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What’s in a Ranking? Does the Latest U.S. News Report Matter in Princeton?

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After dropping several spots in the rankings, Columbia University made national news when it announced in June that it will no longer share data with U.S. News and World Report for its Best Colleges guide. Columbia, like Yale Law School and others that have stopped cooperating in their guides, have argued the rankings were having too much influence (2024’s comes out next week) and not putting enough weight on the right things. Though college and graduate school rankings do strongly influence one’s decision to apply to and attend a school, what are U.S. News Best High Schools rankings intended for? Princeton High School (PHS), which was once ranked the 94th Best U.S. High School back in 2009 dropped to #534 in the latest rankings that came out this August. It has been in a steady decline in these rankings, with one exception, since at least 2017.

For colleges, U.S. News and World Report changed its methodology in May, in reaction to some of the criticism. This included gathering data not just from the colleges directly but from public resources as well. For high schools, all data used to determine the rankings is from 3rd parties, such as a U.S. Department of Education website, which updates basic demographic and enrollment data annually. It also utilizes state standardized assessment data and information from College Board and International Baccalaureate. Does this make the high school rankings more accurate? More importantly, do the people of Princeton or those considering moving here really care?

THE PEOPLE’S PERSPECTIVES

“It’s not what the school system is worth, it’s what you do with the school system that makes you worth something,” states Martin Bendersky. He has lived in Princeton for 32 years but raised his daughter, who has found professional success, through the nearby Lawrence school system.

Bendersky says he does not really care about his home value, as he intends to live the rest of his years there, and he generally finds rankings to be “just a number.” A local mother with children at Community Park School feels similarly, citing concern that a focus on the rankings just puts more pressure on kids.

“I didn’t look at the rankings when moving here. Schools are based on zip codes so I knew, in this affluent area, the schools would be good, or be good enough.”

Is good enough, OK? Not for everyone that’s chosen to move here. Local Facebook groups include numerous concerned comments from parents worried about their home values and the quality of education for their children. One such parent, Christine Ritchie, who has 9th and 11thgraders at PHS (with a 6thgrader in Cranbury) moved to the area for Princeton High School in 2021 and is alarmed about the already decreased rankings since she arrived.

“It does tell a story and especially a trending story. I don’t think you can completely reengineer your district or change how you’re governing to focus on the rankings, but I believe they do show a trend. The fact the rankings in Princeton have gone down – and not just 1 or 2 but 10, 50, 100 a year – is pretty material,” says Ritchie. “We looked at Hopewell, but when we compared the rankings, it didn’t look like the right district for us, the rankings weren’t good enough. That’s where we made a deliberate choice. We wanted to be in Princeton, but couldn’t find anything, so we’re in Cranbury. But we were focused on Princeton because of the rankings and all the things we read about the district. If I knew everything about Princeton I know now, I wouldn’t have been so focused on buying here.”

Another parent, father of 3 daughters with the oldest in 4th grade at Princeton Charter School, does not intend to send his girls to Princeton High School due to the latest statistics and happenings. “At the high school, rankings definitely matter,” he concludes. “I’m from the Trenton school system, so this is an upgrade. But I worry, I don’t know how to fix it.”

MORE TO THE STORY

If looking just across NJ, PHS is ranked 26th in the U.S. News guide, with local schools West-Windsor Plainsboro (WW-P) High Schools North and South coming in above (at 17 and 20, respectively). According to the 2023 Niche Best Schools Report (which came out Sept. 2022), another resource that profiles and ranks schools across the U.S., PHS is the 12th Best High School in NJ, above both WW-P schools. It is important to note that as an overall district, Princeton Public Schools rank even higher on Niche, as the #3 Best School District in New Jersey.

“Niche named Princeton High School the top high school in Mercer County [of which there are 10 traditional public high schools] and the top non-magnet (open admissions) high school in the state,” responds Princeton Public Schools Board of Education President Dafna Kendal. With regards to the U.S. News guide, she adds, “There are so many reasons for the changes. One of the biggest reasons being that there are so many more charter/magnet schools than in 2009. 40% of the score has nothing to do with state assessments, which aren’t comparable across the country, and the overall subjectiveness of the rankings in general. We offer rigorous classes in all subject areas, 31 AP classes, independent studies, a world class fine arts program, all while serving students of a diverse student body.”

PHS has long been known for its rigor and variety of offerings, so that likely hasn’t changed too much. But the school did have 7.5% more students last year than it did in 2009. The diversity of Princeton’s schools, where 9% are described in the U.S. News guide as economically disadvantaged, came up with several of the residents we spoke to as well. Some wondered whether that factors in a positive or negative way. U.S. News worked with a research firm to score the schools, citing its methodology does factor in diversity and much more.

THE U.S. NEWS METHODOLOGY

U.S. News & World Reports Best High Schools 2023-2024

“A great high school educates all students from different social and economic backgrounds, exposing them to challenging coursework on the path to graduation. The highest ranked U.S. public schools in U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-2024 Best High Schools rankings are those whose students demonstrated outstanding outcomes above expectations in math, reading and science state assessments, earned qualifying scores in an array of college-level exams, and graduated in high proportions,” the website explains.

The guide cites six ranking indicators used to score the schools:

  • College Readiness Index (CRI), based on the proportion of 12th grade students who took and earned a qualifying score on at least one Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exam (30% of ranking)
  • State assessment proficiency, based on aggregated scores on state assessments that students may be required to pass for graduation (20%)
  • State assessment performance, based on whether performance on state assessments exceeded expectations given the school’s proportion of underserved students (20%)
  • Underserved student performance, based on how Black, Hispanic and low-income students performed on state assessments compared with those who are not underserved in the state (10%)
  • College curriculum breadth, based on proportions of 12th grade students who took and earned a qualifying score on AP and/or IB exams in multiple content areas (10%)
  • Graduation rate, based on the proportion of students who entered ninth grade in 2017-2018 and graduated four years later (10%)

OTHER FACTORS TO CONSIDER

Prior to 2019, U.S. News solely relied on the CRI. That year, it reformulated to include the six factors above. The outlet also clarifies that while the details and weight of each of the six measuring tools remains the same since 2019, the pandemic caused a shift in how three of them are calculated. Does this explain the 440-spot drop from 2009?

