Lisa Jacknow spent years working in national and local news in and around New York City before moving to Princeton. Working as both a TV producer and news reporter, Lisa came to this area to focus on the local news of Mercer County at WZBN-TV. In recent years, she got immersed in the Princeton community by serving leadership roles at local schools in addition to volunteering for other local non-profits. In her free time, Lisa loves to spend time with her family, play tennis, sing and play the piano. A graduate of the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, Lisa was raised just north of Boston, Massachusetts but has lived in the tri-state area since college. She is excited to be Editor and head writer for Princeton Perspectives!
If those words run have through your mind or come out of your mouth as you’re driving or trying to park somewhere around Princeton, you are not alone! Congestion, construction and parking difficulties seem to be commonplace while Princeton is trying to enhance itself in various ways. From the closures or construction along and nearby Witherspoon Street, to the demolition of the Tennent-Roberts-Whiteley buildings along Stockton Street, the creation of The Graduate Hotel on Chambers at Nassau Streets, Triumph Brewery construction in Palmer Square, PSE&G gas main replacements around town, apartment complex creations and Walgreens construction underway on either side of Princeton Shopping Center and down the road at the Thanet site, just to name some. Road crews, large machinery, necessary road closures and more are all being done with the hopes of creating better opportunities to live, shop and visit Princeton. But as they’re taking place, they are making many want to run for the hills!
“All of this construction over the past 18 months was very underestimated,” shares Laurent Chapius, who owns and has operated Princeton Corkscrew for 27 years. Located on Hulfish near Chambers, the retailer was hit hard from COVID and has not seen his regular brick and mortar business return in the same way since. He says on-and-off street closures, without enough advanced communication, have made in-store events too difficult to coordinate and walk-in traffic has nearly disappeared. “Sometimes I come to my street and the area is entirely closed. No customers can come in, it’s impossible.”
HOW CONSTRUCTION PLANS ARE CONSTRUCTED
When authorizing permits for Princeton projects, the municipality says it take a holistic approach, doing its best to ensure minimal disruption to the lives of locals, visitors and business owners. But, even with their best efforts, hosting weekly or sometimes daily coordination meetings bringing all major project heads together, there are glitches.
“Deanna [Stockton, Deputy Administrator/Municipal Engineer] and I were driving back from a meeting at the University one day. It was the day we authorized the Graduate Princeton hotel to close Chambers Street, that was the only authorized closure. We went past Palmer Square and Witherspoon was closed, we tried to turn down elsewhere and multiple other streets were closed,” recalls Assistant Municipal Engineer Jim Purcell. “I immediately called everyone and said, ‘What are you doing?’ They told me they had a sudden crew available, and I explained they can’t just do that. We made them shut down their work because they weren’t authorized.”
Even if everybody worked according to plan, having so many large projects going on within a town that’s little more than 18-square miles will cause disruptions. Within the center of town, the local businesses are being hit the hardest. With Nixle alerts, website updates, details included in the weekly municipal newsletter and sometimes going door-to-door to inform residents/businesses, Princeton officials have been working hard to keep everyone informed. But not all local residents pay attention and out-of-town visitors show up who have little to no knowledge of what’s happening. For businesses, even the alerts that come out of the weekly meetings are often too late or not informative enough to help them plan events or truck shipments and deliveries.
“They tell us, but not enough ahead of time to plan. We’re just doing what we do really well and hoping there’s an end. We’re not doing events [like Block Party] because those are impossible right now,” says Joanne Farrugia, co-owner of jaZams on Palmer Square East. “Communication is the key and none of the signs have dates. Customers are continually thinking it’s just a moment in time, but if there were dates on the signs they could plan. We are disappointing them every day.”
OPPORTUNITIES TO MITIGATE THE PROBLEMS
It’s a lot all at once, seems to be the mantra from the downtown store owners, all of whom are in favor of progress and enhancing the beauty and ultimate walkability of the town, but wish it wasn’t happening in this way.
“I sympathize and I feel really bad about loss of business,” Purcell says. “When you’re in the middle of the chaos, it is hard to remember that what is being done is what you asked for. You need to blame someone else, but everyone wanted a more pedestrian friendly environment in the central business district.”
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Walkability, beautification and the building of the Graduate Princeton and new Triumph Brewing Co. location will likely end up helping retail stores, but owners like Chapius and Farrugia say it wasn’t something they and many other local merchants felt was necessary, at least right now. They wonder who was pushing for it?
“Priorities appear to be given too much to restaurants and not traditional retail,” Chapius expresses. “I can fight competitors. I can fight the economy. But this is beyond what I can fight against.” In addition to the walk-in customer, his business relies on the ability for vehicles to park nearby to pick up cases of wines for catering and events. He doesn’t have the type of business that can utilize expanded sidewalk space such as restaurants with outdoor dining.
Experience Princeton, created last year upon the approval of a Special Interest District in Princeton, is here to work for local merchants. Its mission is to “shape, maintain and grow a flourishing Princeton economy by offering an exceptional experience for residents and visitors; and advocate for a robust and diverse business community through strong partnerships.” Chapius says he doesn’t feel like anyone is fighting on behalf of businesses like his but Experience Princeton’s Executive Director, Isaac Kremer, says they have often brought forth merchant’s issues regarding the construction to the municipality, and found them very receptive.
“We will continue to brainstorm solutions, make recommendations, and support implementation. Some responses will be short term and have immediate impact. Others will be medium or long term but just as important to pursue,” shares Kremer. While construction, traffic and parking have definitely impacted area businesses, he says high levels of visitation are returning while he and his team work to mitigate problems and assist with referrals for things that pop up. “Whether it be better wayfinding signage, advocating for traffic remedies, or providing sound professional guidance to the town, our organization will continue to pursue what is in the best interest of businesses and everyone who visits, works, shops, and dines in Princeton.”
Dorothea von Moltke, co-owner of Labyrinth Books, was in meetings about Witherspoon redevelopment with other locals, merchants and municipal representatives since its earliest stages. She stressed then, and still feels, that the timing of this specific project would further harm local small business owners who were already suffering from pandemic fallout.
“This planning happened towards the end of the most intense phase of the pandemic: this was a time when the general imaginary of potential traffic impacts was shaped by a situation of artificially diminished overall traffic as well as less than average pressure on the availability of parking spaces. Along with other merchants, I was advocating for putting the state funds that were available and needed to be used for Witherspoon Street to work first on the stretch of Witherspoon North of the Arts Council, an area arguably in greater need of vitalization. This would have allowed the planning for the other stretch of Witherspoon to have happened in full view of pressures and needs under more normalized conditions,” shares von Moltke. “Let’s make sure that when the construction crews leave, we haven’t lost overall parking options and that it will be reasonably easy to get where you’re going. If not, the fallout for local businesses will continue to be dramatic.”
MORE FALLOUT
Phase 1 of the Witherspoon Street Improvement Project is nearly complete, with just some final punchlist items to be finished. Phase 2, on Witherspoon from Green St. to Leigh Ave., is now underway and started with sanitary sewer replacement. Through it all, some of the downtown parking meters have been removed, temporarily or permanently, others have been changed from 3-hour to 30-minutes. Bike racks have also been put in, eliminating even more spots. In addition, with full or partial road closures, there are frequent difficulties getting from one area that might have parking to another.
The municipality says Spring Street Garage is a viable option, offering the first hour free (through July, then it will revert back to the first 30-minutes free) and there’s always room at Chambers Street Garage, but those spaces have been underutilized.
“Clients complain they drive in circles. They get frustrated and then leave,” Palmer Square East’s Highbar Boutique owner Jill Wargo reveals. “We offer one-hour free parking at Chambers Street Garage for clients who make a purchase, hoping to help them develop the habit of choosing the garage. People are rethinking their trips to Princeton, if we could get the message out to go into a lot, it would help.”
