The Princeton Packet

01/27/2025

HIRING COMPANIES WANTED: Join The Sun Newspapers at our next Job Fair Friday, February 28, 2025 at Quaker Bridge Mall from 10-2. For more information on how to get involved, email us at [email protected] before February 21st.

If you are interested in attending this event as a job seeker, pre-register at CJjob25.eventbrite.com

01/25/2025

The Montgomery Township Police Department welcomed three new police officers, including one who grew up in the township.

Police officers Piper Ford and Vanessa Hunter graduated from the Cape May County Police Academy on Jan. 10 and have begun their field training program. They have been assigned to patrol with veteran police officers, who will offer guidance to them.

Police officer Garrett Stratton was sworn into office as a probationary patrolman at the Montgomery Township Committee's Dec. 19 meeting. He transferred to the department from the South Toms River Police Department.

Ford grew up in Montgomery Township and graduated from Montgomery High School in 2019. She earned an associate of arts degree in criminal justice from Mercer County Community College in 2021.

Ford enlisted in the New Jersey Army National Guard after high school graduation in 2019, and holds the rank of sergeant.

The Montgomery Township Police Department welcomed three new police officers, including one who grew up in the township.Police officers Piper Ford and Vanes

01/24/2025

DON'T FORGET! Are you looking to learn about new health and wellness opportunities in the new year? Join Donnelly.Media at our Health & Wellness Fair TOMORROW, January 25 from 11-3 at Quaker Bridge Mall. There will be many great local businesses and resources available for the community, including our Silver Sponsor, NJ Relay. Pre-registration requested at CJhealth25.eventbrite.com

01/24/2025

The American Red Cross needs the help of New Jerseyans. There is great need for blood and platelet donations during January, National Blood Donor Month.

"Currently, the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years," said Kim Goetz, executive director of the American Red Cross of Central New Jersey. "And when fewer people donate blood, even small disruptions to blood donations – like recent winter weather systems – can have a huge effect on the availability of blood products and dramatic consequences for those in need of emergency blood transfusion."

Winter, a time when weather can be a factor in traveling to donate blood, coupled with cold and flu season that keeps people at home, poses a challenge to blood donations. Central New Jersey is home to the Llura Gund Central New Jersey Headquarters and Blood Donation Center in Princeton.

The American Red Cross needs the help of New Jerseyans. There is great need for blood and platelet donations during January, National Blood Donor Month. "Cu

01/21/2025

A Sycamore Road resident was scammed out of money after being contacted by a person who pretended to be a police officer from an unknown police department, according to the Princeton Police Department.

The suspect contacted the victim on Jan. 9 and told the victim that their personal information had been linked to criminal activity in various countries, police said.

The suspect allegedly talked the victim into sending a wire transfer for $65,500 to prevent their financial accounts from being frozen by the government, police said.

The victim wired the money to the suspect and suffered a monetary loss in the incident, which was reported Jan. 10.

A Sycamore Road resident was scammed out of money after being contacted by a person who pretended to be a police officer from an unknown police department, acco

01/20/2025

Join Central Jersey Newspapers for our Health & Wellness Fair at Quaker Bridge Mall THIS SATURDAY, January 25 from 11-3 to learn about local health and wellness opportunities available in 2025. Pre-register for this FREE event at CJhealth25.eventbrite.com.

Are you interested in last minute sponsor or vendor opportunities at this event? Email us at [email protected] for more information today! There are limited spaces remaining.

01/18/2025

The fourth bond referendum in eight years, potentially totaling as much as $89.1 million, will be decided by Princeton voters in a special election Jan. 28.

The bond referendum, which is divided into three questions, asks voters to approve spending up to $89.1 million for renovations and expansions to four of the six schools in the Princeton Public Schools. The State of New Jersey will pick up part of the tab for debt service.

The three previous bond referendums in 2018, 2022 and 2023 totaled $57.3 million. The State of New Jersey picked up part of the tab for debt service for each one.

If all three questions are approved by voters later this month, voters will have approved spending a total of $146.4 million in eight years.

In 2018, voters approved spending $26.9 million for upgrades to safety, security and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in the six schools.

The fourth bond referendum in eight years, potentially totaling as much as $89.1 million, will be decided by Princeton voters in a special election Jan. 28.

01/16/2025

Join Central Jersey Newspapers for our Health & Wellness Fair at Quaker Bridge Mall on Saturday, January 25 from 11-3 to learn about local health and wellness opportunities available in 2025. Pre-register for this FREE event at CJhealth25.eventbrite.com.

Are you interested in sponsor or vendor opportunities at this event? Email us at [email protected] for more information today! There are limited spaces remaining.

01/14/2025

Join Central Jersey Newspapers for our Invest in Yourself event at MarketFair THIS SATURDAY, January 18 from 11-3 for an afternoon of learning how to improve your physical, mental, financial, and personal wellness in 2025. Pre-register for this FREE event at Invest25.eventbrite.com.

Are you interested in last minute sponsor or vendor opportunities at this event? Email us at [email protected] for more information today!

01/13/2025

A 45-year-old Maple Shade woman was charged with criminal trespass and criminal mischief after police responded to a report of a person inside the victim's home on Lawrenceville Road Jan. 5. The woman was processed and released.

Cash and credit cards were reported stolen from a Meadowbrook Drive home in a burglary that was reported Jan. 5. The victim's vehicle, which was parked inside the garage, also was entered.

