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MARCH 30APRIL 5, 2016

PARCC testing
refusals continue
With PARCC exam in second year,
allegiance to standardized testing waivers
By ERICA CHAYES WIDA
The Sun

ERICA CHAYES WIDA/The Sun

Jackie Krauss, Raffaella Soriano and Christine Murtha have a laugh after lunch in Princeton.

Spring break fun has sprung

What are you doing for spring break this year, Princeton?
By ERICA CHAYES WIDA
The Sun
Spring has sprung, sunlight
stays longer and the days are
warmer. With that comes a time
most every student from
kindergarten to college looks
forward to: spring break. You
may be spending your time at
home relaxing, walking down-

town and taking nearby getaway

trips. Or you may be far off
under the tropical heat of an island somewhere. Whatever your
plans, The Sun took a stroll to
find out what fun things Princetonians have up their sleeves
or tank tops.
Were just hoping to stay
away from Minecraft, which is a
video game, joked David Kelly,

father to Montgomery secondgrader Camryn. Well just be

keeping outside, going to parks
around Princeton, practicing a
little basketball, playing tennis.
We have our dog Sammy with
us, so its all fun.
My favorite thing to do is go
is to the park with my best
please see SPRING, page 12

In todays academic culture of

No Child Left Behind, standardized tests are under speculation
for their value in a childs learning experience. The question of
whether stress and negative results may actually perpetuate failure rather than success is being
asked, as well as whether the
practices and laws instituted for
the new standardized test known
as PARCC are in the right.
New Jersey became a member
of The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College
and Careers, an organization devoted to creating new standards
for math and English in schools
around the country, along with 20
other states in 2014. When the
exam had its first go in 2015, parent refusal became a trend
throughout the nation. In Princeton, a district in one of the 13
states still administering the
PARCC exam, parents continue to
stand against it.
My husband and I are refusing PARCC for our third-grade
son Luca, and have already informed his principal. We have a

variety of reasons, some of which

include social justice; loss of
teaching time; brutal technology
costs for school districts; the fact
that results are tied to teacher
compensation, which creates an
unhealthy dynamic; PARCC exam
questions and interface are not
grade level appropriate," said Jennifer Cohan on behalf of her and
her husband, Steven Petrecca,
Community Park Elementary
School parents.
Cohan is one of the local organizers of Save Our Schools NJ,
a grassroots organization initiated by a handful of Princeton parents, including Mayor Liz Lempert, standing Board of Education President Andrea Spalla and
Rutgers University Professor
Julia Sass Rubin, which now has
approximately 29,000 members
nationally. SOSNJ was one of the
motivators of last years Take the
PARCC event, where parents
were permitted to take the online
test to experience it themselves.
With some time remaining before the exam is administered
April 11, its difficult to determine
whether the number of refusals
please see COCHRANE, page 12

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

No endorsement
PCDO does not endorse any
council candidate. PAGE 6

Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Obituary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Editorials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Police Report . . . . . . . . . . . .

8
3
6
2

2 THE PRINCETON SUN MARCH 30APRIL 5, 2016

Princeton Environmental Film Fest marks 10 years

Susan Conlon and Kim Dorman sit down with The Sun to discuss PEFF and its 10 years running
By ERICA CHAYES WIDA

MORE ONLINE

The Sun
On April 2, the Princeton Public Library will swing open its
doors in celebration of the 10th
anniversary of the Princeton Environmental Film Festival. The
week-long festival, which runs
through April 10, features the
works of more than 25 filmmakers with screenings and postshow discussions laced throughout the daytime and evening
events.
PPLs head of youth services
and PEFF founder Susan Conlon
and PPL programming and adult
services librarian Kim Dorman
are the driving forces behind the
festival.
The highest purpose of the
festival is to bring excellent and
engaging films to our community, said Dorman, who jumped
into the PEFF ring five years ago.
Most of the films are new and
present a unique opportunity to
see these films without traveling
to New York or attending other
festivals outside of our region,
Conlon said.
To read more about founder favorites and the festivals 10-year
evolution, read The Suns Q&A
with Conlon and Dorman below.
The Sun: Ten years of PEFF is a
big deal. How does it feel to have
had the festival running for a
decade?
Conlon: Sometimes it feels over-

For the full lineup of screenings and non-film events that

make this years Princeton
Environmental Film Festival
unique, visit theprincetonsun.
com. The PEFF will be hosted
at the Princeton Public Library
April 2 through April 10 and is
free and open to the public.

Special to The Sun

The Princeton Environmental Film Festival celebrates 10 years! This shot is from An American Ascent,
a film about the first African-American expedition to climb Denali, North America's highest peak. The
film will be screened April 2 at the Princeton Public Library.
whelming, but overall I'm very
happy.
The Sun: What are some aspects of PEFF that have remained
the same since its impetus?
Conlon: What is the same is
that the core of the festival is
sharing exceptional films with
the community and bringing the
filmmakers and other speakers
here to Princeton to create an in-

teractive library event and connect people with one another.

