January 8, 2025

By Donald Gilpin

The Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education (BOE) will vote on the appointment of School District of the Chathams Superintendent Mike LaSusa as the next superintendent of PPS at a special board meeting on Wednesday, January 8 at 5:30 p.m.

Kathie Foster has been serving as acting/interim superintendent since November 2023, following former Superintendent Carol Kelley’s resignation after just over two years at the helm. Foster will continue to lead the PPS until July 1, when LaSusa will take over to serve a term of a minimum of three and a maximum of five years.

An Ad Hoc Superintendent Search Committee launched the superintendent search in August, held numerous forums, and conducted a community survey in collaboration with a search firm in the following months, and has been reading applications and confidentially interviewing candidates over the past two months. more

By Donald Gilpin

Runny noses, coughing, sneezing, fever — respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases are on the rise, with cold-like symptoms that are often mild but can cause severe illness in some people, including babies, older adults, and the immunocompromised.

RSV is the leading cause of childhood illness and hospitalization in infants, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which also recently reported that more than half the counties in New Jersey have a “very high” percentage of emergency department visits for RSV. Emergency room visits for RSV in Mercer County were described as “moderate.”

Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center Emergency Medicine Chair and Faculty Medical Director Colleen Marchetta, DO, FAAEM, reported, “Post-holiday, we have already seen a significant increase in patient visits to our Emergency Department for respiratory illnesses.”  more

December 25, 2024

By Donald Gilpin

On the morning of December 8, Islamist rebel troops entered Damascus, Syria’s capital. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia, ending his 24-year regime, which had followed his father’s 29-year rule. Ahmed al-Shara, leader of the rebel faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which was formerly linked to Al Qaeda, has called for their terrorist label to be removed and for the U.S. and others to lift all sanctions on Syria. Many other countries, in addition to Iran and Russia, which withdrew their support for Assad shortly before the coup, are involved in Syria with various conflicting agendas.

“We don’t know how that will end,” said one of the experts at a December 17 panel discussion on “A New Era for Syria,” sponsored by Princeton University’s School for Public and International Affairs. That was a sentiment that all could agree on.

Offering a wide range of knowledge and perspectives, the panelists included Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs Dean Amaney A. Jamal, who also moderated the discussion; Deborah Amos, Princeton journalism professor and a longtime international correspondent at National Public Radio and elsewhere; Zaid Al-Ali, a visiting research fellow and lecturer at Princeton and the Senior Program Manager on Constitution Building for the Arab Region at International IDEA; and Marwan Muasher, who is vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the former foreign minister (2002-04) and deputy prime minister (2004-05) of Jordan. more

By Donald Gilpin

The Paul Robeson House of Princeton (PRHP) is preparing to open its doors to the public in time to celebrate in April of 2025, the 127th anniversary of Robeson’s birth.

Restoration and reconstruction of the house at 110 Witherspoon Street where Robeson was born is approaching the final stages, and the board of directors of the Robeson House is currently launching a campaign to raise $600,000 to help complete the project.

“From foundational work to the completion of essential walkways, entrances, and gallery windows, each step forward is a testament to the enduring strength of our community,” the board wrote in a recent letter to supporters. more

By Donald Gilpin

Andre Barnes

Immigration policy was a decisive issue in the recent election, as it has been a widely debated issue around the world and is certain to be a controversial topic in Washington and throughout the country when the Trump administration takes office in the new year.

Andre Barnes, the HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) engagement director for Numbers USA, spoke to a group of about 25 at Princeton University’s School for Public and International Affairs (SPIA) earlier this month, discussing how mass immigration impacts Black Americans. NumbersUSA describes itself as “a nonpartisan public policy organization,” though its restrictive position on immigration is strongly favored by conservatives.

Barnes stressed his focus on “the humanitarian dilemma in immigration policy.” He noted, “Helping one category of person deserving compassion can undermine another category also deserving compassion,” claiming that “domestic humanitarian concerns” can clash with “international humanitarian concerns.” more

December 18, 2024

By Donald Gilpin

As Municipal Attorney Trishka Cecil reported to Princeton Council at last week’s meeting, the town’s plans for deer management, using both lethal and non-lethal means, are at an impasse.

