‘Survival’ At HS South##M:[more]##
Since the air-conditioning broke last year and High School South students were granted a week of half-days as a result, nothing has been so invigorating as to make us shout for joy until now. Say “hello” to High School South’s new pending referendum which, if passed, will give future juniors less of a chance to be pummeled for taking a parking spot, rid the hallways of classrooms that take up so much room that walking to the next class is similar to an episode of Survivor, and give study halls more room to breathe, enabling students to finally have blood circulate through their legs.
Why wouldn’t we want the opportunity to make High School South’s halls that much more beautiful? Nothing beats the original, but whoever said original had to mean cramped, stuffy and disheveled? Each year, the freshman class grows bigger and bigger, making the issue of space an increasing threat. The maximum capacity this building can hold is 1,”610 students, and with our current student body at 1,”604 and Principal Charles Rudnick predicting a student body of 1,”650 to 1,”700 students in coming years, High School South’s space problem is graver than a few cramped classrooms.
This, more than anything, is why High School South needs this referendum to be passed. This new plan will not only turn the auxiliary gym into four new classrooms, but it will also add a new gym, an auditorium, and renovate the arts and music area, all facets that South desperately needs to keep up with the needs students bring every year.
If the referendum is approved, we’ll still have the ratty old charm High School South is known for, but with a few perks. We will still be wall-less and the bubble will still be existent (but brand new), but our rear ends will be more comfortable in the new auditorium seats and we won’t risk getting a black eye from an elbow walking through the halls.
This referendum will reshape the lives of students currently attending High School South and the lives of those to come.
The advantages of this referendum far outweigh the possible undiscovered disadvantages. Most of the student population is underage, but those who aren’t are urged to vote to pass this referendum. High School South has the potential to be even better than it already is-and it starts with this referendum.
Kiran Samuel
Grade 12, High School South
Jackie Blumenfeld, Emily Laermer
Grade 12, Grade 11
Samuel is an editorial writer and Blumenfeld and Laermer are editors at the Pirate’s Eye, the school newspaper, in which this column originally appeared.
Plainsboro Election: Cantu’s Comments
I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the residents of Plainsboro for their continued confidence in me. I also extend my thanks to the people who assisted me in my campaign for reelection to the Plainsboro Township Committee.
As I begin my 11th term on the Committee, my enthusiasm for the job and my commitment to the people of Plainsboro remain unchanged. I look forward to working with the Township Committee in extending our record of sound fiscal management, land preservation, and community planning. I also pledge to continue our efforts on real property tax reform in the State of New Jersey.
With your support, I know Plainsboro will continue to be a great place to live and work.
Peter A. Cantu
Mayor, Plainsboro Township
11 Beechtree Lane
Zeltman’s Future
I would like to congratulate Mayor Cantu on his reelection. I wish him the best in his next term and hope he will accomplish things that will be in the best interest of Plainsboro.
I would like to take the chance to thank my fiance Karen, my campaign manager Michael Jaronsky, Kip and Pat Luther, Cathy Troy, Walter Wright, Johnny Abernathy, Les Srikantha, Don Dewitt, and to everyone who contributed to the campaign.
I would like to thank everyone that voted, especially those of you who supported me, and let you know that Michael Jaronsky and I will both be running next year. We strongly believe that we can make a positive change to Plainsboro’s Township Committee and bring much needed balance and a fresh perspective.
Please continue to check our web page (hometown.aol.com/BillZeltman) as we will be involved in community events, keeping you up to date on township concerns, and listening to the feedback of our neighbors.
Bill Zeltman
Editor’s note: See story, page 1, for more on the aftermath of Plainsboro’s election.
Zip Code Change
Mayor Hsueh suggests we ask the Postal Service to officially change the Princeton Junction zip code to West Windsor. It is awkward that our post office and township have different names. However, while Mayor Hsueh questions living under the shadow of Princeton, I question living under the shadow of Windsor. I doubt I’m alone when I say Princeton’s shadow has a lot more to recommend itself than Windsor’s shadow. It’s not Windsor’s fault, but most of the country knows what Princeton is, whereas Windsor is, perhaps, not so well known.
Once upon a time, our town had multiple identities, some based on its communities (Clarksville, Dutch Neck, Grovers Mill, Edinburgh, Penns Neck, Princeton Junction, and Port Mercer) and some based on its proximity to Windsor and Princeton. The reality is that our town is now defined by our train station, Route 1, and schools. Why define the town by its proximity to Windsor? Is anyone suggesting we call ourselves RouteOneVille? At least the train station is well known, a positive, and in OUR town. If we’re going to rename something, my preference is to rename our township Princeton Junction.
Why not ask the people? Maybe start with a contest to find names that are based on something that’s actually here. Maybe push the “War of the Worlds” angle and rename everything “Martians’ Landing.” Then narrow the possibilities and let the people decide if we will use the contest winner, or rename the post office West Windsor, or rename the whole town Princeton Junction, or just keep everything the way it is now.
By the way, are there any updates on fixing the traffic jams on the Alexander Road train overpass or the Washington Road / Route 1 intersection?
Brett Boal
31 Park Hill Terrace,
Princeton Junction
Boal also directed his letter to Council President Charles Morgan, who offered this response:
Thanks for writing. It is always great to hear from our residents, something that happens all too rarely. Actually, the original survey asked our residents if they wanted to consolidate all the previous zip codes into a single “08550 West Windsor” designation.
The only reason the “official” name in the Post Office records wasn’t changed to West Windsor was because of systems barriers that now no longer exist. The Post Office merely has asked that we reaffirm the original decision, which is all we are doing.
Charlie Morgan
Junction Pride
Regarding the mayor’s desire to officially change our Post Office name in order to “make a statement and have our own identity” and to cease “living under the shadow of Princeton” I respectfully disagree. I have always been proud to say I live in Princeton Junction. And I always will be. I see no flaw in the Princeton Junction identity.
The new train station name “Princeton Junction at West Windsor” sounds to me like another pricey housing development. When the transit village is built maybe it will be called “The Transit Village of Princeton Junction at West Windsor.” Aren’t there more important issues?
Karl Dentino
A Princeton Junction resident since 1982
