Volume LXXIII, Number 3
Jewish Center Cantor Shares Love of Klezmer Music . . . . . . 5 Emily Mann to Retire from McCarter . . . . . 10 Quixote and Ahab Meet Kafka in the Twilight Zone . . . . . . 13 Gustavo Dudamel Continues His PU Residency . . . . . . . . . 14 PU Men’s Hoops Defeats Penn to Sweep Season Series . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Devine Starring as PHS Girls’ Hoops Produces 8-3 Start . . . . . . . . . . 25
Teacher Aaron Burt: Passionate About Math, Sports, and the Community . . . . . . . . 11 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach Realtors . .18, 19 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 21 Classified Ads . . . . . . 31 Dining & Entertainment. . 20 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Music/Theater . . . . . . 15 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 29 Police Blotter . . . . . . . . 6 Profiles in Education . . 11 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 31 Religion . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . 6
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Council Hears Comments From Merchants, Residents On Parking Changes
Princeton’s new parking rates, regulations, and technology dominated a meeting of the governing body on Monday night, January 14. At Witherspoon Hall, several downtown merchants aired their concerns to Princeton Council about the new system. But some also thanked the town for their efforts and said they understand that rates needed to be raised. In addition, the meeting included the announcement that the town’s Food Waste Program is being put on a three-month hiatus. Mayor Liz Lempert also reported that there is no date yet for restarting the Dinky train line, which has been out of service for the past three months. Local high school students Aidan York, Brendan Bucceri, and Ryan Neumann were presented with an award of recognition by former Councilman Lance Liverman for their efforts helping stranded motorists during the unexpected snowstorm last November. Lempert opened the discussion by saying the Council understands the frustrations people are having with the parking system. “The ultimate goal is to have a parking system that makes the best use of what we already have,” she said. “We are committed to getting it right.” Municipal engineer Deanna Stockton went over changes and tweaks that have been made as a result of comments submitted by the public, urging people to report any problems with specific meters, kiosks, or the mobile app. Regarding coin jams, the coin canisters on the meters had not arrived when they were first installed, resulting in the meters filling up too soon. That problem has been solved, she said. Most widely reported have been problems with visibility at the meters. Stockton said the town has been working with the vendor, and the meters will now light up longer once a button on them is pushed. Issues with pre-paying using the mobile app have been addressed, and the minimum for using credit cards, which was $1, is now 50 cents. Lempert said the town is hoping to work out a better deal with Passport Parking, provider of the app. Administrator Mark Dashield said the while the system went live on November 5, all of the meters had not yet been installed. This resulted in a loss to the town of $500 a day for the nine days it wasn’t operational, and the town’s attorney has demanded damages for that loss. Continued on Page 9
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Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Rally Urges Solidarity, “Love Over Hate” Originally anticipated as an event that would spread hate, bigotry, conflict, and possibly violence, a rally in Princeton last Saturday turned into an expression of solidarity and harmony, as the white supremacist group that had said it was coming to town didn’t show up and hundreds of counter-protestors joined “a love train,” in the words of Princeton University Professor Emeritus Cornel West. Signs of all sizes proclaimed such messages as “Love Not Hate Makes America Great,” “Hate Has No Home Here,” and “Princeton Stands Against Hate and White Supremacy,” as the crowds paraded around the perimeter of Palmer Square chanting “Not in Princeton, not anywhere,” “No hate, no fear, Nazis are not welcome
here,” and other expressions of solidarity in opposition to the originally planned white supremacist message. A white nationalist group calling itself the New Jersey European Heritage Association (NJEHA) early last week announced plans to stage a march at noon on Saturday in Palmer Square, promoting the message “It’s OK to be White.” Several groups quickly planned counterprotests, and the Princeton Police Department (PPD) prepared for large numbers of demonstrators with the possibility of clashes between the factions. Then, late Friday, the NJEHA, which had appeared in Princeton with “It’s OK to be White” signs last November, announced that the plans for the march had
ON A “LOVE TRAIN”: Princeton University Professor Emeritus Cornel West addresses the crowd on Saturday in Palmer Square. Originally announced to be a march in Princeton by a white supremacist group, the event turned into a rally against hate, bigotry, and racism, and a call for solidarity. West and others gave short speeches after the hundreds of participants marched around the square, carrying signs and chanting. (Photo by Charles R. Plohn)
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been a hoax from the start. “You’ve been punked,” they wrote on Twitter. “There isn’t going to be a ‘march.’ There never was.” Amidst speculation that the NJEHA had backed down in the face of being outnumbered by widespread opposition, counterprotestors decided that there would be a march, but it would be a march against hate and racism. Participating groups included Northern and Central NJ Democratic Socialists of America, Heathens Continued on Page 8
Honoring King’s Legacy With Concerts, Lectures, And Helping Others On Monday, January 21, communities across the country will commemorate the life and legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Locally, numerous events are planned, on and around that day. King, who was assassinated on April 4, 1968, was actually born on January 15, 1929. But the tradition is to honor him each year on the third Monday in January. The Baptist minister and activist is one of only three people to have an American national holiday named after him (the others are George Washington and Christopher Columbus). Legislation designating the federal holiday in his honor wasn’t passed until 15 years after his death, and the day wasn’t officially commemorated until 1986. Since then, it has become a tradition to remember King by attending services, lectures, films, concerts, and — most of all — volunteering. Following is a sampling of local events and opportunities. On Friday, January 18 at 8 p.m., McCarter Theatre Center presents We Shall Overcome, a musical featuring repertoire from across African American music traditions interwoven with spoken word from King’s speeches. The performance is led by Damien Sneed and includes everything from traditional gospel to jazz and broadway. Visit mccarter.org for ticket information. On Saturday, January 19 at 2 p.m., Plainsboro Public Library examines King’s legacy with a discussion with filmmaker Purcell Carson of her documentary, Telling the Story of Harlan Joseph. Joseph, who was unarmed, was killed by a Trenton police officer in 1968. An honor student, Continued on Page 4