Nov 2012 - Nassau Journals

n o v e m b e r 2 0 1 2 

of Cranbury-East Windsor

The 

The 

The local news and information source for 

Northern Mercer and Southern Middlesex Counties 

A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 

A P R I L 1 9 1 1 

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THE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2012 3 

Interviewing a Home Grown Ballet 

Celebrity: Alexis Branagan Interviews 

Stephen Campanella. 

What first attracted you to ballet and 

to Princeton Ballet School? 

At the age of 2, I saw a video of 

Baryshnikov dancing in The Nutcracker 

and was immediately captivated. I went 

to a local dance school at 3, and the 

owner directed me to Princeton Ballet 

School, the Official School of American 

Repertory Ballet, where I was enrolled at 

the age of 4. 

When did you begin performing in 

American Repertory Ballet’s Nutcracker? 

I grew up in West Windsor and 

started performing in ARB’s Nutcracker 

at age 5. Over my childhood years, I was 

a mouse, the youngest boy in the party 

scene, and Fritz, Clara’s obnoxious 

younger brother; the last of those suited 

me perfectly. (Now he dances the role of 

Soldier Doll in Act I of Nutcracker.) It 

was a wonderful experience on a number 

of levels: the thrill of performing in a professional production, 

the backstage camaraderie of the children, the early lesson in commitment 

of one’s time, effort, and love. It also provided excellent on 

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stage experience from a very early age. 

Children who perform learn how the 

theater works. They are also inspired by 

company members, learn how to perform 

for an audience, above and beyond 

the technique one learns in the classroom. 

It is said that practice makes perfect, 

and the more you perform, the 

better you get at it. 

In what ways do you think ARB’s Nutcracker 

is a uniquely local tradition? 

The Nutcracker forms a uniquely 

American tradition, despite the German 

origins of the story and the Franco-Russian 

origins of the ballet. Almost everywhere 

else in the world, The Nutcracker 

is performed as just another part of a 

ballet company’s repertory; only here is 

it an annual holiday tradition with a 

special local flair. 

ARB has been performing The Nutcracker 

in central New Jersey for almost 

50 years, with local children joining the 

company on stage to dance for local audiences 

in venues such as McCarter Theatre 

in Princeton and State Theatre in New Brunswick. It has become 

a Central Jersey family tradition. 

continued on page 14 

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PHONE (609) 371-4631 • FAX (732) 431-9379 • WWW.THEJOURNALNJ.COM Support Our Advertisers

4 THE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2012 

MONMOUTH COUNTY EDITIONS 

The Colts Neck Journal 

The Holmdel Journal 

The Navesink Area Journal 

(Including Atlantic Highlands, Fair Haven, Lincroft, Little Silver, Locust, 

Middletown, Red Bank, Rumson, Shrewsbury, & Sea Bright) 

MERCER AND MIDDLESEX COUNTY EDITIONS 

The Journal of Cranbury-East Windsor 

(Including the Borough of Hightstown) 

The Journal of Plainsboro-West Windsor 

The Journal of South Brunswick 

(Including Kendall Park, Dayton, and Monmouth Junction) 

Vice President/General Manager Josh Gertzog 

Art Director (Monmouth) Debra McKenna 

Assistant Art Director (Mercer/Middlesex) Lynn Stone 

Managing Editor Joanne Colella 

Mercer/Middlesex Editor Lori Draz 

Office Administration (Monmouth) Nancy Hayes 

Marketing Consultants (Monmouth) 

Robin Fields Jill Goldbach 

Jean Simone Dalesio Debbie Cohen 

Marketing Consultants (Mercer/Middlesex) 

Kim LaVista Darlene Curiazza 

Contributing Writers (Monmouth) 

Tony Senk Laura Kolnoski 

Les Pierce MaryAnn Miano 

Lori Anne Oliwa Jennifer Chauhan 

Contributing Writers (Mercer/Middlesex) 

Laurel Kornfeld Alice Borowsky 

Annie Gonzales Pravin Phillip 

Maria Prato 

Nassau Publications, LLC and Nassau Journals, LLC are known as 

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CONTACT US 

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In case of error or omission, publisher’s liability, if any, will not exceed charge for space occupied by the error. Nassau 

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We Will Never Forget 

Each month, I use this column to extol the virtues of The 

Journal. This month, it’s a little different, because of a 

November event coming up. On November 6, 2012, I 

am going to be doing something that even surpasses reading The 

Journal: 

Voting. 

To some of you, this is a “no brainer.” You 

vote in every election, you feel that it’s important 

to have your voice heard, and you are proud of 

the fact that you have the right to vote in 

“land of the free.” 

Some of you never vote. You 

say “nothing’s going to change,” or 

“the candidates are the same,” or, 

in some cases, “my vote just 

doesn’t matter.” I also hear a lot of 

“I don’t have time.” 

I have always subscribed to the theory 

that if you don’t vote, you lose your right to complain. And since 

almost everyone likes to complain, I think it makes sense to vote. 

So that’s the easy part. However, do you encourage your 

friends and family to vote? What if you know they have different 

opinions than you? Do you encourage them in that case? 

That’s a little harder. If you are voting for candidate A and 

you know your friend favors candidate B, do you still encourage 

them to vote? My answer is “yes.” As contrary as that may sound, 

I am more concerned about getting as many people as possible 

to vote than I am about who gets elected. 

The partisanship that pervades our country now makes this 

almost a crazy thought. We look at “the other candidate” as almost 

anti-American. Yet the fact that he or she is a candidate is 

exactly what makes them American. They are part of a free election, 

where majority actually rules. You can make your voice 

known by voting for one candidate or the other. 

Here’s my strategy on picking a candidate to vote for: 

1) Be selfish. Which candidates will fight for legislation that 

will help me as an individual? 

2) Be selfless. Which candidates will fight for legislation 

that will benefit the most people? 

3) Think about the past. What has worked in the past, and 

what might work again? 

4) Think about the future. What has changed in our society 

that makes the past obsolete no matter how attractive returning 

to those days might be? 

5) Go with your gut. After these other steps, picking the candidate 

is still an emotional choice. Do your homework, 

make some educated choices…but then go with what 

you feel is “right.” It will be a choice you can live with. 

But most importantly, vote. No matter what you think about 

the individual candidates of either…or both…major parties, not 

casting your vote is a true insult to those who fought to make this 

country great. Don’t insult them…and yourself…by staying out 

of the fray. 

See you at the polls on November 6. 

Josh Gertzog 

October 2012

T A B of of 

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COVER 

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4 message fr from 

the publisher 

7 apollo apollo lodge lodge cer 

cer emony 

9 ew boar d of ed meeting 

10 day trip 

12 dave cook and jay taylor seek r re-election 

e-election 

13 r epublicans mount challenge for township committee 

20 working class 

21 business matters 

23 meet the candidates 

24 hightstown triathalon 

26 entertainment corner 

28 community yar yard 

sale 

31 let’ s dish 

32 november special events 

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With the elections surr surrounding 

ounding us, and the holidays just ar 

ound 

the cornerr, 

, r 

esidents will still make time to honor those that 

served - and serve - our country on V Veterans 

eterans Day 

, observed 

this year on November 12th. 

S 

27 

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APOLLO LODGE #41 - CORNERSTONE LAYING CEREMONY 

By Annie Gonzales 

The Hightstown Apollo Masonic Lodge, also known as the 

Apollo Lodge #41, led by Worshipful Master Earl C. 

Groendyke, conducted their Cornerstone Installation on 

October 7. Many were in attendance, including Hightstown Mayor 

Steven Kirson and Grand Master of Masons, Most Worshipful Glenn 

R. Trautman. The procession was led by Grand Marshal RW Arnold 

T. ”Butch” Elliot. 

The cornerstone was donated by Corbin Steel and Stone. Engraving 

was done by A.L. Duryee & Son, a division of Sutphen Memorials, 

and the document box was provided by Michael Sheenan. 

Also in attendance were members of the Grange, Hightstown- 

East Windsor Lions Club, Rocky Brook Garden Club, and the Hightstown 

Bridge Commission. Wonderful live music was provided by 

Lauren and Katrina Bragat. For more information on the Apollo 

Lodge #41, visit www.nj-freemasons.org. 

Dignitaries assemble 

Procession Grand Master 

Allan White, Glenn R. Trautman, 

Earl C. Groendyke 

Symbolically applying cement 

Glenn R. Trautman, Earl C. Groendyke, 

Mayor Steven Kirson 

Plaque is placed 

Ceremony begins 

CRANBURY PUBLIC LIBRARY 

FOUNDATION REACHES $1 

MILLION MILESTONE 

The Cranbury Public Library Foundation reached a milestone 

in its capital campaign to raise funds for a new building. 

“We have officially crossed the million dollar mark in 

funds pledged and saved,” announced Foundation President Patricia 

Thomsson. “Residents are coming together as a philanthropic group 

to make this happen. About 70 individuals, families, groups, and 

businesses have contributed to the campaign so far, sending a message 

that Cranbury needs a new public library!” 

With two generous pledges committed in the same week, one 

from the Friends of the Cranbury Public Library and the other from 

1st Constitution Bank (of Cranbury), the funds for the project total 

$1,020,000 of the $3.2 million needed to build a new community 

library. The township has also shown its support by designating the 

land for the new building. In addition, the township committee 

passed a resolution endorsing the Foundation’s efforts. 

Kirstie Venanzi, Cranbury Public Library Foundation Campaign 

Chair, said, “With this project we have a chance to do what Andrew 

Carnegie called real and permanent good for our town.“ 

Lorraine Sedor, acting president of the Friends of the Cranbury 

Public Library, said “The Friends support the library’s mission of providing 

excellent library service to the residents of our town.” 

More than a decade ago, when the Friends group was chartered, 

our goal was to augment the Library’s already outstanding array of 

offerings. Everyone who has ever stopped by our used book sales, 




TIME TO FILL UP! 

By Serenity Medical Spa 

As we age, we lose volume under our eyes, in our cheeks, 

and in our jawline. Unfortunately, we still have the same 

amount of skin, so without the volume of youth, our faces 

deflate like a balloon. This leaves us with sagging skin that ages us and 

makes us appear tired or unhappy or even angry. 

We find that this time of year a lot of our patients choose to treat 

themselves to a dermal filler procedure. What I love about fillers is they 

give you that instant gratification that so few cosmetic treatments do. 

With no recovery time at all and the biggest risk being a bruise (that 

heals quickly), you can instantly look 10 to 15 years younger. Without 

a major change that looks like you have “had work done,” fillers will 

make you look more rested, less stern, and more youthful. Fillers vary 

by what they are made out of, how long they last, andhow much they 

cost. At Serenity Medical Spa, we offer a wide variety of fillers that last 

from as little as six months to as much as two to three years! 

If you are planning on a dermal filler procedure, there are some 

things you can do to prepare so that your risk of bruising is decreased. 

For one week prior to y our appointment, stop all aspirin or aspirin 

products such as Motrin, Advil, and Aleve. Also stop fish oil, vitamin 

E, and gingko. Three days prior to your procedure, start taking some 

Arnica Montana Pellets, five a day under your tongue. Then the morning 

of your procedure, eat some fresh pineapple and/or kiwi. All of 

these measures will reduce your risk of bruising significantly. 

So before that high school reunion this fall or seeing those family 

members that judge us on those few hours they see us once or twice a 

year, come in to Serenity Medical Spa and let us make you look as 

good as you feel! 

Join us on Novemeber 15, for our annual open house with great 

discounts on all our fillers and products. Appointments are necessary, 

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HICKORY CORNER 

LIBRARY BOOK SALE 

Remember that best-seller 

you’ve been meaning to read 

or give as a gift? Now’s the 

time to get it! The Friends of the Hickory 

Corner Library, Inc., will be holding their 

fall book sale on Thursday, Saturday, and 

Sunday, November 15, 17, and 18, at the 

library at 138 Hickory Corner Road, in East Windsor. 

The opening two hours on Thursday, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 

p.m. will be open for members of the Friends of the Hickory Corner 

Library only. Then the general public will be welcomed for the rest 

of the sale. 

Browse through hundreds of new and gently-used adult, young 

adult, and children’s books, as well as DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, and 

videotapes. 

All items are very reasonably priced. Adult hardcover books are 

$1.50, and paperbacks are 50 cents to $1.00. Young adult and children’s 

hardcover books are two for $1.00, and paperbacks are three 

for $1.00. There will also be some special books priced individually. 

