November 9, 2023

Hubbard, Behrend, Bierman Win School Board Seats; Results Still Unofficial

By Donald Gilpin

Two challengers, Eleanor Hubbard and Adam Bierman, and incumbent Beth Behrend have won three available seats on the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education (BOE), ousting incumbent Michele Tuck-Ponder and apparently leaving Rene Obregon Jr. a few votes short in unofficial results as of November 9.

Hubbard was the top vote-getter with 4,027 (24.95 percent), followed by Behrend at 3,287 (20.37 percent), Bierman at 3,221 (19.96 percent), Obregon 3,150 (19.52 percent), and Tuck-Ponder 2,454 (15.21 percent).

The unofficial totals so far do not include provisional ballots and some mail-in ballots. The results will not be official until certified by the Mercer County clerk in about two weeks.

Princeton voters have also approved the PPS $13 million facilities bond proposal by a total of 4,143 (70.41 percent) to 1,741 votes as tallied so far.

Princeton has 20,960 registered voters, and 6,950 ballots (33.16 percent) have been cast. In Mercer County the totals were 240,397 registered and 68,945 ballots cast for a 26.48 percent turnout.

In the 16th legislative district race for New Jersey state Senate, incumbent Democrat Andrew Zwicker has defeated his Republican challenger Michael Pappas by 31,955 votes (55.4 percent) to 24,889 (43.1 percent), with Libertarian Richard J. Byrne running a distant third, 850 votes (1.5 percent), with about 98 percent of the votes tallied so far.

With two positions in the state assembly 16th district on the line, incumbent Democrat Roy Freiman and Mitchelle Drulis, also a Democrat, have outdistanced their Republican rivals, Grace Zhang and Ross Traphagen. With about 98 percent of the results in, Freiman has 31,501 votes (27.8 percent), Drulis 30,995 (27.4 percent), Zhang 25,547 (22.5 percent), and Traphagen 25,279 (22.3 percent).

In the race for Mercer County executive, taking the seat of Brian Hughes, who is stepping down at the end of the year after serving in the post for the past 20 years, Democrat Dan Benson coasted to victory with a lead so far of 45,995 (69.40 percent) to 20,283 (30.60 percent) over Republican Lisa Marie Richford.

 more

November 8, 2023

BOE Challengers Running Strongly in Early Vote

By Donald Gilpin

With only six of 22 precincts reporting by press time last night, the outcome of the hotly contested race with two incumbents and three challengers vying for three seats on the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education was uncertain. At press time Eleanor Hubbard had received 1,708 votes, incumbent Beth Behrend 1,532, Adam Bierman 1,378, Rene Obregon Jr. 1,241, and incumbent Michele Tuck-Ponder 1,141.

The unofficial totals so far do not include provisional ballots and some mail-in ballots.

Princeton voters have apparently approved the PPS $13 million facilities bond proposal with a total of 1,908 to 751 votes as tallied at press time.

In the 16th legislative district race for New Jersey state Senate, incumbent Democrat Andrew Zwicker leads his Republican challenger Michael Pappas by 57 percent to 41.6 percent, with Libertarian Richard J. Byrne running a distant third with 1.4 percent out of about 57 percent tallied so far.

With two positions in the state assembly 16th district on the line, incumbent Democrat Roy Freiman, and Mitchelle Drulis, also a Democrat, were leading their Republican rivals Ross Traphagen and Grace Zhang. With about 53 percent of the results in, Freiman had 28.6 percent of the votes, Drulis 28.3 percent, Traphagen 21.5 percent, and Zhang 21.5 percent.

In the race for Mercer County executive, taking the seat of Brian Hughes, who is stepping down at the end of the year after serving in the post for the past 20 years, Democrat Dan Benson seems to be coasting to victory with a lead of 16,590 (82 percent) to 3,489 (17 percent) over Republican Lisa Marie Richford.

