December 11, 2024

Council Takes Next Steps for Seminary Redevelopment

By Anne Levin

Princeton Council introduced an ordinance at its Monday, December 9 meeting that approves an application for a tax exemption and PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement with the redeveloper of the former Princeton Seminary property on Stockton Street at Hibben Road.

Herring Properties, formally known as HP 108 Stockton Urban Renewal LLC, plans to build a multi-family residential development of 240 units, 48 of which would be designated as affordable housing. The plan, which has been controversial, also includes public open space, 262 parking spots, and the renovation of an existing historic house.

According to a memo by Mayor Mark Freda recommending the agreement to members of Council, the project “will result in significant benefits for the health, welfare, and financial well-being of the municipality and its citizens.” In addition to the 20 percent affordable housing set-aside, Freda notes a $200,000 contribution by the redeveloper to the town’s Sustainable Transportation Fund, the enhancement of the gateway into town, and the creation of jobs during the project. more

Town Health Officer Offers Advice on Flu, COVID-19, RSV

By Donald Gilpin

As the season for cold weather, holidays, and respiratory illnesses advances, the Princeton Health Department will be closely monitoring the health of Princeton residents, particularly those most susceptible to serious sickness.

Deputy Administrator/Director of Health Jeff Grosser stated that his department’s “greatest concerns right now are the seasonal increase in respiratory illnesses and ensuring that the community remains prepared.”

He continued, “Of course we focus much of our efforts on our most vulnerable, our younger and older population. With respiratory infections rising, particularly flu and RSV, the focus is on vaccination efforts, public education, and maintaining health care capacity.” more

NJ Leaders to Discuss Protecting Rights; Platkin, Howard, Sinha Join Zwicker Panel

By Donald Gilpin

As the town of Princeton, along with the whole state, prepares to face changing federal priorities from the new Trump administration, a panel of New Jersey leaders will gather on Thursday, December 19 at 6 p.m. in the Nassau Presbyterian Church (Livestream available) to discuss “State of Protection: Strengthening New Jersey’s Rights in Immigration, Healthcare, Environment, and Law.”

NJ Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, Princeton University Professor and former New Jersey Commissioner of Health and Senior Services Heather Howard, and ACLU-NJ Executive Director Amol Sinha will be leading the deliberations, moderated and organized by State Sen. Andrew Zwicker (District 16).

“After the results of the presidential election, I started to think quite a bit about the first Trump administration and what I could do as a member of the N.J. state legislature to protect the people of New Jersey from what we expect will be coming out of Washington, D.C. over the next four years,” Zwicker said in a recent phone conversation.  more

Actor Appearing in “A Christmas Carol” Credits McCarter with Inspiring Her Career

“GOD BLESS US EVERYONE”: Vivia Font, in the back row at right, is happy to be back on stage at McCarter Theatre, playing Mrs. Cratchit in “A Christmas Carol.” Also pictured are Andrea Goss (Christmas Present), Kenneth De Abrew (Bob Cratchit), and Joel McKinnon Miller (Ebenezer Scrooge). (Photo by T. Charles Erickson)

By Anne Levin

For Vivia Font, who plays the role of Margaret Cratchit in McCarter Theatre’s current production of A Christmas Carol, the stage and rehearsal rooms of the venue on University Place feel like home.

It was at McCarter that the actor, who has appeared in regional theater, television, and films, found her vocation as a high school-aged participant in McCarter’s Summer Shakespeare program — first as a student, and later as a teacher. She also appeared at McCarter as a soldier in the annual production of The Nutcracker by Princeton Ballet, now known as American Repertory Ballet.  more

Princeton Public Schools Takes on Positive and Negative Potential of AI

by Donald Gilpin

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving at a rapid rate, bringing huge advantages along with some significant harms to all areas of society, and Princeton Public Schools (PPS) is looking for the best ways to benefit from AI’s potential to enhance the education of its students.

“We’re approaching the AI frontier together, and we’re all riding that balance of using it but also not abusing it,” said PPS Assistant Superintendent Kimberly Tew in a December 3 webinar, sponsored by PPS in collaboration with Common Sense Media, an organization working with the district to develop plans and policies concerning the use of AI in PPS.

Common Sense reports that 70 percent of teens nationwide have used at least one type of generative AI tool, with 53 percent using generative AI for homework help. Only 37 percent of parents with teens using gen AI, however, know that their children are using these tools. more

December 4, 2024

Council Approves Resolution for Firehouse Renovation

By Anne Levin

A resolution to pay for a study of the Princeton Fire Department’s headquarters at 363 Witherspoon Street was approved by Princeton Council at its meeting on November 25. Baltimore-based architectural firm Manns Woodward Studios Inc. (MW), a specialist in firehouses, will receive up to $58,800 to come up with a conceptual design for renovating and possibly enlarging the building.

