April 2, 2025

NEW LOOK: “We look forward to offering more customers the opportunity to give their kitchen a new look, either with painted cabinets or replacement cabinet doors, drawers, and shelving. It’s a great way to add new interest to the kitchen Our talented staff can provide customers with the best quality work at very affordable prices.” Kevin Casey, second from right, owner of Cabinet Painting Guru in Pennington, is shown with his expert team and popular pooch “Mason,” the team mascot.

By Jean Stratton

Kevin Casey wants to give your kitchen a new look!

The most popular gathering place in the house, the kitchen is often called the heart of the home. Not just the domain of the cook, it is a high traffic area not only for family but for friends who visit and so often head for the kitchen.

Eye appeal can add so much to the overall ambiance and comfort level of this companionable place, especially considering the many hours spent within its confines.

This is where Kevin Casey, founder and owner of Cabinet Painting Guru, can bring his and his team’s expertise to give your kitchen a bright new glow. more

March 26, 2025

Micaela Lynch Dussel will be married on Saturday March 29, 2025 to Brooks Philip Herr at The Church of St. Mary’s in Roslyn, N.Y. Father Timothy Valentine will celebrate the nuptial mass assisted by The Rev. David A. Davis from Nassau Presbyterian Church.

Katherine Dussel McBride is her sister’s matron of honor, and Gardiner Cromwell Knox Herr is his brother’s best man.

Dr. Dussel, a third-year pediatrics resident at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Dussel of Glen Head, New York. She graduated from Williams College and received a Doctor of Medicine from St. George’s University. Her father is a Certified Public Accountant and her mother, Anne L. Dussel, is a Clinical Development Process Quality Lead at Pfizer.

Mr. Herr, the son of The Hon. Mark S. Herr and Rachel P. Herr of Princeton, New Jersey, is a member of the investor relations and business development team at Silver Rock Financial. He graduated from Hamilton College. His father is the Principal at Mark Herr Communications. His mother is the Treasurer at Mark Herr Communications.

To the Editor:

What would you do to support an initiative that is guaranteed to teach hundreds of high school kids how to stay in good physical shape, de-stress after a rigorous academic day, and forge healthy peer relationships grounded in mutual respect, emotional support, and teamwork? And what if this initiative also reduced by up to 24,000 hours (athletes times days times training time) the time these kids spend on their phones each year, while getting them out into our community on a daily basis?

The girls and boys no-cut Princeton High School Cross Country and Track and Field program does just this. And on Saturday, March 22, over 700 runners, joggers, and walkers participated in the Princeton 5K and Kids Dash, the annual fundraising event put on by the PHS Cross Country and Track & Field Boosters, a 501(c)(3), to support these student athletes.

Special thanks go to our Gold Sponsors jaZams, Calloway Henderson Sotheby’s Realty, Lawrenceville Foot Care, Princeton Tree Care, and Queenston Realty; and to our Silver Sponsors Freda Howard Interiors, Prime Omega Fitness, Champions Summer Camp, Princeton Orthopaedics Associates, Princeton Pizza Star, and Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy. We also thank our six Bronze Sponsors and six family sponsors, and Fleet Feet Princeton Running Company where we held our packet pickup. All donations directly support the Princeton High School Cross-Country and Track & Field teams. Please check out all our sponsors at Princeton5K.com.

We also want to acknowledge the Princeton Public Schools district and its facilities staff for allowing us to use the PHS PAC parking lot to stage the post-race village. These generous contributors, along with the Princeton Police Department, Princeton Pacers, dozens of parent volunteers, student athletes, and coaches came together to ensure a safe and festive community event and race. It is inspiring to see this level of support for a program that does so much good for so many children in our community.

We’d welcome the community’s continued support for the PHS track team this spring, and for the cross country team in the fall. We hope to see you all next March for the 2026 Princeton 5K and Kids Dash!

GREG ROBINSON
5K co-organizer
Clearview Avenue
JOE CAPONE
5K co-organizer
Leavitt Lane
DANIELLE BAHR
Booster Club president
Prospect Avenue
JANE MANNERS
Booster Club board member
Wheatsheaf Lane

TREASURED MOMENTS: “Treasure Trove is more than a place to find a bargain. It is a beacon for our mission and testament to community generosity. This is a special place on so many levels. Spending time here can be filled with treasured moments!” Shown are the managers and volunteers at HomeFront’s Treasure Trove: From left, front row, Diane Schilke, Helen James, and Andrea Bergman; back row, Annie Battle and Bill Burke.

