Town Topics Newspaper, February 26 by Witherspoon Media Group

Princeton Man Charged With Killing Brother in Apartment on Palmer Square

Music in Movies is Theme of Garden Theatre Series 5

Sustainable Home Expo Features Resources and Information for All 7

ARB Premieres New Take on a Classic 8

Topdog/Underdog is Staged At Passage Theatre 13

PU Concerts Presents Longtime String Quartet Partner 14

Freshman Alexander Thrives in ECACH Playoff Debut, Sparking PU Women’s Hockey to 3-2 Victory over RPI 24

Forest Rose Makes History for PHS Wrestling, Becoming 1st Tiger Freshman to Win District Title 29

Matthew Hertgen, the 31-year-old man arrested last weekend for the murder of his brother Joseph Hertgen, 26, at Michelle Mews Apartments, made his first appearance in court on Monday, February 24. He is due back for a detention hearing on Friday, February 27, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.

At about 11:16 p.m. on Saturday night, February 22, Princeton Police responded to a 911 call reporting that there was a fire and a dead body in one of the residences at the luxury complex that is part of The Residences at Palmer Square. Police found Matthew Hertgen, who was determined to be the 911 caller, in the apartment along with the body of the victim “which exhibited various injuries including signs of blunt force trauma and lacerations,” the release from Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey reads. “Joseph was pronounced dead at the scene.”

The investigation into the murder, by the Princeton Police Department, the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the State Police Crime Scene Unit, led to Matthew Hertgen being charged with first-degree murder along with various third- and fourth-degree offenses related to possession of a knife and a golf club. Hertgen is also charged with one count of third-degree animal cruelty in the death of a cat that was located within the residence.

Joseph Hertgen was an analyst at Locust Point Capital, where he was responsible for supporting the portfolio management team, according to the company’s website. He was a 2020 graduate of the University of Michigan, where he was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten soccer player for the men’s soccer team. At Toms River North High School, he was a New Jersey Central II All-State soccer player in 2015. Matthew Hertgen played soccer at Wesleyan University.

The exact cause and manner of the victim’s death are pending results of an autopsy. The first-degree crime of murder carries a sentence of 30 years to life in state prison and a fine of up to $200,000. Thirddegree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000. Fourth-degree crimes have a sentence of 18 months to three years in state prison and a fine of $10,000, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.

Princeton Affirms Support for Immigrants

In a statement from the Princeton Mayor and Council issued last Friday, February 21, the town of Princeton has reaffirmed its support for its immigrant residents.

Princeton’s commitment to recognize, support, and serve its immigrant community “remains as strong as ever today,” the posting in English and Spanish on the municipal government website states. Amidst an onslaught of stringent new federal policies, threats of mass deportations, and stepped up Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in New Jersey and throughout the country, immigrant communities have felt the pressure and anxiety, with some individuals fearful about going out to work or sending their children to school. “The ripple effects of these policies are real and deeply felt in our community,” one Princeton resident wrote in an email to the Council president. “The new federal administration’s

policies on immigration enforcement do not change the work we do for our community,” the statement from Mayor and Council asserts. “Princeton continues to follow the guidance outlined in the New Jersey Attorney General’s Directive 20186, which strengthens trust between local law enforcement and immigrant communities. We want to assure all our residents that you are, first and foremost, members of our community, and we remain steadfast in our mission to serve and support you.”

The statement goes on to explain that enforcing immigration laws is not the business of local police officers.

“It is also critically important for our community to understand that the Princeton Police Department’s stated policy is to protect the public by investigating and enforcing New Jersey’s criminal laws — not civil immigration violations,” the statement continues. ”Engaging in immigration enforcement would not only blur the

distinction between federal immigration law and state and local laws, but also risk undermining the trust our officers have worked hard to build with the public.”

In 2015, Princeton became the first municipality in New Jersey to join Welcoming America, “a nonprofit leading a movement of inclusive communities becoming more prosperous by ensuring everyone belongs, including immigrants,” according to the organization’s website. Princeton has not adopted the “sanctuary city” label but rather the less controversial designation as a “welcoming city,’ and has maintained policies that limit local police cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

An ICE raid in downtown Princeton in July 2024 saw no involvement by the Princeton Police Department, and local government officials were not informed of the raid in advance. Princeton Mayor Mark Freda criticized ICE’s failure to communicate with local or state governments

Town Renews Status as NJ’s Only Silver-Level Bike Friendly Community

Princeton has again been designated a Silver-Level Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) by the League of American Bicyclists (LAB).

Princeton is one of four bike friendly municipalities in the state and the only Silver-Level award-winner. West Windsor, Lambertville, and New Brunswick received Bronze-Level recognition. There were 460 communities across the country that were recognized as Bicycle Friendly by the LAB.

“Princeton remains committed to reimagining its roadways beyond a car-centric model, fostering diverse transportation options that promote healthier, more sustainable lifestyles in the community,” said Councilwoman Michelle Pirone Lambros, liaison to the Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee. “We are proud to be a Bicycle Friendly Community for the 12th year in a row.”

The award process considers very visible elements such as bike infrastructure as well as other essential elements including adult, youth, and motorist bike education; policies and design standards; encouragement through events like Bike to Work Day; evaluating and improving safety outcomes; and equity and accessibility.

THAWING OUT: The D&R Canal in Princeton showed signs of thawing on Sunday as warmer temperatures finally prevailed. Residents and visitors share what they like to do on winter weekends in this week’s Town Talk on page 6.

(Photo by Sarah Teo)

Stone Lectures with Dr. Choon-Leong Seow Consequences of the Whirlwind Discourses in the Book of Job

Dr. Choon-Leong Seow is the Cupples Chair in Divinity at The Vanderbilt University School of Divinity. Dr. Seow taught for over three decades at Princeton Theological Seminary, the last two as the Henry Snyder Gehman Professor of Old Testament Language and Literature.

lectures will be held in the Theron Room, Wright Library (25 Library Place) and streaming online.

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HiTOPS, a nonprofit organization that empowers young people with sex education, social support, and communities that affirm them, has announced the appointment of Mac Allen (he/him/his) as its new Communications Manager. In this role, Mac will oversee HiTOPS’ strategic messaging, digital presence, and outreach efforts to amplify the organization’s mission and impact.

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“We are so proud to be able to hire one of our program participants,” said Lisa Shelby, HiTOPS executive director. “Mac’s history as a young person involved with HiTOPS in various capacities brings extra added value to his role.”

Einstein, whose birthday was on March 14. The Pie Eating contest, Pie Judging Experience, Einstein Lookalike contest, and Pi Recitation Contest will take place, along with Dinky train rides with Einstein reenactor Bill Agress, a Pi-Rade, pub crawl, and more. Most events are free.

Allen has successfully led campaigns that elevate marginalized voices and foster meaningful connections.

“I am honored to join HiTOPS and contribute to such vital work,” he said. “Effective communication is key to building awareness and fostering change, and I’m excited to help amplify the voices of the young people HiTOPS serves and strengthen engagement with youth, educators, and supporters.”

HiTOPS is committed to creating a world where all youth thrive and provides comprehensive sexual health education and LGBTQ+ affirming programs.

Pi Day Events Planned For Princeton Venues

This year’s Pi Day celebrations on March 14 and 15 include returning and new events, honoring the legacy of former famed resident Albert

“Pi Day Princeton is a real treat for anyone who loves Pi, Pie, and Einstein,” said Mimi Omiecinski, founder and coordinator of the event. “The residents of Princeton adore this quirky event and hope everyone will come visit our town to celebrate Pi Day Princeton.”

While contests and family friendly events are strategically scheduled on Saturday, March 15, some celebrations will take place on actual Pi Day (3.14).

“With events on Friday and Saturday, it’s the perfect year to stay overnight and really experience Einstein’s hometown,” she added.

The celebration is meant to honor Pi, mathematics, science, famous Princeton geniuses, local merchants and Einstein’s birthday. The events represent a truly collaborative effort of local businesses and organizations.

Princeton Public Library hosts the Einstein Lookalike Contest, Pi Recitation and Pi-Rade. Princeton Shopping Center and McCaffrey’s host the Pie Eating Contest, the Historical Society of Princeton hosts author Benyamin Cohen. LiLLiPies manages the Best Pie Experience, and the bent spoon and LiLLiPies offer their annual fundraising event while Princeton Tour Company offers the Adult Pub Crawl with The Graduate Hotel Princeton and Nassau Inn. Self-guided Albert Einstein tours are also available during the celebration at Conte’s Pizza, Jules Pizza, D’Angelo’s, Ivy Inn, Nomad Pizza and PJ’s Pancake House.

Omiecinski, founder of Princeton Tour Company, founded Pi Day Princeton in 2009. The full-service tour company offers Princeton walking tours, trolley tours, ghost tours, and team-building/private corporate events. Omiecinski admits she is “strangely possessed” by all things Princeton, and never tires of celebrating the university/town’s unique history, architecture and residents. Visit princetontourcompany.com for a full schedule of Pi day events.

Topics In Brief A Community Bulletin

Leighton Listens: Councilman Leighton Newlin holds one-on-one conversations about issues impacting Princeton from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on February 26 at Blue Bears, Princeton Shopping Center.

Food Pantry: Arm in Arm’s mobile food pantry is at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch of Mercer County Library System, 2751 Brunswick Pike, on Monday afternoons from 2-4 p.m. Fresh produce, eggs, milk, frozen proteins, and quality baked goods as well as canned and boxed items and personal care items are available for those in need, and different social services agencies are on site. Mcl.org.

Sustainable Princeton “Lending Library” : Sustainable Princeton offers residents and nonprofits in Princeton the opportunity to borrow sustainable home items such as electric landscape equipment, induction cooktops, and repair tools, for free, for up to two weeks. Visit sustainableprinceton.org for more information.

Volunteer Land Stewards Wanted: On Saturday, March 15, join Friends of Princeton Open Space to help with ecosystem restoration and invasive species removal at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve. Sessions are 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-3 p.m. Register at fopos.org/events-programs.

NEW ROLE: HiTOPS has hired Mac Allen as new communications

Music in the Movies is Theme Of Upcoming Garden Theatre Series

It’s hard to imagine the classic Alfred Hitchcock film Psycho without its score by Bernard Hermann. The same might be said of the 1933 version of King Kong minus its music by Max

Steiner; or Lawrence of Arabia without its sweeping accompaniment by Maurice Jarre.

Music in the movies is the theme of “Keeping the Score,” a year-long series of screenings at the Princeton Garden Theatre presenting films with iconic music that is “a primary cinematic element which must be seen and heard in a theater,” reads a press release on the series.

on the knowledge of the staff, but the realities of obtaining them. “As always, there are distribution issues, politics, and what is actually available,” said Stenger. “We couldn’t get everything we wanted. But I think we have a really good representation.”

TOPICS Of the Town

The screenings begin March 13 with King Kong. Programming is scheduled through May 18; the remainder of the year is still being planned.

“Music elevates film so much,” said the Garden’s Director of Outreach Kyle Stenger. “We have tried to create a lineup that repre sents different styles and different time periods, from the 1930s to the early 2000s. So we have classic orchestral pieces as in Adventures of Robin Hood to modern synthesizer mu sic as in Blade Runner Vangelis.”

Early this month, the Garden screened a newly restored version of the film Amadeus . On the same program, musicians from the Princeton Symphony Orchestra played music by Mozart.

Following King Kong on March 13, the series continues with Edward Scissorhands on April 2, The Third Man on April 10, Chocolat on April 16, Psycho on April 23, Whiplash on April 30, The Adventures of Robin Hood on May 1, Blade Runner on May 14,

“People loved that connec tion,” Stenger said. “Having cinema and symphony work together showed us how powerful that can be. We have plans to develop more collaborations and partner ships with this new series, including speakers and, possibly, performers.”

Those collaborations are still being finalized. One that is extremely likely is a talk by Chris Collier, the executive director of the Garden’s parent company Renew Theaters. He just happens to have a degree in musicology, specializing in film music.

“He’s an expert in this field. He has tremendous insight,” said Stenger.

Deciding which films to include depends not only

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A SAMPLING OF SCORES: Errol Flynn played the lead role in “The Adventures of Robin Hood” to an iconic score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. The film is part of a new program focused on music at the Princeton Garden Theatre.

Music in the Movies

Continued from Preceding Page

and Lawrence of Arabia on May 18. More films will be announced soon.

“We’re trying to capture a whole spectrum of film music through the end of this whole year,” said Stenger. “We’re recognizing that film music is diverse. We want to give a taste of that diversity.”

—Anne Levin

Terhune Orchards Marks Fiftieth Anniversary

Terhune Orchards is marking its 50th anniversary with a year-long celebration honoring its legacy of farming, family, and community.

Since the Mount family purchased the farm in 1975, Terhune Orchards has been bringing farm-fresh produce, its own award-winning wines, and interactive experiences to Mercer County and beyond. The 250-acre farm, recognized by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection as sustainable, has grown from a small family entity into a popular destination attracting visitors from near and far for apple, pumpkin, and fruit picking, live music and wine tasting, family activities, educational programs, and more.

forum for the expression of opinions about local and national issues.

Question of the Week:

“What do you enjoy doing on winter weekends?”

(Asked Sunday around town)

(Photos by Sarah Teo)

The 50th anniversary festivities begin with a special event on March 6, commemorating the official anniversary of the Mounts’ purchase of Terhune Orchards on March 6, 1975. New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Edward Wengryn and New Jersey State Sen. Shirley Turner will offer remarks on Terhune Orchards’ contributions to the state’s agricultural landscape. The celebration will also feature the unveiling of a limited-edition 50th anniversary wine, highlighting the farm’s evolution into a winery destination.

Since acquiring the original 55-acre farm on Cold Soil Road, the Mounts have transformed Terhune Orchards into a regional hub for sustainable agriculture and community engagement. Over the decades, the farm has expanded to five different properties producing over 60 crops, including certified organic vegetables. The Mounts have introduced PickYour-Own produce, a bakery known for its cider donuts, educational programs, and a vineyard and winery.

In addition to the March 6 event, the anniversary year includes a community celebration, Saturday, August 6; Apple Days September 13-14, celebrating the original Terhune Orchards Apple Day; the Garden Club of Princeton’s Annual Photography Show themed “Celebrating 50 Years of Terhune Orchards” with judged categories such as “out in the field” and “seasons in the orchard,” April 22-24; and the farm’s annual art show, September 7-November. Visit terhuneorchards. com/50th-anniversary for more information.

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“Probably go biking, if it’s not too cold! I like to do a little bit of playing in the snow, but when it’s too cold I just like to drink hot cocoa.”

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also take bike rides.”

—Chloe Wiedemann, Princeton

Finley: “Art!” Michael: “We love summertime activities, so we try to incorporate similar things during the winter. Yesterday we were at the beach participating in a Polar Bear Plunge, and a couple weekends before we went to an indoor waterpark.”

—Finley and Michael Falter, Yardville

“I like to go sledding and have hot chocolate and make snowballs. And maybe have snow days if school is canceled, when I can stay home with a book.”

—Viola Swanson, Princeton

2025 Sustainable Home Expo on March 8

Features Resources and Information for All

Looking to make your home or yard or business more sustainable? Want to learn more about heat pumps, energy-efficient rebates and incentives, solar panels, managing stormwater on your property, transforming your yard with native plants, and even building a sustainable ADU (accessory dwelling unit) on your property?

Solutions to those challenges, abundant information on all sorts of sustainability issues, and answers to your questions will be provided at Sustainable Princeton’s second Sustainable Home Expo on March 8 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will take place in the Princeton High School gymnasium in a larger venue than last year’s event with space to accommodate a bigger audience, more vendors, and more classrooms.

On site for the four-hour event will be members of the Environmental Commission and the Shade Tree Commission to answer questions, along with an array of vendors, vetted home improvement contractors, solar installers, landscapers, and a variety of other sustainability-oriented organizations.

There will be free educational seminars and demos throughout the day on planting for pollinators, energy efficient homes, solar panels, sustainable ADUs, stormwater management, and electrifying everything.

“Buildings, including our homes, are the largest portion of greenhouse gas emissions in our community,” said Sustainable Princeton Executive Director Christine Symington. “Part of our mission is to encourage residents to decarbonize their homes by making them more energy efficient, considering rooftop or community solar, and managing their yards more sustainably. It can be overwhelming to get started.”

She continued, “The Expo educates people about their options, connects them to local professionals, and helps them take advantage of the state and federal incentives.”

Sustainable Princeton Program Manager Alex Dill emphasized, “The Expo is for everyone,” pointing out that in addition to homeowners, renters and owners of commercial buildings would find abundant resources to

improve sustainability.

Noting that 42.3 percent of emissions come from commercial buildings in town, according to Sustainable Princeton’s 2022 greenhouse gas inventory, Dill stated, “There are energy efficient programs and incentives just for commercial buildings that we want to connect local business owners and property managers to. I want our local business community to know they can meet us at the Expo or contact our office anytime. We can help point them in the right direction.”

Renters, Dill pointed out, can take advantage of free home energy assessments, free energy-efficient light bulbs, and smart power strips. They can also create a pollinator-friendly space, no matter the size; subscribe to a community solar project; and receive a discount on electric bills.

Other organizations in attendance at Expo 2025 will include HVAC specialists, electricians, builders, architects, and a number of landscaping companies, as well as The Watershed Institute, NJ Clean Energy Program, Master Gardeners of Mercer County, NJ Native Plant Society, and more.

Also at this year’s Expo, participants can bring used clothing and shoes for recycling with Helpsy, a new Jersey-based textile recycler.

Children are welcome at the event, and there will be a supervised activity room with sustainable crafts, coloring, and games. Ficus will be on site serving sandwiches, salads, and bubble tea. Participants are urged to bring their own reusable bottles for water and mugs for coffee.

Sustainable Princeton is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire the community to develop and implement solutions that positively impact the environment. For more information about Sustainable Princeton and the 2025 Sustainable Home Expo, visit sustainableprinceton.org/ events.

—Donald Gilpin

TOWN TOPICS is printed entirely on recycled paper.

Thomas Edison State U. Partners with PPPL

Thomas Edison State University (TESU) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), establishing an innovative partnership that integrates higher education with registered apprenticeship programs.

As a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory, PPPL is committed to developing the next generation of skilled professionals in energy and technology. The laboratory has launched several registered apprenticeship programs, and now the Electronics Technician Apprentice program will leverage TESU’s online courses as the foundation for its Related Technical Instruction, the classroom component of the apprenticeship.

“This partnership exemplifies the power of aligning workforce training with higher education,” said Jeffrey Harmon, vice provost for Strategic Initiatives and Institutional Effectiveness at TESU. “By integrating our online courses into PPPL’s apprenticeship programs, we are providing a direct, flexible and accredited pathway for apprentices to gain both technical expertise and academic credit that can advance their careers.”

To achieve this, PPPL submitted TESU’s courses and syllabi to the U.S. Department of Labor as part of the official registration process, ensuring that apprentices receive highquality, academically rigorous instruction aligned with industry standards. Additional apprenticeship programs at PPPL are expected to follow this model.

“The PPPL program is the first-of-its-kind U.S. Department of Labor registered apprentice program in fusion energy and plasma sciences,” said Diana Adel, apprenticeship program manager at PPPL. “Funded predominantly by the U.S. Department of Energy, our graduates earn a transferrable, nationally recognized credential within their industry and career pathway after four years of highly specialized, on-the-job training and up to 500 hours of classroom instruction. By partnering with TESU, we can provide the flexibility our apprentices require while ensuring the related technical instruction meets all of our requirements. We look forward to growing this partnership in the future.”

“At TESU, we recognize the value of work-based learning and its role in building a highly skilled workforce,” said Merodie A. Hancock, president of TESU. “PPPL’s commitment to apprenticeship programs aligns with our mission to provide flexible, career-focused education. Together, we are creating a model that strengthens both workforce readiness and academic achievement.”

This collaboration underscores TESU’s leadership in bridging the gap between industry training and higher education, ensuring that apprenticeships are not just pathways to employment but also steppingstones toward lifelong learning and career advancement.

Students may be able to earn credit for professional licenses and certifications; apprenticeships and courses taken at the workplace; through corporations, government agencies, professional associations or unions; or through specialized training programs that have been evaluated for college credit by the University’s Office of Professional Learning Review or an institutional member of the Consortium for the Assessment of College Equivalence. The university also accepts credits for reviews completed by the National College Credit Recommendation Service of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York or by the American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service program.

The university is also a member of the Registered Apprenticeship College Consortium (RACC) that gives an opportunity for students who have completed a registered apprenticeship from one of the member programs to transfer assessed program credits. You can access a list of participating registered apprenticeship programs as well as learn more about the RACC.

For more information on TESU’s apprenticeship credit programs, visit tesu.edu.

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Police Blotter

Man Arrested For Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material

An investigation into online child exploitation has resulted in the arrest of a 24-year-old Princeton man, according to Mercer County Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey.

A February 22 press release from the Office of the Mercer County Prosecutor notes that a Witherspoon Street resident is charged with one count of second-degree distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and one count of third-degree possession of CSAM. The complaint alleges he knowingly distributed an item depicting or portraying a child in a sexually explicit manner while utilizing the internet or social media applications.

Detectives with the prosecutor’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an individual in Mercer County had uploaded a file of suspected CSAM to the internet, and an investigation was initiated.

On February 21, members of the prosecutor’s ICAC Unit, with assistance from the Special Victims Unit, the Economic Crime Unit, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Mercer County Tactical Response Team, executed a search warrant at a suspect’s residence, where detectives seized multiple items of evidentiary value. The suspect was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Mercer County Correction Center.

After an initial court hearing, a judge ordered him released pending future court appearances.

Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. Third-degree crimes carry

a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000, according to the press release, The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the prosecutor’s Special Victims Unit at (609) 989-6568 or mcposvu@mercercounty. org. Prosecutor Marbrey urges anyone with information about suspected improper contact by unknown persons communicating with children via the internet or possible exploitation or sexual abuse of children to please contact her Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit at (609) 9896568 or the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force tip line at (888) 648-6007.

On February 23, at 8:52 a.m., Princeton Police Department patrols responded to an establishment on Prospect Avenue and investigated the theft of a jacket and Apple Airpods that were reportedly stolen. The Detective Bureau is investigating.

On February 20 at 2:58 p.m., an individual reported that she entered a convenience store on Nassau Street and deposited $4,750 into a Bitcoin ATM after being deceived by a subject impersonating a Bank of Princeton employee. Bystanders intervened during the course of depositing additional funds, which allowed the remainder of the transaction to be canceled.

On February 20, an Albert Way resident reported that, sometime between October 2024 and February 17, 2025, an unknown person stole her brown and gray 2018 Specialized Alibi bicycle that was stored in a bike storage unit and secured with a black bicycle chain. There are no suspects at this time.

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TESU is a leader in awarding academic credit for apprenticeship programs, offering working professionals the opportunity to translate their hands-on experience into degree completion. By partnering with PPPL, TESU continues to support innovative workforce development initiatives that prepare individuals for critical roles in high-tech industries.

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Unless noted, individuals arrested were later released. Think Global Buy Local

American Repertory Ballet Premieres

Choreographer’s New Take on a Classic Gillian Murphy, took at New York’s Carnegie Hall, just before the pandemic. The teacher was professional Highland dancer Kendra Monroe — another Munro connection.

For American Repertory Ballet Artistic Director Ethan Stiefel, adapting the 19th century romantic clasLa Sylphide was logical — some might say inevitable. The Spirit of the Highlands, which debuts March 7-9 in New Brunswick, draws from several facets of Stiefel’s life and experience.

The ballet is set in a Scottish village; Stiefel is partly of Scottish descent. During his performing career, he danced the male lead in La Sylphide numerous times. He is an admirer of the Danish choreographer Auguste Bournonville, whose 1836 version of the ballet is the one most frequently presented today.

“It was in the back of my mind for a while,” Stiefel said during a phone conversation. “I’d thought about doing a version of La Sylphide that would work well for this company. Because they have more than the technical ability that is needed. I feel they’ve developed their skills very well in terms of creating characters and acting. All of that is required for this.”

When his father died a year and a half ago, Stiefel spent time with his family, talking a lot about their background. His mother is particularly passionate about researching her roots. On one of her trips to Scotland, she visited the castle of Clan Munro, to which the family traces their heritage.

“Through that, the spark really got ignited,” Stiefel said. “I could actually start to see how to set a ballet, design-wise, using the motifs of Clan Munro. So the tartans for the costumes by Janessa Cornell Urwin are specific to the Clan, and they came directly from Scotland kilt-makers.”

Then there was the Highland dance class that Stiefel and his wife, ballerina

“We stayed in touch. She actually gave our son a kilt in the Munro tartan when he was born,” Stiefel said. “When I started to work on this ballet, I asked her to work with us. She led a workshop with the dancers at the start of the rehearsal process.”

Like the Bournonville technique, Highland dance requires a lot of jumping and lightness. “It’s turned out like ballet, but in a different way because of the way the kilts fall,” Stiefel said.

“We share certain terms, too. So it really lent itself. I wanted to make it authentic, as much as I could. Because I think cultural appreciation is really important.”

As much as he admires La Sylphide , Stiefel felt some updating was necessary.

“The mime in the ballet is wonderful, but it’s very specific to the period,” he said “I’ve looked to make it more legible, for the audience of today. I wanted to refresh it in a way that makes sense.”

There have not been many productions that took a different approach from the original. “This does it, hopefully, respectfully,” Stiefel said. “I’m not looking to upset the apple cart. I want to be respectful of Scottish culture, the work of Bournonville, and my own background. I want to capture the essence.”

The Spirit of the Highlands is at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, 11 Livingston Avenue, on Friday, March 7 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 8 at 2 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 9 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $30$60. Visit arballet.org.

—Anne Levin

County Cultural Festival Invites Vendors to Apply

The 13th Annual Mercer County Cultural Festival & Food Truck Rally will be held on Saturday, June 7 at Mercer County Park in West Windsor.

“Whether our families came to New Jersey in 1820 or in 2020, Mercer residents can trace their ancestry to every part of the globe,” said County Executive Dan Benson. “We’re proud to bring people together once again to celebrate that incredible diversity which enriches our community every day of the year.”

The Festival celebrates diverse cultures through live music, traditional dance performances, authentic food trucks, a beer garden, art demonstrations, heritage crafters, activities for children, and more. The event attracted more than 15,000 attendees in 2024.

The Cultural Festival also provides an opportunity for vendors and organizations to reach a large audience of local residents. Applications are now open for businesses to apply to participate as a craft vendor (selling culture/ heritage-related goods) or a food truck/food vendor. Businesses and nonprofits may also apply for space to share information about their organizations.

The application can be accessed at forms.office. com/g/NFF5DhkA9h. The application deadline is March 27.

Given the growing success of the annual Cultural Festival, the Mercer County Division of Culture & Heritage has placed a cap on the number of vendors able to participate. To ensure this year’s Festival represents a broad spectrum of cultures, all submitted applications will be reviewed to determine this year’s vendor line-up. Those who are selected to participate will be notified by April 7. Payment will be accepted and processed after the line-up is determined.

For more information, call the Mercer County Division of Culture and Heritage at (609) 278-2712 or email culturalfestival@ mercercounty.org

HIGHLAND FLING: Andrea Marini plays the young Scotsman in “The Spirit of the Highlands,” Ethan Stiefel’s new take on a historic ballet at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center March 7-9.

(Photo by Harald Schrader)

Bike Friendly

continued from page one

“In 2024, the municipality made significant progress toward ensuring Princeton is a bike and pedestrian friendly community,” said Deputy Administrator/Municipal Engineer Deanna Stockton. “We completed the third and final phase of the Witherspoon Street project, incorporating traffic-calming elements, raised crosswalks, and widened sidewalks to create a safer bike route for Community Park Elementary students.”

She continued, “Additionally we added bike lanes to Hodge Road, prohibited parking on Valley Road, and launched planning projects for Hamilton Avenue and the Harrison Street corridor to further improve bike safety.”

Both Lambros and Stockton expressed pride in Princeton’s Silver-Level bike friendly status, but they both acknowledge that there is room for improvement.

“As we did this past year, when road improvements are done, either by the municipality or by PSE&G, we use the opportunity to add bike infrastructure such as restriping for bike lanes or bike boulevard markings and adding traffic calming improvements,” said Lambros. “This is a cost-effective way to implement more bike infrastructure, one road project at a time, and while the progress is incremental our goal is municipal-wide connectivity for bicyclists. This past year we made a lot of progress, and we plan to continue this important work in 2025 and beyond.”

Stockton pointed out some of the challenges as Princeton moves forward to enhance its bike-friendliness. “Completely overhauling our roadways to include bicycle infrastructure is not feasible from a planning and cost perspective,” she said. “Some roadways present unique challenges when considering the incorporation of bicycle infrastructure, so we must study the options and make tough choices.”

She continued, “For example, the Harrison Street corridor is being studied for opportunities to add bicycle infrastructure. In this case, the best type of bicycle infrastructure might be to use a lower stress parallel roadway for a portion of the route. Princeton’s roadways have specific constraints and opportunities; our task is to determine how each area can be improved for bike safety. This main corridor, along with Hamilton Avenue, will offer significant improvements to bike connectivity, particularly connecting new housing units, commercial areas, and schools.”

The LAB’s extensive application process included an opportunity for Princeton’s local bicyclists and transportation advocates to provide input on their experiences and perceptions of bicycling in their community through a survey that was distributed this past August.

In response to the question “How satisfied are you with how this community is designed for making bike riding safe?” about 59 percent

of some 170 respondents answered “very dissatisfied” or “somewhat dissatisfied.” And in response to the question “Is it safe or dangerous to ride a bicycle in your neighborhood, or does it depend?” 14.20 percent said it’s “safe,” 65.68 percent said “it depends,” and 20.12 percent said it’s “dangerous.”

When asked “What are the top 1-3 changes you would most like to see the local government make in this community for bicyclists?”

54.34 percent said “more bike lanes,” 44.51 percent said “more bike paths,” and 36.42 percent said “improve existing bike lanes to protected bike lanes.”

Princeton, and other bike friendly communities, must renew their status every four years “to ensure that they not only maintain existing efforts, but also keep up with changing technology, national safety standards, and community-driven best practices,” according to the municipality press release.

LAB Executive Director Bill Nesper commented on the significance of the awards and the importance of bicycling. “Bicycling is more than just a mode of transportation — it’s a powerful tool for building healthier communities, fostering sustainability, and connecting people,” he said. “The cities and towns recognized in this round of Bicycle Friendly Community awards are leading the way by investing in infrastructure and programs that make biking an easier, safer, and more accessible choice. Their leadership demonstrates that supporting bicycling is an investment in a healthier future for everyone.”

Walk & Wheel Wednesdays

In additional Bike Friendly Princeton news, the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) Council of the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) has announced a new district initiative, “Walk & Wheel Wednesdays,” starting on March 5.

The PTOs — with support from the Princeton Police Department, the Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association, Sustainable Princeton, and other community partners — are encouraging students to walk, bike, or take the bus to school every Wednesday to reduce traffic and emissions around the schools — and also to create more safety in numbers.

The PTOs encourage families to plan their route with other families. Young children should be accompanied by an adult. If participating on bike or scooter, students must wear helmets and know how to ride.

Walk & Wheel will take place every Wednesday rain or shine, but not in cases of snow or ice. PPS will send out an alert to all families if the event is canceled. There will be an increased police presence and enforcement of traffic laws in school areas on Wednesdays.

Visit princetonptoc.weebly. com/walk—wheel-wednesdays for further information.

—Donald Gilpin

Local Colleges to Exhibit In Philadelphia Flower Show

Floral enthusiasts can plan a visit to the celebrated Philadelphia Flower Show, March 1-9, now that tickets are on sale at tickets. phsonline.org. To stay up to date with the latest information on the 2025 Flower Show, visit phsonline.org/ the-flower-show.

Mercer County Community College (MCCC) students will be exhibiting at the show, focusing on urban green infrastructure, highlighting street tree plantings, storm water management, and ecological diversity. MCCC students won a gold medal last year in the Education category, their fourth gold medal since 2017. For the first time, the Flower Show will feature a student-created floral exhibition by Bucks County (Pa.) Community College’s Floral Design Program, which will offer a playful futuristic twist featuring nine unique floral and sculpture installations reimagining the art of floral arranging.

The special events this year include a Family Frolic on Sunday, March 2, a day dedicated to youngsters, with hands-on activities and entertainment for families. Free with admission from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

On Friday, March 7, the Flower Show hosts Blossom and Breathe, a celebration of beauty, wellness, and natural healing. This special event will collaborate with Honey Buz Natural Skincare and Noel Davis of Paris Fit to offer Flower Show guests access to wellness vendors in a botanical bazaar. The event is free with admission from 5 to 8 p.m., with a yoga class for an additional fee.

Flowers After Hours takes place on Saturday, March 8 — a galactic adventure packed with campy vibes, interstellar charm, and eclectic experiences at an after-hours dance party. The evening will feature photo ops, galaxy-inspired cocktails, and a space fashion show. Plus, music will be curated by SNACKTIME and feature a lineup of DJs. Guests can explore all the Flower Show floral, garden, and landscape designs during the event and peruse the PHS Hamilton Horticourt plant competition and Artistic and Design galleries. This event is for guests 21 years of age and older. ID is required to enter. Hours are 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Purchase required.

Flower Show’s educational lecture series, Know to Grow, will return this year with industry experts leading presentations on diverse topics several times a day.

Rider Furniture

Presentation topics include garden design, vegetable gardening, native plants, container gardening, shade gardening, houseplants, and information on PHS programs. New this year, attend Know to Grow sessions Friday, March 7 through Sunday, March 9 and hear from presenters sponsored by Great Grow Along — the world’s largest virtual garden festival. Free with admission.

Artisan Row is the Flower Show’s experiential hub where guests can create an elevated floral or gardening-inspired craft working side-by-side with artisans. Purchase required.

Experience native and exotic butterflies with spectacular color in a serene setting with Butterflies Live. Hundreds of pollinators will spread their wings together in this all-ages activity. Purchase required.

Families can explore the Kids Cocoon, a kid-focused play space where young visitors can plant seedlings, enjoy story time, and participate in engaging activities and live programming from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, excluding Sunday, March 9. In partnership with The Franklin Institute (TFI), Kids Cocoon will feature a Flower Show-themed version of TFI’s Creation Station, where children can create floral-inspired masterpieces using LEGO bricks. Free with admission.

More special activities, events, tours, and shopping opportunities are at phsonline.org/the-flower-show. For questions, email flowershowtickets@pennhort.org

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The investigation is ongo

ing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force Sergeant Will Jett at (609) 331-5010 or Detective Karl Johnston at (609) 4395248.

“Despite having been charged, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law,” concludes the press release.

—Anne Levin

concerning their incursion

Last Friday’s statement also raised the issue of pos sible federal funding cuts, which have been threat ened in response to local communities that have not cooperated with ICE, though the legality of such reprisals has been questioned.

“In this period of uncer tainty, we share the con cerns many in our commu nity have voiced about how potential federal funding cuts could negatively impact

vulnerable communities,” the Council statement reads.

“We are closely monitoring new developments and re main in regular contact with state agencies and advocacy organizations. As we work to assess what these chang es mean for our residents, we will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available.”

The Mayor and Council’s “message to the communi ty” concluded, “For years, Princeton’s Human Services Department has provided information and services to Princeton’s underserved communities, and it will con tinue to do so. The Mayor and Council are committed to ensuring that regardless of your age, race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or place of birth, you are welcome in Princeton.”

Last week’s February 19 Town Topics reported on “Recent Immigrants Feeling Pressured by Trump Poli cies,” noting that at the time of publication Council was in the process of deliberating in a closed session “regard ing immigration directives and orders.” Local residents expressed their concerns to Council after reading the February 19 article, and those concerns were rapidly addressed by Council Presi dent Mia Sacks.

Sacks, in an email, as sured the concerned indi viduals that there would be no change in Princeton’s commitment to follow New Jersey Attorney General

community not only of our continued commitment to the principles outlined in the updated Trust Directive, but also to maintaining and building upon the trust established between our immigrant community and the Princeton Police Department and local government over many years.”

The views of the letters do not necessarily reflect the views of Town Topics.

Spreading Word About “24-hour Economic Blackout” This Friday

In a February 25 text message to Town Topics, Sacks asked that an additional note be included to emphasize Princeton’s position on its support of the immigrant community. She wrote, “There is tremendous anxiety in our town about the potential impact of what we see happening at the federal level. At present nothing has changed in Princeton in terms of funding resources and the unwavering commitment to our immigrant community by elected officials, municipal staff, and local law enforcement. We issued a statement last week to underscore this continuity.”

—Donald Gilpin

Sign Up for Our Weekender Community Update Eblast

Each Friday afternoon, we send a roundup of the week’s top stories, breaking news, and upcoming events, right to local inboxes.

Don’t miss out on The WeekenderGo to TownTopics.com and sign up today!

To the Editor: Our democratic norms are being eroded day after day, and we cannot stay silent. Corporations, banks, and financial markets rely on consumer spending. If we disrupt the economy for just one day, we send a clear message. The ``24-hour Economic Blackout” is a protest action to show our power.

On Friday, February 28, from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., let’s not make any purchases. Let’s not shop online, or in-store. No Amazon, No Walmart, No Best Buy, Nowhere! Let’s not use credit or debit cards. Let’s only buy essentials if absolutely necessary. If we must spend, let’s only support small, local businesses.

Please participate and spread this message.

CHIARA NAPPI Clover Lane

Letters to the Editor Policy

Town Topics welcomes letters to the Editor, preferably on subjects related to Princeton. Letters must have a valid street address (only the street name will be printed with the writer’s name). Priority will be given to letters that are received for publication no later than Monday noon for publication in that week’s Wednesday edition. Letters must be no longer than 500 words and have no more than four signatures.

All letters are subject to editing and to available space.

At least a month’s time must pass before another letter from the same writer can be considered for publication.

Letters are welcome with views about actions, policies, ordinances, events, performances, buildings, etc. However, we will not publish letters that include content that is, or may be perceived as, negative towards local figures, politicians, or political candidates as individuals.

When necessary, letters with negative content may be shared with the person/group in question in order to allow them the courtesy of a response, with the understanding that the communications end there. Letters to the Editor may be submitted, preferably by email, to editor@towntopics.com, or by post to Town Topics, PO Box 125, Kingston, N.J. 08528. Letters submitted via mail must have a valid signature.

Books

“Nature

Cadava, Nadal-Melsió

Discuss “Politically Red”

Eduardo Cadava and Sara Nadal-Melsió will speak about their book, Politically Red, how reading and writing are collective acts of political pedagogy, and why the struggle for change must begin at the level of the sentence. The program is at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street, on Thursday March 6, at 6 p.m. Ruth Wilson Gilmore, author and professor of earth and environmental sciences, joins them.

He has curated installations and exhibitions at the MAXXI Museum in Rome, the Slought Foundation in Philadelphia, Storefront for Art and Architecture in New York, the Al-Ma’mal Center for Contemporary Art in East Jerusalem, and the Princeton University Art Museum.

Remade” Concept is Examined by

Environmental writer Allison Carruth will be in conversation with Princeton University Professor Eliza Griswold on Tuesday, March 4 at 6 p.m., about Carruth’s novel, Novel Ecologies: Nature Remade and the Illusions of Tech. The program is at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street.

Tracing the convergence of ecology and engineering over the last three decades, this book pinpoints a new environmental paradigm that the author calls Nature Remade, according to the publisher (University of Chicago Press, $115). Novel Ecologies “shows how the tech industry has taken up the wilderness mythologies that shaped one strain of American environmentalism over the last century,” the publisher’s notes continue. “Calling this twentyfirst-century environmental imagination Nature Remade, Carruth describes a distinctly West Coast framework that is at once nostalgic and futuristic. Through three case studies (synthetic wildlife, the digital cloud, and space colonization), the book shows Nature Remade to be a quasireligious belief in venture capitalism and big tech. This paradigm thus imagines a future in which species, ecosystems, and entire planets are re-generated and recreated through engineering.

“Novel Ecologies challenges the conviction that climate change and other environmental crises must be met with ever largerscale forms of technological intervention. Against the new worlds conjured by Google,

Writer Carruth

Meta, Open AI, Amazon, SpaceX, and a host of lesserknown start-ups, Carruth marshals writers and artists who imagine provisionally hopeful environmental futures while refusing to forget the histories that have made the world what it is.”

Carruth is professor in the Effron Center for the Study of America and High Meadows Environmental Institute at Princeton University. She is the cofounder and faculty director of Blue Lab, an environmental media, art, and research group at Princeton. Since 2017, she has produced original environmental documentaries and multimedia story series in collaboration with filmmakers, journalists, artists, and others. She is the author of Global Appetites: American Power and the Literature of Food and coauthor with Amy L. Tigner of Literature and Food Studies.

Griswold, a poet, a translator, and a contributing writer covering religion, politics, and the environment, has been writing for The New Yorker since 2003. Her books include Circle of Hope: A Reckoning with Love, Power, and Justice in an American Church and Amity and Prosperity: One Family and the Fracturing of America, which won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in general nonfiction. She is a Ferris Professor at Princeton University, where she directs the Program in Journalism.

This event is cosponsored by Princeton University’s Humanities Council, Princeton’s Program in Journalism, and Labyrinth Books.

“Reading is class struggle,” writes Bertolt Brecht. Politically Red contextualizes contemporary demands for social and racial justice by exploring the shifting relations between politics and literacy, according to its publisher (The MIT Press, $29.95). “Through a series of creative readings of Karl Marx, Rosa Luxemburg, Walter Benjamin, W. E. B. Du Bois, Fredric Jameson, and others, it casts light on history as an accumulation of violence and, in doing so, suggests that it can become a crucial resource for confronting the present insurgence of inequality, racism, and fascism. These readings engage in an inventive mode of activist writing to argue that reading and writing are never solitary tasks, but always collaborative and collective, and able to revitalize our shared political imagination.”

Drawing on what they call a “red common-wealth” — an archive of vast resources for doing political work and, in particular, anti-racist work — they demonstrate that sentences, as dynamic repositories of social relations, are historical and political events.

Cadava is the Philip Mayhew Professor of English at Princeton University. He is the author of Words of Light: Theses on the Photography of History, Emerson and the Climates of History, and Paper Graveyards

Nadal-Melsió is associate director of the Whitney Independent Study Program. She has taught at the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, SOMA in Mexico City, and New York University. She is the co-author of Alrededor de/ Around, and the editor of two special issues on cinema, The Invisible Tradition: Avant-Garde Catalan Cinema under Late Francoism and The Militant Image: Temporal Disturbances of the Political Imagination She has co-curated a show on Allora & Calzadilla for the Fundació Tápies in Barcelona and has written a book essay about it, To Be All Ears, To Be in the World: Acoustic Relation in Allora & Calzadilla, as well as edited a companion volume on the Puerto Rican crisis, A Modest Proposal: Puerto Rico’s Crucible. Her book Europe and the Wolf: Political Variations on a Musical Concept is forthcoming from Zone Books.

