Volume LXXV, Number 30
www.towntopics.com
Council Discusses Whether to Keep Kiosk at Witherspoon and Nassau
Cardiologist Will Cycle To Help Fund Cures for Cancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 New Stores on Palmer Square . . . . . . . . 8 Two Incumbents, Three New Candidates to Compete for BOE . . . . 10 "Nobody's Perfect" — Billy Wilder on the Human Condition . . . . . . . . . . 13 PU Summer Chamber Concerts Series Continues . . . . . . . . . . 14 Former PU Fencing Star Van Brummen Excited to Make Tokyo Olympics . . . . . . . . . 23 Davidson Stars as LoyalTees Wins Opener of Title Series . . . . . . . . 27
PHS Alumna Lis Has Big Summer with Real Central NJ Soccer . . . . . . . . 26 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 22 Classified Ads . . . . . . 29 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 28 Performing Arts . . . . . 15 Police Blotter . . . . . . . 11 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 29 Religion . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . 6
At its meeting Monday night, July 26, Princeton Council passed an ordinance that provides for parking improvements, and voted in favor of resolutions allowing a contract for interim free transit service in town, and a grant funding body-worn cameras for police, among other actions. But most of the meeting was taken up with discussions and presentations on topics including whether to remove the kiosk at Witherspoon and Nassau streets, what to do with federal funding from the American Rescue Plan, and racism as a public health crisis. The kiosk, and another at Nassau Street and Vandeventer Avenue, were the focus of debate in 2013, when some wanted them replaced by electronic billboards. Others argued, at the time, that they are a community service allowing anyone to post notices, and the idea was dropped. This time, the reason for possible removal of the kiosks is tied to the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s (NJDOT) plan to improve the traffic signal at Nassau and Witherspoon streets, making the intersection safer for pedestrians. Replacement of the traffic signal requires a larger controller box that is too big to fit inside the kiosk, and would not be properly ventilated, according to municipal staff and representatives of the NJDOT. Andrew MacLane, NJDOT’s in-house design coordinator for the project, said the traffic signal is powered by a manhole owned by PSE&G. “They prefer that the controller and meter cabinets are located in the northwest corner, where the existing one is now,” he said, adding that the site is preferred because it affords an unobstructed view of the intersection, which is necessary, for safety reasons, when any maintenance is being done. An alternative location would be across Nassau Street in front of Hamilton Jewelers, but it would not be as safe, MacLane said. The kiosk cannot be repurposed with the equipment inside of it because of concerns about ventilation of the controller itself, and access if anything goes wrong. “So confining it is not within our electrical standards,” he said. Councilwoman Michelle Pirone Lambros asked what the controller box would look like, and MacLane said it would be Continued on Page 11
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Wednesday, July 28, 2021
“Laura Wooten’s Law” Honors Former Resident Former Princeton and Lawrence Township resident Laura Wooten, a poll worker for 79 years up to her death in 2019, was honored on July 23 when New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed “Laura Wooten’s Law,” requiring civics instruction at the middle school level throughout the state. Wooten was known as the longest continuously serving poll worker in the history of the United States. “Laura Wooten’s life is a study in civics,” said Murphy. “She set a tremendous legacy of service. Even more importantly, in her life, born in the segregated South, she persevered through sexism and racism, including right here in New Jersey. Her life stands as evidence that change in a democracy comes not from those who hold elective office, but through the work of ordinary citizens.” Also speaking at the online signing ceremony, Wooten’s daughter, Yvonne Hill, noted, “She walked off 14 Witherspoon Lane and into history by working the election polls for 79 years. She was just doing what she thought was her duty.” Hill continued, ”My mother would be so honored to know that a bill would be passed recognizing her legacy of civic responsibility. She always felt that youth should be involved in exercising the hard-fought right to vote and help make change. Her famous words were ‘Don’t
say you can’t make a difference. How can you make a difference if you don’t vote?’” Hill went on to tell the story of how in 2017, at age 96, her mother found out at the last minute that she was needed at the polls on election day. Unable to get a ride on short notice, she set out on foot at 4:30 a.m. in the dark, determined to fulfill her civic duty. Wooten moved to Princeton from North Carolina at age 4 and graduated from Princeton High School in 1939. She
worked as a nurse’s aide at the University Medical Center of Princeton for 18 years, was a teaching assistant at Community Park School, then went to work for Princeton University dining services for more than 25 years. She did not miss a year working at the polls from 1939 — when her uncle, running for justice of the peace, persuaded her to work for $10 as a “challenger” checking voter IDs — until her death. Continued on Page 8
Joint Effort Opens With Gospel Festival; Eight Days of Cultural Events Follow Coming out of the pandemic with themes of reconnection and “a new vision for Princeton,” the Joint Effort Witherspoon-Jackson Princeton Safe Streets celebration begins this weekend with a fish fry and reunion gathering at the Elks Lodge on Saturday afternoon and a gospel festival at the First Baptist Church of Princeton at 5 p.m. on Sunday, August 1. “The highlight of this nine-day celebration is reconnecting with people,” said Joint Effort founder and event coordinator John Bailey, “with an emphasis on cultural expression, intellectual dialogue, and conversation on the future of Princeton.” He continued, “We will hear from
people who have a message, and I hope these events will be meaningful and purposeful. Folks have been isolated for 18 months, and it’s good to come out, cautiously, and resume the historical and cultural experience.” Bailey pointed out that masks will be available for voluntary use. “With the COVID upsurge we have to be mindful in accordance with state and CDC guidelines,” he added. The kick-off reception and first “new vision for Princeton” discussion will take place on Monday, August 2 at Studio Hillier on Witherspoon Street. Bob Hillier, Continued on Page 11
YOUNG FARMER: Participants of all ages helped feed and water the animals, bring in sheep from the pasture, collect eggs, grind corn, clean stalls, and more at the Evening Livestock Chores event on Saturday at Howell Living History Farm in Hopewell Township . Attendees share their favorite chores in this week’s Town Talk on page 6 . (Photo by Charles R. Plohn)