January 8, 2025

All Components of Facilities Plan are Critically Necessary to Address Known, Urgent Needs

To the Editor:

As residents of Princeton since 1998, we feel very fortunate to live here. Our town’s many public and nonprofit institutions (library, pool, parks and playing fields, schools, universities, Arts Council, McCarter…) make Princeton uniquely vibrant, and enhance the quality of life for all. Directly and indirectly, we all benefit every day from the investments made in the past to build and maintain them.

For the life of our town, our public schools are the most essential of all these institutions. And what distinguishes Princeton Public Schools from similar districts — small class sizes; neighborhood elementary schools that foster strong bonds among families and children; excellent arts, music, STEM, language, and enrichment programs K-12 — can only occur in school buildings that have sufficient classroom capacity, space that is programmed for all of these curricular activities, and most importantly, up-to-date, efficient HVAC infrastructure necessary for safe, healthy learning environments.  more

Urging Community to Vote Yes for All Three Questions on Referendum

To the Editor:

Like many of you, we moved to Princeton two decades ago in large part because of the community’s support of its public schools. Our daughter graduated from Princeton High School in 2020; we feel incredibly grateful that she has been privileged to receive an excellent education that helped her become a well-prepared, caring citizen with a strong support network among her classmates, teachers, and community.

We as a family see the January 28 School Referendum as an opportunity to express our gratitude to Princeton and to pay it forward by making sure that today’s and tomorrow’s young families have the same opportunities that our daughter has been given. more

Obituaries 1/8/2025

Andreas “Andy” Franz

Andy Franz died on December 27 in the home that he built and loved in Titusville, NJ.

Andy was born on March 3, 1935, in Batchka, Palanka, Austria-Hungary to Josef and Katharina Franz. In 1944, his family and their ethnic-German neighbors were displaced at gunpoint from their homes. He spent the next four years as an enslaved child in the work camp Jarek, where he, unlike others, survived hunger and typhoid. In 1948, he and his parents escaped by foot to Austria, entering freedom in Hungary on Good Friday, and began their lives as Displaced People. He attended school until age 15, when he apprenticed as a Tischler — a cabinet maker — supporting his family in Graz, Austria, and building cabinets across the country. In 1956, he immigrated through Ellis Island on a Liberty Ship with $12, a cardboard suitcase, and a sponsor in Trenton, where he, along with other Danauschawben refugees, started his life as an American.

In 1958, Andy and his friend Adam Martini found work as master craftsmen at Nakashima Studios in New Hope, PA, where he learned the aesthetic that would shape his life. With the help of his friends, he went on to build a home outside Pennington, NJ. In 1969, after an accident on the day of the Moon Landing, he left Nakashima and accepted a job at Princeton Day School as an Industrial Arts teacher, where he remained for 29 years. He also served as an advisor and liked to say that he “lived in many houses” thanks to the skills and work of former students. He retired from PDS in 1998 and found a second home in Hope Town, Abaco, Bahamas. Only a year later he boarded one of the first planes to arrive after Hurricane Floyd, taking a chainsaw and his toolbox to help others recover and rebuild. He also salvaged and restored the “shack” he named “Wrecktory,” and spent 20 winters with a community and friends in the “most beautiful place in the world.”

In recent years, Andy found continued joy and purpose building and creating objects from wood (and the occasional conch shell) in his home workshop. Surrounded by wildlife, he fed the birds each day and nurtured the many relationships he had forged throughout his life.

Andy is predeceased by his son Christopher (daughters Veronica and Bridget of Ewing, NJ). He is survived by his daughter Susan Franz Murphy (of Lumberville, PA, children Cassidy, Robert, Anna, and Jacob), his son Robert (of Tampa, FL, wife Mia, and sons Owen and Gareth), and remembered by many friends and former students.

While Andy loved flowers, gifts to Doctors without Borders (donate.doctorswithoutborders.org) or the Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue Foundation (donorbox.org/hope-town-volunteer-fire-and-rescue-hurricane-dorian-relief) are welcome.

———

Nancy Carole Forslund Jang
January 22, 1937 – December 25, 2024

Nancy Carole Forslund Jang, 87, of Princeton, NJ, died on December 25, 2024 at Princeton Medical Center, following a brief illness.

Nancy was born in Callao, Peru, in 1937. Her parents, Evar Forslund, a miner, and Ella Nikula Forslund, a school teacher, left their Finnish American community in Upper Michigan during the economic ravages of the Depression. Eventually Evar found work in Peru, where Nancy and her two sisters were born. The family lived In a tiny mining encampment in the Andes Mountains at an altitude of 13,000 feet. Nancy’s childhood was indelibly shaped by this magical place, a remote, treeless world infused with Spanish and steeped in Quechuan culture. Taught by her mother in a one-room schoolhouse, Nancy would forge lifelong friendships with three of her classmates: brothers Juan and Manuel Proano and their cousin Lucy. The tightly knit group also included Nancy’s sisters Marion and Charlotte.

When Nancy was 13, her family returned to the United States — sailing through the Panama Canal! — and resettled in the Upper Peninsula. A diligent student, she attended high school in Bessemer, Michigan, and worked as a waitress in her mother’s restaurant, The Evergreen Dinette. Nancy attended Michigan State University and studied to become a teacher, as her parents had intended. Yet after graduating Nancy discarded these plans: she had no appetite for disciplining children and longed to see more of the world. After a stint working for the Studebaker Packard auto company in Indiana, she stunned her family by moving to New York City. Arriving with a few dollars in her pocket, she crashed on a friend’s couch until she leveraged her fluency in Spanish to land a job as a social worker in Spanish Harlem. Although Nancy described herself as “poor as a church mouse” and was even mugged on the subway, meeting new people and exploring New York thrilled her. Several years later, after a difficult breakup, she took another leap by moving to Germany to work for the United States Army as a civilian. Nancy rambled throughout Europe on the weekends, soaking up new cultures and sights. In Germany, she met Donald Jang, a Chinese American artist who also worked as a civilian for the Army. A fellow dreamer, Don had shocked his own family by rejecting a practical path after college: he too wanted to see and experience more of the world. Together, hazel-eyed Nancy and Don — with his signature rakish mustache — explored Germany and as much of Europe as they could, making lifelong friends and amazing memories.

