Priya Vulchi brings ‘Good Friends’ to Princeton Public Library, page 4; On the record with Darren Revilla for Record Store Day, 12.
Calls for Art
Mercer County Senior Citizen Art Show
Mercer County Executive Dan Benson invites seniors throughout Mercer County to submit artwork to the 2025 Mercer County Senior Citizen Art Show (MCSAS), to be held this summer.
A joint project of the county’s Division of Culture and Heritage and its Office on Aging, the show is open to all Mercer County residents age 60 or older. The show will be on display from July 1 through August 4 at the Conference Center at Mercer, located on the West Windsor campus of Mercer County Community College at 1200 Old Trenton Road.
“The annual Senior Art Show is a spectacular display of the creativity and talent of Mercer County residents,” Benson said. “I’m proud that we’re continuing this beloved event, and I can’t wait to stop by and see the artwork for myself.”
U.S. 1 WELCOMES letters to the editor, corrections, and criticisms of our stories and columns. E-mail your thoughts directly to our editor: hastings@princetoninfo. com. For
Applicants may submit one piece of art in any of the following 11 categories: acrylic, craft, digital art, mixed media, oil, pastel, photography, print, sculpture, watercolor, and works on paper. All submissions must be the original work created within the last three years and not previously entered in a Mercer County Senior Citizen Art Show or the New Jersey Senior Citizen Art Show (NJSAS).
The registration deadline is Friday, June 13. Artists may register by completing an online registration form at https://shorturl.at/G4IuP or by filling out a print registration form, which can be printed from https://shorturl.at/dDMJ5, and mailing it to the Mercer County Division of Culture & Heritage, 640 South Broad Street Trenton, NJ 08611 – RM 417. Artists must drop off their registered artwork at the Conference Center at Mercer on Wednesday, June 25 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
For more information about the Mercer County Senior Citizen Art Show (MCSAS), contact the Mercer County Division of Culture & Heritage at 609-278-2712 or cultureandheritage@mercercounty. org.
Ellarslie Open 42
The Ellarslie Open, Trenton City Museum’s annual juried art show, invites artists to enter artwork through Friday, May 16, via its online Call for Art. Sheryl Liebman Fisher, associate director of Gallery Henoch in New York City, will jury the 2025 show.
Artists may submit from anywhere and may enter up to four works. Complete instructions and timeline are found at ellarslie.org/eo42. The show’s five categories are: Paintings; Works on Paper; Sculpture; Photography; and Digital Art. The top award, Best In Show Overall, carries a prize of $1,000. Five category awards and sponsored awards also carry cash prizes.
Showcasing contemporary creations by established and emerging artists, the Ellarslie Open has developed into the area’s premier annual juried exhibition since its beginnings in the early 1980s. In
Liebman Fisher, right, is the juror for the
Submissions are being
2024, out of 555 entries, the juror selected 110 diverse pieces by artists from across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and beyond.
The 2025 show will open with an Artists’ and Members’ Reception Saturday, June 21, and will remain on view through September 7. Further details about gallery talks and other programming related to the exhibition will be announced.
Ellarslie Open 42 Juror Sheryl Liebman Fisher discovered her passion for contemporary art while earning a degree in art history and business at New York University. With more than 20 years of experience in the gallery world, both in
New York City and London, she is currently an associate director at Gallery Henoch in Manhattan. She also holds a certificate in appraisal studies in fine and decorative arts from NYU and the Appraisers Association of America.
The Trenton City Museum is housed in Ellarslie Mansion in the heart of Trenton’s historic Cadwalader Park. Hours are Thursdays through Saturday from 12 to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. There is no admission fee, but donations are welcomed. For more on Ellarslie Open 42: visit ellarslie.org/ eo42 or contact exhibits@ellarslie. org or 609-989-1191.
SURVIVAL GUIDE
Business Meetings
Wednesday April 9
Networking, BNI Falcons, IHOP, 610 Route 33, East Windsor, 877-264-0500. www.bninjpa.org. Hybrid meeting. Speakers: Brandon Grocki, financial planning and investing; and Vera Silva, commercial insurance. 7 to 8:30 a.m.
Thursday April 10
Networking, BNI Tigers Chapter, Conference Center at Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, 609-570-3237. www.bninjpa.org. In-person meeting. Speaker: Paul Whitney, power washing. 7 to 8:30 a.m.
Networking BNI Top Flight, Town Diner, 431 Route 130, East Windsor, 609-4438222. www.bninjpa.org. 7 a.m.
How to Manage Technical Debt, Princeton Tech Meetup, Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www. princetonlibrary.org. Presentation by Jasper Geurts. Pizza and networking, formal presentation, and open mic to promote a business or broadcast a need. Register. $5. 6:30 p.m.
Friday April 11
Networking, BNI Driven, Elks Lodge #2622, 1580 Kuser Road, Hamilton, 609585-9610. www.bninjpa.org. Speakers: Peter Barbera, water damage; and Evens Clerjuste, pest control. 7 a.m.
Networking X-Factor BNI, VFW 133, 485 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick, 908-4216151. www.bninjpa.org. Guests always welcome. RSVP suggested. Contact distinguished@rocketmail.com for more. 7 to 8:30 a.m.
JobSeekers, Professional Service Group of Mercer County, Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www.psgofmercercounty.org. Joey Himelfarb on “Visualization and Your Job Search.” 9:45 a.m. to noon.
Saturday April 12
LGBTQIA+ Curriculum Mandate, Mercer County Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs, Mercer County Office Park, 1440 Parkside Avenue, Ewing, 609-503-9895. Kate Okeson gives an overview on the curriculum mandate, the supports in place for LGBTQIA+ in NJ schools, and the roles of families and communities in fostering LGBTQIA+ work in schools. Q&A follows. Register. Email LGBTQIA@mercercounty.org for questions. Noon to 1:30 p.m.
Sunday April 13
Investment Discussion Meeting, Wisdom in Numbers, Lawrence Library, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence. Monthly meeting, open to all, on the topic of AI and its affects on various industries and sectors of the economy. No previous industry or investing experience is assumed. To RSVP and reserve a doughnut, email ephysics@ aol.com. 2 p.m.
Wednesday April 16
Networking, BNI Falcons, IHOP, 610 Route 33, East Windsor, 877-264-0500. www.bninjpa.org. Hybrid meeting. Speakers: Mark Ragnoli, screen printing and embroidery; and Anthony Raccuia, Esq., family law. 7 to 8:30 a.m.
Business Before Business, Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce, The Nassau Club, 6 Mercer Street, Princeton, 609-924-1776. www.princetonmercerchamber.org. Networking over morning coffee and breakfast sandwiches. Register. 8 to 9:30 a.m.
Mercer County Women of Achievement Mercer County Commission on the Status of Women, Mercer Oaks Clubhouse, 725 Village Road West, West Windsor. 2025commission.eventbrite.com. Annual awards ceremony honoring women of achievement honorees Krystal DeLeon, Tricia Nielsen, and Phyllis Oliver; and young women of achievement Zurisadai Argueta-Rivera, Rithika Bodicherla, and Bethany Marusky. Register. $55 includes hors d’oeuvres, light fare, and dessert. 6 p.m.
