Volume LXXVIII, Number 36
Anniversary of D&R Canal State Park Marked by Events . . . . . 5 Coyote Sightings Have Increased in Recent Months . . . . . . . 8 Lafayette’s Triumphal Tour Returns to Princeton . . . . . . . . . . 9 Bolstered by the Return Of U.S. Olympian Yeager, PU Field Hockey Aiming To Get Back on Winning Track . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Carusone Displays Versatility on Both Sides Of the Ball As PHS Football Loses 29-21 at Lawrence in Opener . . 23
Alain Delon (1935-2024) Shares This Week’s Film/Book Review with House of the Dragon . .14 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . 18, 19 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 20 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 29 Education and Recreation . . . . . . . . . . 2 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 28 Performing Arts . . . . . 15 Police Blotter . . . . . . . 11 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 29 Religion . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . 6
www.towntopics.com
Members of Community Encouraged to Participate In Cultural Exchange Night Since Princeton first instituted Welcoming Week nine years ago, efforts have been ongoing to involve the public in this annual celebration of the town’s cultural diversity. The planners of this year’s events, which begin Friday, September 13 and run through Sunday, September 22, are hoping to inspire as many residents as possible to not just attend, but take part. Cultural Exchange Night, which kicks off the week of events on Friday at Hinds Plaza from 4 to 6 p.m., is designed to do just that. The events are being planned by the Human Services Department and the Princeton Committee on Affordable Housing, Racial, Economic, Social Equity, and Social Services (C.A.R.E.S.). “Everyone has an opportunity to take part by sharing a little something about their own country,” said Princeton Councilwoman Leticia Fraga, who is the liaison to the town’s Human Services Department. “That can be a poster board, or a table with arts and crafts, or music, or dancing. In the past, we’d often see people walking around saying, ‘I wish I would have known about this, because I would have been part of this.’ So, we’re trying to get the word out that everyone is welcome to participate.” Launched in 2012 by Welcoming America, Welcoming Week is an international campaign that celebrates the work in communities to become welcoming places for all, including immigrants. With this year’s events, Princeton joins some 80,000 people around the world who are promoting inclusiveness, unity, and diversity. As of Tuesday, September 3, the organization’s calendar listed 425 observances across the globe. Among them: a pool party in Canterbury, New Zealand; a newcomer welcome dinner in Portage la Prairie, Canada; an interfaith tour at the St. Louis Art Museum in St. Louis, Mo.; and a welcoming walk in Tenerife, Spain. There is a family storytime at the Niagara Falls Public Library; an immigrant-owned business showcase in Champaign, Ill.; and a walking tour focused on “The Middle Eastern History of Krakow” in Krakow, Poland. In addition to Cultural Exchange Night, Princeton’s schedule of events includes a Mid-Autumn Moon Festival Concert, Dancing Under the Stars, Festival Continued on Page 11
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Wednesday, September 4, 2024
Referendum, Supt. Search on Tap for PPS As students and teachers, staff, and administrators, all made their final preparations for Tuesday’s Princeton Public Schools’ (PPS) opening day, Board of Education (BOE) members have been setting their sights on two longer-term goals: the selection of a new superintendent and an upcoming referendum to fund new classrooms and core spaces. Both BOE initiatives are expected to culminate early next year, with an $85$90 million referendum vote planned for January 28, 2025 and the BOE hoping, by the first months of next year, to find the right new leader for the PPS to take over from Interim Superintendent Kathie Foster on July 1, 2025. On April 30, 2024 the BOE voted to submit paperwork to the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) seeking approval for a referendum to fund new classrooms and core spaces at Community Park Elementary, Littlebrook Elementary, Princeton Middle School (PMS), and Princeton High School (PHS). At last week’s BOE meeting, Board Long Term Planning Co-Chair Beth Behrend reported that district architects will soon
be presenting plans to the Princeton Planning Board for comments, though approval is not required. Following the courtesy review by the Planning Board, the plans then go to the NJDOE for comments, followed by further review by the Princeton BOE and approval of a ballot question sufficiently in advance of the January 28 target election date. Behrend stated that the BOE will be assisted by the Laura Bishop
Communications firm in providing referendum information to the community. Basic information will be available by September 9, and more detailed information, responses to the community’s questions, and info sessions will be provided as the fall progresses. “Communication efforts will be ramped up in November and December to ensure that the community is informed prior to early voting for the January referendum,” said Behrend. Continued on Page 7
Sustainable Princeton eCommuter Fest at Shopping Center on Saturday, September 7
Complete with circus acts, a fashion show on bikes, street savvy cycling sessions, music, games, eBike test rides, and more, Sustainable Princeton will be hosting its annual low-carbon eCommuter Fest in the Princeton Shopping Center on Saturday, September 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (with a Saturday, September 14, rain date). The focus of this year’s event is walking, biking, public transit, and family fun, but
electric vehicles will still be an important part of the festivities. “eCommuter Fest was an evolution of our Electric Evening event, where we offered EV test drives and EV owner showcases when electric vehicles were novel,” said Sustainable Princeton Executive Director Christine Symington, as quoted in a press release. “Now that the adoption of electric vehicles is well underway, Continued on Page 10
SPECIAL HONOR: Lifelong Princeton resident Robert Higgins, 97, center front, was honored last Friday for his 76 years of service to the Princeton Fire Department. With his daughter, center right, and granddaughter, center left, in attendance along with Mayor Mark Freda, far right, Fire Chief Adam Kooker, third from left, and other first responders, Higgins was awarded a plaque from the Princeton Fire Department and Brandywine Princeton and celebrated for his dedication to serving Princeton. (Photo by Stephanie Gaber)
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