February 5, 2020

Redevelopment Plan For Thanet Property Introduced by Council

By Anne Levin

At a special meeting January 30, Princeton Council voted to introduce a redevelopment plan for two proposed developments on Thanet Road, currently the site of office buildings that are 90 percent vacant.

One of the proposals, by AvalonBay, is for a 221-unit, multi-family complex including six affordable apartments and five affordable apartments for adults with special needs. The other is an 80-unit, age-restricted, 100 percent affordable rental housing development by PIRHL Developers LLC.

The proposals will be considered by the Planning Board at its meeting Thursday, February 6, to see if they are consistent with Princeton’s Master Plan. The plan comes back to Council for a public hearing at its meeting on February 10. The developments make up a significant portion of Princeton’s affordable housing settlement plan, which is due to be considered at a fairness hearing on Friday, February 7.

AvalonBay, which was the developer of the apartment complex on the former site of Princeton Hospital, will make a payment in lieu of taxes on the Thanet property, the proceeds of which would offset the costs of building the senior development. more

101: Fund Celebrates 50 Years of Scholarships for PHS Students

MAKING COLLEGE POSSIBLE: Helping Princeton High School graduates in need of financial assistance for college, the 101: Fund is planning a 50th Anniversary Party on Saturday, March 21 at Prospect House on the Princeton University campus. New 101: board members, from left, are Lynda Dodd, Karen Reid, and Carrie Elwood. (Not pictured: Patti Lieberman.) (Photo courtesy of 101:)

By Donald Gilpin

The 101: Fund, a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization dedicated to helping Princeton High School (PHS) graduates in need of financial assistance for college, will be celebrating its 50th anniversary on Saturday, March 21 with a party at Prospect House on the Princeton University campus, featuring music by the Franklin and Alison Band.

Since its inception in 1970, 101: has contributed millions of dollars to hundreds of students going on to colleges throughout the country. Founded by a school secretary and operating as the Princeton Regional Scholarship Foundation until 2008, 101: awards scholarships based on need with the goal of reducing the gap between the growing costs of attending college and students’ resources from family savings and financial aid packages.

“At a time when there’s a lot of bad news out in the world, this is good news,” said 101: Fund Board President Jennifer Jang.

Daniel Hanna, 2016 PHS graduate now a computer engineering major at The College of New Jersey, described 101: as “a loving organization that wants to see my success, a beacon of encouragement for me to look towards throughout my academic pursuits.”  more

Girl Scout from Princeton is a Face of New Cookie Packaging

SCOUT’S HONOR: Stuart Country Day School senior Madeleine Freundlich, 17, is pictured on the current packaging of S’mores Girl Scout Cookies. Madeleine has been selling cookies and taking part in scouting adventures for 13 years.

By Anne Levin

If one of the girls pictured on this year’s packages of S’mores Girl Scout Cookies looks familiar, it isn’t surprising. She is Madeleine Freundlich, a scout since kindergarten and a current senior at Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart. The 17-year-old has been selling the coveted cookies in Palmer Square and elsewhere around Princeton almost as long as she can remember.

“I used to tag along with my older sister when I was about 3 or 4, helping her sell cookies,” said Madeleine, an enthusiast of all things scout-related. Since then, her involvement in the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey (GSCSNJ) has been about much more than selling S’mores, Peanut Butter Patties, Caramel deLites, Thin Mints, and the rest of the addictive collection.

Using her cookie money, Madeleine, who will attend Vassar College in the fall, has traveled to Oregon to study astronomy, experienced winter survival training and whitewater rafting, and has served as a summer trip and travel counselor with the organization, to name just a few of her accomplishments. more

Princeton First Responder Remembered Fondly By Many Co-Workers, Friends

TIRELESS PUBLIC SERVANT: First Responder Robert Gregory, who passed away January 23, is being remembered as “a champion to his family and people he served so well,” and “the best person to have around during a crisis.” (Photo courtesy of Spezzi Funeral Home)

By Donald Gilpin

Robert G. “Bob” Gregory, Jr., director of Emergency Safety and Services for the municipality of Princeton and fire marshal for Princeton University who passed away on January 23, is being remembered affectionately and admiringly by many of his friends and co-workers.

