February 14, 2024

Eisgruber Delineates “State of the University”

By Donald Gilpin

In his eighth annual “State of the University” letter last month, Princeton University President Christopher Eisgruber described “a challenging political landscape” for universities with “increasingly virulent threats to academic freedom and institutional autonomy,” as he highlighted Princeton University’s ongoing commitment to inclusivity, free speech, and academic excellence.

In the wake of campus conflicts across the country, including protests, charges of Islamophobia and antisemitism, and congressional hearings leading to the resignations of the presidents of the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard, Eisgruber pointed up a “healthier” campus climate at Princeton. He described that climate as “a credit to faculty, students, and staff who have searched for ways to communicate civilly about sensitive issues, to support one another, and to comply fully with Princeton’s policies that facilitate free speech in ways consistent with the functioning of the University.” more

Sustainable Princeton Gives Progress Report On Climate Action Plan

By Anne Levin

Five years ago, Princeton adopted a Climate Action Plan (CAP) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, preserve environmental quality, and enhance public health and safety. Closely involved in the plan is Sustainable Princeton, which delivered a progress report last Wednesday, February 7 at Princeton Public Library.

Christine Symington, executive director of the nonprofit, emphasized to those in attendance in person and on Zoom that the work that has been done since 2019 “is not ours necessarily, but is the result of many individuals putting together their ideas. We compile it and keep tabs on it. But this is not Sustainable Princeton’s Climate Action Plan. It’s the Princeton community’s Climate Action Plan.” more

Airport Advances with New Terminal Plans, But Critics Continue to Press Objections

By Donald Gilpin

Most travelers who have flown out of Trenton-Mercer Airport recently would probably agree that upgraded facilities are needed, but Mercer County’s plans to build a new, larger terminal are meeting resistance and facing environmental, economic, and quality-of-life concerns.

The airport website notes that a new terminal has been a priority of the county in order to accommodate airport users and to meet future demand. Plans call for the 28,000-square-foot terminal, built in the 1970s, to be replaced with a new 125,000-square-foot facility located adjacent to the existing building, which is to be demolished. There is no plan for new or longer runways, and the size of the airport will remain unchanged, the website says. more

Princeton Festival Returns in June with Opera, Gospel, Ballet, and More

NEW SEASON: Back in the big tent on the grounds of Morven, Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) plans an eclectic mix of programming for the Princeton Festival June 7-22. PSO Artistic Director Rossen Milanov will lead several performances. (Photo by Carolo Pascale)

By Anne Levin

It has been three years since the Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) first staged the annual Princeton Festival in a spacious tent atop the parking lot of Morven Museum & Garden. There were certain logistical challenges in year one. But by last summer, things had fallen into place.

“We actually had no idea what it would be like when we were planning it. And all things considered, year one was an unbelievable success,” said Marc Uys, PSO executive director. “Year two was actually really fun.” more

PHS Senior Nick Hagedorn Brings Home First Place In Math at Taiwan Science Fair

INTERNATIONAL MATH CHAMP:Princeton High School Senior Nick Hagedorn, third from right in front row, celebrates his victory in the math competition at the 22nd Annual Taiwan International Science Fair in Taipei. (Photo courtesy of Princeton Public Schools)

By Donald Gilpin

Not a stranger to the worlds of science, math, and high-level competition, Princeton High School (PHS) senior Nick Hagedorn took his knot theory project to the 22nd Annual International Science Fair in Taiwan (TISF) last month and brought back a first place award in mathematics.

During the five-day event, Hagedorn competed with about 630 students from 27 different countries who were presenting their research projects to judges and peers at the National Taiwan Science Education Center in Taipei. The TISF is sponsored by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education. more

Princeton University Trivia Book Takes on Campus Myths and Truths

By Anne Levin

Maybe you’ve heard of Betsey Stockton, the enslaved servant of a Princeton University president who founded the first school for children of color in Princeton in 1840. Perhaps you’re aware of the year that the University finally admitted women (1969).

But you might not know about the 24 Princeton students who were arrested for “sleighing” in Trenton and drunkenly singing “Jingle Bells” loudly, after midnight, on January 18, 1879. It’s also unlikely that you’ve heard the rumor that Alexander Hall was designed by an architecture student as his senior thesis, for which he was failed. Later, seeking revenge, he donated money on the condition that his design be used. more

February 7, 2024

Plastic Bag Ban Moves Ahead Despite Critics

By Donald Gilpin

The New Jersey plastic bag ban, enacted in May 2022, is calculated to have resulted in almost nine million single-use plastic bags per year that are not polluting the Princeton environment, according to Environment New Jersey’s Waste Reduction Calculator. Laid side to side, those bags would stretch 1,561 miles, and eliminating those bags has saved 45,318 gallons of oil needed to produce them and has cut single-use plastic bag litter by at least 33 percent each year.