ART FILM LITERATURE DANCE DRAMA MUSIC
PRE VIEW
DAY-BY-DAY EVENTS, APRIL 9 TO 16
Event Listings: E-mail events@princetoninfo.com
While many venues have returned to hosting in-person events, others are still taking place online. Event descriptions specify if an event is being held virtually or in a hybrid format. To include your virtual or in-person event in this section email events@princetoninfo.com.
Wednesday April 9
Jazz & Blues
Jazz Vespers, Princeton University Chapel, Princeton University. music.princeton.edu. An inclusive experience of poetry, music, and quiet centering, featuring saxophonist Audrey Welber, pianist Adam Faulk, and members of the Chapel Choir. 8 p.m.
Art
ROOTS OF EXCELLENCE: 125 Years of Miss Fine’s School and 100 Years of Princeton Country Day School Anne Reid ‘72 Gallery, Princeton Day School, 650 Great Road, Princeton. www.pds.org. Opening reception for commemorative exhibition celebrating Miss Fine’s School and Princeton Country Day School’s rich histories and enduring legacies. This immersive exhibit guides guests through a chronological journey of each school’s historic milestones, featuring carefully curated artifacts and interactive elements that encourage engagement with pivotal moments from both institutions’ rich pasts. On view through April 25 with gallery hours weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment. 3 to 5 p.m.
On Stage
In the Heights, Bristol Riverside Theater, 120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, Pennsylvania. www.brtstage.org. Lin Manuel Miranda’s musical tells the story of a vibrant community in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood – a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open, and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. 2 and 7:30 p.m.
Film
Morning Movies: The Meg, Trenton Free Public Library, 120 Academy Street, Trenton. www. trentonlib.org. Rated PG-13. 10 a.m. to noon.
Wednesday Film Festival: Robert Downey, Jr., Mercer County Library, West Windsor Branch, 333 North Post Road, Princeton Junction. www.mcl.org. Screening of “Iron Man.” 2 to 4 p.m.
Drama & Irony
The Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey performs in Patriots Theater at the War Memorial in Trenton on Saturday, April 12. The program includes Rossini’s Overture from ‘An Italian in Aligers’ as well as a Mozart piano concerto and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4. Sandro Naglia conducts.
Literati
cilofprinceton.org. Princeton Comic Makers presents: JERSEY ART MEETUPS (JAM), a weekly social event connecting creatives within the greater Central Jersey area through a shared passion for sequential art and new media. Attendees may use this open workshop space to draw, write, and develop their own artwork, with an opportunity to receive peer review and feedback from other members if desired. Illustrators, animators, writers, and generalists are all welcome to join and discuss their art and career goals, share learning resources, promote current projects, or find friends and collaborators. Must be 16+ to attend. Free. 7 to 9 p.m.
For Seniors
Bollywood Dancing Performance, Plainsboro Senior Citizen Club, Municipal Building, 641 Plainsboro Road, Plainsboro, 609-275-4965. Dinner of pizza and salad, $8. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Thursday April 10
Classical Music
After Noon Concert, Princeton University Chapel. chapel.princeton.edu. Organ performance by Margaret Harper, Trinity Episcopal Church, Princeton. Free. 12:30 p.m.
A Conversation on Amy Kaplan’s “Our American Israel”, Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street, Princeton. www.labyrinthbooks.com. Chris Hedges, Ian Lustick, and Joan Scott discuss Kaplan’s essential account of America’s most controversial alliance and how that strong and divisive partnership plays out in our own time. 6 p.m.
Author: Lynn Steger Strong, Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www.princetonlibrary.org. The author is joined by A.M. Homes to discuss her recently released novel, “The Float Test.” Book signing to follow. 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Farm Markets
Princeton University Farmers’ Market, Firestone Library/Chapel Plaza, Princeton University. Purchase fresh locally grown produce and other goods from area farmers and businesses that use sustainable practices. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wellness
Wild Gentle Yoga: Yoga to Connect with Yourself and Nature, Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, 1635 River Road, New Hope, PA. www.bhwp.org. Gentle yoga that builds body awareness, strength, flexibility and a better
Dancing Contra Dance Princeton Country Dancers, Suzanne Patterson Center, 1 Monument Drive, Princeton. www.princetoncountrydancers.org. Julian Blechner with Good Company. $20. 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.
understanding of how humans connect to and reflect natural systems with Priscilla Hayes. Register. Pay what you can, $8 and up. 8 to 9 a.m.
History
160th Anniversary Commemoration, Mercer County, Mercer Cemetery, 43 South Clinton Avenue, Trenton. Event honors the significant moments that marked the conclusion of the Civil War, such as the surrender at Appomattox. The program also pays tribute to two Civil War veterans buried at Mercer Cemetery: Medal of Honor awardees Sergeant John Beech and Captain Ellis Hamilton, the youngest commissioned officer in the Union Army at the age of 17. The cemetery is the final resting place for over 200 Civil War soldiers; this ceremony acknowledges their service and sacrifice. Tour precedes event starting at 11 a.m. Free. For more information email mercercemeterytrenton@gmail.com. Noon to 1:30 p.m.
For Parents
Raising a Self-Driven Child: A Talk with the Authors Princeton Learning Cooperative, 609851-2522. www.princetonlearningcooperative.org. Authors William Stixrud and Ned Johnson’s new book “The Seven Principles for Raising a Self-Driven Child: A Workbook” guides parents to develop the practice of being a nonanxious presence in children’s lives. In this talk they share prompts to help parents recognize and rewire their instinctual responses to stressful situations, exercises to give them the lan-
guage to communicate clearly and calmly, and lists to keep anxiety responses in check and bigpicture goals in view. Q&A follows. VIa Zoom. Register on EventBrite. 7 to 8 p.m.
Lectures
Photo History’s Futures: Giulia Paoletti, Princeton University Art Museum, Aaron Burr Hall 219, Princeton University. artmuseum.princeton.edu. Paoletti speaks about her recent publication “Portrait and Place: Photography in Senegal, 1840–1960” (2023). Paoletti is an associate professor of art history at the University of Virginia. Moderated by Tobias Rosen, doctoral student in the Department of Art and Archaeology. Reception to follow. 5 p.m.
Outdoor Action
Stewardship Session, Friends of Princeton Open Space, Mountain Lakes Preserve, Mountain Avenue, Princeton. www.fopos. org/events-programs. Volunteers work under the guidance of the FOPOS stewardship team to perform ecosystem restoration and invasive species removal. Register. 1 to 3 p.m.
Socials
Pottery & Sip, Working Dog Winery, 610 Windsor Perrineville Road, East Windsor, 609-3716000. www.workingdogwinerynj. com. Craft your own planter while enjoying a glass of wine. Register. $45. 6 to 8 p.m. Jersey Art Meetup, Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www.artscoun-
Jess Gillam, Saxophone and Thomas Weaver, Piano, Princeton University Concerts, Richardson Auditorium, Princeton University. puc.princeton.edu. 26-year-old saxophone wonder is the first-ever saxophonist to appear on the PUC’s mainstage Concert Classics series. Following the concert, join an end-ofseason dance party as you learn accessible choreography from American Repertory Ballet artists to music performed live by Jess Gillam. $30 to $50. 7:30 p.m.
