To the Editor:

“The differentness of races, moreover, is no evidence of superiority or of inferiority. This merely indicates that each race has certain gifts which the others do not possess.”   —Carter G. Woodson

In 1926, Carter G. Woodson founded what was to become the ASALH, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History and the progenitor of Black History Month. Only more recently has this celebration gained more prominence, and yet there is more recognition still needed.

To this end, a number of social justice and racial justice focused organizations and people got together to discuss how to best put a focus on this month-long celebration. It was quickly understood that many organizations and institutions offer varied programming and separate promotion. The group decided that, in addition to self-promotion, a master Mercer County Black History Month Events and Happenings calendar would be created. And so, this newly created collaborative calendar now resides on the YWCA Princeton website. Events may be submitted by going to ywcaprinceton.org/event-entry. The calendar may be viewed by going ywcaprinceton.org/homepage/signature-events/calendar. more

To the Editor:

I urge Princeton residents to log onto the Planning Board meeting this Thursday, February 4 to oppose the turf fields Princeton Academy of Sacred Heart would like to build on their campus. This project is cheating the taxpayers, cheating the environment, and cheating the local community. 

The school isn’t building the fields, Princeton Soccer Academy (which isn’t even based in Princeton) is. Princeton Soccer Academy will own them. Not PASH. PASH will only own the land below them.

The school is zoned as a nonprofit. It can only partner with nonprofit. Princeton Soccer Academy is a for-profit entity. That is, until we mentioned this at a previous meeting. Since then, they have applied for NJ nonprofit status, which is just paperwork, not an official nonprofit according to the IRS. This is completely unethical to try to skirt the rules and get out of paying taxes and to trick the Planning Board and public.

Besides cheating the public, this is costly to the surrounding environment. They plan on cutting down 46 mature trees, replacing grass with a plastic turf carpet, and ruining the ridge’s natural habitat for many plants and animals, including the endangered red-shouldered hawk.  more

To the Editor:

“The preservation and protection of the natural environment must be an integral part of all plans and designs for improvements and changes in land use. Examples include rezoning of The Princeton Ridge,” states the Princeton Community Master Plan.

We all live nearby one of the region’s most environmentally fragile and ecologically diverse habitats. The Princeton Ridge is home to many threatened and endangered species, while playing an important role in Princeton’s delicate ecosystem. Measures have always been taken to protect this important land.

At the apex of the Ridge sits Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart’s 48-acre campus. It’s a jewel of a property, surrounded by woods and open fields. Understandably, their R4 zoning prevents commercial use by for-profit entities.  Similar to any residentially zoned neighborhood in Princeton, a 7-Eleven cannot be erected next door to your property.

Several years ago, Princeton Academy inked a partnership agreement with the Princeton Soccer Academy (PSA) in a land-lease opportunity with exclusive rights to the PSA. In the agreement, PSA, an organization outside of Princeton, will rip out 4.2 acres of grass, including 46 mature trees, and replace it with nonpermeable plastic turf. Aside from the devastating environmental and community exploitation, it’s important to expose the unsavory tactics used by the school and PSA to circumvent zoning regulations. more

To the Editor:

Everyone, especially our institutions, needs to pay their fair share of taxes.

This Thursday, February 4, Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart will present a plan before the Planning Board that would allow them to skirt local zoning rules and allow them to not pay their fair share of taxes.

Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart has planned for over two years with Princeton Soccer Academy to build two artificial turf fields on their property. This will certainly endanger state protected wetlands on the school grounds, destroy a sensitive ecosystem that houses endangered species, potentially poison the waters of the mountain lakes, and destroy a quiet community. 

Princeton Soccer Academy is a fully commercialized pay-to-play, state-wide, for-profit youth soccer organization. They have been recent recipients of hundreds of thousands of dollars of federal PPP loans as a for-profit entity. The problem with the school’s plan is that it operates in a residential area that is zoned for nonprofit usage only. When a group of concerned citizens opposed this project and stated the obvious, that this for-profit entity was not allowed to operate on nonprofit zoned land, the school and the soccer academy conspired to create a nonprofit out of thin air. more

To the Editor:

Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart is an independent, all-boys, Kindergarten through Grade 8 school. Our mission is to develop young men to be creative, compassionate, and courageous leaders of a just society. As a school of the Sacred Heart, Princeton Academy is guided by noble goals. We always act with social awareness as we seek to build community.

Everything we do at Princeton Academy is aimed at providing the best possible developmental experience for our students. We believe that by doing this we are not only bringing out the best in our boys, but we are also contributing to make our world a better place.

