Princeton Week in Review: Local Burglary Suspect Arrested and More

A New Brunswick man was arrested on June 8 in connection with a series of nightime burglaries in South Brunswick, Princeton Borough and surrounding communities in both Mercer and Middlesex Counties, according to Princeton Borough Police. Walter Lee Hastings, 50, was arrested at the Howard Johnson Express hotel located on Rt. 1 in New Brunswick, his last known address. As of Monday morning, he was being held in the Middlesex County Correctional Facility in lieu of $160,000 bail. 

Superintendent Judy Wilson and PRS Board member Andrea Spalla joined more than three dozen leaders in education, parents, and advocates at a state Board of Education meeting in Trenton on Wednesday (June 6) to voice their opposition to proposed changes in charter school regulations. The state's proposal, submitted by acting education commissioner Christopher Cerf, signals sweeping changes to state oversight of for-profit schools, potentially opening the door to the rapid -- and largely unregulated -- expansion of virtual charters in New Jersey.

A new report says local arts and culture efforts generate more than $51 million in economic activity and supports 2,097 jobs. A national arts and economic prosperity study shows that Princeton’s arts and culture industry generated $51.3 million in total economic activity, supported 2,907 full time equivalent jobs and delivered $5.6 million in local and state revenue in taxes and fees in 2011.

Princeton Borough Police Chief David Dudeck is the only police chief between both Princeton Borough and Princeton Township, but simply appointing him chief of a consolidated Princeton may not be a done deal. Princeton's two police unions have sent a joint letter requesting a process for appointing a police chief in a consolidated Princeton. The letter from the officers of both police departments asks for a process that would allow anyone with the rank of lieutenant, captain or chief be allowed to apply for chief, Borough Administrator Robert Bruschi said. 

U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ-12) and Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ-11) announced on Wednesday at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation to restore $76 million in funding for fusion energy research. “Fusion research is key to America’s energy future, and we are proud to have this important work in New Jersey,” said Holt, who was the assistant director of the PPPL before his election to Congress.

The Princeton Education Foundation presented a check for $113,500 to Princeton's Board of Education on Tuesday. The money will go towards technology, music and vocal equipment in the four Princeton elementary schools. 

As a 16-year-old girl growing up and attending Princeton High School in the winter of 1964, Lesley Bush wasn't sure how many people knew her in her own hometown. By the end of 1964, Bush made sure no one would forget her. Bush won the gold medal in platform diving in the Tokyo Olympics in 1964. Now, 48 years later, Bush is still remembered. She was among a dozen former Olympic athletes honored before a Lakewood Blueclaws game on Wednesday, June 13.

Authorities are seeking the public's assistance in locating a missing 5-year-old boy who authorities say was abducted by his maternal grandfather in West Windsor Township Friday night. The boy, David Lundy, was taken in front of the Windsor Woods Apartment Complex, 465 Meadow Road in West Windsor around 6:30 p.m, authorities said. He is described as a light-skinned African American boy, about 3 feet 4 inches tall, 55 pounds and has short, sandy hair, police said in an alert. He was last seen wearing a white shirt and green cargo shorts.