Gilmore is Professor of earth and environmental sciences, and American Studies at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, where she is also director of the Center for Place, Culture, and Politics. She is the author of Golden Gulag: Prisons, Surplus, Crisis, and Opposition in Globalizing California. Her many honors include the American Studies Association Angela Y. Davis Award for Public Scholarship; the Association of American Geographers’ Harold Rose Award for Anti-Racist Research and Practice; and the SUNY-Purchase College Eugene V. Grant Distinguished Scholar Prize for Social and Environmental Justice.

Author Brianna Nofil will discuss her book, The Migrant’s Jail: An American History of Mass Incarceration (Politics and Society in Modern America ), on Thursday, March 6, from 6 to 7 p.m., at the Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Registration is requested at princetonlibrary.org/events.

The publisher, Princeton University Press, describes the book as “a centurylong history of immigrant incarceration in the United States.”

According to the publisher, “Today, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) detains an average of 37,000 migrants each night. To do so, they rely on, and pay for, the use of hundreds of local jails. But this is nothing new: the federal government has been detaining migrants in city and county jails for more than 100 years. In The Migrant’s Jail, Nofil examines how a century of political, ideological, and economic exchange between the U.S. immigration bureaucracy and the criminal justice system gave rise to the world’s largest system of migrant incarceration.

From the incarceration of Chinese migrants in New York in the 1900s and 1910s to the jailing of Caribbean refugees in Gulf South lockups of the 1980s and 1990s, federal immigration authorities provided communities with a cash windfall that they used to cut taxes, re -

ward local officials, and build bigger jails — which they then had incentive to fill. Trapped in America’s patchwork detention networks, migrants turned to courts, embassies, and the media to challenge the cruel paradox of “administrative imprisonment.” Drawing on immigration records, affidavits, protest letters, and a variety of local sources, Nofil excavates the web of political negotiations, financial deals, and legal precedents that allows the United States to incarcerate migrants with little accountability and devastating consequences.

Nofil is a historian of the modern U.S., with a focus on migration, incarceration, and law. She received her Ph.D. from Columbia University and holds B.A.s in history and public policy studies from Duke University. Her dissertation received the Allan Nevins Prize from the Society of American Historians and the Outstanding Dissertation Award from the Immigration & Ethnic History Society. Her research has also received the Kathleen Preyer Prize from the American Society for Legal History. Her work has been supported by grants from the American Council of Learned Societies, the Jefferson Scholars Foundation, the New Orleans Center for the Gulf South, and others. The program is presented with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Eduardo Cadava

Sara Nadal-Melsió

Looking for Christopher Marlowe

When I realized last Saturday was George Washington’s birthday, I looked up former president Bill Clinton’s foreword to Shakespeare in America (Library of America 2013), which refers to Washington leaving the “legislative haggling” at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia to see a production of The Tempest, which, as editor James Shapiro points out, was “based on the story of the wreck of the Sea Venture off the coast of Bermuda in 1609.” The 42nd president — who remembers a high school assignment requiring him to memorize 100 lines from Macbeth, among them “Life’s but a walking shadow” (“an important early lesson in the perils of blind ambition”) — makes sure to mention the time presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson visited Stratford-upon-Avon. Later in the book, as Abigail Adams recalls, Jefferson “fell upon the ground and kissed it” while Adams “cut a relic from a chair claimed to have belonged to Shakespeare himself.”

In the huryburly of February 2025, stories like these suggest a Monty Python sketch in which the current president and his entourage leave a wrestling match between Kit the Kat Marlowe and Will the Shake at the Kennedy Center for a production of Titus Andronicus at the Folger Library, but only if “that’s the play where some loser gets eaten in a pie.”

Time for Marlowe

It’s typical of the Bard’s grip on the national imagination that he begins a column meant for Christopher Marlowe, who was baptized on February 26, 1564, two months before Shakespeare, who was born on April 23 and baptized three days later.

The only viable remaining image of Marlowe has been dominating the right hand side of my computer screen for days like an elegant Elizbethan screen saver. When it comes to fashion, Will the Shake will never match the sheer magnificence of Kit the Cat and the fabulous garment that seems to be consuming him right before our eyes, even as he calmly sports a night-black fabric with hellfire blazing through a woven frenzy of slashes.

I’ll admit I’ve been susceptible to Marlovian overkill ever since a failed graduate dissertation titled “Language and Action in Marlowe and Shakespeare.” For days instead of looking Marlowe in the eye, I’ve been dazed by his sartorial splendor. Best not to look him in the eye anyway because his is not a friendly or forthcoming gaze. He seems to know people are examining him, asking themselves can this be the Real Christopher Marlowe? His dates indeed agree with those in the upper lefthand corner of the painting. He would have been 21 in 1585 and the little we know about his life and art can be read into the motto under the dates ( Quod me nutrit me destruit, That which nourishes me destroys me ). The line, which appears nowhere in Marlowe’s work, turns up (wouldn’t you know) in Shakespeare’s

sonnet 73 (and in act 2, scene 2 of Pericles, a fact that would have thrilled the Brooklynborn theater critic and press agent Calvin Hoffman (1906-1986), who spent most of his life attempting to prove that Marlowe was the true author of the poems and plays attributed to Shakespeare. Hoffman is also said to be the first to suggest that Marlowe was the man in the painting after it had been found at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, in 1953. This was obviously a significant moment in Hoffman’s quest since his book was published two years later.

In The Murder of the Man Who Was Shakespeare (Messner 1955), Marlowe, a shoemaker’s son who studied at Cambridge, is Hoffman’s answer to the riddle of how an unschooled glovemaker’s offspring who merely studied life could have written Shakespeare. Hoffman’s theory is based on the idea that Marlowe’s fatal stabbing in a tavern brawl was staged, allowing him to escape hanging for “subversive atheism,” and to live out his life abroad, writing the poems and plays credited to Shakespeare. What particularly motivated Hoffman was the idea that Marlowe/Shakespeare “should have been forced to live his high-noon hours a pariah in his native land; that when he should have been enjoying the fruits of his prodigious labors he was, instead, living in perpetual exile; walking forbidden coasts in silence and in fear; perhaps slipping his completed manuscripts under a bolted door; running forever like a thief in the night.” A less melodramatic possibility, recounted in the Guardian on July 11, 1983, was that Marlowe had died in Padua in 1627, nursed in his last illness by one Pietro Basconi, a scenario that, like numerous others, was eventually discredited. Though I didn’t believe in this, “the weirdest cloak-and-dagger tale ever conceived,” as Hoffman himself puts it, I’ve long been intrigued by the thought of Marlowe’s afterlife abroad, writing the plays in their the actual settings, like Verona, Venice, Rome, and Cyprus. Won-

In the next sonnet, Shakespeare imagines “my spirit is thine, the better part of me,” which is followed by “The coward conquest of a wretch’s knife / Too base of thee to be remembered.”

Dying with Marlowe

Born on February 25, 1917, Anthony Burgess ended his extraordinarily prolific life as a writer with a novel about Marlowe. In the author’s note that concludes A Dead Man in Deptford (Carroll & Graf 1995), Burgess recalls typing his university dissertation on Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus shortly before the Battle of Britain began. Thus Marlowe’s “visions of hell” seemed “not too irrelevant.”

Quoting from the play (“I’ll burn my books — ah Mephistophilis”), Burgess adds “The Luftwaffe was to burn my books and even my thesis.” Whether or not this claim is true, the Luftwaffe did “trundle over” Moss Side, Manchester, where Burgess was living, as if to demonstrate that Mephistophilis “was no mere playhouse bogeyman.”

Having timed his Shakespeare novel Nothing Like the Sun (1964) for release on the Bard’s 400th birthday, Burgess wrote his Marlowe novel on the 400th anniversary of Marlowe’s May 30,1593 death, “to pay such homage as possible to an ageing writer.”

Anthony Burgess died half a year later on November 22, 1993.

Seeing Marlowe

“Indeed about Kit there was something of the cat” is the first thing Burgess’s actor narrator observes about Marlowe, who “blinked his green eyes much and evaded as cats will, the straight gaze either from fear of fearful aggression or of some shame of one order or another.” Of Kit’s “feline face,” on the “overlip” it was “a matter more of whiskers than of true mustachio, the beard scant also, and it may be said that he never grew to hirsute manhood. The hair of his head was an abundant harvest, though not of corn. Let me speak rather of hayricks burning. In dry weather that augured thunder it would grow horrent.” In case you doubt that the narrator had carnal knowledge of his subject (one day he will play Tamburlaine’s queen “the divine Zenocrate”), he makes sure you know that Kit’s underlip was “burning and thrustful,” and that his bared body had “but little hair, the mane thin above the fairsized thursday. The flesh was smooth, the shape fair, the belly flat.”

Cambridge. Noting that the books in Marlowe’s chambers have nothing to do with divinity, the secretary says, “So this is your study, Tamerlaine and Techelles.” When Kit mentions the play he’s writing and is asked the theme, he’s clearly already brainstorming his hero: “Power. Pitiless, merciless, absolute .... Power, yes, power cut up and anatomica. I want the power of chronicling power. I have read my Machiavelli.”

In fact Machiavelli appears onstage to deliver the prologue to Marlowe’s next play, The Jew of Malta. After proclaiming “Admired I am of those that hate me most,” he vows that though “some speak openly against my books,” yet “will they read me,” and “when they cast me off” will be “poisoned by my climbing followers.”

Marlowe in 2025

Rereading Marlowe makes an amusing fit with the early reign of a president who calls himself king, claiming countries, bodies of water, and global domains that recall Malovian overreachers such as the Duke of Guise in The Massacre of Paris : “Set me to scale the high Pyramides, and thereon set the diadem of France, I’ll either rend it with my nails to naught, or mount the top with my aspiring wings.” Or Dr Faustus: “I’ll join the hills that bind the Afric shore and make that country continent to Spain, and both contributory to my crown; the Emperor shall not live but by my leave, nor any potentate of Germany.” And don’t forget Tamburlaine: “I will confute those blind geographers that make a triple region in the world, excluding regions which I mean to trace, and with this pen reduce them to a map, calling the provinces, cities, and towns after my name.”

A Town Called Marlow

TheFinery and Power

Having been well paid for his first mission as a spy for the crown, Kit was “dressed in purple and primrose and a shirt with a cobweb collar” when spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham’s secretary visited him at

Beyond Organic: Hydroponics

front page of Tuesday morning’s New York Times directs readers to a feature about an English town “fighting the building of a film studio.” Although the town of Marlow, located on the Thames in Buckinghamshire, dates back to the Domesday Book, the happy convergence with my subject infects me with the Marlovian conceit that Kit somehow employed his magic to “call it after his name.” The town also has interesting roots, with former residents like Percy and Mary Shelley, who worked on Frankenstein (1818) there; Thomas Love Peacock, who wrote Nightmare Abbey (1818) in a nearby house; and T.S. Eliot who lived in Marlow during the First World War. The Marlow film studio’s chief executive Robert Laycock says the town is the “right and only” location, because it is less than 10 miles away from Pinewood Studios, where many of the James Bond movies were filmed. Mr. Laycock is a great-nephew of Ian Fleming, the author of the Bond books, “a connection he emphasizes amid accusations that he and his team do not have enough experience in the film industry.”

—Stuart Mitchner

he hydroponic garden at Kasis Market showcases the future of farming, fully on display. Hydroponics is a method of growing plants in a nutrient-rich water solution instead of soil. At our hydroponic garden, we grow leafy greens, and will soon have other vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, along with herbs and strawberries.

Why Beyond Organic? The hydroponic method of growing plants is a fully sustainable growing system, using 95% less water than traditional farming. The quality of the plants is better since they are able to get the most nutrition when most needed. The Kasia hydroponic garden uses minimal pesticides – and only those that are natural, such as neem oil. Contact to the outside world is kept to a minimum so that no pests can hitchhike on our clothing.

Kasia Market

TThree-Card Monte Defines Two Brothers’ Relationship in

“Topdog/Underdog”;

Passage Succeeds with a Gritty, Intimate Staging of a Pulitzer-Winning Drama

hree-card monte is a gambling game in which the dealer displays three cards. After shuffling the cards and placing them face down, the dealer challenges players to bet that they can correctly locate a certain card. Showmanship and sleight of hand are crucial to successfully manipulating a player, or “mark,” into losing.

In Topdog/Underdog (2001), playwright Suzan-Lori Parks depicts two African American brothers whose tense relationship comes to be defined by three-card monte.

Lincoln is a former hustler who seems to have put the game behind him; Booth aims to emulate his older brother’s success as a dealer. Both brothers, especially Booth, let the game’s concomitant bluffing and calculation extend from the game to their personal interactions, particularly with each other.

Topdog/Underdog premiered OffBroadway in 2021; it opened on Broadway the following year. In 2002 Parks received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Outer Critics Circle Award. In 2023 the show won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play. (The play previously was reviewed in these pages when Princeton Summer Theater staged it in 2019. )

To celebrate Black History Month, Passage Theatre is presenting the Trenton premiere of Topdog/Underdog. As the theater’s website notes, this is the “first Broadway script to ever be produced on the Passage stage.”

The gritty, intimate production is direct ed by marcus d. harvey, who lets both actors break the fourth wall to maximize audience engagement.

“This play, which explores the complex ity of Black male identity, brotherhood, and the generational cycles of grief, speaks to me not only as an artist but also as someone who carries the lived experi ences of being Black in America,” harvey explains in a program note. “I hope to cre ate a mirror for the Black men of Trenton to see themselves – their struggles, their hopes, their heartbreak, and their perse verance — reflected on stage.”

A central aspect of the staging is the frequent juxtaposition of swift, showy movement against stillness. This is clear from the beginning; Booth (portrayed by Anthony Vaughn Merchant) opens the play by challenging the audience to a game of three-card monte — while Lincoln (Steven St. Pierre), standing silently in the background, appears to observe the proceedings.

matches the swift dexterity he displays in manipulating the cards.

Lincoln now earns money at a carnival arcade by impersonating the famous president for whom he is named (work that repulses both brothers). This entails wearing whiteface and pretending to be shot. Booth persistently attempts to persuade Lincoln to abandon his current job and join him in hustling. Lincoln appears unwilling to sacrifice his limited but steady income, and is less than impressed by Booth’s skill at the game (later we catch hints that Booth made a costly mistake during a round in which Lincoln was the dealer).

The brothers share a cramped oneroom apartment that does not even seem to have proper plumbing. Lincoln has moved in with Booth after being thrown out by his ex-wife. Booth often reminds him that this arrangement is supposed to be temporary, although Lincoln is the sole breadwinner. (We get a sense of the brothers’ impoverishment when Booth takes Lincoln’s earnings and carefully budgets the cash, allotting himself a bit of money to spend on a date.)

Anthony Wiegand’s set is artfully claustrophobic. A window shows the room’s close proximity to the building next to it, which is covered in graffiti (designed by Billy MF Brown). The plaster on the

walks is peeling to such an extent that we can see the building’s outer wooden slats, which let in a glimpse of skylight.

The projections by Damien Figueras offer a further view of the outside world, specifically the grit of the city; at one point the footage seems to be from a character’s point of view. Figueras also contributes the sound design, which heightens the impact of the play’s climax, as does the lighting by Danie Taylor. Taylor’s lighting also is striking during Booth’s opening monologue.

Throughout the play it is made clear to us that bluffing and sleight of hand are skills that Booth uses for more than just gambling. He is a deft thief; in one memorable scene, we see him take off one stolen suit to reveal another (eventually he gives one of the suits to Lincoln).

Booth announces that he has stolen the suits because he has a date with a woman named Grace. Later, with swagger that distinctly echoes the bravado that infuses his gambling banter, he boasts enthusiastically about his evening. (Given the time he spends practicing bluffing at cards, we are led to wonder whether or not Grace really exists.)

Later, while Booth is asleep, it is Lincoln’s turn to practice hustling three-card monte (a conversation with Booth having sparked his motivation to consider return -

ing to the game). Like Booth, Lincoln addresses random members of the audience as he practices. The segment flips the opening scene; Booth is lying still, and Lincoln is moving swiftly to manipulate the placement of cards. As St. Pierre delivers the monologue, he lets Lincoln drop some of his calculating reserve in favor of an imitation of Booth’s bluster.

This central scene, and the sequence in which one suit is removed to reveal another, aptly reflects the play’s exploration of the theme of identities — specifically the conflict between trying to forge one’s own identity, and the desire (whether selfimposed or due to family or cultural pressure) to imitate that of another person.

Except for the scene with the suits, Costume Designer Tiffany Bacon generally keeps Lincoln in an outfit that resembles that of his namesake, though in the privacy of the apartment he occasionally removes it to reveal a simple tank top. The freer-spirited Booth wears more casual sweats and T-shirts.

Due to consistently strong performances from both actors, and perhaps partly due to the intimacy of the space, Passage’s production allows the audience to feel the consistent tension between the brothers.

There are periods of comparative calm, even joviality, but harvey and the actors ensure that this underlying tension — caused by painful events in the brothers’ past, as well as their present circumstances — always is palpable, ready to erupt at any moment.

“TOPDOG/UNDERDOG”: Performances are underway for “Topdog/Underdog.”

zan-Lori

As Merchant charismatically delivers Booth’s opening monologue he makes eye contact with, and addresses, individual members of the audience. The smoothness with which he glides around the stage

“Topdog/Underdog” will play at Passage Theatre in the Mill Hill Playhouse, 205 East Front Street in Trenton, through March 9. The play contains mature themes including sexuality and violence. For tickets, show times, and further information call (609) 392-0766 or visit passagetheatre.org.

As the title suggests, both brothers are, by turns, both top dog and underdog. Therein lies the source of the conflict – which, thanks to both the script and the performances, steadily builds up to a violent climax (effectively staged by Fight Choreographer Anthony Domingues).

Arguably, the brothers’ lives reflect three-card monte; metaphorically, each brother has at least one “wrong” card. Lincoln has the security of a steady job and is (from his perspective) more streetwise than his younger brother, but he lacks his own place (and, from Booths point of view, ambition). Booth has ambition and a living space, but (from Lincoln’s point of view) naively lacks knowledge of how the game, and the world, really works.

APassage press release describes Topdog/Underdog as “darkly comic.” The comedy stems from the brothers’ everyday banter, as well as the hustler monologues. The play turns darker when it portrays the brothers’ apparent inability to truly bond, due to their incessant jockeying for the position of “top dog.” But the immediacy of Passage’s powerful production makes that jockeying entertaining, and moving, to watch.

—Donald H. Sanborn III

Written by Su-

Parks, and directed by marcus d. harvey, the play runs through March 9 at Passage Theatre. Above, from left: brothers Lincoln (Steven St. Pierre) and Booth (Anthony Vaughn Merchant) play a high-stakes game of three-card monte.

{Photo by Habiyb Shu’Aib)

A MEMORIAL CONCERT IN HONOR OF ELAINE STRAUSS: KAIRY KOSHOEVA, Pianist

Princeton University Concerts Presents Longtime String Quartet Partner

In this collection of vignettes, Hough effectively captured scenes of Paris in a time untouched by worldwide calamity. The opening scene portrayed a romantic walk down a boulevard, led by violist O’Neill. Dusinberre played a winding melody conveying the casual atmosphere of a park, delicately accompanied by second violin and cello. Rhodes guided the ensemble through a smooth homogenous sound in passages taking place at a hotel, as the Quartet well handled the rhythmic shifts and varied styles in the movement. The most reverent vignette depicted a scene “at the church,” and each player maintained a reflective character, with O’Neill providing a poignant melody. Hough’s closed joyfully, with a bit of humor within a celebratory flair.

Playing Works by: Bach, Bortkiewicz, Chopin, Rachmaninoff

Guest Artist: Jordan Enzinger, Cello

Saturday, March 1st, 7:00 pm

Kairy Koshoeva enjoys a varied career as a soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. She has been on the faculty of the New School for Music Study since 2015. She has held teaching positions at Avila University, Kansas City Community College, UMKC, Rockhurst University, Park University, and the University of Kansas.

Dr. Koshoeva has garnered awards from around the globe, including top prizes at the international Piano Competition in Vicenza, Italy, the N. Rubinstein Competition in Paris, the Gold Medal at the 2004 Rachmaninoff Awards in Moscow, First Prize at the 2020 “Musica Classica” International Competitions in Moscow Russia, and first prize at the Chautauqua Music Festival concerto competition in New York. In 2013, she was awarded the prestigious Honored Artist of Kyrgyzstan. Dr. Koshoeva has played internationally in Israel, France, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Switzerland, and the United States. She has performed as a soloist with many prominent orchestras, including the Kansas City Symphony and the Chautauqua Music Festival, the National Symphony of Kyrgyzstan, and orchestras in Houston and Jefferson City. She has also performed with the Moscow chamber orchestra “Cantus Firmus.”

CHRIST CHURCH NEW BRUNSWICK

5 PATERSON STREET | NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ 08901 HTTP://CHRISTCHURCHNEWBRUNSWICK.ORG

and cellist András Fejér opened Thursday

Hough joined the Takács Quartet as pianist for the closing work on the program, Brahms’ for Piano and Strings, Op. 34. Originally composed for five-part string ensemble, this piece subsequently became a sonata for two pianos before its final form as a four-movement string quartet. Hough and the Takács players highlighted the drama of the mu sic from the outset, with exacting pre cision between piano and strings. The opening movement presented the four strings as contrasting to the piano, yet the result was true partnership, rather than tension. The second movement “Andante” was played as a lullaby, with sweet thirds between the two violins and a poignant melody from Fejér.

Donald S. Bernstein ’75 Lecture

ACTINGS:

Causes and Consequences of Temporary Leadership in Government

Anne Joseph O’Connell

Adelbert H. Sweet Professor of Law at Stanford University and a Senior Fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, Stanford University

At a moment when temporary or “acting”

charts a path toward reforms for making such leaders more effective and accountable to the people they serve.

focus on innovation, the Takács Quartet has teamed with pianist and composer Sir Stephen Hough, taking full advantage of all his talents. A longtime collaborator with the Takács musicians, Hough composed a string quartet for the ensemble in 2021. Turning away from the historic Austro-German model, Hough’s String Quartet No. 1 is an homage to the preWorld War I French Belle Époque era. The six movements of the work subtitled “Les Six Rencontres” portray random “meetings” at varied locations, including a boulevard, park, theater, and church.

