September 22, 2021

Battle Lines Drawn on Prospect Avenue Plans

By Donald Gilpin

The future of the former Court Clubhouse at 91 Prospect Avenue, three Queen Anne Victorian houses on the other side of the street, and the Prospect Avenue streetscape are all on the agenda at tomorrow night’s September 23 meeting of the Princeton Planning Board (PPB).

Princeton University is seeking a zoning variance in order to demolish the three houses and move the 91 Prospect clubhouse building into their place in order to provide space to construct the Prospect Avenue entrance to its planned Environmental Studies and School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (ES+SEAS) complex. The new ES+SEAS is designed to include four different buildings and to stretch out over 666,000 square feet between Prospect and Ivy Lane to the south.

The University’s plans for Prospect Avenue have met with strong resistance from the community, with a petition in opposition gathering 1,626 signatures at last count and numerous residents voicing criticism and objections at the previous two PPB hearings and in public media (See letters on the subject in today’s Mailbox).

Thursday’s PPB meeting on the Princeton University application, the first since July 8, will provide one more opportunity for public input before the PPB members deliberate and come to a decision on whether to approve the University’s plan.

The University has repeatedly emphasized the importance of its project and the impossibility of completing that project without removing the 91 Prospect building.  A University press release earlier this month stated, “From addressing climate change to developing new ways of delivering vaccines, Princeton’s proposed engineering and environmental studies project will enable breakthrough teaching and research in the service of humanity while enhancing the public experience of the surrounding neighborhood.” more

Shifting COVID Threat Poses Big Challenges For Princeton Schools

By Donald Gilpin

A Princeton Middle School (PMS) student has tested positive for COVID-19, PMS Principal Jason Burr notified parents and staff in an email Monday night, September 21, the seventh new case in the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) in the past several days.

The middle school student, who was last at school on Friday, September 17, will isolate, and one close contact will quarantine, Burr reported.

PPS has stated that it will “continue to follow protocols and do the necessary contact tracing in each instance that is brought to our attention. Further we are continually adapting and responding to new information and guidelines as they emerge.”

PPS follows the CDC definition of a close contact as “someone who was within six feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from two days before the onset of illness.”

Earlier on Monday Littlebrook School  Principal Luis Ramirez informed the school community that two Littlebrook students, who had last attended school on Friday, September 17, were exposed outside of school and had tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend.  The two students are isolating, and 11 Littlebrook students who are considered close contacts are quarantining for 10 days.

Also on Monday, Princeton High School Principal Frank Chmiel reported in an email to the school community that a third PHS student, who was last in school on September 13, had tested positive for the coronavirus. That student will isolate for 10 days, and one close contact will quarantine for 10 days.  more

BOE Candidate Profile: Brian McDonald, Seeking Continuing Progress for Schools

By Donald Gilpin

Brian McDonald

Brian McDonald, an incumbent seeking his second three-year term on the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education (BOE), is in the spotlight this week, providing information about his background, why he got involved with the schools, why he wants to continue on the Board, and what his priorities are for the future of the district.

New candidates Mara Franceschi and Jeffrey Liao, and incumbent Betsey Baglio will be competing with McDonald in the November 2 election for three available seats on the BOE. Franceschi was featured in last week’s issue, and Town Topics will present profiles of Liao on September 29 and Baglio on October 6.

McDonald, 61, is a sculptor and designer who also advises nonprofits on matters of governance, strategy, finance, and fundraising. He has extensive experience in strategic planning, operations, municipal and corporate finance, and management, especially change management.

A 1983 Princeton University graduate, McDonald served from 2002-10 as the University’s vice president for development, overseeing all its fundraising activities and managing a staff of more than 160 professionals and a budget of $25 million. Before joining the University, he worked in public finance at Kidder Peabody & Co. and The First Boston Corporation, and as an entrepreneur in the restaurant, music, and fine arts fields.

He served for seven years on the town’s Citizen’s Finance Advisory Council, where he helped develop policies on capital spending, debt management, and making the town’s finances more transparent and understandable. He also served as a trustee of McCarter Theatre for 17 years, including five years as president; a trustee of the Watershed Institute; and he is a trustee and treasurer of Sustainable Princeton. more

Grant for Research Into Childhood Cancer Awarded to Princeton University Student

CHASING A CURE: Princeton University sophomore Beianka Tomlinson, fourth from left, is one of 12 students across the nation to be awarded a grant from Northwestern Mutual for childhood cancer research.

By Anne Levin

Growing up in Jamaica, Beianka Tomlinson realized early on that access to quality health care was an issue — especially for children. She knew, early on, that she wanted to help.

“I have always wanted to be a physician, and I believe that it is the path God has set for my life because it is a passion that I’ve had since I could speak,” she said in an email this week. “It sounds very cliché, but there is no other way to explain it.”