After returning to the U.S., Nancy and Don got married in Las Vegas, once again defying family expectations and social conventions as interracial marriage was not only uncommon but, in fact, illegal in many states in 1964. Within a few years, they grew tired of the desert and casinos; so Don — now a high school art teacher — applied for jobs in the San Francisco Bay Area where he had grown up. When he was offered a job in Palo Alto, they picked up stakes; Nancy found work again as a social worker and Don taught art at Palo Alto High School. In Palo Alto they raised two daughters, Jennifer and Samantha. Nancy stayed home with her girls for several years, then landed a job at Stanford University at the Johnson Library of Government Documents, where she worked until her retirement.

It is no secret that Nancy’s greatest joy was being a mother and, later, a grandmother. She worked hard to ensure that Jennifer and Samantha could enjoy an array of middle-class activities and experiences that had been unavailable to her and Don during their respective childhoods: music and dance lessons, Girl Scouts, summer camps, bicycles and roller skates, visits to museums and the theater, and road trips throughout California to appreciate the state’s natural wonders. Nancy was also fiercely proud of her roots in the Upper Peninsula and took her daughters to the Midwest whenever she could. She was also deeply grateful to be an American and exposed Jennifer and Samantha to as many states and regions of the U.S. as possible.

Once she became a grandmother, Nancy showered her granddaughters Emily and Kate with love and affection, books, and her famous near-weekly letters, studded with stickers. A born storyteller, she regaled “Bellina” and “Carissima” with tales of her youth in Peru, her Finn-Swede heritage, and fanciful yarns she invented just for them. In retirement Nancy never lost her love of travel and delighted in visiting family and friends in Lake Tahoe; Sea Ranch; and Hayward, Wisconsin.

Nancy was predeceased by husband Don (1996). She is survived by daughters Jennifer (Sam); Samantha (Danny); granddaughters Emily and Kate; sisters Marion (Jack) and Charlotte (Dick); many, many nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.

A memorial service was held on December 30 at Mather Hodge Funeral Home in Princeton. A second celebration of life is planned for later in the year in the San Francisco Bay Area. Memorial donations may be made to her favorite arts organizations: the McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, NJ, or the de Young Museum in San Francisco.

“Sisu” is the Finnish word for grit and determination. Nancy demonstrated her sisu countless times throughout her life and particularly during her last difficult days. We are heartbroken that she has left us, but deeply grateful she is at peace. Her kindness, warmth, generosity, lively mind, sense of humor, and huge heart will be sorely missed. But we know that she will always be with us, especially when we raise a glass of her favorite prosecco, open an enchanting book, or turn our faces into the Pacific Ocean breeze, dreaming of another adventure.

———

Dr. Gerald (Jerry) Berkelhammer

Dr. Gerald (Jerry) Berkelhammer passed away peacefully on December 31, 2024 at the age of 93 at his home at Stonebridge in Montgomery Township, New Jersey. Jerry was born in Newark to Max and Cecelia (Schein) Berkelhammer on February 3, 1931 and raised in Summit.

He graduated from Summit High School and went on to earn an AB degree from Brown University in 1952 and then a PhD, both in organic chemistry, from the University of Washington in 1957. His first job, though, was working at his father’s hardware store in Summit every Saturday and summers.

After receiving his PhD, he went on to work for the American Cyanamid Company for 42 years, first at the Stamford, Connecticut Laboratories and then at the Agricultural Research Division in Princeton where he rose to be the Executive Director of Chemical Discovery. During this long and successful career he received 41 patents and was the author of 11 chemical journal papers. Jerry was a member of the American Chemical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and of the honorary societies, Sigma Xi and Phi Lambda Upsilon.
Jerry married Sheila Rosenson on June 20, 1954. They first “met” back in 1934, when Jerry was 3 and Sheila an infant in a baby carriage, because their parents were friends and both families lived in the same apartment house in Irvington. They became re-acquainted in 1953 when Jerry came back to Summit for a visit, and after a courtship carried out mostly long-distance by U.S. mail between Elizabeth, New Jersey, and Seattle, Washington, finally tied the knot.

During his long career at Cyanamid Jerry served his community as a member of the Board of Education in Ewing Township from 1966-1968 and in retirement as President of Princeton’s Allison Road Association, as a volunteer at the Princeton Hospital pharmacy, and at Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, now known as Learning Ally. Jerry was a member of House 1 of the Community Without Walls, and its treasurer for three years. As a member of the Old Guard, he chaired its Arrangements Committee.

For over 70 years Jerry was an avid tennis player and competed with great success in the Mercer County Men’s Tennis League. He loved skiing and camping and instilled that love in his children and eventually, in his grandchildren. In retirement he spent many happy hours on local tennis courts. In addition, after he retired, he audited over 25 courses at Princeton University, especially history, and read everything ever written about World War I. For 21 wonderful years he called himself the “head groundskeeper” at his and Sheila’s home on Allison Road, where he grew amazing vegetables including bumper crops of asparagus and many varieties of salad greens and tomatoes, and provided all his friends with tomato seedlings. His asparagus bed at Stonebridge lives on!

Jerry is survived by his wife, Sheila, his daughter Jill Zorn and her husband, Jonathan, his sons Fred and Paul and Fred’s wife, Debra, and five grandchildren: Abigail and Hannah Zorn, Sam and Sara Berkelhammer, and Shira Berkelhammer, as well as his sister Ruth (Berkelhammer) Fink.

Funeral services and burial were held January 3 at Mount Lebanon Cemetery in Woodbridge. Contributions in Jerry’s memory may be made to causes of the donor’s choice.

Funeral arrangements are by Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel. For condolences please visit OrlandsMemorialChapel.com.

———

Arlene Sinding

Arlene Sinding, a 50-year Princeton resident whose teaching and mentoring career touched the lives of thousands of high school and college students, died January 3 at her home. She was 75.

The daughter of Sidney and Ruth Katz, Arlene grew up in Nutley, N.J., before graduating from Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey) in 1971 with a bachelor’s degree in speech and theater education. She went on to earn three master’s degrees in administration and supervision of education, English as a Second Language, and Library Science.

In the 1970s, Arlene taught English at Princeton High School, primarily in the alternative school-within-a-school called The Learning Community. One of her proudest achievements was directing a class play of Michael Weller’s Moonchildren, which the high school principal found objectionable due to what he considered offensive language. The principal insisted that certain words and phrases be removed, causing two 18-year-old students to file a lawsuit claiming a violation of their First Amendment rights. The lawsuit failed, and the students (with the playwright’s permission) performed the expurgated version of the play at the school. Later, they were invited to perform the unexpurgated version at the Unitarian Church of Princeton, charging a small admission fee and donating the proceeds to the American Civil Liberties Union.

