WW-P’S FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER WWPINFO.COM WEST WINDSOR Letters: PIACS Pros and Cons 9 & PLAINSBORO WW Mosque Hearing Packs Town Hall to Capacity 16 Judge Questions InterCap Affordable Housing 20 Cantu to Run For 13th Consecutive Term 23 WW-P’s Version of Dancing With The Stars? 34 FOLLOW WWPINFO ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER FOR TIMELY UPDATES NEWS ISSUE DATE: APRIL 15, 2011 NEXT ISSUE:APRIL 29 School Sports: School Budget Vote Looms: North Girls Lax; South Boys Tennis Will Voters Buy 2.5% Hike? by Cara Latham budget represents an overall $2.7 Both Undefeated million increase (1.72 percent) s the annual school board over last year’s $155.9 million he North girls’ lacrosse team is elections near, some resi- budget. But the tax levy will in- Tpicking up steam as the spring Adents have already publicly crease to $147.12 million, an in- season at WW-P heats up. With a rejected the district’s $158.55 mil- crease of $3.6 million over last 5-0 record and an early win over lion spending measure, saying the year’s $143.5 million tax levy. crosstown rival South, North is tax increases are too high. Breaking down the tax burden, emerging as a leader in the CVC. But the facts show that taxes are however, Plainsboro will have a North dismissed Robbinsville, increasing by 2.5 percent over last greater increase in taxes this year. 17-4, on April 7, after defeating year — a percentage that falls Plainsboro taxpayers will pay South, 14-11, earlier in the week within the state-mandated 2 per- $60.9 million in support of the — an important win to set the tone cent cap, with exceptions. The way school budget — a 2.8 percent in- for the season. The team opened its those taxes are crease over last season on April 1 with a win over apportioned year’s tax levy. Princeton. among individ- Voters have been sup- In West Wind- The team’s leaders have been a ual households portive of the annual sor, the amount force early in the season. Kristin is due to factors budget for more than a to be raised by Troianello, Ana Lucia Dellien, and outside of the taxation is Olivia Harpel are among the district’s con- decade. The last time $86.1 million, team’s best scorers. Against Rob- trol. the budget failed was in an increase of Voters have binsville, Troianello had four 1999 — by just five 2.3 percent over goals, and against South and been support- last year’s levy. Princeton, she had three each. ive of the annu- votes. If the budget Harpel also scored four goals al budget for is approved by against Robbinsville, three against more than a voters, the tax South, and three against Princeton. decade. The last time the budget rate in Plainsboro would increase Dellien had a goal against Rob- failed was in 1999 — by just five by 7.5 cents — from $1.55 per binsville, four against South, and votes. $100 of assessed value in 2010 to three against Princeton. Against If the budget fails, it will head to $1.62 in 2011. The tax rate in West Allentown on April 13, Dellien a joint meeting between the West Windsor would increase by 8.8 had five goals. Windsor Township Council and cents — from $1.34 per $100 in South’s lacrosse team (5-1) is the Plainsboro Township Commit- 2010 to $1.43 in 2011. also doing well. The Pirates have tee, where officials will decide Officials have said that declin- their own impressive offense. Lacrosse Action: North’s Kelly Girandola and South’s what to cut, if anything. Despite ing home values had a significant Against Stuart Country Day on initial criticism from two of its own role in the tax burden this year, as April 12, Kendal Borup scored Laura McCormick faced off against each other on board members, the board unani- April 5. North is currently undefeated, while South’s the value of the average home in seven goals, while Anna Tadej had mously approved the budget to be Plainsboro fell from $395,000 to sole loss came thanks to their crosstown rivals. See placed on the ballot with the 2.5 page 18 for more photos. Photo by Brian McCarthy percent tax increase. Continued on page 18 The proposed $158.55 million Continued on page 22 DAY-BY-DAY INPLAINSBORO & WEST WINDSOR For more event listings visit www.- Dance neys of all kind. West Windsor wwpinfo.com. For timely updates, artists include Tito Cascieri with follow wwpinfo at Twitter and on Dusk to Dusk, Princeton Univer- “Not Many Roads Left to Travel,” a Facebook. sity, Lewis Center, 185 Nassau digital print; and Ahuva Arie with Street, 609-258-1500. www.