Volume LXXII, Number 49
Sound Planning for Difficult Times Pages 32-35 Groundbreaking for New PFARS Headquarters . . . . . . . 5 Women and Power in the Arts . . . . . . . . . . 20 First PU Concerts Performances of Dudamel Residency . . . . . . . . . 24 Theatre Intime Presents The Luck of the Irish . . . . . . . . . . 25 Freshman Star Fillier Making Immediate Impact for PU Women’s Hockey . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Former Hun, PU Standout Davis Taking Helm of PDS Boys’ Hoops . . . . 44
Russian Ambassador Antonov Speaks at WW School . . . . . . . . 12 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach Realtor . . .14, 15 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 31 Classified Ads . . . . . . 48 Dining & Entertainment . . . 29 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Music/Theater . . . . . . 26 New To Us . . . . . . . . . 36 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 46 Police Blotter . . . . . . . . 6 Religion . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . 6
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PHS Principal Snyder Announces Retirement, 16 Years at the Helm
Gar y Snyder, Princeton High School (PHS) principal for more than 15 years, has announced that he will retire in June 2019, at the end of this school year. When Snyder came to PHS in 2003 at the age of 40, the school had been led by seven different principals in the previous decade. “I hope to bring some stability in the leadership position, and to create a vision for what we do,” he said at the time of his hiring, and over the past decade and a half he has displayed that successful staying power. “This time of year, the steamy days of June are probably only in the thoughts of high school seniors and retiring principals,” he wrote in a letter to PHS students, parents, and community yesterday, “but we will each keep focus on the work and learning before us in the coming months.” Though not clearly defined at the moment, Snyder’s plans for the future, he says, have been inspired “by the young people who graduate from PHS to do amazing things in this world, and I feel the calling to also take a risk, follow my passions, and see where else I can serve others.” He continued, “Maybe I’ll be teaching, writing poetry, volunteering, or going on long bike rides. I am grateful for my time at PHS and appreciative of the support over the years from students, colleagues, parents, and community.” Originally from Pennsylvania, Snyder received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and social studies from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s degree in public school administration from Virginia Tech. Before taking the reins at PHS, Snyder was a social studies teacher for eight years, a high school athletic director for three years, a high school assistant principal for six years, and, in 2003, when he was hired at PHS, the principal of Pioneer Valley Regional School, a high school in Northfield, Mass. “Fortunately, there is time between now and the end of June to continue Continued on Page 10
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Wednesday, December 5, 2018
$26.9M School Bond to Be Decided December 11
Voters will face just one question, requiring a “yes’ or “no” response, on December 11, when they vote on the Princeton Public Schools’ proposal for a $26.9 million bond referendum. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. next Tuesday, with just four consolidated polling locations at the elementary schools: Community Park, Riverside, Johnson Park, and Littlebrook. Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert noted that most people would not be voting at their usual voting spots because of the reduced number of polling locations, and she urged everyone to check the sample ballots that were mailed out to all residents for information on voting districts and polling locations. Information is also posted on the Princeton municipal website and on the PPS website. Lempert also pointed out that in the December 11 referendum vote new voting machines with a verifiable paper trail will be piloted at the Johnson Park polling location. As part of a statewide effort to enhance voter security, the pilot program will use voting machines on loan from Dominion Voting Systems at no cost to the county. The technology allows voters to fill out an oval marking the vote and then
feed the ballot into a scanner, with the paper ballot retained for verification. For many years voter advocacy groups have sought voting machines with a paper trail. The county is working with local officials to ensure that poll workers are prepared and trained to use the new system, and Dominion will also provide on-site assistance on December 11. “This will improve security,” Lempert said. “We’re glad that Princeton can play a role in facilitating this initiative. Across the country we’ve seen the importance of having a verifiable paper record and hack-proof voting systems. It’s important to make sure
that every vote is counted.” At a nonpartisan meeting last Thursday at the Princeton Municipal Building, Mercer County Board of Elections Chair Joanne Palmucci met with Lempert and other public officials to discuss a problem from the November 6 election with 63 provisional ballots that could not be counted because the canvas bags transporting them were not properly sealed. It was apparently a common error, and “there were not so many ballots that it would make a difference to the election results,” Lempert said, “but there will be more thorough, better Continued on Page 8
Smart Card Reversal, Dinky Service Report Among Council Topics
Responding to concerns from the public, Princeton will allow people who have balances on their smart cards to transfer them to the new Park Princeton app after April 30. Mayor Liz Lempert announced the revised plan, part of the municipality’s revamping of the parking system, at the Princeton Council meeting on Monday night, December 3. “Sometimes Council makes a decision and it’s the wrong decision, and
we reverse course,” she said. “That is what happened with this. At one point we said we weren’t going to refund the smart card balances. We changed course when we heard feedback from the community. We are working on a plan to transfer the balances.” Municipal Engineer Deanna Stockton said those with balances on their smart cards are still urged to spend them in the Spring Street Garage, Continued on Page 11
SOUNDS OF THE SEASON: Courtney’s Carolers entertained visitors and shoppers around Palmer Square in downtown Princeton on Saturday afternoon . Strolling Holiday Music is featured every Saturday and Sunday in December leading up to Christmas . (Photo by Erica M. Cardenas)