June 30, 2021

A Cannabis Dispensary for Princeton? Many Questions Still To Be Answered

By Donald Gilpin

With many questions still to be answered, the 23-member Cannabis Task Force (CTF) has been doing its homework prior to presenting a recommendation to Princeton Council on the future of cannabis in town.

Many citizens who spoke up at a June 23 public meeting, as well as most of the task force members, favor the establishment of a dispensary in Princeton, but the details about where, how, and who, not to mention, traffic, parking, necessary restrictions, and enforcement, still have to be worked out.

According to CTF Chair Eve Niedergang, the CTF will most likely recommend to Council that Princeton opt out before the state’s August 21 deadline, with the intention of opting in later after further research to resolve issues that are still undetermined.

Despite a Zoom bombing that briefly disrupted the proceedings, last Wednesday’s two-hour public input meeting, attended by more than 50, was productive and informative, said Niedergang. 

“Some people were adamantly opposed, for the sake of their children, as they put it,” said Niedergang. “But most were in favor. Many people were generally positive but had some concerns about messaging or specific locations.”

She reported that the CTF met the next day for its regular session, and decided they needed more time to work out the details of their recommendation. “All the questions we still don’t have answers to really decided that we’re not going to opt in at this point,” she said. “The task force needs to study things further to have some questions answered that we haven’t had time to answer. We intend to present an opt-in ordinance to Council at some point in the fall.” more

June 23, 2021

PU Prospect Ave. Plans Remain Unresolved 

By Donald Gilpin

The Princeton Planning Board’s June 17 meeting adjourned after about four hours, with a dozen participants still waiting to speak and Princeton University’s application facing ongoing resistance from the community, as it seeks a variance to move the 91 Prospect building, the former Court Clubhouse, to a site across the street, where three Victorian houses will be demolished.

The Planning Board will continue the discussion and move towards a decision at its meeting on July 8.

The University continues to insist that moving the Court Clubhouse building is the only way it can effectively proceed with the creation of its Environmental Science and School of Engineering and Applied Science (ES+SEAS) complex south of Prospect Avenue.

Many community members, including a number of professional architects, planners, and preservationists, opposed the Prospect Avenue portion of the University plan as historically, aesthetically, and environmentally detrimental to the community. Opponents have requested that the University revise its ES+SEAS plans, and the Princeton Prospect Foundation (PPF) has sponsored a petition that has garnered more than 1,060 signatures of individuals in opposition to the University’s plans.

Princeton University, however, has made no sign of a willingness to compromise, arguing the necessity of their current construction plans for the future of ES+SEAS. In answering a request for information about other possibilities if the Planning Board rejects its current application, the University gave no indication that there could be a Plan B. more

Youth Advisory Groups Help Set Policies For Government and Nonprofits

By Anne Levin

Giving young people a platform to express their ideas about policies, procedures, and services is the goal of youth advisory boards.

Among them are the Princeton Youth Advisory Committee, which keeps the mayor and Council up to date on issues concerning young people; and the Young Adult Advisory Council, recently formed to advise leaders at Womanspace, the Mercer County nonprofit that aids victims of domestic and sexual violence.

“It’s about advising us on issues that are relevant to youth,” said Council President Leticia Fraga, who serves as liaison to the Princeton committee. “They are more aware than any of us on what is going on in their generation, and they can be very helpful.”

“It’s important for us to better connect with youth,” said Danielle Scollins, coordinator of prevention and community education for Womanspace. “We began this just out of wanting to reach youth in Mercer County in a deeper way. We want to continue that relationship and bring in more youth to advise us in preventing youth violence.”

 more

Donations of Backpacks and School Supplies Are Especially Needed This Year

By Anne Levin

With schools closed last year due to COVID-19, it would seem that the need for backpacks, binders, and other essential school supplies would have decreased — or at least stayed the same.

But Princeton’s Human Services Department, which looks out for the needs of residents who are vulnerable or economically disadvantaged, has discovered otherwise. The 12th annual Backpack and School Supplies Drive, which helps children who are low-income and in need of new gear, is as vital as ever.

This year’s drive runs through August 6. Backpacks, book bags, notebooks, binders, folders, loose leaf paper, pencils, pens, crayons markers, scissors, glue sticks, and other essential items can be dropped off weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Monument Hall, 1 Monument Drive.

