Solid Waste, Affordable Housing Among Resolutions at Council Meeting 7
Adult Acting Collective Class at McCarter . . . . 8
School Days and Shootings In McKinley and Dylan’s America 14
McCarter Presents Here There Are Blueberries . . 15
Boosted by the Return of Khramtsov from Injury, PU Women’s Hockey Ties Brown, Defeats Yale 24
Senior Star Rose Makes History for PHS Wrestling, Winning 4th Straight Title in County Competition 28
PHS Scholars Shine In National Regeneron Science Talent Search
Princeton High School (PHS) Senior
Yurai Gutierrez Morales has been selected as one of 40 nalists nationwide in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, competing for a top prize of $250,000.
Based on the originality and creativity of their scienti c research, as well as their achievement and leadership inside and outside the classroom, the nalists, who were announced on January 23, were selected from a record number of 2,471 entrants.
Two other PHS seniors, Benjamin Murphy Gitai and Amy Lin, were among the 300 national semi nalists. This was the rst time PHS has ever had three students in the top 300 and the rst time a PHS student has ever advanced to the top 40.
Morales will participate in a week-long competition from March 6-12 in Washington, D.C., undergoing a rigorous judging process, interacting with leading scientists, and sharing her research with the public on March 9, both in person and virtually. The top 10 Regeneron Science Talent Search 2025 winners will be announced during an awards ceremony on March 11.
PPS Science Supervisor Jacqueline Katz praised the student award winners and reflected on the development of the popular research program at PHS, which she started 10 years ago. “It’s a positive space for students like this,” she said. “They totally take ownership and gure out what they’re interested in, and then you see them run with it. It’s so incredible.”
The Regeneron Science Talent Search, sponsored by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and the Society for Science, now in its 84th year, is the United States’ longest running science, technology, engineering, and math (STEAM) competition for high school seniors. Alumni from the competition have gone on to win 13 Nobel Prizes and 23 MacArthur Fellowships, and have founded numerous world-changing companies, according to a Regeneron press release.
“The competition identi es extraordinary young minds who blend scienti c talent, curiosity, and bold leadership to drive meaningful change for society,” the press release states.
Morales discussed her award-winning research project, which is titled “How the
Array of Area Events to Mark Black History
Black History Month began as a tradition of Black teachers in the segregated South in the 19th and early 20th century commemorating important people and events in Black history during the week of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (February 12) and Frederick Douglass’ birthday (February 14).
Almost 100 years ago in 1926, Black History Week was created when African American historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History announced that the second week of February would be recognized as “Negro History Week.”
In February 1970 Black History Week expanded to become a full month at the urging of Black United Students at Kent State University, and in 1976 President Gerald Ford recognized Black History Month during the celebration of the U.S. Bicentennial. He urged all Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
Many events of all kinds are on the schedule in Princeton and the surrounding area this February to honor Black History Month and the accomplishments of Black Americans.
The launch of a new book of poetry of the Witherspoon-Jackson community, Re ections of a Vibrant Past: Poetry of the Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood, will take place at the Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) Paul Robeson Center for the Arts on Sunday, February 2 from 2 to 4 p.m. The free event will feature readings by the book’s author, the Rev. Gregory Smith, as well as light refreshments, a book signing, and conversation. Sponsored by the Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society and
Month
the ACP, the reading and book signing will also spotlight The WitherspoonJackson Neighborhood, a new book by ACP Executive Director Adam Welch, presenting a brief socio-political history in the spirit of a “zine.”
Smith’s poetry book is “dedicated to the countless individuals who have graced the Witherspoon-Jackson community and shared their lives, breath, and souls with us all.” Within the poetry collection Smith presents many members of the
Environmental Impact of Road Salt Is Subject of “Winter Salt Week”
Those white crystals that proliferate on pavements and roadways, to keep vehicles from sliding and humans from falling on winter ice and snow, are the topic of a series in which The Watershed Institute is closely involved.
Winter Salt Week, which runs through Friday, January 31, aims to raise awareness of the environmental consequences of road and sidewalk salt. “Shovel More, Salt Less, Help Keep Freshwater Fresh” is the logo of the initiative, which urges the public not to stop using the salt — just to use less of it.
“We don’t recommend any alternatives to road salt. Our idea is to just use less salt, and use it in a smarter way,” said Erin Stretz, assistant director of science for The Watershed Institute.
“We’re trying to keep freshwater fresh, and salt is the one thing that makes freshwater not freshwater. Once salt is there, we cannot remove it.”
Salt can also damage the infrastructure, eating away at roads and buildings. “And there are the puppy paws,” said Stretz.
WASSAILING THE APPLE TREES: Kingsessing Morris Men dancers were part of the annual celebration on Sunday afternoon at Terhune Orchards on Cold Soil Road. The festival follows the ancient Anglo-Saxon tradition of protecting the trees to ensure a good harvest in the coming year. Attendees discuss their favorite winter activities in this week’s Town Talk on page 6.
(Photo by Sarah Teo)
David Brophy Helps PHS Boys’ Swimming Take 1st at CVC
Princeton Charter School is a free, K-8 public school. We encourage
Princeton Charter School is a free, K-8 public school. We encourage you to learn more about us in order to see whether Charter is the right option for your family.
2023 National Blue Ribbon School;
National Blue Ribbon School 2023 National Blue Ribbon School; one of nine schools in NJ to win this award.
TOWN TOPICS
Princeton’s Weekly Community Newspaper Since 1946
DONALD C. STUART, 1946-1981 DAN D. COYLE, 1946-1973 Founding Editors/Publishers DONALD C. STUART III, Editor/Publisher, 1981-2001
LAURIE PELLIChERO Editor BILL ALDEN, Sports Editor
DONALD gILPIN, wENDY gREENBERg, ANNE LEVIN, STUART MITChNER, NANCY PLUM, DONALD h. SANBORN III, JUSTIN FEIL, JEAN STRATTON, wILLIAM UhL Contributing Editors
FRANK
Virtual Open House: Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 11:00 AM – Zoom Link on website
Virtual Open House: Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 11:00 AM – Zoom Link on website
Admissions Information Session Sunday, February 9, 2025 11:00 AM via Zoom and 1:00 PM in person
In-person Open House: Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 1:00 PM – Gym, 100 Bunn Drive
In-person Open House: Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 1:00 PM – Gym, 100 Bunn Drive
There will be a short informational presentation with an opportunity to speak with teachers, parents and students, followed by a tour of the campus and classrooms.
We welcome all applicants from Princeton.
We welcome all applicants from Princeton.
Students are admitted to Charter based on a random lottery.
Students who qualify for a weighted lottery based on family income will have their names entered into the lottery twice. Apply:
Students are admitted to Charter based on a random lottery. Students who qualify for a weighted lottery based on family income will have their names entered into the lottery twice.
West Windsor Preschool
To Mark a Milestone
Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church Cooperative Nursery School (DNPCCNS) will celebrate its 55th anniversary this May, marking a significant milestone as the longest-running preschool in the West Windsor and Princeton Junction area. Since its founding in 1969, the school has been dedicated to providing high-quality early childhood education in a nurturing and cooperative environment.
To commemorate this occasion, the school will host a special dinner and silent auction in May. The event will be a celebration of DNPCCNS’s rich history and its continued impact on the community. All current and former members of our school community are invited. Proceeds will benefit
the school’s programs and support its mission to foster learning and growth for young children.
For more details about the anniversary event and to stay updated, visit dnpccns.org/55th.
TerraCycle Tackles Waste For Big Game Events
TerraCycle, the Trentonbased recycling company, is offering a Zero Waste Box to help hosts at sports-viewing parties recycle game day waste. Most people aren’t aware that fans consume 118 pounds of snacks, most of which come packaged in single-use, hard-to-recycle plastic that isn’t accepted by municipal recycling services.
TerraCycle’s Zero Waste Box is a turn-key recycling solution for all the gameday waste, like disposable plastic utensils, party decorations,
snack wrappers, and so much more.
“It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of gameday and sideline your sustainable habits,” said Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle. “Zero Waste Box helps fans keep waste out of landfills and incinerators and score a big win for the environment—no matter which team you’re cheering for.”
The company offers specific boxes for party decorations, empty aluminum cans, plastic packaging, and candy and snack wrappers. When full, the boxes are returned to TerraCycle for recycling using the affixed prepaid shipping label. All accepted waste is guaranteed to be recycled into raw materials that can be used to make new products.
To learn more, visit ter racycle.com.
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 5 at Arlee’s Raw Blends, 14.5 Witherspoon Street; on February 12 at LiLLiPiES Bakery, Princeton Shopping Center; February 19 at Say Cheese, 183D Nassau Street; and 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.
Sourland “Stew Crew”: On February 7 and 17 at 9 a.m., help maintain planted sites, remove invasive plants, and fix fences in the Sourlands. No experience is necessary. RSVP at Stewards@sourland.org.
CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY: Members of the Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church Cooperative Nursery School, current and past, are invited to celebrate its 55th birthday in May.
AND HISTORY: The Arts Council of Princeton and the Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society have partnered on the publication of two books
community. The Rev. Gregory S. Smith, shown at right, is the author of a
the legacy of
of poetry,
which the cover was designed by his son. Arts Council Director Adam Welch has written a brief socio-political history “zine” about the neighborhood.
Book Launch at Arts Council Introduces Two Publications About its Neighborhood
Everyone is invited to a book launch party on Sunday, February 2 at the Arts
Council of Princeton, where two new publications celebrating the WitherspoonJackson Historic District, home base to the nonprofit, will be officially unveiled.
people stepping in and helping me at whatever state I was at in life. It was part of the culture of the community, and we helped each other in every way we could.”
The Rev. Gregory S. Smith, who grew up in the neighborhood, has written a book of poems, titled Reflections from a Vibrant Past. Arts Council Director Adam Welch’s 4-by-6-inch, 56-page “zine,” simply titled Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood , tells the history of the area through artfully arranged text, reproduced maps, photographs, and illustrations.
TOPICS Of the Town
Smith plans to read some of his poems at the launch party on Sunday, as will a number of his subjects. Formerly a social worker, currently a minister (of Fisk Chapel AME Church in Fair Haven) and a writer since his teens — he was often asked to write poetry for funerals of local community icons — he moved to the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood from Long Beach, Calif., when he was 10, after his mother married the Rev. Leon Gipson, pastor of Princeton’s Mount Pisgah AME Church. Gipson is among the nearly 100 subjects in the book, some of whom are represented in poems; others in a section called “vignettes.”
“There were so many characters in the neighborhood,” Smith said. “Certainly, there were mentors like Bill Johnson, the first Black principal at John Witherspoon [middle school]; Romus Broadway and John Broadway, who continues to be a great mentor to me; and my stepfather. Then there were just the kind of people who didn’t really stand out a lot, but were so important to me.”
One of them was Sheila Wooding, “who kind of took me in as an adolescent, and took me on trips,” he said. “I took care of her son sometimes. There were always
The poem about Wooding includes the lines “She cared for all our children/ She visited our old/And though not always dressed in white/True missionary bold.”
Some of the subjects are familiar names: Shirley Satterfield, Lance Liverman, Albert E. Hinds, Clyde Pannell, John Bailey, Jimmy Mack, Leighton Newlin, Jim and Fannie Floyd. Those less known to the public are no less important to Smith. He remembers some with humor.
Wed, February 5, 2025 | 6PM & 9PM
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“My next-door neighbor was a retired postmaster, very stoic and conservative during the day,” he recalled. “But at night, he’d go and have a little drink at the American Legion, and come back this completely different person. The next day he’d say, ‘Please forgive me.’ I have a great poem that I’ll read at the event. It’s my favorite. It talks about our relationship and how it evolved over the years.”
For Welch, inspiration to create Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood came after he was invited to join the board of the Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society. Since taking over as director of the Arts Council in 2020, he has made an effort to engage with its surrounding community.
“What I started to notice was that there were some things we seemed to lack in understanding about Witherspoon-Jackson, and one of them was the history,” Welch said. “I know there have been books, but they weren’t widely known. I had done a ‘zine’ on Paul Robeson, and I liked the idea. From my perspective, it’s an artist’s magazine with unique art objects, generally produced on a smaller scale. Mine started with that idea.”
The 4-by-6-inch publication fits in a pocket. “Even though it’s an important subject, it’s not so formal and heavy,” Welch said. “It’s a little bit more fun. I worked over a month to show them my idea at the WitherspoonJackson Historical and Cultural Society, and they were interested. So I spent the next four months doing research and putting it together.”
An admitted research addict who “goes down the rabbit hole” of old, local newspapers when he can’t sleep at night, Welch enjoyed the process. “I picked and chose a lot of the tidbits in there,” he said. “I had a lot of fun. It was really interesting to learn all of these stories and see all these things. It felt like a document that was more accessible because it’s not some big, hardcover book.”
Proceeds from purchases of the books go to the Arts Council and the Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society. Smith’s volume is priced at $25, while Welch’s is $15. To order, visit artscouncilofprinceton.org/about/witherspoonjackson-neighborhood.
Or go to the party on Sunday, February 2, which is from 2-4 p.m., and is free and open to all. The Arts Council is at 102 Witherspoon Street.
—Anne Levin
A forum for the expression of opinions about local and national issues.
Question of the Week:
“What are your favorite winter activities?” (Asked Sunday afternoon at Terhune Orchards) (Photos by Sarah Teo)
“For me, it’s snowboarding; I’ve gone with my friends to Camelback. And ice skating.”
—Raffaele Burga, Lawrenceville
walks — he’s a big cold-weather dog. I also like to hang out indoors and play video games with my friends. It’s a great time of year to run, since you don’t sweat much.”
—Leo Sarett, Princeton
Gwenn: “I like winter as a time to do more reading and relaxing.”
Peter: “For me as a parent, it’s being outside with the children making snowmen.”
Emilia: “I like to go sledding and have hot chocolate. And making snowmen!”
Grace: “I love to go sledding and drink hot chocolate. And making snowmen!”
—Gwenn Santoro with Peter, Emilia, and Grace Wolczynski, Belle Mead
“Splitting firewood, and being outside. I don’t mind the cold.” —Ed Meyer, Cranbury
Solid Waste, Tennis, Affordable Housing Among Resolutions at Council Meeting
In a brief meeting Monday evening, January 27, Princeton Council approved several resolutions involving the fourth round of the town’s affordable housing obligation, solid and bulk waste collection, tennis in Community Park, and other initiatives.
The Council also opted to table an item on the consent agenda involving a resolution for the appointment of an Emergency Management Council.
Some Council members have received calls from citizens concerned about the presence of several police and other official cars in the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood. Councilwoman Leticia Fraga explained that the proliferation of these vehicles was due to training, and “nothing to be concerned about. This was actually part of a training that the county is conducting and Princeton is hosting,” she said. “It is for defensive tactics training required by the AG [attorney general].”
Mayor Mark Freda added that the training is based at the firehouse on Witherspoon Street, and is taking place over the next two weeks.
Councilwoman Michelle Pirone Lambros reported that Evan Moorhead, executive director of the town’s Recreation Department, was recently named a Certifi ed Parks and Recreation Executive (CPRE), “which is the highest certification available at the national level,” she said. Moorhead was one of
11 in New Jersey to achieve the certification.
“We know we have a really special departmen t and a great leader, and I just wanted to commend him for that,” she said.
Council’s approval of the resolution related to affordable housing commits the municipality to the Department of Community Affairs’ fourth round of housing obligations, announced last October. The “prospective need” obligation is for 276 units, to be built during the next 10 years.
The resolution related to tennis renews the lease between Princeton and the Princeton Tennis Program at Community Park, for an additional year. Councilman Leighton Newlin commended the program.
“Over the long haul, this organization has done a good job of DEI and equity, making
sure they scan and include people of color from the neighborhood, and making sure there is equitable outreach in everything they do in these programs,” he said.
“And we appreciate that.”
Council voted to authorize the third year of a fiveyear contract with Interstate Waste Services of New Jersey, continuing the waste collection services that utilize 64-gallon carts. Deputy Administrator/Municipal Engineer Deanna Stockton said that the service has resulted in a reduction in the amount of solid waste that is going out, which lowers the costs.
Three new locations for the food scraps program are currently being set up.
The next meeting of Council is Monday, February 10 at 7 p.m. Visit princetonnj.gov for more information.
—Anne Levin
Experience Princeton Restaurant Week returns!
MARCH 1-7, 2025
Adult Acting Collective at McCarter: “Child-Like Joy” on Wednesday Evenings
It’s 6:15 p.m. on a cold January evening, and the students are starting to gather in the rehearsal room at McCarter’s Berlind Theatre for their weekly Adult Acting Collective class. This is not a typical group of students, not even a typical collection of aspiring actors.
Ranging in ages from their 20s to 80s, this group is diverse. “We come from all different walks of life and different backgrounds,” said Simone, who has spent a long career in corporate life and has been taking classes at McCarter for the past few semesters. “We have pharmaceutical executives, writers, lawyers, scientists, and more.”
The teacher, Jacqueline
Knox, an experienced actress and founding member of 12 Mile West Theatre Company in North Jersey, explained that the common denominator in this group of 17 seems to be “I wanted to try something new,” and “I wanted to challenge myself.” The class is clearly fulfilling both needs.
“There are very few places where adults can go and have a shared experience in a safe environment, learn something new, and then feel good enough about that program to keep coming,” said Simone. “We show up. Here you’re on for two hours, and you can be unedited and free and in a safe environment to learn new skills that you can apply in other things. I have a law
background and I owned an event company for 20 years, but here I’m learning problemsolving and using a different part of my brain.”
Knox added, “There’s an opportunity here to express that part of yourself you’ve always wondered about, to have it seen and be reflected back. And people say, ‘I like that. It makes me laugh or clap or feel.’ That’s an opportunity to maybe explore that further.”
Both the Adult Acting Collective and the Adult Scene Study Class, which meets on Monday evenings, are oversubscribed with waiting lists, and McCarter has launched an adult improv class, which is also full. “And this time last year we were struggling to fill
“IN IMAGINARY CIRCUMSTANCES”: Jacqueline Knox’s Adult Acting Collective students work on an improv exercise in McCarter’s Berlind Theatre Rehearsal Room, as they step out of their comfort zones and hone their skills every Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
one full adult class,” said McCarter Director of Education Brooke Boertzel.
Boertzel is a strong believer in welcoming students of all ages. “Some are brand new to this,” she said. “Some are more seasoned and actually doing this professionally, but we’ve built a really amazing community with Jackie taking the lead. Through these classes, some have gone on to land roles in commercials, movies, and plays, even securing agents.”
“In this class you’re figuring it out,” said Simone. “You can’t prepare. Just think how edited you are on a daily basis in what you say and what you write. In here it’s very freeing to be able to express yourself and learn and fail and cheer and support and do many of those things that make it a joy to be a human being.”
Reflecting on the value and popularity of her acting collective, Knox added, “I think post-pandemic there continues to be a real need for people to connect in person, to remember what it’s like to have that experience together in a space, in person. There’s a deeper appreciation of it.”
She continued, “We come into that experience together with a collective understanding that we didn’t have this during the pandemic and we could lose it again, and isn’t this beautiful.”
experience. “A great class, with such a great group of people and some really talented actors,” she said. “Each class I’ve taken I just feel myself grow each time. Some of the things we do, like improvs, are a little bit scary, but every time I get on stage I know I’m improving myself. I’m not only improving as an actor, but I feel like I’m improving as a person too. It’s been such a great experience.”
Kellie, who works remotely and now, with her husband, is an empty-nester, has been in improv classes in Pennsylvania and recently joined the McCarter class. “Unexpectedly what I’m learning is that in life you usually don’t have to be present, but in improv you have to be present. There are no phones, no distractions. You’re just focused on the person in front of you, and that’s teaching me to take that with me into my personal life.”
The second thing Kellie says she’s learned is to be more open and accepting. “Being more accepting with people is really powerful, and the diversity of this group is also pretty powerful,” she said. “I don’t know where people fall politically or on social issues, and I don’t have to know that. It’s just about being together and finding value and acceptance in one another, and that’s been really powerful.”
Community Foundation Awards Impact Grants
The Princeton Area Community Foundation has awarded $2.4 million in Community Impact Grants to more than 50 local nonprofits working to address community needs, including education and workforce development, food security homelessness, and mental health.
“We are grateful to our nonprofit partners for their tireless commitment to the region’s neighbors and communities,” said Nelida Valentin, Community Foundation vice president of grants and programs. “As we work to deepen our focus on strengthening the philanthropic impact we can make, we hope these grants provide meaningful support and encourage greater collaboration and partnerships, so that everyone can thrive.”
