November 15, 2023

PHS Boys’ Soccer Produces Dramatic 2nd Half Rally, Edging Kearny 3-2 in NJSIAA Group 4 State Final

RALLY TIME: Princeton High boys’ soccer player Pasquale Carusone, right, controls the ball as PHS battled Kearny High in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 championship game last Saturday at Franklin High. Senior Carusone scored a second half goal as the Tigers rallied to a 3-2 win over the Kardinals to win their first state title since 2012. It was the fourth state crown for the program. PHS finished the fall with a 22-2 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Six years ago, the Princeton High boys’ soccer team fell to Kearny High 3-1 in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 championship game.

Last Saturday when the two powerhouses clashed in a rematch at this year’s Group 4 final at Franklin High, PHS didn’t waste any time, showing that things could be different in round two. more

Senior Matar Grandi Enjoyed Memorable Home Finale, Getting Goal as PHS Boys’ Soccer Rolled in State Semi

GRAND SLAM: Princeton High boys’ soccer player Felipe Matar Grandi goes after the ball in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 final last Saturday at Franklin High. Senior midfielder and co-captain Matar Grandi helped PHS top Kearny 3-2 as the Tigers won their first state title since 2012 and fourth overall. Matar Grandi tallied a goal as PHS topped Washington Township 4-0 in the state semis on last Wednesday to punch its ticket to the final. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

For Felipe Matar Grandi, some practice made perfect for him as the Princeton High boys’ soccer team hosted Washington Township in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 state semis last Wednesday afternoon.

With PHS leading Washington 1-0 in the second half, senior midfielder and co-captain Matar Grandi got position near the goal and with a ball flying towards him, he leaped up and headed the ball into the back of the net. more

Sparked by Agel’s Gritty Play in the Libero Spot, PHS Girls Volleyball Tops Millburn in State Final

PEARL JAM: Princeton High girls’ volleyball libero Pearl Agel lofts a pass in state tournament action. Last Sunday, junior Agel contributed 11 digs, six service points, and one assist to help PHS defeat Millburn 2-0 (25-21, 25-12) in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 3 final at Franklin High. The Tigers went 30-1 as they earned the first state crown in program history. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As the libero for the Princeton High girls’ volleyball team, Pearl Agel stands out among her teammates as she wears a different color jersey and can only play on the back row under the rules of the sport.

While some may see the position as somewhat thankless with no chance to get the glory of blasting kills at the net, junior Agel relishes doing the dirty work of diving for digs and setting up her teammates. more

PDS Girls’ Soccer Raised its Game Down the Stretch, Topping Mount St. Dominic 2-0 in Non-Public A Final

RISING TO THE OCCASION: Princeton Day School girls’ soccer player Ella McLaren, left, heads the ball as PDS battled St. John Vianney in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public A South tournament. The Panthers went on to win the South tournament and last Friday and earned the Non-Public A title as they defeated Mount St. Dominic 2-0 in the state final at Franklin High. It was the first-ever Non-Public state title for the program. The Panthers finished the fall at 17-2-3. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

For Mackenzie Brodel, it was a prayer answered and a dream come true, while Ella McLaren was rendered speechless.

Sophomores Brodel and McLaren played key roles last Friday night as the Princeton Day School girls’ soccer team defeated Mount St. Dominic 2-0 in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public A state final at Franklin High. Brodel scored a goal early in the second half to put PDS up 1-0 and McLaren helped anchor a stingy PDS defense that stifled the high-powered Lion attack.

With the foes locked in a scoreless tie headed into the second half, PDS was determined to break through.

“We were just doing the same thing that we always do,” said Brodel. “We were just looking to get the ball in the back of the net.” more

League of Women Voters Shares Thanks for Support in Reaching Voters

To the Editor:

The League of Women Voters of the Greater Princeton Area (LWV-GPA) has been working steadily this past year to remind folks that the League is still here, and we thank Don Gilpin for helping us reach more voters in one day, via his November 1 article [Election 2023 is in Home Stretch; Vole Early or on Nov. 7,” page 1], than we reached  over months. 