Throughout the ing keyboard lines consistently had di rection, with the piano serving as a fifth and equal solo instrument. Both pianist and string players executed the dotted rhythms of the third movement in mar tial fashion. Together with Hough’s strong independent keyboard performance, the Takács Quartet well brought out Brahm sian majesty.

Astark chromatic introduction opened the final movement, with Hough and Fejér leading the way to a spirited rondo. Hough demonstrated an ability to find elegance within the drama, and the five performers together were instinctively in synch without having to watch one another. A fiery coda featuring quick playing by all enthusiastically closed the Quintet with Beethovenesque passion and fervor.

—Nancy Plum

Princeton University Concerts will present the Richardson Chamber Players on Sunday, March 2 at 3 p.m.in Richardson Auditorium. “Serenade Meets Steampunk” will feature music of David Bruce and Johannes Brahms. Ticket information can be obtained at concerts.princeton.edu/events.

Performing Arts

Traditional Mexican Dances

Reflect Several Influences

State Theatre New Jersey presents Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández on Tuesday, March 4, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $29-$59

The troupe is composed of more than 70 folk dancers who have performed extensively across Mexico and abroad.

A dancer and a choreographer, Hernández founded Ballet Folklórico de México in 1952. From a very young age, Hernández began a long journey through Mexican culture that would lead her to preserving the traditional dances of Mexico through her work. Today, the company continues to project to the world the beauty of Mexico through movement, from pre-Columbian cultures and Spanish influences to revolutionary times. With her first performances in 1952, Hernández obtained public recognition as a cultural representative of Mexico. Her success established the company in the Palace of Fine Arts as its permanent venue since October 11, 1959. The repertory includes more than 120 original choreographed works

State Theatre New Jersey is at 15 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick. Visit stnj. org for tickets.

So Percussion Appears at PSO Soundtracks Program

Members of the awardwinning ensemble So Percussion will give a talk on “Found Sounds” on Tuesday, March 4 at 7 p.m., a presentation of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) Soundtracks Series at the Princeton Public Library. They will discuss the unique soundscapes which can be created using everyday items. The ensemble regularly incorporates unusual sounds and found instruments in performances, including in works on their 2025 GRAMMY Award-winning album Rectangles and Circumstance with Caroline Shaw.

There will be an opportunity for questions and hands-on engagement with found items so that audience members can produce their own percussive sounds. The free talk takes place in the library’s Community Room.

Princeton University’s Edward T. Cone performersin-residence, So Percussion are celebrated for a range of work: for live performances which bring to life the percussion repertoire; for collaborations in classical music, pop, indie rock, contemporary dance, and theater; and for their work in education and community. Committed to the creation and amplification of new work, So’s collaborative composition partners include David Lang, Julia Wolfe, Nathalie Joachim, Dan Trueman, and Kendall K. Williams, among others. Attendees of the talk will have the opportunity to enter a drawing for free tickets to see So Percussion in action as they perform Viet

Cuong’s inventive Re(new) al with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra at performances March 8-9. Tickets and information for those concerts are available at princetonsymphony.org.

“Foibles

and Fables” At Berlind Theatre

The Princeton Playhouse Ensembles of Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Theater and Music Theater presents “Foibles and Fables: Songs of Magic and Memory!” on Saturday, March 1 at 7 p.m. at the Berlind Theatre at McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place.

The musical celebrates music theater storytelling, performance, composition, arranging, direction, and

choreography, featuring the work and leadership of current Princeton students and alumni. The Playhouse Ensembles will be joined by Broadway performer Becca Stevens, violist and composer Nathan Schram, and other special guests. Selections from Hadestown, Pippin, Shuffle Along, Stephen Sondheim’s Evening Primrose , and other known works as well as premieres by guest artists and students are on the program.

The Princeton Playhouse Choir and Princeton Playhouse Orchestra comprise the Playhouse Ensembles, both led by Snider Sway. Open to all Princeton students, the ensembles hold annual auditions and include students with a broad range of musical backgrounds and interests.

Tickets to the performance are $20 ($10 for students). Visit arts.princeton.edu.

Jazz at Lincoln Center Comes to McCarter Theatre

Jazz at Lincoln Center brings the soul of New Orleans and the spirit of Mardi Gras to McCarter Theatre on Friday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m. The touring concert, which celebrates the New Orleans Songbook, is led by pianist Luther S. Allison.

Vocalists Quiana Lynell and Milton Suggs are joined by a band presenting the music of Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, Ellis Marsalis, James Black, Henry Butler, The Meters, Professor Longhair, and more.

“New Orleans is arguably the most important city in the history of Black American Music. The depth of its culture is bar none, and the influence of art from this city has undeniably shaped the development of

“FOUND SOUNDS”: The Princeton-based ensemble So Percussion demonstrates their

usual sounds and found instruments

nearly all genres of music. I am honored to pay tribute to my heroes of the New Orleans lineage with such a tremendous band,” said Allison.

For over three decades, Jazz at Lincoln Center has been a leading advocate for jazz, culture, and arts education worldwide. Under the direction of Wynton Marsalis, JALC has brought jazz from New York to 446 cities in more than 40 countries.

McCarter Theatre is at 91 University Place. Visit Mccarter.org for tickets.

Continued on Next Page

MEXICAN HERITAGE: Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez comes to State Theatre New Jersey on March 4.

ability to use un-

talk at Princeton Public Library on March 4. (Photo by Victoria Pickering)

Milton Suggs (Photo by Jacob Blickenstaff)

FESTIVE FUN: Ryan Shaw and Capathia Jenkins return to the Princeton Festival on June 6 with songs by Prince, Whitney. Houson, Stevie Wonder, and Elvis Presley, among others. This year’s festival runs June 6-21.

Performing Arts

Continued from Preceding Page

Princeton Festival Line-up

Announced by Orchestra

The Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) will hold the annual Princeton Festival from June 6-21 on the grounds of Morven Museum & Garden. The performing arts showcase includes a concert by soprano Renée Fleming, an evening of songs by Sondheim, Puccini’s opera Tosca , an evening of dance by American Repertory Ballet, and more.

“This year’s Festival will amaze you with its breadth and variety of musical experiences,” said PSO Music Director Rossen Milanov. “Whether you like Classical,

Baroque, vocal, pop music or dance and opera, I guarantee you that you will find it in our Festival line-up. Prepare to be transported by exquisite music in a beautiful setting, surrounded by nature.”

Opening Weekend begins Friday, June 6 with “ICON: The Voices That Changed Music” featuring songs by such artists as Prince, Whitney Houston, Gladys Knight, Elvis Presley, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, and more, performed by returning Festival artists Capathia Jenkins and Ryan Shaw, with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra conducted by Lucas Waldin.

On Saturday, June 7, soprano Renée Fleming

performs with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra. She will sing her favorite arias and songs in a program conducted by Milanov.

Sunday, June 8 is Community Day at the Festival, with morning yoga, a new Festival Farmers’ Market, student art exhibit, and free family activities followed by a ticketed, cabaret-style performance of “Sondheim in the City” with Broadway star Melissa Errico.

Opera is at the heart of the Festival with Giacomo Puccini’s “Tosca” taking centerstage June 13, 15, and 17. Soprano Toni Marie Palmertree stars as Tosca. Victor Starsky takes on the role of Cavaradossi

IN COVID’S WAKE

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26

4:30 - 6:00 pm

‘Following the Science’ Before and During the Covid Pandemic

and Luis Ledesma portrays Scarpia. Festival veterans Eric Delagrange and Nicholas Nestorak are cast as Cesare Angelotti and Spoletta, respectively. Jacob Hanes is in the role of Sciarrone.

American Repertory Ballet performs “An Evening of Pas de deux,” accompanied by the PSO on Saturday, June 14. “Viva Vivaldi! with Daniel Rowland and Maja Bogdanovic is on Friday, June 20.

Two concerts will be performed at Trinity Church: Tessa Lark, Violin: Stradgrass on Thursday, June 12, and The Sebastians: Baroque Brilliance on Wednesday, June 18.

Masters of Soul: A Motown Revue caps the Festival’s Juneteenth Celebration on Thursday, June 19, and ARRIVAL from Sweden: The Music of ABBA on Saturday, June 21.

The Festival’s outdoor venue features concessions and space for attendees to gather outdoors before performances and during intermissions. Main-stage events are presented in a state-of-the-art, rain-proof performance pavilion which will be expanded this year to include additional seating to accommodate growing audiences.

Visit princetonsymphony.org/festival or call (609) 497-0020 for more information.

Britpop Choir Plans First Concert in Princeton Princeton area resident Bela Nakum has founded the Princeton Britpop Choir, with a goal of creating a supportive community where all can experience the joy of singing together in harmony. The first class, on Thursday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m., will be held at Princeton United Methodist Church, 7 Vandeventer Avenue.

Members of the choir will meet weekly on Thursday evenings.

Though Nakum grew up in the greater Princeton area, she spent summers visiting her family in the United Kingdom and developed a love for British music. While her musical background is in classical choral music, she aims to combine her love of music, the cultures she grew up in, and her desire to create a supportive community — open to everyone from classically trained musicians to those with no experience.

“Whether you’re a veteran Britpop lover or someone who loves music of any kind looking to connect with others, this is for you,” she said.

Each season, the choir will learn choral arrangements of four to six songs, culminating with an optional showcase on the last day of class. While Britpop classics by Oasis, Pulp, and Blur from the 1990s will form the foundation, the scope of the choir will be wide and will include pop songs from any era. Choir members will be encouraged to provide song suggestions, making it a true community experience.

To learn more or sign up for Princeton Britpop Choir, visit princetonbritpopchoir.com or email bela@ princetonbritpopchoir.com.

Thursdays at 12:30pm

Princeton University Chapel

A weekly opportunity for the Princeton Community to enjoy performances by local, national, and international organists. Performing February 27 is Anthony Hammond, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Morristown, NJ

SINGING TOGETHER: Bela Nakum will share her love for British music with members of the new Princeton Britpop Choir weekly beginning March 13 at Princeton United Methodist Church.

Titusville Garden Center Focuses On Native Plants and Education

Rosalind Doremus is doing her part to foster awareness of native plants. Not only does she own a Titusville garden center that offers a wide variety of native plants, but she sees herself as more of an educator, and she hopes her customers see it that way too.

When My Backyard at Nectars at 1600 River Road reopens for the season on March 1, Doremus will be demonstrating not only her knowledge of horticulture and native plants, but her passion as well.

Her personal Facebook

gardening group page, My Backyard, has been a source of information and inspiration for 15 years. But when a charming building on River Road came on the market, she felt its pull.

“I tell people that never in a million years did I think I would open my own garden center,” she said in a phone interview. “But I think it found me. It is a small shop, and the local area is environmentally conscious. With that and what I’ve learned from years of studying these plants, I knew I could handle it.” She opened in April 2023.

She still educates from her Facebook page. In fact, one recent post says in part: “. . . much research was done in ordering the following plants as to make sure I was bringing in not only plants that were native to the Northeast, but also some plants that are truly unique and possibly quite hard to find either for purchase or in nature.” A list of 10 plants follows.

Beyond selling native plants, Doremus wants to inspire people, and make sure they are happy with their own backyard gardens. Many of her customers are already learning while gaining interest. “Gardeners have a desire to learn” she said. “And the native plant community is

always looking for new and varied native plants to add to their yards.”

According to the Native Plant Society of New Jersey, a native plant is a species that occurred naturally in the region before European settlement, having evolved to thrive in the local environment and supporting native wildlife. April is Native Plants Month in New Jersey.

Native plants, she said, are “one of the true ways we can make a difference in the world. They bring different value and life to our world — they are a magical force.”

She acknowledges also that native plants and pollinators are more than essential to our ecosystems but would be irreplaceable if gone.

Doremus has always been in horticulture, has worked for wholesale nurseries, and has a background in nursery purchasing. She started at a nursery when she was 16 — at that time, she said, it was “a man’s world. I didn’t think of it as a career, an option.”

She majored in English and secondary education, but told her father that she wasn’t happy, and loved plants and the plant community. He told her that she was lucky — that so many people didn’t know what they wanted to do.

As she worked at a nursery

that catered more to garden designers, she saw that the field was beginning to include women. She was mentored by her managers, and knew she wanted to educate. On her Facebook page she began writing plant profiles. “Education is paramount for me” she said.

In 2019, Doremus, now a certified nursey landscape professional, was awarded “Young Nursery Professional of the Year” by the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association (NJNLA) for her active participation in the industry and her desire to connect people and plants together. When she lost her parents shortly thereafter, she took some time and found solace in her own garden, she wrote in the Native Plant Society of New Jersey fall newsletter. She reignited her passion for gardening, especially with native plants and the different insects they brought to her yard.

Doremus continues educating, having participated in Hopewell Public Library’s Hidden Gardens of Hopewell Valley garden tours, and on Thursday, February 27, she will speak for Sourlands Conservancy and the Watershed Institute from 7 to 8:30 p.m., focusing on winter garden maintenance and how to have

a garden that feeds into the ecosystem.

She is currently preparing for her spring opening, peeling back the plastic and frost blankets, and putting her stock on tables. During April new plants will arrive two or three times a week.

Today, she has 1,440 total plants on hand, according to her Facebook page, and 2,711 total plants on order for spring including 434 unique line items and 49 plants never carried before by the center. Customers can email mybackyardatnectars@yahoo.com at any time for current plant availability.

She is often asked about what people should plant. “My advice is to know your site before planting,” she said. “Watch the sun throughout the day — where it is. Assess the soil, is it dry? Is there drainage? Is there deer?

“I would also say that your garden is for you. There can be a lot of divisiveness online about what to plant, but plant what is best for the environment, and also for you to enjoy.”

Doremus hopes the garden center is not only “a place for people to come to shop for plants, but a place for them to come and feel connected with nature,” she said. “I want to Continued on Page 18

HER GARDEN GROWS: Rosalind Doremus had a passion for plants, and opened a small garden center on River Road in Titusville. She promotes native plants, which she calls “a magical force.”

(Photo courtesy of Rosalind Doremus)

Spotlight on Hopewell Valley

help restore the relationship that people have with the natural world. I am truly grateful for every plant sold and every customer I’ve met as each serve as a ripple effect, out beyond the garden center walls. Every part of my business, the plants, the soil that they are in, my customers, my messages on social media — they are all living extensions of the energy I want to put out into the world. That’s what my business means to me, in short.”

My Backyard at Nectars, 1600 River Road, Titusville, is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call (609) 737-9200.

—Wendy Greenberg

Friends of Hopewell Quarry to Host Polar Plunge Fundraiser on March 8

For the first time in its nearly 100-year history, the Hopewell Quarry is holding a splashy fundraiser — a Polar Plunge — on Saturday, March 8 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The scenic swimming area at 180 Crusher Road in Hopewell is asking local community members to brave the chilly waters of the Quarry to raise money for its upkeep and maintenance.

Friends of Hopewell Quarry (FOHQ) hope to raise enough money to replace a water well and septic system, among other repairs. They say that donations have “played a vital role in the revitalization of this historic property,” including purchasing new docks, installing a railing for safer entry and exit, replacing old fencing, replastering the pool, and planting native shade trees.

So far $18,015 of the necessary $100,000 has been raised, said Katie Genovesi, Quarry operations manager. Replacing the well and septic system are “our biggest ticket items,” according to Genovesi. “We hope that a fully operational, ADA -compliant restroom facility will enable us to expand our season.”

The former rock quarry, a natural, spring-fed body of water that averages 30 feet in depth, has been used as a swimming space since 1928, and although it closed during the pandemic, it reopened again in 2021. Now the site now of a 2- to 4-foot in-ground swimming pool in addition to the natural area, the

Quarry offers season swim passes, as well as a natural lagoon-like setting to rent for family milestones like baptisms and weddings. For the plunge, said Genovesi, only individuals ages 12 and up can attend. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. All college students must bring a valid college ID.

During the season (Memorial Day through Labor Day), no one below age 7 is permitted to swim in the Quarry, and anyone ages 7 to 17 must pass a swim test to go in the Quarry swimming section. However, she added, the property’s expansive lawn space, pool, and volleyball area provide many options for non-Quarry swimmers.

The Quarry’s age presents challenges. In the early 1900s, miners carved the hillside and pumped out water that rose from underground springs. The quarry ceased operations in 1916, and the mining company filed for bankruptcy. The equipment was removed. The pump was shut off, and the spring filled the hole to an initial depth of approximately 55 feet. Local residents climbed over a fence to access the water, and as people started showing up to go swimming, the owners began to charge admission. The Quarry Swim Club was incorporated in 1928.

Heights and hopes to expand recreational activities at the Quarry. Participants will receive a special Quarry Plunge Towel (while supplies last).

The pre-registration cost will be $18 for adults, $5 for spectators, and $12 with a college ID. Sponsorships are available to support the volunteers and first responders who will help with the event. Contact Genovesi at katie@ hopewellquarry.org for more information.

Pre-registration can be found at hopewellquarry. org/polar-plunge-2025. Check the website to see if the event needs to be rescheduled because of weather or any other reason.

Donations to the Quarry can be made to Friends of Hopewell Quarry at P.O. Box 528, Hopewell, NJ 08525.

“We hope people will experience the Quarry” said Genovesi. “And maybe some will discover it. There are people in Hopewell who don’t know it is here.”

—Wendy Greenberg Photo Contest Winners Featured in Calendar

Hopewell Valley Township residents can see the winning photographs from the 2024 Photo Contest in the township Municipal Building Auditorium, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and in a 2025 calendar.

In 1946, continues the website history, the first inground swimming pool of the area was built. Later, an admissions booth was added, dressing rooms were installed, and the first Quarry snack shack or “refreshment building” was completed.

Newspaper articles from the later 1940s note that the Quarry Swim Club, partnering with the American Red Cross, held water carnivals, diving competitions off the cliffs, and water safety and boating demonstrations.

Former owners and longtime Hopewell residents Nancy and Jim Gypton were “stewards of the Quarry Swimming Club” from the summer of 1988 through 2021, and renovated the property, put in underground electrical lines, installed fencing, and added building improvements, as well as charcoal grills, picnic tables, a pavilion, new dressing rooms, and a sand volleyball court, and provided inner tubes, pool toys, and game items.

Purchased by Friends of Hopewell Quarry in August 2021, the Hopewell Quarry is now protected open space.

The Polar Plunge entrance will be the set of steps that plateaus for about 5 to 6 feet. Genovesi suggests bringing a few towels, a warm clothing change, and a reusable cup for coffee and light snacks.

Genovesi said FOHQ was inspired by a popular annual Polar Plunge at Seaside

The images that convey the beauty of the Hopewell Valley are featured in the 2025 Township Calendar, Scenes of Hopewell Township 2025. Each homeowner in the township will receive the calendar in the mail. Copies of the calendar are available in the lobby of the Municipal Building or at the Public Works Building.

The images can also be viewed at hopewelltwp. org/780/2025-CalendarImages.

At the January 27 Township Committee meeting, the winners of the 2024 Photo Contest were recognized with a Proclamation and the opening of the Photo Gallery in the Hopewell Township Municipal Building Auditorium. Many of the winners attended in person.

Hopewell Fare Space Holds Numerous Events

Hopewell Fare, at 65 East Broad Street, is a collaborative space where food, culture, and community meet under one roof, and all the collaborators get their products from local, sustainable sources. In additions to the vendors, there are opportunities such as cooking and baking classes for all age groups; cultural events, such as concerts, talks, and demonstrations; and popups related to real food, agriculture, and healthy living.

Sourland Bread recently joined Maria’s Market, Dougherty’s Artisanal Provisions, Farmer’s Café,

Hopewell Fare

Continued from Page 18

Ottoburger, Hopewell Enlightenment League, and The Gallery in the space. Hopewell Fare is the site of regular events. The next is Ottoburger Night on Friday, February 28, from 5 to 8:30 p.m., — a pasture-totable pop-up burger shop featuring locally-raised and grown ingredients, housebaked buns, and a revolving series of specials. Takeout or counter service is available from 5 to 8:30 p.m., First come, first served.

The Karen Payne Duo will perform from 6 to 8 p.m. on February 28. Karen Payne is a singer, dancer, and performer whose varied genres include pop, rock,

alternative, reggae, classic country, R&B, soul, ballads, and more. She has toured the country with prominent artists, performing at major venues. Micah Payne of Royal Sound Studios is a multiinstrumentalist, producer, composer, and songwriter. His extensive experience in live performance and musical composition has led him to touring the U.S. and recording multiple albums, as well as producing and mixing albums for others.

Hopewell Valley Food Pantry

To Host Open House on April 13

RedefiningDesign

For upcoming events, see hopewellfare.com/events

Tell them you saw their ad in

The Hopewell Valley Food Pantry had its start during the pandemic when, in March 2020, the then-superintendent of the Hopewell Valley School District gathered the mayors of Pennington, Hopewell Township, and Hopewell Borough to discuss what they could do for children in the free and reduced lunch program while schools were closed.

In April 2020 they delivered food to 45 families, and the thought was that the deliveries would be needed for maybe six to nine months, recalled former Pennington Mayor Joseph Lawver.

Five years later, the Hopewell Valley Food Pantry serves 225 families.

ple the food pantry serves. “They think that we operate from a table in a basement,” said Lawver. The food pantry operates out of the old gymnasium in the school administration building in Pennington, and it is quite an operation, he noted.

