To the Editor:

I am a parent of three PPS children (one each at Littlebrook, PMS, and PHS), and I’m writing to support the candidacies of Mara Franceschi and Ari Meisel for the Board of Education.

I got to know Mara during her highly effective first term on the Board. As co-chair of the Board’s Personnel Committee, Mara mastered the details of public education employment law and worked hard to enable PPS to retain and attract excellent teachers in a tight job market, all while keeping a careful eye on budget realities. Under Mara’s leadership, the district’s investments in its extraordinary staff have paid off for PPS students: 2024 test scores reveal that the district’s post-COVID academic performance is at or exceeds where we were in 2018. Through her work on the Operations and Long-Term Planning committees, Mara learned how to meet the needs of a complex, high-performing school district with a $100 million+ budget while adhering to the statutory 2 percent year-to-year cap in an inflationary environment. And as a recent addition to the Negotiations Committee, Mara helps to strike contract deals with PPS teachers and administrators that are both fair and fiscally responsible.  more

To the Editor:

On behalf of the boards of trustees, staff, and residents of Princeton Community Housing (PCH), we wish to express our gratitude to those who helped to make our September 27 fundraising event, “Community Roots, Opportunity Blossoms,” at Morven Museum & Garden a wonderful success. We had grand time, thanks to the efforts of our volunteers and staff, and our generous donors throughout the community. Together, we raised more than $119,000 to support PCH’s mission and what we call the “PCH Difference,” our commitment to providing not only homes but supportive services that result in stronger, healthier outcomes for our residents and communities.

Just as a well-tended garden nurtures seeds and helps them take root, a richly diverse and inclusive community creates opportunities for growth and success in life, benefiting everyone. Affordable homes ensure that our town is a place where people from all backgrounds can put down roots, contribute to its vibrancy, enhance its “ecosystem,” and grow and blossom by accessing and adding to our abundant resources. more

To the Editor:

Transparency and effective communication are the cornerstones of a successful school board and a strong school district. Princeton’s Board of Education will thrive under the leadership of BOE candidates Chris Santarpio and Erica Snyder, superlative communicators and hands-on participants in the work of cultivating Princeton’s robust public education system.

Whether catching up with parents on the playground, leading school fundraising events, or chatting over tater tots and beers at the Ivy Inn, there is no more gifted communicator than Chris Santarpio, owner of a second-generation family business and co-president of Community Park School’s PTO. He is as friendly as he is even-keeled, equally up for a serious conversation about matters of town importance as he is to shoot the breeze with his neighbors, making real connections with our entire district. He seeks — and achieves — broad buy-in from our diverse Community Park community, as he is a natural unifier and collaborative leader. He is genuinely interested in what everyone thinks, takes feedback warmly, working humbly to ensure that the next school picnic or STEAM day is even better than the last one. Want a leader who knows what it takes to run a successful ice cream social and is just as adept analyzing a budget? Chris is that candidate, and the BOE needs his vision, his practical know-how, and his rare ability to build consensus. more

To the Editor:

Six candidates are vying for three open positions in the upcoming Princeton School Board election. I am writing to endorse BOE Candidate Shenwei Zhao for the position. Like many of us who are personally invested in the school district as taxpayers and parents of children attending publicly funded schools, Mr. Zhao has demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting common sense, transparency, and care within the district. I wholeheartedly support his candidacy as a resident with children attending Princeton Public Schools (PPS).

Having engaged in numerous discussions with Mr. Zhao before and after his candidacy announcement, I have gained insight into his genuine and consistent concerns for the welfare of our schools and community. He is deeply passionate about improving the quality of all Princeton schools and ensuring that the district provides the best educational opportunities to all families. more

To the Editor:

As a local business owner and parent in Princeton, I’m writing to express my strong support for Ari Meisel’s candidacy for the Princeton Board of Education. Over the past three years, I’ve had the privilege of getting to know Ari through our daughters’ school, Littlebrook. Our friendship grew from mutual respect and shared values, and I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact of Ari’s leadership.

