TT 2-19-25 Digital Issue by Witherspoon Media Group

Black Soldiers who Fought In American Revolution Are Focus of Lecture

Recent Immigrants Feeling Pressured by Trump Policies

Keeper of All Things

Einstein Headlines Pi Day Events 5

Riverside School Exploring AI Possibilities to Serve Students, Teachers, Administrators 9

Past IAS Director Dijkgraaf to Head International Science Council 11

Matters of Life, Love, And Death with Keats, Dickinson, and Wardell Gray 15

Osgood Produces Career Game on her Senior Night As PU Women’s Hoops Defeats Yale 71-42 30

PDS Girls’ Hockey Clicks On All Cylinders, Routing

The second event of the Cadwalader Lecture Series, one of the Princeton Battlefield Society’s (PBS) initiatives leading up to the upcoming 250th anniversary of the nation’s birth and the Battle of Princeton, honors Black History Month.

A partnership with the Battlefield’s neighbor, Morven Museum & Garden, the talk on Thursday, February 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the museum features author and historian John Rees discussing the mostly unknown and under-appreciated role of Black soldiers in the fight for independence. Rees’ new book Don Troiani’s Black Soldiers in America’s Wars, 17541865 was written with Troiani, a prominent military artist. Rees will be on hand to sign copies of the book at the event.

“There were 4,500 men who fought at the Battle of Princeton. But we only hear names like Mercer and Washington,” said Mark Herr, a PBS board member involved in the preparations for the sesquicentennial. “These soldiers were ordinary Americans — carpenters, sailors, tailors — who turned into a fighting force that defeated the prime fighting force of the time. And among the forgotten common soldiers were Black common soldiers, who were even more forgotten.”

Fourteen Black soldiers have been identified as part of the Battle of Princeton.

“As many as five to 25 percent in the American army during the Revolution were Black,” said Herr.

The lecture series’ first installment was a talk by Richard Brookhiser on painter John Trumbull, held last November at the Nassau Club. Some 75 people attended, and Herr is hoping for another large audience at the Morven event. The goal of the series, among several initiatives leading up to the 250th anniversary, is to magnify the impact that the Battle and the Battlefield can have on today’s awareness of history.

“We wanted to create some intellectual capacity to teach current and future generations about what happened at the battle,” said Herr. “These were ordinary men doing extraordinary things. They fought on January 2 at the Battle of Trenton. Then they marched all night and arrived around the Quaker Meetinghouse in Princeton on the morning of January 3rd, fought the British, and won. Then they had to march off toward Morristown. This was on 36 to 48 hours without sleep,

The town of Princeton, recent immigrant residents, and a number of local organizations are feeling the pressure from Trump administration policies on immigration.

In his first month in office President Trump has signed numerous administrative orders on immigration. He has promised mass deportations and declared a national emergency at the southern border with major changes to border security.

The Trump administration has closed the refugee resettlement program and the asylum application system and adopted a new policy which allows immigration authorities to enter schools, hospitals, and places of worship to arrest immigrants.

Federal authorities have threatened to withhold funding from communities that don’t cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), although Councilwoman Leticia Fraga pointed out, “They can’t force local and state governments to do the work of the federal government.”

The town of Princeton has not considered itself a “sanctuary city,” but has rather embraced the less controversial designation as a “welcoming city,” with policies that limit local police cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

An ICE raid in downtown Princeton in July 2024 resulted in one arrest, but the Princeton Police Department was not involved, and local government officials were not informed in advance. Mayor Mark Freda criticized ICE’s failure to communicate with local or state governments concerning their incursion into Princeton and subsequent actions.

Town Topics requested comments from Freda, Council, and other municipal officials concerning the current situation regarding recent immigrants in Princeton in

light of federal policy changes. Municipal officials have deferred responding, pending a discussion of “confidential advice of counsel regarding immigration directives and orders,” in a closed session scheduled on February 18, which took place after press time.

