The Princeton Packet

04/04/2025

A 67-year-old Plainsboro Township man who allegedly attempted to strangle another man has been charged with aggravated assault and disorderly conduct, according to the Princeton Police Department.

Police officers were dispatched to Thanet Circle on March 29 on the report of a man bleeding in the lobby.

The officers determined that the suspect and the victim had been involved in a verbal dispute that escalated into a physical confrontation.

During the confrontation, the suspect allegedly squeezed the victim's neck for about 10 to 15 seconds in an effort to strangle him, police said.

The suspect was arrested and taken to the Princeton Police Department headquarters to be processed. He was released from custody and given a court date.

A 67-year-old Plainsboro Township man who allegedly attempted to strangle another man has been charged with aggravated assault and disorderly conduct, according

04/04/2025

A Lawrence Township man was killed when his single-engine airplane crashed in a wooded area in Franklin Township on March 30, according to published reports.

The 61-year-old pilot, who was identified as Pankaj Mohan by the Franklin Township Police Department, had left the Princeton Airport in Montgomery Township at 10:35 a.m. His destination was the Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina, according to published reports in TAPintoPrinceton.

A call from air traffic control reported losing contact with the airplane at 11:26 a.m. as it was flying over Franklin Township.

The New Jersey State Police launched an aerial search. The Millstone Valley Fire Department sent out a drone to help locate the missing airplane.

The Federal Aviation Administration provided additional information that helped first responders to locate the airplane in a brushy area near South Middlebush Lane and Hilltop Lane.

When rescuers located the airplane, they found the pilot in the airplane.

A Lawrence Township man was killed when his single-engine airplane crashed in a wooded area in Franklin Township on March 30, according to published reports.

04/04/2025

The New Jersey Senate and Assembly approved a joint resolution proclaiming April 9 as Paul Robeson Day.

The resolution was approved on March 24. Gov. Phil Murphy signed it into law on March 31.

Robeson, who was a scholar, athlete, artist and activist, was born in a three-story house at 110 Witherspoon St. in Princeton on April 9, 1898. The house belonged to the Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church and served as the church manse for its minister.

Robeson's father, the Rev. William Drew Robeson, was a formerly enslaved man who became the pastor of the Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church at 124 Witherspoon St. in Princeton.

Robeson grew up in Princeton and attended Rutgers University. He was the third Black student in the state university's history. He was the graduating class's valedictorian and a two-time All-American football player.

He graduated from Columbia University Law School, but was stymied from pursuing a career as a lawyer because of racism.

The New Jersey Senate and Assembly approved a joint resolution proclaiming April 9 as Paul Robeson Day.The resolution was approved on March 24. Gov. Phil Mu

04/03/2025

The Princeton Fire Department took the center stage at the Princeton Council meeting last month, as the town's first paid fire chief, the fire official and a career firefighter were ceremonially sworn into office.

Ten volunteer firefighters, including Mayor Mark Freda, also were honored for their service.

Freda hit the half-century mark - 50 years - as a member of Princeton Hook & Ladder Co. It is one of three volunteer fire companies that make up the career/volunteer Princeton Fire Department.

Fire Chief Adam Kooker was sworn into office as the Princeton Fire Department's first paid fire chief. He is a third-generation firefighter who grew up in Ocean City. His father was a firefighter and his mother was a nurse and homemaker.

Kooker earned a degree in chemical engineering from Rowan University and a master's degree in business administration from Temple University. He worked as an engineer and manager for petrochemical companies for 12 years.
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The Princeton Fire Department took the center stage at the Princeton Council meeting last month, as the town's first paid fire chief, the fire official and a ca

04/02/2025

The former Westminster Choir College property on Walnut Lane, across the street from Princeton High School, was officially acquired by the Municipality of Princeton on April 1.

The town filed an action for eminent domain in Mercer County Superior Court on Jan. 14. Eminent domain allows the government to take private property for public use and to compensate the owner.

Rider University and the Princeton Theological Seminary, which both claimed ownership of the property, were named as defendants. They filed non-contesting answers, which acknowledged the town's right to take title to the campus.

Rider University, the Princeton Theological Seminary and Princeton agreed to a stipulation March 3 that set the appraised value of the campus at $42 million. An order to approve the town's acquisition of the property for that price was entered two days later.

A declaration of taking was filed with the Mercer County Clerk on April 1.

The former Westminster Choir College property on Walnut Lane, across the street from Princeton High School, was officially acquired by the Municipality of Princ

04/02/2025

A victim reported the theft of her bicycle while it was parked in front of a business on Nassau Street sometime between 4:40 p.m. March 28 and 8:45 a.m. March 29.