As one of 12 college students across the nation to be awarded a grant to do research into childhood cancer, the Princeton University sophomore has taken a step closer to her goal. Last month, Northwestern Mutual donated $60,000 among the 12 recipients, awarded through Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Pediatric Oncology Student Training (POST) Program.

Through the program, Tomlinson has worked at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and studied the disparities of children who have relapsed acute myeloid leukemia. Specifically, they are learning how patient outcomes differ by factors such as race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.

There is only one children’s hospital in Jamaica, a country with a population of nearly three million. Tomlinson has volunteered at fundraising events to increase the number of intensive care unit beds and medical equipment at the hospital.  more

Nationally Known Urban Planner To Speak in Princeton Next Week

By Anne Levin

Between his popular TED talks and his Walkable City books, Jeff Speck is among the nation’s best known city planners and urban designers. The former director of design at the National Endowment for the Arts, Speck will set his sights on Princeton September 28 and 29 when he tours the town, delivers a lecture, signs books, and then appears at a Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber breakfast event.

“He is a nationally regarded urban planner,” said Aubrey Haines, managing partner of Princeton Property Partners and an organizer of the visit. “He over saw the Mayors’ Institute on City Design and created the Governors’ Institute on Community Design. So he went around the country and helped small cities figure out planning challenges. His focus is called Walkable City. He’s very interested in walkability.”

Speck is scheduled to walk the town with municipal leaders Tuesday afternoon, September 28, then lecture at 6:30 p.m. at the Nassau Inn. The talk is followed by a book signing.

“He’ll compose his specific talk on what he sees around town,” said Haines. “The talk is open to anyone. With visual and verbal comments, it ought to be fascinating.” more

Resolutions Related to Deer Culling Have a History Going Back Decades

By Anne Levin

If you live in New Jersey, you have likely come into unsettling contact with white-tailed deer.  Particularly prevalent this time of year, these animals have flourished in parks, roadways, and backyards since being introduced to New Jersey a century ago.

From damaging native plants and shrubs to causing vehicle accidents that can be fatal to drivers and cause gruesome suffering to the animals themselves, the volume of deer requires constant monitoring to keep the situation from reaching unmanageable levels.

That was the scenario two decades ago, when late Princeton Township Mayor Phyllis Marchand took steps to address the problem. Marchand lobbied the state to get legislation put in place for the program that exists today. It authorizes implementation of community-based deer management, using alternative methods to traditional hunting that keep numbers down and spare the animals from lingering deaths in vehicle collisions.

At its most recent meeting on September 13, Princeton Council voted to pass three resolutions related to deer management.  One was an agreement with John Zampini/Suburban Deer Management Association for bow hunting on public lands during the fall and winter seasons. Another was for services by White Buffalo Inc., for specialized deer management services. The third endorsed an application for designation of a special deer management area and community-based deer management plan.

Before voting, Council members were given extensive background by municipal attorney Trishka Cecil. She has been closely involved with the deer management program since she was assigned to work on it as a new attorney with Mason, Griffin & Pierson 21 years ago.

The idea of culling the deer herd was something she initially resisted — until she realized there was a humane reason for the program. more

September 15, 2021

COVID Numbers Rise to January 2021 Levels

By Donald Gilpin

The Princeton Health Department on Monday reported 23 new cases of COVID-19 in the previous seven days, 42 new cases in the previous 14 days in Princeton, as infection levels continue to increase.

All 21 New Jersey counties are now listed as having high rates of COVID transmission, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The statewide transmission rate is currently 1.01, with any number over 1 indicating that each new case is causing more than one additional case and that the outbreak is expanding. The CDC is recommending that people in all counties in the state wear masks in indoor public settings, regardless of vaccination status.

“COVID-19 cases have been rising in the Princeton community to a level we observed in January 2021, approximately 3.25 new cases per day,” said Princeton Public Health Officer Jeff Grosser.

Attributing much of the problem to the Delta variant, Grosser noted that the United States is averaging 152,000 cases each day, close to four times the levels reported at this time last year. “Delta continues to circulate throughout the community, and public health has shared the devastating impact it has had in communities with lower vaccination rates across all demographics, particularly those 65 years and older.”

Grosser noted that the current surge is different from the surge of last fall and winter with transmission occurring more readily now. He added, “The vaccine has absolutely helped, and those who still get COVID-19 are likely to have milder, shorter illnesses and appear to be less likely to spread the virus to others.”

