Volume LXXVII, Number 12
Young STEM Aficionados Make Their Mark in PPPL Events . . . . . . . . 5 WJNA Meeting: Exchanging Ideas, Building Community . . 8 PU Concerts’ Do-Re-Meet Strikes a Chord . . . . . 11 Finding “The Best of Us” At the Bryn Mawr-Wellesley Book Sale . . . . . . . . . 16 Princeton Pro Musica Performs Monumental Bach Passion . . . . . . 17 Midfielder Buonanno Stars in Defeat as PU Women’s Lax Edged by Penn State . . . . . . . . 30 Coming Off Banner Season, Hun Baseball Primed for Another Big Campaign . . . . . . . . . 34
Pat Glory Wins 1st NCAA Title for PU Wrestling Since 1951 . . . . . . . . 29 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-25 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 26 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 36 Healthy Princetonians . . . . 2 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 14 New To Us . . . . . . . 19, 27 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 35 Performing Arts . . . 18, 23 Police Blotter . . . . . . . . 8 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 36 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . 6 Young Princetonians . . 20-22
www.towntopics.com
Community Forum Held On Redevelopment Of Seminary Property
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Wednesday, March 22, 2023
BOE Tries to Move On, But Resistance Continues “They’re presenting this as a done deal. This is anything but a done deal. It’s up to us to keep the pressure on,” said the father of a Princeton High School (PHS) student speaking at Monday’s rally at PHS to a spirited crowd of about 170 parents and students supporting Frank Chmiel, who last Friday, March 17 was replaced as PHS principal. Meanwhile Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Superintendent Carol Kelley and the Board of Education (BOE), obviously seeing the ouster of Chmiel as a done deal, were moving on, with a Monday afternoon announcement that Kathie Foster would be recommended at last night’s BOE meeting for appointment as the PHS interim principal through the remainder of the school year. Last night’s regularly scheduled meeting of the BOE, taking place on Zoom after press time, promised to bring the conflicting camps into direct confrontation, though little movement in their conflicting positions was anticipated. The first hour of the meeting, from 6 to 7 p.m., was to be devoted to public commentary. Then, after the Board conducted
its regularly scheduled business, there would be the opportunity for further public commentary. Based on the response displayed at Monday’s rally and in public media, many speakers at last night’s Zoom meeting were expected to support Chmiel and denounce the actions of the BOE and superintendent. The BOE, it was anticipated, would mainly listen and probably reiterate the statement issued by Kelley earlier in the
day that despite its “sincere goal to lead with transparency, some situations limit the information that can be provided because of the privacy rights of others.” Kelley’s statement went on say, “What we can share is that when top leadership changes are made, Human Resources, the Board, and I consider every option to ensure teaching and learning experiences remain intact for all students and staff. We want to assure you that we made this decision after considerable thought and discussion.”
At a meeting held last Saturday by the municipality to discuss the future of the Tennent/Roberts/Whiteley campus of Princeton Theological Seminary, residents of the neighborhood surrounding the Seminary gathered at the municipal building to hear about the redevelopment process and air some of their concerns. The Seminary had originally considered building new student apartments at Continued on Page 12 the site, which was designated an area in need of redevelopment in October 2018. But the plans for student apartments were withdrawn by the Seminary in the The Princeton University men’s bas- different fashion to reach the Sweet 16 in fall of 2019. Last year, three early 20th ketball team is still dancing after winning the NCAA tournament. The 15th-seeded century buildings considered beyond two straight games to start the NCAA Tigers relied on a determined defensive restoring were torn down. The Seminary tournament. effort to rally late past second-seeded still owns the property. Developer JaThat hasn’t happened since Tiger fans Arizona for a 59-55 victory in their South mie Herring of Herring Properties is the were dancing in 1965 to the No. 1 song Region first-round game last Thursday in contract purchaser. Herring has said he Sacramento, Calif. “My Girl,” by the Temptations. envisions multi-family housing, including Two days later, Princeton enjoyed one affordable units, on the site. “I feel like these guys; it’s unbelievable,” said Princeton head coach Mitch of their better shooting performances, goAfter being introduced by Princeton’s Henderson, reflecting on his squad’s stun- ing 27-of-62 from the floor with 12 threePlanning Director Justin Lesko, Steven pointers, and led wire-to-wire for a 78-63 ning run. G. Mlenak of the law firm Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis, and planner James Princeton won a pair of games in win over seventh-seeded Missouri in a Continued on Page 10 T. Kyle of Kyle + McManus Associates stressed that the meeting was to hear concerns, not to make any decisions. Mlenak gave a brief legal overview of the redevelopment process, which provides greater opportunities for community participation and control over the site plan, as well as the ability for the town to negotiate benefits for the neighborhood, he said. Several people took to the microphone to ask questions and air concerns. Elm Road resident Jennifer Widner was among those to ask if saving existing trees was part of the redevelopment plan. Lynn Durkee of Springdale Road asked about impervious coverage, and was assured by Kyle that stormwater management and control are priorities. Jessica Vieira, who lives in a house on Stockton Street designed by noted 19th century builder Charles Steadman, said she worries about the aesthetics of what could be built. “I’m all for affordable and mixed-use and I think that’s all wonderful, but let’s remember what is in keeping” with the Books • Vintage Books • Foreign Language historic neighborhood, she Rare said, adding that owners of historic homes pay “WE WANT CHMIEL!”: Books About 170 demonstrators — students and parents — at Princeton High School (PHS) on more than those who own more con- Beautiful Monday afternoon called on the Princeton Art and Design Books Public Schools Board and superintendent to rescind their decision to temporary homes to maintain them. replace Frank Chmiel as PHS principal. (Photo by Charles R. Plohn)
Producing Stunning NCAA Run, PU Men’s Hoops Makes Sweet 16
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