To the Editor:

As one who knew the Oppenheimer family when I was young and living in Princeton, it turns out that I am one of many people for whom the recent Christopher Nolan film has stirred up a host of memories [“’Oppenheimer’ Film Sparks Remembrance of His Secretary, Verna Hobson,” August 23, page 7].

For some years, I lived on Mercer Street, a few doors down from where Einstein lived, and not at all far from Olden Manor. When I was very young, I got to know Robert Oppenheimer’s daughter Toni, a lovely, brilliant girl, with the most entertainingly lively imagination. My mother was a very close friend of Kitty Oppenheimer, and we were at their home many times. Even when I was quite young, it was immediately apparent to me that these people were amazingly unusual. more

To the Editor:

To the Beemer driver who tailgated me and flipped me the bird when I had the nerve to drive the speed limit and stop at stop signs in the tree streets area of town; get a grip. Spruce Street isn’t the place to demonstrate your driving prowess and your vehicle’s clearly awesome power.

There are kids on these narrow streets, bicycle riders (both in the street and on the sidewalks), lots of pedestrians crisscrossing the streets to get to their cars, and, of course those damnable electric scooter/skate board riders who blithely drive at top speed as if the laws of physics won’t govern their ability to stop. Twenty miles per hour is more than fast enough to get you to where you are going in the five short blocks that make up the tree streets area. The intersection of Spruce and Chestnut is particularly dangerous given the poor sight lines and the need to pull forward over the pedestrian crossings at Spruce Street to see if there are cars or trucks making their way up and down Chestnut Street. There are plenty of blind driveways too. more

To the Editor:

Princeton is blessed with an impressive pool of talented, committed individuals and I want to thank every one of my Princeton neighbors who is a candidate for the Board of Education (BOE) and is willing to step up for public service.

I am giving my vote to Adam Bierman — a candidate pledged to maintain Princeton public school education excellence and who also has the courage, honesty, and credentials in equal measures to do so. more

To the Editor:

In a recent N.J. Supreme Court ruling, Malanga v. Township of West Orange, it was ruled that the town improperly designated the site of its public library as an area in need of redevelopment (ANR) under the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law. The court reaffirmed that the standard for declaring a property or building in need of redevelopment must be that the property is “blighted” and must prove that the area is detrimental to the community and that there is a public purpose to redeveloping buildings. They also emphasized that the fact that a property is old or requires modernizing is not confirmation of “blight.” more

To the Editor:

This past Friday, September 1, Princeton Care Center on Bunn Drive, the only long-term care facility in Princeton, notified residents and their families and the facility’s staff that the Center was closing that very night, the Friday of a holiday weekend. The 72 residents and their families had a period of hours in which to make other living arrangements; the Center could not make payroll and all employees were being terminated.  more

To the Editor:

We wholeheartedly endorse Beth Behrend for reelection to the Board of Education. For many years, we have known Beth to be an effective and tireless community servant as a leader in the Riverside PTO, the Princeton School Gardens Cooperative, the Unitarian Congregation, and the Watershed Institute. In her first two terms on the Board of Education (including three years as board chair, as well as chair of the Long-Term Planning Committee and representative to the Executive Board of the Garden State Coalition of Schools) she has continued to prove her extraordinary abilities. She sees the big picture, listens with an open mind, makes decisions objectively, and above all stays focused on serving our community’s children. more

To the Editor:

Last week, it was a pleasure to read about James Steward and Adam Welch’s proposal to create a newly-formed committee for the town of Princeton which would be funded by levying a 1 percent fee on the cost of commercial and commercial residential capital projects, to be paid into a public art fund [“Council Gives Go-Ahead to Pursue Establishment of Public Art Master Plan, page 1, August 16].

I had the pleasure of working with James Steward on the Princeton Public Art Selection Committee, which was created by Liz Lempert in 2018. I also worked with Adam Welch on an exhibition of his sculpture in 2013 while he was teaching at Princeton University. For these two visionary men to collaborate and offer their time to create a public art program is an exceptional gift for our town. With the 2025 opening of the Princeton University Art Museum, the dynamic Arts Council of Princeton, and a new committee to purchase public art, we will all benefit and the town will be on a higher cultural plane for decades to come. 

