To the Editor:

Bank Street is the most deplorable street in Princeton.  The sidewalks are busted, uneven, and repaired with asphalt, the pavement is potholed and pitched. The curbs are deteriorated, the trees have been mauled. It has a mass of overhead wiring and cable hanging from wood poles, that primarily served the downtown, with sodium cobra-head riot lighting from the ’60s. It is the most distressed street in Princeton with some of the most deteriorated and unkempt properties at the bottom end. For years, since Mayor Marvin Reed, the borough, and now the town has promised it would repair and upgrade this street. Now for more than 20 years this street has been allowed to deteriorate while millions of dollars were collected in property taxes by the 28 lots on the street. Since we have owned our house we have paid over $340,000 in taxes. more

To the Editor

The first phase of the long-awaited Bank Street improvement project will begin this July. New Jersey American Water Company will be replacing water lines, and the work is anticipated to be completed by Labor Day. New sanitary sewer, curbs, sidewalks, and road pavement work will follow in spring/summer 2020. The project is being funded in part through a grant of $214,937 from the NJ Department of Transportation. The project is also supported via low interest loans from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection and the Infrastructure Bank. The extra approvals involved in receiving financial support from these agencies can often add time to a project. more

To the Editor:

Princeton will be a ghost town with empty store fronts if we as residents in and around town do not support our local merchants. Shopping locally is not just a slogan, it’s our civic duty if we want to live in a vibrant town with local shops and services that serve our needs.

The next time you start to press “A” for Amazon, ask yourself, “Could I buy this in town from a friendly shop owner who actually might help me make the right choice about a product?” It’s up to us to keep our stores open. If we don’t support them, they cannot survive. The closing of Pins and Needles was a wake-up call. Let’s turn it into a call to support our local merchants.

Kate Denby
Skillman

To the Editor:

I was very impressed with Michelle Pirone Lambros at the recent Princeton Council debate held at the First Baptist Church. On every topic, from Smart Growth to economic development, her statements were clear and direct. One did not need a degree in urban planning to understand what she was saying.

She was the only candidate to point out that the recent parking meter rollout should not have been done until we, the residents of Princeton, had the opportunity to examine the plan and given a forum for comment. It appears that Council had accepted the recommendations of consultants, without critical analysis by those who park in Princeton.  Another example of a recent Council decision that is having unintended consequences is the closing of the Terhune Road-Route 206 intersection and the “in-your-face” placement of the fueling station.

We need Michelle Pirone Lambros on Council for her voice of reason and measured consideration. She’s my kind of Democrat!

Lincoln Hollister
Ridgeview Road

To the Editor:

We residents of Princeton New Jersey pride ourselves that we live in a town that houses an elite university, culture, higher learning, and more. And yet, on one of the busiest roads in town, one where many people, residents and others travel every day, there is a “thing” that is dangerous, ugly, and unbecoming of our community. That “thing” is on Harrison Street. If one comes from Route 1 and goes west on Harrison Street, before crossing the bridge over Lake Carnegie near the MPH sign on the north side or right hand side of the road, there is a large wire trunk, hanging down, swinging in the breeze, with a black plastic bandana wrapped around the wire trunk. The black plastic looks like an ISIS flag. The wire trunk looks ugly and must be dangerous, just swinging there. If someone grabs or touches that trunk, they may be electrocuted. I am surprised that some township engineer, or some official from the electric company, has not corrected the situation. We are better than a “banana republic.” I ask the appropriate municipal engineer will place this wire trunk where it belongs. And correct a situation that is both ugly and dangerous. Thank you.

Howard W. Silbersher
Governors Lane

To the Editor,

On behalf of McCarter Theatre Center, we want to thank all who helped to make our Gala on Saturday, May 4, such a tremendous success! This year, Grammy and Tony Award-winning vocalist and actor Leslie Odom, Jr. performed for a packed-to-the-rafters theatre as the centerpiece of the evening. Our guests were treated to an extraordinary performance of beautiful songs and personal stories from one of the country’s biggest stars.

We would also like to thank our corporate sponsors: Bloomberg Philanthropies; City National Bank; Cure Auto Insurance; Glenmeade; Drinker Biddle; Mathematica Policy Research; Bryn Mawr Trust; Community Options, Inc.; McCarter & English, Attorneys at Law; Joshua Zinder Architecture + Design; PNC Bank; Stark & Stark, Attorneys at Law; Wells Fargo; and Saul Ewing, Arnstein, & Lehr.We also wish to thank them for their support in reaching our fundraising goal. McCarter is deeply grateful for their support and for that of many other corporate and individual sponsors who helped to make this event such a wonderful success. more

To the Editor:

I’m writing to express my strong support for Mia Sacks, in the June 4 Democratic primary for Princeton Council. Mia’s experience working in civil liberties, public health, and international human rights gives her a valuable perspective and unique set of skills to address the challenges Princeton faces. Her roles as a policy advocate for Human Rights Watch, as a Program Officer at the Soros Foundation, and as part of the senior communications team at the ACLU, have all trained her to think strategically about how to communicate issues and coalesce allies to support common goals. Most importantly: for Mia, human rights begin at home. This means that people, especially those most vulnerable among us, will be her priority — not any one sector of the community. more

To the Editor:

It has been clearly expressed by researchers and writers on the subject that the best thing seniors can do for their health and well-being is regular exercise. Both aerobic and resistance training are recommended. In a new study, reported in the Science section of the May 7 New York Times, it was shown that exercise may even improve brain function. The Princeton Senior Resource Center has a program which fulfills this important need. The class meets at 8 a.m. Monday through Friday. Participants pay $60 per month.

