It is easier, at this time of year, to think of and do for others. Up to 35% of annual donations are said to be made in December. Yet, even now, and especially throughout the rest of the year, we can get caught up in our own lives. Not necessarily thinking about what others are experiencing, or the ways in which our choices can impact them.
In the December issue of Princeton Perspectives, Keeping the Community in Mind, we highlight some things that are happening around us that we can weigh in on, support or work against.
What is something you do that keeps the community in mind? That is what we posed to locals in this month’s Pulse of Princeton. It can be rewarding and inspirational to learn of other’s contributions, so watch the video now.
Speaking of contributions, Princeton homeowners paid 47% of their property tax bills towards Princeton Public Schools this year. Yet, that may not provide enough funding for some of the district’s needs. The article Princeton Public Schools’ January Referendum and its Impacts on Our Communities breaks down the details of the January 2025 referendum. It takes a look at what the stated needs are, the costs and informs what some are considering as they look towards voting in January.
Though Princeton Environmental Commission and organizations like Sustainable Princeton have aimed to make sustainable and climate needs public knowledge, there is always more to learn. The article How One Person’s Actions (or Inactions) Can Affect Others shares a few of the ways that climate change is showing it is here, and what you may be able to do on your own or as a group to turn the tides.
To make change, one first needs to know that it is needed. One goal of Princeton Perspectives has always been to delve deeper into what’s happening in our community. The article Choose to Spread Feelings of Joy, Not Hate aims to open people’s eyes about what others are experiencing. Things one may not know about, or recognize to be threatening or hateful.
There are also others in our community that need assistance. The article Supporting Our Latino Neighbors and Their Path to American Citizenship and Assimilation shares the experiences of many in the area that are working hard to have a better and more productive life here.
To make things better, we sometimes have to reach out. This month’s Perspectives Revisited shows how locals are doing just that, not just in our local area, but as far away as North Carolina, too.
As we all keep the community in mind, we wish those who celebrate a Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and Happy Kwanzaa. Since our next issue will not be out before the new year, we wish you all a safe and Happy New Year as well! We thank you for another year of reading Princeton Perspectives, and sharing it with family, friends and neighbors. If there is something we’re not covering that you’d like to see in 2025, please reach out here and let us know!
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!