Then, and now, we focus on film
quality and each films unique
story.
The Sun: What was your original hope for PEFF? Do you feel
you have accomplished that?
Conlon: My original hope was
that people would attend, and yes,
we have accomplished that! In the

first year, I was only thinking

about it in terms of a five-day
event, or sprint, and its future
would be determined by the publics interest and community and
sponsor support. What I learned
as we developed and worked on
sustaining the festival as a longerterm annual event at the library
is that this is truly a teamwork effort, working with other staff and

our volunteer planning committee, local organizations and businesses, filmmakers, film distributors and of course our sponsors.
The Sun: What is your greatest
PEFF moment?
Dorman: The beauty of PEFF is
that there is no crowning glory
PEFF moment. What keeps us
doing it and our attendees coming
back is all of the moments. Hearing the unique perspective of
filmmakers, connecting with people and films the beauty is in
each shared experience.
The Sun: How do you select the
films for the festival?
Dorman: There are three ways
films come to our attention: we
search for films, films are recommended to us and films are submitted to us. This year, we got
about 50 submissions. Of those
films, we then decide which ones
will best fit with the festival and
please see CONLON, page 9

Princeton police report traffic stops resulting in drug, DWI arrests

The following reports are on
file with the Princeton Police Department:

March 21
Subsequent to a motor vehicle
stop for a vehicle inspection violation, a 51-year-old Princeton female was arrested on an active
warrant issued by the Princeton
Municipal Court, and bail was set
at $114. She was transported to
headquarters where she was
processed and released after post-

ing bail.

quarters, processed and were

later released with a pending
court date.

March 20
Subsequent to a
motor vehicle stop for
various motor vehicle
equipment violations,
a 30-year-old North
Carolina male and 32-year-old
New York female were found to be
in possession of drug paraphernalia and in possession of hypodermic needles. They were arrested, transported to police head-

police
report

March 19

An unknown perpetrator made two fraudulent online charges

on the victims credit card in the
amount of $454.50. There are no
suspects at this time and the investigation is ongoing.
An unknown individual stole a

black A frame chalkboard sign

from the first block of Hulfish
Street, sometime between 11:15
a.m. and 11:45 a.m. on March 6.
There are no suspects at this
time.
Subsequent to a motor vehicle
crash investigation, a 28-year-old
Trenton male was arrested for
driving while intoxicated. He was
processed and later released with
a pending court date.

A 22-year-old Kendall Park

male was arrested by the West
Windsor Police Department on an
active warrant out of the Princeton Municipal Court and subsequently turned over to Princeton
police. He was processed at police
headquarters and released after
he posted bail.

March 18
Subsequent to a motor vehicle
please see ACCIDENT, page 11

MARCH 30APRIL 5, 2016 THE PRINCETON SUN 3

obituary
Clare Brown Amabile
March 18, 2016
Clare Brown Amabile passed
away peacefully March 18 at 93 in
Princeton. Born in Westfield on
Aug. 13, 1922, Amabile bore the
imprint of the Depression, World
War II and the tragic death of a
beloved older sister in her early
years.
However, resilient and ambitious, Clare built a successful market research firm, Clare Brown
Associates, which was subsequently acquired by Maritz Market Research, Inc. She mentored
those in her professional and personal networks and through Project Ready at St. Joseph Social
Service Center in Elizabeth.
An active volunteer throughout her life, Clare visited detained
immigrants and asylum seekers
at the Elizabeth Detention Center
with First Friends. A woman
ahead of her time, she was a yoga
enthusiast and a believer in
health food decades before these
were part of the popular culture.

Although her college education

had been interrupted, she
achieved her goal of completing
her degree before her children,
receiving a B.A. from the College
of New Rochelle in 1979.
Clare was predeceased by her
husband, Frank R. Amabile, in
2004. She was a source of inspiration and encouragement to her
children, Jean Telljohann of
Manhattan and Princeton, Raymond Amabile of Wethersfield,
Conn., and Gael Amabile of St.
Paul, Minn., who survive her,
along with six grandchildren and
three great-grandchildren.
A mass of Christian burial was
celebrated last week at St. Paul
Catholic Church with entombment at Mt. Olivet Cemetery Mausoleum, Newark.
In lieu of flowers, donations
may be made in Clare's memory
to The Little Sisters of the Poor
Holy Family Residence, 330 Exchange Street South, St. Paul, MN
55102-2311.
Remembrances may be left at
TheKimbleFuneralHome.com.

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Wilson-Apple Funeral Home

4 THE PRINCETON SUN MARCH 30APRIL 5, 2016

The Koko Fund seeks to engage

students in extracurriculars
!