Residents can see the food pantry in person at an open house on Sunday, April 13, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. According to Lawver, seeing “the scope of what we do is real eye-opening.”

generous drivers cars we leave as new friends. There is a warmth and belonging to something bigger at the pantry that honestly, most would not realize is needed right in our backyards”

The website, hvymca.org/ pantry, has information on dropping off food items to 425 South Main Street, Pennington, with perishables taken during staffed hours (Monday and Wednesday, 9 to 10:30 a.m. and Saturday, 9:45 to 1 p.m.) With nonperishables, bags can be placed in the outside bin. Guidelines and suggestions are on the website.

INSPIRING

The food pantry is showing no signs of slowing down, but it is also not that well known. Agencies such as health offices, faith organizations, senior services, and schools have been referring clients, said Lawver, who stayed on as manager. Some volunteers said they didn’t know the place was so big, or how many peo -

RedefiningDesign

DISTINCTIVE

INSPIRING CUSTOM DESIGNS

PROJECT MANAGEMENT FROM CONCEPT TO COMPLETION

The food pantry has been blessed with an abundance of volunteers, he said, although more are welcome. Its needs are donations — for when food needs to be purchased — and food itself. Its Facebook page posts the most-needed food item on certain weeks such as, for the week of February 20, shelf stable milk, rolled oats or quick oats, and canned soup (reduced salt preferred).

Laura Lichstein of Hopewell has been a volunteer at the food pantry almost from its inception five years ago, when her daughter did a food drive in their neighborhood of Elm Ridge Park during the early pandemic. The entire family has been volunteers ever since. “My husband and both girls, now age 17 and 21, have been active in all aspects of the pantry, delivering food, filling bags of groceries, encouraging others to volunteer, and even my husband’s band got involved, playing at a fundraiser to raise money for the pantry,” said Lichstein. “It has been a wonderful way for my family and myself to give back to our community and to contribute to those in need right here in Hopewell Valley.”

She said she looks forward to Wednesdays filling bags of produce from local farms and markets. “We work as a team, strangers on arrival and after we fill our last bag of groceries to be delivered and tucked them into the

Donations of food have dropped off, said Lawver, and the pantry has been purchasing almost half its groceries, which is increasing its expenses some $3,000 a week.

Lawver said that food donations actually make the delivered grocery bag “more varied and rich,” because of the way basic food is purchased in bulk. He especially called for ingredients to add to dishes to make them “less sustenance and more of a meal” — such as sauces, spices, oils, etc.

The food pantry is proud that each home delivery comes with a fresh produce bag.

The Food Pantry also welcomes donations. Checks may be made out to HVYMCA and indicate Food Pantry on the memo line; then mailed or dropped off to the Hopewell Valley YMCA, 62 South Main Street, Pennington.

Lawver said the comments he gets from those in need are “touching.” “Most are senior citizens trying to stay in the community and their homes,” he said. Families with children are also in need, and the groceries are appreciated. For more information call (609) 346-6717 or email hvmobilefoodpantry@gmail.com.

—Wendy Greenberg

Great Western Bikeway Will Link Four Towns Mercer County has secured $2.9 million to build the Great Western Bikeway, a project linking four towns: Lawrence Township, Ewing, Hopewell, and Pennington. The funding is part of the 2024 Regional Transportation Alternatives (RTA) Set Aside Program, which provided $18.7 million for eight projects across New Jersey. The bikeway will have a 10mile main route running east to west, mostly along County Route 546, connecting two branches of the D&R Canal State Park Trail, and will cover 17.5 miles and include bikeable shoulders, regular bike lanes, buffered bike lanes, two-way bike tracks, and shared paths for cyclists and pedestrians.

Spotlight on Hopewell Valley Town Topics

Fairgrown Farm Helps

Supply Local Food Banks

In 2024, Fairgrown Farm — a small vegetable farm with just a truck and some vans — distributed 500,000 pounds of Jersey Fresh produce to those in need. In a state where one in 10 residents struggle to put food on the table, this Hopewell farm is trying to make a change.

Despite New Jersey’s rich agricultural landscape, most of the food distributed through state food banks comes from outside the region. Fairgrown Farm has joined a statewide effort to strengthen local food banking and deliver Jersey Fresh produce directly to communities in need.

Early in 2024, Fairgrown embraced the fight against hunger by joining the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program, a federal

initiative that funds The Community Foodbank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) to purchase locally grown produce. The farm began by delivering weekly Jersey Fresh farm share boxes to the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank, ensuring families received fresh, high-quality fruits and vegetables — a program that quickly expanded to include additional food banks across the state.

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn emphasized the broader significance of the initiative: “The purpose of the LFPA program is to link local food producers with the emergency feeding network.

Fairgrown Farm has taken the extra step by becoming an aggregator, helping other smaller farms gain access to this critical food market. Continuing to fund federal programs

TOGETHER: Fairgrown

like this and linking them to state food purchase initiatives will help strengthen not only emergency food supplies, but New Jersey agriculture.”

Seeking to build an even stronger local food system, the Office of the Food Security Advocate (OFSA) and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) invited Fairgrown into a Central Jersey food security pilot program. This initiative connected small farms directly with food pantries and soup kitchens. Within two weeks, Fairgrown developed a specialized food security program and began trucking even more locally grown produce to organizations serving foodinsecure communities.

Fairgrown’s strength lies in its network of 37 partner farms, which enables the scalable aggregation of fresh produce and efficient logistics — from sourcing and packaging to delivery. Over the past year, the combined efforts of the LFPA program, the pilot initiative, and private donations have resulted in the distribution of over 500,000 pounds of Jersey Fresh produce to families across New Jersey.

James Klett, Fairgrown’s co-owner, credits the collaboration between OFSA and NJDA, CFBNJ’s deeply dedicated team, and the state’s food banks, pantries, and soup kitchens for making this possible. “The LFPA grant and the Central Jersey pilot program have created real, lasting connections between local farms and the communities that need them most. I’ve learned that us farmers and these food security folks have something in common … we just want to feed people. Getting to work with such a selfless community has changed my life.”

Hopewell Valley Becomes Wildlife-Friendly Community

The Hopewell Valley (Hopewell Township, Hopewell Borough and Pennington Borough) is launching a new effort with the National Wildlife Federation’s Community Wildlife Habitat program to become healthier, more sustainable, and more wildlife-friendly by committing to create wildlife habitat throughout its communities while also educating and engaging residents.

“By joining the National Wildlife Federation’s Community Wildlife Habitat program, Hopewell Valley Gardens for Wildlife is sending a clear and powerful message to communities all over America that people working together can create healthy habitats and healthy communities, and make a difference in their own community and beyond,” said Patrick Fitzgerald, senior director of Community Wildlife.

To achieve community certification, Hopewell Valley Gardens for Wildlife is asking Hopewell Valley residents to join in and make their own outdoor spaces healthier and more wildlife-friendly, with the goal of at least 225 Hopewell Valley residents then certifying their own gardens as wildlife-friendly. The program will provide free communitywide educational workshops on the benefits and how-to’s of gardening for wildlife, and feature articles in local media outlets about the program, its activities and resources. The program will also partner with others in the community to help restore and maintain public areas for wildlife.

“I enthusiastically support the team’s effort to earn certification from the National

Wildlife Federation as a Community Wildlife Habitat,” said Hopewell Township Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning.“We are proud of our open spaces, native habitats and community-wide preservation efforts. The promotion of native plantings, the reduction of pesticides and chemicals and the integration of wildlifefriendly practices into gardens and parks in the community will be a perfect complement to the work we are already doing toward sustainability and preserving the natural beauty of our community.”

Since 1973, the National Wildlife Federation has provided millions of people with the basic guidelines for making their landscapes more hospitable for wildlife. To date, through the Certified Wildlife Habitat program, the National Wildlife Federation has certi-

fied more than 250,000 sites including yards, schools, businesses, community gardens, parks, and places of worship. Each of these sites provides the four basic elements that all wildlife needs to thrive: food, water, cover and places to raise young, while integrating sustainable gardening and landscaping practices.

To become certified as a National Wildlife Federation Community Wildlife Habitat, Hopewell Valley Gardens for Wildlife is calling on its residents to certify their own property at NWF.org/Certify, and join the education and outreach efforts to learn about how residents can create a healthier, greener and more wildlife-friendly community. To learn more about Hopewell Valley Gardens for Wildlife, visit hvgardensforwildlife.weebly.com.

Friday afternoon,

and

of New Jersey joined together to plant garlic on the farm.

WORKING

farmers

staff from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and Community Food Bank

James Klett of Fairgrown Farm, right, drops off a load of fresh Jersey peaches to the CUMAC food pantry in Paterson.

Cranbury School Honors National Youth Art Month

During March, National Youth Art Month, Cranbury School will be celebrating youth art at the Gourgaud Gallery at Town Hall in Cranbury.

The show will run from March 3 to March 25 with a special opening date of Saturday, March 15th from 1 to 2 p.m.

Stacey Crannage, art teacher at the Cranbury School, has chosen art pieces from grades kindergarten through eighth grade to be showcased. Criteria for the displayed pieces to be chosen were technique, originality, and the student’s personality shining through. Student artwork will in -

clude paintings, drawings, and clay sculptures, among others.

The gallery is located in Town Hall, 23-A North Main Street, Cranbury, and is free and open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Cranbury Arts Council provides arts-oriented programs, workshops, and performances aimed at enriching the cultural experiences of the community and keeping the creative spirit alive in adults and children. Their mission is to foster, support, educate, inspire, and promote artists and art appreciation in the community. For more information, visit cranburyartscouncil.org.

GR8 Works Art Show

At West Windsor Arts

West Windsor Arts has announced the GR8 Works Fundraising Art Show, an exhibition and sale of original 8 x 8-inch artworks, which opens March 4 and benefits the art center’s Artist in Residence programs.

“This is a very special show for us because it brings together talented local artists enthusiastically showing their support for the arts by donating 50 or 100 percent of the proceeds from their artwork sales to West Windsor Arts,” says Aylin Green, executive director, West Windsor Arts. Participating artists gain recognition for their work by being part of the show, and also contribute to an organization dedicated to elevating artistic expression within the

community.

“The response has been tremendous,” said Green, “We reached out to our community of artists to be a part of the GR8 Works Art Show by creating an original 8 x 8-inch artwork. The works of more than 100 artists will be on display and for sale. It’s a great opportunity for art lovers to pick up original work at a great price.”

The sale, which runs from March 5 through April 5, features artwork from across a variety of styles and mediums — including landscapes, abstracts, and florals — each available for $88. The event will officially kick off with an opening reception on Friday, March 7, from 7 to 9 p.m., where attendees will have the opportunity to meet the artists and explore the unique collection of works available for purchase. Sales will be conducted both online and in person starting March 4.

“Through this fundraiser, we also hope to continue growing the Artist in Residence program, now in its second year,” says Green. “The Artist in Residence program brings great energy and creativity to the West Windsor Arts community with open studio time, workshops, artist talks, and more.”

West Windsor Arts launched its Artist in Residence program in 2024 to create an inspiring space where artists can work, teach, and engage with the community. Through this interactive program, the arts center can offer the community more enriching experiences.

This year’s Artist in Residence, Maria Lupo, is a nationally recognized artist and board-certified art therapist whose work is influenced by myth and fairy tales. As both an artist and therapist, Lupo uses creative expression to tell stories and help others unlock the healing benefits of art. She will also serve as the juror for the upcoming Member Show at West Windsor Arts with a theme of “your visual journey through art.”

Lupoalso invites community members to stop by the art center during her studio hours to chat about art and learn more about her career as an art therapist. “From the first time I walked into this space, I felt really comfortable,” says Lupo. “The vibe of this place is beautiful—so artsy and soothing — and the roster of classes is amazing.”

For more information, visit westwindsorarts.org/ exhibition.

GFS Receives $3 Million Gift from Johnson Foundation

Grounds For Sculpture (GFS) recently received a $3 million gift from the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation, a contribution that marks one of the largest single donations from an individual in the organization’s history. This endowment gift will play a crucial role in ensuring the lasting legacy of GFS and its commitment to promoting the interplay of art, nature, and wellness for the community.

Betty Wold Johnson, a devoted supporter of the arts and the cousin of Seward Johnson, the visionary founder of GFS, has left an indelible mark on the institution. She was one of the most celebrated philanthropists of her generation, and her commitment to the arts and her family’s legacy of creativity continue to inspire the GFS’ mission to engage the public with art in nature.

“We are immensely grateful to the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation for this remarkable gift,” said GFS Executive Director Gary Garrido Schneider. “This contribution not only enhances our endowment but also strengthens our ability to provide innovative exhibitions, educational programs, and community initiatives. We are committed to ensuring that Grounds For Sculpture remains a source of inspiration for generations to come.”

The Betty Wold Johnson Foundation’s contribution will enable GFS to expand its programming and improve facilities, while also supporting the ongoing maintenance and preservation of the 42acre sculpture park. With this gift, the total endowment for Grounds For Sculpture now exceeds $37 million, representing a significant step toward safeguarding the future of GFS and enhancing its role as a cultural beacon in New Jersey and the surrounding region.

Dr. Penelope A. Lattimer, vice president of the GFS Board of Trustees and chair of GFS Development Committee, said, “Each time I spoke with Betty Wold Johnson, I was inspired. Betty was a woman of substzzzzzzzzzz support for the unique mission and values demonstrated by work presented in the exhibitions at Grounds for Sculpture.”

In expressing the Foundation’s dedication to the arts, Ken Farber, director of the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation, said, “While Betty Wold Johnson is no longer with us, her passion for art and belief in its power to enrich lives continues. This gift reflects her unwavering commitment to supporting meaningful philanthropic endeavors. We hope it encourages others to join us in celebrating and preserving the legacy established by Seward Johnson at Grounds For Sculpture.”

For more information about Grounds For Sculpture, visit groundsforsculpture.org.

Area Exhibits

Art@Bainbridge, 158 Nassau Street, has “Roberto Lugo: Orange and Black” through July 6. Artmuseum.princeton.edu.

Artists’ Gallery, 18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, has “Gallery Group Show” through April 6. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lambertvillearts.com.

Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, has “Faces, Places, Unexpected Stories” March 1 through March 29. Artscouncilofprinceton.org.

D&R Greenway Johnson Education Center , 1 Preservation Place, has “When the Land Calls” through February 28 in the

Marie L. Matthews Gallery. drgreenway.org.

Gallery 14 Fine Art Photogaphy , 14 Mercer Street, Hopewell, has “Members Exhibition” through March 2 Gallery14. org.

Gourgaud Gallery, 23-A North Main Street, Cranbury, has works by Kathleen Maguire Morolda through February 28. Cranburyartscouncil.org.

Green Building Center, 67 Bridge Street, Lambertville, has “Trio” through March 3. Greenbuildingcenter.com.

Historical Society of Princeton, Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, has “Princeton Reflected: Stories from HSP’s Collection” and “Einstein Salon and Innovator’s Gallery.” Museum hours are Thursday through Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m. Princetonhistory org

Mercer Museum, 84 South Pine Street, Doylestown, Pa., has “The Doan Gang: Outlaws of the Revolution” through December 31, 2026. Mercermuseum.org.

Michener Art Museum, 138 South Pine Street, Doylestown, Pa., has “Charlotte Schatz: Industrial Strength” through March 9, “Mark Sfirri: The Flower Show” through May 5, and “Yesterday’s Dreams Are Real” through July 27. Michenerartmuseum.org

Milberg Gallery at Firestone Library, Princeton University, has “The Most Formidable Weapon Against Errors: The Sid Lapidus ’59 Collection & the Age of Reason” through June 8. Library.princeton. edu/lapidus2025.

Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, has “Morven Revealed: Untold Stories from New Jersey’s Most Historic Home,” through March 2. Morven.org. The Nassau Club, 6 Mercer Street, has “Held Together” through June 5. Catherinejmartzloff.com.

Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, has “Underwater Symphony” through March 15. Princetonlibrary.org.

Small World Coffee, 14 Witherspoon Street, has photography by Taaha Siddiqui through March 4. Wildlife photography by Rebecca Deporte is at the 254 Nassau Street location through March 4. Smallworldcoffee.com.

Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, 299 Parkside Avenue, Trenton, has “Charles David Viera: Selected Works 2006-2025” through March 30. Ellarslie.org.

West Windsor Arts, 952 Alexander Road, West Windsor, has “Manifesting Beloved Community” through March 1 and “GR8 Works Art Show” March 4 through April 5. Westwindsorarts. org.

YOUTH ART: This work by sixth grade student Rebecca Mazzoni is part of an exhibit celebrating National Youth Art Month at Gourgaud Gallery in Cranbury.

GR8

WORKS: The fundraising sale of original 8 x 8-inch artworks, which runs March 4 through April 5 at West Windsor Arts, benefits the art center’s Artist in Residence programs.

FEBRUARYMARCH

Town Topics | Mark Your Calendar

Wednesday, February 26

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Leighton Listens. Councilman Leighton Newlin is available to discuss issues impacting Princeton with members of the public at Blue Bears, Princeton Shopping Center, 301 North Harrison Street.

3 p.m.: Rain Man is screened at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.

Thursday, February 27

6:30 p.m.: “Black Soldiers in the Revolution,” Cadwalader Lecture at Morven, 55 Stockton Street. John Rees speaks about his book Don Troiani’s Black Soldiers in America’s Wars, 1754-1865. Morven.org.

7 p.m.: The Valencia Baryton Project chamber ensemble performs works by Haydn and contemporary composers at Trinity Church, 33 Mercer Street. Princetonsymphony orchestra.org.

7 p.m.: Talk of the Sourlands: The Winter Garden, Beautiful and Alive at Any Season . At The Watershed Institute, 31 Titus Mill Road, Pennington, or via Zoom. Rosalind Doremus, owner of MyBackyard at Nectars, is speaker. Tinyurl.com/SCWinterGarden.

7:30 p.m.: Bereishit Dance Company from Korea is at McCarter Theatre, 91 University Place. Fusion of dance with Korean culture, martial arts, and street dance. Mccarter.org.

Friday, February 28

6:30 p.m.: The Thomas Edison Film Festival holds an in-person and livestreamed screening and discussion with filmmaker Misja Pekel at the James Stewart Film Theater, 185 Nassau Street. Free. Arts. princeton.edu.

7:30 p.m.: Princeton University Orchestra Concerto Concert, conducted by Michael Pratt. At Richardson Auditorium. Works by Schnittke, Debussy, and Rachmaninoff. $15 ($5 students). Arts.princeton.edu.

7:30 p.m.: Jazz at Lincoln Center brings the New Orleans Songbook to McCarter Theatre, 91 University Place. Led by Luther S. Allison, with vocalists Quiana Lynell and Milton Suggs, and band. Mccarter. org or (609) 258-2787.

Saturday, March 1

9:30-11 a.m.: Science on Saturday series at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Lyman Spitzer Building, 100 Stellarator Road; also online. Andrew Houck speaks on “Will Quantum Computers Solve the World’s Greatest Problems?” Followed by a Q&A. Pppl.gov.

1 p.m.: “Generation Green,” free event for families of Princeton Public Schools students from pre-k to third grade, at the Henry Pannell Center, 2 Clay Street. Sustainableprinceton.org.

1-4 p.m.: Studio visits with artist-in-residence

Dr. Maria Lupo at West Windsor Arts Council, 952 Alexander Road. Free. Westwindsorarts.org.

12-5 p.m.: Winery Weekend Music Series at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Wine, light bites, hot cocoa kits, and music from 1-5 by Allan Wilcockson. Terhuneorchards.com.

1:30 p.m.: Piano recital of Carnival of the Animals by Camille SaintSaens, designed for children 4-10. With New School of Music Study pianists Carla Salas-Ruiz and Alexa Stier. At Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.

3 p.m.: The Laurie Berkner Band performs at McCarter Theatre, 91 University Place. This “greatest hits” concert is preceded by a solo, sensory-friendly, relaxed performance at 11 a.m . Mccarter.org.

12-3 p.m.: “Paws to Read” Read Across America Day at Tabby’s Place, 1100 U.S. Highway 202, Ringoes. Snacks, prizes, and a special appearance by The Cat in the Hat. Read to cats. RSVP required at kj@tabbysplace.org

7 p.m.: Pianist Kairy Koshoeva and cellist Jordan Ensinger perform a concert in memory of music journalist Elaine Strauss at Christ Church, 5 Paterson Street, New Brunswick. Free. Kairy@PrincetonPianoLessons.com

7 p.m.: “Foibles and Fables: Songs of Magic and Memory!” presented by Princeton Playhouse Ensembles, at the Berlind, McCarter Theatre, 91 University Place. $20 ($10 students). Mccarter.org.

7:30 p.m.: Princeton University Orchestra Concerto Concert, conducted by Michael Pratt. At Richardson Auditorium. Works by Schnittke, Debussy, and Rachmaninoff. $15 ($5 students). Arts.princeton.edu.

8 p.m.: “Eddie B. Teachers Only Comedy Tour” at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. $25-$59. Stnj.org.

Sunday, March 2

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: “My Memories of Growing up with Robert Frost.” Jonathan Reichert shares his memories in this Zoom event. AdamsStreet. net/Robert-frost.

12-5 p.m.: Winery Weekend Music Series at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Wine, light bites, hot cocoa kits, and music from 1-5 by Michael Montemurro. Terhuneorchards.com.

3 p.m.: Richardson Chamber Players presents “Serenade Meets Steampunk” at Richardson Auditorium. Music by David Bruce and Johannes Brahms. $15 ($5 students). Puc.princeton.edu.

3 p.m.: Open Acoustic Jam for local musicians. Chord charts and lyrics provided. Bring acoustic guitar, ukelele, violin, resonator, tambourine, or voice. At Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.