Among the items on the list are future space needs; environmental issues; HVAC and ADA-compliance issues; and accommodations for staff, vehicles, and memorabilia.

“A couple of things have happened since that firehouse was built in 1992,” said Mayor Mark Freda, after Councilman David Cohen noted that the list was extensive. “One thing is that the roof continues to leak, no matter what we’ve done to it. We’re hoping to find someone that can actually solve that problem.” more

Municipal Aid Grant Awarded to Municipality For Harrison Street Plan

By Anne Levin

Princeton has received $818,256 from the State of New Jersey for pedestrian safety between Nassau Street and Franklin Avenue, part of the North Harrison Street Improvements Project.

On November 14, Gov. Phil Murphy announced $150 million in fiscal year 2025 Municipal Aid grants. Princeton is one of 540 cities and towns across the state to be granted funds for advancing road, bridge, safety, and quality-of-life improvements.

Though the grants are competitive, every municipality that applied for funding received one, according to Murphy’s office. A total of 595 applications requested $375 million in aid. more

Rustin Center Expands Programming, Support In Wake of Post-Election Needs and Concerns

FESTIVE AND FABULOUS: Miss Cissy Walken is the host of the Holiday Drag Show on Saturday, December 7 at the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice, where holiday events continue throughout the month. (Photo courtesy of BRCSJ)

By Donald Gilpin

In the face of widespread anxiety over increasing anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric and action following the November election, the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice (BRCSJ) will be hosting major holiday events on upcoming weekends: a Holiday Drag Show featuring Cissy Walken, Miss Stonewall Inn, on Saturday, December 7 at 7 p.m. and “Handmade for the Holidays Crafternoon” with Kyle the Craftivist on December 14 at 1 p.m.

Also, on Friday, December 6, there will be a Welcoming the Community Breakfast from 8-10 a.m. and in the evening at 7 p.m. a post-Thanksgiving folk concert featuring David Brahinsky and friends — all at the BRCSJ headquarters, 12 Stockton Street.

The BRCSJ, a dedicated queer safe space, offers many programs and events in person and online throughout the year, serving more than 10,000 area residents according to a recent BRCSJ email. On Christmas Day it will also be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or later, welcoming anybody who “needs or wants a safe space to hang with friends and chosen fam.” more

Friends of Princeton Open Space Hosts Mountain Lakes Photo Exhibition and Holiday Open Houses

“DEER BIND WEED”: This photo, taken by Sydney Vine in the Mountain Lakes Preserve, is one of the contest photos that will be on display at the Friday, December 6 opening reception and December 7 and 8 Holiday Open Houses for the annual “Perspectives on Preservation Photography Exhibition” sponsored by Friends of Princeton Open Space.

By Donald Gilpin

A “Perspectives on Preservation Photography Exhibition,” featuring photos of the Mountain Lakes area selected from the annual Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS) Photo Contest, as well as a collection of photographs titled “Geese and Goslings” by Frank Sauer, will be on display this weekend at the Mountain Lakes House, 57 Mountain Avenue.

The opening reception for the exhibition on Friday, December 6 from 6 to 8 p.m., where the contest winners will be announced, is booked up with a waiting list available, but visitors can also see the exhibition at a Holiday Open House on Saturday and Sunday, December 7 and 8, from 12 to 4 p.m. In addition, FOPOS is hosting a December Nature Walk, starting at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on December 7. more

Center for Modern Aging Awarded Two Grants to Strengthen Mission

By Anne Levin

The Center for Modern Aging Princeton (CMAP) has announced the receipt of two grants from the Princeton Area Community Foundation. The grants go toward supporting the organization’s mission to foster a more inclusive, age-friendly community, and strengthen its organizational capacity to deliver impactful programs and services.

A $38,200 Community Impact Grant goes toward the organization’s Community Outreach: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives, and combatting ageism through intergenerational programming. This funding will enable CMAP to expand its outreach to underserved populations, including racial and ethnic minority seniors, LGBTQ+ seniors, and those facing social and economic barriers.

The grant is designed to expand on CMAP’s programs that bridge gaps between generations, and to enhance public education to challenge stereotypes about aging. The goal is to celebrate contributions of older adults to society. more

University Ramps Up Indigenous Studies with New Programs and New Professor

By Donald Gilpin

Princeton University has recently undertaken a number of initiatives to expand its influence in the field of Native American and Indigenous studies, with J. Kehaulani Kauanui coming on board as the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Professor of Indigenous Studies to help lead the effort.

