Town Topics Newspaper, November 23, 2022

Volume LXXVI, Number 47

New Version of A Christmas Carol Coming To McCarter . . . . . . . . 5 LALDEF Joins with Latinas Unidas, Expands Local Services . . . . . . . 8 Brian Hughes Seeks 2023 Re-Election for Mercer County Executive . . . . 10 Renowned Bach Chorus, Orchestra Perform at McCarter . . . . . . . . . 17 Princeton Football Loses 20-19 to Penn, Falling Just Short of Ivy Crown . . . 27 PU Men’s Water Polo Wins NWPC Title, Looking to Make Noise in NCAAs . . 28

Deadwood Creator David Milch’s Extraordinary Life Featured in This Week’s Book Review . . . . . . . 16 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-23 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 24 Christmas Tree Directory . . 26 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 36 Healthy Living. . . . . 20-21 Home for the Holidays . . .12-13 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 35 Performing Arts . . . 18-19 Police Blotter . . . . . . . . 6 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 36 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . 6

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Collection Contract Approved For Solid and Bulk Waste But Not Yet for Organics At its November 14 meeting, Princeton Council voted to approve a resolution authorizing a contract for solid waste and bulk waste collection, which goes into effect in the new year. But they held off on the bid for picking up organic waste, agreeing instead to look into less costly options. Princeton’s Engineer and Deputy Administrator Deanna Stockton told Council that the town’s current provider, Interstate Waste Services, was the only company to respond to the staff’s request for proposal, or RFP. For organic waste, they proposed a system priced at about $1.1 million a year. “That was too much,” Councilwoman Mia Sacks wrote in an email the day after the meeting. “So we’re looking into things like micro-haulers or community drop-off locations, and advocating for changes to state legislation that will make food waste disposal process more affordable and accessible to municipalities.” Staff, members of Sustainable Princeton, and a liaison from the Princeton Environmental Commission worked with DeFeo Associates, which had previously reviewed the town’s leaf and brush collection, to come up with an option for solid and bulk waste. The goals, Stockton told Council, were controlling costs, which escalated during COVID-19; expanding the service to include organics; and reducing carbon emissions. The sole bid came on October 19. Staff’s recommendation was to have solid and bulk waste collection only, with carts supplied by the contractor. Bulk waste is defined as trash too large to fit inside a cart, such as mattresses, desks, chairs, sofas, or other furniture. Residents can make reservations for bulk pick up on the town’s website, by email, or by phone. The link to make a reservation will go live on the website by February 1. The service was approved for a fiveyear period. Residences will get a new, 64-gallon cart, equipped with a chip linking the cart to a specific address. Those who wish to get rid of their existing carts can do so during the first weeks of the new program. Residents who want an extra 64-gallon cart can get one, but at an annual fee that is still to be determined. “This allows for more automated service in Princeton,” said Stockton. Continued on Page 7

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Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Opportunities Abound for Community Engagement With plans in coming weeks for an open house on the town’s efforts to rework its Master Plan, a discussion with industry leaders about the housing and climate crisis, and a forum on housing justice, this seems an especially opportune time for involvement in community issues. It is also a time when Princeton is looking for residents to volunteer for its boards, commissions, and committees. Covering a wide range including environmental issues, human services, historic preservation, permit parking, public art selection, and public transit — among several others — these groups require a time commitment of 8 to 10 hours a month, and form what Princeton Councilman Leighton Newlin called “the backbone of municipal engagement and government.” Other members of the governing body stress the importance of the “BCCs.” “We have a diverse population in Princeton, one that we are very committed to preserving and expanding,” said Councilwoman Michelle Pirone Lambros. “Having diverse representation on our boards, committees, and commissions is one way to assure we have truly representative government. Any community outreach initiatives that we undertake are much

more successful if we have more resident involvement.” Councilwoman Eve Niedergang said the town “benefits greatly from the input of a wide variety of residents with different viewpoints but a shared passion for making Princeton a great place to live and work.” Participation “gives our residents a front row seat in how key grassroots issues work their way up to policy-making, and to also understanding and advancing the community’s priorities.”

The open house devoted to updating the town’s Master Plan is Wednesday, November 30 at Princeton Public Library between 4 and 7 p.m. Members of the public can stop by during those hours to learn about the process, existing conditions, and highlights from recent public surveys. This is an opportunity to share suggestions and ideas on the future of the community. Visit engage.princetonmasterplan.org for more information. On Tuesday, December 6 at 7 p.m., a Continued on Page 7

Rubenstein Commons Opens at IAS, “Forum for Curiosity, Discovery, Critique” Described by Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) Director David Nirenberg as “a place whose beauty will stimulate contemplation and whose space will invite the dialogue necessary for questioning at its most profound,” the new Rubenstein Commons building has opened its doors for IAS members and visitors. Made possible through a gift from businessman and philanthropist David M. Rubenstein, the building is designed to have “a transformative impact on intellectual and communal life at IAS,” according to a November 15 IAS press release, and to provide “flexible gathering spaces

to support enhanced communication and collaboration among scholars,” and “an inviting social hub for the wider IAS community.” Noting the building’s “pools, roof gardens, and rooms dancing with light,” Nirenberg, who is a medievalist and intellectual historian and the Leon Levy Professor at IAS, stated, “With the opening of this forum for curiosity, discovery, and critique, we celebrate the Institute’s enduring commitment to the nourishment of the global collective intellect.” The 17,175-square-foot building, Continued on Page 9

FESTIVE FLAIR: Hamilton Jewelers on Nassau Street is just one of the many local businesses that are geared up and ready for the holiday season. (Photo by Weronika A. Plohn)