Volume LXXVI, Number 16
Porchfest Pages 22-23 Bicycle Tours of Historic Trail Where Trolleys Once Traveled . . . . . . . 5 Yom HaShoah Remembrance is Focused On Painter’s Journey . . 9 Celebrities Come to IAS, PU For Filming of Oppenheimer . . . . . . 10 Looking Behind the Facade — Thomas Mann In Princeton . . . . . . . 17 PU Orchestra’s Mindlin Memorial Concerts Return To Richardson . . . . . . 18 Sparked by English’s Versatility, PU Men’s Lax Edges Dartmouth . . . 29 McDowell Stars as PHS Baseball Rallies to Top Lawrenceville . . . . . . 32
Jonathan Gu Helps PHS Boys’ Tennis Start 5-0 . . 34 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 27 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 39 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 16 New To Us . . . . . . . . . 28 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 37 Performing Arts . . . . . 19 Police Blotter . . . . . . . 14 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 39 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Spring Arts . . . . . . . . . . 2 Summer Programs . . . . 12 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . 6
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PU Trustees Extend Eisgruber’s Tenure For Five More Years Christopher L. Eisgruber’s tenure as president of Princeton University has been extended by the University’s Board of Trustees for at least five more years, as Princeton University looks forward to the expansion of its undergraduate student body, increasing investments in emerging areas of science and innovation, and the most ambitious building program in its history. In approving the extension of Eisgruber’s presidency at its April 9 meeting, the Board of Trustees cited “transformational gains” in student body diversity and philanthropic support, accomplishments that have enhanced the University’s teaching and research, and historic campus expansion, according to a Princeton University press release. “As the University and world emerge from a period of unprecedented challenges, the board felt it was important to give us all the reassurance and strength of Chris Eisgruber’s continued leadership for a minimum five more years, said Board of Trustees Chair Louise “Weezie” Sams. “This decision positions us optimally as we venture forward.” A constitutional law scholar and 1983 Princeton University graduate, Eisgruber joined the Princeton University faculty in 2001, then served as provost for nine years before he became the University’s 20th president in 2013. “I am grateful to the trustees for their confidence in me, and I am excited about what we can achieve in the next five years,” said Eisgruber. “It is a privilege to lead this University and this community that I love.” Sams praised Eisgruber and noted Princeton University’s prospects for unusual successes in the coming years. “Chris is a visionary thinker, and we are delighted to keep him at the helm as we lean into this moment of opportunity,” she said. In his annual State of the University letter earlier this year, Eisgruber emphasized the goal of taking advantage of Princeton’s growing endowment returns to expand “audacious bets on human talent” and explore “new dimensions” in the University’s teaching and research mission. The April 18 press release highlights Princeton University as “a national leader Continued on Page 14
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Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban Starts May 4 If you’re still using those store-supplied, single-use plastic bags for your groceries and other purchases, then it’s time for a change. Start bringing your own reusable bags when you shop. “Get in the habit before the law officially goes into effect on May 4,” this week’s Princeton municipal newsletter advises. The new law, signed by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy in 2020, is the most progressive bag ban law in the country. It prohibits grocery stores and other retail establishments from providing single-use plastic bags to customers. Also, grocery stores 2,500 square feet or larger are not permitted to provide single-use paper bags, and the law also prohibits polystyrene foam (known as Styrofoam) takeout food containers and other Styrofoam food-service products. “I don’t think this will be a difficult transition for Princeton folks,” said Sustainable Princeton Executive Director Christine Symington, “because our community is already pretty cognizant of the impact of single-use plastic, and we’re supportive of the new rules.” Symington mentioned two good reasons for the new laws. “The primary reason was to reduce litter,” she said. “Single use disposable bags often find their way into the environment in places where they are not meant to be. This will certainly help to reduce litter.”
She continued, “Also this is a step in the right direction towards understanding the full life-cycle costs of the goods and products that we use. Hopefully this is helping us as a society to go away from a make-and-dispose culture towards more of a circular economy, an economy where we are extracting the most useful life out of a product before it makes its way to the landfill.” In urging the public to get ready for May 4, New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette pointed out the destructive impact of single-use bags. “Plastics pollution has become one of the world’s most pressing environmental problems,” he said. “Americans alone use some 100 billion plastic bags each year. While some of these bags are recycled, many end up in landfills and many more wind up as litter harmful to our communities, ecosystems, and wildlife. Sadly, these plastic bags get into our marine Continued on Page 8
Many Musicians are On Deck for Princeton Porchfest Performances
With some 60 bands and musical attractions on 11 front porches in town, the inaugural Princeton Porchfest this Saturday, April 23, is shaping up to be the allencompassing community event that its planners had in mind. Barring a severe weather event, homes on Murray Place, Linden Lane, Maple Street, Willow Street, Wiggins Street, Mt. Lucas Road, Birch Avenue, Witherspoon Street, and Leigh Avenue; along with the Princeton University building that fronts 185 Nassau Street and the Paul Robeson Center for the Arts at 102 Witherspoon Street, will be the stages for musical attractions from across the spectrum. An eclectic-sounding list of names, including Mimosa Watusi, Ophelia’s Lover,
Lemon Glaze Band, Cousin Oven, Hot Jupiter, and Circle Round the Sun, are on the schedule. More traditional-sounding attractions on the list include Westrick Music Academy, Princeton High School Around 8, the Princeton University Band, Wildcats A Cappella, the Princeton Pianists Ensemble, and the Sourland String Band. For a full roster, visit Artscouncilofprinceton.org. Princeton Porchfest is the one of the highlights of the April ARTS Festival of Arts and Culture, which was inaugurated April 1 to reimagine the annual Communiversity street fair, which has drawn crowds in the range of 30,000 to Princeton in recent, pre-pandemic years. The Arts Continued on Page 11
BUNNY CHASE: Terhune Orchards hosted its annual Bunny Chase Spring Celebration last weekend with children’s activities including a self-guided treasure hunt, bunny-themed crafts, games, special play houses, and a play area in the barnyard. Participants share their favorite animals at the farm in this week’s Town Talk on page 6. (Photo by Weronika A. Plohn)