“The demand has definitely increased, even with COVID,” said Melissa Urias, Human Services director. “Families really rely on the drive. School supplies and backpacks are really expensive. Especially with the pandemic, families were focusing on having food on the table and paying rent. Now, with kids going back to school in September, it’s definitely going up.” more

University Is Serving Up Summer Meals For Homeless and Hungry in the Area

THUMBS UP ALL AROUND: HomeFront Family Campus Director Sheila Addison, left, and Campus Kitchen Technician Kori Smith hold up two of the hundreds of meal bags from Princeton University’s Summer Food and Nutrition Program that HomeFront will deliver each week to homeless individuals and families living in motels on Route 1, families with toddlers living on the HomeFront Campus in Ewing, and children’s summer camps.

By Donald Gilpin

In ongoing efforts to combat hunger in Mercer County, Princeton University has embarked on the second year of its Summer Food and Nutrition Program to address pandemic-related food insecurity.

From June 7 through July 2, the University is collaborating with HomeFront, Rescue Mission of Trenton, and Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) to provide meals prepared by Princeton University staff for at-risk families, children, and other individuals. The initiative was started last year in collaboration with area nonprofits to help combat food insecurity for needy area residents during the pandemic.

Established by the University’s Campus Dining, Human Resources, Office of Community and Regional Affairs, and John H. Pace, Jr. ’39 Center for Civic Engagement, the program offers continuity of employment, including health benefits, to the Campus Dining employees, who normally work for nine months a year.

“Princeton University has put a lot of time, thought, and care into building menus which are healthy, account for different preferences, are nicely packaged, and easy for HomeFront’s volunteers to deliver,” said Home Front Support Service Liaison Liza Peck.

The program provides 950 lunch and dinner meals, delivered each week by HomeFront to homeless individuals and families living in motels on Route 1, families with toddlers living on the HomeFront campus in Lawrence, and children’s summer camps.

Peck added, “HomeFront’s camp and Family Campus have a menu ahead of time, which is nice, and the residents at the motels are always excited to see what’s in store for lunch and dinner that day. Across all of our programs, our staff has been hearing how much our clients are enjoying this delicious food.” more

Princeton Symphony Orchestra Merges With the Annual Princeton Festival

JOINING FORCES: Princeton Symphony Orchestra Board Chair Yvonne Marcuse and The Princeton Festival Board Chair Benedikt von Schröder (seated, foreground) sign off on legal documents formalizing the agreement to merge their two arts organizations. Standing are merger committee members PSO Board Vice Chair Stephanie Wedeking, PSO Executive Director Marc Uys, and former Festival Board Chair Costa Papastephanou.

By Anne Levin

A merger has been announced by two of Princeton’s best-known music organizations. The Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) and the Princeton Festival have joined forces under the legal entity Princeton Symphony Orchestra Inc. The Princeton Festival will retain its name as an artistic program of the PSO.

“The merger capitalizes on the strong positions and proven resiliency of both organizations coming out of the pandemic,” PSO Executive Director Marc Uys said in a press release. “With strong artistic leadership, we will pave the way to a new era of creativity, making high-quality performing arts more available to our community and beyond.”

During an interview, Uys said the PSO’s Artistic Director Rossen Milanov will continue as director of the combined organizations. Gregory Geehern, who has been the Princeton Festival’s acting artistic director since founder Richard Tang Yuk left last fall, will be the Festival’s director, operating under Milanov’s guidance.

While patrons of both organizations will not notice dramatic changes in programming, the merger does allow for some new approaches. “People who identify with certain aspects of the Festival are not going to see a dramatic change,” Uys said. “But we want to introduce new things as we go along. This is both a defensive action in terms of what we’re building ourselves to be, which is more resilient. But it is also an almost aggressive action to be proactive.” more

June 17, 2021

Middle School Has New Name Starting July 1

By Donald Gilpin

Formerly John Witherspoon Middle School, currently Princeton Unified Middle School, the public school on Walnut Street will be called Princeton Middle School starting July 1.

The Princeton Public Schools Board of Education voted Tuesday night, June 15, on the renaming, culminating a ten-month educational research project and the polling of students, staff, and the community.

The students voted for a non-person-specific name, and Princeton Middle School was the most popular choice. In addition to the renaming decision, the BOE asked building administrators to honor the people whose names were in consideration for renaming by using their names in other places in the middle school building, including hallways and public spaces.

