Princeton Packet Opinion

Prioritize child safety in Witherspoon project now

While I appreciate that Witherspoon St is a ‘work in progress’ it also need to be fit-for-purpose in the moment. School is back in session, and 100s of kids are crossing Witherspoon St everyday. The current condition of the road, and in particular crosswalks, is putting their lives in danger. The situation needs urgent action […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

Saving money, helping the climate, aiding justice

by Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation Interested in saving money on home energy bills? How about helping to fight climate change by reducing your carbon footprint? Or ensuring that the New Jersey communities most affected by environmental pollution get justice and help? If so, the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

Migrating birds from the tropics returning to New Jersey

by Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” according to a Chinese proverb. But in the avian world, journeys can last well over a thousand miles – and begin with a flap rather than a step! Each spring, birds known as “neotropical migrants” […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

‘We need both natural lands and playgrounds, sports fields’

In calling for the “preservation” of “half” of New Jersey’s land (https://centraljersey.com/2024/05/06/an-urgent-call-to-preserve-half-of-new-jerseys-land/), Jay Watson and the New Jersey Conservation Foundation are misleading your readers. What they’re including as “preserved land” includes a high portion of playgrounds and sports fields. These are well and good, indeed excellent and much needed, but the article would lead the reader […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

An ‘ode’ to New Jersey’s dragonflies and damselflies

by Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation If you’re near a pond, stream, or marsh on a warm day, you may notice quick-flying insects skimming across the water or swooping and darting through the air. When they alight, you may be dazzled by their brightly-colored bodies and double sets of lacy wings. They’re […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

Depression and suicide risk can intensify in spring and summer

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Intense symptoms for individuals with depression are commonly associated with the winter and holiday season, depression and suicidal thoughts are actually more common in the spring and summer. For example, pressure to socialize when warmer weather makes it more possible may be particularly stressful for individuals with depression, as […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

An urgent call to preserve half of New Jersey’s land

by Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation New Jersey is not only the nation’s most densely populated state, it’s also predicted to be the first to reach full build-out – the point where all land has been either developed or preserved. If current trends continue, full build-out could occur by the middle of […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

Explore D&R Canal State Park during 50th celebration!

by Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation It’s hard to imagine a world in which the fastest way to move freight between Philadelphia and New York City was having mules tow barges along a 70-mile canal connecting the Delaware and Raritan rivers. But that world existed when the Delaware & Raritan Canal opened […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

The ‘Ivy League’ look is unhealthy for your trees!

by Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation While out walking or driving, did you ever notice trees so covered with ivy that they look like totally different life forms? In a way they are – because if the ivy continues to grow unchecked, the trees themselves might not live much longer. Trees laden […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

Warmer winters shift plant growing zones

by Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation Most longtime New Jerseyans – especially gardeners and growers – have noticed that winters have gotten milder over the last few decades. Cold weather seems to arrive later, and the Garden State gets fewer days of truly frigid, bone-chilling weather. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

Shy, elusive bobcats rebounding in New Jersey

by Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation You might think a biologist who’s spent nearly two decades researching bobcats in New Jersey would spot these native wildcats on a regular basis. If so, you’d be wrong! “For me, without cheating (by tracking a bobcat wearing a radio collar), I think I’ve seen a […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

Can New Jersey cities become more ‘spongy’ and green?

by Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation Ever heard of a “sponge city?” Sponge cities are urban areas with a superior ability to absorb rainfall and prevent flooding, thanks to abundant natural features like trees, lakes, and parks – and good infrastructure design. As climate change brings warmer temperatures, and stronger and more […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

Thank this New Jersey woman for your blueberries!

by Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation Walk into nearly any grocery store, any time of year, and you’ll likely find fresh blueberries in the produce aisle. Many consider them a perfect fruit … sweet and juicy, delicious fresh or cooked, and packed with health-boosting antioxidants. If you’re among the many who love […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

Winter’s sounds of silence soon to be broken

by Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation Winter is the northeast’s quiet season, when songbirds go south, many animals hibernate, and people spend more time indoors. On the increasingly rare occasions when a blanket of snow covers the landscape, New Jersey is as silent as it can get, with even our constant drone […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

‘Making the impossible happen’

Thanks to Mimi Omiecinski’s community-building efforts, Pi Day, with its Einstein contest and family fun, has become an annual frolic. A less visible benefit is the partnership that Pi Day fosters between iconic institutions that enables food systems literacy programs for students at Princeton Public Schools (PPS). Each year, proprietors Jen Carson of Lillipies bakery […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

The many benefits of preserved green space

by Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation It’s easy to take lands in their natural state for granted. An old forest or beautiful meadow in your town may have “always been there,” but unless the land has been permanently preserved, it may be built upon in the future. New Jerseyans seem to understand […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

Our Future Depends on Affordable Housing — New Jersey Has Opportunity to Lead The Way

As housing prices have skyrocketed in recent years, the shortage of affordable homes is making life impossible for hard-working families, hurting both low-income families and the middle class. In New Jersey, one in four families spends half or more of their income on their rent or mortgage — often forced to choose between paying for […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