At nearby Olsson’s Fine Foods and Cheese, employees say parking decks aren’t all they’re cracked up to be, citing it is tough to find spots even in the Chambers Street garage if you arrive after 11am. If you choose the Spring Street Garage, be aware that availability is going to get even tighter. Concrete repairs are about to start there, which are expected to eliminate approximately 100 spots at a time over the next six to nine months.
“Truck drivers are getting honked and sworn at,” explains Olsson’s owner, Rudie Smit, as delivery trucks are now getting in the way of through traffic or blocking open parking spots. “This is the worst I’ve seen it. People come in and say they’ve come today but might not be coming back. At a certain moment, you just stop trying to park.”
TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC EVERYWHERE
Beyond the shopping areas, locals are also encountering slowdowns driving in more residential areas. On trash day, traffic can be backed up for blocks. On the northeast side of town, multiple projects are creating disruptions such as the Walgreens construction at the Princeton Shopping Center along with new residential apartment complexes nearby and at the Thanet property. What will traffic be like once those bring in hundreds of new residents?
“According to traffic engineers, who did all the analysis for that before planning board approval, there is minimal impact for the infrastructure. The new housing is where it is because it’s close to a transit hub. Princeton Shopping Center is a transit hub (605 route includes it), our own free municipal bus route includes the shopping center, and Tiger Transit,” Purcell details. “We’re making improvements to Terhune Road to make it more walkable. All of that housing is in a location we’re hoping people can live, work, shop and get to other places without getting in a motor vehicle.”
In addition, Princeton is hoping to prevent further traffic and ease what has developed by creating safer avenues for people to walk or bike. Near the shopping center, biking areas are expected to be added through a separate frontage along The Alice development and on Terhune, with a bike lane added. When Phase 3 of the Witherspoon project is done, down near Community Park School, a raised crosswalk is going to be added at Henry Ave. and Guyot and on the school side, an 8-ft. wide sidewalk is going to be added, so it can be a shared use lane.
THERE IS MORE TO COME
If you are looking ahead for the calm, look with caution as years of new projects are already in the books. With 3 phases overall, the Witherspoon Street reconstruction down to Valley Road is not expected for completion until 2025.
Affordable housing overlays, which essentially provide incentives for builders to add affordable housing while they develop certain areas, have led to a lot of submissions of concept designs or development plans.
“A lot of developers are looking to densify housing on properties like in Jugtown at Nassau at Harrison, at Charlton and Nassau, and along the Witherspoon St. corridor,” explains Purcell. “On Witherspoon just south of Franklin there will be 4 new housing units behind Hiltons clothing store. There are plans for more housing units behind Delizioso Bakery + Kitchen and there are plans for redeveloping the other side of Witherspoon with multiple units and affordable housing.”
If you wander onto or near Princeton University’s campus, there are numerous construction projects that have received approvals or already taking place.
“The projects already underway on the Princeton campus and in West Windsor will continue for several more years as these are complex projects that take time to construct. Schmidt Hall, to be located along Washington Road at the site of the current Guyot Hall, was recently approved by the Princeton Planning Board but is not yet under construction. Additionally, the University undertakes projects throughout the year to do major maintenance work on existing campus buildings, and this activity accelerates in the summer months,” explains Michael Hotchkiss, Assistant Vice President for Communications at Princeton University. “Construction can be disruptive, and the University’s capital projects management team makes every effort to minimize disruption.”
Elsewhere around Princeton, there are resurfacing and paving projects, such as on Province Line Road. There is also ongoing utility work with PSE&G replacing 12-miles of gas main throughout 2023. Underground, there is planned sewer work, as the municipality is upgrading the system. New sewers are to be constructed in Laurel Circle off Mt. Lucas very soon and the Hamilton Avenue replacement project as well.
The Graduate hotel is expected to open in spring 2024, which would conclude any planned work on Chambers Street. And for the time being, Palmer Square Management says they have paused plans for the Griggs lot project (at Witherspoon and Hulfish). Building permits were never pulled and approvals for it have expired, though they expect to resume planning discussions for the space next year.
It costs money to make money, and there are benefit of the construction, but for businesses like Princeton Corkscrew, situated not just near Witherspoon and Palmer Square construction but also at Chambers Street and nearby John Street (which is expected to be a site of work), he wishes there were more help from the town.
“Couldn’t the city help retailers financially by cutting some of the taxes and fees?” Chapius asks, as he shows me a license renewal quoted in the thousands. “They could help us and cut some of the fees, because we’re suffering.”
There are ups and downs for business owners, and the municipality is aware that the construction is impacting everyone.
“There is a constant effort to balance the need for infrastructure/road work/closings and the ability for people and traffic to get where they want to go,” responds Mayor Mark Freda. “But we cannot selectively reduce taxes or fees. We have stepped up our communications efforts to keep people informed about what is happening; and we solicit feedback and suggestions continuously.”
Should you want to share your thoughts with the municipality, you can share them via this this online form.
KEEPING TRACK
In the meantime, if you want help to try to mitigate their impact and be informed of where and when projects are taking place, you can do the following:
Sign up for Nixle alerts by texting your zip code to 888777. These are sent out by Princeton Police to inform about road closures, emergencies, etc.
The Witherspoon Street Construction newsletter can be sent right to your inbox by signing up here.
The latest details available for other sites such as the Tennent-Robert-Whiteley development and affordable housing projects can be found on the municipal website here.
Active campus detours around Princeton University’s campus can be found on their construction website here.
Lisa Jacknow spent years working in national and local news in and around New York City before moving to Princeton. Working as both a TV producer and news reporter, Lisa came to this area to focus on the local news of Mercer County at WZBN-TV. In recent years, she got immersed in the Princeton community by serving leadership roles at local schools in addition to volunteering for other local non-profits. In her free time, Lisa loves to spend time with her family, play tennis, sing and play the piano. A graduate of the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, Lisa was raised just north of Boston, Massachusetts but has lived in the tri-state area since college. She is excited to be Editor and head writer for Princeton Perspectives!
Would you like to be able to go into all your favorite local restaurants and order an alcoholic drink to go with your meal? Or perhaps have some food along with your favorite local craft brew? Changes are underway to allow both to happen in NJ.
On Monday, the craft beverage industry saw a major advancement as two NJ Senate Committees approved legislation that would allow craft alcoholic beverage manufacturers to have food and events on site. It’s a big step forward from the strict guidelines they have been operating under for years. It’s also an expansion that many bar and restaurant owners, who pay a premium for consumption liquor licenses, were weary of.
“They argue that a craft brewer who paid just a few thousand for a craft brewing license should be severely restricted as to what they can or cannot do. The ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control) restrictions on craft breweries restricting the number of special events, the types of activities allowed and the ability to serve most types of food have caused quite a bit of hardship to the small breweries in NJ,” shares Princeton resident Dennis Scheil, who finds the restrictions on craft breweries have been stifling.
As the bill works its way to the Senate floor, there is anticipation it might get passed before the budget is signed at the end of the month and summer recess begins.
The push against expanding the right for craft breweries has been strong, in part, because establishments with consumption liquor licenses in NJ do not want to see their investments undercut. Such licenses often stay with an entity for its lifetime. They can be sold and transferred within a town, but not across municipal borders. Due to their limited availability, these NJ liquor licenses have recently sold for well over $1million.
“I suppose reform is a good idea, over a million and a half dollars for a license makes no sense,” shares Raoul Momo, co-owner of Terra Momo Group. He and his family had the foresight and were lucky to purchase licenses for their restaurants, like Mediterra and Teresa Caffe in Princeton. “Both were purchased over 20 years ago. Like any appreciable asset, it has gone up in value, like real estate, 5X the price of what we paid. But it was a lot back then!”