Individuals on the short list to be so honored include educator and former enslaved person Betsey Stockton and community historian Shirley Satterfield, as well as Paul Robeson, Michelle Obama, Albert Einstein, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

 A petition to change the name from Witherspoon, a slave owner and anti-abolitionist, was presented to the BOE last August, and Princeton Unified Middle School was selected as a temporary name at that time.

June 16, 2021

Cicadas Peak Before Disappearing Until 2038 

By Donald Gilpin

The millions of cicadas that have emerged in Princeton over the past few weeks have filled the trees, covered sidewalks and yards, and steadily increased the volume of their chant.  With few still emerging from the ground, however, their visit, the first in 17 years, will soon come to an end as the remaining adults die off and the larvae return to earth to begin the next cycle.

Commonly viewed as noise pollution, creators of a rancid odor, a threat to young trees, a mess of broken wings and exoskeletons, or a flying menace, the Brood X Magicicada is nothing short of a miraculous gift in some people’s estimation.

The emergence of the cicadas over the past month was described by Princeton High School (PHS) junior Mulin Huan as “an absolute wonder and the stunning result of natural choice.” A member of PHS science teacher Mark Eastburn’s cicada research team, Huan, who is co-leader of the school’s Insect-Eating Club, sees the cicadas as an ecological blessing, a badge of honor for Princeton, an unparalleled opportunity for research, and a nutritious, tasty treat for animals and humans.

“These cicadas invested all of their evolutionary points to increase their numbers to ensure the survival of their kind,” said Huan. “I am absolutely floored by the emergence of so many cicadas.”  Huan noted that in his former home in Beijing, the cicadas came out in large numbers and loud volume every summer, “but that is nothing compared to the huge emergence in Princeton in 2021.”  more

Block Party, Bike Rides Among Commemorations of Juneteenth Emancipation

By Anne Levin

This past Monday, Princeton Council passed a resolution “officially commemorating Juneteenth of Each Year as an Annual Celebration of Black Emancipation.”

The unanimous vote by the governing body couldn’t have been more timely. In Princeton and its environs, events recognizing the June 19 commemoration of the ending of slavery in America are in the final planning stages. Options throughout the weekend include a block party, a screening, a bike ride, a Shabbat service, and a three-day, city-wide celebration in Trenton.

Juneteenth marks the date in 1865 when Union soldiers landed in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended, and the enslaved were free. According to the Smithsonian website, “On ‘Freedom’s Eve,’ or the eve of January 1, 1863, the first Watch Night services took place. On that night, enslaved and free African Americans gathered in churches and private homes all across the country awaiting news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect.

“At the stroke of midnight, prayers were answered as all enslaved people in Confederate States were declared legally free. Union soldiers, many of whom were Black, marched onto plantations and across cities in the south reading small copies of the Emancipation Proclamation spreading the news of freedom in Confederate States. Only through the Thirteenth Amendment did emancipation end slavery throughout the United States.

“But not everyone in Confederate territory would immediately be free. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation was made effective in 1863, it could not be implemented in places still under Confederate control. As a result, in the westernmost Confederate state of Texas, enslaved people would not be free until much later. Freedom finally came on June 19, 1865, when some 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. The army announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were free by executive decree. This day came to be known as ‘Juneteenth,’ by the newly freed people in Texas.” more

Middle School to Receive New Name, As Board Wraps Up 10-Month Process

By Donald Gilpin

The Princeton Public Schools Board of Education (BOE) was expected to choose a permanent name for the middle school at its June 15 Board meeting, which took place last night after press time.

The 10-month name-choosing process involved extensive research and discussions by students, community forums, and polls of middle school students, staff, and community members.

A petition to change the name from John Witherspoon, a slave owner and opponent of abolition, was presented to the BOE last August, at which time the name Princeton Unified Middle School was selected as a temporary name.

The leading choice for the school’s new name was Princeton Middle School, which was the most popular among students in student polls, and the second most popular for the middle school staff, which favored Princeton Community Middle School. more

Stops on Hopewell Garden Tour Are In Borough and Beyond

HIDDEN IN HOPEWELL: Gardens large and small, from a compact courtyard to an 11-acre farm, are open to the public on Saturday, June 26 as part of the “Hidden Gardens of Hopewell” tour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

By Anne Levin

By day, Pascal Poussart and Adam Maloof work at Princeton University, where she directs the Office of Undergraduate Research and he is a professor of geosciences. But on weekends, they are busy trying to restore the health of Skinny Tree Farms, the former berry farm in Hopewell that they purchased nine years ago.