By Jean Stratton

HomeFront’s Treasure Trove, located at 31 West Broad Street in Hopewell, is engaging, effervescent — and fun! Filled with a variety of high quality items, large and small, old and new, it offers choices for everyone.

Whether you’re renovating or downsizing, you will find a wonderful array of opportunities in a relaxed, comfortable setting, with a friendly staff pleased to welcome you, answer questions, and provide advice. more

March 19, 2025

To the Editor:

As spring fast approaches, avoid these three common tree care mistakes; planting too deeply, over-mulching, and string trimmer laceration.

By far the most egregious of these three mistakes is planting too deeply. Care must be taken that the root collar, the bottom area of the trunk that flares outwards transitioning into roots, is above grade. A root collar below grade can lead to a host of problems such as constricted root respiration, stunted growth, trunk rot and splitting, increased susceptibility to disease, canopy dieback, and girdling roots. A tree that finds itself in this situation is like an animal with a tire around its neck, struggling to survive and unable to thrive. This mistake is pervasive, with more than half of the newly planted trees I come across having fallen victim. Making the effort to plant a tree at an optimal height will pay dividends for decades and in some cases centuries to come. Before planting a tree, inspect the root ball and “Find the flare.” more

To the Editor:

Last month’s article on the horrific event that took place in the Michelle Mews Apartments deserves affirmation [“Princeton Man Charged with Killing Brother in Apartment on Palmer Square,” February 26, page 1]. In the words of The New York Times, it’s paramount to publish “All the News That’s Fit to Print.” The majority of stories in other outlets included gruesome, salacious, and frankly unnecessary details about the tragic murder. The Town Topics understands how to properly execute this storied motto by using critical restraint and discretion.

As a Princeton resident of more than 60 years, and current Michelle Mews tenant, this thoughtful reporting centers the community impacted by such misfortune and our shared humanity.

Dr. Ronnie Davidson
Michelle Mews

To the Editor:

When my kids were little and enjoyed the Disney classic Bambi, one of their favorites parts was in the spring when all the forest creatures became “twitterpated.” This was a euphemism for falling in love, but our family expanded the use to include any time when someone displayed irrational exuberance.

Guess what — spring is here, and Princeton drivers are twitterpated! I would estimate those passing my crossing are driving 5 mph faster on average than they were a month ago, and many always drive 5-10 mph faster than they should, so this is a problem. They are also engaging more frequently in other risky behaviors like darting across the intersection trying to beat oncoming traffic. Please slow down! more

March 12, 2025

BEST IN THE WORLD: Suzanne and Tim Foster, owners of T. Foster & Co. Fine Jewelry Design, are shown in the venue of The GemGeneve Jewelry and Gem Show in Switzerland. “This premium trade event showcases the finest vendors of diamonds, colored gems, and pearls in the world, and it is attended by the major jewelry designers and manufacturers in the world,” explain the Fosters, who will attend the annual event this spring.

By Jean Stratton

What is your choice?

A ring featuring a design of understated, yet sparkling elegance?

A bold and dramatic necklace, showcasing vibrant color and flair?

A classic strand of exquisite South Sea pearls?  more

To the Editor:

Each year, Princeton celebrates Pi Day by honoring the infinite wonder of mathematics and the brilliance of Albert Einstein, who was born on March 14. It is also a time to reflect on Einstein’s commitment to racial equality during an era when Princeton still segregated its neighborhoods, schools, hospitals, restaurants, hotels, and other places of business.

While renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to science, Einstein is less known for his fierce advocacy for justice. He spoke out against racism and supported the NAACP. In 1931, he publicly supported the Scottsboro Boys, nine African American teenagers falsely accused of rape in Alabama. In 1946, he joined Paul Robeson, a Princeton native son, in a federal anti-lynching campaign. When W.E.B. Du Bois, a founder of the NAACP, was indicted by the government as a “foreign agent,” Einstein’s willingness to be a character witness influenced the judge to dismiss the case. more

To the Editor:
Good news on sustainability! Princeton is expanding its successful and free food scraps collection program. Three new “scrap shacks” have just opened (near Johnson Park, Littlebrook, and Riverside schools), and more are planned for later in 2025 as the program expands into more neighborhoods. The food scrap program, which began in October 2023, is designed to divert organics from the landfill to Trenton Renewables (trentonrenewables.com). Trenton Renewables partners with cities and businesses of all sizes to recycle food waste into premium compost, organic fertilizer, and renewable biogas. The compost and fertilizer are sent to local farms. Biogas is used on-site to produce electricity that powers the facility and contributes renewable energy to the grid when it’s needed most. By joining the food scraps program, residents can reduce the quantity of trash their household produces, which might reduce the need for a second bin, and at the same time divert trash from landfills. Landfills release methane gas along with other greenhouse gases and leach chemicals into nearby water sources.