By ERICA CHAYES WIDA

The Sun

# """ "

Tucked up on the hill off

Rosedale Road lives Johnson Park
Elementary Schools mascot, a
stuffed gorilla named Koko.
Twelve years ago, Koko became
something bigger created by JP
Principal Dr. Robert Ginsberg.
The Koko Fund, run by a board of
12 teachers, parents and community members, helps families in financial need sign up their children for the plethora of afterschool clubs and programs offered
at JP and throughout Princeton.
At JP, similar to many elementary schools, extracurricular activities often cost a fee for each
student to join. This money is
then filtered into the programs
from teachers who run them to
supplies needed. At JP, there are
acting and art clubs, engineering,
sports, newspaper and imagination clubs, to name a few. Each activity ranges from $90 to $130.
In addition to school-run extracurriculars, there are many institutions throughout the community that offer elevating experiences for youth. There are some
children who can readily pursue
the hobbies they love or activities
they are curious about. For those
who may not have the resources
to so easily seek out these programs, there is Koko.

Special to The Sun

Johnson Park Elementary School Principal Dr. Robert Ginsberg

jumps rope at a Koko fundraiser.
Unbeknown to many, 30 percent of JPs students qualify for
the nationwide free and reduced
lunch program. Once income eligibility applications are filled out
for free and reduced lunch, JP
students become automatically
qualified to benefit from Koko.
If I can send my kids out to
take classes or join clubs after
school, I want all kids to be able to
do so, said Amy Lansky, who
took over as Koko chair last year.
Koko partners with community programs such as Westminster
Choir College, the YMCA and
YWCA, Princeton Ballet School

and others that give discounted

rates so it can send more kids.
JP Librarian Dawn Henderson,
who also serves on Kokos board
of 12 parents and teachers, expressed her favorite aspect of the
fund and its mission:
Its giving children the wonderful enriching opportunities
that they wouldnt normally have.
When you dont have life experiences, it puts you at a disadvantage for learning. Koko gives
them that experience. In science
class, you may have kids who
please see KOKO, page 10

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MARCH 30APRIL 5, 2016 THE PRINCETON SUN 5

Relaxing downtown

ERICA CHAYES WIDA/The Sun

David and Camryn Kelly snuggle up with their dog Sammy while enjoying the first day of spring break.

6 THE PRINCETON SUN MARCH 30APRIL 5, 2016

in our opinion

Stay local this summer

145 Witherspoon Street

Princeton, NJ 08542
609-751-0245

New Jerseys Shore towns could use your help

Dan McDonough Jr.

ast week may have ushered in

the start of spring, but Shore
towns throughout our state are
experiencing high anxiety, as the start
of the summer beach season begins
in fewer than eight weeks.
The 102 days between Memorial Day
and Labor Day weekends are crucial
for the Jersey Shore, which, no matter
what town you live in, has a vital impact on the Garden States economy.
We seem to often preach how important it is to stay local for the summertime. And thats because its true.
The devastation that was caused by
Hurricane Sandy seems like a distant
memory. For the most part, Shore
towns in our state have recovered, but
they still desperately need visitors;
they still need our support.
Beach Season 2013, the one immediately following Sandy, was not a good

Your thoughts
What does the Jersey Shore mean
to you? Wed love to hear your stories
of traveling to the beach, and your plans
to do so this summer.

one.
As if rebuilding from Sandy wasnt
bad enough, an incredibly wet June
kept visitors away from the Shore during prime weekends. Sales for stores
that year in the hardest-hit areas were
off anywhere from 20-40 percent, according to state economic reports.
The results improved slightly in
2014, and then again last year. According to a Tourism Economics report
produced by the state Division of
Travel and Tourism, visitors to the
Shore increased by more than 8 percent last year. That calculation is

based on bed tax receipts for the

states Shore counties. In fact, that
number exceeded those of the previous peak in 2012, before Hurricane
Sandy.
Finally, the Shore is back! But the
message is still the same: Visit the
Shore this summer, visit often, and
spend money there.
New Jersey residents often take our
coastline for granted, but we should
realize how lucky we are to have such
a gem this close to home. So lets pay it
back this summer. As hard as it may
seem to fathom, there are only two
months until the official start of the
summer beach season, but there is
still plenty of time to plan your summer vacation at the Jersey Shore.
The beach towns need your support.
Lets all dedicate at least part of our
summer to giving back.

PCDO endorses no council candidate this year

chairman of elauwit media

Tim Ronaldson

Joe Eisele

executive editor

publisher

manaGinG editor

Kristen Dowd
Erica Chayes Wida
art director Stephanie Lippincott
advertisinG director Arlene Reyes

senior princeton editor

elauwit media Group

publisher emeritus
editor emeritus

Steve Miller
Alan Bauer

The Sun is published weekly by Elauwit

Media LLC, 145 Witherspoon Street,
Princeton, NJ 08542. It is mailed weekly to
select addresses in the 08542 and 08540 ZIP
codes. If you are not on the mailing list, sixmonth subscriptions are available for
$39.99.
PDFs of the publication are online, free of
charge. For information, please call 609751-0245.
To submit a news release, please email
news@theprincetonsun.com.
For advertising information, call (609)
751-0245 or email advertising@theprincetonsun.com.
The Sun welcomes comments from readers
including any information about errors that
may call for a correction to be printed.