We also found unexpected and very welcome support this fall from the J.McLaughlin store on Witherspoon Street. They donated a percentage of sales to our nonprofit LWV-GPA on October 21, and I would like to publicly thank them for their generosity and support of our organization.

Community spirit is strong in Princeton.

Jean Nitzberg
Convener-Spokesperson, LWV of the Greater Princeton Area
Tally Road, Hamilton

Experience Princeton Board Writes in Support of Community Master Plan

To the Editor:

On behalf of the board of directors of Experience Princeton, I am pleased to submit the following findings of our Economic Development Team:

Experience Princeton supports the Master Plan presented by the Master Plan Committee to the Planning Board last Thursday. We are pleased to see that many of the general themes that our teams have included in their work plans for the coming year are also a part of the various components recommended in the report. We look forward to working with the municipal staff and any future committee charged with implementing the various aspects of the Master Plan to bring about positive changes which will encourage innovation, experiential retail, expanded outdoor dining, affordable housing for the employees of local businesses, new parking opportunities including the utilization of underused lots and preservation of the unique character of Princeton.

We would like to note that on page 24 of the plan, recommendations No. 69 and No. 70 encourage economic development goals of expanding Princeton’s role as a regional destination. We would ask for the prioritization of more specific initiatives. There is a need for the infrastructure to accommodate workforce housing, reasonable traffic grids which facilitate smooth in and out automobile movement, wayfinding, and informational signage.  more

All Are Stewards of Princeton, Make Sure Changes are Guided, Thoughtful

To the Editor:

1. It is clear that the Princeton Master Plan and Reexamination Report leans heavily in favor of development and to its credit uses every opportunity to recommend against sprawl. What many Princeton residents may not know however, is the emphasis on creation of new housing is the direct result of needing to meet affordable housing creation.

2. Despite allowing the affordable housing shortage to become a critical situation, there is a common sentiment around town that adding affordable units is the correct thing because there is real appreciation for the social and cultural benefits of mixing in more residents that qualify for affordable housing. more

Historic Preservation Should Be Better Envisioned in Master Plan

To the Editor:

The members of the Planning Board, the planning staff, and the steering committee deserve our thanks for their efforts on the Master Plan, which has many good components. However, the preservation provisions are surprisingly weak and in some places confusing and inaccurate, and they need adjusting to appropriately balance the anticipated new growth with Princeton’s unique historic character.

The weak presentation of preservation starts in Outreach Section 1.2 with the heading “Historic preservation is important and should be easier.” Easier reads pejoratively, as if there is something wrong with preservation here, and it belies findings in the Plan’s community survey wherein a total of 54 percent of respondents agreed that preservation efforts “should be expanded” or “strike the right balance between preservation and development.” Only 14.5 percent thought that preservation is a “hinder to growth and development.” An appropriate vision for Princeton’s historic resources in the Master Plan is “Historic preservation is important and should be improved.”  more

BOE Should Select a Current PPS Principal to Be Next Superintendent

To the Editor:

We recently learned that the current PPS superintendent will be taking a leave of absence until next August. I am writing to recommend that the PPS Board of Education select one of the current PPS school principals to be the next superintendent. We have tremendous talent locally, so there is no need to do another nationwide search with the associated cost and expense.

The current principals understand the school district and are very well known to us. Selecting a local principal would also avoid the potential downside of doing another nationwide search only to select someone else who isn’t able to serve their full term. Our current school principals are fantastic. Let’s select one to be the next superintendent.

Charles Larsen
Overbrook Drive

Highlighting Downsides to Loose Leaf Piles on Princeton Streets

To the Editor:

This past week, I narrowly avoided a car accident on Snowden Lane. A massive leaf pile obstructed my lane near a bend in the road. A car came round the curve just as I pulled into the oncoming lane to avoid the illegal leaf pile. I hit the brakes, and was nearly rear-ended by a car following too close behind.