“I am very disappointed,” Cecil told Council members. “Your constituents, your Council, and White Buffalo [the town’s deer management contractor] all want to include non-lethal means. They want you, as scientists, as people committed to responsible deer management — they want you to be able to use every tool that is available in your toolbox, and you are being confronted with a division that for reasons I cannot understand seems dead set against it.”

Princeton’s deer management program has been in place since 2000, and the existing sharpshooting initiative carried out by White Buffalo Inc., which operates nationwide and specializes in population control of white-tailed deer, has helped to reduce the town’s deer population, with some assistance from recreational bow hunters.  more

By Donald Gilpin

Two new electric school buses will be traveling the roads of Princeton, possibly as early as the summer of 2025, following the award of up to $620,000 from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) as part of a $15 million statewide program to help school districts transition to electric transportation.

The Princeton Public Schools (PPS) announced that the grant will also help to fund a fast-charging station for the electric vehicles. The station requires about six hours to fully charge both vehicles simultaneously, and each will be capable of traveling about 110 miles per charge. Once New Jersey has a program in place, this station will be able to send energy back to the grid during high-demand periods.

PPS Business Administrator Matthew Bouldin applauded the state’s contribution to the district’s sustainability efforts. “We believe governmental entities can and should take the lead in modeling sustainable practices, especially when we can achieve this within our fairly strict budgetary framework,” he said. “Programs like the NJDEP grant make sustainable choices attainable.” more

CENTENARY CELEBRATION: Victor Brombert delivered the closing salute at a 2023 event at Princeton University that celebrated his 100th birthday and the release of his latest book, “The Pensive Citadel.” The legendary scholar, teacher, and World War II hero died last month at 101. (Princeton University, Humanities Council; Tori Repp/Fotobuddy, 2023)

By Donald Gilpin

Beth Archer Brombert, widow of esteemed Princeton University professor, author, and war hero Victor Brombert, who died on November 26 at 101 years old, went out to get the newspaper in the driveway of their Princeton home on the morning of November 30, four days after her husband’s death. She described what happened next.

“On returning to the house, I glanced at the dry, brown clematis on the brick wall to the left of our front door. To my astonishment, on the very top of the desiccated vine, on a stem well above the dead leaves, standing like a star on a Christmas tree, I saw a single purple flower — fully open.” more

December 11, 2024

By Donald Gilpin

As the season for cold weather, holidays, and respiratory illnesses advances, the Princeton Health Department will be closely monitoring the health of Princeton residents, particularly those most susceptible to serious sickness.

Deputy Administrator/Director of Health Jeff Grosser stated that his department’s “greatest concerns right now are the seasonal increase in respiratory illnesses and ensuring that the community remains prepared.”

He continued, “Of course we focus much of our efforts on our most vulnerable, our younger and older population. With respiratory infections rising, particularly flu and RSV, the focus is on vaccination efforts, public education, and maintaining health care capacity.” more

By Donald Gilpin

As the town of Princeton, along with the whole state, prepares to face changing federal priorities from the new Trump administration, a panel of New Jersey leaders will gather on Thursday, December 19 at 6 p.m. in the Nassau Presbyterian Church (Livestream available) to discuss “State of Protection: Strengthening New Jersey’s Rights in Immigration, Healthcare, Environment, and Law.”

NJ Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, Princeton University Professor and former New Jersey Commissioner of Health and Senior Services Heather Howard, and ACLU-NJ Executive Director Amol Sinha will be leading the deliberations, moderated and organized by State Sen. Andrew Zwicker (District 16).

“After the results of the presidential election, I started to think quite a bit about the first Trump administration and what I could do as a member of the N.J. state legislature to protect the people of New Jersey from what we expect will be coming out of Washington, D.C. over the next four years,” Zwicker said in a recent phone conversation.  more

by Donald Gilpin

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving at a rapid rate, bringing huge advantages along with some significant harms to all areas of society, and Princeton Public Schools (PPS) is looking for the best ways to benefit from AI’s potential to enhance the education of its students.

“We’re approaching the AI frontier together, and we’re all riding that balance of using it but also not abusing it,” said PPS Assistant Superintendent Kimberly Tew in a December 3 webinar, sponsored by PPS in collaboration with Common Sense Media, an organization working with the district to develop plans and policies concerning the use of AI in PPS.

