Volume LXXI, Number 43
Israeli Cuisine Film at Jewish Center . . . . . . . 5 PU Psychology Professor Todorov’s Face Value. . 9 Hunchback of Notre Dame at Kelsey Theatre . . . . . 20 PU Orchestra Opens Season . . . . . . . . . . . 21 David Lynch’s Fire Walk With Me. . . . . . . . . . 25 PU Football Defeats Harvard 52-17, Sparked by QB Kanoff’s Superb Effort . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 PHS Field Hockey Falls to Lawrenceville in MCT Title Game. . . . . . . . . 32
Gillian Hauschild Helps PHS Girls’ Volleyball Win WJIVL Title. . . . . . . . 33 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Cinema . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Classified Ads. . . . . . . . 45 Mailbox. . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Music/Theater . . . . . . . 24 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . 36 Police Blotter. . . . . . . . ?? Real Estate . . . . . . . . . 38 Religion. . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Topics of the Town . . . . . 5 Town Talk. . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Wedding . . . . . . . . . . . 16
www.towntopics.com
FreeB Schedule Changes Have Been Put on Hold Following Public Comment
Proposed changes to the schedule of the FreeB, which takes commuters to and from the Dinky train station and other locations in town, are being reconsidered following comments offered by members of the public at a meeting of Princeton Council Monday night, October 23. A report on final route changes indicated cuts on some commuter runs and added trips on the neighborhood loop, which travels between Elm Court, the downtown, Princeton Shopping Center, and Bunn Drive. A ridership survey showed that the commuter runs had an average of three passengers per trip, but the neighborhood runs showed an average of 13 passengers. Commuter ridership has decreased from about 12,000 trips per year before the Dinky station was moved to its present location, to just under 10,000 trips. A common complaint among members of the public has been the lack of publicity about the free bus. “People don’t know about it,” said Molly Sullivan, who rides the bus to and from the Dinky station during the work week. She suggested the committee change its strategy to first market the service, then collect data, and finally come up with a new schedule. “The proposed schedule doesn’t serve the main commuter time in the evening,” she added. Ted Moss, driver of the FreeB for the last six years, urged the committee not to cut out the 5:25 p.m. run to the Dinky station. On the neighborhood runs, the 10:08 a.m. stop at Redding Circle draws the most riders, he said. Moss had several points to raise, including a complaint about faulty heating on the bus. “We have a brand new, $90,000 vehicle with heat from the third seat forward and nothing behind,” he said. “I have complained since October but nothing has been done.” Fay Reiter, chair of the town’s Public Transit Advisory Committee, acknowledged that the complaints have been lodged and said they were under consideration. Mayor Liz Lempert advised the committee to do some tweaking, and then come back to Council not for a vote, but just to inform them of changes and help convey them to the public. “It’s a complicated optimization challenge and a lot of it is basic math,” said Councilwoman Jenny Crumiller, liaison to the committee. Reiter commented, “Our Continued on Page 14
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Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Six School Board Candidates Speak Out The six candidates for three open seats on the Board of Education of the Princeton Public Schools were asked to tell us again, in only about 100 words, “why we should vote for you.” The election will take place on November 7. Here are their responses: Beth Behrend
Our School Board oversees a $95 million budget and is planning a multi-milliondollar facilities expansion that will shape our schools and impact Princeton taxpayers for decades to come. Homeowners are deeply concerned about high property taxes, while the cost of delivering an excellent education for our kids continues to rise. The need to improve wellness, balance, and equity in our schools is urgent. My financial, legal, and business experience, together with years of school and community service and leadership, make me well equipped to help navigate these complex challenges. As a parent, taxpayer, and passionate supporter of our public schools, it would be an honor to serve this wonderful community — and our children — on the Princeton School Board.
Jessica Deutsch
I am the candidate who brings professional credentials in education (Harvard EdM) and social work (Rutgers MSW). The group I founded, Princeton Balance, shifted the local conversation on student well-being. Hard, urgent work remains, so that all students can do well, and be well. I will help make policy decisions that promote excellence and balance for all students. We must close the opportunity gap. I have the skills to facilitate listening, collaboration, creativity, and
strategic action. I waited to run until my children were in college, so I have the long view of the schools. I will be a thoughtful, responsible steward of your taxpayer dollars and resources. I am determined and prepared to lead and serve on behalf of our entire community. James Fields
First, I am a concerned parent. As a parent of two children at Johnson Park Elementary, I’m concerned about the future status of our educational system Continued on Page 12
Wang and Lipsitz Discuss Gerrymandering, Fixing the Distorted Democratic Process “Redistricting: It’s Not Just for Political Junkies Anymore!” read the words on the screen at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Princeton Monday night, as Princeton University Neurobiology Professor Sam Wang and Queens College City University of New York Political Science Professor Keena Lipsitz explained how gerrymandering is undermining our democratic system.
Founder of the Princeton Gerrymandering Project and the Princeton Election Consortium, Wang discussed “pitched battles over partisan gerrymandering,” which makes it possible by the drawing of district lines for “50 percent of the votes in a state to elect as many as 75 percent of the representatives.” With the Supreme Court’s recent Continued on Page 8
LEADERS OF THE PACK: Princeton High boys’ cross country runners, Acasio Pinheiro (far right, No. 858) and Will Hare (No. 856), take off at the start of the Boys’ Varsity race at the Mercer County Championships at Thompson Park in Jamesburg last Friday. Senior star Hare placed first individually and junior Pinheiro took second to help PHS win its second straight team title at the event. For more details on the race, see page 31. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
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