The Burke Foundation and J&J have partnered with the Community Foundation to provide Community Impact Grants, which support local nonprofits to improve the lives of people living in poverty in the Greater Mercer County region. The grants are also funded by generous contributions from local donors who want to make an impact in our region.
Knox described the overarching goal for her acting students. “This is the place where students learn to use themselves truthfully, spontaneously and actively,” she said. “The exercises are designed to help explore those ways of using ourselves in the work. We work from Sanford Meisner’s definition of acting as ‘living truthfully under imaginary circumstances.’”
Bharami, a scientist who has worked in the food industry and now works in the fragrance and flavor industry, described his experience as a student in the class. “I’m very analytical in my usual thought process,” he said. “I have two kids, 12 and 9, and my evenings are usually spent taking them to classes.”
He watched his daughter in a McCarter class, “and I thought, ‘OK, this looks like fun. Maybe I should do something for myself.’” He continued, “This was something I wanted to try. I came to Jackie’s class last year and loved the class, and I was having fun, so I thought, ‘Why not do this again?’ I thought I would give it a try and see how it works.”
Since joining the class Bharami says he has gained the confidence and knowledge to audition for an HR simulation video at his workplace. He has also met people in the class who are voice actors, and he’s planning to give that a try too.
“So now I have exposure to things that I had no knowledge about before,” he said. “It’s a different world. The people I meet are very different from people I normally interact with, so that’s also a big positive for me.”
Priscilla, a retired clinical psychologist, had done some acting in high school and college and was eager to get back into it. “I remembered how much I had enjoyed acting,” she said. “It was one of those things that brought me joy.”
She was nervous when she came to her first McCarter class last spring, but she has thoroughly enjoyed the
Leslie, a software engineer, explained her motivation for joining the class. “My company is remote, and it is very isolating. I felt I wasn’t interacting with the outside world.”
She was worried because she had never acted before. And she thought that all the others would be 22 years old and that she’d be the oldest in the room, but she’s now enjoying herself and glad that she signed on.
Anastasia from Russia and Emma from Spain are both finding that in addition to the theater training this class is helping them to learn English. Natasha, who had been a professional dancer, “wanted another way of expressing myself and challenging my abilities, to grow in other forms. I wanted to step outside my comfort zone.”
Susan has enjoyed acting for many years, ever since she was a little girl. As a young woman, for many years she found herself frequently cast as an old lady. “Now I really am an old lady and I can’t get cast anymore. They’re casting young people as old ladies,” she said.
She took a break from the stage for about three years and then decided to sign up for this class. “It’s been wonderful. Jackie keeps us going and she comes up with all these fantastic ideas for things for us to do,” said Susan.
Emphasizing what a safe, encouraging place the class has become, Debbie noted, “We all feel safe, and because of that we allow ourselves to fail, and it’s in that failure that we come together even more. We understand that failure is a part of it, and it’s nice to be in a space where you can experience that and still have joy.”
Aurora echoed the word “joy” in describing the class.“I found that it’s nice to have an opportunity in the middle of a work week to experience child-like joy,” she said. “At 7 o’clock on a Wednesday we get to be silly and have fun and play.”
—Donald Gilpin
The Community Foundation helps connect people to the causes they care about most. Since its founding, the Community Foundation has awarded more than $200 million in funding, including more than $90 million in the Greater Mercer region, through its various types of grants, including the Community Impact Grants program.
This round of funding marks the first time twoyear grants have been awarded through the Community Impact Grants program. Multi-year grants are important because they help organizations anticipate financial needs and plan future budgets.
In addition to these grants, earlier this year the Community Foundation awarded $500,000 to more than two dozen nonprofits for summer initiatives through the Community Impact Grants Fund. For a full list of grantees, which includes several from Princeton, visit pacf.org.
TOWN TOPICS is printed entirely on recycled paper.
continued from page one
Lion Becomes a Lamb: Transfer of Bacterial Symbionts From Ant Larvae to Vegetarian Spiders Through Selective Predation.”
“I was wondering why the jumping spider would be vegetarian, so I started doing this research into how the spider, in a body designed to be carnivorous, remains a vegetarian,” she said. The spiders are 90 percent vegetarian, but they eat the larvae of ants, she discovered, and through that they get enough nitrogen to survive.
Morales, who was born in this country, had to move back to Guatemala when she was 7, and grew up there until moving to Mexico at age 14, where she waited for almost three years before returning to the U.S. She has had to catch up on her English language learning, but it was in Mexico that she found the jumping spiders and carried out much of her research.
“This project has been really important to me,” she said. “I come from a family that doesn’t have a lot of resources. This is such a great opportunity, and I was very glad that I discovered the spiders. I was almost crying. I didn’t expect to be able to do this kind of research. For the future I’m going to keep going with more research about spiders and other animals and humans. I have a lot of plans.”
Morales will be a freshman at The College of New Jersey next fall.
PHS Science Teacher Mark Eastburn explained some of the attributes that help to make Morales such a successful scientist. “Yurai is an incredible observer,” he said. “She asks really good
questions, makes strong observations, and she is determined to find answers to the questions she asks. All of those qualities are the hallmark of a great scientist.”
Lin’s research project involved predicting melting temperatures of different materials by using machine learning models. “At the same time I didn’t just want to predict the melting temperature. I also wanted to find out what was going on behind the scenes,” she said.
Emphasizing her enthusiasm for coding and AI machine learning, Lin said she would be pursuing this field in the future. “I want to build it in a direction where first of all the work can be used to predict other material properties,” she added. She also sees future applications in construction and the development of tools for efficient fuel cells and for clean energy and environmental sustainability.
As she continues her education in college next year, she hopes to apply AI and machine learning to the health care field and to develop technologies that will enhance assisted living and the creation of social robots to help the elderly.
“My grandmother in China struggles with insomnia,” said Lin. “I’ve always been interested in how we can find out more about how the brain works and to develop technologies to help people like my grandmother.”
Gitai’s research involved the creation of a computer vision for ankle replacement surgery. As an athlete and a member of the PHS track team, Gitai was interested in ankle replacement technology, and he was also aware of the field through his grandmother, who has had hip replacements. “That’s why
AWARD-WINNING SCIENTISTS: Princeton High School Seniors, from left, Benjamin Murphy Gitai, Yurai Gutierrez Morales, and Amy Lin were in the nation’s top 300 teen scientists in the 2025 Regeneron Science Talent Search. On January 23, Morales was selected as one of 40 finalists, and she will travel to Washington, D.C., in March to compete to become one of the top 10 winners in the country. (Photo courtesy of Mark Eastburn)
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I applied to be part of a research program at Princeton University last summer that was working on ankle issues,” he said. “I asked if they would allow me to work on this as my project. They gave me free rein to do what I wanted to do with this, and it ended up going great.”
Gitai, who will be a freshman at Princeton University next fall, was able to use AI to help automate getting measurements and making predictions for ankle surgery. He created a quick and efficient pipeline and devised an algorithm to detect any bone. “I was specifically doing this for bones related to ankle replacement surgery, but the thing that is very cool about this is that I can apply it to any sort of system I want, not just ankle replacements,” he said. “This could be used for any part of the body.”
A student in PPS since kindergarten, Gitai commented on the encouragement and the extraordinary education in science he has enjoyed. “At the elementary school they would send students from the high school research program to the school to talk about the research program and encourage us to think about science — not as something we do after college or something like that, but something that we can be doing as early as elementary school and middle school and through high school. They encouraged us to be doing science we enjoy and that we didn’t have to wait until later on to do those things.”
Gitai and Lin, and the other top 300 scholars, will each receive $2,000 from Regeneron, and PHS will receive $6,000 to support math and science programs. Morales, as one of the top 40, will be awarded at least $25,000, with the top 10 awards ranging from $40,000 to $250,000.
Eastburn, who has worked with all three of the student winners over the years, commented on the young science scholars and the STEM program at PPS.
“This is such a unique community,” he said. “I can’t imagine another place that could be as rewarding to teach in as PHS. It’s certainly a frantic pace that we maintain, but when you have a moment like this, it all comes together. It’s so powerful when students do so well. It’s a cool thing — the most fulfilling outcome I could possibly hope for.”
“We celebrate this exceptional group of Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists for their outstanding achievements,” said Maya Ajmera, president and CEO of Society for Science and executive publisher of Science News. “These young people represent the future of innovation. By nurturing the next generation of scientific and engineering leaders, we are investing in a stronger economy and a better tomorrow, fueled by scientific and technological breakthroughs.”
—Donald Gilpin
Nominations Sought For Black Heritage Trail
The New Jersey Department of State invites all New Jerseyans to join in celebrations of Black history by nominating sites for the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail.
Signed into law by Governor Murphy on September 7, 2022, the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail legislation calls for the New Jersey Historical Commission to establish a Black Heritage Trail that will “highlight Black heritage sites through historical markers and a trail-like path that connects the stories of Black life and resiliency.”
“My hope is that New Jerseyans from all across our great state will submit a marker nomination. Even if you are not a historian, the New Jersey Historical Commission is here to help you uplift your local
history as part of our greater New Jersey story,” said Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way, who oversees the New Jersey Historical Commission in her capacity as Secretary of State.
In order to nominate a site for this third cycle of the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail, applicants must first submit a letter of intent (LOI) to NJBlackHeritageTrail@sos.nj.gov by March 14. This document is a preliminary one-page letter that outlines the intention to apply for the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail program for the fiscal year 2025 cycle. It should contain the proposed site name, a brief description
of the nomination, and the nomination’s contact information (Name, organization address, email, and contact phone number). Additionally, it should include the proposed marker location address. Upon receiving an email approval from the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail team, applicants may begin working on the online application as early as March 14. The deadline for the submission of the completed nomination is May 30, at 2 p.m. Submissions are not accepted by paper, mail, or fax and must be submitted online. Notification letters will be sent out in September.
JUNCTION
33 Princeton-Hightstown Rd Ellsworth’s Center (Near Train Station) 799-8554
Tues-Fri: 10am-6pm; Sat 8:30am-3:30pm
Black History Month
continued from page one community and notes their impact on the culture, education, and leadership of that community. Visit artscouncilofprinceton. org/events/reflectionsvibrant-past/ for further information.
Programs focusing on Black culture, history, and experience will be taking place throughout the month of February at the Princeton Public Library (PPL).
On Sunday, February 2 at 11:30 a.m., jazz guitarist Marel Hidalgo and his band will present “Sounds of the African Diaspora,” featuring jazz, blues, claps, reggae jazz, mento,and Brazilian and Afro-Latin rhythms at a jazz brunch event in the PPL Community Room.
On Monday, February 3 at 7 p.m., historical reenactor and educator Ivey Avery will present “Harriet Tubman: Follow the Freedom Star,” on the life and times of Harriet Tubman.
Tuesday, February 4, 18, and 25 and Friday February 14, all at 10 a.m., story times will take place celebrating Black History Month, with readings by African American community leaders followed by arts and crafts activities, presented in partnership with Princeton Nursery School and the Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society.
On Saturday, February 8 at 3 p.m. the Trenton Children’s Chorus and Trenton Music Makers Chamber Orchestra, the performance groups of Capitol Harmony Works, will present “A Black History Month Celebration: Songs of Hope, Unity, and Courage” in the PPL Community Room.
On Douglass Day, Friday, February 14, celebrating the birthday of Frederick Douglass, from 12 to 3 p.m., community members are invited to participate in a “transcribe-a-thon” of documents from the Library of Congress African American Perspectives Collection in the PPL Community Room and also at the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum’s (SSAAM) Reasoner-True House, 183 Hollow Road in Skillman.
Also part of Black History Month at PPL is “Art of the Witness Stones Project,” an exhibit of artwork by students from Timberlake Middle School in Pennington on view in the Reading Room through February 28. Visit princetonlibrary.org for further information.
On February 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the James Stewart Film Theater at 185 Nassau Street, the Princeton University Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Visual Arts in collaboration with the Thomas Edison Media Arts Consortium will present a film screening and panel discussion in honor of Black History Month. “Themes and Journeys of Artists and Filmmakers in New Jersey” will include a premiere screening of three award-winning films produced, directed, and/or performed by the five panelists: writer/director Seyi Peter-Thomas, poet Cortney Lamar Charleston, filmmaker and Princeton professor Moon Molson, Emmy Awardwining filmmaker Yuri Alves, and artist Bimpe Fageyinbo, moderated by the Thomas Edison Film Festival director Jane Steuerwald. Visit arts.
princeton.edu for further information.
On Monday, February 17 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Princeton Middle School, the Paul Robeson House of Princeton (PRHP) will present “Powerful Texts That Change Us,” its annual teachin and curriculum exchange, free and open to the public.
Participants are invited to “explore the transformative power of words through poems, song lyrics, sermons, speeches, and writings that have shaped history and inspired change,” the PRHP states. “Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in rich dialogue, discover meaningful resources, and connect with a community committed to education and social change.” Visit thepaulrobesonhouseofprinceton.org for further information.
On February 27 the Princeton Battlefield Society and Morven Museum and Garden will host a lecture at 6:30 p.m. at Morven by local author and historian John Rees on the role Black soldiers played at the Battle of Princeton and elsewhere in the American Revolution. For further information, visit pbs1777.org.
The SSAAM is offering a series of events including live theatrical performances, a birthday celebration for Frederick Douglass, and a student art and history exhibit. A live performance of “Meet Hannah Till” with educator and reenactor Leslie Bramlett will take place at the Mt. Zion AME Church, 189 Hollow Road in Skillman on February 7 at 7 p.m., and Bramlett will also be present in costume as Hannah Till, George Washington’s personal cook, on February 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. during an interactive museum open house day.
On Douglass Day, February 14, in addition to the transcribe-a-thon listed above, docents will provide tours of the museum and special exhibits at the Mt. Zion AME Church.
Other Black History Month events taking place in the area include an exhibit on “Artifacts of African Diaspora” at Mercer County Community College’s James Kerney Campus on Broad Street in Trenton from February 1 through April 30.
There are two events at the William Trent House Museum at 15 Market Street in Trenton: “Escaping From Enslavement by Water — The Other Underground Railroad,” a Zoom lecture by history professor Timothy Walker on February 9 at 2 p.m. and “Four Centuries of African American Soldiers” on February 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the museum, a drop-in living history program including military artifacts, reenactors, and military veterans sharing their own personal stories.
There will be three workshops with Raven George at Artworks, 19 Everett Alley in Trenton: “Silhouette Creations” inspired by Kara Walker on February 7, 6-9 p.m., “A Love Supreme,” inspired by Black poetry and music on February 14, 6-9 p.m., and “Afrofuturism Creative Workshop on February 28, 6-9 p.m.
For more information on “Artifacts of African Diaspora” visit mccc.edu/jkcgallery ; for Trent House events, visit williamtrenthouse.org ; and for Artworks events, visit artworkstrenton.org.
—Donald Gilpin
Creative Work in Action At Arts District Event
Building on the success of recent creative initiatives like the Trenton Pop Up Market and the Art of Matloc Art Show Fundraiser, Isles, Inc., in partnership with Much Better Studios, will host the Trenton Creatives Networking Brunch on Saturday, February 1 from 12-4 p.m.
The event takes place at 125 South Warren Street in Trenton and will highlight the “Trenton Arts in Focus” plan for the Creek to Canal Creative District, and continue the momentum of the successful Trenton Pop Up Market series.
The event is free and open to the public and is funded by the Downtown Trenton Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit (NRTC) program through the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.
The networking brunch will feature panel discussions with local creative entrepreneurs, information about upcoming grant opportunities and pop-up shop initiatives, multiple vendors, giveaways and raffles, and catering by Skil-Lit. The event advances the Trenton Arts in Focus vision of strengthening connections between the city’s arts institutions, practicing artists, creative businesses, and arts advocates while promoting economic development through the arts.
Make a weekend of it...
Celebrate on Sunday and receive our discounted rate 4-9 PM
Jumbo Shrimp Bisque | terra momo olive oil, parsley
“This will be an impactful event. I was born and raised in Trenton, and I am a local artist and entrepreneur myself. So I am really passionate about this work that I am doing,” said Tyquan Benton, special projects manager at Isles. “My goal is for all the attendees to leave with useful information that will help them find success in whatever business they have and lead them to self-reliance. I want attendees to connect with like-minded individuals and inspire more future collaborations. Another goal is to inspire attendees to want to do more creative events and projects in Trenton and the Downtown area.”
Register at tinyurl.com/ TrentonCreativesBrunch.
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Salumi & Formaggi Board | cured meats, cheeses, castelvetrano olives, spiced cashews, grapes chef s choice for 2
A n t i p a s t i C h o i c e o f
Jumbo Shrimp Bisque | terra momo olive oil, parsley
Winter Burrata | roasted squash, confit bok choy, apple mostarda, crostini
Baby Kale Salad | apples, pickled red onion, pistachos, gorgonzola, pomegranate vinaigrette
Winter Burrata | roasted squash, confit bok choy, apple mostarda, crostini
Lemon Panna Cotta | candied almonds, berry compote
Lurisia Sparkling or Still Bottled Water 750mL $6
Lurisia Sparkling or Still Bottled Water 750mL $6
“Winter Salt Week”
continued from page one
“Anyone who has a dog knows how salt gets into their paws and irritates them.”
Winter Salt Week began Monday and Tuesday with webinars for the general public. The event at 1:30 on Wednesday, January 29, is directed toward New Jersey municipal road managers. Policy solutions are the focus of the webinar happening Thursday at 1:30 p.m. On Friday, volunteers who have been part of NJ Salt Watch, which was launched by The Watershed Institute five years ago, will capture chloride measurements across the state, all on the same day.
Winter Salt Week was inspired by efforts that began in Wisconsin five years ago. It was taken national last year. “We were not a partner last year, but this year they really took the initiative
to pull in at least one partner from every state,” said Stretz. “The Watershed is the partner. It has really taken off this year, and has enlisted the help of so many people.”
Key to the efforts to monitor salt use is New Jersey Salt Watch, which Stretz began during the pandemic. Since then, some 550 volunteers have participated, collecting chloride measurements from favorite freshwater streams, ponds, rivers, and lakes, returning multiple times over winter to track how levels change over time — especially after applications of road salt.
Salt Watch is funded by a grant from the New Jersey Department of Education and is part of a statewide effort to teach the public about local environmental health through water quality monitoring.
Managing the situation involves three steps: shoveling early and often, using less
salt, and sweeping it up at the end of a storm.
“The amount of salt you can fit into a coffee mug should be enough for 10 sidewalk squares,” said Stretz. “If you sweep it up, you can potentially use it for the next storm if it is still in crystal form. And you are keeping it from being washing into the environment.”
The Watershed Institute and other environmental nonprofits across the nation are hoping to educate those who work at the municipal level, or with state departments of transportation, about the issue.
“They are the people who are applying most of the salt. Getting the buy-in from municipalities and states will really make a difference,” said Stretz. “People can advocate with their municipalities. That can really help.”
For more information, visit thewatershed.org.
New Board Chair at Share My Meals
Share My Meals, the nonprofit dedicated to fighting food insecurity and reducing food waste, has named Karen Lemon as its new board chair.
A longtime supporter and leader with the organization, Lemon joined in 2020 as a volunteer and quickly became part of its leadership team, joining the board later that year. She will oversee efforts to recover twice as many meals across New Jersey this year, and pilot meal recovery initiatives in additional locations.
Lemon is also one of the founders of the Meal Recovery Coalition (MRC), launched by Share My Meals
—Anne Levin
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Rider University.
FIGHTING FOOD INSECURITY: Karen Lemon, a longtime supporter of Share My Meals, will head the organization’s board.
TESTING THE WATERS: Volunteer scientists have been busy monitoring the effects of winter road salting on freshwater streams and lakes. Some 550 participants have collected more than 3,000 chloride measurements across New Jersey.
Mailbox
The views of the letters do not necessarily reflect the views of Town Topics.
Hillier Addresses Inaccuracies Regarding Witherspoon Street Restoration Project
To the Editor:
There have been letters in local media commenting negatively on my plans to renovate existing apartments and construct new ones on Witherspoon Street. It is important that I correct their inaccuracies.
A number of years ago my late architect wife, Barbara, and I began to design the restoration of 16 Witherspoon Street properties. When we bought them, we knew that they all needed significant renovations, but we believed that they all have great character, storied histories, and deserved to be faithfully restored. I strongly doubt that a “developer” would give this project the care and attention to detail that we have.
From the start, our plans included accommodating the 16 families and 16 single tenants living in the existing studio apartments, duplexes, and single-family homes.