Gregory, 57, who died at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, lived in South Brunswick for the past 20 years and was a longtime first responder in Princeton, South Brunswick, Kingston, and at Princeton University.

“For those of you who knew him, he was a wonderful man, the best person to have around during a crisis,” said Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert in calling for a moment of silence at last week’s Princeton Council meeting. “It’s really hard to think of this place without him. Our hearts are with his family.”

Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad (PFARS) President Mark Freda noted that Gregory served PFARS for five years, including a year as president. “Many of us knew him before that through his involvement with the Princeton Fire Department and of course in his role as director of Emergency Services for the town. Bob put in a lot of time and effort to help the people of Princeton and the different emergency services organizations he belonged to.”

Freda added, “Bob will be missed by many of us. Bob and I talked frequently, and it is very hard to grasp that he will no longer be there to talk to.” more

Park Commission to Conduct Prescribed Burn at Mercer Meadows

FIRES FOR A PURPOSE: The Pole Farm at Mercer Meadows will be the site of a controlled burn at some point during the next few months, but there is no cause for alarm. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service and Mercer County Park Commission will oversee the burn to suit ecological needs.

By Anne Levin

For a few days between now and mid-June, the smell of smoke will be in the air and flames will be visible, in and around the Pole Farm at Mercer Meadows. But there is no need to call the fire department.

Mercer County Park Commission is holding a prescribed burn in the area to manage habitats and other forestry and ecological needs. Since the Prescribed Burn Act was signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy in 2018, burns have been taking place across the state. Fires are lit, monitored, and managed by the Forest Fire Service (NJFFS), whose staff have been trained to conduct safe and effective prescribed burns.

“We’re really excited to be able to utilize this land management technique,” said Anthony Cucchi, Mercer County’s superintendent of parks. “It will benefit wildlife and reduce hazardous fuel loads, so there are two benefits — public safely and ecology.”

The goals include controlling invasive species and reducing woody growth that is encroaching into the meadows. “Previously, this was managed through big mowing projects,” said Cucchi. “But this is more effective. And it is actually more natural. Our grasslands have evolved in response to wildfires. Native Americans used them. So the native wildlife we’re trying to support is used to this. It’s a disturbance, if you will.” more

School Matters 2/5/20

Princeton Academy Celebrates Harry Potter Book Night

A night of magical fun, including a Triwizard Tournament, is on tap for Thursday, February 6, when Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart (PASH) on the Great Road celebrates the 6th Annual Harry Potter Book Night.

“We are so excited to be joining up with schools, libraries, bookshops, and community centers around the world to celebrate the sixth Harry Potter Book Night,” said PASH Headmaster Rik Duggan. “Last year families had a wonderful time celebrating the magic of Harry Potter.”

The event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m., when “young wizards, witches, and Muggles will be treated to an evening of magical games and readings from our favorite Harry Potter books,” according to a PASH announcement.

Attendees are encouraged to register in advance at princetonacademy.org/revents/harrypotter and to come to the event in their best Harry Potter-inspired costumes for a chance to win the complete illustrated Harry Potter book set. more

Reading and Listening to Bob Dylan As the “Deal Goes Down”

By Stuart Mitchner

The first time I wrote about Bob Dylan Chronicles: Volume One (2004), I called it “one of the most quotable books you’ll ever read.” That was after observing, “Typically, Dylan plays fast and loose with his own title. If this book is a chronicle, so is Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury.”

Fifteen years ago, I’d only begun to appreciate how much Dylan’s book had to offer, how often I’d turn to it, as I’ve been doing again in the wake of the “51 to 49 Blown-Impeachment Blues.” That was after the no-witnesses vote on Black Friday, January 31, when the line that came to mind was “when gravity fails and negativity don’t pull you through,” from the first verse of “Tom Thumb’s Blues,” on Highway 61 Revisited.

