Nassau Inn Inducted Into Historic Hotels of America
5
IAS Welcomes New Scholars, Initiatives for 2024-25 9
Grammy-Winning Conductor Returns to Lead Two Westminster Choirs 11
PU Orchestra Opens New Season with Westergaard Tribute Concerts 18
Having Emerged as a Force for PU Women’s Volleyball, Chaney Developing into a Leader For Tigers 28
PHS Football Comes Through in Defensive Struggle, Eking Out 3-0 Win Over Holy Cross Prep In Moving to 3-3 30
Ruha Benjamin Wins “Genius” Award Amidst Gaza War Controversy
Princeton University Professor Ruha Benjamin has been awarded a MacArthur Fellowship, widely referred to as the “genius” grant, worth $800,000, and she emphasizes the need to see this honor in the context of her support for the proPalestinian University students “who are calling for the University to divest from organizations supporting Israeli state violence against Palestinians.”
Benjamin, the University’s Alexander Stewart 1886 Professor of African American Studies, who describes herself as a transdisciplinary scholar and writer focusing on the relationship between innovation and inequity, was cited by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation for “illuminating how technology reects and reproduces social inequality and championing the role of imagination in social transformation.”
The Foundation’s announcement of the Fellowships went on, “By integrating critical analysis of innovation with attentiveness to the potential for positive change, Benjamin demonstrates the importance of imagination and grassroots activism in shaping social policies and cultural practices.”
In a post to the social media platform X on October 1, the day of the MacArthur announcement, Benjamin described how her phone call from the MacArthur Foundation telling her she’d won the award came on the morning after “a tense call with Princeton University officials investigating my support of students protesting the genocide in Gaza.” Benjamin was a faculty observer for the 13 University students who were arrested during a proPalestinian sit-in at Clio Hall on April 29 and are currently preparing to face trial in Princeton Municipal Court.
“It was an eventful week,” Benjamin wrote in her X post, describing the Foundation’s phone call. “What would have been a moment of pure joy and excitement was tempered by the sense that the same institutions that are quick to celebrate our accomplishments have been slow to respond to students’ demands to disclose and divest from genocidal violence.”
Benjamin’s comments on X were originally intended to serve as responses to the University Office of Communications’ request for information for a press release about her MacArthur Award,
PU’s John Hopfield Wins Nobel in Physics
John Hop eld, a Princeton University professor emeritus in the life sciences and molecular biology with associated faculty status in physics and neuroscience, has won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics “for foundational discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning with arti cial neural networks,” according to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which announced the award on Tuesday, October 8.
Hopfield, 91, who shares the award with Geoffrey E. Hinton of the University of Toronto, has made contributions that “have fundamentally changed the world,” said Princeton University Molecular Biology Department Chair Bonnie Bassler, as quoted in a Princeton University Office of Communications press release. Their discoveries in machine learning paved the way for current rapid advancements in arti cial intelligence.
The prize amount is 11 million Swedish kroner, about $1 million, which the two prize winners share.
“John Hop eld’s brilliant scienti c career has transcended ordinary disciplinary boundaries, enabling him to make
lasting contributions to physics, chemistry, neuroscience, and molecular biology,” said Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber. “His pathbreaking research on neural networks, for which he is honored today, exempli es beautifully the power of curiosity-driven research to advance the frontiers of knowledge and create new tools for addressing some of the world’s most profound challenges.”
The Swedish Academy noted that Hopeld “created an associative memory that
can store and reconstruct images and other types of patterns in data.”
Praising Hop eld’s “groundbreaking” work, Bassler noted, “John’s discoveries show how research at the interface of disciplinary boundaries can transform our understanding of nature and deliver practical applications that bene t society.”
She continued, “John combined physics, biology, and neuroscience approaches to probe the brain, developing neural networks to explain how the brain recalls
Supreme Court Ethics Reform Rally Will Urge Attendees to Take Action
Speakers at the “Supreme Injustice” rally set for Sunday, October 20 on Hinds Plaza plan to encourage those in attendance to actively oppose recent decisions issued by the U.S. Supreme Court in the areas of health care, environmental protections, and gun safety laws.
New Jersey State Sen. Andrew Zwicker, the Rev. Robert Moore of the Coalition for Peace Action and Cease re New Jersey, and representatives of Empower NJ,
Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey, and the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice are among those who will speak at the 2 p.m. gathering “to oppose far right extremist and corrupt decisions issued by the U.S. Supreme Court,” reads a release about the event.
The rally will urge attendees and observers to take action to demand Supreme Court justices “are not bought and
FIREHOUSE FUN: The annual Princeton Fire Department Open House on Sunday afternoon featured demonstrations, fire truck tours, tips about fire safety, a bounce house, snacks, and more. Attendees share what they liked best about the event in this week’s Town Talk
(Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)
Remembering John Lennon And New York on His Birthday 17
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THE CHANGE OF SEASON: The Friends of Herrontown Woods and numerous Princetonians celebrated the autumnal equinox on Saturday evening, September 21 with Celtic music, poetry, and dance under the trees on a decorated stage and lighted pathways just outside the historic Veblen House. The festivities culminated with a procession into the stone ring on the Veblen House grounds (originally built for exercising horses) where the audience and players lit artificial candles as the quartet sang a Robert Burns poem about autumn.
Note from the Publisher: Town by Town, Neighbor to Neighbor : The loss of local news coverage nationwide has plagued citizens who are curious and interested in events, news, and helping their neighbors. In the last year, 5,000 local newspapers stopped publishing.
We at Town Topics are devoted to zeroing in on local issues and bringing them to our readers. In that spirit, Town Topics has begun to offer expanded coverage of local news in neighboring communities. Look for upcoming coverage of Hillsborough, Hightstown, Ewing, Pennington, Hopewell, Flemington, and surrounding communities. Each town will have its own section of news and advertisers.
We hope this expanded coverage results in your visiting our neighboring towns, and developing a better appreciation for our Central New Jersey neighbors, town by town, neighbor to neighbor.
Leighton Listens: Councilman Leighton Newlin holds one-on-one conversations about issues impacting Princeton from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on October 9 at Pastiamo, Princeton Shopping Center; on October 16 at The Bread Boutique, 41 Witherspoon Street; on October 23 at Mi Espana, Princeton Shopping Center; and on October 30 at Princeton Soup and Sandwich, 30 Palmer Square East. All are welcome.
Volunteer Land Stewards Wanted: Join Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS) for morning and afternoon stewardship sessions in October. Volunteers 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. Morning and afternoon weekend and weekday sessions available. Dates, 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 October, 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.
Literacy Tutoring Program : To help adults improve their English literacy skills, volunteers are needed to work one-on-one or in small groups. Online training is available in October. For specific dates and more information, email mercer@literacynj. org or call (609) 587-6027.
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
and
part of the hotel’s collection of memorabilia that helped qualify it as a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Historic Hotels of America program.
Nassau Inn One of More Than 300 Hotels Inducted Into Historic Hotels of America
The Nassau Inn has become part of Historic Hotels of America, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation that recognizes hotels “that have faithfully maintained their historic integrity, architecture, and ambiance,” according to the National Trust.
With the designation, the Nassau Inn joins such establishments as the Algonquin Hotel in Manhattan, the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston, and the Hotel Du Pont in Wilmington, Del.
“We are very excited,” said Lori Rabon, vice president Nassau Inn and Palmer Square. “To be able to showcase our historical significance is a different way to market the hotel. And it’s very appropriate now that we’re coming up on the 250th anniversary [of the signing of the Declaration of Independence].”
TOPICS Of the Town
While the Palmer Square hostelry was built in 1937, its roots stretch back to 1756. Originally on Nassau Street across from the campus that would become Princeton University, it was the home of Judge Thomas Leonard, a future signer of the Declaration of Independence. After Leonard’s death, the house was sold to Christopher Beekman, who turned it into the College Inn, later known as “Old Nass.”
“We had been a part of [the program] in the early 2000s, for a brief period,” said Rabon. “At that time, we were expanding in other ways, and we let our membership with them lapse on purpose. Once we finished renovating, and really thought we were adhering to the historical values with the spaces inside the hotel and the whole complex of Palmer Square, we went back to them and applied for the designation again. They evaluated us, and we are back on the list.”
To be selected for Historic Hotels of Amerca, a hotel must be at least 50 years old. It must have been designated by the U.S. secretary
“Wine and debate flowed freely in Christopher Beekman’s taproom where his wife helped tend the punchbowls,” reads the press release announcing the designation. “During these uncertain times, students and townsmen gathered over food and drink [to hear] of the news and opinions of honored guests such as Paul Revere, Robert Morris, and Thomas Paine, who stayed the night more than once at the public house.”
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Gummies: stick to teeth, hard to remove.
Hard candies: can break teeth; stay in mouth longer, exposing more sugar to teeth.
Sour candies: contain a lot of acid that can weaken tooth enamel.
BOTTOM LINE — HAVE FUN, STAY SAFE, BRUSH WELL, CALL FOR A CHECKUP!
Patriots often visited the inn. Delegates on their way to the first meeting of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, and signers of the Declaration of Independence, are said to have rested there. “As the war began, military men took the place of travelers,” reads the release. “Officers of the Continental Army, also the British and Hessians (depending upon which side was in possession of the town), whiled away their time in the taproom.”
The recent designation from the National Trust is not the first for the Nassau Inn.
Raising
Raising
Raising
EVENT
WHO KNEW?: A pool behind the Nassau Inn? This photo, which provides proof, is
of the interior as a National Historic Landmark; or listed in — or eligible for — listing in the National Register of Historic Places. It must also be recognized as having historic significance.
“We commend Nassau Inn, Palmer Square, and [the] leadership team for their careful historic preservation work, stewardship, and vision that will allow future generations of travelers to experience this unique historic designation,” said Lawrence Horwitz, executive vice president of Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide.
The hotel’s renewed focus on history has unveiled some interesting curiosities. “We have some pieces from the original 1756 building up on Nassau Street from when they razed it,” said Rabon. “What we’ve also done is spend a tremendous amount of time going through and pulling our different collections of historic photos and placing them around the hotel. That lets people visually experience the growth of the inn — what we were, and what we are now.”
Question of the Week:
“ What did you like best about the event today?” (Asked Sunday at the Princeton Fire Department Open House) (Photos by Seven Wojtowicz)
Different wings of the building were designed to help tell its story. “The wing representing the earlier period is built in the style of Princeton’s founders, with the low-raftered ceiling of oak and timber, large stone fireplace in the center, and quaint little staircase,” reads the release. “A small stone addition and a substantial multi-story brick wing were added over the years.”
A stone platform seat that was used in the cellar of “Old Nass” to support casks of wine and spirits is just inside the red door of the inn. On the north wall of the lobby, near the entrance to the dining room (Palmer Room) are two weapons — a Hessian sword and a gun that were used in the Battle of Princeton.
The hotel built additional guest rooms in the 1960s. What is now the skating rink behind the hotel was once an expansive swimming pool.
“At one time, we had a beautiful pool out back,” said Rabon. We ran food service out there from the [Yankee Doodle] Tap Room. It’s all filled in now, but it’s still there, underneath.”
The recent opening of the Graduate hotel, officially known as Graduate by Hilton Princeton, marks the first time a hotel has arrived in downtown Princeton since the Nassau Inn began hosting visitors nearly nine decades ago. Rabon looks upon this new neighbor as a plus rather than unwelcome competition.
“We were excited to hear of the Graduate. The opportunities for having another established property right in the heart of downtown leads us to be able to partner with them,” she said. “They don’t have event space and they are limited in what they can do for meetings, whereas we can offer those services. So we’re looking forward to working with them. It pulls off the Route 1 corridor and puts more focus on the downtown, which we all want.”
—Anne Levin
“The bounce house and the smoke alarm booth.” —Charles Martin Verkichner, Princeton
“The prize wheel. I won a cool water bottle.” —Danny August, Princeton
“Answering
—Colby Everett, Princeton
“Cotton candy. I never tried cotton candy before.”
—Rosalynn Davila, Princeton
RITUAL AT APERITIVO BAR!
on a journey to the heart of Italy with Aperitivo Bar, yet another fantastic addition to the Gretalia Hospitality
John Hopfield
continued from page one memories. Those discoveries led to the creation of artificial neural networks that are now routinely used by machines like smartphones and self-driving cars.”
Mala Murthy, director of the Princeton Neuroscience Institute that Hopfield helped to establish, described him as “a foundational figure in the creation of neuroscience at Princeton.” She pointed out that his work “paved the way for the deep learning revolution that has now touched nearly every aspect of society.”
James Olsen, Princeton University Physics Department chair, added, “John is a visionary scientist who transcended boundaries and illuminated the deep connections between theoretical physics and a wide range of phenomena across myriad fields of science. As a member of the physics department in the 1960s and ’70s, John was a passionate
teacher and mentor to generations of undergraduate and graduate students inspired by his brilliance and unique approach to studying nature.”
At a press conference held Tuesday afternoon in Taylor auditorium on campus, Hopfield joined in remotely from his summer home in England. He spoke about the importance of breaking down traditional boundaries between departments and the discoveries that can be made in the spaces between disciplines.
He also commented on the risks of artificial intelligence. “When you get systems that are rich enough in complexity and size they can have properties which you can’t possibly intuit from the elementary particles you put in there,” he said. “You have to say the system contains some new physics.”
He continued, “One is accustomed to having technologies which are not singularly only good or bad, but have capabilities in both directions.”
In his opening remarks, Eisgruber said that for Nobel Prizes “the world stops for a moment and recognizes the special importance of fundamental research and scholarship. I think here at Princeton University, we have a tradition of celebrating these prizes the way that some universities celebrate national athletic championships.”
For more information on Hopfield and Hinton and their prize-winning accomplishments, visit nobelprize.org.
—Donald
Gilpin
Be a Video Extra
Party
at Reenactment
To kick off the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, D&R Greenway Land Trust is hosting a reenactment party on Sunday, October 27 from 3 to 6 p.m. at historic Hillside Farm in Hopewell, the location of the Continental Army’s three-day encampment.
D&R Greenway has received funding from the Mercer County Cultural & Heritage Division to develop a short video with the help of Revolutionary War reenactors, the 3rd New Jersey Regiment, Jersey Greys. With the participation of archeologist and historian Richard Veit of Monmouth University and documentary filmmaker Zachary Smith, this video will help commemorate the 250th anniversary.
Once completed, the video will be shared with the public through D&R Greenway and with local public television stations.
Party guests are encouraged to dress for the time period to be featured in the video or come as they are to enjoy the celebration. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
In the hot summer months of June 1778, over 10,000 Continental Soldiers encamped in Hopewell for three days on the road to what would be known as the Battle of Monmouth. There, Washington would prove the professionalism that the Continental Army gained during their winter training at Valley Forge. But for those three days, thousands of American patriots
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would rest and rejuvenate in Hopewell Valley.
D&R Greenway preserved the 800-acre Hillside Farm after it was donated to the land preservation organization in December 2021 by the family of Betty Wold Johnson. The nearly 800-acre preserve was once multiple properties that Mrs. Johnson merged in order to preserve the history, ecology and character of the Hopewell Valley. For inspiration and ideas on dressing like an extra to be included in the video, visit drgreenway.org/Extra. If you are interested in sponsoring this patriotic event, reach out to Deb Kilmer at (609) 924-4646 or Nancy Faherty at (609) 462-4057. Tickets for the public are on sale for $177.80 per person or $250 per couple at drgreenway.org or (609) 924-4646.
John Hopfield
(Princeton University; Office of Communications; Denise Applewhite,1999)
JERSEY GREYS: A party to celebrate the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence will feature reenactors who are taking party in a special video.
Supreme Court continued from page one paid for by the highest bidder,” the release continues, “and must follow an enforceable code of ethics.
Some of our Supreme Court justices have been bribed by oligarchs to issue decisions removing power from the people and awarding it to corporations who place profit over public health and safety. There has been a right-wing extremist, corrupt takeover of the Court, and we demand a return to a code of ethics that is followed by every other judge in this country.”
The rally is co-sponsored by Indivisible Cranbury, the Coalition for Peace Action, Princeton Community Democratic Organization (PCDO), and Indivisible Highland Park.
“Everyone is talking about the Supreme Court,” said Laura Zurfl uh of Indivisible Cranbury, who put the event together. “When President Biden came out with his suggestions about this, I thought this was something we could fi nally rally behind.”
Moore will address the decisions that have weakened gun laws across the country.
“Numerous gun violence prevention laws have been severely weakened by recent Supreme Court decisions,” he said in the release. “Just to take one example, Concealed Carry of Guns permits have skyrocketed from 1,500 to 45,000 thirty-fold since the Bruen decision [expanding second amendment rights], meaning 30 times as many New Jersey residents are carrying concealed guns as before the decision.”
Charlie Kratovil of Empower NJ will speak on the recent environmental rollbacks, including the overturning of the Chevron deference. Tatiana Castrillon of Planned Parenthood will talk about the impact of the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the 20 states that now band or restrict abortion. Sara Wasserman of the Rustin Center will focus on the attack on LGBTQ rights, and Zwicker will talk about how people can protect themselves against some of these decisions.
“There are some congressional bills we can request support for,” said Zurfluh, “and he will speak about making sure to elect state legislators protecting us from repercussions. Mostly what this is about is constituent power. It’s hard not to be pessimistic. But there is power that was given to us by the founding fathers, and it’s a powerful tool.”
Zurfluh, who is a veterinarian, started Indivisible Cranbury in 2017. She sees a parallel between what she does for a living and her social activism.
“I use my voice to speak for those who are voiceless, and that’s what I’m doing here with immigrants, the downtrodden, refugees, and people the government has left behind,” she said.
The rally begins at 2 p.m. Visit peacecoalition.org for more information.
—Anne Levin
Hospital Parking Garage
Planned for Fall 2025
Penn Medicine Princeton Health leaders joined local community and business leaders, and representatives from several local companies involved in the project, to mark the start of construction of a $40 million, 1,200-space, four-story parking garage on the campus of Princeton Medical Center.
The garage is expected to open in the fall of 2025, serving as a convenient way for patients and visitors to access Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center and the adjacent Medical Arts Pavilion.
“The addition of 60 percent more parking spaces on the Penn Medicine Princeton Health campus will make it easy for patients to park and quickly come inside our buildings, enhance safety, and help ensure accessibility as the campus continues to grow,” said Penn Medicine Princeton Health CEO James G. Demetriades. “It’s a part of the commitment to patientcentered care that’s at the heart of everything we do.”
Special features of the garage include LED lighting throughout, spaces for compact cars, bike racks, four dual-headed EV charging stations, and 44 EV-ready spaces for the future.
OAKTOBER TALKS: The Marquand Park Foundation and Morven Museum & Garden will host a special evening of talks with local researchers exploring the legacy of oaks on Tuesday, October 22 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Daniel Druckenbrod, professor in the Department of Earth and Chemical Sciences at Rider University, will discuss his work dating trees using dendrochronology including an oak from Marquand Park. Elizabeth Hyde, professor in the Department of History at Kean University, will present her research surrounding André Michaux’s “Historie des Chênes de L’Amérique” and the geo-politics of the oak in the 18th century Atlantic World. At Morven’s Stockton Education Center, 55 Stockton Street. General admission, $10; Morven member, $5; student: $5. Visit morven.org/upcoming/oaktobertalks for tickets.
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“The environmentally friendly aspects of the garage design are part of Princeton Health’s pledge to advance the health of the community by incorporating sustainable energy features whenever possible,” said Greg Evans, corporate sustainability director for the University of Pennsylvania Health System. www.princetonmagazinestore.com
Emerald
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Gold
The John Bickford Foundation | Monique & Jon Bombardieri | Fleur & Jay Chandler
Lynne & Van Davis | Nikki Sheetz Frith & Brint Frith | Roundview Capital, LLC
Margaret Sieck & Robert Baldwin | Elrath Construction | Janet Gruschow Francisco & John Francisco
Carolyn & John Healey | Lisa Marin & Tom Jordan | Kerry & David Kandel | Omni 360 Advisors LLC
Janine & Ari Soroken | Daphne Townsend
Silver Bronze
The ACA Family Foundation | Anonymous | Jennifer & Myron Bednar Callaway Henderson Sotheby’s International Realty | Casa Aziz | The Chiurco Family | Melanie & John Clarke
Melissa Marks & Philip Clippinger | Emily & Johan Firmenich | Betsy & Tom Grimes | Meg & Jack Hanington
Sandy Scarlatella & Ken Harlan | Landseer Advisors, LLC | Leddy Interiors | Andrea & Ed Meyercord
Novi Wealth Partners | Whitney Ross | Ruth & John Sayer | Shareapy | Lisa & Bob Stockman
Christina Strong, Dilworth Paxson | Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart | Trinity Church | Alice & Peter Yi
Institute for Advanced Study Welcomes
New Scholars and Initiatives for 2024-25
The Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) combines a heavy dose of tradition with a continuing emphasis on innovation as it welcomes 267 visiting scholars from 35 nations and more than 130 institutions to work alongside its 26 permanent and 22 emeritus faculty in the 2024-25 academic year.
All of the scholars are based in one of the Institute’s four Schools — Historical Studies, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social Science — but collaboration among disciplines is “a pillar of Institute scholarship,” an IAS press release states, and creative, unconventional, pioneering work is ubiquitous at IAS.
The IAS October 2 press release highlights, for example, four visiting scholars who “represent a unique cross section of this year’s class.”
Celia Sanchez Natalias, whose research deals with demystifying ancient magical practices, comes to the School of Historical Studies from the University of Zaragoza, Spain, and will be continuing her work with a focus on lead curse tablets (defixiones) from the Roman period, “an unsanctioned technology that allowed individuals to confront a slew of personal problems and crises, such as unrequited love, pending legal prosecutions, and even sabotaging opposing sports teams in chariot races,” according to the IAS website.
Another new visiting scholar, University of Oregon Mathematics Professor Ellen Eischen, will be pursuing her work in the field of number theory, uncovering patterns in numerical data that “transcend cultures and bridge disparate fields of mathematics,” according to the press release, which adds, “Her collaborations have also helped to introduce public audiences to the creative side of mathematics.”
The research endeavors of Beatrix Muehlmann, recently a postdoc at McGill University with a Ph.D. from the University of Amsterdam, lead her into explorations of nothing less than the origin and fate of the universe, as she studies quantum gravity in seeking to describe gravity through the principles of quantum mechanics.
And E. Tendayi Achiume, joining the IAS School of
Social Science from Stanford Law School, will be continuing her work on international legal frameworks that govern migration, racism, and xenophobia, challenging accepted notions of borders and race. She plans to expand her analysis beyond nation states to consider how corporations have constituted borders and international migration.
In addition to this year’s visiting scholars, there are three new permanent faculty in the School of Mathematics at IAS this year: Irit Dveer Dinur, an expert in theoretical computer science, interested particularly in error-correcting codes and probabilistically checkable proofs; Elon Lindenstrauss, a leading authority in ergodic theory, dynamical systems, and their applications to number theory; and Aaron Naber, a renowned geometric analyst who “has opened new horizons for studying singular sets arising in the calculus of variations,” according to the IAS website.