Jazz & Blues
Open Jazz Jam, Mercer County Community College James Kerney Campus, Trenton Hall, 137 North Broad Street, Trenton. Sessions led by MCCC faculty Jim Holton (piano), Joe Falcey (drums), and Scott Hornick (bass) are open to all and provide an opportunity for musicians to play together and get to know each other. 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Live Music
Lovelight, Cooper’s Riverview, 50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton, 609393-7300. www.coopersnj.com. Grateful Dead tribute with Pete Tonti on guitar and vocals. Reservations recommended. 7 p.m.
Art
Claude Winn Exhibtion, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach, Realtors, 253 Nassau Street, Princeton. claudewinn.com. Opening reception for new exhibition of abstract artwork by local artist Claude Winn showcasing 11 of her distinctive abstract paintings, paying tribute to
Off the Presses: Priya Vulchi’s ‘Good Friends’
riya Vulchi has been turning heads — and transforming attitudes — since 2014. It was then that she and her Princeton High School classmate Winona Guo had an “aha” moment about racial literacy, leading them to create the nonprofit CHOOSE and publish classroom handbooks for various age groups featuring interviews with Princeton residents discussing their experience with race.
They were sophomores at the time. They published three editions of the book while still in high school, then took a gap year before starting college to travel to all 50 states and interview people about race and intersectionality. The journey led the pair to another book, “Tell Me Who You Are,” published in 2019.
Guo moved on to study at Harvard, while Vulchi went to Princeton, graduating in 2022 with a degree in African American studies and cognitive science.
Vulchi is now a graduate student in African and American studies at Harvard — and the author of another book, “Good Friends: Bonds That Change Us and the World,” released on April 8. She returns to her hometown to discuss her new book at Princeton Public Library on Monday, April 14, at 7 p.m.
In conversation with Vulchi will be Princeton University professor of African American studies Ruha Benjamin, whose connection with Vulchi goes back to the early days of CHOOSE, for which Benjamin wrote a foreword.
“Good Friends” delves into the importance of friendships not just for individuals but for all of humanity. Vulchi “Vulchi weaves through Western classical thinkers like Plato, Aristotle, and Cicero, and uncovers the private moments between good friends like James Baldwin, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Yuri Kochiyama, Toni Morrison, and June Jordan. Friendship, she shows, has ripple effects beyond just any two friends; it awakens solidarity and changes in the world,” says a statement from the book’s publisher, Legacy Lit, an imprint of Hachette Book Group focused on works celebrating social justice.
In the introduction to the book, Vulchi lays the framework for the book through the lens of her friendship with Winona Guo, her
high school classmate and co-collaborator on CHOOSE.
“You may feel magnetically pulled to your romantic partner, sinking into her oozing warmth. You may feel anchored by your mother, knowing her mind never strays from your well-being. You may feel an unmatched thrill with your siblings, a banter that never slows in roasts,” Vulchi writes. “And in this seemingly natural pecking order of things, friends are lackluster: you get busy. You acquired more relationships and obligations with age, so each friend receives less of your time. Friendships become long-distance because of jobs, and visiting is expensive. Plus, along life’s journey somehow we get convinced that of all relationships — family, romantic relationships, and professional, to name a few — friendship is the least consequential. Friends are for partying, Sunday brunch, or watching Netflix. They are peripheral, not central bonds. Nobody expects much from friends, so why try to be a good one?”
But she holds up her relationship with Guo as evidence that a more prominent and sustainable model of friendship is possible — and desirable:
“After Eric Garner’s murder in 2014, I had advocated for racial literacy with Winona for
Priya Vulchi appears at Princeton Public Library on Monday, April 14, to discuss her new book, ‘Good Friends.’ Vulchi is pictured above left with her friend Winona Guo, with whom she founded the nonprofit CHOOSE when both were students at Princeton High School.
a decade, fundraising and traveling to all fifty US states to interview strangers about race together, helping racial literacy become a district graduation requirement, running a nonprofit, and authoring racial literacy books with her, too. I could lean against our friendship, trust in its sturdiness, rest in its shade, so I knew friendship was real, even if society directs us away from it.”
“We need a new vocabulary for talking about friendship, and we crave a new template for friendship itself,” Vulchi continues. “When friendships are neglected, all the possibilities of friendship — the political possibilities, the possibilities for love, joy, and community — disappear as well.”
She concludes her introduction with an explanation of her goals for readers and what they will take away from “Good Friends”:
“My hope is that friendship does not just sit more prominently in your head, but that it
April 12
Suicide Prevention: Relationships Matter
Marcel, D.O.
Burritt, D.O.
springs into movement, changing the vibrance and depth of your relationships, improving your ability to connect with your community and even the world. You will learn about how people stay in touch with friends, love friends rigorously, bask in friendship’s joyousness, navigate difficult conversations, advocate for one another, and how to cope with friendship heartbreak and betrayal. You will see that, boiled down to its core, friendship is the study of what it means to be human.”
Author Talk: Priya Vulchi and Ruha Benjamin, Princeton Public Library, 165 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. Monday, April 14, 7 to 8 p.m. Free; registration required. www.princetonlibrary.org Good Friends: Bonds That Change Us and the World is available on Amazon.com. $29.
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corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open, and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. 2 and 8 p.m.
Deathtrap, Kelsey Theatre, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, 609-570-3333. www. kelseytheatre.org. Comedy-thriller is the story of the world-famous thriller playwright Sidney Bruhl who is suffering from a chronic case of writer’s block. When one of his former students shows up at his doorstep with what might be the next Broadway hit, Sidney and his wife concoct a deadly plan to make the manuscript their own. $22. 2 and 8 p.m.
Macbeth in Stride Lewis Center for the Arts, McCarter Theater, 91 University Place, Princeton. www.mccarter.org. Musical by Whitney White employs the musical styles of rock, pop, gospel, and R&B to investigate some of the most familiar narratives of Shakespeare’s “Scottish play.” The show asks: What does it mean to be a woman? A Black woman? And what happens when the one thing she desires is power? $20. 8 p.m.
Ride the Cyclone Music Mountain Theater, 1483 State Route 179, Lambertville. www.musicmountaintheatre.org. In this hilarious and outlandish story, the lives of six teenagers from a Canadian chamber choir are cut short in a freak accident aboard a roller coaster. When they awake in lim-
The New Jersey Conservation Foundation hosts a screening and discussion of ‘Common Ground’ at Princeton Day School’s McAneny Theater on Sunday, April 13.
bo, a mechanical fortune teller invites each to tell a story to win a prize like no other — the chance to return to life. $35. 8 p.m. Ti Jean and His Brothers, Program in Theater & Music Theater, Wallace Theater, Lewis Arts Complex, Princeton University. arts.princeton.edu. Nobel Prizewinning poet and playwright Derek Walcott’s fable set in a forest that tells the story of three brothers, their individual weaknesses,
State Museum Celebrates Its 130th Anniversary
The staff of the New Jersey State Museum was all set to host a 125th anniversary celebration in 2020 when the pandemic put the kibosh on those plans.