Proceeds are used to purchase new materials for the library and 

provide special programs for adults and children, including the Summer 

Reading Program. Sale hours are Thursday, November 15, 6:00 

p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Saturday, November 17, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 

p.m. There’s a special BAG SALE on Sunday, November 18, from 1:00 

p.m. to 4:00 pm, where you can fill a bag for only $4.00. 

The Hickory Corner Library is a branch of the Mercer County Library 

System. 

For more information, email friendshclibrary@gmail.com. 

The Effects of Time and Mother 

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health and beauty in a new light. With 

convenient hours and most importantly, 

the expertise of Dr. Sharon Gertzman and her 

staff of well-trained, licensed associates, we 

have brought health, beauty and medical 

excellence to Central New Jersey. Dr. Gertzman 

offers complimentary consultations so that she 

can individualize a treatment plan for you! 

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Phone: 609-737-7737


EW SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF 

ED MEETING SEPTEMBER 24 


Former Board Member Susan Lloyd was recognized at the September 

24 East Windsor School District Board of Education 

Meeting. Opening remarks were given by Superintendent Edward 

Forsthoffer, who described Lloyd as a “very diligent board member 

and consummate professional.” Board President Robert Laverty 

thanked Lloyd for 10 years of service on the board, “including the 

most tumultuous years ever seen.” Lloyd was then presented a plaque 

in grateful recognition of service from 2002 to 2012. 

Lloyd thanked the members of the board. “I am proud of what 

the district has become.” She said her hard work was, “done all for 

the students. I am grateful to all for the support for the last two years.” 

Seven members of the district’s Transportation Department received 

special recognition for Perfect Attendance. Transportation Supervisor 

Ingrid Reitano stated, ”It takes true dedication. They’re at 

work before the lights are on and they’re the first people the children 

see.” The Perfect Attendance recipients were: 

Emmanuel Babin – Bus Driver 

Charles Burt – Bus Driver 

Karen De Angelis – Van Attendant 

Dianna Moore – Driver 

William Power – Bus Driver 

Jean Prophete – Bus Driver 

Donna Sweeney– Bus Driver 

Nine district staff members received special recognition for 25 

Years of Service. The recipients were introduced by their fellow teachers. 

Gayle Parker, Rogers School Principal, honored Mary Christensen 

of Grace N. Rogers Elementary School. Principal Parker said that 

Christensen, “created a safe, caring, and all-inclusive child-centered 

environment.” Principal Parker said it was an honor to work with a 

dedicated professional who is passionate about education. 

Principal Parker also honored Mary Ann Wherley of Grace N. 

Rogers Elementary School. “She is consistently recognized by all administrators 

as dedicated, enthusiastic, cooperative, and committed.” 

Lori Stein, Melvin H. Kreps Middle School Principal, honored Ellen 

Gertel of Kreps Middle School. “Ellen promotes well-being of the 

school community; she continues to be a compassionate counselor.” 

Principal Stein also honored Harold Cox of Kreps. “His love and 

passion for teaching science has inspired students. He remains current 

and incorporates new strategies. He inspires in science, and on the 

mat as the Wrestling Coach.” 

Robert Dias, Perry L. Drew School Principal, honored Lynn Marie 

Churchman of Perry L. Drew Elementary School. Churchman taught 

third and fourth grade and special education. Principal Dias said that 

Churchman “loves helping the children reach their best potential possible.” 

She was described as a “passionate gardener,” and she helped 

build the Drew School garden. “The result is a wonderful garden that 

is still up today,” Principal Dias said. 

Alix Arvizu, Hightstown High School Principal, honored Dr. 

David Williams of Hightstown High School. Principal Arvizu described 

Dr. Williams as “enthusiastically sharing his love for literature. 

He has an excellent rapport with students.” 

Tekalah Sherrod, Director of Student Services for the district, honored 

Iris Landau of Student Services. Sherrod described Landau as 

supporting students’ growth for independence and self-advocacy.” 

Also receiving awards for 25 Years of Service were Trudy Heisler in 

Administration and Maria Rodriguez of Grace N. Rogers Elementary 

School. Both were unable to attend the evening’s award presentation. 

Board Member Christine Harrington acknowledged the passing 

of Jacques A. “Doudou” Chancy, Music Teacher at Grace N. Rogers El- 

ementary School. Chancy passed away on September 16, from a heart 

attack. Board members described Chancy as a “beloved teacher”. 

Superintendent Forsthoffer said that the district received crisis 

management training last year to prepare for any unfortunate events. 

Superintendent Forsthoffer explained that they did not use the 

Chancy’s classroom for the first half of the day after the loss. They 

brought in a teacher to fill in, one who had worked in the school distrtict 

before. Students received counseling and he said that the staff 

and students were excellent. 

In lengthy discussion was the policy on Home Schooling and 

Equivalent Education Outside the Schools, also called Policy 5270. 

Board members posed questions on policy language. They also discussed 

policy for the appropriate intervention of the Superintendent 

when they receive reports of homeschooled children not receiving an 

education. Discussions of this policy will be continued at the next 

scheduled Board of Education meeting. 


As the country looks 

ahead to next 

month’s presidential 

elections, this month’s Day 

Trip takes a look back at the 

lifestyle of a former president, 

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 

and his hometown of 

Hyde Park, New York. 

Located in the northwest 

portion of Dutchess 

County, just north of Poughkeepsie, 

the town is the site 

of the FDR estate called 

Springwood, now officially 

named the Home of Franklin 

D. Roosevelt National Historic 

Site, which is maintained 

by the National Park 

Service. Once Roosevelt’s 

birthplace and lifelong residence 

where he often 

hosted distinguished guests 

from around the world, the 

house is now a popular museum 

that offers guests a 

glimpse into the wealthy and privileged upbringing 

of the future Democratic president. The Franklin 

D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, 

America’s first presidential library and the only one 

used by a sitting president, is also here in Hyde 

Park and is operated by the National Archives. It 

houses a vast collection of his personal papers, 

books, memorabilia, and other items assembled 

from a lifetime of public service. Both the 32nd 

U.S. President and his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, are 

buried at Springwood, in the estate’s rose garden. 

The Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National 

Historic Site is open all year, seven days a week (except 

Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day) 

from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Visitors are only able 

to see the Federal-style home itself by guided tour, 

but the expansive grounds, trails, and picturesque 

gardens are free and open from sunrise to sunset 

daily. The FDR Presidential Library and Museum, 

also included with admission to the estate, offers 

self-guided tours. 

Your visit will usually begin at the Henry A. 

Wallace Visitor and Education Center, where you 

(TOP LEFT) “Springwood,” The Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site 

(TOP RIGHT) Top Cottage (BOTTOM LEFT) A statue of President Franklin D. Roosevelt 

and his wife Eleanor greet guests arriving at the visitor center. 

(BOTTOM RIGHT) Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site 

can watch an introductory film and arrange for both 

the guided tours of the historic home – led by 

knowledgeable National Park Rangers – and selfguided 

tours of the library and museum. At the 

easternmost edge of the 300-acre estate is Top Cottage, 

a smaller, Dutch colonial-style home that Roosevelt 

built as a quiet retreat from the bustle of 

Springwood and where he would invite close friends 

and political allies to spend time with him. Top Cottage 

is open from May through October and is also 

available for tours, with shuttles departing from the 

visitor center. Val-Kill, a modest structure about two 

miles away, was used by Eleanor Roosevelt for her 

personal work and became her home after the president’s 

death. It is the only National Historic Site 

dedicated to a first lady. It is also open for guided 

tours from May through October, with the grounds 

open year-round from sunrise to sunset. 

Visitors are generally advised to plan a minimum 

of two and a half hours to tour Springwood, and another 

two hours to see Top Cottage. An additional 

90 minutes is suggested to devote to Val-Kill. 

The historic town of Hyde Park also includes 

HYDE PARK, NEW YORK 

By Joanne Colella 

other notable sites, one of 

the most impressive being 

the neighboring Vanderbilt 

Mansion National Historic 

Site. Established as a monument 

to an entire era – the 

so-called Gilded Age -- the 

stunning estate is one of the 

few remaining premier examples 

of the “country palaces” 

built by wealthy industrialists. 

Overlooking the east bank of 

the Hudson River, the site sits 

on 211 acres, with expansive 

views, formal gardens, grand 

landscaping, natural woodlands, 

and numerous structures. 

The centerpiece of the 

estate is the magnificent 54room 

mansion used by Frederick 

William Vanderbilt and 

his wife Louise as a seasonal 

country residence. 

Like its famous neighboring 

sites, the Vanderbilt 

Mansion is open for guided 

tours, seven days a week, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 

p.m. – although times are more limited from November 

through April and subject to change, so it’s 

wise to check schedules when you plan to visit. 

The mansion is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, 

and New Year’s Day. The surrounding grounds are 

open every day throughout the year from sunrise 

to sunset. 

The National Park Service maintains very informative 

websites about each of these always 

breathtaking, often inspiring destinations. There 

are even convenient itineraries available online, offering 

advice on how to easily and efficiently plan 

your day to take in the entire experience. Reasonably 

priced tickets allow access to multiple sites, 

and free shuttle buses are available to usher you to 

each location. 

For more details on how to take your own day 

trip back into history, check out these websites: 

www.nps.gov/hofr/index.htm, 

www.nps.gov/vama/index.htm, www.hydeparkchamber.org/tourism.htm#sites, 

and 

www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/library/history.html.


A.F.E.W. FRIENDS NEW YOU 

Dallas Casey 

Maribel 

Snicker Dude 

Dallas 

Dallas is a little shy and very 

independent, a friendly fellow 

and a little aloof, but let him get 

to know you. Dallas has a very 

calm demeanor and a perfect 

name for Cowboys fans. 

Casey 

Dexter 

Casey is a happy, energetic, 

friendly, very playful dog who doesn’t take his eyes off his handler 

while walking. He’s a quick command learner and tends to be very 

excitable around other dogs. 

Maribel 

Maribel, approximately three years old, had been in shelter for 

eight months before being put in a foster home. Maribel loves to follow 

you around the house, find a place to sit, and watch everything 

you do. She’s more of a sit-next-to-you cat rather than a lap cat who 

loves a good belly rub and a good stretch. Maribel has a unique feature, 

a triangle “goatee” of fur growing out from under her chin. 

Snickers 

Snickers is a little over five years old, and loves people, kids, and 

TV and will sit on the couch or your lap and hang out. Snicker loves 

his bed and puts himself into it on his own. He also loves to be 

walked and hugged; he loves to run free (on a long leash). 

Dexter 

Dexter is an eight-year-old golden mix who’s neutered and microchipped. 

When his owners separated, the husband took the dog 

to South Carolina. Last year a rescue in South Carolina found Dexter 

45 miles from the wive’s home…emaciated, attacked, and in need 

of stitches. The wife paid to have him taken care of down there and 

drove down to bring him home. His former owner is now remarried 

with new twins and 3 other children in a small house on a busy road 

with no fence. Can you give Dexter the love and attention she feels 

she can’t? A nice yard with an area for exercise would be great. He’s 

good with kids, cats, and other dogs. 

There are many animals up for adoption at Animal Friends for 

Education and Welfare. The descriptions above, provided by 

(A.F.E.W.), are just a few of the friends waiting to become part of 

your family. Interested in adopting a pet? Call (609) 448-5322 or 

visit the AFEW website, www.afewpets.org. AFEW also holds adoption 

days on Saturdays at Corner Copia Farm Nursery from 10:30 

a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

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DAVID COOK AND JAY TAYLOR SEEK RE-ELECTION 

By Pravin J. Philip, Biz4NJ 

Dave Cook, Cranbury’s mayor, and Jay Taylor, incumbent 

township committee member, are hoping the voters will reelect 

them to another term on the Cranbury Township 

Committee. 

Cook was elected to the mayor position unanimously by his 

Democratic and Republican peers. Jay Taylor was first elected as a Republican 

and now stands for re-election on the Democratic ticket. 

Over the last term, he has served as liaison to a variety of departments, 

which, according to him, accounted for 33 percent of Cranbury’s 

budget. Jay recently had to retire as the township’s liaison to the Fire 

Department after joining the Fire Department. 

Mayor Cook: 2012 Version 

A financial advisor by trade, Cook had a baptism by fire, when 

first elected to the township committee in 2009. In his first year as 

mayor, Cranbury’s ratable had shrunk by a sixth. The $300 million in 

reduced ratable that fell off the town’s books was a rude awakening. 