For the School of Mathematics this will be a special year with a focus on algebraic and geometric combinatorics, with past IAS scholar and Princeton University Mathematic Professor June Huh serving as distinguished visiting professor and helping to organize a range of academic events.
“The Politics of Migration and Displacement as a Form of Life” is the title of this year’s School of Social Science theme seminar, which will be led by IAS Professor Didier Fassin and Visiting Politics Professor David Owen from the University of Southhampton, U.K. The seminar will explore many questions about immigration and asylum, migrants and refugees.
Among present and past faculty and members of IAS, there have been 36 Nobel Laureates, including one of this year’s Nobel Prize in Physics winners, John Hopfield, who was a visiting professor (2010-13) and remains active in the Institute’s Simons Center for Systems Biology. Past IAS faculty and members have also included 44 of the 62 Fields Medalists and 23 of the 27 Abel Prize winners, among many other prestigious award winners.
—Donald Gilpin
Cornerstone Speaker Event Tackles Work-Life
Balance
John Bailie will present “Beyond Balance: Living the Priorities of God, Family, Work” at Princeton Theological Seminary’s Mackay Hall on November 14 at 7 p.m.
The event is part of the Cornerstone Speaker Series, sponsored by The Nassau Foundation. In this talk, Bailie will debunk the myth of work-life balance and discuss the role of establishing a hierarchy of responsibilities in achieving professional success and lasting happiness. Following the talk will be a Q&A discussion moderated by April Readlinger, executive director of CanaVox.
Bailie, a former military officer, holds a Ph.D. in Adult Learning from Lesley University and currently works as a family business consultant at Compass Point Consulting. He was previously president of the International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP) Graduate School, and he has taught leadership courses at Columbia University. His new book, Leading Conflict, is due out soon.
In his decades of experience coaching CEOs and senior leaders, as well as his own search for spiritual wholeness, Bailie has come to believe that the right hierarchy is God first, family second, and work third. “In order, this hierarchy answers why we do what we do, who you are doing it for, and what exactly we are expected to do about it on a daily basis,” Bailie said. “Leaders who know those three things and are disciplined in allowing this hierarchy to guide all of their choices, will inevitably be successful in any endeavor.”
Readlinger will join Bailie at the event to share her perspective on these topics and engage in a discussion driven by audience questions and comments. Readlinger is the executive director of CanaVox, an interfaith movement that engages in thought leadership and organizes study groups worldwide to address the erosion of marriage culture and reinforce truths about marriage and family.
Mackay Hall is located at 64 Mercer Street. The event is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be served. Freewill offerings will be accepted for The Nassau Foundation and CanaVox. Attendees are asked to RSVP to gregoryjsull@aol.com by November 11.
Benson Signs Ordinance For LGBTQIA+ Affairs
Mercer County Executive Dan Benson has signed an ordinance passed by the Mercer County Board of Commissioners, which establishes a new Mercer County Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs.
The new offi ce will assist members of the LGBTQIA+ community to navigate government programs and access services that support job training, housing, and economic development. The office will also assess needs within the LGBTQIA+ community, provide educational materials to help members of the community understand their legal rights, and support government outreach to the community.
too often faces barriers in housing, health care, and access to government assistance. The new Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs will be an essential resource to ensure that Mercer’s LGBTQIA+ residents and business owners can navigate federal, state, county, and non-profit resources to receive the help they need.”
“I ran for public office to assist vulnerable communities," said Commissioner Nina Melker. "Being the mother of a daughter who is LGBTQIA+, we are a proud PRIDE family. My daughter and her wife have built an amazing life. This new office will put Mercer County in a better position to serve the LGBTQIA+ community.”
"In Mercer County, we represent one of the most diverse communities in New Jersey, but diversity alone is not enough,” said Commissioner Sam Frisby. “We must actively work towards greater inclusion. That’s why the passing of this ordinance, which makes space for a community that has long been excluded and marginalized, is truly historic.”
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Trent House Video Focuses on Lenape
The Trent House Association holds the official premiere of the second of three videos on Native American history and contemporary issues, focused on the Lenape experience in New Jersey, on Saturday, October 12 at 4 p.m. This free showing of “Lenape Relationship with the Natural World” will be introduced by Karelle Hall, who researched, scripted, and narrated the video.
The program will be held in the Visitor Center at the William Trent House Museum, located at 15 Market Street in Trenton, across from the Hughes Justice Complex. Free parking and the museum entrance are at the rear of the property off William Trent Place.
"Lenape Relationship with the Natural World” illustrates how the Lenape
continue to act on their responsibilities as stewards of the natural world and how this relationship with nature is reflected in human relationships.
Hall recently completed her doctoral studies in anthropology at Rutgers University. She is a member of the Nanticoke Indian Tribe of Delaware, where she is actively engaged in language revitalization. She is a frequent speaker on Native American language and culture of the region. Her research has been supported by the Wenner-Gren Foundation, American Philosophical Society, and American Ethnological Society. Her work on this video was funded by a grant to the Trent House Association from the New Jersey Council on the Humanities.
For more information, visit williamtrenthouse.org.
“Mercer's vibrant LGBTQIA+ community plays a vital role in our success,” said Benson, “yet this population
OFFICIAL PREMIERE: The video “Lenape Relationship with the Natural World” is screened by its creator at the William Trent House Museum on Saturday, October 12 at 4 p.m.
Grammy-Winning Conductor Returns
To Lead Two Westminster Choirs
Thomas Edison State University Celebrates 52nd
Commencement
On Saturday, October 5, 2024, Thomas Edison State University (TESU) celebrated its 52nd annual Commencement ceremony in Trenton, honoring the academic achievements of its diverse class of graduates. Families, friends and university staff gathered in a ceremony that highlighted the perseverance and determination of adult learners from across New Jersey and the United States.
BACK AT WESTMINSTER: Choral conductor Donald Nally, who has a long history with Westminster Choir College, has been hired as a full-time visiting professor to lead the Westminster Choir and Westminster Symphonic Choir, based at Rider University.
When the Westminster Choir performs at Trinity Episcopal Church in Trenton this Saturday evening, and the Westminster Symphonic Choir appears with the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey at the city’s War Memorial a week later, the two famed choral ensembles will have been prepared by a renowned conductor with close ties to their home base.
Donald Nally earned a Master of Music degree at Westminster Choir College in 1987 (before it became Westminster Choir College of Rider University), and served as an artist-in-residence there for the past two years. He has recently joined the faculty as a full-time visiting professor, working with the two choirs as well as students in the choral conducting program.
“Dr. Nally is one of the nation’s leaders in the field of conducting, said Jason Vodicka, associate dean of Rider’s College of Arts and Sciences and associate professor of music education at Westminster Choir College. “Having him here full time to lead our choirs and conducting program is a testament to his belief in the mission of Westminster Choir College. Our students are incredibly fortunate to learn from him.”
Rider’s failed attempt to sell the Westminster campus in Princeton to a Chinese company in 2017, followed by its move of the college to the Rider campus in Lawrence Township, have shrunk its enrollment. While Nally is only too aware of the effects of these changes, he is hopeful for the future.
“While the numbers are down, they are rising and the singers are there,” he said. “A lot of mistakes have been made. Those aren’t my business. I wasn’t really around for those. But I’m glad to be able to step in and take what’s there and make the best of it. We’re singing a lot, which is great.”
The Westminster Choir is now in its 104th year. It forms the core of the Symphonic Choir, which has recorded and performed with major orchestras under many internationally known conductors for the past 87 years. Their performance schedules this year will take the choirs to New York City, Philadelphia, and Bethlehem, Pa., among other locations.
Nally’s other full-time job is as head of the Philadelphia-based choral ensemble The Crossing, which has won three Grammy Awards for Best Choral Performance
and will appear at Richardson Auditorium on February 4. His resume includes previous academic appointments at Yale, Harvard, and the University of Chicago. He has been chorus master for the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Welsh National Opera, and Opera Philadelphia. He has prepared choruses for several international conductors with the Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, and Los Angeles Philharmonic, among others.
“I have several areas where I have spent a lot of time,” Nally said. “Some with opera, some with new music, and a lot with church music. I decided my opera days were over, and I’ve gone into focusing on my contemporary music and teaching.”
Being a part of Westminster is clearly a priority.
“One of my focuses while being there is to really see what I can do to help the school itself look forward, and maybe accept what is their reality about the old campus and the Rider campus. Because we’re not going back [to the Princeton campus]. Of course, that’s an unpopular statement for me to make, but it’s true. The school is really important to me. It’s absolutely true that it has changed many lives, and I’m really thrilled to be here.”
The Westminster Choir’s concert at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 801 West State Street in Trenton this Saturday, October 12, is at 7 p.m. Titled “Evensong,” it follows the ancient liturgy, anchored by Herbert Howells’ Westminster Service , with sung “lessons” focused on themes of exile and refugeeism. Admission is free. The Symphonic Choir participates in an excerpt from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess in the Capital Philharmonic’s “American Stories: Opening Night” on Saturday, October 19, 7:30 p.m., at Patriots Theater at the War Memorial, on Lafayette Street in Trenton. Visit capitalphilharmonic.org for tickets.
—Anne Levin
Peace Award Ceremony To Celebrate Rockefeller
The Nakashima Foundation for Peace will hold its third Peace Award Ceremony on Sunday, October 20, from 3-5 p.m., with a special donor reception at 2 p.m. The event will honor Steven C. Rockefeller Sr., who has supported George Nakashima’s dream of creating the first Altar for Peace in 1986 and has continued his own legacy of promoting peace through education and art.
“The ceremony was a reminder of the power of lifelong learning, with each graduate’s journey representing a story of resilience, dedication and the pursuit of dreams.” said Dr. Merodie A. Hancock, TESU president. "Their success is proof that our challenges are meant to be embraced, and our goals are meant to be achieved.”
The Class of 2024, with an average age of 37, included graduates from every county in New Jersey as well as from across the country. The day’s emotional highlight was the speech from student speaker Frank Orlando of Long Island, N.Y., who shared his personal journey of returning to school after bypassing college in his teens to pursue acting. A dedicated JetBlue Airways employee, Orlando described how a family tragedy spurred him to enroll in the JetBlue Scholars program to earn his degree. "Education became a powerful tool in changing my life, not just in my career but in my outlook," said Orlando, who was recently promoted to Senior Analyst, Cobrand Digital Acquisitions at JetBlue. His message of perseverance and transformation resonated deeply with the audience.
Among the graduates was Patricia Carey-Chambers of Mays Landing, this year’s oldest graduate at 71 years old. After starting her college journey in 1970, Carey-Chambers completed her degree over decades, fulfilling a promise she made to herself more than 50 years ago. "I never gave up on my dream of earning a degree," she reflected. "This day marks the culmination of years of determination and commitment."
Steven R. King, a School of Business and Management alum and valued TESU Foundation board member, received an honorary degree in recognition of how he embodies TESU’s values of innovation, perseverance and leadership. Currently serving as a managing partner of Tulloch Investments LLC and an investor and strategic advisor for early-stage technology companies, King joined the TESU Foundation Board in 2013 and currently serves as co-vice chair and a member of the Board Development Committee. He and his wife Kay’s philanthropic interests include supporting initiatives that remove barriers to student success. Among their donations, the Kings funded TESU’s Zero Textbook Cost courses program, which has saved students more than $2 million in textbook expenses to date.
The award will be accepted by Steven C. Rockefeller Jr. on behalf of his father, who is unable to attend in person. The ceremony is planned for the Nakashima Foundation’s headquarters in New Hope, Pa.
From the Japan Society in New York, the “Japanese House” in Pocantico Hills, the first Altar for Peace in New York, and a passive solar home in Vermont, the Rockefeller-Nakashima relationship has grown over decades.
“We look forward to celebrating the Rockefeller family legacy of art, beauty and peace,” said Mira Nakashima. “The Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City was the site of George Nakashima’s first Peace Altar, made possible due to supporters such as Steven Rockefeller.”
The reception with Steven Rockefeller Jr. features champagne and hors d’oeuvres in the Conoid Studio at 2 p.m. The reception will be followed by the Peace Award ceremony in the Arts Building at 3 p.m. The ceremony will include a koto performance by Mirai Yasuyama, presentation of
Award for Peace, and a reception with light refreshments to follow.
Space is limited, and advance registration is required. Be prepared to remove your shoes in the Conoid Studio. Donations of $150 per person are requested to attend the Award Ceremony only, and $300 for the special Studio Reception and the Award Ceremony.
The mission of the Nakashima Foundation for Peace is to build Sacred Peace Tables for each
continent, and to preserve both the legacy of George Nakashima, a leading innovator of 20th century furniture design, and the National Historic Landmark designated Nakashima Property for future generations.
Donations for this event are tax deductible and will benefit the work of the Nakashima Foundation for Peace. The Nakashima Foundation for Peace is located at 1847 Aquetong Road, New Hope, Pa. Visit nakashimafoundation.org.
HONORED FOR HIS LEGACY OF PEACE: Steven C. Rockefeller Sr., right, will be honored by the Nakashima Foundation for Peace for his legacy of promoting peace through education and art. He is pictured with George Nakashima, left. the Nakashima
VIRTUAL TOUR: What happened to the 11 great toll bridges that once connected Pennsylvania and New Jersey? Find out at a talk presented by the Delaware River Greenway Partnership on October 16.
The Lost Covered Bridges Of the Delaware River
On Wednesday, October 16 at 7:30 p.m., author and historian Scott Bomboy will lead a virtual tour of the lost covered bridges of the Delaware River. The Delaware River in Bucks County was one of the birthplaces of covered bridge building in America. But the last wooden structure spanning the river was demolished in 1945. Bomboy will provide a look at rare photographs of the bridges and tell the stories connected with them. Bomboy has frequently written about local history. He is the author of Wooden Treasures: The Story of Bucks County’s Covered Bridges and the American Hometown book series about Perkasie, Pa. Bomboy is also chair of the Bucks County Covered Bridge Society. A journalist by profession, he has received five Edward R. Murrow awards in television and is currently the editor for the National Constitution Center. Visit rb.gy/yrlni1 to register.
HiTOPS Half Marathon Set for November 10
Runners and fitness enthusiasts of all levels are invited to take part in the annual HiTOPS Princeton Half Marathon on Sunday, November 10, starting and ending at Paul Robeson Place.
Now in its 12th year, the race offers a 13.1-mile tour through historic Princeton, passing Princeton Battlefield, the Institute for Advanced Study, past the home of Albert Einstein, Princeton University, the Princeton Boathouse on Lake Carnegie, Westminster Choir College, Mount Lucas, and Herrontown Woods.
All proceeds benefit HiTOPS, a nonprofit organization that empowers young people of all identities with sex education, social support, and communities that affirm them. For 37 years, HiTOPS has been a champion of young people, providing youth-informed programs and services that meet their needs.
HiTOPS Director of Advancement Judy Walker.
“We not only seek runners, but also business sponsors and volunteers. Hundreds of hands work together to make this event the highlight of our year.”
This year, Fleet Feet –Princeton is a community partner of the event.
HiTOPS also offers the option to run virtually, logging miles over a two-week period, as well as a youth run. Registration will close when 1,750 runners register. To register, volunteer, or become a sponsor, visit princetonhalfmarathon.com.
“Jersey Devil Homecoming”
At Old City Hall Bordentown
Old City Hall Bordentown presents the second Jersey Devil Homecoming on October 25 at 7 p.m., at Old City Hall, 13 Crosswicks Street, Bordentown.
The “Jersey Devil Homecoming” is a Halloween event that celebrates the mythical creature’s connection to Bordentown, including its encounter with city
Cedar of Cedar Bridge. DiGerolamo is the creator of the comedy/horror book series called The Pineys, about a family of hunters that hunts the kin of the Jersey Devil. A standup comedian and writer who has contributed to The Simpsons comic books, Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, and a variety of books, comics, and games, the Camden County resident frequently speaks on “How to Hunt the Jersey Devil.”
Aubrey is a writer who has written for New Jersey newspapers, New Jersey and Philadelphia museums, and regional stages. The Bordentown resident has also written and lectured on the Jersey Devil and regional ghost stories.
Haunted History Tours are being offered on October 25 at various times that evening. For more information, visit bordentownwalkingtours.com. Visit facebook.com/OldCityHallRestoration for more information about the “Jersey Devil Homecoming.”
sentations by writers Dave Hart, Tony DiGerolamo, and Dan Aubrey, and complements the Bordentown Walking Tours Haunted History Tours.
Radio Station Marks
“War of the Worlds”
On Sunday, October 27 from 12 to 5 p.m., members of the Delaware Valley Radio Association (DVRA) will gather at Grovers Mill to set up a special event radio station in commemoration of the 86th anniversary of the infamous 1938 radio drama, “War of the Worlds.”
The gathering is at the Van Nest Park picnic pavilion, 218 Cranbury Road. Visitors are welcome and ham radio operators are encouraged to contact the station via “HF,” or shortwave bands.
“We are thrilled to see our community come out to support the runners and the youth we serve,” said
Hart is the Ewing-based co-author of the 2005 novel Mystery of the Jersey Devil. A descendant of New Jersey Declaration of Independence signer John Hart, Hart and writing partner John Calu’s other works include Adventures Along the Jersey Shore, Trenton: A Novel, and Spirits of
The iconic 1938 Halloween radio drama, created by Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre on the Air, was based on the H.G. Wells novel. The CBS radio broadcast was so convincing that some listeners believed aliens had actually landed in rural New Jersey. The following morning, newspaper headlines screamed “mass hysteria” and other hyperbole, flames that Wells and his colleagues happily fanned for the publicity. Historians argue the hysteria was anything but mass, but the impact of the broadcast is unquestionable. It is rebroadcast on Halloween every year around the world. For more information, visit w2zq.com.
Dan Aubrey
African American Museum
Re-creates Camp Meeting
On Saturday, October 12, the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (SSAAM) will hold a free, family-friendly event re-creating an 1899 Camp Meeting with live music, costumed reenactors, horse and buggy rides for kids, and more. This is SSAAM’s first-ever living history event and is presented as part of Somerset County’s 19th annual “Journey Through the Past” weekend.
The reenactment will take place from 12-4 p.m. at the historically African American-owned Reasoner-True House and National Historic Register-listed Mt. Zion AME Church, 183 Hollow Road in Skillman. Admission is free. From the 1800s to the 1930s, Mt. Zion AME hosted popular annual camp meetings in Skillman. At a time before cars and telephones, these religious revivals and community gatherings were the biggest social events of the year and attracted Black and white families from across New Jersey’s Sourland Mountain Region.
SSAAM’s 1899 Camp Meeting will feature live music from local singers and musicians, including violinist Laticia Lewis and the SSAAM Heritage Ensemble, an all-African American choral group directed by Rider University’s Vinroy Brown Jr. As a musical highlight, a soloist will perform “They Stole My Mother Away” — a oncelost spiritual from the time of slavery, recreated with research by Brown — for the first time in nearly 100 years. Visitors will “meet” historical figures from Black history with original performances by reenactors, including living historian Leslie Bramlett and the celebrated 6th Regiment of the United States Colored Troops. Activities for kids will include horse and buggy rides courtesy of Howell Living History Farm, arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, and ice cream making. At the museum, visitors can experience a special oral history presentation featuring the voices of camp meeting attendees from the early 20th century.
The 1899 Camp Meeting is part of SSAAM’s celebration of the 125th anniversary of Mt. Zion AME Church, the museum’s home. In January, SSAAM was one of 31 institutions — out of more than 500 applicants — to receive a Preserving Black Churches Grant from the National Trust
for Historic Preservation to create public programming sharing the story of Black faith, freedom, culture, and creativity at Mt. Zion AME. This grant, along with support from the Princeton University Art Museum, made this special event possible.
To register or get more information, visit ssaamuseum. org/campmeeting.
Local Landscapers Complete Green Infrastructure Training
On September 26, 35 landscape professionals from 18 different locally-owned businesses attended a fourhour green infrastructure workshop at the Watershed Institute. The year’s training was held in both English and Spanish and focused on guidance on rain garden installation and maintenance, native and invasive plant identification, and soil health practices, as well as a handson opportunity to practice new skills at the Watershed’s demonstration rain garden.
“The record-high attendance number for this fall’s landscaper workshop shows that landscaping businesses want to be able to offer the green infrastructure property owners need,” said Christine Symington, executive director of Sustainable Princeton. “We worked with the Watershed Institute to create this hands-on training experience so companies and crew members have the practical knowledge to install and manage rain gardens with native plants and other types of green infrastructure that reduce flooding from stormwater runoff and protect our biodiversity. As we encourage property owners to install rain gardens on their properties or as required by regulations, we also need to support our local landscaping community with resources and training like this workshop.”
“The Watershed Institute was thrilled to partner with Sustainable Princeton to deliver this program for landscapers,” added Sophie Glovier, chief of strategy and programs at the Watershed Institute. “The feedback
from participants last year was overwhelmingly positive, and they were interested in learning more. Bringing accessible information about green infrastructure to the landscaping community is vital as we work to combat climate-related flooding issues and challenges to our water quality, like harmful algal blooms. We will share this program design and lessons learned so that other communities across the state can learn from this successful program in Princeton.” Workshop presenters included Fredy Estrada, a former landscape company owner and community liaison consultant; Lucia Middleton, a community water advocate from the Watershed Institute; Steve Tuorto, Ph.D., the Watershed Institute's director of science and stewardship; and Molly Jones, a nonprofit consultant.
Businesses represented at the workshop included ALF Landscape Design & Maintenance LLC, Apollo Gardening, Cristian Landscaping, Delis, Dogwood Lawn Service LLC, Green Future Landscaping, Helper’s Evergreen, Lopez Aparico Landscaping, and several others.
LIVING HISTORY: The Hubbard family was dressed for the camp meeting in 1918. The Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum brings the event back to life on Saturday, October 12
The views of the letters do not necessarily reflect the views of Town Topics.
Sharing Gratitude to All Who Contributed to Success of PCH’s Recent Fundraising Event
To the Editor:
On behalf of the boards of trustees, staff, and residents of Princeton Community Housing (PCH), we wish to express our gratitude to those who helped to make our September 27 fundraising event, “Community Roots, Opportunity Blossoms,” at Morven Museum & Garden a wonderful success. We had grand time, thanks to the efforts of our volunteers and staff, and our generous donors throughout the community. Together, we raised more than $119,000 to support PCH’s mission and what we call the “PCH Difference,” our commitment to providing not only homes but supportive services that result in stronger, healthier outcomes for our residents and communities.