On April 24 we were informed that the Center was cancelling the class as of May 31. We are devastated. We urge those who support the Senior Center to reconsider this unconscionable decision and reverse it.

Ginger Lennon
Pardpe Road

To the Editor:

Sincere thanks to the Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood Association for organizing the excellent Candidates for Council forum at the First Baptist Church on John Street May 4. (Town Topics, May 1).

The questions posed by the moderators were pertinent and the organization of the event was superb! The forum highlighted the differences between the candidates in their solutions (or lack of solutions) to critical issues affecting the community and provided the near capacity crowd with important and needed information!

Linda Sipprelle
Victoria Mews

To the Editor;

Beautiful spring is now upon us. The trees are leafing out, the grass is growing, the flowers are blooming. All is beautiful in that spring-like way!

I am wondering, though, what the legal limit is for noise. Leaf blowers have also become snow blowers, grass blowers. So while the noise from them used to be limited to a certain phase of the year, we now have those sounds most of the year. Trees are cut down and/or trimmed back. More noise and plenty of it. And how about mowers?

Beyond the noise, how about the environmental impact that these gasoline-powered machines use? How about the military interests we have around the world to support the gas and oil we use so that our grass can be short? more

To the Editor:

It was a curiously satisfying and energizing experience to attend the recent meeting on the composting program covered in Town Topics (May 1, pg. one), and observe residents, municipal officials, and staff enthusiastically exchanging ideas and information in order to solve an intractable, difficult problem: how to deal with … our garbage. Such are the times in which we live!

It was encouraging to hear that every effort is being made to restart the composting program. It would be worthwhile to invest extra funds to re-establish this same program, which might be expanded by using a per-bag trash disposal fee to encourage waste minimization and participation in the organics collection program. more

To the Editor:

We write as Princetonians, Democrats, and former mayors to endorse Michelle Pirone Lambros for Princeton Council. The last quarter century has brought Princeton to a crossroads. Transformations in infrastructure, public services, and housing challenge us to match our unique history with 21st century realities. We need to make the best decisions for all Princetonians, whether they descend from six generations or have recently arrived without official papers. To succeed, we need a Council with a breadth of experiences and talents. more

To the Editor:

Princeton has been our home for nearly five years. We feel fortunate to be represented by a mayor and Council that actively engages with all residents — even relative newcomers such as ourselves. Councilperson Tim Quinn was one of the first people in local government that we met after he was first elected in 2016. We could tell that Tim was no ordinary candidate. He treated us like he was our neighbor. He took the time to follow up with us, and invited us to upcoming town hall meetings. His outreach is what made Princeton feel like home. Tim is a genuine candidate who listens to all members of the Princeton community, whether they have lived in Princeton their entire lives, moved here recently to raise a family, or are calling it home for a short time in pursuit of a higher degree. more

To the Editor:

The Friends of Herrontown Woods (FOHW) would like to thank the eighth-grade girl scouts of Cadette Troop 72905 for the work they have been doing at Princeton’s first nature preserve, Herrontown Woods. Their initial contribution was a workday, when they helped weed the botanical garden we are creating next to the parking lot, and conducted a “seed bombing” to add native species of wildflowers to the detention basin rain garden that FOHW takes care of at Smoyer Park. More recently, with guidance from troop leader Pallavi Nuka and other FOHW volunteers, three members of the troop — Anika Simons, Lucy Kreipke, and Katherine Monroe — have developed and carried out a work plan for their Girl Scout Silver Award project. They created brochures, recorded podcasts, designed a logo, and built and installed signage in front of the Veblen House and Cottage, describing the buildings’ remarkable history, the Veblens’ generous donation of Herrontown Woods and buildings to the public trust, and the work of FOHW to give these public assets the care and repair they deserve. more

To the Editor:

Princeton Special Sports and the Princeton Recreation Department welcomed close to 100 attendees at the 11th Annual Spring Formal in “Casablanca” for adults and teens with special needs on May 3.