Our school is proposing to enhance our facility for our students and for our community by replacing two athletic fields that already exist with a new, next-generation athletic surface. The fields will be enjoyed by our students, along with the athletes of Princeton Soccer Academy, and will be accessible to all in the broader community.  more

To the Editor:

Once again, we are writing as residents and taxpayers of Princeton. We remain eminently concerned about the Minor Site Plan application filed by Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart (Princeton Academy).

This coming Thursday, February 4, Princeton Academy will proceed with their quest for application with variances and conditional use. This discussion continues from the December 10, 2020 Planning Board meeting.

Princeton Academy has partnered with the Princeton Soccer Academy (PSA) to build an artificial turf athletic field complex on their campus, which is located on the Princeton Ridge, a unique and sensitive ecological area in Mercer County that extends across the northern part of Princeton Township. For numerous environmental and nuisance reasons that we cited previously, and contrary to the applicant’s claims, the construction and operation of this complex will be detrimental to our surrounding community. more

To the Editor:

As I sit today watching the snow fall onto Princeton Ridge, I am reminded how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful and natural area of New Jersey. We chose to move to Princeton Ridge about a year ago because of its beautiful natural wooded environment, the dark skies for ideal stargazing, and the ability to have some land. It had the natural elements, and stability, that we were looking for.

We enjoy pointing our spotting scope towards the moon and being able to see many craters. It’s also wonderful to see the red fox, and many beautiful deer. One of our favorite activities is to sit under the stars in the evening around our fire pit — enjoying time together and looking to the heavens. We have come to believe that Princeton has it all — beautiful natural places like this, and a wonderful hustling bustling town for those who prefer to be closer to it all.   more

To the Editor:

Following the murder of George Floyd on May 25, Princeton Council declared racism a public health crisis through the passage of resolution 20-195 on June 8, 2020. Council noted the need for “assessments of internal policies and procedures to ensure racial equity” in all municipal work. Over the summer and fall, a Civil Rights Commission (CRC) ad hoc committee worked diligently on creating a Racial Equity Impact Assessment (REIA) Toolkit, which was presented to the Council on December 14, 2020, to a positive reception. As suggested at the Council meeting, we look forward to the Toolkit being presented to municipal department heads.

The ad hoc committee was comprised of two community partners, Afsheen Shamsi, a former CRC commissioner and Linda Oppenheim, a Not In Our Town Princeton board member, as well as two CRC commissioners, Jean Durbin and Surinder Sharma, and myself, CRC chair. During the process, the committee consulted with Joanne Parker, Fern and Larry Spruill, Karen Hernandez-Granzen, and Anastasia Mann.  more

To the Editor:

I moved to Princeton almost 12 years ago; part of what I immediately embraced about this community was its texture. We are nestled here in the heart of New Jersey, surrounded by great population density, and yet it is possible to know our neighbors, to have relationships with local businesspeople, to greet fellow community members in the streets. I likewise embraced the physical texture of our community, including a walkable downtown, an old fashioned outdoor shopping center, and the ways in which the campus of a great research university abuts and engages its downtown center — rather than being banished to the edges, as is so often the case.

This is a community in which town and gown are interwoven, in which the edges of each blend in dynamic ways. For my part, the Museum I lead has been a part of the blurring and blending of those edges. Historic Bainbridge House on Nassau Street became a gallery venue for our Museum in September 2019 as an intimately-scaled destination for residents, visitors, and students alike. The opening of a satellite Museum Store followed in November 2019 as a further way of integrating this particular cultural entity into the fabric of the town around us. more

To the Editor:

On behalf of the Board and members of the Sourland Conservancy, I would like to thank the many community volunteers, partner nonprofits, and teen leaders of Hopewell Gives Back (HGB) for observing the Martin Luther King Day of Service by volunteering on January 16-18. 

This year, the HGB teen leaders planned a virtual event to invite families and individuals of all ages to pick up a project “kit” to complete at home. Each project will benefit one of four local nonprofits: I Support the Girls (feminine hygiene packs), Seeds to Sew International (decorating paper bags/boxes), The Rescue Mission of Trenton (making no-sew fleece blankets or face masks), and the Sourland Conservancy (assembling native seed packets).  more

To the Editor:

I am writing to voice my objection to aspects of the newly passed ordinance permanently changing a portion of Witherspoon Street to a one-way street.

I realize that this is a challenging issue with many parties having different hopes and needs. We are all struggling to cope with the effects of the COVID crisis, but adaptations that work for some may be a hindrance to others. While I appreciate that there was an impetus to move quickly on this plan because, according to then Mayor Lempert, “Delaying it would mean we’d lose the grant funding for this project,” I do not think the implications of this ordinance have been well-considered. Many of the merchants that will be strongly affected, myself included, have been overwhelmed trying to weather the busy Christmas season during this pandemic and were not able to focus on this complicated topic.

