in sabre. The sabre squad was fourth,the foil squad was fifth, and the epee squad was fourth. For the Hun girls, Ximena Iriarte Estrada was third in foil. The sabre squad was fourth, the foil squad was fourth, and the epee squad was seventh. Stuart Country Day School’s Emily Yang finished sixth in epee.
I was the No. 1 seed and the No. 2 seed was good. I wrestled some very good competition and I knew it would be tough. I’m pretty happy with how I have been doing. At the end of the day the ultimate goal is to go to Atlantic City (for the state finals).” After qualifying for the Region 5 tournament last year, Perera was not content to just get that far this year, so he put in the added time needed to take that next step. “I went to my wrestling club a lot,” said Perera, who attends Elite Wrestling in Jackson. “I was there every week working hard and doing a lot of live wrestling.” In addition to the victory from Perera, Montgomery had four other wrestlers place in the top three to advance to the region tournament. Max Greenberg was second at 113 pounds, Lisanti was second at 132 pounds, Jacob McCarthy was second at 145 pounds, and Joshua Perera was third at 170 pounds.” “It was great to get five through,” Perera said. “As a team we are not big on numbers. But we’re close as a team and we care about each other. We only wrestled eight or nine kids. So to advance five, I thought we did a good job.” Now Perera will try to take that next step and advance beyond the Region 5 tournament. “I think last year I was just happy to make it out of districts,” he said. “This year I expect to get out and go to Atlantic City and prove something there.” Perera had a bye in the opening round of the Region 5 tournament and is the No. 4 seed. He will get a rematch
in the quarterfinals against Gopaul, the No. 5 seed, who advanced on Wednesday. The other Montgomery wrestlers were all in action on Wednesday. Greenberg lost in the opening round at 113, Lisanti ws knocked out at 126, McCarthy lost at 145, and Joshua Perera was eliminated at 170. Princeton’s Bobchin won the 138-pound District 19 championship when he scored a fall in 2:47 over Pingry’s Dillon. Bobchin has been facing tough competition all season and that has helped prepare him for what he and Johnson hope is a strong run to Atlantic City. “That is exactly what he is trying to do,” Johnson said. “He has had some real good matches. Some of his losses were up at 145. He lost to (Tyler) Williams from Robbinsville in overtime when he bumped up. He’s lost to a returning state champ and lost to a kid who is No. 6 in the state. And he lost to another state wrestleback guy like he is. So they are all good matches. Those matches against other state placer guys all 3-1 or 5-3. So he is right there.” Bobchin is the top seed at 138 in Region 5 and will open today against eighthseeded Shane Demeter of Manville. Bobchin was the only Princeton wrestler to finish in the top three at the district tournament. Rayshawn Kelly, the Little Tigers’ heavyweight, reached the semifinals and then lost in the third-place match. Bobchin, who is 29-4, hopes to make the trip to Atlantic City and is riding high after winning Mercer County and District 19 titles.
12A The Princeton Packet
www.princetonpacket.com
Friday, February 23, 2018