I reported the road hazard to the police, and also to Princeton’s compliance officer, hired two years ago. The leaf pile was soon pushed back to the 3-foot limit from the curb. Danger averted, one might say, but an accident almost happened, and hours of town staff time were used to deal with one leaf pile. more

Master Plan Pays Too Little Attention To Importance of Historic Preservation

To the Editor:

After a year of effort, Princeton has a proposed new Master Plan (MP), setting forth the vision and policies for land use and addressing the manner and locations in which development, conservation, and preservation occur. The new MP becomes the basis for land use ordinances, such as zoning. Despite the year-long process, with input from a town survey, a variety of interested citizen groups, business interests, and at open meetings, the draft Master Plan was first released to the public on October 30, just 10 days ahead of its consideration by the Planning Board on November 9. Spirited and extensive public comment at that meeting delayed a vote until the next Planning Board meeting of November 30.

The cost of living in Princeton is a real concern for all of us and is a theme in the MP. Making housing affordable for the “Missing Middle” and expanding Affordable Housing are laudable goals of the MP. The new MP proposes markedly increased housing density believing it will decrease the cost of housing. I predict the opposite, that our taxes will ultimately rise, and that the housing goals will be unmet. There is a tremendous demand for housing in Princeton, and our property values are high as are our rental costs. In new developments, 80 percent of new units are market rate. Princeton is a desirable address for many reasons, including schools, history, and livability. It will take a long time for the pent-up demand to live in Princeton to be filled before market prices perhaps decrease. In the meantime, denser housing throughout town will primarily increase development of market rate housing to the benefit of developers but to no benefit of the town at large. Why would we want this at the expense of traffic, increased school costs, and a more urban environment?  more

Plan Should Be Reworked to Reflect More Balanced Approach to Growth

To the Editor:

After listening to the Planning Board meeting held virtually on November 9, I am writing to not only highlight concerns of the Master Plan, but also to express my confusion and disappointment with the purpose of the forum.

As many residents did, I too participated in the public input process leading up to the draft Plan’s actual publication on October 30. I also read the draft Plan, all 237 pages, in the 10 days provided. Upon review, the priority of the Plan is undoubtedly focused on allowing for growth by easing land use zoning to allow for significant incremental density — primarily focused in the neighborhoods within, or abutting, the former Borough. What I heard in the far majority last Thursday, however, highlighted many other priorities by residents, some of the very same themes I heard in abundance at the Listening Sessions. Themes that have been minimized in the draft, or wholly ignored. How will the dramatic increase in density accommodated by this Plan impact our already congested schools, an issue that will become even more apparent after the Shopping Center housing is complete? How will a new school(s) be funded? What about the accompanying demand on emergency services and infrastructure such density will bring? Where is the Land Use Goal included that looks to protect our treasured neighborhoods, including our historic districts, ensuring development is compatible in scale and form?  more

Obituaries 11/15/2023

Joyce Howe

Joyce Howe, 65, passed away on November 6 at home in Princeton, NJ, after a nine-year battle with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Alex Levine, her husband of 35 years, was at her side.

Manhattan-born, she grew up in Queens, first behind her father’s laundry in Jackson Heights, then in Corona. A proud 1976 graduate of Stuyvesant High School, she attended SUNY Buffalo, majoring in English, the school newspaper, and rock concerts and club shows. She returned to New York and worked for The New York Times, then Glamour Magazine, first as a flunky, later as a writer and editor, and began an 18-year career freelancing for countless publications and working for government agencies and nonprofits. Much of her writing dealt with women’s and Asian American issues. She and Alex lived in the East Village, Paris, Berkeley, Aix-en-Provence, and Oakland before moving to Princeton in 2002.

Joyce loved being an adoptive Princetonian almost as much as she loved considering herself a lifelong New Yorker. Her utter devotion to her daughters, Nathalie and Jade, included working at Community Park School in a variety of volunteer positions. Later, she ran the Power Lunch reading program and worked as an instructional assistant (and was a proud PRESSA member). She was also a passionate volunteer with Democratic presidential campaigns throughout her life, including with the PCDO in 2004, 2008, and 2012.

