Volume LXX, Number 44
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Residents Pose Questions To Kean University President About Graves Property Plans
PHS Graduate Choreographs Piece for Pennsylvania Ballet . . 27 Princeton Pro Musica Opens Season with Haydn Mass . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 PSRC Hosts Caregiving Conference . . . . . . . . 18 PU Football Primed for Pivotal Ivy Clash Against Penn . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 PHS Boys’ Cross Country Cruises to 1st County Crown Since 1992 . . . 35
Tricks and Treats With Emily Brontë . . . . . . . 16 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 31 Cinema . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Classified Ads. . . . . . . 43 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Music/Theater . . . . . . 26 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 41 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 43 Religion . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Service Directory . . . . 42 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Discover Bucks County Pages 20-22
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
PBS Plans “Robust Archeological Investigation”
The Princeton Battlefield Society (PBS), with a grant from the American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) and guidance from archeologist Wade Catts and historian Bob Selig, is preparing to launch an extensive investigation of property that may contain a mass grave, located on the north side of Mercer Road behind the iconic colonnade. According to the PBS, an earlier ABPP grant, for which Mr. Catts and Mr. Selig were also consultants, led to the discovery of considerable new information and the realization that the D’Ambrisi property, which is not located in the Battlefield Historic District, actually played a significant role in the Battle of Princeton. The PBS, along with Green Acres, the Municipality of Princeton, Friends of Princeton Open Space, and the Civil War Trust, arranged to purchase property from the D’Ambrisi family almost two years ago, and is currently in the process of purchasing additional property nearby. The current ABPP grant, according to PBS vice president Kip Cherry, calls for “a robust
archeological investigation, detailed historical research using original documents and careful interpretation, GIS mapping, laboratory work on artifacts that may be found,” and preparation of a final report that may lead to applications for annexing the site to national and local historic districts. The PBS, researchers, and more than 40 local archeology volunteers are await-
ing a special use permit from the state before proceeding. Ms. Cherry said that the date for archeology day, a day of intensive work by volunteers under the supervision of experts, will be announced soon and will probably take place later this month. Mr. Catts suggested that two “anomalies” that have been discovered underground by ground penetrating radar “bear Continued on Page 8
Sustainability at Princeton University: Looking Back, Looking to the Future As Princeton University recently recast its motto from “in the nation’s service” to “in the nation’s service and the service of humanity,” Sustainability Office Founding Director Shana Weber noted that the University’s “focus on the ethos of service aligns perfectly with the objective of sustainability. It’s all part of the same desire for healthy systems for people and planets.” Princeton University last month celebrated the tenth anniversary of its Office
of Sustainability, which “supports, monitors, and connects initiatives across campus focused on cultivating positive global and local impacts in the environment.” As she looked ahead to the coming decade, Ms. Weber wondered, ”What are the local, regional, and global impacts we can have, given our strengths?” In accordance with its sustainability plan developed in 2008, the University has reduced waste and resource use, Continued on Page 11
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Good Grief Organization Purchases Princeton Headquarters . . . . . . . . 9
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Halloween in Princeton . . . . . . . . . . 23
A driving rain didn’t keep residents of the neighborhood surrounding the Patton Avenue home of late architect Michael Graves from attending a meeting last Thursday evening about the future of the property. Dawood Farahi, president of Kean University, told neighbors that the three buildings, which Kean University purchased for $20 from the Graves estate, will remain much as they are. Mr. Graves, who died in March 2015, had willed the property known as The Warehouse to Princeton University, where he taught for 39 years. But the school rejected the gift because of maintenance and preservation costs. Kean, where Mr. Graves spent time during his last years helping to create an architecture department, was deemed the next-best recipient. “We will work with you in any way we can to ensure your neighborhood remains the same,” Mr. Farahi said. “We will do everything we can to maintain the beauty and privacy and anything else you’re used to in this beautiful neighborhood.” The meeting was held in a tent outside The Warehouse, which Mr. Graves converted to his home and studio from a storage facility built by Italian stonemasons. Residents, who were offered hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and Kean tote bags, listened politely to Mr. Farahi and watched a promotional video about the Union, New-Jersey based school. But once the floor was opened, some pointed questions were asked about just how the property will be used. “We’re thinking about 10 years down the road,” said Scott Sillars, who had
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Daylight Saving Time ends this Sunday at 2 a.m. Turn clocks back one hour.
REVERSAL OF FORTUNE: Members of the Princeton Day School field hockey team celebrate after they defeated Stuart Country Day 2-0 in the state Prep B championship game last Sunday. It marked the program’s first state title since taking the Prep A crown in 1998. The triumph gave PDS a final record of 16-4 and culminated an impressive reversal of fortune from 2015 when the squad went 6-13-1. See page 37 for more details on the title game. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
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