Town Topics Newspaper, October 30, 2024. by Witherspoon Media Group

“Painter of the American Revolution” is in Spotlight At November 6 Event 5

Jamie Volkert is First Director of New Division Of Travel and Tourism 9 Town Receives NJ Future Smart Growth Award for Terhune Harrison Project 11

With Return of Juniors

Stars Pierce, Lee, PU Men’s Hoops Primed For Big Season as it Hosts Iona in Opener on November 4 22

Producing a Dominant Performance, PHS Girls’ Volleyball Rolls to Third Straight BCSL Title 26

Council Hears Report From Consulting Firm on Revitalizing Hinds Plaza

Two work sessions dominated the meeting of Princeton Council on Monday evening, October 28. The rst was on the concept plan for refreshing Hinds Plaza, and the second was a discussion on removal and replacement of the two kiosks located on Nassau Street.

After hearing a progress report from municipal staff and Arterial, Inc., the consultants on the Hinds Plaza project, Council members and Mayor Mark Freda offered comments and suggestions and aired some concerns. Regarding the kiosks, which are at the intersections of Witherspoon Street and Vandeventer Avenue, the governing body directed staff to remove them while tabling the question of whether and how they should be replaced.

In his presentation, James Ribaudo of Arterial said Hinds Plaza is 20 years old and in need of refreshment and reorganization. The company has held three workshops with the steering committee dedicated to the project, as well as stakeholder meetings, and is compiling a plan based on feedback and their own observations.

“The current structure of the plaza no longer matches the demands that are placed upon it from a daily basis, but more importantly the various programmatic events that take place there,” said Ribaudo. He added that the existing trees are at the end of their life span and need to be replaced, so each option in the conceptual design includes new trees.

Extending the plaza to the edge of Witherspoon Street is among the ideas being explored. Other possibilities include moveable, sculptural seating;

PPS Plans for $89.1M Bond Referendum

Princeton Public Schools (PPS) has been moving towards a $89.1 million January bond referendum for expansion and renovations, and a decision on that was anticipated at Tuesday night’s Board of Education (BOE) meeting, which took place after press time.

The resolution on the table would call for Princeton voters to weigh in on January 28 on a proposal to expand and upgrade school buildings at Community Park and Littlebrook elementary schools, as well as expansion and renovations at Princeton Middle School (PMS) and renovations at Princeton High School (PHS).

The proposed resolution comes in three parts, with a total tax impact estimated at $543 annually for the owner of a home at Princeton’s average assessed value of $853,136, after anticipated reductions through state aid.

The referendum, if approved by voters, would address aging infrastructure and space needs as the town anticipates about 1,000 units of new housing in the next ve to seven years with additional population growth and state-mandated development on the horizon. Most of the approved new housing is being built in the Community Park and Littlebrook school zones.

“District leaders and Board members put extensive thought into forming a plan that would create the space we need while preserving our beloved neighborhood schools for the community,” said Interim PPS Superintendent Kathie Foster. “if we don’t take steps to prepare for the additional students, we will face widespread redistricting and larger class sizes, and we might have to repurpose programming due to lack of classroom space.”

The proposal would be separated into three ballot questions with Questions 2 and 3 contingent on the passage of the previous question. If all questions are approved the state will pay 14.7 percent of debt service aid for the projects.

The projects, sent to the New Jersey Department of Education in April, were recently approved by the state, along with con rmation of debt service aid eligibility for the proposed renovations and expansion.

Stormwater and Its Effects Are on Agenda At Municipality’s Oct. 30 Public Meeting

As climate change and its effects become a growing concern in the news and in the lives of Princeton residents, stormwater management is becoming an increasingly important challenge for municipal officials and individual citizens.

The Municipality of Princeton has invited residents, business owners, and all stakeholders to a public meeting in the Witherspoon Hall Meeting Room at 400 Witherspoon Street. and on Zoom, on Wednesday, October 30 at 6 p.m. to explore the feasibility of a stormwater utility in Princeton.

Attendees will also learn about the work the town does to comply with stormwater regulations and the bene ts of stormwater management.

The Municipality of Princeton is currently in Phase 2 of a four-phase stormwater feasibility study, exploring the possibility of forming a stormwater utility to provide a dedicated funding source through user fees, similar to the sanitary sewer utility, to operate, maintain, and improve the municipal storm sewer system.

Stormwater management, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection

IRISH WAKE: Members of the Princeton High boys’ soccer team celebrate after they edged Notre Dame 1-0 in the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) Tournament ﬁnal last Saturday afternoon on Ackerson Field at Hopewell Valley High. PHS, now 14-2-3, got the winning goal against the Irish late in the second half on a header by Chase Hamerschlag off a corner kick by Aaron Thyrum. For details on the game, see page 25.

(Photo by Bill Alden)

Shown here in 1920, Ezra Pound Is the Subject Of This

Birthday

Fall Highlights Town Topics

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A prime time for a mammogram.

The one place for cancer screening and comprehensive care. Our breast health centers prioritize comfort and convenience. Prioritize yourself by coming in for a screening. Together with Rutgers Cancer Institute, the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, we offer the latest in comprehensive breast health services from 3D mammograms and genetic testing to breast surgery, clinical trials and cellular therapies. So if you’re 40 years or older, schedule your mammogram at rwjbh.org/mammo

Let’s beat breast cancer together.

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 October 30 at Princeton Soup and Sandwich, 30 Palmer Square East. All are welcome.

Flu Vaccine Clinic : At Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Free, for both insured and uninsured Princeton residents age 3 and older. Registration encouraged but walk-ins welcome. Princetonlibrary.org.

Volunteer Land Stewards Wanted : In the month of November, Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS) holds morning and afternoon weekday stewardship sessions. Volunteers will work under the guidance of the FOPOS stewardship staff at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve to help restore riparian and forest areas, remove invasive plants, and plant native trees and shrubs. Dates, start times, and registration at fopos.org/events-programs.

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 in November, 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.

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.

Millhill Holiday Giving Drive : Millhill Child and Family Development is collecting gifts and warm coats through November 29. In-person donations will be accepted through December 6. Contact Angie at AMcManimon@millhillcenter.org for details.

Volunteer Tax Preparers Needed : The Mercer County AARP Tax-Aide Program is seeking volunteers to prepare federal and state tax returns. Classes begin in November. All levels and types of experience are welcome. Visit aarpfoundation.org/taxaide or call (888) 227-7669 for more information.

Holiday Gift Drive : Princeton Human Services invites donations of holiday gifts for local children in need. To fill out a donor application, visit princetonnj.gov/753/ Holiday-Gift-Drive by November 15. To receive a gift, children must be between 0-12 years old and live in Princeton with their guardian. Submit applications by November 7 at 1 Monument Drive.

Free Salt Room Sessions for Breast Cancer Survivors : 4 Elements Wellness Center in Princeton Shopping Center offers free halotherapy sessions to anyone who has survived or is still battling the disease. The 50-minute sessions cleanse the respiratory system, reduce inflammation, and provide stress relief. 4elementswellnesscenter. com.

Donate Blood : The American Red Cross needs blood and platelet donors, especially type O blood, as the holiday season approaches. In Princeton, donations can be made at Frist Campus Center on the Princeton University campus, or Stone Hill Church on Bunn Drive. Additional opportunities in Trenton, Plainsboro, Pennington, Hopewell, Hamilton, and Ewing townships are available. Visit RedCrossBlood.org for dates and times.

PUMPKINS APLENTY: The final Fall Family Fun Weekend at Terhune Orchards on Cold Soil Road

from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit

(Photo by Nathan Feder)

BATTLE OF PRINCETON: John Trumbull (1756-1843) experienced the American Revolution firsthand and painted numerous heroic depictions of the war, including “The Death of General Mercer at the Battle of Princeton.” Historian Richard Brookhiser will discuss his newly released book, “Glorious Lessons: John Trumbull, Painter of the American Revolution,” at the Nassau Club on November 6 at Princeton Battlefield Society’s first Cadwalader Lecture.

“The Painter of the American Revolution”

Is in the Spotlight at November 6 Event

Glorious Lessons: John Trumbull, Painter of the American Revolution will be the topic of the evening as award-winning historian Richard Brookhiser talks about his new book in the first Cadwalader Series

Lecture, sponsored by the Princeton Battlefield Society (PBS) at the Nassau Club on November 6 at 6 p.m.

Brookhiser, a senior editor at National Review and widely known for biographies of many of America’s founders, will discuss the significance and meaning of Trumbull’s works, most of which depicted events of the American Revolution and the early days of the new nation.

TOPICS Of the Town

“The Cadwalader Series will help mark the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026 and anniversary of the Battle of Princeton on January 7, 2027,” said PBS President Ben Strong, as quoted in a PBS press release. “We are honored to have Richard Brookhiser as our inaugural speaker, and you don’t want to miss this evening.

Brookhiser’s book shows how the artist’s 50-year project embodied the meaning of American exceptionalism and played a key role in defining the values of the new country.”

A review in The Wall Street Journal noted, “In Glorious Lessons , Richard Brookhiser offers a nuanced, engaging and incisive assessment of a painter whose life’s work vindicated his self-confidence and continues to influence perceptions of America’s struggle for independence.”

The review goes on to note that reproductions of Trumbull’s works can be seen on numerous book covers, in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C., and in his depiction of the Declaration of Independence on the back of the $2 bill.

Trumbull served as aide to George Washington and Horatio Gates during the American Revolution, was shot at, and was jailed as a spy. He thought of himself as a historian and wrote that his purpose was “to preserve and diffuse the memory of the noblest series of actions which have ever presented themselves in the history of man.”

An Amazon review of Glorious Lessons describes

“Trumbull’s story of acclaim and recognition, a story complicated by provincialism, war, a messy personal life, and, ultimately, changing fashion.”

Brookhiser is the author of 15 books and numerous newspaper and magazine articles. In 2008 he received the National Humanities Medal. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Cosmopolitan, The Atlantic Monthly, Time, Vanity Fair, and The New York Observer.

The PBS, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection, preservation,

and promotion of the Princeton Battlefield as a national treasure, created the Cadwalader Series to provide education about the Battle of Princeton and the American Revolution as part of its two-year program to honor the 250th anniversary of the nation’s birth and the Battle of Princeton. The Series is named after Gen. John Cadwalader, one of the American generals at the battle.

Brookhiser will sign copies of Glorious Lessons before his talk on November 6 Visit pbs1777.org to purchase tickets for the lecture and copies of Glorious Lessons: John Trumbull, Painter of the American Revolution.

—Donald Gilpin

County Extends Loans To Small Businesses

Mercer County Executive Dan Benson and the Board of County Commissioners have announced the extension of their partnership with the UCEDC on the zero percent Interest Loan Program for small businesses in Mercer County.

The extension will keep the program going through most of next year, with a new application deadline of September 30, 2025, while expanding the number of businesses that will be eligible for loans. Under the initial terms of the program, only businesses registered by September 1, 2019 were eligible. Now, any business registered with the State of New Jersey on or prior to May 11, 2023 can apply.

Administered through the Mercer County Office of Economic Development, the zero percent Interest Loan Program allows Mercer County businesses to apply for affordable access to capital. The UCEDC provides loans on a firstcome, first-served basis utilizing current lending products and capital.

Question of the Week:

“What are your plans for Halloween?” (Asked Saturday at Terhune Orchards) (Photos by Nathan Feder)

“I would like to thank our commissioners for supporting this measure, which allows Mercer County to have an incredible positive impact on small businesses in need of accessible capital,” said County Executive Dan Benson. “The program has already been extremely successful, supporting almost 60 businesses with $1.1 million in funding.”

To qualify, businesses must be located in Mercer County and registered with the State of New Jersey and have been formed on or before May 11, 2023. They must have 30 full-time equivalent employees or less at time of application, and have less than $10 million in annual gross revenue based on most recent tax return. Loans will range from $10,000 to $20,000 and be offered at 0 percent interest, with a five-year repayment term.

Funds can be used for working capital, inventory, or purchases of furniture and equipment. There are no collateral requirements, pre-payment penalties, processing, closing or application fees. Personal guarantees of the significant owners of the business (10% or greater) are required. Applicants must not have had a bankruptcy or significant charge-offs within the most recent three-year period.

To apply, visit ucedc.com.

“I probably have to be working at Target on Halloween, but I will put on a very special hat for the occasion.”

“My kids and I will probably go trick-or-treating starting on – Matthew Delvaux, Princeton

Stormwater

continued from page one Agency (EPA), aims to reduce runoff from rain and melting snow into streets, lawns, and other sites and to improve water quality. Stormwater is naturally absorbed into the soil, but in developed areas the pavement and other impervious surfaces prevent the water from soaking into the ground and instead it runs into storm drains and sewer systems. It can cause flooding and erosion. Detaining stormwater and removing pollutants is the primary purpose of stormwater management, according to the Expert Environmental Consulting website.

Key topics on the agenda for the October 30 Princeton meeting include introduction to the stormwater utility concept and how it can help fund necessary improvements, compliance requirements under current state and federal regulations, advantages of improved stormwater management for residents and businesses, and a public Q&A session for community input and feedback.

So far, findings of the feasibility study, led by

Princeton Hydro and WSP ecological and engineering consultants in collaboration with the Princeton Municipal Engineering Department, include the following: Underfunding has caused a backlog in stormwater improvement projects; constructing, maintaining, and operating the system involves many different municipal departments; New Jersey Department of Environment (NJDEP) is requiring increased levels of service in the next five years, and Princeton will need revenue increases to meet those needs; and a stormwater utility could “more equitably spread the cost of a stormwater system to the users, as tax exempt entities like schools, universities, and churches are not exempt from paying a user fee.”

Phase 2 of the study is currently delving into the details of cost of services and analyzing funding options, creating a draft plan with multiple options, and conducting ongoing public outreach, education, and involvement sessions. Princeton Council will make a decision at the end of Phase 2, probably in March 2025, whether to move ahead to Phase 3 of the study, to

pause, or to discontinue the study.

In addition to the October 30 meeting, consultants and municipal engineers have been meeting with focus groups in recent weeks. Eight targeted stakeholder meetings are scheduled through November and December with schools, Princeton University, the religious community, and others to discuss their concerns with their impervious surfaces and the feasibility of creating a stormwater utility.

There will be another open public meeting in January as Council moves towards its decision on whether or not to proceed into Phase 3 of the study, which would ultimately lead to a municipal ordinance.

Reporting on the progress of the Stormwater Utility Feasibility Study so far at a Council meeting on October 14, Elizabeth Treadway, WSP senior vice president and principal program manager, emphasized that the study would allow ample flexibility for Princeton to fashion its own program and to shape the utility in the form that would best serve the local community. She emphasized the benefits a utility could have in being able to provide stable revenue to fund stormwater management and the advantages of proactive financial planning, the ability to make long-range plans, and the value of establishing “a mechanism to improve water quality, address flooding, and improve public safety.”

In an October 28 phone interview, Princeton Assistant Municipal Engineer Jim Purcell commented on

the challenges of stormwater management and the possible advantages of establishing a stormwater utility. “We make sure we’re meeting all the regulations that the NJDEP puts out,” he said. “A stormwater utility would give us the beneﬁt of separating those costs out to an entity that would be responsible only for performing all the stormwater duties.”

He added that a stormwater utility, as a utility, can charge every user, unlike the tax system in which a number of organizations are exempt from taxes. “A utility is not restricted in that way,” he said. “We can spread the costs over everyone in town. Everyone, including the municipal government, would pay a utility fee, and in that way everyone would be contributing because everyone is contributing to stormwater. Every impervious surface in town is contributing to the stormwater.”

Purcell went on to discuss how the Engineering Department is working to reduce pollution and the extremities of flooding through implementing land use regulations, creating more green infrastructure, and working with partners in the community and surrounding region.

“Everybody is keenly aware of the problems with climate change,” he said. “We have a holistic integrated approach here in Princeton. We do what we can to mitigate ﬂooding, and we need to be better prepared for when those ﬂoods actually come.”

For more information on the stormwater utility study, visit bit.ly/princetonstormwater. To join the October 30 meeting virtually, see https://buff. ly/4dZKmhb.

—Donald Gilpin

CFPA Hosts Vigil for A Peaceful Election

The Princeton-based Coalition for Peace Action (CFPA) is holding a Vigil for a Peaceful Election from 4:30-5:30 p.m. on Monday, November 4 — the eve of the November 5 election. The vigil will be at Tiger Park in the front of Palmer Square, across Nassau Street from Nassau Presbyterian Church, located at 61 Nassau Street.

Signs with the theme of the vigil will be available for attendees to hold during the ﬁrst half hour, when it will still be daylight. The second part will turn into a candlelight vigil. Attendees are urged to bring their own candles. CFPA will provide a limited number of battery powered candles.

The purpose of the vigil

is to express solidarity in opposition to any violence during Election Day or in the aftermath. The vigil will also express opposition to large acts of violence against a peaceful transfer of power like that of January 6, 2021.

The Rev. Robert Moore, executive director of CFPA, said “The most sacred right of American citizens is voting in our democratic elections. Many people of good will are deeply anxious about potential violence during the process and aftermath of this election. It is important to come together to be in solidarity against any such violence. There is no place for violence in any part of this election.” For further information and/or to RSVP, visit peacecoalition.org.

CHRIS SANTARPIO FOR

Council continued from page one the reuse of existing sculpture and plaques; some changes to the gateway that bears the namesake of the plaza, the late community activist Albert Hinds; a seating platform that could double as a stage; and some changes to the pergola that would entail thinning out the wisteria and having swing seats extended from the top.

significantly shrunken with this design,” she said.

Concerns were aired by Niedergang and others about shade and provisions for stormwater runoff. Ribaudo said stormwater runoff would be addressed by directing the water to feed the new trees that would be planted.

Administrator Deanna Stockton. The project will replace all the sidewalk material under the kiosks.

Before voting to remove the kiosks, several Councilmembers commented that they are an eyesore.

A SEAFOOD REVOLUTION HAS ARRIVED IN PENNINGTON,

Union

The seating platform, which would be in front of Princeton Public Library’s blank wall, would be fixed and not moveable. An allee of trees would border the outdoor dining space for the restaurants Witherspoon Grill and Kristine’s.

Freda said he is worried about safety, particularly if the plaza is extended to Witherspoon Street. “A raised curb is not enough to stop an automobile from going into the plaza,” he said. He also had concerns about the allee of trees. “They’ll grow too close together. We have to look at how large they’re going to be 15 years down the road.”

“We should remove them. They are a mess,” said Lambros. “After a storm, there is paper all over. I do think there are electronic kiosk options [to be explored].”

A SEAFOOD REVOLUTION HAS ARRIVED IN PENNINGTON, NJ.

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Councilwoman Eve Niedergang said she was thrilled to know that the plaques bearing Hinds’ name would be reused, a sentiment echoed by others including Councilman Leighton Newlin.

“I want to see this plaza scream about the history of African Americans in this town,” Newlin said. “Because that’s why we named it after Albert Hinds.”

Niedergang urged the staff to confer directly with the library about the location of the outdoor stage. The library’s Executive Director Jennifer Podolsky said that the stage “might be a bit of an obstacle. The library has a portable stage that we bring out. For things like Dancing Under the Stars, the stage would be in the way.”

Podolsky also referenced events such as the Children’s Book Festival, which takes up the entire plaza. “We wouldn’t be able to do those events, or they’d be

Councilwoman Leticia Fraga said moving the gates that bear Hinds’ name next to trash receptacles would be disrespectful, as would having them next to bike racks. “So check in with the people in the community who were instrumental about naming Hinds Plaza,” she said, speciﬁcally mentioning local historian Shirley Satterﬁeld.

Councilwoman Michelle Pirone Lambros, who is on the steering committee, said two types of bike racks are being explored — one for transients, and the other for longer term use.

The fate of the kiosks on Nassau Street is part of the Nassau Streetscape project currently being developed. Built originally as phone booths and newspaper vending boxes in 1988, the kiosks are used for ﬂyers and messaging. The Department of Public Works removes the flyers once a month and does necessary repairs, said Municipal Engineer/Deputy

Council approved ordinances related to parking and loading zones in front of Triumph Restaurant & Brewery on Palmer Square East, and parking for teachers and staff at Princeton High School on Franklin Avenue between Harris and Jefferson roads, and on Moore Street between Houghton Road and Franklin Avenue. A third ordinance related to garbage pickup time in and outside of the central business district was reintroduced, and will be given a public hearing on November 12.

The next meeting of Council is November 12 at 7 p.m. Visit princetonnj.gov for details.

—Anne

Levin

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A SEAFOOD REVOLUTION HAS ARRIVED IN PENNINGTON, NJ.

p.m. at Princeton Shopping Center.

Day of the Dead At Shopping Center

El Día de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is observed in Mexico and throughout the world in early November. Princeton celebrates at the Princeton Shopping Center on Saturday, November 2 from 1-3 p.m.

The holiday is a time for family and friends to remember loved ones who have passed. Traditions include parades and the construction of private altars using sugar skulls, marigolds, and favorite foods in memory of those lost.