Resistencia en Acción NJ, a migrant justice organization with offices in Trenton and Princeton dedicated to defending and protecting the rights of immigrant communities in New Jersey, has been focusing

Local Teams Are Gearing Up for Science Bowls at PPPL, Feb. 21-22

It’s Science Bowl season, and a cluster of local teams are preparing to compete in the New Jersey Regional Science Bowls on February 21 for the middle school competition and February 22 for the high school contest sponsored by the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Among the 16 middle school teams facing off in the question-and-answer rounds in the fields of chemistry, biology, physics, astronomy, mathematics, and general and earth sciences are four area

schools: defending champion Princeton Charter School (PCS), the French American School of Princeton, Lawrence Middle School, and the Noor-Ul-Iman School of South Brunswick. PCS has won the regional middle school contest and gone on to the National Science Bowl six times in the past seven years.

In the high school competition, teams from Princeton High School, Princeton International School of Math and Science (PRISMS), the Wilberforce School,

HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR: Princeton Public Library hosted a Chinese New Year Celebration on Saturday afternoon featuring music, crafts, and other hands-on activities presented by students from the Mandarin classes and Chinese Club at Princeton High School and the Princeton Chinese Language School. Participants share what they liked best about the event in this week’s Town Talk on page 6.

(Photo by Thomas Hedges)

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Sustainable Princeton Inducts Two New Board Members

Sustainable Princeton has elected two new members to its board of trustees: Adrienne Kreipke, chief financial and operations officer at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; and Luc Stefani, former chief human resources officer at Veolia’s Water Technologies & Solutions.

“Our trustees ensure our organization’s good governance — and we’re lucky that our trustees bring so much more, including industry knowledge, experience, and passion for our mission,” said Eve Coulson, board president.

“I look forward to working with Luc and Adrienne, who will serve as our board secretary. As members of our community, their knowledge and passion will be invaluable as we continue our mission to inspire our community to implement solutions that positively impact our environment, reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen our resilience to climate change, and protect our local ecosystem,” said Christine Symington, executive director of Sustainable Princeton.

In addition to the new board members, Elizabeth “Betsy” Marshall has been appointed vice president,

taking over the role from Gail Ullman, who termed off the board at the end of 2024. Current board member Kara Mangone has assumed the role of treasurer. Sustainable Princeton also formally welcomed Sara Boll, executive director of the Office of Sustainability at Princeton University, as the new liaison to Princeton University, and Chris Santarpio as the new liaison to the Princeton Public School Board.

Finally, Sustainable Princeton is thankful for the contributions of board members Fran Price and Bruno Sarda, who each completed six years of service to the board of trustees.

Topics In Brief A Community Bulletin

Leighton Listens: Councilman Leighton Newlin holds one-on-one conversations about issues impacting Princeton from 1-2:30 p.m. on February 19 at Say Cheese, 183D Nassau Street; and 11 a.m..-12:30 p.m. on February 26 at Blue Bears, Princeton Shopping Center.

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

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

Volunteer Land Stewards Wanted: Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS) seeks volunteers for a stewardship session on Wednesday, February 19 from 1-3 p.m. at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve. Help restore forest areas, remove invasive plants, and plant native trees and shrubs. Register at fopos.org/ events-programs.

Skating Safety: The Department of Recreation posts daily guidelines about skating on Community Park North Pond, Smoyer Pond, and Lake Carnegie. If any are safe to skate on, a white flag will be raised. Only skate during daylight hours and never skate alone. Visit princetonrecreation.com.

DONATION FOR YOUTH: The owners of jaZams toy store in Palmer Square recently presented a $7,440.47 check to Princeton Public Library staff, part of the proceeds of book sales at the Princeton Children’s Book Festival. Pictured from left are Youth Services librarians Martha Perry Liu, Amanda Chuong, and Katie Bruce; library Executive Director Jennifer Podolsky; Head of Youth Services Marissa Warren; jaZams co-owner Joanne Farrugia; Youth Services librarians Mimi Bowlin and Jen Appell; and Assistant Director Erica Bess. The money will support library programs, collections, and services for youth.

