To the Editor:

The Friends and Foundation of the Princeton Public Library wish to extend our thanks for the exceptional public support for our 2024 Annual Book Sale. We rely on our local community here in Princeton for our dedicated volunteers and extraordinary book donations, and we thank our Library colleagues who go the extra mile to make everything run smoothly. The event was a resounding success, with many happy customers from as far afield as Massachusetts and Virginia.

The funds we raised together will be used to purchase new materials for the library’s collection. We also raise money for the library throughout the year through our wonderful used Book Store. This would not be possible without the generous book donations we receive from our local community. To find out more about donating books and supporting the library, please go to  https://princetonlibrary.org/support/book-donations-sales/.

Jeanine Rosen, Jane Nieman, and Claire Bertrand
2024 Annual Book Sale Co-Chairs and Volunteer Coordinator
Friends and Foundation of the Princeton Public Library Annual Book Sale
Witherspoon Street

To the Editor:

I ask Princeton voters to look carefully at the choices on the ballot for the Board of Education. Look for proven commitment to our kids and our schools. Look for the workers and volunteers who work and not just talk; those with skills who labor with love, care, and commitment on behalf of something greater than themselves; those without personal agendas. My own service on the Board revealed that the job requires 15-20 hours of commitment each week to ensure the schools are well run.

I’m casting my votes for Mara Franceschi, Erica Snyder, and Chris Santarpio because they have the proven ability to devote substantial personal resources for the greater good of our schools, along with the skill, integrity, and mindset to serve ethically.  more

To the Editor:

I am writing today to voice my enthusiastic support for my friend and fellow Community Park and Princeton Middle School parent, Erica Snyder, as she runs for a seat on the PPS Board of Education.

My husband and I have lived in Princeton with our family for more than 20 years. Our daughter is a sophomore at PHS, and our son recently began sixth grade at PMS. Both children attended the Dual-Language Immersion Program at Community Park (CP).  more

To the Editor:

New Jersey voters who wish to learn about their candidates, especially those in local races, can go to the League of Women Voters’ non-partisan vote411.org. By putting in their address, voters can see their ballot and their candidates’ responses to League questions. Voters can also check whether they are registered and even register or submit name/address changes if needed.

Information about candidates for Princeton Board of Education is available at vote411.org and in local media. Look for a recording of the Princeton Parent-Teacher Organization’s October 1 forum at princetonptoc.weebly.com. Princeton Parents for Black Children (PPBC), Not in Our Town Princeton (NIOT), and Civil Rights Princeton (CRP) will co-host a Board of Education candidates forum on October 16 at 7:30 p.m. Attendees must register in advance for this webinar at us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fnxGMJWLT6Kq7WywAUJyQw. A video recording of the forum will be available on the PPBC website and YouTube page. more

To the Editor:

At a time when engagement levels have been challenging in our world, Chris Santarpio and Erica Snyder stand apart for their sense of duty and enthusiasm to jump in and help. We witnessed this firsthand while working with them through the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) at Community Park (CP) School.  Both have engaged in learning and understanding the needs and concerns of families across the district by attending BOE meetings, Board committee meetings, and PTO Council meetings. They took on the immense, nonstop jobs of co-presidents at Community Park — while both working full time. They led our PTO Board, which had suffered during the pandemic as longtime volunteers matriculated out of CP. They recruited new volunteers from diverse backgrounds to revive beloved activities and traditions and create new ones. They also helped to revitalize our PTO’s fundraising, which is a lot more sophisticated than bake sales and provides critical funding for classroom supplies and curricular enrichment for all students. You can feel the difference they’ve made when you walk the halls at CP, and we know that they would have a similar impact on our school district if elected to the Board of Education.

Chris is all about helping people to get what they need to be successful. Your problem becomes his problem and he brings creativity and his life experience to the situation. He was the first person to attend college in his family and then went on to help grow and steward his family’s business into a regional enterprise, while getting his MBA in his spare time. His background in finance and operations would be an asset to understand the complex PPS budget, a role that will be missed with the departure of a BOE member to town Council.  He is ready to help with ongoing facilities improvements and long-term projects being planned to meet the needs of our growing community. He can also help advocate for the unmet needs of aftercare in the district.   more

To the Editor:

Sarah Rous’ letter [Mailbox, September 25] about a near miss at the Terhune-Jefferson intersection confirms what those of us who live in this area already know — it is a dangerous intersection.  However, it is not correct that for drivers traveling west on Terhune there are no sightline issues. A large sycamore right at the corner blocks a driver’s view of traffic on the right (uphill). The other direction is even worse. For drivers going east on Terhune, the view to the left (uphill) is blocked by overgrown shrubbery.  It is necessary to inch up right into the lane of oncoming traffic to see whether there is any oncoming traffic. Most cars traveling on Jefferson in this direction have come off Route 206 and many are traveling at a relatively high rate of speed. Having lived nearby for many years, I’ve witnessed two accidents at this corner, heard others, and seen the debris left by even more.

Over the years, improvements have been made:  larger stop signs, “STOP” and stripes painted in the road, and signs saying that the cross traffic (on Jefferson) does not stop. The accidents and near misses have continued. Rather than installing yet more attention-getting devices, It’s time to enhance safety by taking the simple steps of cutting down the tree and pruning the bushes so that drivers can see oncoming traffic.  Meanwhile, drivers and cyclists beware.

Marilyn Jerry
Terhune Road

To the Editor:

I am writing in support of Ari Meisel’s election to the Princeton School Board. I am a parent of a third grade Haitian American Littlebrook Elementary student and am a graduate of Riverside Elementary, Princeton Middle School, and Princeton High School. I am intentionally raising my child in the school district I graduated from for the sense of inclusivity, community, and progressiveness I felt growing up here.

I first met Ari at Back to School Night at Littlebrook when our daughters shared a first grade classroom. When he heard me introduce myself to their teacher as my daughter’s mom, he said “I’m going to need your number because my daughter can’t stop talking about yours.” This was the start of a wonderful friendship between our girls and our families, and the first example of many where it’s in Ari’s nature to take swift action. I know Ari firsthand to be the most dedicated parent there is. From the moment he and his family settled in Princeton, he made certain to get involved in the community in as many ways possible to benefit our community and its members. more