By Donald Gilpin

Morven Museum & Garden, Dorothea’s House, and the Princeton Battlefield are slated to receive a total of approximately $1.198 million from the New Jersey Historic Trust for projects intended to save and promote historic sites.

There are 71 projects throughout the state that are on this year’s list of grant award recommendations.  The New Jersey Historic Trust, an affiliate of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), recently approved a total of more than $14 million in grant recommendations from the Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund.

Morven, former home of Richard Stockton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, was awarded funds for three different projects, as it gears up for the United States Semiquincentennial (250th anniversary celebration) in 2026. more

By Donald Gilpin

Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart announced last week that, due to financial challenges, it will be closing at the end of the 2023-24 school year.

The school, located on a 50-acre campus on Great Road, was founded in 1999 in seeking to meet the need for a “values-based” private school for boys in grades K-8, according to the Princeton Academy website.

A letter to the Princeton Academy community signed by the school’s Board of Trustees Chair Olen Kalkus and Head of School Alfred (Rik) F. Dugan reports, “Princeton Academy continues to face financial challenges brought on by changing demographics and rising costs.”

The letter notes that the board had been pursuing various options to keep the school open, including sales of assets, efforts to increase enrollment, additional support from donors, and possible mergers with other institutions.

The letter continues, “However, despite our best efforts to find workable solutions, and after careful consideration, reflection, and discernment, the Board of Trustees has unanimously made the most difficult decision to close operations of Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart at the end of the current school year.” more

By Donald Gilpin

Helene Lanctuit
(Tamara Gillon Photography)

Growing rapidly on its mission to serve the food insecure and reduce the environmental impact of food waste, Princeton-based Share My Meals has appointed Helene Lanctuit as its first chief executive officer.

Founded in 2020, Share My Meals has doubled the number of meals recovered in just the past year, distributing an average of 6,000 meals a month collected from 40 food donors.

Lanctuit intends to accelerate that growth. “It’s the best moment for me to step in,” she said. “I’m very happy to be leading this organization. There’s so much potential, and the staff is amazing.” more

By Donald Gilpin 

Now through November 7, Princeton voters will be weighing in on a School Board race with two incumbents and three challengers competing for three open positions, a $13 million school bond referendum focused on safety measures and facilities improvements, and several other area election races.

Some residents are sending in vote-by-mail ballots. Others will vote early in person at Princeton Shopping Center and six other locations in Mercer County from October 28 through November 5. And regular polling places will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7. Visit vote.nj.gov or contact the office of the county clerk at mercercounty.org for more information, including deadlines and forms.

In the race for three-year terms on the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education (BOE), Beth Behrend and Michele Tuck-Ponder are seeking reelection for a third term, while Adam Bierman, Eleanor Hubbard, and Rene Obregon are campaigning to join the BOE for the first time. Three seats are up for grabs. more

By Donald Gilpin

Dedicated to “enabling curiosity-driven exploration and fundamental discovery,” the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) is setting forth in its 2023-24 school year with an eclectic mix of extraordinary scholars from a wide assortment of backgrounds and disciplines.

Ranging from post-doctoral scholars to distinguished professors, 272 new and returning residents are on campus, working alongside 25 permanent faculty and 20 emeriti faculty, representing 47 different countries and 105 institutions. They are all based in one of the Institute’s four schools: Historical Studies, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social Science.

The School of Mathematics is hosting a special year on p-adic arithmetic geometry, with a fall workshop November 13-17 and a spring workshop March 11-15. IAS math professors Bhargav Bhatt and Jacob Lurie are organizing the workshops and other p-adic-related events, seeking to “bring together a mix of people interested in various facets of the subject with an eye towards sharing ideas and questions across fields,” according to an IAS press release.

For the School of Social Science, this year’s theme seminar is focused on “the platform,” exploring how and why digital services or websites have grown in size, power, and influence in global society.  more

By Donald Gilpin

W. Jason Morgan
(Princeton University, Denise Applewhite)

W. Jason Morgan (1935-2023), a pioneer in the field of plate tectonics and a Princeton University professor of geology and geophysics from 1966 to 2003, will be honored on Saturday, October 7, with a Celebration of Life at the Princeton University Chapel, followed by a luncheon and memorial symposium at Guyot Hall on the University campus organized by the Department of Geosciences and the Morgan family.

