Volume LXXVII, Number 42
One-Man Play is Focal Point of W-J Fundraiser . . . . . . . . 5 Local Landscapers Participate in Green Infrastructure Workshop . . . . . . . . . . 9 Intimations of the Roaring 2020s in Fitzgerald, Kafka, Bix‘n’ Bing . . . . . . . . 18 PU Concerts Opens Season with Vocal Ensemble . . . . . . . . . 19 Curry Making the Most Of Senior Year as PU Women’s Soccer in Thick Of Ivy Title Race . . . . 32 With Reynolds Starring on Back Line, PHS Boys’ Soccer Advances to MCT Semis, Moves to 15-1 . . . 36
www.towntopics.com
Plans for Development Of Seminary Site Are Topic of Forum
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Wednesday, October 18, 2023
BOE Candidates Share Views on Key Issues With Election Day less than three weeks away, two incumbents are competing with three new candidates for three positions on the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education (BOE). The candidates’ names might be listed on the back of the ballot, but the competition for Princeton School Board often generates the most interest, the most heat, and the most lawn signs of any election. Incumbents Beth Behrend and Michele Tuck-Ponder are both running for their third term on the Board, and Adam Bierman, Eleanor Hubbard, and René Obregon are challenging. The campaign so far has been lively, with considerable media coverage and two candidate forums just last week. Extensive information on the candidates’ views and platforms is available at vote411.org, sponsored by the League of Women Voters, and at princetonptoc.weebly.com, sponsored by the Princeton Parent-Teacher Organization Council. Town Topics asked each candidate to respond by email to five questions: about the merits of incumbency and experience vs. change, “new blood,” and new perspectives; about transparency and collaboration; about public trust in the Board; about district finances and the
current bond referendum; and about the strengths of their particular qualifications and potential contributions to the Board. The questions and the candidates’ responses follow. (Behrend and TuckPonder note that they are writing as individuals, not on behalf of the Board, of which they are members.) 1. Two candidates are incumbents, three are new candidates. Could you comment on the value of incumbency (experience, stability, etc.) vs. the value
of being a new candidate (new perspectives, change, etc.)? Behrend: School Boards are the most heavily regulated elected positions in New Jersey, and it takes time to learn the ropes. The pace is non-stop, with limited resources and projects that take years to move forward (planning) and sudden, unprecedented challenges with immediate impact on students (pandemic). An experienced Board team, refreshed from time to time by new volunteers with needed
At a community forum Tuesday evening, October 17 on development of the Tennent/Roberts/Whiteley campus of Princeton Theological Seminary, contract purchaser James P. Herring was to present concept plans for the apartment project he hopes to build at the site. The forum at Witherspoon Hall, the third on the subject, was to be held after press time. Herring, owner of Herring Continued on Page 12 Properties, shared some details of his plans in advance of the meeting. The five-acre site is to have 238 units, including 48 affordable apartments inteOver the past ten days, repercussions the same day, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murgrated throughout the complex. Buildings from the October 7 terrorist attacks on Is- phy mourned the death of Abramov, notare to be three-to-four stories, with stone rael and the war in the Middle East have ing, “Lior had moved to Israel to follow in and stucco exteriors. Underground parkbeen felt acutely in the Princeton area as his father’s footsteps and become a sucing and open space are part of the plan. they have been felt throughout the world. cessful DJ. Our prayers are with his family The main entrance is off Stockton Street. There have been vigils, rallies, forums, as they grieve this unimaginable loss.” The core of the development, the fouressays, letters, and more. On Thursday, In an October 10 statement Princeton story part, is the most internal. October 12, came the announcement of University President Christopher L. Eis“There is no mass building along the the death of 20-year-old Lior Abramov of gruber noted, “The nightmare underway streetscapes,” Herring said. “We’ve Hopewell, who was “among the innocent in Israel and in the Palestinian territories tried to be respectful of the architecture victims tragically killed in the terrorist at- is being deeply felt on this campus. The of Edgehill Street, which has old, traditack on Israel by Hamas,” according (under 4.5’) to a pain will inevitably continue in the months tional, narrow houses tight to the road, statement by Mercer County Executive ahead. My heart goes out to everyone and Hibben Road, which has bigger lots Brian M. Hughes. personally affected.” and bigger houses. All along the neighContinued on Page 8 In a posting on X (formerly Twitter) bors’ properties, we’ve tried to be very respectful. So we went way beyond the existing setbacks against abutting properties. Then, we stepped back.” Lead architects for the project are Marchetto Higgins Stieve (MHS) of Hoboken. Princeton-based architect Marina Rubina is strategic architectural consultant. There are 49 units per acre, “about the same as all of the most recent projects that have been approved in Princeton, and in the middle range of those,” said Herring. “We’re fortunate to be in a location that is walkable to town and the train station, and with the ability to have green space around it. We think that’s good for the community and the town.” Empty nesters, young professionals, and retirees are the target market for the market-rate apartments, which may run from one-bedroom units “in the high twos and low threes” to two-bedroom units with dens “in the low fours,” Herring said. Rates for apartments classified as afford415 Park Blvd. 1378 Route 206 able will be Nassau determined after consulting with Princeton, organizations that specialize in that NJ 08540AMAZING PUMPKIN CARVE: Susan RosemanSkillman, 08558 of LambertvilleNJ created “Birds of a Feather,” one of the many giant segment of the market. pumpkins carved by local artists that were featured at the annual festival presented by the Hopewell Valley Arts Sam’s Club) (behind Wells Fargo Bank) Since(near the last All community forum in May, All You Can Eat You Can Eat Sushi Council. The event, held October 11-15 in Woolsey Park,Sushi also featured live music, storytelling, games, pumpkin when certain goals for the property were
Waves of Shock, Sorrow, and Concern Reverberate Following Attacks in Israel
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Tel: (609) 520-8883
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Tel: (609) 520-8883
Tel: (609) 683-2222
415 Nassau Park Blvd. Princeton, NJ 08540 (near Sam’s Club)
1378 Route 206 Skillman, NJ 08558 (behind Wells Fargo Bank)
415 Nassau Park Blvd. Princeton, NJ 08540 (near Sam’s Club)
1378 Route 206 Skillman, NJ 08558 (behind Wells Fargo Bank)
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(Photo by Charles R. Plohn)