This free program is open to all Princeton residents and is especially designed to be useful to apartment dwellers and homeowners who have properties too small to allow for on-site composting. The program also takes meat, dairy, and grease, which are not recommended for backyard composting. Since implementing the program, Princeton diverted almost 20 tons of food scraps from landfills in 2024. We are averaging almost 1.7 tons per month, and we now have 277 registered participants. The hope is that with more “scrap shacks” located conveniently around town, more residents will choose to participate. more

March 5, 2025

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CLIMBING HIGH: “We believe that new heights can always be reached not only on our walls, but in all parts of life. The best way to achieve these heights is to be together.” This mission statement of The Gravity Vault Princeton emphasizes its focus on meeting challenges vigorously, with skill and dedication, thus accomplishing a rewarding and meaningful result. Shown is the indoor rope climbing wall at the company’s Plainsboro Plaza location.

By Jean Stratton

“It’s a chance to flirt with adventure; an opportunity to break from the ordinary; a really meaningful alternative to a tired fitness format.”

Sound intriguing?

Not to keep you in suspense: it is rock climbing!

Michael Morand, co-owner of The Gravity Vault Princeton, is an enthusiastic advocate of this challenging and exciting activity, and wants to share its benefits and advantages with everyone.

Just opened last December in the Plainsboro Plaza at 10 Schalks Crossing Road in Plainsboro, the 17,500-square-foot facility offers a complete range of indoor climbing opportunities, as well as yoga classes and a fully-equipped gym. more

February 26, 2025

To the Editor:
Our democratic norms are being eroded day after day, and we cannot stay silent. Corporations, banks, and financial markets rely on consumer spending. If we disrupt the economy for just one day, we send a clear message. The “24-hour Economic Blackout” is a protest action to show our power.
On Friday, February 28, from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., let’s not make any purchases. Let’s not shop online, or in-store. No Amazon, No Walmart, No Best Buy, Nowhere! Let’s not use credit or debit cards.   Let’s  only buy essentials if absolutely necessary. If we must spend, let’s only support small, local businesses.
Please participate and spread this message.

CHIARA NAPPI
Clover Lane

February 19, 2025

CUTTING THE RIBBON: Community officials, customers, and market staff members all attended the ribbon cutting celebrating Kasia Market’s opening in Pike Run Plaza, Route 206 in Belle Mead last December. Featuring a wide range of authentic Korean food, a big selection of fresh fish, meat, and produce, the market also has a sushi bar, Kasia Kitchen hot bar, and The Hungry Tiger restaurant, all on the premises.

By Jean Stratton

To say it is just a Korean market is an understatement! They have their own hydroponic vegetable plantings, displayed in the front of the store. They are all about the freshest and best foods — fresh fish and meat, both familiar and exotic vegetables, sushi bar, informal Kasia Kitchen food bar and Hungry Tiger restaurant. Super Korean fried chicken, bubble tea, as well as a special line of Korean skincare. This is a special place!”

This high praise is from a Princeton resident, whose first visit to Kasia Market was a big success.

Located in Pike Run Plaza, 2311 Route 206 North in Belle Mead, Kasia Market opened in December. Owned by Montgomery Township resident Dennis Ahn, it reflects his vision of offering the freshest, healthiest food, supporting an eco-friendly environment, and creating a welcoming atmosphere for both staff and customers.

“I have a vision of what I want to offer customers and what I want the market to be,” he explains. “I am grateful to be able to share that vision with my staff and customers. I really want to do something good for people’s health. Our food is very healthy, always fresh, and high quality.” more

To the Editor:

In your Feb 12 article on the town’s plan to hire a consulting firm to advise on the best uses of the former Westminster Choir College campus [page 1], you included the sentence, “The Princeton campus has been mostly unoccupied since then.”

Actually, the campus has been — and still is — home to several local performing arts organizations that rent various facilities on the campus. These include the Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra, Princeton Pro Musica Choir, Music Together, and the Westminster Conservatory, which provides private music lessons to adults and youth from around Mercer County.