Morgan, who received his Ph.D. from Princeton in 1964, was the Knox Taylor Professor of Geology emeritus and a professor of geophysics emeritus. He died at his home in Beverly, Mass., on July 31, 2023.

Described in a geosciences department statement as “an enormously influential figure in shaping our understanding of the movements of our planet’s surface and its interior,” Morgan was awarded the National Medal of Science in 2002 “for his development of the theories of plate tectonics and of deep mantle plumes, which revolutionized our understanding of the geological forces that control the Earth’s crust and deep interior and consequently influence the evolution of the Earth’s life and climate.” more

By Donald Gilpin

Following a series of concerns and complaints that started in the first weeks of the school year and a week of petitioning, meeting, and alarms raised over the safety and well-being of the elementary school children in the program, Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Superintendent Carol Kelley announced last Friday, September 22, that the afterschool services provider Right at School (RAS) had announced its intention to terminate its contract with PPS and that a transition plan is underway to choose a new provider.

“I’m not a parent who complains too much,” said Sarah Tannenbaum, who has two children in the Littlebrook School aftercare program and has been a leading voice in raising concerns about the program. “I’m quiet normally, but this was really risking the safety of the children. It was pretty ridiculous, and that was clear to everybody. They didn’t have enough staff. The kids were crying and screaming. They were not taking them outside. At Riverside they were just watching kids roughhousing.”

Tannenbaum noted, on Tuesday, September 26, that the current transition period seems to be working smoothly. Apparently RAS has replaced some of its workers, and the district has its own staff members on the job in addition to the RAS staff. “They’re watching the kids,” said Tannenbaum. “Things are very well structured now. The parents feel that their kids are at least safe now with this transition plan, but they’re upset that this even happened.” more

By Donald Gilpin

Princeton Charter School (PCS) has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) as a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School (NBRS) award winner. PCS is the only 2023 Blue Ribbon award winner in Mercer County, one of just nine in New Jersey, and only 353 schools in the country.

“We are proud of this amazing achievement as a credit to the students, teachers, staff, parents, and administration of Princeton Charter School,” wrote Head of School Larry Patton in a letter to PCS parents. “No single act resulted in this honor, but rather it reflects the collective efforts, dedication, and shared vision of the entire Charter community.”

Founded in 1997, PCS, located on Bunn Drive with a student population of about 420 from kindergarten to grade eight, was also recognized as a Blue Ribbon School in 2004.

“A strong sense of community is at the heart of our work,” noted Lisa Eckstrom, assistant head of school for grades five to eight, pointing out that the school was particularly successful in working through the challenges of the pandemic.  more

By Donald Gilpin

Arvind Narayanan (Photo by Nick Donnoli, Princeton University)

Leading the discussion on one of the most hotly debated subjects in the news are a Princeton University professor and his graduate student, who have captured the attention of millions in their explorations of the dangers and potential benefits of artificial intelligence (AI).

Arvind Narayanan, a computer science professor and director of the Center for information Technology Policy (CITP), and Sayash Kapoor, a CITP science Ph.D. candidate, have been selected for Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in artificial intelligence. 

Narayanan and Kapoor are now collaborating on a book titled AI Snake Oil, due out next year, and they write a digital newsletter of the same name providing critical commentary on AI. Narayanan’s research focuses on the societal impact of digital technologies, especially AI, and he has co-taught a related course at Princeton on limits to prediction.

“We started our AI Snake Oil newsletter because it allows us to dissect false or misleading claims about AI in real time,” Kapoor wrote in an email. “Through it, we have been able to share our scholarship and analysis on AI with the public at large. Many false or misleading claims about AI are made every day, and we hope the newsletter has helped push back against some of the misleading narratives.” more

By Donald Gilpin

New COVID-19 vaccines are now available for everyone ages 6 months and older, and they are strongly recommended by the federal Center for Disease Controls and Prevention (CDC), by the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), and by local health authorities.

The new vaccine — a new formulation, not technically a booster —“will provide the most up-to-date protection against the virus and its variants as we move into the fall and winter holiday seasons,” according to a September 12 press release from the NJDOH.