Six Princeton residents, with an average age of 85, have been hospitalized recently in vaccine breakthrough cases, Grosser reported. He urged people to “be aware of what the current guidance is; how to prevent transmission; how to protect ourselves, our families, our friends, our neighbors.” more

BOE Candidate Profile: Mara Franceschi, Financial Analyst, PTO President at JP

By Donald Gilpin

Mara Franceschi

Two incumbents, Betsy Baglio and Brian McDonald, and two new candidates, Mara Franceschi and Jeffrey Liao, will be competing in the November 2 election for three available seats on the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education (BOE). The top three vote-getters will win three-year terms on the BOE, beginning in January 2022.

With just seven weeks until election day, Town Topics is beginning a series of weekly candidate profiles in which the candidates will present a summary of their personal, academic, and professional backgrounds; why they got involved in the schools and in this particular election; and what their priorities are for the future of the PPS.

Mara Franceschi is leading off:

“I consider few things more important than a high-quality public education for ALL our children. With a new superintendent and other key personnel, it is an exciting time in our district. However, the district must also navigate many challenges to ensure continued success. Chief among those challenges is balancing aging facilities against a backdrop of increasing student enrollment and budget stressors. Maintaining our facilities is both an investment in valuable hard assets and the minimum required to provide a clean and healthy learning environment for our children. Successfully balancing critical, necessary investments in our schools, while keeping tax increases to a minimum, is essential. To address these challenges, I believe that transparent communication with, and among, all the stakeholders in the community is paramount.  more

Rev. Robert Moore Honored as Leader In Quest for Peace

40 YEARS OF PEACEMAKING: The Rev. Robert Moore (center in blue shirt), surrounded by Coalition for Peace Action (CFPA) colleagues, received a surprise visit on September 8 from Princeton Councilmember David Cohen (right), who presented him with a Council resolution honoring Moore’s 40 years as executive director of CFPA and declaring September 8 as “Rev. Robert Moore Day” in Princeton. 

By Donald Gilpin

Last Wednesday, September 8, the Rev. Robert Moore, executive director of the Princeton-based Coalition for Peace Action (CFPA) for the past 40 years, was working in his Witherspoon Street office when Princeton Councilmember David Cohen, along with five of Moore’s CFPA colleagues, paid him a surprise visit.

September 8, 2021 is “Reverend Robert Moore Day” in Princeton, Cohen announced, as he read out loud a Princeton Town Council Municipal Resolution in Moore’s honor. The resolution — citing Moore’s four decades of leadership in working with the CFPA to abolish nuclear weapons, end endless wars, prevent gun violence, and combat growing militarism and the climate crisis — was formally passed by the full Council at their Monday, September 13, meeting.

In September 1980 a group of Princeton-area faith leaders, concerned about the escalating nuclear arms race, founded what would become the CFPA, and on September 8 of the following year they hired Moore to lead the organization.

Under his leadership the CFPA has expanded to become a regional office serving central and south New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania. It is one of the largest grassroots affiliates of National Peace Action, with over 7,500 member and supporting households. more

Community Park Amphitheater Hosts Annual Storytelling Festival

TELL ME A STORY: The annual New Jersey Storytelling Network Festival, which comes to Community Park North Amphitheater on Saturday, September 25, is not just for kids. Ken Karnas, shown at a previous festival with a group of rapt adults, is among those scheduled to appear at the upcoming event.

By Anne Levin

After holding its annual gathering virtually last year, the New Jersey Storytelling Network Festival is going live again. The location, on Saturday, September 25 from 2-4 p.m., is Princeton’s Community Park North Amphitheater.

Several practitioners of the art will be on hand to tell all manner of tales, geared to all ages of listeners. During the last half hour, participants can drop their name in a hat to tell their own stories of connection (in four minutes or less). The theme of the event is “Stories that Connect Us,” said Princeton resident Kathryn Weidener, president of the New Jersey Storytelling Network.

“A professional storyteller is someone who, while not reading a story [aloud], has done a great deal of reading and listening,” she said. “They can weave a story through their own brain, and tell it in a way that engages the audience. It’s more than something just written on a page. It’s told to an audience, and it creates a back-and-forth.”

The festival has been around for more than two decades. Previous locations have included the Grounds For Sculpture, Howell Farm, Waterloo Village, and Allaire State Park. This year’s event was originally planned for Howell Farm, but due to COVID-19 restrictions was relocated to Community Park, where it will be held concert-style.

Among those who will “tell” are Princeton resident Maria LoBiondo, whose specialty is folk and fairy tales.

“I feel that these tales have been passed down for generations, and hold the wisdom of generations of people,” she said. “No matter how old you are or where you live, you have to deal with sibling rivalry. You have to deal with going out into the world to find your fortune. You have to deal with what it means to be generous and kind. These folk tales address all of these ideas. It just fascinates me. It’s worldwide. These stories are from every continent, and they hit similar themes. I find that very compelling.” more

Residents Express Concern to Council About Rosedale Road Crossing

By Anne Levin

The Rosedale Road crosswalk where a pedestrian was struck by a car and died late last month dominated discussion at a meeting of Princeton Council on Monday, September 13.  Several members of the public pleaded for installation of a traffic light at the site, while another argued that lowering the speed limit was the answer.