In a November 14 press release, the University reported that it had expanded academic centers, programs, and scholarly resources to strengthen institutional relationships with Native American and Indigenous communities, as well as seeking to enhance research and scholarship in the field and to recognize and support Native and Indigenous students and scholars. more

Centenary Musings On Franz Kafka (1924-2024)

By Stuart Mitchner

While England endeavors to cure the potato-rot, will not any[one] endeavor to cure the brain-rot, which prevails so much more widely and fatally?

—Henry David Thoreau,
from Walden (1854)

The epigraph comes by way of the first Arts page in Monday’s New York Times. At least once or twice every year, the Newspaper of Record throws out a line that hooks me. Picture a Dr. Seuss-style fisherman, perhaps the Cat in the Hat, dandling a brain-rot lure as a Dr. Seuss fish leaps out of the water, grinning idiotically while I’m thinking “This is not how I meant to begin a December 4 column on Franz Kafka; no, this is not what I meant to do, not at all, not at all.”

Probably Kafka would love it. As would Frank Zappa, who died on December 4, 1993, having accomplished among many more notable wonders a track called “The Chrome Plated Megaphone of Destiny” on the Mothers of Invention’s third album, We’re Only In It for the Money (a travesty of Sgt. Pepper that memorably pictured four grossly alluring “Mothers” instead of John, Paul, George, and Ringo). In his liner notes, Zappa claims that “The Chrome Plated Megaphone of Destiny,” with its electronic crackling and screeching, is intended to give “a musical approximation” of Kafka’s “In The Penal Colony.” more

November 27, 2024

PPS Offers Forums, Tours as Referendum Nears

By Donald Gilpin

Princeton residents will have a number of opportunities to learn more about the Princeton Public Schools’ (PPS) $89.1 million facilities bond referendum before they vote on a three-part question on January 28, 2025.

Two upcoming forums — a virtual forum on Monday, December 9 at 7 p.m. (link to be shared shortly before the event) and an in-person forum on Saturday, January 11 at 9 a.m. in the Princeton Middle School (PMS) auditorium — will provide information and chances to ask questions.

The community is also invited to tour one or all of the school buildings included in the 2025 bond referendum proposal: Community Park Elementary School on December 10 and January 8 at 3:30 p.m.; Littlebrook Elementary School on January 7 and 14 at 4 p.m.; PMS on December 5, 12, and January 16 at 3:30 p.m.; and Princeton High School (PHS) on December 8 at 10 a.m., 13 at 6:30 p.m., January 15 at 6:15 p.m., January 24 at 5:30 p.m., and January 26 at 10 a.m. more

James “Jimmy” Mack Honored for Impact on Local Community

By Anne Levin

James “Jimmy” Mack
(Photo by Adam Welch)

Princeton Council paid tribute to longtime barber James “Jimmy” Mack at its meeting Monday evening, November 25, at the municipal building.

As a large crowd of Mack’s family, friends, and neighbors looked on, Councilman Leighton Newlin and Mayor Mark Freda read a special proclamation honoring Mack as a fixture in the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood since the early 1950s.

Newlin called Mack “a great human, a great humanitarian, a good person, a great family man, a good friend, a mentor, and one hell of a barber.” To visit Jimmy’s Barber Shop at 141 John Street was to be part of “a sanctuary of community where the air vibrated with the hum of clippers, laughter, and soulful melodies, creating a vibrant tapestry of shared experience,” he said, before launching into a brief rendition of the Martha and the Vandellas song “Jimmy Mack.”  more

Panel of Experts Will Discuss 2024 Election at Princeton University Forum

By Donald Gilpin

As the country and the world continue to ponder the results of the 2024 election, Princeton University’s School for Public and International Affairs (SPIA) Center for the Study of Democratic Politics (CSDP) has assembled a panel of experts to help shed light on “What Happened and Why?” The event will take place on Monday, December 2, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in Bowl 016 at Robertson Hall on Washington Road.

“This panel will bring together a blend of expertise, perspectives, and professional experiences that we hope will foster a nuanced, informed discussion of the election results,” said Princeton University Politics Professor and CSDP Co-Director Tali Mendelberg, who will moderate the discussion. “In this era of polarization and information silos, it is vital to offer accurate analysis and to represent diverse views about the state of American politics.”