CVS and Walgreens pharmacies are currently making appointments for Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccinations through the CDC’s vaccine website at vaccines.gov. The NJDOH states that vaccines will also be available from sites like primary care providers, other chain pharmacies, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and other health care institutions.

“With rising cases, COVID-19 continues to remain a significant public health priority,” said Acting Health Commissioner Kaitlan Baston. “The department will continue to work with providers across the state to make sure everyone who wants the added protection of the updated COVID-19 shot can easily access it, especially the state’s vulnerable populations and those who are under- or uninsured.”

Princeton Health Officer and Deputy Administrator for Health and Human Services Jeffrey Grosser noted that this new vaccine targets the variant called XBB.1.5 and will be the only COVID vaccine available this fall. He added that hospital admissions for COVID-19 and flu remain low at this point in Mercer County.  more

By Donald Gilpin

Catholic Charities will be the new behavioral health provider for the town of Princeton, starting in January 2024, in a move designed to improve and expand mental health and addiction services as well as save taxpayer dollars.

In a September 15 press release, the Municipality of Princeton announced that its decision, requiring the reorganization of some services previously shared with Corner House Behavioral Health, “was made through a careful evaluation of the paradigm shift in behavioral health treatment toward the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) standard; while also considering other factors, such as the expressed need from the public for expanded mental health services within the Municipality.”

The announcement notes that Catholic Charities, by directly connecting patients to the CCBHC network, can deliver “the same quality of care for a wider range of services to more Princeton residents than Corner House Behavioral Health.” Activities of the CCBHC network are mostly funded by federal and state grants and deliver low-to-no-cost services, with “a more comprehensive and coordinated spectrum of care, beyond substance use and mental health.”

In an August 2 letter in the Town Topics Mailbox, Princeton Councilman and Corner House Liaison Leighton Newlin commented on Corner House, stating, “Recent changes within the organization’s hierarchy have prompted the Municipality of Princeton to reevaluate the Corner House business model considering today’s highly populated and competitive mental health/substance abuse markets as well as current community needs.” Corner House’s executive director resigned early this year and has not been replaced. more

By Donald Gilpin

Sustainability is in the spotlight in Princeton this weekend, with Sustainable Princeton’s Clean Commuting Festival and eCommuter Fest at the Princeton Shopping Center on Friday, September 22, from 4 to 7 p.m. and a Community Sustainability Celebration on Saturday, September 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) at 100 Stellarator Road.

The Sustainable Princeton electric vehicle (EV) ride and drive event promises live music, test drives of the latest eBikes and EVs, games, and “a community EV owner showcase”; while visitors to the PPPL on Saturday will encounter an assortment of local environment-focused organizations, find out how PPPL is forging the path to fusion energy, “the ultimate source of clean energy,” and learn what they can do here and now in their own backyards.

‘Our focus going forward is to make the ‘e’ in eCommuter Fest stand for more than just ‘electric,’” said Sustainable Princeton Executive Director Christine Symington as quoted in a Sustainable Princeton press release. “We’re expanding eCommuter Fest to showcase more ways of getting around that are sustainable, affordable, and accessible to everyone.”  more

By Donald Gilpin

All 72 residents of Princeton Care Center (PCC) on Bunn Drive have been safely moved, at least for the time being, but shock waves from the sudden evacuation on Friday, September 1 will continue to resonate for the elderly residents, some now in nearby facilities and some more than 60 miles away, and dozens of Princeton emergency personnel and others who were on the scene assisting.

“Allowing this to happen is just unbelievable,” said Princeton Mayor Mark Freda. “The ball was dropped by both Princeton Care Center and the New Jersey Department of Health.”

The Department of Health (DOH) had been following the precarious financial situation at PCC for many months, said Freda, adding, “The Department of Health contacted us on August 4 to say ’By the way, we’ve been watching these guys. They’ve been having a lot of financial problems. We’re putting a Department of Health person in the building to make sure that proper care is being given. They’re having trouble making payroll, paying their bills, etc., and the landlord wants his money — all those things.’”