Joyce was a familiar face at each and every church rummage sale and countless garage sales, at the Bryn Mawr-Wellesley Book Sale, and in a comfortable chair near the magazines at Princeton Public Library, which she never left without visiting the used bookstore. She loved walking around town. Her favorite haunts included the Record Exchange, the Nearly New Shop, Tomo Sushi, Another Angle, the Garden Theatre and Montgomery Cinemas, McCarter Theatre, and anywhere she could meet a friend for coffee. She loved bumping into neighbors at Conte’s and Main Street, whose closing she lamented, along with those of Abel Bagel, Jordan’s, Micawber Books, and Jane. She never missed a CP, JW, or PHS musical, orchestra, or choir concert, talent show, or cabaret night. She was also an avid Town Topics reader.

Predeceased by her parents and sister Mary, she is survived by her loving husband and daughters Nathalie Levine (Anna Rose Gable) of Highland Park, NJ, and Jade Levine (Julia Lubey) of Manhattan; by her sisters Joan and Janet of Queens; her sister- and brother-in-law Lisa and Jim Levine of Princeton; her nephews Zeke and Elijah Levine and niece Freddie Levine; and countless other relatives and friends in Princeton, New York, the Bay Area, and around the country.

Her kind, loving, and devoted caregivers Ayishatu Ibrahim and Mariama Sumareh, whom we cannot thank enough, helped us through many difficult years and knew how to make Joyce laugh. We also thank the staff of Penn Medicine-Princeton Home Care for years of steadfast and compassionate support.

A celebration of her life will be held in Princeton in early 2024. Anyone so inclined is invited to contribute in her memory to 101fund.org, which supports Princeton High School graduates with need-based college aid. Joyce taught and loved many of them, and they loved her back.

———

Alfred Lavern Bush

Alfred Lavern Bush of Princeton died at home on November 9, 2023. He was born in 1933 in Denver, Colorado, into a fifth-generation Mormon family. An avid mountain climber in his youth, Bush graduated from Brigham Young University in 1957 where he continued graduate studies in archaeology before joining the Fifth University Archaeological Society excavations at the Mayan site of Aguacatal in Campeche, Mexico, in the winter of 1958. The following summer he was a student at the Institute for Archival and Historical Management at Radcliffe College. Bush served in the Medical Service Corps of the U.S. Army in the Panama Canal Zone.

Alfred Bush moved to Princeton in 1958 to become an editor of the Papers of Thomas Jefferson. In the course of his research, he discovered a lost 1800 portrait of Jefferson by Rembrandt Peale, which was announced in his monograph The Life Portraits of Thomas Jefferson (1962). This portrait of President Jefferson now hangs in the White House and is featured on the Jefferson nickel.

In 1971 Bush proposed and organized an exhibition of ancient Mayan hieroglyphic texts at the Grolier Club in New York — a show that exhibited a purported fourth surviving Maya codex. Highly controversial, the codex underwent nearly 50 years of extensive testing before Mexican authorities declared it genuine in September 2018. Referred to as the Grolier Codex, it dates from the 11th century and is now recognized as the earliest surviving book from ancient America.

Bush became Curator of Western Americana at Princeton University’s Firestone Library in 1961 and served in that position for over 35 years. During his tenure he enlarged the size of the collection tenfold, expanded the collections of Native American materials, and added an important photographic archive. With Lee Clark Mitchell, he published The Photograph and the American Indian (1994) in conjunction with a major exhibition at Firestone Library. In 2006, following his retirement, the Princeton University Library Chronicle devoted an entire volume to Bush’s contributions to Native American studies. Equally at home in Princeton and in the American Southwest, Bush worked tirelessly to recruit Native American students and acted as an undergraduate advisor and friend to many. In 2020 he received the Princeton University Alumni Award, a rare honor for a non-alumnus, for his interest in and commitment to Native American students. Throughout his life, Bush remained an active researcher and essay writer.

Alfred Bush served for three decades on the editorial board of the Princeton University Library Chronicle, and was its editor from 1962 to 1977. He was elected an Honorary Member of the Friends in June 2023. Bush was also founding editor of Princeton History, first issued in 1971. In 2019 he was made an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Western History Association. He served until his death on the Visiting Committee of the Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Alfred Bush had a genius for friendship. He took great pleasure in introducing his many diverse friends to one another, thus creating new webs of friendship that now span Mexico and the United States.