Panelists will include Betsy Ankney, political strategist and Nikki Haley’s campaign manager; CBS News elections analyst and Princeton University Ph.D. graduate Kabir Khanna; Dorian Warren, public affairs commentator and president of Community Change, co-chair of the Economic Security Project, and co-host of System Check; and Lauren Wright, associate research scholar and lecturer in politics and public affairs at Princeton University with a focus on political communication, including media coverage, candidates’ strategies, and public perceptions. more

Princeton High School Graduate Dan Schulman Knighted by French President at Ceremony in Paris

HIGHEST HONOR: Princeton-raised Dan Schulman was knighted in Paris last month by French President Emmanuel Macron for his contributions to social and economic change. From left are Schulman’s wife, Summerly Schulman; his mother, Ruth Schulman; Macron; and Schulman. (Photo courtesy of Dan Schulman)

By Anne Levin

During his tenure as CEO and president of the financial technology giant PayPal, Dan Schulman was shocked to discover that 70 percent of Americans have a hard time making ends meet.

Schulman, who was raised in Princeton and is a product of the town’s public schools, was even more surprised to learn that over half of his employees — who were paid above market rates — were among those struggling. more

Chanticleer’s Eclectic Repertory Ranges From Renaissance-era Music to Spirituals

TWELVE VOICES UNCONDUCTED: The a cappella group Chanticleer brings “A Chanticleer Christmas” to Princeton University Chapel on Saturday, December 7.

By Anne Levin

The last time Chanticleer came to Princeton, the Grammy Award-winning a cappella vocal ensemble performed at Richardson Auditorium. Leading them that day in October 2023 was Tim Keeler, a 2011 graduate of Princeton University, where he majored in music.

Keeler is Chanticleer’s music director. He is bringing the group back to Princeton, again under the auspices of Princeton University Concerts (PUC), on Saturday, December 7 at 7:30 p.m. — this time in another campus venue. “A Chanticleer Christmas” will be held in Princeton University Chapel.  more

Institute for Advanced Study Online Videos Offer Brief Looks Behind the Scenes

By Donald Gilpin

The Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) is one of the world’s great institutions for theoretical research, intellectual exploration, and academic alliances. It is famed as the former home base of Albert Einstein, J. Robert Oppenheimer, and many other celebrity scholars — but it remains somewhat of a mystery to many locals.

The aura of mystery is possibly due to its relative isolation, ensconced on about 600 acres on the southwestern edge of Princeton, and to the esoteric and complex nature of much of the work that is done there in the loftiest realms of science, mathematics, history, and social sciences.

A current posting, titled “Institute Instances,” on the Institute website at ias.edu will help to dispel some of the mystery. Through one to two-minute video snapshots of individuals who talk about their experiences at IAS, “Instances” provides a variegated picture of some of the work and other activity that goes on at the IAS.  more

Sparked by Volker’s Sensational Senior Day Effort, Princeton Football Edges Penn 20-17 in Season Finale

SENIOR MOMENT: Princeton University football running back John Volker looks for an opening in recent action. Senior Volker ended his Princeton career on a high note last Saturday, rushing for 130 yards and one touchdown and catching four passes for 40 yards to help Princeton edge Penn 20-17. The Tigers ended the fall at 3-7 overall and 2-5 Ivy League. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

John Volker was determined to keep his cool as he stood in the end zone with his classmates and their families last Saturday when the Princeton University football team held its annual Senior Day ceremony before hosting Penn in the season finale.

“Of course it is emotional, the focus for me was just remaining focused and not looking at the big picture,” said Princeton senior running back Volker. “I owe it to my teammates, my coaches, and everyone who put a lot into this program to have my full attention on this game for 60 minutes.” more

November 20, 2024

Council Hears Report on Harrison Street Corridor

By Anne Levin

At a meeting on Tuesday, November 12, Princeton Council was given a first look at a study being designed to improve safety along a 2.5-mile stretch of the Harrison Street corridor. Representatives from the consulting firm Michael Baker Inc. made a presentation in which the enhancement of pedestrian, bicyclist, and motorist safety is the priority.

Municipal staff members and Pete Kramer of the consulting firm stressed that the presentation is still in conceptual form. The study, which covers Harrison Street from its southern border to Route 206, considered five years of data related to traffic and crashes.

“It’s really about safety more than moving traffic,” said Kramer, who showed a graphic compiled from national data on traffic speeds. While a pedestrian hit by a vehicle traveling at 40 miles per hour has an 80 percent chance of being killed, that figure is down to 10 percent if the vehicle is going half the speed. more

Dems, Republicans, Nonpartisans Look to Uncertainties Ahead

By Donald Gilpin

Two weeks after the culmination of the fiercely fought and — at least for many — surprising, 2024 elections, politicos, local organizations, and Princeton residents from across the political spectrum are wondering what comes next.