In addition, several other organizations (both from the area and those visiting from afar; last June, a traveling choir from Montreal performed there) have often used Bristol Chapel and other spaces for periodic performances. more

To the Editor:
More than once while driving at night on Nassau Street in Princeton, I almost hit a person crossing the street who was wearing a dark jacket, dark pants, and dark boots, making her or him totally invisible at night.

If you walk at night, for your own protection, please, do wear reflective clothing or a reflective vest so that you are visible while crossing the street at night.

Anna Rosa Kohn
Sturges Way

February 12, 2025

NON-SURGICAL OPTION: “Our focus is non-surgical musculoskeletal care and interventional pain management. The first step in the treatment of any problem is an accurate and comprehensive diagnosis. Our goal is to work with you to diagnose and treat the causes of your pain, safely maximize your function, and improve your quality of life.” Dr. Grant Cooper, M.D. (second row, fourth from right) and Dr. Ana Bracilovic, M.D. (first row, third from right), co-directors of Princeton Spine & Joint Center, are shown with their staff. (Photo by Thomas Hedges)

By Jean Stratton

An icy sidewalk, driveway, or pathway can be treacherous, and a current reminder that winter is still with us!

Falling on the ice is no fun, and as Dr. Grant Cooper, M.D., co-director of Princeton Spine & Joint Center, explains, “Every season brings its own hardships. In the winter, people may slip on the ice or injure themselves shoveling snow.”

Not to mention skiing, sledding, and ice skating accidents, etc. Injured ankles, arms, legs, knees, shoulders, and hips may result, and Cooper and the team at Princeton Spine & Joint Center are ready to help.

Whatever the season, alleviating spine and musculoskeletal pain through non-surgical treatment is the specialty of the Center. Established in 2008 by Cooper and his wife and colleague, Dr. Ana Bracilovic, M.D., the Center now has two offices, located at 601 Ewing Street and 256 Bunn Drive in Princeton. more

To the Editor:

We are writing to thank the voters for supporting the facilities bond referendum that passed on January 28. The passage of all three questions will allow the district to accommodate enrollment growth and better serve current and future students by adding 23 classrooms across four schools, five small group instruction rooms, expanding common areas, and rehabilitating and replacing the HVAC system at Princeton High School.

The total cost of the referendum is approximately $89 million. We recognize this is a large sum of money that will increase taxes on an already highly-taxed citizenry. We are pleased that with the passage of the referendum, we have been approved for approximately $19 million in state aid towards the debt service aid (principal and interest) which will help to lessen the overall tax impact of the projects.  more

February 5, 2025

TAKING A DIP: This young swimmer is developing her aquatic skills under the careful guidance of an experienced instructor at the Goldfish Swim School – Princeton. “The water in the pool is salt-generated into chlorine, and this is gentler on the skin. Nex-Gen chlorine generators produce liquid chlorine from salt,” says BillieJo Goudy, general manager and safety coordinator.

By Jean Stratton

It’s never too soon to get into the water!

That is the underlying principle of Goldfish Swim School — Princeton, which teaches children from 4 months to 12 years old to swim.

The sooner children get into the water, the better. This helps them to overcome any fear they may have, points out BillieJo Goudy, general manager and safety coordinator of Goldfish Swim School – Princeton, located at 311 Nassau Park Boulevard, Unit 5. more

January 29, 2025

“I GET A KICK OUT OF YOU!”: “The beauty of our program is its 30-minute time frame, and the hours are flexible. You can come whenever you want. It is a high intensity workout, designed for women, and it’s fun and friendly.” Nancy Ismail, owner of 30 Minute Hit Princeton, demonstrates the “Round House Kick,” a circuit exercise, which helps strengthen the lower body, core, and balance.

By Jean Stratton

As the New Year is upon us, many people start putting together that annual resolution list. What is on yours? A new look, travel, home improvement, maybe losing a few pounds? Perhaps. But for those interested in fitness, exercise, and just moving about with more energy and enthusiasm, there is now something special — and it is specifically for the ladies!

30 Minute Hit Princeton, located in The Market Place at 3885 Route 27, just north of Kingston, opened last April, and offers a high intensity 30-minute workout for women and teenage girls. more

To the Editor:

There have been letters in local media commenting negatively on my plans to renovate existing apartments and construct new ones on Witherspoon Street. It is important that I correct their inaccuracies.