Our DJ Steven Knox aka DJ Redline, and our photographer Jaime Escarpeta, were awesome! McCaffrey’s menu was fantastic as always, and PSS parent Ashley Oppenheimer-Fink’s desserts were the perfect ending to an already sweet evening! more

To the Editor:

The sun was shining on Princeton’s GreenFest on Saturday, May 11 at the Princeton Shopping Center. With more than 700 people in attendance, the enthusiasm for sustainable living and learning was palpable! We are so thankful to so many for making this event a tremendous success! We thank our major sponsors, without whom the GreenFest would not be possible: Princeton Shopping Center/EDENS, Bryn Mawr Trust, Church & Dwight, Electric Bike Co., Metropolis, NRG Energy, Inc. and Surf Taco and to the long list of in-kind sponsors including The Bent Spoon, JaZams, Jules Thin Crust, KOPPS Cycle, Labyrinth Books, LiLLiPiES, McCaffrey’s Food Markets, Princeton Health Dep, Princeton Online, R & K Toys, Smith’s Ace Hardware of Princeton, and Zagster. more

To the Editor:

On April 26, Enable, Inc. held its 30th Anniversary Masquerade Casino gala at Mercer Oaks in West Windsor. The evening celebrated Enable’s achievements over the past three decades, as well as our aspirations for the future. A great time was had by all as guests enjoyed the excitement of Masquerade and the thrill of casino gaming.

For the past 30 years, Enable has been committed to providing exceptional services to individuals with disabilities. Today, we are serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. We have 21 group homes, four day programs, and in-home support services throughout Central New Jersey. more

To the Editor,

We are happy to support Tim Quinn’s re-election campaign for Princeton Council. We met Tim in 2008, when he was new on the Board of Education and volunteered to be liaison to the Minority Education Committee, a group of residents who were concerned with equity in the schools. Tim didn’t talk much at first. He spent most of his time listening as the members of the committee shared their experiences with discrimination in Princeton. He answered questions when asked, but took the time to learn more about the African American and Latino experience in Princeton. more

To the Editor:

The Princeton Bicycle Advisory Committee would like to thank Sustainable Princeton for co-sponsoring the Bike Valet parking at Communiversity, and to everyone who helped make it a success. We expanded to two locations this year, serving a total of 85 bike and scooter riders of all ages!

Special thanks to David Cohen, PBAC’s Council liaison, who was instrumental in arranging for the event bike racks and for securing a second location for this year, and who devoted more hours than any of us on the Bike Valet. more

To the Editor:

I was distressed to learn in your recent article [pg. one, April 24] that Princeton Community TV has not had its funding, derived from Princeton municipal government’s revenues from cable TV companies, renewed for 2019. The same article said that as a result, the station may deplete its reserves and close at the end of this year. more

To the Editor:

I want to express my gratitude for the professional and timely response of our local Police officers. I reported what I thought was a stolen iPad at 8 the morning after it was lost. Although I later discovered that a friend had picked it up to keep it safe, within an hour of my call to the department, officers showed up and conducted a thorough and helpful interview. One of the officers left his card, which I called when I discovered that the iPad was safe with a friend. I regret that they went through so much trouble, but it was a revelation to see how wonderful our local officers are. Thank you for all you do.

Chris Coucill
Constitution Hill West

To the Editor:

As we lose yet another small business, Pins and Needles, in our downtown, it’s time to ask: Why isn’t Princeton Council doing more to support local merchants? Small businesses create more than 60 percent of all new jobs in the U.S. economy, and a vital business community is the backbone of any local economy. The unique flavor of our town has always been marked by the small businesses that give Princeton character. They provide that live-shop-work-play lifestyle that sets Princeton apart from so many towns. They attract out-of-town shoppers. And they employ residents.

Municipal government works best when it works together with business: to set goals, solve problems, and work to attract, keep, and grow the local economy. Princeton is no different from other towns. It needs this same type of support, yet over the past decade or so this connectivity has been eroding. more

To the Editor:

On behalf of Sustainable Princeton’s trustees, staff, volunteers, and supporters, we thank the Arts Council of Princeton, Princeton University’s Office of Sustainability and Office of Community and Regional Affairs, the Municipality of Princeton’s Public Works Department, and event attendees for their support of our sustainable initiatives at Communiversity ArtsFest 2019. more

To the Editor:

After reading recent published articles, transcripts, and editorials regarding the Princeton municipal gas station, the right course of action is for the municipality to admit its error, make amends to its residents and remove the above-ground canopy. The municipal administration admits that their communication about the project was flawed and “re-wrapping the top of the canopy from black to red” will make no difference — it’s just plain UGLY and detracts from Princeton’s beauty. For decades municipal employees fueled their vehicles without a canopy and can continue to do so — being outside is simply part of most of their jobs anyway. Where is Ronald Reagan when we need him? “Mayor Lempert—tear down this canopy!”

Barry Goldblatt
Andrews Lane

To the Editor:

We were enormously gratified to welcome the largest crowd ever to the Princeton Festival’s 15th Anniversary Gala, dubbed “A Crystal Celebration,” on April 27. We want to thank everyone who helped put the event together, and everyone who participated in the fun, for supporting our 2019 season of opera, jazz, musical theater, concerts, and free community programs. This landmark season runs from June 9 to June 30. Performance and ticketing information is available at www.princetonfestival.com.

Guests make a party, and members of the Princeton community and beyond came to celebrate. The pre-dinner cocktail hour was lively, the bidding on the silent and live auctions was competitive, and the dance floor was packed until curfew. In the process our guests set a new Gala record for the amount of money raised. Thank you to all of them. more