New Jersey’s law, in effect now for almost two years, prevents stores from giving out single-use plastic bags to customers and also restricts most stores from providing single-use paper bags as well as polystyrene foam food takeout containers. Single-use plastic straws may be provided only at a customer’s request. more

Nonprofit Share My Meals Reports Big Jump in Healthy Meals Recovered

By Anne Levin

The year 2023 was one of exceptional growth for Share My Meals, the Princeton-based nonprofit that fights food insecurity and the environmental impact of food waste.

Compared to 2022, the organization has reported, there was an 85 percent increase in the number of healthy meals recovered from corporations, hospitals, educational institutions, restaurants, farms, and hotels.

These meals were delivered to 50 families and 15 senior citizens in Princeton. Clients of 23 nonprofits throughout New Brunswick, Summit, Morristown, Camden, Somerville, and Trenton also received these donations in 2023. In all, the organization, has reported, they recovered 72,000 meals while simultaneously preventing 294,539 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. more

PHS Researchers Will Represent New Jersey In National Samsung STEM Competition

WINNING RESEARCH SCIENTISTS: The Princeton High School student research team has been selected as the New Jersey finalist in the national finals of the 2024 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM Competition. (Photo courtesy of Mark Eastburn)

By Donald Gilpin

A Princeton High School (PHS) team of about 15 student researchers under the direction of PHS science teacher Mark Eastburn has advanced to the finals of the 2024 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM Competition, one of 50 state winners selected from 300 state finalist schools that submitted plans delineating how their project will use STEM to address an important community issue.

The PHS team has been creating interactive robots that can speak various languages of the schools’ student population, including Spanish, Haitian Creole, and the Mayan language Mam. The goal is to help preserve Indigenous languages by using a robotic platform powered by artificial intelligence in the form of a stuffed animal “friend” that will speak Mam.  more

Governors’ Mansions are the Theme For This Year’s “Grand Homes” Series

“STATE-LY HOMES”: Hawaii’s executive mansion Washington Place is among the four homes featured in Morven’s “Grand Homes & Gardens” series. (Creative Commons)

By Anne Levin

It has been five years since Morven Museum & Garden began presenting its popular March series, “Grand Homes & Gardens,” devoted to stately mansions and lush landscapes. This year’s theme, “State-ly Homes: Exploring U.S. Governors’ Mansions and Gardens,” starts right here in Princeton with Drumthwacket, the official residence of New Jersey’s governors since 1981.

The series begins March 5 and continues through March 27, with a mix of live and online programs featuring additional governors’ mansions in Maine, Virginia, and Hawaii. Participants can experience the whole series or individual segments. more

Princeton Author of Acclaimed Debut Novel Returns for Friends, Foundation Library Event

By Wendy Greenberg

Jinwoo Chong (Photo by Kristen Fedor)

The novel Flux, which explores grief, trauma, relationships, and corporate culture, has been praised in the New York Times, Publisher’s Weekly, and New York Review of Books, and is on myriad “must read” lists.

The book that has captivated so many is the debut from 2013 Princeton High School graduate Jinwoo Chong, who will return to Princeton on Thursday, February 22, to speak at the Princeton Public Library. The 6:30 p.m. event is a fundraiser for the library’s Friends and Foundation. He will appear with Laura Spence-Ash, whose debut novel, Beyond the Sea, was published last year. more

Closing of Hopewell Theater Marks the End of an Era

By Anne Levin

Hopewell Theater, a cultural landmark on South Greenwood Avenue in Hopewell Borough for 144 years, has closed its doors. Citing rising costs and the inability to obtain a liquor license, the theater has notified patrons by email and posted the news on its website.

“We are deeply saddened to announce that we must close the Hopewell Theater,” the website reads. “Rising costs and the inability to obtain a liquor license — a key income source for live venues — have contributed to our decision. Thank you to our patrons, talent, staff, and the community of Hopewell for standing with us through the years. None of what we have accomplished would have been possible without you.” more

ArtSpace and SewingSpace Programs at HomeFront

To truly break the cycle of poverty, especially for those in the throes of homelessness, an abundance of training and emotional support is required. In conjunction with emergency food and shelter, HomeFront’s 25-plus wraparound services, including ArtSpace and SewingSpace, serve this purpose. These visual therapies can be as vital to one’s recovery as verbal therapy. In fact, HomeFront notes that many clients find it easier to express their feelings by creating with their hands — rather than trying to craft just the right words. more

January 31, 2024

University to Contribute $50M+ to Municipality

By Donald Gilpin

Princeton University will be contributing more than $50 million over the next five years to the town of Princeton, community organizations, and lower- and middle-income residents, according to a University announcement made on Tuesday, January 30.