Our property manager, with a bilingual staff member, reviewed our plans with each tenant in individual meetings and developed a specific plan with each tenant. The only thing I could not tell them was when all this would happen — given the complicated approval process, I still have no idea when construction might begin. When it does start, the four stages will take at least 2-1/2 years.
Our tenants were offered the following options:
Plan A: In most cases, while the building with your unit is being renovated, you may move temporarily to a new unit within our project at the same rent as your current unit. Once your original site is renovated, you can move back to a new unit there. The rent for that new unit will be higher due to new air-conditioning, sprinklers and new kitchens and bathrooms but will be kept at a level which provides me no profit until the construction at that site is complete.
Plan B: If you prefer to move elsewhere, we will pay you $2,000 of moving expenses and you can apply your security deposit with us toward your new security deposit.
Plan C: You might want to apply to Princeton’s affordable housing program. We know how complicated that can be, so we hired a bilingual specialist to do the application with you. All of Princeton’s affordable housing is supervised by Princeton Community Housing and that will be the case with our units.
I know of no other developer anywhere who has done this much for existing tenants during the construction period and I am proud to have made these options available to our existing tenants.
I have been frustrated for many years by the state regulations which forbid a “Princeton preference” for folks now living in Princeton who clearly would qualify for our affordable units.
After the affordable units and the existing tenants are housed, the remaining units will be studio units intended
for what we all call the “missing middle” — folks who cannot afford to live in Princeton, but who are essential to the ongoing functionality of the Princeton community.
Who are those folks? They are the sous chefs, the servers, hotel staff, and perhaps first-year teachers, librarians, or firefighters. For them, the new market units will rent for something like 30 percent of a $50,000 to $75,000 salary — hardly “prestigious” housing.
Finally, please note that our project is in Princeton’s 20th Historic District. We have proposed the extensive renovation and beautification of the homes facing Witherspoon Street. Due to feelings in the neighborhood, we have chosen not to build the four-story buildings that the zoning allows. We will maintain a 35-foot height for each new building.
I thank the Historic Preservation Committee for their unanimous vote in favor of our project.
I hope that this letter adequately responds to the incorrect statements made about my project. No one bothered to call me for this explanation. When they are finished, our plans will be on file with the Planning Board and you can see them online or in their office.
BOB HILLIER
Hillier Properties
Witherspoon Street
Note: The writer is also publisher of Town Topics newspaper.
Raising Questions About New Bike Lane On Harrison Street by Shopping Center
To the Editor:
I am concerned about the points made by Lawren Smithline in her letter of January 22 concerning the new bike lane on Harrison Street in front of the shopping center [“Asking Town to Pump the Brakes on Harrison Street Traffic Modifications,” Mailbox]. I didn’t realize what a poor job was done until I read and reread the letter. First, the bike lane is built in one direction and is built over the length of one half of the block because it was financed by the developer of The Alice and not the Princeton DPW. Therefore, I do not expect as good a quality job to result when all is said and done. Second, given my interest and concern regarding Vision Zero and Gov. Phil Murphy’s signing of the Target Zero bill recently, I am as distressed as Ms. Smithline is about what the outcome is. Even before the bike lane was added cars would be in the right lane that would try to go through the intersection with Terhune Road. Once upon a time I was biking and struck by a car driver making a right-hand turn into a driveway. I feel Ms. Smithline’s bewilderments as to how this construction design could have been allowed to happen by our Engineering Department. Jim Purcell bicycles from Lawrence Township to work. Therefore, I expect much more out of a Township Engineering Department employee than to allow a situation to be allowed to exist that so clearly does not promote Target Zero/Vision Zero.
If my memory serves me correctly, Jim attended the December meeting of the Princeton Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee at which time I made the remark that corners like this don’t have to exist. If any readers should be driving to the state of Delaware, pay attention to the
bike lanes. As one approaches the turn into a development, the bike lane stops to give the driver ample room to make the right-hand turn, and then the bike lane resumes on the other side of the intersection. I believe the same is true of roads with bike lanes in West Windsor. The corner of South Mill Road and Woodmere Way comes to mind instantly. How about Princeton? Are there not uniform standards in place that must be practiced?
We had discussed at our meeting in December about this bike lane being temporarily two way. I hope this never happens. I can see someone biking in one direction carrying a laundry bag striking a baby in a baby carriage, regardless of the direction of travel the two users are going in. Also, we have discussed having a contra-flow bike lane on Spring Street. If that happens, I hope the parking spaces are removed. If anyone wants to see a contra-flow bike lane, go to Chapel Street, New Haven (Conn.). It is painted green.
DAN RAPPOPORT Copperwood
The views expressed in this letter are those solely of the writer and do not reflect the views of any of the other members of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.
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
Poets Komunyakaa and Hayes
To Converse About New Anthology
A new anthology dedicated to renowned Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa, Dear Yusef: Essays, Letters, and Poems, for and about One Mr. Komunyakaa, will be celebrated with readings by and a conversation between Komunyakaa and MacArthur Fellow and poet Terrance Hayes on Wednesday, February 5 at 6 p.m. at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street.
The event, presented by the Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Creative Writing at Princeton University, will include introductions by Princeton Arts fellow and poet Nicole Sealey and award-winning poet John Murillo, editors of the anthology. Cosponsored by Labyrinth Books, the event is free and open to the public; a book signing and reception will follow the conversation and reading.
Dear Yusef: Essays, Letters, and Poems, for and about One Mr. Komunyakaa is a curated collection of essays, letters, and poems that reveal the profound impact the poet has had on poets, educators, and readers worldwide. Contributors include Terrance Hayes, Sharon Olds, Carolyn Forché, Toi Derricotte, and Martín Espada, among others.
Komunyakaa’s numerous books of poems include Pleasure Dome: New & Collected Poems, 19751999; Talking Dirty to the Gods; Thieves of Paradise , which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Award; Neon Vernacular: New & Selected Poems 1977-1989, for which he received the Pulitzer Prize and the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award; Magic City; Dien Cai Dau , which won the Dark Room Poetry Prize; I Apologize for the Eyes in My Head , winner of the San Francisco Poetry Center Award; Copacetic ; and The Emperor of Water Clocks. Komunyakaa’s
Award, the Four Quartets Prize from the T.S. Eliot Foundation and the Poetry Society of America, and the Lucille Clifton Legacy Award from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. His translation of Rafael Alberti’s Concerning the Angels is forthcoming from Four Way Books in spring 2025. He teaches at Hunter College.
Sealey, a 2024-26 Princeton Arts Fellow and former Hodder Fellow at Princeton, is the author of The Ferguson Report: An Erasure , winner of the 2024 OCM Bocas Prize for Poetry and a finalist for the NAACP Image Award in Poetry, an excerpt from which was awarded the Forward Prize for Best Single Poem. She is also the author of Ordinary Beast , a finalist for the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, and The Animal After Whom Other Animals Are Named , winner of the Drinking Gourd Chapbook Poetry Prize and other honors.
Annual Bryn Mawr-Wellesley Book Sale to Be Held March 12-16
year include an original 1894 “Peacock” edition of Pride and Prejudice, with an exquisite gilt cover design, a celebrated example of late Victorian pictorial covers. Also on offer is an original 1704 edition in excellent condition of the Index Librorum Prohibitorum, or Index of Forbidden Books. These volumes were considered heretical at the time by the Catholic Church.
Buyers will find plenty of art books, including a book on Maxfield Parrish and a Dictionary of Artist’s Models, which includes brief biographies of 200 artists’ models from the Renaissance to the present. Homeschoolers can stock up on books for learning, while travelers can find small paperbacks to tuck into bags for upcoming trips.
prose is collected in Blue Notes: Essays, Interviews & Commentaries . He also co-edited The Jazz Poetry Anthology and co-translated The Insomnia of Fire by Nguyen Quang Thieu. His honors include the William Faulkner Prize from the Universite Rennes; the Thomas Forcade Award; the Hanes Poetry Prize; fellowships from the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, the Louisiana Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts; and the Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam, where he served as a correspondent and managing editor of the Southern Cross . In 1999, he was elected a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets. Komunyakaa is a senior faculty member in the New York University Creative Writing Program.
Hayes is the author of seven poetry collections: So to Speak; American Sonnets for My Past And Future Assassin , a finalist for the National Book Award, National Book Critics Circle Award, and T.S. Eliot Prize; How to Be Drawn ; Lighthead , winner of the 2010 National Book Award for poetry; Muscular Music , recipient of the Kate Tufts Discovery Award; Hip Logic , winner of the 2001 National Poetry Series; and Wind in a Box . His prose collection, To Float in the Space Between: Drawings and Essays in Conversation with Etheridge Knight, was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and winner of the Pegasus Award for Poetry Criticism. The recipient of several fellowships, Hayes is a professor of English at New York University.
Murillo is the author of the poetry collections Up Jump the Boogie and Kontemporary Amerikan Poetry. His honors include the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award, the Poetry Society of Virginia’s North American Book
The annual Bryn MawrWellesley Book Sale will be held March 12-16 at Stuart Country Day School, 1200 Stuart Road. Admission on the first day is $32. Tickets may be purchased on the Annual Sale page at bmandwbooks.com or at the door. All other days are free. The book sale raises college scholarships for local students.
Each year volunteers sort through hundreds of thousands of donated books to select about 60,000 volumes for the annual sale. Books are in very good to excellent condition, set out in over 60 categories for easy browsing.
The sale features three special collections. Buyers will find books from the estate of Alfred Bush, an editor of the Papers of Thomas Jefferson and longtime curator of Western and Native American materials at the Princeton University Library.
There are also volumes from the estate of Bryn Mawr graduate Susan Auth, a classical archaeologist and Newark Museum curator.
The final private collection that will be on sale is from the estate of Susan Casteras, professor emerita of art at the University of Washington (Seattle), an expert on British art, especially Victorian and pre- Raphaelitism. Exceptional books this
The book sale hours are: Wednesday, March 12, opening day , 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, March 13, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, March 14, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, March 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, March 15, box day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., $10 per box (approximately 12x12x16 in.).
Applications Open For Mercer Library Festival
The Mercer County Library System is inviting applications from local authors to participate in its inaugural Book Festival, to be held on Saturday, September 27 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence township. This celebration of literature and storytelling brings together authors, readers, and literary enthusiasts throughout Mercer County and beyond.
Local authors and writing groups of all backgrounds and genres can apply to host tables at the festival. Applications will be accepted until March 15. Accepted participants should anticipate a $35 table fee. If accepted, authors will be notified by April 15. Applications are available on the library’s website at mcl.org/ mcls-book-festival-2025.
The Book Festival will feature panels about writing and publishing in different genres, authors discussing their books, crafts, and kid-friendly performances. More information about the festival and library’s many other programs is available at mcl.org.
Get the scoop from
New Book by PU Prof. Julian Zelizer Offers Perspective on Partisanship
Princeton University Professor Julian Zelizer, in conversation with colleague Sean Wilentz, presents his new book, In Defense of Partisanship, a reimagining of the prevailing partisan gridlock through party-oriented reforms, on Tuesday, February 4 from 6 to 7 p.m., at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street. The event is co-presented with Princeton Public Library.
Partisanship is a dirty word in American politics, says the publisher (Columbia Global Reports, $18 paperback). “If there is one issue on which almost everyone in our divided country seems to agree, it’s the belief that the intense loyalty within the electorate toward Democrats and Republicans is the source of our democratic ills — division, dysfunction, distrust, and disinformation. The possibilities that responsible partisanship can offer were at the heart of an important intellectual tradition that flourished in the 1950s and 1960s, one which was institutionalized through a sweeping set of congressional reforms in the 1970s and 1980s.”
In Defense of Partisanship reimagines what partisanship might look like going forward. Writes Ted Widmer, author of Lincoln on the Verge: Thirteen Days to Washington, “This book is instantly essential. Too many commentators bewail our hyperpartisan politics. Julian Zelizer does
something much better — he explores the long and fascinating history of America’s political parties, explains the current moment, and offers a road map back to sanity.”
Zelizer is the author and editor of numerous books, including Our Nation at Risk: Election Integrity as a National Security Issue and Burning Down the House: Newt Gingrich and the Rise of the New Republican Party. He is professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, a CNN political analyst, and a contributor to NPR’s Here & Now.
Wilentz is the author of many books on American history and politics, including No Property in Man; The Rise of American Democracy and The Politicians and the Egalitarians: The Hidden History of American Politics , chosen as Best History Book of the Year by Kirkus. He is professor of American history at Princeton University. His major work to date, The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln, was awarded the Bancroft Prize and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.
Zelizer and Wilentz co-edited the book Myth America: Historians Take on the Biggest Legends and Lies about Our Past. The program is presented with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
School Days and Shootings in McKinley and Dylan’s America
McKinley hollered, McKinley squalled Doctor said, “McKinley, death is on the wall...”
Bob Dylan put President McKinley back in the national consciousness a few years ago in his song “Key West (Philosopher Pirate),” taking the first line from Charlie McCoy’s “White House Blues,” except in McCoy’s version the second line was “Doc said to McKinley, ‘I can’t find that ball,’ “ meaning the second of two bullets fired at close range into the president’s abdomen on September 6, 1901. It happened at the Temple of Music on the grounds of the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo. McKinley died on September 14, 1901, a hundred years to the week of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
A New York City surgeon named Charles McBurney, whose discovery of the diagnostic spot for appendicitis is known as McBurney’s Point, was blamed for misleading the press and public with his claim on September 10 that McKinley was “out of danger.” McCoy lets him off the hook by simply having the Doc say “Mr. McKinley, better pass in your checks / You’re bound to die, bound to die.”
After the current president put McKinley’s name back in play on January 20, I checked history.com, which says the highest peak in North America was actually first named Mount McKinley in 1896 by a gold prospector celebrating McKinley’s recent capture of the Republican nomination for president; the name stuck and became official in 1917. In 2015, the Obama administration renamed the mountain Denali, a name the Alaskans had historically championed, which translates “roughly to ‘The Great One.’ “
Illustrious Twenty-Niners
Why am I writing about McKinley? It’s not just that he happened to be born on January 29, the publication date of this issue. Other members of the January 29 group include philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg (1688), revolutionary Thomas Paine (1737), author Anton Chekhov (1860), composer Frederick Delius (1862), comedian W.C. Fields (1880), and film director Ernst Lubitsch (1892). Born in 1843 in Niles, Ohio, McKinley was a popular and productive president (1896-1901).
According to his wikipedia page, he led a realignment that made the Republican party largely dominant in the industrial states and nationwide for decades; presided over victory in the Spanish-American war of 1898; gained control of Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines,
restored prosperity after a deep depression, rejected the inflationary monetary policy of free silver, kept the nation on the gold standard, and raised protective tariffs.
What stirred my curiosity, however, was a relatively offhand reference to his only term at Allegheny College, from which he returned in 1860 “after becoming ill and depressed.” What happened during that term at Allegheny? Apparently he was a model student, excellent debater, serious reader, and fancy dresser, and the wiki photo of him at 15 suggests a hint of boyish wildness (look at that flaring tie) that accords with the story that he once led a cow up the stairs of Bentley Hall. Another version of the myth says it was a goat and that he left it in a classroom.
Yet it’s thanks to this depressed student prankster that a volume of Shakespeare sits on my desk next to a copy of E.L. Konigsburg’s Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth (Atheneum 1967), surely one the longest, strangest titles in children’s literature. For reasons I’m about to disclose, I was glad for an excuse to reread the witch’s scenes from Macbeth , which Jennifer, the 12-yearold authority on Hecate, quotes from, after looking up at the sky and asking her apprentice Elizabeth, “What’s the matter, didn’t you ever read Macbeth ?”
among the books I’d take with me to the proverbial “desert island” because it comes from same printing Herman Melville read and annotated prior to the creation of Moby Dick — “an edition in glorious great type, every letter whereof is a soldier, & the top of every ‘t’ like a musket barrel.” Writing to a publisher friend in 1849, Melville admits “I am mad to think how minute a cause has prevented me hitherto from reading Shakespeare. But until now, any copy that was come-atable to me, happened to be in a vile small print, unendurable to my eyes, which are tender as young sparrows. But chancing to fall in with this glorious edition, I now exult over it, page after page.”
McKinley Is a School
Melville’s Shakespeare It seems that even less is known about McKinley’s time at Mount Union College in Alliance Ohio, where he also “studied” and later served on the Board of Trustees. The volume of Shakespeare on my desk belongs to a set I bought from a book dealer in Ohio after a decades long quest. On the inside front cover of each of the seven volumes is the bookplate of the Mount Union College Library, marked “Withdrawn” in red. In spite of the conventional “ex-library” stigma, the set, published in 1836, is in immaculate condition and occupies a place of honor in my study.
In fact, this Shakespeare would be
McKinley’s legendary student pranks have something in common with Konigsburg’s Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth , first and foremost because the McKinley in the title refers to the William McKinley Elementary School, where Jennifer and Elizabeth are fifthgrade students. But the tasks Jennifer assigns to Elizabeth as part of her witch apprenticeship (involving spells, pricked fingers, blood bonds, raw eggs, toads and cauldrons) have a significance far beyond mere pranks. Above all, Konigsburg is writing about the evolution of a friendship that Macbeth very nearly destroys when the moment comes to drop a toad named Hilary Ezra into a “cauldron” of flaming Crisco.
I don’t have time to do justice to Konigsburg’s Newberry Honor book, the first of her many publications. Released the same year as her next book, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (winner of the 1968 Newberry Medal), its most striking feature is not that a fifth grader is quoting freely from Macbeth, but that nothing is made of the fact that the little girl doing it is African American. That’s because the book is from Elizabeth’s point of view and her friend’s race is taken for granted. Although Konigsburg’s illustrations subtly indicate as much, it’s not until
page 56, during a school play, that Elizabeth notices that Jennifer’s mother was “the only Black mother there.”
Questions
I have lots of questions, although none about the significance of a book with this unforced depiction of an interracial friendship in which the Black girl is seemingly the all-powerful master of the scene. The book came out in 1967, two years after the passage of the Voting Rights Act. Another question I’m asking myself is why name the school William McKinley, and why cram his name into an already charmingly cumbersome title? The UK edition deleted it. A related question concerns the location of the school, which is apparently in a suburb north of New York, with many commuters heading in and out of the city every day. Another indicator of the city’s proximity is that Elizabeth totes her witchcraft implements in a Bloomingdale’s bag. Some checking online took me to a P.S. 63 William McKinley in the East Village, which in 2011 was seeking to change its name to the S.T.A.R. Academy after more than a hundred years as McKinley. Next I found a JHS 259 William McKinley on the Fort Hamilton Parkway in Brooklyn, where 76 percent of the students scored at or above the proficiency level for reading and 68 percent for math. The minority enrollment is 75 percent. Probably the most impressive website, also in Brooklyn, is for The Pride of Bay Ridge, a Title 1 McKinley Middle School (I.S. 259) in its third year as a Recognition School.
Losses McKinley’s wife Ida also makes an appearance in Charlie McCoy’s song :”Lookit here you rascal, you see what you’ve done / You’ve shot my husband with that Iver-Johnson gun / Carry me back to Washington.” She was by her husband’s side when he died. Married in January 1871, the couple had two daughters, one died in infancy, the other at four. Ida’s health eventually deteriorated due to phlebitis and undiagnosed epilepsy, and during their time in the White House, she often needed sedation to enable her to sit through official functions as First Lady. Even Bob Dylan couldn’t build a song around losses and sorrows like that. But he did something comparable in “Murder Most Foul,” the second disc in Rough and Rowdy Ways. Using Macbeth for his title, he played the DJ for an epic hand-held film of the Kennedy assassination, a double-bill with McKinley’s on the first disc, fit for a showing at the Temple of Music.
—Stuart Mitchner
Holocaust Museum
Receives Nazi Photos in “Here There Are Blueberries”; McCarter Presents Tectonic Theater Project’s Riveting Pulitzer Prize Finalist
In 2007 the U.S. Holocaust Museum received a mysterious photo album. Retrieved by a U.S. counterintelligence officer, who donated it to the museum on the condition of anonymity, the album contained 116 photos taken at the notorious Auschwitz concentration camp.
The photos contained none of the images conveying the gruesomeness of the camp. Instead, they showed Nazi officers looking blithe and relaxed — as though they were on vacation — leading what appear to be normal lives, far removed from their grisly duties.
The album belonged to Karl-Friedrich Höcker, a bank teller turned Nazi. Höcker served as the adjutant to Richard Baer, the camp’s commandant (from May to December 1944). Clearly, the photos represent the way in which Höcker wanted to remember the camp; though their existence strikingly contradicts the Nazis’ efforts at secrecy surrounding its operation.