Given these difficult circumstances and the need for bipartisan 

management, Mayor Cook says that he “created an environment for 

decision making” that shaved $500,000 off Cranbury’s operating expenses 

in three years. He said he did this by looking at fiscal policy, 

capital projects, as well as expanding the town’s commercial zones, 

and diversifying beyond warehouses, within the framework of Cranbury’s 

Master Plan as last updated in 2010. The township committee 

he led was also able to preserve 250 acres of open space. The mayor 

points out that “open space reduces the need for infrastructure” even 

as it “improves quality of life.” 

His advice to Cranburians was to “attend budget meetings” even 

if it seems like “watching paint dry.” While presiding over two consecutive 

budgets that gradually raised taxes, the mayor was, in his words, 

Re-elect DAVE COOK 

and JAY TAYLOR 

Cranbury Township Committee 

Success and Experience 

• 247 acres of farmland preserved with the 

town paying only 17.6 % of the purchase 

price 

• Decreased budget by half a million dollars 

since 2009 

• $2 million in debt reduction since 2009 

• Sponsored purchase of traffic safety 

equipment providing additional driver 

and pedestrian safety for residents 

Paid for by the Cranbury Democratic Committee 


forced to look at the “sacred cows,” looking for savings through attrition 

in the Police Department as well as reductions in the Municipal 

Alliance budget. 

In response to charges that taxes were still too high, Cook points 

out, “our job is not to come in with a machete and start hacking.” 

Jay Taylor Looks to the Political Middle 

Like David Cook, Jay Taylor grew up in Cranbury. Unlike the 

mayor, however, Jay was elected to township committee on the Republican 

ticket. Jay soon developed a bi-partisan view that prompted 

him to change party alliances. 

“I had some philosophical differences with the Republican Party,” 

recounted Jay. “They moved away from me,” not the other way 

around. Moving across the aisle, in Jay’s words, was not easy, as his 

family had been traditionally Republican. Jay’s father served in the 

90’s served on Cranbury’s Township Committee as a Republican. 

Cook and Taylor cite other measures they’ve taken to reduce 

costs, like merging the positions of Township Administrator and 

CFO, renegotiating police contracts, and putting together a 911 contract 

with Hightstown that purportedly saved $80,000 per year. Jay 

and David also assert that they have achieved even more savings by 

reducing an employee in the construction department, removing 

medical benefits for future township employees who retire, and consolidating 

suppliers. 

Both men have taken heat for approving the construction of a 

shed, budgeted at over $300,000, to house Public Works Department 

vehicles. This is making it harder for future administrations to merge 

PWD functions with nearby townships or outsource them to for-profit 

providers. Their defense is that the shed will extend the life of expensive 

vehicles and allow the township to purchase and store supplies 

in greater bulk. It is worth noting that the decision to construct the 

shed was opposed by township committee member Dan Mulligan, a 

Republican. 

Unlike their challengers, both Democratic candidates are not in 

favor of outsourcing any more functions of the Public Works Department. 

They point out that two Public Works employees currently volunteer 

with the Fire Department for an extra dollar per hour added to 

their wages. This is especially useful because the township is, according 

to them, saving an estimated $125,000 for each employee they would 

need to hire to address a recurrent shortage of Fire Department volunteers. 

Candidates on both sides have paid lip service to the need to 

encourage residents to stay on after their children are educated. The 

Republicans talk about reducing costs, and the Democrats have 

talked about finding ways to provide more services to seniors. Township 

Committee Member Glenn Johnson and Dan Mulligan, the 

township committee’s liaison to the Human Services Commission, 

are into adding some of the administrative services needed by seniors 

to the Recreation Department, which has a part-time employee 

who can help. 

The inexplicable disconnect here is that while it is the older more 

long-term citizens of Cranbury who vote in higher numbers, the township 

seems to spend far more of its resources on a school system that 

increasingly serves a younger, more transient population. One step in 

the right direction is an emerging effort by Cranbury School to engage 

more seniors as mentors. 

The people of Cranbury, the School Board, and both parties need 

to find ways to incentivize families who have benefited from Cranbury’s 

schools to put down deeper roots despite the higher taxes. 

As Mayor David Cook said, “at the end of the day we’re all Cranburians.”


CRANBURY’S REPUBLICANS MOUNT CHALLENGE 

FOR TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE By Pravin J.Philip 

Challengers Cindy Smithers 

and Tom Connolly are campaigning 

for seats on Cranbury’s 

Township Committee. They 

promote the national Republican 

platform of lower taxes, less regulation, 

and more efforts to increase 

business opportunities, and thereby 

the tax base. As Tom Connolly said at 

a recent community meeting, “the 

only way we know that the government 

is not going to waste your 

money, is not to give it to them in the 

first place.” 

Partisan Affiliations Prevail 

At a recent “Meet the Candidate’s” 

event on October 10, Phylissanne 

Stehn, the Chairperson of the 

Republican Party in Cranbury, pointed 

out that this year’s younger Republican candidates deserved more encouragement. 

However, she observed that it was the older, more partisan 

voters, who attended political meetings for the community. 

According to the Township Clerk Kathleen Cunnigham, some 

1,208, or 44.4, percent of Cranbury’s 2,716 voting worthies are unaffiliated. 

Of those with affiliations, 826 identify themselves as Democratic 

and 680 say they are Republican. The 5.4 percent advantage the 

Democrats have on paper is negligible, given the size of the unaffiliated 

voter group. 

Also, if primary participation is an indication, the Republicans 

appear to have a more enthusiastic base. According to data received 

from Tom Connolly, candidates racked up 267 votes together, while 

the Democrats had 171 votes between them. 

Cindy Smithers 

Cindy is a Penn State Graduate with a BS in Labor Relations. She 

is a product manager for testing software and publishing reviews of 

them. She served as Republican Committeewoman for District One 

(of three) in Cranbury. She has lived in Cranbury for over 10 years, 

had two children in the school system, and volunteered at various 

positions for the Boy Scouts, school, and township. Her husband, 

Rob, recently returned from an armed forces tour in Iraq. 

Though she supports Republican positions, she is “not looking 

at who is Republican or Democrat.” 

When asked what changes she would like to make in the way 

Cranbury was run, Cindy said, “I will work hard to bring more businesses 

into town.” She cited three parcels of commercial property that 

have been vacant for a long time. She wants to work harder at finding 

businesses that could use vacant properties like that. She feels it is 

harder than it should be for businesses to come in, particularly as 

variances are difficult. 

“I’m business friendly with a fresh perspective.” She also said she 

was in favor of “zero-based budgeting,” which questions all expense 

heads and builds the budget up from scratch. When asked if she 

thought the township committee was doing a bad job, she said, “We 

may disagree on specifics, but we are all friends here.” 

She was not overly critical of Jay Taylor’s decision to switch parties. 

“Jay must have had his reasons for switching,” she says. 

She feels that the township needs more female representation, 

Cindy Smithers and Tom Connolly 

as Susan Goetz is the sole female representative 

on the township committee. 

She made her point with a slow 

smile, “It would be nice to have another 

woman on board.” 

Tom Connolly 

Cindy’s co-challenger is all of 25 

years old. He is a graduate of James 

Madison University Business School 

with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. 

During his student days, 

Tom says he founded and led the 

local chapter of “Adopt a Platoon,” 

which supported troops by sending 

them care packages. 

Tom has lived in Cranbury for 22 

years and is a product of the local 

school district. He is a manager at the 

Westminster Hotel, which he describes 

as a “AAA Four Diamond property.” When pressed about his 

youth, Connolly pointed out that Abraham Lincoln was elected to 

the Illinois General Assembly when he was 25. 

Asked what he would do differently if he were elected, Tom said 

he “would televise township committee meetings to increase public 

participation in township government.” He hoped to fund such an 


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AMERICAN REPERTORY BALLET continued 

Stephen Campanella as Solider Doll - Credit-George Jones 

How has ARB’s Nutcracker evolved since you began performing 

in it? 

It has undergone several overhauls over those 50 years, from a 

version choreographed largely by the founder of Princeton Ballet, 

Audrée Estey, plus choreography after the original Petipa-Ivanov ballet, 

to a version choreographed by the previous artistic director, Graham 

Lustig, to yet a third and current version. The current director, 

Douglas Martin, brought back the much-loved First Act Party and Battle 

scene choreography of Ms. Estey; choreographed much of his own 

Snow Scene and Second Act with ARB’s Ballet Mistress, Mary Barton; 

and used some of the Petipa-Ivanov choreography. 

In a personal note, I am often called to perform in the Party Scene 

as the father of the family in which I started out as the youngest boy. 

The following students are performing in the Act I Party Scene, 

Snow Scene, and/or in an Act II divertissement of ARB’s Nutcracker. 

They are all in the American Repertory Ballet Workshop (ARBW), 

which is the performance division of Princeton Ballet School’s advanced 

levels. 

Other local participants in American Repertory Ballet’s rendition 

of the Nutcracker Ballet include: 

Emmanuelle Farrell, Plainsboro 

Marian Farrell, Plainsboro 

Sara Garcia, North Brunswick 

Kaila Jones, Plainsboro 

Imogen Lea, Cranbury 

Utka Ozdemir, Plainsboro 

Chelsea PeBenito, East Brunswick 

Dominique Rafael, East Brunswick 

Nina Reyes, Cranbury 

Anna Shpilsky, East Brunswick 

HIGHTSTOWN HIGH’S GIRLS’ 

SOCCER 

By Rich Fisher 

Heading into the 2012 season, Hightstown High girls’ soccer 

coach “Doctor” Don Hess had high hopes for an experienced 

team coming off a 10-6-3 season. 

At mid-season the record stood at 7-4, which was OK but perhaps 

not as impressive as folks might have been expecting. 

Dig beneath that mark and look at the play of the field, however, 

and the Rams were certainly living up to the expectations of Hess and 

assistant Ray Griffis. 


Hightstown was beset by two season-ending injuries before the 

year even started and had several players fighting nagging injuries 

throughout September and early October. 

All four of the Rams losses were by one goal and, with any luck, 

Hightstown would have had a glittering record. 

But as the leaves began to change in mid-October, Hess felt 

things were on the upswing. 

“We’re getting most of our players back, and I think things are 

going to pick up,” said Doctor Don, who won his 200th career game 

to open the season. “This is a great group of girls, I really like these 

girls and I want to see them finish with the best record possible and 

really have a nice season.” 

One of the big keys to this year has been goalie Lisa Jerry, whose 

dedication to the program last season was typical of what Hess was 

talking about with his players. 

As a junior, Jerry was splitting time with senior Erin Sobkowiak. 

But when the JV goalie went down with an injury and Hightstown 

had no one to take her place, Hess asked Jerry to move down, and 

she did so without a complaint. 

“She didn’t mind playing down,” Hess said. “The JV finished 13- 

0-1. It was a case of either 

sending her down or breaking 

in a new girl, and I hate to 

break in a girl who never 

played before because that’s 

how people get hurt. So we decided 

to send Lisa down. We 

could always call her over 

from the JV field if we needed 

her on varsity.” 

The time on JV did not slow 

Jerry’s progress. Through this 

year’s first 11 games, she had 

60 saves and three shutouts. 

“She’s been fine,” Hess said. 

“She’s been playing well. She’s 

Hightstown defenders Becca Cordo (left) 

and Cate Douglas have been stellar 

alternating between sweeper and stopper 

this season. 

had some stellar games. Especially 

with the high target 

shots in the upper 90. She’s 

very good at getting her hands 

on it. And her punts have 

been improving a lot, she has really gotten better.” 

Jerry has been helped by the strong defense of Becca Cordo and 

Cate Douglas, who switch between stopper and sweeper, depending 

on the opponent. Sophomore marking backs Melissa Barnes and 

Cristina Tous have also done solid jobs. 

A key to the midfield was the return of Erin Daley from injury. 

The senior forward/midfielder is the team’s top playmaker, and Hess 

felt as she got healthier it would help the offense click better. Lydia 

Walsh has also been a force as the opposite side winger. 

The big threat up front has been sophomore Dakota Mills, who 

had six goals and three assists through 11 games, after debuting on 

varsity with eight goals and two assists last year. Alexa Lopez and 

Walsh have also been finding the back of the net. 

“We have a lot of players contributing; of course they look to 

Dakota because she’s a big target and has a good foot,” Hess said. 

“I’ve moved her back to halfback just to take the mark off her. People 

go after her, she gets taken down a lot, and gets banged up a lot. 

“We moved her into the halfback spot to make a run through or 

put her into space. She holds the school record in the 200, so she’s 

got good speed.” 

And with his walking wounded returning slowly but surely, Hess 

is hoping for a fast finish to the season as well.


