m
Volume LXXV, Number 52
www.towntopics.com
75¢ at newsstands
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
Year Starts and Ends at COVID Peaks, as Town Moves Forward
Name Brands Always Discount Living Room, Dining Room, Bedroom, w Featuring… Home Office, Area Rugs, Etc. Design Service Available Non commissioned Sales Staff On Sale for a and the majority of Princeton (currently 85 the pandemic there have been so many Princeton rode a COVID-19 roller since its inception in 1946. coaster in 2021, the second year of the As case numbers of both Delta and percent of those age 5 and over) got vac- adjustments to our daily lives and our pandemic, starting and ending the year Omicron variants of COVID keep rising cinated. There were additional spikes in outlook on the pandemic,” he said. “We with peak case numbers. Masks, social in the final days of the year, the pandemic case numbers throughout the winter, but are once more working through new indistancing, Zoom meetings, sporadic roller coaster ride promises to continue by April and May the COVID case num- fections, breakthrough infections, booster bers were declining and residents were vaccinations, pediatric vaccinations, surgquarantines, and a “hybrid” sort of life- well into 2022. spending more time outdoors, hopeful es of cases, etc. We need to continue to style will be the most vivid memories of COVID-19 that the worst of the pandemic was be- look out for one another as we navigate the year for many. “Ultimately with public health it’s a mar- hind them. But Princeton residents did not let the this pandemic.” athon, not a quick sprint,” Jeff Grosser The Princeton Health Department pandemic, isolation, or lockdowns dictate Expressing optimism derived from said, prophetically, in a 2016 Town Top- continued to vaccinate the population the experience of 2021. Under the leaderPrinceton’s high vaccination rates and ics interview. Grosser, then health officer of Princeton and infection rates continship of the Princeton Health Department, from the knowledge gained over the past of the Princeton Health Department, now ued to fall through June and July, with they adapted with determination, took two years, Grosser concluded, “The chalPrinceton deputy administrator for health the Delta variant having taken over from precautions, got vaccinated, and got on lenges our community has faced through and community services, continued, “We Alpha as the dominant strain. An uptick in with their lives. the pandemic have been extremely difcan’t solve all the problems at once, but August, however, then a plateau in SepThere were fervid conflicts, many that fi cult. My hope is that these difficult times will continue into 2022, over parking, you have to stay focused on the greater tember and October was followed by what continue to strengthen the relationships Grosser called a “slingshot trend” at the plans for Witherspoon Street, Westmin- good and how we can help.” between our community groups and resiA marathon, indeed, as the pandemic end of November. That trend has contin- dents.” ster Choir College, leaf blowers, the Prosapproaches the beginning of its third year ued as the Omicron variant has joined pect Avenue streetscape, the name of the Parking middle school, and the future of cannabis in Princeton, and Grosser and the health with Delta to rapidly widen the spread of The permit parking saga continues. department remain steadfast in the fore- local infections. in Princeton. Princeton’s volunteer Permit Parking There have been few recent COVIDfront of the ongoing battle. Businesses battled the economic imTask Force has been meeting for the past The year 2021 began with high num- 19-related hospitalizations for Princeton pact of the pandemic with stringent safety three years to try to figure out how to make measures, temporary closures, limited bers of new cases but also the welcome residents, and Grosser notes that the parking rules fair and accessible to all, to staff, reduced hours, restaurants ramping news of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines vaccine, especially with a booster after harmonize regulations left over from when up takeout and