He is survived by his brother Vernon Bush of American Fork, Utah, and his sister Peggy Arnold of Grand Junction, Colorado; his adopted son Paul Tioux of Santa Fe, New Mexico; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

At Alfred’s request there will be no funeral or memorial service. Donations in his honor may be made to the Friends of Princeton University Library or the School for Advanced Research, Santa Fe, NM.

———

Reinhard Paul-Gunter Kruegel

1939 – 2023

Reinhard Paul-Gunter Kruegel, 84, passed away in Elizabeth City, N.C., on September 27 after a long struggle with the aftereffects of Covid and other health issues. Reinhard was born in Bad Godesberg, Germany, to Gottwald Hugo Reinhard and Eleonore (née Hunninghaus) Kruegel on June 2, 1939, the youngest of five children.

Reinhard is missed dearly by his family and friends. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Linda Kruegel, his children and grandchildren: Michele (Lincoln Cairns) Kruegel and their daughter, Tallulah; Brian (Jenn) Kruegel and their daughter, Lahna. He also leaves behind his sisters Helga Waldinger and Gudrun Graff, his brother Hartmann Kruegel, numerous in-laws, and nieces and nephews across the United States, Germany, and Canada. He was preceded in death by his parents as well as his sister, Lore Grohsgart.

Reinhard grew up in post-WWII Germany. After serving in the German Navy under NATO from 1957-61 he immigrated to Ontario, Canada, where his brother, Hartmann, and his family had established roots. He studied data processing before moving to Chicago in 1963 where he worked during the day at Continental Coffee. At night, Reinhard took classes at Lakeview High School to improve his English.

Due to his dedication and hard work, Continental Coffee transferred Reinhard to their New Jersey location where he managed the office as well as the data processing and credit departments. This is where he met Linda and they started their family.

Reinhard shared his passion for downhill skiing with Linda, Michele, and Brian. As a couple, Reinhard and Linda spent their off-hours ballroom dancing and playing tennis. Reinhard’s lifelong love of soccer motivated him to teach his son and anyone else who wanted to learn how to play the game. He turned his passion into action by getting involved with the Princeton Soccer Association and was one of the first parents to bring professional coaching to the fledgling club. A steward of the game, Reinhard blew his whistle or raised his flag as a referee for hundreds of matches at the club and high school levels.

In 1976, Reinhard became a naturalized U.S. citizen and his name is listed on the American Immigrant Wall of Honor on Ellis Island.

Reinhard earned his GED at Hackensack High School in N.J., later receiving his BS in Business Administration at Thomas Edison University in 1989. After a fulfilling career at Continental Coffee, he was Vice President of Information Technology at Brunswick Bank and Trust until retiring. Reinhard was at the forefront of computer programming. As a Certified Network Engineer, he contributed to the seamless transition of Y2K spending countless hours testing code and analyzing data. His efforts helped ensure customers had the proper balances in their accounts on January 1, 2000. After retirement, he was happy to remind people of how he paid his dues and didn’t want to troubleshoot problems with cell phones, computers, or television remotes.

Reinhard and Linda moved to Hertford, N.C., shortly after retiring. They made amazing new friends and filled their time with engaging activities. Reinhard sang bass with the Albemarle Chorale and volunteered for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). He enjoyed playing tennis, golf, and poker, bicycling, bowling, reading voraciously, solving sudoku, and complaining about North Carolina drivers. Reinhard loved going to the opera and enjoyed classical music. He could name any piece playing on the radio and its composer, usually before the DJ announced it.

A dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and friend, he was always ready with a glass of champagne to celebrate moments big and small alike. His booming voice and big heart will never be forgotten.

November 9, 2023

Hubbard, Behrend, Bierman Win School Board Seats; Results Still Unofficial

By Donald Gilpin

Two challengers, Eleanor Hubbard and Adam Bierman, and incumbent Beth Behrend have won three available seats on the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education (BOE), ousting incumbent Michele Tuck-Ponder and apparently leaving Rene Obregon Jr. a few votes short in unofficial results as of November 9.

Hubbard was the top vote-getter with 4,027 (24.95 percent), followed by Behrend at 3,287 (20.37 percent), Bierman at 3,221 (19.96 percent), Obregon 3,150 (19.52 percent), and Tuck-Ponder 2,454 (15.21 percent).