With four great candidates in Princeton Democratic Party, no one receives 60 percent of vote
By ERICA CHAYES WIDA
The Sun
Every year, the Princeton Community
Democratic Organization endorses a candidate for the town council election. This
year, however, at the March 20 PCDO membership meeting, no endorsement was
made.
The endorsement decides which candidate our members think is the best, PCDO
President Owen ODonnell said. We select
two delegates from each voting district and
send [the endorsement] to the municipality.
The PCDOs endorsement recommends
which candidates are placed in the Democratic column, the order in which they are
placed in column as well as which will re-

ceive the official party logo and slogan beside their name. The endorsement is usually submitted to Mercer County Democratic
Party Chair Liz Muoio for approval before
the ballots are printed for the June 7 primaries.
According to ODonnell, there are approximately 400 members in the PCDO, but
a member must be physically present at the
meeting to cast their vote for endorsement.
Last Sunday, there were 166 ballots cast. To
receive the clubs endorsement, a candidate
has to receive 60 percent of the vote.
With four candidates in the running for
two open seats on council, not one was able
to exceed 60 percent.
The candidates had a few minutes to
make their opening statements followed by
a question opportunity collected on index

cards. Each candidate then responded to

the questions, and then we had a wrap-up
of statements. There were so many great
candidates, ODonnell said.
Incumbent Jenny Crumiller received 48.2
percent of the votes, Tim Quinn had 47.6
percent, Anne Waldron Neumann had 32.5
percent and Leticia Fraga had 31.3 percent.
The top three contenders went on for another count, with Crumiller coming 4 percent
short of the 60 percent requirement. Quinn
received 53 percent, followed by Neumann
with 42 percent of the second vote.
Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert, the only
candidate with her bid to run for a second
term as mayor, received unanimous endorsement from the PCDO.
There are currently no Republican candidates in the running for a seat on council.

SPEAK UP
The Sun welcomes letters from readers.
Brief and to the point is best, so we look for
letters that are 300 words or fewer. Include
your name, address and phone number. We
do not print anonymous letters. Send letters
to news@theprincetonsun.com, via fax at
609-751-0245, or via the mail. Of course,
you can drop them off at our office, too.
The Princeton Sun reserves the right to
reprint your letter in any medium including electronically.

MARCH 30APRIL 5, 2016 THE PRINCETON SUN 7

Dr. Mary V. DeCicco

PBS kicks off spring season

with Americans at Princeton event

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Reenactors will bring Princeton Battlefield to life for training day April 9
The Princeton Battlefield Society is opening its spring season
with The Americans at Princeton. This is a tactical training
day for several units of the Continental Line, who will bring the
Princeton Battlefield to life. The
event will take place April 9 from
11 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at the Princeton Battlefield State Park, 500
Mercer St.
The units who will participate
are the Third Virginia Regiment,
First Pennsylvania Regiment and
Lambs Artillery. This is a real
training day for these units. As
part of their training, there will
be demonstrations of the use of
the musket, demonstrations of
cannon firing, tactical formations
and drills and marching, loading
and firing volleys.
Muster of the Troops starts at
11 a.m. A special highlight will be
training for young patriots in for-

mation. Musket replicas for children will be supplied and will

also be for sale. Also see a typical
American Revolution military
camp with campfires, cooking
and the other domestic activities
of military camp followers in the
late 1700s.
There will be presentations explaining the uniforms, weapons
and tactics. The public is invited
to learn about Gen. Washingtons
strategy to win at the battle of
Princeton. Commentary will also
explain why the Battle was such a
critical turning point in the
American Revolution and how
the Battle of Princeton saved the
American Revolution. Learn
more about the important role of
artillery at the Battle of Princeton. Also learn more about
Princeton as a British garrison
with headquarters at Nassau Hall
and about the mix of Loyalists,

Patriots and Quakers who made

up the population around Princeton and their conflicting allegiances.
Visit the Thomas Clarke
House, which witnessed the battle
on that crucial day, Jan. 3, 1777.
The Thomas Clarke House became a hospital for both American and British soldiers after this
bloody battle. It was at this house
that Gen. Hugh Mercer was carried and died after Dr. Benjamin
Rush spent several days administering to him. Learn about
progress toward restoring the
Clarke House and the significance of the recent purchase of
the abutting DAmbrisi property.
For further information on the
Princeton Battlefield Society, visit
ThePrincetonBattlefieldSociety.c
om. For questions, contact Kip
Cherry at princetonbattlefieldsocinfo@gmail.com.