And since “126th anniversary” or “127th anniversary” just doesn’t have much of a ring, executive director Margaret O’Reilly and her staff had to be content to wait until another round number came along — which is why the museum is finally celebrating this month with a party marking its 130 years in existence.
On Thursday, April 17, from 6 to 8 p.m., the New Jersey State Museum Foundation plans to commemorate the museum’s anniversary with a celebration that will include an exclusive preview of the museum’s newest exhibition, “Ecosystems at Risk: Threatened and Endangered in New Jersey.”
The event takes place at the museum at 205 West State Street, Trenton. Tickets are $125 and must be reserved by Thursday, April 10. Visit givebutter.com/LPxIm8 to register.
At this fundraising event, former museum trustees Karen S. Ali, Larry Conti, Gabrielle Deen, Sally Lane, and Dolores Yazujian, as well as former foundation executive director Nicole Jannotte Stubbs, will receive the Museum Legacy Award.
The exhibition, which will be on view from April 19 through March 15, 2026, takes visitors through each of New Jersey’s major ecosystems: Skylands, Piedmont, Pinelands, Delaware River, Delaware Bay, and Atlantic Coast.
The exhibition highlights the threatened and endangered wildlife that are native to each region, from bobcats in the Skylands to piping plovers along the coast. There are more than 2,000 plant species native to the state as well.
The exhibition also details the threats that our wildlife and habitats face, as well as what residents can do to help protect them. The exhibits also provide examples of research underway that may offer hope for the future of biodiversity in the state.
O’Reilly has worked at the museum for 36 years, serving as the executive director since 2015. She says the new exhibition makes sense now because climate change
by Joe Emanski
is a topic that is front and center.
“We try to do programs that relate to what some of the schools are doing, because fully 40 percent of our visitors are students,” O’Reilly says. “We are all talking about climate in New Jersey right now. Climate change is an important topic in New Jersey because we’re right up against the ocean and feeling and seeing the effects of it.”
The New Jersey State Museum has four main areas of focus: archaeology and ethnography; cultural history; fine art; and natural history. O’Reilly says that when coming up with new ideas for feature exhibitions, she and her staff look to rotate through those main subjects, though there is no specific pattern to how they rotate.
The most recent feature exhibition at the museum focused on the work of a single artist, Robert Duran. Duran, well known in New York art circles in the 1970s and ’80s, dropped out of sight when the gallery that represented him closed.
He moved to New Jersey and continued painting, but he never again sought representation. “He had been in big shows and reviewed by big critics, but after the 1980s he never showed again,” says O’Reilly, who was the museum’s curator of fine art before becoming executive director. “After he died, a gallery in New York got his estate from the family and saw the work he had been producing. He became a New Jersey artist after moving here, so I’m really proud that we reintroduced this artist to the world.”
When a curator has an idea for a possible future exhibition, the first thing O’Reilly and her staff do is think about how the idea might be executed. They consider how would it look, what it would cost, and whether there would be adequate space to display it.
“Once an idea jells, our curators develop an exhibition idea, they reveal it to the entire exhibition committee, and we talk about budget and that kind of thing. If we can figure out a budget, or know we can fundraise for it, we put it on the schedule.”
Three staff members took the lead on bringing “Ecosystems at Risk” to life. Dana Ehret, the museum’s curator of natural history; Julie Vastano, assistant curator of
Above, the New Jersey State Museum in its original location, the New Jersey State House, circa 1902. At right, Margaret O’Reilly, who has been the museum’s executive director since 2015.
natural history; and Devra HockReid, assistant curator for science education, ran point, with other staff members providing advice and expertise as needed. Museum staff worked closely with members of the Department of Environmental Protection as well.
Ehret had the original inspiration for the exhibition. Ehret grew up in the state, making regular visits to the beach and taking hikes in state and local parks with his family. He studied marine biology at Stockton University and worked at the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor during college.
He says these experiences gave him a deep appreciation for the diversity of New Jersey’s ecosystems. “I hope visitors to the ‘Ecosystems at Risk’ exhibition take away a greater appreciation for New Jersey’s natural areas and the rich diversity of wildlife that shares our great state,” Ehret says. “I also hope our visitors learn about some of the wonderful work the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish and
April 12
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gram that combines hands-on activities with listening to a story. Learn about turning “garbage” back into soil. Read stories about worms and compost and make a compost container to take home. Register. $12 per child includes all materials. 10 to 11 a.m.
Kung Fu Demonstration, Mercer County Library, Lawrence Headquarters Branch, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville. www.mcl.org. Playful theatrical production tells the legendary origin story of Kung Fu. Witness ancient “five animal” martial arts forms demonstrated by experienced practitioners from the Bau Shu Fang Lian School of Kung Fu. Wind down from the comedic play through a meditation practice and discover Kung Fu’s connection to the Buddhist philosophy of protecting one’s mind from negativity.
Wildlife staff do to protect our environment.”
Shortly after “Ecosystems at Risk” opens to the public, it will serve as the centerpiece for another event, this one coinciding with Earth Day. On Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the museum will host a variety of activities including urban birdwatching, a water health talk, a discussion on tidal marshlands, and a planetarium show, “We Are Guardians,” that offers perspective on ecosystems worldwide.
The feature exhibition is just one of many things that visitors will be able to see on the four floors of the New Jersey State Museum at any given time. Anyone who grew up in New Jersey can probably tell you what is on display there from the school field trips they took there as children — fossils, Native American artifacts, colonial home furnishings, flags of the Civil War era.
The pieces on display may change, but many standing exhibi-
Recommended for ages 6 and up, with a caregiver. Registration required. 10:30 a.m.
For Families
Community Egg Hunt, Lawrenceville Main Street, The Terraces Assisted Living, 1 Bishops Drive, Lawrenceville. Day of fun, music, snacks and community featuring an egg hunt and photos with the Bunny while brightening the day of the residents of The Terraces Assisted Living. Free face painting, games, and music by School of Rock Princeton. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Outdoor Action
Saturday Morning Walking Club
Lawrence Hopewell Trail. www. lhtrail.org/walkingclub. Walks are generally 2-3 miles. See the website for the meeting point and other details. Free. 9:30 a.m.
Foraging as Stewardship: Garlic Mustard, Friends of Princeton Open Space, Mountain Lakes Preserve, Mountain Avenue, Princeton.
A reception takes place for an exhibit of abstract paintings by Claude Winn at the Berkshire Hathaway Home Services office on Nassau Street on Thursday, April 10. The show is on view through May 15.
tions have been active for years. “Almost any museum you go to, there are things that have to be on view — things that visitors expect,” O’Reilly says. “If you go to the Louvre and the ‘Mona Lisa’ is not on view, that’s a problem. Forty percent of our attendance is school groups, and those teachers are teaching the same things every year.
“Some things can’t stay on view for long — photographs, textiles, things that start to break down if on display for any length of time. So that quilt you saw three months ago might not still be on view, but another quilt might be.”
www.fopos.org/events-programs. Learn about the origins of garlic mustard and how to identify this plant from local experts Matt and Shannon. Remove this invasive plant from the Preserve and take your harvest home, and try some pesto garlic mustard. Register. 10 a.m. to noon.