Seminar analyzing the results of the 2024 presidential election.

A longstanding program of the Eagleton Institute of Politics, “The Morning After” offers analysis of the previous day’s election from a variety of experts including scholars, political practitioners, and journalists. Panelists are Professor Ronald Chen, MAD Global CEO Mike DuHaime, Peeler Allen Consulting principal Kimberly Peeler-Allen, and Center for American Women and Politics Director Debbie Walsh. Holloway moderates.

Registration is required at eagleton.rutgers.edu/ events.

Affordable Housing Bill Is Topic of Discussion

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Union Boil, the latest culinary sensation by Gretal Hospitality Group and Martin Food Group, is set to make a splash in the Pennington Shopping Center We're bringing a new wave of seafood dining to New Jersey, where every meal celebration ommunity.

At the family-friendly festival, activities will include crafts inspired by traditional Mexican folk art, sugar skull decorating, live music by Mariachi Los Tigres de Princeton, a community altar, and more. For more information, visit artscouncilofprinceton.org.

system that will assign housing obligations to municipalities in New Jersey. Gordon, Sen. Troy Singleton, and Valerie Haynes will talk about the new statute and how it will work in municipalities throughout the state. Judge Peter Buchsbaum will be the moderator. The event is cosponsored by The Jewish Center, Congregation Beth Chaim in West Windsor, and Har Sinai Temple in Pennington. At a familial level, insufficient affordable housing can mean “experiencing homelessness or being unsure whether you can afford the rent next year,” Gordon said, asking people to imagine “what it means as a family for kids to move every year from school to school or whether you will be able to stay in a community or housed at all.”

The affordable housing bill signed into law by Gov. Murphy last March is the topic of a discussion taking place Wednesday, November 13, from 6-7:30 p.m. at The Jewish Center, 435 Nassau Street. Admission is free.

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Center.

Embark on a journey to the heart of Italy with Aperitivo Bar, yet another fantastic addition to the retalia Hospitality Group and Martin Food Group, nestled in the Pennington Shopping Center.

DISCOVER THE ITALIAN RITUAL AT APERITIVO BAR!

Embark on a journey to the heart of Italy with Aperitivo Bar, yet another fantastic addition to the Gretalia Hospitality Group and Martin Food Group, nestled in the Pennington Shopping Center.

Indulge in our meticulously crafted cocktails and aperitifs, each a masterpiece of flavor, designed to awaken your senses.

Embark on a journey to the heart of Italy with Aperitivo Bar, yet another fantastic addition to the Gretalia Hospitality Group and Martin Food Group, nestled in the Pennington Shopping Center.

Indulge in our meticulously crafted cocktails and aperitifs, each a masterpiece of flavor, designed to awaken your senses.

Embark on a journey to the heart of Italy with Aperitivo Bar, yet another fantastic addition to the Gretalia Hospitality Group and Martin Food Group, nestled in the Pennington Shopping Center.

Indulge in our meticulously crafted cocktails and aperitifs, each a masterpiece of flavor, designed to awaken your senses.

“Morning After” Zoom From Eagleton Institute Rutgers University’s Eagleton Institute will hold a special post-election webinar on Wednesday, November 6 at 10:30 a.m. via Zoom. The event is held in partnership with University President Jonathan Holloway’s Byrne

“The defining issue of housing today is impermanence,” said Adam Gordon, executive director of the Fair Share Housing Center and one of three speakers at the event. The bill creates a permanent legislative-based

Despite recent increases in affordable housing in New Jersey, the State still faces an estimated shortage of over 230,000 homes, with 14 prospective renters for each vacant home.

The Mount Laurel court decision 50 years ago outlawed exclusionary zoning and mandated a judiciarysupervised process for assigning affordable housing obligations. Individual communities are assigned numbers of affordable housing units they are obligated to build in a specified time period, based on a percentage of area median income. Units may be built, for example, by nonprofits, with the help of government grants, as in the case of Princeton Community Housing, as well as by developers who include a percentage of affordable units within a large market-rate development. For information, registration, and to send questions for the panelists, contact Linda Oppenheim at linda. oppenheim@gmail.com.

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A PRINCETON TRADITION: The Arts Council of Princeton has been celebrating El Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, for more than 20 years. This year’s event is on Saturday, November 2 from 1-3

Jamie Volkert is First Director of New Division of Travel and Tourism

Since starting her new job last week as director of Mercer County’s new Division of Travel and Tourism, Jamie Volkert has been busy in meeting after meeting devoted to the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

But Volkert, familiar to Princetonians from her 11 years working for t he Nassau Inn, Terra Momo, and most recently as marketing director for Palmer Square Management, has more than the milestone anniversary on her plate.

“We also have the CIFA World Cup coming up in July,” Volkert said. “They’ll be in different stadiums in this area, and it will bring travelers to Mercer County. The timing is perfect.”

Elected this past January, Mercer County Executive Dan Benson created the Division of Travel and Tourism as part of the county’s Office of Economic Development. Known for her work in Princeton as well numerous volunteering opportunities in Hamilton Township, where she sits on the Zoning Board of Adjustment, Volkert was approached once the new division was formed.

“We are really excited for Jamie Volkert to join our team as we launch our new Division of Travel & Tourism,” Benson said in an email. “There is so much to see and to do here in Mercer, and as we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation we have an opportunity to expand Mercer as a

premier travel destination.”

In addition to history and soccer, Volkert is focusing on what the county has to offer in terms of touristfriendly activities. “We’re putting together trails for hiking and spending time outdoors and in our open space,” she said. “I just met with the person who runs the Lawrence Hopewell Trail (LHT), which I wasn’t familiar with even though it was right in my backyard.”

Volkert said that the majority of visitors to the LHT website came from Philadelphia and New York. “So that’s proof that people in our own area are not aware of all the assets we have,” she said. “Creating awareness for the whole county is part of what I’m doing.”

Starting by collecting information from the 12 towns in the county, Volkert is busy setting up an infrastructure. “The great thing is that I still get to work with Princeton,” she said. “I kind of always felt Princeton was my work home. I got to work with so

many people on committees, and in the former Princeton Merchants Association, and the Chamber. It’s really nice now to offer support from a higher level of government. The ties are still there.”

Born in Trenton, Volkert grew up in Hamilton Township, where she lives with her family. “I volunteer for everything under the sun,” she said, mentioning her children’s school cheerleading program, the football teams, and the Parent Teacher Association. “If I see there is something missing, I step in.”

One of the things that made her a good candidate for the county position was her experience in more than one town. “I know the key players in Princeton, and have close ties to Hamilton,” she said. “I need to meet some people in other towns. But I do have a diverse background.”

Volkert said that her role as marketing director for Palmer Square was about much more than just marketing. And it prepared her for bigger things.

“A lot of what we went through with the pandemic, helping the businesses get through it, helped shape me for this role,” she said. “It was about learning how to adapt and change, and to listen and support everybody. I’m hoping I can do that on a larger scale. I’m honored to work with this administration. They have big plans, and they’re going to do good.”

—Anne Levin

Experience Princeton Announces “ShopPrinceton2Win” Contest

A new promotion, “ShopPrinceton2Win,” is running through December 10 in an effort to encourage customers to shop locally and have a chance to win prizes for both themselves and business owners. Experience Princeton is sponsoring the initiative.

All Princeton businesses are automatically included in the promotion. To participate, customers save each receipt of $20 or more from purchases made at these businesses. Receipts are then loaded at the ShopPrinceton2Win website.

There will be six weekly drawings from November 5-December 10. Winning customers for each drawing will receive $500, and the business on the receipt will also receive that amount. Every entry counts as multiple entries in the Grand Prize drawing for $1,500, to be held December 10.

As a final bonus, those who buy and Experience Princeton Digital Gift Card and enter that receipt will bet five more entries in that week’s drawings.

“The ShopLocal2Win campaigns have a proven track record of success,” said Experience Princeton Executive Director Isaac Kremer. “We’re proud to bring this promotional opportunity to Princeton businesses and consumers to jumpstart the holiday shopping season.”

Visit ShopPrinceton2Win. com for more information.

Think Global Buy Local

Jamie Volkert

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The BOE decided to separate the proposal into three parts in order to give voters more options in deciding on the extent of their support.

“All the projects recommended by the administration are needed to accommodate growth and maintain our programming,” said BOE President Dafna Kendal. “The school district does not operate in a vacuum, and we are aware of other recent impacts to the taxpayer. After much discussion, the Board and administration believe that a three-question format is the best approach to let voters decide their additional level of investment in the public schools.”

Question 1 on the ballot would focus on expansion and renovations at Community Park and HVAC upgrades at PHS, with an estimated cost of $37.9 million (annual tax impact $227, based on average assessed home).

If approved, Question 1 would mean accommodating more students with six new classrooms, four smallgroup instruction rooms, and two ﬂexible learning spaces at Community Park as well as an expanded cafeteria, a

Districts 1, 2, 6, 7

Districts 3, 4

Districts 5, 9, 11, 19

Districts 8, 13, 18

Districts 10, 12

Districts 14, 20

Districts 15, 16, 17

new, larger gym/multipurpose room, and a larger music room and library. The upgrading of “end-of-life” HVAC at PHS would include about 250 classroom units throughout the building, with energyefﬁ cient improvements estimated to provide $150,000 to $200,000 in annual cost savings.

Bond proposal Question 2, which cannot pass unless Question 1 passes, would focus on PMS expansion and renovations and PHS renovations, with an estimated cost of $38.3 million (total annual tax impact of Q1 and Q2 together is $458 based on average assessed home).

PMS would add two new classrooms; three new flex spaces to accommodate larger or smaller classes as needed; two new science labs; and a new multipurpose room with space for assemblies, physical education, and indoor recess, with off-hours access for community use.

There would also be expanded vocal music and band rooms, an expanded cafeteria and kitchen, expanded main ofﬁce with small meeting and conference spaces, and renovations to accommodate the district technology department, which is moving from the high school.

An October 25 PPS press release notes that PMS is already at capacity with undersized cafeteria, STEM, physical education, and music spaces; and that expansion is needed to accommodate the current population as well as anticipated enrollment increases.

Planned PHS renovations in Question 2 would include the conversion of current district technology ofﬁces into additional student instructional spaces and the updating of the Numina Art Gallery, which serves as an instructional and presentation space.

Question 3 in the bond proposal, which cannot pass unless Questions 1 and 2 are approved, focuses on expansion and renovations at Littlebrook, at an estimated cost of $12.9 million.

Those improvements would include six new classrooms, two small-group instruction rooms, a new vocal music room, and renovation of the current student support services area and the kitchen.

“Littlebrook upgrades to add space would better support current programming and manage growth while maintaining small class sizes,” the PPS press release states.

—Donald Gilpin

Suzanne Patterson Center, 1 Monument Drive

Johnson Education Center, 1 Preservation Place

Princeton Public Schools-Admin. Bldg., 25 Valley Rd.

Hook & Ladder Fire House, 27 North Harrison Street

Princeton Engine Company #1, 13 Chestnut Street

Princeton First Aid Squad, 237 North Harrison Street Littlebrook School, 39 Magnolia Lane, Back Gate-GYM

Sourland Conservancy Marks Planting of 50,000th Tree

The Sourland Conservancy recently hosted a celebration at the Ted Stiles Preserve on Baldpate Mountain, marking the successful planting of 50,000 native trees and shrubs in the Sourland Mountain Region.

The effort, undertaken in collaboration with numerous partners, underscores the community’s commitment to restoring the Region’s vital forest.

“We’re here today to celebrate not just the forest, but the incredible community of people working to restore it — nonprofits, land trusts, municipalities, counties, grantors, donors, businesses, volunteers, and residents,” said Laurie Cleveland, executive director of Sourland Conservancy.

Representatives from New Jersey Conservation Foundation, The Watershed Institute, D&R Greenway Land Trust, Duke Farms, Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space, Washington Crossing Audubon, Lambertville Goes Wild, Mercer County Park Commission, Somerset County Park Commission, Hillsborough Township, Pinelands Nursery, and Steward Green joined Hopewell Township Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning, Montgomery Township Mayor Neena Singh, Lambertville Mayor Andrew Nowick, Hillsborough Township Mayor Robert Britting, and East Amwell Mayor Dante DiPirro to plant the final 64 oak trees needed to meet the milestone.

The region has faced significant ecological challenges in recent years. Since 2020, over one million trees — nearly 20 percent of the region’s total — have been lost to the emerald ash borer, a destructive invasive

insect. This loss has had far-reaching effects on the forest’s ability to provide essential ecosystem services, including filtering air and water, reducing stormwater runoff, sequestering carbon, and offering critical habitat for wildlife. Among the species affected are 57 state-listed threatened and endangered species that rely on the Sourland region for survival.

The Conservancy partners with land trusts, municipalities, and counties to restore public lands by planting native trees and shrubs as well as installing deer exclosures to protect rare plants and encourage natural regeneration. The project is largely funded by individual donors, reflecting the deep community investment in preserving the Sourlands.

“This is more than a milestone,” Cleveland said. “It’s a testament to the power of community. This is not a one-time event — it’s a movement. Together, we’re taking intentional steps to protect our forest and restore ecosystem function. We won’t stop here. We will work together to plant more trees, build more deer fences, preserve more land — and care for the land that has already been preserved. Together, we will leave a healthy legacy for future generations.”

Open Houses at the Princeton Eating Clubs

Diwali at the Chapel

November 2 at 6pm

Princeton Prospect Foundation is pleased to announce free public access to Princeton University’s iconic eating clubs where generations of students have taken meals and socialized in historic and architecturally significant clubhouses that date as far back as 1895. Upcoming open houses will take place from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the following dates (no reservations are required):

Princeto rinceton

University’s iconic eating clubs where generations of students have taken meals and socialized in historic and architecturally significant clubhouses that date as far back as 1895. Upcoming open houses will take place from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the following dates (no reservations are required):

Sun., Oct. 6th: Cannon Club, Colonial Club, Cottage Club, Quadrangle Club, Terrace Club, Tower Club

Sun., Nov. 10th: Cannon Club, Cap & Gown Club, Colonial Club, Ivy Club, Terrace Club, Tower Club

Sun., Oct. 20th: Cap & Gown Club, Charter Club, Cloister Inn, Ivy Club, Tiger Inn

Sun., Nov. 17th: Charter Club, Cloister Inn, Cottage Club, Quadrangle Club, Tiger Inn

Sun., Oct. 20th: Cap & Gown Club, Charter Club, Cloister Inn, Ivy Club, Tiger Inn

The fascinating origins and evolution of the clubs, along with many archival images and spectacular photos, are presented in The Princeton Eating Clubs, written by awardwinning author Clifford W. Zink in 2017. This beautiful book is available at Labyrinth Books and the Princeton University Store, and on Amazon.

The fascinating origins and evolution of the clubs, along with many archival images and spectacular photos, are presented in The Princeton Eating Clubs, written by award-winning author Clifford W. Zink in 2017. This beautiful book is available at Labyrinth Books and the Princeton University Store, and on Amazon.

For more information, go to: http://princetonprospectfoundation.org

For more information, visit: diwali.princeton.edu

Princeton University Chapel Open to all.

Join us for an evening of devotional music & dance, worship, and spiritual reflection, in celebration of Diwali, Hinduism’s Festival

MARKING A MILESTONE: Volunteers from several organizations celebrated the planting of the 50,000th tree in the Sourland Mountain Region at a recent gathering. (Photo by Yvonne Kunz for the Sourland Conservancy)

Town Receives NJ Future Smart Growth Award for Terhune Harrison Project

Princeton’s Terhune Harrison Mixed Use Village was one of several projects honored October 22 with a Smart Growth Award by New Jersey Future.

The ceremony at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, part of the 2024 New Jersey Future showcase conference, also included a posthumous Leadership Award to the late Ingrid Reed, as well as announcement of the Ingrid Reed For Our Future Fund to support education and training for future Smart Growth leaders.

“It was a special evening for Princeton,” said Princeton Council President Mia Sacks, who worked on the Terhune Harrison project along with Councilmembers David Cohen and Michelle Pirone Lambros. “The award was for sustainable planning. It’s very fitting that that’s what Ingrid was known for.”

Earlier last week, Sacks issued a statement saying this was the first time Princeton has received the Smart Growth Award since the Hinds Plaza Redevelopment Project was a recipient almost 20 years ago.

“Although fiercely opposed at the time, it is now integral to our community’s fabric and beloved by Princeton residents,” said Sacks. “Then, as now, redevelopment, through efficient use of existing infrastructure, continues to be the most environmentally responsible and economically productive form of development.”

On New Jersey Future’s website, the Terhune Harrison Mixed Use Village is described as “a model for how strategic redevelopment can knit together and revitalize a community by building on existing assets, planning comprehensively, and engaging with residents to shape a project that meets local needs. This ambitions development transforms an underutilized shopping center, obsolete office park, and disconnected public park into an integrated, vibrant mixed-use village that enhances connectivity, encourages placemaking, and supports a diversity of residents.”

The primary partners listed for the award are the Municipality of Princeton, AvalonBay Communities, The Alice Princeton, and LRK.

Before its redevelopment, the site was a prime example of “stranded assets,” reads the description, “properties that had fallen into disrepair and no longer served the community effectively.”

The project included significant community engagement, it continues.

“Feedback from neighbors led to design changes that increased the project’s integration with surrounding areas, enhanced pedestrian connectivity, and ensured appropriate buffers between the new development and existing homes. The project reestablishes a vibrant town center, creating a walkable,

bike-friendly environment that invites residents and visitors to explore, socialize, and engage with their surroundings.”

Other projects honored at the event included a mixeduse, mixed-income housing development in Newark, a mixed-use redevelopment plan in Hoboken, creation of Musconetcong Island Park, and redevelopment of a vacant lot in Asbury Park.

A founding member of New Jersey Future and past chair of its board of trustees, Reed was honored as “a public policy professional who built and leveraged her network and knowledge to advance civic life in New Jersey as a supporter of forwardthinking, sustainabilitybased planning, journalism, arts, and the City of Trenton.”

—Anne Levin

Hey Black Dad Hosts Annual Fall Festival

Hey Black Dad, an organization dedicated to empowering fathers and enhancing maternal healthcare outcomes, will host its third annual Fall Fest on Saturday, November 2, from 12-4 p.m. at Mill Hill Park in downtown Trenton.

The family-friendly event (with a rain date set for November 9) will feature an array of activities including a costume parade, entertainment, food, music, and more.

The Fall Fest began as part of founder Peter Bullock’s mission to support fathers in understanding their role in pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. Bullock, a certified birth and postpartum doula, was inspired to create Hey Black Dad after realizing the lack of resources available for expectant fathers. Today, the organization provides guidance to families nationwide through virtual and in-person support.

“Becoming a father is one of the main rites of passage in a man’s life. As a male doula, I get to guide fathers throughout the process and educate them on their role as a dad and as a partner. It’s very rewarding,” said Bullock. “I like to see fathers smiling and knowing that they have a space both outside of childbirth and within the childbirth experience.”

DJ Special K will provide music, while the Trenton Circus Squad will perform and offer lessons in juggling and balance acts. The drumline from Trenton

Central High School will also lead a costume parade through the park.

Specialized activity areas will cater to different age groups: toddlers (age 5 and under) can explore farmthemed activities, a sand pit, and games, while older children will be treated to a treasure hunt, bounce house, and obstacle course. For parents, the Dad’s Den and

Momma’s Cove will offer a chance to relax and connect. Additionally, community partners like The Father Center of New Jersey, the Central New Jersey Family Health Consortium, and the Preeclampsia Foundation will be on-site to provide resources and support. For more information, visit heyblackdads.com.

Ian Henderson. (Photo by Reed Sacks)

HONORED: Princeton municipal officials and staff, together with Liza Reed, daughter of the late Ingrid Reed, recently won a Smart Growth Award from New Jersey Future. From left are Planning Board Chair Louise Wilson, Liza Reed, Sustainable Princeton Executive Director Christine Symington, Municipal Administrator Bernie Hvozdovic, Council President Mia Sacks, Councilmember Michelle Pirone Lambros, and Senior Planner

EMPOWERING FATHERS: Peter Bullock, shown here with his wife Donna and daughter, founded Hey Black Dad to provide resources for expectant fathers. The organization will host its third annual Fall Fest on November 2, from 12-4 p.m. at Mill Hill Park in downtown Trenton.

New Construction Should Not Be Built on Wetlands in West Windsor

To the Editor:

Water drainage in West Windsor has become a major problem. On August 6, 2024, the flooding in West Windsor was so severe it was covered by CBS News. A developer is planning to fill valuable wetlands to construct large single-family homes on Block 16, Lot 24, which is a 22-acre parcel of land adjacent to the West Windsor Little League Fields, between Penn Lyle and North Post Roads. We live next to this property on the same block, and we experienced heavy and dangerous flooding on August 6. You can view a 13-second video of what we experienced at tinyurl.com/wwflood. Our car was totaled, and we are grateful to be alive.