Email us at news@theprincetonsun.com

67 Tamarack Circle
Montgomery Knoll

Recognized as

(609) 921-7744

www.DeCiccoDental.com

PAGE 8

CALENDAR

WEDNESDAY MARCH 30
Book discussion: Scott McVay discusses and signs copies of his
book Surprise Encounters with
Artists and Scientists, Whales
and Other Living Things. The
book invites readers to engage in
provocative encounters with riveting explorers who have opened
new ways for seeing the world
and our place in it. Princeton Public Library, 7 p.m.
Olivia Adechi Senior Thesis Exhibition: Olivia Adechi, a senior in
Princeton Universitys Lewis Center for the Arts Program in Visual
Arts, presents Matter, an exhibit
of large scale photographs, video
installation and performance
pieces exploring ideas of identity,
agency and subjectivity. Lucas
Gallery, 185 Nassau St. Opening
reception: 7:30 p.m. Through April
1: 10 a.m.4:30 p.m.

THURSDAY MARCH 31
Mercer County ID Program: All
Mercer County residents are eligible for the community ID card, a
photo identification card providing personal identifying information, medical risk factors and
emergency contact information.
The card is issued by the Latin
American Legal Defense & Education Fund, a nonprofit advocacy group. $10 per card/$5 youth
under 21 and seniors over 65. For
additional information, visit
www.laldef.org. Princeton Public
Library, noon 2 p.m. and 5:30
7 p.m.
Walking Tour and Treasure Hunt at
Marquand Park: Take a guided
tree tour and join in a treasure
hunt of Marquand Park Arboretum, a 17-acre historic preserve of
trees and woodlands. Pedestrians
can access Marquand Park from
Mercer Street or Stockton Street.

GUTTER
CLEANING

609-586-2300
GUTTER DOCTOR

The main entrance and the parking lot are on Lovers Lane. 2 p.m.

FRIDAY APRIL 1
Job Seeker Sessions: The library
and Professional Services Group
of Mercer County sponsor sessions for professionals who are
seeking new employment and
contracting
opportunities
throughout the region. Princeton
Public Library, 9:45 a.m.
LEGO: Children grades one to five
participate in a non-competitive
community-based LEGO session,
including building time and
round-table discussion. Princeton
Public Library, 4 p.m.
Free film screening: Based on the
novel by Colm Tibn, Brooklyn
is the story of Ellis Lacey, a young
Irish immigrant navigating her
way through 1950s Brooklyn.
Part of the First Friday film series.
1 hour, 51 minutes. Princeton Public Library, 6:30 p.m.
Divorce Recovery Support Group:
Open discussion. Free and open
to the public. For more information, contact Phyllis Rich at (609)
5813889,
divorcerecovery@
softhome.net or Princetonchurchofchrist.com/divorcerecovery.h
tml. Princeton Church of Christ,
7:30 p.m.
Yes! Yes! Yes!: A septet from
Vienna, Mnozil Brass is as close
to the Monty Python of music as
it gets, blending technical virtuosity with comedic brilliance.
Their new program features covers of pop and classical music
combined with spontaneous choreography. Tickets $25 - $50 on
sale now at the box office, by
phone at (609) 258-2787 or
online at mccarter.org. McCarter
Theatre Center, 8 p.m.

SATURDAY APRIL 2
Cover to Cover Book Group: Fourthand fifth-graders meet the first
Saturday of every month to discuss books, short stories and other interests related to books.
Princeton Public Library, 2 p.m.
Kirtan, meditation, discussion and
Indian vegetarian lunch: Please
register at princeton@bviscs.org.
Every Saturday. Princeton Bhakti
Vedanta Institute, 1 p.m.

MARCH 30APRIL 5, 2016

SUNDAY APRIL 3
Mercer County ID Program: All
Mercer County residents are eligible for the community ID card, a
photo identification card providing personal identifying information, medical risk factors and
emergency contact information.
The card is issued by the Latin
American Legal Defense & Education Fund, a nonprofit advocacy group. $10 per card/$5 youth
under 21 and seniors over 65. For
additional information, visit
www.laldef.org. Princeton Public
Library, 2 4 p.m.

MONDAY APRIL 4
Continuing Conversations on Race:
Members of Not In Our Town, the
Princeton-based interracial and
interfaith social action group,
facilitate these discussions of
race-related issues of relevance
to our community and nation.
Newcomers to the group are
asked to arrive at 6:45 p.m.
Princeton Public Library, 7 p.m.

TUESDAY APRIL 5
Chess: Children can learn to play
and practice chess at these weekly drop-in sessions led by Princeton High School Chess members.
Princeton Public Library, 4 p.m.
Writers Room: Writers receive constructive feedback at these sessions, during which participants
read their work and members
offer suggestions. Works read are
usually less than 15 minutes. All
skill levels. Princeton Public
Library, 7 p.m.
Waking Up White: Discussion of
book by Debby Irving and conversation to help people explore their
own white framing of lives and
communities. For more information, visit www.NIOTPrinceton.
org. Open to public. Princeton
Municipal Building, 7 p.m.
All Bach Program: Pianist Richard
Good brings emotional power
and depth to all he plays, be it the
sonatas of Mozart and Beethoven
or the keyboard music of Bach.
Tickets $25 - $56 on sale now at
the box office, by phone at (609)
258-2787
or
online
at
mccarter.org. McCarter Theatre
Center, 7:30 p.m. Pre-concert lecture at 6:30 p.m.

