Volume LXIX, Number 21
All In a Day’s Work: Originally from Ecuador, Elisa Neira Has Been Putting Her Bilingual Skills to Good Use as Executive Director of Princeton’s Office of Human Services . . . . . 11 Don Draper Communes With his Muse In Finale of AMC’s Landmark Series Mad Men . . . . . . . . . 17 Bringing Work Ethic, Toughness on a Daily Basis, Richardson Leading PU Open Rowing into NCAAs . . . . . . . . 24 Buoyed by Meekins’ Doubles Play, Leadership, PDS Boys’ Tennis Wins 3rd Straight Prep B Crown . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Chris Donovan Helps Hun Boys’ Lax Win First Prep A Title Since 1998 . . . 27 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 34 Cinema . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Classified Ads. . . . . . . 36 Music/Theater . . . . . . 18 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 33 Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 35 Religion . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . . 6
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Politicians Turn Out To Protest Changes Proposed by NJ Transit Discontinuing the 655 bus line that ferries passengers between Princeton and the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro on Route 1 would be a disservice to local residents, Mayor Liz Lempert, other politicians, and local residents told NJ Transit officials at a public hearing last week. Thursday was the last day the public could comment on service cuts and fare hikes that NJ Transit has proposed to make up for a $60 million funding shortfall. At the Trenton Transit Center, a long line of people voiced opposition to both aspects of the plan. “Residents of Princeton who do not own a car currently rely on public transportation,” Ms. Lempert said during her turn at the microphone. Getting rid of the 655 bus “will disproportionately hurt our low income residents.” In his opening statement, Alan Maiman, NJ Transit’s deputy general manager of bus service planning, said there are alternative routes that residents could use, involving a connection at Quakerbridge Mall. But more than one speaker said that alternative would involve paying more money and extending the trip from 20 to 90 minutes. Officials urged NJ Transit to give the line, which has been in place since the hospital moved from the Witherspoon/ Jackson neighborhood to Route 1, a chance to increase ridership. Lester Varga, planning director of Plainsboro Township, said more development planned for the area around the hospital will mean more riders when those projects — an assisted living facility and child development center — are completed. Officials at the hospital have said they will keep subsidizing the service if NJ Transit keeps it going. And at its most recent meeting, Princeton Council passed a resolution to keep a form of transportation between the town and the hospital. “The 655 is more than a bus route,” commented Alan Hyndman, communications coordinator at the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition. “It’s a vital link between people in Princeton and their closest hospital. And for those who depend on biking and walking, it’s their only option.” NJ Transit has said that the fare hikes and service cuts, if approved, would go into effect October 1. The agency has mentioned more than $42 million in Continued on Page 13
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Wednesday, May 27, 2015
John, Alicia Nash Remembered After Fatal Crash
The tragic taxi accident that claimed the lives of John Forbes Nash and Alicia Nash late last Saturday afternoon has inspired shock and sadness in the Princeton community and across the world. The famed mathematician, 86, and his wife, 82. a scholar in her own right, were traveling on the New Jersey Turnpike to their Princeton Junction home when the car crashed about 4:30 p.m. and ejected them from the vehicle. The taxi lost control near Interchange 8A when trying to pass another car, and crashed into the guardrail, according to New Jersey State Police. The driver was flown to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The Nashes, neither of whom were said to be wearing seatbelts, were pronounced dead at the scene. Mr. Nash’s connection to Princeton University goes back to 1950, when he earned his doctorate in mathematics. He joined the University’s mathematics department as a senior research mathematician in 1995, a year after he won the Nobel Prize for economics for his work in game theory. In between, he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, which derailed his career but dissipated as he grew older.
Mr. Nash’s life was the subject of Sylvia Nasar’s book A Beautiful Mind, which was turned into an Oscar-winning film in 2002. The mathematician was portrayed by actor Russell Crowe, who commented on Twitter that he was stunned by the accident and called the couple “An amazing partnership. Beautiful minds, beautiful hearts.” University President Christopher Eisgruber commented on Sunday, “John’s remarkable achievements inspired gen-
erations of mathematicians, economists, and scientists who were influenced by his brilliant, groundbreaking work in game theory, and the story of his life with Alicia moved millions of readers and moviegoers who marveled at their courage in the face of daunting challenges.” University economics professor Dilip J. Abreu called Mr. Nash’s work in game theory “beautiful and profound. His contributions are arguably the greatest in the Continued on Page 7
No Teacher Contract as District Approves Terms With Administrators, Support Staff The Princeton Public School’s Board of Education approved new three-year contracts with two of the district’s three employee associations at a special meeting in the Valley Road administration building May 20. Contracts were made with the Princeton Regional Support Staff Association (PRESSA), which represents instructional aides, custodians, bookkeepers, and secretaries, and with the Princeton Administrators’ Association (PAA) which represents principals, assistant principals, and supervisors. Both contracts will replace
those due to expire June 30. Superintendent Steve Cochrane described the negotiations with PRESSA as “a model of positive and productive labor relations.” Of those with PAA, he said he appreciated the “leadership’s positive, professional, and efficient approach.” Conspicuously absent from successful completion, is a contract with teachers’ union Princeton Regional Education Association (PREA), which has been in lengthy and contentious negotiation since it expired July 1 last year. Continued on Page 8
SPIRITED SATURDAY: The Spirit of Princeton led and sponsored the annual Memorial Day Parade Saturday, with marchers of all sorts taking part, some in kilts, some in plumed hats, some on bikes and in soap box derby carts. The parade was followed by a dedication ceremony at Monument Hall, where Retired Navy Captain John Baker was the featured speaker. Memorial Day thoughts are the subject of this week’s Town Talk. (Photo by Emily Reeves)