Migratory animals face sharp declines: New U.N. report

by Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation Every year, billions of the world’s animals make incredible journeys over land and sea to breed and find food. Some of these species – including songbirds, shorebirds, raptors, whales, sharks, sea turtles, fish, and monarch butterflies – travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to reach […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

Hopes soar as New Jersey’s bald eagle population grows

by Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation As thick snow fell on central New Jersey earlier this week, the bald eagle pair at Duke Farms in Hillsborough showed themselves to be responsible parents-to-be, taking turns keeping the two eggs in their nest warm while the other hunted. When it came time for a […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

Breaking down barriers to enjoying nature

by Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation In an ideal New Jersey, all residents would have equal access to the outdoors and nature, with the joy and health benefits they bring. Unfortunately, there are barriers – some real, some perceived – keeping people out, especially in communities of color. One obvious barrier is […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

Wharton State Forest plan to control illegal motor vehicle damage is a welcome step!

by Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation New Jersey’s largest protected property, Wharton State Forest in the Pine Barrens, covers 195 square miles in Atlantic, Burlington and Camden counties. For perspective, it’s bigger than the entire land mass of Hudson County! Wharton is crossed by hundreds of miles of avenues used by motor vehicles, everything from highways to […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

‘How could such a thing happen’

The Municipal Council eliminated Princeton’s Civil Rights Commission and Affordable Housing Board on Jan. 22. They are to become part of a new committee that will lack even the minimal authority of the current groups. The new committee will not be permitted to even discuss a subject without the permission of council. Council resisted the […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

Does looking for weird ducks make you an odd duck?

By Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director of New Jersey Conservation Foundation If we say someone’s an “odd duck,” it means they have a quirky personality or unusual habits. The expression comes from the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, “The Ugly Duckling,” in which (spoiler alert!) the little duck who doesn’t fit in with the rest of […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

It’s past time to start respecting Earth’s boundaries!

by Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation We all have personal boundaries, the limits and rules we set for our relationships. When others don’t respect our boundaries, there can be trouble! People aren’t the only ones with boundaries. Mother Earth also has boundaries – the complex systems and processes that keep the planet […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

‘We must work together’

I have served for six years on the Human Services Commission (HSC), three of them as their chair. I am writing this letter to oppose the new ordinance for the consolidation of the BCCs (boards and commissions) into the Community Services Advisory Committee. The main argument for the BCC consolidation is that the current structure […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

The Importance of Parental Acceptance When an LGBTQ Child Comes Out

By Nina Narang, MSW, LSW Even when teens have come out to their peers about their sexuality or gender identity, it may be harder for them to tell their parents. Having the acceptance and support of their parents can make a big difference in how they feel about themselves. However, when a child comes out, it […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

Gov. Murphy disappoints with veto of invasive species bill

by Jay Watson, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation Spring is months away, but as warmer weather arrives we can expect a familiar sight at garden centers and nurseries in New Jersey: a wide offering of non-native woody plants and perennials from foreign landscapes. These plants may be attractive, with blooms or fall colors that […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

Resident shares concerns of consolidation of Princeton’s Civil Rights Commission

As someone with experience working with the Municipality of Princeton’s Civil Rights Commission, both in the capacity of formerly chairing the municipal Youth Advisory Committee and serving as a board member for Not in Our Town Princeton, I understand the importance of the Civil Rights Commission’s contributions to local justice-oriented efforts. On Jan. 8th, the […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

NIOT: Princeton Civil Rights Commission is a key resource

The board of Not in Our Town Princeton (NIOT) strongly opposes Princeton Town Council’s proposed ordinance to merge the Civil Rights Commission (CRC) with the Affordable Housing Board and the Human Services Commission. We urge Council to withdraw this proposal, or at minimum, postpone the vote in order to allow for discussion with the three bodies and input from […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

2023 New Jersey environmental highlights: Urban greening, land preservation, flood protection

by Tom Gilbert, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation No matter where you were in New Jersey in 2023, it was impossible not to notice signs of a changing climate. Wildfires in Canada brought an orange haze to New Jersey’s skies, along with hazardous air quality that triggered breathing problems. Tropical weather systems brought intense […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

‘Harmony would come at the expense of representation’

I am dismayed by the proposed consolidation of three key municipal Boards and Commissions (BCCs) that have contributed to improving the lives of our most underserved residents: the Human Services Commission, the Affordable Housing Board and the Civil Rights Commission. This proposal (Ordinance 2024-01 introduced by Council on Monday, Jan. 8) was brought out without notice or input from the members of the advisory groups in question. I fear it could […]

Princeton Packet Opinion

Celebrating 50 years of protecting endangered animals

by Alison Mitchell, Co-Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation Here in the nation’s most densely populated state, a diversity of wildlife is something that can never be taken for granted. Wildlife habitats face a constant barrage of threats, and many species are seriously imperiled. A combination of vigilance, sound planning and strong actions is needed to maintain the biological […]