To the Editor:

The large chimney at the back of the Valley Road School site has become a major roosting location for a large population of chimney swifts. Several thousand of the birds gather as a massive flock in the sky just before dusk in late August through to early October. They circle while calling vociferously for around half an hour and then slowly pour into the chimney where they spend the night. It is a remarkable sight, not least because chimney swift numbers are declining, and they are globally classified as near-threatened by IUCN.  Mercifully, they are fully protected in the U.S. by the Migratory Bird Act.  Legally this means that nothing can be done that might jeopardize their survival and persistence.  Any attempt to modify the structure of the chimney would legally be classified as jeopardy. more

To the Editor:

One of the sweetest, kindest, most generous, affable Princetonians moved back with the angels. The ramifications and influence that Judith Scheide had on me and so many other souls are geometric.

Judy was an educator, activist, and philanthropist. She impacted thousands of persons with disabilities and their families. Four years ago, Judy challenged our nonprofit with a $100,000 matching donation. She made this gift to Community Options and today we continually leverage these funds in support of the organization’s mission.  more

To the Editor:

Thinking about the November elections? Now is the time to get involved!

As former members of Princeton Council and as past presidents of the Princeton Community Democratic Organization, we feel strongly that competitive elections result in more transparency, accountability, and diversity among the elected officials and more engagement on the part of residents. This year could prove to be a critical year for our democracy, so we are reintroducing a time-honored tradition of the local Democratic party in support of those ideals. There will be two Council seats and the mayor’s position on the ballot in the June primary and the November general election. We created a webpage, princetondemocrats.com, that outlines the important steps and dates for seeking office. We would be happy to have confidential conversations with anyone who is interested in running for office to provide guidance and support or to answer any questions you may have.

Congressman Andy Kim was in town recently to speak to Princeton Democrats, and he spoke movingly about his realization that if he was upset about the direction of his community, he needed to run for office to be the change he wanted to see. Whether it is for this year or another, it is the right time to get involved.

Whatever your level of interest, we are eager to hear from you. By email, jo.butler@verizon.net or jenny@crumiller.com.

Jo Butler
Hibben Road

Jenny Crumilller
Library Place

To the Editor:

As a member of the Princeton Affordable Housing Board, I am dismayed and troubled by the proposed elimination of three key municipal Boards and Commissions (BCCs) that for decades have been vehicles for civic engagement and citizen participation and contributed to improving the lives of our most underserved residents: the Human Services Commission, the Affordable Housing Board, and the Civil Rights Commission.

That this proposal (Ordinance 2024-01 introduced by Council on Monday, January 8, 2024) was brought out, literally, under the wire without notice or input from the members of the groups in question, or the public in general, make its motives suspect and undermine the lofty language of the ordinance. I urge the mayor and Council to tread carefully before proceeding. This initiative could lead to increasing social tensions, more adversarial relations between municipal government and the public, and further isolation of our most vulnerable residents. more

To the Editor:

We have been residents of Princeton since 1986 and both our children went to Community Park, the Middle School, and Princeton High School (PHS).

We witnessed the expansion of PHS that was complicated and way over budget. We need construction and development expertise to oversee the process now from bidding and contract negotiations all through the construction to make sure that the budgets are solid. more

To the Editor:

After my wife passed several years ago, I moved from New Hampshire to Princeton to be near my daughter’s family. On New Year’s Eve in Portsmouth, NH, my wife, and I regularly attended First Night and concerts by the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra. Portsmouth is a wonderful town, and we greatly enjoyed the experience.

When I moved to Princeton, I was greatly impressed with the number of cultural events available here. Therefore, I anticipated a wonderful New Year’s Eve. I was surprised to find that almost no public events took place. That is too bad, because the New Year offers us the opportunity to take stock of our lives and join with others in plans for a better future.

Such New Year events need not take place on a grand scale. No First Nights which require extensive organization. No symphony concerts with full orchestras. Perhaps just chamber music in a local church. I think the Princeton I have come to admire can do better.