News of the resurfacing of Höcker’s album attracted the attention of descendents of the officers, who have been able to help identify their ancestors and the functions they held at the camp.
The album’s discovery also intrigued Tectonic Theater Project’s Founder and Artistic Director Moisés Kaufman, the son of a Romanian Holocaust survivor. Kaufman contacted Rebecca Erbelding, the head intake archivist at the museum, who granted him an interview that lasted longer than the allotted hour. The result of that initial conversation, along with subsequent interviews and analysis of the photos, is Here There Are Blueberries
Conceived by Kaufman, and written by Kaufman and Amanda Gronich, the docudrama — a 2024 Pulitzer Prize Finalist in Drama — portrays the study of the album by Erbelding and her colleagues. Their research becomes a point of departure for a probing of the camp’s final months; and a meditation on the necessity of the present to confront the past.
Directed by Kaufman, the production juxtaposes actors against real historical photos and some film footage. The staging epitomizes a perfect blending of live theater and multimedia.
Erbelding reflects, “Asserting ordinariness in the face of the extraordinary is, in itself, an immensely political act.”
In her portrayal of Rebecca Erbelding, Delia Cunningham captures the archivist’s mixture of horror at the contents of the photos, and fascination at their discovery. Cunningham depicts Erbelding as a passionate historian who cannot rest until she has learned all that she can about the album.
Grant James Varjas plays the counterintelligence officer who donates the photos to the museum. Varjas plays the donor as reserved and edgy — someone who has learned to treat every interaction with extreme caution.
Derek McLane’s set consists mainly of desks for the museum researchers. David Lander’s lighting fulfills what is needed of it, while staying as dim as possible. Both McLane and Lander seem to be trying to keep their respective elements as unobtrusive as possible; as does Costume Designer Dede Ayite, who generally uses a restrained, somber color palette.
All three of these designers seem to have prioritized letting the audience focus on what, arguably, is the most important production design in this piece: David Bengali’s projections.
As the museum researchers discuss the subjects of the projected photos, individual officers are highlighted as they are discussed. Some of the photos are colorized (perhaps some film footage has always been in color), making them even more vivid, and reducing the cushion of remove offered by the number of intervening decades.
Sound Designer Bobby McElver adds a
repeated click of photos being taken, letting this motif become almost a musical beat. McElver’s amplification heightens the eeriness of noises such as the Nazis’ laughter.
All of the actors play multiple roles. As subjects of photographs are shown, actors stand in front of their onscreen counterpart, quoting their remarks.
Scott Barrow is suitably officious as Höcker. The portrayal is characterized by delivering lines in a curt, haughty tone, suggesting efficiency and pride that might be commendable were they connected with almost any other job.
Initially, Rebecca’s colleagues at the museum — particularly Judy Cohen (played by Barbara Pitts), director of the museum’s photographic collection — are ambivalent (at best) about her study of the Höcker photos. The staff is concerned that exhibiting them would uplift the Nazi perpetrators at the expense of memorializing the victims.
However, as the museum’s receipt and study of the album becomes public knowledge, descendants of a few SS officers step forward with information, helping to identify some of the perpetrators in the photos.
The descendants include Tilman Taube (Luke Forbes), grandson of SS doctor Heinz Baumkötter, who conducted medical experiments on inmates; Peter Wirths (Varjas), son of Eduard Wirths, the chief SS doctor at Auschwitz-Birkenau, who selected which inmates were fit to work, and those whom would be sent to the gas chambers.
Rainer Höss (Marrick Smith) is the grandson of Rudolf Höss, the first commandant of Auschwitz. Smith is outstanding in his
performance as the younger Höss. The portrayal captures the character’s short but convincing journey from fear that his grandfather’s violence is genetic, to determination that he will be a completely different person.
Many of the photos take place at the Solahütte , a vacation resort built by forced labor of Auschwitz prisoners. Visits to Solahütte were rewards for favored camp officers, one of whom successfully killed four prisoners who tried to escape.
Other guests, who appear in a series of photos — the caption for which gives the play its title — are members of the Helferinnen (“female helpers”), cheerful-looking young women who worked as communications specialists; the extent of their knowledge of the camp’s murderous functions is for Erbelding and her team to discover.
We also encounter Charlotte Schünzel (Nemuna Ceesay), a receptionist who arranged arrivals at Auschwitz; and Melita Maschmann (Jeanne Sakata), who soberly reflects on her role as the press and propaganda officer of the League of German Girls (a division of the Hitler Youth).
Late in the show we see a series of photos that is quite different from the ones we have been shown. They involve Lili Jacob (played by Cunningham), a prisoner who arrives at Auschwitz right after Höcker begins his duties there. Upon arriving, Jacob is separated from her family; the photos, which she discovers in a significant way, are all she has left of them.
Jacob and the photos of her give this piece much of its moral anchor. Having spent the first two thirds of the play engrossed in photos of jovial Nazis enjoying their day just as we might, we finally are allowed to confront the reality of Auschwitz’s horrors, and what the SS officers were doing. Arguably, this segment responds to much of the museum staff’s concern, expressed to Rebecca earlier, about memorializing the victims instead of the perpetrators.
This juxtaposition is present before curtain time. Entering McCarter’s Matthews Theatre, we hear popular musical hits of the early 1940s. On stage is a podium, on which rests a small portable camera. On a screen is projected a slide that reads, “Leica: the camera of modern times.”
Two characters enter and extol the ease with which the camera allows amateur photographers to take pictures from almost any location and angle. As they speak, we see commonplace, serene photos which, if they were contemporary, would not be out of place on an Instagram page. Only late in the sequence do we start to see swastikas, indicating the photos’ connection to the Nazi regime.
This prologue immediately establishes the tension between everyday happiness and unthinkable evil. At one point
“HERE THERE ARE BLUEBERRIES”: Performances are underway for “Here There Are Blueberries.” Produced by McCarter Theatre with La Jolla Playhouse, and directed by Moisés Kaufman, the play runs through February 9 at McCarter’s Matthews Theatre. Above, from left: Karl Höcker (Scott Barrow), adjutant to the Auschwitz commandant, leaves behind photos that are examined at the Holocaust Memorial Museum by Judy Cohen (Barbara Pitts), Tilman Taube (Luke Forbes), and Rebecca Erbelding (Delia Cunningham). As images are examined, actors (including Nemuna Ceesay) quote comments by the onscreen historical figures.
“Here There Are Blueberries” will play at McCarter’s Matthews Theatre, 91 University Place in Princeton, through February 9. For tickets, show times, and further information call (609) 258-2787 or visit mccarter.org.
Kaufman’s staging uses the juxtaposition of live actors against historical images to full effect. In one scene, actors recreate a photo in which SS officers are seen laughing and playing an accordion. Other scenes underline the theme of present confronting past. A poignantly memorable tableau entails actors standing in front of the painfully iconic image of the train tracks leading to Auschwitz. That moment encapsulates why Here There Are Blueberries needs to be in a theater, though undoubtedly it would be fascinating on film or TV. Like Erbelding, we — rather against our will — find ourselves fascinated by Höcker’s photos, chilling though they are. They become pieces of a puzzle that demands to be solved.
But seeing people on a live stage — in other words, people who are not images on a screen — probing these photos heightens the theme of the present confronting the past, for the sake of the future.
—Donald H. Sanborn III
Performing Arts
THE ROAD TO SUCCESS: A musical about the legendary duo Simon & Garfunkel is on stage at the State Theatre in New Brunswick on February 7 at 8 p.m.
“Simon & Garfunkel Story”
Is a Concert-Style Tribute State Theatre New Jersey presents The Simon & Garfunkel Story on Friday, February 7 at 8 p.m.
New Brunswick is among 60 U.S. cities on the current North American tour of the immersive concertstyle tribute show, which covers the duo’s humble beginnings as Tom & Jerry, to their success as one of the best-selling music groups of the ’60s, as well as their dramatic split in 1970.
The Simon & Garfunkel Story culminates with the pair’s famous “The Concert in Central Park” reunion in
1981, which had more than half a million fans in attendance. The show features a set list of nearly 30 songs and uses state-of-the-art video projection, photos, and original film footage. A full live band will perform all the hits including “Mrs. Robinson,” “Cecilia,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Homeward Bound,” and many more. With more than 100 million album sales since 1965, Simon & Garfunkel is one of the most successful folkrock duos of all time. Over the years, they won 10 Grammy Awards and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
The State Theatre is at 15 Livingston Avenue. Visit Stnj.org for tickets, which range from $39 to $79.
Baroque Music for Lutes
By the Dryden Ensemble
The Dryden Ensemble returns with its new artistic director, Daniel Swenberg, in a program entitled “A 26-Course Feast: Baroque Lute Duets” on Sunday, February 16 at 4 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 50 Cherry Hill Road. Admission is free, though donations are accepted.
Lutenists Swenberg and Dušan Balarin will perform 17th- and 18th-century
duets for the Baroque lute. While performances of Baroque lute duets are extremely rare, there is a significant repertoire from the early 17th century to the close of the 18th. The program begins and ends with duets from the center of the lute’s final flourishing—the court of Wilhelmine, Margrave of Bayreuth (Fredrick the Great’s sister). Works by Telemann and other composers are also on the program.
The season continues at the Princeton Theological Seminary Chapel on Sunday, March 16 at 4 p.m. with “The Marvelous Mr. Meusel,” a program of 18th-century courtly entertainments for flute, bass viol, lute, and harpsichord, featuring music by Couperin Bach, Dieupart, and Meusel. On Saturday, April 19 at 4 p.m. the ensemble presents “Baroque Passion: Music for Holy Week,” featuring soprano Clara Rottsolk in sacred arias by Bach and Ferrandini for obbligato violas da gamba and lute.
Visit drydenensemble.org for more information.
Ireland’s Abbey Theatre Is Topic of Conversation
In a new partnership with the Abbey Theatre, Ireland’s national theater, the Abbey’s Ruth McGowan, literary and new work director, and Derbhle Crotty, well-known Irish actor and associate artist, will be in conversation around writing and performing in Ireland on February 7 at 4:30 p.m.
The event takes place at the James Stewart Film Theatre, 185 Nassau Street, and is part of the Fund for Irish Studies series at Princeton University. Moderator is Fund for Irish Studies Cochair Jane Cox. Admission is free but tickets are required. Visit tickets.princeton.edu/ online.
McGowan and Crotty will discuss writing and performing in Ireland and perhaps offer readings from some Irish plays. Founded as a national theater for Ireland in 1904 by W.B. Yeats and Lady Gregory, the Abbey
Theatre celebrates both the rich canon of Irish dramatic writing and the potential of future generations of Irish theater artists. In December, the Abbey’s Artistic Director and Co-director Caitríona McLaughlin and Head of Producing Jen Coppinger shared their points of view in the inaugural conversation that marked the start of a new partnership between Princeton’s Fund for Irish Studies and the Abbey.
Ruth McGowan (photo by Hazel Coonagh)
“We’re so delighted to welcome two critical voices to continue our conversation with the Abbey Theater,”
said Cox, “and to offer insight into the birth of new Irish plays — the brilliant Ruth McGowan, previously director of the Dublin Fringe Festival, who works with playwrights like Marina Carr and Conor McPherson in bringing their vision to the stage; and the celebrated actor Derbhle Crotty, who speaks and embodies this new work into existence.”
The Fund for Irish Studies affords all Princeton students, and the community at large, a wider and deeper sense of the languages, literatures, drama, visual arts, history, and economics not only of Ireland but of “Ireland in the world.” The lecture series is co-produced by the Lewis Center for the Arts. It continues February 21 with a reading by Colm Toibin and a lecture by Fintan O’Toole on March 21.
Theatrical Live Rendition Of Album at McCarter McCarter Theatre Center, in partnership with Princeton University’s Humanities Council and co-produced by Jill Newman Productions, presents two-time Grammy Award winner Meshell Ndegeocello in No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin, a theatrical live rendition of her 2024 album, on Saturday, February 15 at 7:30 p.m. Baldwin was a prolific writer of essays, novels, plays, and poetry; and an activist who spoke out about Black oppression. This year marks the centennial of Baldwin’s birth, which is celebrated by the release of one of multi-instrumentalist/singer/songwriter/ producer Meshell Ndegeocello’s No More Water: The Gospel Of James Baldwin Ndegeocello is known for her sojourns into soul, R&B, jazz, hip-hop, rock, all bound by the search for love, justice, respect, and resolution. Those sonic investigations have defied and redefined the expectations for women, for queer artists, and for black music for over 30 years. She remains one of the few women who write the music, sing the songs, and lead the band.
A bass player above all else, she has played alongside the Rolling Stones, Madonna, Alanis Morrisette, James Blood Ulmer, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Tony Allen, John Medeski, Billy Preston, and Chaka Khan.
Tickets starting at $33 are available at mccarter.org or by calling (609) 258-2787.
LUTE DUETS : Daniel Swenberg is one of two to perform at the Unitarian Church on February 16.
Richardson Auditorium on
Acclaimed Guitarist Performs
“Up Close” in Princeton
On Wednesday, February 5, Princeton University Concerts (PUC) will continue its Performances Up Close series and Live Music Meditation series with the PUC debut of award-winning 28-year-old Djibouti-French classical guitarist Raphaël Feuillâtre.
PUC’s Performances Up Close programs invite the audience to sit alongside the musicians on the stage of Richardson Auditorium for an hour-long program, making for an intimate, informal, and schedule-friendly concert experience. At 6 and 9 p.m., Feuillâtre will perform a program grounded in translating works originally written for baroque instruments into music for the classical guitar. The repertoire includes works by Julián Arcas, J.S. Bach, François Couperin, Jacques Duphly, Augustín Barrios Mangoré, Astor Piazzola,
Pancrace Royer, Miguel Llobet Solés, and Francisco Tarrega.
“Raphaël Feuillâtre’s sound is inimitable and lends itself so beautifully to the intimacy of the Performances Up Close experience,” said PUC Director Marna Seltzer.
“I am thrilled that PUC is part of his meteoric rise as the newest leading voice of classical guitar.”
Capacity is limited and tickets ($40 General/$10 Students) are expected to sell quickly. Reduced cost tickets are available for those who qualify for PUC’s Admit All ticket access program for low-income patrons. Visit puc.princeton.edu or call (609) 258-2800 for tickets and more information.
At the free Live Music Meditation event earlier that afternoon in Richardson Auditorium, the community is invited to hear Feuillâtre in a meditative state of deep listening. Meditation begins at 12 p.m. with guidance
from Matthew Weiner, Associate Dean in the Princeton University Office of Religious Life; the music will begin at 12:30 p.m. and ends by 1:30 p.m. No prior experience with meditation is necessary. Capacity is limited, and participants are advised to arrive early. If desired, attendees may bring floor seating (mat/cushion/ etc.); seating will be on stage, with chairs provided. No tickets or registration are required.
The morning after his PUC performances, Feuillâtre will head to Trenton Central High School to teach a master class for Trenton students as part of the Neighborhood Music Project, a PUC and Trenton Arts at Princeton partnership program designed to connect students in Trenton with artists on PUC’s season.
Multi-Instrumentalist
On Stage at McCarter
Seven-time Grammy nominee Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott), known as a revolutionary force in jazz, will perform at McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place, on Thursday, February 13 at 7:30 p.m.
A multi-instrumentalist in contemporary jazz, Adjuah has been redefining the genre since 2002. His performances blend jazz, soul, funk, and African traditions, continuously pushing the boundaries of the genre.
Adjuah, the grandson of the late Big Chief Donald Harrison Sr., and the nephew of jazz innovator and NEA jazz master saxophonist-composer Donald Harrison Jr., is part of a musical dynasty deeply rooted in New Orleans’ rich jazz heritage. His upbringing in a musical family has played a crucial role in shaping his unique artistic voice.
With 13 studio recordings, four live albums, and a greatest hits collection, Adjuah has won two Edison Awards and a Doris Duke Award in Jazz. As a sonic architect, trumpeter, multiinstrumentalist, composer,
and producer, he has created groundbreaking technologies and musical instruments, including The Stretch Music app, and Adjuah Trumpet. Throughout his career, Adjuah has collaborated with Prince, Thom Yorke, McCoy Tyner, Marcus Miller, Flea, Eddie Palmieri, and Robert Glasper, among others.
Adjuah is committed to social change and community engagement. He has supported numerous organizations, including Black Lives Matter, Each One Save One, Girls First, The Mardi Gras Indian Hall of Fame, Good Work Network, Changing Worlds, and the NO/ AIDS Task Force. He has contributed to youth music programs by donating instruments, teaching, and providing mentorship. He has also held master classes, participated in panels, and created content that fosters cultural retention, fiscal literacy, and empowerment, particularly for underserved youth in New Orleans.
Visit mccarter.org for tickets.
The Film “Amadeus” and The Myth of Mozart Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) continues its series of Soundtracks Talks at the Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, with “Amadeus and the Myth of Mozart” on Wednesday, February 5 at 7 p.m. in the library’s Community Room.
Chris Collier, executive director of the Princeton Garden Theatre , and Michael Pratt , conductor of the Princeton University Orchestra (PUO), will watch and discuss excerpts of the 1984 Academy Awardwinning movie Amadeus Their conversation anticipates the Garden Theatre’s showing of the restored theatrical cut of the film the following evening, Thursday, February 6 at 7 p.m.
Collier is the executive director of Renew Theaters, a nonprofit management company that operates four nonprofit, member-
supported theaters in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He has worked at Renew since 2007, starting as a manager of his hometown Ambler Theater. Over his 17 years with Renew, the company has doubled in size, both in staff and number of theaters. Collier holds degrees in musicology from Dartmouth College and the University of Oxford, where he focused his research on film music and conducting.
Pratt is now in his 47th season on the Princeton University music faculty. There he conducts the PUO, directs the Minor in Music Performance program and teaches performance classes. His career encompasses international tours with PUO and appearances with major American orchestras. His
repertory extends from the 17th to the 21st centuries, in both opera and symphonic repertory. Personal honors include honorary membership in the Royal College of Music, London, and the President’s Distinguished Teaching Award. His first novel, The Copyists , includes Mozart as a character, and was published in October 2023.
There will be a brief Q&A immediately following the talk, and attendees will have the opportunity to enter a drawing to win tickets to one of the PSO’s February 8-9 performances of All Mozart with Orli Shaham Tickets and information are available at princetonsymphony.org.
Soundtracks is free and open to the public.
JAZZ VISIONARY: Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah, formerly known as Christian Scott, brings his distinctive style to McCarter Theatre on February 13. (Photo by Maya Iman)
GUITAR VIRTUOSO: Raphaël Feuillâtre makes his Princeton University Concerts debut at
February 5.
Community Leader
by Ben Jones is part of “Exploring, Expanding the Connections,” on view through February 22 at the Arts Council of Princeton.
Works by Ben Jones
At Arts Council
The art of Ben Jones, on view in “Exploring, Expanding the Connections” at the Arts Council of Princeton through February 22, is a spiritual journey that continues the struggle for identity, freedom, justice. and
love for the salvation of the human family. Jones reveals his sense of responsibility to his ancestral legacy by continuing the work against oppression, exploitation, and hegemony through the symbolic power of his work. He has battled much of his life for spaces where his culture can be honored and respected with equal validity amongst others. His struggle has been a journey documented not only in the array of his works, but in the actions he has taken as an activist and speaker on the political issues of our time… Each of Jones’ offerings
Drawing Still Lifes from the Collections: Colored Pencils
Thursdays, February 6, 13, 20 & 27
Stream it live | 8 p.m. (ET)
Join us each week at 8 p.m. for free, online drawing classes inspired by still lifes from the Museum’s collections. This series is presented by the Museum in partnership with the Arts Council of Princeton.
reveals his prayer for greater understanding and love.
“Exploring, expanding the connections between nature, technology, spirituality, politics, health, and history has been a preoccupation of mine for many years,” said Jones. “When we study these things in a holistic way, then we can know the importance and value of each. Nature is not separate from technology and technology is not separate from nature. This is our future if we’re going to save the planet for ourselves and future generations. Let them work in harmony together for a better world and for humanity.”
The Arts Council of Princeton is at 102 Witherspoon Street. For more information, visit artscouncilofpronceton.org.
“Artifacts
of African Diaspora” At MCCC Trenton Campus
The Mercer County Community College (MCCC) Black History Month Committee, in conjunction with the TRIO Program and American Association for Women in Community Colleges Mercer Chapter, will present “Artifacts of African Diaspora” at the college’s James Kerney Campus, Trenton Hall, 137 North Broad Street, Trenton, February 1 through April 30. An opening reception is on Saturday, February 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The three-month long exhibit will illuminate the historical significance of the African diaspora in visual and musical arts. Visitors will find a variety of artifacts on display including musical instruments, sculptures, books, historical documents, and more that will provide an immersive education about the evolution of African American art and culture from slavery to modern times.