In the race for Mercer County sheriff, Democrat John “Jack” Kemler appears to have won a fifth term with 16,459 votes so far, besting Republican Bryan “Bucky” Boccanfuso with 3,292 votes, and Unaffiliated Drew L. Cifrodelli with 273 votes.

The incumbent Democrats on the Mercer County Board of Commissioners also appeared to have held onto their seats, as Lucylle Walter and John Cimino received 16,263 and 16,314 votes respectively to 3,559 and 3,495 votes respectively for their Republican challengers Joseph Stillwell and Denise “Neicy” Turner.

Unopposed Democratic incumbents David Cohen and Leticia Fraga have successfully reclaimed their seats on Princeton Council for a third three-year term.

Update: In unofficial results, Eleanor Hubbard with 3,955 votes, incumbent Beth Behrend with 3,221, and Adam Bierman with 3,181 votes have defeated Rene Obregon Jr., 3,103 votes, and incumbent Michele Tuck-Ponder, 2,399 votes, for three seats on the Princeton Public Schools Board of Education.

Hearing on Master Plan at Planning Board Meeting Invites Public Comment

By Anne Levin

The online meeting of the Planning Board on Thursday, November 9 at 7 p.m. is a chance for members of the public to comment on the proposed rewrite of the Princeton Master Plan. The draft of the document, which was 18 months in the making, was shared with the public at a Planning Board meeting on October 31, but no public comments were taken at that time.

Residents can read the 270-page final draft of the plan online at princetonnj.gov/339/Master-Plan or engage.princetonmasterplan.org. more

As War in Gaza Enters Second Month, Princetonians Reflect, Mourn, Speak Out

By Donald Gilpin

As the fighting in Gaza continues into its second month, with the death toll mounting and no sign of a resolution in sight, groups and individuals at Princeton University and in the larger community, coming from a wide range of political and personal positions and perspectives, continue to respond, expressing their anger, grief, and hopes in many different ways.

Approximately 1,400 were killed in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, and about 240 more are being held as hostages. Gaza’s Health Ministry says that the death toll since the Israeli bombing there now exceeds 10,000. more

Diwali, Festival of Lights, Celebrated In Princeton and Around the World

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS: Celebrating Diwali at the Princeton University Chapel, Vineet Chander, the University’s assistant dean of Hindu life, carries the light that triumphs over darkness, as good triumphs over evil. More than 300 people attended last Saturday’s Diwali at the Chapel event featuring devotional music and dance, spiritual reflections, and a celebration of Hindu culture. (Photo by Tori Repp/Fotobuddy)

By Donald Gilpin

Participants in last Saturday night’s celebration of Diwali at the Princeton University Chapel were greeted by an array of candles on the sidewalk in front of the entrance. In the chapel vestibule were more lights, with a golden statue of the elephant god Ganesh atop an altar covered with candles. Inside the towering nave of the chapel, the altar decorations and colorful costumed performers, with many more candles and lights throughout the chapel, contrasted with the building’s austere arches and walls.

Often called the “festival of lights,” Diwali, actually on November 12 this year, occurs in the Ashvin and Kartika months of the Hindu lunar calendar on what is called the moonless night. “The idea is that we gather together as a community and we light these candles as a way of bringing light into the darkness,” said Vineet Chander, Princeton University’s assistant dean of Hindu Life, who organized the “Diwali at the Chapel” program along with University student members of the Princeton Hindu Society. more

Positive Impact of the Arts on Health Explored by Coalition of Cultural Groups

By Anne Levin

Coming out of COVID-19, the leaders of local arts organizations were looking for a way to recharge their programs and get patrons back into theaters, concert halls, museums, and other cultural venues. From their conversations, a common denominator emerged: the significant relationship between arts and health.

It so happens that the National Organization for Arts and Health recognizes November as Arts and Health Month. With that in mind, a coalition of nine arts groups formed Arts & Health Mercer, which had its official debut at the Robert Wood Johnson Fitness and Wellness Center in Hamilton Township on Saturday, November 4. more

What Was Once an Empty Lot Is Now a Neighborhood Garden

STIMULATING THE SENSES: A new Sensory Garden in downtown Trenton has turned a vacant lot into more than just a place to grow vegetables. Plants that appeal to sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing were part of the plan.

