Mayor's Update - May 12, 2021

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Mayor's Update - May 12, 2021

Dear Cranbury Residents,

Summer is just around the corner! Virus rates have plummeted in Middlesex County, and vaccination rates in Cranbury lead the County. Thank you for your diligence and support for the past 14 months.

At Monday’s Township Committee meeting, we had a presentation from a new, 15-year-old resident who will be piloting a program to paint visible house numbers in the right-of-way on curbs to make it easier for first responders to locate addresses quickly in the event of an emergency. We also had a nice recap of the April 29 library groundbreaking – check out the drone video footage here to see the building outline on the space at 30 Park Place West!

Equity and Inclusion. In my individual update at Monday’s meeting, I introduced the idea of a series of community conversations about equity and inclusion, a chance to re-connect with our community after 14 months of being somewhat disconnected from our neighbors. I asked for any organization or person who was interested to reach out to me, and I’ve been encouraged by whom I’ve heard from so far. This would not be a standing committee, but rather an ad-hoc way to support a series of productive conversations about what our community stands for and what we want to be. If you’d like to help shape these conversations, please reach out to me at mferrante@cranbury-nj.com.

Recycling Refresher. When I walk my dog on Monday mornings, I see a lot of Cranburians being super-diligent about recycling paper, glass, #1 and #2 plastic, and cardboard. I also, unfortunately, see a lot of “aspirational” recycling of non-recyclable items --- these can cause the recycling machines to clog up, or (worse) cause an entire batch to be thrown out. Curbside recycling should be clean, should not include plastic that isn’t #1 or #2, plastic shopping bags, dishware, or Styrofoam. When it comes to recycling, “when in doubt, throw it out” is the best rule of thumb. Check out this helpful graphic for DOs and DON’Ts and THANK YOU for recycling. Also, check out the Recycle Coach app for schedules and more. The Cranbury recycling shed is an option for some items not recyclable curbside, and I take my family’s #5 plastics to Whole Foods for their GimmeFive! Recycling program.

Bike / Pedestrian Safety. As the weather gets warmer, more people are sharing our roads and sidewalks, so please remember a few safety and courtesy points:

Pedestrians have right-of-way on sidewalks
Bikes should ride on the road and defer to walkers on sidewalks
Bikers should wear helmets to protect themselves in the event of a fall or accident
Street parking is not reserved parking


May 19 – Jazzercise! The Mayor's Wellness Campaign continues with the next session – Jazzercise on May 19 (not May 17 as previously reported). Click here for details: https://www.cranburytownship.org/home/news/wellness-program-jazzercise-may-19-700-pm .

May 21 – Memorial Day K-8 Contest Entries Due. Cranbury Lions Club is sponsoring a Memorial Day Contest for students in grades K-8 to help the Cranbury Community commemorate our heroes of yesteryear and today for their great courage. Students can spend some time understanding Memorial Day and Veterans Day, ask family members what it means to them and transform their knowledge into a poster or essay. See attached flyer on contest details and where to submit a digital poster or essay. Winners will be posted on the Cranbury Lions Club website at https://www.cranburylions.org/

May 31 – No Memorial Day Parade. We will not have a traditional parade down Main Street this year; the long-term planning required just was not possible with all the COVID uncertainty this spring. However, I will host a Memorial Day Ceremony which can be viewed on the Cranbury Lions Club website at https://www.cranburylions.org/ on May 31!

June 3 – Cranbury Preserve Overview (via Zoom @ 7:00 p.m.). Come and get a quick overview of our four township preserves: Unami, Reinhardt, Cranbury Brook, and Pin Oaks. Thanks to the Board of Health and the Municipal Alliance for organizing this event.

June 5 – Guided Preserve Hikes (In Real Life at 10:00, 11:00, 1:00 and 2:00). Join volunteers for guided hikes at each trail. If you haven’t checked out all four preserves, this is your chance!

July 5 - Fireworks. We are a GO for our traditional fireworks event in Village Park.

September 11 – Cranbury Day and Helene Cody 5K race. We are a GO for this annual day of fun and community connection. Stay tuned for details as it gets closer.

COVID Vaccine Update. Vaccines continue to be increasingly available to our residents. As of May 5, at least 85% of our adult residents have received at least one dose of vaccine, leading Middlesex County. More than 67% of our adult residents are fully vaccinated. On May 10, the FDA approved the vaccine for 12-15-year-olds, with vaccinations beginning any day now.

Regards,

Michael Ferrante, Mayor
Cranbury Township Committee

https://www.cranburytownship.org/home/news/mayors-update-may-12-2021