FREE RABIES CLINIC 

East Windsor invites all dog and cat owners to a free rabies 

clinic on Saturday, November 17 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 

p.m. at East Windsor Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 at 51 

One Mile Road. A second clinic will be held on Saturday, November 

24 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at East Windsor Volunteer Fire Company 

No. 2 at 69 Twin Rivers Drive. 

Owners will be required to show a certificate of previous rabies 

vaccination; otherwise vaccinations of one year duration only will be 

provided. For safety, all animals must be properly restrained by leash 

or carried. For more information, contact the Animal Control Officer 

at (609) 448-5678, ext. 229 or visit www.ewpd.com. 

LIBRARY FOUNDATION continued 

purchased a house tour luncheon ticket, enjoyed our bake sales, or 

worked behind the scenes to make ‘Friends’ successful share in this 

notable donation.” 

Although the public library has doubled its circulation in the 

past decade, and increased the number of visits by about 50 percent, 

the size of the library space, which is shared with the Cranbury 

School, has not increased in 50 years. In addition, security concerns 

have reduced the Library’s usable space while school is in session. 

The goal of the capital campaign is to raise funds for a community 

building without raising taxes. The operating expenses of the library 

are currently funded by township appropriation, about 2 

percent of residential taxes, which is regulated by New Jersey Library 

Law. “The current appropriation will continue to run the community 

library in a new energy-efficient building,” stated Ms. Mullen, the Director 

of the Cranbury Public library. 

More information about the foundation and their Capital Campaign 

can be found at www.CranburyLibraryFoundation.org. 

REPUBLICANS MOUNT CHALLENGE continued 

initiative through a grant or to arrange the videography by an intern. 

He also said he would approach Channel 3, the local Comcast channel, 

to see if they would broadcast his video-feed. 

Connolly also wants to act proactively to fill any unused warehouse 

properties. He advocates holding an open house to bring businesses 

into the area. 

Both challengers feel there are more ways for the town to be business 

friendly, such as fast-track processing of applications. 

Cindy feels she would do a better job of listening to businesses 

and responding to their needs. Tom cites onerous dumpster regulations 

but approves of the improvements to the sign ordinances. He 

says, “We need to let business owners run their businesses.” 

The Smithers/Connolly ticket feels that taxes could be lower and 

that the budgetary reserve need not be as high as it is. Tom felt that 

“Denise Marabello (Cranbury’s Business Administrator) calls the 

shots.” When reminded that the township needed to maintain a reserve 

to keep its AAA rating, Tom retorted that he had spoken to an 

S & P Bond Specialist who said that the interest difference between a 

AAA and AA bond is 5/100th of a percent. 

Both candidates (along with sitting township committee member 

and Republican Dan Mulligan) opposed the funding of a Public 

Works Department storage barn that would cost $343, 000, as they 

did not see the return on the investment. Cindy, a Cranbury school 

mom, brings a woman’s perspective to the ticket. Tom’s think being 

single will give him more time to spend on his constituents. “I’ve not 

had a lot of time to date,” he said. 

Both candidates emphasize their enthusiasm and energy, as they 

stake their claim against their seasoned opponents. Overall all the 

candidates speak well of their opposition which is a testament to 

Cranbury’s collegiality. 



calendar 

We Will Never Forget


calendar 



“FASHIONABLY LATE— 

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Victorian society was fascinated by 

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Berlin work needlepoint used 

in memorial motto samplers. 

ria’s obsession with the death of her husband, 

Prince Albert, and the U.S. Civil 

War’s horrendous casualty rate created a 

cultural climate in which Americans, particularly 

women, embraced many of these 

new rules and customs. 

In “Fashionably Late—Costumes and 

Customs of the Victorian Mourning Period,” 

a free exhibit running Sunday after- 

noons from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. through November 18, the 

Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society has on display dresses, 

jewelry, literature, and other historic objects related to Victorian 

mourning. 

These range from elaborate lace-and-beaded black 

gowns, to engraved memorial cards, to a tiny pair of 

child’s black kid-leather mourning shoes. 

On November 4 at 2:00 p.m., there will be a related 

special event co-sponsored by the Cranbury Public Library. 

Professional history re-enactor Jane Peters Estes 

will present “Grave Matters,” a program offering a 

tongue-in-cheek look at customs surrounding death 

and dying. Appearing in Victorian costume, Ms. Estes 

will talk about mourning customs during the Civil War, 

the dying words of famous individuals, and headstone 

epitaphs. 

For the ongoing museum exhibit, curator Lisa 

Beach has pulled items from the museum’s extensive 

textile collection, and several local families have made 

special loans of some of their own heirlooms. Here are 

a few of the unusual mourning customs she discovered 

in her research: 

For a woman, mourning lasted two years. During 

the second year of “half mourning,” it was permissible 

to wear gray or purple. Only black was allowed in the 

first year. 

Etiquette experts were divided on whether it was 

necessary for a child to dress in mourning wear, but 

capes, bonnets, and shoes that have been passed on 

show that some children did so. 

Mirrors in households were draped, so the deceased 

person’s spirit would not get trapped in the glass. 

When mourning 

ended, it was considered 

bad luck to keep 

the clothing, so owners 

discarded it or 

passed it on. 

By the World War I 

era the customs had 

faded, likely because 

there was so much 

Mourning gown, bonnet, jewelry, 

and wreath 

death that mourners chose to move on with their lives 

more quickly. 

But many of these exquisitely made Victorian objects 

have survived. 

“For the Victorians, mourning was a time of great 

sadness but much beauty as well,” Ms. Beach said. 

Visitors may also tour the museum’s other permanent 

exhibits, which include five rooms of household 

and decorative items and furniture that help depict life 

in Cranbury through the ages. 

The Cranbury Museum is located at 4 Park Place 

East, Cranbury, NJ. Visit www.cranburyhistory.org for 

more details.


LOVE THY SENIOR NEIGHBOR 

IN CRANBURY 


On September 24, Catherine Frohbieter, chairwoman of 

the Human Services Board of Cranbury appeared before 

the Cranbury Township Committee to ask the committee 

to “hire a part-time Director to apply for grants, and help run 

the various activities held for seniors.” 

According to Catherine, the center serves some 75 people, 

who attend luncheons once or twice a month. Participants pay 

$3.00 for a lunch supplied by Bagel Barn, Teddy’s, or the Cranbury 

Inn. The center also holds a seated exercise class on Thursdays at 

9:30 a.m. when the school is in session. 

Betty Conover, President of the Cranbury Golden Age Neighbors 

Club, which has some 70 members who meet in various locations 

pointed out that most people are reluctant to accept 

responsibility for events and warns, “I’d hate to see it all fall 

apart!” 

Catherine, the volunteer-in-chief for the Senior Center’s programs 

for over three years, intends to retire at the end of the year, 

which makes the situation somewhat urgent. 

A third non-religious group that serves some 60 seniors is coordinated 

by Connie Bauder and other volunteers of the First Presbyterian 

Church, who also will drive seniors to meetings. They 

organize day trips and have a regular exercise group contracted to 

Judith Goetzmann. When asked why more seniors did not use the 

Senior Center, Connie 

felt that locating 

the Senior Center in 

a basement without 

kitchen facilities 

makes it unappealing. 

The numbers relating 

to seniors are 

revealing. The 3,857 

people in Cranbury 

have a median age 

Catherine Frohbieter, Betty Conover 

of 46.2, according to 

the 2010 census. Of 

these, 642, or 17.6 percent, are over 65. These seniors tend to vote 

in higher numbers and represent 24 percent of Cranbury’s 2,716 

registered voters. The amounts spent by the township on all senior 

programs are estimated at $17,000 per year, which is less than the 

cost of educating one student. 

Over the last several township committee meetings, residents 

have repeatedly pointed out that steps need to be taken to keep 

older folks in Cranbury after their children have graduated from 

school. Senior leaders are disappointed that many residents leave. 

Mayor David Cook and the committee have acknowledged the 

need to incentivize residents, including seniors, to remain, but the 

township is confronted by some hard choices as they grapple with 

a tax base that has contracted by $57 million in assessed value in 

the last year alone. 

Dan Mulligan is the township’s liaison to the Senior Center. 

He hopes to work more closely with Catherine Frohbieter and 

leaders of Cranbury’s senior community. 

MONTHLY CRANBURY 

TOWNSHIP REPORT 


On September 24, Marilyn Mullen, Director of the Cranbury 

Township Library was presented with a Proclamation supporting 

the library’s One Book, One Cranbury fundraising 

program for the new library building. 

In the Mayor’s Report, David Cook reported on a meeting convened 

by Congressman Rush Holt that he had attended on September 

24 with representatives from the Department of Transportation. 

It included area Mayors who were affected by traffic issues on Route 

130. It was noted at this meeting that Liberty Way, behind the warehouses 

in the area could be used to siphon of some of the traffic. 

There were 8 million square feet and 20 million square feet of warehouse 

space in Cranbury and South Brunswick that impacted traffic 

on Route 130. 

David Cook reported that the township’s Bridge and Dam renovation 

project funded by the quality of life grant it had received, was 

scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2013. Bill Gittings, local architect 

and committee volunteer had recommended that related cosmetic 

issues like the look of the garbage cans be also addressed. 

Glen Johnson, township committee member reported on a 

conversation with Jay Taylor about increasing volunteers at the fire 

company. 

Taylor reported that Cranbury’s new temporary Electrical Engineer 

was costing less (at $30/hour). 

In his police report, Mr. Taylor reported that in the past month, 

228 summons and 31 speeding tickets had been issued. There were 

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ACING STAR INTERVIEWS 

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demonstrate and highlight the skills and personal abilities that the interview 

question is testing. In the context of your response, the focus 

must be on what YOU did. No need to get too technical or into the 

weeds of the story unless requested by the interviewer. Convey what 

you did, how you did it, and why you did it. 

Sample Action Response: “I met with him in private and asked him 

gently to describe for me what he felt the problem was. By allowing 

him to vent, I gave him the opportunity to calm down. I then explained 

to him my perspective, emphasizing the need to find a solution 

that would work for both of us and our team. 

Results: Make sure that you respond to questions with examples 

that have positive results! Think of putting results in context. If you 

increased sales 15 percent, what does that really mean? What was your 

sales goal? Did you achieve it? Exceed it? A 15 percent increase is only 

good if you are able to provide context around it. 

Sample Results Response: “After our conversation, he thanked me 

for listening to him and helping him to better understand the repercussions 

of his actions. He learned different strategies to employ when he 

is upset, and today he is a productive and collaborative team member.” 

To succeed with STAR requires practice. Start by writing down responses 

to sample questions in STAR format as above, and then advance 

to speaking your answer as one full response. Practice being a STAR! 

Marjorie Kavanagh is owner and president of Panoramic Resumes, LLC, a professional 

resume writing and job search consulting firm in Colts Neck, New 

Jersey. You can e-mail questions to her at Marjorie@PanoramicResumes.com 

(USE or visit USUAL www.PanoramicResumes.com. 

PHOTO, HEADING, AND BIO AT END) 


HICKORY CORNER LIBRARY 

NOVEMBER ADULT PROGRAMS 

Caring for the Caregiver 

Every Thursday at 11:00 a.m. 

Barbara Stender, Caregiver 

Specialist with Trenton 

Behavioral Healthcare, will 

lead a weekly, educational 

support group for caregivers 

of seniors with chronic health problems. Registration required. 

Meditation for Stress-Free Living 

Thursday, November 1 and 8, 10:30 a.m. 

Umesh Bhatia will discuss the extraordinary effect meditation 

can have on your total well-being. You will learn a simple, effective 

meditation technique, and will have a chance to practice it during 

the program. This is a two-part program. You can come to both or 

just one. Registration required. 

Life Tools: How to Manage Stress Instead of Stress Managing 

You 

Wednesday, November 7, 7:00 p.m. 

Carol Rickard, LCSW, will demonstrate tools that will help you 

deal with difficult people, manage your emotions, turn failure into 

success and recognize when you are under too much stress. Registration 

required. 

Friends of the Hickory Corner Library Book Sale 

Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, November 15, 17 & 18 

Thursday 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Members only 

6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Open to the public 

Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Bag sale 

Sports-Related Head Injuries in Children 

Monday, November 19, 7:00 p.m. 

Dr. Alicia Brennan, of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia 

Newborn and Pediatric Care Unit at the University Medical Center 

of Princeton at Plainsboro, will discuss symptoms and treatments 

of external and internal sports-related head injuries, signs of a possible 

concussion, and prevention. Registration required. 

Mystery Book Club 

Monday, November 19, 7:00 p.m. 

The group will be discussing Eight Million Ways to Die by 

Lawrence Block. Contact hclmysterybookclub@comcast.net to 

register. 