Ari is not only a dedicated father, but also an expert in productivity and efficiency. His guidance has been instrumental in improving operations at my business, L Brooke Homes, where he helped implement strategies that significantly boosted both efficiency and profitability. Simply put, Ari’s ability to solve complex problems is exactly what our school district needs. more

To the Editor:

On Friday, September 20, Princeton-Blairstown Center (PBC) held its ninth annual Links to Youth Golf Outing at the Fox Hollow Golf Club in Branchburg. The event raised $81,000, which will support PBC’s award-winning Summer Bridge Program. Each year, Summer Bridge offers hundreds of students from Trenton and Newark a high-quality outdoor enrichment experience focused on social-emotional learning, literacy skills, and STEM, completely free of charge.

At the dinner celebration following the outing, student speaker Ashley Diaz Seguay shared her experiences at PBC with the audience.  As a member of the Leader-in-Training Program, Ashley spent six weeks over the summer learning and growing at PBC’s Blairstown Campus, where she developed college- and career-readiness skills.  Ashley is a high school senior from Newark, and her experience at PBC helped her develop independence, leadership, responsibility, cooperation, and grit.   more

To The Editor:

We have lived at our current address, located on a prominent corner in town, for over 51 years.

Last week, we purchased a lawn sign in support of the presidential candidacy of Kamala Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, and placed it on our property. Yesterday, we discovered that the sign had been stolen, although a sign in support of Andy Kim for U.S. senator remained untouched.

We understand that similar signs around Princeton have been stolen from private property.

We can only say that we are saddened and angered by this juvenile behavior. Shame on you, whoever is responsible. You are guilty of trespass, petty theft, and worst of all, bad manners and dishonoring our American value of free speech.

Alice and Joe Small
Hawthorne Avenue

To the Editor:

I am writing today to express my unwavering support for my friend Erica Snyder, who passionately advocates for an improved educational experience for all children in our district. Her vision encompasses a robust curriculum and a commitment to inclusivity and safety in our schools.

I have one child who recently graduated from PHS, another a senior this year, and a third attending JP. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Erica since our youngest children were together at Cherry Hill Nursery School, where she now serves as the director. more

To the Editor:

It was distressing to learn that the NJ Division of Civil Rights (NJ DCR) has recently issued violation notices to housing providers across the state, including a Princeton apartment complex. However, it is reassuring to know that the NJ DCR is enforcing the Fair Chance in Housing Act (FCHA), which prevents landlords from using criminal background checks to unfairly exclude applicants.

According to the NJ DCR, the application form for the Princeton apartment complex stated that an applicant “will be denied” if they have “any felony criminal convictions” or “misdemeanor criminal convictions.” This would clearly discourage anyone with a criminal record — no matter how minor or how long ago — from applying. While the violation in Princeton has been corrected, it serves as a wake-up call for our community, which has witnessed the harm unfair tenant screening practices have caused to our most underserved neighbors for decades. more

To the Editor:

Thank you, Town Topics, for generously providing space for our letters of concern about our community. Several weeks ago, you published letters by Steve Hiltner of Friends of Herrontown Woods and Wendy Mager of Friends of Princeton Open Space about the blight that was beginning in our beech forests. Over a thousand trees will be affected in Herrontown Woods around the home of Oswald Veblen, the father of the Princeton open space movement. My favorite poet, Robert Frost, who thought of the beech tree as “a witness tree” would be sad. How often we see initials carved on the bark of beeches as I memorialized in my poem “God and Buggs.”

When I noticed those two letters, I recalled that among the paintings that I had collected was a rather large one of a beech forest by an accomplished artist who had studied under Daniel Garber. The painting gets at what the essence of a beech forest is about, what it feels like and means to many of us. I decided to donate it to the restoration of Veblen House. I felt that just seeing it would draw attention to the cause.  more

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

To the Editor:

I am writing to support Mara Franceschi’s reelection to the Princeton Board of Education.