Donald Trump and JD Vance registered a dramatic victory nationwide, winning all the swing states, and made significant gains in New Jersey in losing by only 46.1 percent to 51.9 percent. In Princeton, however, the total was about 83 percent (10,201 votes) for Kamala Harris and 16 percent (2007 votes) for Trump, and the Democrats won the mayoral election and two Council seats unopposed. Democrat Bonnie Watson Coleman coasted to reelection in the 12th Congressional District, and Andy Kim handily won in the New Jersey race for U.S. senator.

Nick DiDomizio, president of the Princeton Community Democratic Organization (PCDO), expressed concerns shared by many of his fellow Democrats. “The results in New Jersey were obviously disappointing,” he said. “It was really close, just a single digit margin for New Jersey, and I think that’s been causing a lot of despair as it pertains to next year’s governor’s race and the Assembly race.” more

“Battle Window” Unveiling Marks New Era, Upgrading Princeton Battlefield Experience

“BATTLE WINDOW”: The November 18 ceremony at Princeton Battlefield State Park was highlighted by the unveiling of a “battle window,” designed to help visitors better understand the Battle of Princeton. That interpretive device is just one of many enhancements preparing the Battlefield for the upcoming 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. (Photo by Dan Komoda)

By Donald Gilpin

In a ceremony at Princeton Battlefield State Park on Monday, November 18, a gathering of about 50 heard how new tourist-friendly historical signage and other upgrades will be providing future visitors with a better understanding of the Battle of Princeton, which was a decisive moment in American history and has been called the battle “that saved the American Revolution.”

The event was highlighted by the unveiling of a “battle window,” an interpretive sign that includes elements from a James Peale painting applied onto a clear acrylic window so that viewers can peer through to gain a sense of the battle action that took place on the landscape. more

McCarter’s Holiday Production of “A Christmas Carol” Brings Back Popular Actor as Ebenezer Scrooge

SCROOGE IS BACK: Veteran stage and screen actor Joel McKinnon Miller returns to the lead role in McCarter Theatre’s production of “A Christmas Carol,” running December 10-29. (Photo courtesy of McCarter Theatre)

By Anne Levin

When Joel McKinnon Miller signed on in June 2023 to play the notorious miser Ebenezer Scrooge in McCarter Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol last December, he wasn’t entirely familiar with the Charles Dickens classic. But he immersed himself in the play, reading the script numerous times before rehearsals began.

Miller’s characterization was a success; so much so that McCarter has brought him back for this year’s run of the show. A Christmas Carol, adapted by director Lauren Keating, opens December 10 and runs through December 29 in McCarter’s Matthews Theatre. more

Womanspace Renames and Rebrands to Better Serve Domestic Violence Victims

By Anne Levin

In an effort to make its services to victims of domestic violence more inclusive, the local nonprofit Womanspace has changed its name to Younity. The rebranding was made official at a gathering of staff, board members, community leaders, survivors, and supporters at Trenton Country Club on
November 13.

“We know that our community is diverse, and we also know that domestic violence does not discriminate,” said Nathalie Nelson, Younity CEO and president, this week. “It doesn’t only affect women. It affects men, children, the elderly — people from all backgrounds. We want to reflect that.”

Founded in 1977 to provide critical services for those affected by domestic violence and sexual abuse in the Mercer County region, Womanspace provides emergency and follow-up services including round-the-clock crisis intervention, short-term emergency shelter, short-term and long-term transitional housing, counseling, and support groups for adults and children. In the last fiscal year, more than 10,000 people received assistance from the nonprofit, according to Nelson. more

HomeFront Prepares for Busy Holiday Season with Multiple Initiatives to Serve Community

“DREAM COME TRUE”: HomeFront will be expanding its Diaper Resource Center with help in the form of $250,000 from the State of New Jersey. Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, seen here (on left) with Homefront CEO Sarah Steward, assisted in acquiring the state funding. (Photo courtesy of HomeFront)

By Donald Gilpin

As the holidays approach, HomeFront is stepping up its efforts to help families “break the cycle of poverty” with Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week through November 23, its Thanksgiving Basket and Food Drive, the Holiday Wishes Drive to make the season merry for local children in need, its Holiday Market November 23-24, its expanding Diaper Resource Center, and more.

“This holiday season the need is both great and growing, as homelessness continues to rise,” said HomeFront CEO Sarah Steward. “In Mercer County alone, the number of individuals experiencing homelessness increased by 31 percent from 2023 to 2024. At HomeFront we provide emergency shelter and vital support for families in crisis, while also working to prevent others from reaching that breaking point.” more