MARCH 30APRIL 5, 2016 THE PRINCETON SUN 9

Conlon: Im thrilled
with entire lineup
CONLON
Continued from page 2
be most relevant to our community.
The Sun: How do you think the
PEFF has impacted the local community and even the community
at-large as environmentalism becomes a more widespread movement?
Dorman: It would be hard to
quantify PEFF's influence on the
community at large, but I have
personally been told by a number
of people that PEFF changed or
influenced their behaviors and in
some cases, their lives. More and
more people are watching documentaries now, and more and
more people are making documentaries that is having an effect on the widespread movement. Blackfish is an excellent
example of a documentary that
changed lives and behaviors.
The Sun: Do you have a favorite
film being screened in this year's
festival?
Dorman: Ill pick one genre
since no list would be adequate.
The short films I love all of
them. Is that cheating?
Conlon: I am really thrilled
with the entire lineup, the shorts
and the feature documentaries,

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but Ill highlight a few: We start

out on the first day of the festival
with three adventure tales, one by
sea and two by land: A Simple
Question conveys both personal
passion for sailing and also finding meaning in life on a quest at
sea. Later that day, we have two
films that explore the challenges
of high altitude climbing and intense immersion with nature:
Meru and An American Ascent. The following Saturday
evening, Newman tells a lost
story about an enigmatic inventor who believes he can change
the world in this especially dynamic film that keeps the viewer
on the edge.
PSA

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in New Jersey
(877) 839-2339

Email us at news@theprincetonsun.com

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10 THE PRINCETON SUN MARCH 30APRIL 5, 2016

JUNCTION
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UNCTION
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arber S
hop

Koko helps kids feel included, Morenilla says

KOKO
Continued from page 4

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have gone to science camp and

kids who are now for the first
time discussing science. Theyre
more jazzed about learning.
The six-week extracurricular
programs funded by Koko occur
after school, and each student is
encouraged to choose one activity
per season fall, winter and
spring. Recently, Koko extended its
funding into the summer so children can attend summer camp.
Sending kids to camp has
been a very good opportunity for
not only the students but for their
parents to be able to work during
summer, said Lilliana Morenilla,
bilingual parent liaison between
Princeton Public Schools and the
Human Services Department,
who also serves on the board.
This way kids arent just
hanging out all summer. They
have organized activities and are
participating in things they may

not usually do, Lansky said.

It is part of Kokos mission to
also fund the supplies each child
needs to participate.
You cannot play soccer without cleats or practice ballet without slippers, Lansky said.
The Koko fund is supported
through one fundraiser annually,
called the JP Move-A-Thon. All
350 JP students are given a sponsor form and asked to raise
money before the big soiree
where they get to dance and play
and party during school. Whether
they go to their parents office or
ask friends, neighbors and family
members, every student works to
earn donations.
This year, we have had an 85
percent participation rate from
the students who are eligible.
Through the outreach of the
teachers, more students have been
getting involved, which is great.
Its what we want. But the amount
we need to fund every kid to engage has doubled. That is why the
fundraiser is really important this
year, Lanksy said. We are a

small fund but we are growing.

The members of the board are
thankful to all the local establishments who support them with
discounted rates to buy supplies
or have the children attend programs and camps. These include
Princeton Recreation summer
camps, The Arts Council of
Princeton,
Princeton
Ballet
School, Princeton Football Club,
Princeton Soccer Association,
Princeton Soccer Experience,
Princeton YMCA, Rambling
Pines Day Camp, Village Shoes
and Westminster Conservatory.
The most fundamental thing
for me is this makes the students
happy, Morenilla said. They feel
part of this community. There is
a huge aspect of this that makes
them feel like theyre living like
other kids. They feel Princetonian.
To contribute, send a check
payable to Johnson Park Koko
Fund, 285 Rosedale Road, Princeton, or go online at johnsonparkelementarypto.wordpress.co
m/support-services/koko-fund/.

MARCH 30APRIL 5, 2016 THE PRINCETON SUN 11

Accident injures juvenile passenger

ACCIDENT
Continued from page 2

accident investigation, an 18-yearold Trenton male was arrested

after he was found to be in possession of marijuana and possession
of drug paraphernalia. He was
transported to headquarters
where he was processed and released with a pending court date.
The driver of the vehicle, a 21year-old Trenton female, complained of lower back pain and
the passenger, a 19-year-old
Hamilton male, complained of
head pain. They were both transported to the University Medical
Center at Princeton for treatment.

March 17
Subsequent to a motor vehicle
stop for driving without a seatbelt, the accused, a 34-year-old
Atco male, was arrested on an active warrant out of Evesham
Township Municipal Court and
also found to be in possession of a
controlled dangerous substance.
He was transported to headquarters and processed where he was
released with a pending court
date.
An unknown actor spray painted graffiti on the dam at the
Mountain Lakes Preserve. There
are no suspects and the investiga-

tion is ongoing.

