Volume LXXIV, Number 22
A Different Idea of Teatime at the IAS. . . . 5 Peace Action Coalition Agenda Features Voter Drive, Forums . . . . . . . 8 Ginsberg Named PPS Acting Assistant Superintendent . . . . . . 9 Students Create Virtual Alternative For Canceled Commencements . . . . 9 McCarter Presents Online Reading of Execution of Justice . . . . . . . . . . 13 PU Women’s Hockey Star Bullock Headed to Swedish Pro League . . . . . . . . . 23 PHS Baseball Maintaining Positive Culture as it Deals with Lost Season . . . . 25
Walt Whitman Makes a Memorial Day Appearance in This Week’s Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach Realtors . .16, 17 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Classified Ads . . . . . . 28 Graduations . . . . . . . . 10 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 11 New To Us . . . . . . . . . 22 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 27 Performing Arts . . . . . 14 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 28 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . 6
www.towntopics.com
National Bike Month Sees Biking Boom, Despite Pandemic May is National Bike Month, and one of this year’s themes has been the cancellation of almost all scheduled events. Ciclovia, with Quaker Road closed to traffic on a Sunday afternoon; Chasing George, family-friendly rides with a costumed, bike-riding George Washington leading the pack; Walk- and Biketo-School days at all of the elementary schools and John Witherspoon Middle School; Bike-to-Work Day; Bike-to-Work Week; Bike Rodeo in the Community Park parking lot; the Princeton Freewheelers’ regular weekly schedule of group rides — all canceled. But with spring weather moving in and the stay-at-home order shutting down public gatherings and diminishing traffic, people have been bringing their old bicycles out of the garage, heading to bike stores for repairs and new purchases, and getting out on the streets, roads, and bike paths. “With car traffic down, this is a great time to enjoy our town at a human pace: on foot or on bike,” states a Princeton Bicycle Advisory Committee (PBAC) post on Facebook. “Indeed, we need walking and biking now more than ever, for our physical and mental well-being.” Kopp’s Cycle Store Manager Jesus Tapia has seen a flood of business in recent weeks. “The bike business has been interesting,” he said. “It’s gotten a lot busier, and the biggest thing has been more people getting their old bikes out of the garage and getting them repaired and back and running again.” Bikes have been selling fast and stores have had difficulty keeping bikes in stock, “but the biggest thing for me,” Tapia added, “is to see people bring their old bikes in for me to refurbish and get them back on the road. I love bringing the bike back to life and giving someone who used to ride that joy again.” With all its traditional bike month events canceled, the PBAC has undertaken a major initiative to “rebalance the streets,” to meet the demand for public space, looking to the streets for physical and mental recreation. They have teamed up with Municipal Engineer Deanna Stockton, Princeton Council President David Cohen, the Department of Public Works, and the Princeton Police Department to identify safer bike and walk infrastructure Continued on Page 10
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Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Princeton Navigates New Phase of Pandemic With restrictions lifting gradually in a new phase of the ongoing battle against COVID-19 — parks and beaches opening up, stores and businesses re-starting, outdoor gatherings of up to 25 people permitted, in-person graduations possible in July — Princeton Health Officer Jeff Grosser discussed how Princeton is navigating the hazardous waters. “If we look around the country, states that have relaxed social distancing measures are beginning to see increased incidence of COVID-19,” he wrote in an email. “Although many of the governor’s executive orders have greatly impacted our lives, I believe without these efforts we would be in a much worse situation than we are right now.” The Princeton Health Department reported on Tuesday, May 26, 172 total positive cases of COVID-19 in Princeton, with 65 active positive cases, 83 recovered patients, 17 confirmed deaths and seven additional probable ( symptomatic but not tested) COVID-19 related deaths. That is just two additional positive cases since Friday with no additional deaths reported. “Princeton has done a great job in
combating this pandemic,” Grosser wrote. “Residents have been extremely supportive and compliant with social distancing efforts. We need to continue working hard to eliminate potential new cases by social distancing, wearing a mask as much as possible, and staying home when we’re not feeling well.” Grosser noted that the Princeton Health Department has been working with nonessential businesses as they reopen in light of the governor’s executive orders.
“The timing of lifting the remaining restrictions (i.e. in-person dining, barber shops, salons, etc.) must be done strategically in order to keep in check the potential for further community spread and creation of new cluster outbreaks,” he warned. Grosser went on to point out that Princeton Care Center and Acorn Glen, where most of Princeton’s COVID-19-related deaths have occurred, have steadily decreased the number of infected residents. Continued on Page 7
Princeton Farmers Market Reopening, Relocated to Franklin Avenue Lot The popular Princeton Farmers Market will reopen this Thursday, May 28, but the traditional Hinds Plaza location has been switched out this year for a spot where social distancing can take place. The parking lot on Franklin Avenue, across from the Avalon Princeton development, will allow for drive-up as well as walk-up access to vendors selling produce. “Retailers will be required to mask up, as will participants,” said Princeton Health
Officer Jeffrey Grosser during a press conference Tuesday afternoon. “Each farmer has gone through a basic checklist from the health department about how to operate safely. Jack Morrison [of the JM Group] and Max Hoagland [market manager] have been assisting us with the training and making sure there are certain criteria they have to meet.” About a dozen farmers will be selling Continued on Page 10
BUNNY CUPCAKES: For week five of our Community Comes Together campaign, we invited local youths to send in a recipe they made . Olivia, age 12, is shown with her vanilla bunny cupcakes . See the Town Topics website and Facebook page for the recipe and more submissions for this week . Next week’s activity features projects made using recycled materials .