Arlene spent most of the 1980s and 1990s teaching English at Hillsborough High School. In 2000, she returned to Princeton High School as the school librarian, a position she held until her retirement in 2012.

In addition to her public school career, Arlene offered a private tutoring service, called The College Connection, helping students prepare for the SAT. She consulted on test development and graded AP English exams for Educational Testing Service, and taught courses in a variety of subjects at Thomas Edison State University, The College of New Jersey, Berkeley College, Mercer County Community College, and Middlesex County Community College.

Arlene had three abiding passions: books, theater, and international travel. She was a voracious reader, never hesitating to offer unfiltered recommendations to family and friends. Her regular trips to Broadway plays and membership at numerous off-Broadway theaters generated a bookshelf full of Playbills. Her travels took her to 87 countries and all seven continents, and she organized numerous Spring Break trips for high school students to Europe, Asia and Africa, in addition to chaperoning a Princeton High School choir trip to Russia and three high school orchestra trips to Europe, China, and Argentina.

Those who knew Arlene well were familiar with a fourth passion: shoes. Her wall-to-wall collection of Birkenstocks alone gave new meaning to the phrase square footage. And she wore her obsession with pride; her license plate holder declared, “She Who Dies With The Most Shoes Wins,” a point reaffirmed by her vanity license plate, SHUZ.

Surviving Arlene are her husband of 53 years, Rick Sinding of Princeton; sister and brother-in-law Judy and Marty Furman of Yorba Linda, Calif.; brother- and sister-in-law Steve and Monica Sinding of Washington, D.C.; nieces and spouses Marlee and Brian Cowan, Randi and John Sedigh, Kate and Pat Daly, and Jenny and James Bradbury; nephew and spouse Adam and Jackie Furman; 10 great-nieces and nephews; and a wide circle of friends.

A memorial service/celebration of Arlene’s life will be held at a time and place to be determined. Donations in her name would be welcomed by the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, and the ACLU.

———

Sally Pitcher Sword

Sally Pitcher Sword passed away peacefully, of natural causes, on January 1, 2025, in her Princeton, N.J., home. She was 99 years old.

Known affectionately as “Howie” by her friends and family, she was married for 55 years to William Sword, a former partner at Morgan Stanley and founder of Wm Sword & Co., investment bankers in Princeton, until his passing in 2005. Together they had four children, 10 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

Howie’s friends and family were the center of her world. Always offering a positive comment or caring question, she was a loving and kind presence to all who knew her. Everywhere she frequented in Princeton, from the post office, to the library, to the grocery store, she was known and loved.

After raising her children, Howie was eager to continue exercising her inquisitive mind. With her high school degree from the Park School in Buffalo and an Associate’s Degree from Bradford Junior College in hand, she was accepted for transfer into the Princeton University Class of 1981. At the age of 55, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Art History.

Howie took advantage of her degree to serve as a docent at the Princeton University Art Museum until well into her 80s. She also gave back to the University community by serving on the Auxiliary to the Isabella McCosh Infirmary.

Caring for others was a hallmark of Howie’s life. She was a board member and chair of the board at Trinity Counseling Service in Princeton, where she initiated the idea of hosting an annual Bastille Day Ball as a major fundraiser. To thank her for many years of service, the organization honored Howie at a Paris-themed event at Drumthwacket, the N.J. Governor’s residence, on July 14, 2007. She was also a recipient in 1977 of the Gerard B. Lambert Award for service to the greater Princeton Community.

For more than 50 years, Howie served as an admissions volunteer at Princeton Medical Center, offering a smile and warm welcome to patients and families. In the 1960s, she co-chaired the Hospital Fête, an important annual fundraising event for the Medical Center. After the Princeton YMCA and YWCA built their shared facility on Avalon Place, she was asked to chair the joint board. Additionally, she was president of the board of Princeton Nursery School, which provides quality childcare and pre-school education for families in need.

Howie also contributed meaningfully to several organizations throughout Princeton. In the 1950s, she was president of the local chapter of Planned Parenthood. She was a former board member of Princeton Day School, a former trustee at The Hun School, a member of the Pretty Brook Tennis Club, a charter member of the Bedens Brook Club, and former member of The Nassau Club.

Beyond her philanthropy and community involvement, Howie was an accomplished musician. She delighted friends and family with her talent for playing the piano by ear. As a 70+-year member of Nassau Presbyterian Church, and a former elder, she sang alto in the choir for many years. She also co-founded the “Opposite Sextet,” an all-women’s a cappella group, which performed in the annual Spring Sing concert — a tradition that continues to this day after 68 years. She and her sister Mary also co-founded the singing group “Tabooz” in college.

She is predeceased by her parents, Mabel (Swisher) Tynan Pitcher and Ralph Morgan Pitcher, her husband of 55 years William Sword, her son William Sword, Jr., and her sister Mary Pitcher Stewart. She is survived by her children Richard Morgan Sword and his wife Elizabeth of Jackson, Wyo.; Molly Sword McDonough and her husband Peter of Pennington, N.J.; Sarah Sword Lazarus and her husband Ken of Concord, Mass.; and her son Bill’s widow Martha Sullivan Sword of Skillman, N.J. She is also survived by her beloved 10 grandchildren: Gretchen Liddell Sword, Richard Morgan Sword, Jr. (Lindsay), Hope Tynan Sword, Bayless Hauge Sword (Andrew Byron), Sarah Pitcher McKani (Kunal), Elizabeth Payson Houfek (Nicholas), William Sullivan Sword (Anne Sekley), Thomas Mangan McDonough (Theresa LaColla), Samuel Skinner Lazarus and Molly Fradin Lazarus; and nine great-grandchildren.
A service of remembrance will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, April 12, 2025 at Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street, Princeton, N.J., 08542. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton or the Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad.

———

Dr. William F. Haynes, Jr.