The funds will be supporting mutual town-University interests including sustainability and resiliency, socio-economic diversity and equity, safety and emergency services, college access, mass transit, and municipal infrastructure.  more

Fire Department Honors its Local Heroes in Council Meeting Ceremony

“BEDROCK OF THE COMMUNITY’S SECURITY”: More than 40 members of the Princeton Fire Department were honored at the January 22 Princeton Council meeting for their many years of service to the community. In the front row, seated, from left, are Anthony Krystaponis, 50 years of service; John Clausen, 60 years; and Robert “Higgie” Higgins, 75 years. (Photo courtesy of Cynthia Clausen)

By Donald Gilpin

More than 40 members of the Princeton Fire Department (PFD) received awards for a total of thousands of years of service to the community In a ceremony at last week’s Princeton Council meeting.

“Celebrating their unwavering commitment and outstanding contributions to community safety,” according to a PFD press release, the ceremony marked a return to tradition after a hiatus and postponement of award presentations since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. more

Eclectic Roster of Local Events to Mark Black History Month

By Anne Levin

It has been nearly a century since the first observance of Black History Month in America. Each of those years, the month-long celebration in February has had a theme.

This year’s focus is on the contributions of Black painters, dancers, musicians, and other cultural figures. A four-minute video on the website of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (nmaahc.si.edu) serves as a fitting introduction to the breadth and scope of these artists, who are being celebrated at the museum in Washington, D.C.

Closer to home, the list of events marking “African Americans in the Arts” includes a wide range of subjects — artistic and otherwise. Lectures, concerts, a birthday party for Frederick Douglass, plays, film screenings, even a special African and Afro-Caribbean board game night are among the tributes taking place this month. more

Entrepreneur’s Arts Education Foundation Memorializes Creativity of Wife, Daughter

CREATING CURRICULUM: From left, Olivia and Leslie Foundation founder Chris Kuenne, Johnson Park Elementary School Principal Angela Siso Stentz, and Ronah Harris, CEO of Maker Prep and a foundation advisory board member, discuss the foundation’s new integrated math and arts program.

By Wendy Greenberg

A program that uses art to teach critical thinking skills to kindergarten and first grade students honors the creative energies of a family’s mother and sister, who were both artists.

The Olivia & Leslie Foundation has launched an integrated math and arts program that embraces youths’ natural tendency to create, and adds problem-solving skills. While it arose from overwhelming loss, it inspired in its founders, Chris Kuenne and his sons, the desire to build confidence in budding artists.  more

Orchestra of Ukraine Concert to be Followed By “Artists in Wartime” Conversation

THE SHOW MUST GO ON: Thanks to a collaborative, behind-the-scenes effort by McCarter Theatre Center and Princeton University, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine has overcome a funding shortage that would have prevented their appearance on February 11.

By Anne Levin

The February 11 appearance by the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine was booked for McCarter Theatre Center nearly a year ago. But when war broke out in the Middle East last October, adding to the already existing conflict in Ukraine, it became increasingly unlikely that the orchestra would be able to embark on its tour of U.S. locations — most on or affiliated with college campuses.

A representative of the orchestra called McCarter just before the winter holidays. All of the orchestra’s funding for travel and cargo had dwindled, and they were told by the Ukrainian business community that they weren’t going to get the same subsidy. Navigating in and out of a war zone added to the problem. more

HomeFront Week of Hope Offers Array of Opportunities to Learn, Volunteer

THE SPIRIT OF SERVICE: Volunteers at the HomeFront Choice Food Pantry prepare food to be delivered to hungry families. HomeFront’s Week of Hope, February 12-17, invites visitors to join in a variety of volunteer opportunities and educational forums and to learn how to make a difference where help is needed in the community. (Photo courtesy of HomeFront)

By Donald Gilpin

Diaper wrapping for families in need, delivering meals and supplies to area motels, an art event in Hopewell, a bus tour to learn about HomeFront’s more than 35 different programs, lunch with HomeFront CEO Sarah Steward —during its Week of Hope, from February 12 to 17, HomeFront is offering an array of volunteer and educational opportunities for everybody to get involved and make a difference in the community.

“I always look forward to the Week of Hope as its brings us together with community members committed to making a difference through service,” wrote HomeFront CEO Sarah Steward in an email. “It’s a time to connect, learn, and address the challenges of poverty and homelessness in a meaningful way. Join us by signing up for opportunities throughout the week. And learn more about how you can make a real, tangible impact in the lives of our neighbors in need.” more

January 24, 2024

Council Approves Consolidation of Board, Commissions

By Anne Levin

At a public hearing on Monday evening, January 22, about its proposal to consolidate the Civil Rights Commission, the Human Services Commission, and the Affordable Housing Board into one single committee, Princeton Council voted 5-0 to follow through with the ordinance despite three hours of testimony — nearly all of it opposed to the restructuring.