outdoor dining options, a coming to New Jersey, with six mega sites six months, has for the most part sucnumber of permanent closings, and a few opening in the state in January, along with ceeded in reducing serious complications Princeton was divided into the Borough and the Township, and to better manage ——— new openings too. increasing availability of vaccines through from the virus. Among those 18 and older, 54 percent of Princeton residents have employee parking. Princeton University brought almost all area clinics. Topi n w received both vaccinations and booster c Following a presentation, the group ran s students and staff back to campus early To Vaccinations at local long-term care fa- shots. into some major roadblocks this month, in 2021, and continued its rapid growth cilities were a top priority, and for a while Grosser commented on the psycholog- notably from residents who don’t want and success — with ongoing massive vaccine appointments were difficult to ical effects of the pandemic. “Throughout employees of downtown stores parking construction projects, a large increase come by, but eligibility quickly expanded, Continued on Page 5 in its endowment, and five 2021 Nobel Prize winners among its many honored ad a ers professors, students, and alumni. w ’ C h oice A Princeton area schools employed an Voted Best Readers' Choice Awards array of different strategies in the spring Furniture Winners . . 20, 21, 22, 23 term of 2021 — someStore schools were able to bring most students back in person; Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 others implemented staggered schedules and a hybrid mix of Zoom and in-person Book Review. . . . . . . . 15 classes that shifted according to required Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 19 quarantines and rising case rates. But almost all schools were able to welcome Classified Ads . . . . . . 34 students back in person in September and, with careful health Best VotedVoted Bestprecautions, Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Furniture Furniture keep them in school all the way to the StoreStore Voted Best December holidays. Voted Best Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 33 Furniture Best Furniture StoreVoted Furniture In addition to theStore plague of COVID-19, Store New To Us . . . . . . . . . 24 there was also the infestation of the 17year cicadas in May and June and the Performing Arts . . . . . 16 devastation of flooding caused by remnants of Hurricane Ida in early SeptemReal Estate . . . . . . . . 34 ber. Religion . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Also seemingly undaunted by the pandemic, Town Topics in March celebrated Where matters. Sports . . . .quality . . . . . . . . still 25 its 75th anniversary — 3,900 weeks, Name Brands Always Discounted 3,900 issues, delivered to theName residents Name Brands Always THE WRATH OFDiscounted IDA: The remnants of Hurricane Ida caused major flooding and destruction throughout the area in Brands Always Discounted com com Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . 6 com Name Brands Always Discounted com Name Brands Always Discounted of Princeton and the surrounding area early September, with the cleanup lasting months. (Photo by Charles R. Plohn) Name Brands Always Discounted Living Room, Living Room, Living Room, com Where quality still matters. Where quality still matters. Where quality still matters. Living Room, Where quality still matters. Living Room, Living Room, Dining Room, Bedroom, Dining Room, Bedroom, Where quality still matters. Dining Room, Bedroom, Dining Room, Bedroom, Dining Room, Bedroom, Name Brands Always Discounted Now Featuring… Name Brands Always Discounted Name Brands Always Discounted MADE IN Dining Room, Bedroom, Now Featuring… Name Brands Always Discounted Now Featuring… Home Office, Now Featuring… Home Office, Area Rugs, Etc. IN Home Office, Home Office, Living Room, Dining Room, Bedroom, Name Brands Always Discounted Living Room, Dining Room, Bedroom,Now Featuring…Home Office, Room, Dining Room, Bedroom, On Sale forLiving aMADE Limited Time Living Room, Dining Room, Bedroom, Home Office, Area Rugs, Etc. Home