The unofficial totals so far do not include provisional ballots and some mail-in ballots. The results will not be official until certified by the Mercer County clerk in about two weeks.

Princeton voters have also approved the PPS $13 million facilities bond proposal by a total of 4,143 (70.41 percent) to 1,741 votes as tallied so far.

Princeton has 20,960 registered voters, and 6,950 ballots (33.16 percent) have been cast. In Mercer County the totals were 240,397 registered and 68,945 ballots cast for a 26.48 percent turnout.

In the 16th legislative district race for New Jersey state Senate, incumbent Democrat Andrew Zwicker has defeated his Republican challenger Michael Pappas by 31,955 votes (55.4 percent) to 24,889 (43.1 percent), with Libertarian Richard J. Byrne running a distant third, 850 votes (1.5 percent), with about 98 percent of the votes tallied so far.

With two positions in the state assembly 16th district on the line, incumbent Democrat Roy Freiman and Mitchelle Drulis, also a Democrat, have outdistanced their Republican rivals, Grace Zhang and Ross Traphagen. With about 98 percent of the results in, Freiman has 31,501 votes (27.8 percent), Drulis 30,995 (27.4 percent), Zhang 25,547 (22.5 percent), and Traphagen 25,279 (22.3 percent).

In the race for Mercer County executive, taking the seat of Brian Hughes, who is stepping down at the end of the year after serving in the post for the past 20 years, Democrat Dan Benson coasted to victory with a lead so far of 45,995 (69.40 percent) to 20,283 (30.60 percent) over Republican Lisa Marie Richford.

 more

November 8, 2023

Cow Celebration

Cows adorned with flowers and bells were celebrated and honored at the Annual Cow Parade at Cherry Grove Farm in Lawrenceville on Saturday afternoon. The tradition comes from the Swiss Alps, when the cows are brought down from the mountains to the lower pastures each autumn, with elaborate decorations. The festival also featured hay rides, kids’ games, face painting, food, music, and local vendors. Attendees discuss their favorite cheese in this week’s Town Talk on page 6. (Photo by Weronika A. Plohn)

BOE Challengers Running Strongly in Early Vote

By Donald Gilpin

With only six of 22 precincts reporting by press time last night, the outcome of the hotly contested race with two incumbents and three challengers vying for three seats on the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education was uncertain. At press time Eleanor Hubbard had received 1,708 votes, incumbent Beth Behrend 1,532, Adam Bierman 1,378, Rene Obregon Jr. 1,241, and incumbent Michele Tuck-Ponder 1,141.

The unofficial totals so far do not include provisional ballots and some mail-in ballots.

Princeton voters have apparently approved the PPS $13 million facilities bond proposal with a total of 1,908 to 751 votes as tallied at press time.

In the 16th legislative district race for New Jersey state Senate, incumbent Democrat Andrew Zwicker leads his Republican challenger Michael Pappas by 57 percent to 41.6 percent, with Libertarian Richard J. Byrne running a distant third with 1.4 percent out of about 57 percent tallied so far.

With two positions in the state assembly 16th district on the line, incumbent Democrat Roy Freiman, and Mitchelle Drulis, also a Democrat, were leading their Republican rivals Ross Traphagen and Grace Zhang. With about 53 percent of the results in, Freiman had 28.6 percent of the votes, Drulis 28.3 percent, Traphagen 21.5 percent, and Zhang 21.5 percent.

In the race for Mercer County executive, taking the seat of Brian Hughes, who is stepping down at the end of the year after serving in the post for the past 20 years, Democrat Dan Benson seems to be coasting to victory with a lead of 16,590 (82 percent) to 3,489 (17 percent) over Republican Lisa Marie Richford.

In the race for Mercer County sheriff, Democrat John “Jack” Kemler appears to have won a fifth term with 16,459 votes so far, besting Republican Bryan “Bucky” Boccanfuso with 3,292 votes, and Unaffiliated Drew L. Cifrodelli with 273 votes.