“Because U.S. News & World Report completely revamped its methodology in 2019, rankings from earlier editions are not comparable to those from 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023-2024,” explains Dr. Carol Kelley, superintendent of Princeton Public School District. In 2019, PHS was #332, down to #356 in 2020, to #703 in 2021, #490 last year, and #534 for 2023. “While many people rely on published high school rankings, it is not a full measure of our success. Criteria varies for each publication making the lists somewhat subjective. Rather, it is our rigorous and innovative programming, our dedicated staff, and the high-quality educational experiences we provide to students that continues to keep Princeton High School competitive as compared to other high schools in New Jersey and across the nation.”

Everyone we spoke to does agree, high school rankings are only one barometer in determining the quality of a school. One resident, who has lived in Princeton for 62 years, said she thinks Princeton teenagers these days are rude and not well-spoken, so she wasn’t surprised to learn of a drop, but she also blames the deterioration on parents.

For others, while weighing the rankings against reputation, first-hand experiences and future success are valuable, there is still concern about what a large drop in ranking might signify.

“These rankings seem to be against the reputation of power schools. I’m very surprised,” SherAli Tareen adds. He has lived here with his family for 5 years and plans to send his 3-year-old to Princeton’s public schools beginning next year. “It’s all about the methodology of the rankings, but this seems like a large shift. It’s going to have an impact on what college you go to, and that affects the rest of your life.”

The Niche Best High School rankings for 2024 are due out later this month. We’ll let you know if those show any trends. There are a lot of eyes focused on what will happen at Princeton High School, since the removal of Frank Chmiel as principal last year and numerous concerns that were raised by parents. School opened last week with a new principal, Dr. Cecilia Birge, at the helm. Will this lead to any changes, perhaps higher rankings? Time will tell.

Editor’s Note

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Multiple days of humid summer weather that reached above 90 degrees. Bursts of torrential rainstorms. Tornado warnings and watches. Whether you believe this is climate change or not, this is extreme weather, and it is weather that has been hitting New Jersey this summer. Scientists and over 175 nations worldwide agree that there are things that can be done to slow down or reverse the extreme changes in weather and better protect our environment. Do you?

In this August issue of Princeton Perspectives, we will take a look at some of the things that you, as an individual, can control if you want to, in Local Realities and Personal Opportunities to Affect Environmental Concerns. You can choose to read on with an eye on what changes others have made that you might want to try, or you may still find yourself with continued questions about the science of climate change. Either way, we hope that you will read on to learn more about our region of the state and country and what things are like here.

To start things off, we went into town to find out what the biggest changes are that local people have made in their lives, to contribute to a healthier environment. Watch our Pulse of Princeton now to get a sense of what is happening around you.

On some of those 90-degree days, were you inside your home, with the air condition cranked, appreciating the cool air surrounding you? Is that air or your kitchen stovetop powered by gas? Is some of that air sneaking outside through older windows and leaky doorways? Electric, Gas, Efficiency: You Have More Control Than You May Realize breaks down some of the opportunities that every homeowner, renter or long-term visitor can do to better ensure you are using the best energy in the best ways.

Outside of your home, there are also some things that you can do to influence the environment around you. The article How Your Lawn/Patio/Window Box is a Frontline Protector of the Local Ecosystem shows how simple it can be to co-exist with the things outside. It may send you running for some new flowers for your yard, or at least get you thinking about the landscape you surround yourself with.

With the Washington Road bridge closed for reconstruction, traffic, which is normally easy at this time of year, is backed up all the way down Alexander Road. When you sit in that traffic, wondering if you’ll get through the next light, do you ever think about the cars around you? How much gas emissions are they putting into the air? Would you be helping things more if you were in an electric vehicle or are you already grateful that you are in one? New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has pledged to change things in the Garden State, in part by putting more people in electric vehicles. Are Local Residents Ready to Go All-in on Electric Cars? takes a look at what this pledge has accomplished so far and what the local situation is surrounding it.

Speaking of changing things, do you recall back in 1987 when New Jersey first started recycling? Many people that were not on board with it do so as second nature today. But do you know the right things to recycle, and once picked up from your home, do you know what really happens to it? We got a chance to ask the man in charge, and you can read our Q&A to get the answers you need in the article Recycling in Mercer County – Everything You Always Wanted to Know.

There are a few more weeks of summer before the schools reopen and we head into fall. While you enjoy the beautiful weather, perhaps taking a long walk or sitting on the beach, take a moment to think about how different life would be without it and perhaps promise to make one change in your life that can help sustain the environment you are enjoying.

Pulse of Princeton: What’s something you’ve personally done to benefit the environment?

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Electric, Gas, Efficiency: You Have More Control Than You May Realize

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New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy wants to move away from fossil fuels. To move forward in this effort, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) voted last month to ask utility companies in NJ to offer incentives for customers that make the switch from gas stoves. People quickly assumed that meant homeowners would be forced to replace their existing ones, and pizza parlors would have to get new ovens as well, but both were quickly dismissed as rumors. The reality is that the BPU vote hopes to encourage many to change their ranges to electric, but not require them to.

To accomplish a move away from fossil fuels, you hear a lot these days about Green Energy, Clean Energy, and Sustainable Energy. Solar panels are an obvious choice, but there is so much more that you can do. Even if you desperately want to make a difference, it can sometimes be hard to know how. Saving money can often cost money upfront, which can be a burden for many. And knowing what the best options for your home might be can overwhelm anyone. The best way to start is often one step at a time. So, let’s take the first step together to try and understand some of the options that exist and how you can utilize them.