In an area with such severe storm drainage issues, should a developer be allowed to fi ll in the wetlands adjacent to our homes? Why would we choose to exacerbate this water drainage problem? If the wetlands are filled, where will that stormwater drain to? Who benefits from destroying our homes and reducing our town’s property values? The letter from the developer’s engineer says the plan is to fill in the wetlands to build a single-family home. In actuality, their construction plans show six large, single-family homes and a road that would increase impervious surfaces and runoff. Can the township or the developer guarantee no negative impact to the surrounding neighborhoods?

Rainfall studies conducted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) in 2021 conﬁrm an increase in storm intensity, duration, and rainfall amounts. A 2021 NJ.com article indicates that 2018 was the wettest year on record for New Jersey, with record rainfall 10 out of the 12 months.

In addition, this property is part of the Duck Pond Run Watershed, which feeds into the Delaware and Raritan Canal and is a source of drinking water for a million New Jersey residents. These wetlands act as a natural sponge, facilitating drainage, preventing ﬂooding, and maintaining water quality. By ﬁlling the wetlands, we cover more of West Windsor’s precious open space with impervious material that prevents water from percolating into the ground.

This alters ﬂooding patterns and increases pollutant loads to streams. Wetlands construction makes systematic stormwater control extremely difﬁcult and also fragments forests and other habitats, leading to a decline in ecological health and water quality.

Please do not build on these wetlands. We are already experiencing ﬂooding and water management issues, and this new construction will exacerbate them. We ask the NJDEP and our town leadership to please protect our wetlands and remedy, not worsen, our water drainage issues. We ask that the NJDEP protect our existing wetlands and that NJDEP not approve this construction project.

KANI ILANGOVAN

ANGIRAS ARYA

POORNA ASHOK

ASHOK PADMANABHAN

All of Indian Run, West Windsor

Erica Snyder and Chris Santarpio Will Be Ready for Board of Ed on Day One

To the Editor:

With a critically important national election less than a week away, one could be forgiven for paying slightly less attention to some of the other races at the state and local levels. But, in a democracy, who we choose to lead our institutions has a significant influence on our daily lives, from elected officials in the White House to the “schoolhouse.” The race for Board of Education, here in Princeton, is no exception. The coming year will bring a number of pivotal decisions that will shape the school system, and — by extension — the town, including the hiring of a new superintendent, the advancement of a referendum to fund the needed improvement of our schools, and a continued focus on closing any learning gaps that opened up during the COVID-19 pandemic.

At this pivotal moment, Princeton needs a Board of Education that is values-driven, and ready to take the necessary steps to continue to ensure a brighter future for our children on day one. We couldn’t think of two better candidates to join the Board than Erica Snyder and Chris Santarpio. Erica and Chris are currently the co-presidents of the Community Park Elementary School PTO, where our daughter has been enrolled since kindergarten and is now in third grade. To put it simply, we believe they are the best candidates to ﬁll these important roles.

Erica and Chris go out of their way to bring their experience and values to the often unsung and heroic work of the PTO each and every day. From coming up with ever-creative (and fun!) ways to raise funds for the PTO, to featuring sustainability for the ﬁrst time as a theme for STEAM day, to just being there — before school, after school, at every PTO event, and beyond — you know that Erica and Chris sincerely care about the students, the parents, and the teachers. And with young children of their own in the public schools, their interest in joining the Board is both personal and long-term. As PTO co-presidents, Erica and Chris give freely of their time and effort to continually improve our schools. And the better our schools are, the better our community is. They are intricately linked. This makes them uniquely qualiﬁed to be elected to the Board of Education where they would pick up exactly where they would leave off as PTO co-presidents, working as hard for our kids as they do for their own.

So, as you consider your ballot this Election Day, please join us in voting for Erica Snyder and Chris Santarpio for School Board.

ROB FREUDENBERG AND KRISTI WIEDEMANN

Palmer Square West

Raising Questions Regarding Town Services, Recycling, Garbage, Leaf Collection Rules

To the Editor:

Reading the article “Sustainable Princeton Reports Progress on CAP” on the front page of the October 2 issue, I was disappointed in what direction the town is heading. Instead of extending their services for residents paying really high property taxes, it is looking like Princeton is creating new obstacles and is spending money for environmental studies, “how to handle garbage, recycling, leaves, shrubs collection, and food scraps program.” To enforce these new rules the town is even hiring a new position of “environmental cop.”

These facts are raising several questions: Why is the town signiﬁ cantly reducing services? Why do we have to place leaves into bags instead of leaving them at curb line as we did for years? Why can’t landscape contractors place leaves at the curb line? These leaves are still from our yards. Why do we not do recycling the way it has been done for years in Europe (separation of glass, plastic, paper, cans)? And why are homeowners legally responsible for the kind of machinery landscape contractors are using?

CYRIL KUCERA State Road

Candidate Meisel has Unique Combination Of Skills to Bene t PPS Board of Education

To the Editor:

I am delighted to pound the table in support of the candidacy of Ari Meisel for PPS Board of Education member. In the interests of full disclosure, Ari and I are good friends. In fact, my wife and I hosted his 40th birthday party in our home. So while I ﬁrmly stand by everything I have stated below, the reader of this letter should note that I am unabashedly Team Ari.

Let’s be honest, Princeton’s school system has made some mistakes in recent years. Yes, our public schools still do a good job of educating our children. But for better or worse, good isn’t good enough anymore. There are too many highperformance school systems in Mercer County — let alone New Jersey and the nation — to be satisﬁed with providing our students with a B+ educational offering.

That’s where Ari comes in, because Ari doesn’t do “good,” he does exceptional. To that point, I have a cutting board in my home that Ari made for my family, and no surprise, it’s the best cutting board I’ve ever owned.

On more consequential matters, Ari has distinguished himself as one of the world’s leading productivity and efﬁciency experts. If you don’t believe me, google him, or check out his collection of published books, which are recommended by luminaries like Tony Robbins and Daymond John. Aren’t they usually the ones giving advice to others?

With respect to Ari’s contributions to our community, he is Princeton’s real-life Superman. After all, he’s a dad to ﬁve great kids (ranging from 18 months to 13 years old) and yet he still carves out time to volunteer his nights and weekends to the Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad. How many people with ﬁve children would do that?

As if that were not enough, Ari is on the security committee at The Jewish Community Center and he conducts stop-thebleed trainings in our schools and houses of worship. Now for the icing on the cake: despite all of the things that Ari does for others, he still carves out time for family and friends like me. How does he do it? I have no bloody idea. It’s magic. But if you elect Ari to the PPS Board, your children will become the beneﬁciaries of that magic. Because nobody has his unique combination of skills and nobody will work harder than Ari to make sure that our school system delivers an A+ for our children.

GREGG SCHOENBERG Linden Lane

Noting that Erica Snyder is Board of Education Candidate that Princeton Needs and Deserves

To the Editor:

This is my ﬁrst letter to Town Topics and I’m doing so to fully endorse my wife Erica Snyder’s candidacy for a seat on the PPS Board of Education.

In the fall of 2009, I met Erica while she was working as a hardworking teacher at Garinger High School in Charlotte, NC. This was the third opportunity, in a row, that Erica chose to teach at an economically disadvantaged, diverse, innercity school following Guayaquil, Ecuador, and Chicago, Ill. (Garinger has a 96.5 percent minority enrollment — 2024 numbers). Erica worked tirelessly to ensure her students received the latest in innovation, with project-based learning and new technologies, she communicated clearly with the faculty, parents and students in English and Spanish, and she dedicated countless hours in coaching struggling teenagers to ensure they met grade level curriculum standards.

In 2010, I deployed to Afghanistan. Erica and I dated throughout my deployment, fell in love, and married in 2011. Since I was a full-time soldier, we moved together to my new duty station in Texas. After the move, Erica continued her dedication to teaching and educational innovation, with progressively responsible roles with New Tech Network, Teaching Channel, Digital Promise, K12, and currently as the director of Cherry Hill Nursery School in Princeton. In addition to her work in education, Erica’s volunteer work resulted in her earning the prestigious Commission of the Yellow Rose of Texas, awarded from the Governor of Texas, for her exceptional community service and advocacy.

For the next 10 years, Erica delivered at the highest levels to her family and communities (military, local, state, and federal) as we moved eight times, and I deployed again and again, leaving her alone, without family support, to raise our three kids. During that time, I promised Erica, when I retired from the U.S. Army, that we would settle in a local community, we made Princeton our forever home in 2021, and since she sacriﬁced for my military service that I would return the favor and support her work and passions, which have remained consistent since 2009.

Erica will provide the highest level of commitment to the students, parents, administrators, and Board members as a Princeton BOE member. My successes and those of our kids are due to her tireless support. So, I fully endorse Erica to support the Princeton community we love, and I hope you vote for her and appreciate her as much as I do.

LT. COL. PAUL SNYDER, USA, RETIRED Lawrenceville Road

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

Authors Pugh, Khan in Discussion At Princeton Library Book Brunch

Author Allison Pugh discusses her book The Last Human Job with Princeton faculty member Shamus Khan at a book brunch on Sunday, November 3, at 11 a.m. at the Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Doors open at 10:45 a.m. Pastries, coffee, and tea will be served.

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence and labor-saving technologies like self-checkouts and automated factories, the future of work has never been more uncertain, notes the publisher (Princeton University Press, $29.95). Even jobs requiring high levels of human interaction are no longer safe, the author contends, as she explores the human connections that underlie work and how connective labor enriches the lives of individuals and binds our communities together.

“Allison Pugh has written an insightful, eye-opening book that gives us a new vocabulary and conceptual framework to capture care work and so much more,” writes Anne-Marie Slaughter, CEO of New America and former dean of Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs. “ The Last Human Job is vital reading for anyone interested in technology and humanity.”

Pugh is professor of sociology and chair of the Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality at the University of Virginia. She is the author of The Tumbleweed Society: Working and Caring in an Age of Insecurity and Longing, and Belonging: Parents, Children, and Consumer Culture. Her writing has appeared in leading publications.

Kahn is Willard Thorp Professor of Sociology and American Studies at Princeton University, where he also serves as the director of Gender & Sexuality Studies. He is the author of over 120 articles, books, and essays, including Privilege: The Making of an Adolescent Elite at St. Paul’s School , and Sexual Citizens: Sex, Power, and Assault on Campus (with Jennifer Hirsch).

The program is presented with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Poets Gather to Read from Journal

A gathering to mark the publication of the 69th volume of US 1 Worksheets Volume 69, the journal of DVP/ US 1 Poets Collective, is on Sunday, November 3, from 2 to 4 p.m., at the Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street.

The public is invited to the publication party of the annual anthology of Mercer County-based DVP/US 1 Poets Collective. This year’s anthology includes work by 141 national and international poets, many of whom will attend to read their poems.

The program is presented with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Einstein, Kafka are Stars of Krimstein’s Graphic Narrative

New Yorker cartoonist Ken Krimstein will discuss his graphic narrative, Einstein in Kafkaland: How Albert Fell Down the Rabbit Hole and Came Up with the Universe, with podcast host Gil Roth on Thursday, November 14 from 6 to 7 p.m. at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street. The Princeton Public Library co-presents the program. According to the publisher (Bloomsbury Publishing, $32), Krimstein’s book reveals the pivotal year in Prague when Einstein became “Einstein,” Kafka became “Kafka,” and the world changed forever. During the year that Prague was home to both Albert Einstein and Franz Kafka, from 1911-1912, the trajectory of the two men’s lives wove together in uncanny ways — as did their shared desire to tackle the world’s

biggest questions. For Einstein, his lost year in Prague became a critical bridge to set him on the path to what many consider the greatest scientiﬁc discovery of all time, his General Theory of Relativity. And for Kafka, this year was a bridge to writing his first masterpiece, The Judgment.

“Clever, charming, amusing, and just plain brilliant. Ken Krimstein is the most inventive graphic biographer on the planet — and certainly the only one who could explain both Einstein and Kafka. A page turner on gravity and relativity!” described Kai Bird, Pulitzer Prize-winning co-author of American Prometheus, the biography that inspired the ﬁlm Oppenheimer.

Krimstein is a cartoonist, author, and educator whose work appears in The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Chicago Tribune. His 2021 book, When I Grow Up — The Lost Autobiographies of Six Yiddish Teenagers, has been named an NPR Best Book of the Year, a Washington Post Best Book of the Year and Top 10 Graphic Novel of 2021, and a Chicago Tribune Fall “Best Read.” His 2018 book The Three Escapes of Hannah Arendt won the Bernard J. Bromel Award for Biography and Memoir and was a ﬁnalist for the National Jewish Book Award.

Roth is the creator and host of “The Virtual Memories Show,” a podcast featuring his conversations with writers, artists, cartoonists, critics, musicians, and other creatives. His zine ,Haiku for Business Travelers, collects poems, essays, photography, and ﬁction.

Authors Sun and Chang Speak On “Sisters K,” “Authentic Life”

Authors Maureen Sun and Jennifer Chang will speak about their writing — Sun’s novel Sisters K, and Chen’s An Authentic Life — at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street, on Wednesday, November 6 at 6 p.m. The event is co-presented with the Princeton Public Library.

In Sun’s book, three sisters called to their father’s deathbed must confront a man little changed by the fact of his mortality. He wants one thing: to see which of his children will abject themselves for his favor, and more importantly, his fortune. Each sister must face a brutal past colliding with their present.

The poems in Jennifer Chang’s third collection offer a bold examination of a world deeply inﬂuenced by war and patriarchy. These poems navigate wounds opened by exploration of family and generational trauma and draw on

the author’s experiences as a mother, as the daughter of immigrants, and as a citizen of a deeply divided nation. Sun has taught literature at Princeton University, Barnard College, New York University, and the University of Hong Kong. She is at work on a second novel. Her work has been recognized in The Best American Essays 2021. Chang is the author of The History of Anonymity and Some Say the Lark, which received the 2018 William Carlos Williams Award from the Poetry Society of America. Her poems have appeared in American Poetry Review, The Believer, Best American Poetry 2012 and 2022, Georgia Review, The New Yorker, The New York Times, A Public Space, and Yale Review. She is the poetry editor of New England Review and teaches at the University of Texas in Austin.

On Ezra Pound’s Birthday: Life and Contacts

Denizens of YouTube’s cosmic jukebox can celebrate Ezra Pound’s birthday by listening to him deliver Part I of his landmark poem H ugh Selwyn Mauberly (Life and Contacts) . The reading was reportedly recorded in 1959 when he lived in Castle Brunnenburg in the Italian Tyrol, some 39 years after the poem was first published and 65 years before the 2024 election. With a few taps on the keyboard, you can go eye to eye with the old poet, who describes himself as E.P. “born in a half-savage country, out of date” — actually Hailey, Idaho Territory, U.S.A., October 30, 1885.

The Voice

Pound’s voice stays with you. At 74, he comes through alive and slashing, with phrases that resonate a week before the Fifth of November:

“a tawdry cheapness / Shall outlast our days...”

“All men, in law, are equals...We choose a knave or an eunuch / To rule over us.”

“What god, man, or hero / Shall I place a tin wreath upon?”

As Pound gathers steam, he could be referring to any war anywhere, any political situation —

“These fought .... Some quick to arm, / some for adventure, / some from fear of weakness, / some from fear of censure, / some for love of slaughter, in imagination, learning later ...” They “walked eye-deep in hell / believing in old men’s lies, then unbelieving / came home, home to a lie, / home to many deceits, / home to old lies and new infamy; / usury age-old and agethick / and liars in public places.”

Pound and Politics

Today the lies, infamy, and deceit are spread through eruptions of misinformation on a scale inconceivable in 1920 or 1959. The term “usury” is also a key to Pound’s personal prejudice, in this instance the stereotypical Jewish moneylender embodied by the war profiteers that Pound blamed for the First World War, as well as for creating and exploiting the Second.

In his preface to Volume I of Ezra Pound: Poet (Oxford 2007), A. David Murray describes Pound leaving London in 1920 knowing “that in his time and culture any earthly paradise would have to be forged in the inferno of imperial capitalism.” His poetry is “prophetic, at once revealing something of the mystery of the contemporary money-dominated and market-oriented Western world, and envisioning a wiser way of living.”

During Pound’s 1960 Paris Review conversation with poet Donald Hall, he recalls visiting his father, an assistant assayer at the U.S. mint in Philadelphia. After “the Democrats finally came back in [in 1893],” the silver dollars were “recounted, ... four million dollars in silver. All the bags had rotted in these enormous vaults, and they were heaving it into the counting machines with shovels bigger than coal shovels.”

For Pound, this image out of the “capitalist inferno,” the “spectacle of coin being shoveled around like it was litter — these fellows naked to the waist shoveling it around in the gas flares — things like that strike your imagination.”

By 1940 Pound was calling the Democratic president “that brute Rosefield,” FDR being one of the prime targets of his pro-Fascist wartime broadcasts from Mussolini’s Italy — for which he was arrested in May 1945 by U.S. forces and held in an American military detention center near Pisa.

Imprisoned for weeks in a wire cage open to wind and rain, Pound suffered “a nervous collapse from the physical and emotional strain,” according to the introduction to the 2003 paperback edition of The Pisan Cantos : “Out of the agony of his own inferno came the eleven cantos that became the sixth book of his modernist epic, The Cantos , itself conceived as a Divine Comedy for our time.”

landslide victory over George McGovern. The fact that a “Mr. Nixon” turns up in Part II of Mauberly is among the coincidences inherent in the fact that Pound’s birth and death dates precede American elections. In Murray’s biography, which is subtitled The Young Genius: 1885-1920, “Mr. Nixon” is numbered among Mauberley’s “contacts,” none of whom, Pound claimed “were to be identified with particular people known to him.”

Murray goes on to name some possibilities in the London group Pound was associated with, most prominently his “stylist” friend Ford Madox Ford. Among “Mr.Nixon’s” literary tips, the final piece of advice was: “And give up verse, my boy, / There’s nothing in it.”

Whether or not Ford actually inspired “Mr. Nixon,” he has given the world an image of Pound arriving in London at 22 “with the step of a dancer, making passes with a cane at an imaginary opponent” while wearing “trousers made of green billiard cloth, a pink coat, a blue shirt, a tie handpainted by a Japanese friend, an immense sombrero, a flaming beard cut to a point, and a single, large blue earring.”

Published by New Directions, The Pisan Cantos won the 1948 Bollingen Prize for poetry, awarded by the Library of Congress. “The honor came amid violent controversy, for the dark cloud of treason still hung over Pound,” who was incarcerated in a Washington, D.C., hospital for the insane until poets and authors rallied around him and gained his release in 1958. According to Ernest Hemingway, who later expressed his debt to Pound in A Moveable Feast, “Whatever he did has been punished greatly and I believe he should be freed to go and write poems in Italy where he is loved and understood.”

“Mr. Nixon”

Pound lived in Italy through the 1960s, giving annual readings at Spoleto’s Festival of Two Worlds from July 1966 up until the year preceding his death at 87 (November 1, 1972), six days before Richard Nixon’s

Character and Poem

Speaking of Mauberley as a character, Murray suggests that he has “all Pound’s mastery of the art of composing words and images into music, but he is his opposite when it comes to the relations of life and art. Not life for art’s sake, but art for life’s sake has always been Pound’s cry.” Discussing Mauberly as a poem, T.S. Eliot (whose 1922 masterpiece The Wasteland lives and breathes in great part thanks to Pound’s vision of art for life’s sake) declares it “a great poem” and “a positive document of sensibility. It is compact of the experience of a certain man in a certain place at a certain time; and it is also the document of an epoch; it is genuine tragedy and comedy; and it is, in the best sense of [Matthew] Arnold’s worn phrase, a ‘criticism of life.’ “

A Certain Place

A couple in their twenties traveling through Italy in the summer of 1966 found themselves in Spoleto on the day Ezra Pound was reading at the Festival of Two Worlds. The legendary poet had not

been on their schedule; they didn’t even know that he was still alive; it was as if the Lost Generation had been found on a rainy/sunshiny day in early July. There he was, the last survivor of 1920s Paris, as alive as we were, breathing the same air, with his white forked beard, his hair a white cloud, eyes in a blue mist, his voice a whisper compared to the voice on the record made seven years before. And when he said he was reading from something he called “Hugh Selwyn Mauberley,” we had no idea what to expect from such a dull, unpromising title, although the first lines sounded familiar, worhy of the legend standing behind the lectern: “For three years, out of key with his time, he strove to resuscitate the dead art of poetry.”

And how did it feel when we came out of the building in a mist of sun and rain and saw him in the street, braced on his cane? I’ll quote from Mauberley, the last three lines from “Envoi,” which he’d delivered toward the end of the reading and which are printed in italics in T.S. Eliot’s edition of Pound’s Selected Verse : (Faber & Gwyer 1928):

Siftings on siftings in oblivion, Till change hath broken down All things save Beauty alone.

