January 29, 2025

Voters Approve $89.1M PPS Facilities Bond Referendum

By Donald Gilpin

 In unofficial results from a Tuesday, January 28 special election, Princeton residents cast their ballots in favor of all three parts of a plan that will provide $89.1 million for repairs, upgrades, and expansion to address capacity issues in the Princeton Public Schools (PPS).

“This outcome shows that voters understand that the continued success of Princeton Public Schools is vital to the community,” said Interim Superintendent of Schools Kathie Foster. “With these improvements, our district can prepare for growth and prioritize the neighborhood elementary schools and innovative educational experiences that our community values.” more

Array of Area Events to Mark Black History Month

By Donald Gilpin

Black History Month began as a tradition of Black teachers in the segregated South in the 19th and early 20th century commemorating important people and events in Black history during the week of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (February 12) and Frederick Douglass’ birthday (February 14).

Almost 100 years ago in 1926, Black History Week was created when African American historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History announced that the second week of February would be recognized as “Negro History Week.”

In February 1970 Black History Week expanded to become a full month at the urging of Black United Students at Kent State University, and in 1976 President Gerald Ford recognized Black History Month during the celebration of the U.S. Bicentennial. He urged all Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”  more

PHS Scholars Shine In National Regeneron Science Talent Search

AWARD-WINNING SCIENTISTS: Princeton High School Seniors, from left, Benjamin Murphy Gitai, Yurai Gutierrez Morales, and Amy Lin were in the nation’s top 300 teen scientists in the 2025 Regeneron Science Talent Search. On January 23, Morales was selected as one of 40 finalists, and she will travel to Washington, D.C., in March to compete to become one of the top 10 winners in the country. (Photo courtesy of Mark Eastburn)

By Donald Gilpin

Princeton High School (PHS) Senior Yurai Gutierrez Morales has been selected as one of 40 finalists nationwide in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, competing for a top prize of $250,000.

Based on the originality and creativity of their scientific research, as well as their achievement and leadership inside and outside the classroom, the finalists, who were announced on January 23, were selected from a record number of 2,471 entrants. more

Environmental Impact of Road Salt Is Subject of “Winter Salt Week”

TESTING THE WATERS: Volunteer scientists have been busy monitoring the effects of winter road salting on freshwater streams and lakes. Some 550 participants have collected more than 3,000 chloride measurements across New Jersey.

By Anne Levin

Those white crystals that proliferate on pavements and roadways, to keep vehicles from sliding and humans from falling on winter ice and snow, are the topic of a series in which The Watershed Institute is closely involved.

Winter Salt Week, which runs through Friday, January 31, aims to raise awareness of the environmental consequences of road and sidewalk salt. “Shovel More, Salt Less, Help Keep Freshwater Fresh” is the logo of the initiative, which urges the public not to stop using the salt — just to use less of it. more

Book Launch at Arts Council Introduces Two Publications About its Neighborhood

POETRY AND HISTORY: The Arts Council of Princeton and the Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society have partnered on the publication of two books honoring the legacy of the community. The Rev. Gregory S. Smith, shown at right, is the author of a book of poetry, for which the cover was designed by his son. Arts Council Director Adam Welch has written a brief socio-political history “zine” about the neighborhood.

By Anne Levin

Everyone is invited to a book launch party on Sunday, February 2 at the Arts Council of Princeton, where two new publications celebrating the Witherspoon-Jackson Historic District, home base to the nonprofit, will be officially unveiled.

The Rev. Gregory S. Smith, who grew up in the neighborhood, has written a book of poems, titled Reflections from a Vibrant Past. Arts Council Director Adam Welch’s 4-by-6-inch, 56-page “zine,” simply titled Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood, tells the history of the area through artfully arranged text, reproduced maps, photographs, and illustrations. more

Solid Waste, Tennis, Affordable Housing Among Resolutions at Council Meeting

By Anne Levin

In a brief meeting Monday evening, January 27, Princeton Council approved several resolutions involving the fourth round of the town’s affordable housing obligation, solid and bulk waste collection, tennis in Community Park, and other initiatives.

The Council also opted to table an item on the consent agenda involving a resolution for the appointment of an Emergency Management Council.