Just as a well-tended garden nurtures seeds and helps them take root, a richly diverse and inclusive community creates opportunities for growth and success in life, benefiting everyone. Affordable homes ensure that our town is a place where people from all backgrounds can put down roots, contribute to its vibrancy, enhance its “ecosystem,” and grow and blossom by accessing and adding to our abundant resources. We are especially grateful to Penn Medicine, our presenting sponsor, and our Honorary Chair and PCH Development Corporation President Trustee James Demetriades. Together we raised essential funding and highlighted PCH’s essential role in Princeton. PCH provides nearly 500 affordable, welcoming rental homes to approximately 1,100 people — or 3.5 percent of Princeton’s population. Our residents are employed by local businesses, nonprofits, and institutions; they are our neighbors and friends, they share and contribute to Princeton’s abundant resources, and they enrich our community. PCH helps ensure that Princeton is a vibrant, inclusive community that is home to people of all income levels — making our community better for everyone.
Our thanks again to many supporters who believe in the vision and mission of Princeton Community Housing, and for being a part of this memorable occasion!
KAREN JEZIERNY
President, PCH Community Board of Trustees
CAROLINE TRAVERS
Event Chair and PCH Community Board Trustee Monument Drive
Santarpio and Snyder are Hands-on Participants in Work of Cultivating Town’s Public Education System
To the Editor:
Transparency and effective communication are the cornerstones of a successful school board and a strong school district. Princeton’s Board of Education will thrive under the leadership of BOE candidates Chris Santarpio and Erica Snyder, superlative communicators and hands-on participants in the work of cultivating Princeton’s robust public education system.
Whether catching up with parents on the playground, leading school fundraising events, or chatting over tater tots and beers at the Ivy Inn, there is no more gifted communicator than Chris Santarpio, owner of a second-generation family business and co-president of Community Park School’s PTO. He is as friendly as he is even-keeled, equally up for a serious
conversation about matters of town importance as he is to shoot the breeze with his neighbors, making real connections with our entire district. He seeks — and achieves — broad buy-in from our diverse Community Park community, as he is a natural unifier and collaborative leader. He is genuinely interested in what everyone thinks, takes feedback warmly, working humbly to ensure that the next school picnic or STEAM day is even better than the last one. Want a leader who knows what it takes to run a successful ice cream social and is just as adept analyzing a budget? Chris is that candidate, and the BOE needs his vision, his practical know-how, and his rare ability to build consensus.
We Community Park parents are incredibly lucky that Chris shares co-presidency of our PTO with Erica Synder, an experienced teacher and director of the Cherry Hill Nursery School, who has brought to CP her unwavering competence, compassion, and a deep understanding of the challenges that our public schools must navigate to ensure the academic growth of all students. Erica will be an inspiring and highly-informed voice on the BOE as we work towards accommodating district wide growth, closing achievement gaps, and hiring a new superintendent — issues that Erica has made central to her candidacy.
Acrimony and mistrust were features of many BOE meetings last year. Princeton’s school district needs leaders who will facilitate productive conversations, for whom inclusivity is a central ideal of a diverse community and a practice of listening, learning, and pitching in, and who will advocate for stellar public education not in the abstract but through the lived experiences of the students in our schools. They have our ringing endorsement, and we encourage you to give them your vote.
KIP BERMAN Birch Avenue
VERONIKA PAPP Spring Street
CECILY SWANSON Birch Avenue
BOE Candidate Zhao Will Bring Common Sense, Transparency, Compassion to School District
To the Editor:
Six candidates are vying for three open positions in the upcoming Princeton School Board election. I am writing to endorse BOE Candidate Shenwei Zhao for the position. Like many of us who are personally invested in the school district as taxpayers and parents of children attending publicly funded schools, Mr. Zhao has demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting common sense, transparency, and care within the district. I wholeheartedly support his candidacy as a resident with children attending Princeton Public Schools (PPS).
Having engaged in numerous discussions with Mr. Zhao before and after his candidacy announcement, I have gained insight into his genuine and consistent concerns for the welfare of our schools and community. He is deeply passionate about improving the quality of all Princeton schools and ensuring that the district provides the best educational opportunities to all families.
In a recent conversation with Mr. Zhao, we discussed the issue of gifted and talented programs, especially in mathematics. Our discussion shed light on the "district policy" regarding external courses, which unfortunately hinders students with documented abilities from pursuing advanced math or other subjects for credit and advancement. However, there is no such policy, as evidenced by an email with a copy of said "policy" I received from the N.J. Department of Education. Mr. Zhao astutely recognized the issue and expressed his belief that schools should not restrict students from pursuing
academic advancement at any grade level. "Allocate appropriate resources for everyone" has been listed as the top priority on his campaign website. His prompt observations regarding bureaucratic processes within the school system reflect his acute awareness of students' and families' challenges in navigating the system. Mr. Zhao's commitment to addressing these issues is evident in his willingness to engage with the community and promptly respond to their concerns.
Another signifi cant fi nancial obstacle hindering the district's progress is the lawsuits brought against it by parents. Mr. Zhao believes taxpayer money could be better spent on our children by avoiding unnecessary suits, many of which could be resolved through respectful collaboration between the administration and the community.
Moreover, Mr. Zhao's experience as a systems engineer and independent consultant and his wife's background as a published author in scholarly journals and books demonstrate a solid commitment to education. As first-generation immigrants, we share a deep appreciation for education, which is common among many families in Princeton. The district would greatly benefit from the perspective and expertise that Mr. Zhao and his wife bring.
Mr. Zhao's genuine, commonsense approach and unwavering commitment to representing the best interests of PPS children and families make him an exemplary candidate for the BOE. I encourage my fellow community members to carefully assess the candidates during this election season and cast their vote in favor of Mr. Zhao, who embozdies the values and aspirations that align with the educational wellbeing of our community and district.
Ari Meisel’s Ability to Solve Complex Problems is What School District Needs
To the Editor:
As a local business owner and parent in Princeton, I’m writing to express my strong support for Ari Meisel’s candidacy for the Princeton Board of Education. Over the past three years, I’ve had the privilege of getting to know Ari through our daughters’ school, Littlebrook. Our friendship grew from mutual respect and shared values, and I've seen firsthand the positive impact of Ari's leadership.
Ari is not only a dedicated father, but also an expert in productivity and efficiency. His guidance has been instrumental in improving operations at my business, L Brooke Homes, where he helped implement strategies that significantly boosted both efficiency and profitability. Simply put, Ari’s ability to solve complex problems is exactly what our school district needs. Princeton Public Schools face significant challenges, from overcrowded classrooms to outdated technology. Ari is committed to addressing these issues while ensuring equity and inclusion across all schools. He’s passionate about creating personalized learning opportunities so that every student can thrive.
As a respected author, lecturer, and business consultant, Ari’s expertise in maximizing resources without sacrificing quality is recognized nationwide. His leadership is precisely what our district needs to get the most out of its resources. Ari is also dedicated to building stronger connections between schools, families, and local organizations, and he understands the importance of increasing mental health support in our schools.
That’s why my family is proud to support Ari Meisel for the Princeton Board of Education. Vote for Ari!
ROB HIRSCHBERG Dodds Lane
TRINITY CHURCH
Art, Clothes, Linens, Jewelry, Shoes, Housewares, Books and Vintage!
PREVIEW SALE Thursday, October 17th From 4-7 pm ($10 admission)
REGULAR SALE Friday, October 18th, 12-4pm
HALF PRICE OFF SALE Saturday, October 19th From 9am-12pm
33 Mercer Street, Princeton
For more info: 609-924-2277
www.trinitychurch.org
ANNARELLA VALDIVIA Mercer Road and Snowden Lane
Princeton-Blairstown Center Thanks Supporters of Successful Links to Youth Golf Outing Fundraiser
To the Editor:
On Friday, September 20, Princeton-Blairstown Center (PBC) held its ninth annual Links to Youth Golf Outing at the Fox Hollow Golf Club in Branchburg. The event raised $81,000, which will support PBC’s award-winning Summer Bridge Program. Each year, Summer Bridge offers hundreds of students from Trenton and Newark a highquality outdoor enrichment experience focused on socialemotional learning, literacy skills, and STEM, completely free of charge.
At the dinner celebration following the outing, student speaker Ashley Diaz Seguay shared her experiences at PBC with the audience. As a member of the Leader-in-Training Program, Ashley spent six weeks over the summer learning and growing at PBC’s Blairstown Campus, where she developed college- and career-readiness skills. Ashley is a high school senior from Newark, and her experience at PBC helped her develop independence, leadership, responsibility, cooperation, and grit.
Ashley explained, “PBC taught me how to be adaptable. As a girl raised in a city, it was quite a shocker to have to put up a tent and cook my own food. I learned how to persevere through a tough time. I learned to work with my group because I couldn’t possibly set up a tent by myself. I had never even seen a tent before. But with my friends’ help, I was able to set it up and put it away without any help from the staff.
The winning foursome for the day was the team from Bank of America NJ Market, and included Sakaya Carpenter, Dwayne Redmond, Jeff Serin, and James Williams. This event supports the mission of the Princeton-Blairstown Center to serve young people, primarily from historically marginalized communities, by nurturing their social-emotional skills through experiential, environmental, and adventure-based programming. Developing these skills enables participants to engage in self-discovery and transform their communities to create a more just world. PBC strives for a future in which young people exhibit personal resilience and compassion, embrace expanded possibilities for their lives and enact positive change within their communities and the world.
Thanks to our event sponsors: Kathy and Bruce Petersen, Robin and Chris Van Buren, Bank of America NJ Market, The Iyer Family, NRG Energy, Inc., AMSkier Insurance, Tamara Simpkins Franklin, Geeta Govindarajoo and Bruce Ellsworth, David Palladino, Patty and Don Seitz, Mea and Al Kaemmerlen, Princeton Corridor Rotary Club, Suman Rao and Kaushik Arunagiri, Ajanta and Pulkit Shah, Sarah Tantillo, Mark Antin, Peggy and Russell DaSilva, Tiffany and Thomas Field, Lubaina Maimoon and Imran Parekh, PBC Senior Leadership Team, and Payday.
We are also tremendously grateful to our Links to Youth Co-Chairs Heather Reilly and Derek Simpkins for their time, energy, and effort organizing and executing this successful event.
PAM GREGORY President and CEO, Princeton-Blairstown Center Roszel Road
Calling Out Those Who Steal Political Lawn Signs from Private Property
To The Editor:
We have lived at our current address, located on a prominent corner in town, for over 51 years.
Last week, we purchased a lawn sign in support of the presidential candidacy of Kamala Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, and placed it on our property. Yesterday, we discovered that the sign had been stolen, although a sign in support of Andy Kim for U.S. senator remained untouched.
We understand that similar signs around Princeton have been stolen from private property.
We can only say that we are saddened and angered by this juvenile behavior. Shame on you, whoever is responsible. You are guilty of trespass, petty theft, and worst of all, bad manners and dishonoring our American value of free speech.
ALICE AND JOE SMALL Hawthorne Avenue
BOE Candidate Snyder Advocates for Improved Educational Experience for All Children in District
To the Editor:
I am writing today to express my unwavering support for my friend Erica Snyder, who passionately advocates for an improved educational experience for all children in our district. Her vision encompasses a robust curriculum and a commitment to inclusivity and safety in our schools. I have one child who recently graduated from PHS, another a senior this year, and a third attending JP. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Erica since our youngest children were together at Cherry Hill Nursery School, where she now serves as the director.
Education is not merely a series of classes and textbooks; it is the foundation of our society. It shapes our future leaders, innovators, and compassionate citizens. In Princeton, we have the opportunity to ensure that all our students receive an education that reflects our shared values of equity and respect. To achieve this, we need a new superintendent — one who not only prioritizes academic excellence but also genuinely cares about the social and emotional well-being of every student.
Erica understands that a truly effective leader must strive
to create an environment where all students feel safe, valued, and included. This means embracing diverse perspectives and fostering an atmosphere where every child can thrive, regardless of their background or abilities. Our schools must reflect the rich diversity of our community, and I believe that with the right BOE leadership, we can make significant strides toward this goal. Moreover, transparency and communication are vital in building trust between the district and parents, as well as other stakeholders. Erica is committed to increasing visibility about the status of our district — ensuring that parents are informed and engaged in their children’s education. Open lines of communication foster collaboration and empower parents to be active participants in the educational journey, ultimately benefiting our children.
I urge everyone in our community to join me in supporting the mission of Erica Snyder. Let’s stand together to ensure that our educational system is not only outstanding but also inclusive and safe for all our children.
MINDA ALENA Christopher Drive
CRP Forms Housing Committee to Support Residents Facing Housing Discrimination
To the Editor:
It was distressing to learn that the NJ Division of Civil Rights (NJ DCR) has recently issued violation notices to housing providers across the state, including a Princeton apartment complex. However, it is reassuring to know that the NJ DCR is enforcing the Fair Chance in Housing Act (FCHA), which prevents landlords from using criminal background checks to unfairly exclude applicants.
According to the NJ DCR, the application form for the Princeton apartment complex stated that an applicant “will be denied” if they have “any felony criminal convictions” or “misdemeanor criminal convictions.” This would clearly discourage anyone with a criminal record — no matter how minor or how long ago — from applying. While the violation in Princeton has been corrected, it serves as a
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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.
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wake-up call for our community, which has witnessed the harm unfair tenant screening practices have caused to our most underserved neighbors for decades.
Unfortunately, some landlords continue to impose unreasonable barriers, such as requiring high credit scores, which disproportionately affect low-income applicants. Legislative proposals to address these obstacles have been introduced, but more forceful advocacy is needed.
Civil Rights Princeton (CRP), a grassroots group, has formed a Housing Committee to support residents facing housing discrimination, especially marginalized and low-income individuals trying to access affordable housing. We encourage any affected households to email us at CRxPrinceton@gmail.com or to call (640) 867-9339. Together, we can fight for fair and equitable housing.
MARIA JUEGA Grover Avenue
VERONICA OLIVARES Edwards Place
WILMA SOLOMON Tee-Ar Place
The signers of this letter compose the Housing Committee of Civil Rights Princeton.
Noting the Importance of Veblen House and Herrontown Woods in Preserving Open Space
To the Editor:
Thank you, Town Topics, for generously providing space for our letters of concern about our community. Several weeks ago, you published letters by Steve Hiltner of Friends of Herrontown Woods and Wendy Mager of Friends of Princeton Open Space about the blight that was beginning in our beech forests. Over a thousand trees will be affected in Herrontown Woods around the home of Oswald Veblen, the father of the Princeton open space movement. My favorite poet, Robert Frost, who thought of the beech tree as “a witness tree” would be sad. How often we see initials carved on the bark of beeches as I memorialized in my poem “God and Buggs.”
When I noticed those two letters, I recalled that among the paintings that I had collected was a rather large one of a beech forest by an accomplished artist who had studied under Daniel Garber. The painting gets at what the essence of a beech forest is about, what it feels like and means to many of us. I decided to donate it to the restoration of Veblen House. I felt that just seeing it would draw attention to the cause.
It needed repairs and a good cleaning to bring out the colors. Robert Hummel, a local artist who I met at Princeton Makes, decided to join me as we pulled together our efforts for the cause. Robert was also very concerned with Herrontown Woods. He had been there doing a painting Veblen’s home. I enjoy creating poetry that is inspired by his paintings which I found at Princeton Makes. Why does Veblen’s home and Herrontown Woods mean so much to all of us? It was through the efforts of Veblen that open space was first created around the Institute for Advanced Study for the sake of scholars being able to get away from it all, which eventually led to greater efforts by others to preserve open space all over Princeton and beyond. We not only owe a tip of the hat to Veblen, but to many other people like Scott and Helen McVay that work hard to increase the growth of open space as in their poetry trail Greenway Meadows. Just imagine what Princeton would look like today without all these efforts.
JAMES W. FIRESTONE Vandeventer Avenue
just say No to GMOs
Thousands of products now bear the Non-GMO Project Verified Label. By looking for the butterfly you can ensure your food meets the Non-GMO Project’s rigorous Standard for GMO avoidance. October is Non-GMO Month. We have special sales on Non-GMO Project Verified products all month long.
Books
Local Teacher and Children’s Author
Gita Varadarajan at Labyrinth Books
Author Gita Varadarajan, who teaches fourth grade in Princeton Public Schools, will be at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street, on Sunday, October 13 at 3 p.m. to discuss her new book, My Saree
A follow-up to My Bindi , Varadarajan’s lyrical and moving text is accompanied by Archana Sreenivasan’s illustrations that bring to life the story of a young girl who discovers a new way to embrace her Indian culture (Scholastic/Orchard Books, $17.99). The book recounts the story of Divya, who loves her mother’s sarees, and can’t wait to wear one when she is old enough, but
hopes she can wear one to Heritage Night at school. Varadarajan is the acclaimed author of multiple Scholastic publications including Save Me a Seat and My Bindi . She is a soughtafter guest author and speaker at schools across the country, where she inspires children to create stories in their own voices, and has more than two decades of teaching experience. For more information, visit labyrinthbooks.com.
Friends and Foundation of PPL
To Host Beyond Words Events
The Friends and Foundation of the Princeton Public Library will host Beyond Words, their signature fundraising event, over two evenings next week.
On Tuesday, October 15 at 7 p.m. is a special talk featuring the co-authors of Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions bestselling author John Grisham, and Jim McCloskey, the founder of Centurion, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the vindication of the wrongly convicted. The evening will begin at Nassau Presbyterian Church with a ticketed VIP Reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by an author talk and Q&A session.
On Saturday, October 19 they will host the Beyond Words Gala Reception at the Frick Laboratory on Princeton University’s campus. The event will feature gourmet grazing tables, and a silent and live auction, in celebration of community and connection. Attendees will have the opportunity to bid on some one-of-a-kind items, including a children’s sleepover at the library and the chance to coach the Princeton University men’s basketball team alongside Coach Henderson. The program will offer attendees the opportunity to learn more about the future of youth services programming at the library and take part in a paddle raise for a STEAM Studio on the third floor.
Sponsors include: Gold Sponsors, Glenmede, Princeton Global, and Triumph Brewing Company; Silver Sponsors, Howe Insurance and Hiltons Princeton; a Bronze Sponsors, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath, Joshua Zinder Architecture + Design, JM Restaurant Group, Stark & Stark, and The Bank of Princeton; Patron Sponsors, Calloway Henderson, NJM Insurance Group, and Withum; and Corporate Partners, Graduate Princeton and Princeton University Press.
demystify, and democratize information about zoning in the United States.
The program is presented in partnership with Sustainable Princeton.
Evolutionary Biologist to Speak at Princeton Academy
Jonathan Kingdon, an evolutionary biologist, wildlife ecologist, author and artist, will speak about his recent book, Origin Africa (Princeton University Press) on Thursday, October 10 at 7 p.m. at Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart, 1128 Great Road.
This event is free and open to the public, and is co-sponsored by Ridgeview Conservancy and Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart.
Kingdon is widely recognized as an authority on African mammals. A research associate at the University of Oxford, he focuses on taxonomic illustration and evolution of the mammals of Africa. He is a contributor to The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing and was awarded the 1993 Silver Medal of the Zoological Society of London, and the Royal Geographical Society's Cherry Kearton Medal and Award in 1998.
For more information on attending the talk, email info@ ridgeviewconservancy.org. RSVPs are appreciated.
Book Helps Students with Disabilities Make Successful Transition to College
October 5th - October 27th • Weekends Only • 11 AM-6PM
Since its inception in the early 2000s, Beyond Words has united library supporters and corporate partners to raise funds to advance the mission of the library. These contributions allow the library to enrich its collections, launch dynamic public programs, and offer invaluable resources to the entire community.
For tickets and more information, visit princeton library.org.
“Key to the City” Shows Good Zoning Practices
Sara Bronin, author, professor and founder of the National Zoning Atlas, discusses her book Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World, at the Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, on Monday, October 14 at 3 p.m.
After the discussion of the book (W.W. Norton, $28.99) there will be a moderated discussion about what Princeton can learn from other towns that have successfully integrated inclusionary zoning, historic preservation, affordable housing, climate change, and sustainability.
Bronin is a Mexican American architect, attorney, professor, and policymaker whose interdisciplinary work focuses on how law and policy can foster more equitable, sustainable, welldesigned, and connected places. She founded and directs the National Zoning Atlas, which aims to digitize,
Garden Theatre Hosts Film Critic Carrie Rickey for Talk on Varda Biography vague,” as historian Georges Sadoul put it — but to also hear from one of the foremost experts on her career.
The Princeton Garden Theatre, 160 Nassau Street, will host film critic Carrie Rickey on Wednesday, October 16 to celebrate the recent release of her biography of French New Wave pioneer Agnès Varda.
Learning disabilities specialist and author Elizabeth C. Hamblet will speak on preparing students for a successful college transition during a program on Wednesday, October 16 at 7 p.m. in the Newsroom of the Princeton Public Library, 65 Wi therspoon Street.
Hamblet, the author of Seven Steps to College Success: A Pathway for Students with Disabilities (Rowan and Littlefield Publishers $32), will cover the shift in relevant laws as students move to college, how the system for accommodations works, what is commonly available, and some tips for helping students find the right level of support.
Peter W.D. Wright, cofounder of Wrightslaw, notes that when planning for college with an Individual Education Plan or a Section 504 Plan, “you and your parents must read this book! Whether you are just ‘thinking’ about going to college or it is a definite plan, familiarize yourself with the ‘Seven Steps’ and do it before making any important decisions. Hamblet's ‘Seven Steps’ will help ensure that you select the right college and obtain the appropriate accommodations for a successful college experience.”
Wright continues, “You will learn that the ‘disability services’ and the applicable laws in higher education are quite different from what you experienced at the secondary school level. Hamblet has worked with students with special needs for more than 25 years, and, as prolific author, speaker, and trainer, she is the national expert about higher ed transition issues for the student with special needs.”
In addition to working at a university, Hamblet is the author of two previous books and a guide on this subject, and her work has appeared in numerous journals and online platforms.
Rickey will introduce a screening of Varda’s landmark first feature, La Pointe Courte, and lead a post-film discussion with the audience. She will be signing copies of her book, A Complicated Passion: The Life and Work of Agnès Varda (W.W. Norton, $29.99), before the film. Labyrinth Books will be in the lobby to sell the monograph.
A Complicated Passion has been praised by fellow critics and scholars as the definitive biography of one of cinema’s most important artists. This is an opportunity to not only see Varda’s debut film — “truly the first film of the nouvelle
Rickey is film critic emerita of The Philadelphia Inquirer. She wrote about art for Artforum, Art in America, and Hyperallergic and about film for The Village Voice, Film Comment, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. She has taught at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Drexel University, and the University of Pennsylvania, and won a regional Emmy for producing Before Hollywood: Philadelphia and the Birth of the Movies, and an LA Press Club award for a series on female filmmakers.
Tickets are available at the box office or online at princetongardentheatre.org/ lms/la-pointe-courte. Call (609) 279-1999 for more information.
BOOK/RECORD REVIEW
Of Songs and Singers, Boxers and Debaters,
Never lead against a hitter unless you can outhit him. Crowd a boxer, and take everything he has, to get inside. Duck a swing. Block a hook. And counter a jab with everything you own.
—Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961)
The winner got to wear a three-ply rope fashioned after the style of Hemingway...
—John Lennon (1940-1980)
John Lennon’s reference to Hemingway’s style is from his posthumous collection, Skywriting By Word of Mouth (1986). Today would have been his 84th birthday.