Ginsberg Blesses Pound

A year later, in the last week of October, Allen Ginsberg visited Pound in Venice, playing him a tape of contemporary rock: The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby” and “Yellow Submarine,” Bob Dylan’s “Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands,” “Gates of Eden,” and “Absolutely Sweet Marie,” and Donovan’s “Sunshine Superman.” Pound sat silent throughout the concert, responding with “a slight smile” to the line “No one was saved” from “Eleanor Rigby” and to “six white horses that you promised me were finally delivered down to the Penitentiary” from “Sweet Marie.”

Aweek later, in an apparent reference to Pound’s antisemitic wartime broadcasts. Ginsberg announced, “I’m a Buddhist Jew,” going on to mention “the series of practical exact language models which are scattered throughout the Cantos like stepping stones – ground for me to occupy, walk on – so that despite your intentions the practical effect has been to clarify my perceptions – and anyway, now, do you accept my blessing?” To which Pound said, “I do,” admitting “my worst mistake was the stupid suburban prejudice of anti-Semitism, all along, that spoiled everything.” Said Ginsberg, “Ah, that’s lovely to hear you say that…” —Stuart Mitchner

We are currently accepting applications for 2025-2026

Performing Arts

New Jersey Youth Symphony Presents Veterans Day Concert

at Patriots Theater at the War Memorial on Veterans Day, November 3. orchestras participating in the initiative and presenting the New Jersey premiere of this work.

The New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS) will present a concert to honor veterans and armed forces on Sunday, November 3 at 3 p.m. at the Patriots Theater at the War Memorial in Trenton.

Veterans are invited to attend the concert for free by using discount code VETERAN. Tickets and more information can be found at NJYS.org.

The program features the New Jersey premiere of Peter Boyer’s Rhapsody in Red, White, and Blue with pianist Jeffrey Biegel. Biegel commissioned Boyer to compose the piece to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the premiere of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blu e and gave its first performance in June 2023 with the Utah Symphony. Biegel later recorded the work for the Naxos label with the London Symphony Orchestra and Boyer conducting.

To support American orchestras post-pandemic, Biegel developed the Rhapsody National Initiative, which entails performances of Rhapsody in Red, White, and Blue with at least one orchestra in all 50 states over the course of three years at no cost to the orchestras that participate. NJYS is one of three youth

“I created the 50 states Rhapsody National Initiative as the first commissioning project not requiring orchestras to pay toward the composer’s fee, and, to bring orchestras in all 50 states to the initiative celebrating orchestras and music in America,” said Biegel. “Peter Boyer’s ‘Rhapsody in Red, White and Blue’ a fabulous work reflecting the American flag, and mu sic since the time of George Gershwin’s 1924 Rhapsody in Blue for whose centen nial the new Rhapsody cel ebrates. The New Jersey Youth Symphony represents the state of New Jersey and the vibrant young musicians taking part in this unprecedented national endeavor.”

Conservatory Faculty Recital Series will open with a multimedia presentation “ 山水畫 – Chinese Landscapes in Music, Poetry, and Painting.” The recital will take place in Hillman Performance Hall, 101 Walnut Lane.

The performers include Westminster Conservatory faculty members Fang-Ting Liu, piano; Even Rong Ma, cello; and Timothy Urban, voice and instrument. Shunzhu Wang of the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures at Rider University will serve as the reciter. Slideshow presentations were curated by Maggy Lu.

The program is the fourth in a multimedia series that began in 2012 in which three art forms inspired by the Chinese landscape, poetry, song and painting are brought together. Famous Chinese poems are both sung and recited to an accompanying slideshow of Chinese calligraphy, landscape paintings. and photographs related to the texts of the poem.

Admission is free. Visit rider.edu for more information.

Atelier@Large

Series

Brings Trio of Artists

On November 12 at 4:30 p.m., Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts presents the next event in the 2024-25 Atelier@Large conversation series at Richardson Auditorium. Admission is free.

currently directed by Muldoon, was founded in 1994 by emeritus professor Toni Morrison. The Atelier brings together professional artists from different disciplines and Princeton students to create new work in the context of a semester-long course that culminates in the public presentation of that new work. Recent artists have included Stew, Laurie Anderson, the improv group Baby Wants Candy, and the Wakka Wakka Puppet Theatre.

“Being an artist is tough enough at the best of times,” says Muldoon, “but it’s particularly difficult just now. Artists are coming under pressure from numerous orthodoxies to both left and right, as to what they must or must not do. Most insidious, perhaps, is the form of self-censorship that has artists second guessing themselves. In addition to honoring some of our finest minds, The Atelier@ Large series provides a rare enough forum in which some of these ideas may be aired.”

Boylan is the author of 18 books including the memoir She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders (2003), one of the first bestselling works by a transgender American. With Jodi Picoult, she recently coauthored the New York Times bestseller Mad Honey (2022). Monk is a pioneer in what is now called extended vocal technique and interdisciplinary performance. Her work has been presented at major venues around the world. Over the last six decades, Monk has been hailed as one of National Public Radio’s 50 Great Voices and

The concert will also feature the Candide Overture and music from West Side Story by Leornard Bernstein, as well as Three Spirituals by the African American composer Adolphus Hailstork. Performances of “America the Beautiful,” “Armed Forces Salute,” and other works complete the program.

Westminster Conservatory Opens Faculty Recital Series

On Saturday, November 2 at 7:30 p.m., the 2024-25 season of the Westminster

The series brings guest artists and intellectuals to campus for public discussions on the challenges they face in making art in the modern world. Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and professor Paul Muldoon will be joined at the event by writer Jennifer Finney Boylan; composer, performer, director, vocalist, filmmaker, and choreographer Meredith Monk; and poet Maria Stepanova with translator Sasha Dugdale.

The Princeton Atelier,

“one of America’s coolest composers.”

Stepanova is the author of 14 poetry collections and three books of essays and a recipient of several Russian and international literary awards. Her poems have been translated into several languages, including English, German, French, Italian, and Swedish. Dugdale’s sixth book of poetry, The Strongbox, was published by Carcanet Press in 2024. Deformations (Carcanet Press, 2020) was shortlisted for both the T. S. Eliot Prize and the Derek Walcott Poetry Prize.

For more information, visit arts.princeton.edu.

Isidore String Quartet Makes Princeton Debut

On Wednesday, November 20, Princeton University Concerts (PUC) will launch its Performances Up Close series, Live Music Meditation series, and Do-ReMeet social events for music lovers with the PUC debut of the Isidore String Quartet.

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 schedulefriendly concert experience.

For their 6 and 9 p.m. Performances Up Close, the ensemble will play works by Billy Childs, Henri Dutilleux, and W.A. Mozart.

Alongside these performances on November 20, patrons can also participate in a pre-concert Do-Re-Meet Speed Dating event at 7 p.m. at the historic Maclean House.

Earlier that afternoon, the community is invited to hear the Isidore String Quartet in a meditative state of deep listening at one of PUC’s free, un-ticketed, Live Music Meditation events in Richardson Auditorium. Meditation begins at 12 p.m., and guidance from Matthew Weiner, associate dean in the Princeton University Office of Religious Life, will begin at 12:30 p.m. To close out their stay on Thursday, November 21, the quartet 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.

“We pride ourselves on spotting emerging stars like the Isidore String Quartet,” said PUC Director Marna Seltzer, “so that our audience can look back and say they heard them at PUC first. The Isidore String Quartet is on the fast track. They have won almost every major competition for string quartets, and their approach is all about helping audiences rediscover the classics, as well as new works. They’ve programmed a thoughtful variety of work pairing a very recent piece by the living American composer Billy Childs and a fascinating work by 20th century French composer Henri Dutilleux with a forward-thinking quartet by Mozart. With audience seated around the quartet, viewing and hearing this ensemble from all angles is the ultimate ‘up close’ experience.”

Visit puc.princeton.edu for ticket information.

AMERICAN MUSIC AND MORE: The Westminster Community Orchestra brings its first performance of the season to Hillman Hall, on the Westminster Choir College campus, 101 Walnut Lane, on Sunday, November 3 at 3 p.m. Conductor Ruth Ochs, left, leads a program of music by George Gershwin, Scott Joplin, Florence Price, and other American composers; recorder player Tegan Costello, right, is soloist in Telemann’s Recorder Concerto in C. No tickets are required, but there is a suggested admission of $10. Visit rider.edu.

HONORING VETERANS: Pianist Jeffrey Biegel is the soloist when the New Jersey Youth Symphony performs “Rhapsody in Red, White, and Blue”

Meredith Monk (Photo by F. Scott Schafer)

“Mercer County Photography 2024” Awards Announced

Nine Mercer County photographers received a total of 10 awards at the October 13 opening reception for “Mercer County Photography 2024” at Trenton

through funding from the Mercer County Board of Commissioners, and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment of the Arts.

Juror Gary Saretzky, a well-known Mercer County photographer, educator, archivist, and exhibitor, selected photographs for Best in Show, Juror’s Choice,

City Museum at Ellarslie. The biennial juried show, on view in the museum through December 1, showcases a diverse array of contemporary work by photographers from throughout Mercer County. Most of the show’s 55 photographs are available for purchase.

and Honorable Mention. Ida Margicin, chief of the Mercer County Division of Culture and Heritage, along with commissioners from the division, selected five Mercer County Purchase Awards. The Purchase Award photographs will become a part of Mercer County permanent art collection and be displayed in county buildings.

“Mercer County Photography 2024” can be seen at Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, located in Cadwalader Park, Thursday through Saturday from 12 to 4 p.m., and Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is free, with donations appreciated in support of the museum’s programming. For more information, visit ellarslie.org or call (609) 989-1191.

Desert (1994) film screening

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of

The awards given were Best in Show, Ghost of Dolomites, Samuel Vovsi, Princeton; Juror’s Choice, Forget Me Not, Cheryl Bomba, Pennington; Honorable Mention, Audra – Movement in Time, Richard Van Fleet, Pennington; Honorable Mention, Mechanic, Brooklyn, NY, Eugene Pierce, Lawrence Township; and Honorable Mention, I Pray This Finds You Well, Cheryl Bomba, Pennington. Purchase Awards went to Lake Shore, Susan Jacobsen, Ewing; Baubles, Beth Jarvie, Hamilton Township; Lenni-Lenape (True People), Janice Montervino, Trenton; The Artist Shack, Robert A. Terrano, East Windsor; and Fen at Miry Run, Laurie Van Sant, Mercerville,

The Mercer County Photography program is made possible, in part, by the Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission

“Creative Women’s Showcase” At Contemporary Art Center The Center for Contemporary Art in Bedminster presents the “Creative Women’s Showcase” exhibition, curated by Ilisa Zollenberg, November 1 through December 8 Exhibiting artists Serena Bocchino (Basking Ridge), Meeta Garg (Basking Ridge), Ivey Kampouris (Bridgewater), Grace Martoccia (Basking Ridge), Seanna Noonan (Basking Ridge), Carolina W. Rivera (Califon), Isabell Villacis (South Bound Brook), and Ilisa Zollenberg (Basking Ridge) will showcase their work in mixed media, pastels, acrylic, photography, and more.

Zollenberg said in her curatorial statement, “Art is a powerful communicator. It connects us to each other. It introduces us to strangers. It is a storyteller of the soul. It entices the audience to look further into a message that needs to be told. I am so grateful to live the life of an artist. Throughout my career as an artist, business owner and entrepreneur, I am inspired by the talented women I have met. It has always been a dream of mine to create a place where women can come together to recognize, support, and empower each other’s talents. Curating this show provided me a voice to do that.”

An opening reception is on Friday, November 1 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. with a celebration of women artists and business owners, a vendor sale, and meet and greet.

The Center for Contemporary Art is located at 2020 Burnt Mills Road in Bedminster. For more information, call (908) 234-2345 or visit ccabedminster.org.

“THE WAGON”: The Arts Council of Princeton’s latest Spring Street mural is by Red Sean, the nickname for Trenton-born illustrator Sean Rynkewicz, an avid commuter cyclist who now lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Madison, who helped paint the mural. It is sponsored by Kopp’s Powered by Pedego. (Photo courtesy of Arts Council of Princeton)

“FORGET

NOT”: The “Mercer County Photography 2024” Juror’s Choice Award went to this work by photographer Cheryl Bomba of Pennington. The show can be seen at Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie in Cadwalader Park through December 1.

“CREATIVE WOMEN’S SHOWCASE”: The exhibition focusing on women artists Is at the Center for Contemporary Art in Bedminster November 1 through December 8. An opening reception is on Friday, November 1 from 5:30 to 9 p.m.

the area’s earliest local photographers at the annual fall meeting of the Hunterdon County Historical Society (HCHS) on November 10 at 2 p.m. in the

Church Fellowship Hall.

HCHS Meeting Focuses on 19th-Century Photographers

Discover the unique stories of the area’s earliest local photographers at the annual fall meeting of the Hunterdon County Historical Society (HCHS) on Sunday, November 10 at 2 p.m. in the Flemington Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall.

In a profusely illustrated slide program, photo historian Gary Saretzky will provide an overview of the way photographs were made in the 19th century and discuss the interesting stories of numerous photographers active from about 1850 in Flemington, Lambertville, Clinton, and Frenchtown. About 90 professional photographers were based in Hunterdon in the 19th century. Among those covered in this talk are Gideon C. Angle, Clinton; Frank Fritz, Lambertville; John and Mary Sunderlin, Flemington; and George W. Freeland, Milford and Frenchtown.

Saretzky is an archivist, educator, and photographer. He worked as an archivist for more than 50 years at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Educational Testing Service, and the Monmouth County Archives. Saretzky taught the history of photography at Mercer County Community College from 1977-2012 and served as coordinator of the Public History Internship Program for the Rutgers University History Department, 19942016. He has published more than 100 articles and reviews on the history of photography, photographic conservation, and other topics.

Saretzky noted that some takeaways from the program

include the role of professional photographers in small towns during the era when most people did not have their own cameras, and how the appearance of people and places in New Jersey have changed with the passage of time.

“Photographers varied quite a bit in their personal lives,” Saretzky said.

“While most photographers were men, some women had significant careers in photography.”

The program is free; everyone is welcome. The church’s Fellowship Hall at 10 East Main Street, Flemington, is accessible to all. Refreshments will be served.

“In Plain Sight” Photography Exhibit at Gourgaud Gallery

The Gourgaud Gallery in Cranbury will present “In Plain Sight: A Lingering View of the World Around Us,” the first public showing of photography by William Kanawyer, November 3 through November 26. An artist’s reception is on Sunday, November 3 from 1-3 p.m.

Kanawyer is a sixth generation native Californian. He grew up in the high desert of Southern California surrounded by actors, filmmakers, musicians, and graphic artists. While in school studying technical theater, photography, and electronics, his father died, suddenly launching him, out of need, into a career path that mixed the arts and sciences before settling into programming and computer technologies.

Kanawyer moved to Cranbury in the early 1990s where his interests in photography, audio field recording, and comfort with

the rapidly expanding field of digital artistic media brought him into contact with the founding Cranbury Arts Council members Susan Leson and Martha “Marty” Hayden. Together they embarked on a number of collaborations to produce compact disk recordings of performances by and for Cranbury students.

In memoriam for Leason who passed in 2022, Kanawyer is collaborating once again with, and for the benefit of, the Cranbury Arts Council with this exhibit of his photographic work. It reflects his deep curiosity and desire to look more closely at the world that surrounds us. To linger on what may be commonplace or transient, ephemeral, to find beauty in our daily lives.

Works in the exhibit will be for sale with all proceeds benefiting the Cranbury Arts Council and its programs that support the Arts in the community. Payment should be made directly to the Cranbury Arts Council.

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

For more information, visit cranburyartscouncil.org.

TOWN

TOPICS is printed entirely on recycled paper.

Area Exhibits

Art@Bainbridge, 158 Nassau Street, has “Heléne Aylon: Undercurrent” through February 2. Artmuseum. princeton.edu.

Artists’ Gallery, 18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, has “Not to Be Forgotten” through November 3. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lambertvillearts.com.

Art on Hulfish, 11 Hulfish Street, has “Under a Southern Star: Identity and Environment in Australian Photography” through January 5. Artmuseum. princeton.edu.

Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, has “Reimagined Lives: Narratives in Motion,” “Exploring Abstraction,” and “Into Sight, Into Mind: Radiant Glory of the Anthropocene” through November 2. Artscouncilofprinceton.org.

David Scott Gallery, 253 Nassau Street, has “Available Light,” a collection of paintings by New York architect and artist Mark Oliver, through December 31. David scottfineart@gmail.com.

Dohm Alley, next to 100 Nassau Street, has the Princeton Einstein Museum’s “Einstein’s “Attraction to Magnetism,” open 24/7 through November 30. princeton einsteinmuseum.org.

Ficus Bon Vivant, 235 Nassau Street, has “Capture the Rhythm” through January 12. Ficusbv.com.

Gourgaud Gallery, 23-A North Main Street, Cranbury, has “In Plain Sight: A Lingering View of the World Around Us” November 3 through November 26. An artist reception is on Sunday, November 3 from 1 to 3 p.m. Cranburyartscouncil.org.

Green Building Center, 67 Bridge Street, Lambertville, has an art show by the MUGA Group through December 31. Greenbuilding center.com.

Grounds For Sculpture, 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, has “That’s Worth Celebrating: The Life and Work of the Johnson Family” through the end of 2024, 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

Milberg Gallery, Princeton University Library, has “Monsters & Machines: Caricature, Visual Satire, and the Twentieth-Century Bestiary” through December 8. Library.princeton.edu/ monstersandmachines.

Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, has “Morven Revealed: Untold Stories from New Jersey’s Most Historic Home,” through March 2. Morven.org.

Russell Marks Gallery at Princeton Windrows, 2000 Windrow Drive, has “Learning Curves: Works from the Beginning Drawing Classes” through December 31.

Silva Gallery of Art at the Pennington School, 112 West Delaware Avenue, Pennington, has “Alia Bensliman: From North Africa to North America” through December 13. Silvagallery@penningtonschool.org.

Small World Coffee, 14 Witherspoon Street, has works by Liesl Schubel through November 5. Paintings and collages by Clara Sue Beym are at the 254 Nassau Street location through November 5. Smallworldcoffee.com.

West Windsor Arts, 952 Alexander Road, West Windsor, has “Art Alliance of Monmouth County Invitational Show ” through November 2. Westwindsorarts.org.

Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers, 71 George Street, New Brunswick, has “Michelle V. Agins: Storyteller” through December 8 and “Smoke & Mirrors” through December 22. Zimmerli.rutgers.edu.

sab visiting artist conversation

Shahzia Sikander and James Steward Thursday, November 7, 5:30 pm

MacArthur Prize-winning artist Shahzia Sikander will be in conversation with Art Museum Director James Steward for the Student Advisory Board’s annual artist talk. Reception to follow.

Julis Romo Rabinowitz 399

“SEA SELFIE”: This work by William Kanawyer is featured in “In Plain Sight: A Lingering View of the World Around Us,” on view November 3 through November 26 at the Gourgaud Gallery in Cranbury. An artist’s reception is on Sunday, November 3 from 1-3 p.m.

PHOTOGRAPHY TALK: Flemington photographer Mary Sunderlin captured this image of an airplane accident in Hunterdon County. The photo date is unknown. Photo historian Gary Saretzky will discuss

Flemington Presbyterian

(From the collections of the HCHS)

Town Topics Fall Living

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COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH PERFORMING ARTS

Golden Wings Theatre Company PROUDLY PRESENTS

Thursday, November 14 @ 7:00pm Friday, November 15 @ 7:00pm Saturday, November 16 @ 2:00pm and 7:00pm

Council Rock High School South Auditorium 2002 Rock Way, Holland, PA 18966

To order tickets, visit crsevents.booktix.com

All other tickets will be available during our box office hours or at the door 60 minutes prior to each performance.

Thank you for supporting Golden Wings! See you at the show!

Town Topics | Mark Your Calendar

Wednesday, October 30

11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Princeton University Farmers’ Market, Firestone Library/ Chapel Plaza. Fresh, locally grown produce and other goods from area businesses using sustainable practices. Last of the season. Pumarket@princeton.edu.

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m .: Leighton Listens. Councilman Leighton Newlin is available to discuss current events with members of the public at Princeton Soup and Sandwich, 30 Palmer Square East.

6 p.m .: Public meeting at Witherspoon Hall, 400 Witherspoon Street, to explore the benefits of a stormwater utility. Princetonnj.gov.

6:30 p.m.: Walnut Lane Film Festival in the Community Room of Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Short films created by Princeton students in grades 6-8, curated by students from Princeton High School. Princetonlibrary.org.

6:30 p.m .: Open Archive: Princeton Votes, in the Discovery Center of Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Drop-in program where the Historical Society of Princeton shares items from its collection including original ballots,

challenger permits, and more. Princetonlibrary.org.

7 p.m .: Pianist Igor Levit performs works by Bach, Brahms, and Beethoven at Richardson Auditorium. Puc.princeton.edu.

