Volume LXXI, Number 31
Lawrenceville Area Life Pages 19-23 Princeton Bake Off . . . . 5 Sea Relay Runs Onward . . . . . . . . . . . 9 The Voices of WitherspoonJackson . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Art That Follows You Home . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Dohm Alley Art Exhibit . . . . . . . . . 15 Former PU Men’s Hockey Goalie Phinney Headed to Manitoba of AHL . . . . 27 Lewis Leads Packer Hall All-Stars to Title Run in Summer Hoops . . . . . 31
Principal Luis Ramirez Joins Littlebrook School . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Cinema . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Classified Ads . . . . . . . . 34 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Music/Theater . . . . . . . . 17 New To Us . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . 34 Religion. . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Topics of the Town . . . . . .5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . . .6
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Mayor Expresses Position On School Board Bid For Westminster Campus Reacting to a recent newspaper story in which Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert is quoted as possibly supporting the Princeton Public Schools’ bid to obtain the campus of Westminster Choir College, members of the Westminster community took to social media last week to express their dismay. But Ms. Lempert said this week that her comments did not mean she is against keeping Westminster in Princeton. That is the outcome that members of The Coalition to Save Westminster Choir College in Princeton are hoping for, as Rider University, which has owned Westminster for 25 years, seeks a buyer for the Princeton choral academy and its 20-plus-acre campus. The school district is among the unnamed entities that have submitted offers. “She’s obviously anti-arts,” commented one member of the Coalition on its Facebook page. “Obviously she has no concept of what the Choir College stands for,” reads another. “Gee, thanks for your support, Princeton. I guess the town doesn’t care about education beyond high school. And “I wonder if the mayor is aware how invaluable the Conservatory is for the community,” wrote one member, referring to Westminster Conservatory, the community music school that shares space with the college on its Princeton campus. In an email on Monday, Ms. Lempert wrote, “As you know, Rider University is currently in the process of evaluating bids for Westminster College and its campus — either together or separately. Rider is a private institution and the municipality is not in a position to prevent this process from unfolding. However, we are watching it closely. Westminster College and the Conservatory are treasured community assets, and I continue to believe the best outcome for the Princeton community would be for the choir college and conservatory to stay at their current location. My hope is that Rider can find another institution that is willing to operate the college and conservatory essentially as they are now.” “At the same time,” she continued, “the school district is facing rising enrollment, and they are intensely exploring all options for accommodating this growth. Given Rider has decided to sell the property and has opened the process to a range Continued on Page 8
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Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Six Candidates Will Run for School Board Six candidates have filed to run for three available seats on the Princeton Public School Board in the November election, according to Mercer County Election Supervisor Bonnie Epps at Monday’s filing deadline. Beth Behrend, Jenny Ludmer, Julie Ramirez, Jessica Deutsch, Michele TuckPonder, and James K. Fields will be vying for the three-year, unpaid positions. There are 10 regular Board members, plus two student representatives. No incumbents will be seeking reelection, as current Board members Fern Spruill, Justin Doran, and Connie Witter will all be stepping down in January at the termination of their three-year terms.
Critical issues on the horizon for the school district include plans for a facilities bond referendum in March to address over-crowding, the possible acquisition of the Westminster Choir College campus, legal battles and ongoing conflict surrounding expansion of the Princeton Charter School, and widespread community concerns over academic stress, bias, and inclusiveness. Beth Behrend, a corporate lawyer, school volunteer and leader, Riverside Drive resident, and parent of three children who have been through Princeton Public Schools, served as PTO president and vice president of Gardens at Riverside, has been on the PTO council and has served on the boards of the Stony
YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE: Town Topics photographer Charles R. Plohn captured this moment as his wife, Weronika, and son, Charles “Boomer” Plohn, enjoyed shopping for sunflowers on Saturday at the Trenton Farmers Market in Lawrence Township. Shoppers identify their favorite Jersey summer produce in this week’s Town Talk on page 6. (Photo by Charles R. Plohn)
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Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton, the NJ League of Conservation Voters, and the Princeton School Garden Cooperative. Ms. Behrend’s particular priorities include supporting recent initiatives to promote wellness, balance, and racial literacy; tackling challenges by following leaders like the Bell Committee, the wellness and athletics working groups, the special Education PTO, and the active “green teams” across the District; developing a 20-year vision for the District, while optimizing the use of existing facilities and improving energy efficiencies and Continued on Page 12
Shields Leaving McCarter: Theatre Searches for New Managing Director
McCarter Theatre is conducting a national search for a new managing director in the wake of Timothy Shields’ announcement last week that he will be leaving in October to become managing director of The Old Globe theater in San Diego. McCarter Trustee and Human Resources Committee Head Chad Klaus, vice president of University services at Princeton University, will lead the search committee, which will work with Artistic Director Emily Mann, Special Programming Director Bill Lockwood, and other staff members in seeking a new managing director. “Thanks to the efforts of McCarter’s current leadership,” said Tom Miller, director of public relations, “we’re in a very strong position both institutionally and financially and are looking forward to attracting a great group of candidates.” Mr. Klaus noted that Management Consultants for the Arts (MCA) will be assisting in the search “to build upon the accomplishments of Tim Shields and work with the incredibly talented staff of McCarter Theatre.” He added, “We are optimistic that McCarter’s reputation for excellence as both a producing and presenting theater will be an attractive draw for our next managing director.” Mr. Shields, managing director at McCarter since 2009, previously served from 1983 to 1992 as McCarter’s business manager and general manager. His past experience also includes managing director at Milwaukee Repertory Theater Continued on Page 8