Ernest Hemingway’s tips on boxing come from a May 6, 1950 New Yorker profile by Lillian Ross (“How Do You Like It Now, Gentlemen?”). Hemingway and his wife Mary had just checked into Manhattan’s Sherry-Netherland Hotel, where he was drinking champagne and playfully riffing about boxing and writing: “I started out very quiet and I beat Mr. Turgenev. Then I trained hard and I beat Mr. de Maupassant. I’ve fought two draws with Mr. Stendhal, and I think I had an edge in the last one. But nobody’s going to get me in any ring with Mr. Tolstoy unless I’m crazy or I keep getting better.”
A Manhattan Mixture
I reread what Hemingway said about writers as boxers while warming up for a fantasia on the vice-presidential debate as a boxing match between Mr. Vance (JDV), a former venture capitalist from Ohio, and Mr. Walz (TW), a retired football coach from Minnesota. These two out-of-towners squared off a week ago at the CBS Center on West 57th, an easy walk west from the Sherry-Netherland, 15 blocks south of the scene of John Lennon’s murder and just around the corner from Mount Sinai West’s surgical center, where he died on December 8, 1980.
JDV vs. TW
As for how Hemingway’s tips on boxing might relate to either opponent in this imaginary match, his warning not to “lead against a hitter unless you can outhit him” might explain what Mr. Walz is up to as Mr. Vance shows off some fancy footwork attempting to repair his image while doing his best to keep things collegial. Truth be told, TW looks unhappy when he comes out of his corner. Nobody’s attack dog, he generally likes people, even (maybe especially) weird people with hillbilly roots. In the split-screen shots when he’s not talking, the coach looks fuddled, wary, and worried, like a deflated Don Rickles, a tragic clown facing off against a conflicted
hack who also basically likes people and is making nice even as he delivers carefully rehearsed zingers about Kamala Harris before falling into occasional we’re-allin-this-together-bro clinches, hoping TW will self-destruct the way the president did in June.
If the fight were being scored, JDV would be ahead on points as he defends the indefensible DT, dodging and ducking, bobbing and weaving around questions on the climate change “hoax,” evil migrants, the economy, still without ever landing a serious blow as the coach glumly stands his ground, impassively “taking everything” and showing as yet no sign of fire or righteous indignation.
“A Damning Non-Answer”
TW finds his opening in round 10. When the subject is January 6 and DT’s attempt to overthrow a free and fair election, JDV has to deal with a high school football coach standing up for the primary law of sports: when you lose, you take it and shake hands.
As JDV stalls about focusing on the future rather than the past while feebly diverting attention with the fake news about Harris censoring social media, TW executes a nifty collegial feint. After thanking “Senator Vance” and agreeing that “there›s a lot of agreement” — except for the fact that DT’s continuing threat to democracy is “one we’re miles apart on” — the coach looks his opponent squarely in the eye and asks him flat out, yes or no, did Trump lose the election? And when JDV wards off the question with another feeble stall, collapsing into the rhetorical equivalent of a clinch, he’s hit with a line that in the lingo of the ring, you could call an uppercut, but with a twist made to fly on social media: “That’s a damning non-answer.”
from uptight, short-sighted, narrow-minded hypocritics,” along with the plea that even when he was alive had the eerie effect of a voice singing “All I want is some truth, just give me some truth” from beyond the grave. Lennon’s greatest songs, however, are very much alive in the here and now, like two on Side 1 of the White Album : “Dear Prudence,” a simple, childlike come-out-and-play ballad addressed to a single person that becomes a soaring anthem, and “Happiness is a Warm Gun,” a novel’s worth of excitement and attitude delivered in under three minutes. Taking his title from an article in American Rifleman magazine, Lennon shows the same talent for making the most of everyday slice-of-life material revealed decades later in Skywriting By Word of Mouth.
Of all the Lennon songs that have followed me around and kept me company for more than half a century, the most haunting, harrowing, and ultimately uplifting is “Instant Karma.” Besides seeing me through writer’s block in January 2020, it’s another example of Lennon’s ability to make art from the mundane details of everyday life. Who else could turn instant coffee into a song that tells you “pretty soon you’re gonna be dead” while asking “what in the world you’re thinking of laughing in the face of love?”
“Instant Karma” is the first song I’ll listen to on Lennon’s birthday. The man who sings “We all shine on” with life or death intensity in 1970 sang to the world with the Beatles in the summer of 1967: “Nothing you can make that can’t be made; no one you can save that can’t be saved; nothing you can know that isn’t known; nothing you can see that isn’t shown; and nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be.”
with the way everything comes together in Manhattan, where Ernest Hemingway’s holding forth on writing and boxing while waiting for Marlene Dietrich to stop by his Sherry-Netherlands suite, just around a Central Park corner from her suite at the Plaza, where Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald cavorted in the 1920s and from whose windows John Lennon and the Beatles waved to crowds of fans and New York cops 60 years ago, February 7, 1964. A Birthday Playlist
Here’s a playlist by singer songwriters who came into the world on this date, starting with “Boris the Spider” by The Who’s John Entwhistle, who was born October 9, 1944, in Hammersmith, London, and died June 27, 2002, in Paradise, Nevada. You can be sure that this blackcomedy ditty got plenty of plays during the Boris Johnson Brexit fiasco.
Although Jackson Browne, born October 9, 1948, may be best known for “These Days,” composed at 16, I’ve always admired “Lawyers in Love,” a song (and video) that should be played from now until Election Day, with lines like “I can’t keep up with what’s been going down” and “Am I the only one who hears the screams and the strangled cries of lawyers in love.” Except they won›t have time for love after November 5; they’ll be to their necks in litigation.
Listening to Lennon
After watching Vance dance around the awful truth during the match at the CBS Center, I naturally thought of John Lennon’s “Gimme Some Truth,” a searing, multi-syllabic blast about “hearing things
The New York Story
John Lennon’s place in the New York story is reinforced every Times Square New Year’s Eve by the singing of his song “Imagine.” In fact, the line “Imagine all the people living for today” resonates
The one album worthy of a place on the playlist is Let England Shake by PJ Harvey, who was born Polly Jean Harvey in Bridport, Dorset, on October 9, 1969. “The world we live in” was Harvey’s answer when she was asked by an interviewer what inspired the album, which ultimately celebrates life, music, nature, love, poetry, and the creative spirit. At the same time, considering that war and waste, greed and madness, sickness and death, are all worthy, challenging subjects for an artist with Harvey’s gifts, she embraces them, takes them on, makes a mission of them. Finally, a song by the youngest musician in the group, the son of John Winston Lennon, who was born in Liverpool Maternity Hospital on October 9, 1940. Sean Ono Lennon arrived on October 9, 1975, in Manhattan’s Cornell Medical Center. I didn’t know his song “Parachute,” nor had I seen the video where he looks so chillingly like his father. I kept my distance, as I always have since listening to John sing “Beautiful Boy” on December 8, 1980. Try watching the video with dry eyes when Sean sings lines like “if I have to die tonight, I’d rather be with you.”
— Stuart Mitchner
Princeton University Orchestra Opens New Season with Peter Westergaard Tribute Concerts
The Princeton University Orchestra launched its 2024-25 season this past weekend with a unique combination of works from Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia, demonstrating that music knows no political boundaries. Led by conductor Michael Pratt, the more than 100-member Orchestra showed in the annual concerts honoring former faculty member Peter Westergaard what could be accomplished in the few short weeks since the University semester started.
Sunday afternoon’s performance in Richardson Auditorium (the concert was also presented Saturday night) began with the American premiere of a piece with a University connection. Princeton graduate Hobart Earle has achieved great success conducting Ukraine’s Odesa Philharmonic Orchestra, leading the ensemble through the sounds of artillery in the background and against incredible odds. In 2023, Earle and the Philharmonic commissioned noted Ukrainian composer Evgeni Orkin, and the resulting Elegy in the Memory of the Victims in Odessa captures the horrors of war both in mournful darkness and hopeful light.
Orkin’s Elegy began with a backdrop of brass, with horns depicting conflict and a pair of harps conveying light. Conductor Pratt took his time with cadences, emphasizing dark passages from the strings and an ominous character from the brass. One of the work’s most poignant moments came with prayerful music from the cello section punctuated by a memorial bell. Under Pratt’s direction, Elegy closed in peaceful calm, yet with an element of uncertainty.
From Ukraine’s rich symphonic tradition, the Orchestra moved on to one of this country’s most popular compositions with a performance of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue , featuring a campus star. Gershwin’s 1924 jazz concerto for orchestra and solo piano was composed in part to showcase American jazz at the same high level as classical music was seen at the time. Over the past century, its opening clarinet glissando has become as familiar to listeners as Beethoven’s “Fate knocking at the door” first few measures of Symphony No. 5.
The University Orchestra’s presentation of this work featured undergraduate Kasey Shao as piano soloist. Shao’s status as a university senior contradicted her stellar keyboard skills — her playing was confident, self-assured, and well beyond her years, reflecting more her impressive history of soloing with major orchestras since the age of 12. The Orchestra’s presentation of Gershwin’s Rhapsody was
saucy from the outset, with a great deal of flexibility in the phrasing. Shao was extremely fluid in her technique and a bit saucy herself. She teased the audience form the keyboard, especially in extended solo passages, with clean ornamented notes and powerful octaves. Her left hand proved to be particularly strong, and she exhibited an ability to shift moods on a dime, finding variety of contrasts within the Rhapsody
Conductor Pratt maintained a lively spirit, reminiscent of 1920s Broadway. Elegant instrumental solos were heard throughout, with perfect rhythmic timing between piano and brass. A crowd of Princeton University students had turned out to hear their colleague Shao perform this popular but difficult work, and they left both captivated and enthusiastically supportive of this young immensely talented pianist.
In contrast to the opening Ukrainian Elegy paying tribute to victims of aggression, the Orchestra closed Sunday’s concert with one of Russia’s most beloved chestnuts. Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 in E minor was infused with a familiar Tchaikovsky theme of man’s futility against destiny nestled in a 19thcentury Russian contrast between lyricism and nationalism.
Pratt and the University Orchestra took a reverent approach to the initial “Andante,” with the music immersed in lower winds and strings. Building volume slowly, the violins showed consistent direction in line, with graceful solos from clarinet and bassoon. The ensuing “Allegro” moved along in traditional Classical fashion, and was never overwhelming, despite the work’s lush 19th-century roots. Harmonic shifts clearly borrowed from Beethoven and Brahms were well executed by the players, with the principal theme maintaining an effective rise and fall in phrasing.
The second movement featured a lyrical extended solo from hornist Clara Conatser, with strings providing an effortless backdrop to oboe and horn solos. Pratt conducted the subsequent “Valse” gently, with the texture kept light by refined winds and a crisp pair of horns. The beginning of the “Finale” was regal, moving quickly to a closing section in which the players demonstrated flowing sweeps to the string lines amid symphonic intensity. The Orchestra presented the recurring main melodic theme, once dark and brooding and now bright and joyous, almost as a march to victory, closing the afternoon in both reflection and celebration.
–Nancy Plum
The Princeton University Orchestra will present its next set of concerts on Friday, November 22 and Saturday, November 23 at 7:30 p.m. in Richardson Auditorium. Featured in these performances will be music of Duke Ellington and Gustav Mahler. Ticket information can be obtained by visiting at tickets. princeton.edu.
Performing Arts
Classical Season Celebration
At State Theatre New Jersey
State Theatre New Jersey (STNJ) celebrates the power of classical performance with the annual Classical Season Celebration on Thursday, October 17, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
This year’s event will take place in STNJ’s intimate Studio space and, as a first for State Theatre, will be a performance entirely by candlelight. Pianist Enriqueta Somarriba will perform a 45-minute program of classical favorites woven together with pieces by Spanish composers.
CELEBRATING A RESIDENCY: Members of the Thalea String Quartet, who are taking part in a three-day residency program at The Pennington School will perform a free concert on Friday, October 18 at 7 p.m. in the school’s Meckler Library. The school is at 112 West Delaware Avenue in Pennington. Visit pennington.org.
Small-Town Louisiana Is Setting for “Steel Magnolias”
The play Steel Magnolias explores the relationships between a tight-knit group of Louisiana southern ladies who gather in Truvy’s smalltown beauty parlor, celebrating the milestones in each other’s lives. A production of the play is currently at Kelsey Theatre at Mercer County Community College through October 13.
Truvy’s is where all the ladies who are “anybody” come to have their hair done, including the town’s rich curmudgeon, an eccentric millionaire, and the local social leader. The play is filled with acerbic but humorous verbal collisions, exploring the unconditional strengths of sisterhood, resilience, and love.
Steel Magnolias was written by Robert Harling, based on his experience with his sister's death. The play opened Off-Broadway in 1987 — closing after 1,126 performances — and made its Broadway debut in 2005. It was also adapted as a 1989 fi lm starring Julia Roberts, who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Shows are Friday, October 11 at 8 p.m.; and Saturday, October 12 at 2 and 8 p.m.;
and Sunday, October 13 at 2 p.m. at the Kelsey Theatre on MCCC’s West Windsor Campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. Tickets are $22 for adults and $20 for children and students. Visit kelseytheatre.org.
ActorsNET Opens 28th Season With Ira Levin’s “Deathtrap” ActorsNET kicks off its 28th season with a production of Ira Levin’s classic Broadway hit Deathtrap, running from October 11 through 27 at the Heritage Center Theatre, 635 North Delmorr Avenue in Morrisville, Pa.
One of the longest-running plays in Broadway history, Deathtrap follows a once-successful playwright now grappling with a creative dry spell. When a former student sends him a promising new script, the struggling writer hatches a plan to collaborate with the young playwright — or perhaps something more sinister? What unfolds is a suspenseful and comic exploration of ambition, greed, and deception. Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. There will be a special Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. on October 19 in addition to the regularly scheduled evening performance. Visit actorsnetbucks.org for more information.
“We are very happy to present this important annual event in a new and exciting way this year,” said Sarah Chaplin, STNJ president and CEO. “This fundraiser is essential to us as a nonprofi t presenting theater, as it helps us receive vital support from our community to sustain our classical performances and arts education initiatives throughout the year.”
The event opens with a cocktail reception. The fundraiser supports the continued success of the year-round classical and educational programming — including STNJ’s Symphony Scholars program with the New Brunswick Public School District, Edison High School, and SpeakMusic Conservatory.
Somarriba has performed with the Orquesta Andrés Segovia and Virtuosi Brunensis Orchestra, which have been featured on Spanish National Radio and 98.7 WFMT. Highlights include her contribution to Netflix’s Dancing on Glass, which earned a 2023 Spanish Film Academy Award nomination, and recordings with MSR Classics. As a collaborative pianist, she partners with members of the Metropolitan Opera and Philadelphia Orchestra.
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available at STNJ.org/CSC or call (732) 247-7200, ext. 512.
Continued on Page 22
After Noon Concert Series
Thursdays at 12:30pm
Princeton University Chapel
A weekly opportunity for the Princeton Community to enjoy performances by local, national, and international organists. Performing October 10 is Lee Milhous, St. Mary’s Anglican Parish, Burlington, NJ.
SHAMPOO AND SASS: “Steel Magnolias” is on stage at Mercer County Community College’s Kelsey Theatre through October 13.
Enriqueta Somarriba
JOIN THE PARTY: Más Flow, Princeton University’s Latin dance company, will be on hand for the Arts Council of Princeton’s (ACP) all-ages Dance Party, held outdoors in the ACP parking lot on Friday, October 11 in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Arts Council Dance Party For Hispanic Heritage Month
The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) will host an allages Outdoor Hispanic Heritage Month Dance Party on Friday, October 11 from 7-9 p.m. The ACP is at 102 Witherspoon Street.
Attendees are invited to show off their moves and learn a few new ones as volunteer dance instructors from Más Flow, Princeton University’s Latin dance company, lead tutorials in favorites like salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia, and more.
Más Flow is Princeton’s premier Latin dance group, a space where members celebrate culture, dances, music, and artists from all over Latin America. This dance group has formed an essential part of the Latine identity on campus, helping foster affinity environments to celebrate Latin dance. Attendees can come solo or bring a partner. The event is family-friendly, free, and open to all ages.
Hispanic Heritage Month is a month-long celebration of Hispanic and Latino history and culture running through October 15. It is designed to give extra
recognition to the many contributions made to the history and culture of the United States, including important advocacy work, vibrant art, popular and traditional foods, and much more. For more information, visit artscouncilofprinceton.org.
Music for Oboe and Piano By Conservatory Faculty
On Thursday, October 17 at 12:15 p.m., the 23rd season of Westminster Conservatory at Nassau will continue with a recital of music for oboe and piano in Niles Chapel at Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street.
The performers, oboist
Melissa Bohl and pianist Phyllis Alpert Lehrer, are members of the teaching faculty of Westminster Conservatory. The recital is open to the public free of charge.
The program will include Seven Bagatelles for Solo Oboe by Gordon Jacob, Fantasy in F minor, op. 49 by Frederic Chopin for solo piano, and the Sonatina for oboe and piano by Franz Reizenstein.
Bohl is the principal oboist of the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey, the Orchestra of St. Peter-by-the-Sea, the Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra and the American Repertory Ballet Orchestra. She plays oboe and English horn with the Plainfield Symphony and performs regularly with many other area musical organizations, including the Garden State Symphonic Band and the Somerset Symphony Orchestra. At Westminster Conservatory, she teaches oboe and is head of the woodwind, brass, and percussion department.
Lehrer is known as a teacher, performer, clinician, author, and adjudicator. She has given master classes, workshops and had an active concert career as a soloist and collaborative artist in the U.S., Canada, Central and South America, Asia, and Europe. Lehrer is professor emerita of piano at Westminster Choir.
The next Westminster Conservatory at Nassau recital will take place on Thursday, November 21 and will feature pianist Marvin Rosen.
Christopher Reeve Documentary Comes to Garden Theatre
The Princeton Garden Theatre will present the documentary Super/Man: The
Christopher Reeve Story starting Friday, October 11. Tickets are now available for the run.
Reeve was a 1970 graduate of Princeton Day School (PDS). The film tells the story of his journey as a classically trained actor who, following a horseback riding accident, became a powerful advocate for disability rights. After becoming internationally recognizable, he felt more comfortable in his hometown.
“I can fool a lot of people,” he said when receiving a PDS Alumni Achievement Award in 1990, “but it’s so great to come back to a place and just be me again.”
The Princeton Garden Theatre is at 160 Nassau Street.
Mill Ballet School
Honors Mark Roxey
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Mill Ballet School in Lambertville honors the legacy of its founder, Mark Roxey, whose Latino heritage has shaped his artistry and passion for dance, fostering an inclusive environment for students and audiences alike.
Roxey began his formal training at The Joffrey Ballet in New York City and has performed and choreographed internationally. His creative vision has touched countless lives through Roxey Ballet and Mill Ballet School.
To celebrate Roxey’s contributions and Hispanic culture, Mill Ballet School has launched Latin Ballroom classes for students of all ages and experience levels.
"Growing up in Puerto Rico in a Latino family,
I sometimes feel my identity can be concealed within the framework of ballet,” said Roxey. “Latinx dance is one of our most culturally important art forms. As an artistic director and educator, I have the unique opportunity to promote programs influenced by my heritage. With the school’s Latin ballroom classes, you can experience that culture firsthand. Latin ballroom dancing is for everyone — it’s like Dancing with the Stars! I’d love for everyone to experience it. Whether you come on your own or bring a friend, you can learn a beautiful art form and get fit, all at the same time."
Mill Ballet School offers free trial classes for all firsttime students interested in exploring Latin Ballroom or any of the school's other dance disciplines, including ballet, hip hop, tap, jazz, and contemporary. Visit millballetschool.com or all (609) 397-7244 for information.
FIRE ESCAPE”: This watercolor on paper work by Mark Oliver is featured in “Available Light,” on view at the David Scott Gallery in the offices of Berkshire Hathaway, 253 Nassau Street, through December 31. An artist reception is on Saturday, October 19 from 2 to 5 p.m.
“Available Light” Exhibition
Now at David Scott Gallery
David Scott Gallery, 253 Nassau Street, now presents its latest exhibition, “Available Light,” a collection of paintings by New York architect and artist Mark Oliver. Recently named one of the top 100 watercolor artists in the U.S., Oliver’s paintings have appeared in TV shows such as Billions, Ray Donovan, and Gossip Girls. The exhibition runs through the end of the year. An artist reception is on Saturday, October 19 from 2 to 5 p.m.
As a student of architecture at Westminster University, London, Oliver learned something that would become an integral part of his design aesthetic. “We were taught that natural light is the most important element of architecture,” he said. “We had to use it to shape and define, to blur and shade.”
Now retired from architecture, Oliver, the painter, still holds a passion for depicting light and its interaction with the constructed environment of cities and the buildings that occupy them. Facades are bathed in natural light, illuminating bold colors graphically defined by strong architectural lines and shadows. He brings viewers closer in to examine characteristic details, such as fire escapes, windows, and doors, then pulls back to a more macro view of structures in their composed relation to each other. His work goes further, celebrating the quaint charm and character of more everyday urban settings, such as the downtowns and residential streets of New Jersey, Brooklyn, N.Y., and parts of Europe.
Viewing these paintings, one might draw some parallels to Edward Hopper, recognizing that he and Oliver are equally enamored with
representing light, color, and the urban setting. But Oliver’s stylistic vocabulary reaches well beyond that. He approaches abstraction with a more graphic approach to some of his watercolor compositions, while his canvases offer a somewhat more playful, pop sensibility. As a skilled architectural draughtsman, his pen and ink illustrations of street scenes and cityscapes are alive, deftly sketched with his very individual hand, the line of his pen imbuing buildings, objects and people with motion and vibrancy.
Oliver paints in his home studio in Lambertville, where he has resided since 2021. He is a graduate of Westminster University, London, and Pratt Institute, Brooklyn. His work has been featured in solo and group shows in the U.K. and U.S., and is in private collections in the U.K., Switzerland, Italy, and the U.S.
AT KINGS OAKS”: An artist-led group exhibition is at historic Kings Oaks farm, 756 Worthington Mill Road, Newtown, Pa., through October 20. The exhibition features work by 27 artists from across the U.S., Argentina, Australia, Denmark, Italy, Japan, Russia, Scotland, Thailand, and Ukraine. Paintings, drawings, prints, collages, ceramics, sculptures, textiles, and installation art are on display in two historic farm buildings. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and by appointment. For more information, visit kingsoaksart.com or call (215) 603-6573.
Trenton offers visitors the opportunity to trace the arc of artist Robert Duran’s evolutions and experiments in painting, drawing, and watercolor from about 1967 to the late 1990s.
David Scott Gallery, located in the offices of Berkshire Hathaway, is open to the public Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sales and other inquiries may be directed to gallery director and curator David Scott at davidscottfineart@gmail. com. Follow the gallery’s Instagram page @davidscottgallery.bhhsfoxroach.