Dr. William F. Haynes, Jr., retired cardiologist, author, educator, and beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, died peacefully December 31, 2024, at age 98 after a short hospital stay surrounded by his wife, Aline; daughter, Suzie Haynes Halle; son, David Haynes; and son, Bill Haynes. He leaves eight adoring grandchildren who affectionally called him “Pop-Pop.” He was their inspiration and model of how to live a loving and fulfilling life. Bill’s life was punctuated by his deep faith, his undying kindness and gentleness, his ever-present smile, his quick wit, and his persistence, or as his wife said — his stubbornness. His love of Aline was profound, and their relationship only deepened the last few years of his life as his health was slowly declining. He also had a deep love of nature, his trees (he often bragged he had planted 5,000 at the farm that he so loved in PA), and he enjoyed walking in the multiple fields surrounding the farmhouse. He was a quiet man who found contentment in just being.

Bill was born in Newark, NJ, in 1926. His father died when he was 12, and being an only child, he had a beautiful relationship with his mother, who instilled in him his love of God. He graduated from Newark Academy in 1944, having left in March of his senior year to attend the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY. After attending 17 classes in four months, Bill was on a Merchant Vessel in the Pacific. He served in World War II in the Pacific Theater till the end of the war, then spent the summer of 1946 as a Third Mate on a ship carrying German and Italian POWs to the U.S. and American GIs to and from the U.S. His years at the Merchant Marine Academy and serving in the war and later in the Navy were a formative part of his life and he treasured those years and the relationships he made there. He credits the education he received there and the responsibilities he shouldered at an early age (17) as essential building blocks for the rest of his life, including his legendary perseverance and discipline.

Bill began his studies at Princeton in the fall of 1946, graduating in 1950. At Princeton, he was active on the Swimming team and a member of the Cottage Club. He loved Princeton and never missed a reunion except once and he cherished walking in the big Reunion P-Rade. Bill enrolled at Columbia P&S Medical School in the fall of 1950, graduating in 1954. After a one-year internship, he went on active duty in the Navy as Lt JG, as a Medical Officer and served an additional two years (1955-1957). While on this tour of duty, which was during the Hungarian Revolution, he tended to escapees his ship picked up in Bremerhaven and was taking to the United States. He was very proud of his 64 Atlantic crossings, his four in the Pacific and his two voyages in the Caribbean. As he treated numerous patients from many countries and backgrounds, he was instilled with an awareness and empathy towards the hopes and dreams of all people. He loved being at sea, high up on the ships looking out at the water and the beautiful sky. So peaceful!

Upon return from his Navy duty, he finished his four-year residency and moved to Princeton, NJ, with his new bride, Constance Simpson. They raised three wonderful children and were both active in the community. He began his practice as a cardiologist in 1960 and soon founded Princeton Cardiology Associates, a premier cardiology group still in existence. He also served as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Four years after his divorce, he married Aline Linehan James in 1984 and they shared a beautiful 41 years together. After a very successful practice, he retired in late June 1997 at age 71 and started his studies at La Salle University in Philadelphia in September to attain his Masters in Theology. He graduated with honors in 1975. He then served as an Adjunct Professor of Theology at LaSalle and as a guest lecturer at the Princeton Theological Seminary. Never one to stay inactive, he then wrote several books on medical issues and the power of prayer. He and his co-author of Is There a God in Healthcare, Geffrey B. Kelley, became quite the duo for giving talks up and down the East Coast, which he loved doing. He also wrote a book on his time at sea, which he dedicated to his grandchildren. Bill was a believer in exercise, and throughout his life until the pandemic, he either swam daily or worked out at the Princeton gym. He was an excellent athlete, which he passed on to his three children. He took up golf at the age of 88 to join Aline on the links.

Bill was one of the original members of the Princeton Officers Club, and quite proud that he could still wear his dress uniform decades after leaving the Navy. Bill often served as the Group’s Chaplain, saying prayers at the beginning of each dinner gathering. He served twice on the Vestry at Trinity Church (his parish for many years), he was an active member of the 3rd Order of St. Francis, just meeting with a dear friend and fellow member a month before he died. He served as President of the Princeton University Friends of Swimming and was helpful in the planning and fundraising efforts for Denunzio Pool. He competed often in swimming events culminating in his winning two third-place medals at the WORLD Masters Championship Meet at Stanford University right after his 80th birthday. He served as President of his Class of 1950 at Princeton.

Bill was always young at heart. He loved to dance with Aline and he even took tango lessons with her for a cruise they were about to take when he was in his late 80s. He was always quick to pick up his harmonica whenever his son, David, or his grandson, Curtis, arrived with their guitars. They formed a little band called the “Rhône Riders.” He was found tapping his drumsticks to music just a month ago. He certainly lived life to the fullest. That smile rarely left his face. He will be so missed.

Bill was enthused with a love of God and the “feeling of the Presence” which gave him a great sense of peace and contentment. He was blessed with this great spirituality throughout his life – never one to shout it out to others but one had to be impressed with his calmness and sense of serenity. It was a gift. His love of nature was passed on to his children and grandchildren, and the times spent at his farm were a highlight in all our lives.

We would like to thank especially his wonderful, caring internist, Dr. Doug Corazza, for his excellent care and his empathy, and for Bill’s wonderful two aides, Booker and Rana, for their tireless help and good humor – they were each so caring with Bill and we are so thankful.

There will be a Funeral Mass at Trinity Church, January 10 at 11 a.m. with a reception following at the Nassau Club. In lieu of flowers, one can make a charitable donation to Friends of Princeton Swimming. Visit makeagift.princeton.edu/athletics and select “Friends of Club Swimming” from the “Give to Clubs or Campus Recreation” dropdown menu; or call (609) 258-8508.

Arrangements are under the direction of Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton, NJ.

———

Sheila Albert

Sheila Albert of Princeton, NJ, passed away at home on December 23, 2024. She was 81 years old.

Sheila was born in Philadelphia and earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Rutgers University. She had lived in the Princeton area with her husband Steve since 1982.

Sheila had a long and successful career devoted to the service of others. She was a Case Manager and Development Director for the Association for the Advancement of Mental Health, the Executive Director of the Private Industry Council, a public/private partnership devoted to building the local economy and acting Executive Director of the Millhill Child and Family Development Center. After receiving her MSW she spent 16 years with the Trenton Board of Education, working as a school social worker and then on the child study team until her retirement.

She could do almost anything — and would light up people with her infectious smile and positive attitude. She and Steve enjoyed many adventures together including skiing in the Swiss Alps, biking through Provence, France, going on a tent safari in Tanzania, and numerous cruise vacations. After her retirement she played a lot of bridge and really loved it, accumulating hundreds of Master’s Points.  She was also an enthusiastic member of both the Present Day and Nassau Clubs.