Potato Planting, Howell Living History Farm, 70 Woodens Lane, Lambertville, 609-737-3299. www. howellfarm.org. Visitors of all ages can join workhorses Bill and Jesse to help plant a field of potatoes that will yield over 2,000 pounds of food for local soup kitchens. While farmers drive the horses and steer the plow to open up the rows, helpers will follow behind with baskets of seeds and place them in the furrows 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Princeton Canal Walkers Turning Basin Park, Alexander Road, Princeton. 3 mile walk on the towpath, weather permitting. Free. Register to canalwalkers@googlegroups. com for notices of weather-related cancellations. 10 a.m.
Schools
Open House Villa Victoria Academy, 376 West Upper Ferry Road, Ewing. villavictoria.org. Meet with teachers and hear about classes and activities, tour the school building with a student ambassador and
Sky’s the Limit at State Planetarium
The planetarium at the New Jersey State Museum is one of the capital city’s most prominent landmarks. Its bright white dome rises like an alien spaceship along Route 29, which skirts the back of the Capitol Complex where the planetarium resides.
Modern planetaria are movie theaters, first and foremost. Yes, visitors to the New Jersey State Museum also get to enjoy the stars of the night sky projected onto the ceiling of that dome, accompanied by a “sky talk” presented by planetarium staff. But these sky talks are merely a prelude to the main attraction: a high-definition motion picture short that has been specially formatted for planetarium viewing.
The movies have proven to be successful in entertaining visitors at planetariums across the nation. Schoolchildren arrive by the busload during weekday field trips, followed by tourists in their SUVs on weekends. NJSM has a catalog of show licenses stretching back to the early 2000s, many of which are still in the regular rotation today.
But the planetarium is also always adding new shows into the mix, such as “Spark: the Universe
O’Reilly and the museum’s curators are always looking for ways to ensure that the standing exhibitions stay fresh, even after decades on view. “The way we evolve as humans, we learn differently (over time). Our educators are always thinking about that in terms of the programs they do, working with the curators in terms of making the exhibitions understandable to the general public,” O’Reilly says. “We look at exhibitions now and again and say, this needs to be changed completely, or this needs to be updated.”
As a state agency, the museum receives an annual appropriation to cover operations. The appropriation does not always allow for the budgeting of everything on the agenda, which is where the New Jersey State Museum Foundation comes in.
Formerly known as the Friends of the State Museum, the nonprofit foundation serves as a major fund-
in Us” and “We Are Guardians,” two 2023 short films that have had their NJSM premieres this year.
The shows both tie in to the museum’s upcoming feature exhibition, “Ecosystems at Risk: Threatened and Endangered in New Jersey.”
Jacob Hamer is the curator of the planetarium at the New Jersey State Museum. An astrophysicist by training, Hamer says his very first experience in astronomy was in a planetarium. “I did a senior year internship in a planetarium, and now I’m hosting a senior in high school doing an internship with me,” he says. “Things have kind of come full circle.”
Hamer says that “We Are Guardians,” a story about deforestation in the Amazon rainforest and the impact it is having in global climate stability, is geared toward younger audiences. “Spark: The Universe in Us,” meanwhile, is perhaps more appropriate for older viewers.
“Spark,” narrated by Diego Luna, looks to connect the air we breathe and the carbon we are made of to exploding stars millions of light years away and billions of
years in the past. This interconnectedness of all the elements in the universe and all life on earth is symbolic of the interconnectedness of the fragile ecosystems across the earth.
“I really want the shows here to tell people something new, something that they haven’t heard before,” Hamer says. “I really want the shows to instill a sense of wonder. I don’t want them to just be dry lists of information. It’s important to me that they’re visually stunning.”
Films like these may fill out the majority of the planetarium schedule, but they are not the only attractions. Since joining the NJSM two years ago, Hamer has instituted a free monthly lecture series called “Science Under the Stars” that features area scientists and researchers.
“I think it’s really special to connect the public directly with scientists,” Hamer says. “I’ve started to have a really dedicated audience of people who come every month.”
In the March lecture, Philippe Yao, a graduate research fellow in astrophysics at Princeton Univer-
‘Ecosystems at Risk,’ opening Saturday, April 19, focuses on the endangerment of native New Jersey animal species such as the eastern box turtle pictured at right.
raising entity for the museum, hosting events such as the 130th anniversary celebration. The foundation also helps the museum secure grants that are only open to nonprofit organizations. Some exhibitions are funded partially or entirely by grants and donations.
The museum was established by the New Jersey Legislature in 1895 during the term of Gov. George T. Werts. It began as a collection of display cases on the third floor of the State House. After the State House Annex opened in 1929, the museum took up residence in a wing of the new building.
Then in 1965, the museum moved to its current, standalone space, a Mid-Century Modern building whose architecture has
enjoy light refreshments with our parents and alumnae of the all-girls private Catholic school for grades 6 through 12. Contact cwhite@villavictoria.org for more information or to register. 1 to 3 p.m.
Shopping News
Spring Fling, New Jersey Punk Rock Flea Market, CURE Insurance Arena, 81 Hamilton Avenue, Trenton. www.punkmarket. com. Hundreds of vendors, makers, and artists; dozens of food trucks; live DJs; and on-site tattooing and piercing. $15 general admission. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Socials
Paul Robeson’s 127th Birthday, Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www.artscouncilofprinceton.org. Multi-media birthday celebration honoring the legacy of Paul Robeson, Princeton’s “native son” and scholar, all American athlete, artist, and activist. Free, all-ages event includes wreath laying; coffee, pastries, and conversation; presentation by the Alphas; and tour of the Robeson House. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Stories We Choose to Tell, Artworks Trenton, 19 Everett Alley, Trenton, 609394-9436. www.artworkstrenton.org. Voices of Tha Block and Art All Night Previews collaborate to create a space of community. Attendees prepare a meal together and explore what it means to collage and document identities together. 2 to 6 p.m.
Sports for Causes
fallen out and then back into style over the past 60 years, along with the New Jersey State Planetarium that connects to the main building’s lower level.
The main building underwent significant renovations between 2004 and 2008 but for the most part remains much the same as it was when it first opened. O’Reilly says it has generally held up well.
“Of course, every museum will tell you they need more space,” she says. “None of us shows the majority of their collection. Museums worldwide show somewhere between 8 and 12 percent of their inventory full time. We would love more space for teaching, for exhibits, but it works for where we are right now.”
10th Annual Sexual Assault Awareness Month Walk R.O.S.A.-One Heaven Inc. Cadwalader Park, Trenton. Walk to raise awareness and support survivors of sexual assault. Virtual walk also available. Register via EventBrite. Free. 8 to 11 a.m.
Sunday April 13
Live Music
Weekend Music Series, Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton, 609-924-2310. www.terhuneorchards.com.
Live music from 1 to 4 p.m. by Mike Tusay. Lunch fare, homemade treats, ice cream, and wine by the glass available. Noon to 5 p.m.