The farm is one of eight sites on the June 26 “Hidden Gardens of Hopewell” self-guided tour. The focus is on gardens, in and outside of the town, that are unfamiliar to most area residents and gardening enthusiasts. From a small courtyard garden behind a townhouse to the 11-acre expanse being nurtured by Poussart and Maloof, there is a range of styles, sizes, and landscapes to discover.

The couple chose the name “Skinny Tree Farms” for a reason.

“It used to be an old berry farm in the seventies, and about 90 percent of the trees that are around the property are ash,” said Poussart. “They are very young, and they are dying from the emerald ash borer. So we are moonlighting – we’re working on weekends trying to nurse them back to health.” more

With Princeton Primary Results In, Voters Look Ahead to Fall Election

By Donald Gilpin

Despite only a limited number of races in contention, more than 4,000 Princeton voters went to the polls on Tuesday, June 8, to support their candidates for nomination to Princeton Council, state Senate, New Jersey General Assembly, governor, and more in the 2021 New Jersey primary election.

In the contest for two seats on Princeton Council, Democrats Eve Niedergang, an incumbent running for her second three-year term, and Leighton Newlin, a longtime community leader, were running unopposed and will represent the Democrats on the November 2 ballot.  No Republicans joined the primary race, and there will be no opposition for Niedergang and Newlin in the fall.

In the primary vote for the New Jersey State seat for the 16th Legislative District, currently held by Christopher “Kip” Bateman who will step down at the end of the year, Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker ran unopposed for the Democrats and will face off against former Republican Congressman Mike Pappas in the general election in November.   

Pappas handily defeated Jeffrey Grant, an engineer, with an unofficial tally of 6,837 votes (about 65 percent) to 3,726 (about 35 percent) for Grant. 

In the contest for two seats in the New Jersey General Assembly for the 16th District, which includes parts of Mercer, Hunterdon, Middlesex, and Somerset counties, Democrats chose incumbent Roy Freiman with 42 percent of the vote and new candidate Sadaf Jaffer with 44 percent, over Faris Zwirahn with 14 percent.    more

Community to Weigh In on June 23 On Future of Cannabis in Princeton

By Donald Gilpin

The Princeton Cannabis Task Force (CTF) is inviting the public to weigh in, or just listen in, on June 23 at 6 p.m. on Zoom when the CTF will hold a public meeting about the future of cannabis in Princeton.

The meeting will provide an opportunity for the 23-member task force to present the recommendations it has developed up to this point and to hear from the public on all aspects of the issue of the local cannabis industry. CTF Chair and Councilwoman Eve Niedergang stated that the discussion at the meeting would be focused as much as possible on the immediate question of whether Princeton should opt in on licenses for a cannabis dispensary or delivery establishment in town. 

Niedergang added that the CTF has been working diligently to find answers to the questions they need to answer in order to prepare a recommendation for Princeton Council. Council, then the Planning Board, must deliberate and introduce an ordinance before the end of August, in time for Princeton to meet a state mandate. New Jersey voters passed a ballot issue to legalize recreational use of cannabis in last November’s general election.

“Unfortunately we’re not able to make this meeting a month or six weeks from now,” said Niedergang. “We have a very tight schedule, and it’s critical to hear from the public.”  The CTF will either recommend opting in on one or two of the six possible licenses, or they will decide that more time is needed to make an effective decision and that Princeton should opt out for now. The CTF would then continue its research in the coming months to consider opting in on any of six cannabis industry licenses (cultivation, manufacturing, wholesaling, distribution, retail, delivery) at a later date.  more

Ordinances Adopted by Council For Redevelopment Properties

By Anne Levin

At a meeting Monday evening, Princeton Council voted in favor of two ordinances adopting a redevelopment plan for properties in the area of Princeton Shopping Center. One is located on North Harrison Street, and the other at North Harrison Street and Terhune Road.

The developer AvalonBay is under contract with the shopping center’s owners to build housing on the south end of the site, currently a parking lot that borders the neighborhood at Clearview Avenue. The multi-family project allows for up to 200 units, 40 of which must be affordable housing. The other site, at the north end, calls for a limit of 130 dwelling units, with a minimum of 20 percent affordable.