“Robert Duran” Exhibition at New Jersey State Museum
The New Jersey State Museum will present a new exhibition and accompanying publication featuring the work of an artist who spent the latter part of his life working in New Jersey. “Robert Duran,” opening October 19, offers visitors the opportunity to trace the arc of Duran’s evolutions and experiments in painting, drawing, and watercolor from roughly 1967 to the late 1990s. The exhibition will be on view in the first floor gallery through March 16, 2025. Major support for this exhibition and the accompanying publication has been provided by Karma Gallery. Additional support has been provided
by the New Jersey State Museum Foundation through the Lucille M. Paris Fund and the Martha Vaughn Fund.
Born in Salinas, Calif., to a Filipino father and Shawnee mother, Robert Duran (1938–2005) arrived in New York in the early 1960s via San Francisco, where he soon became part of the artistic milieu associated with Bykert Gallery. Originally a sculptor, Duran and his approach to painting offer an alternative to both the hard-edge geometric abstraction and minimalism that dominated much of the ’60s and’70s in New York. Duran’s acrylic wash surfaces and “color shapes,” as critic Carter Ratcliff called them, at times resemble petroglyphs, and at others take on cartographic or even geological qualities.
Despite a critically successful career in the New York art world, around 1980 Duran moved with his family to Hillsdale, where he privately continued to develop his painting style. Much of what is known about Duran is limited to exhibition history and anecdotes from friends, family, and acquaintances who can only begin to flesh out certain
contours of the artist’s life, often leaving more questions than answers.
Sarah B. Vogelman, the New Jersey State Museum’s acting curator of fine art, became aware of Duran and his artwork while researching lesser known New Jersey artists. “I was immediately drawn to Duran’s unique sensibility when it comes to form and color. His experimental and playful approach to both acrylic paint and watercolor set him apart from contemporaries of his era, and still feels fresh in today’s landscape,” Vogelman said. “He was part of an artistic community that included some of the most important American artists of the 20th-century, and based on the quality of the work alone, Duran deserves be to part of that art history, too.”
Located at 205 West State Street in Trenton, the New Jersey State Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.; closed on all state holidays. General admission is free. For more information visit statemuseum.nj.gov.
a Princeton tradition!
“GREEN
“ART
“ROBERT DURAN”: A new exhibition on view October 19 through March 16 at the New Jersey State Museum in
“Not to Be Forgotten” Dual Exhibition at Artists’ Gallery Artists’ Gallery in Lambertville will present “Not to Be Forgotten,” a new exhibit of paintings by Laura Rutherford Renner and Alla Podolsky, October 10 through November 3. An opening reception is on Sunday, October 13 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Rutherford Renner, from Collingswood, enjoys painting figures engaged in the experience of their environments. She said, “Capturing contemporary life snapshots in two dimensions is an exercise in problem solving and creativity. I enjoy mixing pure colors, keeping my palette simple to create authentic observation. The quiet engagement of brush to palette and brush
to board provides daily calm and purpose.”
Rutherford Renner, an occupational therapist for the past 27 years, recently retired. She lives with her husband, their child, and their snarky, beloved cat, Lulu.
Philadelphia artist Podolsky said, “As a figurative painter, I am, essentially, a memory keeper. I paint people, places, and events that are ‘etched in ember’ of my perception. People I loved and lost, experiences that stayed with me, moments that I want to revisit again and again — my work is a way of keeping them all. Color, light, and composition are my means of staying connected. It’s both intensely personal to me and largely universal.”
A native of Kiyv, Ukraine, Podolsky traces her love of psychological painting to that ancient city’s iconography and rich narrative traditions. Her work is a combination of her European sensibilities and her American experiences.
Artists’ Gallery features two artists every month, with all 16 artists exhibiting on a continuous basis. It is located at 18 Bridge Street in Lambertvile and is open Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call (609) 397-4588 or visit lambertvillearts.com.
Get the scoop from
Alia Bensliman Showcases Work At Pennington’s Silva Gallery
The Silva Gallery of Art at the Pennington School will host “From North Africa to North America,” an exhibition of work by Alia Bensliman, from October 11 through December 13.
A reception, open to the public, will be held on Thursday, October 17, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., with remarks at 7 p.m.
Growing up in Tunisia in North Africa, Bensliman’s art reflects a fusion of East and West with a passion for North African, Islamic, and Amazigh art. Her drawings are full of symbols and meaning that illuminate milestones in her life and draw from both her past experiences and her everyday life. The intricate level of detail in each piece allows the viewer to discover additional details and make new interpretations each time they view a piece. In “From North Africa to North America,” Bensliman’s work mirrors her view of life and her sentiments about the current state of our world: socio-political issues, taboos, religious views, relationships, health concerns, and human rights.
Using combinations of intricate lines, shapes, and repetitive patterns, Bensliman enhances her designs with color, ink, gold and silver paint, and handmade, environmentally friendly watercolors that she creates herself. Focused on sharing her art in academic settings, Bensliman’s recent exhibits include shows at the Lawrenceville School and the Princeton University Art Museum.
The Silva Gallery is located on the school’s campus at 112 West Delaware Avenue in Pennington. For more information, call (609) 737–4133 or email SilvaGallery@ pennington.org.
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” October 10 through November 3. An opening reception is on Sunday, October 13 from 2 to 4 p.m. 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. Artscouncilof princeton.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. An artist reception is on Saturday, October 19 from 2 to 5 p m. Davidscottfineart@gmail.com.
view October 11 through December 13 at the Silva Gallery of Art at the Pennington School. A reception is on Thursday, October 17 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Dohm Alley , next to 100 Nassau Street, has the Princeton Einstein Museum’s "Einstein's “Attraction to Magnetism," open 24/7 through November 30. princetoneinstein museum.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 “Reciprocal Inspiration and a Cranbury School Legacy: Elizabeth Grimaldi and Elaina Phillips” through October 30. Cranburyartscouncil.org.
Green Building Center, 67 Bridge Street, Lambertville, has an art show by the MUGA Group through December 31. Greenbuildingcenter.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.
Mercer Museum, 84 South Pine Street , Doylestown, Pa., has “The Doan Gang: Outlaws of the Revolution” through December 31, 2026. Mercermuseum.org.
Michener Art Museum , 138 South Pine Street, Doylestown, Pa., has “George R. Anthonisen: Meditations on the Human
Condition” through October 13 and “Monuments and Myths: The American Sculptors Augustus SaintGaudens and Daniel Chester French” through January 5. Michenerartmuseum.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.
Phillips’ Mill , 2619 River Road, New Hope, Pa., has “95th Juried Art Show at Phillips’ Mill” through October 27. Phillipsmill.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.
Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie , Cadwalader Park, Trenton, has “Mercer County Photography 2024” October 12 through December 1. Ellarslie.org.
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.
“A NIGHT OUT”: This oil on board work by Laura Rutherford Renner is featured in “Not to Be Forgotten,” her joint exhibition with Alla Podolsky, on view October 10 through November 3 at Artists’ Gallery in Lambertville.
“DUSK”: This oil on canvas work by Alla Podolsky is part of “Not to Be Forgotten,” her joint exhibition with Laura Rutherford Renner, on view October 10 through November 3 at Artists’ Gallery in Lambertville. An opening reception is on October 13 from 2 to 4 p.m.
“SPROUTING MIND”: This mixed media work by Alia Bensliman is featured in “From North Africa to North America,” on
Mark Your Calendar
TOWN TOPICS
Wednesday, October 9
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. 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 Pastiamo in Princeton Shopping Center.
12 p.m.: Virtual talk, “One Year after October 7: A Conversation with Miriam Hershlag,” opinion and blogs editor of The Times of Israel. BildnerCenter. Rutgers.edu.
6-7:30 p.m .: “Ancestry and Identity” and “First and Second Homes,” discussion hosted by poets Enriqueta Carrington and Carlos Hernandez Pena at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princeton library.org.
7-9 p.m .: The Amazing Pumpkin Carve, Woolsey Park, Hopewell Township. Pumpkins carved by local artists, inside a tent, rain or shine. Hvartscouncil.org/ amazingpumpkincarve.
7:30 p.m .: Jazz vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant and Ensemble, at Richardson Auditorium. Premiere of “Book of Ayres: A Fusion of Early Music & Jazz.” $35$60 (students $15). Puc. princeton.edu.
Thursday, October 10
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.
10 a.m.-12 p.m .: Fall Seed Walk at Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve, 30 Mountain Avenue. Presented by Friends of Princeton Open Space. Fopos.org.
5-9 p.m .: The Amazing Pumpkin Carve, Woolsey Park, Hopewell Township. Pumpkins carved by local artists, inside a tent, rain or shine. Hvartscouncil.org/ amazingpumpkincarve.
6 p.m .: Lecture by Michael C. Harris about his book Germantown , at the Old Barracks Museum, 101 Barrack Street, Trenton. Followed by a Q&A and booksigning. Free. Barracks.org.
7 p.m .: Princeton Symphony Orchestra presents “Music for Piano Trio” at Trinity Church, 33 Mercer Street. Violinist Emma Richman, cellist Wangshu Xiang, and pianist Yoon Lee perform. $45 (children 5-17 accompanied by an adult get a 50 percent discount. Princetonsymphony.org.
7 p.m .: Artist and activist Diana Weymar discusses her book Crafting a Better World: Inspiration and DIY
Projects for Craftivists, at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.
7 p.m .: Jonathan Kingdon discusses his book Origin Africa at The Manor House, Princeton Academy, 1128 Great Road. Sponsored by Princeton Academy and The Ridgeview Conservancy. Ridgeviewconservancy.org.
7:15 p.m .: Black Voices Book Group meets via Google Meet. The group discusses The Trayvon Generation by Elizabeth Alexander. Princetonlibrary.org.
7:30 p.m .: “Collaborative Histories,” a conversation on contemporary photography, is presented by Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts at Richardson Auditorium. Free. Arts.princeton.edu.
Friday, October 11
5-9 p.m .: The Amazing Pumpkin Carve, Woolsey Park, Hopewell Township. Pumpkins carved by local artists, inside a tent, rain or shine. Hvartscouncil.org/ amazingpumpkincarve.
8 p.m .: The play Steel Magnolias is at Kelsey Theatre, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. $20-$22. Kelseytheatre.org.
Saturday, October 12
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 Stone Hearth. $18 in advance; $22 day of the event. Terhuneorchards. com.
10 a.m .: Join a three-mile walk along the D&R Canal. Meet at Turning Basin Park on Alexander Street. To be notified of cancellations due to weather, visit canalwalkers@googlegroups.com
10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-3 p.m .: Friends of Princeton Open Space presents Land Stewardship volunteer events at Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Preserve, Mountain Avenue. Sign up at fopos.org.
12-4 p.m .: A recreation of an 1899 Camp Meeting at Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum, 183 Hollow Road, Skillman. Live music, costumed reenactors, horse and buggy rides, and more. Free. Ssaamuseum. org/campmeeting.
2 and 8 p.m .: The play Steel Magnolias is at Kelsey Theatre, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. $20-$22. Kelseytheatre.org.
3-9 p.m .: The Amazing Pumpkin Carve, Woolsey Park, Hopewell Township. Pumpkins carved by local artists, inside a tent, rain or shine. Hvartscouncil.org/ amazingpumpkincarve.
4 p.m .: “Lenape Relationship with the Natural World” is a video presented at the Trent House, 15 Market Street, Trenton. Free.
7 p.m .: Westminster Choir: “Evensong,” a concert following the ancient liturgy, anchored by Herbert Howells’ Westminster Service, with sung “lessons” focused on themes of exile and refugeeism. At Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 801 West State Street, Trenton. Free.
7:30 p.m .: Princeton Country Dancers presents a dance at the Suzanne Patterson Center, 1 Monument Drive featuring Sue Dupre with Dominique, Cynthia, and Lisa. Princetoncountrydancers.org.
8 p.m.: Trumpeter Chris Botti performs at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. $29-$69. Stnj.org.
Sunday, October 13
8 a.m.-1 p.m .: The annual Wheels for Meals bike ride is held by the Jewish Family and Children’s Service, to raise funds to fi ght hunger, at Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Jfcswheels4meals.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 Eco del Sol. $18 in advance; $22 day of the event. Terhuneorchards.com.
1-4 p.m .: Lambertville Historical Roll & Stroll, starting at Holcombe-Jimison Farmstead Museum, 1605 Daniel Bray Highway, Lambertville. Casual, fourmile bike ride with docents, stopping at historic sites along streets and towpath. Lambertvillehistorical society.org.
1 p.m .: “All Aboard Bordentown Railroad,” a free talk and tour exploring the Camden & Amboy Railroad, New Jersey’s first train line. Old City Hall, 13 Crosswicks Street, Bordentown. Facebook.com/OldCityHall Restoration.
2 p.m .: The play Steel Magnolias is at Kelsey Theatre, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. $20-$22. Kelseytheatre.org.
2-4 p.m .: Ewing Township Historic Preservation Society’s grand opening of a new exhibit, “The Ryan Family Farm and Dairy in Ewing,” at the Benjamin Temple House, 27 Federal City Road. Includes a public tour of the first floor of the house. Ethps.org.
3-6 p.m.: The Amazing Pumpkin Carve, Woolsey Park, Hopewell Township. Pumpkins carved by local artists, inside a tent, rain or shine. Hvartscouncil.org/ amazingpumpkincarve.
3-5 p.m .: All-Ages Folk Dance at Suzanne Patterson Center, 1 Monument Drive. Presented by Princeton Country Dancers. Princetoncountrydancers.org.
3 p.m .: Poets Hanna Fox and Michael Comiskey read from their latest collections at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Refreshments will be served. Princetonlibrary.org.
4 p.m .: The Westminster Faculty Recital Series presents “Ritmos y Raices: Celebrating Latin American Music,” at Gill Chapel, Rider University, Lawrence Township. Free. Rider.edu.
Monday, October 14
3 p.m .: Sara Bronin, author, professor, and founder of the National Zoning Atlas, discusses her book Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World , at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.
Simply Sustainable Company in Lambertville Offers Wide Range of Earth-Friendly Products
Earth-friendly concerns are becoming more and more important to people as they contemplate not only the universal environment we all share, but their own individual habitat. What does this mean in terms of product choices — household or construction, indoor, outdoor — also budget, location, carbon footprint, etc.?
IT’S NEW To Us
Increasing numbers of options are available, all leading both to opportunities and challenges. How best to determine one’s own obligation to the stewardship of the Earth and the most effective ways to implement it?
Simply Sustainable in Lambertville is ready to help.
“Our mission is to create healthy, beautiful and sustainable spaces — whether residential, commercial, or institutional — for our clients,” explain co-owners and mother and daughter team, Mary Jane Augustine LEED AP, WELL AP and Lia Nielsen LEED GA, WELL AP. “We provide the products, interior design, project management services, and procurement assistance necessary to achieve our clients’ health and wellness, and aesthetic, and functional goals.”
Wide Range Its newly renovated and expanded showroom at 67
Bridge Street features a wide range of environmentally-friendly (green) products in many areas — from countertops and cabinetry to paints and finishes to fabrics and flooring to window treatments and wall coverings.
After a 40-year career as a construction lawyer, Augustine decided to embark on a new adventure with her daughter, Nielsen, a construction manager and sustainable products expert who had founded Simply Sustainable in 2014. Augustine joined the business in 2017.
“I was always interested in the importance of sustainability, focusing on it, and educating people about it,” explains Augustine. “People are becoming more aware of this, and more involved and knowledgeable about sustainability. This is so important to everyone, and at Simply Sustainable, we can help you with all the information you need about each product.”
“There are new advances all the time,” she continues. “We are constantly researching and continuing our education. We research how the product is made, where it is made, what the working conditions are for the workers, and how far it has to travel. We are also always looking for new products, and we go to green trade shows. Our green products come from all over the world, but we do focus on those from the U.S.”
Health Benefits
Another thing they keep in mind, adds Augustine, are the health benefits from green products. “They are important for everyone, but especially for people with asthma and allergies.”
She and Nielsen also point out that green products are not more expensive than those that are not environmentally-friendly. “This is a major misconception. Sustainable products are not a luxury you cannot afford. We constantly need to educate people and combat the misinformation about cost.”
Nielsen, who continues to work in construction management, always wanted to be in the construction business, she explains.
“Our family has a background in construction, and I knew it was what I wanted. I also saw the need for sustainable products, and this became more and more important to me.”
Growing up in Princeton, Nielsen went on to earn a business degree at Boston University, and then attended the Rinker School of Business Construction at the University of Florida, where she studied construction management and sustainability. She is both a LEED green associate and a WELL-accredited professional.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the international standard for green buildings. The WELL Building Standard, a companion
rating system to LEED, focuses on building interiors and the health and wellness of building occupants. WELL places particular emphasis on healthy and environmentally-friendly building products.
Orchestra Conductor
As a construction manager, Nielsen worked on the LEED Platinum Bank of America Tower in New York City and the Frank Gehry-designed Peter B. Lewis Science Library and the Frick Chemistry Laboratory at Princeton University. In 2010, she joined noted green architect Jason Kliwinski in establishing the Green Building Center, which she continues to coown.
“A construction manager is like being the conductor of an orchestra,” points out Augustine. “It’s overseeing everything to make sure it all runs smoothly.”
In fact, Simply Sustainable works on projects with three affiliated companies which are also based in the Bridge Street building. These firms provide green building consulting, such as LEED and WELL certifications (the Green Building Center); architecture (Designs for Life); and construction management (Enter Green Solutions). Simply Sustainable clients have access to all of these businesses.
and
shavings, and others made from layers of compressed recycled paper. We have various flooring products made from unexpected materials such as scraps from the furniture manufacturing process, recycled wine corks and hemp stalks; also, upholstery fabric made from the selvage of the sugar cane plant; and wallpaper made from recycled newsprint.”
As LEED-certified and WELL-accredited professionals, Augustine and Nielsen are able to advise clients in many areas of their residential needs. While they also work with commercial projects, the focus is residential. “We can help in all areas, including lighting and helping with design and organization, and we also work in all rooms. Interior design has become an increasingly important focus of our work,” they point out.
Unexpected Materials
Recycling is very important, they add. “We look for products that incorporate recycled materials. We also look for products to sell that can themselves be recycled at the end of their useful lives. A ‘circular economy’ uses the same base materials in different forms over and over again, with the goal of reducing the amount of raw materials that have to be added into the manufacturing process.
“We have rugs made from nettles, some countertop materials made from recy cled glass, other countertops and also decorative tiles that incorporate recycled metal
Some of these products incorporate pre-consumer materials and some have post-consumer materials, they explain further.
“These terms refer to the component materials of a product rather than to the product itself. Pre-consumer means that the material has not previously been used in a product sold to consumers. Think fabric scraps in the trash can of a garment factory or wood scraps on the floor of a furniture manufacturing facility.
“Post-consumer means that the material has previously been incorporated into a product that has been sold to consumers. For example, used blue jeans and old carpeting, both of which are used in making an environmentally-friendly insulation material that we sell. Regardless of whether a component material is preconsumer or post-consumer, the goal is to keep it out of the landfill by incorporating it into a new product.”
Spacious Setting
As customers enter Simply Sustainable’s attractive two-story showroom, they will notice many samples
of handsome products throughout the spacious setting. All made from recycled materials, they are smooth to the touch and pleasing to the eye. Tile flooring and the varied countertops are among the most popular items, report the owners, but the overall wide assortment of products is appealing to the increasing number of customers, who come from Princeton and all over the area.
In addition, paintings from area artists are displayed on the walls, and available for sale.
Both Augustine and Nielsen are very encouraged with the positive customer response and the reaction both to the showroom and the importance of sustainability.
“I love the variety and all that we offer,” says Nielsen. “I look forward to seeing our services go from construction to turnkey. I mean, we can do everything from the concept to giving you the key to the front door.”
And Augustine says she appreciates the added pleasure of working with her daughter. “We are so fortunate, and every day is a new adventure. The possibilities are endless, and we are truly making a difference for people.”
Simply Sustainable is open Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 12 to 4 p.m., and by appointment. For further information, call (609) 460-4787 or visit the website at besimplysustainable.com.
—Jean Stratton
SUSTAINABLE SPOTLIGHT: “Simply Sustainable offers a carefully curated selection of environmentally-friendly and healthy interior finish and construction products to suit all building styles
budgets.” Co-owners and mother and daughter team Mary Jane Augustine LEED AP, WELL AP (left) and Lia Nielsen LEED GA, WELL AP are shown with 11-monthold Sage (Lia’s son) in the Simply Sustainable showroom.
explain Mary Jane Augustine LEED AP, WELL AP and Lia Nielsen LEED GA, WELL AP, co-owners of Simply Sustainable. Shown is their Lambertville showroom.
S ports
Getting Worn Down in 2nd Half at Columbia in Ivy Opener, Princeton Football Loses 34-17 To Lions, Moving to 1-2
It turned out to be an unfortunate tale of two halves for the Princeton University football team as it played at Columbia last Saturday afternoon in the Ivy League opener for both squads.
Roaring out of the gate, Princeton took the opening kickoff and deftly mixed the run and pass as it marched 75 yards in 12 plays in a drive culminated by a 12yard touchdown run by John Volker to go up 7-0. The Tiger defense held the fort, limiting Columbia to six points on two field goals. As time ran out in the second quarter, Jeffrey Sexton kicked a 41-yard field goal to give the Tigers a 10-6 lead at halftime.
Princeton head coach Bob Surace liked the way his squad performed in the first half.
“It was a really good balance and mix with a couple of really good conversions on that,” said Surace, reflecting on the opening drive. “I really thought the first half as a whole, we played a really good half. We gave up six points. I thought we did a really good job offensively. We struggled on a couple of third downs where were in good manageable position and it went to fourth down.”
But things started to go awry after halftime as the Tigers lost a fumble on their first possession of the third quarter and Columbia proceeded to produce two scoring marches to take a 20-10 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Princeton answered with a seven-play, 75-yard scoring
drive that saw senior receiver AJ Barber make a 16yard TD reception to trim the Columbia lead to 20-17 with 14:16 remaining in regulation. The Lions, though, dominated from there, reeling off 14 unanswered points to earn to a 34-17 win before a crowd of 4,111 at the Robert Kraft Field at Wien Stadium.
In reflecting on the loss which left the Tigers at 1-2 overall, Surace acknowledged that a shorthanded Princeton defense ran out of gas.
“We were missing six defensive starters,” said Surace, who team gave up 269 yards rushing to Lions. “The second half was tough. I felt like we were a little bit on fumes because we couldn’t get off the field and we were short. We lost a guy during the game so it was pretty much seven guys out.”
Columbia converted 10-of17 third downs as the Tiger defense scrambled to keep up on the fly.
“We missed a lot of tackles; credit them, some of it is that they are good,” said Surace. “We had 17 different players miss tackles. It was a combination of some guys who started that we just couldn’t give a blow to in the first half or early in the third quarter and some guys who haven’t had lots of reps.”
Looking ahead, Surace is confident that the defensive unit will be shored up in the next few weeks.