Gary Patton
Trinity Court

To the Editor:

Thank you for the December 27 article “Town Sees Year of Change, Controversy, Progress” [December 27, page 1]. In it, the authors state “of all the contentious issues … the development of the former Tennent/Roberts/Whiteley (TRW) campus of Princeton Theological Seminary figures especially high.”

The destruction of the historic buildings on the Tennent/Roberts/Whitely campus and its redevelopment have been ongoing concerns for the surrounding neighborhood for the many years that we have been living in the shadow of an Area in Need of Redevelopment. We are now coming up on two years with construction fencing spread across the properties awaiting a collaborative process that was promised to us by the town in October 2021.  more

To the Editor:

The Westminster Community Orchestra (WCO) would like to extend its thanks to the members of the Princeton community who attended our recent holiday concert and contributed to our annual collection for area service organizations.

This year’s donations were divided between Mercer Street Friends, TASK, Arm in Arm, HomeFront, the Princeton Mobile Food Pantry, and the Rider University Food and Resource Pantry.  more

To the Editor:

One recent morning, I was walking through the resoundingly empty Westminster Choir College (WCC) campus, while listening to NPR as it detailed the desperate housing challenges faced by millions of migrants in our country.

Here is my proposal: Temporarily house some migrants in these empty dorms. Feed them in this empty Student Center. Campaign to let them work legally on the property to care for each other there, and in our town, so they can move toward affording to live on their own.

Yes, practical objections loom, and emotions run high. Believe me, I know and feel many of them. But here is a chance for our better angels to triumph.  more

To the Editor:

This December marks the 30th anniversary of Small World Coffee giving us all a place to meet, talk, work, laugh, console each other, flirt, connect, plan for a better world, and have delicious drinks and snacks. We can’t, nor would we ever want, to imagine Princeton without this precious social space, its terrific staff, and the incredible Jessica Durrie.

It’s a pleasure and a privilege to make common cause with Jessica year after year, as we think and talk together about how to keep independent businesses alive and well in Princeton. This month, meet or make a friend at Small World and wish them a very happy birthday!

Dorothea Von Moltke and Cliff Simms
Owners, Labyrinth Books
Nassau Street

Joanne Farrugia and Dean Smith
Owners, jaZams Toys and Books
Palmer Square East

To the Editor:

C-Change Conversations, a national, nonprofit climate change education group headquartered in Princeton, also attended the COP28 summit [“Princeton University Reports from COP28; Delegates Participate in Climate Summit,” page 1, December 13]. We were encouraged by the progress made, including the historic call to “transition away” from fossil fuels, the pledge of tripling renewables and doubling energy efficiency by 2030, and the commitment to significantly cutting methane emissions. We also welcomed the official recognition of the role of climate change on health and safety.

Some call the agreement an historic accomplishment, a “crossing of the Rubicon,” as the international community is finally willing to recognize officially that burning fossil fuels must be curtailed. Others lambast it as being too little, too late — insufficient because of the scope and scale of the threat we face globally. more

To the Editor:
The Princeton Environmental Commission (PEC) would like to highlight some of our accomplishments from this year:

Related to development, PEC provided essential environmental recommendations through site plan reviews and the municipal master plan process as well as revising the Green Development Checklist (GDCL). PEC reviewed six site plans and continued providing recommendations for the new master pan up to its adoption. PEC believes that the new municipal master plan is considerate of protecting our natural environment and guiding growth in a responsible, sustainable, and equitable way as well as serving as the strongest commitment to sustainability and climate resilience that Princeton has the opportunity to own, live by, and grow by.

Additionally, PEC held Green House Tour (GHT) and video events in partnership with Sustainable Princeton and the Princeton Public Library. Videos remain accessible via princetonnj.gov/1462/2023-Green-House-Tour-Videos.