The two properties are part of the 42.2-acre site that Council designated as an area of redevelopment in late April. Both were referred to the town’s Planning Board.

“The Planning Board felt very strongly that this proposal was in accordance with the Master Plan,” Princeton Planning Director Michael LaPlace said of the site at Harrison Street and Terhune Road, adding that it encourages green building and sustainable development. The other site “was also well received by the Planning Board,” he said. “They were particularly excited that it is not only a component of Princeton’s Fair Share Housing Plan, but that it gives us an opportunity to look at the shopping center almost 70 years after it was built. We can keep what we like about it, but at the same time, breathe new life into it.”

Earlier in the meeting, Council President Leticia Fraga, who is a member of the Permit Parking Task Force, said that in response to concerns from the public about the recently discussed proposal for changes in parking regulations, some tweaks are being made. Additional public meetings are being planned, including one that will include residents of all of the neighborhoods (the Tree Streets, Witherspoon-Jackson, the Princeton High School neighborhood, and the Western Section) where parking changes are being considered. more

June 9, 2021

Petition and Website Challenge Permit Parking Proposal

By Anne Levin

Concerns about goals and recommendations presented at a recent meeting of Princeton Council by the Permit Parking Task Force have been growing in different parts of town.

Last Friday, the website sensiblestreets.org was posted by residents of the Western Section, which is among the neighborhoods targeted by the task force for commercial parking spots. Across town in the neighborhood near Princeton High School, a petition urging the municipality to abandon the plan had 172 signatures as of Monday evening.

“Residents of the streets surrounding Princeton High School are concerned about the plan’s overnight parking, the commercial parking being pushed into our neighborhood, and how to manage [parking by] contractors and landscapers,” said Anita Garoniak, who lives near the high school. “And we’re also getting people from outside the neighborhood.”

The task force, which was formed in 2019, is made up of members of Princeton Council, residents, and representatives from local businesses.  The plan aims to harmonize parking rules in different neighborhoods including the Tree Streets, Witherspoon-Jackson, the high school area, and most recently, the Western Section, making them more equitable while offering essential worker parking for employers in commercial areas.

Viewers who log on to sensiblestreets.org are taken on a virtual floor-by-floor ride through a nearly empty Spring Street Garage. The video is dated “Monday (non-holiday) 11 a.m.” The site labels the proposal “a solution looking for a problem,” saying there is a “perception of scarcity” which is not accurate. more

Commission Advises Planners to Reject University Application

By Donald Gilpin

The Princeton Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) decided at a spirited June 7 virtual meeting to recommend that the Princeton Planning Board turn down a Princeton University application to move a former eating club across the street and demolish three Victorian homes on Prospect Avenue.

The three-hour session brought out more than 60 concerned community members, with most speaking in opposition to the University’s plan that would require moving the former Court Clubhouse at 91 Prospect to make room for the new Environmental Science and Engineering complex on the south side of Prospect and razing the houses at 110, 114, and 116 in order to position the Clubhouse on the north side of Prospect.

“I am profoundly concerned about the proposed moving of 91 Prospect and demolishing three homes to make room for it,” said Sandy Harrison, Princeton Prospect Foundation board chair.  “That would substantially diminish the aesthetic continuity of Prospect Avenue and set a disturbing precedent for the future. The University can achieve its objectives without uprooting this portion of Prospect Avenue.”

He went on to note the “enormous concern of local residents” and cited an online petition in opposition to the plan that at last count had more than 640 signatures.

HPC Chair Julie Capozzoli, who is also a member of the Planning Board, which will take up the matter at a public hearing on June 17, pointed out that the HPC was supportive of the University’s desire to expand its environmental studies, engineering, and applied science departments but also unanimous in not approving of the plan to move the 91 Prospect building and demolish the three houses.  more

Voters Go to Polls for Primary 2021, Make Choices for Local, State Offices

By Donald Gilpin

Princeton voters went to the polls in person on Tuesday, June 8 — unlike last year’s elections which were mostly by mail-in ballot — to nominate candidates for Princeton Council, state legislature, governor, and other offices.

Results were not available at press time yesterday, but in the Princeton Council primary Democrats Eve Niedergang and Leighton Newlin were running unopposed for the two open seats in the November general election, with no Republicans filed to run against them.