The attendant at a gasoline station on Nassau Street was the victim of a theft by deception incident March 29 perpetrated by a suspect who drove up to the gasoline station and asked for $20 worth of gasoline to be put into a red gasoline can. He paid for the gasoline with a $100 bill and received $80 in change. The attendant discovered later that the $100 bill was counterfeit.

A 28-year-old Princeton man whose car left the road and landed in Stony Brook was charged with driving while intoxicated at 1:25 p.m. March 24. The first arriving police officers did not find anyone in the Honda Civic. They found the driver walking along Quaker Road. Following an investigation into the crash, he was also charged with reckless driving, careless driving and failure to maintain lane. He was processed and released.

A victim reported the theft of her bicycle while it was parked in front of a business on Nassau Street sometime between 4:40 p.m. March 28 and 8:45 a.m. March 2

03/31/2025

At the gravesite of former President Grover Cleveland, community members, local officials, and members of the military paid tribute to his legacy and service.

Cleveland, who died in 1908 and is laid to rest in Princeton Cemetery in Princeton, was recognized and celebrated for his integrity, commitment to service and fight against corruption on his birthday on March 18.

"We have buried here in Princeton Cemetery a former president of the United States and the Army is fixed with the responsibility on the occasion of the birthdays of presidents to lay a wreath at their gravesite," said Robert Maguire, civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army (Emeritus) for New Jersey. "And so today is Grover Cleveland's birthday."

"What is noteworthy about Grover Cleveland is that he was praised for his honesty, his self-reliance, his integrity. He relentlessly fought political corruption."

As people watched on and the playing of "Taps" was performed by the 78th Army Band, Maj. Gen.

At the gravesite of former President Grover Cleveland, community members, local officials, and members of the military paid tribute to his legacy and service.

03/29/2025

Princeton Public Schools Business Administrator Matthew Bouldin is resigning to become the new business administrator for the Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School District.

Bouldin's resignation, which is effective June 30, was accepted by the school board at its March 18 meeting.

Bouldin was appointed to his new position by the Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School District's school board at its March 3 meeting. He was given a one-year appointment from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.

The Bergen County school district enrolls about 1,900 students from Franklin Lakes, Oakwood and Wyckoff in two high schools - Ramapo High School and Indian Hills High School.

Princeton school board president Dafna Kendal said she was sad about Bouldin's move to the northern New Jersey school district after six years as the Princeton Public Schools business administrator.

"You were an integral part of planning for several referendums," Kendal said.

Princeton Public Schools Business Administrator Matthew Bouldin is resigning to become the new business administrator for the Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High

03/28/2025

A resident lost $25,000 in a scam that began with multiple text messages from an unknown phone number that claimed there were fraudulent transactions on her bank account, according to the Princeton Police Department.

The woman responded to the text messages and soon received a phone call from a person who pretended to be a bank representative, police said. She was told to wire money to three different account numbers.

She wired the money to the account numbers and lost $25,000 in the incident of theft by deception that was reported on March 11, police said.

A resident lost $25,000 in a scam that began with multiple text messages from an unknown phone number that claimed there were fraudulent transactions on her ban

03/28/2025

A 45-year-old Franklin Township man was arrested on an active warrant for $550 from the Montgomery Township Municipal Court following a motor vehicle stop on Stockton Street March 17. The man was also issued summonses for being an unlicensed driver, driving while his license was suspended, driving with a suspended vehicle registration and not having liability coverage on a motor vehicle. He was processed and turned over to the Montgomery Township Police Department.

Two bicycles were reported missing from a bicycle storage area at the Avalon Princeton apartment building on Albert Way. The thefts, which were reported March 16, occurred between Oct. 5, 2024 and March 10.

Two packages were reported stolen from the front porch of a Park Place home March 14. The packages had a combined value of $155.87.

A victim reported the theft of her wallet from inside her purse while she visited a business on Nassau Street March 12.

A 45-year-old Franklin Township man was arrested on an active warrant for $550 from the Montgomery Township Municipal Court following a motor vehicle stop on St

03/27/2025

Princeton property owners will see a five-cent increase in the school district property tax rate, based on the district's $111.3 million operating budget for the 2025-26 school year.

The tentative budget was approved by the Princeton Public Schools Board of Education at its March 18 meeting by a vote of 8-1. School board member Adam Bierman casted the lone dissenting vote.

The school district property tax rate will increase from $1.26 per $100 of assessed value to $1.31. The assessed value is not the same as the market value, which is the sales price of a property.

The owner of a house assessed at the town average of $844,737 would pay $11,100.25 in school district property taxes, which is a $433.21 increase over the prior property tax bill of $10,667.04.