A POWERFUL CONNECTION

Let’s start with your home energy supply. Most people do not realize that you can have a say in where it comes from and help control your own costs. The actual lines, pipes and other equipment that bring energy into the majority of homes in Mercer County are owned and controlled by Public Service Enterprise Group (PSE&G) and Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L). For most, they are the supplier of the electric power and natural gas as well, but simply because they are the distributor no longer means they have to provide the energy to you. New Jersey law allows for owners to decide whom they want their energy supply to come from to allow for more open competition.

“Customers can shop around for the best price on their energy supplies. Their electric and natural gas distribution utilities will still deliver those supplies through their wires and pipes – and respond to emergencies, should they arise – regardless of where those supplies are purchased. Purchasing your energy supplies from a company other than your electric or gas utility is purely an economic decision; it has no impact on the reliability or safety of your service,” states the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.

Should you choose a different supplier, you will receive two bills – one from them and one from your utility company for the distribution. If your electric energy comes through PSE&G click here or JCP&L click here to find third party supplier options. PSE&G gas customers can find vendors here. Though the primary utility companies are required by regulations to provide the best possible prices to consumers, sometimes a third-party provider might offer a better one. For example, if you have agreed with another provider to pay a fixed price for the year and energy costs rise, your costs won’t. It also gives you a choice of where you want your energy to come from. You can choose a green energy provider, that could get the energy from sources like water, wind or solar.

STARTING FROM THE INSIDE

Between pricing and options, there’s a lot to consider. If you prefer to start simpler, there are ways that you can conserve energy by delving into how you utilize your energy instead of where your it comes from. Home energy assessments, which bring a certified energy expert into your home to educate you on product options and provide simple product changes, could cost you nothing. Yet they could bring great rewards to both your pocketbook and the environment. The advice could be as simple as turning down your thermostat when you leave or switching your bulbs to LED, which use 90% less electricity than older incandescent bulbs. Replacing your existing showerhead with a low-flow option could save you 25-60% on water, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

“A Quick Home Energy Check-up is a free and fast way to improve the energy efficiency of your home. In just about an hour, you’ll be connected with expert advice from an energy adviser, along with no-cost products, such as LED bulbs and advanced power strips,” explains Susanna Chiu, Senior Director of Workforce Development and Operational Service – Renewables at PSE&G. “Meanwhile, for deeper, more “whole home” measures, we offer the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® Program, which factors areas like insulation and air sealing. When you participate in the Home Performance program, you’ll learn how to optimize your energy use and reduce your costs. Additionally, eligible customers may receive up to $5,000 in rebates to make energy-saving home improvements.”

Through both of the above programs (and similar ones from other distributors) you may find out that your water heater or heat pump is not efficient or working right, and instant rebates to replace them are available through certain providers. Additionally, you might find that your appliances, such as your oven or washing machine, are leaking gas or using too much energy due to age. Sometimes the expense of purchasing new ones could end up saving you money in the not-too-distant future. And rebates are available for ENERGY STAR® certified appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, dryers and more. For a full list of appliance rebates from PSE&G, click here.

IT’S AN ENERGY STAR® THING

If you want to change just one thing, and choose to get a new appliance, you will immediately make a positive impact on the environment and your monthly bills. In 2023, there are very few appliances sold new that are not ENERGY STAR® certified. You have likely seen the logo on appliances you own or in the store. It symbolizes that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has partnered with the manufacturer to ensure the appliance is more energy efficient.

“Today’s products are efficient because they have to be, the government is requiring them to be. Those that are certified ENERGY STAR® are even more efficient,” clarifies Debbie Schaeffer, 3rd generation owner of Mrs. G Appliances in Lawrenceville. “When it comes to water, it is about dishwashers and washing machines. In terms of using power, it is relevant with refrigeration. When a refrigerator is ENERGY STAR®, the way they’re built are not sucking up as much electric power.”

Often, homeowners that are updating or renovating a kitchen will put their old refrigerator in a basement or garage as a back-up or for extra space. It seems like a great idea, because it is a way to reuse the product, as many of us are taught to do these days. But, in fact, it could be better to recycle it.

“If that fridge is 20-years old or more, and it still works and you put it in your basement, it is going to use a lot of energy to run that fridge. It would save you by buying a new one that is not that expensive (say $600). You’ll save $150-200/year on energy costs that would ultimately pay off that fridge after 3-4 years,” Shaeffer adds.

A unit that is only 5-6 years old may be more efficient and worth keeping, but if it is older, recycling through a program like PSE&G’s will also get you a $50 rebate for each (up to two) and free pick-up.

SMALLER TASKS

If all of the above is still feeling like a bit more than you can handle these days, here are a few final tips:

-Change the air filter on your home’s heating and cooling system regularly. When your filter gets dirty and clogged, your system has to work harder. That means more gases are likely released. For as little as $20 you might be able to keep your system running more efficiently.

-Conserve water. Energy is used to pump and treat the water you use, so simply turning off the water when you brush your teeth or getting your leaky faucet fixed promptly can reduce pollution and save you money. A leak of one drip every second can cost you up to $35 per year.

-On August 26th, Sustainable Princeton is holding a STAR Swap Party from 2-4pm at 1 Monument Drive, Princeton. The event is an opportunity to swap gently used household items such as appliances, landscaping items, entertainment you no longer use (books, music, movies), games, puzzles and toys, and fitness equipment. You must bring at least one item to participate.

When you finish this article, go check your most frequently used lights. If you swap five existing bulbs with Energy Star® products, the EPA says you can save $70 a year on your energy bill. One small step at a time you can make changes to your home and life that save you money and are better for the environment.

Are Local Residents Ready to Go All-in on Electric Cars?