8-10:30 p.m .: Princeton Country Dancers presents a dance featuring Dave Winston with Lagomorph at the Suzanne Patterson Center, 1 Monument Drive. Princetoncountrydancers.org.

8 p.m .: Jazz Verspers at Princeton University Chapel. Poetry, music, and quiet centering featuring saxophonist Audrey Welber, pianist Adam Faulk, and members of the Chapel Choir.

Thursday, October 31

8-10 a.m.: Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber presents Election Preview 2024 at Cooper’s Riverview, 50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton. Speakers are Micah Rasmussen, Brigid Harrison, and Patrick Murray. $45. Princetonmercer.org.

10 a.m.-3 p.m .: Princeton Farmers Market is at Hinds Plaza. More than 30 vendors with local organic produce, pasture-raised meat and eggs, cheeses, fresh flowers, knife-sharpening, jewelry, and more. Live music. SNAP/EBT cards and matches accepted

up to $10 a day. Princetonfarmersmarket.com.

4 p.m .: “Treaty Agreements and Responsibilities,” fourth annual Munsee Language and History Symposium, at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Panelists discuss how treaty agreements established through wampum belts were upheld, or neglected, both on Lunaapahkiing (present-day New Jersey and surrounding region) and in the Lunaape diaspora. Princetonlibrary.org.

8 p.m .: Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward is on stage at Kelsey Theatre, Mercer County Community College, West Windsor. $20-$22. A Halloween party follows with cast and crew; costumes welcome. Kelseytheatre.org.

Friday, November 1

5 p.m.: The film a.k.a. Mr. Chow is screened at Wolfensohn Hall, the Institute for Advanced Study, as part of the S.T. Lee film series. Discussion with the filmmakers follows. Ias.edu.

8 p.m .: The play Anon(ymous) by Naomi Iizuka, based on The Odyssey , is at the Berlind Theatre, McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place. Presented by Princeton

University’s Lewis Center for the Arts. $20 (students $10). Mccarter.org.

8 p.m .: Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward is on stage at Kelsey Theatre, Mercer County Community College, West Windsor. $20-$22. Kelseytheatre.org.

8 p.m.: America: Ride On Tour is at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. $59-$359. Stnj.org.

Saturday, November 2

9 a.m.-1 p.m.: West Windsor Farmers Market at Vaughn lot, Princeton Junction train station. Fresh produce, and much more. Wwcfm.org.

10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Fall Family Fun Weekend at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Pick your own apples and pumpkins, go on pony rides, play with tractors, games, mazes, barnyard, and much more. Food and live music by Joah Blume Band. $18 in advance; $22 day of the event. Terhuneorchards.com.

10-11 a.m .: MidDay Toastmasters meets on Zoom. Tinyurl.com/ zoomwithmidday.

10 a.m .: Join a three-mile walk along the D&R Canal. Meet at Turning Basin Park on Alexander Street. To be

OCTOBER-

NOVEMBER

notified of cancellations due to weather, visit canalwalkers@googlegroups.com

10 a.m .: Tour of Princeton Eating Clubs led by author Clifford Zink, including a visit inside Charter Club. Sponsored by the Historical Society of Princeton. Princetonhistory.org.

1 p.m .: Screening of the documentary Igor Levit: No Fear at Princeton Garden Theatre, 160 Nassau Street. $9-$14. Puc.princeton.edu.

1 p.m .: Day of Science (Dia de la Ciencia) at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Family-oriented, bilingual program exploring science with Princeton University Spanish-and-English-speaking researchers and engineers. Princetonlibrary.org.

1-6 p.m .: Cherry Grove Farm’s Annual Cow Parade, 3200 Lawrenceville Road (Route 206). Hay Rides, food, beer, local artisans, Morris dancers, bonfire, bouncy house, milking cows, music, games, storytelling, cheese and ciders, and more. The cows parade from 4-4:30 p.m ., adorned with flowers. $20 per car. Cherrygrovefarm.com.

1-3 p.m .: The Arts Council of Princeton celebrates El Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, at Princeton Shopping Center. Games, Mexican folk art, sugar skull decorating, live music, a community altar, and more. Artscouncilofprinceton.org.

2 and 8 p.m .: Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward is on stage at Kelsey Theatre, Mercer County Community College, West Windsor. $20-$22. Kelseytheatre.org

Westminster Conservatory faculty members Fang-Ting Liu, piano; Even Rong Ma, cello; and Timothy Urban, voice. At Hillman Performance Hall, Westminster campus, 101 Walnut Lane. Free. Rider.edu.

8 p.m .: The play Anon(ymous) by Naomi Iizuka, based on The Odyssey, is at the Berlind Theatre, McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place. Presented by Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts. $20 (students $10). Mccarter.org.

9-11 p.m.: Pre-show party for a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (screening at 11 p.m.) at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. $15. Stnj.org.

Sunday, November 3

10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Fall Family Fun Weekend at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Pick your own apples and pumpkins, go on pony rides, play with tractors, games, mazes, barnyard, and much more. Food and live music by Meghan Carey. $18 in advance; $22 day of the event. Terhuneorchards.com.

10 a.m.-4 p.m .: Flemington Fine Artisans Show, Stangl Factory, 4 Stangl Road, Flemington. Local and regional artists offer handmade jewelry, ceramics, woodwork, home décor, fiber art, clothing, photography, and paintings. Free. 11 a.m .: Book brunch at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Author Alison Pugh discusses her book The Last Human Job with Princeton University faculty member Shamus Khan. Pastries and coffee/ tea will be served. Princetonlibrary.org.

7 p.m .: Trenton Circus Squad presents “Get on Down: Look, Lift, Then Leap” at Roebling Wire Works Factory, 675 South Clinton Avenue, Trenton. Fundraiser for the program. Visit Trentoncircussquad.org.

7:30 p.m .: Multimedia performance of “Chinese Landscapes in Music, Poetry, and Painting” by

2 p.m .: Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward is on stage at Kelsey Theatre, Mercer County Community College, West Windsor. $20-$22. Kelseytheatre.org.

2 p.m .: Book Launch: US1 Worksheets. A gathering to mark the 69th volume of this annual anthology at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.

3 p.m . The Westminster Community Orchestra performs “Celebrate America” at the Marion Buckelew Center on the Westminster campus, 101 Walnut Lane. Ruth Ochs conducts. Free but $10 donation suggested. Music by American composers.

3 p.m .: Pianist Igor Levit appears in the Healing with Music series in a program, “Igor Levit: Pianist and Advocate for change,” hosted by journalist Deborah Amos. Levit performs and speaks about his experiences of antisemitic death threats and his commitment to social issues. Puc.princeton.edu.

After Seven Years of Planning and Construction, Triumph Restaurant & Brewery is Now Open

Adam Rechnitz, owner of Triumph Restaurant & Brewery, Eric Nutt, director of corporate sales, and Ray Villano, general manager, like challenges!

When he opened Triumph Brewing Company in 1995, certified master brewer Rechnitz had to take on the New Jersey Legislature, and spearhead a drive to legalize brewpubs, which were then illegal in New Jersey. He and his partners were persistent, the bill was passed, and Triumph Brewing Company, the first brewpub in the state, opened at 138 Nassau Street in 1995.

in the heart of Princeton.”

Transforming the former post office into a brewery and restaurant necessitated teamwork and collaboration with many partners.

“The history of the building was important, and we wanted to keep that continuity,” points out Nutt. “Kevin Wilkes was involved from the beginning of the project, and he and Princeton Design Guild played a major part in guiding Triumph’s newest location.”

Entire Project

Kevin Wilkes AIA, owner and principal of Princeton Design Guild, was asked by Rechnitz to come on board soon after the Planning Board’s approval in 2017.

“I had two different but related responsibilities with the project,” he explains.

some areas of the post office and complete redesign of others. Over the years, time had taken its toll, and damage was prevalent.

“We took all of the damaged parts out for restoration work,” says Wilkes. “We completely restored all the woodwork and repaired the glass clerestory windows. Everything in the lobby, which is now the main dining room, is original except for the barrel vault work.”

“Ninety years of accumulated dirt were removed from the chandeliers, which were revealed to be copper brass after cleaning,” he adds “They are the originals and exceptionally beautiful.”

Nothing Comparable

Adjacent to the main dining room, it is available for private parties and events. “We have already had private parties, and we expect to have more for the holidays,” says Nutt. “This will be an increasing part of the business.”

In keeping with its origin and the fact that beer is made on the premises, a wide list of lagers and ales is available. Whether one is a serious beer connoisseur or someone just trying out new tastes, there is a glass for you!

“Brewpubs didn’t exist in the East then,” reports Nutt. “They were mostly in Seattle and Portland. There are more here now, but we are still the original!”

History has surrounded Triumph over the years.

The original Nassau Street location had been home to a silent movie theater, a hardware store, a bowling alley, and a number of restaurants.

Opportunity and Challenge

And then, the Triumph team decided to take on another major challenge: turning the 90-year-old Palmer Square post office into a brand new restaurant and brewery.

This daunting task, accomplished when the Triumph Restaurant & Brewery opened in June, was an opportunity Rechnitz and his team were enthusiastic to tackle, says Nutt.

“When this opportunity became available, we were interested right away. We liked the heritage, the history of the post office. We also liked the location and the chance to continue to be

“First, I was the owner’s representative because he is not present in Princeton all the time. I worked with him and his management team to hire architects, builders, and oversee all critical detailing of the project. I also represented the project as it related to the state and municipal enforcement authorities for compliance with all applicable approvals and codes.

“Second, I was the millwork subcontractor performing all of the historic preservation woodworking and contemporary millwork installations on the job. Princeton Design Guild joined with Massimo Building Corporation, a union general contractor, to execute the entire project as a team together.

“We assembled an excellent team including Richardson Smith Architects (interiors), Historic Building Architects of Trenton, Hopewell Design Shop, Princeton Engineering Group, and William Gittings & Associates of Plainsboro (architect of record).”

As the project progressed, it required restoration of

He emphasizes that the overall project was a unique experience, and some things especially stand out. “Fabricating and installing the main bar and cocktail lounge on the top level was special. There is simply nothing comparable in all of Princeton.

“I also want to add that I appreciated working firsthand with Princeton municipal officials. After 10 years of consolidation, the municipal departments are stronger, better staffed, and able to coordinate critical detailing. It is nice to see this close collaboration that benefits everyone in the community.”

What has been created after all this time, effort, and expertise is a sophisticated combination of informal brewpub and upscale elegant restaurant — an exciting new opportunity on the Princeton scene. Its two-story spacious setting provides seating for 265, and offers a new and intriguing look to customers.

The sleek modern entrance, featuring a dark glass frontage at 20 Palmer Square East, leads to the splendid top level Mail Room Lounge, suitable for small bites, snacks, and libations (beer, of course, and also wine and cocktails). The variety of seating offers banquettes, and assorted chairs and table styles.

An extensive solid walnut bar is adjacent, with seating for many guests.

Der Keller, the downstairs pub, offers a full range of drink choices as well as sandwiches and salads. This has become a very popular gathering area.

A highlight is the Main Dining Room, featuring a variety of seating opportunities, including three round tables (two for five guests and one for eight), an attraction for many diners. Gracious dining is the hallmark here, with fresh table linens and an elegant ambience of inviting open space.

Postal Motif

Formerly the main lobby of the post office, the room retains the postal motif. General Delivery, Special Delivery, Out of Town, Air Mail, Princeton, Stamps, and Parcel Post windows are all highlighted with their original look. In addition, as noted in the caption, the historic mural is prominently displayed in the room.

Still another dining opportunity is Chambers Walk.

“We have brewed more than 250 styles of beer to date, and we offer nine beers on tap that rotate often,” reports Nutt. “One of our flagship beers is Bengal Gold IPA, which is a west coast style IPA and very balanced. Others that are special are Keller Pils, Hazy IPA, and Vienna lager. We are proud to offer numerous lagers on tap.”

In addition, a full bar offers a range of wine, cocktails, and “mocktails.”

Dining includes everything from appetizers, snacks, sides, and shared plates to salads and sandwiches to elegant, sophisticated entrees and tempting desserts. A kids menu is also available with a variety of choices from fried chicken to fish and chips and more.

us, and we have many regulars as well as people ﬁnding us for the ﬁrst time. We also get lots of tourists. Princeton is a unique town that attracts visitors from all over the world. Our different beer styles seem to align with many international tastes.”

corporate sales,

Everyone’s Taste

There really is something for everyone’s taste, from simple to sophisticated, home style to creative, cutting edge cuisine.

Also, fresh ingredients and sustainability are important to Triumph’s operation, says Nutt. “We support local farms, and we source local in the kitchen whenever possible. We believe in sustainability, farm to table. And beer is sustainable. We deliver our spent grain to a local farmer for feed.”

Currently dining is dinner only, but lunch will be available Friday, Saturday, and Sunday starting November 8.

Nutt and Villano are enthusiastic about Triumph’s opening, and look forward to serving even more customers in the coming days and months.

“We are so happy to be back and in this wonderful new setting in the heart of the Princeton community. Every day is different, and there is always something new and exciting. It is important, too,

that we will be working again with different partners in the community, supporting organizations and charities.”

Triumph Restaurant & Brewery is open Monday through Thursday 4 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 4 to 11p.m., and Sunday 4 to 9 p.m. Reservations are recommended for the Main Dining Room. For further information, call (609) 9247855 or visit the website at triumphbrew.com.

—Jean Stratton

Eric Nutt (left), director of

and Ray Villano, general manager of Triumph Restaurant & Brewery, are delighted with their new Palmer Square location, formerly home to the Princeton Post Ofﬁce.

NEW LOOK: A striking point of interest in the handsome main dining room of the newly opened Triumph Restaurant & Brewery is the historic mural in the background. Commissioned by the Procurement Division of the U.S. Department of Treasury, it was installed in the main lobby of the Princeton Post Office in 1939. On loan from the U.S. Post Office Fine Arts Museum Collection, it features historical figures depicting famous Princeton University graduates, including James Madison, Class of 1771, and others, as well as Nassau Hall.

S ports

Buoyed by the Return of Junior Standouts Pierce, Lee, PU Men’s

Hoops

Poised for Another Championship Run

As the Princeton University men’s basketball team held its annual media day earlier this month in Jadwin Gym, junior stars Xaivian Lee and Caden Pierce mugged for the cameras when asked to pose together for photos.

The one-two punch could have been broken up as Lee entered the NBA Draft process before deciding to return to Princeton and Pierce was a potential target of the transfer portal.

For Pierce, the 2024 Ivy League Player of the Year, his connection with Lee, a fellow first-team All-Ivy selection, played a key role in him remaining with the Tigers.

“At the end of the day, you just saw this picture of me and Xaivian, we are pretty much best friends,” said star forward Pierce, who has started a podcast with Lee called “Pick & Pop.” “If you are looking elsewhere, one thing that brings you back is that you want to have friends for life. It is one thing this place does well. You grow up with your class. Your teammates eventually become best friends, you don’t want to leave that bond.”

Lee, for his part, reached a similar conclusion after testing the NBA waters.

“That is one of my best friends; me, Caden and Jack [Scott] all live together,” said standout guard Lee. “We are a team, off the court we are all very close. We do everything together. Caden and I have the same major, so we have a lot of classes together. On the court it translates, it is just another part of our life. It is not like basketball and our life are so separated, it is easy to flow like that.”

Princeton head coach Mitch Henderson’s life was

made easier when he found out Pierce and Lee were sticking with the Tigers.

“On May 2 at 12:01 a.m., whatever time that was, I did a bunch of backflips,” said Henderson with a chuckle.

“It is not lost on me the opportunities that these guys had and will continue to have. It is a different world but I love Princeton basketball the way it looks with this team. Our objective is to keep this going in a really good manner. I would think part of what drew them is that we are sold out, the togetherness of the group, the way that they feel comfortable playing here and that they have won a lot. That is not necessarily always a given if you go somewhere else.”

Those opportunities were evident at media day as six NBA scouts were on hand at Jadwin to watch practice.

“I would have killed for a day like this when I played,” said Henderson, a former Tiger standout whose team went 24-5 overall and 12-2 Ivy last winter in winning its third straight league regular season title and opens its 2024-25 campaign by hosting Iona on November 4. “This is a testament to the guys, not just these guys but the ones that are before them. I feel like we have been deserving of this. I also think that while there is talent, there is winning. What we have to understand is to not let a day like this get us too far out of whack. Winning has been the baseline, that is what is going to keep people coming back.”

As the Tigers come back for the 2024-25 season, the bitter taste of ending last winter by losing to Brown in the Ivy Tournament semis and then falling to UNLV in the first round of the NIT is fueling them.

“We have talked about it a lot, we want to use that as motivation going forward,” said Henderson. “We did win the league outright. We had three losses going into the tournament and I felt like we were in a good spot going to that point. We want to be playing our very best in March.”

Henderson believes that Pierce (16.6 points and 9.2 rebounds a game in 202324) and Lee (17.1 points, 5.7 rebounds) are primed to play very well this winter.

“They look a year older, a little more gray hair, they look good,” said Henderson. “They know more than anybody, they have played so much. When the ball gets thrown up and the lights come on, that is when it counts. They have got a mature viewpoint.”

Senior guard Blake Peters (7.8 points, 2.5 rebounds) brings a lot of maturity to the court for the Tigers.

“In the spring, we asked what are your goals and he said four titles and that was about the end of the conversation,” said Henderson. “If we get there, it will be because of Blake’s leadership and the group coming together around a unified goal. We have been really good being connected and being on the same page. We are not there yet. Blake will be a big part of the reason we get there.”

The development of sophomore guard Dalen Davis (6.6 points, 1.1 rebounds) could be a big plus for the Tigers this winter.

“His shotmaking ability is so high level,” said Henderson of Davis. “I thought that game where we lost against Brown, we saw him putting us on his back. He is very capable of doing that. He has zero fear. I think it is going to be a big year for him.”

A possible X factor for the Tigers is the return of sophomore guard Deven Austin, who was sidelined all of last year due to a knee injury after enjoying a promising freshman season in 2023-24.

“Deven looks really good, it has been a long time since Deven has played in a situation like this,” said Henderson. “Those kinds of injuries take time and so this is almost a year and a half or more since he has last played in this environment. He needs to give himself a little bit of forgiveness that it is not going to happen overnight. We are thrilled that he is here, he had some really special moments as a freshman.”

Looking at this year’s group of freshmen which include guard Peyton Seals, guard Jack Stanton, forward Malik Abdullahi, and forward CJ Happy, Henderson sees a lot of potential.

“They are all really helping us a lot,” said Henderson. “I think it is another good class that could help us. The big question mark for the Tigers is where will they get production in the paint from players other thanPierce.

“The bigger guys in the

program haven’t played a lot, if at all,” said Henderson, noting that Abdullahi, Happy, senior Phil Byriel (0.8 points, 0.8 rebounds) and sophomore Jacob Huggins (1.5 pints, 1.4 rebounds) should see action in the frontcourt. “What are we going to get there when the game gets tough and it is tied or it gets close.”

Lee, for his part, believes he will be bigger and better this winter. “I feel great about it, that has been my biggest goal in the offseason and just in life in general gaining weight and getting stronger,” said the 6’4, 180-pound Lee. “I think I did a really good job of that in the summer. I have got a long way to go obviously but I feel really good about where I am right now. Competing in practice has been great, getting back in that physical college basketball style. I am ready for the challenge.”

As the team’s point guard, Lee is diversifying his playing

“As

a bit as well.

was

to get to my spots,” said Lee. “I was really thinking about making plays and scoring the ball whereas this year, I have to think about running an offense. I am thinking about it holistically, maybe not necessarily make the winning play but being the hockey assist that sets someone else up to make a play. Doing that is going to help me a lot better in those situations.”

Pierce has worked to be better on the receiving end of Lee’s playmaking.

“I think just overall consistency offensively,” said Pierce, when asked about his offseason focus. “My defense and rebounding is my strong suit. I just try to address the stuff to get me to the next level. I think that is shooting overall and playmaking with the ball in my hands. It is just being more confident as an offensive player. I think I have done a pretty good job of that.”

Look ahead to the season, Pierce is confident that the Tigers can produce another strong campaign.

“I think we can be an unbelievable team if we all

buy in,” said Pierce. “We have so much talent. It is all about putting pieces together — who fits where, who plays best together. At the end of the day, talent doesn’t mean anything, it is all in the defensive end of the floor. Defensively, that is all mental toughness. It is a work in progress. We have done it for two years so we know what we need to do to get there.”

Henderson, for his part, believes that the program’s tradition of fostering bonds and lifelong friendships could make the difference this winter.

“The thing that we point to that will be the success of the group is that they found a connecting thread,” said Henderson. “Just because we have won three titles in a row doesn’t mean that it is just going to happen. There is a lot of noise around the program, really good noise, and we love it. But rebounding, not turning the ball over are things that go well when a group is really connected.”

