By Donald Gilpin 

COVID-19 cases have seen an increase over the summer months, according to Princeton Deputy Administrator/Director of Health Jeff Grosser, but case numbers are lower than they were last year, and the Princeton Health Department is preparing for the upcoming fall season, when respiratory disease infections are likely to rise.

Grosser described a “dual seasonality” for COVID-19 with infections peaking twice a year, once in the summer and rising again in our area in November to reach a high point in January before subsiding.

At Penn Medicine Princeton Health, Chief Medical Officer and VP of Medical Affairs Dr. Craig Gronczewski reported COVID-19 infections on the rise both nationally and regionally, but noted little impact at Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center. “In fact our inpatient COVID-19 census is relatively low, ranging between two to five inpatients the prior few days,” he wrote in an August 20 email. “We may even anticipate a downward trend over the next 30 days.” more

By Donald Gilpin

Charged up over the candidacy of Kamala Harris with only 78 days until Election Day, Princeton Democrats are hosting a Convention Night Watch Party Fundraiser this Thursday, August 22 at 7:30 p.m. They are urging supporters to “watch history in the making” on a big screen, as Harris accepts the Democratic Party’s nomination for president.

“We’re going to watch the convention from 7:30 onwards and see Kamala Harris’ acceptance speech live,” said Princeton Community Democratic Organization (PCDO) President Nick DiDomizio, who noted a significant boost in excitement over the past few weeks.

“I definitely saw a lot of enthusiasm after Biden stepped out of the race and Vice President Harris became the presumptive nominee,” DiDomizio said. “Before that there were a lot of people who were on the fence, and they weren’t willing to step in.” more

By Donald Gilpin

Young children and their parents might find levels of excitement, anticipation, and anxiety rising as August winds down and the last weeks of summer approach, but Princeton Montessori School (PMonts) has a plan.

PMonts has initiated “Growing Together: A Montessori Approach to Parenting,” a series of podcasts of about 20 minutes each that will be addressing topics and challenges such as back-to-school separation, sleeping, eating, potty training, discipline, social-emotional issues, friendships, and more.

PMonts teachers, who will provide expert commentary on these podcasts, have found that these issues are of greatest interest to parents of their students.  more

URBAN HYDROLOGY TOUR: The Watershed Institute’s Jim Waltman led a contingent of K-12 educators and Princeton University-affiliated experts on a hydrology tour of Princeton last week as part of the University’s QUEST program for STEM teachers. (Photo courtesy of Princeton University)

By Donald Gilpin

More than 30 K-12 STEM teachers, representing school districts from across New Jersey, are participating in Princeton University’s QUEST program this summer, immersing themselves a rich variety of learning experiences in the world of science and mathematics.

QUEST is an acronym for “Questioning Underlies Effective Science Teaching,” and Jessica Monaghan, assistant director of STEM in the University’s Program of Teacher Preparation which organizes the QUEST programs, emphasized the power of questioning.

In her August 7 concluding remarks to the QUEST educators and scholars at the second of three week-long programs, she praised the level of engagement of the 10 area public school teachers who had completed last week’s program on hydrology. She noted, “What was so exciting to me as a learner is seeing how your questions evolved over the week.” more

By Donald Gilpin

Kopp’s Cycle, known as the oldest continually running bike store in the country, will be opening its doors on Friday, August 16, for the start of a new phase in its history that dates back to 1891.

Electric bikes (ebikes) will now make up about 60 percent of the inventory, and a new name, Pedego Princeton at Kopp’s, will reflect the priorities of the new owners and operators of the Spring Street shop, which has been shut down since December 1, 2023, though bike repairs and a few sales have continued.

Princeton Property Partners purchased the business and the property early this year, and has teamed up with Wendy Reilley, who will be running the new store, moving her Pedego Princeton operation from its temporary Wiggins Street location where it has sold electric bikes over the past three years. more

IN THE ANDES: Caminos Princeton, organized by two Community Park Elementary School aides, recently returned from an 11-day expedition to Ecuador, where rising Princeton ninth graders toured the country and spent five days living with Ecuadorian host families. The visiting Princeton contingent is seen here with their Ecuadorian host families. (Photo courtesy of Caminos Princeton)

By  Donald Gilpin

“Travel and cultural exchange can change lives,” wrote Alessandra Clemens-Lores and Queta Alban, Community Park Elementary School aides in the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program.

They proved that assertion again last month in leading 11 Princeton Middle School (PMS) recent graduates on an 11-day expedition through Ecuador that included exploring the Ecuadorian rain forest, rafting on the Yanayacu River, crossing the Andes, touring the capital city Quito, and biking through the lava fields of the volcanic valley of Cotopaxi, as well as community service at a local school in the Amazon, immersion time with Ecuadorian host families, and a focus on social and ecological awareness. more