Volume LXXV, Number 5
Trenton Youth Orchestra to Perform Zoom Concert . . . . . . . . 5 Council Moves Towards Creating Bike Lanes on Robeson-Wiggins-Hamilton Corridor . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Songs of Love and Sorrow on Mendelssohn's Birthday . . . . . . . . . . . 16 PSO Collaborates With South African Ensemble for Virtual Concert . . . . . . 17 Hun Alum Russo Promoted To Top Assistant Coach for PU Baseball . . . . . . . . . 25 Sparked by Antonacci’s Offensive Prowess, PDS Girls’ Hockey Produces 4-0 Start . . . . . . . . . . . 28
All in a Day’s Work With Gavin Owens, U .S . Air Force Aircraft Commander . . . . . . . . 12 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach Realtors . .18, 19 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 23 Classified Ads . . . . . . 31 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 14 New to Us . . . . . . . . . . 24 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 30 Performing Arts . . . . . 20 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 31 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . 6
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COVID Stats Improving; Concern Grows Over Virus Variants, 3rd Wave New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Tuesday, February 2 that hospitalizations from COVID-19 remained below 3,000, at 2,892, down 25 percent from a recent high on December 22. He added that New Jersey had administered 825,000 vaccines so far, though the states’ six mega-sites and many other vaccine sites were closed Monday and Tuesday because of the snowstorm, with appointments being rescheduled. Meanwhile the Princeton Health Department reported on Monday the signs of a flattening curve, with only eight new COVID cases in Princeton in the previous seven days and 12 in the previous 14 days. Those numbers are down significantly from mid-December highs of 39 in one seven-day period and 66 in a 14-day timespan. Princeton Board of Health (PBOH) Chair Dr. Meredith J. Hodach Avalos was happy to see the improved data, but warned of formidable challenges ahead. “Cases are starting to downtrend and hospitalizations are also downtrending, which is good,” she said. “But it is not the time to let up on any measures that we’ve been using all along to control the virus.” Noting widespread concerns about variant strains of the virus, she continued, “The variants are more transmissible and we don’t know how effective the vaccines will be against them. We need to continue to be very vigilant and meticulous about following the guidance about masking, maintaining distance, staying home, and getting tested when sick or if you’ve been in contact with someone who’s sick.” In a February 2 phone interview, she pointed out that the curve had come down before and then had gone back up, “So there’s a lot of concern that another wave is coming. We just can’t let our guard down right now. There’s also a lot of virus circulating in the community. Even though it’s on a downtrend, there are plenty of cases out there.” Avalos, who became PBOH chair last month when she and former chair Dr. George DiFerdinando switched positions and he became PBOH vice chair, commented on the vaccine rollout and frustrations caused by the limited supply of doses. “We’re happy that people are eager to get it,” she said. “The more people who
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Wednesday, February 3, 2021
Snow Blankets Princeton, But Totals Less Than a Foot For most of New Jersey, Winter Storm Orlena was a serious snow event that dumped over 30 inches in parts of Morris and Sussex counties, and more than two feet in some northern areas. “This was a big one,” Gov. Phil Murphy said in a press conference on Tuesday, as the storm began to move out of the state. “We have had quite a 36-hour period with this storm. A state of emergency remains in effect, and unless you need to stay on the roads, please stay in.” But locally, the situation was less severe. By Tuesday afternoon, the National Weather Service was reporting 8.3 inches for Princeton, and 11 inches for “North Princeton.” According to Lieutenant Chris Tash of the Princeton Police Department, one motor vehicle crash was investigated, and 10 disabled vehicles required assistance. There were no reports of trees or wires down. Trash pickup scheduled for Monday is now to take place between Wednesday and Saturday. Residents are asked to be patient. Recycling was changed from Monday to Saturday. Closed Monday and Tuesday, Princeton University’s campus was scheduled to reopen for nonessential personnel at 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Limited Tiger Transit service
was to begin at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Dining halls were open, and dining tents were to reopen for lunch service on Wednesday. Library facilities were to open Wednesday morning. Princeton Public Library remains closed until further notice due to a staff member’s diagnosis of COVID-19. As of Tuesday afternoon, New Jersey Transit suspended most central New Jersey services until further notice, with Northeast Corridor service operating on a severe weather schedule. The River Line was on a Sunday schedule as of
Tuesday afternoon. Driving was especially hazardous on Monday evening as snow mixed with sleet and caused icy conditions. The sleet changed back to snow overnight, but road conditions continued to be dangerous and travel was strongly discouraged. At the press conference, Acting State Police Superintendent Col. Pat Callahan called Orlena “a monumental storm by all accounts,” comparing it to a winter storm that shut down most of the state in 1996 Continued on Page 7
Local “Seniors for Seniors” Program Has Brought “Rich Rewards” for Participants A collaboration that emerged from the pandemic lockdown has forged new, meaningful relationships between teenagers and older adults. The first go-round of “Seniors for Seniors,” which paired seven high school seniors from Corner House with seven senior citizens from the Princeton Senior Resource Center (PSRC) last spring, was such a success that a second program was put into place in the fall, this time with 10 from each organization. The two groups interacted via Zoom and Facetime, getting to know each
other and, in some cases, establishing real friendships. “When we first started this, we had no idea what to expect,” said Wendy Lodge, PSRC’s intergenerational programs coordinator. “But it was amazing. Once we got it going, we just kind of stepped back and watched the magic.” The National Council on Aging defines intergenerational programming as an emerging field in which “activities or programs that increase cooperation, interaction, or exchange between any two generations.” Seniors for Seniors is part Continued on Page 10
From kindergartners to young men of purpose...
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ICE HARVEST: Visitors experienced the way things used to be circa 1900 at Howell Living History Farm in Hopewell Township on Saturday . The day’s kid-friendly activities included ice harvesting and cutting at the pond, along with making ice candles and enjoying honey snow cones . (Photo by Weronika A. Plohn)
From kindergartners to young men of purpose... #HeCanBe part of a community where he is valued, known and needed. Where his full potential is realized because of the people who love and support him. Beyond stellar academics and outcomes, Princeton Academy provides lifelong connections that enrich the whole boy in mind, body and spirit. Learn more at princetonacademy.org!