Office, Area Rugs,Room, Etc. Bedroom, Living Room, Dining Area Rugs, Design Service Available Area Rugs, Etc. Area Rugs, Etc.Etc. Home Office, Area Rugs, Etc. Home Office, Area Rugs, Etc. Home Office, Area Rugs, Etc. Design Service Available Design Service AreaAvailable Rugs, Etc. Home Office, AreaAvailable Rugs, Etc. Design Service Available Design Service Design Service Available Non commissioned Sales Staff Design Service Available Design Service Available Designquality Service Available Non commissioned Sales Staff Design Service Available still Non Sales Staff commissioned SalesAvailable Staff Where quality stillmatters. matters. Non commissioned Sales Design Service Noncommissioned commissioned Sales StaffStaff Sale forNon a Where Non commissioned Sales Staff Non commissioned Sales Staff On Non commissioned Sales Staff commissioned Sales Staff OnOn Sale forSale aforNon On for a Sale a Non commissioned Sales Staff 4621 Route 27 Kingston, NJ Limited OnTime Sale forRoute a Name Brands Always Discounted Name Brands Always Discounted 4621 27 Kingston, NJ 4621 Route 27 Kingston, NJ Limited Time 4621 Route 27 Route 27 Kingston, 4621 Route 27 Kingston, NJ NJ NJ 609-924-0147 Limited Time Time 4621 Route 27 Kingston, Kingston, 4621 Route 27 Kingston, 4621 Route 27Bedroom, Kingston, Limited Time 609-924-0147 4621 Route 274621 Kingston, NJNJNJNJ Limited Living Room, Dining Room, Bedroom, Home Office,Area AreaRugs, Rugs, Etc. Etc. 4621 Route 27 Kingston, NJOffice, Living Room, Dining Room, Home 609-924-0147 Monday -Friday 10-6; Saturday 10-5; Sunday 12-5 Karastan Wool 609-924-0147 609-924-0147 609-924-0147 609-924-0147 10-6; Monday -Friday 10-6; Saturday 10-5; Sunday 12-5 Karastan Wool Monday -Friday 609-924-0147 609-924-0147 609-924-0147 Area Rugs Karastan Wool Karastan Wool Karastan Wool 4621 Hwy 27 Kingston, NJ | | 609-924-0147 609-924-0147 Monday 10-6; Saturday 10-5;Sunday Sunday 12-5 Monday -Friday 10-6;of Saturday 10-5; 10-5; Sunday 12-512-5 Monday -Friday 10-6; Monday -Friday 10-6; Saturday Best Store 4621 27 Kingston, NJ The Whole Month August 609-924-0147 BestFurniture Furniture Store Saturday 10-5; Sunday 12-5 The Whole Month of-Friday August Area Rugs Area Rugs Hwy Monday -Friday 10-6; Monday -Friday 10-6; Monday -Friday 10-6; Monday -Friday 10-6 | Saturday 10-5 | Sunday 12-5 Best Outdoor Furnishing Store Saturday 10-5; Sunday 12-5 Savings on all American-made manufacturers Area Rugs Area Rugs Area Rugs Monday -Friday 10-6 | Saturday 10-5 | Sunday 12-5 Best Outdoor Furnishing Store Savings on all American-made manufacturers Voted Best Furniture Store Monday -Friday 10-6; Saturday 10-5; Sunday 12-5 Saturday 10-5; Sunday 12-5 Saturday 10-5; Sunday Saturday 10-5; Sunday 12-512-5 rd
Re
s
May the New Year Bring You Health and Happiness and Bring Us All One Step Closer to Peace on Earth
Rid
imited Time 4621 Route 27 Kingston, NJ 609-924-0147 arastan Wool
Monday -Friday 10-6; Area Rugs Rider Furniture.com Saturday 10-5; Sunday 12-5 Name Brands Always Discounted Living Room, Dining Room, Bedroom, Rider Furniture. Rider Furniture. Rider Furniture. Rider Furniture. Rider Furniture.Now Featuring… Home Office, Area Rugs, Etc. com com Design Service Available On Sale forNon a commissioned Sales Staff
AMERICA AMERICA
Rider RiderFurniture. Furniture.
SALE SALE
Name Brands Always Discounted Voted Best Furniture Store
Limited Time 4621 Route 27 Kingston, NJ 609-924-0147 Karastan Wool
F
5
Monday -Friday 10-6; Saturday 10-5; Sunday 12-5
F
Living Room, Dining Room, Bedroom, Home Office, Area Rugs, etc. Name Brands Always Discounted •Name Living Room, Dining Room, Bedroom, Design Service Available Name Brands Always Discounted Living Room, Dining Room, Bedroom, Home Offi ce, Area Rugs, etc. Home Office, Area Rugs, etc. Brands Discounted Where quality still matters. Name Brands Always Discounted Where quality still matters. Where quality still•Always matters. Design Service Available Non commissioned Sales Staff
5
Where quality still matters. Voted Best Furniture Store NameBest Brands Always Discounted Voted Furniture StoreArea Rugs Voted Best Furniture Store Where quality still matters. Name Brands Always Discounted