In Princeton, there are those restaurants with consumption licenses, allowing them to serve alcohol, as well as one that includes a restricted brewery for Triumph Brewing Company (under construction at its new Palmer Square location). New Jersey Law dictates how many consumption licenses are allowed per municipality, allowing one for every 3,000 residents. In today’s Princeton, however, there are slightly more than that, since licenses were once purchases under both Princeton Township and Princeton Borough. There is a tight handle on who has a license, since they are hard to come by and seldom change hands, but that could be a thing of the past. In this year’s State of the State address, Governor Phil Murphy announced his intent to overhaul the laws many describe as archaic and limiting. For years there have been varying versions of bills in both the Senate and Assembly to loosen laws, including efforts to expand the opportunities for establishments to get a license. The most recent versions, which also expand the capacity for breweries and wineries to sell and distribute, were introduced in late February and are still sitting in committee.
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The laws that exist today were created post-prohibition to prevent a monopoly in the industry, thus defining manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, etc. by category and assigning them the appropriate license to operate. Triumph Brewing Company is the only Princeton establishment that seeks to be affected by both the laws that loosen restrictions on consumption licenses and laws that broaden capabilities of small batch breweries. To open his brewpub (which he describes as a restaurant with a brewery inside it), founder, brewer and owner Adam Rechnitz, worked to change the laws. In 1993, Triumph was able to acquire a license as a restricted brewer with the caveat that it also purchase a consumption liquor license to operate the full restaurant and bar that makes it so unique. Rechnitz understands the concerns people are raising but says as long as the state makes current license holders whole through some form of tax break or something, he would concede to the changes on the table.
“I would want restricted and limited brewing licenses to fall under one license, so it is equitable all around,” Rechnitz shares. “I also would be delighted if the state did away with the archaic limitations on the number of consumption licenses allowed. The market will determine the cap that can succeed.”
On Monday night, Princeton Council voted through a Consent Agenda to renew 14 of the town’s alcoholic beverage consumption licenses for the coming year (other restaurants, like The Meeting House, have until June 30th to submit for renewal). There was nothing new or shocking in this resolution, as these establishments paid for this right and are generally renewed annually without event. But it is significant this year, because if the law changes to offer more and drastically cheaper licenses, this could be the last year the list will remain the same. New laws could loosen the limits by 10% annually, allowing one license per 2,700 residents for 2024, with one for every 2,430 in 2025 and continuing in this vein until limits are eliminated by 2029.
“The Governor’s proposal floods the system, and it will be like seeing taxi medallion values erode in New York City, thanks to Uber. Good for the big tech, bad for the small guy (that’s us!),” Momo expresses.
Are there options that would help previously purchased consumption licenses retain value while opening the door for expansion? Michele Moriello, owner of La Mezzaluna on Witherspoon Street, would support a compromise.
“One way could be to create a license only for basic wines and beers and leave the exclusivity of the most valuable liqueurs, cocktails and wines to those who own the other licenses,” shares Moriello, whose establishment is currently bring your own booze (BYOB). “It would be a fair and deserved chance. BYOB restaurants survive on the margin that there is on food and with prices that continue to have upward changes it has become more difficult to make the right reward for the risk a restaurateur takes.”
If they offer it, will customers endorse the change? A Princeton Perspectives survey of 50 Princeton locals showed that 63% want to see more restaurants in Princeton (and beyond) with the ability to serve. It’s time to update the laws, some say, while others contend the option to have a cocktail with dinner is very enticing.
“Levels the playing field,” explains Princeton local Terri Pessutti. “Makes it easier to have just one drink because you are not toting an entire bottle of wine when dining out. And it helps to increase revenue options for eating establishments.”
The increased revenue is one of the major arguments for licensing changes, as the markup on alcohol is exponentially higher than that of food. This could mean make-or-break for small business entrepreneurs. A strong advocate for local businesses, Councilwoman Michelle Pirone Lambros has been speaking out for reform for many years. She has met with sponsors of legislation and other state representatives and participated in a variety of forums on the topic, including those held by the Downtown NJ and NJ League of Municipalities. The increased opportunity and revenue, she feels, will also help attract more restaurants to town.
“Just the addition of allowing wine and beer only licenses would have a positive impact both on attraction and creation of more small restaurant businesses, as well as helping those existing businesses have an additional revenue stream. For some restaurants, it could be a lifeline for helping them expand their profitability,” Pirone Lambros states. “Another compelling reason is that employees being paid on minimum wage plus tips would see an increase in their paychecks, creating a higher standard of living wage. Liquor license reform is an equity issue for both the employers, which would particularly help small businesses, as well as employees.”
There is a desire by Pirone Lambros to see more full-service restaurants. Current restaurant owners also support progress, if it’s not a free-for-all.
“The system can be preserved to protect the industry and not let chains flood the market,” Momo details. “We have a great diverse number of quality-independently owned establishments like ours that will suffer from chain competition. Imagine 3 new bars and restaurants at the Princeton Shopping Center. Pretty sure the town does not need that. But one, yes, like the old Main Street Bistro.”
One thing was clear through our survey, and that is that locals like choice. Whether the choice to walk into a restaurant and choose their drink, or to bring one along with them. Nearly 37% of those that responded truly value the latter. They say it ensures they are drinking what they like, can control the cost of their outing and allows for a choice of ambience. They are happy with the balance that currently exists.
“Small college town, already has enough offerings. In addition, BYOB is a very nice option,” explains resident JoanMarie Land Zetterberg.
Should the law change for next year, BYOB restaurants will still be around for at least a while. There will still be only a limited number of additional licenses each year and it is still possible not every establishment will want to add that to their offerings. Committees for both the Assembly and Senate have work to do to advance the possibility of new legislation for consumption liquor licenses. But, for craft beverages, the lifting of restrictions may be more eminent. If it is reported out of committee and put on the board, the Senate could vote at its next session on June 20th. If approved, it would go to the Assembly for a vote and then possibly to Governor Murphy for his signature.
Lisa Jacknow spent years working in national and local news in and around New York City before moving to Princeton. Working as both a TV producer and news reporter, Lisa came to this area to focus on the local news of Mercer County at WZBN-TV. In recent years, she got immersed in the Princeton community by serving leadership roles at local schools in addition to volunteering for other local non-profits. In her free time, Lisa loves to spend time with her family, play tennis, sing and play the piano. A graduate of the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, Lisa was raised just north of Boston, Massachusetts but has lived in the tri-state area since college. She is excited to be Editor and head writer for Princeton Perspectives!
As the buds on my rose bush start to transform into beautiful flowers, I am reminded how they came to get planted behind my home and were given the opportunity to flourish. I bought two rose bushes on a whim several years ago, thinking I could plant them in the planters by my front door. Luckily someone pointed out that was a poor idea, that roses bushes need much more room to grow. Now several feet wide, the bushes are thriving in my yard and each spring as I watch them bloom and see other plants and bushes brighten up the landscapes, I am reminded there is so much I still need to learn about gardening.
Is there something in your life that you think you know, but when you really think about it, truly still have a lot to learn about? Many people in Princeton think they know, well, everything – and for sure, there are brilliant minds here that know a lot – but there is always room to learn and grow. This month, Princeton Perspectives is hoping to help you along that path with our May issue, Get the Lowdown – Local Information You Might Not Know, But Should. From the latest about what is happening at Princeton High School to information about sites and places around town, even details about the upcoming primary election, we’ve got you covered.
Last night, in an attempt to get his job back as Princeton High School Principal, Frank Chmiel plead his case to the Board of Education in front of a public audience. What happened? We have the details in Perspectives Revisited, which you can read below. We also share the latest developments about Bridge Point 8, the warehouse that could be built across from Quakerbridge Mall.
If you brought a visitor into town, or met a newcomer to Princeton, what would you advise them? This month’s Pulse of Princeton shares the thoughts of locals we met in town. Perhaps they might even teach you a thing or two about the area!
Like the rose bush, I thought I knew where to plant them and help them grow, but I was wrong. In Princeton, there are many stories you might have heard about people or places, but do you know the real version? The article You’re a True Princetonian Once You Know the True Stories gives you the insight you didn’t know you needed, to be an expert local.
If animals aren’t bothering you, spring allergies likely are! Just wait. They are bound to get better as the summer months hit. You know what else happens in June? The Primary Election! Do you know who is running, when it is, how you can take part? June Primary Election: Why Bother and What You Need to Know has every detail to inform you.