Council passed several resolutions at the meeting, including three having to do with Princeton’s deer management program. A special award of recognition was given to the Rev. Robert Moore, marking the 40th year since he joined the Coalition for Peace Action as its executive director. A work session was held on the proposed stormwater redevelopment ordinance, particularly relevant considering recent damage from remnants of Hurricane Ida.

Originally scheduled for the meeting, a public hearing on an ordinance establishing a new affordable housing overlay zone along Witherspoon Street was taken off the agenda because noticing had not been completed. Mayor Mark Freda said rescheduling the hearing will be a priority at Council’s next agenda-setting meeting.

After being presented with his award, Moore thanked the local community and the Council for support of various causes including nuclear freeze and ending the Iraq war. “The words and support you all give as local elected officials amplifies our voice to the higher branches of government that are making these decisions,” he said. more

Disaster Relief Stepped Up For Victims of Hurricane Ida

By Anne Levin

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has opened a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at the Hollowbrook Community Center in Ewing Township. The center, which opened its doors on Tuesday, September 14, is to assist any Mercer County residents or businesses whose property was damaged in the remnants of Hurricane Ida.

In Lambertville, which is in Hunterdon County, the Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) will offer assistance on Wednesday, September 15 from 2-7:30 p.m. to provide residents and business owners with one-stop access to a range of resources to help them recover from the damage, which was substantial. The MARC will be on the sledding hill at North Main Street and Phillips Barber Road.

The DRC in Ewing is staffed by FEMA representatives who can provide information and answer questions on FEMA disaster aid. It is open to residents and businesses from every municipality in Mercer County, and residents from any other county that received the FEMA “Disaster” declaration.

Residents who previously registered for assistance via the internet or by phone do not need to visit the DRC, but can ask questions or seek further information in person at the DRC. The eligibility for FEMA Individual Assistance means that  residents or business owners whose properties were directly damaged by the flooding or storm events on September 1-3 can apply to recoup their losses.

Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes announced on September 10 that Mercer County had been added to FEMA’s list of locations to get major disaster declarations. Originally, Mercer County was not on the list, though several towns including Princeton suffered major flood damage during the storm.  more

September 8, 2021

Commemorating 9/11, 20 Years Later

WE REMEMBER: The 9/11 Memorial at the Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad headquarters will be dedicated Saturday to those who lost their lives, and to the responders who helped with the aftermath, in 2001. A steel beam from the World Trade Center is shown as part of the memorial. (Photo courtesy of William Shields)

By Wendy Greenberg

Saturday marks 20 years since some 3,000 lives were lost when two hijacked airplanes hit the World Trade Center in New York City, another struck the Pentagon, and one crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pa. Nine of the dead were from Princeton and 17 others were from Mercer County.

Several area memorial observances are planned, including events in Princeton, at Rider University, and in Hopewell and Montgomery townships.

In Princeton, the Princeton 9/11 Memorial Committee will dedicate a permanent memorial at noon on Saturday, September 11. A ceremony will be held outside the Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad headquarters at 2 Mount Lucas Road (inside with COVID-19 protocol in case of rain). The outdoor memorial is comprised of a nine-foot steel beam from the World Trade Center, as well as plaques describing the events of the day, and mileage to the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Shanksville plane crash sites. “We felt that 100 years from now, this will tell the story and have impact,” said Committee Chair William Shields.

During the ceremony, the names of the nine Princeton residents who died will be read, and first responders will be honored, said Shields, who explained that the names were culled from various sources. The fire bell will ring once after each of the nine names; and will sound again for the New York Police Department, Port Authority, Fire Department of New York, and members of the U.S. Intelligence communities. The last bell would be for all who died or suffered as a result of the attacks in the weeks or months following September 11, Shields said. The event will feature speakers, prayer, music, and the police honor guard will post colors.

“We think the town will be proud of this,” said Shields. “We are not closing a chapter but opening it up so others can read it.” more

Cannabis Task Force Prepares to Propose Ordinance for Dispensaries

By Donald Gilpin

Princeton’s Cannabis Task Force (CTF) is preparing to recommend an ordinance for Princeton Council permitting three cannabis dispensaries in town. The CTF is seeking input at two public meetings in the next 10 days, on Thursday, September 9 at 7 p.m. on Zoom (link available on the municipal website at princetonnj.gov) and Saturday, September 18 at 10 a.m. in person, location to be determined, or on Zoom depending on weather and COVID-19.