Sheila was a bright light with a broad smile and an infectious laugh. She lived her life with the utmost integrity and love for her family and friends. She was a blessed woman and will be missed by everyone she touched.

Sheila is survived by her husband Steve; her children, Ira Goldstine and Cindi Finley; her stepdaughter, Lauren Albert; her grandchildren, Jake Goldstine, Zachary Goldstine, and Jordan McDonald; as well as two new great-granddaughters, Parker and Spencer.

Funeral services were held on December 26, at Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel. Burial followed at Beth Israel Cemetery in Woodbridge, NJ.

For condolences, please visit Sheila’s obituary page at OrlandsMemorialChapel.com.

———

Victor Auerbach
(6/8/1934 – 12/8/2024)

Victor Auerbach passed away in his sleep at Meadow Lakes, East Windsor, NJ, after having lived a rich and complete life of exactly 90 1/2 years. Vic was born in the Bronx, NY, to Rose and Jacob Auerbach and was an accomplished skier and sailor, a lover of all things musical as long as it was classical or folk songs, a noted electrical engineer, and a 46 year-long life mate and partner of Arlene Ceterski in Hamilton, NJ.

He was president of the Princeton Ski and Sail Club from 1964-65, and served in many roles, while enjoying skiing and sailing all over the world with them. His other loves were sharing the ski lodge in Vermont, which he and Arlene owned with four others from the Club, documenting and memorializing trips and activities with photographs; skippering his own boat “Gotcha” in Barnegat, Chesapeake, and Narragansett Bays, and in Maine; and singing in the Princeton Society of Musical Amateurs. He loved sharing holidays and celebratory events with his sister Adele, brother-in-law Kurt, three nieces, one nephew, and seven grand-nieces and nephews.

Vic graduated from the Bronx High of Science, then attended and graduated from the City College of New York with a degree in electrical engineering where he earned membership in the Tau Beta Pi honor society. Later he was awarded a fellowship and earned an MS in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California.

His working career was primarily at RCA’s Astro Electronics Division in East Windsor, NJ, where he was part of the team that developed an early weather satellite known as Tiros II and also a video disc for household movie watching, among other interesting projects. Vic retired from RCA in 1991.

His fluffy beard, his shirt pocket with pens and pencils at the ready, his knowledge of Gilbert & Sullivan, and his deep and loyal love for Arlene will be missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Those interested in being notified of the date and location are asked to email marymcpaint@gmail.com.

January 1, 2025

Growing Town Balances Optimism, Concerns at 2024 Year End

NEW HOTEL IN TOWN: The Graduate by Hilton Princeton, which has an entrance on Chambers Street, opened in August and doubled the number of hotel rooms in town. It is one of many new businesses that opened in 2024.(Photo by Andrew Frasz)

By Donald Gilpin and Anne Levin

In 2024 Princeton saw another year of major ongoing construction projects, accompanied by a certain amount of controversy; 15 new businesses coming to town; a sharp focus and significant progress on environmental issues; a more peaceful year than last in the Princeton Public Schools; a year of accomplishments along with a certain amount of turbulence at Princeton University; and an abundance of both hope and fear for the new year.

The opening of the Graduate by Hilton Princeton hotel and the Triumph Restaurant & Brewery, the completion of the Witherspoon Street Improvement Project in downtown Princeton, and the final stages of the Alice and Avalon Princeton construction on Harrison Street near the Princeton Shopping Center were major development milestones, and the approval of a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement with Herring Properties for construction of apartments on the former Princeton Theological Seminary property suggests that the building momentum will be continuing into 2025 and beyond.

There were demonstrations in town, most significantly in support of Princeton’s immigrant community following a July 10 raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, and on the Princeton University campus, where the Gaza Solidarity Encampment occupied McCosh Courtyard then Cannon Green for a total of about three weeks.

A December 19 discussion at the Nassau Presbyterian Church on “Strengthening Rights in Immigration, Healthcare, Environment, and Law,” with a panel including some of New Jersey’s leading officials, reflected both priorities and concerns that Princeton and the state carry into the coming year. more

New Year’s Eve 2024: Beat Muse Joan Adams Vollmer Crashes the Party

By Stuart Mitchner

I am forced to the appalling conclusion that I would have never become a writer but for Joan’s death…

—William S. Burroughs

A book of great beauty and maniacally exquisite insight with a wild and deadly humor…

—Norman Mailer on The Naked Lunch

Joan Adams Vollmer. (Wikipedia)

Dreaming of another fantastical New Year’s Eve party like the Harpo Marx/Charlie Parker/Times Square centenary blast I arranged for 1911/2011, I checked celebrity births for 1924 on the Notable Names Database (NNDB: “Tracking the Entire World”), and found a star-studded cast headed by Marlon Brando, Lauren Bacall, and James Baldwin, with supporting players like presidents George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter sharing a table next to one occupied by country singers Chet Akins and Slim Whitman. For comic relief, you’ve got Brando’s buddy for life Wally Cox (Mr. Peepers), Carroll O’Connor’s Archie Bunker (All in  the Family), Dr. Strangelove’s Terry Southern, and Twilight Zone’s Rod Serling, not to mention Bill Dana (“My name José Jiménez”) and Don Knotts (“Are you nervous?”) from the Steve Allen Show, plus Norm Alden, the coach who drowned in a bowl of chicken noodle soup on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.

Okay, let’s set this year’s party at Birdland just up Broadway from the Royal Roost, site of the 2011 celebration. Among jazz stars born in ‘24, there’s alto saxophonist Paul Desmond (runner up to Charlie Parker in the 1954 Downbeat poll), trombonist J.J. Johnson, pianist Bud Powell, drummer Max Roach, trumpeter and arranger Shorty Rogers, and tenor man Sonny Stitt, plus songs by Dinah Washington, the Divine Sarah Vaughan, and Doris Day, who got her start singing with Les Brown’s Band of Renown. At the ringside table with Brando and Cox are  Marlon’s co-stars Katy Jurado (One-Eyed Jacks) and Eva Marie Saint (On the Waterfront). Fresh from Paris and Rome, respectively, Charles Aznavour (Shoot the Piano Player) and Marcello Mastroianni (La Dolce Vita) are being interviewed by Truman (In Cold Blood) Capote, who is covering the Farewell ‘54 celebration for The New Yorker.  more

New Jersey Symphony Stages Imaginative Interpretation of “Messiah”

By Nancy Plum

New Jersey Symphony closed out the first half of its 2024-25 Princeton series the week before Christmas with an enduring holiday favorite. George Frideric Handel’s oratorio Messiah is always a crowd-pleaser at this time of year, and the Symphony’s performance this season was an especially unique musical experience. Preparing a work of this scope every year under a different conductor keeps the Symphony players on their toes, with each director reimagining the music to their own taste and scholarly background. Guest conductor Jeannette Sorrell, who led a Friday night presentation in Richardson Auditorium (the concert was repeated the following night) brought Baroque-era expertise, creative musical thinking and her own harpsichord skills to lead the Symphony musicians, four vocal soloists and chorus in a version which captured the audience’s attention. 