Keeper of All Things Einstein Headlines This Year’s Pi Day Events

Benyamin Cohen is not a scientist. He is not a scholar. But several times a day, he posts an anecdote, quotation, or little-known fact about Albert Einstein on social media.

As official manager of the Einstein Facebook and other accounts, Cohen — news director at The Forward newspaper and the author of the

book The Einstein Effect — is the keeper of trivia and more about the world’s most famous physicist. He is also “the digital avatar of Einstein,” he writes in the book. “Teenagers in India message me for help with their science homework, physicists in Florida email me the findings of their latest research, and producers at PBS call and ask if I’ll promote a new Einstein documentary.”

Cohen will be on hand at this year’s Pi Day celebration on Saturday, March 15, speaking at Princeton Public Library at 4 p.m. after serving as a judge at the annual pie-eating and Einstein lookalike contests earlier in the day.

TOPICS Of the Town

“Einstein is the most popular dead celebrity on social media,” Cohen said this week. “He has 20 million followers. I’m extremely active with his accounts. When I began learning a lot about him, I started finding out how he was still so relevant, more than 70 years after his death.”

and burglar alarms, remote controls, supermarket scanners, laser eye surgery, and in the space program,” Cohen writes in the book. “Driverless cars, DVD players, weather forecasting, and even the search for aliens — it’s all thanks to theories hatched by Einstein.”

Yet the genius scientist, who lived in Princeton from 1933 until his death in 1955 and was a faculty member at the Institute for Advanced Study, was the classic absent-minded professor. He regularly misplaced his keys. He got lost. And his physical appearance was not a priority.

“Once a year, I post a photo of Einstein at the beach,” said Cohen. “He’s dressed very schlubby — wearing

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Princeton’s annual Pi Day marks Einstein’s birthday, March 14, and 3.14, the numeric equivalent of pi. In addition to the pie-eating and Einstein lookalike contests, events include an Einstein pub crawl, Dinky train rides with Einstein, an open archive presented by the Historical Society of Princeton and Princeton Public Library, Einstein Story Time, a Hands-on Einstein Exploration Station, the Pi Recitation contest, and more.

Cohen, who is 49, lives in West Virginia with his wife, three dogs, a cat, “and a flock of chickens known as the Co-Hens,” according to his website. He has found that Einstein’s virtual fingerprints are all over today’s technology.

“My favorite example is GPS,” he said. “It all works because of the theory of relativity. It’s the underlying mathematical equation that makes GPS work. Think about that the next time you get an Amazon delivery to your house. The pizza delivery guy found your house because of Einstein.”

Einstein’s work “lives on in the form of iPhone cameras

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Ancient origins with the first evidence dating back to 1094, the Venice Carnival, revived in 1979 after almost two centuries of absence, still preserves its old traditions, honoring a centuries-old history. The Venetian Carnival still means theater, delicious traditional foods, extraordinary masks, costumes, and of course wine. In Venice, a glass of wine is called Ombra (shade) deriving from the times when one enjoyed a glass of wine standing in the shade of San Marco’s bell tower. We will kickoff the year’s first 5@4 of 2025 and feature Venetian inspired cicchetti and wines. For tickets: teresacaffe.com/store/events 23 Palmer Square East, Princeton

COMMUNING WITH A GENIUS: As manager of the social media accounts for Albert Einstein, Benyamin Cohen has to mind-meld with the world’s most popular deceased celebrity. (Photo by Shoshi Benstein)

Einstein

Continued from Preceding Page shorts and his wife’s sandals. He totally didn’t care. He would sometimes walk around in his bathrobe. He was the Jewish Hugh Hefner. He was very down to earth. In Princeton, kids would walk up to him on the street and ask him to help them with their homework, and he would.”