Common Sense reports that 70 percent of teens nationwide have used at least one type of generative AI tool, with 53 percent using generative AI for homework help. Only 37 percent of parents with teens using gen AI, however, know that their children are using these tools. more

December 4, 2024

FESTIVE AND FABULOUS: Miss Cissy Walken is the host of the Holiday Drag Show on Saturday, December 7 at the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice, where holiday events continue throughout the month. (Photo courtesy of BRCSJ)

By Donald Gilpin

In the face of widespread anxiety over increasing anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric and action following the November election, the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice (BRCSJ) will be hosting major holiday events on upcoming weekends: a Holiday Drag Show featuring Cissy Walken, Miss Stonewall Inn, on Saturday, December 7 at 7 p.m. and “Handmade for the Holidays Crafternoon” with Kyle the Craftivist on December 14 at 1 p.m.

Also, on Friday, December 6, there will be a Welcoming the Community Breakfast from 8-10 a.m. and in the evening at 7 p.m. a post-Thanksgiving folk concert featuring David Brahinsky and friends — all at the BRCSJ headquarters, 12 Stockton Street.

The BRCSJ, a dedicated queer safe space, offers many programs and events in person and online throughout the year, serving more than 10,000 area residents according to a recent BRCSJ email. On Christmas Day it will also be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or later, welcoming anybody who “needs or wants a safe space to hang with friends and chosen fam.” more

“DEER BIND WEED”: This photo, taken by Sydney Vine in the Mountain Lakes Preserve, is one of the contest photos that will be on display at the Friday, December 6 opening reception and December 7 and 8 Holiday Open Houses for the annual “Perspectives on Preservation Photography Exhibition” sponsored by Friends of Princeton Open Space.

By Donald Gilpin

A “Perspectives on Preservation Photography Exhibition,” featuring photos of the Mountain Lakes area selected from the annual Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS) Photo Contest, as well as a collection of photographs titled “Geese and Goslings” by Frank Sauer, will be on display this weekend at the Mountain Lakes House, 57 Mountain Avenue.

The opening reception for the exhibition on Friday, December 6 from 6 to 8 p.m., where the contest winners will be announced, is booked up with a waiting list available, but visitors can also see the exhibition at a Holiday Open House on Saturday and Sunday, December 7 and 8, from 12 to 4 p.m. In addition, FOPOS is hosting a December Nature Walk, starting at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on December 7. more

By Donald Gilpin

Princeton University has recently undertaken a number of initiatives to expand its influence in the field of Native American and Indigenous studies, with J. Kehaulani Kauanui coming on board as the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Professor of Indigenous Studies to help lead the effort.

In a November 14 press release, the University reported that it had expanded academic centers, programs, and scholarly resources to strengthen institutional relationships with Native American and Indigenous communities, as well as seeking to enhance research and scholarship in the field and to recognize and support Native and Indigenous students and scholars. more

November 27, 2024

By Donald Gilpin

Princeton residents will have a number of opportunities to learn more about the Princeton Public Schools’ (PPS) $89.1 million facilities bond referendum before they vote on a three-part question on January 28, 2025.

Two upcoming forums — a virtual forum on Monday, December 9 at 7 p.m. (link to be shared shortly before the event) and an in-person forum on Saturday, January 11 at 9 a.m. in the Princeton Middle School (PMS) auditorium — will provide information and chances to ask questions.

The community is also invited to tour one or all of the school buildings included in the 2025 bond referendum proposal: Community Park Elementary School on December 10 and January 8 at 3:30 p.m.; Littlebrook Elementary School on January 7 and 14 at 4 p.m.; PMS on December 5, 12, and January 16 at 3:30 p.m.; and Princeton High School (PHS) on December 8 at 10 a.m., 13 at 6:30 p.m., January 15 at 6:15 p.m., January 24 at 5:30 p.m., and January 26 at 10 a.m. more

By Donald Gilpin

As the country and the world continue to ponder the results of the 2024 election, Princeton University’s School for Public and International Affairs (SPIA) Center for the Study of Democratic Politics (CSDP) has assembled a panel of experts to help shed light on “What Happened and Why?” The event will take place on Monday, December 2, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in Bowl 016 at Robertson Hall on Washington Road.