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This year in New Jersey, there are nearly 10 electric vehicles per every 1,000 residents. The first mass-produced hybrid vehicle, the Toyota Prius, first sparked people’s interest in a more environmentally friendly car when it came onto the U.S. market in 2001. Since then, peoples’ desires, government regulations and manufacturing opportunities have enabled a growing market. In 2020, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation he hoped would help to reduce emissions in the Garden State, with a goal of having 330,000 electric vehicles (EVs) registered to New Jerseyans by 2025. We wrote about the state’s new climate goals in the article The Likelihood Local Residents Can Help NJ Meet New Climate Change Goals back in March, but things have already advanced since then. Just last month, Murphy filed to propose a new state regulation called Advanced Clean Cars II (ACCII) which, by 2035, will require all new car sales in the state to be zero-emission vehicles.

ACCII does not require consumers to purchase new cars, but the state has put programs in place to encourage you to do so. Financial incentives for people, organizations, businesses, and other entities that purchase eligible electric vehicles, rebates for getting residential chargers, and funding to help other private and public places install chargers as well. All this on top of zero sales tax on EVs that has been in place for years.

ELECTRIC CHARGE

The Township of Robbinsville and The College of New Jersey both took advantage of incentives to transition part of their fleets to EV, and multi-family complexes in Princeton, Lawrence, East Windsor, West Windsor and Robbinsville have used state incentives to install Level-2 charging stations for residents and guests. But a true switch to all-electric vehicles requires everyone to want and be able to do so.

“I do not agree with Governor Murphy’s plan to have all electric vehicles in this state. The electrical infrastructure cannot possibly take all the extra electricity without having major problems such as the grid overloading and then having to be repaired. This would cause no electricity anywhere. Every single citizen would have to install these chargers at their homes, costing thousands of dollars,” says Deidre Rawson, a Mercerville resident. “Now when I travel, I can stop anywhere to get gas when needed. 10-15 minutes and we are done!”

Rawson is not alone. When we polled 50 Princeton-area locals a few months ago, 6% shared they have no plans to ever give up driving with gas. Yet, the state and industry hope more people are in favor of the switch, and things are looking optimistic. 52% of the respondents shared they already have or are planning to purchase a hybrid or EV car. From the first Toyota Prius to today, the offerings have expanded greatly. In the greater Mercer County area, there are multiple EV-only car dealers, and several other brands that include EV lines (some additional brands are available only online or in other parts of NJ).

“We bought our 1st EV, a Tesla, in 2021. We liked that it was a full EV, and our work had a free charging station that was also part of our motivation and incentive to get it,” shares Jodi Mahoney, who resides with her family in Belle Mead. “It was less the environmental impact and more the need to not fill up the gas tank that pushed this purchase. When leasing another car in 2021, we chose to get a hybrid Rav 4 (not a plug-in). The idea of the combination without plugging in for good gas mileage was appealing to us and we do like that the car does get great gas mileage. In 2023 we got another car, a plug-in hybrid. We had looked at getting a full EV for that purchase, but style-wise and model-wise, we opted not to. This car, the Jeep Wrangler, doesn’t get great EV mileage but it gets some and it helps reduce the need to fill up the gas tank so often.”

THE CHANGING MARKET

July data shows that Tesla sales make up approximately 60% of the U.S. market. The other 40% are comprised of 20+ car brands including Polestar, Mercedes Benz, Audi, and Genesis.

Polestar, with one exclusive and another mass-produced model currently available for sale, has a one percent share of the U.S. EV market (INSIDEEVs, May 2023), but that is already up nearly 40% from last year’s sales and further increase is predicted as two more models become available next year. Located just off Route 1 in Lawrence, it is the third store to open of Polestar’s 28 U.S. locations.

“We’re seeing a huge increase in sales with no sales tax on EVs and incentives to help customers. Governor Murphy is really backing the EV way of life,” says Nick Long, owner and operator of Polestar Princeton.

Polestar opened its local dealership just two years ago. A subsidiary of Volvo, they were initially a boutique showroom within the Route 1 Volvo dealership, where their service area is still located. Little more than a year ago, the Polestar showroom relocated to its own space about 2 miles north near the Porsche and Tesla dealerships.

“Polestar is driven on making sure the person that’s not already EV, knows about it,” Long explains. “After driving an EV for two years, I’ll never go back. The home charger, acceleration, technology, ease of driving the car, it is all better. And it’s better for the environment.”

A SLOW STEP AWAY FROM GAS

A quick look at his phone app shows the benefits Long is getting from his electric car, spending just $44 last month on electric energy rather than the hundreds many spend a month on gas. He says it takes just two days for someone to get comfortable and utilizing the interfaces electric cars have installed, such as the Google android system in the Polestar, which indicates arrival time and the charge you will need to get there. And there are a variety of charging options for these vehicles. Level 1, using a 120-volt household outlet, will likely take about 30 hours, while Level 2, alternating current (AC), decreases that to 4-6 hours and the improved direct current (DC) fast charging lowers that to around 30 minutes. The improved technology hopes to decrease or eliminate what’s called range anxiety, the fear of getting to/from your destination with enough charge – and something that prevents many from making the change.

“Acceptance of battery electric vehicles in general has been tempered by range anxiety. The current status of charging infrastructure has been a concern for many potential buyers. Driving range is also reduced by certain ambient temperature variations,” explains Robert Greces, owner and operator of Mercedes-Benz of Princeton. “The good news is that level two home chargers are available for convenience. These work especially well for owners who don’t have a long daily commute. We have noticed that many customers are buying EQs as a second car, not quite ready to give up their internal combustion vehicles.”

The EQ is one of five models currently offered by Mercedes-Benz USA. These have been available for sale for around two years and already comprise approximately 10% of new vehicle sales at Mercedes-Benz of Princeton, also along Route 1 in Lawrenceville. The trend Greces is seeing of locals not giving up their gasoline-powered cars is one we’re hearing on the streets as well.

“We will always have a gas car. I don’t feel at this point you can rely on only EV vehicles,” states local Stacy Greenstein, whose family bought both a full EV and a hybrid last year. Watching gas prices skyrocket in 2022 led them to reconsider their driving options, but she doesn’t think all members of her family will give up gas cars completely. “You do not get enough distance from a full charge. And looking for charging stations or to spend time pulled over to recharge is a pain. Charging takes time, it’s not quick like filling up with gas.”

