Volume LXXIV, Number 43
LHT Full Moon Ride is a Bit Longer This Year . . . .5 PHS Students Advance Proposals For Positive Change in Community . . .8 Lambertville House Tour Goes Virtual . . . . . . . . 10 Sightings of the Ancient Mariner — Coleridge, Camus, and Mike Leigh's Peterloo . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Passage Theatre Presents Panther Hollow . . . . . 19 PU Concerts Opens Season With “Watch Party” . . . 20 PU Football Coach Surace Navigating Fall Without Games . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Lis Back in Form for PHS Girls’ Soccer After Missing 2019 Due to Injury . . . .34
Freshman Shaila Iyer Helps PHS Girls’ Tennis Start 10-0 . . . . . . . . . 33 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach Realtors . .22, 23 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 25 Classified Ads . . . . . . 40 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 38 New To Us . . . . . . . . . 30 Performing Arts . . . . . 21 Police Blotter . . . . . . . 12 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 40 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . 6
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Council Hears Updates On Transportation Topics At Special Meeting Presentations on initiatives related to transportation were the focus of a special Princeton Council meeting held Monday evening, October 19. Mayor Liz Lempert began the meeting with a moment of silence in memory of Marvin Reed, a former mayor of Princeton Borough, who died on October 12 at age 89. “One of Marvin’s major passions was transportation, so I think he’d be glad we’re continuing his legacy tonight,” she said. “Both of the FreeB buses are named after him because of his dedication and advocacy to public transit.” Councilwoman Mia Sacks reported that the two existing FreeB vehicles have been retired due to wear and tear and excessive needs for maintenance. Going forward, the town is looking to a lease option instead of ownership, hopefully with a focus on hybrid and/or electric vehicles. “We’re also finalizing a proposal to the Transit Trust Fund to expand existing FreeB routes, to better connect the new Affordable Housing sites that will be coming on line,” she said. Municipal Engineer Deanna Stockton told Council that the Engineering Department has been working with the Bicycle Advisory Committee and the Police Department to determine the best type of pavement markings and signage along the Bike Boulevard routes. The aim is to have consistent, clear markings that will be put in place in the spring once budgets have been approved. Council President David Cohen updated Council on the Bike Map Project, reporting that a third printing of the map that was created about a decade ago shows not only bike routes but locations for bike parking. Copies are available at bike shops, and will be placed in the lower lobby of the police department headquarters in the municipal building. They are also available on the municipal website. Council voted to introduce an ordinance on bike parking. Cohen said the ordinance was important because of residential developments that are planned in conjunction with the town’s Affordable Housing obligation. “It’s a topic that comes up at every single Planning meeting,” he said. “The Planning Board will be in a much better place, being able to point to actual requirements rather than asking [developers] to do us a favor.” Continued on Page 9
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Wednesday, October 21, 2020
Heading Into Second Phase of Pandemic With case numbers on the rise, winter weather and the holiday season approaching, and more activities taking place indoors, the COVID-19 pandemic is entering its second phase, says Princeton Health Officer Jeff Grosser. The Princeton Health Department reported 18 active positive cases in town on Monday, October 19, a favorable number compared to other parts of the state and the nation at large, but nonetheless a significant increase in the past two months. There have been 11 cases reported in the past seven days in Princeton and 19 over the past two weeks. New Jersey health officials reported more than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases in the state on Tuesday, October 20, with the largest number linked to private indoor gatherings. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declined to announce any expansion of the 25 percent capacity restriction for restaurant dining. “Winter with COVID-19 was anticipated to be a difficult one,” wrote Princeton Press and Media Communications Director Fred Williams in an October 20 email. “Our region and our county in particular have benefited from the low transmission rates achieved over the summer months, but winter will always be a time of year when infection rates for airborne viruses proliferate.” Williams emphasized the importance
of following established COVID-19 guidelines — mask-wearing, social distancing, hand washing, and opting for the outdoors — as cooler temperatures and lower humidity combine with increased travel, indoor family gatherings, and holiday social events to raise risk levels. Grosser noted that early in the pandemic the incidence was highest among older adults, but since June, 18- to 29-year-olds have been the most infected demographic. This is also the age group
that is most likely to have mild symptoms or be asymptomatic. “What is concerning about this age group is the fact that this group is more likely to continue to increase community transmission of COVID-19,” said Grosser. “We have seen these circumstances arise particularly with college/university students returning home and spreading COVID-19 through their household.” Williams added, “During the holiday season and winter months it is especially Continued on Page 7
Princeton Remembers Marvin Reed, “Serving Everyone in the Community” Marvin Reed, who died on October 12 at age 89, had an immense variety of interests and accomplishments, and a lifelong commitment to public service during his careers in education, public relations, and local government. The focal point of his energy and attention was the town of Princeton. He was Princeton Borough mayor from 1990 to 2003 and councilman for a total of 19 years, in addition to the many other positions he held. “His most important legacy was his compassion and passion for making Princeton a better place,” said his daughter Liza O’Reilly in a phone conversation from Massachusetts, where she lives with
her family. “He always wanted to make it better.” She described his ability to work productively with others and to persevere in pursuit of what he believed in. She mentioned particularly the redevelopment of the Princeton Public Library and the surrounding downtown area. “He got a lot of opposition going into that,” she said, “but he just worked at things that he had a passion for and believed in making better.” She added, “He listened to people, but he kept moving forward. And it turned out that many of the things that he focused on and believed in did turn out to be the right things despite opposition.” Continued on Page 12
FALL MUSIC ON THE SQUARE: The Polish Nannies performed Sunday afternoon on the green at Palmer Square in downtown Princeton . The free concert series continues with Duo: Kindred Spirit on October 24 and School of Rock on October 31 . The concerts are from 12 to 2 p .m . (Photo by Charles R. Plohn)