By Anne Levin

A vacant lot near Trenton’s Battle Monument has been transformed into a public garden designed to appeal to all of the senses. Architect Ken Hill’s vision for the site stems from his desire to incorporate sustainability into the projects he creates.

Hill, a Lawrenceville native, is an alumnus of Trenton Climate Corps, which is supported by AmericCorps. The latter provides training and employment in climate resilience and green infrastructure careers, and is managed by Isles, the Trenton-based community development organization. more

November 1, 2023

Kelley Resigns, Gold is Interim PPS Supt.

By Donald Gilpin

Carol Kelley

Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Superintendent Carol Kelley’s resignation, effective September 1, 2024, and her request for a paid leave of absence from October 27, 2023 through August 31, 2024, were approved by the PPS Board of Education (BOE) at a special board meeting on Monday, October 30.

In the third item on the agenda of the 25-minute meeting, Rebecca Gold, PPS interim assistant superintendent of human resources, public information and community relations, was appointed interim superintendent until November 30, 2023.

Kelley had announced her resignation on October 27 in an email to PPS staff, stating that “for personal and professional reasons, I must take some time to reset and recenter myself.” Her email was followed later that day by an email from the BOE to the PPS community announcing Kelley’s leave of absence and resignation and thanking her for her service to the district.

Monday night’s BOE vote was 7-1 on the questions of Kelley’s resignation and leave of absence, with Michele Tuck-Ponder in opposition in both cases. The vote on Gold’s appointment was 7-0 with Tuck-Ponder abstaining. more

Election 2023 is in Home Stretch; Vote Early or on Nov. 7

By Donald Gilpin

Registered voters in Princeton have many opportunities to exercise their right to vote, with early voting in progress since last Saturday, October 28, and continuing through next Sunday, November 5; Election Day polls open on Tuesday, November 7, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and vote-by-mail ballots due by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

There are seven local, county, and state contests and a school bond referendum on the Princeton ballot, and Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello emphasizes that every single vote can make a difference.

“Who represents you makes a huge difference in your taxes and in policies that you will live with,” she said in an October 30 phone conversation. “We have learned over the past few elections that who leads you does matter and does make a difference.”

She continued, ”I’ve seen elections where candidates have won by one or two votes. It happened in Princeton in the School Board. It happened in Trenton last year with the city council. I’ve seen it many times. Don’t think our vote doesn’t matter. It absolutely matters, and it’s important that we take advantage of this opportunity that has been fought for by many.” more

Since Forming Last Year, Experience Princeton Defines its Vision

By Anne Levin

In March 2022, Princeton Council passed an ordinance creating a special improvement district (SID). Now known as Experience Princeton, the organization — at first called the Princeton Business Partnership — is funded through fees paid by business owners in town.

The SID took the place of the Princeton Merchants Association, an all-volunteer, less formal organization of local businesses. Late last fall, Experience Princeton hired Isaac Kremer, former executive director of the Metuchen Downtown Alliance, as executive director. The organization’s first annual report is now at experienceprinceton.org/post/experience-princeton-annual-report.

Kremer, who gives regular, fast-paced progress updates to Council, said this week that efforts to fill empty storefronts, bring together the business community through monthly “meetups,” and more effectively spotlight the town are succeeding.

“One of the big accomplishments right out of the gate was to establish a discernible brand, with a new logo and website presence to help position us strongly, both locally and regionally, in the marketplace,” he said. “The new logo and website really describe the work we do as an organization. We have welcomed 20 new businesses to town, and have had 11 ribbon cuttings. We’re seeing the vacancy rates creep downward again. And I get five or six requests a month from businesses that want to move here. The process begins, and we try to find a good fit.” more

For Princeton Pianists Ensemble, Five Pianos are Better Than One

PIANO TIMES FIVE: The Princeton Pianists Ensemble turns playing the instrument into a collaborative activity, with up to 10 musicians performing at one time. The group comes to Richardson Auditorium on November 17.