It was in 2017 that Cohen was approached by the Einstein estate, which is based at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, about managing the scientist’s social media pages. The son of a rabbi, Cohen had written a book called My Jesus Year: A Rabbi’s Son Wanders the Bible Belt in Search of His Own Faith, a memoir about spending 52 weeks going to 52 different churches, and how the experience made him a better Jew. The Einstein Effect was published in 2023.

“I started streaming together all of these thoughts and things I was discovering with the social media sites,” said Cohen. “That’s how the book came together.”

An important part of the book is the section on Einstein the humanitarian.

“He created the International Rescue Committee. He was very interested in stopping the spread of nuclear weapons,” Cohen said. “He was also involved in the civil rights movement. When Marian Anderson performed in Princeton and wasn’t welcome to stay at the Nassau Inn, he had her stay at his home on Mercer Street. They became lifelong friends.”

Cohen has since taken on the management of social media for two additional deceased celebrities: Robert Oppenheimer and Maya Angelou. He also edits the newsletter for The Forward every morning at 5 a.m. He is currently trying out ideas for a third book.

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

Question of the Week:

“What did you like best about the event today?”

(Asked Saturday afternoon at the Chinese New Year Celebration at Princeton Public Library) (Photos by Thomas Hedges)

Einstein, and his popularity, continue to fascinate him.

“He was the first modernday celebrity. And he played into it,” said Cohen. “There are so many biographies of him. I’m not a historian. I’m not a scientist. I was trying to write a book for people like me, the average Joe.”

For a full schedule of Pi Day activities, visit princetontourcompany.com/tours/ pi-day.

—Anne Levin

“The best was the yo-yo performance. The way they were able to do more than one yo-yo at a time — I’ve never seen that before.”

—Stan Shu, Montgomery Township

William: “The line dance, because I performed in it.” —Adam Greenberg and William Liao, both of Princeton

Michael: “The calligraphy. We were here last year as well and he [son Aaron] really liked it. We told him it was Chinese New Year again and he said, ‘Yay!’” —Michael, Aaron, and Jana Peper, Princeton

“I liked the dragon dance. I am sure it was most people’s favorite.”

—Rob Diringer, Princeton

continued

West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South, Montgomery High School, and Notre Dame High School will be vying with 26 other regional school teams for an all-expenses-paid trip to compete against other regional champions in the national competition in Washington, D.C., April 24-28.

“Teams signed up to compete in record time this year, and we are thrilled that new schools have signed up,” said Deedee Ortiz, program manager of the science education department at PPPL. “It’s always a treat to watch how excited the students are when they arrive and see

where they go throughout the day.”

She continued, “Whether a team advances to the end of the competition or not, the camaraderie between the teams is always a joy to experience. That being said, we wouldn’t be able to do any of this without our volunteers — researchers, engineers, technicians, and administrative staff from PPPL — and they are the MVPs, if you ask me. We are so grateful to all of them.”

PRISMS Science+ Bowl

On February 8, PRISMS, on Lambert Drive in Princeton, hosted nine local middle school teams in its inaugural Science+ Bowl Tournament,

giving PCS and others a chance to tune up for the PPPL competition.

West Windsor-Plainsboro Community Middle School’s (WW-P CMS) Cosmic Curators team including Easton Wei, Donna Benalan, Saanvi Mathur, and Neha MIkkilineni came out on top, and two teams from PCS won second and third place.

The event was organized by PRISMS students with seniors Justin Feder and Joshi Shi taking the lead in writing original questions and serving as moderators, timekeepers, scorekeepers, and volunteers for a variety of jobs. PRISMS added engineering and computer science questions to the usual

SCIENCE BOWL EXCITEMENT: It was a dramatic face-off between teams from Princeton Charter School and West Windsor-Plainsboro’s Community Middle School in the finals of Princeton International School of Mathematics and Science (PRISMS) first ever Science+ Bowl Tournament. The New Jersey Regional Science Bowl will take place this weekend, February 21-22, at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory with the winning middle and high school teams going on to the national championships in Washington, D.C., in April. (Photo courtesy of PRISMS)

Science Bowl repertoire, and some questions were also drawn from ongoing research projects conducted by PRISMS juniors and seniors.