Maybe after you vote, you want to get out of town. One way out is to take the Dinky train from Princeton to West Windsor and hop on a train into New York City. Walk, Bike or Ride: A Local Commitment to the Princeton Dinky Revitalization explains why this line is so important to the area and what is being discussed to keep up with changing needs and opportunity.
Life has gotten busy for many, but we hope that you will still take time to smell the roses (and then read all the great information we have for you this month)! We appreciate your trust and readership and look forward to sharing more with you in June.
Lisa Jacknow spent years working in national and local news in and around New York City before moving to Princeton. Working as both a TV producer and news reporter, Lisa came to this area to focus on the local news of Mercer County at WZBN-TV. In recent years, she got immersed in the Princeton community by serving leadership roles at local schools in addition to volunteering for other local non-profits. In her free time, Lisa loves to spend time with her family, play tennis, sing and play the piano. A graduate of the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, Lisa was raised just north of Boston, Massachusetts but has lived in the tri-state area since college. She is excited to be Editor and head writer for Princeton Perspectives!
Lisa Jacknow spent years working in national and local news in and around New York City before moving to Princeton. Working as both a TV producer and news reporter, Lisa came to this area to focus on the local news of Mercer County at WZBN-TV. In recent years, she got immersed in the Princeton community by serving leadership roles at local schools in addition to volunteering for other local non-profits. In her free time, Lisa loves to spend time with her family, play tennis, sing and play the piano. A graduate of the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, Lisa was raised just north of Boston, Massachusetts but has lived in the tri-state area since college. She is excited to be Editor and head writer for Princeton Perspectives!
Is there a place in town that you’ve always wondered about? A story you’ve heard that you just can’t believe to be true? There are many superstitions and historical renditions that people enjoy sharing but often haven’t verified. Princeton Perspectives is now revealing the details behind many of Princeton’s most popular sources of gossip.
Library House(s)
Is it one house or two? Situated at 94 and 104 Library Place are in fact two homes that have become fodder for a lot of conversation. If you’ve ever traveled along Library Place, from Hodge Road toward 206/Stockton Street, a street filled with large properties and grand homes, you likely noticed two of the beautiful homes on the right that sit very close to each other and look shockingly similar. At certain angles, when the trees are in bloom, they actually look like one house, with the greenery making it hard to see about 12 feet of space that sits between the two.
Even local real estate agents aren’t quite sure what the story is. Some believe they are two similar homes that were built by the same builder. Others are confident they were once one home that was split into two. Of those that believe the latter, there are varying rumors for the split – a couple got divorced and neither was willing to give up the house, so they split it; two brothers got the house after their parents’ death and things grew bitter, so they separated it into two. None of the above happen to be the true story.
Last summer a young couple, Aditya Rajagopalan and Alston Gremillion, bought their new home at 104 Library Place. They quickly became eager to understand why all their friends in the area called it “the house cut in half.” For a Christmas gift, Alston’s father, Mark Gremillion, put together a family tree and historical information on the house, which ultimately revealed the little-known tale.
It was discovered that land was purchased, and one single house was built on it from 1901-1903, first inhabited by Dr. David Magie and then just his wife until she sold it in 1924. Estelle Frelinghuysen then bought it and lived there until her death in 1931. That was during the Great Depression, followed by World War II. So, Frelinghuysen’s house sat empty for 13 years until 1944 when the estate was settled and sold to Holder Corporation. Holder felt people were not buying homes of that size at the time and the best way to get it sold was to cut the house in half, into two “smaller” homes. The truth lacks a bit of the drama some of the gossip holds, but it is still a fascinating turn of events.
“They literally just removed a section in the middle,” she explains. “If you walk between the two houses, you can see stucco on either side between them. The other three sides of each house are stone.”
Princetonian’s did witness first-hand how one home can be moved to another lot, when the building on 91 Prospect was moved across the street earlier this year. But, seldom, if ever, has anyone around recently witnessed one home get split into two. To confirm it started as one house, you can see the original home in this old photo and the land map from that time also displays one house on the lot where the two homes sit today.
FitzRandolph Gate
Princeton University architecture has been the source of many stories. You can’t really miss its FitzRandolph Gate, the black iron gate with tall columns alongside Nassau Street, at the intersection of Witherspoon Street. But have you ever walked through it? If so, did you think about how your path might determine your destiny?
Built in 1905, FitzRandolph Gate was erected outside Princeton University’s Nassau Hall to honor Nathaniel FitzRandolph, the man primarily responsible for raising the funds used to purchase the college’s first plot of land in Princeton. The gate was kept closed and locked for decades, opened only during special occasions, and was meant to separate the town from the college. But in the 1970s, it was opened permanently, allegedly as a gesture to open the doors of the university to the town and the world.
Since then, it has been the center of a longtime superstition. Be careful where you go! Legend has it that any undergraduate that exits campus through the center gate (entering is said to be safe) will not graduate. The myth first was believed to have meant you wouldn’t graduate at all, though some interpret it to mean one simply would not graduate on time.
The tradition of avoiding the center entrance is passed along through students from year to year. You will often see them purposefully make their way to one of the side exits rather than go through the center. Princeton University is unable to verify any legitimacy to this myth, though there have been several students who’ve alleged to have walked through on purpose or by accident, and still graduate as expected.
Drumthwacket
What is this “white house” that sits on State Highway 206N, between Lawrenceville and downtown Princeton? Many people think it is just another extravagant Princeton home but it is in fact Drumthwacket, the grand estate that has been the NJ Governor’s mansion for decades. Where did the name Drumthwacket come from and how did this property come to be?
On land once owned by William Penn, the home was built in 1835 by Charles Smith Olden, the man who would later become Governor from 1860-1863. He’d purchased this land from his grandfather, Thomas Olden (the small farmhouse now called Thomas Olden House, where Charles was born, had already been built there). After Olden’s death, the land and properties were purchased from his widow by Moses Taylor Pyne, who added onto the main house to grow the estate. Under Pyne, the east and west wings were built, and the property filled in with ponds, gardens and recreational areas. The estate was bequeathed to Pynes’ granddaughter, Agnes, who then sold it to Abram Nathanial Spanel. The inventor, scientist and the last private owner founded what became Playtex, and designed the Apollo spacesuit.
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Drumthwacket, was purchased from the Spanels by the state of NJ in 1966, with the intent it become the governor’s residence. But that didn’t officially happen for decades, when funds were raised, and it was properly maintained. It kept its name, though – Drumthwacket – the name given to the home by Charles Smith Olden when he built it. It is believed he took the name from an old novel by Sir Walter Scott’s popular, A Legend (of the Wars) of Montrose, a Scots-Gaelic name that translates to mean “wooded hill.”
Surprisingly, with all that allure and stature, Drumthwacket has only been the full-time residence for 3 sitting governors, Olden (before it was owned by NJ) and then James Florio (1990-1994) and Jim McGreevey (2002-2004). While recovering from a car accident, Governor Corzine also briefly stayed there in 2007.
Einstein
“Imagination is more important than knowledge,” said Albert Einstein. But he likely never imagined people would be taking pictures and stopping by his house 68 years after his death! Perhaps the world’s most famous mathematician, Einstein lived in this house at 112 Mercer Street until he passed in 1955. Though many correctly affiliate him with the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), there is often a misconception that he also worked as a professor at Princeton University (PU). He did not.
From the Shelby White and Leon Levy Archives Center, Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton, NJ)
Is there a PU connection? Yes, there is, but he was never a professor there. When Einstein first came to visit Princeton in 1921, he delivered 5 lectures at PU and received an honorary degree. It wasn’t until the early 1930s that Abraham Flexner, the Founding Director of the Institute for Advanced Study, contacted Einstein back in Germany inviting him to come back and be amongst the first faculty to pursue self-directed research there. Einstein accepted and came in 1933, at a time of Nazi uprising in Germany. He feared for reprisals here in America so when he arrived, plans were made to bring him to town quietly and without fanfare. This letter, dated October 1933, confirms his first salary payment from IAS.