This is something public and private companies are working on. To help local residents, Princeton installed eight new public EV charging stations in the lot of the municipal building earlier this year, and you’ll find 10 other sites across the county that offer them to the public as well. There are also chargers located at a variety of private business sites. But are they enough to get more buyers to convert?

INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED

When it comes to public charging stations, Tesla has the most nationwide. However, all other EV brands are on a system that’s different than Tesla. While some can utilize certain Tesla stations through an adapter, overall use will soon be even easier. In 2025, Volvo and Polestar will be switching to Tesla’s charging infrastructure. As soon as next year, other brands, including Mercedes-Benz, are switching to Tesla charging, too, once connectors, plugs and payment systems are all adapted and integrated. The industry is hoping this will decrease the range anxiety and help people make the EV switch.

“We have taken our EV on a few long drives, but you do have to factor in charging as you go.  It’s a little inconvenient but not that bad,” says Debbie Lu, whose family purchased their first Tesla, the Model 3, in 2019 and proceeded to get a second, the Model S, in 2022. “I think what won us over is the convenience of never needing to go to get gas and almost no maintenance.  Didn’t hurt that we liked the style and how it drives.”

Lu shares that about 40% of her family’s decision to go electric was to help the environment, which is something important to many people in the Princeton area. Looking statewide, more than 91,500 people had a registered electric vehicle by the end of 2022. That leaves 2 years and approximately 238,500 vehicle purchases needed to meet Gov. Murphy’s goal.

“He’s going to need a lot of help with manufacturers to have more options for consumers,” Long notes. “If we have the infrastructure, we’ll have sales.”

Infrastructure is of prime importance. But there are additional factors as well.

“Other considerations are dependency on the electric grid and the upstream production and acquisition of lithium, cobalt, nickel and other components needed for battery production,” adds Greces. “Meanwhile the worldwide race to produce improved battery technology will undoubtedly increase the desirability of battery electric vehicles, and perhaps make New Jersey’s goal attainable.”

If you are happy with your gas-powered vehicle, no one is coming to take it away. But if you are considering going hybrid or fully electric, you will be glad to know that the options are expanding, the infrastructure is growing and improving, and the state’s incentives are here to help you.

Editor’s Note

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Today is July 18th, that means that somewhere, someone is taking in the sounds of nature celebrating World Listening Day or puckering up to enjoy National Sour Candy Day. There are a lot of fun and important holidays on the calendar. Some are widespread and others simply carry meaning to a select few. According to National Today, there are 6,417 special days to celebrate each year. Several of them happen in July, and we are highlighting them with local ways to take advantage of and honor each.

Just to be alive and breathing in the fresh air of summer is something to celebrate. But let’s have some fun with it! The July issue of Princeton Perspectives, Every Day is a Special Day – How to Celebrate Them Around Princeton, has chosen four of July’s special dates to provide you with a deeper appreciation and knowledge of our community: Be a Kid Again Day, Hop-a-Park Day, National Lasagna Day and Be Nice to Bugs Day.

What days are most important to the people that live around Princeton? The Pulse of Princeton video shares some special favorites, and perhaps might give you a new reason to celebrate.

With real life going on, it can sometimes be hard to remember to take a moment for yourself. Be a Kid Again Day is meant to encourage you to do so. The article Be a Kid Again – Local Opportunities to Relax, Have Fun and Rejuvenate reminds us all why childhood was, for most, a joyous time and has some local suggestions for ways to relive your youth or at least take a breather from your daily life.

If you like to do that in the great outdoors, Jump, Play, Run, Eat – Local Parks Provide Opportunities for Everyone in the Community shares specifics about what Princeton Recreation has to offer. With different layouts, environments and opportunities, you should be able to find what suits you to honor Hop-a-Park Day.

Sometimes life just isn’t so easy. That’s when those that can, do for others. For the Love of Food – Helping Others One Bite at a Time reminds us that it is OK to ask for help, it is wonderful to offer help, and there are some great ways to get fresh-cooked meals. Whether you need help once in a while or on a regular basis, National Lasagna Day reminds us that a warm meal can offer a lot more than meets the eye.

When you see an insect crawling around your patio table or sitting atop your favorite flowers, nuisance is sometimes the first thing you think of. Be Nice to Bugs Day is an opportunity to remember that they have a place in the yard, too. The article They May Seem Like Pests, but Local Insects are Really Helping Out describes a few that you are likely to see in the greater Princeton area, and why you might want to be nice – at least for a day!

As always, we are also sharing some recent updates on stories we’ve covered in the past. Scroll down to Perspectives Revisited to find out what legislators are doing to try and create a safer and healthier community for all.

The rain may be pouring down lately, but here’s something to remember. If you’re stuck indoors, take part in a favorite past time with National Chess Day coming up July 20th or really indulge on National Junk Food Day July 21st! Whatever you do or whatever day you do it, remember there is always something to celebrate!

Pulse of Princeton: What is your favorite holiday?

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Be a Kid Again – Local Opportunities to Relax, Have Fun and Rejuvenate

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Adults know that adulting can take a lot out of you. Being responsible and mature, working a fulltime job, paying your bills and keeping your home clean are necessary of course. But have you ever thought about how much happier you are when you also grant yourself time to enjoy life a little? July 8th was Be a Kid Again Day, and if you missed it, there are 364 other days of the year to rejoice in its intent. It could mean that you relive one of your favorite childhood activities, or it could simply mean that you find a way to be carefree again, step away from your responsibilities, laugh, have fun, and give yourself a chance to relax.

For many, getting outside in a peaceful environment provides a huge sense of calm. Borrow a friend’s paddle board or kayak and get out on Lake Carnegie, rent a canoe and travel along the Delaware and Raritan Canal or get yourself a cheap fishing rod and head to Mercer County Lake. There are other ways to move about outside that could also take you back to your youth.

