Volume LXXV, Number 22
www.towntopics.com
COVID Cases Down, Masks Coming Off, Restrictions Lifting
Group Walks to Begin Again on Lawrence Hopewell Trail . . . . . . . . 5 Task Force Prepares Recommendation on Future of Cannabis in Princeton . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Municipality Gets Closer To Witherspoon Street Redesign . . . . . . . . . . . 10 NJSO Presents Second in Concert Film Series . . . 16 PU Rowers Excel in Nationals Despite Abbreviated Season, Limited Training . . . . 27 PHS Golf Makes History, Wins 1st CVC Match Play Tournament . . . . . . . 30
Celebrating Franz Kafka (1883-1924), Shown Here in 1906 . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach Realtors . .20, 21 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 22 Classified Ads . . . . . . 36 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 13 New To Us . . . . . . . . . 25 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 35 Performing Arts . . . . . 17 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 36 Religion . . . . . . . . . . . 35 School Matters . . . . . . 12 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . 6
On Tuesday, June 1, the Princeton Health Department reported just two new cases of COVID-19 in Princeton in the previous 14 days, and the state of New Jersey announced the lowest number of new cases since March 17, 2020 during the early weeks of the pandemic. Princeton Health Officer Jeff Grosser, sounding increasingly optimistic though still cautious and unwilling yet to suggest that we’re getting back to normal, noted, “We are continuing to see regional COVID cases trending downward, which is what we want to continue to see.” He discussed the changing protocols and practices of mask-wearing, in the wake of last Friday’s lifting of state mask mandates. “Last week we certainly had our fair share of inquiries on how to comprehend the lifting of mask-wearing restrictions,” said Grosser. “We have observed that many businesses are still leaning towards mask-wearing of workers and customers for the time being. We are supportive of this endeavor since it continues to protect our residents.” He continued, “With that said, we understand that as more individuals become vaccinated, there will likely be less of a need to mask, especially as we enter the summer months when we typically see fewer respiratory illnesses.” In addition to lifting the mask mandate on May 28, the state removed social distancing requirements, though unvaccinated people are still strongly encouraged to wear masks, and businesses can still require masks and social distancing. As of Friday, June 4, limits will be lifted on indoor gatherings, allowing full-capacity indoor concerts and sporting events. The Princeton Health Department will be holding its last second-dose clinic at the Princeton Senior Center on Thursday, June 3, which Grosser called “a milestone in Princeton’s centralized vaccination effort.” The health department continues to hold pop-up vaccination clinics at various locations in the community. Nearly 50 individuals, contacted through word of mouth and outreach efforts by community partners, were vaccinated last week at a pop-up site in collaboration with Lupita Grocery Store on Leigh Avenue. Grosser emphasized the importance of carefully planning the locations and Continued on Page 8
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Wednesday, June 2, 2021
PU Plan for Prospect Ave. Meets Resistance A Princeton University plan to move a former eating club building and demolish three Prospect Avenue homes is meeting with widespread resistance from local residents. As part of the University’s “East Campus” development plan, the project would raze three University-owned Victorian houses (at 110, 114, and 116 Prospect) and move the Court Clubhouse building at 91 Prospect across the street to the location formerly occupied by the three houses, making room for the new Environmental Science and Engineering and Applied Science complex on the south side of Prospect. An organization called Save Prospect Now has initiated a petition at change.org/ saveprospect, calling on the University to revise its plan in order to keep the Court Clubhouse building in place and preserve the three Victorian houses. The petition also urges local citizens to attend meetings of the Special Historic Preservation Commission on June 7 at 3 p.m. and the town Planning Board Hearing on June 17 at 7:30 pm., where Princeton University officials will be seeking site plan approvals and zoning variances to complete their plan. The petition, with about 200 signers as of noon on Tuesday, June 1, claims
that “none of the moving should be necessary.” It goes on to criticize the University’s construction plans for “inserting a large incompatible building and landscape, thus irreparably harming the Historic District and Prospect Avenue aesthetics and streetscape.” Moving the Court Clubhouse across the street would take it out of Princeton’s Historic District. Several letters in this week’s Town Topics Mailbox reflect and elaborate on many of the concerns voiced in the petition.
In a May 18 memo, Princeton Planning Department staff noted their concern with the University plan and proposed an alternative. “Considering Sustainable Development, historic preservation, and the priority of preserving and enhancing housing opportunities in Princeton, staff is concerned that three viable residential structures are being razed in order to move a contributing element of the Prospect Avenue row of eating club buildings from its current location,” Continued on Page 7
New Traffic Safety Initiative Aims to Halt Disturbing Trend Blame it on the pandemic, but motorists in Princeton have gotten dangerously sloppy in their driving habits. With fewer vehicles on the road to consider, things like rolling stop violations, speeding, and texting have increased to a point that has prompted the Princeton Police Department (PPD) to take action. “Limit It” is a new initiative launched last month by the department’s Traffic Safety Bureau. The program invites Princeton residents to sign a pledge stating they will obey the posted speed limit, put down their cell phones, and resist other distractions while driving. Those who sign will
be issued a “Limit It” magnet to affix to their vehicles. Traffic accidents in Princeton rose by 65 percent between March and April of this year. “We had 29 accidents in March, and 48 in April,” said Sergeant Thomas R. Murray III, the PPD’s Traffic Safety Bureau supervisor. “Obviously, as the traffic safety officer here, that makes me a little concerned. We’ve always had issues with driver inattention, but this is unusual.” Murray came up with “Limit It” as a response to the fact that some 80 percent of accidents are attributable to total Continued on Page 12
POOL SEASON BEGINS: After its season opening was delayed a bit due to inclement weather, swimmers were finally able to enjoy the Community Park Pool on Monday afternoon . The pool will be open on weekends only through June 20, and then daily through Labor Day . (Photo by Weronika A. Plohn)
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