West Windsor &Plainsboro
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WW-P’S FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER WWPINFO.COM WEST WINDSOR Letters: Supporters Defend Charter School 2 & PLAINSBORO WW-P School Board Candidates Roundup 13 WW Budget: Spending Down, Taxes Up 14 Median Work at Alexander Road Roundabout 16 Police Reports 33 Classifieds 35 Funny Mom at Grover’s Mill Coffee 36 NEWS ISSUE DATE: APRIL 2, 2010 NEXT ISSUE:APRIL 16 Zero Increase For $155.9M WW-P School District Budget by Cara Latham table that would have increased taxes by 3.8 percent. That measure hen voters head to the was a 2.2 percent increase over the polls on Tuesday, April prior year’s $155.9 million budget. W20, they will be voting Plainsboro taxpayers would on a flat 2010-’11 school budget of bear the brunt of this year’s in- $155.9 million — the same as the crease, while those in West Wind- current year’s spending plan. sor should see a relatively flat tax But even that’s not enough to bill for 2010-’11. With regard to offset the damage caused by the the calculation for the way the tax dramatic loss of $7.56 million in burden is divided, “this is the final state aid announced last month. year of the transition from equal- The district is faced with making ized valuation to per pupil expens- up for the dra- es,” explained matic reduction Board Presi- in revenues, par- The budget would raise dent Hemant ticularly in state the tax levy by 4 percent Marathe. “This aid, and that is the last wide means two and could cut as many swing that is things: up to 50 as 50 teachers. going to hap- teachers may be pen. Starting cut, impacting next year, there the quality of education, and tax- will be a much smoother change payers will be shelling out more from year-to-year.” Marathe also money. said that in Plainsboro over the last While the district has eliminated five years, taxes have gone up, on an originally-projected $3.4 mil- average only 1.8 percent. lion increase in the overall budget, The revised $155.9 million bud- it is also proposing a total 6.5 per- get, presented during the district’s cent tax levy increase — from March 31 budget public hearing, $134.8 million last year to $143.5 calls for reductions in the number million this year. of teaching, administrative, secre- The total increase combines a 4 tarial, and busing staff as well as percent general fund tax levy in- cuts to extra-curriculars and sports crease — which meets the state- programs. mandated cap of a 4 percent in- Before the public hearing, Su- crease — and a 2.5 percent tax in- perintendent Victoria Kniewel and New Beginnings: North senior Alex Huang, left, has had a large hand in organizing crease for debt service, which is al- Larry Shanok, assistant superin- a smooth move into the Plainsboro Library’s new facility, which will open to the pub- lowed by law to be excluded from tendent for finance, spoke with the lic on Saturday, April 10 (see story, page 6). David Serughetti, right, takes over as the the cap. Before the state aid cuts, a Continued on page 16 new head coach of the North boys’lacrosse team (see story, page 18). $159.3 million budget was on the DAY-BY-DAY INPLAINSBORO & WEST WINDSOR For more event listings visit www.- Art Green Shopping Center, West wwpinfo.com. For timely updates, Windsor, 609-799-2919. www.- follow wwpinfo at Twitter and on Artists Network, Lawrenceville wholefoods.com. Nirit Yadin, chef Facebook. Main Street, 2683 Main Street, of the Whisk & the Spoon, pre- Lawrenceville, 609-647-1815. sents a hands-on workshop. Reg- www.Lawrencevillemainstreet.- ister. $45. 6 to 9 p.m. com. Gallery features works by Friday area artists. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Health & Wellness Comedy Clubs Meditation Circle, Lawrence Li- April 2 brary, Darrah Lane and Route 1, Coleman Green, Catch a Rising Lawrence Township, 609-989- Star, Hyatt Regency, 102 6922. Register. 2:30 p.m. Carnegie Center, West Windsor, Drama 609-987-8018. www.catcharising- Happy Hour Yoga, Princeton Great American Backstage Musi- star.com. Register. $17.50. 8 p.m. Center for Yoga & Health, 50 cal, Off-Broadstreet Theater, 5 Vreeland Drive, Suite 506, Skill- South Greenwood Avenue, Faith man, 609-924-7294. www.- Hopewell, 609-466-2766. www.- princetonyoga.com. Vinyasa se- off-broadstreet.com. Musical Good Friday, All Saints’ Church, quences inspired by yoga and 1940s love story directed by 16 All Saints’ Road, Princeton, dance. $17. 5:45 to 7:15 p.m. 609-921-2420. Stations of the Robert Thick. $27.50 to $29.50 in- Drum Circle for Adults, Center cludes dessert. 7 p.m. Cross at noon. Liturgy at 8 p.m. Noon. for Relaxation and Healing, 666 Rosaleen, Princeton University, Plainsboro Road, Suite 635, Richardson Auditorium, 609-258- Windsor Chapel, 401 Village Plainsboro, 609-750-7432. www.