Volume LXXI, Number 28
Summer Wellness Starts on Page 11 Do Something Club Makes a Difference . . . . 5 Neighborhood Dedicated to Community . . . . . . . 7 Student Film Festival at Public Library . . . . . . 20 Brentano String Quartet Returns to PU . . . . . . 21 PU’s Andersen Headed to Women’s Lacrosse World Cup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Barratt Selected in NHL Draft . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
www.towntopics.com
Council Casts Votes In Favor of Measures On Group Home and More Improvements to Princeton Public Library, a new group home, and a possible revival of efforts to ease traffic woes on U.S. 1 were among the topics at Princeton Council’s meeting Monday evening, July 10. The governing body voted on several ordinances and resolutions. A bond ordinance appropriating $275,000 for improvements to the library was voted in unanimously. But before casting her vote, Councilwoman Jo Butler expressed reluctance. “I don’t think we’ve had the appropriate discussions that ought to take place about surveillance at the library,” she said, adding that she would support the measure in order to hasten other needed work in the building. “But I do think it’s a mistake,” she said. The acquisition of a parking lot on Franklin Avenue, which has been used for construction vehicles during the building of Princeton University’s Merwick Stanworth housing complex on Route 206 Continued on Page 10
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Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Optimism Grows for Veblen Buildings’ Future The fate of the house and cottage formerly owned by the renowned mathematician Oscar Veblen and his wife, still standing in Princeton’s Herrontown Woods nature preserve, continues to hang in the balance. Mercer County, which owns the buildings, “is still contemplating demolition,” but the administration, according to Mercer County Deputy Director of Communications Michael Boonin, “is still internally discussing the Veblen matter.” The Friends of Herrontown Woods (FOHW) preservation group is hopeful that they will be able to take over the property and make needed repairs, and the town of Princeton wants to work with them to help find a resolution to the standoff between FOHW and county officials. “We’ve tried to assist the group by meeting with both parties,” said Princeton Administrator Marc Dashield. “We hope there will be a happy resolution.” The County Park Commission recently rejected all bids for demolition but has requested additional bids. FOHW President Steve Hiltner is optimistic that the rejection of those bids was an indicator that demolition is on hold, but Princeton Mayor
Liz Lempert cautioned against undue optimism. “Publicly owned structures can’t just be handed over to a private group,” she said. “The way forward is complicated.” She continued to affirm the town’s support for FOHW in “trying to see if we can find a way forward. FOHW is one of Princeton’s great volunteer groups. We
appreciate all they’ve done already. It’s a great area and a great place to go walking.” Mr. Hiltner stated that the FOHW continues to communicate with the mayor and town council members and “that there is potential for FOHW and the town to find a way to move forward.” Continued on Page 10
After First Day of “Summer of Hell,” Commuters Are Pleasantly Surprised On day two yesterday of the predicted “summer of hell,” with two months of major infrastructure repairs underway at Penn Station in New York, Princeton Junction commuters were calm, pleasantly surprised so far and even, perhaps, hopeful. Despite numerous problems and delays earlier in the summer and warnings of even more serious disruptions beginning Monday, July 10, service on Tuesday morning and Monday seemed to run smoothly, and most trains were running on time.
“Best day of the summer,” said Andy Haughwout of West Windsor, describing his Monday commute as he boarded the 7:45 a.m. New York-bound train again on Tuesday. “On time at both ends, departing and arriving.” David Drosdick of Princeton described himself as “cautiously optimistic” and attributed some of New Jersey Transit’s success this week to low expectations. “Under-promise and over-deliver was our company motto,” said the Motorola engineer who commutes to Brooklyn. “If you Continued on Page 4
Marking Henry David Thoreau’s 200th Birthday . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 21 Cinema . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Classified Ads. . . . . . . 30 Clubs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Music/Theater . . . . . . 20 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 29 Police Blotter . . . . . . . 10 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 30 Religion . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Service Directory . . . . 28 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . . 6
POTLUCK: The annual summer picnic in the Cuyler/Dempsey Avenue section of Princeton is just one of the regular events that have been bringing neighbors together for decades. This year’s party, held last month, was an unofficial sendoff for Judy Koubek and Luke Hilgendorff, longtime residents who are moving to Chicago. See page 7 for more about the neighborhood and its residents. (Photo Courtesy of Rekha Arapurakal)
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