Town Topics — Princeton's Weekly Community Newspaper Since 1946.
Vol. LXV, No. 1
Happy New Year!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
(Borough Council Photo by Dilshanie Perera; Township Committee Photo by Emily Reeves)
CHANGES: Jo Butler (right) was sworn in for her three-year term on Borough Council by Mayor Mildred Trotman while Ms. Butler’s husband assisted in the proceedings during the municipality’s annual reorganization meeting on Sunday. Former Council President Andrew Koontz urged the Borough to continue to maintain its parks before concluding his term on Council to join the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Kevin Wilkes was appointed the new Council President by the mayor after a tied vote with David Goldfarb. Also that day, Chad Goerner was sworn in as mayor at Township Committee’s reorganization meeting. Sue Nemeth is the new Deputy Mayor.

Front Page

Reorganization Meeting Sees Disagreement Over New Council President

Dilshanie Perera

Mayor Mildred Trotman had to break two ties during Sunday’s Borough Council reorganization meeting. The first had to do with electing a new Council President after former President Andrew Koontz concluded his term with the Borough, while the second dealt with Council appointments to Borough Committees. Also during the session, Jo Butler and Roger Martindell were sworn in for three-year terms on Council.

Chad Goerner Is New Township Mayor

Ellen Gilbert

Chad Goerner and Sue Nemeth were sworn in as Mayor and Deputy Mayor at Township Committee’s reorganization meeting on Sunday, January 2.

Mr. Goerner replaces Bernie Miller, who stepped down after serving a two-year term, and Ms. Nemeth takes Mr. Goerner’s place as deputy mayor. They were voted into office by their colleagues on Township Committee.

Committee members Liz Lempert and Lance Liverman, who were re-elected in the general election last November, were also sworn in on Sunday.

Seeing Slow Growth, Local Merchants Remain Cautious About Year Ahead

Dilshanie Perera

Area business owners and retailers have reported seeing a modest upturn in sales over the past year. While they are heartened by the consumer enthusiasm displayed over the holiday season, they remain cautious about the year ahead.


Other News

School Lunches Get Federal Assistance as Kids Learn Where Cranberries Come From

Ellen Gilbert

“Yes, kids, New Jersey is called the Garden State for a reason,” observed Princeton University chef Rob Harbison, one of four chefs participating in the Princeton School Gardens Cooperative (PSGC) farm to school program. “When we went to the Farmers Market here in Princeton my own kids thought the vendors working the stands went to ShopRite for the produce they sell,” said the Cranbury resident. “Well, after doing the Farm to School program, I can see what a difference our program can make and how well if fits into the new school lunch program legislation.”

Baseline Report Expected Next Monday, Consolidation Commission Looks Ahead

Dilshanie Perera

The Joint Consolidation and Shared Services Study Commission expects a baseline report from its consultant, the Center for Governmental Research (CGR), by next Monday at the latest. The report will provide data and a preliminary analysis of the status of departments within the Borough and Township in terms of finances and operations and will be posted to cgr.org/princeton.

Township’s Timely Purchase of Equipment Expedited Snow Removal During Storm

Ellen Gilbert

“We were finished when other communities were still plowing,” said Princeton Township’s Department of Public Works Superintendent Don R. Hansen reporting on the Christmas weekend snow storm at last Wednesday’s Township Committee meeting.

Topics in Brief
A Community Bulletin


Sports

No. 19 Tiger Men’s Hockey Ties Quinnipiac 1-1; Extends Unbeaten String to 6, Takes 1st in ECACH

Bill Alden

Rediscovering the freewheeling mojo that has made it an ECAC Hockey power in recent years, the Princeton University men’s hockey team ended 2010 with a bang.

Sparked by Johnson’s Scoring Outburst, PU Women’s Hockey Winning Streak at 5

Bill Alden

Julie Johnson didn’t feel too good as the Princeton University women’s ice hockey team hosted No. 5 Boston College last Friday afternoon.

Resilient PU Women’s Hoops Posts NC Sweep; Faces More Challenges as Ivy Campaign Looms

Bill Alden

For the Princeton University women’s basketball team, its trip to North Carolina last week turned out to be fraught with challenges.


More Sports…


Book Review

Into 2011: Marilyn Monroe in Grief and Glory, Speaking Low

Stuart Mitchner

New Year’s Eve and I’ve got a bad head cold. Thus no party, no champagne in the house. Who cares, I’ve got a date with a beautiful woman. But first I turn on the TV to Turner Classic Movies and a Marx Brothers marathon. Animal Crackers, one of their best, has just begun. After the big “Hooray for Captain Spaulding” number, Chico and Harpo (“the Professor”) arrive, each announced in turn by Hollywood’s favorite portly butler, Robert Grieg. When a black-caped, black-top-hatted Harpo saunters forth sporting his customary psychotic leer, a cigarette in his mouth, Groucho wisecracks as only Groucho can, “The gate swung open and a fig newton entered!” After Harpo does his cigarette routine, pushing tiny perfect bubbles of smoke through his lips, including a chocolate one when Groucho dares him, he hands his cloak to the butler, which sends the women screaming out of the room because the Professor is clad in nothing but the top hat, a sleeveless undershirt and some shorts. Spotting Captain Spaulding’s gun rack, Harpo grabs a pistol and starts shooting, hits himself in the foot, hops briefly about, removes a rifle from the rack, takes aim, and shoots the swinging pendulum on a clock to a standstill, then takes two shots at a singing canary in a cage (a squawk suggests that the second shot found its mark), shoots the plumed hats off two women as they scurry past, shoots a bottle off the butler’s tray, shoots at a statue of two wrestlers who come to life, whip out pistols, and fire back. Unfazed, Harpo exits the scene chasing a girl.