I will leave aside the larger issue of whether Witherspoon should be one-way, although for the record I am against it, and focus on the part of this plan that directly affects my store. According to the Town Topics article on December 23 [“Council Vote Finalizes One-Way Traffic on Witherspoon,” page 1], South Tulane Street will be changed from one-way going north to south to one-way south to north. more

To the Editor:

During the past 10 months of the pandemic, residents who live in homes built and managed by Princeton Community Housing (PCH) have been the recipients of generosity by many organizations and food markets in Princeton. The challenge of making food available to those in need has been met by our community partners and we are very grateful for their initiatives.

Arm In Arm has provided 70 bags of food for 70 households, twice a month, at Elm Court (EC) and Harriet Bryan House (HBH), PCH’s senior developments on Elm Road. Princeton Community Village (PCV) residents have also received food deliveries. The YMCA has delivered 60 boxes of fresh produce every week, and over 100 households at our senior residences took turns receiving these food boxes. The YMCA also delivered weekly fresh produce boxes to 45 households at PCV and 30 households at Griggs Farm. The Jewish Family and Children’s Service mobile food truck delivered a reusable grocery bag to 90 residents at EC and HBH. The bag included fresh produce, chicken and non-perishables. The first delivery was on December 30 and hopefully will continue quarterly in 2021. The mobile pantry also delivered food to 20 residents at PCV on the same day. more

To the Editor:

On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Arts Council of Princeton, I am writing to thank everyone in our community who made a gift of support during our winter appeal. The response was overwhelmingly generous. Over the past nine months, the Arts Council of Princeton’s response to the pandemic has been to offer free programs and creative ways to address the social isolation and the diminished sense of togetherness that characterized so much of 2020.

Your support was an affirmative signal of support for the Arts Council’s hard work and continued commitment to keeping our community vibrant and connected. We will emerge from this pandemic stronger and more resilient as a community, and your support ensures that the Arts Council will be offering art-filled opportunities to come together and celebrate the creativity in each of us. On behalf of the entire Board, I offer a heartfelt thanks to all.

Board Of Trustees, Arts Council Of Princeton
Sarah Collum-Hatfield, President
Rock Road East, Hopewell

To the Editor:

The kindness of strangers. I want to publicly thank a very kind woman who stopped to help me and a friend on Hamilton Avenue on Wednesday, January 13.

In this frightening time of social distancing she attempted to help a total stranger. I don’t know her name, but I think her middle name is Angel. Thank you so much.

Kathryn King
Linden Lane

To the Editor:

A heartfelt thank you from the Friends of the Princeton Public Library for the support of our amazing community for our Beyond Words 2020 fundraiser. On January 9^th, we concluded our three-part speakers’ series with Kate Andersen Brower, the author of Team of Five: The Presidents Club in the Age of Trump, in conversation with Princeton University Professor Kevin Kruse.

Considering recent events and the upcoming inauguration in Washington, D.C., our timing was impeccable.  Kate Brower’s insights into the presidency, past presidencies, and life in the White House could not have been more timely and relevant. Coupled with the highly engaged participation from our patrons that we have grown to expect (and love), the event was proof again of the central role the Princeton Public Library plays in cultivating the curiosity of our community.  more

To the Editor:

When those $600 stimulus checks arrive, let’s all consider their purpose, and whether we can just pass ours on to someone who needs it now.

You may already have donated to one or more of the great relief organizations in town, yet find yourself looking for someone specific to give to, someone you would not embarrass by asking. 

Could it be the couple who have for years faithfully shoveled snow from your sidewalk, or helped you with gardening? Neither job is available now. Or a single parent, unemployed because a business you normally patronize has cut its hours? Maybe the home health aide, grocery checkout person, or crosswalk guard who’s missing because he or she has caught the virus — there must be a way to find that person.

Once found, how to frame your gift? A tip? Pay for personal days off? Sick or vacation pay? 

Once you find the person, giving gets easier. Talk to that person. Think of what you can give, and do your best. Every gift counts.

Mary Clurman
Harris Road

To the Editor:

This year, as the pandemic closed down indoor destinations, many people turned to Princeton’s nature preserves for diversion, renewal, and exercise. Coinciding with this surge in what is often called passive recreation has been an acceleration in several projects along the Princeton Ridge where people take a more active, restorative role in nature. Initiatives by the Friends of Herrontown Woods, the Friends of Princeton Open Space, and the Ridgeview Ridge Trail Blazers have all gained momentum, benefiting from an influx of volunteers.