“The good news, if there is encouraging news, is out of the injuries that we have
had, I don’t think any of the injuries on defense is long term,” said Surace. “There will be a few of the guys back this week (against Mercer), most of them will be back for Brown and maybe Harvard.”
Princeton did get an encouraging performance from Barber, who made seven receptions for 74 yards and one touchdown and also had a 28-yard run.
“AJ has been such a good player, we had seen coverages the first two weeks where it was a little harder to dial things up for him,” said Surace. “He would have guy over top of him and a guy underneath him. We moved him around a little. We got him the ball on an option. He got the ball on a couple of other things and he had a touchdown. It was really nice because it has been hard to get him involved.”
Returning from being sidelined for a week with a right hand injury, junior quarterback Blaine Hipa showed flashes, hitting 16 of 28 passes with one TD and two interceptions.
“The hardest thing for a new quarterback and I went back looking at guys throughout history in this league; you look at Nolan Grooms (of Yale) in his first four or five games and the game hadn’t slowed down,” said Surace. “I looked at a couple of those early Quinn Epperly starts (Princeton QB from 2011-14) and the same thing. You can tell it is starting to slow down for him. He made some really good decisions. There were very few plays where he tried to do it all himself.”
The Tigers need to raise their game collectively. “We have to be more consistent, we have to get back to some fundamentals,” said Surace. “When you go and you have to put guys into play counts that they may not be ready for, you have to rely on fundamentals. We weren’t very sound fundamentally in our tackling.”
With Princeton playing at a powerhouse Mercer squad on October 12 that is 5-0 and currently ranked No. 7 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, the Tigers will need to be sound all-around to come away with a victory.
“I have a little sneak preview on them, they are fast,” said Surace. “Defensively they challenge you on everything, there are not any easy completions. I saw that their starting QB (DJ Smith) is completing about 75 percent of his passes. They are running the ball well and he is a good runner. They are really well coached.”
While the loss to Columbia stung, Surace is excited to see how his players respond to the challenges presented by the Bears.
“That is awesome; that is what we need, we need to get back to work,” said Surace. “Watching them, if you are feeling any woe is me, it is going to be a really long day. They have played five teams and other than the 10-3 game (over Chattanooga on September 14), it has been long days for the opponents.”
— Bill Alden
star Barber made seven receptions for 74 yards and one touchdown and also had a 28-yard run but it wasn’t enough as Princeton fell 34-17 at Columbia in the Ivy League opener for both squads. The Tigers, now 1-2 overall, play at Mercer on October 12.
Please join us for a thoughtful and robust discussion focused on creative solutions to th e reproductive health crisis in our country
An attorney, expert on gender equality, and now accomplished entrepreneur, Lisa Beattie Frelinghuysen clerked for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the US Supreme Court, and helped draft the Court s last landmark gender equality decision Passionate about reproductive freedom her entire life, Lisa served on the Board of Planned Parenthood for nearly two decades Most recently, Lisa founded a company to provid e reproductive health tools to women across the country:
ClutchKit
Lisa currently lives in NYC with her four children, and works with Banyan Global, advising the owners of large, closely held companies
ClutchKits are fabulous toolkits for young men and women to prevent unwanted pregnancies and to focus on reproductive health and advocacy –ClutchKits will be available on Oct 17
IN THE LIONS’ DEN: Princeton University football receiver AJ Barber races upfield in a 2023 game. Last Saturday, senior
(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
Lisa with Emily Kelly, Chief Growth Officer at ClutchK t
Kamryn Chaney can fill a stat sheet, but she wants to do even more.
The Princeton University women’s volleyball sophomore star recorded 34 kills in a 3-2 loss to High Point on September 21, a total not seen in more than a decade from an Ivy League player.
“It felt great,” said Chaney, a 6’1 Chicago resident. “I was exhausted after that game, but in the moment the adrenaline was up. We were connecting so well as a team and I was just kind of on. It was like a switch that turned on for me. And I was just kind of hitting wherever and scoring points all over the place. It was a great start for this season.”
Now she’s working on rounding out her game and becoming more of a leader vocally while improving the consistency of her energy and play.
“You can be a very skillful player, you can be really great, you can hustle,” said Chaney, who leads Princeton and the Ivy League in kills with 211. “But it’s a difference when you make a culture on the court, when you’re speaking, when you’re leading and there’s a sense of almost reassurance and peace on the team with one player. So I’m trying to really be that for my team right now, a big voice and kind of like our reset.”
Chaney and the Tigers endured a tough eight-match losing stretch in which four of their losses came by heartbreaking 3-2 counts before winning two of their last three matches once Ivy play began. They split the first Ivy
weekend with travel partner Penn, losing 3-1 on September 27 and winning 3-1 a day later, and then beat Brown 3-0 on Friday and lost 3-1 at Yale on Saturday to start the conference schedule 2-2.
“Our team has been up and down,” said Princeton head coach Sabrina King. “The talent is there, the consistency is not. I think our goals are just to keep getting better every single weekend and we’re getting a couple kids back from injury and so hopefully that will help us and we can just make strides every weekend. I think our team is doing a little bit better in just managing our energy and just playing with a little bit more consistency.”
Chaney had 14 kills in the 26-24, 25-15, 25-23 win over Brown on Friday night, including the final kill of the game after Brown trimmed Princeton’s lead in the third game to 24-23 with three straight points. Chaney also had a pair of aces to lead the Tigers, tied Valerie Nutakor for the team lead with nine digs, and added two blocks. The next day, she had a match-high 24 kills and four digs in a 3-1 loss at Yale.
“She’s that machine,” said King. “She’s phenomenal. She really is. And she’s so fun to watch. She’s such a productive hitter. And she’s a great blocker. That’s another thing that you don’t see much in the stats because it’s just really hard to get a real block. But she’s a fantastic blocker. Her passing has improved too. She wasn’t even a six-rotation player last year for us really because her serve receive was
more inconsistent, but this year it’s quite good. So we feel very comfortable leaving her in all six rotations and she serves great. She has this killer jump serve.”
Chaney is certainly capable of carrying the team, although that’s a lot to ask in her second year of college.
“It is, but I also think that that’s what she wants,” said King. “She just is not quite sure how to do it yet. And so it’s like we’re trying to sort of put a mirror up to her. Sometimes she doesn’t realize what her emotions look like when she’s not fully engaged or whatever.”
Chaney wants to be good at every aspect of the game, and she has improved from a tremendous freshman season in which she was named second team All-Ivy League. She’s also working on the less tangible side of things. She didn’t speak up much last year. That didn’t seem her role as a freshman. But this year it’s been an emphasis.
“My biggest focus for my coaches was being a bigger voice because I can do the skill stuff, I can score the points, do my job,” said Chaney. “But can I also help lead my team? Can I help my teammate when we’re passing? In what ways can I contribute that are not on the court skillfully?”
When Chaney puts everything together, it’s going to be an even scarier proposition for opponents. She’s already taken a big jump after one college season.
“Her growth has been tremendous actually,” said King.
“She physically is, I think, the most dominant player in the Ivy League, and she’s working on managing her mindset and emotion. She wants to do everything. She wants to kill every single ball, she wants to pass every single ball perfectly, and so she can’t let her pursuit of perfection get in the way of the next ball. When her energy goes down, when she’s feeling like she’s not performing well, the whole team just follows her. And she has to realize that.”
Chaney is trying to do all she can to help the team finish the season strong. Princeton is 4-9 overall, 2-2 in Ivy play heading into a home weekend at Dillon Gym. The Tigers host Harvard on Friday and Dartmouth on Saturday.
“Our most important thing right now is staying high, staying up because our team tends to get a little low sometimes when other teams push up against us and we kind of get chaotic,” said Chaney. “So staying controlled on our side and maintaining control and maintaining some clean volleyball play as I like to call it. It may be chaotic, but we’re clean. We have solid blocks, we’re doing everything technically well, everybody’s playing
their role, everybody’s doing their job very well. And we are also a very energetic team. We feed off of energy. So keeping that energy high for us is very important as well. And overall team connection and communication is very big for our success so I’m excited.”
The Tigers are excited to see Chaney’s continued development. It’s been a steady climb for Chaney, who comes from a family of basketball players. But when her family moved to Ann Arbor, Mich., Chaney gravitated to volleyball after watching her babysitter, Molly Toon, at the University of Michigan.
“I was the first person in my family to actually play volleyball,” said Chaney. “Really all because of Molly Toon is why I started to play volleyball. I went to her game. I loved it.” Toon, a high-energy player who was tragically killed in 2021, would be thrilled to see how far Chaney has come. Chaney started playing in small church league, but in middle school she moved to club volleyball and got more serious. She became a first team All-America player in high school and National Player of the Year finalist, and she brought her skills to Princeton.
“It was very important for high academics and a balance of good volleyball so I thought Princeton was a really good choice in that path,” said Chaney. “And I really loved when I came on the visit. I loved the girls, I loved the culture. It was a very competitive culture and great academics so I kind of have the best of both worlds.”
Chaney had a big impact in her first year at Princeton, and she’s working to build on it as a more complete athlete than a year ago. She’s stepping out of her comfort zone on the court to take on an increased role.
“I feel a lot more responsibility and I do feel like a leader,” said Chaney. “I’m a leader for the freshman underclassmen, so really stepping in to make an impact and lead our freshmen coming in to make them feel comfortable to kind of make the transition smooth for them is very important for me. And I guess communicating with our captains now because at first I didn’t communicate, I didn’t have anything to say.”
Chaney could have plenty to say years from now if she stays interested in her work experience. Last summer, she interned with the Chicago Sky of the WNBA. Her aunts are analysts, and she took away a sense that she might one day be interested in doing the same.
“There were so many amazing things that I saw,” said Chaney. “The number one amazing thing for me was seeing a lot of women in media.”
Chaney also appreciated the impressive size of the WNBA players.
“They towered over me,” said Chaney. “I was not expecting that. They made me look extremely small.”
Being small isn’t something that Chaney is accustomed to. She’s been a big force for the Princeton volleyball team through her first season and a half, and as her voice grows and she finds herself leading the Tigers in other ways than on-court statistics, she’s certain to become even bigger.
“I was not a speak up person,” said Chaney. “I was kind of focused on just the technical and skillful parts of volleyball so I didn’t talk that much. And this season, I think I’m even celebrating a lot more than I was last year, falling on the ground celebrating. So it’s been pretty good. It’s been fun. It’s nice to bring that energy for the team.”
—Justin Feil
POWER HITTER: Princeton University women’s volleyball player Kamryn Chaney displays her hitting form. Sophomore star Chaney leads Princeton and the Ivy League in kills this season with 211. The Tigers, now 4-9 overall and 2-2 Ivy, host Harvard on October 11 and Dartmouth on October 12.
(Photo by Greg Carroccio/Sideline Photography, provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)
PHS Football Comes Through in Defensive Struggle,
Eking Out 3-0 Win Over Holy Cross Prep, Now 3-3
In getting off to a 1-3 start this fall, the Princeton High football team was hampered by some injuries to key players.
But getting back to nearly full strength as it hosted Robbinsville on September 28, PHS gave a glimpse of its potential. Jumping out to a 34-0 halftime lead over the Ravens, the Tigers cruised to a 41-6 triumph.
“It was really great to see, I think it was the first time that we were almost healthy which was really great,” said PHS head coach Charlie Gallagher. “I guess that is what a healthy Princeton High team has the capabilities of doing. We had a mindset early in the season, we had good thoughts. As guys go down early in the season, we try to overcome but you need the players in the race. We would love to take all kinds of credit for it but we can’t because it is really the guys out there that are doing it.”
Last Friday night, PHS realized that it had a lot to overcome as it played at undefeated Holy Cross Prep.
“They are a good team, any team that is 5-0 you have to be ready for,” said Gallagher. “Some people might say it is the caliber of program that they are playing. They were a good team last year and we were blessed to win that game pretty handily (29-0). They were a very young team last year. I think they only had two seniors so we knew that there was a lot of experience coming back so we knew we had our work cut out for us.”
Producing some great work on defense, the Tigers pulled out a 3-0 win over the Lancers as junior star Carmine Carusone kicked an 18-yard field goal in the waning seconds of regulation to provide the margin of victory.
Although PHS sputtered at times against Holy Cross, the Tigers kept plugging away.
“We didn’t put it all together until that last drive,” said Gallagher. “We had some moments but we couldn’t sustain drives. We persevered. I am really happy for the kids.”
Showing perseverance, the PHS defense stopped the Lancers at the goal line in the fourth quarter.
“We had a big defensive stand inside the 5-yard line, it was amazing,” said Gallagher. “They had third and goal inside the two and we were able to hold them there at the one or two-yard line. Then they went for it in fourth down and the quarterback fumbled the snap a little bit. We were putting everybody up on the line of scrimmage and I think he got a little nervous. We were all coming.”
The PHS offense came alive after that with a dramatic last-minute drive.
“We got the ball on our 47yard line we had 44 seconds left with no timeouts left and we are 53 yards away from scoring,” said Gallagher.
“The we got two nice passes. Travis [Petrone] steps up and hits Ellington [Hinds] on a crossing route. I think he picked up about 15. The next thing he hit him on a deep out for another 17 yards. We had two plays that got out of bounds and we only used up 12 seconds on the clock.”
A run by Carusone got the ball to the three-yard line and then a delay of game penalty on Holy Cross gave the Tigers the ball at the one to set up a fantastic finish.
“We still have 12 or 13 seconds to go, it’s first down, clock is not moving and I am like we are going for the field goal,” recalled Gallagher. “The ball gets snapped over Travis’ head and Carmine catches. He throws it to Travis and they ruled it incomplete pass. So now there are 2.6 seconds left and we get another shot. Zach Nelson makes a great snap, Travis has a great hold, and Carmine kicks it straight through.”
The clutch kick culminated a super all-around effort by the multi-talented Carusone who rushed for 70 yards on 10 carries, made three catches for 40 yards, and starred at defensive back.
“They had a big wide receiver that is a pretty good player and Carmine literally shut him down,” said Gallagher. “He played the same kid last year and shut him down. Carmine is like 5’8 and this kid is 6’3. Carmine also ran for 70 yards and kicked the winning field goal.”
Star linebackers Elisio Moncada and Joe George led the Tiger defensive
charge, making nine and 10 tackles, respectively. In addition, junior Zyair Mackey-Wright and senior Sean Wilton anchored the d-line while Petrone, Carusone, and junior Anderson Potter starred in the secondary.
“Those guys are sideline to sideline,” said Gallagher of Moncada and George. “I think they had about 80 yards worth of rushing and we had been going up some rushing yards. They are real stoked. Coach [Brandon] Williams is doing a great job with them.”
Gallagher was stoked by the character displayed by his players as they pulled out the nail-biter.
“You don’t give up, there were some moments where we had some opportunities and it didn’t work out,” said Gallagher, who got 112 yards passing and 18 yards rushing from quarterback Petrone against Holy Cross Prep with star receiver Hinds making three catches for 44 yards and rushing for 15 yards. “You just have to keep believing in yourself and keep believing we are going to make this. We know we have the players. They all know that it is a good football team with a lot of good skill guys and some really great linemen.”
With the Tigers playing at Nottingham on October 12, Gallagher is hoping that his squad can keep up its good run as it faces a Northstars team that is dangerous despite its 1-5 record.
“We lost to Hamilton West (13-6 on September 21) and they beat them 27-0; they have some good skill guys, they have some big dudes up front,” said Gallagher. “I think their quarterback threw for two touchdowns in their win, he had a great game. It is high alert. We are 0-0 and they are 0-0, throw the records out the door. We have our work cut out for us but we feel confident. It all has to come together during the week. We have to be able to execute on the weekend and play some really good Tiger football.”
—Bill Alden
Junior Forward Walker Displaying Finishing Touch
As PHS Field Hockey Headed in the Right Direction
Sarah Cate Walker set the tone for the Princeton High field hockey team when it hosted WW/P-North last Wednesday afternoon.
PHS junior forward Walker scored a pair of goals as the Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 first quarter lead on the way to a 7-1 win over the Northern Knights.
Walker started the scoring on the day, tallying a goal five minutes into the contest.
“It was really great teamwork from all of us,” said Walker, reflecting on her score. “There was some great passing in and out. It was working together to get the ball in the circle.”
With PHS up 2-0 on a goal by Riley Kohut, Walker’s second tally came as she tipped the ball past the WW/P-N goalie with 39 seconds left in the first quarter.
“Something we have been working on in practice is being on post and pads and really getting in front of all of the balls,” said Walker. “It is getting touches on the ball so that was just a part of it.”
Coming into the day having lost its last two games, the win over North gave the Tigers a lift.
“I think it was definitely very beneficial for us, it was a little spirit booster,” said Walker. “This really just helps us settle in and get ready for future games. We are looking to work together as a team, passing in and out and really spreading the defense apart.”
As Walker has boosted her game, she has assumed more responsibility on the field.
“I am definitely in a new role this year, more of a leader’s role; it has been really fun helping the younger players out,” said Walker, who tallied three goals and an assist to help PHS WW/ P-South 7-0 last Monday to improve to 5-5. “I play for Princeton Field Hockey Club and I have done a lot of work out of season with club and stuff like that. Having more of a leadership role helps build confidence for me as a player. I am still looking to improve of course.”
Playing on attack with senior star Mia Ramirez, who tallied her 100th career point on a second quarter goal against North, has helped Walker’s confidence.
“It is like a trust thing for us, it is easy to see where we are on the field,” said Walker. “It is the third year we have played together. We have been building that trust from the very beginning. Now we get to use it on the field, going in and out.”
PHS head coach Heather Serverson was looking for her team to fight hard from the beginning against the Northern Knights.
“Our one goal was to go out and set the tone and play as though we are playing for the county championship,” said Serverson. “That was our goal, to have that kind of tone, and that kind of pace to everything.”
Serverson credited Walker with setting the pace for the Tigers.
“Sarah Cate has been doing a good job getting her stick in the circle, getting on the pad and coming off when she needs to,” said Serverson. “She has also been
doing a lot for us to get the ball upfield when we can’t necessarily generate that on our own. She has definitely been improving as the season has been going on.”
PHS showed balance in the win as freshman Cassandra Farran, freshman Heidi Johnson, and sophomore Lila Casto also chipped in goals.
“We are trying not to pass to Mia all of the time,” said Serverson. “It was nice that I was able to get a lot of the subs in today and they did some great things. There were a lot of great connections out there, playing off of each other.”
While Ramirez may not have been the focal point against North, she still made history with her 100th point.
“The best part about that is that she doesn’t make a big deal about it, she is such a team player,” said Serverson. “She was almost embarrassed when we announced it, which is why we love her
While PHS has gone through some ups and downs in its 5-5 start, Serverson believes her squad is in a good place.
“We are slowly coming along, we have a lot of young players on the team,” said Serverson, whose team hosts Hopewell Valley on October 9. “It is tough because not only are they not familiar with the players, they are not familiar with that varsity pace and experience. We are now at the point where we are starting to get used to that and they are building their confidence.”
In Walker’s view, things are coming together for the Tigers. “We have a lot of new players,” said Walker. “It is just getting everyone situated on the team and learning our positions. It is learning how to work together as a team and passing.”
—Bill Alden
GETTING HIS KICKS: Princeton High football player Carmine Carusone boots the ball in a game earlier this season. Last Friday night, junior star running back/defensive back Carusone kicked an 18-yard field goal in the waning seconds of regulation to provide the margin of victory as PHS defeated previously undefeated Holy Cross Prep 3-0. The Tigers, now 3-3, play at Nottingham on October 12. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
WALK THIS WAY: Princeton High field hockey player Sarah Cate Walker controls the ball in a game earlier this season. Last Wednesday, junior forward Walker scored two goals as PHS defeated WW/P-North 7-1. The Tigers, who topped WW/ P-South 7-0 on Monday to move to 5-5 with Walker chipping in three goals and one assist, host Hopewell Valley on October 9.
(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
With Sophomore Roth Making Immediate Impact,
PHS Girls’ Cross Country Wins Division at Shore Coaches
Phoenix Roth is in her first year running cross country for the Princeton High girls’ squad.
It’s the fulfillment of a promise the Tiger sophomore made to her older sister, Robin, last spring during track season.
“I told her that if I qualify for nationals, I would do cross country,” said Roth. “It was like a joke because I didn’t think it was going to happen. And then it did.” Roth, who qualified for outdoor nationals in the 3,200 meters in her first year of track and field last spring, wasn’t sure exactly how cross country could go, but she also saw an opportunity to be a part of a special team. Roth’s addition has helped the Tigers by adding even more depth to a squad that was already strong, albeit young. Roth was the second finisher for PHS, coming in 12 th overall in 20:33 over the 5,000-meter course as the Tigers won the Girls Varsity B race at the Shore Coaches Invitational last Saturday at Holmdel Park.
“We were a little surprised to win it because Ridgewood was in our race, and they were ranked higher than us,” said Roth.
Sophomore Grace Hegedus led the Tigers, taking third overall in 19:27, freshmen Rosemary Warren and Sevanne Knoch were 16 th and 17th in 20:39 and 20:49 respectively, and sophomore Eowyn Deess ran 20:55 to fi nish 19 th as their top fi ve all placed in the top 20. Their 67 team points was well ahead of the 100 posted by Ridgewood, which ran shorthanded and had just fi ve fi nishers. PHS, though, ran without Hegedus’ running mate, junior Kajol Karra who was taking the SATs, but highlighted their depth. PHS’ lone senior, Rica Eleches-Lipsitz, was 23 rd in 20:57 and Mila Trkov took 40 th in 22:02 to round out their top seven Saturday.
“We’ve always considered Shore Coaches kind of like our midterm,” said PHS coach Jim Smirk. “We wanted to see us executing our race plan components. I think that’s a big boost for us.”
It was a step forward for the Tigers, who were third in their division the week before at the Bowdoin Cross Country Classic behind powerhouses Union Catholic and Saratoga Springs. The PHS runners felt they didn’t get a good enough start at Bowdoin, and that prompted a stronger approach Saturday.
“The first kilometer it took us a little bit to get our nerves out so we really focused on putting ourselves in a better position right out of the gate,” said Smirk. “And then just executing real kind of straightforward tasks, being in the right spot during the race and as opportunities presented themselves, taking them. Obviously Grace having a great race out front and then the depth of our team really coming around was pretty important. Getting five in under 21 minutes at this point in the season, it’s a good place to be.”
Roth is taking lessons from each race as she adjusts to running cross country for the first time. She played
soccer last fall for PHS, even scoring three goals on the year, and she still plays club soccer. But she has followed two of her older siblings — her brother Alex who ran at Penn and Robin who runs at Rutgers — into running cross country.
“It was definitely a really, really hard decision picking cross country this fall,” said Roth. “I’ve played soccer since I was three. It’s always been my everything and I just thought that’s what I was going to be doing as long as I could.”
Then came a breakout spring track and field season in which Roth ran 11:26.46 for the 3,200 meters, and clocked 5:14.57 in the 1,600 meters, her main event. She ran at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor championships and upped her training over the summer. Her mileage made its biggest jump in August and remained high through September. Increasing the distance she can run was just one change. It’s too early to know if she’ll follow her siblings into college running, but she has heeded their advice.
