Volume LXXVIII, Number 18
Fusion Energy Week Starts May 4; PPPL to Hold Groundbreaking Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Autism Awareness Alliance Hosts Celebratory Gathering . . . . . . . . . . 7 Teaching Piano to Senior Citizens is Inspiration for Young Volunteer . . . . 10 PSO Presents Evening of Chamber Music . . . . . 17 Former Quinnipiac, Cornell Assistant Syer Named as New Head Coach of PU Men’s Hockey . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Huang Guts Out Title at Second Singles in MCT, Helping PHS Boys’ Tennis Take 2nd in Team Standings . . . . . . . . . 30
Shakespeare’s 460th Birthday Marks End of National Poetry Month . . . 16 Art . . . . . . . . . . . .22, 23 Books . . . . . . . . . .14, 15 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 24 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 36 Discover Bucks County . .13 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Mother's Day . . . . .20, 21 New to Us . . . . . . . . . . 25 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 35 Performing Arts . . . 18,19 Police Blotter . . . . . . . . 9 Real Estate. . . . . . . . . 36 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . 6
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University Gaza Protest Continues Into Day Six, With Total of 15 Arrests The Gaza Solidarity Encampment pro-Palestine demonstration at Princeton University entered its sixth day on Tuesday, April 30 after a tense Monday evening during which protesters marched from their previous base in McCosh Courtyard and occupied Clio Hall for several hours before settling on Cannon Green, directly behind Nassau Hall. In an email sent to the Princeton University Community at 10:30 p.m. Monday, following the arrest of 13 people, University President Christopher L. Eisgruber noted that all 13, including five undergraduates, six graduate students, one postdoctoral researcher, and one person not affiliated with the University, received summonses for trespassing and have been barred from campus. Two other demonstrators, both graduate students, were arrested at the start of the demonstrations on April 25. “The students will also face University discipline,” he added, “which may extend to suspension or expulsion.” There were no injuries reported during the incident. Eisgruber went on to describe the disturbance at Clio Hall, which houses the Graduate School administration, as “completely unacceptable” and “deeply upsetting to many people, including especially the staff of the Graduate School.” He added, “Everyone on this campus needs to feel safe and be safe. Faculty, students, and staff must be able to conduct University business without disruption, harassment, or threat.” The Gaza Solidarity Encampment, calling on the University to divest from companies with ties to Israel, started early Thursday morning, April 25. The two graduate students who were arrested then were putting up tents in violation of University policy in the courtyard between McCosh Hall and the University Chapel. Over the past five days, up until Monday evening’s occupation of Clio Hall, the demonstration had for the most part avoided any breach of University regulations. An Instagram post on Monday from Princeton Israeli Apartheid Divest stated, “Princeton has refused to bargain over our demands through any channels of communication since October. We are taking our demands directly to Continued on Page 9
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BOE Expected to Approve Referendum Proposal At its meeting on Tuesday night, April 30, which took place after press time, the Princeton Board of Education (BOE) was expected to approve a proposal for a $85 to $89.5 million facilities referendum, planned for December 2024 or January 2025, and also a 2024-25 budget of $119.2 million. The referendum proposal, for new construction and renovation at Community Park Elementary (CP), Littlebrook Elementary (LB), Princeton Middle School (PMS), and Princeton High School (PHS), is anticipated to be submitted to the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE). The specific dollar amount, which could be smaller with the inclusion of potential state aid, and the final form of the referendum questions will be determined after the NJDOE reviews the application and advises which portion of the costs is eligible for state funding. Preliminary estimates indicate that
additional tax for this referendum would be $551.70 on the average assessed Princeton home of $848,037, according to a Princeton Public Schools (PPS) press release. This referendum, if approved, would provide an additional six classrooms for both CP and LB, the two elementary schools closest to Princeton’s new and planned housing units. Also, both schools would add more flexible small group rooms and expanded, updated core spaces. PMS would also add classrooms and core spaces, and renovations at PHS would include improvements to the HVAC system and repurposing of space to create three new classrooms. Though no new construction is planned at Johnson Park Elementary (JP) or Riverside Elementary, the new classrooms at LB and CP would accommodate more neighborhood students to mitigate increasing enrollment pressures at JP and Riverside. The new classrooms at CP,
a Dual Language Immersion (DLI) school, would allow the reintroduction of traditional classes for neighborhood students who are not part of DLI. “We have worked hard to come up with a plan to maintain small class sizes with a focus on neighborhood schools,” said Acting Superintendent Kathie Foster, as quoted in the PPS press release. “Working closely with our architects, demographers, and the community, we have developed a plan to add enough classrooms to welcome and accommodate new students as our community continues to grow,” she continued. The referendum plans have gradually evolved, with modifications incorporated based on suggestions from the community and the PPS staff. “We value input from our parents, our staff members, and community members,” said Foster. “When possible, we incorporated their suggestions into the plan.” Continued on Page 8
Council Hears Report On Present and Future Of Climate Action Plan
PRINCETON PORCHFEST 2024: Fifteen locations throughout town hosted more than 80 musicians, including RPG Jazz Project, shown here on a porch on Jefferson Road, for the Arts Council of Princeton’s third annual music festival on Saturday. Attendees discuss their favorite styles of music in this week’s Town Talk on page 6. (Photo by Sarah Teo)
At its meeting on Monday night, April 29, Princeton Council was given a progress report on the town’s Climate Action Plan (CAP), which was adopted in 2019 to reduce carbon emissions and help the community become more climateresilient. Sustainable Princeton, which has been leading the effort, delivered the presentation. Among other items on the agenda was the adoption of a resolution appointing nine members to the Princeton Advisory Committee on Affordable Housing, Human Services, and Racial, Social and Economic Equity. The committee was formed after the controversial consolidation in January of the former Civil Rights Commission, Human Services Commission, and Affordable Housing Board. Council also passed ordinances related to loading zones and parking on Chambers Street once construction of the Graduate Hotel is completed, and license agreements for the new Hermes and Faherty stores, among other issues. Resolutions included a shared service agreement with Princeton Public Library for information technology services, a consulting agreement for community solar development, a contract for bicycle-safe grates and curb piece faceplates, and an urban tree canopy assessment. Continued on Page 7