Solar Power for Homeowners 

Thursday, November 29, 7:00 p.m. 

This 45-minute seminar will help you understand the benefits 

of renewable energy, provides an overview of the different system 

solutions, and explains the federal and state incentives. Presented 

by Solar & More. Registration required. 

Afternoon Movie: The Help 

Friday, November 30 2:00 p.m. 

Skeeter, a southern society girl, returns from college determined 

to become a writer, but turns her friends’ lives, and a small Mississippi 

town, upside down when she decides to interview the black 

women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent southern 

families. PG-13. No registration required. 

All programs are open to the public and free of charge. Register 

in person, call (609) 448-1330, or register online at www.mcl.org.


By Glen J. Dalakian, Sr. 

USA…USA…USA 

At Olympic Games, political conventions, 

and other venues, we can hear the chant “USA… 

USA…USA,” which usually rises to a roar and has 

a warming impact on most who live in and/or love 

this country. But what does “USA” really represent, 

and has the meaning of “America” changed? 

Our founding fathers may not even recognize 

where we are today. Please don’t take my 

word for it; look at the facts. The people who 

founded this great nation came here because of religious persecution and 

for the promise of a better place to live. It was rough going, but they 

clearly wanted to leave tyranny behind and start in a land where people 

could be free from oppression, especially religious persecutions. As this 

“new world” grew and politics started to play a burdening role, the new 

America found itself in 13 colonies and beginning to feel the same pressures 

as the monarchy they left behind began extending its reach across 

thousands of miles. 

This predicament (remember “No taxation without representation”) 

was unacceptable and unjust. Rights were being squashed and the 

colonies fought to rise above the injustices they had left behind. So documents 

were written and the idea of a new nation was formed. The Declaration 

of Independence was signed, which included critical terms like 

“all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with 

certain inalienable rights” and the Constitution and Bill of Rights were 

put in place to ensure human liberties and dignity. 

Our founding fathers (most of whom were business owners) knew 

the role divine providence played in their successful breakaway from the 

most powerful empire at that time. This is crystal clear in the personal 

writings of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock, and 

other authors of the greatest documents ever written to forge a new nation. 

Our country was founded by, among others, hardworking businessmen 

who knew of corruption, persecution, and watching their own 

rights (and those of the people around them) being trampled upon, and 

did something about it. They risked their lives and wealth and pivoted 

at a critical time in history to lead in the right direction, against all odds. 

Why all the history here? Quite simply, because we Americans today 

still benefit from their sacrifices, and once again, we find ourselves at a 

critically pivotal place in the history of the USA. Election Day is almost 

upon us and what we do this November will echo for generations. Never 

before have I seen our nation in a position where we may deviate so 

greatly from what our founders intended and what has made us the greatest 

nation in the world. No matter how you intend to vote, you must realize 

that this coming election is the most critical in modern history. 

So which side has the best ideas to allow capitalism to flourish and 

give entrepreneurs the best chance for success in the years to come? There 

are two distinctly different philosophies being proposed about the direction 

of our society. The question is, will you do your homework, stay 

your emotions, take your vote seriously, speak to those around you, and 

Raised in a family-owned dry cleaning operation, Glen J. Dalakian, Sr. learned 

the power of small business at a young age. After attending Seton Hall University, 

he developed a variety of enterprises in the electronics, entertainment, and 

retail industries, generating millions of dollars in revenues in niche markets. He 

has traveled the country speaking to audiences in the thousands on business 

ownership and marketing. He has consulted on numerous projects and is 

known for his commitment to God, dedication to his family, and his enthusiasm 

for business. Mr. Dalakian is president of the Colts Neck Business Association 

and host of Tandem Radio, a Business Talk Show. A writer and consummate 

entrepreneur, he is also the president of CSAV Systems. Contact him at 

glenjd@tandemradio.com. 

check the facts before you vote? 

From a business perspective, which path will favor the efforts of 

small business and entrepreneurs? Many companies are waiting to see 

what happens in November before they solidify their plans. What will 

healthcare look like, how will businesses be taxed, what burdens imposed 

by government might small businesses be pressured under? As I 

have often said, small- to medium-size businesses are the backbone of 

our economy, and with the proper environment, they can have the greatest 

positive impact on America’s fiscal strength. This is why business owners 

have to take a clear stand and then use whatever influence they may 

have to encourage others to vote. 

The USA needs to continue to be the bastion of hope and the example 

of freedom it has been for so long, to so many. Our unique status 

has been achieved in part due to the free enterprise system that our form 

of capitalism has allowed to flourish. This is one of the many reasons 

why so many from around the globe flock to be here in the USA. 

Please exercise your right as a US citizen and make the time to vote 

on November 6. As leaders, we must also encourage others to do the same. 

MOMS CLUB FOR 

AT-HOME MOMS 

The MOMS Club is an international support group for mothers 

who stay home with their children, including those who 

have home-based businesses and those who work part-time 

but are home with their children during the day. The MOMS Club of 

East Windsor/Hightstown is open to all mothers in East Windsor, 

Hightstown, Roosevelt, Monroe Township, Jamesburg, and Cranbury. 

“With so many mothers working outside the home today, it can 

be extremely hard for stay-at-home mothers to meet each other. The 

MOMS Club allows at-home mothers to get together in a supportive 

atmosphere,” said Lisa Lamberto, president of MOMS Club of East 

Windsor/Hightstown. This group is unique not only due to the fact 

that it is the only international organization specifically for at-home 

mothers, but also because of the wide range of activities allowed 

under the MOMS Club banner. 

The group hosts monthly socials with interesting guest speakers 

for discussions, park play days, special outings, holiday activities, moms’ 

night out, and service projects benefiting area children or families. 

On September 13, the group was privileged to have national 

speaker Mr. Alan Robinson speak on preventing children from being 

victimized by sexual predators. He is with Project ALERT (“America’s 

Law Enforcement Retiree Team”), a division of the National Center for 

Missing and Exploited Children and the Adam Walsh Foundation. 

Mr. Robinson speaks around the country and is an expert on the 

subject of child kidnapping and exploitation as well as educating parents 

about safety, prevention, and security tactics. His three-hour presentation, 

“Measures to Prevent Your Child From Being Kidnapped, 

Abducted and Sexually Exploited” is based upon 25 years of research 

and professional expertise and recognized as an invaluable education. 

“Mr. Robinson provided the group with the tools to prevent child 

abduction, kidnapping, and sexual exploitation as well as sharing information 

on the safe use of technology (PCs and cell phones). Mr. 

Robinson dispelled common safety myths, while providing skills we 

can teach our children to help prevent them from becoming victims. 

We even raised over $100 to donate to the National Center for 

Missing Children and Exploited Children in his name.” 

The MOMS Club network is looking to expand and invites all athome 

mothers to join and get the support they deserve. 

For more information, call (609) 630-0880, or visit us on the web 

at www.momsclubewh.com, or email us at ewhmoms.east@gmail.com. 



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Register 

Online: 

www.thedancecorner.org www. 

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or 

call 

(609)799-9677 

( 609) 

799 

9 -9677 

This Thanksgiving Come Home to 

The Cranbury Inn 

Restaurant 

A warm, cozy fireplace in a home-like atmosphere 

greets you at our elegant Colonial inn steeped 

in local history where bringing families and 

friends together to celebrate. Est. 1780 

Thanksgiving Dinner at Historic 

Cranbury Inn 

Has Become a Holiday Tradition 

 

COMPETITION 

TEAMS 

WWPDC 

DANCE 

COMPANY CO 

M MPAA 

NY 

SUMMER 

DANCE 

CAMPS C A AMPS 

RESERVATIONS STARTING AT 11 A.M. 

Make your reservations early! Call 609-655-5595 

See our website for our recipes • www.TheCranburyInn.com 

“For your dining pleasure, we’ve added several specialties 

to our traditional exquisitely prepared Turkey Dinner 

including Filet Mignon, Seared Salmon, and Roast Pork. 

We hope you’ll join us for a memorable Thanksgiving!” 

...Tom & Gay Ingegneri, Innkeepers 

21 S. Main Street • Cranbury, NJ 


NOVEMBER AT 

TWIN RIVERS LIBRARY 

Technology One-on-One 

By Appointment Only! 

Need help with an E-Reader or getting started with Facebook? 

Come in for some one-on-one help! 

Sahaja Meditation 

Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. 

Sahaja Meditation is a simple, time-honored technique to help 

reduce stress and increase focus and wellness. It helps people become 

more centered and better balanced. 

Knitting and More 

Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. 

Do you like to knit, crochet, embroider, or needlepoint? Come 

with a smile—all skill levels welcome! 

Footlights 

Monday, November 19, at 7:00 p.m. 

Join the group reading selections from Death of a Salesman by 

Arthur Miller 

November is National Novel Writing Month 

Come “write” in and find your place to write your novel. 

Twin Rivers Writers’ Group (Adults Only) 

Saturday, November 10 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

Monday, November 26 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. 

Bring five pages of a work-in-progress to discuss with other writers. 

Insurance 101 with Margaret 

Saturday, November 13, at 1:00 p.m. 

Learn more on a new topic this month. 

Living Rich with Coupons Workshop 

Wednesday, November 14, at 7:30 p.m. 

Living Rich with Coupons is your one-stop source to learn how 

to do extreme couponing the right way. The blog provides readers 

with resources they need to shop smart so they can get life’s necessities 

for a lot less. 

Jewish War Veterans 

Thursday, November 15, at 7:30 p.m. 

The Friends of the Twin Rivers Library will be hosting a small 

reception for the Jewish War Veterans. We invite the public to stop 

in to say thanks to a veteran! 

Cover 2 Cover Book Discussion 

Thursday, November 29, at 7:00 p.m. 

The Red Thread by Ann Hood 

MERCER COUNTY HOLOCAUST/ 

GENOCIDE RESOURCE CENTER TO 

HOST KRISTALLNACHT 

REMEMBRANCE 

The public is invited to join the Mercer County Holocaust/ 

Genocide Resource Center on Tuesday, November 13, at 

4:30 p.m., to recall the tragic events of Kristallnacht with 

“A Day to Remember: Survivors and Recipes.” MCCC Culinary faculty 

member Frank Benowitz will prepare traditional Ashkenazi 

dishes while attendees discuss recipes and survivor stories from The 

Holocaust Survivor Cookbook. 

More information on these and other events is available by calling 

(609) 570-3355. The Holocaust/Genocide Resource Center is located 

on Mercer’s West Windsor Campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road, 

on the second floor of the library building. For more information, 

visit www.mccc.edu/holocaust.


CONTRACEPTIVE CHOICES: 

THERE IS MORE THAN THE PILL 

By Ursula Miguel, CNM 

Princeton Midwifery Care/Del Val OB/GYN and Infertility 

When we discuss contraceptive choices with our patients, 

we look at the total picture and the total 

woman: her age, her future childbearing plans, her 

medical history, any possible contra-indications to hormonal 

birth control methods, her ability to take pills regularly, her menstrual 

pattern, and many other factors. 

A woman’s health-care provider should also be mindful that 

certain birth control choices are not acceptable in certain religious 

or cultural groups. 

Discussing contraception with a woman involves more than 

just giving her a pack of birth control pills and a prescription, 

and have her return to the office in three to six months. 

After a thorough history and physical exam, as well as a needs 

assessment, a discussion should follow about the many different 

birth control choices available. 

Methods include barrier contraceptives, such as condoms and 

diaphragms, intra-uterine devices, such as Mirena and Paragard, 

combined oral contraceptives, progestin-only pills, Depo-Provera 

injections, patches, rings, sterilization, fertility awareness methods, 

and natural family planning. A detailed and intimate discussion 

of the woman’s sexuality and the possible effect of her 

method on her libido should be included. Last but not least, the 

talk will dicuss the option of male contraception, which in many 

families might be the most feasible option, especially once the 

family is complete. 

Some of the hormonal birth control choices, such as oral 

contraceptives and rings, have non-contraceptive benefits for the 

individual woman, such as decreased blood loss, cramps, improvement 

of acne, less hair growth on the face, decreased risk of 

ovarian and endometrial cancers, ovarian cysts, and others. 

There are other methods that might help to treat dysfunctional 

bleeding, such as the levonorgestrel IUD. You can decrease 

the number of periods per year by using Seasonale or Seasonique 

(84 pills with hormones followed by three to seven days without 

hormones). 

Informative handouts, as well as anatomical models in the 

office to explain the mechanism, will help during the contraceptive 

visit. Lots of privacy should be provided, and questions 

should be encouraged. 