OF AFRICAN
to 3 p.m.
“We intend to share, inform, and uplift the local community in a way that highlights the historical role of the African diaspora in our society,” said Lucia Brown-Joseph, director of student accounts at MCCC and exhibit creator.
The exhibit will also include pre-recorded videos of current students speaking about their cultural background that will be played on a loop during exhibit hours. Additionally, current students will assist with demonstrations on musical instruments, and lead immersive tours.
The opening reception will feature an artistic presentation by MCCC students, student-guided tours, and a ribbon cutting ceremony with remarks from dignitaries
including Mercer County Executive Dan Benson, Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora, former Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer, and MCCC President Deborah E. Preston.
“We are excited to showcase this important part of history for MCCC students, faculty, staff, and the greater community,” said. Preston. “As educators we love to see our students share their knowledge, spread awareness, and engage with community members, which, in this situation, they have the opportunity to do through student-led demonstrations and tours.”
Exhibit hours will be every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and during the week by appointment for group visits. For more information, visit mccc.edu/jkcgallery.
“Hunterdon County Images,”
“THE INFINITE INTERWEAVE”: This acrylic, digital print
“ARTIFACTS
DIASPORA”: This artifact will be on display in an exhibition on view February 1 through April 30 at Mercer County Community College’s James Kearney Campus in Trenton. An opening reception is on Saturday, February 1 from 11 a.m.
‘WATER GAP BARN”:
a collection of paintings by Carol Sanzalone, is on view in the dining room at Bell’s Tavern, 183 North Union Street, Lambertville, through February 28. Inspired by the interaction of texture and patterns created by the many colorful images in and around Lambertville and beyond, Sanzalone has been an exhibiting member of the Artists’ Gallery, 18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, for 20 years.
LOOKING FOR A JOB?
Check the Employment Columns in the Classified Section of this Newspaper.
Underwater Symphony” Exhibit
Now at Princeton Public Library
“Underwater Symphony,” an exhibit of paintings and drawings by artist Richa Rashmi, is on view at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Located in the Technology Center and the hallway on the library’s second floor, the works will be on view through March 15.
The exhibit reflects the intricate beauty of marine life, the mysteries of the deep, and the mesmerizing world beneath the ocean’s surface. It is intended to inspire a greater appreciation for the oceans and their inhabitants.
Born in India, Rashmi is a self-taught artist who has been painting since childhood under her father’s guidance. She creates abstract, modern, and contemporary art using acrylics and watercolor.
“Art is a way for me to connect with my inner self,” said Rashmi in her artist’s statement. “The origin of my art is spiritual, raw, honest, and vulnerable, and (it) expresses an exploration of life, self, and the meaningful connections that exist as a part of being in an interconnected world.”
Area Exhibits
Art@Bainbridge, 158 Nassau Street, has “Heléne Aylon: Undercurrent” through February 2. 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 “Exploring, Expanding the Connections: The Work of Ben Jones” and “Intuitive Nature: Karen Schoenitz” through February 22. 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 Photography, 14 Mercer Street, Hopewell, has “Annual Juried Photography Exhibition” through February 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. Greenbuilding center.com.
Grounds For Sculpture, 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, has “Members’ Musings: Light as Material” through February 23, among other exhibits. Groundsforsculpture.org.
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 and “Mark Sfirri: The Flower Show” through May 5. Michenerartmuseum.org
Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, has “Morven Revealed: Untold Stories from New Jersey’s Most Historic Home,” through March 2. Morven.org.
Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, has “Underwater Symphony” through March 15. Princetonlibrary.org.
Small World Coffee, 14 Witherspoon Street, has oil and acrylic paintings by Tatiana Oles through February 4. Works by Yolanda Zhi are at the 254 Nassau Street location through February 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. Westwindsorarts.org.
a Princeton tradition!
“NAUTICAL HARMONY”: This work by Richa Rashmi is featured in “Underwater Symphony,” an exhibit inspired by the underwater world, on view through March 15 at Princeton Public Library.
Town Topics | Mark Your Calendar
Wednesday, January 29
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Leighton Listens. Councilman Leighton Newlin is available to discuss current events with members of the public at Jammin’ Crepes, Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street.
3 p.m.: The Best Years of our Lives is screened at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.
7:30 p.m.: An Evening with Neko Case , at the Berlind Theatre of McCarter Theatre, 91 University Place. The singer/songwriter discusses her memoir The Harder I Fight, the More I Love You with A.M. Homes of Princeton University. Tickets include a signed copy. Registration required. Princetonlibrary.org.
Thursday, January 30
1-4 p.m.: Early Admission Event for Friends of the Lawrence Library Book Sale , 2751 Brunswick Avenue. $5 for general public, $20 for patrons with scanners. Mcl.org.
6 p.m.: Sash Bischoff discusses her book Sweet Fury: A Novel with Sheila Kohler at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street. Labyrinthbooks.com.
7:30 p.m.: Christian Gerhaher, baritone, performs works by Robert Schumann with Gerold Huber, pianist, at Richardson Auditorium. $30-$50 (students $10). Concerts. princeton.edu.
Friday, January 31
10 a.m.: Friends of the Lawrence Library Book Sale, 2751 Brunswick Avenue. Free. Mcl.org.
7 p.m.: James and the Giant Peach is at Kelsey Theatre, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. $18$22. Kelsey.mccc.edu.
8 p.m.: An Evening with Sutton Foster, at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. $39-$69. Stnj.org.
Saturday, February 1
10 a.m.: Read and Explore: Animal Tracks at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Kids read books about animals in winter and make bird feeders to take home. Register online. Terhuneorchards.com.
10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.: Friends of the Lawrence Library Book Sale, 2751 Brunswick Avenue. Free. Mcl.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 1-4 p.m. by Jeff Peque. Terhuneorchards.com.
1 and 4 p.m .: James and the Giant Peach is at Kelsey Theatre, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. $18-$22. Kelsey.mccc.edu.
1-3 p.m.: Winter Sowing Workshop at D&R Canal State Park/Mapleton Preserve Education Building, 145 Mapleton Road, Kingston. Join Master Gardener Lynn Grillo for handson workshop. (609) 6830483 or fpnl.org.
3 p.m.: The Fanny Parnell Poetry Project , at Old City Hall, 11 Crosswicks Street. “Poetry, Politics, and Ms. Parnell” is a voice theater presentation with Carol Kehoe as the revolutionary Irish writer. Followed at 4 p.m. by a “Poets and Pints” reading by D. Ryan Lafferty, Todd Evans, and Derrick Owings at Bordentown Square Tap and Grill, 233 Farnsworth Avenue. Free.
Sunday, February 2
11:30 a.m.: Jazz Brunch with the Mariel Hidalgo Quartet at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Sounds of the African Diaspora. Princetonlibrary.org .
Fun on the Farm for Little Ones
READ & EXPLORE
Hands-on experience with fun learning sessions www.terhuneorchards.com/read-explore-program/
12-5 p.m.: Winery Weekend Music Series at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Wine, light bites, hot cocoa kits, and music from 1-4 p.m. by Michael Montemurro. Terhuneorchards.com.
12:30-4:30 p.m.: Friends of the Lawrence Library Book Sale, 2751 Brunswick Avenue. Free. Mcl.org.
1 and 4 p.m.: James and the Giant Peach is at Kelsey Theatre, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. $18-$22. Kelsey.mccc.edu.
2-4 p.m.: Launch party and book signing for Reflections of a Vibrant Past: Poetry of the WitherspoonJackson Neighborhood. At the Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street. Free. Readings by author the Rev. Gregory S. Smith, refreshments, and conversation. Artscouncilofprinceton.org.
3 p.m.: Husband-andwife authors Peter R. Grant and Rosemary Grant of Princeton University talk about their work with Darwin’s finches in the Galapagos and discuss their recently released memoir at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.
3-5 p.m.: All-Ages Folk Dance, sponsored by the Princeton Country Dancers, at Suzanne Patterson Center, 1 Monument Drive. Family-friendly event with square dances, contra dances, party games, and more. Music by the Mixed Age Dance Band. Princetoncountrydancers.org.
5-7 p.m.: Michaelangelo’s Unfinished Sculptures, free talk by Princeton University Professor Carolina Mangone at Dorothea’s House, 120 John Street. Participants can bring refreshments to share at a post-program reception.
Monday, February 3
10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Friends of the Lawrence Library Book Sale, 2751 Brunswick Avenue. Free. Mcl.org. 7 p.m.: “Harriet Tubman: Follow the Freedom Star.” Presentation by Ivey Avery at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.
7:15 p.m.: Voices Chorale NJ holds auditions for all voice parts, especially tenors and basses, just before its 7:30 rehearsal at Music Together, 225 Pennington-Hopewell Road. The spring concert of Mozart’s Requiem is May 3. To schedule an audition, visit VoicesChoraleNJ.org.
Tuesday, February 4
6 p.m.: Julian Zelizer, in conversation with Sean Wilentz, presents his new book In Defense of Partisanship, at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street. Princetonlibrary.org.
7:30 p.m.: The Crossing presents David Lang’s poor hymnal at Richardson Auditorium. Conducted by Donald Nally. Presented by McCarter Theatre. $43$68. Mccarter.org.
Wednesday, February 5
JANUARYFEBRUARY
6 and 9 p.m.: Guitarist Raphael Reuillatre performs at Richardson Auditorium; audiences are seated on stage. Works by Bach, Couperin, Piazzolla, and other composers. $40 ($10 students). Puc. princeton.edu.
7 p.m.: PSO Soundtracks: Amadeus and the Myth of Mozart. Chris Collier of the Princeton Garden Theatre and Michael Pratt of Princeton University Orchestra unravel Mozart’s legacy and myth through the famous film. Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.
7 p.m.: “December 1776 and a New Jersey Free Black Man: Jacob Francis,” virtual presentation sponsored by the Lawrence Headquarters Branch of Mercer County Library System. Mcl.org.
Thursday, February 6
10 a.m.: The 55-Plus Club of Princeton meets via Zoom. Bruce Fein of The Litchfield Group of Washington and a resident scholar at the Turkish Coalition of American will speak on “Has the Constitution Been Taken Off Life Support?” Free (suggested $5 donation). Princetonol.com/ groups/55plus.
6 p.m.: Presentation: “Ladder of Heaven” by Wendy Laura Belcher , presenting the “Princeton Ethiopian, Eritrean and Egyptian Miracles of Mary Project,” a resource for stories about and images of the Virgin Mary in these African countries. At Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.
W inery M usic s eries
Terhune Winery Saturday & Sunday 12-5pm
Enjoy indoor & Outdoor seating with firepits. Wine by the glass, Wine Flights & Hot mulled wine. Light fare available.
February 1 – Jeff Penque
February 2 – Michael Montemurro
February 8 – Brian Bortnick February 9 – Jerry Steele
February 15 – Chris P
February 16 – Sarah Teti
February 22 – Mike Tusay February 23 – Greg McGarvey
4 p.m .: The Princeton Society of Musical Amateurs holds “Let’s Just Sing: A Choral Reading of Carmina Burana ,” at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 50 Cherry Hill Road. Free for students and non-singing guests; $10 for participants. Musical. amateurs@gmail.com .
Starting January 31st
Sing Sing Flow
In partnership with The Brutalist Princeton Symphony Orchestra with performance by PSO musicians before the film! CONTINUING
Thursday 2/6
New Restoration: Amadeus
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Leighton Listens. Councilman Leighton Newlin is available to discuss current events with members of the public at Arlee’s Raw Blends, 14.5 Witherspoon Street.
11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Mobile Office Hours: Constituent Services: Representatives from the offices of Rep. Bonnie Watson-Coleman, Sen. Andrew Zwicker, and New Jersey Assembly members Michelle Drulis and Roy Freiman are in the lobby of Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, to provide constituent assistance with federal services. Princetonlibrary.org.
12:30-1:30 p.m.: Live Music Meditation with guitarist Raphael Reuillatre at Richardson Auditorium. Free. Meditation led by Matthew Weiner, Associate Dean in Princeton University’s Office of Religious Life. Free. Puc.princeton.edu.
3 p.m.: On the Waterfront is screened at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.
6 p.m.: Launch of Dear Yusef: Essays, Letters, and Poems, for and about One Mr. Komunyakaa at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street. Readings and a conversation between Komunyakaa and poet Terrance Hayes. Free. Presented by the Lewis Center for the Arts. Arts. princeton.edu.
7 p.m.: Amadeus is screened at the Princeton Garden Theatre, 160 Nassau Street. In partnership with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra’s upcoming all-Mozart concerts. A brief ensemble performance precedes the film. Princetongardentheatre.org.
7:30 p.m.: “Themes and Journeys of Artists and Filmmakers in New Jersey,” short films from the Thomas Edison Film Festival collection, at James Stewart Film Theater, 185 Nassau Street. Free.
Friday, February 7
4:30 p.m.: Conversation with members of Ireland’s Abbey Theatre at James Stewart Film Theater, 185 Nassau Street. Presented by the Fund for Irish Studies at Princeton University. Free. Arts.princeton.edu.
5-8 p.m.: Trivia in the Winery, at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. With DJ Iron Mike. No cover charge. Terhuneorchards.com.
7 p.m.: The Clean House , a play by Sarah Ruhl, at Kelsey Theatre, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. $20-$22. Kelsey.mccc.edu.
Tell them you saw their ad in
High Intensity Workout Designed for Women Is Hallmark of 30 Minute Hit Exercise Program
As the New Year is upon us, many people start putting together that annual resolution list. What is on yours? A new look, travel, home improvement, maybe losing a few pounds? Perhaps. But for those interested in fitness, exercise, and just moving about with more energy and enthusiasm, there is now something special — and it is specifically for the ladies!
IT’S NEW To Us
30 Minute Hit Princeton, located in The Market Place at 3885 Route 27, just north of Kingston, opened last April, and offers a high intensity 30-minute workout for women and teenage girls.
“A major drawing point is that it is for women only,” says owner Nancy Ismail. “Sometimes, women haven’t always felt comfortable at various fitness programs and facilities, and here we have a real community focus. We welcome women of all shapes, sizes, ages, and abilities.”
A pharmacist focusing on functional medicine, Ismail has always been involved with health and wellness, but she had never found a fitness opportunity that suited her needs.
All Fitness Levels
“I had never really found a program that was right for me, where the class time fit in with my schedule. I researched different franchises, and I had a particular vision of a franchise that would align with my vision of helping people at all
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fitness levels. 30 Minute Hit fit that perfectly.”
The franchise began more than 20 years ago in Canada, and now has 75 locations in Canada, the U.S., Dubai, and another is soon to open in Ireland.
“We are a community of women who support and encourage each other in achieving their fitness goals,” explains Ismail.
“Our circuit is designed to give you a complete body workout in just 30 minutes. We incorporate kick boxing, boxing, self-defense, and core exercises, and some clients have burned 400 calories in 30 minutes! Our workout is fun, accessible, high energy, and also a great way to relieve stress, while getting in shape.”
She points out that the participants feel good after the workout because the physical exercises release endorphins, which can help to enhance feelings of well-being.
Convenient Parking
Ismail is very pleased that the number of clients is increasing all the time, with many coming three and four times a week, and some as often as five times. Among the many reasons that they like 30 Minute Hit is the convenient parking, she adds.
“This is important to people, and they are so grateful that parking is easy here. Once they find us, they always come back and become members. They like so much about us. For example, we have a children’s area, so they can play while their moms work out. We have a very attractive setting that helps people feel comfortable and welcome.”
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an introductory conversation and assessment.
“We ask about what exercises they are currently doing, what they have done in the past, what their goals are, and whether they have any injuries or health issues. The exercises can all be modified depending on the individual needs of each person.”
Six trainers, including Ismail, are available to introduce each client to the equipment, explain and instruct her through each exercise, and continue to guide her as necessary throughout the workout.
“The trainers are here to make sure you do the exercise properly and to teach you new moves, adjust your stance, etc.,” points out Ismail. “It is very important that the exercises are done correctly.”
Warm-Up
The trainers have all been specifically instructed in the 30 Minute Hit method, she adds. They are all experienced and qualified.
Each session consists of a warm-up, which includes shadow boxing in front of a
mirror, and two minutes at each exercise station, with a 15-second break between stations. Each station has a minimum of three levels of intensity, and participants can work out at their best level of ability.
“The circuit begins with upper body work, which includes boxing,” explains Ismail. “Then lower body with kick boxing, then core work. This offers resistance training without having to lift weights. We also include general self-defense, which is very important to women and girls.
“We have 14 stations, and there are countless training options to keep things exciting, fresh, and fun.”
Clients are from Princeton and the area, and they appreciate the varied membership opportunities including month-to-month, six months, or 12 months. One month is $139, six months comes to $129 a month, and 12 months is $119. Many people opt for the 12-month membership, as it is ultimately the most economical. Free trial sessions are also offered.
“In addition,” points out Ismail, “members can come as often as they like, whenever they like, whenever we are open. They also have access to any 30 Minute Hit facility anywhere in the world.”
Mothers and Daughters
She has been pleased, and also surprised, at the mother and teenage daughter twosomes coming to work out together. “They seem to have a very good time being together, and we do offer a mother-daughter discount. We also have a youth group, a group of teens coming together.
“I very much enjoy meeting all the people who come, seeing them having a good
“I GET A KICK OUT OF YOU!”: “The beauty of our program is its 30-minute time frame, and the hours are flexible. You cansigned for women, and it’s fun and friendly.” Nancy Ismail, owner of 30 Minute Hit Princeton, demonstrates the “Round House Kick,” a circuit exercise, which helps strengthen the
time, and making progress. I see this as filling a need, and it is just the kind of program I would have liked to have had but wasn’t available.”
And, indeed, Ismail looks forward to even more exciting times ahead. “We want to introduce ourselves to even more people who can benefit from our program. We want to make our place in the community and become a real part of the community.”
Community is a key element to her program, she believes. “As we help our clients to achieve their exercise goals, we have a strong community aspect here.
This is especially important today. There is real social interaction, and people become friends here.
“Our excellent trainers, a community of empowered women, and a safe, inspiring environment all combine to make our program the best 30 minutes of your day!” 30 Minute Hit Princeton is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., and Monday through Thursday 4 to 8 p.m.
F or further information, call (732) 4193042. Visit the website at 30minutehit.com/ Princeton —Jean Stratton
My primary care membership a comprehensive healthcare solution.
• Our personalized relationship improves outcomes, and saves time and money.
• If you already see specialists, I will “quarterback” your care.
• You will have round-the-clock access.
• My practice is an excellent option for you or your
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Nancy Ismail
Boosted
by the Return of Khramtsov from Injury, PU Women’s Hockey Ties Brown, Defeats Yale
While the Princeton University women’s hockey team was excited to play its first game at Hobey Baker Rink since December 10 when it hosted Brown last Friday evening, it was particularly meaningful for Katherine Khramtsov.
Having been sidelined from early November to mid-January due to a shoulder injury, junior forward Khramtsov was fired up to be back on home ice.
“It is a relief, I love being back,” said Khramtsov, a 5’5 native of Kensington, Md. who returned to action at Cornell on January 17 after enduring an arduous physical therapy regimen with range of motion and strength exercises. “There is nothing like playing again, especially being at Baker. Being hit in the beginning was a little scary. Now I feel good. It took me a couple of games to get my confidence back. Now everything is where it should be, I am very happy.”
Khramtsov gained some more confidence from the clash with Brown, assisting on two goals by junior forward Sarah Paul as the foes skated to a 2-2 tie through regulation and overtime with the Bears winning a shootout 1-0.
Khramtsov’s first helper of
the night came when she slotted a feed to Paul 2:50 into the contest.
“I was coming down and I saw No. 19 (Paul) right behind me,” said Khramtsov. “I know she has a better shot than anyone on the team. I dished it to her and chose the right decision.”
With Princeton trailing 2-1 heading into the third period, Khramtsov and Paul connected again with 4:54 left in regulation.
“It was the same exact story, I was going to be a team player and pass her the puck,” said Khramtsov. “She has a better shot than anyone so the safest play is to pass it to her.”
While Princeton couldn’t push across another goal over the rest of the third period and the five-minute overtime, Khramtsov was proud of the way the Tigers battled back.
“I think that separated us from the past games we have had when we had a deficit,” said Khramtsov of the Tigers who entered the game on a three-game losing streak having lost 2-1 in overtime to Yale on January 11, 6-1 to Cornell on January 17, and 4-0 to Colgate on January 18.
