Volume LXXVIII, Number 47
McCarter’s A Christmas Carol Brings Back Popular Actor . . . . . . . 5 Womanspace Changes Name to Younity . . . . 10 HomeFront Prepares for Busy Holiday Season . . 14 On the Brilliance of My Brilliant Friend . . . . 17 PU Glee Club Celebrates 150 Years of Music. . . 18 Theatre Intime Presents Eurydice . . . . . . . . . 19 Producing Stirring Run to Ivy Tournament Title, PU Men’s Soccer Facing Akron In NCAA Opener . . . . 28 Hegedus Sets the Tone with Bold Start as PHS Girls’ Cross Country Takes 2nd at MOC . . . 34
Naomi Lygas Celebrates After Helping PHS Girls’ Volleyball Win State Title . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . 24, 25 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 26 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 38 Fall Wellness . . . . . . . . 3 Harvest and Holiday . .20, 21 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 15 New To Us . . . . . . . . . 27 Obituaries . . . . . . . 36, 37 Performing Arts . . . . .22, 23 Police Blotter . . . . . . . . .11 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 38 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . 6
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Dems, Republicans, Nonpartisans Look to Uncertainties Ahead Two weeks after the culmination of the fiercely fought and — at least for many — surprising, 2024 elections, politicos, local organizations, and Princeton residents from across the political spectrum are wondering what comes next. Donald Trump and JD Vance registered a dramatic victory nationwide, winning all the swing states, and made significant gains in New Jersey in losing by only 46.1 percent to 51.9 percent. In Princeton, however, the total was about 83 percent (10,201 votes) for Kamala Harris and 16 percent (2007 votes) for Trump, and the Democrats won the mayoral election and two Council seats unopposed. Democrat Bonnie Watson Coleman coasted to reelection in the 12th Congressional District, and Andy Kim handily won in the New Jersey race for U.S. Senator. Nick DiDomizio, president of the Princeton Community Democratic Organization (PCDO), expressed concerns shared by many of his fellow Democrats. “The results in New Jersey were obviously disappointing,” he said. “It was really close, just a single digit margin for New Jersey, and I think that’s been causing a lot of despair as it pertains to next year’s governor’s race and the Assembly race.” All 80 Assembly seats are up for grabs in the 2025 election, and with Gov. Phil Murphy not allowed to run for a third term, the 2025 governor’s race is wide open and promises to be hotly contested. “It’s too early to say whether the disappointing trend will continue into 2025,” said DiDomizio. “The important thing in the gubernatorial primary is really trying to listen to voters, particularly in blue states like New Jersey. What has caused them to shift to the right to choose Trump over Harris?” DiDomizio recalled Murphy’s narrow victory in 2021 and suggested that the Democrats were learning from their setbacks. “I’m hoping that we learned some lessons then, and I think we did because in the next Senate and Assembly race that came up two years later we gained seats,” he pointed out. He stressed how important it is “to keep people engaged and on their toes, and not take next year for granted.” DiDomizio went on, “Our plan right now is to spend some time in the new year refocusing and trying to decide how as
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Council Hears Report on Harrison Street Corridor At a meeting on Tuesday, November 12, Princeton Council was given a first look at a study being designed to improve safety along a 2.5-mile stretch of the Harrison Street corridor. Representatives from the consulting firm Michael Baker Inc. made a presentation in which the enhancement of pedestrian, bicyclist, and motorist safety is the priority. Municipal staff members and Pete Kramer of the consulting firm stressed that the presentation is still in conceptual form. The study, which covers Harrison Street from its southern border to Route 206, considered five years of data related to traffic and crashes. “It’s really about safety more than moving traffic,” said Kramer, who showed a graphic compiled from national data on traffic speeds. While a pedestrian hit by a vehicle traveling at 40 miles per hour has an 80 percent chance of being killed, that figure is down to 10 percent if the vehicle is going half the speed. “The kinetic energy behind a moving vehicle, especially the ones we have today [is different],” he said. “Big trucks and SUVs weigh a lot more than cars we drove when we were younger. And they are much more advanced. Bodies haven’t
changed. Cars have become better. It’s much safer to be in a car and a lot less safe to be outside of a car.” In five years, there were a total 249 crashes on the Harrison Street corridor, which counted for 7 percent of all crashes in Princeton during that period. The accidents mostly took place on intersections of Nassau Street, Valley Road, Route 206, Hartley Avenue, and Lake Avenue, Kramer said. The study suggests enhancing the crossing of the D&R Canal, slowing traf-
fic as it enters Princeton from the south. Kramer’s recommendation for turning intersections at Valley Road, Terhune Road, and Bunn Drive into roundabouts were positively received by Council members. They would be similar to existing roundabouts at Faculty Road and Alexander Street. The study also recommends a “road diet” at the Princeton Shopping Center, which would turn four lanes of traffic into two, and repurposing the pavement for
In a ceremony at Princeton Battlefield State Park on Monday, November 18, a gathering of about 50 heard how new tourist-friendly historical signage and other upgrades will be providing future visitors with a better understanding of the Battle of Princeton, which was a decisive moment in American history and has been called the battle “that saved the American Revolution.” The event was highlighted by the unveiling of a “battle window,” an interpretive sign that includes elements from a James
Peale painting applied onto a clear acrylic window so that viewers can peer through to gain a sense of the battle action that took place on the landscape. In preparing Princeton for America’s 250th anniversary celebration in 2026, and the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 2027, there will be 13 new interpretive markers that will include a bronze patina battlefield map table, two “battle window” signs, and 10 interpretive plaques. The New Jersey Continued on Page 12
CHEMISTRY FOR KIDS: Children enjoy a hands-on “elephant toothpaste” experiment at an event led by Princeton University chemistry graduate students at Princeton Public Library on Saturday afternoon. Attendees discuss their favorite experiments in this week’s Town Talk on page 6. (Photo by Sarah Teo)
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“Battle Window” Unveiling Marks New Era, Upgrading Princeton Battlefield Experience
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