When the deal goes down and your fancy turns hopefully to thoughts of spring training and baseball, you find yourself casting the Senate Republicans as the Black Sox throwing the 1919 World Series. Then you think about the high-tech sign-stealing of the Houston Astros in the first “fall classic” of Trump’s reign. Then comes Sunday’s Super Bowl. If you’re a hardcore St. Louis Cardinal fan, the news of a Kansas City championship in 2020 only brings back the pain of losing the 1985 series to the Kansas City Royals, an outcome forever flawed by the most infamous blown call in pre-instant-replay baseball history. And what if the call was blown deliberately? Imagine 51 Republican senators embodied in one umpire. more

A Singing Duo Hoping for “The Big Time” Must Save a Ship Ferrying NATO; McCarter Concert Continues Princeton Pops Series with Musical Comedy

“THE BIG TIME”: Directed by librettist Douglas Carter Beane, and conducted by Fred Lassen, “The Big Time” was presented January 31 at McCarter’s Matthews Theatre. The cast included, from left, Michael McCormick, Jackie Hoffman, Bradley Dean, Raymond Bokhour, Will Swenson, Laura Osnes, Santino Fontana, and Debbie Gravitte. (Photo by Tom Miller)

By Donald H. Sanborn III

During a scene in The Big Time a prim British diplomat, Penelope Briggs-Hopkins, stiffly asserts that she is “not a fan of musical comedy.” She would disapprove of the musical in which she is a character; The Big Time is an unabashedly cheerful comedy, in the style of Hello, Dolly! or The Producers.

A concert performance of The Big Time was presented January 31, to an enthusiastic audience that filled McCarter’s Matthews Theatre. The event was the second installment of the Princeton Pops series, a new collaboration between McCarter and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra.

The show’s witty book is by Douglas Carter Beane, and the sprightly, memorable songs are by Douglas J. Cohen. The lyrics, which match the tone of Beane’s dialogue, have been set to music that evokes the big band era, as well as the sly saxophone-infused sound of a 1960s spy movie. Cohen’s well-crafted score establishes the characters’ personalities, while taking advantage of the performers’ vocal ranges.

Music director Fred Lassen opened the show by leading a band, formed by 16 members of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, in a crisp rendition of the overture, which established the jaunty musical style. The orchestrations favor the drums, saxophones, and brass; however, the flute and clarinet stand out in other numbers.

In a program note Beane relates that the show originated as a screenplay for Oliver Stone. The plot was crafted to parody the film Under Siege (1992), in which mercenaries, posing as caterers and led by an ex-CIA operative, hijack a battleship. more

The Mighty Zep

“Get the Led Out” brings the music of Led Zeppelin to the State Theatre, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, on Friday, February 21 at 8 p.m. The show focuses on the early years and touches on deeper cuts that were seldom heard in concert. Tickets are $25-$45. Visit NJST.org for more information.

Composer Delivers Talk On the Story of his Opera

“LETTERS TO ERICH”: Jazz composer Ted Rosenthal performs his work based on letters from his grandmother to his father when she was trapped in Nazi Germany.

American jazz pianist Ted Rosenthal, composer of the original jazz opera Dear Erich, will appear in “Letters to Erich: A Musical Performance and Talk,” at Nicholas Music Center, 85 George Street, New Brunswick, on Tuesday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m.

Rosenthal will be  joined by mezzo-soprano Sishel Claverie and baritone Peter Kendall Clark in the performance. He will also discuss the backstory of the opera, which draws on more than 200 personal letters between his grandmother, trapped in Nazi Germany, and his father Erich, who was able to immigrate to Chicago.

The event is free and open to the public. Free parking is available on campus with online vehicle registration. For more information or to RSVP, visit BildnerCenter.Rutgers.edu.