“They just told me to be patient and trust the process and that I’ll figure it out and then it’ll come together,” said Roth.
She has made an immediate impact, even though her competitive side wishes she was running even faster. She has been adjusting to the nuances of cross country, particularly the mental demands required to compete start to fi nish and the barrage of decisions that have to be made through each race.
“I thought that it was just all going to come together right away, but it’s defi nitely not a sport that you can just pick up right away and it’s all going to click,” said Roth. “It defi nitely takes time because obviously it’s still running, but it’s not the same as track at all. There’s so many more layers to it. It defi nitely takes time to sort of fi gure it out and how to race and everything . Also in cross country their races are so much bigger. In track there’s like 10 people in the race, but in cross country there’s hundreds and that’s just another thing you have to fi gure out how to navigate.”
Roth had some familiarity with the famed Holmdel course, but she’d never raced it until Saturday.
“I actually enjoyed the course a little bit more than I thought I would,” said Roth. “I really liked the roller coasters. The first hill kind of stinks because everybody’s going out so fast and trying to get good position, but it’s up a hill so it sends you into a bit of pain for the rest of the race. But I’ve kind of seen the course before because of my siblings. I’ve been to Holmdel
since I was young. I’ve run up ‘The Bowl’ before, but I didn’t really know all the ins and outs of the course. And I think just having this experience will be really helpful later in the season. And also a lot of my teammates were in the same boat as me since we have two freshmen also in our top five.”
Roth got out Saturday better than she had at Bowdoin. She was able to execute her race plan to give PHS two finishers in the top 15.
“I wanted to get out a little bit harder, but I also didn’t really know what to expect going into this race, since I’ve been kind of sick this week,” said Roth. “I was just hoping that I was going to get through it. I didn’t really have that high of expectations, but I just kind of wanted to put together the best race that I had that day. I’d say I was decently happy with it.”
PHS is happy to have her on the cross country team for the first time. Roth was hopeful she could help right away, but didn’t know how her track prowess would translate to cross country. She is more of a miler than a two-miler in track. She’s fit right in.
“Coming out of track, Phoenix wanted a little bit different athletic experience,” said Smirk. “So she gave us a shot and certainly we’re thrilled that she’s given us an opportunity to show that we provide a great atmosphere for success. She seems to be leaning fully in, which is great.”
Roth wasn’t the only newcomer to have a strong showing Saturday in their first trip to Holmdel, the site of the New Jersey’s group and state championship meets. The next two finishers were freshmen Warren and Knoch. They have been important additions to building a PHS pack behind Hegedus and Karra as the team develops into a formidable contender at the state level.
“They’re kind of stealing races left and right, which is fun to watch,” said Smirk of the top two. “Obviously they drive that conversation fi rst up front and then this just very strongly balanced and developing next group back that is really kind of filled with a bunch of, what for a lot of teams would be like their number No. 2 or 3 runners, they’re all there working together, really in a lot of ways being driven by Rica as the senior. They’re taking care of business on the back there and helping everybody take really good risks and I think all those pieces together are going to be fundamental to our success.”
PHS will split its squad this coming weekend. The Tigers will race many of their less experienced runners in the Fall XC Classic at Thompson Park in Jamesburg and
some of their more veteran runners will compete at the Manhattan College Invitational at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, N.Y. The races give more of the PHS runners a chance to compete, and the races have been avenues to competing for spots in the varsity top seven.
“A big part of our success is we’re really deep and we’ve got a lot of a lot of girls who are hungry to get race opportunities,” said Smirk. “So there’s a lot driving that team component and everybody looking to contribute. We’ll have a nice weekend, and then from there on out we’ll be gearing up for counties and then championship season. So we still have a lot to learn, a lot of training to do, but we’re excited for sure.”
The Shore Coaches gave PHS a lot of confidence at the midpoint. It’s the first season for Roth, who is targeting some big goals over the second half of the season after getting a taste of her new sport through the first six weeks of the season. She has enjoyed the cross country races and seeing where Princeton stacks up.
“I didn’t really know what to expect,” said Roth. “I would say I want to go under 20:00 at Holmdel though because Robin never did. That’s probably one of my goals and I also just want to go as far as we can as a team because this is going to be a really good year for us I think. I didn’t quite know where we’d be before the season, but now, after we beat Ridgewood, I definitely have one of our goals as a team to win the Group 4 championship.”
—Justin Feil
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In Memory
Hosting rival Lawrenceville last Friday afternoon, the Princeton Day School boys’ soccer team got off to a solid start.
Buoyed by a throng on hand at Baker Field for the school’s Fall Tailgate, PDS had the better of play against the Big Red in the early stages of the contest, gaining plenty of possession and generating chances.
“It is the same story every game, no matter who we play; the first 20 minutes we play really good soccer, we play better soccer than the opponent,” said Panther head coach Gary Roberts. “Todd [Devin] was dangerous, he had a good hit that the keeper made a good
save on. One of our players missed an open net.”
But failing to cash in its chances, the Panthers found themselves down 1-0 at halftime as Lawrenceville scored a goal against the run of play. In the second half, PDS was under the gun as the Big Red dominated possession and added a goal with 22:06 left in regulation to earn a 2-0 victory.
Panther senior goalie Oren Yakoby credited the Panther defense with keeping the game tight.
“They did amazing, they did great,” said Yakoby. “We just need to finish.”
Yakoby did some good things against the Big Red,
making
PDS
2-0
making several saves in the second half showing the
he has
his
“I started my first game last year,” said Yakoby, who ended up with eight saves in the loss. “I have just been doing my job pretty much this year.”
Roberts liked the way Yakoby did his job last Friday. “He is a good shot stopper, he has got good feet,” said Roberts. “Sometimes he struggles when to come off his line, he did OK with that today.”
The PDS defense produced a good effort as well. “They didn’t really break us down, our back line held it together,” said Roberts, whose team dropped to 3-7 with the defeat. “It is not like we are giving up goals.”
Over the course of the fall, the squad’s group of freshmen have been getting it together.
“Four freshmen started in that game and seven played, it is a great sign for the future,” said Roberts. “I don’t think any of them played less than 10 or 15 minutes. Our center back, Grant Burns, is a freshman. Our attacking center mid, Mathias Ramos, is a freshman. Our right back, Robert Wei, played almost the whole game. He got in great spots early in the game. Aiden Luciano has been spectacular in the back. He has been significantly improved over the last two weeks. We have tons of freshmen playing, the future is bright.”
Roberts acknowledged that his younger players have gotten outmatched physically at times.
“We run out of steam, I think the physicality of the game kills some of our younger bodies,” said Roberts. “Even though they might be in lung shape, you still get tired by getting bounced around.”
With PDS hosting Trenton Central on October 10 and Allentown on October 15, Roberts is looking for his squad to be sharper in converting scoring chances.
Junior Standout McLaren Leading the Back Line
As PDS Girls’ Soccer Goes 5-2 After Slow Start
Ella McLaren moved to center back from midfield last fall for the Princeton Day School girls’ soccer team and formed a partnership with Tochi Owunna.
With the pair anchoring the PDS back line to stifle foes, the Panthers caught fire down the stretch, winning the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public A state title, blanking Mount St. Dominic 2-0 in the final.
With Owunna having graduated, junior McLaren has assumed a leading role on the back line this fall.
“I have become almost the Tochi on this team — it is big shoes to fill,” said McLaren. “I like the leadership role in the back. I like being able to control the field from the back. I like playing center back.”
Last week as PDS played at Hopewell Valley, McLaren was scrambling as the Bulldogs controlled possession in the first half and built a 1-0 lead by intermission.
“We were under a lot of pressure, we all worked well together,” said McLaren. “We had to make some adjustments. We figured it out other than the one goal we gave up. I think we did a good job of containing them, working with each other.”
At halftime of the October 1 contest, the Panthers did some soul-searching. “We needed to get our composure and play our game, we needed to bring intensity,” said McLaren, reflecting on the message the players received from head coach Chris Pettit during the break. “We were getting beat to everything.”
Taking those words to heart, PDS displayed plenty of intensity in the second half, continually pushing forward and keeping the Bulldogs on their heels.
squad is headed in the right direction.
“I think once we beat Lawrence (a 2-1 win on September 19) we were able to grab our momentum back,” said McLaren. “We just needed to believe in ourselves. Once we got the win under our belt, I really feel like it motivated us. It stinks that we couldn’t get Hopewell today. It is something to grow on, we are going to learn from this.”
PDS head coach Chris Pettit acknowledged that his squad didn’t have momentum in the first half against HoVal.
“I thought it was going to be a good game coming in,” said Pettit. “Our first half was very unlike us, credit to Hopewell. It was a relatively even game in terms of endto-end but they won every first, second and third ball. For essentially 40 minutes, we never won one.”
While Pettit liked the way the Panthers raised their intensity level in the second half, things were a bit helterskelter.
“In the second half, we really brought the intensity and had them penned in but unfortunately we forgot the composure,” said Pettit. “That is a key part of how we play, passing it around, but we were just dumping the ball. We were rushing throws. We almost played with too much intensity and forgot about that composure. That is today’s lesson hopefully.”
Pettit appreciated McLaren’s effort in the contest.
“In the first half, Ella was phenomenal,” said Pettit. “That is why we tried to move her a little higher up the field. I thought that was positive.”
Looking forward, Pettit is hoping that the loss to HoVal can turn out to be a positive in the long run for the Panthers.
“You never get the right to just come out and win a game, you have to earn it,” said Pettit, whose team fell 3-0 to undefeated Shawnee last Friday to move to 5-4-1 and plays at Trenton Central on October 10 and at Allentown on October 15. “I felt like in the first half, we were maybe a little complacent. I am not really sure what it was. It is good to have those lessons. I just said to the girls, ‘We had those lessons last year, we made some adjustments and we figured it all out at the right time.’ That is the challenge for this team to start trying to learn that.” McLaren, for her part, believes that PDS will figure things out.
“We are still growing this season, we have only played nine games,” said McLaren. “There is so much to grow on this season. Last season I think we peaked at the right moment. We are still figuring out how we are playing.”
—Bill Alden
“We need composure in front of the goal, they need to believe in themselves,” said Roberts. “They have to envision the ball going in the net. Maybe we will spend all day Monday shooting which we do a decent amount. Our patterns of play are good. We get the ball in the right spots, we get the ball on the right people’s feet.”
Yakoby, for his part, believes that getting a breakthrough win could get the Panthers on the right track.
“I think we need a good upset and then we will be back in it,” said Yakoby.
—Bill Alden
“I think we grew on that in the second half,” said McLaren, who moved up the field from her center back spot and was jumping into the attack. “We definitely did pick it up, almost a little bit a little too much. There were wild shots, rushed chances, and rushed throw-ins.”
While PDS ended up falling by that 1-0 margin, McLaren liked the way the Panthers battled.
“We definitely could have slowed it down a little bit, grab our composure, but I am happy that we did bring up the intensity,” said McLaren.
With Panthers having brought a five-game winning streak into the game after starting the season at 0-2-1, McLaren believes the
FIRING AWAY: Princeton Day School boys’ soccer goalie Oren Yakoby fires the ball up the field in a game earlier this season. Last Friday, senior Yakoby starred in a losing cause,
eight saves as
fell
to Lawrenceville. The Panthers, who moved to 3-7 with the loss, host Trenton Central on October 10 and Allentown on October 15. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
Emily Harlan is following in the footsteps of her older sister Lily in her senior season for the Stuart County Day School field hockey, having developed into an inspiring performer for the Tartans.
“I think part of it is being Lily’s sister, she has always been my leader,” said senior goalie Harlan of her older sibling who starred at forward for Stuart and is now playing at Boston University. “She influenced me to get into the game at a young age. She was here when I was here. When I saw her as a leader and then she left, I thought I am going to be like my sister. I am going to step it up.”
Last Thursday, Harlan stepped it up, making 15 saves in a losing cause as Stuart fell 1-0 to Delaware Valley and moved to 4-6.
“I was feeling sharp, I was ready to get a win,” said Harlan. “Even though we didn’t, I was just trying to hold down the fort a little bit.”
Harlan credited defenders, junior Abby Chirik and senior Annarose Bourgion St. Maurice, with playing a key role in helping her hold the fort.
“I think our defense is getting really, really strong,” said Harlan. “Abby and Annarose are such a good duo. They are really good at getting the ball and getting it out of the circle. It is awesome for me.”
As a third-year starter, Harlan has developed a strong mentality in the cage.
“I think a lot of it came from confidence, it is hard mentally,” said Harlan. “You let a
Harlan
goal in and you are really upset about it but now I am not going to let a goal in. It is like you change your mentality. I think that has been such a big difference and then obviously skill.”
While Harlan previously played outside of school for the Princeton Field Hockey Club, she has been training on her own over the last two years to sharpen her skills and athleticism.
“I play field hockey with my sister, she is great for the hard shot,” said a smiling Harlan. “I play lacrosse, tennis, I do a lot of sports to keep me active.”
Stuart head coach Missy Bruvik credited Harlan with playing very well against Delaware Valley.
“Emily came up huge,” said Bruvik. “There is that defensive confidence in the backfield when Emily is in the cage for sure.”
Bruvik has confidence in the play of the squad’s defensive backfield.
“I think everybody on the defensive end played well today,” said Bruvik, citing the efforts of Chirik and Bourgion St. Maurice.
With Stuart have lost six straight games and scoring just one goal in that stretch, Bruvik acknowledged that the team’s attack is a work in progress.
“Our offensive unit is still working on making those connections between our midfield and moving the ball up the field as an offensive unit,” said Bruvik. “I think we have to do a better job getting into the circle moving forward and trusting that somebody
has to be up, ready to receive.”
Senior Nyla Flamer worked hard to get things moving on the offensive end again Del Val.
“I thought Nyla had a great game today,” said Bruvik. “She was mentally and physically engaged all over the field. She made some great defensive plays. She was the one who got the offense moving.”
The Tartans need to be more engaged when they get the ball in the circle.
“That is something we have to keep working on, getting the shots off quicker, doing some lifts and being more creative as we get inside the circle,” said Bruvik, whose team plays at the Peddie School on October 16.
Although Stuart has been taking its lumps in recent action, Bruvik has no qualms with the effort she is getting from her players.
“What has been great is that they are working hard for 60 minutes,” said Bruvik. “As long as we continue to do that hopefully some wins will come.”
In Harlan’s view, the Tartans are heading in the right direction.
“We just need that confidence because we can definitely do it,” said Harlan. “We have just grown so much already. I am excited to see how the rest of the season goes. We have just really progressed. Of course I want to win but I am just happy about how we are growing as a team. I think that is what is most important.”
—Bill Alden
SAVING GRACE: Stuart County Day School field hockey goalie Emily Harlan makes a save in a
Hun
Football : Jack Moran triggered the offense as Hun defeated the Blair Academy 48-0 last Saturday. Quarterback Moran connected on 19 of 25 passes for 457 yards and six touchdowns for the Raiders, now 6-0. Hun hosts St. Frances Academy (Md.) on October 11.
Field Hockey : Led by Sophia Clark, Hun edged the Blair Academy 2-1 last Saturday. Clark scored both goals in the win for the Raiders, now 7-3. Hun hosts Springside Chestnut Hill (Pa.) on October 9 before playing at the Pingry School on October 15.
Girls’ Soccer: Falling behind 4-0 by halftime, Hun lost 6-2 to the Blair Academy last Saturday. The Raiders, who dropped to 1-5-3 with the loss, host Steinert on October 10 and the George School (Pa.) on October 14.
Lawrenceville
Field Hockey : Jumping out to a 2-0 halftime lead, Lawrenceville held on to edge Morristown Beard 2-1 last Thursday. The Big Red, who improved to 4-4 with the win, play at Montgomery High in October 9 and at Agnes Irwin (Pa.) on October 10.
Girls’ Soccer : Sparked by Ava Chincarini, Lawrenceville
defeated Hightstown 5-0 last week to earn its
Wall Beds Wall Organizers
rst win of the season. Chincarini tallied three goals and one assist for the Big Red in the September 30 contest. Lawrenceville, who fell 1-0 to Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) last Saturday to move to 1-8, hosts Agnes Irwin School (Pa.) on October 10 and Ewing on October 11 before playing at Mount St. Dominic on October 15.
PDS
Field Hockey : Sparked by Sammy Dandy, PDS defeated WW/P-North 3-0 last Monday. Sophomore Dandy scored two goals as the Panthers improved to 4-6. PDS hosts Robbinsville on October 9.
Girls’ Tennis : Prisha Tiwari provided a highlight as PDS fell 3-2 to WW/PNorth last Monday. Tiwari posted a straight-set win at third singles as the Panthers moved to 5-4. The second doubles pair of Shuchi Vanga and Vera Goliyad also came through, getting a win by prevailing 10-8 in a 10-point match tiebreaker. PDS will be resuming action in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North 2 Group 3 state team sectional where it is seeded second and slated to host seventh-seeded Ranney School in a quarterfinal on October 8 with the victor advancing to the semis on October 10. In addition, the Panthers are scheduled to host Nottingham on October 9 and Trenton
Central on October 14 in regular season matches. Girls’ Volleyball : Coming up short in a tight game, PDS lost 2-0 (25-23, 2523) to Hopewell Valley last Monday. The Panthers, now 5-10, host Florence on October 10 and then compete in the Prep state tournament on October 15 at Montclair Kimberley Academy.
Pennington
Football : Producing a dominant performance, Pennington defeated the Academy of New Church (Pa.) 53-12 last Saturday. The Red Hawks, now 3-3, host Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) on October 10.
Field Hockey : Genevieve Vallieres led the way as Pennington defeated South Hunterdon 5-0 last Friday. Vallieres scored four goals for the Red Hawks, who moved to 6-2-1 with the win. Pennington hosts Montgomery High on October 14.
Boys’ Soccer : Bacary Tandjigora, Elvis Appiah, and Alvaro Carnicer Cozar scored goals as Pennington defeated South Kent (Conn,.) 3-1 last Saturday. The Red Hawks, now 7-1, host Peddie on October 10.
Girls’ Soccer : Maya Raghanundanan came up big to help Pennington defeat the McDonogh School (Md.) 2-0 last Saturday. Raghanundanan tallied both goals for the Red Hawks as they improved to 7-2. Pennington will next be in action when it starts play in the Prep A state tournament on October 16.
Boys’ Soccer : Archie Smith scored the game-tying goal for PHS as it battled to a 1-1 draw with Gill St. Bernard’s last Saturday. Smith’s second half goal helped the Tigers move to 7-1-3. PHS hosts Nottingham on October 10 and Lawrence on October 15.
Boys’ Cross Country : Felix Farrugia and Braedyn Capone set the pace as PHS took fourth in the Boys Varsity B race at the Shore Coaches Invitational last Saturday at Holmdel Park. Senior Farrugia finished 20th individually, covering the 5,000-meter course in a time of 17:22. Junior Capone placed 21st, clocking the same time. PHS had a team score of 160 with St. Peter’s taking first at 52.
Girls’ Soccer: Julia Zaldarriaga starred in a losing cause as PHS fell 1-0 to Monroe last Saturday. Sophomore goalkeeper Zaldarriaga made 12 saves in the defeat for the Tigers. PHS, who lost 2-0 to Steinert last Monday to move to 1-8-2, plays at Nottingham on October 10 and at Lawrence on October 15.
Girls’ Tennis : Winning each match in straight sets, PHS defeated Lawrence 5-0 last Monday in improving to 6-1. The Tigers will be resuming play this week in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North 2 Group 3 state team sectional where it is seeded fourth and slated to host fifth-seeded Summit in a quarterfinal contest on October 8. The victor will advance to the semifinals on October 10. In addition, the Tigers are scheduled play at WW/P-South on October 11 and at Steinert on October 14 in regular season matches.
Girls’ Volleyball : Suffering its first loss of the season, PHS fell 2-1 to Notre Dame last Monday. Junior star Naomi Lygas has 11 kills and 15 digs for the Tigers but it wasn’t enough as the Irish prevailed 18-25, 25-23, 25-23. PHS, now 13-1, plays at Lenape on October 10 and at Washington Township on October 14 before hosting Montgomery on October 15.
passes to Nathan Stock and one to Jamie Monica. As for the Petrone Steelers, Cooper Casto accounted for four touchdowns, running for one and throwing TD passes to Luke Branagh, Bryce Davidson, and Reggie Wright. The Christine’s Hope Giants topped the Mercato Eagles 39-25. Bree Green led the way for the Giants, rushing for two touchdowns and making a TD catch. Charlie Crotty, Alex Spies, and Malcolm Harris also caught TD passes in the win. Ilan Spiegel threw four TD passes for the victors. As for the Eagles, Shaan Patel had two passing TDs, one to Christian Barr and another to Theo Henderson. Christian Barr added two passing TDs, one to Kaayan Shah and the other to Henderson.
In the Super Juniors division (Grades 5-6), the C.O.E. Packers defeated University Orthopedic Broncos 48-28. The Packers got fi ve touchdowns from Nazir Rollins and two form Everette Cole. For the Broncos, Hugh Kelly ran for a touchdown and threw two TD passes. Christopher Pepek added a rushing touchdown with James McFarlane and Locke deTuro each making TD receptions. The Petrone Associates Steelers edged the BESLER Chiefs 27-26. As for the Steelers, Jake Lind caught a touchdown pass from Jax Cherian, Charles Melvin-Rossi caught a touchdown pass from Ryan Leta, and Carson Smith ran for a touchdown and returned an interception for another. The Chiefs got two touchdown runs from Jasper Weiss with Oliver Bregman rushing for another and Ali Redjel making a TD reception.
The Christine’s Hope Giants defeated the Woodwinds Associates Eagles 33-26. The Giants were led by Leo Miele, who threw two touchdown passes to Ben Heady. Miele also ran for a pair of TDs. George Hogshire had an interception return for a TD. For the Eagles, Theo Salganik threw a touchdown pass to Henry Thomas. James Carter ran for a touchdown and connected with Kam Weiss for another score. Jackson Szurek added a TD run.
In the Juniors division (Grades 3-4), the Lululemon
Garage Media
Packers defeated the COE Broncos 33-6. The Packers offense was powered by Noah Fairey as he accounted for four touchdowns, running for two, passing for one to Luca Sherman, and catching a TD pass from Rehm Casto. Eddie Ostrowsky also ran for a touchdown. Liam Tan scored a touchdown to lead the Broncos offense. The Woodwinds Associates Chiefs defeated the Petrone Associates Steelers 34-20. The Chiefs were led by James Armstrong who threw a touchdown pass, caught two touchdown passes, and rushed for a touchdown. Jack O’Dowd threw three touchdown passes and Juan Philippos Garcia-Vidalis caught two touchdown passes. The Steelers got touchdowns from Jack Stephan and Connor Ryan. The Mercato Ristorante Eagles defeated the Christine’s Hope Giants 14-7 behind a last minute interception return for a touchdown by James Baldino. The Eagles offense was paced by TD run from Chase Barr. The Giants scored their lone touchdown on a pass from Aiden Spies to Henry Arns.