Jody Erdman
Mountain Avenue

To the Editor:

I have regularly walked along the D&R Canal between Harrison Street and Alexander Road in Princeton since the mid-1990s. I had even occasionally ventured a few miles out of town in both directions. However, it took until this summer for me to walk the 65+ miles from New Brunswick down through Princeton and Trenton and up to Frenchtown and back, in segments.

There are some really unique portions of the trail, great wildlife (fox, egrets, turtles, etc.), easy access parking, and well-maintained trails. A few favorites included Harrison/Millstone Aquaduct/Kingston Lock (2.6 miles), Port Mercer across the bridge over Route 1 (2.3 miles), Firemen’s Eddie through Lambertville to Stockton (5 miles), and Kingston Boat Launch through Frenchtown (1.6 miles). Trenton was also fascinating, but best done in a group.

If anyone is interested in learning more about where to park and how to access the trail, check out the park map at dandrcanal.org.

Rebecca Feder
Moore Street

To the Editor:

I would like to express my outrage over the words “Settled in 1683” being removed from the “Welcome to Princeton” signs. There are new policies worth adding to the town government’s administration and there are current policies worth changing or removing from the town government’s administration. “Settled in 1683” is, without a doubt, not one of them.

Most of us, no doubt, would not have any idea this happened recently unless we read news articles. I catch changes on signs (speed limits) or weird signs that my friends don’t notice.

Then why should I care one iota about the phrase, “Settled in 1683”? How weird to raise that question. Those signs are meant to mark historical milestones. The original settlers were just that: original settlers. I don’t care if they were Lenni Lenape or any other tribe. I believe that the removal of the notation of the milestone is a form of education suppression. The state of Florida is feeling the effect of education suppression. more

To the Editor:

As a young adult who is about to embark on college, careers, and more, the state of our environment worries me and I constantly look for policies that can support a more eco-friendly future. Public transportation in our towns and cities is a huge part of this as they lessen emissions while providing access to numerous people. That is why I am glad to see that NJ Transit has plans to revitalize the Dinky and could be including buses in that equation.

They are currently considering two plans. One that replaces the old Dinky cars with electric trains that run on 30 minute timetables. This is their Alternative 4 plan. The other plan, Alternative 1, is one where the Dinky cars are replaced with electric light rail, electric buses that can get people to and from the different stations, and there is a possibility of bike and pedestrian lanes alongside the corridor. The trains would also be running on a 15-30 minute schedule and the buses would be running on a 10-15 minute schedule. These plans could potentially be extremely valuable to our community by reducing car usage and increasing accessibility from West Windsor to Princeton, which could in turn boost commerce.  more

To the Editor:

Why should Princeton want to use Ranked Choice Voting? Our District 16 Senator, Andrew Zwicker, believes that Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) is an election reform that would provide more choice for New Jersey voters. He is one of the primary sponsors of the Municipal and School Board Voting Options Act, S3369.

This bill will provide municipalities with the legal power to implement RCV in local (municipal and School Board) elections anywhere in New Jersey if the municipality’s residents vote to do so. I have spoken with Princeton voters who suggest that RCV is unnecessary in Princeton because we so often have minimal competition among our candidates. This is, unfortunately, true. An added advantage of RCV is that it is likely to attract more candidates for office, giving us more choice, when potential candidates see that RCV is likely to give them a better chance to be elected. more

To the Editor:

I’d like the community to be aware of a poison ivy danger at Community Park Pool. There are sprouts coming out onto the sidewalk along the fence between the parking lot and the children’s pool. There are also sprouts along the trees in the children’s pool area. Some sprouts are making their way onto the grass at the back of the shaded area. more

To the Editor:

We are the clinical team at Corner House Behavioral Health who serve the greater Princeton community by helping those struggling with substance abuse and co-occurring mental health issues.

Between January and March of 2023, our executive director and office coordinator resigned. Unfortunately, these two key positions have still not been posted or filled, nor have we been told if or when they will be, leaving us wondering about the fate of our agency.  more

To the Editor:

I would like to address several letters that have raised concerns about the future of Corner House (CH). Recent changes within the organization’s hierarchy have prompted the Municipality of Princeton to reevaluate the CH business model considering today’s highly populated and competitive mental health/substance abuse market as well as current community needs.

Our goal remains steadfast: to preserve and enhance mental health services for Princeton residents by strengthening CH’s prevention platform and ensuring that a comprehensive range of mental health and substance abuse services are available to a wider and more diverse population of Princeton residents.  more

To the Editor:

On behalf of the staff, board, and members of the Sourland Conservancy, I would like to sincerely thank our Sourland Mountain Festival guests, volunteers, performers, vendors, and community partners who helped make this year’s event so successful. I would also like to thank our gracious host, Unionville Vineyards, for welcoming us all!