Freda said his office was informed repeatedly by the DOH that PCC, owned by mother and son Gail and Ezra Bogner, was in negotiations with other entities to take over the facility and its residents. “The week before Labor Day weekend we had been updated by the Department of Health, saying that discussions between some entity and Princeton Care Center were looking really good and that the sale would go through — not a problem — don’t worry about it,” said Freda.  more

By Donald Gilpin

The Witherspoon-Jackson Development Corporation (WJDC) was in the spotlight at a lively meeting of the Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood Association (WJNA) attended by more than 60 people on Saturday, September 9 at the Arts Council of Princeton on Paul Robeson Place.

“The basic overall community opinion was that they want Witherspoon-Jackson Development Corporation to be more transparent,” said former Princeton Councilman and community leader Lance Liverman. He went on to mention the need for an improved website for finding information, adding, “We want them to do more reporting back to the community — what they’re doing, what they’re funding.”

Princeton Councilman Leighton Newlin, who co-chaired the meeting, applauded the “great information exchanged” on Saturday, but noted, “There was definitely a call for greater transparency and accountability.” He added, “We’re at a crossroads and this is a critical time for homeowners in Princeton.” more

WANING NEMESIS: The spotted lanternfly, in its full-grown adult state as it prepares to mate and lay eggs in September and October, is declining in numbers in Princeton, according to Municipal Arborist Taylor Sapudar. Residents are advised to keep on stomping and removing ailanthus trees.

By Donald Gilpin

In late August the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) informed New Jersey residents that they no longer need to report sightings of the spotted lanternfly. The invasive insect is now present in all 21 counties of the state, but in Princeton the numbers are diminishing, according to Princeton Municipal Arborist Taylor Sapudar.

“I have not seen high populations in Princeton at all this year,” Sapudar said. “It’s much better than last year. I might have seen one or two adult lanternflies this year, but in years past I saw them everywhere.”

Sapudar noted that when the spotted lanternfly first appeared in New Jersey in 2018 it was only present in a few counties bordering Pennsylvania. The NJDA wanted to have people report it so it could help control and prevent the spread and coordinate treatment resources. more

By Donald Gilpin

Cecilia X. Birge

Cecilia X. Birge is starting the 2023-24 school year as the new Princeton High School (PHS) principal, following her official appointment on Thursday, August 31 by the Princeton Board of Education (BOE) in approving the recommendation of Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Superintendent Carol Kelley.

An assistant principal at PHS since 2020 and a teacher of mathematics and special education before that, Birge, who lives on Leigh Avenue in Princeton, brings to the job a diverse background and a wide range of experiences in finance, business, and municipal government, as well as education.

“During the selection process, Ms. Birge showcased her exceptional leadership qualities, along with her deep commitment to the success of all students, her passion for education, and her respect for the entire Princeton High School community,” said Kelley. “For these reasons I know she will be successful as the next principal of Princeton High School.” more

By Donald Gilpin

Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber addressed the members of Princeton’s Class of 2027 at the University’s Opening Exercises on Sunday, September 3, urging them to look forward to “transformation” as an important part of their education over the next four years.

In the annual ceremony that culminates a week of orientation activities and marks the start of the academic year, Eisgruber noted that “transformative” is the word he hears most often when talking to Princeton alumni about their education. more

THE SHOW GOES ON: When a bomb threat forced evacuation of the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice on Saturday morning, the Drag Queen Story Hour moved down Mercer Street to a nearby stoop, where Carrie Dragshaw (in foreground on steps at right) carried on her reading as children and families listened. The Princeton Police Department scoured the BRCSJ headquarters and surrounding area. No explosives were found. (Photo by Robert Zurfluh)

By Donald Gilpin

A bomb threat on Saturday morning, August 26, at the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice (BRCSJ) on Stockton Street forced about 50 participants at the Drag Queen Story Hour gathering to evacuate the building.

Police searched the building as event headliner Carrie Dragshaw (Dan Clay) moved down the street to a nearby stoop, and the performance and dialogue took place in shortened form with children and adults sitting and standing on the sidewalk and grass alongside Mercer Street. 