“We had an inspirational speech by coach Cara [Morey]
before
I think that is what our team differentiated from in the past couple games to today.”
Khramtsov likes the way her line of Paul and fellow junior Jane Kuehl is coming together.
“We work very well,” said Khramtsov, who now has five goals and five assists in 15 appearances this season. “Having a sniper like Sarah on your line is always a bonus. Jane’s work ethic is incredible. We play very well together. We create a lot of offensive chances but we have got to finish those.”
Princeton head coach Morey wasn’t surprised that Paul finished her early chance against Brown.
“It was a beautiful shot, Paulie can shoot,” said Morey of Paul who scored a goal a day later to help Princeton defeat Yale 3-0 and was later named the ECAC Hockey Forward of the Week. “It was great. I wish we had put in a few more.”
Morey was heartened by her squad’s third period rally. “We just talked about winning our one-on-one battles and beating them in the third period,” said Morey. “I think we
totally took over and looked quite dominant. We knew it was a matter of time.”
Having Khramtsov back in the lineup is a plus for the Tigers.
“She can fly and she is really offensive,” said Morey of Khramtsov. “She had some great play.”
While Princeton didn’t get the bounces on the night, Morley likes her team’s grit.
“We hit four posts; we talk about puck luck,” said Morey.
“Sometimes those pucks go in that hit the post and now you are looking at a 6-2 game and it feels totally different but that’s hockey. I think with our mental toughness and our resiliency, we made huge strides with that.”
Making more strides a day later with the shutout of Yale, Morey will be looking for the Tigers to keep progressing as they host Dartmouth on January 31 and Harvard on February 1.
“After being swept on the road for two games and coming back, we were in a deficit again,” said Khramtsov. “It was absolutely progress. I think the mentality we had today will carry us on.”
—Bill Alden a Princeton tradition!
“We were getting tons of puck luck at the beginning of the year; we knew we couldn’t sustain that kind of offense forever,” said Morey, whose team is now 14-8-1 overall and 8-7-1 ECACH. “Now we have to grind and play the right way. I thought we did a good job tonight.” In the view of Khramtsov, the Tigers are heading in the right direction.
IT’S KK: Princeton University women’s hockey player Katherine Khramtsov goes after the puck last Friday night as the Tigers hosted Brown. Junior forward Khramtsov chipped in two assists as Princeton skated to a 2-2 tie with the Bears through
ECAC Hockey, host Dartmouth on January 31 and
(Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)
Unable to Overcome Another Uneven Effort, Princeton
Men’s Hoops Loses 85-76 to Cornell
The Princeton University men’s basketball team survived slow starts and sloppy play through its first three Ivy League games this season
Not the fourth.
Hosting Cornell last Saturday, the Tigers rallied from a 23-7 first half deficit to take the lead at halftime, then built a small lead in the second half but could never pull away as the Big Red made some big baskets down the stretch to pull out an 85-76 win over Princeton before a crowd of 4,094 at Jadwin Gym. The Tigers dropped out of a first-place tie in the Ivy League after falling to 14-5 overall, 3-1 Ivy League. Cornell improved to 11-6 overall, 3-1 Ivy.
“Big picture is we’ve been sloppy in all three of our Ivy League wins and that was the case again and first you give credit to your opponent,” said Princeton head coach Mitch Henderson. “We know that we’re going to have to be much sharper going forward. I thought we made far too many mistakes. I think it was tied with about 5 minutes, Xaivian (Lee) fouls out of the game and we just we ran out of our usual our magic there. But I don’t think that it was sustainable the way we were going.” Princeton already has had five comeback wins this season when it trailed by double digits. They were down 16 points to Cornell barely 10 minutes into the game. But in true Tigers fashion, they stormed back with the bench igniting a run over the next
10 minutes. Blake Peters, who would finish with 20 points and six 3-pointers, and Jack Scott, who played a season-high 31 minutes and finished with 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists, helped Princeton fight back into the game.
“It was a very good positive and we need that fire,” said Henderson. “We’ve got guys that are willing to say they’re coming into the game and giving us the fire. We have to keep getting that. Jack Scott, Jackson Hicke, Blake, those are really important minutes that we get from the bench. We’ve found different ways to win games and we’re going to need people. Who are the Xs and who are the Os that are going to make the difference?”
Peters and Scott each hit a 3-pointer in the final 2:37 of the half, Caden Pierce provided his usual gritty play, and Lee’s layup with seven seconds left gave Princeton a 37-36 halftime edge and completed an incredible firsthalf comeback.
“I thought we actually played harder this game and Cornell is really a good team, very difficult to match up with them, and we had a great stretch there in the second 10 minutes of the first half where we were terrific,” said Henderson. “And that’s the way we want to play. And then it was a back-and-forth game.”
Princeton seemed to have chances to pull away in the second half, but never could. Pierce hit a 3-pointer for a 55-49 Tigers lead, but Cornell responded with an 8-0 run.
“They had an answer for everything,” said Henderson. “And then when the game mattered the most, they made the most points. And really you have to tip your hat to them, they were better.”
Peters drained an open look in transition for a 64-62 lead with 6:32 left and Princeton held its final lead on a 3-point play when Scott hit Caden Pierce for a 67-65 edge with 5:00 to go. Princeton missed a couple of free throws and some tightly contested shots over the next three minutes, and their fate seemed sealed when Lee fouled out with 1:09 left and the Tigers down six still. Princeton could not make one more comeback, and the focus going forward is not putting themselves in those tough spots.
“What’s no good is slow starts, which is a reflection of who you are,” said Henderson. “At this point there’s enough body of work to say this is what you are. So practices are extremely important for this group. And once we own those and make them very important, we’ll make some progress towards addressing that need for that first part. And then the second part is we’ve been bailed out, Xaivian’s bailed us out a couple times and those games are exciting, but it’s more fun to win well and kind of have it be workmanlike and that’s what we need to discover.”
Pierce tied Peters for teamhigh scoring honors with 20 points to go with 10 rebounds and five assists. Lee scored 19 points, three assists, and
three steals. Those were big performances again for the Tigers, but not enough to keep Cornell at bay. Now the Tigers are looking for a lift in the urgency from a group that Henderson called “casual ” earlier in the season. He’s looking for an increase in intensity beginning in practice
“When you talk about the team, you talk about everybody,” said Henderson. “And when we decide that we will play really hard in practice, then it will show up in the games. That’s our charge here as a group because there’s a casualness to us. I’m sure it’s quite evident to everybody around who’s been watching us and coming to our games of late. And so we still have a few weeks left. We still have a lot of important games
coming up and looking forward to getting in it together with them and that’s the goal, can you change your stripes a bit? And I believe in that and otherwise it’s really frustrating and everybody hates it. But I think you have to try.”
Princeton faces its first back-to-back weekend when it hosts Yale on Friday and Brown on Saturday. Both teams were in the Ivy League Madness tournament last year. Yale, which won last year’s tournament, is off to a 4-0 start in Ivy play while Brown is 1-3.
CAMP MASON
“We’re very aware of the importance of the weekend,” said Henderson. “Our charge is always we want to try to get two. The back-to-back is here and I always call the Saturday night game is just guts. Our week of preparation this week is as important of a week for us as we’ve had all season. That’s how I view it. And I’m sure the guys will think of it in the same way.” —Justin Feil
“They’re both very good,” said Henderson. “They’re very challenging. Yale’s in first place in the league. They’re super solid. They don’t make many mistakes. They have guys that have won a lot of games. Brown has (Kino) Lilly and more weapons. Their record doesn’t reflect how good they are. It’s going to be a really difficult weekend.” Only Columbia is 0-4 in Ivy play. Yale is the lone unbeaten and Princeton and Cornell are tied at 3-1. Dartmouth and Penn are only a game back at 2-2.
SHARPSHOOTER: Princeton University men’s basketball player Blake Peters puts up a shot in a game earlier this season. Last Saturday, senior guard Peters scored 20 points off the bench in a losing cause as Princeton fell 85-76 to Cornell. The Tigers, now 14-3 overall and 3-1 Ivy League, host Yale (11-6 overall, 4-0 Ivy) on January 31 and Brown (9-8 overall, 1-3 Ivy) on February 1. (Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)
PU Sports Roundup
Tiger Men’s Hockey Defeats Bentley 1-0
Ethan Pearson came up big as the Princeton University men’s hockey team defeated Bentley 1-0 in overtime last Sunday.
Senior goalie Pearson made 36 saves to help the Tigers move to 8-10-1. A day earlier, Pearson recorded 25 saves in a 3-1 win over Bentley in the opener of the twogame weekend set. He was later named the ECAC Hockey Goaltender of the Week.
Princeton plays at Harvard on January 31 and at Dartmouth on February 1.
PU Women’s Water Polo Goes 3-0 at Invitational
Opening its 2025 campaign on a high note, the sixth-ranked Princeton University women’s water polo team went 3-0 last weekend at its annual Princeton Invitational held at DeNunzio Pool.
The Tigers topped LaSalle 14-10 on Friday and then defeated LIU 13-9 on Saturday and ended the weekend by posting a 20-9 win over No. 22 Wagner on Sunday.
Princeton plays at Brown on February 7 and then competes in the Harvard Invitational from February 8-9.
Tiger Men’s Volleyball Defeats Queens
Mason Rice starred as the Princeton University men’s
volleyball team defeated Queens of Charlotte 3-0 last Sunday.
Freshman Rice piled up a team-high 15 kills to help Princeton prevail 25-18, 2520, 25-20.
The Tigers, now 2-3, host FDU on January 31.
Princeton Squash Players Compete at CSA Individuals
Zeina Zein provided a highlight as members of the Princeton University squash men’s and women’s teams competed at the College Squash Association (CSA) Individual Championships last weekend in New York City.
Sophomore Zein topped Cornell’s Yee Xin Ying 3-0 (11-4, 11-6, 11-8) in the women’s semis and was slated to face Stanford’s
MAKING HIS MARC: Princeton University wrestler Marc-Antony McGowan, top, controls Noah Michael of Rider in a bout at 125 pounds last Friday on the way to a 19-3 win. Last Sunday, McGowan posted another victory at 125 as Princeton defeated Columbia 34-3 to open its Ivy League campaign. The Tigers, now 5-6 overall and 0-1 Ivy, have a dual at Drexel on February 1 before returning to Ivy action by hosting duals with Harvard and Brown on February 2.
The Conflicts of Anti-Colonialism
A Tribal Right to Discriminate on the Basis of Sex?
Join us for a conversation with Audrey Martinez, a plaintiff in one of the historic Supreme Court cases that confronted whether tribal membership rules can discriminate on the basis of gender.
February 4, 2025
Tuesday 4:30- 6:00 pm Robertson Bowl 015
Open to the public Registration required
SPEAKERS
Julian Zelizer
Princeton University, Malcolm Stevenson Forbes Class of 1941, Professor of History and Public Affairs
Joshua Prager
Princeton University, Journalist in Residence
Audrey Martinez
Santa Clara Pueblo v. Martinez Plaintiff
J. Kēhaulani Kauanui
Princeton University, Eric and Wendy Schmidt Professor of Indigenous Studies in Anthropology, Effron Center for the Study of America
Gloria Valencia-Weber
University of New Mexico School of Law, Professor of Law
Riya Navani in the final on January 28. Zein will be the first Princeton woman in 24 years to play in the national final, since Julia Beaver ’01 won the last of her three national titles.
As for the Tiger men, senior Ahmed Hussein split two consolation matches on Sunday at the CSA individual championships at OpenSquash in New York, ending the Princeton’s run in the men’s event. Hussein had a 3-2 win (11-5, 7-11, 11-13, 11-4, 11-6) in the consolation quarters against Columbia’s Shaurya Bawa before falling (3-1 4-11, 118, 11-4, 11-4 to Cornell’s Aaron Liang.
The Princeton men and women will resume dual match action when they both play at Dartmouth on February 1 and at Harvard on February 2
Tiger Men’s Track Shines at Penn 10 Elite
Harrison Witt stood out as the Princeton University men’s track team competed in the Penn 10 Elite meet last Saturday in Philadelphia.
Witt placed fifth in the mile in a time of 3:56.12 mile, setting a new Princeton record and Ivy League record.
Princeton is next in action on February 8 when it heads back to Philadelphia to take part in the Penn Collegiate Invitational.
Princeton Women’s Track Excels at Dr. Sander Meet Mena Scatchard starred as the Princeton University women’s track team took part in the Dr. Sander Invitational last weekend at the Armory in New York City.
Scatchard placed sixth in the pro-elite mile in a time of 4:32.95 breaking the previous Princeton record of 4:36.53, set by Maggie Liebich ’24 at last year’s BU Valentine Invite.
Princeton will be taking part in the Penn State National from January 31-February 1 at University Park, Pa.
Tiger Women’s Lax Star Blake Named Preseason All-American Princeton University women’s lacrosse senior attacker McKenzie Blake has been named honorable mention Preseason All-American by USA Lacrosse Magazine ahead of the 2025 season.
A first-team All-Region and first-team All-Ivy selection last season, Blake was a honorable mention AllAmerican selection in 2024 by both USA Lacrosse Magazine and Inside Lacrosse.
During her superb 2024 season, Blake, a 5’9 native of Haddonfield, scored 67 goals and tallied 72 total points while winning 63 draw controls.
Her 67 goals led the Ivy League and ranked No. 15 among all players in the nation and her 3.72 goals-pergame ranked No. 13 in the country.
Blake enters the 2025 season with 142 career goals, which ranks tied for 10th alltime in program history. She now has 165 career points, 22 away from cracking the Top 10 all-time in points by a Tiger.
(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
SKYE HIGH: Princeton University women’s basketball player Skye Belker puts up a shot in recent action. Last Saturday, sophomore guard Belker scored 12 points and added five rebounds and three assists to help
Sparked by Senior Quartet of Brophy, Gu, Xu Twins, PHS Boys Swimming Pulls Out 4th County Title
With Princeton High boys’ swimming team locked in a tense battle against rival WW/P-South for the team title at the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) meet last Saturday, the contest came down to the final event of the competition, the 400-meter freestyle
Swimming the anchor leg for PHS, senior star David Brophy came through, outsprinting Nick Straka of Lawrence to the wall at the WW/P-North pool as PHS took first to clinch the title.
“It was really amazing, tied going into the last leg and it was just me and Nick next to each other,” said Brophy, who helped PHS post a time of 3:36.47 with Lawrence just behind in 3:37.31.
“It was just a great race and a great way to push me and my team. I was really happy, obviously I could not have done without them. We came away with the team win, what a great way to end my senior counties meet.”
The Tigers ended up with a winning score of 245, edging South by just six points as they won their fourth straight crown at the county competition, formerly known as the Mercer County Swimming Championships.
“It is really important to me,” said Brophy, reflecting on the four-peat. “I train with David [Xu] and Jaiden [Xu] all of the time. Just to see their hard work pay off and getting the material result with the win is good to see. We definitely push each other to be as fast as we can. It was really a team effort. The margin in the end was so small. Everyone contributed, it was really important.”
Brophy was named the Most Valuable Swimmer in the meet as he placed first in the 200 free and 100 butterfly. His classmates, the Xu twins, also excelled at the competition as David won both the 200 individual medley and 100 back while Jaiden was third in both the 200 IM and 400 free.
A fourth PHS senior, Daniel Guo, placed first in the 50 free and third in the 100 free.
Brophy and his fellow seniors have developed deep bonds over their time with the program.
“The senior group is just really special, these are guys that I am going to remember for the rest of my life,” said Brophy. “I have been swimming with them for the last
four years. I just love it, it has been great. We won counties all four years so it is pretty amazing.”
In winning the 200 free, Brophy fought through some fatigue over the last half of the race.
“I just had one goal and that was to win and I got it done,” said Brophy, who finished at 1:55.85. “In that first 100, I felt really strong. In the second 100, I was definitely still tired from the relay. I was pretty happy about it.”
Later in the 100 fly, Brophy looked very strong, clocking a time of 56.68 to edge Vikram Pal of WW/P-South by just over a second.
“I have been doing a lot of butterfly, I have been working on it a lot,” said Brophy.
“That was definitely my bigger focus of the two individual events. It was a great race. Vikram went out really fast, he really pushed me to go fast. I worked underwater that last 50 and it was pretty great.”
For Brophy, winning the MVS was the culmination of a lot of hard training.
“It is really spectacular, that is a great feeling,” said Brophy, who is headed to Colgate University where he will be competing for its men’s swimming team. “I have been swimming in this meet for four years. These past two years, I have put a lot of work in. I try not to skip practice. I have spent a lot of time practicing. To see that hard work pay off is really great. I am really happy to hear that. I could not have done it without my team in those relay wins.”
PHS head coach Carly Fackler urged her 400 relay quartet to play it smart as the title rested on their shoulders.
“The biggest thing I stressed to the guys was safe starts,” said Fackler. “It was funny because I walked up to them out in the hallway and I said, ‘Guys I have got one message,’ and Daniel Guo goes, ‘Safe starts.’ I said, ‘You took the words right out of my mouth.’”
Fackler was not surprised that Brophy pulled out the win for the Tigers with his gutsy anchor leg.
“He is a clutch swimmer,” said Fackler. “He gets the job done when it needs to be done. He knows exactly what has to be done to accomplish that. Brophy is such a standout kid.”
In reflecting on the program’s fourth straight title at the county competition, Fackler pointed to her standout senior class as a driving force.
“It is so special, that was our goal going into today especially for the senior class,” said Fackler. “You just look at the talent that they have. You swim as fast as you can in the medley relay and make a statement there. There is no looking back really after that point.”
While the quartet of Brophy, Guo and the Xu twins led the way, the squad’s supporting cast made a statement as well.
“Everyone did their job across the board, it is more than just the Brophys, the Xus, and the Guos winning their events,” said Fackler. “It is the people like Tyler Cenci, Shawn Elwood, and Jaden Jung. They are in those B finals and moving up in the B final. Every place that they can move up and any extra point they can give us helped to create that separation and give us a little bit more breathing room even though there still wasn’t much at the end.”
The Xu twins have given the PHS program a lot over the last four years and will be continuing their swimming careers at the next level as David is headed to Bowdoin College while Jaiden will be competing for Hamilton College.
“They are such great kids, in and out of the pool,” said Fackler.
“Both of them are so talented. Jaiden has really come a long way from his freshman year. The fact and that he and his brother went 1-3 in the IM was an awesome swim. After that, he also took another third place in the 400 free. Both of them moved up exactly where they needed to and swam the races that they needed to swim.”
Guo, for his part, has emerged as an unsung hero for the Tigers.
“Daniel is a little more under the radar but after that 50 he had that celebration, I love that,” said Fackler. “I know that was something he wanted to take. As a high school kid, it is I want to win that 50 free, that macho sprint event. I was really, really happy for him. He has been gradually progressing throughout this season too.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming state tournament, Fackler believes that winning the CVC gives her squad a boost as it heads into the stretch drive of the season.
“Counties is totally different than a dual meet, it is how do you stack up against all of the top-notch kids in the county rather than just one team at a time,” said Fackler. “I think it is great prep for states, we are really excited for it. I know I am excited for it. It is nice to have that next week off to rest and regroup there. We have to re-taper and build back up.”
Brophy is primed for the final push. “Going into states we know we are going to have some even tougher competition but I think this definitely changes our mindset a little bit,” said Brophy. “We now know it is time to go, it is time to go fast. We are ready for that. We have been improving all season long. We definitely haven’t peaked yet. We are going to have even tougher competition.”
—Bill Alden
With Junior Standout Flanagan Winning 2 Races, PHS Girls’ Swimmers
Take a 4th County Crown
As Annie Flanagan got into the starting block for the 50-meter freestyle race at the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) Swimming Championships last Saturday, she couldn’t stand still. “I try to hype myself up,” said Princeton High junior star Flanagan. “I jump around, I will slap my chest, my legs, and kind of shake it out.”
Jumping out of the block at the WW/P-North pool, Flanagan sprinted to victory, clocking a time of 27.52 to edge runner-up Ariel Bernard of Robbinsville (27.72) and PHS teammate Jenna Barry, the third-place finisher in 27.90.
“Oh that race is so hard, I know the other swimmers, Ariel and Jenna, and they are phenomenal swimmers,” said Flanagan. “It is really anybody’s game. I finished and I touched and I had no idea what happened. I slowly turn around and look at the scoreboard and yeah. It’s great to see.”
Later in the meet, Flanagan cruised to a win in the 100 backstroke, coming in at 1:06.87, nearly four seconds ahead of second-place finisher Melisa Kocak of WW/P-South (1:10.13).