It’s been a hot, dry summer on the Mountain, and we’ve all been praying for rain. On Saturday, July 15 our prayers were answered. Between (and during) downpours, intrepid Mountain Fest fans danced and splashed and celebrated! Please visit our website (sourland.org) to enjoy photos of beaming faces and a glorious rainbow embracing the audience. more

To the Editor:

I was pleased to read of Princeton Council’s plans to make upgrades to Nassau Street [“Street Design Consultants Report to Council on Study of Nassau Street,” page 1, July 26]. Considering the paucity of in-town parking, I wonder if any consideration has been given to converting to angled (nose-in) parking on one side of the street — if not everywhere, then perhaps between Bank and Witherspoon streets. more

To the Editor:

As a 20+ year Princeton resident and proud parent of a recent PHS graduate, I write today to express my heartfelt hope that the search committee for our high school’s new principal will be driven by a strong commitment to inclusive education [“PHS Seeks New PHS Principal by Aug. 31,” page 1, July 12]. This hiring decision presents us with an opportunity to reaffirm our dedication to the values that support our public education system’s excellence. more

To the Editor:

I gather from last week’s Town Topics that Princeton’s Town Council is debating new rules for outdoor dining [July 12, page 1]. Matters up for discussion include the size of pedestrian passageways and the specifications for tables and chairs. Town Engineer Jim Purcell is quoted as saying, “One size does not fit all. We have wide sidewalks and narrow sidewalks. Pedestrians, motorists, and the businesses themselves all have different needs.” more

To the Editor:

Since many streets in Princeton are narrow, I find that I frequently need to drive defensively in order to avoid cars that are driving too fast and/or driving toward the middle of the road. This is now exacerbated with the “new and improved” trash collection system that requires the receptacles to be placed in the street awaiting collection.  more

To the Editor:

As a former elected official, I truly understand how important it is that the town leaders and administration officials monitor and protect every tax dollar spent. I appreciate the hard work and the fiduciary responsibility that is always placed at the forefront of budgetary decisions. But, I am asking that we do everything in our power to keep Corner House Behavioral Health from being dismantled or simply disappearing. more

To the Editor:

July 10 through July 14 is National Summer Learning Week. Summer break is often seen as a time of relaxation and fun for most children, but it can also be a period of significant learning loss for many students, especially those from historically marginalized communities. Research consistently shows that students from low-income families experience a greater “summer slide” in academic achievement compared to their more affluent peers. This loss of learning can contribute to the persistent achievement gap between students from different socioeconomic backgrounds, in addition to the COVID-19 learning loss that also disproportionately impacted this same group. more

To the Editor:

I was grateful to learn that the U.S. has just completed destruction of its last chemical weapons stockpile. I was part of strongly lobbying the U.S. Senate to ratify the treaty banning chemical weapons in 1997, and it was approved by more than the necessary two-thirds of senators on a strongly bipartisan basis. more

To the Editor:

Seventeen days of performing arts events flew by during June’s 2023 Princeton Festival. Many thanks to the thousands who turned out in droves to take in our opera, dance, musical theater, chamber, pops, and orchestral concerts at beautiful Morven Museum & Garden. more

To the Editor:

For over 50 years, Corner House, now known as Corner House Behavioral Health, has been a beacon of hope for adolescents, young people, and their families who struggle with substance use and substance abuse issues. Begun in 1972 by a group of Princeton residents who were increasingly concerned with rising drug and alcohol problems, Corner House has proven its worth as an established presence in the greater Princeton area. It has been a shining example of the best in treatment, prevention, leadership, and outreach. Corner House has always been open to community input, transparent about finances, inclusive of underserved community members, all-encompassing in treatment and use of best practices, and extremely successful in its programs and leadership opportunities. more

To the Editor:

All of us at Housing Initiatives of Princeton would like to thank everyone who showed up at the Ivy Inn last week to support our work. We’re especially grateful to East Coast Ambush for supplying the music, Andy Golden for pouring the drinks, and Richey Ryan and the team at the Ivy Inn for providing a terrific venue for the community to come together. All the money raised in tips that night will be going to support a family new to our transitional housing program.  more