FREE WHEELING!

Do you remember the first day you learned to ride a two-wheeler? Though many local roadways are working to make safe spaces to travel by bike, there are an abundance of bike paths to get you moving away from the traffic. The more than 70-miles of canal and trailways that make up Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park includes the towpath that runs alongside the canal from Trenton through Princeton and up to New Brunswick. In addition, there are 60 trails for mountain biking around Mercer County Park. Apps like Trailforks.com actually rank the best and most popular ones, so you can see exactly how long they are, where they take you, maximum altitude and more. And Lawrence Hopewell Trail has 22-miles of biking and walking trails, which can even connect you to the D&R Canal if you want to try both on the same day!

WALK AN ALPACA?

Want to try something different outside? Instead of two wheels, you can try four legs. A recent poll by the American Psychiatric Association shows that pets can greatly benefit ones mental health, reducing stress and anxiety. With their hypoallergenic fleece, calming presence and joy around human company, many are turning to alpacas for a hug, a walk and to simply bring about a sense of calm and relaxation. They have long been popular in the United Kingdom and though Ohio seems to have the largest alpaca population in the United States, New Jersey is starting to gain some ground with more than 5,000 registered alpacas statewide.

As a kid you might have taken a local donkey for a walk, but now you have the opportunity to also walk an alpaca. Hidden Spring Lavender and Alpaca Farm in Skillman transitioned from boarding horses to alpacas about five years ago. They started with four and now have 20 living on site.

“These animals give people a sense of calmness and their cuteness is just overwhelming. They are kind and gentle animals and just love people,” shares Marie Voorhees, who owns and operates Hidden Spring with her husband, Steve.

The Vorhees’ also grow lavender on their farm, which provides an additional calming effect for visitors. Everyone has an opportunity to walk around, take pictures and smell the fragrant flowers while spending some time with the alpacas as well. On Saturday mornings and afternoons, you can register to take a 20-minute walk with one, bringing out your inner youth, relieving you of stress and gaining a new sense of calm.

“After the walk, people get to have their pictures taken with the alpaca they walked, and everyone leaves relaxed and smiling. People also come just to see them and feed them treats because they give off a sense of calmness,” Voorhees notes.

THE EXTREME THRILL

If your childhood days were more often spent climbing trees than cuddling with pets, perhaps you might try your hand at some local adventure activities. You might be surprised to learn that you don’t have to head too far to find exhilarating opportunities to rock climb, rappel and more.

Did you know that in 2020, sport climbing became part of the Summer Olympics? Clearly, the act of climbing builds intense strength, but a recent Time magazine article details various ways rock climbing can additionally benefit brain, cardiovascular and mental health. Starting indoors could take some of the nerves out of your first climb. Facilities offer a variety of heights, inclines and difficulties to choose from. The setups indoors are often more permanent, with more closely placed bolts, brightly colored holds and more forgiving landing areas (padded mats or softer flooring).

“Indoor rock climbing Is a great sport to get into, it’s a very full body workout,” shares Jordan Munoz, General Manager at The Gravity Vault, Flemington. “For those looking to start an exercise program it a great overall workout and for those advanced climbers, they typically use it more as a training tool for the outdoor climbing. It helps you practice techniques, and you can take part as a hobby or a life long passion. Indoor climbing provides opportunities for both.”

The Gravity Vault Indoor Rock Gyms, with multiple locations including Flemington and opening soon in Princeton, allows you to start with a day pass (memberships are available, if you fall in love with it!) and provides over 40 climbing walls and 14,000 square feet of climbing. To better simulate outdoor experiences, The Gravity Vault offers bouldering, top rope and lead climbing.

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“Bouldering is the simplest and easiest form of climbing to get into as it requires no background knowledge or technical skills, no harnesses or ropes with you. This allows you to climb without protection of equipment and still land in a safe manner, if done correctly,” explains Munoz. “Top rope is a basic form of rope climbing that requires some technical knowledge and belay training. It is easier than bouldering, and it’s a little more fun for those newer to the sport, as you’re able to experience what it feels like to get up high. Most gyms have staffed events to help you out if customers don’t have this technical knowledge. Lastly, lead climbing is your more advanced climbing, where you need to have a vast knowledge of belay skills and essentially, you’re bringing up your equipment and climbing up to checkouts, so if you fall, you’re safe and won’t injure yourself on the ground.”

If you want to experience these different climbs in an outdoor setting, you do not have to jump on a plane or drive too far. Just across the river in Bucks County, you can find 100 climbing routes at High Rocks in Ralph Stover State Park. You will have to hike in about a mile, but there you will find options ranging from 30 to 150 feet high. There is no fixed hardware, but if you aren’t advanced enough to go it alone, climbing programs are offered by both public and private outfits.

A MORE VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE

For those that prefer to enjoy the thrill of adventure with two feet planted firmly on the ground, there are opportunities for that as well. The technology of gaming has advanced so much, you can get a pure adrenaline rush without any risk to life or limb.

Virtual Reality (VR) systems can truly make you feel like you are climbing or rappelling somewhere similar to Ralph Stover or walking around in a feels-like-real setting of your favorite video game, all from a simple room. While enthusiasts may have their own systems at home, places like Hyperspace Gaming at Quakerbridge Mall are drawing in crowds with VR treadmills and augmented reality opportunities.

“Virtual reality gaming is indeed catching on and many enthusiasts do invest in their own systems. However, they might have more amateur systems while we have a professional set up. It’s a solitary gaming experience, versus coming in with friends and enjoying VR games together,” explains Seema Sharma, owner of Hyperspace Gaming. “A lot of gamers also come in to try out new games or setups before investing in it. Many people come in to enjoy the racers and treadmill, which is usually not something owned by gamers.”