A Princeton property owner's tax bill includes the school district tax; the municipal property, library and open space taxes; and the Mercer County property and open space taxes.

Princeton property owners will see a five-cent increase in the school district property tax rate, based on the district's $111.3 million operating budget for th

03/26/2025

Two battery-electric school buses will be added to the Princeton Public Schools' bus fleet.

The Princeton Public Schools Board of Education approved the purchase of two 54-passenger Blue Bird electric school buses for $813,069 from Hoover Truck and Bus Centers at its March 18 meeting.

The purchase is being partially funded by a $600,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation's Electric School Bus grant program. The grant award documents are currently being reviewed and finalized by the state agency.

The school board also approved an application for a $100,000 state grant to cover the cost of installing a DC fast-charging station for the two electric school buses at its March 18 meeting.

And lastly, the school board approved the purchase and installation of a 66kw bi-directional DC fast charger for $212,148 from Troller Electric LLC. Officials expect to apply to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities' Clean Fleet grant program for funding.

Two battery-electric school buses will be added to the Princeton Public Schools' bus fleet.The Princeton Public Schools Board of Education approved the purc

03/24/2025

HIRING COMPANIES WANTED: Join Packet Media at our next Job Fair Friday, May 30, 2025 at Quaker Bridge Mall from 10-2. For more information on how to get involved, email us at [email protected] before May 20th.

If you are interested in attending this event as a job seeker, pre-register at CJ2025.eventbrite.com

03/24/2025

Donnelly.Media Employee Spotlight: Meet Lea Kahn, our Reporter for The Princeton Packet, The Lawrence Ledger, and The Cranbury Press/Windsor-Hights Herald! For story ideas in any of these publications, contact Lea at [email protected]

03/23/2025

The Garden State Film Festival returns for its 23rd year from March 27-30.

Among the many films that will screen includes Dedi Felman's short film "Take Good Care," which will be screening on Saturday, March 29 in the 3-5 p.m. block at Asbury Lanes.

Felman grew up in Montgomery Township and is a Montgomery High School graduate. Her mom was a teacher in the district until she retired.

"The film is in many ways a tribute to her ... her boundless curiosity, her tireless energy, and her care of others, even when I didn't totally appreciate it," Felman shared.

"Take Good Care" is a grounded science fiction dramedy. In a world where older people are expected to quietly die at 65, a single-minded scientist (Sophie Rutherford) - desperate for more time to complete her research - needs her long-neglected artist daughter (Wren Rutherford) to take good care of her.

The film stars Molly Hagan as Sophie and Veronica Reyes-How as Wren.

The Garden State Film Festival returns for its 23rd year from March 27-30.Among the many films that will screen includes Dedi Felman's short film "Take Good

03/22/2025

A Ewing Township man was charged with shoplifting for allegedly attempting to steal baby formula at Target Feb. 27. He was processed and released.

A Barnard Place home was burglarized while the homeowners were away on a weekend trip. The rear window and mudroom door were found open. Several rooms had been ransacked. The burglary was reported Feb. 23.

A Hamilton Township man and a Flemington woman were charged with various offenses, including shoplifting, possession of a controlled dangerous substance and receiving stolen property Feb. 21. They allegedly shoplifted items from Dick's Sporting Goods and attempted to flee in a stolen vehicle. A search of the vehicle uncovered stolen merchandise and drug paraphernalia. The woman also allegedly provided a false name to police.

A Trenton man was charged with theft by deception for allegedly attempting to return stolen items for cash at Home Depot on Feb. 18. He was also found to have an active warrant from Ewing Township.

A Ewing Township man was charged with shoplifting for allegedly attempting to steal baby formula at Target Feb. 27. He was processed and released.A Barnard

03/21/2025

The Princeton Council has introduced a bond ordinance for $615,000 for assorted open space-related improvements, including money for the town's planned microforest at Quarry Park.

A public hearing on the bond ordinance is set for the Princeton Council's March 24 meeting.

The bond ordinance earmarks $293,000 for the microforest, as well as for municipal-wide tree removal and tree planting. The microforest is planned for an underutilized grass area in Quarry Park, at the end of Spruce Street. It will consist of many native trees and shrubs.

Also, the bond ordinance includes $124,000 for repairs to Quarry Park and $21,000 for the Mountain Lakes Preserve streambank restoration project.

There is $125,000 in the bond ordinance to replace the fence at Community Park South, and for open space bikeway and pedestrian improvements.

And $52,000 has been set aside for the park and open space signage project.

The Princeton Council has introduced a bond ordinance for $615,000 for assorted open space-related improvements, including money for the town's planned microfor