Chinese Chamber Group At Princeton Art Museum

MUSIC FROM CHINA: Wang Guowei plays the Chinese erhu at the February 12 concert by the Music From China ensemble, at the Princeton University Art Museum. Performances are at 5:30 and 8 p.m.

On Wednesday, February 12 at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., the Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) presents performances by the Music From China ensemble in celebration of the Princeton University Art Museum’s exhibit “The Eternal Feast: Banqueting in Chinese Art from the 10th to the 14th Century.” To be held amid the Museum’s second floor galleries, the concert spotlights the artistry of musicians Wang Guowei, Sun Li, and Wang Junling as they perform traditional Chinese music on erhu, pipa, and zheng. more

“Life Magazine” Exhibit Coming to PU Art Museum

SCENES FROM “LIFE”: J. R. Eyerman’s 1952 photo of  an audience wearing 3-D glasses while watching a movie is part of “Life Magazine and the Power of Photography,” debuting at the Princeton University Art Museum on February 22. The exhibition, co-organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, features about 150 objects and takes an in-depth look at the photographs that made Life magazine so revolutionary for its time.

From its first issue in 1936, with an image by trailblazing photographer Margaret Bourke-White on its cover, to the suspension of weekly publication in 1972, Life magazine employed photographs to tell stories of worldwide events. In the process, it visualized a distinctly mid-20th-century American worldview and fundamentally shaped modern ideas about photography.  more

Wright’s Emergence as All-Around Contributor Helps PU Men’s Hoops Enjoy 2-0 Ivy Weekend

WRIGHT ON: Princeton University men’s basketball player Ethan Wright dribbles past a foe in recent action. Last Saturday, sophomore guard Wright tallied a team-high 15 points with four rebounds and three steals to help Princeton edge Harvard 70-69. The Tigers, now 9-8 overall and 4-0 Ivy League, play at Cornell on February 7 and at Columbia on February 8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Ethan Wright’s progress has mirrored the collective improvement made by the Princeton University men’s basketball team as it has bounced back from a 1-7 start to post wins in eight of its last nine games.

In the first eight games of the season, sophomore guard Wright totaled 27 points and 13 rebounds. Over Princeton’s hot streak, Wright has piled up 70 points and 38 rebounds.

Last weekend, Wright displayed his all-around value to the Tigers, contributing six points and eight rebounds as Princeton defeated Dartmouth 66-44 and then had team-high 15 points with four rebounds and three steals in a 70-69 win over Harvard a night later. more

Returning from Exam Break with 0-2 Weekend, PU Men’s Hockey Needs to Start Winning Battles

YOUNG GUN: Princeton University men’s hockey player Spencer Kersten, right, battles a foe on a face-off in recent action. Last Saturday, freshman forward Kersten scored a goal in a losing cause as Princeton fell 5-3 to No. 1 Cornell. The Tigers, now 3-14-4 overall and 1-10-3 ECAC Hockey, play at Brown on February 7 and at Yale on February 8. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

As the Princeton University men’s hockey team resumed ECAC Hockey play last weekend, it faced challenges on several levels.

First, Princeton had to shake off some rust, having been on a 20-day hiatus for exams. In addition, the Tigers were facing a pair of formidable foes as they hosted surging Colgate on Friday night and top-ranked Cornell on Saturday evening.

“We got one week of practice in; it is still a unique situation and I am glad to see it go away,” said Princeton head coach Ron Fogarty, noting that exams will take place before Christmas starting in the 2020-21 school year. more

PHS Alum Ratzan Stars For Tufts Men’s Soccer, Helping Jumbos to 2nd Straight NCAA D-III Title

TOUGH TO STOP: Alex Ratzan, center, controls the ball in action this past fall for the Tufts University men’s soccer team. Former Princeton High standout Ratzan helped Tufts win its second straight NCAA Division III national title. Junior midfielder Ratzan scored a team-high seven goals as the Jumbos posted a final record of 20-2-2. (Photo by Anna Miller/Tufts)

By Bill Alden

The Kansas City Chiefs enjoyed a championship celebration last Sunday night after they defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in the Super Bowl, dousing Coach Andy Reed with a bucket of Gatorade and cavorting all over the field as they waited to accept the Lombardi Trophy.