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 special 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 2025– March 2025 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, 2025, or until divisions are at capacity. More information can be found online at princetonrecreation.com.
Princeton Junior Football Recent Results
In action last Sunday in the Princeton Junior Football League (PJFL) Seniors division (Grades 7-8) , the BESLER Chiefs defeated the Princeton Global Packers 3222 as Shail Besler’s accounted for five touchdowns. Besler ran for two touchdowns, threw a TD pass to Sean Devlin, and caught two TD passes from Henry Ambra. For the Packers, Luke Giannatasio threw touchdown passes to Kyle Dauber and Aiden Davidson. Mathew Robinson threw a TD pass to Aidyn Shah.
In other Seniors games, the UOA Broncos defeated the Petrone Steelers 32-27. John Monica starred for the Broncos as he ran for a touchdown and threw three touchdown
ON A ROLL: Hun School boys’ soccer player Sasha Mykhalchuk dribbles the ball in recent action. Last Saturday, senior Mykhalchuk tallied a goal to help Hun defeat the Blair Academy 5-0. Max Frost, Gonzalo Perez Nunez, Yanni Moraitis, and Luke Donahue also scored goals in the game as the Raiders improved to 7-1-2. In upcoming action, Hun plays at Steinert on October 10 and at St. Benedict’s on October 14.
(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
Obituaries
Nagle Jackson, former Artistic Director of McCarter Theatre Center who brought Charles Dickens’ novel, A Christmas Carol, to life on the McCarter stage for the first time in its history directing his 1980 adaptation, died July 15 in Rhinebeck, New York, at age 88.
Internationally known theatrical director and playwright, writing 20 original plays and adaptations, Mr. Jackson was a seminal figure in the American regional theater movement, serving as Resident Director of the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco (1967–70), Artistic Director of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater (1971–77), and Artistic Director of the Tony Award–winning McCarter Theatre Center for the Performing Arts (1979–90).
Nagle Jackson was the first American director ever invited to direct in the Soviet Union where, in 1987, he was contracted to stage Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie for the Bolshoi Dramatic Theater in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg). It opened in April 1988 and remained in the repertory of that theater for 12 years.
Mr. Jackson’s directorial career began at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 1965 where he staged Ben Jonson’s Volpone . He returned to direct seven productions there in total — among them a 1994 production of The Two Noble Kinsmen that completed the festival’s Shakespeare canon.
An esteemed playwright, Jackson’s works include the widely performed comedy/ drama Taking Leave , the farce Opera Comique , and the award-winning The Elevation of Thieves . In addition to A Christmas Carol, his adaptations include Faustus in Hell, a musical staging of Horace McCoy’s They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?, and Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities
Mr. Jackson directed and co-wrote the book for Clark Gesner’s musical The Utter Glory of Morrissey Hall starring Celeste Holm, which debuted on Broadway at the Mark Hellinger Theater in May 1979. A gifted educator, Jackson’s “System of Five” is used throughout the country by actors and directors.
Born in Seattle in 1936,
compassion, kindness, and tolerance, contributing to her eventual career in social work. She was passionate in her defense of the disadvantaged, not afraid to speak out where she witnessed injustice. Throughout her long career she helped innumerable people whose lives were enriched because of her. She gained great pleasure and insight from her interaction with her clients in Ocean Hill-Brownsville and Trenton, with a year working as a social worker in Uganda. She earned a BA from Drew University, and a Masters in Social Work from Rutgers University. As a young adult she lived in New York City, eventually moving to Princeton in 1973, where she was married the following year.
Instruments making precision equipment, then for RCA Astro as a satellite model-maker before discovering his true gift as a leather craftsman and opening Ben’s Shoe Repair in Hightstown in 1973, where he remained in business until his retirement in 2020.
Ben was preceded in death by his cherished wife of 47 years, Kathleen. Ben’s sister, Giuseppina Ruggiero; his brother, Domenico Ruggiero; and his nephews, Emilio Ruggiero and Tonino Cortesi, all of Italy, also predeceased him.
Predeceased by his parents Vincenzo J. Tufano and Anna (Cuomo) Tufano, and siblings Cecelia, Joseph, Francesco (Frank), Vincent, and John, he is survived by his wife of 60 years Kathleen Joyce (Simon) Tufano; sisters and brother-in-law Emma Tufano, Margaret Powers, Ellis Simon; nieces Allison Tufano Clancy, Roseanne Murphy, and Sharon Brown and greatniece Kaitlyn Clancy Flatts;
and his four-legged buddy, Ralph. Richard is also survived by his extended family and dear friends.
A Memorial Service was held on Monday, October 7, 2024 at the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Montgomery EMS. Continued on Next Page
Princeton’s First Tradition Worship Service
Sundays at 11am
Nagle Jackson was the younger of two children raised in Walla Walla, Washington, by his parents, Paul Jackson and Gertrude Dunn Jackson. After graduating from the Portsmouth Abbey School in Rhode Island, he returned home to attend Whitman College, graduating in 1958 with a BA in English and French Literature, after which he studied as a Fullbright Fellow in Paris at L’Ecole de Mime with Etienne Decroux. In 1995, Jackson was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Whitman College.
Mr. Jackson was married to Sandy Suter Jackson in 1963, living the last 44 years of their lives together in Princeton Junction, New Jersey, until her death in 2023, just weeks shy of their 60th wedding anniversary.
He is survived by his daughters Rebecca Morton (Jeffrey Morton) and Hillary Jackson; his grandchildren Martha Morton and David Morton; his sister, Jeannette Jackson Murphy; and nieces and nephews Danielle Murphy McMahon, Mark Murphy, Megan Murphy (Gregg Lachow), Morgan Murphy (Lori Murphy), and Topher Murphy.
A celebration of Nagle Jackson’s life is being planned for spring 2025. Please contact CelebrateNagleJackson@gmail.com for more information.
Joanne loved being outdoors, but more than that, she loved talking to people. It was common to see her tending her small garden along Snowden Lane, where she was able to chat with neighbors and passers-by at every opportunity. Her eyes would light up at every passing baby or small dog. A love of nature led her into the woods and mountains. Backpacking in America’s many mountain ranges; trekking in Nepal, New Zealand, northern England; birding throughout the U.S., as well as Iceland, Botswana, Peruvian Amazon, much of Central and South America. As waning years gradually took their toll, she got pleasure from poring over her photo albums of family and her many wonderful trips. But her greatest pleasure came from time spent with her family, especially her wonderful grandson Shep. She is survived by her husband Bill of 51 years; daughter Becky Graham and grandson Shepard Graham; sister Judy Smith and brother Tom Treiman. A small private family gathering will celebrate her life.
Joanne Dix
Joanne Dix, beloved by family and friends, passed away on Saturday, September 21 at the age of 81.
Born to Matt and Timmie Antonovich in New York City, she grew up in Chappaqua, NY, and Mountain Lakes, NJ. From an early age, her parents instilled in her enduring qualities of
Biagio (Ben) Ruggiero, of East Windsor, passed away on September 30, 2024.
Born in Chiusano di San Domenico, Italy, on August 8, 1936 to the late Emilio Ruggiero and Elvira DeAngelis, Biagio spent over a decade studying and serving the poor at the Collegio dei Missionari del Preziosissimo Sangue in Albano, Italy, before leaving religious life to move to America in 1959.
Ben’s natural-born talent for working with his hands led him to easily find opportunities in New York City, first performing delicate fabric repair at a fine arts upholstery store and later making mechanical equipment at a machinist’s shop before moving to central New Jersey, where he lived for over 60 years.
In East Windsor, Ben worked for Mettler
He was beloved by his children, Bernice Wiles of Hagerstown, MD, Estella Ruggiero (Don Gilpin) of East Windsor, Celeste (Pete) Gray of Robbinsville, and Biagio (Erin) Ruggiero, of Pittsburgh, PA, and his grandchildren, Liam and Nora Gray, Henry Gilpin, and Benjamin and Eliza Ruggiero. He will forever be remembered by his nephews, Felice and Elvio Ruggiero of Montefalcione, Italy; his brother-in-law, Joseph (Geraldine) Higham of Hamden, CT; his sister-in-law, Margaret Hryniuk of Garner, NC; his cousin, Benedetto Ruggiero of Chiusano, Italy; along with his other dear nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, October 11, 2024, at St. David the King R.C. Church, 1 New Village Road, Princeton Junction, NJ 08550.
Interment will follow at the Old Tennent Cemetery, Manalapan, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, in honor of Ben, please offer help to a neighbor and be kind to one another.
Arrangements are under the direction of Simplicity Funeral and Cremation Services at Glackin Chapel, 136 Morrison Avenue, Hightstown, NJ.
Richard T. Tufano 81, of Blawenburg, NJ, and, Overton, PA, passed away on Monday, September 30, 2024. He was born in Princeton and settled in Blawenburg in 1973. He was employed at Hercules Powder Co. and the U.S. Richard gave freely of his time and volunteered to various organizations including the Montgomery Township Fire Company #2, where he served two terms as a Fire Commissioner; NJ Beach Buggy Association; New Brunswick Horse Show Association; Family Motor Coach Association; and past President of the Jersey Gems camping club and Treasurer of the Delaware Valley German Wirehair Pointer Club. He loved surf fishing, traveling in his motorhome, and hunting at his camp in Overton, PA.
Princeton University Chapel Open to all.
Preaching Sunday, October 13 is Rev. Dr. Catherine Cook Davis, Interim Associate Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel, Princeton University University Chapel Choir with Nicole Aldrich, Director of Chapel Music and Chapel Choir, and with Eric Plutz, University Organist.
Nagle Jackson (Photo by Peter C. Cook)
Biagio G. Ruggiero
Britta Bjornlund Blum, a cherished member of the Princeton community, passed away peacefully at her home on August 24, 2024, at the remarkable age of 101. For nearly 65 years, Britta enriched the lives of those around her in the Princeton area with her vibrant spirit and unwavering dedication to her community.
Born in Boston, MA, Britta entered the world under the care of her uncle, Frederick C. Irving, head of the Boston Lying-In Hospital. Her father, a Swedish chemical engineer, and her mother, a U.S. citizen and a nurse, had settled in the small town of La Tuque, Quebec, before moving to Cornwall, Ontario. For her high school education, Britta attended the Walnut Hill School in Natick, MA, where she was the editor of the school magazine and the yearbook. She later followed in her mother's footsteps by enrolling at Smith College. During her freshman year
at Smith, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Britta decided to accelerate her education. She graduated from Smith in August of 1944, having been elected president of her accelerated class of 130 classmates.
Following college, Britta began her career at the Offi ce of Cable Censorship in New York City, where she worked to intercept wartime communications. After the war, her compassion led her to the American Red Cross in France and Germany. When she returned to the U.S., Britta became a staff writer at the Museum of Natural History in New York City. She then married Frederick E. Blum, a Naval Academy graduate, a pilot and a fl ight instructor, and a World War II veteran. Together, they lived in Honolulu, HI, and Pensacola, FL, before settling in Philadelphia and eventually Princeton.
In Princeton, Britta and Fred were founding members of the Bedens Brook Club, while Britta became a prominent figure in the community. She served as President of the Princeton-area Smith Club and was actively involved in local volunteering initiatives. Her passion for tennis led her to manage publicity for the Princeton Community Tennis program. After several years there, she moved to the Office of Continuing Education at Princeton University and then decided to return to school at Rider University where she earned a master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling. Following her master’s, she became the Director of College Counseling at both the Hun School in Princeton (where she worked for a total
of 11 years) and the George School in Newtown, PA.
Britta loved to travel, and her adventurous spirit took her across Europe and Africa, including a memorable safari in Kenya and a gorilla trekking expedition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). She spent her 85th birthday in Kinshasa, DRC, visiting her children. Her favorite place in the world was a family-owned island on the St. Lawrence River where she spent every summer with her children, siblings, cousins, nephews and nieces, and grandchildren. In addition, she loved to ski each winter at Copper Mountain in Colorado with her children and sister, brother-in-law and their children, while she enjoyed playing tennis year-round.
In her later years, Britta remained intellectually and socially active, engaging in editing work, playing bridge, and reading hours daily. She was a member of Princeton’s Present Day Club, a founding member of the Princeton Women's Investment Club, a member of the Princeton Public Library Board of Trustees, and a member of the Chippewa Yacht Club in the Thousand Islands. Britta’s primary focus was always her family, who, despite geographical distances, spent a good deal of time visiting her.
Britta is survived by her son, Daniel Blum, of Boulder, CO; her daughter Cynthia Carroll and her son-inlaw David Carroll of Naples, FL; and her daughter Lauren Blum and her son-in-law Victor Bushamuka of Baltimore, MD. She also leaves behind her beloved grandchildren, Britta, Carin, Benjamin, and Kerstin Carroll, and William
and Daniel Bushamuka. Britta's enduring legacy of love, resilience, and adventure will continue to inspire all who knew her.
Phyllis L. Kane
Phyllis L. Kane passed away on October 3, 2024. Phyllis was born to Harry and Clara Lazarowitz in Brooklyn and brought up in Manhattan with her older brother, Teddy, and older sister, Ruth. She graduated from Julia Richman High School, and later attended and graduated from Rutgers University as a young mother. She also studied in graduate school at the New School in New York.
Phyllis met Herbert Kane in 1949 and they were married in 1953. Phyllis and Herbert were happily married for 71 years. After marrying, Phyllis and Herbert moved to Princeton, where they raised their children, Alan and Julie. Phyllis created a home that was a warm and safe space for many, where her children and their friends often gathered. She was also a wonderful hostess and she and Herbert were famous for their great parties, including their big election night soirées.
In addition to raising her children, Phyllis worked primarily in the arts and with antiques, and filled her home with her best fi nds. Phyllis remained an active and outspoken progressive throughout her life, particularly on issues of women’s and animal rights. As a tried and true animal-lover, Phyllis adopted many rescue dogs and successfully lobbied almost her entire extended family to stop eating veal.
Phyllis was deeply loved and appreciated by her family and friends both in Princeton and across the country. She cherished her many nieces, nephews, and cousins, and their children. She had a special love for her children and grandchildren, Alan Kane (deceased) (Eva Fellows), Justin Kane, Rebecca Kane, Julie Kane (John Ortiz), Cydney Ortiz, and Cara Ortiz (Oliver Paprin).
Her family will remember her for her kindness, loyalty, irreverence, and sense of humor, and will miss her deeply.
Roy Gordon Dollard
Roy Gordon Dollard of Princeton, New Jersey, passed away at home on September 27, 2024. He was born in Long Island City, NY to William and Ann (Melia) Dollard. He was a graduate of Brooklyn Technical High School, Cornell University, and NYU Business School. In his youth he was a track star — 1⁄4 mile champ and an Eagle Scout. He served in the military and worked for New York Telephone / NYNEX for 35 years, retiring as President of NYNEX Computer Services. He served as President of the Fifth Avenue Association and 20 years on two school boards in Briarcliff Manor, NY, and Hopewell Valley, NJ. He loved camping, making furniture, baseball and being with his family. He is survived by his wife Barbara of 67 years; his children, Cary, Christopher (wife Ellen), and John; and his grandsons, Jim, Andrew, and Ian. blackwellmh.com.
DIRECTORY OF RELIGIOUS SERVICES
S unday S
8:00 am: Holy Communion Rite I
10:00 am: Holy Communion Rite II
5:00 pm: Choral Compline or Evensong
The Rev. Paul Jeanes III, Rector The Rev. Canon Dr. Kara Slade, Assoc. Rector Wesley Rowell, Lay Pastoral Associate
33 Mercer St. Princeton 609-924-2277 www.trinityprinceton.org
Wherever you are in your journey of faith, come worship with us
First Church of Christ, Scientist, Princeton 16 Bayard Lane, Princeton, NJ
You are welcome to join us for our in-person services, Sunday Church Service and Sunday School at 10:30 am, Wednesday Testimony meetings at 7:30 pm. Audio streaming available, details at csprinceton.org.
Visit the Christian Science Reading Room Monday through Saturday, 10 am - 4 pm 178 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ For free local delivery call (609) 924-0919 www.csprinceton.org • (609) 924-5801
“A kindly tongue is the lodestone of the hearts of men. It is the bread of the spirit; it clotheth the words with meaning, it is the fountain of the light of wisdom and understanding."
- Abdu'l-Baha
Principles of the Baha'i Faith: One God- the Mover of the Universe Oneness of Religion
All People are members of One Human Family Elimination of all forms of prejudice Equality of Women and Men
For more information go to: https://princetonbahais.org
https://www.bahai.org/beliefs
Princeton Area Baha’is Welcome You
Britta Bjornlund Blum
TOWN TOPICS CLASSIFIEDS
YARD SALE +
TOWN TOPICS CLASSIFIED = GREAT WEEKEND!
Put an ad in the TOWN TOPICS to let everyone know! Call (609) 924-2200 ext. 10; classifi eds@towntopics.com
DEADLINE: Tues before 12 noon
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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.
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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.
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JOE’S LANDSCAPING INC. OF PRINCETON
Property Maintenance and Specialty Jobs
Commercial/Residential
Over 45 Years of Experience
• Fully Insured • Free Consultations
Email: joeslandscapingprinceton@ gmail.com
Text (only): (609) 356-9201 Office: (609) 216-7936
Princeton References
• Green Company HIC #13VH07549500 tf HOME REPAIR SPECIALIST:
Interior/exterior repairs, carpentry, trim, rotted wood, power washing, painting, deck work, sheet rock/ spackle, gutter & roofing repairs. Punch list is my specialty. 40 years experience. Licensed & insured. Call Creative Woodcraft (609) 586-2130 tf EXPERIENCED AND PROFESSIONAL CAREGIVER
Available part-time
With excellent references in the greater Princeton area (609) 216-5000 tf
FOX CLEANING (609) 547-9570
eqfoxcarpetcleaning@gmail.com
Licensed and insured
Residential and commercial
Carpet cleaning and upholestry Pressure and soft washing • Area rugs Strip and wax floors • Sanitizing Water damage • Grout cleaning
01-17-25
CARING AND EXPERIENCED
BABYSITTER
Available for part-time position
Excellent local references! (609) 216-5000 tf
HOUSECLEANING/HOUSE-
KEEPING: Professional cleaning service. Experienced, references, honest & responsible. Reasonable price. Basic English. Text Grace at (609) 672-0211 for a free estimate. 10-30
BEAUTIFUL COASTAL
CAROLINA HOME FOR SALE by former Princeton resident. Perfect for retirement, vacation – located on golf course, panoramic fairway views. Five minutes to island beach. 3 bedrooms, 2 ½ bathrooms, Carolina room, vaulted ceilings 2800 sq ft - 1653 Carriage Place, Ocean Isle Beach, NC. Pictures on Zillow.comFSBO relisting soon. More info and pictures: shabrown8@gmail.com. 10-16
TRINITY CHURCH
RUMMAGE SALE
Preview sale, $10 admission: Thursday, Oct 17, 4-7 pm No admission: Friday, Oct 18, 12-4 and Saturday, Oct 19, 9 am-1 pm (half-price sale!) 33 Mercer (609) 924-2277 for more information 10-16
FOR SALE: 2016 Mini Cooper, automatic, excellent condition. 77,000 miles, $12,500. Call (609) 865-2199 for more information. 10-09
FOR SALE: Zenith super deluxe trans-oceanic portable radio. Model A600-A600L Chassis 6A40--6A41. Operates on battery or 110 volt ACDC current. (732) 329-2160. Call to discuss price.
10-09
I BUY ALL KINDS of old or pretty things: China, glass, silver, pottery, costume jewelry, evening bags, fancy linens, paintings, small furniture, etc. Local woman buyer. (609) 9217469.
10-11-24
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.
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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.
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
ESTATE SALE
47 MILFORD PLACE
SKILLMAN, NJ
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
OCTOBER 11 & 12
9:30-3:00
Collectible art, arts and crafts, furniture, mid-Century, carpets, sculpture, signed art pottery, Wedgwood, deco floor lamps, large amount of costume and estate jewelry. Too much to list! Pictures on estatesales.net, MG Estate Sales. 10-09
YARD SALE + TOWN TOPICS CLASSIFIED = GREAT WEEKEND!
Put an ad in the TOWN TOPICS to let everyone know! Call (609) 924-2200 ext. 10; classifi eds@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 and Specialty Jobs Commercial/Residential Over 45 Years of Experience • Fully Insured • Free Consultations Email: joeslandscapingprinceton@ gmail.com Text (only): (609) 356-9201 Office: (609) 216-7936 Princeton References • Green Company HIC #13VH07549500 tf
Rate Cut's Mixed Impact on Home Sales
The recent interest rate cut has sparked mixed reactions in the housing market. On one hand, lower borrowing costs typically stimulate home sales by making mortgages more affordable. Buyers with locked in rates can now purchase homes with lower monthly payments, which encourages new entrants to the market and boosts demand.
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However, the effects of the rate cut haven't been uniformly felt. In some regions, particularly those with already high home prices, affordability remains a barrier despite the cheaper financing. Additionally, concerns about inflation, job market uncertainty, and general economic instability may temper the willingness of some buyers to commit to large financial investments like home purchases.
In the short term, we may see a slight uptick in sales as buyers rush to lock in lower rates. However, if broader economic challenges persist, the long term impact on home sales could be muted, making the rate cut only one piece of a complex housing puzzle.
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
All applicants must hold, or be willing to attain, the relevant NJ certification.
Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume, and copies of NJ certificate(s) to: Head of School, Princeton Charter School, 100 Bunn Drive, Princeton, NJ 08540, or to pcsoffice@princetoncharter.org. Princeton Charter School is an equal opportunity employer. Must be a resident of New Jersey or willing to relocate. For more school information visit our web site at www.princetoncharter.org.
Interior Painting, Exterior Painting, and Drywall Repair
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www.fivestarpaintinginc.com License # 13VH047 Professional, Courteous and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
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•Free Estimates
Avery Lane Princeton, NJ | $2,999,000 Princeton Office: 609.921.1050 callawayhenderson.com/id/32JNBT
Introducing: Constitution Hill West Princeton, NJ | $1,375,000 Llewellyn “Lew” Ross, Martha Moseley: 609.306.0492 callawayhenderson.com/id/7WDD27
Introducing: York Street
Lambertville, NJ | $950,000
Louis R. Toboz: 609.751.1247 callawayhenderson.com/id/W8MB9N
Introducing: Coryell Street
Lambertville, NJ | $749,900
Louis R. Toboz: 609.751.1247 callawayhenderson.com/id/F5E2JS
Introducing: Wiggins Lane Montgomery Township, NJ | $875,000
Charlton Street Princeton, NJ | $2,200,000
Susan L. DiMeglio: 609.915.5645 callawayhenderson.com/id/R7B5ES
Alana Lutkowski: 908.227.6269 callawayhenderson.com/id/G94LTF Newly Priced: Birch Avenue Princeton, NJ | $795,000 David M. Schure, Grant Wagner: 609.577.7029 callawayhenderson.com/id/QM9L52