A thief stole a package, whose value is unknown, from the front porch of a Wiggins Street home. The theft was reported Jan. 5.

A 45-year-old Maple Shade woman was charged with criminal trespass and criminal mischief after police responded to a report of a person inside the victim's home

01/11/2025

Photo by Lea Kahn/Staff Historic reenactors fire off several volleys before setting off on the two-mile march during annual reenactment.

A hardy band of marchers commemorated the 63rd annual Col. Edward Hand Historic March on a cold and windy Saturday morning, exactly 247 years and two days after the American soldiers delayed British and Hessian troops on their way to the Second Battle of Trenton on Jan. 2, 1777.

The annual march, which was held Jan. 4, started at the Lawrence Township Municipal Building and ended at the banks of the Shabakunk Creek on the Notre Dame High School campus.

The event is a reenactment of the American soldiers' delaying tactics as they held off the British and Hessian troops from reaching Trenton to retake it from Gen. George Washington's army, which had occupied Trenton.

Photo by Lea Kahn/StaffHistoric reenactors fire off several volleys before setting off on the two-mile march during annual reenactment.A hardy band of march

01/11/2025

Photo Courtesy of Gary LehmanAn osprey returns to its nest.

Courtesy of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Fish & Wildlife

The bald eagle and osprey have been removed from the state's list of endangered species.

This has been a culmination of more than 40 years of work to restore these iconic birds to New Jersey's landscape, Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette said.

The Murphy Administration adopted regulatory changes on Jan. 6. The delisting of eagles and ospreys is contained within a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as a rule through publication in the New Jersey Register. The adopted rule makes more than 100 additions, deletions and conservation status updates. The status of the bald eagle has changed from endangered to special concern, and the osprey from threatened to stable.
&Wildlife

Photo Courtesy of Gary LehmanAn osprey returns to its nest.Courtesy of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Fish & WildlifeThe bal

01/10/2025

New inclusive playground equipment for Barbara Smoyer Memorial Park will soon be on its way.

The Princeton Council awarded a contract for $178,626 to Ben Shaffer Recreation to replace the playground equipment at the park, off Snowden Lane near Herrontown Road.

The new playground equipment will be similar to the inclusive playground equipment installed at Hilltop Park in 2023. Hilltop Park is on Bunn Drive.

Inclusive playground equipment is designed to appeal to - and to be used by - children with different abilities, ages and interests.

A second contract for $69,218 also was awarded to Ben Shaffer Recreation to replace the wood mulch surfacing under the playground equipment with poured-in-place rubber surfacing.

Funding for the playground equipment and rubber surfacing has been made available through the Mercer at Play matching grant and a grant from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

New inclusive playground equipment for Barbara Smoyer Memorial Park will soon be on its way.The Princeton Council awarded a contract for $178,626 to Ben Sha

01/10/2025

Six Princeton Police Department police officers entered a pivotal point in their careers as they received promotions in a ceremonial swearing-in at a recent Princeton Council meeting.

Police Corporals Eric Dawson, Craig Humble and Darwin Kieffer were sworn in as police sergeants, and police officers Dashawn Cribb, Dan Ehnstrom and Steve Lattin were sworn in as police corporals.

Police Chief Christopher Tash said their promotions were the culmination of years of unwavering dedication to the Princeton Police Department and to the Princeton community.

"The officers' journey to this point reflects their perseverance, commitment and professionalism that defines the men and women of our department. I cannot be more proud of them," Tash said.

The six police officers are fully prepared to embrace the new challenges and responsibilities that come with their promotions, he said.

Six Princeton Police Department police officers entered a pivotal point in their careers as they received promotions in a ceremonial swearing-in at a recent Pri

01/08/2025

VENDORS & SPONSORS WANTED: Join Central Jersey Newspapers at our Health & Wellness Fair at Quaker Bridge Mall from 11-3 on Saturday, January 25. We are looking for businesses seeking to improve all facets of wellness within our local community in the new year.

Email [email protected] for more information. Final deadline is January 15. There are limited spaces available!

If you are interested in attending this FREE event as a guest, pre-register at CJhealth25.eventbrite.com

01/08/2025

A 38-year-old Princeton man was charged with weapons offenses following an investigation into reports of a man with a knife on Clay Street Jan. 1. The man was charged with possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon and defiant trespass. He was processed and taken to the Mercer County Correction Center.

A burglar pried open a vehicle that was parked on Alexander Street Dec. 30 and stole the victim's debit card. The suspect attempted to use it to make a purchase in another town, but it was declined by the victim's bank.

A victim reported that his vehicle was burglarized while it was parked on Mountain Avenue Dec. 29. The burglar took cash and credit cards from the vehicle. The credit cards were used to make several purchases in other towns.

A Highland Terrace home was entered Dec. 28 by burglars who forced open a window to get inside. Police discovered the burglary when they responded to an activated burglar alarm.

A 38-year-old Princeton man was charged with weapons offenses following an investigation into reports of a man with a knife on Clay Street Jan. 1. The man was c

01/06/2025

VENDORS & SPONSORS WANTED: Join Central Jersey Newspapers at the Invest in Yourself: A Health & Wellness Event at MarketFair from 11-3 on Saturday, January 18. We are looking for businesses seeking to improve all facets of wellness within our local community in the new year. Email [email protected] for more information. Final deadline is January 8. There are limited spaces available!

If you are interested in attending this FREE event as a guest, pre-register at Invest25.eventbrite.com