Some Council members have received calls from citizens concerned about the presence of several police and other official cars in the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood. Councilwoman Leticia Fraga explained that the proliferation of these vehicles was due to training, and “nothing to be concerned about. This was actually part of a training that the county is conducting and Princeton is hosting,” she said. “It is for defensive tactics training required by the AG [attorney general].” more

Adult Acting Collective at McCarter: “Child-Like Joy” on Wednesday Evenings

“IN IMAGINARY CIRCUMSTANCES”: Jacqueline Knox’s Adult Acting Collective students work on an improv exercise in McCarter’s Berlind Theatre Rehearsal Room, as they step out of their comfort zones and hone their skills every Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (Photo by Genevieve Bouchonville)

By Donald Gilpin

It’s 6:15 p.m. on a cold January evening, and the students are starting to gather in the rehearsal room at McCarter’s Berlind Theatre for their weekly Adult Acting Collective class. This is not a typical group of students, not even a typical collection of aspiring actors.

Ranging in ages from their 20s to 80s, this group is diverse. “We come from all different walks of life and different backgrounds,” said Simone, who has spent a long career in corporate life and has been taking classes at McCarter for the past few semesters. “We have pharmaceutical executives, writers, lawyers, scientists, and more.” more

January 22, 2025

Voters Prepare to Weigh In on PPS Referendum

By Donald Gilpin

Princeton voters will go to the polls next Tuesday, January 28, to vote on a Princeton Public Schools (PPS) facilities bond referendum with a total cost of $89.1 million if all three questions pass.

“The board separated the referendum into three questions, and if approved, it will allow us to receive up to an estimated $19.9 million in state financial aid to offset the financial impact on taxpayers,” PPS Board of Education (BOE) President Dafna Kedal wrote in a January 21 email. “We encourage everyone to visit princetonk12.org/referendum to learn more about the projects, and of course to vote by January 28.”

Kendal went on to emphasize the importance of the process of informing Princeton residents about the referendum during the past few months. “We have held at least 30 events for community members to come out and tour the schools, learn about the referendum projects, and ask questions,” she wrote. “Our administration and professionals have done a great job explaining the projects and why we need to increase capacity for student enrollment as the municipality’s population grows.” more

Winter Season Brings Norovirus and Other Maladies to Princeton

By Donald Gilpin

It’s flu season, along with rising case numbers of RSV and COVID-19, not to mention warnings of a bird flu threat. And if that’s not enough, U.S. health officials are now claiming it’s the worst season in many years for outbreaks of the norovirus, which is the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea from acute gastroenteritis among people of all ages in the U.S.

Princeton Deputy Administrator/Health Officer Jeff Grosser reported that the Princeton Health Department has been monitoring the situation closely, investigating two separate norovirus outbreaks in a Princeton school and a day care last week, along with a few other localized outbreaks.

Cases of norovirus are common during the winter months, Grosser said, “especially in schools where the virus spreads quickly due to close contacts and shared surfaces.” The Princeton Health Department was able to identify 10 to 12 students/staff in each outbreak. “This demonstrates the quick spreading nature of norovirus,” Grosser added. more

Talk on New University Art Museum Offers a “Sneak Peek” at its Interior

By Anne Levin

On a snowy evening last week, the auditorium at Princeton University’s Friend Center was packed with a standing-room-only crowd for a talk about the new building of the Princeton University Art Museum. James Steward, the museum’s director, and Chris Newth, its senior associate director for collections and exhibitions, revealed some of the challenges and surprises — happy and otherwise — that have come up during the project.

“We are finally at a point where we can say we are opening this year,” said Steward at the beginning of the event titled “Conversation: Hidden Stories: Preparing a New Museum.” But he wasn’t ready to set a specific date.

The January 16 event was part of the museum’s “Late Thursdays” programming. The focus was, largely, on the materials and design of the building’s interior. The museum’s three floors are to have a total square footage of 144,000 square feet, almost double the size of its former building.  more

Science on Saturday is Underway at Princeton Plasma Physics Lab

SATURDAY SCIENCE: Jongsoo Yoo, a principal research physicist and deputy head of discovery plasma science at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), focuses on solar flares in the first in a series of seven Science on Saturday lectures featuring a slate of distinguished speakers on a range of topics of current interest.  (Photo by Elle Starkman/PPPL Communications Department)

By Donald Gilpin

Solar flares, quantum computing, microplastic pollution, direct recycling, schizophrenia, the science of polling, and more. Science fans of all ages are gathering on Saturday mornings over the next two months to participate in the 41st year of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory’s (PPPL) Science on Saturday Lecture Series.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fusion Energy Sciences program, this year’s Science on Saturday series launched on January 18 with a presentation by Jongsoo Yoo, principal research physicist and deputy head of discovery plasma science at PPPL, who focused on the surface of the sun, magnetic reconnection, and the mysterious process behind solar flares. more