The risks, benefits, and effects of concurrent medication 

taken should be explained, along with what happens if the 

method is forgotten. 

Particularly challenging are the needs of the adolescent patient. 

Important topics, such as what constitutes safe sex and how 

to get access to emergency contraception, are very important. 

Postpartum patients need special counseling. They want to 

find out which methods are compatible with breastfeeding. 

In a country where the rate of unintended pregnancies remains 

quite high, women’s health-care providers should make it 

a top priority to counsel women and families on safe, effective, 

and accessible birth control. 

MEET THE CANDIDATES 


Bobby Marlowe 

and the Cranbury 

Women’s 

Club held a “Meet the 

C a n d i d a t e ” n i g h t o n 

Wednesday, October 10. 

Tom Connolly and 

Cindy Smithers sat figuratively 

in the Republican corner 

while Mayor David 

Cook and Jay Taylor represented 

the Democratic end of the discussion. 

Four Broad Themes were Discussed: 

From left: Peter Connolly, Mayor David Cook, 

Township Committee Member Jay Taylor, 

and Cindy Smithers. 

• Budget prep, cost control, and revenue management. 

• A competing vision on engaging the voting public. 

• Differences of opinion on recent grant application and spending 

priorities. 

• Outsourcing opportunities and their potential to reduce recurring 

costs vs. potential reductions in service. 

Budgeting and Revenue Management: 

Here, the Republicans advocated for “zero-based budgeting,” 

which purportedly builds up budgets from scratch each year. This 

approach suggests that all the spending assumptions on line items 

would be questioned as well as budgeting decisions based more on 

spending levels for each in the past year. 

The Democrats, Jay Taylor and Mayor Cook admitted that the 

practical exigencies of line-item accounting required them to plan 

Delaware Valley OBGYN 

& Infertility Group, PC 

Princeton IVF 

Princeton Midwifery Care 

THE LEADERS IN WOMEN’S HEALTH CARE 

IN THE PRINCETON AREA 

LAWRENCEVILLE 

2 Princess Road • Suite C 

Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 

Phone: 609-896-0777 • FAX: 609-896-3266 

EAST WINDSOR 

300B Princeton-Hightstown Rd. • Suite 202 

East Windsor, NJ 08520 

Phone: 609-336-3266 • FAX: 609-443-4506 

www.delvalobgyn.com 




On September 23, over 

200 competitors 

joined to challenge 

their strength at this year’s 

Hightstown Triathlon. The 

adult triathlon started early, at 

7:00 a.m., at the Hightstown 

Memorial Park. The course 

began at Peddie Lake with a 

quarter-mile swim, a 14-mile 

bike ride, and a 5K run (3.1 

miles). The triathlon for kids up 

to 10 years old began at 2:00 

p.m. at the Peddie School. Their 

course consisted of a 100-yard 

swim, a two-mile bike ride, and 

a one-mile run. For those aged 

11 to 14 years old, the course 

consisted of a 200-yard swim, a 

four-mile bike ride, and a twomile 

run. 

Ryan’s Quest, the official charity partner of the 2012 Hightstown 

Triathlon, proudly participated to raise awareness for Duchene Muscular 

Dystrophy. Members of their team who participated that day 

were Dave Schultz (co-founder of Ryan’s Quest), Brad Davis, Todd 

Hoagland, Ryan Loesser, Geoff Haines, John Rossi, Chris Herte, Gary 

Zuckerman, Marie Murdza, and Jenn Gentilella. For more information 

on the non-profit organization, visit www.ryansquest.org. 

Seasoned triathloner Jim Burke took on the adult course and 

HIGHTSTOWN TRIATHLON 



volunteered for the kids’ 

triathlon. He has been participating 

in the local triathlons for 

eight years. He said his first 

brush with triathlons came literally 

by stumbling across one 

in action while riding his bike 

one day. The course ran right in 

front of his Mercer County 

home, and he rode along other 

bikers during the course. By the 

time he came home that day, he 

was filled with excitement and 

immediately began participating 

in triathlons. He hasn’t 

stopped since. His two daughters, 

14 and 11 years old, also 

caught the triathlon fever and 

have participated in the Hightstown 

triathlon. 

The Top Team finisher went 

to “Team Coachy Oaks” of Hightstown, timed at a great finish of 

1:02:23. For a complete list of results, visit www.hightstowntriathlon.org. 

Hightstown Triathlon sponsors included The Brace Place, Bicycle 

Rack, A Reason to Smile, Princeton Brain & Spine Care, Molto 

Bene, Tavern on the Lake, A+ Athlete Sports Medicine, Kettle Fusion 

Dynamics, PNC Bank, Kind Healthy Snacks, and 4 Elements Kettlebell 

Fitness. 

Pictured are: Race Director Jay Meier, Training Coordinators, Kelli and Brad Davis, 

Chris Herte, John Rossi, Julie Dohanic, Geoff Haines, Gary Zuckerman, Dave Schultz, 

Todd Hoagland. The children are: Seamus Davis, Declan Davis, Aidan Davis, 

and Victoria Ros


TRIATHALON continued 

The Winner is Jason Butch (35), of Manalapan, finished at 59: 06. 

SCHOOL BOARD NOTES 


Audited Excellence: 

On October 2, Bob Stewart of Inverson & Stewart made a presentation 

to the School Board to present the results of his annual 

audit. He brought glad tidings of great joy to Joyce Picariello, School 

Business Manager and the Cranbury School Board 

He reported that the school “was in excellent financial shape”. It 

spent $2.1 million less 

than expected. Most of 

this has been set aside 

for specific purposes. 

Also the school had received 

an additional 

$194,000 in state aid 

and had spent $240,000 

less than budgeted. 

Speaking as one who 

audited 40 school dis- 

Bob Stewart 

tricts he pointed out that 

other districts often get 

into trouble giving back money and then having to raise taxes. 

In speaking of the school’s fund balances, he asked his audience 

to consider it like one would use a savings account to balance a 

household budget. 

Of $2.8 million in the School’s Fund Balance he reported that 

money was set aside as follows: $720,000 set aside to pay bills; 

$280,000 set aside for future tuition payments; $849,000 set aside 

for capital projects; $485,000 in capital reserve for the year; $200,000 

for maintenance projects; $7, 500 used to balance accounts, and 

$331,000 for undesignated emergencies. 

He noted three “minor recommendations.” One that involved the 

way the payroll agency managed its processes. Another that noted that 

documents needed were not provided by the Food Service company. 

Security, Safety and HIB: 

Dr. Genco reported that a recent security drill at the school had 

gone well. Dave Gallagher had supervised and that there was an immediate 

feedback loop. 

A week of respect connected to the Harassment, Intimidation 

and Bullying prevention was reported. 

Peer Group Leadership: 

A successful first grade puppet show held with peer group leaders 

was completely student led. 

The school was planning to expand its Peer Leader Program. 

Teresa Leary had a “huge following of students who wanted to get 

involved in doing good deeds.” 

A Grandpal program has been started in the Princeton Public Library. 

Grandpals from Cranbury are already volunteering in Princeton. 

Safety Saves Money: 

The school received a rebate of $2,500 from their insurance company. 

This though relatively modest was higher than last year’s rebate. 

Cranbury has received an award for safety 10 years in a row. 

Innovative Staff Substitutions: 

Jennifer Cooke, School Board Member and Chair of the Personnel 

Committee presented a practical approach to staff substitutions. 

Rather than have various substitutes fill in, the school is trying to reallocate 

one substitute to various vacancies as they are scheduled. 

The approach serves to minimize the disruption that having to familiarize 

various people. 

Charter Chatter: 

The School Board considers a letter from Linda Greenspan opposing 

changes to Charter School legislation. These changes, promoted 

by the New Jersey Department of Education are designed to 

authorize Virtual Charter Schools, and could favor out of state virtual 

charter schools by holding them less accountable than local Charter 

Schools. The Policy Blog NJSpotlight.com has more on this at 

www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0711/1339/ 

Proposed Planning Consultants: 

Principal Genco also outlined a proposed relationship the consulting 

firm PLC Associates, endorsed by the NJ Association of School 

Administrators. It is hoped that PLC Associates will help the School 

Board and Administration plan strategically for the future. 

The first phase of expenditure (and the most expensive) involves 

data collection. It would cost $5,200. Dr. Genco assured the group 

that the entire planning process would not exceed $10,000. 

Board President Lynn Schwarz endorsed the plan recognizing 

that the specialized skills that the board did not possess would now 

be available. 

Extended Hours at the Princeton High Library: 

Evelyn Spann, Board Member and Liaison to the Princeton 

School Board reported that the High School library is not yet available 

to Cranbury School students for an additional two hours after 

school. Cranbury pays extra for this with Princeton Schools also contributing. 

Ms. Spann said that she would follow up and that this was 

an administrative/staffing issue that would soon be resolved. 

Poor Communication between Town & Gown 

Dr. Genco reported on a recent meeting with the Township Administrator 

Denise Marabello. Marabello had requested the school 

board to provide a letter of support for their application for a beautification 

grant focusing on Main Street. 

Evelyn Spann did not support the idea of a letter. 



Ican’t stop thinking about Puerto 

Rico since we returned from our 

first vacation there last month. The 

images, impressions, adventures, and experiences 

swirl into a kaleidoscope of contradictions 

wrapped in enigmas. The bottom line is - we 

would return. While there were extremes of positive 

and negative, Puerto Rico beckons you back. 

Everyone we met, from tourism professionals 

to average citizens, could not have been nicer or 

more helpful. Despite occasional language barriers, 

we managed to communicate, punctuated by 

warm smiles and many utterances of “gracias.” 

Examining our timeshare options during 

the only week we could escape, I recalled hearing 

that Puerto Rico is rarely considered for 

Caribbean vacations, “which is a shame because 

it has such beautiful beaches.” After ample research, 

we booked a week at Club Cala de Palmas in Palmas del Mar, 

on the east coast near Humacao. Many web searches and three phone 

calls to the resort later, we still couldn’t get a handle on exactly what 

to expect. Having a rental car to travel the highways and byways was 

essential in getting immersive. Juggling maps on our way out of the airport, 

immerse we did. 

Look at those mountains! The palm trees! The flowers and birds! The 

colorful dwellings! Wow, the rum is cheap. Man, they eat a lot of fried 

food here. They have a Walmart! What’s with all the stray cats and dogs? 

People here don’t use their blinkers. Where’s the 

sign that leads to Route 3? These were only the start 

of our Puerto Rican revelations. 

One must not need a liquor license to sell 

booze, because it was available in every gas station, 

market, in-home tavern, and even by the side of 

the road. Outside the resorts, beers start at 78 cents. 

We spent most of our time away from resorts, 

choosing eco-tourist spots and popular local 

beaches to sightsee. We quickly learned there is so 

much to see and do in Puerto Rico, it would take 

several weeks to everything on our list. 

Club Cala was fab. Our renovated, comfortable, 

functional unit faced a marina; the beach was 

a minute’s stroll away. Palmas del Mar is a massive 

gated community occupying a mountain rising from the beach. It included 

our timeshare and a large rectangular plaza with stores, restaurants, 

post office, mini-market, and retail shops topped by apartments. 

Within Palmas, there are numerous smaller gated communities, each with 

its own name, abode style, security guard, and amenities. Condos, townhouses, 

and freestanding homes get more elaborate as you scale the community’s 

heights. The compound includes a country club, golf courses, 

tennis center, school, and a Wyndham Hotel with a small casino. At the 

boatyard, a picturesque cove area has more shops and three quaint restaurants 

run by a French chef. Everyone gets around Palmas on golf carts. Security 

abounds. The beach was phenomenal and except for Labor Day 

weekend, sparsely populated. 

Our first night was the last for many Palmas 

homeowners preparing to leave. We were invited 

to a blow-out fiesta with a live band in the plaza. 

Judging by that first night, we thought the whole 

week would be one big fiesta, but by the end of 

Sunday, most regulars were gone, things got quiet, 

and we decided to venture forth. Traveling around 

was a sometimes daunting challenge, but we dove 

into local life with the same fervor we dove into 

snorkeling on the small island of Culebra, over a 

coral reef in a national park. Culebra and its famous 

Flamenco Beach are known for their exqui- 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


site natural beauty. It took a 50-minute car 

trip, a 45-minute ferry voyage and a tenminute 

bumpy van ride to get there, but as 

Hubby proclaimed, “We found paradise.” 

A young guide on the ferry provided helpful 

tips. He told us about a place we want to return to 

see, the larger out-island of Vieques. There are only 

a handful of bioluminescent bays in the world. 

