NOVEMBER 2018 FREE
A new age of planning
COMMUNITYNEWS.ORG
Mayor and council seats up for grabs
Fighting forward
Ewing zoning officer reflects on development
by bill SanServino
bsanservino@communitynews.org
by kellie C. murpHy Modern housing complexes, new office developments and parks and recreation upgrades happen constantly in today’s world. Even with new technology, it’s difficult these days to connect us all efficiently through real estate while remaining visually attractive and environmentally sound. There are professionals in real estate whose job it is to see that bigger picture and sort all of that complexity out: a talented and dedicated urban planner. Charles Latini, who works as the township planner and zoning officer as well as the executive director of the Ewing Township Redevelopment Agency, is one of the key people in town whose job it is to visualize that big picture when it comes to land use planning. But that’s not the Ewing native’s only role. He also serves as the president of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association-an 1,100-member organization of mostly licensed planners, which is focused on members doing training and continuing education. As a board, the NJAPA will respond to different pieces of legislation that relate See LATINI, Page 6
Players from Cinnaminson attempt to bring down EHS running back Ricky Francois during a 28-13 loss at EHS on Oct. 19, 2018. For more coverage of the team turn to Page 26. (Photos by Suzette J. Lucas).
Production tells the story of American pioneers by roSS amiCo The American pioneers. They had no smartphones. No Starbuck’s. No convenience stores. Instead, unknown perils, punishing weather and sudden illness were facts of daily life. Provisions may have run short, but through determination, grit and the efforts of a tight-knit community, they were able to get by.
Their story is told in Pioneer Songs, Ewing resident Eric Houghton’s epic meditation on the courage and resilience of those Americans who blazed the western frontier. The historical oratorio will be presented at Patriots Theater at the Trenton War Memorial on Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. Houghton’s cycle of 15 symphonic songs for vocal soloists, choir and narra-
tor celebrates the first successful passage of wagon trains to California in the 1840s. The genesis of the piece grew out of an extraordinary teacherstudent relationship between Houghton, who teaches at Westminster Choir College, and Robert Marquis, who had just begun to take piano lessons at Westminster. See HOUGHTON Page 8
Ewing voters will cast ballots for mayor, two open seats on township council and three seats on the township school board in the Nov. 6 general election. In the municipal election, incumbent Mayor Bert Steinmann, a Democrat, is seeking election to his third four-year term. Running with him for fouryear council seats are Democratic incumbents Cathy Wollert, who has served on council since 1995, and Sara Steward, who is finishing her first term. No Republicans filed to run against the incumbents, but the three are being challenged by independents running under the slogan, “For a better Ewing.” Running for mayor is Ron Prykanowski, a stalwart of local politics. His council candidate running mates are Dick LaRossa, a former state senator, and newcomer Kate McKinley. Meanwhile, in the race for three seats on the Ewing school board, two incumbents—Anthony Messina and Lisa McConnell— are running unopposed. No one filed for election to the seat currently held by Maria Benedetti, who is not running for re-election. That seat is open to write-in candidates, and there is no minimum amount of votes for a write-in. The person who gets the most votes would capture the seat. The Observer’s election coverage begins on Page 10.
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