Related to open space, PEC supported the initial review of the Environmental Resource Inventory (ERI) and is eager to continue supporting the ERI process. PEC believes the ERI is vital to the community and its integration in the new municipal master plan essential. Furthermore, PEC representation successfully advocated for stormwater management, which included native trees and vegetation, and maintaining a more walkable, bikeable town in the revision plans for Community Park South. more

To the Editor:

It has been tough in Princeton recently, trying to ignore the almost continuous roar of gas leaf blowers, and trying not to think about the large amount of pollution they are emitting into the air. Fortunately, Princeton’s seasonal ban on gas leaf blowers is in effect as of December 16. Use of gas leaf blowers is not allowed again until March 15. That is a relief.

Because of Princeton’s seasonal ban, gas leaf blowers were banned last summer, from May 16 through September 30. During that period, Quiet Princeton received a number of emails from Princeton residents, expressing gratitude for the ban. The residents described their pleasure at being able to eat outdoors and walk around town without being driven indoors by the noise and pollution of gas leaf blowers. People who work indoors but want to keep their windows open also expressed their heartfelt appreciation. more

To the Editor:

There is, we should be reminded, a national housing crisis. We see it in the segregation of our towns into enclaves of the wealthy and enclaves of the less well-to-do. But its saddest consequence is the disillusionment of young people whose reasonable hopes for family life in a welcoming community are simply beyond their reach.

In an admirable act of governmental vision and determination, Princeton — a progressive town with a long history of doing what it can for lower income families — adopted a plan to do more to advance our overall social and economic diversity. In particular, to lay the groundwork for zoning adapted to advance these aims. more

To the Editor:

I am writing in response to last week’s letter from Maria Evans regarding the estimates for improvements to the dog park at Community Park South [“Prince Tag Seems Too High for Proposed Community Park South Concept Design,” Mailbox, December 6].

The estimates included in the Concept A plan that was recommended by the Recreation Commission to Council at our November 27 meeting were estimates that included a list of amenities that residents asked for in the various community and stakeholder meetings that were held over the past year. These amenities are a wish list, and not by any means a final or authorized spending of taxpayer funds. more

To the Editor:

Now that the Master Plan has been adopted by the Planning Board, we would like to thank the Board, Planning Director Justin Lesko, and Planning Department staff for their hard work in bringing this important effort to completion. We applaud the professionalism with which the Board and the Department pursued a complicated and sometimes contentious planning process. We appreciated the inclusive and productive input sessions, where many diverse perspectives were heard and, where practicable, addressed in the final draft.

We especially appreciate the Board’s leadership in confronting critical issues affecting our community, and its strong encouragement of continued public input as measures recommended by the Master Plan are proposed and debated in the months and years ahead.

Jane Scott
Battle Road

Meg Davis
Shadybrook Lane

Carol Golden
Snowden Lane

Charles Read
Rollingmead Street

To the Editor:

As a resident of Princeton and a dog lover, I have enjoyed the benefits of the new dog park in Community Park, but last week Town Topics reported that “the two existing dog parks would be improved (in the new park design), at a cost of $1,350,000” [“Proposed Concept Design for Community Park South is Presented to Council,” November 29, page 1].

This is an astounding figure — do the improvements include a concierge and a day spa? I’m all for upgrades for the park, my neighbors and I use it every day for exercise and dog walking, but this price tag of $24-28 million seems over the top. I would urge Council to reel this budget back in, keep the park simple (and accessible to the neighborhood), and spend the extra money on local arts and community events and we’ll all be wagging with joy.

Maria Evans
Leigh Avenue

To the Editor:

When asked, my father would always tell me that resilience was the most important characteristic a person could have. What a wise man he was!

While I am disappointed at the outcome of the November Board of Education election, I am neither discouraged, or deterred, from seeking equity and equality, not only in Princeton Public Schools, but throughout our community.

I deeply appreciate the support and confidence that Princeton voters have placed in me during my 30 years in public service and offer my best wishes to the new and reelected School Board members. It is indeed a very tough job that requires significant time, energy, integrity, and courage. I can only hope that the needs of all of our learners are considered in the fulfillment of their duties.

Thanks to all who signed letters, made contributions, generously placed signs on their lawns and otherwise endorsed my candidacy. I am grateful for your friendship and assistance.

Michele Tuck-Ponder
Laurel Circle