By Anne Levin

Most piano recitals are performed by one musician at one piano. Less common are concerts for four hands — two pianists at one keyboard.

How about 10 pianists playing five pianos at the same time? That’s the idea behind the Princeton Pianists Ensemble (PPE) at Princeton University, which turns playing the piano into a collaborative activity. On Friday, November 17, the group of some 35 amateur yet accomplished pianists performs at Richardson Auditorium, in a program ranging from Debussy to the flying theme from the soundtrack of the movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. 

“It’s something I don’t think you’ll see anywhere else,” said Roberto Lachner, a sophomore at the University and a member of the ensemble. Like his colleagues, Lachner was a serious piano student throughout his childhood. While there are a few music majors in the group, most are focused on other subjects. more

Livestrong Program for Cancer Survivors Is Back in Action at the Princeton YMCA

By Anne Levin

For survivors of cancer, regaining physical strength and stamina can be especially challenging. That aspect of recovery is the focus of Livestrong at the YMCA, a free, nationwide program designed to get adult cancer survivors back on their feet after treatment.

On hold during the pandemic, the Princeton YMCA’s 12-week Livestrong program is resuming on Wednesday, November 7, with daytime and evening sessions. The classes are 75 minutes each, taught by instructors specially trained in supportive cancer care. The program is free, and available from the day of diagnosis on.

Participants, who usually meet in groups of up to six, are given exercises and activities centered on cardiovascular and meditation techniques. But the goal is to strengthen the spirit as well as the body.

“The primary focus is building muscular strength and endurance,” said Kristin Leung, the group exercise coordinator at the YMCA. “But stepping out of that, we do expand to other modalities of wellness in general. It might be a yoga class, or water fitness. We’ve had people come in and do music therapy and art therapy. We had a survivor who brought in her chemo bottles and we decorated them. We made sushi one time. So I really welcome the staff at the Y to come if they have something special to share.” more

Peace Coalition to Hold Conference, Multifaith Service for Peace on Nov. 12

By Donald Gilpin

Archbishop John C. Wester
(Courtesy of Archdiocese of Santa Fe)

Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, and Lewiston, Maine — sad to say, the timing for the Princeton-based Coalition for Peace Action’s (CFPA) 44th Annual Conference and Multifaith Service for Peace could not be more appropriate.

“With two hot wars underway; mass shootings in the U.S. averaging two per day; and nuclear weapon build-ups planned by the U.S., Russia, and China; this is an incredibly important period to educate the public about peace issues,” said CFPA Executive Director the Rev. Robert Moore.  “I encourage all interested people to attend the Multifaith Service and/or Conference for Peace to be more empowered to advocate for peace policies more effectively.”

Sponsored by the CFPA along with 38 area religious and civic groups, the November 12 event will feature Archbishop John C. Wester, leader of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe, preaching at the Multifaith Service for Peace at 11 a.m. in the Princeton University Chapel, followed from 1:30 to 4 p.m. by a hybrid Conference for Peace at Christ Congregation, 50 Walnut Lane. Conference speakers will include Princeton University Senior Research Physicist and Professor of Public and International Affairs Emeritus Frank von Hippel; social justice advocate and co-founder of the women-led peace group Code Pink Medea Benjamin; and March For Our Lives Senior Policy Associate Elena Perez; as well as Wester. more

Top-of-the-Line Expert Design-Build Remodels are Hallmark of Black Bear Builders of Pennington

TEAM WORK: “People know they can count on us. Our reputation for experience, quality work, and service is well known.” Shown are members of the Black Bear Builders team, from left, project manager Rob Burke, owner Matt Bonacci, and designer Shelby Tewell.

