Volume LXXV, Number 20
www.towntopics.com
Health Dept. Reports No New COVID Cases For Previous 7 Days
Princeton Battlefield Society Plans Memorial Day, Upcoming Events . . 5 PPS Offering Record Number of Summer Courses, Programs . . . . 10 Viewing Films Outdoors is Growing Local Trend . . 11 Passage Theatre Presents A Twist of Water . . . . . 14 PSO Returns to Live Music with Chamber Concert . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Catcher Johnson Proving To be Rare Talent for PHS Softball . . . . . . . . . . 27 Linnehan Battles Hard as PDS Boys’ Lax Falls in Prep B Final . . . . . . . 29
Actor Norman Lloyd (19152021) in Alfred Hitchcock’s Saboteur . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 19 Classified Ads . . . . . . 34 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 32 Performing Arts . . . . . 16 Police Blotter . . . . . . . 10 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 34 Religion . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . 6
For the first time since March 10, 2020, the Princeton Health Department on Monday, May 17, reported no active cases of COVID-19 in Princeton. There were zero new cases reported in the previous seven days, and only 1 new case in the previous 14 days. An executive order signed last week by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy implementing additional easing of COVID-19 restrictions in New Jersey goes into effect on Wednesday, May 19. It includes removal of all percentage capacity limits for indoor and outdoor businesses, and houses of worship; an end to the limit on outdoor gatherings; and an increased indoor larger venue capacity. Indoor mask rules will remain in place, Murphy announced, but the state’s outdoor mask mandate and its travel advisory requiring quarantines have both been dropped as of Monday, May 17. Murphy also announced on Monday that virtual learning would no longer be allowed to schools after the end of this academic year. Princeton Board of Health Chair Meredith Hodach Avalos described her mixed feelings of “cautious optimism” in response to recent COVID news. “Optimism, because we have had declining cases of the virus and high rates of vaccination locally, 12-15 year olds are now eligible, and more studies are demonstrating how highly effective the vaccines are at preventing illness and spread of the virus,” she wrote in an email. “But cautious because some members of our community have not been vaccinated yet and thus remain vulnerable to the virus.” She continued, noting further concerns, “Vaccination rates are variable in our county, state, country, and obviously our world — so the pandemic is not really over for any of us as long as it continues to ravage elsewhere. In addition, there are many secondary impacts on health we need to address coming out of the acute phase of the pandemic.” Princeton Health Officer Jeff Grosser noted that the Princeton Health Department continues to adapt to the changing landscape of the pandemic. Between 6 and 9 p.m. on May 14 the health department vaccinated close to 100 people in front of La Mexicana on Witherspoon Street. “As demand for the vaccine is Continued on Page 11
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Wednesday, May 19, 2021
PU Graduation Reflects on Pandemic Year A year ago Princeton University President Christopher Eisgruber referred to the 2020 virtual commencement as “not the ceremony anyone would have wished for,” in his speech on the theme of a generation “touched by tragedy.” But this year’s 274th Princeton University graduation ceremony on Sunday, May 16, brought thousands of joyful students, faculty, staff, and their families together in person in Princeton Stadium to celebrate the graduates’ accomplishments and reflect on the challenges of the past year. For the 2020 ceremony Eisgruber stood at the podium in front of Nassau Hall looking out on an empty lawn as he delivered his taped virtual welcome. But last Sunday, with the ceremony moved to Princeton Stadium to accommodate social distancing in following public health and safety guidelines, Eisgruber looked out on about 1,100 seniors and 200 graduate students sitting in chairs spaced apart on the field and about 3,000 guests socially distanced in assigned seating in the stands. “We are together, gathered through creative planning, technological assistance, the tireless work of many people and a fierce determination to mark with physical presence this important moment in your lives,” Eisgruber said in his
speech titled “Together, Six Feet Apart.” “And yet as we are together, we are also apart, masked, separated by carefully marked six-foot intervals and denied the joyous embraces that we would ordinarily exchange on graduation day.” Almost all undergraduates left the campus in March 2020, as COVID-19 spread throughout the country. Most returned for the second semester this year, under strict safety rules, with classes remaining virtual throughout the spring.
“By completing your studies amidst this awful pandemic, you have distinguished yourselves even by the standards of this University’s long and illustrious history,” Eisgruber told the students. In his valedictory address Princeton senior Taishi Nakase, a first-generation college student from Melbourne, Australia, also focused on the shared experiences of the past pandemic year. Salutatorian Lucy Wang, delivering her speech in Latin in accordance with longstanding Continued on Page 8
Town Buildings and Venues Reopen With State Guidelines in Mind With a relaxing of the rules on gathering and mask-wearing, Princeton is opening up again. Municipal buildings, public spaces, and various venues around town are welcoming people back — all with some restrictions. The municipal building at 400 Witherspoon Street is now open to the public on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for all routine services. Plans are to fully reopen some time next month. The Princeton Recreation Department has a separate schedule, and is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For all services in the building, wear masks and maintain social distancing.
Community Park Pool will welcome back the public on Saturday, May 29, and be open weekends and holidays until June 19, when the schedule moves to seven days a week. As of current requirements from the New Jersey Department of Health, there will be a range of pandemic protocols in place, including how many swimmers can be there at a time. The pool’s staff has the right to limit entry on busy days, and temporarily close the gate if necessary. Public swim hours are 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. weekends and holidays, and Continued on Page 11
“TOGETHER, SIX FEET APART”: Princeton University held its 274th commencement on Sunday, May 16, in-person this year but moved to Princeton Stadium from its traditional site in front of Nassau Hall. University President Christopher Eisgruber pointed out to the thousands of students and guests the University’s “fierce determination to mark with physical presence this important moment in your lives.” (Photo by Charles Sykes, Associated Press Images for Princeton University)
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