Volume LXXVI, Number 7
Meet The Top Agents Pages 36-60 Princeton Future Offers “Walk to Coffee” . . . . . 5 Demonstrators in Palmer Square Urge Action to Combat Afghan Famine . . 8 Council Votes to Take Another Look at Handicapped Parking Ordinance . . . . . . . . . 10 Former PU Football/ Track Star Volker Makes Olympic Debut in Bobsled . . . . . . . . . 23 PDS Girls’ Hockey Wins State Prep Championship . . . . . 27
This Week’s Record Review Features Lata Mangeshkar, the Bollywood Nightingale . . . 16 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach Realtors . . 29-32 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 21 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 36 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 34 Performing Arts . . . . . 17 Police Blotter . . . . . . . 10 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 36 Shop Dine Local . . . . . . 3 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . 6
www.towntopics.com
After AAUP Resolution, Rider Trustees Respond In Support of President Reacting on February 8 to a resolution by Rider University’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), asking the University’s board of trustees to remove President Gregory Dell’Omo, the board issued a statement in his support. “Although the voices of all members of the Rider community are important, please know that the board of trustees is profoundly disappointed by this action, and reaffirms its support of President Dell’Omo and his leadership team,” reads a letter signed by John M. Guarino ’82, board chair. “The board has the utmost confidence in the administration’s ability to successfully lead Rider through the unique set of challenges facing our University and all of higher education. Further, we support President Dell’Omo’s efforts to ensure Rider’s long-term financial sustainability while fulfilling the University’s mission and vision and its commitment to its students.” The AAUP’s resolution, which 86 percent of the faculty voted to support, said Dell’Omo’s policies — including attempts to sell Rider-affiliated Westminster Choir College — have weakened the University’s financial condition, including a $20 million deficit and a 19 percent decline in fulltime enrollment, “reducing Rider’s enrollment to its lowest point in over 20 years.” Guarino’s letter reads, “The board of trustees is extremely satisfied with his performance and appreciates his unwavering, steadfast leadership during these challenging times. Record fundraising success, including increasing the number of endowed scholarships, safely navigating the uncharted challenges brought on by the pandemic, substantially improving University facilities, and building a strong leadership team are just some of President Dell’Omo’s accomplishments noted by trustees. Trustees also noted his integrity, fairness, authenticity, and especially his equanimity as he confronts circumstances beyond his control.” Barbara Frantz, president of the AAUP chapter, said Guarino’s letter failed to address any of the points raised in the resolution, and instead “spoke in vague generalities about the board’s ‘satisfaction’ with Dell’Omo.” ‘Here we have a president that the Continued on Page 11
75¢ at newsstands
Wednesday, February 16, 2022
Johnson Property Donated to D&R Greenway Just outside Hopewell Borough, a turn off of Route 518 leads to an idyllic 800acre property with sweeping views of the Hopewell Valley. It is Hillside Farm, longtime home to the late philanthropist Betty Wold Johnson, who counted land conservation among her biggest priorities. Thanks to a gift to Princeton-based D&R Greenway Land Trust, the farm — forests, meadows, wildlife habitat, and agricultural land with a tributary stream to the Stony Brook — has been added to the nonprofit’s more than 22,000 acres of land preserved in New Jersey. Johnson’s sons Robert Wood Johnson, former United States ambassador to the United Kingdom and owner of the New York Jets football team; and Christopher Wold Johnson, Jets co-owner and businessman, have donated the property in honor of their mother, who died at age 99 on May 5, 2020. “We are pleased and proud to donate this special property in honor of our mother,” the two brothers are quoted in a joint statement. “She loved Hillside Farm as much as she loved the Hopewell area, and she would be thrilled that the land will be preserved for future generations to enjoy.” Linda Mead, D&R Greenway’s executive
director, said the brothers first reached out to the organization last summer. “I almost fell off my chair,” she said. “They wanted to know, what would D&R Greenway do with the property if they gave it to us? They wanted to do something fitting with who their mother was.” A few months went by. Around Thanksgiving, another call came. “I wasn’t sure if they were still considering it,” said Mead. “But they decided to donate the property to us. We worked diligently through the
holidays to pull everything together, and the board voted to accept the gift, which we received on December 30.” Betty Wold Johnson was instrumental in securing and naming D&R Greenway Land Trust’s headquarters, the Johnson Education Center off of Rosedale Road, on the former estate of her father-in-law General Robert Wood Johnson. She was actively involved in the nonprofit for many years. “We are inspired by the family’s Continued on Page 7
COVID Cases Continue Decline in Princeton, As State and National Infections Also Drop
On Monday, February 14, the Princeton Health Department reported 34 new COVID-19 cases in Princeton over the previous seven days, down about 30 percent from the week before, and 83 cases in the previous 14 days, down about 37 percent from the two preceding weeks. Princeton University’s Campus Risk Status was reduced from “High” to “Moderate to High” on February 8, with indoor gatherings now permitted to include food and attendees allowed to remove masks when eating or drinking. Also, students are no longer limited to 20 guests in dormitory suites or rooms.
The University COVID-19 Dashboard reported a 0.32 percent positivity rate from February 5 to 11, down from 0.36 percent the previous week and 1.05 percent the week before that. Princeton Public Schools reported 27 new COVID-19 cases for the week ending February 11, three more cases than the previous week, but well below the numbers for the six weeks before that. With New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s announcement last week that the statewide mask mandate for schools and child care centers will be lifted on March 7, Princeton Continued on Page 12
CALM ON THE CANAL: Last Sunday’s light snowfall made for a serene scene at the D&R Canal near the Alexander Road bridge. (Photo by Weronika A. Plohn)