Rob Messina Working Dog Winery, 610 Windsor Perrineville Road, East Windsor, 609-371-6000. www.workingdogwinerynj. com. 1 to 5 p.m.
Rupert & Scheetz, Hopewell Valley Vineyards, 46 Yard Road, Pennington, 609737-4465. www.hopewellvalleyvineyards. com. Americana. 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Pop Music
Visiting Artists Series, Bucks County
The State Museum’s planetarium is showing ‘We Are Guardians’ and ‘Spark: The Universe in Us’ in conjunction with the ‘Ecosystems at Risk’ exhibit.
sity, discussed black holes and their surrounding environments. April’s lecture, “From Beginning to End: The Story of Our Universe,” scheduled for 4:15 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, is set to feature Dr. Cyril Creque-Sarbinowski from the Center for Computational Astrophysics.
Creque-Sarbinowski will present on what we know about the origins of the universe — and what it might be like in the distant future.
To attend, register online at nj.gov/ state/museum/events-calendar.shtml. The planetarium is also available to be reserved for private viewings on weekend mornings. Those reserving private viewings can invite up to 40 people for a fee and choose a show from the planetarium’s catalog, presented by planetarium staff. For more information email njsm.reservations@ sos.nj.gov.
a.m.
Playhouse, 70 South Main Street, New Hope, Pennsylvania, 215-862-2121. www. bcptheater.org. “Sweet Baby James,” James Taylor tribute by singer-songwriter Bill Griese. $60. 1:30 p.m.
An Evening with Dawes McCarter Theater, 91 University Place, Princeton, 609258-2787. www.mccarter.org. Celebrating the release of the California rock band’s latest album, Oh Brother, brothers Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith bring an intimate yet dynamic performance to the stage. $43 to $58. 7 p.m.
Art
Campus Collections Outdoor Walking
Tour, Princeton University Art Museum, Nassau Hall, Princeton University. artmuseum.princeton.edu. Join a guided walking tour of the campus collections with an Art Museum docent and discover a variety of artworks by modern and contemporary sculptors. Rain or shine; stair-free. 2 p.m.
On Stage
Deathtrap, Kelsey Theatre, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, 609-570-3333. www. kelseytheatre.org. Comedy-thriller is the story of the world-famous thriller playwright Sidney Bruhl who is suffering from a chronic case of writer’s block. When one of his former students shows up at his doorstep with what might be the next Broadway hit, Sidney and his wife concoct a deadly plan to make the manuscript their own. $22. 2
p.m.
Missing Dog, Very Helpful, Theatre Intime, Hamilton Murray Theater, Princeton University. tickets.princeton.edu. Play by junior Kristen Tan, directed by sophomore Melody Cui. Working the night shift alone, a grocery store clerk welcomes back a customer who’d forgotten to buy something on their list. But they’ve been here before — many times before. It’s the customer’s recurring dream, but it isn’t recurring quite right tonight. The key to waking up hangs on the collar of a very helpful stuffed dog, who, unfortunately, has just gone missing. Will they find him in the booby-trapped aisles, or will they get lost back there, too? $12. 2 p.m.
The Shawshank Redemption, Villagers Theatre, 475 DeMott Lane, Somerset, 732873-2710. www.villagerstheatre.com. When Andy Dufresne is convicted of murder and sentenced to life in the notorious Shawshank prison, he must find a way to keep himself and his hope alive by using his wits and forging friendships. $22. 2 p.m.
In the Heights, Bristol Riverside Theater, 120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, Pennsylvania. www.brtstage.org. Lin Manuel Miranda’s musical tells the story of a vibrant community in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood – a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open, and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. 3 p.m.
New Jersey State Museum, 205 West State Street, Trenton Open Tuesdays through Sundays, 9
to 4:45 p.m. Free admission. nj.gov/state/museum
130th Anniversary Celebration, New Jersey State Museum Foundation. Thursday, April 17, 6 to 8 p.m., at the museum. Register by Thursday, April 10. $125. givebutter.com/LPxIm8
$6,975,000
$3,399,000
MUSIC
PRE VIEW
On the Record: How Darren Revilla Found His Groove
Unlike so many successful small businesses, there was no business plan or clearly articulated vision for Revilla Grooves ‘n’ Gear. But record buyers from around the state, Staten Island and other parts of New York City and eastern Pennsylvania flock to the store.
Given that big chains like Best Buy are no longer selling compact discs, or much vinyl, and places like Princeton Record Exchange draw customers from hundreds of miles away, there is demand for new and used compact discs and new and used vinyl albums. Revilla Grooves ‘n’ Gear is situated at 126 North Main Street, Milltown, minutes from Routes 1 and 130 in North and New Brunswick.
Darren Revilla has tapped into this market through a combination of luck, good timing, and skills. Raised in Manalapan Township, near Freehold, Revilla got into music at a young age through one of his uncles. As a teen he frequented the old Record Setter on Route 18 in East Brunswick, which stocked thousands of new and used CDs and vinyl albums, some rare and collectible, and others next week’s haircut.
lin.” At Rutgers, the late folk-blues turned punk rock singer and actor David Johansen and his New York Dolls led him to other bands like Jane’s Addiction and Soundgarden.
Revilla earned his bachelor’s in journalism and mass media in 1994. During his senior year, he had an off-campus apartment in New Brunswick with some friends and his girlfriend, Eileen, who would later become his wife. One day, he went back to his mother Patricia’s house in Manalapan — she worked in insurance in New York City for years, while his father, Nelson, held a variety of local jobs around Manalapan — and picked up a collection of 45 singles gathered over the years by his mother and her sister.
‘By the late 1990s, my entire world, except for my girlfriend, was records,’ Darren Revilla explained.
“We didn’t go anywhere for weeks! I fell in love with Archie Bell and The Drells, Kool and the Gang, early Marvin Gaye, and a whole bunch of other classic soul. As I’m finishing up at Rutgers I am shopping at Princeton Record Exchange every other weekend, spending my paycheck over there.”
“I was influenced by the tastes of my uncle, who is 12 years older. He was listening to garage rock and other classic rock, and out of that I developed a serious taste for hard rock and heavy metal in my early teen years,” he said.
“In my college years at Rutgers, I was into soul and alternative rock, and I would dive back periodically into classic punk like the Ramones and classic rock like Led Zeppe-
April 14
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He began hanging out and buying more records at the legendary store and applied twice for jobs there. Finally, one day in 1997, an alert staffer suggested to him he should be working there. Revilla explained he’d already applied twice and was quickly hired. There, he learned more about what makes a record rare and collectible and he had access to large collections that came from estate sales. While working at Legends Catering on Somerset Street and Easton Avenue, he began DJing in clubs in and
angling nirvana. Little did he know he would be battling epic floods, fracking for natural gas, invasive species, and insect plagues. In between casts for wild trout and other species, he shares a much better understanding of the stewardship and interconnectedness between angling and the natural world. Monthly chapter meeting free and open to the public. 6 p.m.