While teenagers often frequent Hyperspace Gaming, adult gamers regularly take part in weekly Super Smash Bros. tournaments. Additionally, adult birthday parties and corporate outings encourage a lot of grown-ups to connect with their inner youth and get their game on. Whether an enthusiast or a first timer, the VR experience is often different than one can find at home, especially if it utilizes the VR treadmill.

“Say you’re playing a shooting game, you can walk with your feet on that treadmill,” Sharma clarifies. “It’s not a treadmill like in exercise, but it’s infinity walking. A person can walk in any direction, it’s rotational. People are playing a simple game, for example, they walk to the next level, and hide in a corner or something. It gives the actual simulation of walking with multidirectional rotation.”

Innovation is fun, but sometimes you may just want some good old school gaming. You can enjoy over 80 arcade games including cup pong, skee-ball, Guitar Hero, Hoop Fever, and Down the Clown at Colonial Bowling and Entertainment on Route 1 in Lawrence. And to get the most bang for your buck, there is an arcade happy hour from 4-6pm everyday where you can enjoy half price games!

GO AHEAD, WE WON’T TELL

Are you ready to have fun and rejuvenate? Whether you’re a cuddler, adventure seeker, techie or relax in nature, there are so many ways that you can indulge in Be a Kid Again Day. Start by making time to put one outing into your schedule. Then before you head back home, plan your next one. You may be a grown-up, but your inner youth is what will keep you going!

For the Love of Food – Helping Others One Bite at a Time

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What is your go-to comfort food? We all have one, that meal that takes away some of our worries and just makes us feel at home. As expected, the top choices vary from state to state. An analysis of Google trends showed grilled cheese is New Jersey’s top pick, and the most popular countrywide. But it appears Maine may be on to something, demonstrating its favorite comfort main dish to be lasagna.

EVERYONE LOVES LASAGNA

July 29th is National Lasagna Day, so if you haven’t sat down recently for a dish of this Italian favorite, maybe it’s time. During the start of the COVID pandemic in 2020, Rhiannon Menn started baking up lasagnas for moms and other people she knew that needed a little help getting through. Her grassroots efforts have since turned into a global nonprofit called Lasagna Love, encouraging people that can, to bake a lasagna for neighbors that need help with a meal.

“It really is neighbors helping neighbors, local people helping local families. We don’t vet why you’re requesting. You never really know why people need a little extra support. It might be emotional, financial, whatever reason,” explains Lasagna Love Regional Director for New Jersey, Molly Yearick. “We cook for families, elderly, single people. It runs the gamut.”

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Lasagna is one of those meals that most people like, can be adapted to certain dietary needs and can sometimes last to fill a need for more than one meal. This year, there are 1,000 chefs cooking up lasagnas for neighbors across New Jersey. They are rarely professionals, but simply someone who is willing to bake up an extra meal in their kitchen and deliver it to someone going through a medical trauma, who is having trouble making ends meet, or who simply is too stressed out between work and home life. In Mercer County, 50 volunteer chefs are currently helping out, and so far, this year, around 300 meals have been delivered feeding 1,200 people.

“Chefs are self-funded, they make it on their own dime,” Yearick shares. “Delivery is contactless. The chef will be given the requester’s information, so they’ll reach out and say, ‘I’m going to make you a meal’ and coordinate via text a drop off date and time. We match every Monday through our portal.”

One of the unique aspects of Lasagna Love is it is not uncommon for a one-time recipient to become a chef once their circumstances turn. Also, unlike other meal delivery organizations, Lasagna Love never asks why you need the lasagna, recognizing that sometimes it is hard to ask for help. There is one caveat, though, and that is recipients must wait 30 days to request another delivery.

Since Menn began posting in 2020 on Facebook asking who needed help and offering up lasagnas, more than 350,000 hot meals have been delivered. Staying true to its roots, the organization mostly still utilizes the social media platform and its website to spread the word. So, if you want to bake for a neighbor that might need it or are in need yourself, simply log on. They work year-round but the week of National Lasagna Day last year, Lasagna Love exceeded its goal and delivered nearly 11,000 meals. It is aiming to deliver at least 10,000 this year, between July 22nd-July 31st.

IF YOU CAN’T EAT IT, WHY WASTE IT?

Another way to feed a hungry neighbor is by passing along food that you aren’t able to finish. No, not the food off your plate, but rather food that was intended to serve a crowd but remains leftover.

Like Lasagna Love, Share My Meals also started in 2020, intending to help the environment and community at the same time. Rather than letting food left over from corporate events and cafeterias go to waste, it could be collected and delivered to those facing food insecurity. Just months into their endeavor, COVID hit and shut down the very places that would provide the food. A quick pivot led them to local restaurants, who were then not able to serve the public. Cooking up food for the community kept restaurants from wasting the food they had, allowed their staff to get paid and fed those that needed it. Another win-win.

As the world has opened back up, meal recovery has resumed from a variety of community partners. Due to its vast growth, Share My Meals has also joined forces with local organizations, such as Trenton Rescue Mission, who assist in distributing the recovered meals. Together, Share My Meals and their local partners are collecting from, handing out and delivering to people in the greater Princeton area, Trenton, Somerset, New Brunswick, Summit and Elizabeth.

David Boyle, Senior Manager at food service provider Sodexo, portions meals into Share My Meals reusable containers.

“The benefit of this model is not-for-profits are getting food to people whose needs they already understand, adding the healthy meals to the other services they’re doing to support those people. It’s like a package, we’re able to support them with what they’re already doing,” notes Jan Henderson, who volunteers as Share My Meals Strategy Communication Specialist.

More than three years into the operations, Share My Meals has delivered over 200,000 meals and served 1,200 people. Either directly or through partners, more than 5,000 meals are currently recovered each month. Due to the volume of donors, coordinators, recipients and beyond, the organization has turned to technology.

It developed the STAN platform (Safety, Tracking, Allocation, Navigation), which helps the operations flow. STAN uses QR codes to allow donors to notify meals are available, helps prioritize where meals are needed, creates efficient routes for pick-up and delivery of meals, tracks where everything is, and monitors the input and output in real time.

