By Heather Niccoli, Staff Writer
PLAINSBORO — The township has been undergoing changes in 2011. There were new businesses and some people who have been working in Plainsboro for years retired this year.
First medical facility
Merwick Care and Rehabilitation Center, which is owned by Windsor Healthcare had a ribbon cutting in January on Plainsboro Road.
All residents and employees from Merwick’s former location in Princeton moved to the new location, which offers care to 120 long-term and 80 short-term residents.
The center, located just off Route 1 at 100 Plainsboro Road, is accessible by Middlesex County Area Transit’s new M6 shuttle bus service, connecting Plainsboro with Cranbury and Jamesburg, and New Jersey Transit’s No. 600 bus in Mercer County.
New Hospital
The new University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro is scheduled to open in May 2012.
The $442 million hospital is being built off Route 1 on Plainsboro Road. There will be services for children and a new medical pavilion adjoining the hospital.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) will be building an outpatient facility and expanding its current partnership.
Cancer care is also being expanded at the new site. Hospital officials are working on developing a partnership with the Cancer Institute of New Jersey to enhance their cancer care program.
Clementi case
Former Rutgers student Dhuran Ravi, 19, of Plainsboro allegedly used a webcam last September to view an intimate encounter with his roommate, Tyler Clementi, and another man. Mr. Clementi later committed suicide by jumping off the George Washington Bridge.
Mr. Ravi is up for a 15-count indictment, which includes invasion of privacy, hate crime and tampering with evidence.
Mr. Ravi and fellow student Molly Wei, 19, of West Windsor, were accused of spying on Mr. Clementi and a man who has only been identified as M.B.
She accepted a plea bargain in May and will testify against Mr. Ravi.
Mr. Ravi rejected a plea bargain on Dec. 8 now faces trail set to begin Feb. 21.
Former library complex
The former library complex will be turned into a cultural and recreation center.
Renovations would include replacement of the walls, lighting, ceilings, heating and air conditioning units, as well as modifications to storm drainage units.
According to the plans, the new center will accommodate a kitchen area for cooking classes, computer training rooms, a craft and painting room, meeting rooms, and a large central space to seat up to 220 people for lectures and other programs, such as art displays and concerts.
Novo Nordisk:
Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk announced in August a $215 million redevelopment project to renovate and upgrade a 770,000-square-foot office building in the Princeton Forrestal Center and relocate its U.S. headquarters to the site on Scudders Mill Road.
Cantu re-elected
Incumbent Mayor Peter Cantu won by 1,112 votes on Nov. 8 and will serve the Township Committee for three more years. It will be his 13th term.
Mayor Cantu ran against Republican Krishna Jagannathan, 26.