Federal Agencies Award Grants to Local Arts and Humanities Projects

By Anne Levin

Princeton-based arts and humanities initiatives are among the recipients of grants in the most recent round of funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

Princeton University Concerts (PUC) has received $20,000 from the NEA for its Healing with Music series, while Morven Museum and Garden was granted $25,000 for a project addressing the history of slavery. In addition, Divya Cherian, associate professor of history at Princeton University, has been awarded $60,000 from the NEH for a book project titled Conjured States: Witchcraft and Politics in Western India, 1750-1900. more

January 15, 2025

Community Welcomes New PPS Superintendent

By Donald Gilpin

Michael LaSusa

Last week’s special meeting of the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education (BOE), which has grappled with more than its share of difficult issues over the past few years, was unusual in both tone and content.

“Everybody is smiling,” said BOE Chair Dafna Kendal as she opened the meeting. “It’s my ninth year as a Board member, and I’ve never had a meeting like this. Thank you all for indulging me.”

The upbeat mood continued for the full 33 minutes of the meeting as the BOE unanimously appointed Michael LaSusa as the next PPS superintendent before adjourning for celebratory cake and refreshments with the group of about 50 enthusiastic supporters gathered in the Valley Road administration building conference room. more

Preservation Commission Endorses Proposal for Witherspoon Project

By Anne Levin

Following a review by Princeton’s Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) that stretched into two sessions last week, Hillier Properties LLC was given approval to take its application for restorations and construction of several properties in the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood to the next step.

The proposal will go in front of the Planning Board at a Zoom meeting on Thursday, January 23 at 7 p.m., where there will be an opportunity for more public comment.

Witherspoon Hall was nearly two thirds full at the initial HPC meeting on January 8. Architect J. Robert Hillier, publisher of Town Topics newspaper, gave an overview of the project, which involves the restoration of several houses and other buildings he owns — 15 on Witherspoon Street and one on Quarry Street — and construction of new buildings behind them. The goal is to preserve the architectural character of the existing buildings; the newer structures, which will contain apartments, would be in a more contemporary style. more

Service Opportunities, Cultural Events, Religious Services, and More on Tap for MLK Jr. Day

By Donald Gilpin

Next Monday, January 20 is a federal holiday honoring the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., a civil rights leader and renowned proponent of nonviolent resistance in his quest for racial equality and justice. Many events and service opportunities will be held in the area, as Princeton and the U.S. celebrate King’s life, work, and beliefs.

“As we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we are reminded that the dream he shared was not merely aspirational — it was a call to action,” Princeton Councilman Leighton Newlin wrote in a January 13 email. “Today, in the face of profound division, fear, and uncertainty, his words, and his work, demand more of us than ever before.”

He continued, “Dr. King’s legacy teaches us not to surrender in the face of adversity but to rise above it. We shall overcome — not because it is inevitable, but because we are determined. We are winners. more

Kingston Historical Society Hosts Talks On Different Aspects of Town’s Heritage

SMALL BUT SIGNIFICANT: One of the oldest communities in Central New Jersey, Kingston — depicted on this early map — is the subject of three events taking place at the Kingston United Methodist Church. The first is on January 19 at 2:30 p.m.

By Anne Levin

Thinking about what might engage history-minded members of the public during the winter months, members of the Kingston Historical Society (KHS) came up with a new idea.

“Tea Time Talks” on three winter Sundays — starting this Sunday, January 19 at 2:30 p.m. — are 15-minute lectures at the Kingston United Methodist Church, each with a different focus. Afterward, there is time for tea and conversations with the presenters. more

Resolution Approved at Council Meeting is First Step in Renovation of Community Park South

By Anne Levin

A resolution authorizing an agreement with a consulting company for the revamping of Community Park South was among the actions taken at a brief meeting of Princeton Council on Monday evening, January 13.

Council voted unanimously to give The Bowman Consulting Group $709,201.50 for the first phase of the initiative, which involves renovation of the 26-acre expanse bordered by Route 206, Birch Avenue, Community Park School, and Community Park Pool. The project has been on Princeton’s “to do” list since the mid-1980s, officials said.

The contract with Bowman is for the entire three-phase program, but the town can’t afford to do it all at once. more

January 8, 2025

Mike LaSusa To Be New Schools Superintendent

By Donald Gilpin

The Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education (BOE) voted 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

RSV Levels Rising; Local Health Officials Assess the Situation

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

After Nearly Two Years of Chats, Leighton Newlin is Still Listening

By Anne Levin

During his first run for a seat on Princeton Council in 2021, Leighton Newlin spent a lot of time walking through every neighborhood in town, talking with people about issues that were on their minds. He was halfway into his first term on the governing body when it struck him that few of those people were showing up at Council meetings to ask questions or air their concerns.