The Princeton Police Department (PPD) reported, “A canine sweep of the building and surrounding area was completed, and no explosive devices were found.” The Detective Bureau is conducting a follow-up investigation into the case.

A PPD press release noted that at 10:49 a.m. on Saturday they received an email communication from an unknown author containing “derogatory remarks aimed at LGBTQIA members and those affiliated with the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice.” The email also stated that numerous explosive devices had been placed in and around the BRCSJ headquarters. more

By Donald Gilpin

In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling two months ago that prohibited colleges from considering race, ethnicity, and national origin when considering candidates for admission, Princeton University has announced changes in its admissions procedure and has established an ad hoc committee to examine its admissions policies.

The committee’s recommendations are expected by the end of the 2023-24 academic year, according to a University press release. In effect for the current 2023-24 admissions cycle will be new essay prompts in the undergraduate application and new procedures to make the race, ethnicity, and national origin of the applicants unavailable to University personnel.

“The University will be in full compliance with the Supreme Court ruling for the 2023-24 admissions cycle,” said Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber. “But this ruling also comes after a global pandemic and amid a significant expansion of the undergraduate student body. It is a good time to take a broader look and ensure our admissions policies in general are optimally serving the University’s mission.” more

BUDDING SCIENTISTS: Princeton High School students Viviana Cristofanilli, standing left, and her twin sister Angelica, standing beside her, ran a Biomedical Immersion Camp for middle schoolers at All Saints’ Church this summer. (Photo courtesy of Viviana Cristofanilli)

By Donald Gilpin

Princeton area students — 11 recognized by Not In Our Town Princeton (NIOT) for promoting racial justice and building inclusivity and two sisters who ran a Biomedical Immersion Camp for middle schoolers this summer — have been making a difference in their communities.

At their 26th annual awards ceremony in June, attended by more than 100 people at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton, NIOT celebrated the eight students and their accomplishments, ranging from lobbying for recognition of the Lunar New Year to the creation of the Diversity Council at Princeton High School (PHS), according to a NIOT press release. more

By Donald Gilpin

The cleanup projects are being completed, and the teachers have been coming in to organize their classrooms. Teachers and staff will be reporting for in-service preparation and meetings next week, and the first day of school for all of the nearly 4,000 Princeton Public Schools (PPS) students is Tuesday, September 5.

“I’m very excited for the school year,” said Johnson Park Principal Angela Siso Stentz. “I’m excited to see our students. We’ve missed them. It’s felt like a long summer, and I’m waiting for them to arrive at our front door. I’m also excited to see my staff next week and to get the school year going.”

“Belonging and Community: Where Every Learner Thrives” is the official district theme for the 2023-24 school year. In a message to PPS  parents, Superintendent Carol Kelley expressed her gratitude for the parents’ support in the education of their children. “The trusting relationships, open communication, and partnerships between you and PPS staff provide the supporting conditions for our students’ success,” she wrote. more

By Donald Gilpin

Liberal arts education may be in jeopardy, as colleges around the country announce the elimination of degree programs and massive cuts in faculty positions, but Princeton Adult School (PAS), ready to launch its 85th year with catalogs in the mail this week and fall course registration underway, is bucking the trend. There are 298 courses available for every possible interest.

Want to study sewing literacy and “Get to Know your Sewing Machine”? How about “No Limit, Texas Hold ‘em Poker”?  Or maybe start “Your Second Career: Becoming a Flight Attendant”? Or, on a more scholarly note, “Shakespeare’s Falstaff and Henry IV: the Love-Hate Triangles of Fathers and Sons” or “Nudes: The Naked Truth in Art”?

Language courses, walking tours, fly fishing, computers, media, gastronomy, health, and a host of other traditional fields are also available at PAS.

Or maybe you’ve always wanted to “Discover Ancient Egypt” or “Learn to Read the Tarot”?  Or get on your feet and learn “Ballroom Dance Basics” (waltz, foxtrot, rumba, tango, cha-cha, swing, and more) or experience “An Introduction to Sketch Comedy”? How about exploring “The Power and Pleasure of Fragrancy” and learning about the world of modern perfumery or “Understanding Personality Styles and How it Can Improve Your Personal and Business Relationships” or “Introduction to Glassblowing”? more