5-7 p.m.: Architect Michael Mills presents a program on the Italian craftsmen who settled in Princeton in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and worked on stone used in many of the Collegiate Gothic buildings at Princeton University. Free. At Dorothea’s House, 120 John Street. Dorotheashouse.org.

7 p.m.: Annual Awards Watch Party at the Garden Theatre, 160 Nassau Street. Preceded by the Red Carpet Reception at 5:30 p.m., at the Nassau Inn. $13.75 ($8.50 members) for the party; $50 ($40 members) for the reception and party. Princetongardentheatre.org/ awardsparty.

Monday, March 3

6 p.m.: Feminist Book Discussion Group at Princeton Public Library. The topic is Biting the Hand: Growing Up Asian in Black and White America by Julia Lee. Registration requested. Princetonlibrary.org.

7 p.m.: “Black Women and the New Jersey Civil Rights Movement” is the topic of a Zoom event led by Hettie V. Williams of Monmouth University. Part of Continuing Conversations on Race. Princetonlibrary.org.

Tuesday, March 4

10 a.m.: Read and Explore: Birds, Nesting and Birdhouses at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Story followed by each child making their own birdhouse, with nesting materials to take home. $12 per child. Terhuneorchards.com.

2 p.m.: Coal Miner’s Daughter is screened at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, as part of the “HerStory” movie series. Free. Princetonlibrary.org.

6 p.m.: Author Allison Carruth discusses her book Novel Ecologies: Nature Remade and the Illusions of Tech with Eliza Griswold at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street. Labyrinthbooks.com.

7 p.m.: So Percussion gives a talk on “Found Sounds” at Princeton Public Library as part of the PSO Soundtracks Series. Free. 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.

7:30 p.m.: Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez is at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. $29-$59. Stnj.org.

Thursday, March 6

10 a.m.: The 55-Plus Club of Princeton meets at the Jewish Center, 435 Nassau Street, and online via Zoom. Sam Daley-Harris, founder of RESULTS & Civic Courage, speaks on “Learning to Make a Difference Between Elections.” Free with suggested donation of $5. Princetonol.com/ groups/55plus.

6 p.m.: Author Brianna Nofil presents her book The Migrant’s Jail at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.

6 p.m.: Eduardo Cadava and Sara NadalMelsio discuss the book Politically Red with Ruth Wilson Gilmore at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street. Labyrinthbooks.com.

Friday, March 7

Trivia in the Winery at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. With DJ Iron Mike. Terhuneorchards.com.

7 p.m.: American Repertory Ballet presents Ethan Stiefel’s Spirit of the Highlands at New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. Nbpac.org.

Saturday, March 8

9:30-11 a.m.: Science on Saturday series at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Lyman Spitzer Building, 100 Stellarator Road; also online. Bonnie Fierstein speaks on “Schizophrenia: A Journey Beyond the Brain.” Followed by a Q&A. Pppl.gov.

9:30 a.m.: Free walk along the Lawrence Hopewell Trail ; 20-mile walk covers 2-3 miles. For

meeting point and route, visit lhtrail.org.

10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Visit from the Horse Doctor at Howell Living History Farm, 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township. Watch the seven horses get shots, worming medicine, dental exams, and hoof-trimming. Howellfarm.org.

11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Sustainable Home Expo at Princeton High School. Contractors in home improvement, landscaping, electrification, and more are on hand to answer questions. Free. Sustainableprinceton.org.

12-5 p.m.: Winery Weekend Music Series at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Wine, light bites, hot cocoa kits, and music from 1-5 by Brian Bortnick. Terhuneorchards.com.

June

July

July 5 – Brooke DiCaro

S ports

Freshman Alexander Thrives in

ECACH Playoff

Debut, Sparking PU Women’s Hockey to 3-2 Victory over RPI

It was the first ECAC Hockey playoff game for Mackenzie Alexander and she thrived in the pressurepacked atmosphere as the Princeton University women’s hockey team hosted RPI last Friday at Hobey Baker Rink in a single-elimination opening round contest.

“It was really fun, it was always high energy,” said Princeton freshman forward Alexander. “You could never take your foot off the gas, it was really exciting and really fun.”

Looking to bounce back from a 4-3 loss to RPI a week earlier in the regular season finale, the seventhseeded Tigers brought an aggressive approach into the playoff clash against the 10th-seeded Engineers.

“I think it was just working a lot harder than we did last time, taking every puck and always pressuring them no matter what,” said Alexander. “We knew that as long as we stuck to our habits and the game plan, we all had the motivation to win and we just pushed through it.”

Alexander helped push Princeton to a dramatic 3-2 win, scoring a goal to even the game at 1-1 in the waning seconds of the first period, assisting on a second period goal by Issy Wunder that put the Tigers up 2-1 and then helping to set up the game winner by fellow freshman Rosie Klein

midway through the third period.

With Princeton trailing 1-0 late in the first period, Alexander found the back of the net on a feed from Klein.

“I honestly just got it from Rosie,” said Alexander, whose goal came with 15 seconds left in the period. “I just wanted to throw it at the net and I guess it just went in.”

On her assist to Wunder, Alexander’s vision on the ice led to the tally.

“Issy is a great player, she always knows where to go and she was in the right spot,” said Alexander. “I just saw her and she tapped it in.”

In setting up the game winning goal, Alexander slid the puck over to Klein who took it from there with a blast from point.

“That was an incredible shot, I don’t think I really did a lot,” said Alexander. “I was on the side and I gave it to her and she sniped it top shelf.”

The last two minutes of the contest turned out to be harrowing for the Tigers as Princeton goalie Jen Olnowich’s stick was knocked out of her hands and she didn’t get it back for the rest of the game. Having pulled its goalie, RPI dominated possession with Tigers players desperately diving to block shots as Olnowich tried to

hold the fort between the pipes with just her glove and blocker.

“That was really stressful, we all have trust in each other to block shots and win it for the team,” said Alexander. “We all did that.”

In reflecting on her stellar playoff debut, Alexander was more focused on the result than her stats as the Tigers improved to 18-10-2 and advanced to a best-ofthree quarterfinal series at second-seeded Colgate (277) starting on February 28.

“It felt gratifying, I am just happy that we won,” said Alexander. “We played as team and it worked out.”

Things have worked out very well for Alexander in her freshman season as she has tallied 45 points in 14 goals and a team-high 31 assists and has been named the ECACH Rookie of the Week four times this winter.

“I think because the game is so fast, I have gotten used to making quick plays and just keeping my head up all of the time and anticipating plays,” said Alexander, a 5’6 naive of Etobicoke, Ontario, who competed for Canada at the 2023 and 2024 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) U18 Women’s World Championships. “I have gained a lot more confidence over the year.”

Princeton head coach Cara Morey was confident

February 28.

that the Tigers could turn the tables on RPI in the playoff rematch.

“We wanted to apply a lot more pressure to the puck area,” said Morey. “We played with a lot more aggressive style, taking away time and space. That is probably the biggest change because when I watched the film, we just gave them all kinds of room.”

When the Tigers found themselves down 1-0 despite outshooting the Engineers 11-4, Morey was concerned.

“They had six shots, one power play, one goal,” said Morey. “It was super frustrating.”

The goal by Alexander helped turn the tide for the Tigers.

“We needed that, especially because that was a fluky

Colgate in a best-of-three

one going in to tie it up and keep it even,” said Morey. “She was great, it was one of Mac’s great games.”

Klein’s game winning goal was no fluke even though it came as a bit of a surprise to Morey.

“It is so amazing, I didn’t see that coming,” said Morey. “Our power play is good we needed to score on it but I didn’t think it would be Rosie from the top so that’s great.”

Morey didn’t like what she saw as the Tigers scrambled to hold off the Engineers with Olnowich’s stick on the ice.

“I was losing my mind,” said Morey. “I was screaming, give Jen her stick but nobody could hear me over all of the other screaming apparently.”

Having survived the nailbiter with RPI, the Tigers

are looking forward to their quarterfinal matchup against Colgate.

“It will be a good series against Colgate,” said Morey, whose team split its two regular season games against the Raiders this winter, topping Colgate 4-3 in overtime on November 22 at Hobey Baker Rink before losing 4-0 in the rematch on January 18. “Colgate is amazing. I think they are fifth in the country but we can beat them.”

Alexander, for her part, believes that the Tigers can build on the win over RPI.

“It is huge, the momentum we got from this game is really good,” said Alexander. “We beat Colgate before. We have to be confident in ourselves and just go hard.”

—Bill Alden

MAC ATTACK: Princeton University women’s hockey player Mackenzie Alexander fires a shot in a game earlier this season. Last Friday, freshman forward Alexander tallied one goal and two assists to help seventh-seeded Princeton defeat 10th-seeded RPI 3-2 in an ECAC Hockey playoff single-elimination opening round contest. The Tigers, who improved to 18-10-2 overall, will now play at second-seeded

quarterfinal series starting in

(Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)

Battling Hard in Ivy Showdown Against Columbia,

PU Women’s Hoops Falters Down the Stretch in 64-60 Loss

Princeton University women’s basketball player

Fadima Tall drew inspiration from some of the program’s former standouts as the Tigers hosted Columbia last Saturday evening in an Ivy League first place showdown.

“I think just having the people here who made this team was very encouraging,” said sophomore guard/forward Tall, referring to former players who were on hand as the University held its annual Alumni Day celebration. “They were at our shootaround and gave us words of encouragement. Then you have Ellie Mitchell and Julia Cunningham talking to me on the sidelines as I am in-bounding the ball. It is always nice to have.”

Trailing Columbia 27-24 at halftime, the Tigers put together a an encouraging third quarter, outscoring the Lions 20-11 to forge ahead 44-38.

“We always find a way to end our quarters well but one of our problems has been starting that new quarter fresh and not letting the other team get their momentum,” said Tall.

Unfortunately, Columbia seized momentum in the fourth quarter, going on a 13-0 run and then holding off the Tigers to earn a 6460 before a crowd of 2,431 at Jadwin Gym. The loss dropped the Tigers to 18-6 overall and 9-2 Ivy League while Columbia improved to 19-5 overall and 10-1 Ivy. The setback snapped a 29game home winning streak for the Tigers and Columbia became the first Ivy foe to sweep Princeton in a season since Penn did so in the 2016-17 campaign.

In reflecting on the fourth quarter, Tall acknowledged that the Tigers lost their composure a bit in the face of the Lions onslaught.

“They came out in a different press and they turned us over in the first two minutes,” said Tall. “I think we did get frazzled a little bit and that gave them a little bit of a boost. We just have to be better at overcoming that.”

As the Tigers battled back down the stretch, Tall gave Princeton a boost as she drained a three-pointer with four seconds left in regulation to narrow the Columbia lead to 62-60. Getting fouled on the shot, Tall missed her free throw on purpose in hopes that the Tigers could get a rebound and score the tying bucket. The Lions, though, got the rebound and added two free throws to seal the game.

“I didn’t know it was going in and then I hear my teammates on the sideline and my coach saying ‘miss it, miss it,’” said Tall, who ended up with a team-high 17 points in the loss. “I have never done that before. I think I missed it fine. There was a little altercation that didn’t go our way.”

Princeton head coach Carla Berube believed things were going the Tigers’ way after its third quarter surge.

“I thought we had a great third quarter, we shot the ball well,” said Berube. “I thought we executed well. We made some tough shots and got some good stops. I thought we had some great momentum going into the fourth quarter.”

Berube credited Columbia with executing well in the fourth quarter.

“Then the tides changed, they hit some big threes,” said Berube. “We turned it over a couple of times, some inopportune turnovers at that point. It was tough.”

While Princeton hung tough, the sharp shooting of Lions star Reilly Weiss, who ended up with a careerhigh 34 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter, made the difference.

“It was a combination, when you turn the ball over, great teams are going to execute at the other end and make you pay for it,” said Berube. “They found their best player (Weiss) and got her some open looks. She made some tough shots. It was tough to stop her when she is feeling that hot. We had our opportunities. We are looking forward to hopefully seeing them again.”

With Princeton having lost 58-50 at Columbia on January 20, Berube saw progress in the rematch.

“I thought we did, for the most part, take care of the ball better versus their press,” said Berube. “There were not too many live ball turnovers. I thought we executed better and just had a better flow of our offense.”

The all-around play of Tall helped keep Princeton in the game.

“Fadima was great on both ends of the floor,” said Berube. “Defensively getting her hands on any ball that is even near her to hitting big shots, posting up strong and making some great interior shots and lay-ups. She is so strong and it is tough to stop her. I wish we had gotten the ball inside even more than we did, it happened last game as well. They are tough, they are smart. They are a good defensive team and they make things difficult offensively.”

Heading to New England next weekend to play at Harvard on February 28 and at Dartmouth on March 1, Berube is confident that the Tigers will produce a strong effort. “I think we have to take care of business for the rest of the season and in our sights right now is Harvard,” said Berube. “That is the next game on our schedule up in Cambridge.”

In Tall’s view, taking care of business for all 40 minutes is the main focus going forward.

“I think starting and finishing our quarters, I feel like we either start too soft or start too slow and we give them a chance to get on a run,” said Tall. “This was one of the games where we fell too deep in a pit to get back. Our middles are fine, we just have to work on keeping that mentality the whole game.”

—Bill Alden

Unable to Come Up With Another Dramatic Rally

Princeton Men’s Hoops Loses 76-61 to Dartmouth

Earlier this winter, the Princeton University men’s basketball team displayed a propensity for overcoming double-digit deficits to earn dramatic victories.

In games against Iona, Akron, and Columbia, the Tigers trailed by 16 points, 15 points, and 20 points, respectively, before roaring back for improbable wins.

Last Saturday as the Tigers hosted Dartmouth it looked like the Tigers were at it again, falling behind 21-4 before narrowing the gap to 38-34 by halftime and 43-41 early in the second half.

But this time, Princeton faltered down the stretch as Dartmouth responded with a 22-5 run and never looked back on the way to a 76-61 win before a crowd of 2,519 at Jadwin Gym.

A subdued and frustrated Princeton head coach Mitch Henderson acknowledged that the Tigers got dispirited as their rally fizzled.

“It was three at the 15 minute mark and then they made some big plays and it got back to eight and I thought we got deflated,” lamented Henderson, whose team dropped to 17-9 overall and 6-5 Ivy League as it suffered its fifth loss in the last eight games. “There was a little discouragement with the group. We have pulled some stuff out of our hat in the last three months and we don’t have that as much right now. We have to find that and we can’t get discouraged. We have got to keep fighting, we have to keep working.”

While the dramatic rallies have been exciting, the slow starts that have prompted the comebacks have been a

nagging issue for the Tigers.

“It was very flat,” said Henderson in assessing Princeton’s early struggles against Dartmouth. “It has been a real problem for us all season. We lack focus on the littlest of things and going as hard as we possibly can.”

Princeton junior guard Xaivian Lee, who scored a game-high 24 points, conceded that the Tigers got sapped as they faced uphill battles in both halves against the Big Green.

“I think we erased an 18-point deficit in the first half, we got it where we wanted,” said Lee. “I think Dalen [Davis] really stepped up today and was making plays in the first half especially to cut the lead. I got going a little bit in the second half. We got to three and we are right in it. Then I started to miss a lot of shots and they hit a couple of tough shots. It is hard to come back from double digits twice in a game.”

The Tigers made it hard on themselves as they shot poorly, going just 8-for-34 (23.5 percent) from threepoint range.

“The shots aren’t coming in rhythm,” said Henderson. “I thought we got really good shots to start the game. They didn’t go in and all of a sudden we are down 13-2 and 21-6. I think everybody is getting a little tired of it. We have got to get some easy twos, that is a big focus for us.”

Sophomore guard Jackson Hicke concurred, noting that the Tigers misfired from the perimeter.

“I think the biggest thing for us is that we have got to make open shots,” said

Hicke, who scored 10 points with six rebounds in the defeat. “I thought we got a lot of good looks today, me included, from three and we have got to hit them and to capitalize.”

With Princeton playing at Cornell on February 28 and at Columbia on March 1, Henderson is looking for his players to show a greater sense of urgency as they get ready for that trip.

“We are showing improvement but we are going to have to improve really fast,” said Henderson, whose team started last weekend by defeating Harvard 76-71 last Friday. “We have to keep our heads up. There is a lot of basketball left but little time. This is what March is about. Next weekend is March and you can correct. We have got to fight harder during the week, that is the main thing. It is prepare really, really well and then go into the weekend with a fresh mindset. There three games left and we are right there.”

While things look bleak for the Tigers, Henderson is confident they can get headed in the right direction.

“Right now I would say don’t hang your head and win three in a row,” said Henderson. “We got beat by a very good team, they were better than us tonight. We can be so much better. We have good players so let’s keep going. That is my approach. I want to have three more weeks with this team, not two. Everything is right in front of them and you can do it, it can happen. You have to make that (Ivy) tournament, that is your objective. These games are like playoff games and I am excited about it. We have got a lot to play for and I would hope that these guys feel the same way.”

—Bill Alden

JACKING IT UP: Princeton University men’s basketball player Jackson Hicke lofts a jumper in a game earlier this season. Last Saturday, sophomore guard Hicke scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds in a losing cause as Princeton fell 76-61 to Dartmouth. The Tigers, now 17-9 overall and 6-5 Ivy League, play at Cornell on February 28 and at Columbia on March 1.

(Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)

TALL ORDER: Princeton University women’s basketball player Fadima Tall looks to pass the ball in a game earlier this season. Last Saturday, sophomore guard/forward Tall scored a team-high 17 points as Princeton fell 64-60 to visiting Columbia in an Ivy League first place showdown. The Tigers, now 18-6 overall and 9-2 Ivy League, play at Harvard on February 28 and at Dartmouth on March 1. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Mackesy Helps PU Men’s Lax Start Fast Against Maryland But Tigers Can’t Overcome Nemesis Terps as they Fall 13-9

In its five games against powerhouse Maryland in the previous three seasons, the Princeton University men’s lacrosse team has gone 0-5, never leading at any point in those contests and getting outscored by a combined 19-6 in the first quarter.

As fifth-ranked Princeton hosted No. 2 Maryland last Saturday at Class of 1952 Stadium, the Tigers were determined to flip the script in the high noon showdown with the Terps.

In the view of Tiger star senior attacker and team captain Coulter Mackesy being patient on offense was a key part of the game plan.

“They are a super disciplined team so we wanted to try to use the whole shot clock and grind them down and try to beat them in transition and in the middle of the field,” said Mackesy.

With a packed house of 1,643 turning out on a chilly, sun-sprawled after noon, the Tigers jumped out to a 4-2 lead midway through the first quarter.

“We were shooting the ball well, not settling for shots, and putting them in the back of the net,” said Mackesy, who tallied two goals and an assist to spark that early run.

But the Tigers hit a lull after that promising start, getting outscored 6-0 over the rest of the half.

“They are super disci plined, the windows are really tight, and they have a great goalkeeper,” said Mackesy, in assessing the challenges posed by the stin gy Terp defense. “It is allaround tough competition.”

who tallied a fourth quarter goal to give him three goals and an assist on the afternoon. “All around, I think we beat ourselves.”

Although Princeton came up short again against the Terps, Mackesy believes Princeton is closing the gap.

“We played average lacrosse but it was close game,” said Mackesy. “We are going to learn a ton from it.”

With a team-high eight goals and 10 points through two games, Mackesy is playing well above average as he looks to spark the Tiger offense.

“I am just trying to lead this team back to where we haven’t been in a while and trying to get a young group riding this wave,” said Mackesy, a 5’10, 185-pound native of Bronxville, N.Y.,

were great in the second quarter,” said Madalon. “We weren’t getting in the right spots. I think if we look at that, we will be a little frustrated. You have to shoot well to beat these guys.”

Trailing 8-4 heading into the second half, Madalon believed the Tigers could right the ship.

“It was stay clean in the clears, stay clean in the subs and not give up any unnecessary transition and we figured we would be right back in the game,” said Madalon. “We shifted into a zone defense in the second half to try to slow them down.”

Madalon credited Mackesy with having a big game. “He is our guy, he is our leader,” said Madalon of Mackesy. “We have got to get him going in all different aspects of the game. We also need

While Princeton drew to within 8-6 early in the third quarter on a goal by sopho more star Nate Kabiri, it ended up being the same old story for the Tigers as they fell 13-9 to Maryland in mov ing to 1-1.

“Later on in the game we settled a bit, the shots didn’t go our way,” said Mackesy,

SEEING RED: Princeton University men’s lacrosse player Coulter Mackesy, right, looks to elude a Maryland defender last Saturday. Senior attacker Mackesy tallied three goals and an assist in the game but it wasn’t enough as then-No. 5 Princeton fell 13-9 to the second-ranked Maryland. The Tigers, now 1-1 and ranked eighth, play at No. 7 Duke (4-0) on February 28 and at No. 4 North Carolina (3-0) on March 2.

Relishing His Final Games at Hobey Baker Rink,

Senior de la Durantaye Enjoys Productive Weekend

While it has been a rocky ride at times for Noah de la Durantaye and his fellow seniors on the Princeton University men’s hockey team, there was a sense of appreciation for the experience as they played in their final games at Hobey Baker Rink last weekend.

“It is emotional for sure, I got a little sentimental thinking about it this week,” said senior defenseman and team captain de la Durantaye whose class brought a 41-69-8 career record into the weekend and endured a head coaching change along the way.

“I think the biggest thing for me is just gratitude for the opportunity and the experience. I am just trying to soak it all in the few last times at Hobey. Not everybody gets a chance to come to Princeton and play hockey. I am super thankful for the people that have helped me get here and given me the opportunity. I just want to go out there and perform and make them proud.”

The team’s senior group, which also includes goalie Ethan Pearson and forwards Alex Konovalov and Jack Cronin in addition to de la Durantaye, have bonded through the ups and downs.