“This panel will bring together a blend of expertise, perspectives, and professional experiences that we hope will foster a nuanced, informed discussion of the election results,” said Princeton University Politics Professor and CSDP Co-Director Tali Mendelberg, who will moderate the discussion. “In this era of polarization and information silos, it is vital to offer accurate analysis and to represent diverse views about the state of American politics.”

Panelists will include Betsy Ankney, political strategist and Nikki Haley’s campaign manager; CBS News elections analyst and Princeton University Ph.D. graduate Kabir Khanna; Dorian Warren, public affairs commentator and president of Community Change, co-chair of the Economic Security Project, and co-host of System Check; and Lauren Wright, associate research scholar and lecturer in politics and public affairs at Princeton University with a focus on political communication, including media coverage, candidates’ strategies, and public perceptions. more

November 20, 2024

By Donald Gilpin

Two weeks after the culmination of the fiercely fought and — at least for many — surprising, 2024 elections, politicos, local organizations, and Princeton residents from across the political spectrum are wondering what comes next.

Donald Trump and JD Vance registered a dramatic victory nationwide, winning all the swing states, and made significant gains in New Jersey in losing by only 46.1 percent to 51.9 percent. In Princeton, however, the total was about 83 percent (10,201 votes) for Kamala Harris and 16 percent (2007 votes) for Trump, and the Democrats won the mayoral election and two Council seats unopposed. Democrat Bonnie Watson Coleman coasted to reelection in the 12th Congressional District, and Andy Kim handily won in the New Jersey race for U.S. senator.

Nick DiDomizio, president of the Princeton Community Democratic Organization (PCDO), expressed concerns shared by many of his fellow Democrats. “The results in New Jersey were obviously disappointing,” he said. “It was really close, just a single digit margin for New Jersey, and I think that’s been causing a lot of despair as it pertains to next year’s governor’s race and the Assembly race.” more

“BATTLE WINDOW”: The November 18 ceremony at Princeton Battlefield State Park was highlighted by the unveiling of a “battle window,” designed to help visitors better understand the Battle of Princeton. That interpretive device is just one of many enhancements preparing the Battlefield for the upcoming 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. (Photo by Dan Komoda)

By Donald Gilpin

In a ceremony at Princeton Battlefield State Park on Monday, November 18, a gathering of about 50 heard how new tourist-friendly historical signage and other upgrades will be providing future visitors with a better understanding of the Battle of Princeton, which was a decisive moment in American history and has been called the battle “that saved the American Revolution.”

The event was highlighted by the unveiling of a “battle window,” an interpretive sign that includes elements from a James Peale painting applied onto a clear acrylic window so that viewers can peer through to gain a sense of the battle action that took place on the landscape. more

“DREAM COME TRUE”: HomeFront will be expanding its Diaper Resource Center with help in the form of $250,000 from the State of New Jersey. Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, seen here (on left) with Homefront CEO Sarah Steward, assisted in acquiring the state funding. (Photo courtesy of HomeFront)

By Donald Gilpin

As the holidays approach, HomeFront is stepping up its efforts to help families “break the cycle of poverty” with Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week through November 23, its Thanksgiving Basket and Food Drive, the Holiday Wishes Drive to make the season merry for local children in need, its Holiday Market November 23-24, its expanding Diaper Resource Center, and more.

“This holiday season the need is both great and growing, as homelessness continues to rise,” said HomeFront CEO Sarah Steward. “In Mercer County alone, the number of individuals experiencing homelessness increased by 31 percent from 2023 to 2024. At HomeFront we provide emergency shelter and vital support for families in crisis, while also working to prevent others from reaching that breaking point.” more

November 13, 2024

By Donald Gilpin

With a few final mail-ins and provisional ballots still being counted, incumbent Mara Franceschi and new candidates Christopher Santarpio and Ari Meisel have won three-year terms on the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education (BOE) beginning January 1, 2025, defeating three other challengers in a hotly contested race.

The unofficial results based on most recent tallies show Franceschi as the top vote-getter with 5,617 votes (20.66 percent), followed by Santarpio with 4,851 (17.84 percent) and Meisel with 4,662 (17.15 percent). Erica Snyder fell short with 4,523 votes (16.64 percent), as did Z. Lisa Potter with 4.385 (16.13 percent) and Shenwei Zhao with 3,084 (11.34 percent).