The incumbent Democrats on the Mercer County Board of Commissioners also appeared to have held onto their seats, as Lucylle Walter and John Cimino received 16,263 and 16,314 votes respectively to 3,559 and 3,495 votes respectively for their Republican challengers Joseph Stillwell and Denise “Neicy” Turner.

Unopposed Democratic incumbents David Cohen and Leticia Fraga have successfully reclaimed their seats on Princeton Council for a third three-year term.

Update: In unofficial results, Eleanor Hubbard with 3,955 votes, incumbent Beth Behrend with 3,221, and Adam Bierman with 3,181 votes have defeated Rene Obregon Jr., 3,103 votes, and incumbent Michele Tuck-Ponder, 2,399 votes, for three seats on the Princeton Public Schools Board of Education.

Hearing on Master Plan at Planning Board Meeting Invites Public Comment

By Anne Levin

The online meeting of the Planning Board on Thursday, November 9 at 7 p.m. is a chance for members of the public to comment on the proposed rewrite of the Princeton Master Plan. The draft of the document, which was 18 months in the making, was shared with the public at a Planning Board meeting on October 31, but no public comments were taken at that time.

Residents can read the 270-page final draft of the plan online at princetonnj.gov/339/Master-Plan or engage.princetonmasterplan.org. more

As War in Gaza Enters Second Month, Princetonians Reflect, Mourn, Speak Out

By Donald Gilpin

As the fighting in Gaza continues into its second month, with the death toll mounting and no sign of a resolution in sight, groups and individuals at Princeton University and in the larger community, coming from a wide range of political and personal positions and perspectives, continue to respond, expressing their anger, grief, and hopes in many different ways.

Approximately 1,400 were killed in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, and about 240 more are being held as hostages. Gaza’s Health Ministry says that the death toll since the Israeli bombing there now exceeds 10,000. more

Diwali, Festival of Lights, Celebrated In Princeton and Around the World

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS: Celebrating Diwali at the Princeton University Chapel, Vineet Chander, the University’s assistant dean of Hindu life, carries the light that triumphs over darkness, as good triumphs over evil. More than 300 people attended last Saturday’s Diwali at the Chapel event featuring devotional music and dance, spiritual reflections, and a celebration of Hindu culture. (Photo by Tori Repp/Fotobuddy)

By Donald Gilpin

Participants in last Saturday night’s celebration of Diwali at the Princeton University Chapel were greeted by an array of candles on the sidewalk in front of the entrance. In the chapel vestibule were more lights, with a golden statue of the elephant god Ganesh atop an altar covered with candles. Inside the towering nave of the chapel, the altar decorations and colorful costumed performers, with many more candles and lights throughout the chapel, contrasted with the building’s austere arches and walls.

Often called the “festival of lights,” Diwali, actually on November 12 this year, occurs in the Ashvin and Kartika months of the Hindu lunar calendar on what is called the moonless night. “The idea is that we gather together as a community and we light these candles as a way of bringing light into the darkness,” said Vineet Chander, Princeton University’s assistant dean of Hindu Life, who organized the “Diwali at the Chapel” program along with University student members of the Princeton Hindu Society. more

Positive Impact of the Arts on Health Explored by Coalition of Cultural Groups

By Anne Levin

Coming out of COVID-19, the leaders of local arts organizations were looking for a way to recharge their programs and get patrons back into theaters, concert halls, museums, and other cultural venues. From their conversations, a common denominator emerged: the significant relationship between arts and health.

It so happens that the National Organization for Arts and Health recognizes November as Arts and Health Month. With that in mind, a coalition of nine arts groups formed Arts & Health Mercer, which had its official debut at the Robert Wood Johnson Fitness and Wellness Center in Hamilton Township on Saturday, November 4. more

What Was Once an Empty Lot Is Now a Neighborhood Garden

STIMULATING THE SENSES: A new Sensory Garden in downtown Trenton has turned a vacant lot into more than just a place to grow vegetables. Plants that appeal to sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing were part of the plan.

By Anne Levin

A vacant lot near Trenton’s Battle Monument has been transformed into a public garden designed to appeal to all of the senses. Architect Ken Hill’s vision for the site stems from his desire to incorporate sustainability into the projects he creates.