Where there is further confusion is that during his first six years with IAS (1933-1939), PU provided office space on campus at Fine Hall for Einstein and other Institute Faculty and School of Mathematics members. Though he may have given a further lecture at PU, he was never considered faculty there.
Upon Einstein’s death, this house was willed to Einstein’s stepdaughter. When she passed in 1986, it was left to the Institute.
Welcome to Princeton
When you drive into Princeton, have you ever taken notice of the sign welcoming you in? Turns out not everyone finds it so welcoming.
Princeton’s Civil Rights Commission officially brought up issue with the signs and made their case before Princeton Council at a recent April meeting, citing that the words “Settled 1683” are not inclusive of the Lenape people who lived here before that time. The discussion had been ongoing, with some residents suggesting new signs should be made to either pay tribute to the initial inhabitants, the consolidation or not have a date on it at all.
If you’re a stickler for words, then the term “settled” is a point that has some disagreeing with those residents and the commission, having pointed out that settling often refers to when one establishes land ownership. The Lenape were a nomadic people, and while they lived on much of the land known today as Princeton, they moved around often depending on the seasons.
If one agrees that settling equals land ownership, then 1683 is the correct verbiage. It was that year that Henry Greenland became the first European property owner in what eventually became Princeton, according to Historical Society of Princeton. In that same vein, to the north and south of Princeton, Montgomery’s sign says “Founded circa 1702” and Lawrence signs say “Founded 1697.”
Princeton Council heard the commission’s presentation last month, and many seemed to agree with the concerns and are open to considering something different. Shall the sign honor the Lenape in some way, should it make note of the consolidation of the township and borough in 2013, or something else entirely? Some around town are saying there is time and money better well spent and the signs should be left alone.
Municipal staff is currently working with the Civil Rights Commission to come up with replacement costs and new signage ideas, at which point it will be brought back to Council for further discussion.
Now gossip!
So, now you know the stories. You can now drive around town, past the gate, the sign and all of the homes and people mentioned here and know just a little bit more about how they came to be. Consider yourself a true Princeton insider! Share this information (or better yet, this entire article) to help ensure the true stories are passed along.
Lisa Jacknow spent years working in national and local news in and around New York City before moving to Princeton. Working as both a TV producer and news reporter, Lisa came to this area to focus on the local news of Mercer County at WZBN-TV. In recent years, she got immersed in the Princeton community by serving leadership roles at local schools in addition to volunteering for other local non-profits. In her free time, Lisa loves to spend time with her family, play tennis, sing and play the piano. A graduate of the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, Lisa was raised just north of Boston, Massachusetts but has lived in the tri-state area since college. She is excited to be Editor and head writer for Princeton Perspectives!
Beyond its intention for narrowing down each party’s candidate pool to one contender, June primary voting is a way for candidates to test the waters and for voters to begin learning who the candidates are. In 2022, only 12% of eligible voters across Mercer County weighed in at the June primary election to determine which candidates would appear on the November ballot. That election included a vote for U.S. Congress, but both the Democrat and Republican races had only one candidate each. That was a negligent increase from the 11% turnout in 2021, a primary election that helped decide the candidates for NJ governor (there was only 1 Democratic candidate on that ballot, but there were 4 Republican contenders).
Primary election turnout is historically low here. For comparison, the 2021 general election in November had a 39% voter turnout from Mercer County, with 42% in 2022. This may be because Mercer County and more specifically Princeton often have uncontested races at the primary elections. That means the number of candidates on the primary ballot are the same or less than the number of places available, so all of those candidates will win and have their names on the general election ballots – regardless of votes. To some, this lack of debate over policy, budgets and more is of great concern.
So, how does one get motivated to vote in a primary election when there is no or little contest? For this June 2023 primary, Hopewell Borough is the only Mercer County municipality that will see multiple candidates for a role on the Democratic ticket, as they vie to be mayor. On the Republican ticket, only the NJ Assembly seat for the 14th Legislative District will have a contest (that includes E. Windsor, Hamilton, Hightstown and Robbinsville). Beyond those, there are just enough candidates, if that, to compete in the election for each role on both party tickets and no minimum vote required for them to win. The motivation to mail-in your ballot or go to the polls needs come from a desire to get engaged in local politics, partake in the democratic process and to show a candidate they truly have your support. The more local the position, the more impact their decisions likely have on your tax bill and day to day life. To help inform you, Princeton Perspectives is the only local publication to provide a detailed explanation of every candidate on the Princeton ballots, which you can read about below.
There are no national races this year. Mercer County residents will be voting for the positions of State Senate, General Assembly, County Executive, Sheriff and Board of County Commissioners. There are various municipal races as well, including here in Princeton.
VOTING ELIGIBILITY FOR THE PRIMARY
Everyone can actually vote in the primary. Yes, you read that right. While New Jersey law requires that you must be a registered Democrat or Republican when you cast your vote in the primary, that doesn’t preclude the 31% of Princeton voters that are registered unaffiliated from positioning themselves to cast that ballot. It just takes a little maneuvering.
“An unaffiliated voter can walk into a polling place at early voting or on election day, declare a party (D/R) and then vote for candidates of that party,” Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami-Covello clarifies. “Once you vote in a Primary for a party, you are associated with that party and become registered in that party. You can go back to being unaffiliated after the election by filing proper registration paperwork with the Superintendent of Elections Office. In other words, you must take action to change back to an unaffiliated voter or you will remain a member of the party.”
This is an important measure to consider, especially in a county like Mercer, which has seen Democratic control for 20 years, preceded by 24 years of Republican control. In a town like Princeton, which has not had a Republican contender for Council since 2018, choosing which Democrats will make decisions about the town can also be a meaningful option.
HOW AND WHERE DO YOU VOTE?
If you registered for a Mail-in ballot, it should have arrived by now, though you can still register to receive one until May 30th. Otherwise, you can plan to head to the polls! There will again be an early voting period (June 2nd – 4th) with one polling location each in Trenton, Hamilton, Lawrence, Pennington, Princeton, East Windsor and Ewing. Primary Election Day will take place on June 6th. Your polling site will be stated on the sample ballot being mailed to you May 31st or you can search for it here.
You may recall last November officials were hand counting bags of ballots after there was an issue printing and scanning ballots on election day. Princeton Perspectives inquired what is being done to ensure this doesn’t happen again and have been told the Superintendent of Elections will have a public inspection of the voting machines to confirm everything is working properly. In addition, Sollami-Covello says they are planning more measures of protection.
“Dominion representatives will be assisting at the warehouse pre-election. Also, at my request, we were granted a new technical assistant and programmer from Dominion to work with our County and with our printer. There are also more internal checks taking place by all vendors and offices involved in ballot preparation, programming and testing. Lastly, poll workers are being trained to follow the advice of the Board of Elections, and no one else, if there is ever a problem with voting machines in the future,” she explains.
If you want to help ensure the elections run smoothly, the county is still looking to hire poll workers for this primary and November’s general election. A training fee of $30 is paid to workers in addition to compensation of $300/full day and $150/half day. Interested residents should go online to board of elections website and fill out application.
WHO IS RUNNING?
Primary races are only for Democrat and Republican candidates. Independent and other party candidates wait to run in November but the filing deadline for independent candidates to be listed on the General Election ballot is on primary Election Day, June 6th, at 4 PM. Because all school board elections in Mercer are nonpartisan, they are also not part of the primary election. The filing deadline for school board candidates for the November election is July 31st at 4pm.
If you plan to vote, it’s important to know who you are voting for. If not, it’s helpful to learn who is in the races, since independents still have an opportunity to compete for the fall.
This year in Princeton, there are 2 Democratic incumbents vying to keep their seats. No Republicans are in the race, though it is still possible an Unaffiliated candidate could run against them in November. This position is for a three-year term.