—Bill Alden

TWO GOOD: Princeton University men’s basketball players Caden Pierce, left, and Xaivian Lee got up for a rebound in a game last winter. The return of junior stars Pierce, the 2024 Ivy League Player of the Year, and Lee, a fellow first-team All-Ivy selection, has the Tigers primed for another big campaign. Princeton, which went 24-5 overall and 12-2 Ivy last winter in winning its third straight league regular season title, opens its 2024-25 campaign by hosting Iona on November 4.

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Junior Star St. Rose Poised to Be the Face of Program As

PU Women’s Hoops Tips Off 2024-25 Campaign

Madison St. Rose spent her summer in Philadelphia playing basketball against other college players.

It gave the Princeton University women’s basketball junior star more scrimmaging opportunities than she’d had the summer before when she returned to her Old Bridge home, plus more of a chance to build her game for her third year with the Tiger program.

“Just trying to stay confident, trying to branch out my game a little bit, not be the same Madison as I was last year,” said St. Rose. “I want to try to build on my game, not just keep it consistent because now everyone knows what my game is like, so I’ve got to keep people on their toes.”

The improved St. Rose can be seen — and heard — more in Princeton’s preseason practices. She’ll be asked to do more for a Tiger team that graduated three key seniors from last year’s fifth straight Ivy League Tournament championship team.

“Now she’s our most experienced player, our court leader,” said Princeton head coach Carla Berube, who guided the Tigers to a 25-5 overall record and 13-1 Ivy last winter. “And she’s had a great preseason. She’s got to step into some bigger shoes, kind of being sort of the face of the program now. And I think she’s excited about this new role.”

She is still wrapping her head around that notion of being the face of the program. It’s a major jump.

“Is anyone ever ready?” said St. Rose. “I’m just going to stay true to myself. Whatever coach wants me to do, I’m going to do it to my best ability.”

St. Rose and the Tigers will step into their new roles in public for the first time when they play at Duquesne on November 4 to tip off their 2024-25 campaign. Their home opener at Jadwin Gym is on November 13 against Villanova.

“We’re challenging ourselves again,” said Berube. “That Duquesne game was tough here last year at the beginning of the season. I think they were in the WNIT. A lot of our opponents played in the postseason last year and sometimes it’s hard because some of these teams are so different from the year before because of the transfer portal. So we can only just sort of focus on ourselves and get ourselves ready and not worry too much about who we’re playing, but know it’s going to be very challenging in this non-conference that will get us ready for conference play.”

St. Rose will be relied on to continue to be her wellrounded self on the basketball court. The 5’10 guard with the smooth shooting stroke was a second-team All-Ivy League honoree last year after seeing significant improvements from her freshman year. Her scoring leapt from 8.8 to 14.8 points per game, her assists doubled from 20 to 40, her steals climbed from 28 to 51, and her free throw, field goal, and 3-point

percentages all improved. She was happiest with her consistency.

“I gained a lot of confidence sophomore year,” said St. Rose. “That came from my teammates. That came from learning. Everything was new to me freshman year. That would be the biggest thing.”

One of her biggest jumps and something that made her a big weapon last year was her 3-point shooting. Her total makes nearly doubled as her shooting percentage went from .255 to .340 (49-144).

“I also had to learn my role when it came to working on my game,” said St. Rose. “From freshman year going into sophomore year, I felt like once I would practice taking the shots I would typically take in games and knowing where my spots are and knowing where I’m going to be open at most of the time, then I just had to keep repping it out until I felt confident, until it was like an unconscious thought to me.”

She will be asked to continue her growth as a player, but also to be a stronger leader. The last two years, she’s taken a back seat to the team’s Class of 2024 graduates Kaitlyn Chen, Ellie Mitchell, and Chet Nweke.

“She’s still just a great player on both ends of the floor, but it’s fun to finally hear her voice and what we need from her that we had from an Ellie and a Kaitlyn for a couple of years,” said Berube. “She’s really stepped up in that role.”

St. Rose is still adjusting to the new demands and the start of the non-conference portion of the season will give her a chance to settle into her leadership spot after two years of following others.

“I learned a lot last year from the seniors Kaitlyn, Ellie, Chet,” said St. Rose. “They all were like pushing me to get out of my comfort zone, to talk a lot more. I also learned a lot from my freshman year, from the seniors as well. It’s going to be different. I’m not used to hearing my own voice, I’m not used to telling people what to do, but I feel like my teammates trust me, my coaches trust me and that’s all that really matters. And that’s what makes me feel confident and what makes me be more of a leader that way.”

Princeton returns fellow starters Skye Belker (8.5 points and 1.9 rebounds a game in 2023-24), who is now a sophomore, and has Parker Hill (3.5 points, 2.6 rebounds), a senior who started 10 games, and senior Paige Morton (2.2 points, 1.9 rebounds), who started six games as veteran players that have starting experience. Sophomore point guard Ashley Chea (6.0 points, 1.4 rebounds) is the heir apparent to Chen, whom she followed from Flintridge Prep to Princeton. Chen is using her COVID-19 year of eligibility at UConn (Nweke is using hers at Georgetown).

“She’s certainly going to be playing a lot more minutes for us,” said Berube.

“But she had a great role model for the last year and certainly her time in high school too. She’s ready. She’s just got to be more consistent with her play and taking care of the ball and running what we need to, reading the defense, reading who’s on the floor and who needs to get the ball. She’s coming along. She works really hard.”

Another sophomore, Mari Bickley (2.6 points, 0.6 rebounds), will see more time at guard as well. Junior Tabitha Amanze (2.7 points, 1.5 rebounds) and junior Taylor Charles (0.8 points, 0.6 rebounds) are in the mix for time at forward, where the Tigers have to replace Ellie Mitchell, who not only was Ivy Defensive Player of the Year but also graduated as the program’s all-time leader in rebounds. Princeton expects to go smaller overall than in recent seasons, and that means they could play more uptempo, but more noticeable will be the driving lanes that are now open in the half court for Belker and St. Rose in particular.

“I feel like it is the same as last year, there was not a big change,” said St. Rose of the pace of play. “But I feel like I’m playing with new players. I did play a lot with Skye, but I hadn’t really played a lot with Mari or Ashley so it is just adjusting to their game, seeing how we can work together would be really fun.”

Princeton also likes what they have seen of their three freshmen. Cristina Parrella is a guard from Saddle River Day in New Jersey, Emily Eadie is a forward from California, and Toby Nweke is the younger sister of Chet Nweke, but more of a shooter and guard than her older sister was.

“They’re coming along,” said Berube. “The defense is always going to be a work in progress for them, but certainly the work ethic is there. The chemistry among all the players is really, really good at this point and they have sort of immersed themselves into Princeton pretty seamlessly, which is not always easy, but I think their teammates are doing a great job of showing them the way.”

Credit for helping to foster that culture goes to the two senior captains. Amelia Osgood (0.9 points, 0.6 rebounds) is a guard from Tennessee, and Katie Thiers (2.0 points, 1.9 rebounds) is a forward from Seattle. They combined to see time in 36 games last year.

“That leadership off the court is so vital to our success,” said Berube, “and those two have really stepped up into really important roles and are doing a great job with it.”

Finding roles is a huge part of the early schedule. Princeton will be figuring everything from starters and combinations that work to finding a substitution pattern, and even who they turn to for the best shot when a game is on the line.

“We haven’t really gotten to that point yet,” said St. Rose. “Honestly, it depends. Whoever’s hot that game, they’re going to take

the last shot because we’re going to have confidence in them and Coach is going to set whoever she puts in that position up for success because she knows we have confidence that person and they should have confidence in themselves.”

Then there’s the moments most won’t see, when the team is together in the locker room and sorting out adjustments and motivating and inspiring each other. That time is when more will be on St. Rose than ever before because last year’s vocal leaders graduated.

“I have to be the one to make sure that our team is put together, to make sure that if we’re falling apart to try to put us together, say, ‘let’s try to face adversity’ and all that stuff,” said St. Rose. “So it is different. I am adjusting. I’m doing it in practice. It’s hard sometimes because I don’t always want to get on my teammates. I don’t want to be too annoying because I know they’re good too, but then I get yelled at by Coach that I need to talk more. So I’m still learning how to navigate using my voice, but it’s getting better.”

Princeton will need her leadership as it finds who to be most successful. The non-conference schedule also includes DePaul, New Jersey opponents Seton Hall and Rutgers, Temple, Rhode Island, and a trip west to play Portland and Utah. Princeton opens Ivy League play on January 4 when it hosts Cornell. Last year, the Tigers won the Ivy League Tournament to earn the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, and runner-up Columbia received an at-large bid to the NCAAs. The up-and-coming league is hoping that same possibility exists this year.

“You have to have a good non-conference slate and win some of those games,” said Berube. “I think we can do it. If I look around the Ivy League, they’re all playing some of the power fours and those teams that have been in the NCAA tournament. So I think we can do it again, absolutely.”

Princeton will look a lot different this year with some household names graduated. It opens the door for St. Rose to step into a new role and build on her first two years of growth for the Tigers.

“I was still learning the system, I was learning about college basketball, just getting my confidence up, and learning about the team,” said St. Rose. “But now I know what’s going on in the system, I have a lot more knowledge of the game and I’ve been playing in multiple big games and won championships so I’m excited to possibly win another one this year.”

—Justin Feil

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ROSY OUTLOOK: Princeton University women’s basketball player Madison St. Rose looks to dribble past a foe in action last season. Junior star guard St. Rose figures to be a go-to player this winter for Princeton. The Tigers, who went 25-5 overall and 13-1 Ivy League last winter on the way to a fifth straight Ivy Tournament championship, start their 2024-25 campaign by playing at Duquesne on November 4.

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Seeing 6-Game Winning Streak Against Harvard Snapped, Princeton Football Loses 45-13 to Crimson, Drops to 2-4

In its six contests against archrival Harvard between 2017-23, the Princeton University football team went undefeated, outscoring the Crimson by an average of 31.2-17 in those matchups.

As Princeton headed up to New England for its clash at Harvard on Saturday, Tiger head coach Bob Surace was cautiously optimistic that the winning streak would continue.

“Harvard gives you a lot of issues, they have really good players on offense,” said Surace. “I got on the bus Friday feeling good about things. Our guys had practiced hard.”

But it turned out to be a hard afternoon for the Tigers as Harvard jumped out to a 14-0 first quarter lead and

never looked back on the way to a 45-13 win before a crowd of 12,244 at Harvard Stadium.

“One of the guys on TV asked me about not having lost to Harvard since November 2016 and I said some of it is we played well and they didn’t and some of it is we got a few breaks,” said Surace, whose team dropped to 2-4 overall and 1-2 Ivy League.

“It was just one of those days where not only did they play great, I felt like every bounce went their way. It was tough.”

Still with Princeton trailing 24-13 heading in the fourth quarter, Surace believed that the Tigers could rally. “It is a near even game statistically in time of possession, yards, turnover battle; I thought we

are starting to take control of this game,” said Surace. “We have a third and medium and we have free blitzer and we just don’t wrap up well enough. Credit their quarterback (Jaden Craig) for breaking out of it and making a play. Then there is a fourth and five and we execute a great disguise. We have got 10 guys doing really well and a mistake kills us. He breaks out, gets a first down and they score and that makes it 31-13.”

The roof fell in from there for Princeton as the Crimson added 14 unanswered points to turn the game into a rout.

“We are just not doing a great job of being consistent in all four losses,” said Surace, whose team was outgained 492 yards to 223 by the Crimson. “When we get down, we kind of self-destruct in ways. We have to be better

organized in what we are calling. I feel like we start squeezing the ball hard. We are not executing as well as we can. We took a really even game and the last 20 minutes were tough.”

The late collapses have become an unfortunate trend for the Tigers.

“I have to fix whatever is going on, I don’t think it is physical fatigue,” said Surace. “Maybe there is some mental fatigue. It is the last 20 minutes in four games that we have lost our way. I have got to figure it out because it is not acceptable to have that mental lapse where we are just enough off. It is not like we are a lot off but we are enough off where we are not playing as well as we can.”

With Princeton hosting a Cornell (2-4 overall, 1-2 Ivy) squad that features star quarterback Jameson Wang this Saturday, the Tigers will need to play very well to earn a victory over the Big Red.

“They spread you out; they have a good coach in Dan Swanstrom, he came from Penn and they do a lot of really good stuff that Penn did in their offensive package,” said Surace. “Wang is a tremendous player, they have other good players too. They have done really well offensively. Defensively they give you the kitchen sink, they throw a lot of different looks. We have to be really good with our play to play.”

Having gone 2-0 this year at Princeton Stadium, the Tigers have three of their last four games at home which may make a difference down the stretch.

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“The league has got a lot of parity,” said Surace. “The Brown game was a near even game (a 29-17 win for Princeton on October 5). We made a few more plays. The Harvard game, you start the fourth quarter and we are down 11. We should be able to get the ball back and they make some really good play and they extend it. That is the way the league is, everybody is really tight.”

In his postgame message last Saturday, Surace implored his players to keep the faith.

“I told them it is like writing a book, there are 10 chapters,” said Surace. “You get the chance to write your story and finish it in the way we want to.”

—Bill Alden

PU Sports Roundup

PU Women’s Hockey Loses 4-3 at Brown

Junior star Sarah Paul scored two goals but it wasn’t enough as the Princeton University women’s hockey team fell 4-3 at Brown last Saturday.

The Tigers, now 2-2 overall and 0-2 ECAC Hockey, host St. Lawrence on November 1 and Clarkson on November 2.

PU Women’s Volleyball Falls 3-0 to Marquette

Despite a superb performance from Sydney Draper, the Princeton University women’s volleyball team fell 3-0 to Marquette last Saturday.

Sophomore Draper led the Tigers in assists with 20, service aces with three, and blocks with two but Marquette prevailed 25-13, 25-21, 25-13

Princeton, now 8-10 overall, plays at Yale on November 1 and at Brown on November 3.

Princeton Men’s Soccer Edges Yale 1-0

Sparked by Jack Jasinski, the Princeton University men’s soccer team edged Yale 1-0 last Saturday.

Junior star Jasinski scored the lone goal in the contest as the Tigers improved to 8-5 overall and 4-1 Ivy League.

Princeton plays at Dartmouth on November 2.

PU Women’s Soccer Defeats Dartmouth 4-0

Pietra Tordin led the way as the Princeton University women’s soccer team defeated Dartmouth 4-0 last Saturday.

Junior star Tordin tallied two goals for the Tigers, who improved to 11-4 overall and 5-1 Ivy League.

Princeton plays at Columbia (7-3-4 overall, 5-01 Ivy) on November 2 in a

showdown that will determine the Ivy regular season champion and the host of the upcoming league postseason tournament.

Princeton Women’s Rugby Tops Mount St. Mary’s Malinka Kwemo came up big to help the Princeton University women’s rugby team defeat Mount St. Mary’s 49-12 last Saturday to earn its first-ever victory over a Division I program. Sophomore Kwemo scored three tries as the Tigers improved to 2-5. Princeton, which had previously defeated Division III foe Bowdoin for its initial win, hosts Queens on November 3 in its regular season finale.

PU Football Star Pigford Named to Rice Award List

Princeton University football freshmen star linebacker AJ Pigford has been named the Stats Perform 2024 Jerry Rice Award Watch List, the organization announced last week.

Pigford is among 30 players on the list for the award that honors Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Freshman Player of the Year. The Rice Award, now in its 14th season, is named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice.

Pigford, a 6’3, 230-pound native of Snellville, Ga., has twice earned Ivy Rookie of the Week honors this season. Through six games, Pigford made nine tackles, 4.5 for loss, and 2.5 sacks. To be eligible for the Rice Award, a player must be considered a freshman by his conference in his first academic year or second if he did not surpass four regular-season games played in the true freshman season (the NCAA redshirt rule). More players can join the watch list before a national media panel selects the winner following the regular season. The Rice Award recipient will be announced on December 4.

TITLE CHASE: Princeton University field hockey player Beth Yeager races upfield in a game earlier this season. Last Sunday, junior star and U.S. Olympian Yeager scored three goals to help No. 13 Princeton defeat Dartmouth 5-1 to clinch at least a share of the Ivy League title. It marks the 28th league title in program history, the most by any Ivy women’s team in any sport. The Tigers, now 11-4 overall and 6-0 Ivy, host Yale on November 2 in their regular season finale.

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

MURPHY’S LAW: Princeton University football player Dareion Murphy takes a handoff in a game earlier this season. Last Saturday, junior running back Murphy rushed for 21 yards as Princeton fell 45-13 to Harvard. The Tigers, now 2-4 overall and 1-2 Ivy League, host Cornell (2-4 overall, 1-2 Ivy) on November 2.

(Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)

Thyrum’s Corner Kick Leads to Goal by Hamerschlag

As PHS Boys’ Soccer Tops Notre Dame 1-0 in CVC Final

Aaron Thyrum had the game at his feet for the Princeton High boys’ soccer team late in the second half as it was locked in a scoreless tie with Notre Dame in the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) Tournament final last Saturday afternoon.

With 10 minutes left in regulation and a stiff crosswind howling across Ackerson Field at Hopewell Valley High, junior midfielder Thyrum lined up a corner kick and had a target in mind.

“We have already scored a bunch of set pieces where Chase [Hamerschlag] has really got up there; I was obviously looking for him,” said Thyrum. “I just wanted to out the ball in a good spot, especially since the wind was going against the ball. It is put it in a good spot and hope for the best. I trust my guys to put it in the back of the net.”

Thyrum lofted a curling volley into the box and sure enough Hamerschlag soared up and headed the ball into the back of the net.

In reflecting on Hamerschlag’s brilliant strike, one thought crossed Thyrum’s mind. “Thank God for Chase, what a great header,” said Thyrum.

That goal held up as second-seeded PHS prevailed 1-0 over the fourth-seeded Irish in the inaugural CVC

tourney, improving to 142-3. (The Mercer County Tournament Association announced last spring that it was discontinuing county tournaments in favor of a Colonial Valley Conference Tournament, which bars local private schools who are not members of the CVC.)

Having lost 2-1 to powerhouse Pennington last fall in the final boys’ soccer Mercer County Tournament, the Tigers were thrilled to be the first CVC tourney champion.

“It is definitely a milestone that shows these young guys coming into the program that we need to come into every game and every tournament as if it is our last,” said Thyrum. “We definitely did that today. The first CVC tournament, the first winners, it is without a doubt a great feeling.”

Throughout most of the contest, Thyrum and his teammates were feeling edgy as the rivals engaged in a tense battle that has characterized their matchups over the years.

“I feel in the first half it was definitely even,” said Thyrum, noting that PHS nipped Notre Dame 3-2 in a regular season meeting on October 1. “I thought we had a little bit better of the chances. We were talking through halftime, we knew that we were going to get one, whether it was going to

be early in the half or later in the half.”

Thyrum has taken on a more important role this year for the Tigers after serving as a reserve on the 2023 squad that won the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 state title.

“Last year, I didn’t get much playing time, but at the same time it was a blessing because I was able to be surrounded by and train with guys that were absolutely phenomenal,” said Thyrum, who battled through a midseason groin injury this fall and had tape jobs on both of his arms Saturday due to turf burns. “They not only set a standard for how you should play on the field, but also how you should be off the field. Becoming an upperclassmen as a junior now, I need to embody what those guys ahead of me did. I think we are doing that to the best of our ability.”

One of those older guys, senior defender Connor Hewitt, has raised his standard this fall, taking more of an offensive role while stepping up as a leader of the Tiger back line.

“It is not only in the games but practice too; it is talking to my boys, controlling the back line, and helping everyone out,” said Hewitt, describing his leadership

approach. “It all comes to

That connection paid dividends as the PHS back four was under the gun in the latter stages of the contest.

“The last 20 minutes of the game there, we had like 20 crosses,” said Hewitt. “It is just composure really, all of us were talking. We have good chemistry back there; me, Thomsen [Lord], Chase, and Matt [Chao] have been playing together.”

In overcoming the Irish, PHS needed things to come together across the board.

“Props to everybody on the field, the subs coming in too,” said Hewitt. “Everyone played really, really well. Everyone played their heart out. Everyone on this team is really good. Last year we had a great team, but this year I think our depth is almost better.”

Winning the first CVC tourney was a really special accomplishment for the squad. “It is beautiful, it is the last thing we had to put under our belt,” said Hewitt. “We won the conference and states last year. I really wanted this one and I am sure a bunch of the other boys did too.”

PHS head coach Ryan Walsh knew it wouldn’t be easy to get the win against the Irish.

“Notre Dame is well coached, there is a lot of raw talent on that squad,” said Walsh. “The game last year ended with a goal in the last second and this year it was the last 40 seconds. I think these were the two

best teams in the CVC and I am glad we both made it here. It was back and forth, the wind played a factor for sure. Whichever team had it going on one side on set pieces, it was a little more to them.”

On Thyrum’s decisive set piece, PHS handled the wind. “Aaron hit that ball into the wind back post,” said Walsh. “It was a tough ball to rise up and not foul the kid and put it on frame, it was great to see from Chase. He has come a long way this year, it was hammer time baby.”