“It was still a fun race,” said Flanagan. “I was a little more comfortable in that race.”
Flangan and her teammates had a lot of fun on the day as they took first in the team standings, piling up 269 points with WW/PSouth coming in second at 177. It marked the fourth straight title for the program at the county competition, formerly known as the Mercer County Swimming Championships.
In rolling to the victory, PHS dominated the relays, placing first in the 200 and 400 free events and third in the 200 medley. Freshman Barry took first in the 100 free in addition to her third place finish in the 50 free. Senior Rachel McInerney came in second in both the 200 individual medley and 400 free.
For Flanagan, a special team camaraderie helped the Tigers achieve the fourpeat.
“It is four years in a row, it is amazing,” said Flanagan. “The team is so great this year. I love this team. I think we have just gotten so much closer, there are just so many amazing girls.”
One of those girls is Flanagan’s younger sister, freshman Charli.
“I was so excited to her swim with me this year,” said Flanagan. “In prelims, we actually swim in the same heat. We swim in the same events. She swam 50 free and 100 back. It is amazing to have her swimming. I love it.”
Over the years, Flanagan has gravitated to the sprint events.
“In my freshman year, I started with the 200 freestyle and I slowly moved down to sprints,” said Flanagan. “I have a lot of events that I can swim, but it is whatever the teams needs and I will do that.”
PHS first-year head coach Patrick Remboski likes having Flanagan on the team.
“Annie was awesome, she helped me a ton collaborating with the lineup and the relay order,” said Remboski. “We wanted to keep all of our relays well rounded. She has a really positive insight. Her swimming is incredible. I think she wanted to be in the 100 free but she took one for the team and stepped up and swam in the 50 free and got it done for us. That gave other swimmers the chance to hopefully make finals in other events.”
Remboski got incredible efforts across the board in the meet.
“There were a ton of great swims, I couldn’t be prouder,” said Remboski. “We knew it was going to be tough coming in. I think from 90 percent of our prelim times, we dropped times in the final. So it was really awesome stuff. The 400 free relay dropped five seconds there.”
Freshman Barry made quite a debut in the county competition.
“Jenna has been a great addition to the team, I am excited for the rest of this year and the next three years,” said Remboski. “Her performance today was great with the 100 free, 50 free, and the relays. She really did an incredible job, especially for a freshman. This is a big meet, there are a lot of people here.”
McInerney produced a superb performance in her final county appearance.
“Rachel did awesome, I am so proud of her,” said
Remboski. “She helped as well with coming up with different ideas of relay orders and stuff. In her events, the 400 free and the 200 IM, she did a really awesome job. She had some tough competition in both of those events.”
Coming through with another title was an awesome accomplishment for the program and sets the tone for future success.
“We were just talking about it; for the seniors, it is something to really be proud of — four years, four county titles,” said Remboski.“We couldn’t be prouder of them. They set the precedent for future teams. This is now the standard. It was good for us. Winning the first CVC was especially good.”
With the state sectional around the corner, Remboski believes the Tigers can build on their performance in the county meet.
“There were a lot of tough swims here, it is really good prep,” said Remboski. “We are in a really tough section this year. I think what this does is build more confidence. You do the small things and then when you see it come to fruition in the pool, it is a great, great thing. It builds some confidence leading into the sectional tournament.”
Flanagan, for her part, is confident heading into states.
“We definitely have a tough next couple of meets,” and Flanagan. “I think everyone really showed up today and brought it. I am really excited for postseason.”
—Bill Alden
CHAMPIONS AGAIN: Princeton High girls’ swimming star Annie Flanagan displays her freestyle form in a race last season. Last Saturday, junior star Flanagan placed first in both the 50-meter freestyle and 100 backstroke at the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) Swimming Championships. Flanagan’s heroics helped PHS place first in the team standings at the meet. It marked the fourth straight title for the Tigers in the county competition, formerly known as the Mercer County Swimming Championships. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
STROKES OF BRILLIANCE: Princeton High boys’ swimmer David Brophy heads to victory in a freestyle race earlier this season. Last Saturday, senior star Brophy placed first in both the 200-meter freestyle and 100 butterfly at the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) Swimming Championships. Brophy’s superb performance helped PHS finish first in the team standings at the meet. It marked the fourth straight team crown for the Tigers at the county competition, formerly known as the Mercer County Swimming Championships. Brophy, for his part, was named the Most Valuable Swimmer for the boys at the meet. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
Senior Star Rose Makes History for PHS Wrestling, Winning 4th
Straight Title in County Competition
When Cole Rose was an up-and-coming wrestler, he sometimes worked out in Alec Bobchin’s basement.
Rose always aspired to be at least as good as his Princeton High teammate Bobchin, and he achieved one measure of that mark last Saturday when he joined Bobchin as the only PHS wrestlers to win four straight titles at the boys’ Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) Tournament (formerly known as the Mercer County Tournament).
“It’s great,” said senior star Rose. “I’ve worked all season to do that and I think I’ve created a good mindset towards winning that tournament. I feel like winning just gave me satisfaction and now I don’t have to worry about not being able to be a four-timer or doubting myself. It builds some confidence in a way.”
Rose has won his titles at four different weights, slowly climbing up from 106. He won the 132-pound class Saturday at Robbinsville with a 17-5 major decision over Lawrence’s Steve Ham. Rose improved to 18-1, with his one loss coming by injury default due to an ankle injury.
“He wrestled great,” said PHS coach Jess Monzo. “He was never in a position to put himself in danger. He dominated every one of his opponents. We talked before the tournament started and I said, there’s not a reason in the world you can’t walk through this tournament.”
Senior star and Princeton University commit Blasé Mele was the only other winner for
the PHS at the CVC Tournament. Mele won his third career title there — he missed a year due to injury — with a wild match in the championship. Mele was in complete control until Allentown’s Nicholas Gaul put him on his back and came dangerously close to pinning Mele. He escaped after falling behind and returned to win by technical fall, 27-12.
“We knew the kid coming in was a little bit of a junk style kitchen sink wrestler who was just going to try to catch him in a position,” said Monzo. “We did a really good job of limiting what that kid was able to do at all. We just got caught not being aware at a certain time. So you know good for that kid to make it a match, to put a scare in him. But sometimes you awaken the beast when that happens.”
Mele improved to 16-0 this season, and the scare will serve as an emphatic reminder of how focused he will have to remain as he eyes his goals.
“He wants to win a state title,” said Monzo. “The first thing he said to me coming off the mat is, ‘A state champ doesn’t do that, I got to fi x it.’ And he’s 100 percent right.”
The girls’ CVC tournament was also held Saturday, and the Tigers did best at the lowest weights. Evelyn Xiao pinned Leslie Velecela of Hightstown to claim the 107-pound title. Lara Bahr reached the final at 100 pounds before falling by decision to Stella Kramer of Lawrence.
“We had two girls that, unfortunately due to injury and sickness, had to pull out of the tournament early,” said Monzo. “But other than that, they’re enjoying it. They’re having some fun and they’re having some success.”
PHS had one other fi nalist in the boys’ CVC Tournament. Rose’s younger brother, freshman Forest Rose, took second at 106 pounds. After claiming the silver medal, he sports a stellar 22-3 record.
“He’s been wrestling well,” said Cole Rose. “I’m really proud of him. He got second at Sam Cali, which was amazing. And he beat some tough kids. He beat (Julian) Zargo from St. John Vianney, who’s been beating some tough kids as well. I’m really proud of him. He’s definitely doing better than I did my freshman year and I think he’ll get around to placing in states sometime soon.”
Colin Fitzgerald was another highlight. The sophomore exceeded expectations with his fourth-place fi nish. The Tigers ended up placing sixth in the team standings at the event won by Hopewell Valley.
“Other kids on the team as well have been developing as the season has gone on,” said Rose. “Our next match, Point Pleasant Boro, is going to be a tough match, but I feel like each of the kids on our team is developing as the season goes on. I’m proud of them when they go out there and perform and beat kids that they aren’t expected to beat.”
Rose has been more of a
Aomawa Shiel d s
driving force for the less experienced Tigers. He’s in his second year as a captain.
back and winning districts and regions and placing at states, a lot of people won’t expect that. I don’t have as much pressure on me now, so I think I can perform better under those circumstances now.”
“He’s been really good at taking the lead this year,” said Monzo. “He’s speaking up when he has to, calling kids out in the room for not doing what they can do right. A lot of times in this sport, stuff gets hard, stuff causes you to get tired. And when you start taking breaks and getting tired, unfortunately this sport doesn’t wait for you. So anytime you do that, there’s someone else out there that’s not doing that, that’s getting that 1 percent better than you are today. So I think he’s really been kind of buying into that.”
Rose’s experiences through the years have put him in a strong place to make his goals happen. He’s not so focused on the wins, but on wrestling as well as possible, and figures that the results will take care of themselves.
That ensured his place in history alongside Bobchin, who was there for some lessons in his early career.
“He was instructing us and he would run us through some drilling,” said Rose. “We would drill for a little bit and then at the end, he would be like, ‘All right, you guys got to take me down,’ and if we didn’t take him down we had to go for like two minutes straight or whatever. It didn’t feel good, but it paid off in the end.”
Rose is determined to make the most of his fi nal season with PHS before he continues his wrestling career at Case Western University, where he intends to study pre-medicine to become a surgeon. Rose has been a reliable wrestler for four years. He has reached the region level each year and advanced to the state tournament in Atlantic City as a sophomore.
“My mindset is the big thing,” said Rose. “I think last year I wasn’t really thinking about what I needed to do during the match and I was just thinking about what would happen if I would lose. Everyone was expecting me to do super well.”
Rose lived up to those expectations at the CVC Tournament this year. He wrestled well to dominate his class and come out on top.
Bobchin ultimately finished fourth in the state tournament to end his PHS career. Rose has grown up to give himself a chance to have a similar ending to his scholastic career.
“Over the years I’ve been comparing myself to his accomplishments and trying to pass him almost,” said Rose. “But I think from last year I don’t know if that’s going to happen. But maybe this year I can do that.”
— Justin Feil
“My end goal is to place at states,” said Rose. “Winning districts and regions is like a check on the board along the way. So there’s some small goals, but placing at states is my big goal.”
He had hoped to be there last year, but didn’t advance from regions. He’s used last year as fuel for this season.
“I got a lot more motivated,” said Rose. “Last year I was expected to do all these things. I was ranked seventh in the state and I just didn’t perform.”
So far, it’s been a year of contrasts. In the CVC, he was a well-known commodity and absolute favorite for his fourth title. But his ankle injury cost him some matches and he hasn’t built up a lot of power points to be ranked state-wide.
“Right now I’m an underdog,” said Rose. “I’m not even ranked. I’m not even an honorable mention. And I think people have kind of forgotten about me. Coming
FOUR PEAT: Princeton High wrestler Cole Rose poses for a preseason photo. Last Saturday, senior star Rose placed first at 132 pounds at the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) Tournament (formerly known as the Mercer County Tournament.) It marked the fourth straight title for Rose in county competition. PHS finished sixth in the team standings of the event won by Hopewell Valley. (Photo provided courtesy of Cole Rose)
Utilizing an Emphasis on Mental Preparation, PHS Track Teams Excel in CVC Competition
While the athletes in the Princeton High track and field program train hard physically, they have been increasingly emphasizing the mental aspect of their sport.
“We have been talking a whole lot as a team and actually having sessions with a more sports psychology focus and growth mindset,” said PHS head coach Ben Samara. “It is talking about the mindset of being an athlete and all of the things that come with that. I think our athletes have really embraced that. It is how you approach a challenge, how you approach failure, and how you approach setbacks. The mental approach is really starting to pay off for us as a program as a whole.”
Utilizing some of those lessons, PHS excelled at the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) Championships meet (formerly known as the Mercer County Championships) last Sunday at the Rothman Orthopaedics Sports Complex in Toms River as the boys’ squad tied for second in the team standings while the girls placed fifth. The Tiger boys piled up 40 points in tying Hightstown for second with Notre Dame coming in first at 67 while the PHS girls had 49 points in the meet won by WW/PNorth with 78.
PHS senior Ishaq Inayat displayed his focus at the CVC meet, winning the long jump with a leap of 19’11 and taking second in the triple jump with a best mark of 39’6.
“For three seasons now, Ishaq has really been working a lot on his board placement,” said Samara. “He tends to foul a lot because he has got really great strides but sometimes they are a little bit inconsistent. He is really getting so much better at hitting the board and being consistent. It really was his consistency that paid off in the long jump. He was the most consistent jumper for the meet. He was second in the triple jump. That is an event that he is not able to do as much because it is pretty hard on the legs. I think he enjoys the event from a fun perspective.”
Samara had fun watching senior star and Brown commit Sean Wilton set a personal record of 61’00.50 in winning the shot put.
“I was talking to his mom as the competition was going on and Sean is a guy who is really embracing that team philosophy,” said Samara. “He is a guy who has books on the mindset and he has become a student of that. In the beginning of his career, setbacks would really get him down. Now he has this attitude that if I hit a plateau I am going to keep pushing and I know I am going to get past it. He has just been waiting for that perfect throw and today was it, right on the very first throw.”
The quartet of Kyle Carr, Andrew Foreman, Fletcher Harrison, and Anderson Potter got it right as they took third in the 4x400-meter relay in a time of 3:36.97.
“Our 400 guys are fantastic, two of our short sprinters have recently become 400 runners and we think they are going to be really,
really good,” said Samara. “The first one is Andrew, who has really developed into a leader and is a really great example of what hard work can do. In previous years, he was a 55, 200 guy. This year he started saying I want to the run the 400, I want to challenge myself. He started running the four and he is at the top of our 400 group. Kyle is one of our short sprinters who was convinced that he could only run short. He has just looked really, really good recently and we wanted to challenge him today. We said we are going to stretch you out of the 200 and put you into the 4x400 relay and we are going to get a medal with this 4x4. He went out there and had our second fastest split of the day and he said the 400 isn’t so bad. We were really happy with how our 400s competed and really went after their races.”
Samara credited the 4x400 group with setting the tone as a short-handed PHS boys’ squad over-performed at the CVC meet.
“Tying for second was a really nice surprise because we have had these injuries,” said Samara. “It was really the grit of that 4x400. They really came together, each one of them.”
As for the Tiger girls, Samara believes they are laying the groundwork for something special.
“The girls are really, really good, we want to use this year as a springboard to next year,” said Samara. “We really think that next year is when this girls team is going to really compete. They are all really, really young. We think next year they will have great opportunities. We wanted to see how close they can come this year.”
Sophomore Maddie Hamlin has been competing well in the sprints, taking fifth in the 55 meters at the CVC meet in 7.59.
“You look at somebody like Maddie Hamlin, who has been working on her start like crazy and looked like she was shot out of a cannon in the prelims,” said Samara. “She ended up finishing 5th in the 55 against some really top runners and PRing by over a 10th of a second. It was a big PR for her.”
Another sophomore, Ngozi Okeke-Agulu, produced a top performance in the long jump, placing second with a best leap of 15’2.
“Ngozi is great, she is just
scratching the surface,” said Samara. “We are working on a lot of board placement with her and now that that is starting to come into form. We are going to start working on her landing. I think she is going to start getting out really far.”
In the 1,600, junior Kajol Karra displayed some good form, taking fourth in 5:12.57.
“Kajol is just so consistent, she really follows race plans well,” said Samara. “That whole group of distance girls feeds off of each other. They have a lot of good young athletes now. It is hard to get into that lineup, there is so much talent there.”
The squad’s talent was exemplified by a superb performance in the 800 as sophomore Lena Murray took second in 2:24.88 with senior Rachel Xin placing third in 2:28.21 and sophomore Mila Trkov finishing fourth in 2:28.37.
“The 800 was a real highlight, we have been blessed with a lot of really good coaches,” said Samara. “Trey Carnevale is our assistant coach and we actually formed a mid-distance group with the boys and girls that he runs. He has a really good relationship with all of the athletes in the distance group. They are doing targeted training. We just have a really talented group of girls that really like each other a lot so they work real hard together.”
The 800 trio along with junior Kacey Howes did really well in the 4x400 relay, placing second in 4:15.90.
“The 4x4 is something that we really took pride in, there were six or seven years there where we had nine out of 10 county titles,” said Samara. “In recent years, we have been a little down. Trey, coach [Jim] Smirk and I really wanted to build up that mid-distance group to really help complement our 4x4s and keep a pool of athletes between the sprints and distance. Now we are starting to see the dividends from that.”
In the view of Samara, the dividends gained from the emphasis on mental training were reflected by the relay quartets. “Just like the guys, every single girl on the 4x4 went after their leg and that is what we were looking for them to do,” said Samara. “They came really close to winning the title.”
—Bill Alden
LETTING IT FLY: Princeton High senior star Sean Wilton lets the shot put fly last Sunday at the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) Championships meet (formerly known as the Mercer County Championships). Last Sunday, Wilton set a personal record of 61’00.50 in winning the shot put. Wilton’s win helped PHS tie for second in the team standings at the meet. (Photo by Rohan Viswanathan)
Senior Gilligan Produces Breakthrough Moment
As PDS Boys’ Hockey Falls
With Princeton Day School
hosting the annual boys’ hockey border war against Lawrenceville last Wednesday evening, McGraw Rink was packed and the tunes from disc jockey Darius Young were pumping as the foes took the ice.
Having suffered a frustrating 6-4 defeat to Delbarton a day earlier, PDS senior defenseman Reilly Gilligan and his teammates were fired up for their clash with the Big Red.
“Obviously this was a huge game, the entire school shows up,” said Gilligan. “Coming off a tough loss yesterday, the energy was there.”
Late in the first period, Gilligan helped raise the energy level a notch, scoring his first career goal to put the Panthers up 1-0.
“We needed a quick goal to get the momentum going,” said Gilligan. “It was just funneling it to the net and it happened to go in. It was a good screen from the boys.”
Taking that lead into the second period on the strength of Gilligan’s tally, things got away from the Panthers as Lawrenceville drew a five-minute major penalty after a scrap in front of its goal followed by a two-minute power play and scored three unanswered goals. That stretch turned the tide of the contest as the Big Red added an empty net goal in the waning moments of the third period to head home with a 4-1 win.
“We can’t pin it in the refs, we have got to have a better kill,” said Gilligan, reflecting on the extended power
to Lawrenceville
play. “We have killed bigger penalties before, but we just couldn’t get it done today. Five-on-five we were the better team today. It was three goals in the 5-minute power play that killed us.”
While Gilligan would have preferred getting a win over the Big Red to scoring his first goal, he is happy with his improvement individually in his second year with the PDS program.
“I came in as a junior, I have gotten a lot better,” said Gilligan, who also plays club hockey for the New Jersey Rockets. “Just playing at such a high level, you naturally have to improve yourself.”
PDS head coach Scott Bertoli sensed that his team would come out playing at a high level against Lawrenceville.
“This game, this environment brings that out of both teams,” said Bertoli. “It is pretty cool and unique for high school hockey and our community. It is fun, regardless of the result. My hope in this situation is that it is a competitive game, a clean game and I thought for the most part it was today.”
Bertoli liked the way the Panthers competed from the opening face-off.
“I thought the start was great and the start has been a significant struggle for us,” said Bertoli. “We have been falling behind often, I don’t know why that is. It is something that we really need to figure out. I fully anticipated us being ready to go and being excited given the environment. Reilly played well, that was his first goal for us.”
Like Gilligan, Bertoli pointed to the extended power play in the second period as the pivotal sequence of the game.
“It is just unfortunate, it totally turned the dynamic of the game,” said Bertoli, noting that he was surprised that only PDS was penalized since Lawrenceville players were involved in the fracas. “We just never could recover from that five-minute power play.”
Despite digging that hole, the Panthers kept battling. “You come out of that we had a few chances at the end of the second period there which again,” added Bertoli. “I thought we probably needed to get one of these. We had a little bit of a push early third. We had zone time but we didn’t have a lot of quality chances.”
In reflecting on the defeat, Bertoli acknowledged that the Panthers need to generate more chances throughout games.
“We really need to figure out how we can get ourselves to execute and be more effective and have more jump starting out in games,” said Bertoli. “We have changed warmup routines. It is almost like we are flat coming out and then we figure out, OK, maybe this team isn’t as good as we thought they were. Then we play, then we control games and then we work in the right direction.”
In Bertoli’s view, PDS has the ability to get over that hump. “That is what we just talked about at length with the kids — there is a lot of talent in this locker room,” said Bertoli. “We are fully capable of doing it but it is not going to be easy just given who we are going to play and what the schedule is going to be.”
With postseason play on the horizon, the Panthers have made things harder for themselves.
