By Donald Gilpin

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

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

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

By Donald Gilpin

Andre Barnes

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

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

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

By Donald Gilpin

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

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

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

By Donald Gilpin

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

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

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

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

By Donald Gilpin

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

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

By Donald Gilpin

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

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

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

By Donald Gilpin

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

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

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

by Donald Gilpin

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

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

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

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

By Donald Gilpin

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

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

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

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

By Donald Gilpin

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

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

By Donald Gilpin

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

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

By Donald Gilpin

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

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

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

By Donald Gilpin

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

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

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