Walsh credited Thyrum with coming a long way this fall. “This is his first year starting for us,” said Walsh of Thyrum, who now has three goals and five assists this season. “In the middle of the year, he got a little bit of an injury that kept him out a couple of weeks but now that he is back and at full strength, he has really grown into his role over there at left wing.”

The Tiger back line has grown into a stingy unit and it came through in the clutch against the Irish.

“Those last six minutes were unnerving, we were composed,” said Walsh. “They had a lot of set pieces and we handled them really well. They are tricky. We were able to get Azariah [Breitman] free at the end to kill a little time. It was a good job.

Hewitt has done a very good job in taking the lead on defense.

“He is a senior leader here, he is a workhorse, he is a thoroughbred on the outside,” said Walsh of

Hewitt, who has tallied three goals and three assists to go along with his stellar defensive play. “He is the only returner from that back line so he is the leader of that back line. He has turned those guys into a cohesive unit, credit to him for doing that.”

Seeing his guys earn the CVC title was heartening for Walsh.

“We are really happy to bring this trophy back to PHS,” said Walsh. “Pennington has won it a lot recently; it is different without them but we are still excited to win.”

Looking ahead to the upcoming state tournament, Walsh believes that the CVC run will benefit the Tigers as they go after the title repeat.

“Playing these tough games, with Steinert on Thursday (a 2-0 win in the CVC semis) and this today really prepares you for tournament time where every game is a one goal game there,” said Walsh.

Thyrum, for his part, hopes that grinding out the win over the Irish is a harbinger of things to come in states.

“It is just one step in the way, this is such a good confidence booster,” said Thyrum. “When we played Notre Dame the first time, it was all about resilience. Us going down and then coming back and us going down again and coming back to end up winning. Something like this is not necessarily where we go down but where we are this close to scoring a goal so to be resilient and put it away is great for guys physically and mentally to go into states.”

—Bill Alden

TURNING

Princeton High boys’ soccer player Aaron Thyrum

Girls’ Volleyball Looks Dominant in Winning BCSL

As Junior Star Lygas Provides Powerful Play in Front Row

Naomi Lygas and her teammates on the Princeton High girls’ volleyball team were determined to show that they weren’t overrated as they hosted the Burlington County Scholastic League (BCSL) tournament last Thursday.

“I know that coming into today we saw that we were ranked first on NJ.com, so that was a big thing,” said PHS junior star Lygas. “Now we want to prove ourselves to be that.”

The Tigers proved to be a juggernaut in the tourney, topping Hopewell Valley 2-0 (25-11, 25-11) in the BCSL semis and then dismantling Princeton Day School 2-0

(25-6, 25-10) in the final. It marked the third straight BCSL title for the Tigers.

Topping HoVal in the first semi helped PHS get into a rhythm.

“Now that we don’t have our junior varsity playing, I liked having that little break in between two,” said Lygas.

“We got the energy flowing which definitely brought us in the mood. Starting with a win was a really good thing.”

The Tigers started the final against PDS with a 20-0 run, triggered by senior star Lois Matsukawa’s superb serving.

“We knew that both teams had already played a game today. We wanted to make

sure that we came out strong because no matter what happened, we wanted to finish and start the same way,” said Lygas.

“Coming out to a really big lead was super important to us. Lois did everything she was supposed to do and more. We also knew, going into it, we wanted to move the sets around. We wanted to keep it a little different if PDS had a plan coming into it. We ran some plays we worked on, some plays in practice too that we wanted to incorporate, and it definitely clicked.”

practice as well as all of the games.”

In the course of that triumph, Lygas moved her career kills total to 736, breaking the previous program record of 724 set by Gillian Hauschild ’20.

“I think it is so cool, I honestly didn’t know it was coming,” said Lygas, who has 245 kills so far this year to push her career total to 779 and has committed to attend Tulane University and join its women’s beach volleyball program. “Gillian was amazing. I could not have done that without my team and everybody around me. It is such a team effort but to reach it is so cool.”

PHS head coach Patty Manhart was proud of how her team started in the BCSL final.

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Things kept clicking for the Tigers as they started the second set with an 18-0 run in cruising to their three-peat. Lygas contributed 10 kills and eight digs in the win while Matsukawa piled up 18 assists and 30 service points.

“The first time was definitely something; we hope to see four years in a row on the banner,” said Lygas, reflecting on the third straight BCSL crown. “It is a relief to know that we won again this year. It just shows all of our hard work and we didn’t take our foot off the gas.”

Suffering a 2-1 loss to Notre Dame on October 7, its only setback this fall, helped show PHS that it can’t let that focus slip.

“Ending that game, it was definitely something where we knew there were some things we needed to fix and work on,” said Lygas. “In practice we really focused on those aspects of our game and coming out in the following games.”

Displaying that focus, PHS defeated then-top ranked Williamstown 3-0 on October 19.

“We have played Williamstown a lot before, so we knew how they played,” said Lygas in assessing the 25-23, 25-17, 25-14 victory. “It really helped us put our mental game locked in at

“That is usually something I don’t like to do in games, but it is the type of thing where it is league playoffs, they are just that dominant,” said Manhart. “That is just how they play. If that is the outcome, then we are going to enjoy that. It is really impressive.”

The way the Tigers took care of business in the second set was equally impressive.

“In games, there are always little things. You lose your focus, you make easy mistakes, you miss passes, you miss serves,” said Manhart. “So to know that they were focused through and through, I am really proud with the level of energy they still came out with to dominate.”

The defeat to Notre Dame has sharpened the team’s focus as it heads into the homestretch of the season.

“You can’t take anything for granted and I think that is the lesson that we learned,” said Manhart. “We are using that as fuel moving forward.”

With PHS looking to win a second straight New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 3 state title, Manhart believes her team is on track towards that goal.

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“I also think being at the end of October, everything is clicking,” said Manhart, whose team moved to 221 with a 3-0 win (25-16, 2513, 25-10) over Paul VI last Monday and plays at Union Catholic on October 30.

“We have worked out the kinks, we are ready to go.

We have big wins under their belt, so I just feel that is where we are now as a team. I have been looking at power points and we are at the top of our group, so we expect to host every round until the finals at Franklin. It is a nice home court advantage after being on the road so much this month.”

In the view of Lygas, the dominance the Tigers displayed in winning the BCSL tourney was a good sign as they look to produce an encore performance in the state competition.

“We had a really good run last year and this year we hope to do it again,” said Lygas. “We have a lot of difficult games coming up as well so going into it, having a good confidence boost is really important. We have to work stuff out so it was good to see everybody working together and having the energy.”

— Bill Alden

gifts that are distinctly Princeton

THREE-PEAT: Princeton High girls’ volleyball player Naomi Lygas sets the ball in a game earlier this season. Last Thursday, junior star Lygas contributed 10 kills and eight digs to help PHS defeat Princeton Day School 2-0 (25-6, 25-10) in the Burlington County Scholastic League (BCSL) tournament ﬁnal. It marked the third straight BCSL title for the Tigers. PHS, who moved to 22-1 with a 3-0 win (25-16, 25-13, 25-10) over Paul VI last Monday, play at Union Catholic on October 30. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

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With Senior Eleches-Lipsitz Back at Full Speed, PHS Girls’ Cross Country Takes 1st at CVC Meet

Rica Eleches-Lipsitz was confident that the Princeton High girls’ cross country team would race well at the Colonial Valley Conference Championships on Thursday at Thompson Park.

PHS did its part, and Eleches-Lipsitz nearly equaled their personal record.

“I knew that we would dominate as a team because we’ve done a lot of really good work on that course and just together. I’ve seen us grow a lot,” said ElechesLipsitz. “I don’t think I anticipated my individual race being nearly as good as it was. But I’ve always had faith that my team would pull through the way that they did.”

The PHS senior came within four seconds of their personal record set freshman year before an injury riddled two seasons, and Princeton had all seven finishers place in the top 14 to easily take the team title. It’s the program’s third championship in four years at the race formerly known as the Mercer County Championship. (The Mercer County Tournament Association announced last spring that it was discontinuing county tournaments in favor of a Colonial Valley Conference Tournament, which bars local private schools who are not members of the CVC.)

“The thing that made me happy is how far a step forward we’ve taken since a year ago,” said PHS coach Jim Smirk.

“We had a pretty successful year last year. We won the county meet, and so you’ve got to try to build off that and you start to ask that question like, ‘how can we get better?’ And then you look across the board and everybody who raced a year ago who’s in the lineup this year took a big step forward. And then on top of that, the new runners we have on the team also performed at an extremely high level.”

The Tigers displayed impressive depth and ability in rolling to the CVC title. They scored just 29 points to runner-up WW/P-North’s 59, and only North had a second runner ahead of Princeton’s seventh finisher. PHS raced well to execute that lofty goal.

“That was definitely part of our race plan,” said Smirk. “And I think when some of those opportunities presented themselves, they really took advantage.”

Junior Kajol Karra led the way for PHS, taking second overall in 18:54.3 while sophomore Grace Hegedus took third in 18:59.9, sophomore Eowyn Deess was sixth in 19:32.3, freshman Rose -

mary Warren ran 19:52.3 for eighth and freshman Sevanne Knoch was 10 th in 20:07.6 to round out their scoring. Eleches-Lipsitz ran 20:09.6 for 11th and sophomore Phoenix Roth was 14th in 20:30.3.

“I’m really excited we get to race there again this coming week and I’m hoping to break 20 in that time because seeing that was really a motivation for me for sure,” said Eleches-Lipsitz, whose PR of 20:05.02 came at Thompson Park in the county meet in 2021. “I’m glad I’m not peaking freshman year.”

The PHS boys took fourth place last Thursday, just one point out of third place. The Tigers had a score of 95 with Hopewell Valley one point better in third at the meet win by WW/P-North at 60. Princeton had a tight pack up front with sophomore Braedyn Capone taking 10 th in 16:58.4 followed by sophomore Finn Wedmid finishing 11th in 17:00.1 and senior Felix Farrugia coming in 12 th in 17:00.5. Sophomore Felix Yu took 26th and senior Emilio Gonzalez-Toro was 36th

“We have a little bit of work to do,” said Smirk. “I do think on the positive side. I was, ‘say those top three guys were good,’ and Emilio

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stepping up and finding himself in a scoring position just makes us stronger. We have some proven guys who can get it done. I think we put the right race together in a week and we’ll be trying to qualify out to the group.”

The PHS girls also have big goals for the Central Jersey Group 4 sectional meet that will be held at Thompson Park on November 2. The Tigers already have been up against some top national talent at the Manhattan Invitational, where the squad placed fourth in the Eastern Championship division on October 13.

“Our team goal has always been to be the best that we can be and push ourselves to do better,” said ElechesLipsitz. “I’ve always fought for us to meet our full potential and put everything we can into whatever that we have. And so our goal is just to put forward the best that we have for whatever competition we have coming up because we have so much potential.”

Eleches-Lipsitz is the lone senior in the varsity seven for the PHS girls’ team. Eleches-Lipsitz is enjoying a resurgence now that they’re healthy again. They broke into the varsity lineup as a freshman, running every race for the Tigers in an eye-opening season that gave them a taste of their potential.

“I just suddenly found my talent,” said Eleches-Lipsitz. “Almost as suddenly, they were sidelined. A hip injury and a torn ACL then suffered in wrestling season cost them the 2022 cross country season and all but two big races in the 2023 cross country year. But now back and fully recovered, Eleches-Lipsitz is contributing on the course and trying to nurture the young talent surrounding them.

“I feel a little bit like their

parent, but also simultaneously they’re seeing it and it’s just really cool to watch these kids grow into the athletes they can be and see them really succeed out there,” said Eleches-Lipsitz. “In some ways, I put a lot of pressure on myself to be what they need me to be in order to succeed and meet their full potential, but I think it’s been really worth it. And being able to be on this journey with them as they grow and as I guess I grow too and have a proper season as well without injury, has just been really special.”

Eleches-Lipsitz can share their ups and downs with the team. They may not have run as many races as other seniors in the area, but they have been willing to share their experiences and wisdom.

“I’ve basically been working like over a year on PT (physical therapy) and also on mental and being able to moderate myself and take care of myself and not just drive myself into the ground,” said ElechesLipsitz. “Now this year it’s finally paid off and I feel really strong and I’m getting back to my freshman year’s time. It’s just really nice and I’m getting to be part of the team again and it’s honestly just been really special to be able to do that.”

Their contributions are important to the Tigers.

Eleches-Lipsitz has seen the program grow through their career, even when they weren’t running in the races. Now they are running and their return has made PHS as deep as ever.

“Rica didn’t have guaranteed success on the teams that they’ve been on so there were races that didn’t go our way in their tenure,” said Smirk. “I think they bring a very real perspective to what it means to be prepared, to

compete, and I think the other thing that they provide is this wildly stabilizing force when the gun goes off. Everybody on that starting line knows that Rica is on the line with them. They’re able to take positive risks and stretch themselves a little bit more and be willing to say, maybe I can do a little bit more because if it doesn’t work I know Rica is there.”

Eleches-Lipsitz also has helped to create a culture that has fostered development of their younger teammates. PHS showed more depth Saturday when its JV girls won the Mercer Track Coaches Association Freshman/Sophomore meet at Robbinsville. The Little Tigers varsity will be tested down the home stretch. They are in the same sectional as top teams like Freehold Township and Manalapan.

“I want them to trust in their training and trust in their teammates,” said Eleches-Lipsitz. “We’ve done so much work this season of trusting each other and we’ve watched each other put in that hard work. And I think if we trust in each other and the work that we’ve done, it doesn’t particularly matter how the other teams have been ranked, or how we’ve been ranked. Ultimately, we have what it takes to succeed and win a lot of these things, and as long as we put our everything out there, that is what I’m striving for. And I know that we have it. If anything, counties showed us that we still have it, and we also have the depth and it’s just fabulous. I’m really excited.”

The year has been transformational for ElechesLipsitz. Being able to come back and run for PHS has bookended their high school career, and helped cement their future dreams, which now include running along with studying toward a career possibly in teaching biology or chemistry.

“I’ve just never been on a team of this level,” said Eleches-Lipsitz. “I’ve been on really special teams, but this kind of level of performance and competition and dedication, it’s just really special to be in. I feel like I can really give my all and have a place to give my all and have coaches support that. I really like it and definitely this season convinced me that I want to do cross country in college and keep on doing this and keep on having that dynamic.”

—Justin Feil

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PHS Girls’ Tennis Takes Second at CVC Tournament

As Doubles Teams Lead the Way with a Pair of Wins

Last fall, the pair of Maya-Alexandra Todorov and Ashna Bushan rolled to the title at first doubles for the Princeton High girls’ tennis team at the Mercer County Tournament in what turned out to be the last year of the competition.

With the Mercer County Tournament Association announcing last spring that it was discontinuing the county tournament in favor of a Colonial Valley Conference Tournament, which bars local private schools who are not members of the CVC, the result was the same last week as Todorov and Bushan prevailed at first doubles.

After winning each match in straight sets at the 2023 MCT, the pair was pushed in the final this year, having to pull out a 6-4, 4-6, (10-8) win over Anjali Vemuri and Maahi Patmidi of WW/PNorth at the Mercer County Tennis Complex.

Bushan acknowledged that the pair struggled a bit after a strong first set.

“We got maybe a little bit overconfident, we lost a little bit of focus in the middle of the game,” said Bushan. “We tried to refocus.”

Heading into the 10-point match tiebreak, Bushan and Todorov focused on staying in the present.

“We just wanted to stay focused on the point and forget the ones that didn’t go as well,” added Bushan. Things didn’t go well early in the tiebreak as the North team built an 8-6 lead, two points away from the title. At that point, Todorov was concerned that the match was slipping away.

“It was ‘oh my God,’ I thought we were going to lose it for a second,” said Todorov.

Taking matters into her hands, Todorov made some sharp volleys and unleashed a powerful serve to make it 9-8 as the PHS team won four straight points to close out the match.

“I believe my strengths are at the net, I like when it I get those volleys,” said Todorov.

In reflecting on the rally, Bushan pointed to the trust level between the partners, who are in their second year playing together.

“I think it is just motivating each other and not letting the other person feel bad if they missed a shot,” said Bushan. “I think since we are friends already that communication is always there. We are never upset with each other. We use both of our strengths to our advantage — I think we are both strong players.”

For Bushan, coming through with the win was sweet. “We are pretty happy,” said Bushan. “It is our last year together, we really wanted to make it a good one.”

As a senior, Todorov was looking for a good finish.

“This was the goal going into my senior year,” said Todorov. “I wanted to end it off on a good note, especially with Ashna because it is our second year together.”

The dramatic win by Bushan and Todorov was a microcosm of a tense, tightly-contested tournament which saw WW/PNorth take first in the team standings with 26 points, one point ahead of runnerup PHS.

PHS head coach Sarah Hibbert sensed the tournament was going to end up being a nailbiter.”

“I was not surprised, it was a tight tournament all around,” said Hibbert. Hibbert liked the way her first doubles team handled tournament pressure.

“It was tighter for them this time, they were able to put it together and use their experience to clinch it in a tiebreak,” said Hibbert. “We have won the first doubles flight for multiple years in a row. Maya has won three in a row now, she and Ashna have won two in a row. It is really nice for them to be able to finish Maya’s senior year with a victory.”

The second doubles pair of senior Lada Labas and Sophia Bruhn posted an impressive victory in their

flight, defeating Saanvi Kopparthi and Sitara Shah of WW/P-South 6-2, 6-0 in the final.

“Our second doubles came along well, they developed great,” said Hibbert. “They had an undefeated season, which is fantastic. It was a good level of tennis.”

The PHS singles players produced some high-level tennis as sophomore Phoebe Decker placed second at second singles while freshman Kathleen Xu took fourth at first singles and junior Katie Qin came in fourth at third singles.

“All of the singles players fought so hard today; Katie and Kathleen losing third set tiebreaks in their first match and then having to come back from those long matches to play in the third place matches,” said Hibbert. “It is a lot of tennis for them. Kathleen played great against two really strong opponents. Phoebe made the final, that is a great showing for her. She wasn’t feeling her best tennis in the final, but it was a strong opponent. She fought through it.”

Hibbert was proud of how her squad fought at the CVC tourney and sees good things ahead as five of her seven top players are slated to return next season.

“We came in second which is fantastic, we would have liked to be first,” said Hibbert, whose team defeated Robbinsville 4-1 last Friday to end the season with a 12-2 record in dual match play. “We had six of the same players, Kathleen is the only new player. We shuffled a little bit, but Kathleen was the only new addition. We lose Lada and Maya next year, so will see how we readjust. I think we have the potential for another great season next year.”

Bushan, for her part, believed that the Tigers got the most of their potential this fall.

“I think overall everybody has their strengths,” said Bushan. “Everybody is a really hard working player. Everybody is pushing to be the best they can and play the best matches for our team overall.”

— Bill Alden

Hun Field Hockey Falls to Lawrenceville

in Prep A Tourney, But England Native Clark Gaining Valuable Experience

Things didn’t go well for the Hun School field hockey team as it hosted rival Lawrenceville last Wednesday in the Prep A state quarterfinal round.

Unable to get into an offensive rhythm, third-seeded Hun fell 2-0 to the sixthseeded Big Red.

“It wasn’t all that we could give, some days are better than others,” said Hun postgraduate star Sophia Clark. “We have worked hard, we have had a lot of great opportunities. It is just about putting them away really.”

With Hun down 1-0 late in the third quarter, Raider head coach Tracey Arndt called a timeout to give her players a pep talk. Hun responded by gaining possession and generating several penalty corners but ultimately couldn’t break though with a goal. Lawrenceville ended up scoring a second goal in the waning seconds of regulation to make it a 2-0 final

“I think it was just more about just coming together, understanding positioning and stuff like that,” said Clark. “It felt a bit distant, but then towards the second half we definitely got there. When you have really great coaches who know what to say and know how to motivate you, it makes a massive difference. It helped us get our rhythm back a bit.”

Having come to Hun this summer from England, Clark has enjoyed a smooth transition.

“All the girls are so nice, it is a very welcoming and friendly environment,” said Clark, who hails from Surrey, England, just south of London. “Although I am halfway across the world, everyone makes it easy to adjust.”

Clark is looking to stay in the U.S. to play for a college program here and is adjusting well to the American brand of field hockey.

academics as much in England. America is a lot bigger than England, you have such an opportunity. The field is very different with the AstroTurf. Things are different, but I think the more types of games you can play, the better.”

Hun head coach Tracey Arndt had hoped that her squad would play better in the Prep A clash against the rival Big Red.

“As much as we prepared and did everything, we didn’t get off to a good start,” said Arndt. “I always give credit to Lisa [Ewanchyna], she knows how to coach that team. We just couldn’t get it back, it was weird.”

Reflecting on her third quarter timeout, Arndt was looking to light a fire under her players.