“The purpose of these meetings is to get people to weigh in on the proposed recommendations of the CTF to allow three retail establishments in town,” said Councilwoman and CTF Chair Eve Niedergang in a September 6 phone interview. “We’re reaching out to the public. We want people to be aware of this and the earlier we get input from the public the earlier we can take advantage of that input.”

The 23-member CTF, appointed by the municipality of Princeton, chose to opt out on the state’s August 21 deadline for passing ordinances for the cannabis industry in town. Their goal is to prepare an ordinance to opt in at some point this fall. The CTF felt that the community needed more time to solicit community input and develop plans and requirements that fit Princeton’s values and needs.

Niedergang explained that the CTF has been considering which of the town’s seven commercial zones might be the most appropriate locations for cannabis dispensaries. The discussion has been lively, she said, but the members seem to be in agreement on moving ahead with public meetings followed by an October recommendation to Council, if possible.

The Princeton zones under consideration include the central business district, the northern portion of Witherspoon Street, Jugtown near the intersection of Nassau and Harrison streets, the Alexander Street/Road area, the Princeton Shopping Center, and two areas on Route 206: one south of the Municipal Building near Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad and another near Bottle King. more

2020 Census Shows Princeton, Mercer Co., NJ, US All Growing in Size and Diversity

By Donald Gilpin

The population of Princeton is 30,681, in an area of about 18 square miles, with a population density of 1,729 per square mile, according to the United States Census Bureau 2020 results reported last month.

The consolidated Princeton population (the municipality was established in its current form with the merging of the Borough and the Township in 2013) grew by about 7.4 percent over the past 10 years, making Princeton the 26th largest town in the state.

The racial composition of Princeton is 72.5 percent white, 16.9 percent Asian, 7.5 percent Hispanic or Latino, 5.7 percent Black or African American, and 3.7 percent two or more races.

The median house value in Princeton is $866,200, and the median age in Princeton is 33.8 years, 30.7 for males and 39.4 for females. Females make up 49.2 percent of the Princeton population, males 50.8 percent.

The population in Mercer County grew by 5.7 percent from 2010 to 2020, with Robbinsville seeing the biggest increase of 13.4 percent to 15,476, followed by East Windsor 10.5 percent to 30,045, West Windsor 8.7 percent to 29,518, Pennington 8.4 percent to 2,802, Hightstown 7.4 percent to 5,900, Trenton 7 percent to 90,871, Hamilton 4.3 percent to 92,297, Ewing 4.1 percent to 37,264, and Hopewell Township up 1.1 percent to 17,491. Hopewell Borough saw a .2 percent decline to 1,918, and Lawrence Township a 1.2 percent decline to 33,077.  more

Hunterdon Land Trust Marks 25 Years Preserving Local Land

FARMLAND PRESERVED: As Hunterdon Land Trust celebrates 25 years of preserving farmland and open space, it offers events such as a tour of the barns at Dvoor Farm, its headquarters in Flemington, on September 12 at 10:30 a.m. The farm tells the story of the region’s farm culture and architecture from the mid-18th to mid-20th centuries through its buildings and barns, like this horse barn built in the 1930s.

By Wendy Greenberg

Hunterdon Land Trust (HLT) is celebrating 25 years of protecting open space, but Patricia Ruby is looking forward as well.

“We are constantly working on new land preservation projects,” said Ruby, who has served as HLT executive director since 2012. “But one of the big stories is that this year we closed more projects than ever before.”

The goal, she said, was to have 10,000 acres preserved by 2020, “and we have blown through that milestone, and now we are at 10,350 acres,” she said. “We closed recently on 70 acres, and this year there have been nine closings compared to the typical two to five.” (Two additional closings were expected shortly.)

To celebrate both past and current achievements, a virtual Celebration and Fundraiser on September 19 at 5 p.m. will mark HLT’s 25-year anniversary, and also look ahead. In addition to workshops, the organization will honor Board Secretary Larry LaFevre, along with Ralph Celebre and Susan Haase, owners of Basil Bandwagon Natural Market.

The nationally accredited nonprofit HLT will host several events this fall, including a free tour of the historic barns at Dvoor Farm in Flemington, which serves as its headquarters, on Sunday, September 12 at 10:30 a.m. On the tour, Christopher Pickell of Pickell Architecture in Flemington will discuss the history of the property’s barns and wagon house, which date from around 1800 to the 1930s. For the first time, participants can see how the buildings were constructed and what makes them unique. Space is limited, and registration is required. To sign up, email Director of Outreach Dave Harding at dave@hunterdonlandtrust.org.