By Jean Stratton 

Back Bear Builders is ready to turn your vision into reality! This respected design-build remodeling firm, headquartered in Pennington, has a long history of quality construction projects. Residential remodels and additions are its specialty, with a priority on first-rate service.

“We feel that our people and process differentiate us from our competitors,” says owner Matt Bonacci. “Having talented carpenters who are respectful and communicative is only the first step in running a successful renovation project. By focusing on cleanliness, communication, and setting realistic expectations, we hope to make what is inherently an inconvenient process more palatable.”

Bonacci’s introduction to the design-build business stemmed from his early interest in drawing, he reports. “When I was a boy growing up in Titusville, I liked to sit down and draw windows. That was fun.” more

October 27, 2023

Carol Kelley Resigns from Position as Superintendent of Princeton Public Schools

By Donald Gilpin

Carol Kelley has resigned, effective August 31, 2024, after serving fewer than two and a half years as superintendent of the Princeton Public Schools (PPS). She will be taking a paid leave of absence effective immediately.

In a Friday morning, October 27 email to staff she announced that “for personal and professional reasons, I must take some time to reset and recenter myself.”

Kelley’s email was followed later Friday morning by an email from the PPS Board of Education (BOE) announcing Kelley’s leave of absence and resignation, thanking her for her service, and announcing a special meeting of the BOE on Monday, October 30 at 7 p.m. to act on Kelley’s departure and presumably begin the process of hiring an interim superintendent.

Kelley took over as superintendent in July 2021, succeeding Barry Galasso, who had served as interim superintendent for a year after taking the reins from Superintendent Steve Cochrane.

Kelley weathered a number of controversies during her tenure as superintendent, most notably in response to the dismissal of Princeton High School Principal Frank Chmiel last spring and then this fall in problems arising with the elementary schools’ afterschool care provider, which resulted in the termination of the provider’s contract.

Before coming to PPS, Kelley served as superintendent of the Oak Park Elementary School District 97 outside Chicago.

October 25, 2023

Town Unveils Details of Community Master Plan

By Anne Levin

On October 19, Princeton’s Planning Board heard a presentation on the new Community Master Plan. Public comment was not part of that meeting, but residents will be able to ask questions and air their views of the plan at a public hearing on November 9.

Municipal staff and consultants have been working on the current version of the plan for the past year and a half. Efforts to engage the public during the process have included surveys, interviews, open house events, and special listening sessions. Details are available at engage.princetonmasterplan.org.

New Jersey law requires that a Community Master Plan, a kind of municipal road map for land use and development with details about circulation, hazard mitigation, climate resilience, conservation, utilities, and most aspects of the built and natural environment, be updated every 10 years.

Princeton needs more housing, especially small dwelling units, said consultant Michael Sullivan of the firm Clarke Caton Hintz. The overall goals for land use in the plan are not for overdevelopment, but “are to create a unified zoning ordinance, focus higher residential density within and around the downtown and in mixed-use centers, and maintain progressively lower densities outside the downtown,” he said. more

Work Nearly Complete, Washington Road Bridge Should Reopen Soon

By Donald Gilpin

The Washington Road Bridge replacement project, under construction since late July, is nearing completion, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), which anticipates that Washington Road will reopen “sometime after October 31.”

Washington Road has been closed between Faculty Road and Tiger Lane while the NJDOT has replaced the bridge over the D&R Canal. Motorists have taken alternate routes, most likely Alexander Road/Alexander Street or Harrison Street, into and out of town.

NJDOT Press Manager Steve Schapiro has stated that a specific date for reopening has not yet been set. A gas main on the east side of the bridge has to be relocated, and more work remains on the bicycle/pedestrian section of the bridge. That part may open after the main bridge reopens to vehicular traffic. Original projections anticipated completion of the $9.4 million project by sometime in October.

