Volume LXXI, Number 40
Littlebrook Named Blue Ribbon School . . . . . . . 5 Accord Reached on Waxwood . . . . . . . . . . 7 They Grew Up in Princeton . . . . . . . . . . 10 Escaping the Doldrums With McPhee . . . . . . . 16 PU Concerts Opens With Multimedia Event . . . . 26 PU Football Falls to Columbia in Ivy League Opener . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Strong Doubles Play Helps PDS Girls’ Tennis Take 2nd at MCT . . . . 35
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School Board Forum Presents Six Hopefuls For Only Three Seats
The six candidates who will be on the ballot for the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education election on November 7 presented their qualifications and shared their perspectives on the greatest challenges facing the district in the coming years in a forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters (LWV) in the Municipal Building Monday night. Vying for three available seats, currently filled by Justin Doran, Fern Spruill, and Connie Witter, who will be stepping down in January at the end of their three-year terms, the widely experienced contenders, with resumes from the worlds of business, law, nonprofits, education, public service, science, and theology, discussed how their education and experience will help them address the most important issues facing the district. The candidates, all parents of current Continued on Page 12
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Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Two Fatalities on Princeton Junction Tracks In two separate incidents that occurred two days apart, two people were struck and killed by Amtrak trains near the Princeton Junction station. The first, on Thursday afternoon, September 28, involved a Princeton High School sophomore and is believed to have been a suicide. The Crescent train 20 was on its way from New Orleans to New York when it struck the student at about 2:45 p.m., according to an Amtrak spokesman. The second incident took place Saturday evening, September 30, when Amtrak train 92 hit an individual at about 8:30 p.m. On Friday, parents of Princeton High School students received emails from Principal Gary Snyder and Princeton Public Schools Superintendent Steve Cochrane advising them of the news, and offering suggestions for emotional support. “We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of our 10th grade stu-
dents,” Snyder wrote. “We have shared the news with the students this morning in first period class and have set up counseling stations to support both students and staff. Our thoughts are with the student’s family, friends, and everyone affected by this tragic loss. Counselors and other trained professionals from throughout the school, district, and community will be at PHS today to offer support to students and staff during this time.” Cochrane wrote, “This is a time of mourning for our entire community. We encourage you to do what you are probably doing already: reach out to your kids, ask them how they are doing, tell them that you love them. You may also want to encourage them to share with you or with adults at school any concerns they may have about their own emotional health or that of their friends.” Both messages referred parents to local community resources as well as articles about dealing with loss and trauma.
The Saturday incident involved the Silver Star train that operates between New York City and Miami. The train “came into contact with a person who was on the tracks near Princeton Junction station at around 8:30 p.m. yesterday,” said Amtrak spokesman Jason Abrams, in an email on Monday. “There were 52 passengers Continued on Page 12
Planning Board Approves Developer’s Proposal For Former Post Office Princeton’s Planning Board last week voted unanimously in favor of an application to turn the former U.S. Post Office branch on Palmer Square into a restaurant. Triumph Brewing Company is expected to move from its current location on Nassau Street to the historic Palmer Square building. No official target date Continued on Page 8
Aline Lenaz, founder of Cloak & Dagger bookshop, dies . . . . . . 39 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 14 Cinema . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Classified Ads. . . . . . . 41 Clubs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Music/Theater . . . . . . 26 New To Us . . . . . . . . . 15 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 39 Police Blotter . . . . . . . 12 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 41 Service Directory . . . . 44 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . . 6
SUNDAY ON THE CANAL: Boating enthusiasts took advantage of a beautiful fall day to get outside and enjoy a canoe trip on the Delaware and Raritan Canal in Princeton. Area residents and visitors share their favorite fall activities in this week’s Town Talk, and more photos are featured on page 20. (Photo by Erica M. Cardenas)
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