Niedergang, a 35-year resident of Princeton, is completing her first three-year term on Council, where she serves on a number of key committees. She is volunteer coordinator at the Watershed Institute in Pennington, and in the past has worked on a number of local organizations and as a volunteer in the public schools.

Newlin, a longtime active member of the Princeton community who served on the Princeton Housing Authority Board of Commissioners for 24 years, 19 of those years as chair, is seeking to fill the Council seat occupied by Dwaine Williamson, who is not running for re-election. Newlin currently serves as co-chair of the Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood Association and is a board member of the Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society and The Paul Robeson House. more

Local Artist’s Drawings Sum Up Evergreen Forum/People & Stories Series

ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS: Shellie Jacobson’s drawing inspired by the short story “The Night of the FEMA Trailers” by Vivian Demuth is part of an original book she created at the conclusion of the recent Evergreen Forum/People & Stories series sponsored by Princeton Senior Resource Center. Each drawing included a quote from one of the stories read and discussed during the series.

By Anne Levin

At the eighth and final online session of Princeton Senior Resource Center’s (PSRC) recent Evergreen Forum series inspired by the People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos program, facilitator Ellen Gilbert asked the participants if they wanted to summarize the stories that had been read and discussed throughout the course.

Gilbert knew there were some visual artists taking part in the online class, and was curious to see what they might create. “I said to people, if there is anything you want to share that might summarize, and maybe speculate about the characters meeting each other, then go ahead,” Gilbert said.

One who accepted the challenge was Skillman artist Shellie Jacobson, whose work in ceramics, book arts, and printmaking has earned her a following. Jacobson, who has taught extensively, created an original book using images and quotes from the stories that had been read, including “The Man Who Found You in the Woods” by Catherine Ryan Hyde, “The Night of the FEMA Trailers” by Vivian Demuth, “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” by Ernest Hemingway, and “Did My Mama Like to Dance?” by Shay Youngblood.”

“The book Shellie did really resonated with all of us,” Gilbert said. “I think it was very moving. She really captured the essence of the stories. It was a wonderful review of the season and we got to remember each story.” more

Residents Form Nonprofit Coalition To Advocate for Responsible Development

By Anne Levin

Concerned about the direction of future development in Princeton, a group of residents has formed the nonprofit Princeton Coalition for Responsible Development (PCRD).

The goal is “to advocate for and enable a more effective and collaborative approach to land use development and redevelopment in Princeton,” according to a press release announcing the move. Those sponsoring the PCRD say they have heard from more than 100 residents who want to ensure that their voices are taken into account as decisions about development in Princeton are being made.

The idea of forming a coalition stemmed from Phase 2 of the development of Princeton Theological Seminary’s (PTS) Tennent Roberts campus, said Tom Chapman, a PCRD committee member. “A number of us live in that vicinity, and we made the wise decision to get our group together so we have one voice and not a lot of upset residents,” he said on Monday. “Then, we decided to put it in a broader context, because it’s not just us. There may be a need to address a number of things, broader than just Tennent Roberts.”

A plan to build new apartments on the PTS campus along Hibben Road and Stockton Street was scrapped by the Seminary in October 2019. As part of the plan, the campus had been designated a redevelopment zone, which proponents said provides for more control over design specifics than the traditional zoning process. But during neighborhood meetings held between residents, planners, the municipality, and the Seminary, there was pushback from some residents who were concerned about density and increased traffic. PTS sold the campus to local developer Herring Properties last January. Final plans have not been announced. more

Public Health Officer Considers Lessons Learned in Pandemic

By Donald Gilpin

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy formally ended the state’s 15-month-old public health emergency last week, with almost all restrictions lifted. New Jersey is approaching its end-of-June goal to have 70 percent of the state’s adults vaccinated. Infection rates are declining throughout the state and across the country, and the Princeton Health Department reported Monday that there had been just two new COVID-19 cases in Princeton in the previous 14 days and none in the previous seven days.

Princeton Health Officer Jeff Grosser reflected on some of the lessons that Princeton and the health department have learned over the long, difficult journey of the COVID pandemic.

He noted how Princeton residents had risen to meet the challenges. “I believe the residents learned the power of collective action towards the betterment of public health,” he wrote in a June 8 email.