“I realized that some people felt intimidated by Council meetings,” he said. “And I thought, if people have questions but are reluctant to ask them, maybe I’ll go out and try to talk to them at a different place every week, and see what the response is.”

That was in April 2023 — the official debut of “Leighton Listens.” On almost every Wednesday since, Newlin has visited a local gathering spot to do just that — listen. Since the first session at Hinds Plaza, at which five people showed up, Newlin has been hearing about issues of concern from a range of people, some of whom have become regulars. more

Conservation Organization Receives Grants To Promote Private Land Stewardship

LAND STEWARDSHIP AT HOME: Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space Executive Director Jenn Rogers, center, is shown with the organization’s Vice President Mark Bean and his wife Samantha, in front of a rain garden they established as part of the Community Conservation Program.

By Anne Levin

Thanks to two grants totaling $101,250, The Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FoHVOS) have the resources to involve more property owners in land conservation.

The Princeton Area Community Foundation’s Bunbury Grant program and the Open Space Institute and Land Trust Alliance’s Land and Climate Program have donated funds to support the expansion of the nonprofit’s community partnerships in the conservation of privately-owned land, as well as continued stewardship of properties owned by the organization. more

People and Stories/Gente y Cuentos Earns Top Rating from Charity Navigator

By Anne Levin

People and Stories/Gente y Cuentos has begun 2025 with a pleasant surprise: a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest evaluator of charities.

“One of our donors mentioned to me that she hadn’t seen us on Charity Navigator,” said Debra Lampert-Rudman, the organization’s executive director. “So I went and filled out the forms. And lo and behold, we were four-star. It’s a milestone for us. I think Charity Navigator is something the public generally looks to.”

Based at spacious new offices in the Wall Street office complex off Route 206 north of downtown Princeton, the 53-year-old organization reaches youth, adults, and seniors in diverse social service agencies through eight-week programs focused on literature and poetry. Participants meet in prisons, homeless shelters, alternative schools, libraries, and senior centers. The goal is to transform lives through literature. more

January 1, 2025

Growing Town Balances Optimism, Concerns at 2024 Year End

NEW HOTEL IN TOWN: The Graduate by Hilton Princeton, which has an entrance on Chambers Street, opened in August and doubled the number of hotel rooms in town. It is one of many new businesses that opened in 2024.(Photo by Andrew Frasz)

By Donald Gilpin and Anne Levin

In 2024 Princeton saw another year of major ongoing construction projects, accompanied by a certain amount of controversy; 15 new businesses coming to town; a sharp focus and significant progress on environmental issues; a more peaceful year than last in the Princeton Public Schools; a year of accomplishments along with a certain amount of turbulence at Princeton University; and an abundance of both hope and fear for the new year.

The opening of the Graduate by Hilton Princeton hotel and the Triumph Restaurant & Brewery, the completion of the Witherspoon Street Improvement Project in downtown Princeton, and the final stages of the Alice and Avalon Princeton construction on Harrison Street near the Princeton Shopping Center were major development milestones, and the approval of a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement with Herring Properties for construction of apartments on the former Princeton Theological Seminary property suggests that the building momentum will be continuing into 2025 and beyond.

There were demonstrations in town, most significantly in support of Princeton’s immigrant community following a July 10 raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, and on the Princeton University campus, where the Gaza Solidarity Encampment occupied McCosh Courtyard then Cannon Green for a total of about three weeks.

A December 19 discussion at the Nassau Presbyterian Church on “Strengthening Rights in Immigration, Healthcare, Environment, and Law,” with a panel including some of New Jersey’s leading officials, reflected both priorities and concerns that Princeton and the state carry into the coming year. more

December 25, 2024

Council Approves PILOT for Seminary Site

By Anne Levin

At a meeting of Princeton Council on Thursday evening, December 19, the governing body voted to approve an ordinance granting a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement to the redeveloper of the former Tennent-Roberts-Whiteley campus of Princeton Theological Seminary.

Herring Properties plans to build a 238-unit apartment complex, with 20 percent designated affordable, on a 4.8 acre site. The PILOT agreement exempts the developer from taxes for 30 to 35 years, during which 95 percent in special payments are made to the municipality, and 5 percent to Mercer County.

In a letter to Council earlier in the day, Princeton Board of Education President Dafna Kendal asked that money from those payments be shared with the public schools.  more

Panelists Discuss “New Era for Syria” and the Middle East

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