Volume LXXIV, Number 17
Parent Guide Pages 22-24 Patchwork Bear Founder Fills Need For Gowns . . . . . . . . . 5 “Give Essential” Program Helps Frontline Workers . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Forum Explores Election Challenges Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 PU Hoops Broadcaster Savage Recovers from COVID-19 . . . . . . . . . 26 PDS Alum Auslander Stars for Christopher Newport Men’s Lax . . . . . . . . . 28
A National Library Week Visit from Dudley Carlson . . . . . . 16 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach Realtors . .20, 21 Classified Ads . . . . . . 32 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 14 New To Us . . . . . . . . . 19 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 30 Performing Arts . . . . . 17 Police Blotter . . . . . . . 10 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 32 Religion . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . 6
www.towntopics.com
Westminster Foundation Filing an Appeal to Dismissal of Lawsuits An appeal is being prepared to the March 2 dismissal of two lawsuits that sought to block Rider University’s plan to move Westminster Choir College from its longtime Princeton home to Rider’s campus in Lawrence Township. Following a February 14 hearing in which attorneys presented their arguments, Judge Robert Lougy of Mercer County Superior Court issued his ruling in favor of Rider. Last week, Princeton lawyer Bruce Afran filed a notice of appeal. The two lawsuits had been filed by the Westminster Foundation, a nonprofit made up of alumni and supporters of the choir college, and 71 Westminster students. Westminster became a part of Rider in 1992. Citing financial difficulties, Rider has tried to sell the choral academy during the past two years. When a deal with a Chinese organization did not materialize, the University announced it would relocate Westminster and its programs to the Lawrence campus. Opposition to the plan is centered around the argument that Westminster’s specialized facilities, including pipe organs, a new performance hall, and specialized practice rooms, cannot be duplicated on the Rider campus. Meanwhile, the bond credit rating business Moody’s has downgraded Rider’s revenue bonds to junk status. The April 6 report from Moody’s Investors Service says that declining enrollment and net tuition revenue were factors in the downgrade. While the projected costs of the coronavirus pandemic are cited as contributors, the overall financial situation at the University is what caused the lowered rating. According to The Rider News, the University’s administration has estimated that the cost of the consolidation of Westminster to the Lawrence campus will be between $16 million and $20 million. Kristine A. Brown, associate vice president of Rider’s Marketing and Communications office, said plans to relocate Westminster are underway. “Progress continues to be made on several key construction projects related to the Westminster Choir College campus transition that were already underway before the coronavirus pandemic,” she said in an email. “While there have been some Continued on Page 11
75¢ at newsstands
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Officials, Residents: All In This Together As health officials continue to work closely with the Princeton long-term care facilities in their battle with COVID-19, the Princeton Health Department (PHD) reported on Tuesday, April 21, a total of five deaths in Princeton, with 88 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 41 active positive cases. Four of the five Princeton deaths have taken place at the Princeton Care Center, where there were 14 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of April 20. There have been seven confirmed cases at the Acorn Glen assisted living facility, according to the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) April 20 report. “PHD staff have been working with these facilities on cohorting patients and staff in order to reduce disease transmission as much as possible,” said Princeton Health Officer Jeff Grosser. Princeton health officials have also been working with the NJDOH in delivering updated guidance for PCC and Acorn Glen. “We will continue to work with these facilities in order to suppress the outbreak as much as possible under current conditions with limited testing available,” Grosser said. Residents of those facilities testing positive are being isolated and PHD is working with the facilities to have all staff tested for COVID-19 and continuing to
reinforce the facilities’ universal masking policy. Staff members with existing exposure to confirmed COVID-19 patients are being placed on quarantine. The NJDOH reported on Tuesday, April 21 a total of 133 COVID-19-related deaths in Mercer County, 11 additional over the previous 24 hours, and at least 2,753 cases, an increase from 2,591 the previous day. In his Tuesday, April 21 press briefing, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy reported 92,387 confirmed COVID-19 cases in
the state, 3,643 new positive tests in the previous 24 hours, with 379 new deaths reported for a total of 4,753 COVID-19 related deaths in the state. Out of 7,594 patients reported hospitalized with COVID-19 or suspected cases in the state as of 10 p.m. April 20, 1,930 were in critical or intensive care and 1,501 were on ventilators. With hospitalizations beginning to decline, the curve flattening, and new cases occurring at lower levels, government Continued on Page 10
Nonprofits and the Municipality Acquire Ridgeview Road Wetlands Site Thanks to a collaborative effort between Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS), The Watershed Institute, the Ridgeview Conservancy, and the municipality of Princeton, a three-acre lot comprised mostly of wetlands will remain just that instead of being developed. The nonprofits and the town closed on a deal recently to protect the Ridgeview Road site, which contains the headwaters of the Mountain Brook. The brook feeds into Mountain Lake in the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve, and beyond that, to the Stony Brook.
The property is important because it helps protect the water quality in Mountain Brook, and prevents excessive sediment from flowing into Mountain Lake. The Watershed Institute was alerted to plans to develop the property in fall of 2018 by several concerned members and Princeton residents. The Watershed staff then gathered evidence and presented opposition before the Zoning Board to a variance that had been sought to permit development. New Jersey’s Green Acres Program and Mercer County’s Open Space Grant Continued on Page 12
SPRING AT THE FARM: The fruit trees are now in full bloom at Terhune Orchards on Cold Soil Road . Beehives were delivered to help ensure that the blossoms are successfully pollinated . The public is invited to stroll through the trails in the orchards and fields and enjoy the sights and smells while practicing social distancing . (Photo by Charles R. Plohn)
LocaL produce deLivered to your front door! Get your fresh, organic produce without risking a trip to the store! To learn more and order a share, visit Fairgrownfarm.com Call to speak with farmer James directly at (609) 731-6063