- 3000. www.princeton.edu. New Road East, West Windsor, 609- relaxationandhealing.com. No ex- musical drama written by Alexis 799-2559. www.windsorchapel.- perience required. Register. $15. Rodda, Class of 2010, with music org. Good Friday service with mu- 7 to 8:45 p.m. by Maxwell Mamon, also Class of sic, readings, and spiritual reflec- 2010, features a chamber orches- tion. 7 p.m. Kids Stuff Sweets for the Sweet: The choirs at High School tra and 12 young singers. Recep- Good Friday, Princeton United Mini-Camp, Stony Brook Mill- South are presenting Gilbert and Sullivan‘s ‘The tion follows. Register. Free. 8 p.m. Methodist Church, Nassau at stone Watershed, 31 Titus Mill Copenhagen, Theatre Intime, Vandeventer Street, 609-924- Road, Pennington, 609-737-7592. Pirates of Penzance,’Sunday, April 11, at the Eighth Hamilton Murray Theater, Prince- 2613. www.princetonumc.org. www.thewatershed.org. Outdoor Annual Silent Auction and Dessert Concert. Back ton University, 609-258-1742. 7:30 p.m. activities for children ages 6 to 12. row: Emily MacArthur, left, as Kate, Vera Shulgina www.theatreintime.org. Drama by Register. $65. 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Michael Frayn. $12. 8 p.m. Food & Dining as Isabel, Danielle Weeks as Edith. Front: Ariel Herbs, Spices, and Sauces, Cohen as Mabel. See story page 25. Whole Foods Market, Windsor Continued on page 20 2 THE NEWS APRIL 2, 2010 JoanJoan Eisenberg Eisenberg Office:RE/MAXJoan 609-951-8600Joan Greater Eisenberg Eisenberg Princeton x110 Office:RE/MAXMobile:609-306-1999Princeton 609-951-8600 ForrestalGreater Village Princeton x110 Mobile:[email protected]:Princeton 609-951-8600 Forrestal x 110Village www.JoanSells.comMobile:609-306-1999 Views & Opinions [email protected]: 609-951-8600 x 110 Jeremax@aol com www.JoanSells.comMobile:609-306-1999 [email protected] funds for the number of students Owner/Sales To the Editor: Associate actually enrolled. Superintendent VILLAGEVillage G GRANDErande V VALUESalues Charter School Victoria Kniewel stated, “The These Wonderful Homes are Located in West Windsor in the Village Grande Active problem is that we’re slated to have Adult Community. The Exceptional Clubhouse Includes Indoor and Outdoor Pools, Misunderstood 75 students go to the charter Tennis, Recreation Rooms, Exercise Rooms, and Social Rooms. The Community is Close to Major Roads, Shopping & Commuter Train. school. We have to send that mon- s West Windsor-Plainsboro ey whether 75 students go there or West Windsor: 3BR, 3 BA, +Loft. Aparents, taxpayers, and sup- not.” This statement is false. New Richard K. Rein Vaulted Living Room & Dining Room. porters of public schools, we are Editor and Publisher Eat-in Kitchen w/Island with breakfast Jersey law requires state and local bar, sunny breakfast area w/slider excited to enroll our children in governments transfer 90 percent of Cara Latham to deck. Family Room adjacent NEW LISTING Princeton International Academy tax dollars budgeted for a particu- News Editor Villageto Kitchen. Grande 1st Floor ValuesMBR w/two walk-in Charter School Villageclosets, Grande MBA w/soaking Values tub & shower. Village Grande Values lar student en- Lynn Miller (PIACS) this Additional 1st flr BR, + full Hall BA. rolled in a public Community News Editor Loft area w/neutral decor, 3rd BR w/Full fall. We are charter school. BA. Corner location adjacent thrilled to have School officials have Brian McCarthy to Common Space. $345,000 The remaining 10 this unique op- Craig Terry West Windsor: 2 Bedroom, suggested that PIACS’ percent of funds Photography 2.5 Bath, + Loft, Upgraded & neutral. portunity for our role is redundant, but remains in the tra- Eat-in Kitchen w/hardwood flooring. kids to attend a ditional public Vaughan Burton Vltd Living Room & Dining Room, dual-language the school’s mission is 1st Flr Office, Family Room leads school system. Production REDUCED school that is in- much broader than to Sunroom addition. Loft area w/2nd Second, PI- Diana Joseph-Riley Bedroom and Full Bath. Extra crown ternational, mul- teaching children ACS will be fund- moldings, recessed lighting, tilingual, and Martha Moore added window trimmings. Premium fluency in Mandarin. ed through cost- Account Representatives location backing woods and facing multiracial in sharing between treed island on cul-de-sac. staff and stu- Bill Sanservino $359,900 taxpaying parents dents. Production Manager West Windsor: 2 Bedroom, 2 Full of students who enroll from three Bath, Hardwood flooring in Entry, However, we are disappointed districts, not just WW-P. Lawrence L. DuPraz 1919-2006 Living Room, Dining Room and added with comments from senior WW-P Third, school officials have sug- Founding Production Adviser Sunroom. Eat-in Kitchen with bright board members, a past board mem- breakfast room.