Volume LXXIX, Number 24
Book on W-J Neighborhood To Launch at Reading and Open Mic Event . . . . . . . 5 Advice from Animal Control Officer on Being “Bear Aware” . . . . . . . 9 PU Climate Scientist Teams With Comedian To Communicate Urgent Message . . . . . . . . . . 12 Princeton Festival Launches with Gala Opening . . . . . . . . . . 16 “Sondheim In the City With Melissa Errico” at Princeton Festival . . . 17 After Superb Tenure Guiding PU Women’s Hockey, Gardner Morey Bringing Leadership Skills to Pro League . . 24 Overcoming Hurdles in Two Years of Planning, 1st Annual Princeton Triathlon Makes a Splash . . . . . . 29
Revisiting William Styron’s First Novel On His 100th Birthday . . . . . . . . . . 15 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . 20, 21 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . 33 Home and Design . . . . 2, 3 Mailbox. . . . . . . . . . . . 13 New To Us . . . . . . . . . . 23 Obituaries . . . . . . . 31, 32 Performing Arts. . . . . . . . 18 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . 33 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Topics of the Town . . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . . 6
www.towntopics.com
Center for Modern Aging Looks Back With Pride, Ahead With Optimism The Center for Modern Aging Princeton (CMAP) will be presenting its inaugural Symposium on Ageism, “Living Longer Lives: Overcoming Our Fears of Growing Old,” on Thursday, June 12, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Mercer County Community College Conference Center. Sponsored by the Silver Century Foundation and designed for individuals who are aging, professionals working in the aging sector, and advocates supporting the aging community, the event features workshops on aging and ageism, along with valuable networking opportunities. New York Times “The New Old Age” columnist Paula Span and Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End It author Tracey Gendron are keynote speakers for the event. Visit cmaprinceton.org for registration and further information. More than 150 people had already registered as of Monday evening. For more than 50 years CMAP, formerly the Princeton Senior Resource Center in Monument Hall, now on Poor Farm Road, has served Princeton’s older residents. “We exist to help older adults thrive,” said CMAP Executive Director David Dyson on Monday in his annual report to Princeton Council. “That means taking the time to deeply listen to our residents, to understand their needs and concerns, and to respond to emerging needs of individual older adults and groups that we serve.” Dyson described a significant expansion of programs and services at CMAP during the past year, with 46 members participating in a Mandarin Chinese conversation group, 35 in a Spanishspeaking group, 14 in a Hindi conversation and friendship group, 31 in a group for Russian speakers, and 38 in a group of 38 French speakers. Over the past two years there have been 16 members of an ESL program for older adult residents of CMAP and 39 members in the Aging Gaily program for members from the LGBTQ community, who gather for friendship, learning, advocacy. and support. Dyson’s detailed report continued, noting on-site supportive services at Princeton Senior Living at Thanet Circle and the Mercer County nutrition program Continued on Page 8
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Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Council Approves Assessment for Special Improvement District Princeton Council voted unanimously at a meeting on Monday, June 9 to approve the annual assessment for the Special Improvement District (SID), known as Experience Princeton. The vote was taken following a public hearing on the measure. A physician whose private practice is located at 357 Nassau Street commented that because she is located outside the central business district, she doesn’t benefit from the enhancements that Experience Princeton provides. She asked that Council re-evaluate the proposed assessment. “My concern, that I know is shared by other business owners who are being asked to pay taxes that are intended for revitalization and improvement of downtown Princeton, is that because we are not within that immediate downtown vicinity, we’re really seeing no direct benefit from these initiatives,” she said, adding that things like seasonal decorations and plantings are not extended outside the central downtown. “Despite this, we are asked to shoulder the same financial benefit as those who do benefit.” Former Councilman Lance Liverman, who owns real estate outside the central district, said he used to feel the same way. But he has changed his mind.
“I can truly say that I have been converted,” he said. “Because the town of Princeton looks a lot better and a lot cleaner, and the businesses are attracting more people. I’ve seen an increase in folks applying for apartments. I do see that Experience Princeton has been a plus, even though I don’t see the things like seasonal greenery and lighting.” Councilwoman Leticia Fraga said that she and Experience Princeton Director Isaac Kremer have discussed trying to do
more outreach to local businesses about programs available to them. Kremer said Experience Princeton will be reaching out to all of the nine “sub areas” that are included in the district. Councilwoman Michelle Pirone Lambros commented that there is a lot of complexity in how the districts are set up. “There are things we are working on that may not be as visible as holiday decorations, but are very impactful to all the businesses across the board,” she said. Continued on Page 8
Juneteenth Is Coming Up Next Week, Celebrating End of Slavery in U.S.
In celebration of the Juneteenth holiday, a flag raising will take place next Thursday, June 19 at 1 p.m. in Princeton’s Monument Plaza in front of Monument Hall, and a variety of other events commemorating the occasion will be occurring in Princeton and the surrounding area next week. “Juneteenth is a holiday that celebrates the ending of slavery in this country,” Princeton Mayor Mark Freda wrote in an email. “We should embrace such an important milestone. What an inhuman and unjust practice that existed in this country, and in this town. Always better to acknowledge the wrongs of the
past so they are not repeated again in the future.” Questioning the extent of that liberation and whether the current situation gives cause for celebration, Councilman Leighton Newlin, who will be speaking at the flag raising, shared a draft of remarks that he will be delivering. “We are gathered here today to raise a flag, but we are also here to raise our consciousness, to raise our history, and to raise a question: Are we free … or are we fooled?” Newlin’s draft asks. It goes on, “But if you look around at what’s happening in this country today — Continued on Page 11
HANDS-ON: Kid-friendly activities, including an instrument petting zoo, were featured Sunday at the Princeton Festival’s Community Day event at Morven Museum & Garden. Attendees share their favorite instruments in this week’s Town Talk on page 6. (Photo by Sarah Teo)
Princeton Summer Theater presents
The Bridges of Jason Robert Brown • Based on the Novel by Robert James Waller • Directed by Eliyana Abraham Madison County June 12th-15th, 19th-22nd, 26th-28th Book by Marsha Norman • Music and Lyrics by
Book by Marsha Norman Music and Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown Based on the Novel by Robert James Waller Directed by Eliyana Abraham
Hamilton Murray Theater princetonsummertheater.org/tickets $35 for Evenings $30 for Matinees • $15 for Student Rush
THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
TICKETS