A Celebration of Arab Culture & Dialogue, Mercer County Library. www.mcl.org. National Arab American Heritage Month is recognized during the month of April to celebrate the history, heritage, and contributions of the diverse population of Arab Americans. Dr. Rania Habib, professor of Arabic and linguistics and the Arabic Program coordinator at Syracuse University, speaks on the vibrant contributions of Arab culture with Q&A session immediately following. Virtual program; register for link. 7
p.m.
by Richard Skelly
around New Brunswick in 1995, and all of his DJing money went back into — what else? — buying more records.
When Revilla started at Princeton Record Exchange in November, 1997, the legendary store had already been sold by Barry Weisfeld to Jon Lambert.
“By the late 1990s, my entire world, except for my girlfriend, was records,” he explained. After two years of burning the candle at both ends, DJing in bars at night and working at PRX by day, he decided he might be better off with some kind of information tech job, so he attended DeVry Institute in North Brunswick, which led him to an apartment in nearby Milltown.
After three years at PRX, he went back to Legends Catering and worked as their IT guy with newfound computer skills. He and Eileen found an apartment at 128 North Main Street, next to the store he now rents, and he hung on to his Legends Catering job so he could work from home much of the time and look after their newborn son. He estimates he acquired about 7,000 records from 1994 to 2000.
“I needed to start selling some things off. eBay at the time was easy to navigate, so somewhere in early 2001 I started selling records on eBay using knowledge I had acquired at Princeton Record Exchange. There were some vinyl titles that I acquired there for $5 that I was now selling for $80 to $100. I began doing this on the side and thought I was going to get out of that and leave records, but instead I started dealing them because the DJing eventually dried up. Meantime, we had a second child and we bought a house.”
At his son’s ninth birthday party, a number of parents came over and
Tuesday April 15
Live Music
Acappella Chorus Rehearsal, The Gardenstatesmen, Plainsboro Recreation Center, 641 Plainsboro Road, Plainsboro, 609-462-3371. Male acapella chorus invites all guests to rehearsals to sing or listen and stay as long as they wish. Call to confirm before visiting. 7:30 p.m.
Pop Music
Gene Loves Jezebel with Jay Aston, Randy Now’s Man Cave, 119 West Ward Street, Hightstown. randy-nows-man-cave. ticketleap.com. British rock band performs. $50. 7 p.m.
Art
The Long Ride Home: Black Cowboys in America Silva Gallery of Art at Pennington, The Pennington School, 112 West Delaware Avenue, Pennington. www.pennington.org. Gallery talk and book signing in
were invited to hang around afterwards, he recalled.
“One of the fathers looks at a poster of Charlie Patton I have on the wall and says ‘Oh Charlie Patton, my Dad has records like that, he was a big 78 blues and jazz collector.’ His Dad had passed about 10 years prior to that, so I said, ‘Yes, I would like to see your dad’s old record collection.’ Months later, Revilla finally had a chance to look around the basement of his friend’s father’s house in Old Bridge. There, in the dark, he found Vocalion 78 rpm blues records and a Muddy Waters 78, before the influential guitarist and singer began his long relationship with Chess Records in Chicago. He also found a 78 rpm promotional record from BlueNote Records by boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons.
“I said, ‘Steve, let me take these two records home and do some research, see what they’re worth, and see if I can make you an offer on these and the rest of the collection.’” Revilla was able to sell the
conjunction with the photo essay exhibit by acclaimed photographer and Swarthmore College art professor Ron Tarver. In his recently published book, Tarver illuminates the enduring heritage of Black cowboys through 110 photos made in the early 1990s, at the start of this 30-year (ongoing) project. Exhibit on view through June 6. 2 to 4:30 p.m.
Dancing
Tuesday Night Folk Dance, Princeton Folk Dance, Christ Congregation, 50 Walnut Lane, Princeton. www.princetonfolkdance.org. No partner necessary. $5. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Lectures
Finding Your Unclaimed Property, Mercer County Library, Ewing Branch, 61 Scotch Road, Ewing, 609-882-3148. www.mcl.org. Presented by Lori Jones from New Jersey Department of the Treasury. Would you like to know if the New Jersey Unclaimed Property Office is holding financial assets for you? Unclaimed Property is any financial asset that has been unclaimed by its rightful owner for a specified time period. Unclaimed Property’s mission is to reunite owners with their unclaimed financial as-
rare Ammons recording for $1,300 and got $50 for the Muddy Waters disc on eBay. He offered his friend Steve’s mother $10,000 for the collection from the basement in Old Bridge.
“At that point, $10,000 was every penny I had. I had to take out a home equity line of credit. I didn’t have that kind of money, but his mother agreed to it, and I bought a 20,000 piece 78 collection. I went from being a part-time dealer to having this incredible record collection. I started listing more on eBay and making more money with it, so I learned how to describe 78s and how to grade them [condition-wise]. I remember there were some clean Louis Armstrong discs on the Okeh label and a bunch of blues things.”
His friend Steve then told him about his late father’s best friend, who had another massive collection of 78s, which he also picked up.
“By 2010, I’m making enough money that I can probably leave my
sets, such as: stocks/bonds, insurance checks, utility deposits, savings and checking accounts, wages, and payroll checks. Register. 10 a.m.
Virtual Author Conversation: Memorable Fancies, Princeton University Art Museum, 100 Arthur Lewis Auditorium, Robertson Hall, Princeton University. artmuseum. princeton.edu. Conversation between art historian Todd Cronan and Katherine A. Bussard, curator of photography, about one of the most significant unpublished texts in the history of photography. “Memorable Fancies” is the daybooks of Minor White, an artist who played a leading role in shaping the practice of photography in postwar America and whose archive is held by the Museum. Register for livestream. 5:30 p.m.
Schools
Open House, The Bridge Academy, 1958B Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, 609844-0770. www.bridgeacademynj.org. For parents and professionals who wish to obtain more information regarding The Bridge Academy for a possible placement or referral for a child. Register. 9:30 a.m.
Life in the Fast Lane
Municipality of Princeton Acquires Westminster Choir College Campus
The Municipality of Princeton is now the official owner of the historic 23-acre property formerly used by Westminster Choir College, located near the center of town and bounded by Walnut and Linden lanes and Franklin and Hamilton avenues.
While the property has been the subject of lawsuits regarding its legal ownership, the municipality’s acquisition through condemnation is absolute, and eliminates any and all claims, restrictions, or encroachments by any other party over the property.
“The acquisition process has been a smooth one, and now the hard work begins: to reimagine this historic site to meet urgent public facility needs, while honoring the cultural significance of its past and leaving a legacy for future generations,” said Princeton Council President Mia Sacks. “We look forward to engaging the community over the next 18 months in a multifaceted planning exercise with robust public engagement and maximum stakeholder input.”
The Municipality of Princeton filed an Eminent Domain Action in the Superior Court of New Jersey to acquire the property on January 14. Rider University and Princeton Theological Seminary were both named as defendants due to unresolved issues surrounding title to
the property. The defendants filed non-contesting answers, thereby acknowledging Princeton’s right to take title to the property.
On March 3 all parties entered into a stipulation wherein Princeton’s appraised value of the property, $42 million, was accepted as the true value of the property. The acquisition at that price was approved by a judge on March 5.
Princeton recorded a Declaration of Taking on April 1 with the Mercer County Clerk.
