Volume LXXVI, Number 1
Senior Living Special Pages 18-19 Riverside Residents Honor Longtime Mail Carrier . . 5 Historical Society Reopens Updike Farmstead Museum . . . . . . . . . . 10 Princeton Perks is Win-WinWin For Schools, Shoppers, Businesses . . . . . . . . . 11 Chen Enjoys Superb Ivy Debut as PU Women’s Hoops Tops Harvard . . 24 PDS Boys’ Hockey Primed For Stretch Drive in Gordon Conference Play . . . . . . 27
Hervé Le Tellier’s International Bestseller Shares the Book Review With a Flaubert Classic . . . . . 16 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 22 Classified Ads . . . . . . 32 Education & Recreation . . 3 Local Treasures . . . . . . 9 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 13 New To Us . . . . . . . . . 23 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 31 Performing Arts . . . . . 17 Police Blotter . . . . . . . . 8 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 32 Service Directory . . . . 33 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . 6
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Dijkgraaf Departs IAS Ahead of Schedule For Cabinet Appointment Robbert Dijkgraaf, director and Leon Levy professor of the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), will leave the IAS sooner than originally planned thanks to his nomination to the cabinet of Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Starting January 10, Dijkgraaf is “intended” to serve as minister of education, culture, and science for Rutte, who represents D66, the social-liberal party of the Netherlands, according to a press release from the IAS. In this capacity, Dijkgraaf will be responsible for the ministry’s mission of ensuring “a knowledgeable, skilled, and cultured country,” the release reads. “His focus will include, in particular, higher education, research, and fostering a creative environment to support students, teachers, and scholars.” Dijkgraaf has led the Institute since July 2012, and was scheduled to depart when David Nirenberg takes over on July 1 of this year. How the gap will be filled between Dijkgraaf’s departure and Nierenberg’s arrival remains in question. “An official transition plan is being developed by the board of trustees in cooperation with incoming IAS Director David Nirenberg and the executive officers of the four schools,” reads the release. Dijkgraaf posted two tweets on Monday announcing the news. “Honored to be nominated as Minister of Education, Culture & Science of the Netherlands,” he wrote. “Leaving the IAS with a heavy heart and earlier than planned but I’m comforted to know it’s in able hands. Looking back at a wonderful decade — the Institute will always be in my heart!,” read one. “Pia [de Jong] and I and our family will never forget our ten magical years at the IAS. With our gratitude for everyone’s support and friendship,” reads the second tweet. In addition to his duties at the IAS, Dijkgraaf has also served as professor of theoretical physics at the University of Amsterdam. Previously, he was president of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). His association with the IAS goes back to the early 1990s, and he returned briefly in 2002. “On behalf of the Board of Trustees and our entire Institute family, it is with great pride that we recognize Robbert for his nomination as Minister of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands,” Continued on Page 12
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Wednesday, January 5, 2022
Princeton Attempts to Slow Pandemic Spread COVID-19 cases in Princeton continued to surge to record high numbers during the past week, as holiday festivities wound down and residents, some in person and some virtually, returned to work or school. The Princeton Health Department on December 30 reported its highest new case numbers ever, with 161 positive cases for the previous seven days and 246 for the previous 14 days. Updated information will be released on Thursday, January 6. Princeton Deputy Administrator for Health and Community Services Jeff Grosser said that COVID-19 infections in Princeton have nearly tripled in daily, weekly, and biweekly case counts, pointing out a “similar trajectory to the rest of the region and state at this point in time.” “Although we have gotten used to things changing through the course of the pandemic, we have not seen an increase in cases at this pace or in this magnitude,” he added. New Jersey is reporting record high COVID-19 cases and test positivity rates. Emergency department visits and hospitalizations for COVID-like illness are also increasing, Grosser said. According to the most recent reports, three New Jersey
regions (Northwest, Northeast, and Central East) have “very high” COVID-19 activity levels, and Mercer County (part of the Central West region with Somerset and Hunterdon counties) remains at a “high” activity level. Grosser pointed out the origins of the current wave and explained the health department’s focus on older vulnerable residents. “This is essentially a two-variant surge from Delta to Omicron,” he said. “Combined with major holidays and colder
weather pushing people indoors more hours of the day, the increase in cases is not necessarily a surprise, but the sheer number of positive cases is.” He continued, “Our focus in recent weeks has been looking at severe cases of COVID, particularly in our over 60-yearold population. Understanding that our 60-plus population (specifically our 80year and older population) has been impacted most significantly, we are working tirelessly to get boosters out to anyone in Continued on Page 8
Rally Planned to Protect Voting Rights, Commemorate January 6 Insurrection
Hundreds of demonstrators are expected to fill Hinds Plaza adjacent to the Princeton Public Library from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on January 6 to reflect on the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol a year ago and to call for the protection of voting rights. “In America, the voters decide the outcome of elections,” states a press release from event co-sponsors the Coalition for Peace Action (CFPA), Indivisible Cranbury, Princeton Community Democratic Organization (PCDO), Our Revolution Trenton Mercer, and RepresentUS, and the demonstrators will be demanding that elected leaders pass legislation including
the Freedom to Vote Act, the Protecting Our Democracy Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and DC Statehood. January 6, 2022 marks one year since the violent attack on the Capitol building, and, according to vigil organizers, the same faction of elected officials that incited those rioters continues to work to restrict the freedom to vote and to attack fair voting districts. “I don’t think people fully comprehend how much under duress our democracy is now and how close we are to losing it,” Continued on Page 12
UNDER CONSTRUCTION: Renovations are moving along at the former U.S. Post Office at Palmer Square, where Triumph Brewing Company has been planning to move from Nassau Street since 2014. (Photo by Weronika A Plohn)
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