Former Princeton High boys’ soccer player Alex Ratzan knows the championship feeling twofold as he helped Tufts University men’s soccer team win its second straight NCAA Division III national crown this past December.

For junior midfielder Ratzan, the thrill of winning the title is unforgettable.

“It felt amazing; it definitely felt a little different than the year before,” said Ratzan.

“Everything just kind of fell into place. We had given so much to this year and had worked so hard. We were playing our best soccer by the end of the year. It was a great feeling.” more

Senior Davis Has Fun, Success at Final County Meet, Exemplifying Positive Effort by PHS Swimming

FREE AND CLEAR: Princeton High girls’ swimmer Cami Davis churns her way to a second place finish in the 100 freestyle at the Mercer County Championships last Saturday. Senior star Davis, who also took third in the 50 free, helped PHS girls take third in the team standings at the event. The Tiger boys’ squad also had a strong showing at the competition, placing fifth overall. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Cami Davis was determined to savor the final Mercer County Championships in her career for the Princeton High girls’ swimming team.

“It was so exciting,” said PHS senior star and captain Davis, reflecting on competing at the county meet last weekend at WW/P-North.

“My main goal was to have a lot of fun because this season has been really great.”

Having fun and swimming great, Davis took third in the 50-meter freestyle and second in the 100 free to help PHS take third in the team standings behind champion WW/P-North and runner-up Pennington. more

Munford Earns Title in MCT Wrestling Debut, Helping to Spark PHS to Strong 4th Place Finish

FORD TOUGH: Princeton High wrestler Aaron Munford, top, dominates a foe in recent action. Last Saturday, sophomore Munford placed first at 138 pounds in the Mercer County Tournament to help PHS place fourth in the team standings at the event. PHS also got titles at the competition from senior Dominic Riendeau-Krause at 145 pounds and junior James Romaine at 152 pounds. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Justin Feil

Aaron Munford was one of three champions for Princeton High wrestling at the Mercer County Tournament last weekend, but unlike the other two it was his first time in the varsity spotlight.

Sophomore Munford made the most of the opportunity at his first MCT at Robbinsville High on Saturday. In the quarterfinals at 138 pounds, he pinned Viraj Chandra of WW/P-North and then recorded a 16-6 major decision over Robbinsville’s Isaiah Lederman in the semifinals. In the final, he earned a 16-11 decision over Hopewell Valley’s Alejandro Lopez to uphold his top seeding and win his first county crown.

“I think it’s like the start of the postseason so it boosts my confidence going into districts and maybe regions,” said Munford, who improved to 24-3 this year. “I wasn’t as confident, but being the No. 1 seed definitely helped.”

Munford picked up 27 points for the Little Tigers, who placed fourth in the MCT with Hopewell Valley winning the team title. PHS got titles from senior Dominic Riendeau-Krause at 145 pounds and junior James Romaine at 152 pounds, and also picked up a second-place finish from junior Chris Sockler at 132 pounds. more

Senior Star Trainor Showing Sense of Urgency, Skill As PHS Boys’ Hockey Aiming For Big Stretch Drive

BIG TRAIN: Princeton High boys’ hockey player Aidan Trainor controls the puck in recent action. Last week, senior star and captain Trainor tallied three goals and an assist to help PHS overcome a 3-1 third period deficit to defeat Robbinsville 5-3 and clinch the CVC Colonial Division title. PHS, who edged Jackson Liberty 3-2 last Monday night to improve to 14-2-2, faces Paul VI at Mercer County Park on February 5, plays at Southern Regional on February 7 and then starts play in the Mercer County Tournament. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Even though the Princeton High boys’ hockey team trailed Robbinsville 3-1 heading into the third period, Aidan Trainor and his teammates weren’t rattled.