With close to 50 choruses, arias, and duets and a complete run time of three hours, Messiah has long been subject to excised numbers and abbreviated adaptations for the sake of audience appeal. Handel’s timeless work is a musical arc over three parts, telling the Christmas story and the narrative of the crucifixion and resurrection, together with affirmation of redemption. When conductors adjust the score, the arc and Handel’s overall message cannot help but be affected. Sorrell made most cuts in the second and third parts, while retaining arias which encapsulated the liturgical texts and showcasing popular choruses.  more

“Here There Are Blueberries” Next Production at McCarter

NAZI-ERA DISCOVERY: This photo from the New York Theatre Workshop’s production of “Here There Are Blueberries” shows one of several haunting moments from the play, which is coming to McCarter Theatre January 24-February 9. (Photography by Matthew Murphy)

The national tour of the play Here There Are Blueberries, a co-production with La Jolla Playhouse, comes to McCarter Theatre January 24-February 9. A Pulitzer Prize finalist for 2024, the play is by Moises Kaufman and Amanda Gronich.

The play is focused on a mysterious album featuring Nazi-era photographs that arrive at the desk of a U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum archivist in 2007. As curators unraveled the shocking truth behind the images, the album soon made headlines and set off a debate that reverberated far beyond the museum walls. more

Folk Music Society Presents Mari Black

VIRTUOSIC FIDDLING: Violinist and fiddler Mari Black comes to Christ Congregation Church on January 17 at 8 p.m. (Photo by Glenn Black)

On Friday, January 17 at 8 p.m., the Princeton Folk Music Society presents an evening of virtuosic violin music with multistyle violinist and champion fiddler Mari Black. The concert is at Christ Congregation Church, 50 Walnut Lane.

Black is known as a master of diverse musical styles and winner of several major international competitions, playing global dance music: Celtic, American, and Canadian fiddling; jazz, tango, and klezmer tunes; original works; and more. A guitarist and a bass player round out Black’s trio. more

“Freestyle Flashback” at State Theatre New Jersey

Judy Torres

State Theatre New Jersey and Fever Records present “Freestyle Flashback 2025,” featuring freestyle artists from the ’80s and’90s, on Saturday, January 18 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $39-$99.

This concert event features dance-pop and freestyle artists including  TKA (“Maria,” “Come Baby Come”), George LaMond (“Bad of the Heart, “Look Into My Eyes”) Judy Torres (“No Reason To Cry,” “Come Into My Arms”), Noel (“Silent Morning”), Cynthia (“Change On Me,” “Dreamboy Dreamgirl”), Betty D Of Sweet Sensation (“Hooked On You,” “Love Child”), Lisette Melendez (“Together Forever,” “A Day in My Life”), Soave (“Crying Over You”), C-Bank (“One More Shot,” “I Won’t Stop Loving You”), and Joe Zangie (“When I Want You Back”).

Freestyle Flashback is hosted by Sal Abbatiello from Fever Records and Speedy with music by DJ Whiteboy KYS.

State Theatre New Jersey is at 15 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick. For tickets, more information, or group discounts, call at 732-246-SHOW (7469) or visit online STNJ.org.

Upcoming Programs at ARB Include Premieres and More

With performances of The Nutcracker finished for the season, American Repertory Ballet will next focus on Spirit of the Highlands, a ballet by artistic director Ethan Stiefel set for performances at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center March 7-9.

Based on the classic La Sylphide, the ballet reimagines the tale of a Scotsman’s romantic pursuit of a mystical forest spirit. According to information from the company, “Steifel traces his mother’s family roots back to the Scottish Highland Clan Munro, and will infuse his own authentic Scottish heritage into the choreography and overall design aesthetics of this lively and bewitching ballet.”

Stiefel will partner once again with scenic designer Howard C. Jones, costume designer Janessa Cornell Unwin, and lighting designer Joseph Walls. more

“Trio” Art Exhibition at Green Building Center

“HANGRY HIPPO”: This work by Judith Marchand is part of “Trio,” on view January 2 through March 3 at the Green Building Center in Lambertville. An opening reception is on January 4 from 5 to 8 p.m.

The “Trio” art show will open with a reception on Saturday, January 4 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Green Building Center at 67 Bridge Street, Lambertville. Visitors can enjoy two floors of artwork by Modern Fossils (Judith Marchand and David Horowitz), David Horowitz Studio, and Mike Mann’s Art. Light refreshments will be served.

The artists said they are happy to exhibit their art in a gallery space provided by an organization that shares their love for our Earth. Marchand and Horowitz both create their work with salvaged materials. Mann’s paintings reflect the beauty of the region, and he travels by bicycle to paint whenever possible. The artists will donate and plant a native tree for every piece sold at their show.  more

Juried Photography Exhibit At Gallery 14 in Hopewell

“AUTUMN GLORY”: This work by Valerie Chaucer Levine is featured in the “Annual Juried Photography Exhibition” on view January 11 through February 2 at Gallery 14 Fine Art Photography in Hopewell.

Gallery 14 Fine Art Photography presents its “Annual Juried Photography Exhibition” January 11 through February 2. An awards ceremony and meet the artists reception with light refreshments are on Saturday, January 11 from 1 to 3 p.m.

There were 33 artists accepted into this exhibition with 50 images to be displayed in the gallery.

Gallery 14  Fine Art Photography is a co-op gallery located at 14 Mercer Street in Hopewell. It is dedicated to the promotion of photography as a fine art form. Its members work in all photographic styles.