David Cohen (D) is an incumbent looking to serve his third term on Princeton Council. Throughout his terms, he has been involved in several initiatives he wants to continue to see through. The new Master Plan, expected to be adopted by end of year, is something he looks forward to working with as a senior member of the Planning Committee. Stormwater management is another key issue for Cohen, which is in the midst of a feasibility study he hopes can help.
In addition, Cohen is hoping Princeton will adopt a Vision Zero Action Plan, something he’s been working on intended to create safer passageway for pedestrians and bikers. Lastly, he’d like to see the complete consolidation between the township and borough policies with unified zoning ordinances.
Leticia H Fraga (D) is also running for her third term on Princeton Council. She aims to continue her efforts of making policy decisions through an equity lens, seeking to improve the quality of life for all of Princeton’s residents.
Fraga believes Princeton is a flourishing community, and hopes to continue her efforts with updating infrastructure, partnering with businesses and the community, and ensuring all basic needs are accessible to vulnerable populations.
Mercer County Executive candidates: Dan Benson (D) and Lisa Richford (R)
The biggest race taking place throughout Mercer this June is for the position of Mercer County Executive. After 20 years in office, sitting County Executive, Brian Hughes, fought to keep his name on the ticket but after a strong fight from challenger Dan Benson for Democratic party support, he ultimately decided to retire. That leaves this as the only wide-open county race being held. The candidates are running for a 4-year term. Why should you care about this role? 28% of your annual property taxes go to the County. As the executive leader of the county, the Mercer County Executive sets the agenda and makes appointments like Governor Murphy does for the state or President Biden for the country. As the supervisor, director and controller of all county administrative departments, the decisions, guidance, operations and direction of county government lays on the shoulders of this leader. We will see in November if the Democrats hold onto the seat, or the Republicans win back county government?
Dan Benson(D) is running for his first term as County Executive, after gaining the support of his party over the sitting County Executive, Brian Hughes, at their recent convention. He has served the area since 2001 when elected to Hamilton Council at age 25. Benson then served on the County Commissioners Board (called County Freeholders at the time) for three years and has now been in the NJ Assembly since 2011.
He says he is seeking the County Executive role because the county needs to better oversee its finances. He also has a clear message on how to work together with all municipalities to improve health, jobs, transportation and opportunity.
Lisa Richford(R) has represented people throughout Mercer County as an attorney for the past 31 years, and now hopes to represent the county as their next executive. The sitting Mercer County Republican Committee Chair feels there has been a diminished quality of life for many Mercer County residents, and she hopes to change that by ending 20 years of one-party rule at the county level, providing better budget transparency, and rebuilding voters confidence in the election and voting system.
Having lived in Mercer County for 45 years, Lisa was raised by her mother, a Ukrainian immigrant and father, a US Marine. She also has a son about to graduate from Hamilton High West. Lisa currently serves as in-house counsel for a company seeking to find the cure for cancers exclusively affecting women.
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Board of County Commissioners candidates: Lucylle Walter (D), John Cimino (D), Joseph Stillwell (R) and Denise “Neicy” Turner (R)
The Mercer County Board of Commissioners, the legislative branch of county government, has 2 incumbent Democrats and 2 challenging Republicans vying for the 2 open seats for a 3-year term.
Lucylle Walter(D) is an incumbent who has served as a County Commissioner (once called Freeholder) since 1998. She is hoping to continue serving alongside her running mate John Cimino because she believes they’ll offer continuity and experience that is needed.
With a new County Executive next year, and three of the seven Commissioners having only one term under their belts, Walter says that she and Cimino’s experience can be of great assistance when formulating new ideas and policies, presenting those to the administration and working with the rest of county government.
John Cimino(D) is also an incumbent. He has served twice as Board President since he was first elected to this role in 2009.
Affordability is the reason Cimino wants to continue to serve. He describes that to mean an array of things, from quality of life to better roads, more opportunities in higher education as well as by having clean and safe parks. Cimino seeks to ensure the needs of all in Mercer County are met.
Joseph Stillwell, (R) longtime Hamilton resident, says he is seeking to become a County Commissioner to bring common sense into county government, with primary goals of restoring fiscal responsibility and trust as well as protecting the environment of Mercer County.
About to graduate from Catholic University of America, Stillwell will take his history degree to graduate school where he seeks to become a certified teacher in New Jersey. He will bring his experience with civic organizations Knights of Columbus and American Legion Jersey Boys State to this role.
Denise “Neicy” Turner (R), a graduate of Trenton Central High School, is a 20-year resident of the capital city, mother of two and a grandmother. She is running to unseat an incumbent so she can serve her community and county, aiming to make sure budgets are properly met and addressing the many issues that need a Commissioner’s focus.
Turner currently works as a Medical Security Officer at the Ann Klein Forensic Center in West Trenton and also owns Daycare Greenacres, LLC, a home daycare providing childcare to families.
Mercer County Sheriff candidates: John “Jack” Kemler (D) and Bryan “Bucky” Boccanfuso (R)
The Sheriff oversees a variety of units for the county including “Court Security, a Tactical Response Team, K-9 Unit, Civil Process, Detective Bureau/ Fugitive Unit, Community Education Programs, Inmate Transportation, participation in Federal, State, and Local Task Forces, Airport Security and more,” according to the website. The position is for a three-year term.
John “Jack” Kemler (D) is the incumbent and has served in this role since 2010. He has a 40-year career in law enforcement that began in the Trenton Police Department and transitioned into roles at the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, ultimately as Sheriff.
Kemler is running for a fifth term as Sheriff to continue his service to the county. He feels his respected leadership style, hard and honorable work and extra efforts to be thoughtful and fair are what helps keep the communities safe.
Bryan “Bucky” Boccanfuso (R) is hoping to unseat Kemler in an effort to bring his experience of more than 25 years of law enforcement to the role of Sheriff. Commitment, accountability, honor and respect are the tenets by which he intends to run the office, one which he says will serve all residents, business owners and visitors.
Boccanfuso was born and raised in Mercer County, and wants to provide a positive work environment, working as a team to benefit both the department and the county. As a full-time Sheriff, he hopes to help Mercer County be a beacon of law enforcement leadership.
State Senator candidates (16th Legislative District): Andrew Zwicker (D) and Michael Pappas (R)
At the state level, all 40 State Senate seats are up for election which leaves Princeton (part of the 16th Legislative District) voting for one, for a four-year term. The Senate works alongside the General Assembly as the legislative branch of NJ government, passing bills on policy, spending and taxes. This year we will see a rematch between the same two Senate candidates that ran in 2021.
Andrew Zwicker(D) is fighting to keep the seat he earned 2 years ago when Senator Kip Bateman retired. He took that role after four years serving in the General Assembly. A scientist and educator at Princeton University’s Plasma Physics Laboratory, Zwicker says evidence must be the guiding force behind decision making. If you vote early, you can thank Zwicker for his role in making that happen in NJ.
Michael Pappas (R) is hoping to unseat Zwicker, whom he went up against in 2021. Pappas brings years of experience to the table, having served on Franklin Township Council, then as its Mayor, on the Somerset County Board of Freeholders and as a one-term U.S. Congressman for the 12th Congressional District (prior to Rush Holt and now Bonnie Watson Coleman).
General Assembly candidates (16th Legislative District): Roy Freiman (D), Mitchelle Drulis (D), Ross Traphagen (R), Grace Zhang (R)
For 16th Legislative District voters in Mercer County (Princeton voters), NJ Assemblywoman Sadaf Jaffer’s departure creates one open seat, with one incumbent running to retain his. Voters will choose 2 candidates, to serve a two-year term in the General Assembly.
Roy Freiman(D) is running for his fourth term. A longtime central NJ resident, Freiman credits his past experience as an executive at Prudential Financial with helping him make smart financial choices for NJ. As Chairman of the New Jersey Assembly Agriculture and Food Security Committee, he has worked to preserve farms, enhance public parks and other outdoor spaces and also works to help eliminate obstacles for small business owners.