“We just knew that we needed to stay positive, we knew that is literally two shots away from being a tie game,” said PHS senior star and captain Trainor. “As long we kept an even keel and kept working hard, we would get there.”

It didn’t take long for PHS to get in the lead as it scored three goals in a span of 2:13 early in the third period to take a 4-3 lead and never looked back on the way to a 5-3 victory in the January 28 contest, clinching the CVC Colonial Division championship in the process.

“We were electric right there, on the bench and everything,” said Trainor, who scored the first goal of the rally and then assisted on the second. “We were going crazy, we were really hyping each other up.” more

Meekins Enjoys Memorable Senior Night, Starring as PDS Boys’ Hoops Beats Pennsauken

NIGHT TO REMEMBER: Princeton Day School boys’ basketball player Jomar Meekins enjoys the moment with his parents, Christine and Lawrence Meekins, as he was introduced at the program’s Senior Night pregame celebration last Wednesday evening. Star guard Meekins scored 11 points on the night as PDS defeated Pennsauken Tech 72-32. The Panthers, who fell 65-63 to the Shipley School (Pa.) last Saturday to move to 10-7, will be starting play in the state Prep B tournament where they are seeded second and host seventh-seeded Newark Academy on February 8 in an opening round contest. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

While Jomar Meekins beamed during the loud ovation he received when introduced during the Senior Night pregame celebration for the Princeton Day School boys’ basketball team last Wednesday, that wasn’t the highlight of the event for him.

Instead, the most meaningful aspect of the night for guard Meekins came in getting joined in the starting lineup by his four classmates, Lucas Green, Jaylin Champion-Adams, Tazee Mahjied, and Alan Norcott as the Panthers hosted Pennsauken Technical School.

“I have been here for four years so I am really glad to finally get to play with my boys, my brothers,” said star guard Meekins. “It was really nice to have all five start, I love them.” more

Melvin Hits 1,000-Point Milestone for Stuart Hoops, Primed to Lead Tartans on Historic Postseason Run

GRAND MOMENT: Stuart Country Day School basketball player Nia Melvin (holding ball) celebrates with her teammates and family after she hit the 1,000-point milestone in a 79-21 win over Immaculate Conception on January 28. Last Thursday, junior guard Melvin added to her total, tallying 26 points as Stuart defeated Moorestown Friends 73-40 to post its 10th straight win and improve to 14-6. Stuart hosts Bound Brook on February 10 before starting play in the state Prep B tournament where it is seeded first and will host a semifinal game on February 16.

By Bill Alden

For Nia Melvin, hitting the 1,000-point milestone last week for the Stuart Country Day basketball team was a goal that had been on her mind for years.

“It is something I have definitely been looking forward to before I even started playing basketball at Stuart,” said junior guard Melvin, who scored 21 points in a 79-21 win over Immaculate Conception on January 28 to pass the 1,000-point mark.

“It is something I wanted to accomplish and I am really proud to have made it.”

Melvin knows that she couldn’t do it alone. “My teammates were definitely helping me get there because they knew how close I was,” said Melvin, who entered the game with 983 points. more

With Senior Star Danko Repeating as IM Champion, Hun Swimming has Solid Performance at Counties

INDIVIDUAL BRILLIANCE: Hun School girls’ swimmer Abbie Danko heads to victory in the 200-meter individual medley at the Mercer County Championships last Saturday. Senior Danko, who also took fourth in the 100 backstroke, helped Hun place sixth in the team standings at the competition. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

When Abbie Danko won the 200-meter individual medley at the Mercer County Championships in 2019, it helped set the tone for the Hun School girls’ swim squad as it went on to win the program’s first-ever team title at the competition.

Danko and her teammates were fired up to defend their title last weekend as they returned to WW/P-North for the 2020 county meet.