- “Mountains of an Ancient Land,” a princeton.edu. Alexis DeWan collage. Bill Hoo of Plainsboro is Branagan and Eva Marie Wash exhibiting “Wade in the Water,” a Friday explore time, nature, and the hu- photograph. On view to June 20. man experience drawing upon 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. See story. their studies of dance, art, and lit- April 15 erature. 8 p.m. Poetry Trail, D&R Greenway Land Trust, 1 Preservation Place, On Stage Princeton, 609-924-4646. www.- School Sports drgreenway.org. Walk the Scott The Select [The Sun Also Rises], and Hella McVay Poetry Trail with For WW-P school sports infor- Princeton University, Berlind at Joseph Bruchac, a true “keeper of mation, call the hotline: 609-716- McCarter Theater, 609-258-9220. the earth,” a Native American po- 5000, ext. 5134, www.ww-p.org. www.princeton.edu/arts. Drama et, storyteller, and author of more based on the Hemingway novel than 100 books. Followed by re- North vs. South Girls Golf. At “The Sun Also Rises” presented ception, book sale, and book sign- Tennis Benefit: Jill and Holly Slepman of West South. 3 p.m. by the experimental theater com- ing at 6 p.m. Bruchac reads po- North Baseball. Trenton. 4 p.m. pany Elevator Repair Service. 7 ems from “Above the Line,” Windsor get ready for Aces for a Cure tennis party to p.m. benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Saturday, North Boys Tennis. At Rob- “Ndakinna,” and “No Borders” at 7 binsville. 4 p.m. Hello, Dolly, Kelsey Theater, p.m. His son, Jesse (fully fluent in April 16, from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Eve Kraft Tennis Mercer County Community Col- Abenaki), will also be there. Reg- Center in West Windsor. North Boys Volleyball. lege, 1200 Old Trenton Road, ister. Free. 4:30 p.m. Moorestown. 4 p.m. West Windsor, 609-570-3333. Dancing North Softball. Trenton. 4 p.m. www.kelseytheatre.net. Musical. Literati ological Seminary, Miller South Baseball. At Hamilton $16. 7:30 p.m. Jersey Jumpers, Central Jersey Chapel, 609-497-7760. www.- West. 4 p.m. Dance Society, Unitarian Church, Princeton Moth-Up, Labyrinth ptsem.edu. Christiaan Teeuwsen Art 50 Cherry Hill Road, Princeton, Books, 122 Nassau Street, leads music for organ and congre- South Boys Tennis. Ewing. 4 p.m. Art Exhibit, South Brunswick 609-945-1883. centraljersey- Princeton, 609-497-1600. www.- gation as it developed in the Dutch South Boys Volleyball. South Arts Commission, South dance.org. Swing and lindy hop labyrinthbooks.com. “Fiasco!” is Calvinist tradition. In conjunction Brunswick. 4 p.m. Brunswick Municipal Building, 540 from the 1920s to the present. the topic to provide an opportunity with the conference “Calvinism to experience storytelling. 7 p.m. South Softball. At Hamilton West. Route 522, Monmouth Junction, Lesson followed by an open and Culture,” April 14 to 16. Free. 4 p.m. 732-329-4000. “The Roads We dance. $15. 7 p.m. 7:45 p.m. Travel,” a new exhibit featuring Classical Music South Girls Lacrosse. Princeton. landscapes, seascapes, and jour- Classic Concert, Princeton The- 4:15 p.m. Continued on page 24 2 THE NEWS APRIL 15, 2011 Views & Opinions To the Editor: of a significant reduction in state aid. Two years ago state aid to School Budget West Windsor-Plainsboro was cut by 27 percent; last year it was cut Offers Good Value by another 71 percent. Virtually all tudents in our district contin- of that aid is for extraordinary spe- cial education costs and trans- ue to excel academically, Richard K. Rein portation, and there is no way to re- athletically, and in the arts, Editor and Publisher S duce those mandated costs by and we celebrate their achieve- those percentages — indeed, they Cara Latham ments. We ask your support for our News Editor efforts to continue continue to grow. Plainsboro Value to provide an excel- Yet by continu- Lynn Miller ing a process of dis- Community News Editor Plainsboro: 2BR, 2BA - Updated and well maintained ‘Longmont’ lent educational op- 1st floor model in the popular Aspen community. Updated Kitchen portunity, because Eight years ago ciplined belt tight- Brian McCarthy has brand new granite counters with an undermount sink and new we believe taxpay- costs were 5 per- ening, and targeting Craig Terry stainless steel faucet, enjoy cooking on the new smooth top stove ers are receiving ex- cent above the state areas of greatest in- Photography and do the dishes in a new dishwasher! The Living Room & Dining efficiency (like cellent value for Vaughan Burton Room have well maintained parquet flooring and a fire place. The average; now the buildings and their investment. Production good size Master Bedroom has a walk-in closet and an en-suite While enrollment per pupil spending grounds), and with a Martha Moore bathroom.