Gallery hours are Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment. To make an appointment, email galleryfourteen@yahoo.com. For more information, visit gallery14.org.

“Mark Sfirri: The Flower Show” Exhibit at Michener Museum

“THE FLOWER SHOW”: Turned wood botanicals by Bucks County artist Mark Sfirri  are featured in an exhibition at the Michener Museum in Doylestown, Pa., through May 4.

Bucks County artist and woodworker Mark Sfirri’s first solo exhibition at the Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, Pa.,  displays an all-new springtime series, resulting from a two-year obsession with turned wood flowers. This garden of botanical creations is on view through May 4.

The concept for “Mark Sfirri: The Flower Show” emerged when the artist learned that his son’s wedding venue, the Museum for Art in Wood in Philadelphia, did not allow cut flowers at events in order to protect its collection from potential bugs, pests, and pollen. Sfirri decided to make the wedding flowers himself, creating a bouquet for the bride and a boutonniere for the groom. The preoccupation continued for years as he incorporated different exotic woods, painted elements, and produced more elaborate compositions. more

Setting Goals and Improving Sports Skills is Mission of The Better Athlete Program

WORKING OUT: “In our program, we work on the importance of health, stress reduction, and relationships, as well as helping the students improve their athletic skill and performance. I try to help build physically resilient and mentally strong athletes on and off the field.” Alana Asch, owner of The Better Athlete sports program, enjoys demonstrating workout techniques to her clients.”

By Jean Stratton

Alana Asch’s mission is to help young athletes improve their performance on the field or on the court, and at the same time boost their self confidence in all areas of their life.

Owner of The Better Athlete program, Coach Asch brings special skills to her new endeavor. more

PU, Local High School Teams Made 2024 a Topsy-Turvy Year, Creating a Slew of Highlights Along with Postseason Drama

FINAL PUSH: Princeton University women’s basketball player Ellie Mitchell pushes past a foe in a game last season. Power forward Michell was named the Ivy Defensive Player of the Year for the third time in her career and was a second-team All-Ivy choice. She ended her Tiger career with 1,125 rebounds, the most-ever at Princeton for either a men’s or women’s player. Mitchell’s gritty play was a key factor in Princeton’s success last winter as it went 25-5, winning both the Ivy regular season title and the league’s postseason tournament. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Over the course of 2024, Princeton University athletic teams and local high school sports programs produced a number of highlight moments along with some dramatic postseason near-misses.

In the winter season, the Princeton University men’s basketball team appeared to be building on the success it experienced during its magic ride to the NCAA Sweet 16 in March 2023, getting off to a 24-3 start on the way to winning its third straight Ivy League regular season crown. Things went awry, though, in the postseason as the Tigers were stunned by Brown in the Ivy tournament semis and then lost to UNLV in the first round of the NIT. The Princeton women’s hoops squad won the Ivy regular season title and tournament and seemed poised for an NCAA run. Facing West Virginia in a first-round contest, the Tigers rallied to trail by seven late in the game but ended up falling 63-53 to end the winter at 25-5. The Princeton women’s squash team brought a 12-2 record into the College Squash Association (CSA) Howe Cup final but fell short of a national title as it lost 6-2 to Trinity.

On the high school scene, the Princeton High girls’ swim team produced a dominant winter, rolling to its third consecutive Mercer County Championships title. Going for their second straight state crown, the Tigers won the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Group B sectional title and then topped Shawnee in the Group B state semis before getting edged 89-81 by fellow powerhouse Chatham in the state final. The Princeton Day School girls’ hockey went 7-3 down the stretch, winning the Librera Cup and advancing to the NJSIAA state tournament semis. The Panthers led 3-1 early in the third period against Immaculate Heart in the semifinal contest, only to fall 4-3. The PDS boys’ hockey team won their NJSIAA Non-Public first round contest and then nearly pulled the upset of the tournament as they battled eventual state champion St. Augustine tooth-and-nail before falling 3-2 in overtime. more

Overcoming Injury to Emerge as a Stalwart for PU Wrestling, Senior Star Stout Primed to End Tiger Career on a High Note

SUCCESS WITHIN HIS GRASP: Princeton University wrestler Luke Stout, top, controls a foe earlier in his Tiger career. Senior star and co-captain Stout is primed to end his final Princeton season on a high note as the Tigers get into the 2025 portion of their schedule. Princeton, now 2-4 in duals, hosts West Virginia on January 4 at Jadwin Gym. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Justin Feil

Luke Stout can appreciate his achievements in his first three years for the Princeton University wrestling team.

The senior at 197 pounds has been a steady contributor in the Tigers lineup since freshman year and qualified each season for the NCAA Championships. more

Tall Raises Her Game with Double-Double As PU Women’s Hoops Tops Middle Tennessee

TALL TALE: Princeton University women’s basketball player Fadima Tall looks to pass through the ball in a game earlier this season. Last Sunday, sophomore guard/forward Tall recorded a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds, both career-highs, as the Tigers rolled to a 64-51 victory over Middle Tennessee State. Princeton, which improved to 8-4 with the win, was slated to host LeMoyne on December 31 and then start Ivy League play by hosting Cornell on January 4. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Fadima Tall realized that she would have to raise her game this winter for the Princeton University women’s basketball team when star guard Madison St Rose went down for the season in November due to a knee injury.

“Personally, I know that I have to contribute more, not only rebounding-wise but offensively,” said sophomore guard/forward Tall, a 6’0 native of Silver Spring, Md. “That is just finding my shot throughout the game and being more of a distributor, looking for those assists and those points on offense.” more

David Xu Helps Key Rally for PHS Boys’ Swim Team As it Edges WW/P-South to Remain Undefeated at 6-0

BREATHLESS PACE: Princeton High boys’ swimmer David Xu takes a breath during the breaststroke leg as he placed first in the 200 individual medley to help the Tigers produce a dramatic rally in edging WW/P-South 86-84 on December 19 in their last action before the holiday break. PHS, now 6-0, starts the 2025 portion of its schedule by hosting WW/P-North on January 9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

David Xu was primed to give his all for the Princeton High boys’ swimming team as it looked to rally past WW/P-South in a battle of unbeaten squads in the final meet of 2024.