March 16
Subsequent to a motor vehicle
stop for driving with a suspended
drivers license, a 32-year-old
Trenton male was arrested after
he was found to be in possession
of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a prohibited weapon. He
was transported to headquarters
where he was processed and released with a pending court date.

March 15
Police were dispatched to
Grover Park to investigate an act
of criminal mischief. The investigation revealed that an unknown
actor spray painted offensive
graffiti on the basketball courts.
The investigation was turned
over to the Detective Bureau for
further investigation.
Subsequent to a motor vehicle
stop for driving an unregistered
vehicle, a 25-year-old Pennsylvania male was arrested on an active warrant issued by the Seaside Heights Municipal Court.
Bail was set at $300. He was transported to headquarters where he
was processed and released after
posting bail.
Subsequent to a call for a disabled vehicle, the owner of the vehicle, a 76-year-old Princeton female, was arrested on an active
warrant issued by the Montgomery Township Municipal

Court, and bail was set at $125.

The woman was transported to
headquarters where she was
processed and released with a
pending court date.
On March 13 at 3:01 p.m., an unknown male, described as 40 to 45
years old, bald, clean shaven face,
wearing blue jeans and a black
long sleeved V-neck shirt and carrying a black and brown striped
DSW paper bag with handles, entered a store on the 100 block of
Nassau Street and stole four
shirts and a gold watch. The total
value stolen was $474. There are
no suspects at this time and the
investigation is ongoing.

March 14
At 8:38 a.m., a 2016 Ford Mustang, operated by a 43-year-old
Princeton male, was traveling
west on Herrontown Road near
Herrontown Lane when the driver lost control of the vehicle and
the vehicle left the roadway,
where it struck a large boulder
and a tree stump.
A female juvenile passenger in
the vehicle sustained a head injury and was transported to
Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in
Hamilton by the Princeton First
Aid and Rescue Squad. The driver
did not report any injuries.
The Ford Mustang sustained
extensive front-end damage and
airbag deployment. It was towed
from the roadway by Boro Collision Towing.

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12 THE PRINCETON SUN MARCH 30APRIL 5, 2016

Cochrane: Students are prepared

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have increased or decreased from
last year. The district, however,
remains prepared to accommodate students who have been sent
in with refusal notes to take the
PARCC.
The date for receiving test refusals is April 4, so it is too early
to make any comparisons, Superintendent Steve Cochrane
said. We were able to modify the
testing schedule this year at the
high school so that students will
not have testing running concurrently with their class schedule.
We are confident this will make it
easier for students to participate
in testing and still move forward
with the learning in their regular
classes.
I think in total, the amount of
refusals will be lower statewide
because the state Department of
Education has really aggressively
pushed it. I think a lot of districts
have become scared, Sass-Rubin
said. I oppose high stakes standardized testing because its incredibly destructive to public
schools and increases inequality.

We [at SOSNJ] are working to

change how assessment is done.
Refusing PARCC is a very individual decision; a tool for families to
say were not participating because its destructive and we
want people to pay attention.
Spalla said she is not certain if
a refusal movement will be
enough to spur change on its own.
She does speaking solely as a
parent and not on behalf the of
the school board have reservations about some aspects of the
present standardized testing system in the state.
I think it is inappropriate to
use students standardized test
scores to evaluate teachers. I also
have grave concerns about the
state Department of Educations
recent proposal to make PARCC a
graduation requirement. In addition to the questions surrounding
the legality of such a change, it
feels manifestly unfair to institute a new graduation requirement after the fact for current
seniors. Its a classic moving the
goalposts scenario that will likely deprive hundreds, or even
thousands, of seniors around the
state of diplomas this year.
Lempert, speaking from her
position as a parent and not as

mayor, said, I do support standardized testing, in moderation,

and if the tests are well-designed.
My personal objections to the
PARCC, especially last year, were
that (1) the state DEP rolled out
the test before it had been fully
vetted; and (2) the DOE required
districts to administer the test
electronically without sufficient
time and resources to work out
the technical challenges.
Spalla affirmed that while she
has concerns, Princetons board
of education complies fully with
applicable laws and regulations,
regardless of individual board
members personal views about
them.
We believe that our students
are well prepared for the content
and skills assessed through
PARCC, Cochrane said. No additional, PARCC-specific test prep
work, which takes time away from
meaningful teaching and learning, is necessary or desirable. Stated simply: good instruction leads
to good test results.
For Princetons testing schedule and more about the districts
refusal policy and PARCC information, visit www.princetonk12.
org. For more about SOSNJ, visit
www.saveourschoolsnj.org.

Spring weather a favorite

SPRING
Continued from page 1
friend, Camryn said.
Other girls older ones have
different ideas for spring break.
I went to Orlando, Fla., and

Send us your Princeton news

Drop us an email at news@theprincetonsun.com.

stayed at a resort this spring,

said 21-year-old Raffaella Soriano
after having lunch downtown. I
cant lie, the best part of the trip
was meeting a group of boys.
Soriano and her friends were
all just happy to have the weather
be nice.
I just like being outside with

my dog, Jackie Krauss said.