Share My Meals volunteers, Nikki Griffiths and Alexis Cohen, recover meals from Christopher Dietsch, General Manager of food services at a local corporate food donor.

“Food safety is very important for us, so we want to be able to track where we pick-up the food, what time, and where we’re going to deliver it. Also, for tracking, since we work with reusable containers,” Share My Meals Chief Operations Officer, Victoire Cleren, details. “We put a bar code on each container to track where the food is coming, where it goes, and how long it’s been out of refrigeration.”

Want to help? If you work for a company or organization that regularly or from time to time has excess food to give, you can arrange to donate them to Share My Meals. You could also volunteer your time to help get the food to those that need it. If you or someone you know could use a meal, you can request it here.

Share My Meals is the only organization of its kind recovering chef-prepared food from corporations on a large scale and redistributing it. In doing so, 75,000 pounds of food have been saved from the landfill.

PREPARE AND DELIVER

It is a sad reality that Lasagna Love and Share My Meals alone cannot meet the needs of the community. Decades before these organizations began, another was started to not only help older and homebound adults get the nourishment they need, but to also provide them with a little company.

For the past 50 years, Meals on Wheels of Mercer County (MOWMC) has been doing just that. With the help of Gourmet Dining at Rider University, approximately 1,980 meals are served per week (both a hot dinner and a second cold meal) sent out via 25 delivery routes utilizing 100 delivery volunteers.

“The beauty of our model is not just nutrition for the body, but also for the soul,” notes Beth Englezos, Interim CEO/Chief Operations Officer for Meals on Wheels of Mercer County. “Most of the volunteers pick up the meals at Rider University. Meals for Princeton and East/West Windsor participants are picked up by one volunteer and then distributed to other volunteers who pick up the meals at the Princeton Shopping Center and at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in East Windsor. Our volunteers become our participants’ extended family and help to ease the social isolation that so many of them feel.”

While a food pantry can provide foods for many in need, most of the meal recipients are not able cook for themselves. And, they are often homebound, so are unable to take advantage of soup kitchens and other locations offering a hot meal. Financial resources are often tight as well, and MOWMC subsidizes the cost for 87% of participants.

“We are also able to provide a second daily cold meal, as well as additional weekend meals on Fridays,” Englezos adds. “In addition, we provide fresh fruit and vegetables in the summer months, monthly deliveries of non-perishable food items so participants can have a ‘little extra’ in their homes, informational materials on relevant topics of interest such as proper nutrition, and monthly pet food bags tailored to the specific needs of their pets.”

Nearly 300 residents receive help from MOWMC each day. Those struggling due to a medical treatment or aging can request to get meals. If you are able to spend some time stopping by your neighbors with meals weekly or at least monthly, or want to help to pack up the meals, volunteers are always needed.

IT’S THE NEIGHBORLY THING TO DO

It is often very difficult to detect when someone needs a meal. And it can be even more difficult to ask for one when you need it. But there are resources out there that can help by bringing cooked food right to your door. And there are many, many people who live nearby that are more than willing to lend a hand that just don’t always know how or when to do it. Organizations like Lasagna Love, Share My Meals and Meals on Wheels of Mercer County take the difficulty out. So, just ask or just help.

Editor’s Note

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One of the things that attracts people to Princeton is its diversity. There are people of many races, nationalities, religions, socioeconomic levels and varying degrees of accomplishment. Princeton has long time residents, newcomers and people that are passing through. Some people drive, some ride bikes and others walk. In addition to residents, there are businesses, the municipality and visitors that may all have different interests. Quite often, there are bound to be a variety of opinions.

It is those differences that can help some see things in a different way, lead others to fight for a cause and have more just working to keep the peace. This month, in the June issue Trials and Tribulations Around Town: What’s the Best Way to Move Forward? we take a closer look at all of the above.

Whether you travel around Princeton by car, bike or on foot, you’ll notice things have been changing. We asked locals to offer their perspectives on traffic and parking in town, and you can see what they’ve shared in the Pulse of Princeton video.

Princeton has been at the height of construction over the past year +, with multiple projects in the center of town and a variety of others taking place along major roadways, in busy shopping areas, on the Princeton University campus and more. Construction and Traffic and Parking…Oh Boy! The Impacts are Being Felt Around Town delves into what is taking place in Princeton, and the fallout of the work.

Princeton Police have been spotted helping to assist through some of the construction, but they are also involved in several other matters. 21st Century Policing in Princeton Works to Build Relationships and Enhance Safety describes some of the things people need to be aware of in the community.

Laws and rules are often at the crux of police responsibility, but they also help to create guidelines by which the greater community must operate. Federal and state regulations have long since controlled alcohol, its distribution and consumption. In Long-Standing Laws May Change to Balance Opportunities for Eating and Drinking we share reactions and possibilities those changes could bring.

When you know there’s a better way, it can be hard not to fight for it. Especially when it comes to the safety of one’s children. Where the Snowden Sidewalk Ends (But Shouldn’t) is a detailed summary of the reasons, actions and efforts people are putting forth to push for an added section of sidewalk along a main thoroughfare.

After all this new information, we of course can’t forget Perspectives Revisited, updated news on stories we’ve covered in the past. The Master Plan is coming along, and the municipality is asking residents to share their thoughts, once again. We have the latest surveys and studies for you to fill out. We also look back to June’s Primary Election Day, sharing information on voter turnout and more. And, for other thoughts on a topic we’ve covered on an issue currently facing Princeton, this month Princeton Perspectives received a Letter to the Editor. Take a look at what one of our readers wanted to share about Princeton Public Schools. We love to include community perspectives relating to anything we cover, so please share your thoughts here for our next issue.

School is out for the summer, and we hope that you stay safe, enjoy the outdoors and enjoy time with the ones you love. We look forward to sharing more of Princeton’s important stories with you in July.