A number of years ago my late architect wife, Barbara, and I began to design the restoration of 16 Witherspoon Street properties. When we bought them, we knew that they all needed significant renovations, but we believed that they all have great character, storied histories, and deserved to be faithfully restored. I strongly doubt that a “developer” would give this project the care and attention to detail that we have.

From the start, our plans included accommodating the 16 families and 16 single tenants living in the existing studio apartments, duplexes, and single-family homes.  more

To the Editor:

I am concerned about the points made by Lawren Smithline in her letter of January 22 concerning the new bike lane on Harrison Street in front of the shopping center [“Asking Town to Pump the Brakes on Harrison Street Traffic Modifications,” Mailbox].  I didn’t realize what a poor job was done until I read and reread the letter.  First, the bike lane is built in one direction and is built over the length of one half of the block because it was financed by the developer of The Alice and not the Princeton DPW.  Therefore, I do not expect as good a quality job to result when all is said and done. Second, given my interest and concern regarding Vision Zero and Gov. Phil Murphy’s signing of the Target Zero bill recently, I am as distressed as Ms. Smithline is about what the outcome is. Even before the bike lane was added cars would be in the right lane that would try to go through the intersection with Terhune Road. Once upon a time I was biking and struck by a car driver making a right-hand turn into a driveway. I feel Ms. Smithline’s bewilderments as to how this construction design could have been allowed to happen by our Engineering Department. Jim Purcell bicycles from Lawrence Township to work. Therefore, I expect much more out of a Township Engineering Department employee than to allow a situation to be allowed to exist that so clearly does not promote Target Zero/Vision Zero. more

January 22, 2025

To the Editor:

I was delighted to read the special section in last weeks’ issue [January 15, pages 16 and 17] entitled Lawrence Township News. I moved to Lawrenceville 20 years ago and it was a great decision.

I loved the stories about nationally recognized Joanne Canady-Brown and her wildly popular Ginger Peach Bakery, the energetic Lawrence Education Foundation (raising tons of money for our schools), and Cherry Grove Farm with its barns and animals and its award-winning cheese-making operations, classes, and workshops. more

To the Editor:

We are writing to voice our support for all three questions in the upcoming school referendum on January 28.

We have lived in Princeton since 2016 and are the parents of four students in the Princeton Public Schools district. During this time, we have watched as Princeton has grown and our Littlebrook community has expanded.  The year after our oldest children began at Littlebrook, the computer lab was taken away to allow room for a classroom.  Over the next few years, our World Language (Spanish) classroom was converted into a fourth-grade classroom, storage closets were converted into rooms where special education students could be pulled out for additional support, the stage was converted into storage, occupational therapy was conducted in the halls, and students and parents met individually with teachers in the lobby. Last year, our music room was converted into a classroom and music was held on a cart.  This year, our pre-k class was moved to Community Park to make way for yet another classroom.

The reason for these changes is simple. Princeton is growing and so is our school enrollment.   more

To the Editor:

My family and I feel very proud and fortunate to call Princeton home for nearly 15 years. With two daughters at the Princeton Charter School, we moved here for the same reasons that many of you find Princeton attractive. Friendly and caring neighbors, a walkable town with proximity to the university, and great schools are just some of Princeton’s most favorable traits. Today, however, one of these attributes is significantly at risk. Without passing all three measures of the referendum, the quality of education in our schools will decline precipitously.

Princeton Public Schools are already over, at, or near capacity in terms of size, and infrastructure is desperately in need of repair. The estimated impact of the referendum per average, assessed Princeton home is less than $11 per week. These funds can provide a life-saving infusion to our schools. By adding capacity across our schools, this referendum extends Princeton’s quality education across current and additional families moving into the area. This referendum enables our teachers to continue inspiring curious minds. This referendum encourages students to thrive in an open, welcoming, and safe environment. Even for residents who don’t have children at PPS, the referendum provides critical value and economic benefit — communities with well-funded schools have stronger home values. more

To the Editor:

Princeton residents are being asked to approve another tax hike for Princeton Public Schools (PPS) through the 2025 referendum. While our schools are vital to the community, this referendum highlights the failures of three key entities — PPS, the municipal Council, and the local Democratic machine — to work together effectively. A “no” vote isn’t about rejecting support for children but about demanding accountability and sustainable governance.

PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) from new apartment developments total over $2.66 million annually. Historically, 50 percent of tax revenue has gone to schools, and PILOT, as a tax payment, should follow the same principle. PPS should receive $1.33 million yearly from this revenue stream, a figure likely to grow over time.  more