Mitchelle Drulis(D) has been involved in NJ politics since she became Legislative Aid to an Assemblyman 2000, now she wants to join the Assembly herself. Since then, she has served as Chief of Staff to another Assemblyman, then went onto help U.S. Congressman Tom Malinowski as Political Director during his candidacy then as his District Director during for the four years he served.
Through that role, Drulis learned to manage constituent services and secured millions in federal funding. As a small business owner, volunteering as class mom and at her church, she has learned skills she hopes to bring to the General Assembly.
Ross Traphagen(R) hopes to take his experience as a small business owner and two-time Councilman for the Town of Clinton and use it to work together to find common sense solutions with his peers in the Assembly.
Traphagen recalls that the support he gets from Republicans, Democrats and Unaffiliated voters has led him through two successful elections, and he hope to see that same support in this race. He lives with his wife in Clinton and hopes that for his family and others he can go to Trenton to help keep taxes and fees at a minimum, work to control overdevelopment and maintain New Jersey’s beautiful open space.
Grace Zhang(R) is seeking to join the General Assembly as a step to give back to New Jerseyans a little bit of what America has given her. She came here as a poor college student, seeking the American dream and she has found it by earning her master’s degree, becoming a certified public accountant, building her own consulting and accounting business and raising three children.
A resident of Princeton, Zhang hopes to help other small business owners through lower taxes and more incentives. She has been an advocate and volunteer at her children’s schools and hopes to build on that with educational opportunities for all. By continuing to support community activities, festivals and more she hopes to build stability and economic success across NJ.
Use this information to help inform your vote, now and for the General Election come November.
Lisa Jacknow spent years working in national and local news in and around New York City before moving to Princeton. Working as both a TV producer and news reporter, Lisa came to this area to focus on the local news of Mercer County at WZBN-TV. In recent years, she got immersed in the Princeton community by serving leadership roles at local schools in addition to volunteering for other local non-profits. In her free time, Lisa loves to spend time with her family, play tennis, sing and play the piano. A graduate of the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, Lisa was raised just north of Boston, Massachusetts but has lived in the tri-state area since college. She is excited to be Editor and head writer for Princeton Perspectives!
Around Princeton these days, many people are talking about Principal Frank Chmiel’s departure from Princeton High School. If it matters to Princeton, we cover it at Princeton Perspectives, and this issue has his exclusive interview.
But it’s not just the high school that is getting attention these days. Elementary school families are in turmoil about what their future holds, too. That is also covered in this April issue of Princeton Perspectives, A Caring Community Divided – What is Happening at Princeton’s Schools?
Everyone that lives in Princeton seeks to be affected by what is happening at our schools. The most information we can provide to date is straight from the source, and The Community Wants to Know: A Conversation with Frank Chmiel is his first interview since being put on administrative leave from Princeton High School in March. We reached out to the Board of Education and Dr. Carol Kelley as well, to provide the latest information available.
While Princeton Public Schools is involved in that, it is also working to figure out what the right changes are for elementary student placements. It has put any redistricting plans on hold while it listens to the community, which has a lot of ideas. Elementary Families Share Ideas as They Look Towards District Changes is a first look at what some parents see as tenable solutions.
Sadly, the situation at Princeton High School has caused controversy and varying viewpoints. Whether Frank Chmiel comes back as principal or not, Princeton High School will continue. As the PHS Divide Grows, Where Does the Community Go from Here? shares perspectives from a variety of community members on what is needed now to move forward.
Let us not forget that there are students at Princeton High School who have a vested interest, too. As the situation with Frank Chmiel unfolds, our student guest writer finds it is revealing the students have more needs than have been realized. The article PHS Students Are Looking Forward to Better Transparency and Understanding shares them.
Members of the Princeton community, even those with no children in school, can still feel the tensions around town. This month’s Pulse of Princeton asks their thoughts on how the community can move forward from this divide. Watch it now.
There is more happening around town than just our schools. There is new proposed legislation you may want to know about and opportunities to bring nature in your yard. Read more about them in this month’s Perspectives Revisited.
We hope that you are sitting outside, enjoying the early warm weather as you read our latest issue. We look forward to sharing more with you next month.
Lisa Jacknow spent years working in national and local news in and around New York City before moving to Princeton. Working as both a TV producer and news reporter, Lisa came to this area to focus on the local news of Mercer County at WZBN-TV. In recent years, she got immersed in the Princeton community by serving leadership roles at local schools in addition to volunteering for other local non-profits. In her free time, Lisa loves to spend time with her family, play tennis, sing and play the piano. A graduate of the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, Lisa was raised just north of Boston, Massachusetts but has lived in the tri-state area since college. She is excited to be Editor and head writer for Princeton Perspectives!
Elementary school parents at Princeton Public Schools (PPS) are on edge, wondering what the landscape will be for their children in the future. On March 21st, after the Princeton Board of Education (BOE) long-term plans were presented, many of Princeton’s elementary school parents spoke up. They showed up the next week to the BOE’s March 28th meeting to voice their thoughts as well. Concerned, confused and scared, parents raised objections to the proposed plans to shift certain neighborhoods to different elementary schools and possibly open an English-only learning track alongside Community Park’s (CP) Dual Language Immersion program (DLI). While parents have compassion for those from other schools, the proposed ideas of what could be are creating a large rift amongst the school communities.
Historically, all four Princeton elementary schools were English-only learning, with Spanish class offered to some grades. All homes were geographically districted to one of the four schools: CP, Littlebrook (LB), Johnson Park (JP) or Riverside (RS) Elementary Schools. When a dual-language immersion program was introduced at CP in 2015, it was first offered just to certain grades and to only students districted for that school. Over time, the program has grown to encompass all grades and welcomes almost any student in the district. However, all non-native Spanish speaking students moving into the area that are past 1st grade or CP-area families who choose not to be part of the of the program have had to choose a different elementary school to attend (Note: PPS has just expanded the entry options to include children entering 2nd grade). This has led to overcrowding at JP and LB, while CP now has some empty rooms. In addition, 1,100 new apartment units are planned, with more anticipated, which are expected to add hundreds more students to the mix. With an English-only track remaining for just the current 5th grade, CP was expected to become DLI-only this fall. But will it?
PPS administrators shared plans at the March 21st meeting to use the empty CP rooms to house an English-only track for all grades, redistrict some students from JP and LB to fill those seats, or possibly down the road shift all elementary students to a new “sister school” model with K-2 and 3-5 schools for all (including DLI).
Hearing clear disappointment from the community, PPS administrators quickly announced they will not move ahead with changes this fall but will instead begin to hold community meetings to learn what the stakeholders consider to be better options. As the meetings are expected to begin sometime this month, Princeton Perspectives caught up with some parents to find out what they think the long-term solution should be for the community. The ideas seem to vary based on the perspective they come from. Since CP was central to the proposed plan, we’ll start there.
Community Park Parents Fight for DLI-only School
“To add back an English-only track [at CP] would immediately limit any future growth and limit strengthening the program in the future,” shared Nicole Pezold Hancock, who has lived in Princeton for 12 years and has seen one child complete the elementary DLI program with another currently enrolled. She adds that the DLI program just had two reviews conducted that provided qualitative feedback to help them grow and hopes there’s an opportunity to realize them. “We were able to see structural weaknesses and history, but [the Tristate Consortium report] also said it’s an unpolished gem of a program and laid out some next steps the district could take to make it work better within the fabric of all district schools.”
Changing CP to include a full English-only track would hinder those plans, she notes, as a group of 40+ CP parents are working hard to work with PPS for better outreach, marketing and to enhance understanding amongst the rest of the community. Pezold Hancock also recalls the early days of DLI and English-tracks running side-by-side at CP.
“It was very stifling socially for some kids and created rifts between kids and some parents. There was self-segregating on the playground, at recess the kids wouldn’t play together,” she recalls.
Instead, Pezold Hancock agrees starting a Pre-K at CP could entice families to begin their school journey there and stay. She also thinks the district could entice immigrant families with children who don’t speak English to come, adding it will help them feel a more valued member of the classroom and if Spanish-speaking, even be a leader during the Spanish portions of the day. She and other parents of DLI students feel there is more opportunity to be had by better utilizing those empty classrooms for this program that’s already there.
