To the Editor:

I would like to clarify the characterization of a question I raised about Princeton’s shifting age demographics during a Council meeting in last week’s Town Topics (“PSRC Director Comments On Council’s Questions About Proposed Expansion,” Oct. 7, page one). I feel my remarks were taken out of context and appear to be hostile to older people, which was not my intention.

Susan Hoskins, executive director of the Princeton Senior Resource Center, cited data from the latest census showing that the average age of Princeton residents has risen and that the Princeton community has become older than average. This prompted my question about why she thought this was so, and I said that I hoped we were keeping our town attractive to young people and young families rather than “becoming an old community.” The question was answered as if it were out of the blue rather than in response to the demographic data she reported.

Especially given that our population includes a significant number of students from our institutions of higher education, I feel it’s reasonable to question news that our community is aging more rapidly than others. As a grandmother who hopes to live here for many more years, greatly appreciating and supporting all we do for the older population, I nevertheless believe our community should also strive to be welcoming to young people, as it was once welcoming to me and my young family.

Jenny Crumiller

Library Place