I have known Mara and her family for many years and know Mara to be deeply dedicated to and care very much about the Princeton community. Since moving to Princeton 14 years ago, she has volunteered with many local nonprofits, including assistant treasurer of the Friends of the Library, treasurer for Nassau Nursery School, PTO treasurer and president for Johnson Park Elementary School, and on the town’s now disbanded Citizen’s Finance Advisory Committee (CFAC). There is no doubt, however, that her service on the School Board on behalf of our children is her highest volunteer priority. Mara believes passionately in a vital public school education for all children. more

To the Editor:

I have got to know Chris Santarpio through his outstanding dedication to our Parent Teacher Organization, and I am delighted to hear that Chris is hoping to build on that experience by joining the School Board. Chris has demonstrated that he really cares that our schools are working well and has gone over and above normal duty to help out. Any time I go to a school district meeting I see him there, asking great questions, and working hard to ensure the best outcomes for kids in our local schools.

The School Board is planning a bond referendum to provide much-needed classroom space, but many residents will be wondering whether all the investments are necessary. Chris has been following this process for years. He understands how important these investments are,  and also has the skills and background to ensure that local residents are getting value for money. He has also considered the needs of families from different schools, and has worked to ensure that improvements benefit everybody.  more

To the Editor:

We would like to add to Yasna Shahriarian’s thoughtful letter about the dangerous intersection of Hamilton Avenue, Rollingmead, and Snowden Lane [Mailbox, September 25].

As local residents, we walk or drive through that intersection every day. Many years ago, several of us, all residents of Snowden Lane, asked the town to install speed bumps along Snowden Lane. Our request was rejected. more

To the Editor:

I am grateful to live in as bicycle-friendly a town as Princeton, and I enjoy biking to day care and work with my 1-year-old son in his trailer a few times a week. As a cyclist I strive to be visible and to follow the rules of the road, as I expect cars to do, and I generally feel safe.

However, within the past few weeks we’ve had several close calls at the intersection of Terhune Road and Jefferson Road, when drivers heading west on Terhune have run or almost run their stop sign as I came downhill with the right-of-way on Jefferson. There are no sight-line issues at this corner, and it’s difficult to understand how these drivers haven’t seen us coming down the hill with our bright colors, lights, and trailer flag.  more

To the Editor:

I’m writing in support of Ari Meisel as a candidate for the Board of Education. Ari is a problem solver who is deeply invested in our school system and our community, and I believe that he will be a capable addition to the Board.

You may have heard Ari described as an “efficiency coach.” I didn’t fully understand what that meant when I first met Ari a few years ago, but I’ve come to understand that it involves helping entrepreneurs and C-level executives become better managers and navigate challenging periods for their businesses. This is often during a time of growth or transition, and Ari’s role involves digging into the details of a business and finding ways to improve systems and operations, whether it be by leveraging technology (one of Ari’s favorite topics), by hiring or delegating in a strategic way, or by teaching his clients to be more effective managers and communicators. From my perspective, that is a pretty ideal skill set to bring to the management of a system as important as our school district.  more

To the Editor:

We hear a lot of talk against immigrants and immigration these days, but too often we fail to remember that, many times, people come to this country seeking refuge from violence and persecution. They have a right to apply for asylum, in accordance with UN Conventions and U.S. law, but there is little assistance available to help them navigate a complex system of rules and forms to seek asylum. Many are desperately looking for a better, safer life for themselves and their children; they contribute to our communities, filling important gaps in employment and adding the richness of their cultures to our lives.

The recent ICE raid in Princeton reminds us that a number of Solidaridad volunteers first came together six years ago, in response to a series of pre-dawn raids at immigrant neighbors’ homes. We are grateful that our elected representatives spoke out against the most recent action and that community members mobilized to ensure that our neighbors in Princeton knew their rights.  more