Local businesses also did their part, Grosser pointed out. “Businesses went above and beyond precaution to ensure their workers and customers were safe,” he said. “Business owners and managers regularly invited us to various business panels to discuss current guidance.” more

June 2, 2021

PU Plan for Prospect Ave. Meets Resistance

By Donald Gilpin

A Princeton University plan to move a former eating club building and demolish three Prospect Avenue homes is meeting with widespread resistance from local residents.

As part of the University’s “East Campus” development plan, the project would raze three University-owned Victorian houses (at 110, 114, and 116 Prospect) and move the Court Clubhouse building at 91 Prospect across the street to the location formerly occupied by the three houses, making room for the new Environmental Science and Engineering and Applied Science complex on the south side of Prospect.

An organization called Save Prospect Now has initiated a petition at change.org/saveprospect, calling on the University to revise its plan in order to keep the Court Clubhouse building in place and preserve the three Victorian houses. The petition also urges local citizens to attend meetings of the Special Historic Preservation Commission on June 7 at 3 p.m. and the town Planning Board Hearing on June 17 at 7:30 pm., where Princeton University officials will be seeking site plan approvals and zoning variances to complete their plan.

The petition, with about 200 signers as of noon on Tuesday, June 1, claims that “none of the moving should be necessary.” It goes on to criticize the University’s construction plans for “inserting a large incompatible building and landscape, thus irreparably harming the Historic District and Prospect Avenue aesthetics and streetscape.” Moving the Court Clubhouse across the street would take it out of Princeton’s Historic District. more

COVID Cases Down, Masks Coming Off, Restrictions Lifting

By Donald Gilpin

On Tuesday, June 1, the Princeton Health Department reported just two new cases of COVID-19 in Princeton in the previous 14 days, and the state of New Jersey announced the lowest number of new cases since March 17, 2020 during the early weeks of the pandemic.

Princeton Health Officer Jeff Grosser, sounding increasingly optimistic though still cautious and unwilling yet to suggest that we’re getting back to normal, noted, “We are continuing to see regional COVID cases trending downward, which is what we want to continue to see.”

He discussed the changing protocols and practices of mask-wearing, in the wake of last Friday’s lifting of state mask mandates.  “Last week we certainly had our fair share of inquiries on how to comprehend the lifting of mask-wearing restrictions,” said Grosser.  “We have observed that many businesses are still leaning towards mask-wearing of workers and customers for the time being. We are supportive of this endeavor since it continues to protect our residents.”

He continued, “With that said, we understand that as more individuals become vaccinated, there will likely be less of a need to mask, especially as we enter the summer months when we typically see fewer respiratory illnesses.”

In addition to lifting the mask mandate on May 28, the state removed social distancing requirements, though unvaccinated people are still strongly encouraged to wear masks, and businesses can still require masks and social distancing.

As of Friday, June 4, limits will be lifted on indoor gatherings, allowing full-capacity indoor concerts and sporting events.

The Princeton Health Department will be holding its last second-dose clinic at the Princeton Senior Center on Thursday, June 3, which Grosser called “a milestone in Princeton’s centralized vaccination
effort.”

The health department continues to hold pop-up vaccination clinics at various locations in the community. Nearly 50 individuals, contacted through word of mouth and outreach efforts by community partners, were vaccinated last week at a pop-up site in collaboration with Lupita Grocery Store on Leigh Avenue. more

New Traffic Safety Initiative Aims to Halt Disturbing Trend

By Anne Levin

Blame it on the pandemic, but motorists in Princeton have gotten dangerously sloppy in their driving habits.

With fewer vehicles on the road to consider, things like rolling stop violations, speeding, and texting have increased to a point that has prompted the Princeton Police Department (PPD) to take action.

“Limit It” is a new initiative launched last month by the department’s Traffic Safety Bureau. The program invites Princeton residents to sign a pledge stating they will obey the posted speed limit, put down their cell phones, and resist other distractions while driving. Those who sign will be issued a “Limit It” magnet to affix to their vehicles.

Traffic accidents in Princeton rose by 65 percent between March and April of this year. “We had 29 accidents in March, and 48 in April,” said Sergeant Thomas R. Murray III, the PPD’s Traffic Safety Bureau supervisor. “Obviously, as the traffic safety officer here, that makes me a little concerned. We’ve always had issues with driver inattention, but this is unusual.”