Rider has been working with the municipality to transfer management of the property in recent weeks. Deputy Administrator Deanna Stockton said, “We have worked closely with Rider facilities personnel on operational transfer, including security, waste management, utilities, IT, fire and alarm systems, landscaping, and a host of other matters.”
The licenses for three nonprofits
currently operating on the site — Music Together, Princeton Pro Musica, and the Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra — have been transferred to Princeton. The municipality has also been working with Rider to make it possible for the Westminster Conservatory of Music, currently a part of Rider University, to continue operating on the property.
Princeton has retained Topology, a NJ-based planning firm, to help “identify a vision for the site that is both implementable and worthy of the Municipality’s sizable investment,” as indicated in their scope of work.
“We are pleased that the legal hurdles involving the acquisition of this property have finally been resolved,” said Mayor Mark Freda. “We are eager to move forward together with the community to come up with the best plan for this site and our residents.”
Edited by Sara Hastings
Upgrades, Expansion Announced for Isles’ GOTrenton!
GOTrenton!, the Northeast’s first all-electric, on-demand rideshare service and a flagship initiative of Trenton-based nonprofit Isles, has announced significant service enhancements and a citywide expansion set to launch on Tuesday, April 15. The improvements will substantially increase accessibility and convenience for Trenton residents using the popular fare-free service. GOTrenton! was launched in October 2023. In 2024, GOTrenton! provided more than 28,650 rides, serving nearly 40,000 total passengers while supporting more than 2,000 unique users monthly. The program has become a vital
The GOTrenton! team, top, and the Kia Niro, a crossover SUV that will replace the smaller cars in GOTrenton’s current fleet.
transportation link for residents, with the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Trenton Transit Center, and Oakland Park Apartments being the most frequent pickup and dropoff locations.
“GOTrenton! is committed to
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providing EV mobility and access to Trenton residents,” said Kep Short, GOTrenton! director. “We meet residents’ transportation needs with right-sized solutions — connecting residents with jobs, healthcare, shopping, recreation, and services while lowering tailpipe emissions and improving environmental and wellness outcomes in the city. We look forward to rolling out these upgrades next month, as they will allow us to better serve our current customers while also scaling up to offer even more residents high-quality, reliable, and clean transportation options.”
Key service enhancements beginning April 15 include:
Expanded Coverage Area: Service will extend to include the entire city of Trenton, representing 2.5 times the current coverage area.
Curb-to-Curb Service: On-demand service will now pick up riders at their exact location, eliminating the need to walk to fixed pickup spots.
Vehicle Upgrades: The fleet’s smaller GEM vehicles will be replaced with EV Kia Niro crossover SUVs, offering room for 5 passengers with full amenities including heat, air conditioning, highway access, and enhanced safety features.
Customer Service Hotline: During service hours, passengers can call for assistance with the app or to request rides without a smartphone.
Sunday Service Hours: Operations will now include Sundays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Additionally, ground has been broken for a new GOTrenton! headquarters near the Perry Street Fire Station, expected to open this summer. This centralized location will improve operational efficiency and provide Trenton residents with 24/7 access to new EV superchargers.
“Safe and affordable transportation is an issue for a growing number of residents in our community,” said Peter Rose, Managing Director at Isles. “GOTrenton! continues
to fill a growing need for Trenton families. Getting Trentonians to shopping, services, health care, and work is our priority. Getting them there in clean, safe, and energy efficient vehicles is even better.”
GOTrenton! provides EV rideshare and van services to improve mobility for low-income residents in Trenton, increasing access to jobs, healthcare, services, shopping, and recreation. The program remains fare-free to maximize accessibility.
Isles has partnered with Circuit, which operates similar programs in other cities, to provide vehicles, manage daily operations, and hire and train local residents as drivers. With this service, GOTrenton! promotes economic revitalization, job creation, and transportation equity while addressing air quality issues caused by conventional vehicles.
In New Jersey, 42 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector. These emissions contribute to health issues in cities like Trenton, where residents face a disproportionately high risk of respiratory diseases. The city also continues to face challenges in accessing affordable and reliable transportation, with almost one-third of households being car-free.
For more information, visit www.gotrenton.org or email gotrenton@isles.org.
Expansions: JZA+D Adds Manhattan Office
Witherspoon Street-based integrated design firm Joshua Zinder Architecture + Design (JZA+D) has announced the opening of a new office in Midtown Manhattan. With licenses secured to operate and practice architecture in New York State, the firm’s leadership says it seeks to bring the JZA+D’s valuable experience and long track record to bear on a range of projects in the New York metro
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JZA+D was founded in 2006 by managing partner Joshua Zinder, and has amassed a portfolio of works in architecture, interiors, product, furniture, and graphic design under the direction of Zinder and partner Mark A. Sullivan.
“JZA+D works across as many sectors and typologies as possible, because we believe firmly in the importance of cross-pollination of ideas,” says Zinder, a past-president of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) New Jersey chapter. “The results are innovative, modern and cost-effective solutions that are in demand widely. I started my career here in New York, and we have projects — completed, active or in planning — in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan as well as over the Hudson River in Jersey City, N.J.”
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Architect Richard Perry will serve as principal of JZA+D’s recently established Manhattan office.
region has more than prepared him for the task.
“I live in New York City and have for quite some time,” says Perry. “As one of JZA+D’s leaders I’ve seen how clients and communities respond both to our built work and our involvement and advocacy, and I believe the New York Metro Region will benefit from our being more active here.”
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255 NASSAU STREET PRINCETON
LOCATED IN THE HEART OF WALKABLE PRINCETON …ADJACENT TO PRINCETON UNIVERSITY’S CAMPUS
Adds Zinder, “Expanding our practice to Manhattan just seemed like a natural next move for us.”
The firm has recently completed a gallery space in Tribeca, and is currently at work on an Upper West Side residence and a senior center in Queens. JZA+D is also providing ongoing design and consulting services to two synagogues in Brooklyn and Jersey City, through its DBA division Landau | Zinder Architecture, which focuses on design for Judaic spaces.
Previous work in New York includes multiple residential interiors, plus an illustrative example of the firm’s talent for adaptive reuse: the transformation of a three-story mixed-use property in Queens into a meeting hall for Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1056.
GOURMET KITCHENS QUALITY FINISHES GAS FIREPLACES
GOURMET KITCHENS QUALITY FINISHES
BALCONIES 255 NASSAU STREET PRINCETON
GAS FIREPLACES
BALCONIES
LUXURY 2 & 3 BEDROOMS / 2 BATH APARTMENT HOMES ROOFTOP PATIO
2 & 3 BEDROOMS / 2 BATH APARTMENT HOMES ROOFTOP PATIO OUTDOOR CAFE ON-SITE BANK ON-SITE PARKING & STORAGE
To lead the New York office Zinder and Sullivan have named principal Richard Perry. With more than 30 years of experience on a variety of project types, Perry is a registered architect in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut whose extensive experience working in the
LUXURY 2 & 3 BEDROOMS / 2 BATH APARTMENT HOMES ROOFTOP PATIO OUTDOOR CAFE ON-SITE BANK