“Our children are wonderful ambassadors for it—most will happily tell you how proud they are to be able to meaningfully play with a classmate who doesn’t yet speak English, write essays and explain complicated science concepts in Spanish, or feel pride in speaking their relatives’ native language at school,” notes Christine Minerva, who has lived in Princeton since 2014 and is parent to 3rd and 5th graders at CP.
It may take time to better market and grow DLI at CP, so if that time is provided, how should PPS address the overcrowding at JP and LB in the meantime? Minerva agrees there is no perfect solution but thinks one proposed by PPS leadership could work.
“Although I see several downsides to transitioning from preK-5 schools to a ‘sister schools’ model where students zoned for JP and CP (or LB and RS) would attend JP (or LB) for preK-2 and CP (or RS) for 3-5, perhaps doing so in the coming years would be a more equitable solution, since all students would be involved in the shift, and most would have an opportunity to attend a school close to their neighborhood for part of their education,” Minerva explains. “If PPS does move to that model, I hope that our administrators would build in time to study best practices for this type of transition, gain buy-in from leadership of the new DLI school and the community, and formulate a plan to integrate new staff members, students, and their families.”
Littlebrook Parents Have Other Ideas
In the Littlebrook section of town, parents at Littlebrook Elementary aren’t seeing things the same way. They feel the overcrowding is detrimental to their student’s education and experience.
“While I can appreciate the passion of the parents at CP – we all want what is best for our kids! – not accepting students when our other schools are overcrowded is not sustainable, or, quite honestly, fair to the remaining 80% of our elementary student population,” states Corinne Ryan, a seven-year Princeton resident with four children attending LB. “Each of my children sits in a classroom either at or 1 or 2 seats away from capacity. My 5th grade son has 23 students in his class, while CP has 5th grade class sizes of 15 students. Every inch of our school is utilized, and we are bursting at the seams.”
Kristi Cole agrees. She has lived in Princeton for seven years and has two children attending LB along with the 400 other students. Cole says her elementary community has maxed out the physical space citing there is no longer any flex space in the LB building, the stage is full of storage, and there is an annual battle over which grade will gain the one additional classroom.
“Fewer than half of the students zoned for CP attend CP. That’s not a marketing issue, those people had to make a decision or were forced to move out,” Cole says. “Last summer’s review of the DLI program also showed CP is 58% white vs. the district which is 49% white. It also said JP is the preferred school of Hispanic families. CP is additionally not being chosen by families with IEPs. I don’t think that’s a marketing issue, I think people are making informed decisions. We need to open the school to serve everybody. It’s a public school, we have to serve the whole public.”
Referring to the idea of adding in an English-only track to CP, Ryan additionally points out that other DLI programs, such as those in West Windsor, coexist successfully with English-only tracks, a program that could help guide the situation here in Princeton. She appreciates the complexity of redistricting students and thinks one-off situations could enable students to stay where they’re accustomed. In the long run, she feels it could be a better solution.
“While the plan would cause a population of JP students to move back to their neighborhood school of CP, and a beloved group of students to leave LB, overall, the plan evened out the elementary schools. It seemed to be a fair and equitable approach to the issue,” Ryan adds. “There would be growing pains for all, but the long-term goal is sensible leveling of enrollment, especially in light of the growth and development that Princeton is experiencing.”
It is important to note that the recommendation from PPS was to redistrict those students from Institute for Advanced Study that currently attend LB and send them to JP. Apart from three students, all of the Institute children are expected to turn over for next year, so most families would not be affected (those three would likely be grandfathered in).
Johnson Park Parents Want Equitable Options
That is not the case at JP, where children who have attended for years were told they might have to leave to go to CP, where they were originally districted. Many parents are saying that is not a fair option.
“We came at this problem over a long period of time, we can’t fix the problem overnight. You can’t just transfer the kids. They’re kids, not cattle,” contends Elme Schmid, 6-year resident of Princeton who has two children at JP. “It’s children we’re dealing with, many of whom are English language learners and depend heavily on their ESL teacher.”
Schmid says the most important thing is to consult with and get buy-in from the community for smoother transitions into whatever option the district ultimately chooses. In doing so, she recommends PPS considers their long-term goals first then work backwards to get to the interim plan to create the least disruption to everyone involved. One possibility Schmid suggests to help pull populations from the crowded schools into the CP DLI, is to have a plan and work harder to integrate any new children at CP with those already there and to help more students get up to speed in language to participate.
“I think they should offer children now in grade 2, not fluent in Spanish, an opportunity over the summer to prepare for immersion. We’ve given ESL education over summers for many years, why can’t we expand it to include that that. That would fulfill concerns for many JP and CP parents,” she notes.
Without integrating new children more smoothly into the CP community, there is fear of divide. And there already appears to be very different schools of thought from parents of children at the varying schools.
“This whole discussion is dividing the community instead of uniting us. It’s a shame, especially at the elementary school level,” noted Lindsay Weiss, a resident of Princeton for nearly five years, with 2 children at JP and a rising kindergartener. “The plan put forth by PPS was very shortsighted. It was a Band-Aid fix instead of a long-term solution or what makes the most sense.”
When asked what does, Weiss said that she feels it’s still unknown, citing not all the facts are fully realized. Maybe there’s space in other buildings that can be converted, perhaps there might be enough families that would elect to return or go to CP, families moving in downtown that might want to attend their neighborhood school.
“If you pull a random 57 kids from JP, that won’t necessarily be the right mix to fill enough classes per grade. I think for now they need to involve the community, which is their plan, and I think that was a really good decision. They need to take a slow and steady approach to how this should all pan out,” Weiss suggests. “They might need to survey every family to see who would want to move and at what grades.”
Riverside Parents Weigh in Too
RS sends approximately the same number of students to the DLI program as it receives from those opting out of it, so there isn’t a reason to consider shifting any of its students. That helps RS parents breathe a little easier knowing there will not be a large influx or send off of a group of students. There is an expectation that new neighborhoods being built will be districted for RS to help balance the school populations. Should a future plan involve creating sister schools, however, RS students will be subject to that change.
Jyoti Narasimhan has one child that went through RS and another currently attending. After living in Princeton for five years, she and other Riverside parents are eager to see what the future holds but she trusts in the process and is grateful changes are temporarily on hold.
“Drastic change is going to be controversial but at the same time I do understand there might need to be changes,” Narasimhan shares. “I think, as always more info and transparency and communication to Riverside parents would be great. I do feel the district has made a good faith effort to say information will be forthcoming and I know they’ll work with BOE in trying to move ahead with plans.”
Conclusion
The district meetings with parents have not yet started, but many know there is a lot to think about. While there are great differences in how people are looking to solve the enrollment problems, there is consensus some change is needed to ensure all elementary children’s needs are met.
Lisa Jacknow spent years working in national and local news in and around New York City before moving to Princeton. Working as both a TV producer and news reporter, Lisa came to this area to focus on the local news of Mercer County at WZBN-TV. In recent years, she got immersed in the Princeton community by serving leadership roles at local schools in addition to volunteering for other local non-profits. In her free time, Lisa loves to spend time with her family, play tennis, sing and play the piano. A graduate of the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, Lisa was raised just north of Boston, Massachusetts but has lived in the tri-state area since college. She is excited to be Editor and head writer for Princeton Perspectives!
Lisa Jacknow spent years working in national and local news in and around New York City before moving to Princeton. Working as both a TV producer and news reporter, Lisa came to this area to focus on the local news of Mercer County at WZBN-TV. In recent years, she got immersed in the Princeton community by serving leadership roles at local schools in addition to volunteering for other local non-profits. In her free time, Lisa loves to spend time with her family, play tennis, sing and play the piano. A graduate of the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, Lisa was raised just north of Boston, Massachusetts but has lived in the tri-state area since college. She is excited to be Editor and head writer for Princeton Perspectives!
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