“We were so excited, we knew we may not win again, but we were just excited to come and swim,” said senior star and captain Danko. “It is a fast meet always so you can get some of your best times. It was great.” more

January 29, 2020

Wassailing at the Farm

Dancing and singing were just some of the activities at Terhune Orchards’ annual Wassailing the Apple Trees Festival on Sunday afternoon. The ancient British tradition is said to protect the trees from harm and ensure a good crop. Live music, roasting marshmallows, and enjoying apple cider and donuts were also part of the festivities. Participants share their favorite winter activities in this week’s Town Talk on page 6. (Photo by Charles R. Plohn)

Community Helps Plan Future of PPS

FIGURING IT OUT TOGETHER: Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Superintendent Steve Cochrane greeted the gathering of about 160 community members packed into the Princeton High School cafeteria on Saturday morning to work with school officials and Milone & MacBroom consultants to help plan the future of the district. (Photo courtesy of Princeton Public Schools)

By Donald Gilpin

“We are here to figure it out together,” said Princeton Public Schools Superintendent Steve Cochrane to the crowd of about 160 community members packed into the Princeton High School cafeteria on Saturday morning.

Along with school officials, teachers, students, parents, and other community residents, five consultants from the Milone & MacBroom (M&M) planning firm were in attendance to help lead the gathering in exploring the question of how to accommodate the growing population of students in the district’s schools.

“I don’t know how that question will be answered,” said Cochrane, or “if it will involve some enhancement of our school facilities, some redrawing of our sending area boundaries at the elementary school level, or some adjustment of our school schedules to allow for greater efficiency. There may be other options or some combination of all of these.” more

Residents Urge Fix For Edgehill Traffic, Dangerous Conditions

By Donald Gilpin

Tucked away between Mercer Street (Princeton Pike) and Stockton Street (Route 206), and only a single block long, Edgehill Street is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Princeton. Alexander Hamilton once lived on the street. When the Continental Congress met in Princeton in 1783, he and James Madison resided in the house known as the Barracks.

According to a number of current residents, however, this 22-foot-wide 18th-century lane has become a significant traffic problem. Sean Wilentz, who lives with his family on the street, described “a growing emergency on Edgehill Street with reckless, speeding, and abusive motorists, using the street as a cut-through and treating it as a combination short-cut and drag strip. The situation has degenerated over the last few years, and it has now become a severe danger to life, limb, and property.”

A group of five Edgehill Street residents, who gathered at Wilentz’s home on Saturday morning to discuss the problem and look for solutions, agreed that traffic woes have made life on Edgehill increasingly dangerous in the past five years and that quality of life there has steadily declined.

“This is a disaster waiting to happen,” said Wilentz. “This is an emergency, not something that should be delayed to next week, let alone next year.” more

Princeton Council Hears Task Force Report on Permit Parking

By Anne Levin

Princeton Council heard a report Monday night from the Princeton Permit Parking Task Force, which has been working since May on how to address issues of daytime and overnight parking in different sections of town. Their initial focus has been on the Witherspoon-Jackson and tree street neighborhoods, where parking is especially tight and only some houses have driveways.

Council members Leticia Fraga and David Cohen, along with Mayor Liz Lempert, have been working on the initiative with residents of different neighborhoods and some business owners. Delivering the report, Fraga stressed that it is not a finished recommendation. “We are just sharing what the task force has been discussing so far,” she said. “We will still solicit input from the community before the pilot program is established.”

Residents of the two neighborhoods in question, and other areas of town, offered their opinions during the public comment portion of the meeting. Several live on John Street in the Witherspoon-Jackson section. One woman said she was not aware that a program providing visitor permits already existed. There were questions about how often the parking regulations would be enforced.

Marty Schneiderman, who lives on Murray Place near the tree streets, expressed concerns about snow removal in relation to the pilot program. He also urged the task force to look at what has worked in the past and incorporate that into the final product. more