Volume LXXIV, Number 20
Spring Home & Real Estate Pages 32-33 For Arts Groups, Online Content is a Lifeline Worth Keeping . . . . . . 5 Interim Superintendent Galasso Brings Experience, Expertise to PPS . . . . . . . . . . . 10 School Budget Update Among Council Meeting Topics . . . . . . . . . . . 12 McCarter LIVE Presents “In Conversation with Oskar Eustis” . . . . . . 16 Cory Thrived in Final Season with PU Women’s Lax . . . . . . . 23 Kwafo Emerged as Standout for Stuart Track . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Celebrating Little Richard and Paul McCartney 50 Years After Kent State . . .15 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach Realtors . .18, 19 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Classified Ads . . . . . . 30 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 14 New To Us . . . . . . . . . 22 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 28 Performing Arts . . . . . 17 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 30 Religion . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . 6
www.towntopics.com
Princeton Health Officer Reports COVID-19 Progress on All Fronts On Tuesday, May 12, when the Princeton Health Department reported no new COVID-19 cases or deaths in the previous 24 hours and three more COVID-19 patients recovered with isolation complete, Princeton Health Officer Jeff Grosser expressed cautious optimism about the effects of social distancing. The state is also seeing declines in new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. “Social distancing efforts in New Jersey are starting to make tremendous improvements in a few of our epidemiological trends of note,” he wrote in an email. “New Jersey is seeing a decline in new positive cases, hospitalizations, and fewer reported deaths per day. These three metrics began exponential growth in early April and fortunately we are seeing a larger decrease each day since May has started.” Grosser attributed the improving counts to social distancing and other efforts of residents in Princeton and throughout the state. He pointed out that Princeton has been seeing a decline in new cases, though there was an uptick in numbers last Friday because of new counting criteria that include probable cases, individuals who have not been tested but are COVID-19 symptomatic. Grosser also noted positive trends in Princeton’s long-term care facilities, where many of the cases and most of the town’s COVID-19-related deaths have occurred. There have been nine COVID-19-related deaths at the Princeton Care Center, with 36 confirmed cases, according to the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), and Acorn Glen assisted living facility has reported five deaths with 18 confirmed cases. “Everyone is aware Princeton’s longterm care centers have been the epicenter of COVID in our community,” Grosser said. “Both Princeton Care Center and Acorn Glen have been battling outbreaks since early last month. We are happy to report they are slowly seeing cases recover and fewer positive cases, but they are still in need of personal protective equipment (PPE) and staff.” Princeton has called for help from the county and state for additional equipment and personnel, and the Princeton Police Department has shared equipment with both facilities, Grosser said. In its ongoing battle with the pandemic, Continued on Page 11
75¢ at newsstands
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
Alexander Street/Road Set to Reopen Friday Alexander Street/Road in Princeton and West Windsor is scheduled to reopen on Friday, May 15 after six months, following concurrent Mercer County and New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) projects that replaced three bridges over the D&R Canal, the Stony Brook, and Alexander Creek. The new bridges between Princeton and West Windsor are complete, the sidewalks are open for pedestrians, and Mercer County and the NJDOT are in the process of final paving and striping. “It’s great to have this major project coming to a conclusion and to have the road opened back up,” said Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert. “We all benefit when necessary investments are made in our vital infrastructure, even though the disruption caused by construction can be painful.” Princeton Municipal Engineer Deanna Stockton added, “It has been an excellent example of how the state, county, and municipality can be flexible and work together to achieve a common goal.” Lempert emphasized the importance of Alexander Street/Road access to Princ-
eton as one of only three main entrances to Princeton from Route 1 and the east. “This investment will be fully appreciated when the stay-at-home order is lifted and we begin the return to work,” she said. In the context of the current pandemic the Alexander Street/Road three bridges project may not seem the high priority crisis that it seemed when it was first announced. The necessary closure, starting November 6, 2019, was of particular concern to the merchant community, as variable message boards on Route 1,
Interstate 295, and elsewhere provided information about projected travel times on different routes into Princeton. Resourceful drivers planned different timetables and routes coming into town, with some employers implementing flex time or telecommuting for employees. But it was impossible to avoid long lines of traffic and delays when traveling into and out of town, especially on Washington Road or Harrison Street — until March, when the pandemic and stay-at-home orders Continued on Page 7
Philanthropist Betty Wold Johnson Dies, Was Matriarch of the Johnson Family Betty Wold Johnson, who provided major support to many local civic, community, and arts organizations, has died at the age of 99. The Hopewell resident, who formerly lived in Princeton at a house she recently donated to The Hun School, was the mother of New York Jets owners Christopher Johnson and Woody Johnson, who is the U.S. ambassador to Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Johnson was married to Robert Wood
Johnson III, grandson of the founder of the Johnson & Johnson Company. They had five children before his death in 1970. She married Douglas Bushnell in 1978. He died in 2007. Though she was quiet about it, Johnson’s generosity to local causes was well known. She recently donated $500,000 in honor of McCarter Theatre’s departing Artistic Director and Resident Playwright Continued on Page 13
“THE FISH POND”: For week three of our Community Comes Together Campaign, we invited local children to send in their nature photos . Ewan, age 6, took this creative photo of trees reflected in a pond . See the Town Topics website and Facebook page for all submissions for this week . Next week’s project will feature poems .