The Tigers found themselves behind the Pirates 82-74 heading into the 400-yard freestyle relay, the final event of the December 19 clash between the rivals. more

With Senior Chorba Excelling in Distance Events, PHS Girls’ Swim Team Produces Strong 5-1 Start

GOING THE DISTANCE: Princeton High girls’ swimmer Elizabeth Chorba heads to a third-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle as PHS faced WW/P-South on December 19 in its last meet of 2024. Chorba took second at the 500 free in the meet as the Tigers fell 91-79 to the Pirates. PHS, now 5-1, starts 2025 action by hosting WW/P-North on January 9. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Although the Princeton High girls’ swimming team ended 2024 by losing 91-79 to WW/P-South to suffer its first loss in a regular season dual meet since December 17, 2019 (a 93-77 defeat to South), Elizabeth Chorba saw no reason for the Tigers to hang their heads.

“Seeing the score at the halfway mark, some people were a little disappointed,” said senior star and co-captain Chorba reflecting on the December 19 meet. “After that, we shifted our focus to yeah we want to try to get points, but it is also OK if we lose, so just swim for fun and enjoy it. Have a good time.” more

Fueled by Romain’s Emergence as a Star, PHS Girls’ Hoops Looking Formidable at 4-1

HARD DRIVING: Princeton High girls’ basketball player Sephora Romain drives to the hoop in recent action. Last Saturday, junior guard Romain scored eight points and had three rebounds as PHS fell 50-47 to Delaware Valley in the semifinals of the WW/P-South Tournament. The Tigers, who dropped to 4-1 with the loss, were slated to play Somerville on December 30 to wrap up action in the WW/P-S event and then play at Nottingham on January 3 before hosting Hopewell Valley on January 7. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With the Princeton High girls’ basketball team trailing Delaware Valley 20-10 after the first quarter last Saturday in the semifinals of the WW/P-South Tournament, Sephora Romain went into overdrive.

“I feel like we needed to move more,” said junior guard Romain. “I tried to take it and pick it up. I just took it and went to the hoop.”

Making several forays to the basket, Romain scored eight points as the Tigers outscored Del Val 13-11 in the second quarter to keep PHS in the contest.

Continuing to battle back, the Tigers drew to within 40-37 heading into the fourth quarter. Putting together a 10-3 run, PHS forged ahead 47-46 with 1:33 left in regulation. The Terriers, though, responded by draining four free throws in the waning moments of the contest to pull out a 50-47 win. more

Sparked by Davidson’s 4-Goal Outburst, PHS Girls’ Hockey Ends 2024 with 1st Win

By Bill Alden

Taylor Davidson didn’t waste any time setting the tone for the Princeton High girls’ hockey team as it hosted Newark East Side in its last action of 2024.

Racing up the ice at Hobey Baker Rink, sophomore defender Davidson blasted the puck into the back of the goal to give PHS a 1-0 lead 1:50 into the December 20 contest.

About 11 minutes later, Davidson struck again, tallying her second goal as the Tigers doubled their lead to 2-0. more

Referendum Aims to Solve Capacity Problem; Town is Growing, and Schools Must Keep Up

To the Editor:

On January 28, Princeton residents will vote on a three-question referendum to enable the Princeton Public Schools to accommodate sharply rising enrollment. I’m writing to urge my fellow Princetonians to vote yes on all three questions. Over the past few months, I’ve paid close attention to the district’s referendum planning process, and I am deeply impressed by the care and wisdom with which the planners have worked to meet the district’s urgent needs while maximizing state aid and minimizing cost. 

The primary problem the referendum aims to solve is capacity: Princeton is growing, and the schools must keep up. Over the next five years, over a thousand new housing units will come online, and more are likely. This means that we’ll be welcoming hundreds more students into our schools, most of which are already at or over capacity. If we don’t expand our facilities, class size will go up, elementary school attendance zones will be redrawn (with attendant busing costs), and programming will suffer. Expensive stopgap measures like renting trailers to serve as makeshift classrooms will only go so far, likely making another referendum necessary in another few years.  more

Making Improvements Through Referendum Is Most Responsible Approach District Can Take

To the Editor:

I write in support of the PPS Facilities Bond Referendum and to encourage Princeton voters to approve of the three Referendum questions on the ballot on January 28.

As a longtime resident of Princeton whose children thrived in our schools (grades K-12) quite a few years ago, I feel strongly that Princeton voters today should support the proposed building improvements outlined in the referendum so that the students of today and tomorrow will have the same opportunity to thrive in school as my own kids did.

The proposed improvements are necessary to avoid current and future overcrowding, maintain small class sizes, continue some very important services and programs, create space to serve students better, and allow more students to attend their neighborhood school. From the district’s website and other materials, it is plain to see that much thought and attention has been put into the three referendum questions that address the various needs facing our schools today. more

Supporting Facilities Bond Referendum For Future Generations of PPS Students

To the Editor:

Princeton needs more affordable housing, and I am proud to live in a community that has taken its obligations under the state Mount Laurel Doctrine seriously and encouraged the development of new housing, including much needed affordable units. But with Princeton growing, we need a corresponding expansion in the physical capacity of our schools to house the academic classrooms, music venues, social spaces, and athletic facilities that make our district such a great place to learn. 

Princeton residents know that making a house into a home requires upkeep and investment — that’s why there are so many contractor trucks around town renovating heating and cooling systems, adding additional rooms, and making much needed repairs to aging buildings. Most of these homeowners borrowed money to make these needed repairs, and many take advantage of government programs that defray the cost of renovations. That’s just what Princeton Public Schools is doing with its Facilities Bond Referendum, borrowing a reasonable amount of money that will be invested in the physical plant of our schools, and taking advantage of state funding allocated for this type of building program.

I am supporting the Facilities Bond Referendum so that future generations of students can take advantage of Princeton’s excellent academics and award-winning music programs, and so that more students can walk to neighborhood schools. I hope you will too.

Aaron Shkuda
Moore Street

Encouraging Residents to Vote Yes on Princeton Public Schools Referendum

To the Editor:

As a longtime Princeton resident, I am grateful that the public school system provided excellent education opportunities for our three children and continues to be forward thinking in meeting our students’ needs. The referendum presented to us carefully addresses physical plant, learning needs, and cost efficiency; I fully support passing the full measure.

While our children are now in their 30s, my husband and I feel strongly that all of us in our community have a responsibility to support our schools, just as those before us supported the last very successful building expansion and maintenance. We appreciate the approach to expand rather than build new, and to make use of state funds to reduce costs. But above all we support maintaining small class size and spaces comfortable for learning. more