“One thing has changed with the way we have performed as of late is that we have just made the path to any championship, whether it be the Gordon Conference championship or the state championship, just harder because we are going to be seeded a little bit lower,” said Bertoli. “At the end of the day, you have to beat those teams if we are ultimately going to be a great team, They have got some decisions to make in that locker room and I am confident they will make the right decisions because it is a talented group.”
Gilligan, for his part, believes that PDS will have to show more intensity on and off the ice.
“The thing that makes me angry is the energy on the bench,” said Gilligan. “The third period comes around and we are all exhausted and we are not trying to do anything to get the energy back. We don’t have the fire to get us going. We are going to have to figure it out fast.”
—Bill Alden
With Ulrich Coming
Up Big on
Her Senior
Night, PDS Girls’ Hockey Tops Randolph, Now 7-2-1
Hours before her Senior Night game for the Princeton Day School ice hockey team last Monday, it hit Grace Ulrich that her emotions would be swirling when she hit the ice that evening at McGraw Rink. “I was excited. Coming to PDS as a freshman, I have been through three Senior Nights,” said Ulrich, who was honored in a pregame ceremony along with classmates Eibhleann Knox, Aerin Bruno, and Julia Escobar. “I never felt the excitement until I woke up this morning and realized that it was my Senior Night. It really was bittersweet. I read some of the comments on my poster and I was like wow I am going to college next year.”
For Ulrich, playing for the PDS program has been a sweet experience.
“It is a great hockey community, the girls are all supportive of each other,” said Ulrich, who also plays lacrosse for PDS. “We work really hard inside and outside of practice. The coaches are also super supportive of us, they want us to compete and do really well. They coach with positivity, making sure we all feel wel -
come to the team.”
As the Panthers hosted Randolph on Monday, star forward Ulrich played really well, tallying a pair of second period goals to help PDS cruise to a 6-0 win. Della Gilligan, Sammy Dandy, Layla Sosner, and Knox also found the back of the net as PDS improved to 7-2-1.
The game was knotted at 0-0 heading into the second period before Gilligan scored to break the ice for PDS. Ulrich then took over, scoring her first goal on a one-timer off a nice deke and then chasing in on a rebound minutes later.
“It took me a little to get started, I think I was a little nervous with it being Senior Night,” said Ulrich, reflecting on her goals. “Once I got going, I felt good. I got that nice goal and that started my roll. We have been working on some rebounds so that comes from practice.”
Ulrich has been saving her best for last this winter, having tallied a teamhigh 15 points this season on nine goals and six assists, up from eight points last season. “I joined a new club team (the Princeton Ti -
ger Lilies), my coaches are really supportive,” said Ulrich. “I have been working really hard on that team.” The Panthers have put in a lot of good work, rising to No. 1 in the state in the NJ.com rankings before hitting a two-game losing skid, falling 2-0 to MorristownBeard on January 14 and 2-1 to Immaculate Heart on January 21.
“I feel like we are on the upturn, we had a little down there for a little while,” said Ulrich. “It is a small team, we effect each other a lot. So when one girl is down it typically effects the team but when we are all rolling and feeling good and supporting each other, we typically do pretty good.”
With PDS facing Oak Knoll on January 30 at the Rock Ice Center in Dunellen before starting play in the Libera Tournament on February 4, Ulrich believes a focus on fundamentals is the key to going on a postseason roll.
“We have been working on power play, that is looking better,” said Ulrich. “I think we could work on our neutral zone regroup. It is working as a team to get the pucks deep, get some nice passes to move the goalie and get nice shots.”
—Bill Alden
AMAZING GRACE: Princeton Day School girls’ hockey player Grace Ulrich controls the puck last Monday night as PDS hosted Randolph on the program’s Senior Night. Star forward Ulrich celebrated her Senior Night in style, scoring two goals to help the Panthers cruise to a 6-0 victory over the Rams. PDS, now 7-2-1, faces Oak Knoll on January 30 at the Rock Ice Center in Dunellen before starting play in the Libera Tournament on February 4. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
LIFE OF REILLY: Princeton Day School boys’ hockey player Reilly Gilligan gets ready to spring into action last Wednesday as PDS hosted Lawrenceville. Senior defenseman Gilligan scored the lone goal for the Panthers as they fell 4-1 to the Big Red. The Panthers, who dropped to 5-6-1 with the defeat, host Seton Hall Prep on January 30. (Photo by David Bremer)
Hun
Boys’ Basketball : Blake Hargrove starred in a losing cause as Hun fell 77-62 to the Hill School (Pa.) last Saturday. Hargrove scored 20 points for the Raiders, who moved to 7-11 with the defeat. In upcoming action, Hun plays at Academy of New Church (Pa.) on January 30 and at the Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) on February 1.
Boys’ Hockey : Suffering its third straight defeat, Hun fell 5-1 to Holy Ghost Prep (Pa.) last Friday. The Raiders, now 3-10-2, host LaSalle College High School (Pa.) on January 29 and St. Joseph’s Metuchen on January 31, play at Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) on February 1, and then host Red Bank Catholic on February 3.
Blair Academy on January 29, play at Stuart Country Day on January 31, and then play at Newark Academy on February 2 in the Prep B state tournament.
for the victors while Sharlotte Cao had five points in a losing cause.
PHS PDS
Boys’ Basketball : Michael Bess Jr. scored 18 points but it wasn’t enough as PHS fell 65-43 to Delaware Valley last Saturday. The Tigers, who dropped to 2-13 with the defeat, host Ewing on January 30 and Sayreville on February 1 before starting play in the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) tournament.
In the Girls’ Grade 6-8 Division, PBA 130 defeated Sportworld 31-20 as Kiara Jalali scored 12 points to lead the way. Sienna Houshmand-Oregaard had 12 points for Sportworld. Pizza Den posted a 23-12 win over Homestead Princeton. Nava Blitz tallied nine points and Eme Moorhead chipped in eight to spark Pizza Den. Izzy Gustus had six points for Homestead.
Girls’ Basketball : Aryana Iyer scored 12 points and Audrey Shueh added 11 for Lawrenceville as it fell 70-36 to Pingry last Friday. The Big Red, who moved to 1-13 with the loss, host the Hill School (Pa.) on January 29, play at BCIT Westhampton on January 30, and then host Hunterdon Central on February 1.
Girls’ Basketball : Sparked by a huge game from Anna Winters, PHS defeated Delaware Valley 68-63 last Saturday. Junior guard Winters poured in 27 points as the Tigers improved to 11-5. PHS plays at Ewing on January 30 and hosts Spotswood on February 1 before starting action in the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) tournament.
Boys’ Hockey : Brendan Beatty triggered the offense as PHS defeated South Brunswick 7-3 last Monday. Senior standout forward Beatty tallied two goals and two assists for the Tigers, now 6-7. In upcoming action, PHS plays at Red Bank Catholic on January 29, at Monroe on January 31, and faces Notre Dame on February 3 at the Mercer County Skating Center before starting starting play in the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) tournament.
In the Boys’ Grade 3-4 Division, McCaffrey’s defeated At Earth’s End 30-13 as Colin Suk tallied eight points to pace a balanced attack for the victors. Evan Boyle had eight points for At Earth’s End. Ahaan Balantrapu poured in 22 points as Built By Me edged Ivy Inn 26-22. Miquel Pijoan-Hidalgo had eight points for Ivy Inn in the loss. Aiden Spies scored nine points to lead Lependorf & Silverstein, PC over Sportworld 18-15. James Freedman tallied 13 points for Sportworld. Dean of Chess posted a 36-23 win over Luxe Property Group as Leo Cronan scored 22 points for Dean of Chess while Gus Calmeyn tallied 15 points for Luxe Property Group.
Boys’ Basketball : Gary Jennings scored 11 points for PDS as it fell 52-27 to Lawrence High last Thursday. The Panthers, who dropped to 6-7 with the defeat, host Steinert on January 30 before starting play in the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) tournament.
Girls’ Basketball : Sparked by Juliana Hartman, PDS defeated Lawrence High 54-23 last Thursday. Hartman tallied 15 points to help the Panthers improve to 9-4. The Panthers play at Steinert on January 30 and host Morristown-Beard on February 2 in the prep B state tournament before starting play in the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) tournament.
Lawrenceville Pennington
Boys’ Basketball: Sparked by Joshua BenkaCoker, Pennington edged Friends Select (Pa.) 6057 in overtime last Saturday. Benka-Coker posted a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds as the Red Hawks improved to 8-6. Pennington hosts Blair Academy on January 29, Trenton Catholic on January 31, and College Achieve Asbury Park on February 4
Girls’ Basketball : Izzy Augustine poured in 23 points but it wasn’t enough as Pennington fell 71-46 to Hillsborough last week. The Red Hawks, who moved to 3-8 with the loss in the January 21 contest, host
Girls’ Hockey : Sparked by Cassie Speir, PHS defeated Randolph 8-6 last Wednesday. Senior star Speir tallied four goals o help the Tigers improve to 3-4. PHS play at the Academy of New Church (Pa.) on January 30.
Stuart
Basketball: Lia States had a strong game in a losing cause as Stuart fell 63-39 to Haddonfield last Thursday. Freshman guard States tallied 10 points with seven rebounds as the Tartans moved to 3-7. Stuart plays at the Hun School on January 29 before hosting Pennington on January 31.
Local Sports
Dillon Youth Hoops
Recent Results
In action last weekend in the Girls’ Grade 3-5 Division of the Dillon Youth Basketball League, Pizza Den topped Milk & Cookies 2418. Liv Nygaard scored 12 points in the victory while Sophia Reyes and Alyssa Tsang each had six points for Milk & Cookies. Parker Friedland tallied eight points to help Homestead Princeton edge PBA 130, 14-12. Theresa Houshmand-Oregaard had eight points for PBA. Princeton Orthopaedic Associates defeated the Tipple & Rose “Rosebuds” 17-7. Ava Baxter scored six points
In the Boys’ Grade 5-6 Division, Meeting House edged Mason Griffin & Pierson, PC in overtime 28-26 as Logan Aguila scored 12 points for the victors while Bartholomew Gore netted 24 points in the loss. J. Majeski Foundation topped Princeton Pettoranello Foundation. 31-19. Aidyn Shah scored 12 points in the win for Majeski. Baldwin Walton and Parker Cohen each chipped in eight points apiece for Princeton Pettoranello. Hugh Kelly and Nazir Rollins each scored 10 points for Ivy Rehab as it posted a 23-20 win over
Sunday in improving to 15-3, host Stuart County Day School on January 29, play at the Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) on February 1, and then host the Perkiomen School (Pa.) on February 4.
PBA 130. Ali Redjal and Rohnik Verma tallied five points apiece for PBA.
In the Boys’ Grade 7-8 Division, Locomotion edged Back Nine Golf 37-35 in double overtime. Ai’Bree Green scored 11 points for Locomotion while Alex Spies had 19 points for Back Nine Golf. Princeton Honda defeated K9 Resorts of Hamilton 37-14. Asa Collins had 15 points for the victors. National CSI defeated Princeton Global 39-
28 as Cooper Casto tallied 11 points for National CSI while Logan Koop had 12 points for Princeton Global.
Mercer Juniors Rowing Club
Holding Open House Feb. 26
The Princeton National Rowing Association (PNRA)/Mercer Juniors rowing club is holding an open house on February 26 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Caspersen Rowing Center at 1 South Post Road in Princeton Junction.
The Mercer Juniors program is a nationally competitive rowing club for athletes in grades 9-12. Recent graduates have attended top colleges and universities in the country and Mercer has been represented at the Junior World Championships for four straight years. Those interested in learning more about the open house and the program can log onto rowpnra.org or e mail coach Jamie Hamp at jhamp@rowpnra.org.
ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS
Serving Somerset, Hunterdon and Mercer County
PUSHING FORWARD: Hun School girls’ basketball player Gabby D’Agostino, right, pushes past a foe in recent action. Last Saturday, junior guard D’Agostino scored 23 points as Hun defeated the Hill School 54-47. The Raiders, who defeated DePaul Catholic School 55-47 on
(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
Thomas Griffith, II
Thomas Griffith, II passed away on Friday, January 17, 2025, following a courageous three-year battle with a rare and incurable form of cancer. He was 85 years old. Tom is survived by his devoted wife of 58 years, Marion Griffith, of Princeton, NJ; his son, Bob Griffith, of Lookout Mountain, TN; his daughter, Katie Griffith, and son-in-law, Ben Francis, of Gorham, ME; and his cherished grandchildren, Luke and Sophia Francis. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Louise (Chamberlain) Griffi th of Lookout Mountain, TN; his brothers, Doug and infant Morrow; and his infant daughter, Mary Elizabeth.
Born and raised in Tennessee, Tom was a proud graduate of Woodberry Forest School (VA), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Indiana University. At UNC, he was a member of
Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and played on the varsity soccer team.
Following graduate school, Tom dedicated over 50 years of his life to coaching soccer, impacting countless players. His coaching career included positions at the University of the South, the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay, Dartmouth College, Princeton University, Princeton Day School, and George School (PA). He served as the fi rst soccer coach at the University of the South and the second coach for both the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay men’s team and Princeton University’s women’s team.
Tom was proud to have been part of the Olympic Development Program and a coach for the inaugural United States Under-19 Women’s National Team. He also coached men’s and boy’s lacrosse for over 30 years, and received coaching honors in both sports. His achievements include multiple “Coach of the Year” awards at the collegiate level, along with commendations from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Beyond coaching, Tom found joy in all types of sports and music and was a lifelong, devoted supporter of Liverpool FC. An advocate for animal welfare, he volunteered extensively with animal transportation efforts, completing nearly 100 rescue transports to help give dogs a chance at better lives.
Tom’s legacy is one of kindness, mentorship, and unwavering love for his family, friends, players, and the causes he championed. In lieu of flowers, the
family kindly requests that donations be made in Tom’s memory to an animal shelter of your choice. A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, January 31, 2025, at Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., followed by a graveside service at Forest Hills Cemetery at 2 p.m.
Margaret “Margie” Croll Morgan
Margaret “Margie” Croll Morgan, 98, of Princeton, NJ, died peacefully on Friday, January 24, 2025 in the company of her daughter, Caroline Frothingham, daughter-in-law, Pamela Frothingham, and her longtime caregiver and friend, Lenore Mason.
Margie was born on November 30, 1926 in Paris, France, to Janet and Alexander Morgan, where he was studying architecture. She grew up in New York City, NY, along with her brother, Perry, and sister, Caroline. Margie graduated from Miss Porters School in Farmington, CT, and was an active alumnus throughout her life. She moved to Princeton in 1953 where she raised
her family first at the family home, Constitution Hill, then on Elm Lane in a lovely house that she designed.
Margie had many interests and passions in her long life. She was a 50-year volunteer for the Auxiliary for the Isabella McCosh Infirmary at Princeton University as were her mother, Janet Croll Morgan, and grandmother, Josephine Perry Morgan. Margie was a celebrated artistic photographer with her works commissioned and exhibited in galleries. She excelled as an athlete having played for the United States Women’s Squash Team and was passionate about tennis and an avid golfer. Being very competitive, Margie always tried to improve her athletic skills. As an adventurous world traveler, her journeys had her banding penguins in Patagonia, hiking in the Andes and Himalayas, and with her sister, exploring a family connection in Japan.
Margie is predeceased by her parents; brother, Perry Morgan; sister, Caroline Macomber; and her son, David Frothingham. She is survived by her children, William Frothingham and Caroline Frothingham; daughter-inlaw Pamela Frothingham; four grandchildren, David, Gillian, Morgan, and Liam; her sisterin-law Elizabeth Morgan; and stepchildren Ellen Fisher Stockmayer and Pieter Fisher. Memorial contributions, in her honor, may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (alzfdn.com) or Save (savehomelessanimals.org) 1010 Route 601, Skillman, NJ, 08558. (609) 309-5214. Services are private. Extend condolences and share memories at TheKimble FuneralHome.com.
DIRECTORY OF RELIGIOUS
The 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
The Rev. Paul Jeanes III, Rector
33 Mercer St. Princeton • 609-924-2277 www.trinityprinceton.org
First Church of Christ, Scientist, Princeton
Testimony Meeting at 7:30
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02-19
KARINA’S HOUSECLEANING: Full service inside. Honest and reliable lady with references. Weekly, biweekly or monthly. Call for estimate. (609) 858-8259.
HOME HEALTH AIDE: 25 years of experience. Available mornings to take care of your loved one, transport to appointments, run errands. I am well known in Princeton. Top care, excellent references. The best! Call (609) 356-2951 or (609) 751-1396. tf
LOLIO’S WINDOW WASHING & POWER WASHING: Free estimate. Next day service. Fully insured. Gutter cleaning available. References available upon request. 30 years experience. (609) 271-8860.
Winter in Princeton brings picturesque snowfall, but with it comes the responsibility of keeping sidewalks clear. Shoveling your sidewalk isn ’t just a courtesy it’s essential for safety and accessibility.
Uncleared sidewalks create hazards for pedestrians, especially children walking to school, elderly residents, and individuals with mobility challenges. Ice and packed snow increase the risk of slips and falls, which can lead to serious injuries. Keeping sidewalks clear ensures that everyone, including mail carriers and delivery workers, can navigate the town safely.
Beyond safety, Princeton has local ordinances requiring property owners to clear snow within a certain timeframe. Failing to do so can result in fines, and more importantly, it shows disregard for your neighbors.
Taking the time to shovel is a simple way to contribute to the well being of the community. So, grab your shovel, help your neighbors if needed, and keep Princeton walkable for everyone this winter!
Interior Painting, Exterior Painting, and Drywall Repair
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www.fivestarpaintinginc.com License # 13VH047 Professional, Courteous and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
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•Quality Craftsmanship
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Set in one of Princeton's most prestigious neighborhoods, within a short walk to town, the University and other cultural venues, this classic Federalist home embodies the community's history of sophistication. A grand, inviting hallway with a fireplace opens to the spacious living and dining rooms suitable for the most elegant entertaining. Built in a period of skilled craftsmanship, these well-proportioned rooms have high ceilings, deep moldings and other sought after details. First floor rooms flow seamlessly into one another and onto a large porch, facilitating warm weather entertaining. This important home has a circular driveway and is located on almost an acre of land with a three car garage and is waiting for a new owner to make it their own.
Set in one of Princeton's most prestigious neighborhoods, within a short walk to town, the University and other cultural venues, this classic Federalist home embodies the community's history of sophistication. A grand, inviting hallway with a fireplace opens to the spacious living and dining rooms suitable for the most elegant entertaining. Built in a period of skilled craftsmanship, these well-proportioned rooms have high ceilings, deep moldings and other sought after details. First floor rooms flow seamlessly into one another and onto a large porch, facilitating warm weather entertaining. This important home has a circular driveway and is located on almost an acre of land with a three car garage and is waiting for a new owner to make it their own.
Offered at $2,450,000
Offered at $2,450,000
Set in one of Princeton's most prestigious neighborhoods, within a short walk to town, the University and other cultural venues, this classic Federalist home embodies the community's history of sophistication. A grand, inviting hallway with a fireplace opens to the spacious living and dining rooms suitable for the most elegant entertaining. Built in a period of skilled craftsmanship, these well-proportioned rooms have high ceilings, deep moldings and other sought after details. First floor rooms flow seamlessly into one another and onto a large porch, facilitating warm weather entertaining. This important home has a circular driveway and is located on almost an acre of land with a three car garage and is waiting for a new owner to make it their own.
robin.wallack@foxroach.com
Set back from the street, its gently curving stone walk leading up to the front door, this charming home is mostly on one level. There are public spaces for large gatherings, yet the house itself has private spaces as well. As you walk through the house, you will be impressed by the hardwood floors, beamed ceiling, and many windows, as well as the exquisite view of the custom in-ground Sylvan pool, and beautifully landscaped rear gardens. Cool kitchen with “green” repurposed teak cabinets, concrete floor, and glass counters is open to the breakfast area and the dining room, which enables the chef to be one of the group and participate in the conversations! Some of the bedrooms are in a wing of their own, yet the main bedroom is private, and there is an additional study with its own entrance. There is even a large porch. It’s not easy to find a four bedroom, three full bath house close to town, the bus to Manhattan, and Littlebrook School , but here is your opportunity. For everything there is a season, and this house has been the backdrop for many happy times. Now it is time for a new steward for this very special offering. $1,250,000
MARKETED BY
Judith Stier
MARKETED BY: Robin Wallack
Sales Associate
Direct Line: 609.240.1232
Judith Stier Sales Associate Direct Line: 609.240.1232 MARKETED BY