HLT’s plans for Dvoor Farm call for a “sensitive rehabilitation” of the barns, so they can be used for children’s camps, corporate retreats, life celebrations, and educational programming. Infrastructure improvements to provide public restrooms are on the agenda, as well as improved traffic flow and parking, and natural resource restorations to benefit pollinator meadows and wetlands, streams, and stormwater management. more

Sukkah Village Princeton Uses Design To Highlight Social Crises of Today

By Wendy Greenberg

Some three years ago Princeton architect Joshua Zinder viewed the film Sukkah City, the story of a New York City competition based on the creative design of a sukkah, a hut-like shelter made for the Jewish fall festival of Sukkot. The event was a means to draw attention to such issues as housing insecurity, homelessness, and hunger.

When Zinder brought the movie to The Jewish Center Princeton, it ignited the enthusiasm to hold a similar event in town. But fall 2019 was a busy time for the synagogue, celebrating its 75th anniversary, and by March 2020, COVID-19 canceled the plans.

“I’m not one who gives up so easily,” said Zinder, who is president of the AIA of New Jersey and managing partner of the Princeton integrated architecture and design firm JZA+D. “So this year we reinvigorated it.”

Sukkah Village Princeton 2021 is finally happening. The interfaith community program involves some 20 Princeton area religious and cultural groups bringing attention to affordable housing, hunger, homelessness, sustainability, and refugees, via architecture. Princeton’s Sukkah Village opens September 19 at noon and closes September 29 at 9 a.m.

“Even though Sukkot is a Jewish holiday,” said Zinder, “everyone can celebrate it. It brings awareness to critical issues in New Jersey.”

Sukkot is a weeklong Jewish holiday that celebrates the gathering of the harvest and commemorates the sheltering of the Israelites wandering for 40 years in the desert following the exodus from Egypt. The observance is marked by spending time in a sukkah, a recreation of the hut-like structures that housed the ancient Jews. As a temporary dwelling, Zinder explained, the sukkah symbolizes the fragility of human existence.  more

Grand Finale (?) Rummage Sale at Trinity Church Is September 23-25

“A PRINCETITUTION”: The Trinity Church Rummage Sale, in operation since 1971, is scheduled for September 23, 24, and 25 at the Trinity Church on Mercer Street. Trinity Librarian Rob Fraser and Department Chair for Art and Antiquities Connie Escher display some of the thousands of items to be sold to support the church’s outreach efforts in what might be the end of a tradition after 50 years.

By Donald Gilpin

It started in 1971 with just one table for each sales category — used clothing, toys, jewelry, white elephants. A few “better things” (now known as “The Boutique”) were sold on the tiny stage, all in the old Pierce Hall at Trinity Church on Mercer Street. The idea originated in the “jumble sales” in Victorian England, where the Anglican church raised money for itself and for causes worldwide.

Fifty years later the Trinity Church Rummage Sale, with hundreds of thousands of dollars of sales over the years to support the church’s outreach efforts, is preparing for its possible grand finale on September 23, 24, and 25. Thousands of items — clothing, art, antiques, housewares, linens, books, and much more — will fill five or six large rooms at the church. Dozens of volunteers will be working long hours, with many hundreds of shoppers anticipated.

Thursday, September 23 is sale preview day from 1 to 5 p.m., with a $10 entry fee and a long waiting line expected before the 1 p.m. opening. On Friday, September 24, the sale runs from noon to 5 p.m., and on Saturday, September 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (no entry fee on regular sale days).

In preparation for that first sale in 1971, a few volunteers sorted and priced items in front of the Pierce Hall stage, and the items were stored on the stage and in two small rooms. The treasurer’s report from 1971 lists a total of $2,585.77 in sales of accessories, children’s clothes, fun and games, household jewelry, bric-a-brac, and men’s and women’s clothes.

“The volume of the sale grew almost exponentially,” according to a 1987 Trinity Church report titled “Come, Celebrate Rummage at Trinity: A Serious Enterprise.” The previous year the Boutique and Better Dresses sections had produced “an astounding $18,000 in six hours of non-stop action,” with the one-day event earning $25,000.  more

Lost and Found: A Back to School Reverie

By Stuart Mitchner

A little bit of courage is all we lack
So catch me if you can, I’m goin’ back…

—Carole King, from “Goin Back”

Looking ahead to Thursday, Princeton’s first day of the new school year, I’ve been going back to school, way way back to my first, McCalla Elementary, which was named for Bloomington Indiana’s first female school superintendent and was an easy two-block walk from home. Otherwise, all my schooling, K-12, took place in the same building, with one notable exception (ninth grade in New York City). The country school where I spent grades four through six is a lesser exception since getting there involved a long school bus ride through hills and valleys and woods to a two-room red-brick schoolhouse called Poplar Grove. That humble building still stands and so does the two-story Classical Revival structure that housed McCalla, which is currently used by the Indiana University School of Fine Arts for sculpture classes.