Murray came up with “Limit It” as a response to the fact that some 80 percent of accidents are attributable to total driver inattention. “It isn’t just the phones. It’s all the electronics,” he said. “People are looking at the GPS, changing the radio station, texting, and making calls. Or maybe their coffee fell out of the cup holder.”

In a report about the initiative, Murray wrote, “Data has shown that reading a text and/or focusing on a GPS unit contained within the interior of a vehicle while traveling at 55 miles per hour is like driving the full length of a football field while blindfolded, an incredibly alarming fact to say the least.” more

Group Walks To Begin Again On Lawrence Hopewell Trail

BACK AT IT: The Lawrence Hopewell Trail’s Saturday Morning Walking Club will hit the trails again on Saturday, June 5, after a long hiatus caused by COVID-19. Masks are optional. Members are pictured during their last walk in October 2020.

By Anne Levin

For a growing group of nature enthusiasts, the morning of the second Saturday of each month has become a tradition. That’s when the Saturday Morning Walking Club takes to the Lawrence Hopewell Trail (LHT) for some exercise, socializing, and appreciation of the outdoors.

The club has been on hold since October. Now that pandemic restrictions are lifting, walkers are scheduled to resume their monthly gatherings. But instead of the second Saturday, the group’s June walk is set for this Saturday, June 5, which is National Trails Day.

“That’s more of a reason for us to celebrate,” said Becky Taylor, co-president of the Lawrence Hopewell Trail and host for the walks. “I thought it would be nice to link in to an event that recognizes the importance of trails.”

Taylor came up with the idea of the walking club a few years ago, when she and LHT co-president Eleanor Horne were looking for ways to engage the community.

“We had some wonderful events already, like the Full Moon Ride and the Trail and Treat bike ride,” Taylor said. “But they are big and take a lot of work, and involve a lot of people. We wanted something much more low key and more consistent. Personally, I think it’s so much fun to get out on the trail and talk with people, and enjoy nature. I decided at one point, ‘I belong to a book club and we’ve had so much fun. Why can’t we do a similar thing with walks?’”

The word got out. “We just invited anybody who wanted to come out to join us,” Taylor said. “As I chatted with the first ones who came, I told them, ‘You are now a member of the club.’ Now we have 150 people who have come out at least once, and many several times. There have been regulars. Over time, we’ve really gotten to know each other. Some people bring friends, but we’ve made friends, too. Some bring their dogs and their families.” more

Task Force Prepares Recommendation On Future of Cannabis in Princeton

By Donald Gilpin

Following the passage last November of a ballot issue to legalize recreational use of cannabis in New Jersey and the governor’s signing of follow-up legislation into law on February 22, Princeton is faced with a decision of whether to opt in or opt out on allowing any of six cannabis industry licenses (cultivation, manufacturing, wholesaling, distribution, retail, and delivery).

With an August deadline, many related decisions still to be made, and much information from the state’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission still forthcoming, Princeton can choose to opt out now and then opt in at any later point or to opt in now with a lock-in period of five years.

Cannabis Task Force (CTF) Chair Eve Niedergang, a Princeton Council member, pointed out that the decision is not really over whether or not there will be cannabis in Princeton. “It’s really important to remind people that, because of the way New Jersey law is written, deliveries will be allowed everywhere,” she said. “So there’s nothing we can do even if we want to prevent deliveries here. If people are objecting because they don’t want cannabis in the community, that battle has already been fought and lost.”

The CTF started meeting in April, with a subcommittee on economic and community impact working on the question of whether to opt in to any element of the cannabis industry and, if yes, where to zone for such an industry and what to do with the tax revenues that might be generated. There is also a subcommittee on education, outreach, and enforcement, working on delivering educational messages for different populations and recommending prosecutorial and police enforcement around cannabis that reflects the community’s values.

Given the short time frame for making the initial opt-in or opt-out decision and the current lack of specificity on state regulations from the CRC, Niedergang is leaning towards postponing the decision by opting out as a temporary measure.

“I feel comfortable making a temporary decision that has only minor implications, but making a major decision without community input is not how I want to operate, and I don’t think anyone on Council would want to operate that way,” she said.

Both the Princeton CTF and the state CRC have meetings scheduled for this week. The CTF, Princeton Council, and the state have committed to keeping social and racial justice in the forefront of all discussions and recommendations concerning the cannabis industry. more