Final counts and certification by the Mercer County clerk are expected to take place next week. more

By Donald Gilpin

Princeton University’s endowment fund has reported a return of 3.9 percent and a total value of $34.1 billion for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2024. The University has recorded an average annual return of 9.2 percent over the past 10 years, but the 2024 gain was the smallest among the eight Ivy League universities and follows Princeton’s losses of 1.5 percent and 1.7 percent in the two previous years.

Returns for the 2024 fiscal year at other Ivy League institutions ranged from 11.5 percent at Columbia to 5.7 percent at Yale, with Princeton’s underperformance for the year apparently due to large investments in private equity and venture capital at a time when publicly traded stocks, particularly technology stocks and the S&P 500 index, have outperformed most experts’ predictions.

PRINCO, the Princeton University Investment Company, emphasizes a “long horizon” investment strategy, focusing on many decades rather than a single year. The endowment’s investments returned 46.9 percent in 2021 and have averaged 9.9 percent over the past 20 years.  more

FESTIVAL MAGIC: Morven Museum & Garden’s 19th annual Festival of Trees, accompanied by a lineup of programs and events, will take place at the historic Stockton Street house from November 20 to January 5, with trees and mantels decorated throughout the museum galleries under the theme of Traditions and Celebrations. (Photo courtesy of Morven Museum & Garden)

By Donald Gilpin

Morven Museum & Garden’s 19th annual Festival of Trees will open on Wednesday, November 20 with displays by a wide variety of decorators representing more than 20 different local nonprofits, schools, garden clubs, community groups, and individual artists.

Running through January 5, 2025, the Festival will feature a juried selection of creations by groups and individuals who submitted applications to decorate trees and mantels throughout the museum’s galleries. more

November 6, 2024

By Donald Gilpin

In a close race Tuesday for three seats on the Princeton Public Schools Board of Education, incumbent Mara Franceschi, who has received 5,326 votes (20.64 percent), Christopher Santarpio 4,618 (17.90 percent), and Ari Meisel with 4,443 (17.22 percent) have defeated Erica Snyder with 4,310 votes (16.71 percent), Lisa Potter with 4,148 (16.08 percent), and Shenwei Zhao with 2,921 (11.32 percent), according to unofficial results from the Mercer County Clerk’s Office.

With many mail-in ballots and provisional ballots remaining to be counted, certification by the Mercer County Clerk’s office is not expected for about two weeks.

In two other local elections, both uncontested, Mark Freda won another four-year term as Princeton Mayor, and incumbent Leighton Newlin and new candidate Brian McDonald won three-year terms on Princeton Council. more

“RUMORS” AT PHS: The casts of Neil Simon’s 1988 “elegant farce” are preparing for their November 14 opening at Princeton High School. The play runs through November 17. (Photo courtesy of Julianna Krawiecki)

By Donald Gilpin

In theater, music, and visual arts, Princeton Public Schools (PPS) is presenting a diverse array of events in November and December.

Rumors, a 1988 Neil Simon “elegant farce,” as the author described it, will take the spotlight on the Princeton High School (PHS) stage November 14-17. At Princeton Middle School (PMS) on November 22 and 23, the theme will be self-image and social and emotional learning in Hoodie, a short “play for the times,” according to PMS Theater Director Chaundra Cameron. more

October 30, 2024

By Donald Gilpin

Princeton Public Schools (PPS) has been moving towards a $89.1 million January bond referendum for expansion and renovations, and a decision on that was anticipated at Tuesday night’s Board of Education (BOE) meeting, which took place after press time. [Update: the resolution passed 9-0.]

The resolution on the table called for Princeton voters to weigh in on January 28 on a proposal to expand and upgrade school buildings at Community Park and Littlebrook elementary schools, as well as expansion and renovations at Princeton Middle School (PMS) and renovations at Princeton High School (PHS).

The proposed resolution comes in three parts, with a total tax impact estimated at $543 annually for the owner of a home at Princeton’s average assessed value of $853,136, after anticipated reductions through state aid.

The referendum, if approved by voters, would address aging infrastructure and space needs as the town anticipates about 1,000 units of new housing in the next five to seven years with additional population growth and state-mandated development on the horizon. Most of the approved new housing is being built in the Community Park and Littlebrook school zones. more