Lost and Found

After a too-hasty online search, I actually began to fear that the university had demolished the Art Deco building I’d entered as a kindergartner and left as a graduating senior. I was aware that the interior had been gutted long ago because I have a small, neatly cut and polished chunk of the wooden banister with a small plaque attached: University School 1937-1964. On the opening page of my senior yearbook there’s a two-page photograph of U-School’s Indiana limestone facade next to which a “lamentful” sophomore friend has drawn a ballpoint arrow and the words, “Stu, if you’re smart, boy, you’ll stay the hell out of here.”

And so I did for decades, until a classmate and I wandered inside on a June day in 1989. As soon as I walked down the hallway where my locker had been, I realized that I’d been there before in my dreams. I don’t mean nightmares, just dreams of the sort that take you down long, strange, vaguely familiar hallways and stairways and landings, while you try to fulfill enigmatic missions at the urging of various ghostly teachers whose names you’ve forgotten or would prefer not to remember. In these dreams I sometimes end up on the ground floor outside the boy’s locker room, the scene of an ugly, real-life fistfight between a senior class officer and a tough country kid. The class officer was getting the worst of it, his nose bleeding all over his powder blue cashmere sweater. Here were two societal extremes, the elite city kid and the country boy who was never invited to parties of the in-crowd, even if he happened to be a hero on the field.

My friend and I were in there no longer than the time it took to hear the spooky quavering of our voices echoing in the hallway. We’d been kidding around, like old times, and the sounds we were making came back at us like something on the soundtrack of a low-grade horror movie.  more

September 2, 2021

Storm Causes Widespread Flooding

By Anne Levin

The remnants of Hurricane Ida have caused major problems in the Princeton area, including flooding and downed trees. As of Thursday afternoon, September 2, most of the main roads into town remained closed, and people were being advised to stay home. Those who do venture out can expect significant delays.

Among the roads closed as of Thursday afternoon were Quaker Road, Alexander Road, Rosedale Road, Harrison Street, and Stockton Street. Washington Road was closed for several hours, but reopened Thursday around 10 a.m. Kingston was hit especially hard, with flooding on Mapleton Road and elsewhere.

Local streams and rivers have overflowed. The Delaware River is expected to crest Thursday night. The Millstone River is continuing to rise, and Canal Road in Rocky Hill and Franklin Township were still flooding as of Thursday afternoon.

There are numerous photos on social media showing cars abandoned or submerged, in towns including Hopewell, Pennington, and Lambertville. The Princeton Police Department, Fire Department, and the Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad were involved in several water rescues.

Trenton’s Island neighborhood, which borders the Delaware River, was scheduled to be evacuated by 8 a.m. Thursday.

Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency on Wednesday night. While more than 5,000 households in the local area were without power Wednesday night, most was restored by Thursday morning.

Police are urging people to avoid the roadways, and to turn around instead of driving through flooded streets.

September 1, 2021

Schools Prepare for September 9 Opening

By Donald Gilpin

As teachers, staff, parents, and more than 3,800 students of the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) prepare for the first day of school on Thursday, September 9, the district remains committed to in-person, full-day school for all.

“The past two school years have been unprecedented for schools everywhere,” new Superintendent Carol Kelley wrote to PPS families on August 20. “This three-pronged crisis (health, financial, and social) has been overwhelming for families, students, and staff. Yet I am encouraged and optimistic about the school year ahead.”

Kelley, who took over as superintendent two months ago, was scheduled to meet parents on September 2 on the front lawn of the Valley Road administrative building from 9 to 10 a.m. and again from 6 to 7 p.m. The event was postponed due to the local flooding.

She continued, “In terms of the health and safety of our students, we have a strong foundation to build on. Last school year, we had zero COVID cases transmitted in our schools. To date, we are fortunate that 77 percent of people (over age 12) in our Princeton community have been vaccinated. Through the safety protocols we have in place, we hope to maintain this record once we reopen school in September.”

Kelley highlighted the dedication of educators, parents, and community supporters and emphasized, “we are prepared to foster a school culture that’s welcoming and affirming for all, which is even more critical during this time. For the first time in over a year, our students will engage in full-day learning, five days a week in their respective school buildings.” more

Delta Variant Surge Continues; Boosters Are Coming Soon

By Donald Gilpin

On Monday, August 30, the Princeton Health Department reported 17 new cases of COVID-19 in Princeton in the previous seven days, 31 cases in the previous 14 days. Princeton Health Officer Jeff Grosser noted that the recent surge, with the spread of the Delta variant, has been about 50 percent as big as the COVID-19 surge Princeton experienced last winter.