Emotions ran high at the meeting, both on and off the dais. Council members voted at the beginning of the hearing to amend the ordinance, changing its name from the Community Services Advisory Committee to the Advisory Committee on Affordable Housing, Human Serivces, and Racial, Social, and Economic Equity; the number of members, and how the chairperson would be selected. They also apologized for the way the ordinance was rolled out without committee members’ knowledge. more

Citizen Group Sues Municipality, Mayor Over Master Plan

By Anne Levin

Members of the Princeton Coalition for Responsible Development (PCRD) have filed a lawsuit in Mercer County Superior Court challenging the Princeton Planning Board’s recent approval of the Community Master Plan. The PCRD filed the lawsuit, identifying the municipality, Planning Board, and Mayor Mark Freda as defendants, on January 16.

Started by residents of the neighborhood bordering Princeton Theological Seminary when buildings on the campus were demolished and a multi-family development was proposed, the PCRD is described on its website as “a nonprofit organization that was formed to advocate for and enable a more effective and collaborative approach to land use development and redevelopment in Princeton.”

The group has been especially vocal about the Seminary development, and most recently about the new Master Plan, which was approved on November 30, 2023. Required by law, a Master Plan establishes a kind of road map to guide a municipality’s future growth and development. The Princeton Master Plan was last reviewed in 2018. more

Freda Announces He’ll Seek a Second Term; Others Are Candidates for Council, Congress

By Anne Levin

Last Friday, Mayor Mark Freda, a Democrat, announced that he is seeking a second term. A few days earlier, Princeton resident and former School Board member Daniel Dart made it known that he will run as a Democrat for Congress against incumbent Bonnie Watson Coleman.

Current School Board member Brian McDonald, also a Democrat, announced last week that he will seek to fill the seat on Princeton Council that will be vacated by Eve Niedergang, who announced at Council’s reorganization meeting that she will not run for another term. And Democrat Leighton Newlin has confirmed that he will run for a second term on Council. more

Pennington Methodists Celebrate 250 Years, Legacy of Service in the Area Since 1774

SERVING THE COMMUNITY: On Youth Night at the Pennington United Methodist Church (PUMC), children make greeting cards to send to shut-ins. The PUMC is hosting a worship and celebration service this Sunday, January 28, along with six other major events later this year, to celebrate 250 years of Methodism in Pennington. (Photo courtesy of Pennington United Methodist Church)

By Donald Gilpin

The Pennington United Methodist Church (PUMC) will be hosting a series of seven different events this year to celebrate 250 years of Methodism in Pennington. The opening worship and celebration service will take place this Sunday, January 28 at 3 p.m. in the PUMC Sanctuary at 60 South Main Street in Pennington.

Sunday’s gathering will include a performance by the Princeton Symphonic Brass Quintet, along with PUMC organist Kathleen Connolly; lots of singing, “something the Methodists love to do,” according to PUMC member Julie Aberger; and a talk by Methodist Bishop John R. Schol, followed by a reception.  more

Small Group of Middle School Parents Protests “Critical Theory” Curriculum

By Donald Gilpin

Protesters — two or three each day—have demonstrated outside Princeton Middle School (PMS) during the past two weeks, calling for revisions to the HiTOPS curriculum on diversity and inclusion.

Holding up signs stating “Stop HiTOPS” and protesting the “indoctrinating” of students, the parent demonstrators have stayed for about 30 minutes each morning on the sidewalk in front of the school, not on school grounds. The police have been in attendance, but there has been no disruption or violence.

On January 12, the second day of their demonstrations, the protesters faced a counter-protest of about 10 parents supporting HiTOPS and the need for LGBTQIA and racial literacy education. more

Science on Saturday Lecture Series Begins Jan. 27 at Princeton Plasma Physics Lab

SCIENCE SATURDAYS: The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory will host a series of six free presentations on cutting-edge scientific topics presented by world-leading experts starting January 27, as part of the Ronald E. Hatcher Science on Saturday lecture series for the science-curious of all ages. (Photo courtesy of Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory)

By Donald Gilpin

Want to learn from expert scientists about the issues making headlines around the world including clean energy solutions? AI art? Natural ways to fight viruses? The story of fusion ignition? Creating quantum technologies and diamonds?

Science on Saturday, now in its 39th year, will return on January 27 at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory PPPL), with the first of a series of six free talks, including presentation and Q&A, running from 9:30 to 11 a.m. each Saturday.

The opening session of the Ronald E. Hatcher Science on Saturday lecture series will feature Rutgers University Computer Sciences Professor Ahmed Elgammal on the controversial topic of “Art in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” Elgammal is the founder and director of the Art and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at Rutgers. more