Hill, a Lawrenceville native, is an alumnus of Trenton Climate Corps, which is supported by AmericCorps. The latter provides training and employment in climate resilience and green infrastructure careers, and is managed by Isles, the Trenton-based community development organization. more

Once Upon a Time in Indiana: James Dean and Hoosier Hysteria

By Stuart Mitchner

Dream as if you’ll live forever, live as if you’ll die today.

—James Dean (1931-1955)

You got that James Dean daydream look in your eye…

—Taylor Swift (born 1989)

The reality of writing an open-ended weekly column is that at the last minute someone or something may come out of nowhere to redirect a piece that was originally triggered, in this case, by controversial basketball coach Bobby Knight’s front page obituary in the New York Times. First thought is you’ll be writing about growing up with Indiana basketball, which goes according to plan until you remember a player you admired as a 10-year-old, who reawakens thoughts of James Dean, the actor you were obsessed with at 17.

It seems incredible that at the time I was buying everything about James Dean I could lay my hands on, I missed the poem with the line about dreaming and living that contains other “last words” such as “Forgive quickly, kiss slowly,” “Dance as if no one’s watching,” and “Love as if it’s all you know.” Any one of those lines could be the title of a song by Taylor Swift, who brought Dean dancing back into the pop culture conversation in 2014 and then again last week in her rerecorded version of “Style.” more

Princeton Pro Musica Opens 45th Season With Rarely-Heard Handel Oratorio

By Nancy Plum

When choruses choose to perform the oratorios of George Frideric Handel, it is usually the popular Messiah which draws in audiences. However, Handel composed close to 30 oratorios, essentially perfecting the genre when interest in Italian opera waned in 18th-century England. Sung in English, oratorios had great audience appeal, retaining the solo vocal fireworks popular in opera but adding complex choral numbers which served a narrative function and provided commentary on the action.

Handel looked to biblical sources for subject matter to create his familiar oratorios, with works based on the stories of Saul, Samson, and Judas Maccabeus. Lesser known is the 1748 Solomon, which depicts the life of the monarch of ancient Israel in 63 arias, recitatives, and choruses. Handel’s choral/orchestral works are tailor-made for the more than 100-member Princeton Pro Musica, which brought a production of Solomon to Richardson Auditorium this past Sunday afternoon. Led by Pro Musica Artistic Director Ryan J. Brandau and joined by the period orchestra New York Baroque Incorporated and five vocal soloists, Pro Musica presented a spirited performance of Handel’s animated work. more

Scrooge and Company Return to McCarter Theatre Stage

GOD BLESS US EVERYONE: Joel McKinnon Miller stars as Ebeneezer Scrooge, carrying Rafaella Mousa as Tiny Tim in “A Christmas Carol,” coming to McCarter Theatre December 6-24.

McCarter Theatre presents A Christmas Carol starring Joel McKinnon Miller, familiar from his work on Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Big Love, as Ebeneezer Scrooge. The Charles Dickens classic is adapted and directed by Lauren Keating, with musical direction by Chris Frisco and choreography by Emily Maltby.

“Since 1980, McCarter’s A Christmas Carol has been a beacon of holiday cheer and a celebration of our community,” said Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen. “I think a lot about what it means to connect across differences. This story reminds us that it’s not too late to change or to welcome someone back to the table. If Scrooge can change, if his community can give him another chance — then just imagine what is possible for us. Whether it is your first time attending or your 40th, thank you for gathering with us to tell this story.” more

Tickets Now on Sale for Readings and Carols

A LOCAL TRADITION: The 2022 “Evening of Readings and Carols” concert presented at Princeton University Chapel by Westminster Choir College of Rider University will be broadcast by American Public Television this year.

Music lovers can relive the 2022 performance of “An Evening of Readings and Carols,” which is now available on American Public Television member stations throughout the U.S. Tickets for this year’s event are now on sale. The concert is presented at Princeton University Chapel.

Last year’s concert is available through PBS Passport, the public television streaming service. All available stations will be listed at rider.edu/readingsandcarols. The holiday concert was filmed last year in honor of its 30th anniversary, and featured student and alumni choirs from Westminster. The recording project was supported by gifts from alumni and friends of the College. more