The Delta variant is “a much more contagious strain that has spread on a much different scale from what we saw with the Alpha variant,” he said. “With Delta, it felt as if once someone from a household was infected it was a waiting game for everyone else in that house. There was certainly vaccine protection in situations where households were not completely infected, but in low vaccination-rate households infection rates neared 100 percent of the dwelling’s inhabitants.”

Grosser emphasized the need for mask-wearing, social distancing, and vaccinations as the way to reduce transmission of all strains of the virus.

The Princeton vaccination rate, as of August 24, was 79 percent (ages 12 and over) and 98 percent for residents 65 and over. The vaccination rate for Mercer County (age 12 and over) is 65 percent, 75 percent for 65 and over. For New Jersey it’s 72 percent (12 and over), 85 percent for 65 and over, and for the United States as a whole, the vaccination rate is 61 percent (ages 12 and over) and 82 percent for age 65 and over. more

PU-Led Innovation Hub Receives $15M From National Science Foundation

By Donald Gilpin

A new Princeton University-led regional innovation hub, seeking to promote entrepreneurial startups based on fundamental science and engineering research, has received $15 million in funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

The consortium will focus on transforming scientific discoveries into technologies that improve everyday lives, through the fields of health care, energy and the environment, computing, artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced materials, and other areas — and enhance diversity in research opportunities and entrepreneurship.

With the University of Delaware and Rutgers University as partners, Princeton University will be the principal institution in the Innovation-Corps (I-Corps) Northeast Hub, which will also include New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rowan University, Lehigh University, Temple University, and Delaware State University (a historically Black college or university) as initial affiliates. The hub will expand, adding new affiliates each year.

The Northeast Hub is one of five new innovation corps hubs announced by the NSF last week, “a diverse and inclusive innovation system throughout the USA.”  With $3 million funding per year over the next five years, the Northeast Hub will provide entrepreneurial training, mentoring, and other resources to enable researchers to form startup companies that take ideas from the laboratory to the marketplace.  more

New Artists’ Cooperative To Open in Shopping Center

“RED BALL”: A work in watercolor and pencil by Heloisa dos Devanelos, one of the 25 local artists who are part of Princeton Makes, a new cooperative debuting September 18 in Princeton Shopping Center.

By Anne Levin

As the former interim executive director of the Arts Council of Princeton, Jim Levine has long been aware of a lack of sufficient studio space for artists in the area. Since stepping down when permanent director Adam Welch was hired last year, Levine has been intent on remedying the situation.

His persistence has paid off. Starting September 18, 12 local artists in different media will be creating in studio space at what was formerly Blue Ridge Mountain Sports in Princeton Shopping Center. A retail store in the front will sell work by members of the cooperative, which includes another 13 artists who work outside the studio.

Painted white by some of the members over two Saturdays, the large, airy space is being divided into individual areas. Each member works eight hours every two weeks, either in their studio or in the retail store. “So there will always be an opportunity for people to talk to an artist and maybe watch them work,” said Levine. “Whenever we are open, there will always be someone working here.”

The grand opening is Saturday, September 18 from 2 to 6 p.m., and will include plein air painting in the courtyard, artist demonstrations, open studios, and live music. Admission is free. more

Virtual Program on Affordable Housing Is a Joint Project of Three Synagogues

By Anne Levin

Three local houses of worship are collaborating on a program that explores affordable housing.

On Sunday, October 3 at 5 p.m., The Jewish Center Princeton, Har Sinai Temple of Pennington, and Congregation Beth Chaim of Princeton Junction will jointly present an online discussion that delves into issues of exclusionary zoning and its history in New Jersey.

The Mount Laurel decisions of 1975 and 1983 declared that municipal land use regulations that prevent affordable housing opportunities for the poor are unconstitutional.

The subject is particularly relevant to the Jewish faith because of its emphasis on welcoming and hospitality. “To me, it’s very much of a piece with the Jewish value of treating strangers,” said Peter Buchsbaum, who will moderate the event. Buchsbaum is a former New Jersey Superior Court judge, of counsel to Lanza and Lanza in Flemington, and court master in six Mount Laurel cases.

Speakers will include Carl Bisgaier, who was the lead counsel in the first two Mount Laurel cases and is a real estate and affordable housing attorney; Princeton University sociologist Douglas Massey, lead author of Climbing Mount Laurel: The Struggle for Affordable Housing and Social Mobility in an American Suburb; and Dietra Chamberlain, a resident of Ethel R. Lawrence Homes in Mount Laurel since December 2004.

The Ethel Lawrence Homes are named for the Mount Laurel activist who organized a 1969 petition to the Mount Laurel zoning board to permit the development of affordable garden apartments and was a plaintiff in both cases, but died in 1994, six years before the first units were completed. more