Princeton Today: Hello Dalai

dalai lama PrincetonHis Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, will visit Princeton University today to give a public talk and meet with students and faculty to discuss the meaning of service.

The Dalai Lama will give the talk “Develop the Heart” at 9:30 a.m. at Jadwin Gymnasium. He will highlight the importance of developing compassion and kindness, alongside the intellect, in an academic environment.

Free tickets for the event were snapped up by the public in just a few minutes via an online ticketing system. Members of the public had a second chance to receive tickets in a lottery last week.

If you didn’t get a ticket, you can still watch via Princeton University’s live webcast. The Princeton Public Library will broadcast the event in the community room beginning at 9:30 a.m. Princeton University will also live stream the Dalai Lama’s afternoon discussion with students at 1:30 p.m.

The Dalai Lama’s visit is co-sponsored by the Office of Religious Life at Princeton University and The Kalmyk Three Jewels Foundation.

WEATHER

Sunny with a high of 76.

EVENTS TODAY

If It Grows, It Goes – Panel Discussion with the Coalition of Sustainable Municipalities in Mercer County on topics like curbside organics programs, aggregate energy purchase, single-use plastic bags bans, and buy local campaigns. Light refreshments. Dempster Fire Center Auditorium, 35o Lawrence Station Road. 7 p.m. Free.

Screening of “The Last Laugh” – F.W. Munau’s 1924 silent classic is about an aging doorman (Emil Jannings) who is unceremoniously demoted after decades of service. A bold experiment for its time, the story is told visually with almost no subtitles. Alfred Hitchcock was deeply influenced by the time he spent in Germany, by the German Expressionists and particularly by Murnau’s film. 7:30 p.m. Princeton Public Library Community Room. Free.

International Folk Dance with Princeton Folk Dance – Ethnic dances of many countries using original music. Beginners welcome. Lesson followed by dance, no partner needed.Kristina Johnson Pop-Up Studio, Princeton Shopping Center. 7:30 p.m. Admission  $5.

 COMMUTE

Bank St. in Princeton will be closed today, Oct. 28-Nov. 1 due to construction.

Route 518 between Canal Road and Carroll Place is down to one lane, with alternating traffic weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The speed limit in the construction area has been reduced to 35 miles per hour. Starting Nov. 10, the road will be closed with a detour in place. Starting Nov. 24, the road will be closed with a detour weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The work is part of a long-term project that will be completed by the end of 2015. Delays should be expected. Motorists should exercise extra caution in the area and follow posted detours during times of closure.

Starting on Oct. 31, Somerset County will be repaving portions of South Middlebush Road., Amwell Road., and Weston Canal Road. These will be nighttime paving projects and the roadways will remain open with an alternating traffic pattern. It is anticipated that the work will take less than 2 weeks to complete. Project areas are as follows: South Middlebush Road: Between Blackwells Mills Road and Buffa Drive; Amwell Road: Between Elizabeth Avenue and Millstone River Road in Millstone; Weston Canal Road: Between Cottontail Lane and South Main Street in Manville. Use caution driving in these areas and expect possible delays.