“You never know how they are going to respond to things but I really believe in them,” said Arndt. “I said they have got to do it for each other and for ourselves, with all of the work that we have done, ‘This is it, you can do it.’ That four minute stretch was really strong, I thought we were going to get something in. We weren’t able to get the rebounds the way that we had in the past. Kudos to their defense, everything was just a little off today.”

Hun was at a disadvantage against the Lawrenceville School without senior star Phoebe Thielmann, who has been sidelined due to injury.

“I have three or four girls who play three or four positions every game and that is unheard of,” said Arndt. “Abby [Eastman] is not used to playing forward. I have made her play middie and I have her play center mid. She is very athletic and very versatile. It weighs on you after a while when I just keep moving you. Amanda Wolfe is a ninth grader and I have had her literally play on every single line and now she is at defensive center mid, which is a really hard position. As a ninth grader, I give her so much credit. She stayed poised in a really hard situation.”

The arrival of Clark has added skill and flair to the squad. “Sophia has been wonderful, similar to Ana (Spanish star Ana Dios, a 2024 Hun grad), that international style of play is really nice to have,” said Arndt. “She is really mature, so I think that part is really nice. She is a great teammate, she is not trying to take it herself. Lawrenceville obviously could sense that she was good and they double teamed her. She has been able to get out of double teams by passing. We weren’t there for that next pass today.”

While Clark was disappointed by the loss to Lawrenceville, she is having a wonderful experience at her new school.

“It is an amazing school, I am so lucky that I have been able to come here,” said Clark. “The facilities are amazing, the people are amazing. I am very lucky that I have amazing teachers and coaches who really help me.”

— Bill Alden

“The styles are very different for sure, I think it is a massive thing for English girls to come over to America,” said Clark. “It is such a great opportunity over here. You don’t get that kind of balance of really, really high sports and really, really high

“It is obviously a loss when you lose a strong player,” said Arndt, whose team lost 3-0 to Lawrenceville in a regular season contest last Saturday to move to 7-9 and hosts the Peddie School on November 2 in its season ﬁnale. “Phoebe has been out for a while and I am very proud of how the girls have responded. For example at Pingry, Phoebe was in for the ﬁrst quarter. She scored a goal. That is her mindset, ‘If I can do something, I will.’ Then she didn’t play for three quarters. Pingry is very good and our girls just all stepped up. They did their job the best they could.”

Junior Abby Eastman and freshman Amanda Wolfe, among others, have stepped up.

STICKING TOGETHER: Members of the Hun School field hockey team celebrate after tallying a goal in a game earlier this season. Last Wednesday, Hun couldn’t get its offense going as the third-seeded Raiders fell 2-0 to sixth-seeded Lawrenceville in the Prep A state quarterfinal round. Hun, which lost 3-0 to Lawrenceville in a regular season contest last Saturday to move to 7-9, hosts the Peddie School on November 2 in its season finale. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Football : Jack Moran triggered the offense as Hun defeated St. Thomas More School (Conn.) 38-18 last Saturday. Senior quarterback Moran connected on 16 of 22 passes for 357 yards and two touchdowns for the Raiders, now 8-1. Hun hosts the Peddie School on November 2 to wrap up its 2024 campaign.

Boys’ Soccer: Sparked by Diego Pena, Hun defeated the Lawrenceville School 3-0 last Saturday. Senior goalie Pena made six saves and also added a goal as the Raiders improved to 11-3-2. Hun will be starting play in the Prep A state tournament where it is seeded second and will host third-seeded Blair Academy in a semiﬁnal contest on October 30. The Raiders will also be hosting the Peddie School on November 2 in a regular season game.

Lawrenceville

Football: Earning its third straight win, Lawrenceville defeated the Hotchkiss School (Conn.) 28-13 last Saturday. The Big Red, now 5-2, play at the Blair Academy on November 1.

Field Hockey : Displaying a balanced attack, Lawrenceville defeated the Hun School 3-0 last Saturday. Paige Villanueva, Mia Kincade, and Sofie Garmise each scored goals for the Big Red, now 8-6-1. Lawrenceville will be continuing action in the Prep A state tournament where it is seeded sixth and will be playing at second-seeded Peddie in a semifinal contest on October 30. The Big Red will also be playing at the Blair Academy on November 2 in a regular season game.

PDS

Field Hockey : Unable to get its offense going, PDS lost 5-0 to the Pennington School last Wednesday. The Panthers, who dropped to 5-9 with the defeat, play at Stuart Country Day on October 30.

Girls’ Tennis : The second doubles pair of Vera Goliyad and Shuchi Vanga provided a highlight as PDS took fifth at the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) tournament last week at the Mercer County Park Tennis Complex. The pair of senior Goliyad and sophomore Vanga took fourth at second doubles in the competition, which ended on October 23. A day earlier, PDS wrapped up play in the Prep B state tournament tying for second behind champions Montclair Kimberley Academy as freshman Arundhati Prabhu took second at second singles and senior Kavita Amin placed second at third singles.

Girls’ Volleyball: Running into a buzz saw, PDS fell 25-6, 25-10 to Princeton High in the Burlington County Scholastic League tournament final last Thursday evening. The Panthers, who moved to 7-13 with the defeat, had edged WW/PSouth 2-1 in the BCSL semifinal round earlier Thursday to make the final.

Pennington

Football : Jumping out to a 27-0 halftime lead, Pennington rolled to a 41-8 win over the Peddie School last Saturday. The Red Hawks, now 6-3, play at Notre Dame on November 1 in their season finale.

Field Hockey : Sparked by Devan Tirendi, secondseeded Pennington defeated

third-seeded Morristown Beard 3-1 in the Prep B state semifinals last Friday. Tirendi tallied two goals as the Red Hawks improved to 10-4-1. Pennington plays at top-seeded Montclair Kimberley Academy in the Prep B final on October 30. In addition, the Red Hawks will be playing at Lawrence High on October 31.

Boys’ Soccer : Elvis Appiah starred as Pennington defeated St. Thomas Aquinas 7-2 last week. Appiah tallied three goals in the October 22 contest to help the Red Hawks improve to 11-1. In upcoming action, Pennington will be competing in the Prep A state tournament where it seeded first and will host fourth-seeded Lawrenceville in a semifinal contest on October 30. The Red Hawks will also be playing the Putnam School (Conn.) on November 2 at the Woodstock Academy (Conn.).

PHS

Field Hockey : Mia Ramirez scored the lone goal for PHS as it fell 4-1 to Lenape last week. The Tigers, who dropped to 6-8 with the defeat in the October 22 contest, host Phillipsburg on October 30 before starting play in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) state tournament.

Stuart

Field Hockey : Emily Harlan made 11 saves in a losing cause as Stuart fell 1-0 to Lawrence High last Wednesday. The Tartans, now 5-9-1, host Princeton Day School on October 30 before starting action in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) state tournament.

Dillon Hoops League Accepting Registrations

The Princeton Recreation Department is now taking registrations for the 2025 Dillon Youth Basketball League.

The Dillon Youth Basketball League is entering its 53rd season and is a cherished tradition in the Princeton community. The league consists of both games and practices. It is open to boys and girls in grades 3-8 who are Princeton residents and non-residents who attend school in Princeton.

The league’s games will be taking place from January–March and will be held Saturday mornings at local schools. A recreational league intended for players of all skill and experience levels, Dillon Basketball is about playing the game the right way, teamwork, and having fun.

To register, log onto register.communitypass.net/ princeton under “2025 Winter Sports Programs.” Registration is open until January 3, or until divisions are at capacity. More information can be found online at princetonrecreation.com.

Princeton Junior Football League Recent Results

In action last Sunday in the Princeton Junior Football League (PJFL) Seniors division (Grades 7-8), t he Eagles defeated the Giants 24-13 as Christian Barr starred, connecting with Hudson Hanley and Theo Henderson for

touchdown passes and rushing for two TDs. Bree Green rushed for a touchdown and caught a TD pass from Ilan Spiegel to account for the two Giants scores. The Besler Chiefs topped Princeton Global Packers 33-19. Dylan Chambers ran for a touchdown for the Chiefs while Henry Ambra contributed with a touchdown run and TD passes to Zephaniah Chambers and Shail Besler. Besler also added an interception return for a TD. For the Packers, Luke Giannatasio threw touchdown passes to Aiden Davidson and Judah Lerman while Mathew Robinson rushed for a TD. The Petrone Steelers defeated the UOA Broncos 26-19.

Sunny Coulianidis led the way for the Steelers, throwing two touchdown passes to Cooper Casto and running for another score. Alex Shah also intercepted a pass for a touchdown. As for the Broncos, John Monica threw touchdown passes to Nathan Stock with Jamie Monica adding a rushing TD.

In the Super Juniors division (Grades 5-6), t he Petrone Associates Steelers defeated the Besler Chiefs 35-7. For the Steelers, Jax Cherian ran for a touchdown, returned an interception for a touchdown, and threw touchdown passes to Kaden Taffer and Jake Lind. In addition, Daniel Kim ran for a touchdown while Charles MelvinRossi and Carson Smith had interceptions. Jasper Weiss connected with Patrick Bullinger for a touchdown pass to pace the Chiefs offense. The CEO Packers edged the University Orthopedic Associate Broncos 21-19. For the Packers, Everette Cole ran for a touchdown and threw

TD passes to Myles Eldridge and Nazir Rollins. Christopher Pepek starred in a losing cause for the Broncos, rushing for three TDs. The Christine’s Hope Giants defeated the Woodwinds Associates Eagles 35-6. Leo Miele ran for three touchdowns in the win and connected with Ben Heady and Zack Johnson for TD passes. Miele also had two interceptions, one returned for a TD. For the Eagles, Theo Salganik connected with Jackson Szurek for a touchdown pass. In the Juniors division (Grades 3-4), t he COE Broncos defeated the Lululemon Packers 27-12, led by Everett Zweig who threw for two touchdowns and had a rushing TD. Liam Tan rushed for touchdown and had a TD reception. William Hancock also had a TD catch for the Broncos. The Packers got a touchdown pass connection from Henry Robinson to Eddie Ostrowsky and a rushing TD by Rehm Casto to account for their scoring. The Christine’s Hope Giants edged the Mercato Ristorante Eagles 25-18 as Henry Arns threw two touchdown passes and caught another. Aiden Spies and Brian Willison Jr. each had touchdown passes and TD receptions while Jake Brown added a touchdown reception. For the Eagles, Chase Barr connected with James Baldino and Ryan Costello for touchdown passes and also added a TD run. The Petrone Associates Steelers defeated the Woodwinds Associates Chiefs 32-19. The Chiefs were paced by three touchdown passes from Jack O’Dowd. Graham Wilkinson had two touchdown catches and Juan Philippos GarciaVidalis caught the third.

RED ALERT: Hun School girls’ soccer goalie Ellie Gudusky clears the ball in a game earlier this season. Last Saturday, senior Gudusky starred as Hun defeated the Lawrenceville School 2-1. The Raiders, who moved to 2-9-4 with the win over the Big Red, host the Peddie School on November 2 in its season ﬁnale.

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

FULL FORCE: Princeton Day School boys’ soccer player Keegan Fullman, left, controls the ball in recent action. Last Friday, sophomore star Fullman scored a goal to help PDS defeat Delaware Valley 2-0. The Panthers, who moved to 5-11 with the win, play at Oratory Prep on October 30 before starting action in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public state tournament on November 5. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Obituaries

Gene R. McHam

Gene R. McHam, age 89, formerly of Brooklyn, N.Y., died on October 19 at his home in Princeton, N.J., surrounded by loving members of his family who had nursed him in his final days. He is survived by his wife, Sarah Blake McHam, and five children, Michael McHam of Metuchen, NJ (Antonette), Jeffrey McHam of Castro Valley, CA (Jennifer), Melissa McHam Green of Brooklyn, NY (Geoffrey); stepdaughters, Emily McHam Lambert of Rochester, NY (J. David), and Julia Wilk of San Diego, CA; and eight grandchildren, Natalie and Charlotte McHam, Sam Neal, Henry and Syl Green, Wendell, Charles, and Samuel Lambert.

A Navy ROTC scholarship paid for his undergraduate degree in English literature at Miami University of Ohio, and so Gene spent three years on active duty in the Navy as a Lieutenant (junior grade). He loved telling stories of his escapades, always embellished with the tall tale exaggerations consistent with his Texan origins. Ever after, he happily educated family members in destroyer bridge talk and semaphore poses. Post Navy, he had a distinguished and multifarious career. After graduating from Columbia University as a member of the Law Re view (1963), he was hired by Lord, Day & Lord, then an eminent law firm in New York City, where he worked from 1963-1966. Gene was especially proud of his sig nificant contribution to a landmark US Supreme Court case, in which he authored the brief that was ultimately argued before the Court. His work in that case became an important part of Supreme Court jurispru dence, marking a lasting impact on legal precedent.

His dedication to justice and his commitment to this pivotal case will remain a defining aspect of his legacy. Herbert Brownell, the former Attorney General of the United States and a senior partner in his firm, enticed him to join the first campaign of John V. Lindsay for mayor of New York City. The victorious Lindsay appointed Gene to be Assistant Corporation Counsel of the City of New York (1966) and Director of the Civilian Complaint Review Board. In his one year there, Gene also supervised the collection of more than $5,000,000 in unpaid traffic tickets to the city.

He soon moved on to the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., where he served as Executive Assistant to its President, Robert W. Haack, and as Vice President in charge of the Direct Clearing Department, which processed NYSE trades for 62 brokerage firms (1966-70). He returned to the private sector as a senior vice president and director of F.S. Smithers & Co., Inc., a securities company, from 1970-73. When Smithers failed, he was hired by the Louis-Dreyfus Corporation, a large grain exporting company, which appointed him as a senior vice president and director, but not before he passed a graphology test in Paris (despite his notoriously illegible handwriting). The LouisDreyfus family later became famous to a broader audience through the actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

After six years there, in 1979, Gene co-founded Andrew Peck Associates, Inc., a pioneering discount stock brokerage firm on Wall Street, where he served as Executive Vice-president and Director until his retirement in 1995. Shortly thereafter, he and his associates sold it to Muriel Siebert, the first woman to own a seat on the New York Stock Exchange.

please

11am

Louis “Louie” Intartaglia

Louis “Louie” Intartaglia, 74, of Princeton, NJ, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 17, 2024, at Penn Medicine in Plainsboro, NJ.

A lifelong resident of Princeton, Louie attended the Princeton Public School system, graduating from Princeton High School in 1968.

He went on to attend Emerson College before enlisting in the Navy, where he served for four years in the Middle East during the oil crisis. After his service, Louie returned to Princeton and worked as a landscaper. He was an avid sports fan, particularly of the Baltimore Orioles.

Louie was preceded in death by his mother, Anna Boccanfuso Intartaglia, and father, Dominick Intartaglia. He is survived by his brother, Andre (Donna), and his nieces, Anna and Olivia, as well as many cousins.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. The burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the SAVE Animal Shelter by calling (609) 309-5214 or online at savehomelessanimals.org.

Extend condolences and share memories at The KimbleFuneralHome.com.

Preaching Sunday, November 3 is Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames, Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel, Princeton University.

Open to all.

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

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CLEANING, IRONING, LAUN-

DRY by women with a lot of experience. Excellent references, own transportation. Please call Inga at (609) 530-1169 and leave a message. 11-06

BUYING: Antiques, paintings, Oriental rugs, coins, clocks, furniture, old toys, military, books, cameras, silver, costume & ﬁne jewelry. Guitars & musical instruments. I buy single items to entire estates. Free appraisals. (609) 306-0613. tf

TOWN TOPICS CLASSIFIEDS GET TOP RESULTS!

Whether it’s selling furniture, ﬁnding a lost pet, or having a garage sale, TOWN TOPICS is the way to go!

We deliver to ALL of Princeton as well as surrounding areas. (609) 924-2200 ext. 10; classiﬁeds@towntopics.com

ESTATE LIQUIDATION SERVICE:

I will clean out attics, basements, garages & houses. Single items to entire estates. No job too big or small. In business over 35 years, serving all of Mercer County. Call (609) 306-0613.

Modern Halloween & All Saints' Celebrations

On Halloween night, neighborhoods come alive as kids dressed as superheroes, witches, and monsters fill the streets, bags ready for treats. Houses glow with jack o' lanterns, and friends gather to watch horror movies or attend costume parties, sharing in the thrill of spooky stories and haunted decorations.

But once the clock strikes midnight, the energy softens as many turn to celebrate All Saints' Day. Families light candles at home or visit loved ones' graves, leaving flowers to honor those who have passed. In some places, a candle in the window remembers family members, and people gather to share stories of those no longer with them.

In this modern celebration, Halloween ’s lively spirit blends with All Saints’ quiet reverence. These back to back days offer a unique mix, bringing together the joy of costumes and community with moments to remember and celebrate the loved ones who shaped us.

Call (609) 924-2200, ext 10 circulation@towntopics.com tf YARD SALE + TOWN TOPICS CLASSIFIED = GREAT WEEKEND!

Put an ad in the TOWN TOPICS to let everyone know! Call (609) 924-2200 ext. 10; classiﬁeds@towntopics.com

DEADLINE: Tues before 12 noon tf

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. tf

JOE’S LANDSCAPING INC. OF PRINCETON

Property Maintenance

WE BUY CARS

Belle Mead Garage (908) 359-8131

Ask for Chris

KARINA’S HOUSECLEANING:

Honest. Reliable. Looking for house cleaning. Best prices. Week days only. English speaking. Call for estimate. (609) 858-8259. 10-30

STORAGE UNITS FOR RENT

10 minutes north of Princeton, in Skillman/Montgomery. Discounted monthly rents: 15x22 $280, 21x22 $330. November availability. https://princetonstorage.homestead. com/ or call/text 609.333.6932. 11-13

BARBARA’S HOUSECLEANING

SERVICES: Strong references; work in the Mercer County area. Very experienced, dependable, honest, and punctual. Call Barbara at (609) 8657417. 10-30

HOME HEALTH AIDE/COMPANION AVAILABLE: NJ certiﬁed and experienced. Live-in or live-out. Driver’s license. References available. Please call Cindy, (609) 227-9873. 11-06

• Green Company HIC #13VH07549500

(609) 306-0613. tf

ADVERTISING SALES

Witherspoon Media Group is looking for an advertising Account Manager to generate sales for our luxury magazines, newspaper, and digital business.

The ideal candidate will:

Establish new and grow key accounts and maximize opportunities for each publication, all websites, and all digital products.

• •

Collaborate with the sales and management team to develop growth opportunities.

Prepare strategic sales communications and presentations for both print and digital.

Develop industry-based knowledge and understanding, including circulation, audience, readership, and more.

Prepare detailed sales reports for tracking current customers’ activity and maintain pipeline activity using our custom CRM system.

Positions are full- and part-time and based out of our Kingston, N.J. office. Track record of developing successful sales strategies and knowledge of print and digital media is a plus.

Compensation is negotiable based on experience. Fantastic benefits and a great work environment.

Please submit cover letter and resume to: lynn.smith@princetonmagazine.com melissa.bilyeu@witherspoonmediagroup.com

Professional, Courteous and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Interior Painting, Exterior Painting, and Drywall Repair

•

•Quality Craftsmanship

•Reasonable Rates

•Licensed, Bonded & Insured

•Free Estimates

(609) 799-9211 www.fivestarpaintinginc.com License # 13VH047

“I

At Greenwood House Hospice, our families and caregivers LOVE HOW MUCH WE CARE! AND YOU WILL, TOO.

am proud and honored to serve as Greenwood House Hospice Medical Director and to work alongside some of the best nurses, social workers, chaplains and volunteers in the business. Our team provides intimate and comprehensive care for our terminally ill patients. We support not just those in their final months but also their families and loved ones.”

– DAVID R. BARILE, MD Medical Director, Greenwood House Hospice

Hospice is about living the fullest life possible according to a patient’s capabilities within a life-limiting condition. In hospice, your choices guide the care we provide. Hospice care affirms quality of life. Our goal is to prevent and relieve pain, discomfort, anxiety and fear.

We provide emotional and spiritual support to patients and their loved ones. Hospice care is provided wherever a patient feels most comfortable or where they call home. We help families and caregivers prepare for endof-life challenges and find creative ways to share in life review and legacy projects so that our patient’s wisdom and memories can be treasured for future generations.

Our Hospice Team consists of:

• Hospice Medical Director, a board-certified hospice physician

• Registered Nurses (RNs) monitoring pain, managing symptoms and guiding patient’s plan of care

• Hospice Certified Home Health Aides (CHHAs) providing personal patient care and companionship

• Social Workers supporting patients and families and connecting them with community resources

• Spiritual Counselors providing emotional support and personal counseling

• Bereavement Services offering guidance and education concerning anticipatory grief to families throughout care and bereavement

• Hospice Volunteers assisting with a variety of patient and family personalized support activities

Greenwood House Hospice is a nonprofit, mission-based organization rooted in cherished Jewish traditions and an industry leader in providing high-quality senior health care in the state of New Jersey. Seniors of all faiths are welcome.