The best thing about spring,
Christine Murtha said, maxi
skirts. Done.
Sanya Kumar and her mother
Bhavna are spending spring
break relaxing around town,
spending the day shopping.
I like how its not too cold and
not too hot, Sanya said.
Bhavna voiced that the break
isnt just about relaxing, and that
they stay pretty busy.
Sanya sings with the Princeton Girl Choir and we still have
practice this week, she said.
Did you not get the chance to tell
The Sun what youre doing or did for
spring break? Tweet your best spring
break photos @princetonsun. Wed
love to share!

14 THE PRINCETON SUN MARCH 30APRIL 5, 2016

Answers revealed! Check the facts

from The Suns Einstein True or False quiz
The Sun

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Have you been eager to discover the real facts from The Suns
Einstein True or False questions
created by the biggest Albert fanatics over at Princeton Tour
Company? Here are the answers!
Questions one through four
were written by Tim Fagin,
Princeton Tour Company guide
and private pilot instructor; five
through eight by Mimi Omiecinski, owner of Princeton Tour Company and founder of Pi Day
Princeton; and nine through 12 by
Jacqui Alexander, Princeton Tour
Company tour guide and owner
of Jacquilope Social Media Marketing.
1. Albert Einstein won the
Nobel Prize of 1921 for his Theory
of General Relativity.
A: False. He won for his discovery of the law of photoelectric effect, proposing that the composition of light was not only of
waves, but actual particles he
termed quanta, later renamed
photons. This discovery became the basis for an entirely
new field of study quantum
physics.
2. Even Albert Einstein flunked
mathematics as a young student.
A: False. He mastered both integral and differential calculus by
the time he was 15-years-old.
Throughout most of his career,
he judged mathematics a dull discipline, necessary only to help explain his theories of the exciting
science of physics.
3. Albert never wore socks.
A: True. He thought socks an
unnecessary luxury. They wear
out. One has shoes. Whether
meeting with President Roo-

sevelt, residing with the royal Belgian family or accepting the

worlds greatest scientific awards,
the man never wore socks.
4. The government of Norway
was operated in exile and in
Princeton during most of WWll.
A: True. The president of Parliament, CJ Hambro, upon learning of the impending invasion of
Norway by the Germans in 1940,
escaped along with several other
high ranking officials to the home
of Einsteins dear friend, Thomas
Mann, novelist, Nobel Laureate
and Princeton professor. They
ruled the country from the house
at the corner of Library Place
and Stockton Avenue from 1940 to
1944.
5. Einstein adored cars in
America! In Princeton, he drove
a 1939 Delahaye 165.
A: False. Einstein never
learned to drive a car and walked
wherever he went in Princeton.
A neighbors teenage son would
occasionally drive him if the distance was too long to walk.
6. Einstein enjoyed tea in the
afternoons in the second floor of
the Nassau Inn.
A: True. He would sit in the red
leather chairs that are still in the
Inn today.
7. Einstein sailed a small boat
on Lake Carnegie and was rumored to "get lost" on the small
lake.
A: True. Long time residents
enjoy telling stories of Einstein
getting a teeny bit confused about
directions. You can see the cushion of his famous sailboat in the
Einstein Museum inside Landaus
at 102 Nassau St.
8. Lahieres, now the location
for Agricola, had a portrait of

Einstein over a table where residents claimed Einstein ate nearly

every week. In 2011, the portrait
was stolen and never recovered.
A: False. The portrait was
stolen but a retired FBI agent assisted the restaurant in tracking
down the bad guys. Within 48
hours, the portrait was returned
by overnight mail. Attached to
the portrait was a note that read,
Im sorry, I was out for a walk
and got lost!
9. Einstein often got lost
around town in Princeton.
A: True. There are records in
the Princeton Police Department's archives describing how
they'd have to give the genius a
lift home, and how he'd tip
them with a glass of juice or a
hard boiled egg.
10. Einstein reveled in his
celebrity status.
A: False. Einstein only used his
celebrity status to further causes
that he felt were truly important
(ie: making the case for nuclear
research to the American government in the early days of WWII,
or speaking out in support of
civil rights with Princeton's Paul
Robeson.
11. Einstein knew he was the
smartest faculty member at the
Institute of Advanced Study
A: False. He thought his peers
at the IAS were much smarter
than he was, especially his friend,
acclaimed mathematician Kurt
Goedel.
12. Einstein solved problems
and laid the foundation for some
of his most important theorems
in his head.
A: True. He performed what he
called thought experiments to visualize the theorems in his mind.

EG
Pre-conference Symposium
I
T
OD STER
Fri. April 15, 2016
AY
Princeton Lecture Series
Sat. April 16, 2016
Keynote Speakers:
Daniel Coury, MD Aubyn Stahmer, PhD Kevin Pelphrey, PhD

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