On the eastern side of town, our relatively new nonprofit, the Friends of Herrontown Woods, founded in 2013 to make Princeton’s first nature preserve once again accessible after years of neglect, has overseen the rapid evolution of a space we now call the Princeton Botanical Art Garden. It began three years ago as a small loop trail through a former pine grove decimated by windstorms. As invasive species took hold among the fallen trees, we saw the opportunity to create a rare habitat — a sunny forest opening. Removing rampant invasive growth and planting sun-loving native wildflowers and shrubs, our first goal was to create a space where people could come to learn about native flora. 

But the botanical garden took a cultural turn this year as artists and students displaced from school began building structures amidst the wildflower beds. A boy made a fort. Several high schoolers built a yurt. A chainsaw virtuoso cut planks and handrails from fallen trees to build a whimsical but sturdy bridge over a small wetland. Using massive upturned root balls as backdrops, a spiritual gardener created a meditation garden, and a daughter and mother created an exhibit of wildlife bones.  more

Dear Editor,

I am writing this letter for two reasons. One, because Yes We CAN! Food Drives is so deeply appreciative of the community support we have received this past year in collecting food to help our neighbors overcome food security. Through our food drives at supermarkets and farmers markets, our volunteers have collected an astonishing 14,000 pounds of donations, or seven tons!

All that fresh and canned food goes to Arm in Arm food pantries in Trenton and Princeton for free distribution to their clients, a list that includes families, seniors, and veterans.

Due to the health crisis, many more people find themselves unemployed. Is it any wonder that Arm in Arm has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of individuals and families needing food support? more

To the Editor:

The Princeton Board of Education held its reorganization meeting on January 5, 2021, and we are pleased to welcome continuing members, Beth Behrend and Michele Tuck-Ponder, and Jean Durbin who joins us for her first term. Beth Behrend will return as Board president, joined by Dafna Kendal as vice president. Betsy Baglio, Debbie Bronfeld, Daniel Dart, Susan Kanter, Peter Katz, and Brian McDonald continue their service. 

 As we begin 2021, we remain grateful to Dr. Galasso, the administrators, teachers, and support staff for their commitment to our students and professionalism in these difficult times. Despite the hard work of more than 700 teachers and staff, we recognize that the abrupt pivot to remote/hybrid learning has been challenging for many students. We know that some are struggling, academically as well as emotionally.

The Board of Education is committed to measuring and remediating the pandemic’s impact on students. This will include summer tutorial programs and may also include new summer programs for students who have experienced learning loss. These programs, as well as activities to help students reconnect with one another, will be essential as school slowly begins to return to normal this fall. more

To the Editor:

Last January 3rd was the 243th anniversary of the epic Battle of Princeton in 1777, where Gen. George Washington reversed an American retreat, put the British army on the run, and saved the American Revolution. Princeton residents should be justly proud to have the place where this occurred, a unique national historical treasure, in our midst.

Thus, the Princeton Battlefield Society, the Officially Recognized Friends Organization of the Princeton Battlefield State Park, was delighted to participate in a solemn commemoration ceremony on January 3. The January 6th issue of Town Topics published a beautiful front-page photo of a color guard procession marking the event. more

To the Editor:

At the end of an auspicious year for Princeton Future, the private, nonprofit community planning organization can now share good news about Dohm Alley and its future in 2021. 

Dohm Alley, the 10-foot-wide space that runs off Nassau Street between Starbucks and Landau’s store, was transformed several years ago into an arts and performance space, which also offers a quiet and comfortable place to sit – a pleasant discovery for many Nassau Street pedestrians. A team of artists and craftspeople, organized by Princeton Future’s Kevin Wilkes, created the inaugural exhibit dedicated to the Romantic poets. This outdoor space has also been the site of several dance recitals, poetry readings, and lectures.

Now Emma Brigaud, a Princeton resident who is a graduate of the Stuart School and William & Mary, has replaced the alley’s inaugural exhibit with “Winter Wonderland,” a brightly lit installation that creates a warm space in the dark days of winter. Emma, who worked on the project with four other volunteers, was an intern on the original Dohm Alley installation. more

To the Editor:

On behalf of The Salvation Army Trenton Citadel Corps and Princeton United Methodist Church (PUMC), I am writing to thank the hundreds of people who contributed to the 13th annual Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign in Princeton this holiday season.

Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of donors and dozens of PUMC bellringing volunteers in Greater Princeton, The Salvation Army will continue to support a broad array of programs and services to help alleviate suffering to any and all in need without qualification or discrimination. Some of the services have included: assistance with housing and social services; a greatly expanded mobile food truck/hygiene service providing delivery of hot meals and hygiene kits to neighborhoods in response to the COVID-19 crisis; neighborhood picnics with police representatives to build community trust; and safe-space after-school activities and tutoring for students in STEM and reading enrichment. A program for music and drama begins in January due in part to our community’s support. more