The NJDOT has been in regular communication with local Princeton authorities, as well as Princeton University, regarding the project. The NJDOT will provide advanced notice before reopening the bridge. more

School Bond Referendum on Nov. 7 Ballot Along with Local, County, and State Races

By Donald Gilpin 

When Princeton residents mail in their ballots or vote early October 28 to November 5 at the Princeton Shopping Center voting site or at one of the other sites in the county, or vote on Election Day, November 7 at their assigned polling sites, they will be making choices in seven local, county, and state elections, as well as voting yes or no on a bond referendum.

On the Princeton ballot are candidates for Princeton Council; for state Senate and general assembly in Legislative District 16; for Mercer County executive, sheriff, and Board of Commissioners; and for members of the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education (BOE).

Also on the ballot is a $13 million PPS bond proposal to improve security and technology infrastructure and address major maintenance projects. PPS is inviting community members to tour Princeton High School areas targeted for improvement on Thursday, October 26 from 7-8 p.m., and on Saturday, October 28 from 10-11 a.m.  Visitors can check out the cafeteria, which would be renovated to create more seating for students and allow for more efficient lunch lines. The guided tour may also include the athletic field and track scheduled for resurfacing and the EcoLab, another area in need of repairs. more

New Apartment Building at Princeton Community Village Named for Former Mayor Jim Floyd and His Wife Fannie

MOVE-IN READY: Princeton Community Housing’s (PCH) new complex of 25 apartments for very low-, low-, and moderate-income residents is fully completed.

By Anne Levin

When Princeton Community Housing (PCH) was created in 1967 to help provide safe, affordable housing in Princeton, Jim Floyd was among its founders. In recognition of the work the late Floyd and his wife, Fannie, devoted to the nonprofit and the wider community, PCH has named its new 25-unit complex for very low-, low-, and moderate-income apartments in their honor.

The Jim and Fannie Floyd House at Princeton Community Village’s Sassafras Row, off of Bunn Drive, is now open, and its residents have either moved in or are about to do so. A naming and ribbon-cutting this Saturday, October 28 marks the occasion. more

Non-Traditional Students “Dream Big” In Transfer Scholars Initiative Program

By Donald Gilpin

Fatima Abella (Photo by Daytwan Coates Hall, DCH Media)

Ramping up its outreach to non-traditional students and to New Jersey community college students seeking to transfer to four-year institutions in particular, Princeton University has launched the Transfer Scholars Initiative (TSI).

Forty students from seven community colleges participated in the pilot TSI session from June 26 to August 18 this past summer and most followed up on the weekend of October 14-15 with a two-day “bootcamp” on the Princeton University campus to work on their college transfer applications.

“It was important to me because it’s my first time applying with the Common App,” said Hudson County Community College (HCCC) student Fatima Abella, who attended the bootcamp as well as the eight-week summer program.

Abella, who is majoring in cybersecurity and described herself as the poet laureate in her school, commented on the recent two-day session. “The process was broken down with an emphasis on the parts that took a lot of time to complete, such as requesting letters of recommendation, writing our personal statements, highlighting experiences, etc. We were asked to share our drafts with our cohorts and we gave each other feedback. The professors were also attentive to any specific questions we had.” more

Forum on Plans for Seminary Property Draws Standing-Room-Only Crowd

By Anne Levin

On October 17, a packed audience filled Witherspoon Hall for a community forum devoted to development of the Tennent/Roberts/Whiteley campus of Princeton Theological Seminary. James P. Herring of Herring Properties, the contract purchaser of the site, presented a concept plan for a 238-unit apartment complex, 48 of which would be designated affordable.

Council President Mia Sacks introduced the program, noting that the town’s redevelopment team vetted Herring’s concept over the summer. The forum, the third to be held on the proposal, was intended as a “kickoff” to the formal process of adopting the plan.

The town’s redevelopment counsel Steve Mlenack told the audience that two meetings of Princeton Council, a Planning Board meeting, and a public hearing are involved in the process. Following that, the town will negotiate a redevelopment agreement with the developer before the regular site plan review is undertaken.

