By Charley Falkenburg, Staff Writer
PLAINSBORO — The Plainsboro community Gale Cantu grew up in is a lot different than the one that surrounded her at the festival grounds on Sunday. For one, there’s definitely fewer cows.
”I remember a time when there were more cows than people — if someone back then told me cow town would look like this, I would have never believed him,” said the wife of Mayor Peter Cantu with a smile. “The growth of the Plainsboro community has become a quilt of citizens from all of the world — all the different dialects and nationalities; I’m thrilled our community has become so diverse.”
Looking around the festival grounds that sunny afternoon, one would have to agree. Hundreds of residents from all different cultures and walks of life gathered to celebrate the township’s 34th annual Founder’s Day.
”Plainsboro today is a tremendously diverse community and this is about bringing the people together to enjoy that diversity in the community,” said Mayor Cantu.
The mayor could speak from experience, since he’s been an elected official longer than Founder’s Day been around and served as mayor for almost just as long. Founder’s Day was created in 1979 to bring the community together to help it come through challenges and growth. However, the township is a lot older than that. May 6 marked its 94th birthday — or the day when residents John V.B. Wicoff and Henry W. Jeffers were successful in their endeavor to separate what is now Plainsboro, from South Brunswick and Cranbury.
Fed up with what they considered to be inadequate school systems, the duo spurred the official incorporation of Plainsboro as a separate township.
Fast forward 94 years and the schools in the West Windsor-Plainsboro district are recognized as some of the best performing schools in the state and country. Multiple festival-goers cited the school district as one of driving forces that brought them Plainsboro.
”We moved here because of the school system,” said resident of six years Yu “Taylor” Zhong. Mr. Zhong, who has two children in middle school, also wants to get more involved in the school district. As a candidate for the upcoming Board of Education election, Mr. Zhong came out that day get to know some of his neighbors.
”I want to meet people and enjoy the good weather,” he added.
There were many opportunities for both as crowds of people could be seen throughout the area ditching their jackets and participating in games, live performances and arts and crafts. Throughout the day, various community groups of all ages performed different ethnic dances and musical numbers. Nearby, folks — and some pets — lounged in the grass watching karate demonstrations.
Resident Kamesh Chikka was soaking up some sun on a blanket, waiting for his wife, Radha Mahakali, and two small children to return. One of his sons was in the Town Center Elementary School parade earlier that day and his wife was helping out with the Plainsboro Library.
”Radha,” he shouted, catching the attention of his wife, who jogged over. This was their second Founder’s Day festival and it appeared they were having a good — and busy — time.
”We enjoy the town,” said Ms. Mahakali, who moved to Plainsboro with her family two years ago. “Founder’s Day gives us an opportunity to see what the town is all about.”
Mr. Chikka nodded in agreement. For him, it was the diversity Ms. Cantu described earlier that drew their family from North Jersey.
”We love Plainsboro — it’s a very active community with a great mix of cultures,” he added.
It seemed as a result, the food options also represented the mix. From nachos and watermelon to East Asian cuisine, multiple community organizations had a little something for everybody.
Judging by the lines for the games, it looked like people had given a lot of their business to the stands that served pizza. Many refueled while waiting to do some rock climbing, decimate cans of Goya beans in a triangle or try their hand — or rather aim — at throwing footballs through a set of tires.
Some were even were able to get ideas on how to impress the ladies. Gathering by a couple of classic American muscle cars from the Central Jersey Antique Car Club, a group of teenage boys admired the four gleaming cars that have been prowling the streets decades before they were born.
”This one would get girls,” one said, motioning toward a burnt orange Chevy Bel Air with the hood popped to flaunt its spotless engine. Others appeared more partial to the cherry red 1968 Ford Mustang as person after person posed to take pictures with the car.
It was a bittersweet day for Committeeman Michael Weaver, since this Founder’s Day would be his last. Mr. Weaver is moving to North Carolina this year, but said this is one of the many things he would miss about Plainsboro. The other would be his neighbors.
”The community is very diverse and moved in a very positive direction — the beauty of Plainsboro is we don’t get bogged down by petty issues,” he added.
