Volume LXXIV, Number 26
Rediscover Princeton Pages 24-26 Princeton Free Garden Project Lets Neighbors Grow Together . . . . . . 5 DACA Ruling Met with Joy, Apprehension, Hope for More . . . . . . . . . . 7 Council Votes to Introduce Affordable Housing Ordinances . . . . . . . . . 9 Princeton Festival Presents a Live Musical Theater Revue . . . . . 15 Upcoming Music Season is Topic of Panel Discussion . . . . . . . . 16 PU Football Carrying On Despite No Spring Practice . . . . . . . . . . . .28 PHS Grad Lis Emerges as Star Defender for Cornell Women’s Lax . . . . . . . .30
Passing Strange Composer Stew Is Featured in This Week's Record Review . . . . . . 14 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach Realtors . .20, 21 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Classified Ads . . . . . . 35 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 12 New to Us . . . . . . . . . . 27 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 33 Performing Arts . . . . . 17 Police Blotter . . . . . . . 10 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 35 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . 6
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As Restrictions Ease, Princeton Opens Up With New Look And Streets for People New Jersey is moving ahead in Stage 2 of its Restart and Recovery, which began last week with outdoor dining and the resumption of indoor non-essential retail, and Princeton has acted quickly to promote a safe and vigorous reopening. A stroll down Witherspoon Street reveals that reopening does not necessarily mean a return to normal, however, but rather a shift in the balance between people and automobiles with outdoor dining filling the street, customers safely lining up, sidewalks open for pedestrians, and an increasing presence of bicycles. Princeton Council last week passed an ordinance to make Witherspoon Street one-way from Nassau to Spring streets, allowing more space for restaurant tables, queueing areas, and bicycle parking. The ordinance also expanded outdoor dining areas on Hinds Plaza and relaxed certain requirements for sidewalk cafes and dining areas, parking, and pedestrian and vehicle circulation on Nassau Street, as well as Witherspoon. The ordinance is in effect until October, at which point it will be evaluated. Many locals are hoping for permanent transformations, at least on a seasonal basis. “I think people will get used to it,” said Princeton Bicycle Advisory Committee (PBAC) Chair Lisa Serieyssol. “And then become happy with it so that they will want it to stay. On Sunday it looked like life was happening on a street that used to be dominated by cars. We can all adapt. Some people don’t like change, but it’s inevitable, and I believe the community will embrace it over time.” Councilwoman Michelle Pirone Lambros commented on the large turnout of happy, smiling people and the full restaurants over the weekend. She noted that the changes have been well received by the commercial district and the businesses, and the residents are excited about being able to go out safely for dining and shopping. “It’s been a great collaborative effort between the municipality and the merchants association,” she said. “And now we have to decorate it so that it looks nice. The Arts Council is going to paint those blocks and they’re putting up some screening and plants and other decorative designs. It’s a great way to use our wonderful artistic resources at the Arts Council to help spruce it up.” Continued on Page 10
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Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Police Chief Sutter Announces Retirement Nicholas Sutter, Princeton Police Department (PPD) chief over the past seven years, will be retiring on October 1, 2020. Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert called him “a transformative leader.” “I am filled with mixed emotions,” Sutter said, following his June 22 announcement. “This is the right time for me and the department. However 25 years here has been over half my life, so this decision was not easy.” Sutter, 49, began his career in Princeton as a Borough patrol officer in 1995, served as captain from 2010 to 2013, and took charge of the department in its first year of consolidation in 2013 after former Chief David Dudeck’s forced departure amid allegations of misconduct. “Nick has been a transformative leader
during a time of great change, and he has been a model for how police can proactively engage with community partners, build meaningful relationships of trust, and be open and embracing of change to strengthen the department,” said Lempert. “He will leave behind a department that has grown more diverse, more community-oriented, and more progressive because of his efforts. He has been a leader, mentor, and role model, not just within the police department but across the entire municipal government. I am a better mayor because of him, and am forever thankful for all he has done for Princeton.” Sutter’s longtime colleague, former Sergeant Fred Williams, who now serves as press information officer for the munici-
COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER: For week nine of our campaign highlighting fun projects for kids to do, we invited local youths to draw the cover of their favorite book . Violeta, age 7, created this colorful rendition of a children’s classic . Next week’s final project will feature photos or drawings of pets .
pality of Princeton, reflected on his work with Sutter in the PPD. “I spent close to 20 of my 30 years in law enforcement here in Princeton,” he said. “When I learned of Chief Sutter’s recent retirement plans, I realized, unfortunately, all good things really do come to an end. Having worked closely with him on matters and programs that directly impacted our Princeton community, I can say his support was always genuine, enthusiastic, and unwavering. I’d also add that his ability to bridge gaps and overcome barriers to bring solutions to the table is his greatest asset. He will be leaving the Princeton PD well prepared and poised for success in a new era of modern day, 21st-century policing.” Princeton Council President David Continued on Page 8
Princeton Public Library Rolls Out First Two Phases of Reopening Plan
The first two phases of a three-part reopening plan for Princeton Public Library are now underway. As of Wednesday, June 24, the library is accepting the return of materials that were borrowed prior to the March 13 closing of the building due to the coronavirus pandemic. But opening its doors to the public is not part of the initial phases, or chapters, of what the library is calling “Reopening by the Book.” The plan’s first two were approved June 19 by the library’s board of trustees, which must still approve the third. To return the more than 20,000 books, audiobooks, DVDs, and music CDs that have been out on loan, patrons must use the book and audiovisual drops on Sylvia Beach Way, the one-way lane behind the building. In addition, a bin will be under a tent outside the Community Room doors on Hinds Plaza from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. The book drops at Princeton Shopping Center and Palmer Square will remain closed until further notice. Once book drops are emptied, the materials will be quarantined in the Community Room for a minimum of 72 hours, in accordance with guidelines developed by the American Library Association. All items currently on loan will have a due date of July 15, with extended use fees to begin accruing on July 16. Returned items will remain on the cardholder’s account during the quarantine Continued on Page 11