The Seminary had originally considered building new student apartments at the site, which was designated an area in need of redevelopment in October 2018. But the plans for student apartments were withdrawn by the Seminary in the fall of 2019. Last year, three early 20th century buildings considered beyond restoring were torn down.  more

October 18, 2023

BOE Candidates Share Views on Key Issues

By Donald Gilpin

With Election Day less than three weeks away, two incumbents are competing with three new candidates for three positions on the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education (BOE).

The candidates’ names might be listed on the back of the ballot, but the competition for Princeton School Board often generates the most interest, the most heat, and the most lawn signs of any election.

Incumbents Beth Behrend and Michele Tuck-Ponder are both running for their third term on the Board, and Adam Bierman, Eleanor Hubbard, and Rene Obregon are challenging. The campaign so far has been lively, with considerable media coverage and two candidate forums just last week. Extensive information on the candidates’ views and platforms is available at vote411.org, sponsored by the League of Women Voters, and at princetonptoc.weebly.com, sponsored by the Princeton Parent-Teacher Organization Council.

Town Topics asked each candidate to respond by email to five questions: about the merits of incumbency and experience vs. change, “new blood,” and new perspectives; about transparency and collaboration; about public trust in the Board; about district finances and the current bond referendum; and about the strengths of their particular qualifications and potential contributions to the Board.

The questions and the candidates’ responses follow. (Behrend and Tuck-Ponder note that they are writing as individuals, not on behalf of the Board, of which they are members.) more

Plans for Development of Seminary Site are Topic of Forum

By Anne Levin

At a community forum Tuesday evening, October 17 on development of the Tennent/Roberts/Whiteley campus of Princeton Theological Seminary, contract purchaser James P. Herring was to present concept plans for the apartment project he hopes to build at the site.

The forum at Witherspoon Hall, the third on the subject, was to be held after press time. Herring, owner of Herring Properties, shared some details of his plans in advance of the meeting.

The five-acre site is to have 238 units, including 48 affordable apartments integrated throughout the complex. Buildings are to be three-to-four stories, with stone and stucco exteriors. Underground parking and open space are part of the plan. The main entrance is off Stockton Street. The core of the development, the four-story part, is the most internal.

“There is no mass building along the streetscapes,” Herring said. “We’ve tried to be respectful of the architecture of Edgehill Street, which has old, traditional, narrow houses tight to the road, and Hibben Road, which has bigger lots and bigger houses. All along the neighbors’ properties, we’ve tried to be very respectful. So we went way beyond the existing setbacks against abutting properties. Then, we stepped back.” more

Waves of Shock, Sorrow, and Concern Reverberate Following Attacks in Israel

“PRINCETON STANDS WITH ISRAEL”: About 400 people, many wearing or carrying Israeli flags, attended a vigil in support of Israel on Thursday evening, October 12, outside the Frist Campus Center at Princeton University. (Photo by Summer Pramer)

By Donald Gilpin

Over the past ten days, repercussions from the October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel and the war in the Middle East have been felt acutely in the Princeton area as they have been felt throughout the world.  more

One-Man Play About Early Opponent of Slavery Is Focal Point of Witherspoon-Jackson Fundraiser

SPEAKING OUT: Rich Swingle, left, takes on the character of anti-slavery Quaker John Woolman, shown in the only known drawing of him, at a performance of “I Dreamed I Was Free” at Morven on November 2.

By Anne Levin

More than a century before the Civil War, the topic of slavery was being debated in the colonies. On the floor of the Philadelphia Yearly Quaker Meeting of 1758, a man named John Woolman addressed his fellow Quakers with “Some Consideration of the Keeping of Negroes,” leading the Society of Friends to recognize the evil of slavery and form a committee to visit those Friends who kept slaves.

Woolman’s efforts are the basis of I Dreamed I Was Free, a one-man play to be performed by its author Rich Swingle on Thursday, November 2, at the annual fundraising gala of the Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society (WJHCS). The public is invited to attend the event, taking place at Morven Museum and Garden, 55 Stockton Street, at 7:30 p.m. more