“We are a super close group of guys, as a small class it is kind of hard to not be so tight,” said de la Durantaye. “It has just been fantastic and I want all of us to really enjoy that moment and really soak it in together.”

Being a team captain this winter has been a fantastic opportunity for de la Durantaye.

“It is really an honor and you have to take it as such, it is definitely not a right,” said de la Durantaye, a 6’1, 205-pound native of Montreal, Quebec. “The responsibility is a great thing to have, I love being in the position. I am honored that my teammates chose me to represent the team as one of the captains. The two other guys, Brendan Gorman and David Jacobs, have been unbelievable partners in that. We have all worked really hard together to bond. I couldn’t ask for a better group of guys to lead and to have those two guys lead with me is just phenomenal.”

As Princeton hosted Brown last Friday night to start their final regular season home weekend, de La Durantaye gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead in a power play goal early in the third period.

round-the-clock access. option for

“Dave [Jacobs] makes a good play, draws a guy down on the wall and I saw an opportunity to get into a shooting lane,” said de la Durantaye. “I noticed that d-man was pushing out on me so I tried to hold it and change the lane, took a shot and it went in. It is definitely something that we work on. I am happy it went in; I have got both my parents and my brother here. It is really fun to have them around and to see that. It was just a great all-around play. I finished it and helped the team.”

Unfortunately Princeton didn’t finish the deal as it fell 3-2 in overtime to the Bears. A day later as the program hosted Yale and held its annual Senior Night celebration in its last regular season game at Hobey Baker Rink, de la Durantaye scored on his last shot in the building, converting in a shootout to help the Tigers secure an extra point after tying Yale 2-2 through regulation and overtime.

While the Tigers didn’t pile up a lot of goals over the weekend, the focus was to keep shooting no matter what.

“It is one of those things where if you keep at it, you are going to get one,” said de la Durantaye, who now has four goals and five assists this season and 53 points in his career on 13 goals and 40 assists. “You might not get all of the bounces but you will probably get some. It is the law of large numbers — you just have to keep putting in on them and go from there.”

•

Princeton head coach Ben Syer likes the way his senior group has kept at it over their Tiger careers.

a goal against

heroics, Princeton fell

On Saturday as the program hosted Yale and held its annual Senior Night celebration in its last regular season game at Hobey Baker Rink, de la Durantaye scored on his last shot in the building, converting in a shootout to help the Tigers secure an extra point after tying Yale 2-2 through regulation and overtime. The Tigers, now 10-14-3 overall and 5-12-3 ECAC Hockey, play at St. Lawrence on February 28 and at Clarkson on March 1 to wrap up regular season action.

a nice start as they outshot the Bears 8-4 in the first period as the foes skated to a scoreless draw.

things that we work on right now. We need to be better in that regard.”

league playoffs, de la Durantaye believes that Princeton will do its best to play better when it counts the most.

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Syer was hoping that squandering the lead against Brown would light a fire under the Tigers.

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“I thought it was a fairly even first period for the most part,” said Syer. “I like the fact that we got more shots on net but we were inconsistent in terms of our presence around the net. I thought we had a chances to be able to get more pucks down to the net.”

Syer acknowledged that some defensive lapses hurt the Tigers down the stretch.

• We will forge an enduring partnership which emphasizes preventative care.

• We will forge an enduring partnership which

“I think they have meant a lot,” said Syer. “Noah being a captain. Pearson has logged a lot of minutes here for us. Kovy had had a real nice year. It is really unfortunate that Cronin hasn’t been able to play. It has been a great group to be able to have.”

• We will forge an enduring partnership which emphasizes preventative care.

In the game against Brown, the Tigers got off to

•

“We limited their number of shots but on the second goal that we gave up, we didn’t cover the guy in the slot,” said Syer. “There are

“I hope it stings right now,” said Syer. “You can’t allow little things like on the second goal. On the first goal, we turned the puck over coming on a break out. You have got to manage the puck and be better than that.”

With the Tigers, now 10-14-3 overall and 5-12-3 ECAC Hockey, playing at St. Lawrence on February 28 and at Clarkson on March 1 before starting action in the

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If you already see specialists, I will “quarterback”

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“In my experience here, it is all about collecting experiences,” said de la Durantaye. “My dad always says you either win or you learn. That is one thing I have tried to take with me as we go. I try to bestow that on some of the younger guys who haven’t played as many games and don’t have the experiences. It is not fun, we want to win every game. Our team has an unbelievable compete level and desire to win.”

—Bill Alden

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SENIOR MOMENT: Princeton University men’s hockey player Noah de la Durantaye celebrates after scoring

Brown last Friday night. Despite senior defenseman and team captain de

Durantaye’s

3-2 in overtime to the Bears.

(Photo by Shelley Szwast/Princeton Athletics)

Tiger Women’s Swimming Wins 3rd Straight Ivy Crown

Sparked by Eleanor Sun, the Princeton University women’s swimming team placed first in the Ivy League Championships last weekend at its DeNunzio Pool to earn the program’s third straight Ivy crown.

Sophomore star Sun was named the Co-High Point Swimmer of the Meet, after winning the 200-yard butterfly, 200 individual medley, 400 IM and being part of winning teams in the 400 freestyle relay and 800 free relay. Junior Charlotte Martinkus, who swept the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events, was named High Point Diver of the Meet for the second time in her career.

In the team standings, Princeton piled up 1,479 points with Harvard taking second at 1,287.5.

Princeton Baseball Goes 0-4 at Miami

Opening its 2025 campaign down south, the Princeton University baseball team went 0-4 in a fourgame set last weekend at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla.

In action on Friday, the Tigers fell 3-1 as Jake Koonin stroked a single to extend his hitting streak to 21 over the last two seasons and set a program record.

A day later, Princeton got swept in a doubleheader by the Hurricanes, losing 10-3

and 15-1. On Sunday, the Tigers were limited to one hit as they were blanked 8-0.

Princeton heads to Winston Salem, N.C. next weekend where it will play games against Maryland on February 28 and March 1 and face host Wake Forest on February 28 and March 2.

PU Women’s Water Polo Defeats St. Francis Sparked by Kayla Yelensky, the 13th-ranked Princeton University women’s water polo team defeated St. Francis 19-3 last Sunday.

Senior star Yelensky tallied a game-high four goals as the Tigers improved to 8-2.

Princeton is next in action when it heads west to play Loyola Marymount on March 8 in Los Angeles, Calif.

PU Wrestling Competes In Last Chance Open

Kole Mulhauser provided a highlight as the Princeton University wrestling team competed at the Patriots Last Chance Open last Sunday at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.

Sophomore Mulhauser took third at 184 pounds, going 2-1 on the day, earning a major decision over Virginia’s Jack Lesher before clinching third with a major victory over teammate Mikey Squires.

In upcoming action, the Tigers will be hosting the Ivy League Championships on March 9 at Jadwin Gym.

Princeton Men’s Squash Defeats Virginia 8-1

Producing a dominant performance, the No. 2 Princeton University men’s squash team defeated No. 5 Virginia

8-1 last Sunday at the racquet center in Princeton’s Meadows Neighborhood.

The Tigers earned seven 3-0 wins in the match as they improved to 10-1 overall. Princeton will be competing in the College Squash Association (CSA) team championships from March 6-9 in Philadelphia.

Princeton Women’s Squash

Tops Virginia 8-1

Wrapping up its regular season in style, the No. 3 Princeton University women’s squash team topped sixth-ranked Virginia 8-1 last Sunday at the racquet center in Princeton’s Meadows Neighborhood.

The Tigers won at each of the first eight positions as they moved to 11-2.

In upcoming action, Princeton will be taking part in the College Squash Association (CSA) team championships from March 6-9 in Philadelphia.

Tiger Men’s Volleyball Goes 1-1 at Charleston

Nyherowo Omene starred as the No. 20 Princeton University men’s volleyball team went 1-1 in a two-game series last weekend at the University of Charleston in Charleston, W.Va.

In action on Friday, senior Omene piled 18 kills but it wasn’t enough as Charleston prevailed 3-1 (26-24, 24-26, 24-26, 16-25).

A day later, Omene posted a career-high 27 kills to help Princeton bounce back with a 3-1 win (25-16, 24-26, 25-21, 25-19). Omene was later named as the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Offensive Player of the Week.

Princeton, now 5-5 overall and 2-1 EIVA, hosts NJIT on February 28 and Lincoln Memorial on March 8

Princeton Men’s Track Sets Ivy Record at BU Meet

The quartet of Connor McCormick, Xavier Donaldson, Sam Rodman and Harrison Witt made history last Friday as they competed at the BU DMR Challenge in Boston, Mass.

The quartet clocked an Ivy League record time of 9:17.30 as they took third in the distance medley relay (1,200 meters, 400, 800, 1,600). The time broke the previous Ivy record of 9:23.27 set by Princeton in 2023.

In upcoming action, the Tigers will be aiming to capture their 10th consecutive title at the Ivy Heptagonal Indoor Championships which will be taking place from March 1-2 in Ithaca, N.Y.

Princeton Men’s Golf Ties for 9th at Prestige

Riccardo Fantinelli and Reed Greyserman starred for the Princeton University men’s golf team as it tied for ninth in the team standings at The Prestige held last week at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif.

Junior Fantinelli and freshman Greyserman each carded a -2 score of 211 for the three-round event to tie for 27th individually.

In the team standings, Princeton came in a +2 to tie Oregon for ninth in the event won by San Diego who had a score of -29.

The Tigers are next in action when they compete in the Johnny O. Invitational from March 17-18 hosted by Rutgers at Sea Island Resort in St. Simons, Ga.

GOAL-ORIENTED:

in recent

Last Sunday,

scored four goals to help No. 16 Princeton edge 13th-ranked Loyola 16-14. Blake reached a milestone with her offensive output, becoming the seventh player in program history to hit the 150-goal mark for her career when she tallied her second goal of the game. She now has 152 goals in her career and has started the season on a roll with 10 goals in two games. The Tigers, now 1-1, play at Delaware on February 26 before hosting Hofstra on March 1.

Princeton University women’s lacrosse player McKenzie Blake heads upfield

action.

senior attacker Blake

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Forest Rose Makes History for PHS Wrestling,

Becoming 1st Tiger Freshman to Win District Title

Forest Rose put his name in the record books when he won the 106-pound division at the District 18 boys’ wrestling championships at Monroe High last Saturday. Rose is believed to be the first freshman from Princeton High to win a district title.

“It was pretty exciting,” Rose said. “It was cool to do it because I was the first district champ in like five years and I could be double champ with my brother, both me and my brother are champs. It really makes me feel that I’m going to do good in my career.”

His brother, senior Cole Rose, won the 132-pound division to capture his first district title, and another senior, Blas é Mele, who was sixth in the state championships last year, took second place at 144 pounds. The three are the lone Tigers to reach the Region 5 tournament that will be hosted by Franklin High on Friday and Saturday. They will be competing for a top-three finish and berth in the state championships in Atlantic City.

“We’re excited to see how the next two weeks play out,” said PHS head coach Jess Monzo. “Hopefully we have a good region weekend and then we get to watch the guys let it fly in Atlantic City.”

Forest Rose is looking to continue to make history. His district title is notable because of just how hard it has been to accomplish. He’s the first Tiger wrestler since Aaron Munford in 2022 to earn a district crown. To do so as a freshman adds to his achievement. Top PHS wrestlers from earlier eras like Lou John Rossi, Angelo Arcaro and Ian Reddy never won a district title as a freshman. More recent successes like Alec Bobchin, James Verbeyst, Munford and James Romaine, along with Cole Rose and Mele never accomplished the feat.

“Ian Reddy was really good, Alex Bobchin, those are both multiple time state place winners,” said Monzo, “but I don’t think either one of them happened to win a district title his freshman year.”

Forest Rose wasn’t picked to win it either. He was seeded second at 106, behind a senior, Hopewell Valley’s Dean Meissner, a former Mercer County champion who qualified for the region tournament last year and had spent most of this year wrestling at 113 pounds. None of that mattered when Rose pinned him in the third period in the final.

“I was pretty confident because Dean Meissner was cutting a little bit of weight and I’ve been working my stuff,” said Rose. “In practice, I’ve been working hard and I’ve been going to a bunch of club. I was just super confident.”

In the semifinals, Rose defeated Kyle Capodanno of Monroe, 9-4. That put him into the finals and he forged an early lead before wearing down Meissner and pinning him thanks to his mindset going in.

“Staying aggressive,” said Rose, reflecting on his approach. “I think pushing the pace and getting kids to get more tired so I can work moves that in the end I can pin people with or get to a big lead in the match. If I get them tired, I can work my more aggressive moves and in the second and third and they work more easily.”

Rose has put together a 28-3 season. About the only thing that he hasn’t accomplished of his goals was winning a Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) Tournament title. He placed second while his older brother won his fourth straight tournament title in January. That made the double golds all the more special Saturday for the Rose boys.

“This was like a little bit of a redemption,” said Forest. “Me and my brother both got to win. It was a cool experience. We both dominated our finals matches. It was really good.”

Cole Rose , for his part, improved to 25-2 on the year with a 15-0 technical fall in the final over Manville’s Mohamed Abdelmageed. He pinned RumsonFair Haven’s Henry Marshall in the semifinals, and he had a 16-1 technical fall win over

Franklin’s Alsenie Kamara in the quarterfinals.

“We saw what kids were left in the weight, and the way Cole’s been wrestling, we knew none of those kids were really within striking distance,” said Monzo. “So his goal was to go out there and take care of business, and he did. He left no doubt he was the best kid in the class.”

Princeton University commit Mele cruised into the final. He pinned Mohamed Hammad of WW-P/South in the first period, then was a technical fall winner over Jackson Obe of Montgomery in the semifinals. That set up the best showdown of the districts with Mele taking on defending state champion Sonn Amato of Rumson. Amato came away with the 6-3 win, but Mele is moving on to regions with a 23-1 record and an eye on enjoying more success at states.

“He did exactly what he needed to do to get to the final,” said Monzo. “He wrestled a very tough kid in the Rumson kid. And it could be a match that we get to see two more times. Hopefully they win and we win and we can advance and we can see him again because he’s a kid you can’t take anything away from his wrestling ability, but I think if we make a couple minor adjustments we can see a different score.”

The PHS girls also competed over the weekend. The Tigers did not advance anyone out of the Central Jersey Region on Sunday, but with so much of the team expected to return, they have a bright outlook.

“It was fun,” said Monzo. “The girls enjoyed it. They’re all underclassmen, and we had a little talk afterwards. We talked about the feeling right now and what they’re feeling and what they’re going through, and said, if we get here next year, remember this feeling. And let’s work all summer, all season, to make sure this doesn’t happen again next year. And some of them were like, what time is practice tomorrow because we’re coming? So they’re bought

in. They’re excited for next year.”

They will be cheering for the trio of PHS wrestlers to extend their seasons. Forest Rose is looking to continue his success at the next level. The regions will be a step tougher, but he is taking the same approach that has helped him put together such a strong start to his first high school season.

“I think it’s because I’ve been wrestling offseason, like almost all my life and also in the practice room at Princeton I go with Josh Hannan, and he really pushes me to work harder every single practice,” said Rose. “I think that’s really helped me get better this season.”

Rose came into the season with some lofty goals, and one of them was to pick up a win at states. Rose has traveled to states to see his brother and his sister, Ava Rose, who is now wrestling at Iowa, compete at the state championship level. This weekend, he will have his chance to earn a trip to wrestle there himself, and a region crown would be quite an accomplishment.

“If I can get a win there, that’d be really good for my state seeding,” Rose said. “It’ll get me easier matches and I can maybe go further on in the state tournament. So I’m really trying to get a win there.”

Rose has his own approach to the high pressure high school matches. He remains even keel going into and through matches, regardless of his opponent’s pedigree or performance.

“Forest just doesn’t get flustered,” said Monzo. “He’s really cool, calm,

collected the whole time. Sometimes it’s a little too cool for me and the rest of the coaching staff. We want him to go sometimes and he’s always just kind of laid back. He just he knows how to wrestle well, and he does what he does and it’s good.”

Rose believes that there is always time to make adjustments in a match. While he gets nervous beforehand, he doesn’t let it affect him.

“I always want to be locked in, and it helps me if I’m more calm,” said Rose. “I don’t stress about the match or do any of that stuff. It helps me just be more calm and act like it’s just live in practice.”

Rose will take the same approach as the matches and tournaments get bigger each week. It worked to produce a memorable day at districts for he and his brother, and there is now the chance to make more history at regions and add onto a special season.

“Overall I’ve been pretty happy,” said Rose. “I’ve had a couple losses that I think I should have won. But overall, I did get to go to Sam Cali, I got to go to counties and I just had one loss there. And then I go into the district and win it and I have a 28-3 which is pretty good for a freshman, so I’m pretty happy.”

—Justin Feil

FOREST FIRE: Princeton High wrestler Forest Rose poses for a preseason photo. Last Saturday, freshman standout Rose placed first at 106 pounds at the District 18 boys’ wrestling championships. Rose is believed to be the first PHS freshman to win a district title. (Photo provided courtesy of Forest Rose)

With Ewanchyna Providing Leadership, Production, PDS Boys’ Hockey Primed to Make Non-Public Run

As the captain of the Princeton Day School boys’ hockey team Wyatt Ewanchyna looks to set a good example for his teammates on a daily basis.

“I have tried to be a leader on the team, but I have never had a letter on my jersey before,” said senior forward Ewanchyna. “It gives me a sense that I have to prove something every day. I have to lead the freshmen.”

Last Thursday as PDS hosted Gloucester Catholic, Ewanchyna led the way, scoring two goals on set-ups by Jake Harrison as the Panthers posted a 4-2 win.

On his first goal which gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead late in the first period, Ewanchyna got some lucky bounces.

“I had a little monkey in my back right now in club for sure,” said Ewanchyna, who plays for the North Jersey Avalanche outside of PDS. “Jake gave me a great pass and it was a bit of a wobbler.”

Early in the second period, Ewanchyna took another feed from Harrison and blasted in a one-timer as PDS took a 3-1 lead.

“I think Jake was on the left side, he won a battle and I knew he was going to find me,” recalled Ewanchyna. “He is a great player and he found me in that seam and I put it in.”

The team’s top line of junior Harrison, Ewanchyna, and junior Filip Kacmarsky have been putting it togeth er all winter.

“Me and Jake have been playing together since we were basically squirts so there is a lot of chemistry there,” said Ewanchyna, who now has a team-high 33 points on 13 goals and 20 assists. “Filip has been his good friend for a long time so we work together re ally well. They are both re ally skilled players, it is fun playing with them.”

With PDS improving to 9-8-1 with the win and start ing action in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Ath letic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public State tourna ment this week where it is seeded sixth and slated to host 11th-seeded St. Joe’s (Metuchen) in a first round contest on February 25, Ew anchyna believes the Pan thers are primed to make a deep postseason run.

“I have full confidence in our team to get the job done,” said Ewanchyna. “In all my years at PDS, I think this is the one that we really have the biggest chance. We have tied Delbarton, we beat Christian Brothers Academy, we can hang with anybody. We just have to go out there and do it.”

off to good starts in games,” said Bertoli. “Over the last two weeks, we have identified an approach that we think works. We have done a lot of good things, we have created lot of scoring chances. I think we are in a pretty good mindset heading into next week.”

Ewanchyna has done a lot of good things this season for the Panthers.

“He scored more than he has scored in the past which is great,” said Bertoli of Ewanchyna. “He has got an unbelievable shot. He has such tremendous vision.”

The trio of Ewanchyna, Harrison, and Kacmarsky has made a tremendous impact for PDS.

“Him and Jake and Filip really drive our offense, they play in every situation,” said Bertoli. “They are playing 20, 25 minutes a game in meaningful, hard minutes. They have been unbelievable. Wyatt and Jake really see the ice well, they see things before most people even realize they are going to happen. Any type of success we are going to have against those top programs is going to fall on their shoulders.”

It will take a total team effort for the Panthers to overcome the top programs in the state.

“We are going to need good goaltending and Calvin [Fenton] is fully capable of that,” said Bertoli, whose

team would be playing at third-seeded Don Bosco in a quarterfinal contest on February 27 if it can defeat St. Joe’s (Metuchen). “Guys like Wyatt, Jake, and Filip along with Fred Ringblom and Zach Meseroll are going to have to outperform the top players on those other teams and we are going to have to be disciplined.”

Bertoli believes that PDS can go far in states if it brings its A-game.

“The program has made some good strides but we really need to get over that hump and get into a semifinal game,” said Bertoli.“We need to win one of those games on the road to really take that next step. We are there, we know we can compete. We competed in the regular season against these teams. We have had some great results. We have the guys in there to do it, our top guys have been great all year. We don’t need to get lucky, we just need to bring our best game. If we do, and that is in our control, then we have a chance to win all of those games.”

Ewanchyna, for his part, is looking to end his PDS career on a high note.

“I remember when I was a freshman, we lost to St John Vianney (in states) and everybody was heartbroken,” said Ewanchyna. “I am going into this basically not trying to do the same thing. We are trying to make a run because this is the year to do it 100 percent.”

—Bill Alden

In order to do well, the Panthers need to come out firing. “We just have to get the start going a little bit better,” said Ewanchyna.“We have to get it going from the start, In most of these games before we were letting up two goals in the first five minutes. We have to come out there with juice and a little bit of jam and get the job done.”

PDS head coach Scott Bertoli believes that his squad is in a good place as it heads into states.