Puerto Rico has three of them and one of the 

largest is on Vieques. Best viewed on a moonless 

evening, a bioluminescent bay houses millions of 

organisms that emit a neon-like glow. Scenes from 

“Pirates of the Caribbean” were filmed on a small 

pristine beach nearby. 

Back on the mainland, we toured the beaches 

of Luquillo near the Yunque rainforest, where the 

local version of a boardwalk is a string of open-air 

eateries, most with pool tables, some more graciously 

appointed than others. At Gringos Bar & Grill, Maria let us tastetest 

their colorful signature original drinks (sans alcohol). Hubby settled 

on a local favorite, a fresh coconut cut in front of us with rum added to 

the water inside. Two thumbs up. 

Back at Palmas, we countered Yogi from Connecticut at the Wyndham’s 

Beach Bohio (cabana). He moved to the island 17 years ago “because 

of the weather.” A retired electrician who now augments his 

retirement by repairing vacation villas when he feels like it, Yogi was an 

invaluable source of information. He introduced us to Rey, who has run 

the snack shack for 37 years. A few days later, Rey 

stayed open late so we could enjoy another serving 

of their fabulous Churrasco beef – an ample slab 

with sides for $12.75 – a common luscious island 

menu item. While the food/drink value everywhere 

was fantastic, like most vacations, it’s the people 

you meet who enhance your experience and your 

memories. Puerto Rico was no exception. Shoutout 

to John at the Palmas Beach Club Country 

Club, who created an original concoction before 

our eyes and named it the “Laura” after overhearing 

me utter, “I don’t know what I feel like having, 

but something with mango would be nice.” 

We now understand why some here say they 

would not return there. As one woman we met vacationing 

from Kentucky said, “It’s very third-worldy.” Vacant storefronts, 

dilapidated homes, uncollected trash, and sometimes primitive conditions 

can’t be ignored. We only toured in daylight and spent our evenings in the 

Palmas del Mar compound. 

On departure day, our flight was bumped up 40 minutes. At the airport, 

we learned it was instead moved back 2 ½ hours. It was our only 

chance to step on San Juan proper. We hopped in a cab and asked the 

driver to take us to the closest beachfront hotel. We stepped out in front 

of the Ritz Carlton and into an entirely different Puerto Rican experience. 

Ensconced throughout the posh lobby, pool, and beach area were the wellheeled 

beautiful people. Buffed boasting men mingled with bejeweled 

women wrapped in white plush hotel robes. I almost bumped into one 

hot blonde who stopped abruptly to adjust her 

false eyelash. As we surveyed the scene, a friendly 

young server struck up a conversation, eager to hear 

where we had been. After exclaiming approvingly 

that we had indeed experienced some of the island’s 

gems, he made the statement that best 

summed up our Puerto Rican adventure. 

“I watch people come here for seven days and 

they walk from their room to the pool to the beach 

to the bar and back to their room. They get on their 

phones and say, ‘I love Puerto Rico.’ They haven’t 

even seen Puerto Rico.” We’re glad we did.


Scarin’ up a crowd Harvest Fair sign 

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Apollo Lodge 

HIGHTSTOWN HARVEST FAIR 

Motorcycles on display 

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Fall foliage vendor display Childrens theater 

Rockin’ Out 

Audience 



COMMUNITY YARD SALE 


The 12th Annual Community 

Yard Sale, held on September 

29, was a great 

success thanks to many Hightstown 

and East Windsor residents selling 

their wares. There were lots of great 

finds that included games, antique 

furniture, decorative mirrors, sewing 

machines, jewelry, locally made 

honey, clothes, shoes, blankets, quilts, CDs, records, lamps, and 

so much more. Sponsored by the Borough of Hightstown, the yard 

sale, headquartered at the Hightstown-Apollo Lodge #41 on Main 

Street, was an all-day event. To sign up for next year’s event, visit 

www.hightstownborough.com for more information. 

Blood drive 

First United Methodist Church 

Local honey 

The Apollo Lodge 


MONTHLY CRANBURY REPORT continued 

39 vehicle crashes within Cranbury limits, 14 arrests, two DUI incidents 

and eight warrant arrests. There were seven criminal and one 

administrative investigation underway. 

Denise Marabello in her Township Administrator’s report said 

that the township needed to renegotiate its police dispatch contract 

and that sharing services with Hightstown had saved the township 

an estimated $110,000. Also there was a sewer main contract with 

Monroe that needed to be negotiated. 

Catherine Frohbieter, Chair of the Human Services Committee 

appeared before the committee with Betty Conover to request additional 

help in administering programs for Cranbury seniors. Glenn 

Johnson and Dan Mulligan discussed bringing Human Services 

under the Recreation Department, as it had a part time staffing 

budget. It may also be possible to get the county involved in providing 

support services to seniors. Dan Mulligan is the Township Committee’s 

liaison to the Human Services Committee. 

On October 8, the meeting began by recognizing and commending 

the residents who were instrumental in saving the old school 

building. 

Cited were: Charles & Clara Amend, Donald Armstrong, Bill 

Bunting, Jake Cook, Mary Morgan, Magnus Ostergaard, Kate 

Shankweiler, Louis Spence, Mahbubeh Stave, Emma Stultz, Stan Tarr, 

Barbara Thomsen, and Norman Wright 

On September 24 and October 8, the township committee discussed 

which projects to include in the township’s annual grant application 

to the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Bill 

Tanner, Township Engineer attended both meetings. He confirmed 

that the township could only submit two projects and each must 

be a different category of project. 

He explained that if a grant were to be approved, it would be for 

around $200,000. After a lot of detailed discussion the township 

committee opted to apply for two projects, one relating to town beautification 

and the other for $560,000 to re-pave 4,800 feet of Cranbury 

Brickyard Road that connected Route 130 to Monroe. Tanner 

confirmed that the state was very interested in improving connectivity 

when awarding road repair grants. 

There was a heated discussion from several advocates who felt 

Petty Road in Cranbury was a disgrace as well as a potential accident 

risk. After visiting Petty Road and speaking to Connie Bauder and 

other residents there, Bill Tanner reported that the project there 

would involve well over $1 million, and could not even begin without 

determining the ownership of easements and also conducting a 

drainage study. 

The township committee voted to apply for funding for the 

Cranbury Brickyard road on October 8. This was not well received 

by advocates for Petty Road. 

The township committee decided to budget an initial phase of 

work on Petty Road in the 2013 budget and hoped to apply for 

County funding as well. 

Other business on October 8: 

A motion to appoint a Township Tax assessor was passed. 

Township committee member Susan Goetz reported on a Board 

of Health clinic for local pets. There were 99 animals seen of 188 

dogs licensed. She reported that last year they had 280 dogs so it was 

possible that there were unlicensed dogs in Cranbury or a mass exodus 

of canines in the past year. 

She felt a survey was called for and proposed that the feasibility 

of doing it online be considered first. A database of animal owners 

was also to be purchased. 

Jay Taylor reported a significant uptick in permit fees with $35, 

821 for building, and $16,260 for electrical permits.


CHECK PRESENTED FOR 

VETERANS SERVICES 

From left, Leonard J. Roseman, chairman, Middlesex County Improvement 

Authority; Jason Conway of Provident Bank, the event’s main sponsor; Middlesex 

County College President Joann La Perla-Morales; David Brimmer, director of the 

Center for Veterans Services; and Chip Wieczorek of Provident Bank. 

The Friends of Middlesex County Charity Golf Classic presented 

a check for $2,500 to the Middlesex County College 

Center for Veterans Services. This gift will help the 

center extend services to military veterans and service members 

studying at the college. 

HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE FOR THE 

GREATER CRANBURY COMMUNITY 

The Board of Deacons of the First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury 

are organizing a Holiday Food Drive. 

“This year, more families than ever before are in need of holiday 

food baskets” said Food Drive Co-Chairperson Flo Kremann. “The 

church runs a year round food pantry and the number of families 

served each month has increased by 40 percent in the last year.” 

Items needed for the holiday drive include canned fruits and vegetables, 

boxed potatoes, rice, gravy, cereals, cranberry sauce, cake/ 

muffin mixes, peanut butter, jellies/jams. Items may be dropped off 

in collection boxes just inside of Fellowship Hall at the First Presbyterian 

Church, 22 South Main Street in Cranbury. The food drive is 

going on now through Saturday November 10. Donations received 

after the 10th will be used by Skeet’s Pantry. 

“Through the generosity of the community and neighboring 

churches, we were able to provide over 125 baskets of food last year,” 

said Pastor Louis Mitchell. “The Holiday Food Drive and Skeet’s 

Pantry are two of our most important missions as a congregation. 

Right now the shelves are pretty bare, so we are reaching out to the 

community for help.” 

To make things even easier, the Cranbury Boy Scouts will distribute 

collection bags to homes in Cranbury on Saturday November 

3. The bags will be collected the following Saturday and brought to 

the church for distribution. Collection boxes will also be setup in the 

annex of the Cranbury School. 

For additional information on donating food or to offer to volunteer, 

please call the church office at (609)395 0897. 

CUB SCOUT 

TROOP 53 

Enterprising boys form East 

Windsor Troop 53 out selling 

popcorn to raise money. 

Scenes such as this were 

common throughout the 

area in October. 

MEET THE CANDIDATES continued 

budget to budget, thereby providing for a little more slack even if expenses 

on a particular line item had gone down in the previous year. 

Both the challengers and the incumbents agreed on the need 

to increase ratables, but the Republicans favored a more proactive 

approach, while the Democrats pointed to a relatively low five-percent 

occupancy rate in warehousing capability. 

Engaging the Voting Public: 

Tom Connolly’s suggestion to increase community participation 

by broadcasting via cable or podcasting meetings on the Internet attracted 

spirited comment. Many of the older attendees felt that this 

would actually reduce voter participation, as residents would be less 

inclined to show up and interact directly with each other and their 

representatives. A younger attendee thought the idea would be popular 

among younger residents with busy schedules. 

Connolly’s co-candidate Cindy Smithers, was in favor of broadcasting 

meetings live as it would serve to engage younger voters. 

Neither of the incumbent representatives spoke against Tom’s idea, 

saying they would look into the issue and possibly explore funding 

options with Comcast in the new year. 

Petty Road Differences About a Recent Grant Application: 

Tom Connolly castigated the incumbents for allegedly making 

a hasty decision on which project to seek a Department of Transportation 

grant for. He felt that the township committee, at their 

October 8 meeting, should have waited for Petty Road residents to 

weigh in about their needs. 

Connolly’s father Peter Connolly who lived on Petty Road, was 

at the committee meeting. The elder Connolly, who described himself 

as “possibly the largest tax payer in Cranbury,” felt the Petty 

Road residents were justified in seeking repairs to a road that was 

both a “traffic hazard and an embarrassment to the entire town.” 

The township committee discussed the issue over three consecutive 

meetings, and Township Engineer Bill Tanner made alternate 

recommendations that were more likely to receive grant funding. 

The committee suggested that, though work toward the project 

needed to be addressed in the next budget, there were legal and 

drainage-related issues that needed to be resolved first. 

A Discussion on Shared Services and Outsourcing: 

All the candidates disavowed any interest in outsourcing 

Cranbury’s Police Department. Cranbury’s is the second smallest 

municipality in Middlesex 

County. 

As for the Public 

Works Department, the 

Republican challengers 

seem willing to outsource 

or share more 

functions. Also, costs 

like the controversial 

new storage shed for 

The Audience meets the candidates 

Public Works Department employees were criticized. Connolly 

Pointed out that the township had done just fine for 315 years without 

the $300,000+ storage shed. 

The incumbents felt that the Public Works employees provided 

faster response times and also serviced on the volunteer fire force. 

According to Jay Taylor (a recently signed-on volunteer fire fighter), 

two staff members receive an extra dollar an hour in their pay for 

serving on the undermanned fire company that is staffed by volunteers. 

The Public Works Department also manages the township’s 

recycling program. 

Overall, the meeting served to apprise the voting public on the 

issues. 



EW HOLDS CLEAN-UP DAY EVENT 

AT ETRA LAKE PARK 

From left: Sachin Kamat; Clean Communities Committee Chairperson Barry 

Fliegelman; Ajay Singh; Rakesh Roushan; Mayor Mironov; Pankaj Kumar 

Pawan; Arpan Ray; Krinid Paludiya and Sachin Tela. 

East Windsor Township Mayor and Council, in partnership 

with the East Windsor Clean Communities Committee, 

held a Clean-Up Day event at Etra Lake Park. 

Many individuals participated in this community event. 