“We had struggled getting

WHY NOT: Princeton Day School boys’ hockey player Wyatt Ewanchyna controls the puck in a game last season. Last Thursday, senior star forward and team captain Ewanchyna scored two goals to help PDS defeat Gloucester Catholic 4-2. The Panthers, now 9-8-1, are starting play in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public State tournament this week where they are seeded sixth and slated to host 11th-seeded St. Joe’s (Metuchen) in a first round contest on February 25. The victor will play at third-seeded Don Bosco in a quarterfinal contest on February 27. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Sophomore Guard Jennings Stepping Up As

PDS Boys’ Hoops Tunes Up for States

As the Princeton Day School boys’ basketball team hosted North Brunswick last Wednesday, Gary Jennings knew he had to step up.

“Our team is battling sickness and injuries,” said PDS sophomore guard Jennings. “We were really down today so we had to come out play hard, play aggressive, and try to play to our best abilities.”

The Panthers played hard in the second quarter against North Brunswick, outscoring the Raiders 1813 to build a 34-28 halftime lead.

“We just got back to what coaches want us to do,” said Jennings. “It was trying to get out in transition, finish pick-and-rolls and stuff like that.”

In the fourth quarter, the Panthers finished well as they held on for a 57-52 win with Jennings draining four free throws in the last minute of the game.

“That is just preparation,” said Jennings, reflecting on how PDS played down the stretch. “I feel like we prepare for moments like that all the time. It is execution at the end of the day.”

With PDS starting action in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) South Jersey Non-Public B tournament this week where they are seeded 11th and will be playing at sixth-seeded Wildwood Catholic in a first round contest on February 28, the performance against the Raiders was a confidence builder.

“It was a great game, the states are going to be really hard this year,” said Jennings. “It is going to be a good challenge so today was good.”

Having advanced to the Prep B state final earlier this month where they topped Doane Academy 55-45 in the semis before losing 6037 to Morristown-Beard in the final, the Panthers are battle-tested in postseason play.

“It showed us that we are able to compete with any body on the court,” said Jen nings. “Going to the Prep B final and losing, I feel like that motivated us a little more.”

Although Jennings is only a sophomore, he has been motivated to be a leader for PDS this winter.

“I feel like I am in more of a leadership role,” said Jen nings. “This year I had to step into the role of a leader with my two great captains, Adam [Stewart] and Abdoulaye [Seydi],” said Jennings.

Burroughs liked the way his team worked in topping North Brunswick.

“It was just to maximize the moment, just have an opportunity to compete play with your teammates,” said Burroughs. “We have two seniors graduating, so for them it was another home game. That team is good. They have skill, athleticism and they can shoot the ball some. For us it is trying to tune up for states. I think the habits you can get from it in a positive way, it becomes important if you play well.”

The execution by the Panthers down the stretch was a big positive.

“It was great, we called some timeouts to get the ball in bounds,” said Burroughs. “I think our kids did a great job of just executing those little moments. As a coach, it is just trying to use those opportunities and put them in a situations to get them better. Early in the year, we didn’t handle those moments well. Getting 10 wins is the most we have had since I have been here which is great for the kids. They were locked in on that more than me. I think we picked up defensively in the second half.”

Burroughs credited Jennings with being locked in at crunch time.

“For him to make those free throws there was great for him,” said Burroughs. “He definitely has been more of a leader. He is going to get the ball and he is going to get fouled. He wants to try to make the free throw which I just think shows his competitive spirit. It is hey put it on me

to make the shot. I think he played a solid game today. He had some good looks today, made some plays for his teammates. He made some nice moves and had some good shots.”

The run to the Prep B final showed the team’s collective competitive spirit.

“The Doane game was a breakthrough for us, we have been there it seems like the last four years,” said Burroughs. “We were up like 15 at the half, they cut it down to six and we found a way to hold in and win down the stretch. We went to Mo-Beard and they were good. They have size and athleticism. We played well, we played hard. I think we defended well. We got into a stretch where we just couldn’t score the ball.”

As PDS heads into the NonPublic tourney, Burroughs believes that his squad can produce some more breakthrough moments.

“I think we have all hit a wall at some point; I think just a little break of having some time off with this long holiday, our guys are looking a little fresher,” said Burroughs. “We need that going into that game. They have got size. we are going into a really small gym at the shore and Doane had prepared us for those little bandbox gyms. So when we get to them, we have an opportunity to win. It is determined on what team shows up for us. If we are going to play hard and defend and make some easy plays, I think we have a chance so I am looking forward to it.”

In the view of Jennings, the formula for success in states is simple. “It is come out, compete, and try to win,” said Jennings.

—Bill Alden

On court, Jennings has displayed his leadership role by leading PDS in scoring (326 points) and tying with Stewart for the lead in assists (32).

“Taking care of the ball was a big emphasis for me,” said Jennings, who scored 25 points to help PDS edge Delran 58-57 in overtime last Saturday as the Panthers improved to 11-10.

“Last year I led the team in turnovers, this year I have been bringing that down a lot. It is dedication, preparation, putting in the work. Hard work pays off.”

PDS head coach Eugene

the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) South Jersey Non-Public B tournament where they are seeded 11th and will be playing at sixth-seeded Wildwood Catholic in a first round contest on February 28.

ON THE BALL: Princeton Day School boys’ basketball player Gary Jennings, left, goes after the ball in recent action. Last Saturday, sophomore guard Jennings scored 25 points to help PDS edge Delran 58-57 in overtime. The Panthers, now 11-10, will be starting action in

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Hun

Boys’ Basketball: Seth Clarke and Blake Hargrove each scored 15 points in a losing cause as fourth-seeded Hun fell 77-71 in double overtime to fifth-seeded Peddie last Wednesday in the opening round of the Prep Open state tournament. The defeat left the Raiders with a final record of 9-17.

Lawrenceville

Boys’ Basketball : Running into a buzzsaw, seventh-seeded Lawrenceville fell 96-49 to second-seeded Blair Academy in the opening round of the Prep Open state tournament last Wednesday. The Big Red struggled down the stretch, going 1-11 in their last 12 games.

PDS

Girls’ Basketball : Sparked by Juliana Hartman, PDS defeated Delran 61-42 last Saturday. Hartman tallied 15 points as the Panthers improved to 13-9. PDS will be starting action this week in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) South Jersey Non-Public A tournament where it is seeded 14th and will be playing at thirdseeded Red Bank Catholic in a first round contest on February 28.

Girls’ Hockey : Eibhleann Knox led the way as PDS topped Kent Place 5-2 last

Wednesday. Senior forward Knox scored two goals to help the Panthers improve to 11-2-1. In upcoming action, PDS will be starting play in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Girls’ Ice Hockey State Tournament where it is seeded first and will host a quarterfinal contest on February 28 against the victor of the first round matchup between eighthseeded Summit and ninthseeded Madison.

Pennington

Boys’ Basketball: Destine Evans tallied 15 points as sixth-seeded Pennington fell 90-73 to third-seeded College Achieve Asbury Park in the first round of the Prep Open state tournament last Wednesday. The Red Hawks finished the winter with a 14-12 record.

Girls’ Basketball : Izzy Augustine starred as Pennington lost 49-43 to Notre Dame last week in its season finale. Senior standout Augustine scored 17 points at the Red Hawks ended the season with a 12-12 record in the wake of the loss in the February 18 contest.

PHS

Boys’ Basketball : Michael Bess Jr. came up big to help PHS edge Steinert 48-46 last Friday. Junior guard Bess scored 21 points as the Tigers improved to 5-18.

Girls’ Basketball : Led by Anna Winters, PHS defeated Bordentown 54-33 last Monday. Junior star

Winters tallied 17 points for the Tigers who moved to 18-9 with the victory. PHS will be starting play in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Jersey, Group 4 tournament this week where it is seeded fourth and will be hosting 13th-seeded Trenton Central in a first round contest on February 27.

Boys’ Hockey : Brendan Beatty scored two goals for 16th-seeded PHS as it fell 9-3 to top-seeded BridgewaterRaritan in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) South Public sectional tournament last Monday. The defeat left the Tigers with a final record of 7-12.

Girls’ Track : Kajol Karra provided a highlight as the PHS competed in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 3 state championship meet last Saturday at the Bennett Center in Toms River. Junior standout Karra placed fourth in the 3,200 meters with a time of 11:06.07. The Tigers finished 17th in the team standings at the meet won by Winslow Township.

Stuart

Basketball: Taylor States scored 25 points and grabbed 13 rebounds but it wasn’t enough as Stuart fell 53-51 to Morristown Beard last Thursday. The Tartans, now 4-14, will be starting action this week in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) South Jersey NonPublic B tournament where they are seeded 11th and will playing at sixth-seeded Calvary Christian in a first round contest on February 28.

COLLEGE CREW: Senior standouts with the Princeton National Rowing

Mercer Juniors rowing club are

Rohan Viswanathan)

their commitments to compete for

(Allentown

—

Joesph Marie High — University of Connecticut).

Local Sports

Dillon Youth Hoops

Obituaries

On January 19, 2025, John W. Hurley III age 59, of South Pasadena, CA, passed away at home surrounded by loved ones after a brief struggle with cancer.

Born and raised in Princeton and a member of the PHS class of 1983, John was a lecturer in Computer Science at California State University.

John is survived by his father and step-mother, John W. Jr. and Susan M. Hurley of Princeton, his step-sister Molly Nunez, his wife of 38 years and world travel companion Nancy, daughter Che (Alexander), son Theo, and granddaughters Aurelia and Paloma Aquino. He was pre -

deceased by his mother Sharon Haupt. A lifelong learner, John earned a BA in English from UC Berkeley, MA in American Civilization from Harvard, MS in Computer Science from California State University, and was nearing completion of a Masters in Philosophy at the time of his passing.

John loved learning, teaching, world travel, hunting, family time, and spoiling his granddaughters. Services and interment were held at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, CA. May he be in heaven a full half hour before the devil knows he passed.

Eunice Davis

Eunice Patricia “Pat” Davis passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 20, in her home, in New Orleans, LA, at the age of 98. Raised in Princeton, NJ, by freethinking, bohemian, entrepreneurial parents, Ruth and Murray Sloshberg Bailey, Pat was an athletic child and natural leader to her younger brothers, Ralph and Larry. Their tight-knit family was surrounded by an enormous array of aunts, uncles, and cousins on both sides. This sprawling but close family structure shaped Pat’s entire worldview and inspired her to become the matriarch of her own expansive, close tribe.

At 19, Pat married Morton J. Davis, a handsome soldier from his own sprawling family. After a short stint at Dartmouth, they moved to Brooklyn, NY, where daughter Susan and son Richard were born. The family spent years in Roslyn, NY, and Princeton, where Pat aspired to be the ultimate mid-century housewife — keeping house and hosting soirees. Her business ambitions peeked through, however, when she and a friend launched a bookmobile business. Family was always at the heart of her life; she made sure to keep loved ones close, also embracing her teenage niece Laura, into her home as another daughter.

After 23 years of marriage, Pat chose to forge a new path, divorcing and embracing the swinging ’70s as a single woman. She spent joyful years living near her now-adult children in Washington, DC, where she formed a lifelong friendship with James Kabler. She later returned to Princeton to be near her parents and brothers. In a bold move, she opened her own interior design business. With impeccable taste and fearless independence, she pursued a career in an era when few women struck out on their own. She had an eye for beauty, a love for elegant spaces, and a deep appreciation for artists, including her dear friend Linda LeBoeuf, who created renderings of her designs.

In the 1980s, Pat embarked on a new adventure in Manhattan, where she lived until 2010. It was during this time that she became a grandmother, affectionately known as Baba. Living in the same building as her daughter Susan, she played a central role in raising her granddaughter Zoe. Baba was a bon vivant, a lover of the arts, an active board member of Urban Stages NYC, and a lifetime member of National Council

of Jewish Women. She instilled in her grandchildren an appreciation for art, design, theater, and travel, ensuring they carried on her love for culture. She was a devoted people-watcher, a sharp observer of the human condition, and the proud organizer of many family reunions. As president of the “Cousins Club,” she brought together nieces, nephews, and extended family for summers at the beach.

In 2005, a health crisis meant it was time for the village she had built to care for her. Alongside Susan, Rick, Laura and Ina, dedicated caregivers including Maka Peradze, Olga Lizardo and family, and Tanya Gill, ensured that Baba’s later years remained joyful and laughter-filled. In 2010, Pat moved to New Orleans to be closer to her son, settling into a lovely apartment overlooking the oak trees and Mardi Gras parades of St. Charles Avenue. She continued to love parties and large gatherings until the very end. At 96 years old, when she could barely walk, she found the strength to shake and shimmy at her grandson Matthew’s wedding.

Pat is survived by her brother, Larry Bailey, and was predeceased by her brother, Ralph Bailey. Larry’s late wife, Nancy, and Ralph’s surviving wife, Eileen, remain cherished members of the family.

She leaves behind her beloved children, Richard Davis (Ina), Susan Davis, and Laura Boyd (John).

Pat was also a loving aunt to Kimberly Borek (George), Cynthia Landis (Jon), Brad Bailey (Cathy), Jenifer Wirtshafter (David), and Scott Bailey (Jory), and adored cousin of Renee Bretton.

Her memory lives on through her cherished grandchildren: Matthew Davis (Marc) , David Davis (Vassiliki), Brett Davis, Zoe Lukov, Josh Boyd (Heather), Jordan Novak (Alexandra), and Ian Boyd (Rebecca). She delighted in seeing her family grow in numbers and love across the generations.

As the end drew near, Pat found comfort in knowing that her beloved parents, Ruth and Murray, were ready to pick her up on the other side and take her to the next big party. Wherever she is, we can all smile knowing Pat is laughing, dancing, and shouting out her tagline: “We’re having fun now!”

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 12:30 p.m. in Kimble Funeral Home, Princeton, NJ followed by interment, beside her parents, at Princeton Cemetery, Princeton, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Desert X, National Council of Jewish Women, Greater New Orleans or a charity of your choice is greatly appreciated.

Extend condolences and share memories at TheKimbleFuneralHome.com.

Paul Joseph Salomon Benacerraf

Paul Joseph Salomon Benacerraf, famed philosopher and Princeton University stalwart, died in his home on January 13, 2025, at age 93.

Paul was born in Paris on March 26, 1931, to two Sephardic Jews: Abraham from Morocco and Rica Henriette (de Lasry) from Algeria. The family fled to Venezuela in 1939 as the Nazis approached, and soon landed in New York City. Following the war, his parents returned to France, leaving Paul and his beloved brother Baruj in the States. Paul proudly retained his French citizenship for his remaining years.

Paul spent the entirety of his academic life at Princeton University. Princeton was an unfamiliar world for a rebellious young Paul, who was initially rejected by its undergraduate program in 1948 because the university had already filled their Jewish quota. Once on campus, he quickly distinguished himself for being the only bearded student in sight. During these undergraduate years, he attempted to single-handedly take down the eating club system (and instead founded the first all-inclusive one), failed his junior year for spending too much time with beatniks in the West Village, and chose to major in philosophy because it was his only subject with a B-grade.

Paul’s position at Princeton would soon shift once he was admitted to the PhD program in Philosophy, where he was taken under the wing of Hilary Putnam, a young professor, mentor, and friend. Together, the two led an insurgent movement to establish analytical philosophy as the department’s primary focus and strength, a move that carried global reverberations.

Paul served as Chair of Philosophy from 1975 to 1984, and again from 1992 to 1999. During these times, the department was repeatedly ranked first in the world. Paul’s research was focused on logic, linguistics, and, most famously, the ontology of numbers. His essays “What Numbers Could Not Be” (1965) and “Mathematical Truth” (1973) are considered definitive texts in the philosophy of mathematics. His early difficulties on campus fueled his lifelong passion for mentorship, which endeared him to countless stu -

dents, as his distinguished colleagues remembered in an obituary published on the Princeton University website . Another significant aspect of Paul’s contributions to Princeton was his service to the administration, most notably when he worked alongside his dear friend and colleague, William G. Bowen. When Bowen was Provost, he asked Paul (then Associate Provost) to lead Princeton’s initiative to become the first all-male Ivy League university to integrate female students. This accomplishment was one of the proudest in both of their careers.

Throughout his time at Princeton, Paul enjoyed pushing its culture to become more worldly, inclusive, and forward-thinking. He opened Princeton’s first espresso café and decorated its walls with newspapers. In 1969, Paul commissioned a young Michael Graves to create an addition to his home, which was Graves’s first design ever to be constructed. Benacerraf House, where Paul raised all of his children, proved immediately controversial for mixing old and new aesthetics, but it also garnered worldwide acclaim for the same reason.

All who were fortunate enough to visit Paul’s home learned that he was a remarkably generous host. His culinary artistry and his knowledge of exquisite wines were incomparable. One of his favorite pastimes was chatting with loved ones and guests as he prepared their meals. He will be remembered for his selflessness, his wit, his uncompromising honesty, and his effusive warmth.

Paul is survived by his children Marc, Tania, Andrea, Nicolas, and Natasha; his grandchildren Sophie, Lucas, Audrey, Dillon, and Seth; his granddog Dante; his grandnephew Oliver; his grandniece Brigitte; his devoted friend and former wife Dr. Suzanne Miller; and generations of beloved colleagues and protégés. His first wife, Carlotta Benacerraf, passed away in 2020. Over the last decade, Paul grew increasingly close to his longtime friend, Edith Jeffrey, who became his intimate companion. Edie passed away on February 1, 2025, just three short weeks after Paul.

Paul’s remains are buried in the Princeton Cemetery. Information about Paul’s memorial is forthcoming. To remain informed of these plans, please send an email to benacerrafmemorial@ gmail.com.

Please consider making a donation in Paul’s honor to your local National Public Radio station.

Arrangements are under the direction of MatherHodge Funeral Home, Princeton.

John William Hurley III

Religion

First Baptist Church

Has New Lead Pastor

The First Baptist Church of Princeton announces the election of the Rev. Maureen Gerald as its new lead pas tor. This historic appoint ment marks a significant moment in the church’s 139-year history, as Gerald becomes only the second woman to hold this position. A graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, Ger ald brings extensive pasto ral and professional expe rience to the position. She will deliver her first sermon as pastor-elect at First Bap tist Church of Princeton on March 2 at 10:30 a.m. She intentionally chose this date to honor Women’s His tory Month, celebrating the work, wonder, and impact of women. She follows in the pastoral footsteps of her

mother, Johanna Artis Reed. “In consideration of our national political climate, this is a sobering moment for me. I am humbled and deeply honored to serve as the next pastor of First Bap tist Church of Princeton,”

Gerald serves as a spiritual director at the Center for Contemplative Leadership at Princeton Theological Seminary, and is the founder and owner of Momentum Counseling Services. A longstanding advocate for spiritual wellness and inclusivity in the church, she has also served as a founding ministry leader who helped plant Kingdom Church of Ewing. She was also executive pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Trenton.

Maureen Gerald

said Gerald. “This congre gation has a rich history of faith and fervor for God, and I look forward to walking alongside them as we con tinue to share God’s love in Princeton and beyond.”

MEMORIAL SERVICE

Victor Brombert

A Memorial Service for Victor Brombert, renowned Princeton Professor and World War II Hero, will take place on February 27 at 4:30 p.m. in McCosh Hall 50 on the Princeton University campus.

At First Baptist Church of Princeton, Gerald envisions expanding outreach initiatives, deepening discipleship, and creating a hospitable space where all can find belonging, safety, and connection through Christ.

The congregation invites the community to join the event on March 2. For more information, call (609) 924-0877.

Update Eblast

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Don’t miss out on The WeekenderGo to TownTopics.com and sign up today!

at 11am

Princeton University Chapel

All are welcome.

Preaching Sunday, March 2 is Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames, Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel, Princeton University.

University Chapel Choir with Nicole Aldrich, Director of Chapel Music and Chapel Choir, and with Eric Plutz, University Organist.

DIRECTORY OF RELIGIOUS SERVICES

Rev. Canon Dr. Kara Slade, Assoc. Rector SUNDAYS 8:00 am: Holy Communion Rite I 10:30 am: Holy Communion Rite II 5:00 pm: Choral Evensong or Choral Compline

Rev. Paul Jeanes III, Rector

33 Mercer St. Princeton • 609-924-2277 www.trinityprinceton.org

Mother of God Joy of All Who Sorrow Orthodox Church

904 Cherry Hill Rd • Princeton, NJ 08525 (609) 466-3058 Saturday Vespers 5pm • Sunday Divine Liturgy 930am • www.mogoca.org

To advertise your services in our Directory of Religious Services, contact Jennifer Covill jennifer.covill@witherspoonmediagroup.com (609) 924-2200 ext. 31

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INDOOR ROWING LESSONS and training on ergs and tanks at the Princeton Boathouse with professional coaching. 1.5 hour sessions running now on Sunday 4 pm and Wednesday 5:30 am through the end of March. Free guest membership to try (then $125/year membership) plus $6/ session. No commitment required. Other sessions for experienced rowers are also available. For more information: info@clra.com. 03-05

APPLYING TO COLLEGE OR GRAD SCHOOL? Work with the highly experienced Princeton Writing Coach to learn how best to stand out from the competition and navigate the application process. Contact the Coach now for a free consultation. (908) 420-1070. princetonwritingcoach@gmail.com. https://princetonwritingcoach.com.

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The Power of Maximum Exposure in Home Sales

When selling a house, the more eyes on the listing, the better the chances of securing a great offer. That ’s why listing a home on the open market through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is a game changer for sellers. The MLS syndicates the property to various real estate websites, ensuring it reaches a wide pool of potential buyers.

This broad exposure creates competition, which can drive up the price. Instead of settling for a single private offer, sellers may receive multiple bids, allowing them to choose the best terms. Additionally, buyers working with agents trust MLS listings for accuracy, increasing credibility and reducing delays.

A well marketed home attracts serious buyers quickly, often leading to faster sales at higher prices. By tapping into the power of MLS and open market visibility, sellers maximize their chances of getting top dollar while maintaining control over the transaction.

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