According to Mayor Mironov, “The purpose of this event was 

not only to help clean up the largest park area in East Windsor, 

but to encourage and instill community pride in residents and 

young people about the condition and look of our community.” 

PASSING STRANGERS 

Written by Jennifer Worringer, Hickory Corner Library 

The Hickory Corner Branch of 

the Mercer County Library 

System is currently displaying 

photographs taken in Brazil, Israel, and 

Memphis, Tennessee. The collection of 

15 photographs, entitled “Passing 

Strangers,” was created by photographer 

Amber Palecek, who describes 

herself as an “artist with wanderlust.” 

One of the most striking photos 

shows a child running down the stairs 

of his house to enter the sunlit street. 

Palecek says, “by capturing the fleetingness 

of these heartening encounters 

through the stillness of photography, I 

am able to preserve the moment and 

express an innate curiosity for the 

world around me.” 

“End of Class” by Amber 

Palecek 

The Palecek collection of photos will remain on display until 

November 30. 

If you have artwork you would like to display, please contact librarian 

Jennifer Worringer at jworring@mcl.org. 

The Hickory Corner Library is a branch of the Mercer County 

Library System located at 138 Hickory Corner Road, East Windsor. 

Please call (609) 448-1330 for more information. 


MCCC FASHIONS ITS FUTURE IN A 

NEW FACILITY 


On September 27, Mercer County Community College 

(MCCC) added a new facility known as “Trenton Hall” at 

137 South Broad Street to its sister facility across the street 

at 102 North Broad Street, Trenton. 

Mark Matzen, the Chair of MCCC’s Board of Trustees, pointed 

MCCC opens new Trenton facility 

out that the project was all about “giving people the opportunity to 

fulfill their dreams.” 

Brian Hughes, Mercer County’s Executive, “remembered taking 

courses at this community college.” He spoke in his soft slow drawl 

of his renowned father, Richard Hughes, and the “Community College 

Bill” that “Chief Justice and Governor Hughes” successfully espoused 

in 1960. 

MCCC President Dr. Patricia C. Donohue said that the college 

was “all about learning and student success.” Since she started out 

as a math and physics high school teacher, she also represents student 

success in her own self. Soon after Dr. Donohue took over the 

helm of the college in 2007, she held a series of focus groups, which 

gave rise to the board-approved Master Facilities Plan that guides 

maintenance, renovation, and development of all college facilities 

for the next 20 years. 

Included in the new facility are a Fashion Design Laboratory for 

students working towards an AAS degree program in Fashion/Apparel 

Design. The building also includes a computer class room featuring 

modern MAC computers for graphic arts and fashion design, 

along with a student lounge, and a visual arts and fashion storefront 

gallery. Dignitaries at the ribbon cutting included Karen Kennedy, 

Chair of Mercer County College’s Foundation Board; State Senator 

Bonnie Coleman Watson; Senior Managers of the College; and a 

slew of other dignitaries. 

May we see some I. D. ? 

CARDED! 

The Hickory Corner Branch 

of the Mercer County Library 

System in East 

Windsor celebrated Library Card 

Sign-Up Month on Sunday, September 

23. The library was happy to 

welcome 12 new library card holders 

to the library family. Student 

volunteers awarded prizes to new 

cardholders, and all patrons were 

treated to an exciting concert by 

Grammy-winning artist Miss Amy. 

Children were invited to make 

scratch art bookmarks and enjoy refreshments.

Not to worry…I won’t be giving you any advice on how to 

behave on your first date with someone you hope is 

special. What I will advise you about, though, is if you 

are craving something sweet, you CAN find a special treat which is 

both good for you and satisfying to your sweet tooth, as well. A 

“date” is a fruit not to be resisted! 

Where do we find dates? Dates are the seeds of a 

palm tree. Many date palm trees do not bear fruit. 

Those trees are male. Only female flowers turn into fruit. 

Enough male trees must be kept on date plantations to 

supply the needed pollen for the female flowers. This 

type of tree is called dioecious. Before mechanization, 

the date palm was pollinated by hand. Today, pollen 

collected from the male flower is mixed with flour and 

dusted over the open female flowers. 

The date palm (Phoenix dactylifer) has been a friend 

of all tropical desert tribes in Africa and the Middle East 

(Mesopotamia) for over six thousand years. From the 

date palm come hats, lumber, baskets, ropes, furniture, 

and many other household items. Every part of the date 

palm tree was put into good use, especially in ancient 

times. 

No other palm tree in the world can grow in the 

hostile temperatures that the date palm can stand, such 

as arid heat soaring between 100 to 120 degrees. The 

climate is usually so dry that the palms must be well 

irrigated, though the water is cut off while the fruit is ripening. The 

full sweetness and flavor of a date can be developed only when the 

plant is thirsty! 

The fruit grows in a peculiar way under the leaves of the palm. 

It hangs in heavy clusters beneath a tree that can grow as tall as 82 

feet. The Arabs have a word for different stages of the fruit: Kimri 

means unripe; khalal is the word used for full sized but crunchy fruit; 

and when they are rutab, they are ripe and soft. When dates remain 

on the tree to dry by the sun, they are said to be in the final tamr 

stage of ripening. This is the stage most of us are familiar with, 

where they are easily available in our local grocery stores for 

purchase for snacking and baking. You will see them labeled as 

medjool dates. 

The Jews consider the date as one of the seven holy fruits, and 

in the Islamic religion, the Prophet Muhammed is quoted to have 

said that dates cure many disorders. He urged Muslims to eat the 

date and tend the date palm tree. 

Many regional Middle Eastern cuisines incorporate dates, 

where their intense concentration of natural sugars makes them a 

wonderful addition to any cuisine. Use dates for cooking or baking 

or as a superb portable snack. Be sure to pick dates that are dense 

and moist. Avoid those that form sugar crystals on the outside of 

the date, as their flesh will be dry. 

Dates are loaded with potassium, iron, calcium, phosphorous, 

and magnesium. Dates are very high in carbohydrates, supplying 

us with a quick energy boost. What is best of all is that dates taste 

delicious and sweet. Once you enjoy your first food experience 

with a date, you will certainly want a second “date” with this fruit. 

Recipe of the Month 

Date Nut Bars 

Ingredients & Directions 

1 package (18-1/4 ounces) yellow cake mix 

3/4 cup packed brown sugar 

3/4 cup butter, melted 

2 eggs 

2 cups chopped dates 

2 cups chopped walnuts 

½ teaspoon cinnamon 

½ teaspoon nutmeg 

In a large bowl, combine cake mix, cinnamon, nutmeg, 

and brown sugar. Add butter and eggs; beat on low speed 

for 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes. Combine 

dates and walnuts; stir into batter (batter will be stiff). 

Spread into a greased 13-inch x 9-inch baking pan. 

Bake at 350° for 35-45 minutes or until edges are golden 

brown. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Run a knife 

around sides of pan to loosen; cool completely before 

cutting. Yield: 3 dozen.

NOVEMBER 

November 2-11 

A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody - “A Little Murder 

Never Hurt Anybody” pays homage to the hilarious comedies 

of the 1930s and 1940s. As the holiday season approaches, 

so, too, do thoughts of family gatherings gone wrong. That’s 

the case at the Perry mansion, where bumbling Matthew has 

made it his New Year’s resolution to murder his wife, Julia, before 

the year is out. But Julia, the family matriarch, vows to 

stay alive for her daughter Bunny’s upcoming wedding to the 

dashing Donald. As she dodges Matthew’s feeble attempts 

to kill her, friends and staff start mysteriously dying all around 

them. Is this a murder most foul…or most fouled up? For 

showtimes and tickets, visit www.kelseyatmccc.org. $ 


Coffee and Tea Festival of Atlantic City - Two days of caffeinated 

conviviality. There are tastings, lectures, classes, 

recipes, and more from the industry’s well-known professionals 

and pioneers….and some chocolates and sweet treats, 

too, because what goes better with a cup of coffee or tea. 

Ballys, 1900 Pacific Avenue, Atlantic City. For tickets, events 

and more visit www.coffeeandteafetival.com. $ 


Fashionably Late - Costumes and Customs of Victorian 

Mourning and Grave Matters - Victorian society was fascinated 

with death and spirituality. The Cranbury Historical and 

Preservation Society has on display dresses, jewelry, literature, 

and other historic objects related to Victorian mourning, 

ranging from elaborate lace-and-beaded black gowns, to engraved 

memorial cards, to a tiny pair of child’s black kidleather 

mourning shoes. 

On November 4 at 2:00 p.m., professional history re-enactor 

Jane Peters Estes will present “Grave Matters,” a program 

offering a tongue-in-cheek look at customs surrounding 

death and dying. Appearing in Victorian costume, Ms. Estes 

will talk about mourning customs during the Civil War, the 

dying words of famous individuals, and headstone epitaphs. 

The exhibit is at the Cranbury Museum, 4 Park Place East, 

Cranbury. Check www.cranburyhistory.org or call (609) 655- 

2611. FREE 

November 9-December 2 

Patterns & Meaning: Alan J. Klawans and Andrew Werth 

Art Exhibit - Artists’ Gallery presents “Patterns & Meaning,” 

an exhibition of the work of local artists Alan J. Klawans (Willow 

Grove, PA.) and Andrew Werth (West Windsor). Using the 

formal terms of abstraction, such as color, contrast, composition, 

and repetition, Klawans and Werth encourage viewers 

to explore the relationship between the visual image and 

meaning. Andrew Werth celebrates the 100th anniversary of 

the birth of mathematician Alan Turing by presenting paintings 

that use “Turing Patterns,” based on his influential paper 

describing how certain processes in nature could produce 

forms like the patterns on zebras and leopards. Artists’ 

Gallery is located at 18 Bridge Street in the heart of historic 

Lambertville. The gallery is open every Friday, Saturday, and 

Special Events Calendar 

Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information, 

visit www.lambertvillearts.com. FREE 

November 15 

Striving for Balance - The Middlesex Regional Chamber of 

Commerce presents an exceptional panel of powerful 

women, who will discuss all the topics women face every day 

to find balance. Family, work, health, children, finance, and 

lots more. Keynote Speaker, author, and Emmy-nominated 

journalist Jennifer Lewis-Hall lectures at the luncheon and 

there are many breakout sessions. Striving for Balance is 

being held at the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick, 2 Albany 

Street, New Brunswick. For details on speakers, tickets, and 

more, visit www.mcrcc.org or call (732) 745-8090. $ 


The Nutcracker - American Repertory Ballet brings the 

magic, beauty, and fantasy of The Nutcracker to the stage 

with Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score, stunning new sets, 

thrilling choreography, and a cast of over 100 performers. 

Directed by Company Director Douglas Martin, ARB’s professional 

company will be joined by students from Princeton 

Ballet School to tell the story of a young girl and how a mysterious 

gift brings about enchanted dreams and fantastical 

scenes. Whether it’s your first time, an annual tradition, or a 

once-in-a-lifetime experience, ARB’s The Nutcracker is a perfect 

holiday treat for your entire family to be transported and 

inspired at the Matthews Theatre Auditorium at McCarter 

Theatre, 91 University Place, Princeton. (609) 258-ARTS 

(2787) www.mccarter.org. $$ 


Disney’s Phineas and Ferb Live at the State Theatre - 

School‘s out for summer and anything is possible as Phineas 

and Ferb create their biggest invention yet! And, before you 

can wonder, “Hey, Where’s Perry?” the beloved pet platypus 

shifts to his secret double life as Agent P to foil another one 

of Dr. Doofenshmirtz’s evil plans. Musical madness abounds 

in an escapade so awesome that even Candace can’t help 

but join the hilarious hijinks. For tickets and more, visit 

www.statetheatrenj.org or call (732) 246-7469. $ 

November 24 

SBHS Project Graduation’s 8th Annual Craft Show - 

On the Saturday following Thanksgiving, SBHS Project Graduation 

invites you to its 8th Annual Craft Show. The show will 

offer something for everyone: jewelry, handbags, clothing, 

personal items, gifts for children, home décor, sports memorabilia, 

and more, as well as bake sale items and refreshments. 

All proceeds will benefit 2012 Project Graduation. In 

addition, there will be a Used Clothing Drive on the same 

day. Bring wearable and usable clothing for men, women, 

and children; shoes; belts and bags; linens; and soft toys. 

Project Graduation will receive a donation for the total 

poundage that is collected. Please put all items in well-tied 

plastic garbage bags. The 8th Annual Craft Fair will be held 

at South Brunswick High School, 750 Ridge Road, Monmouth 

Junction, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. $2.00

Nov 2012 - Nassau Journals

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