In addition to the competition, participants enjoyed interactive STEM activities and a math-inspired dance performance by PRISMS students and teachers.

“The tournament was exceptionally well organized and a truly enjoyable experience,” said PCS science teacher and team coach Laura Celik, as quoted in a PRISMS press release. “The questions, thoughtfully written by PRISMS students, were clever and accurate and provided the perfect challenge for middle schoolers.

The students appreciated the chance to engage with teams from other schools in front of a supportive audience and were particularly impressed by the captivating chemistry and engineering demonstrations.”

The middle school competitors agreed. “This event was fun and enriching,” said WW-P CMS team captain Wei. “The volunteers managed everything seamlessly from start to finish, and the questions were exceptional. It was a delight to compete alongside peers who share a passion for science while learning and growing throughout the experience.”

Nikolai Morozov, PCS team captain and an eighth grader, added, “The atmosphere was amazing. The staff was incredibly responsive and kind, and they created an amazing, fun experience for all the teams.”

—Donald Gilpin

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MCCC Joins NJBioFutures

To Support Talent Pipeline

The New Jersey Council of County Colleges (NJCCC), with support from Johnson & Johnson and other industry partners, has announced the launch of NJBioFutures, a groundbreaking workforce development coalition aimed at creating a sustainable, skilled talent pipeline to support New Jersey’s rapidly expanding cell and gene therapeutics sector.

The cell and gene therapy field has seen exponential growth over the past few years, with transformational advancements in treatments for cancer, autoimmune, neurological, and genetic disorders. However, the sector is also facing a shortage of skilled workers to support this growth.

To address this need, the NJBioFutures coalition will bring together experts from education, government, industry, and community stakeholders to offer train ing programs, state-of-theart facilities, and industryresponse curricula to help build a pipeline for new and emerging high-demand roles in New Jersey.

As part of this effort, Mer cer County Community Col lege (MCCC), Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC), and Middlesex College (MC), will provide training and certification programs on cell and gene therapy biomanufacturing, biotech nology, and biopharmaceu ticals. These programs will provide hands-on experi ence and prepare students for rewarding careers in an industry that is expected to continue its rapid growth.

“We could not be more excited about the opportu nity to partner with The New Jersey Council of County Colleges, Johnson & John son, Raritan Valley Commu nity College, and Middlesex College on this important endeavor,” said Deborah E. Preston, MCCC president.

“Together, through NJB ioFutures, we will work to prepare students for bright futures in cell and gene therapeutics, which will not only provide rewarding ca

Aseptic Processing and Biomanufacturing under the New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities statewide initiative led by the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development. As a founding sponsor of the coalition, Johnson & Johnson is contributing $1 million to NJBioFutures to support the development of curricula and modernization of training and lab facilities across Raritan, Middlesex and Mercer County community colleges, including a mobile lab for MCCC on the James Kerney Campus in Trenton.

“Johnson & Johnson’s role as the Founding Sponsor of NJBioFutures reinforces our commitment to economic and workforce development in New Jersey and will provide more pathways into good-paying, high-demand jobs in an emerging life sciences sector that keeps New Jersey at the forefront of health innovation,” said Joaquin Duato, chairman and chief executive officer, Johnson & Johnson.

“At MCCC we have been preparing students for the promising growth in the therapeutics sector,” said Gonzalo Perez, assistant vice president, Division of Workforce Education and Innovation. “We look forward to creating a lab on MCCC’s James Kerney Campus where students will receive the highest level of instruction in the cell and gene industry which they will undoubtedly use to benefit the greater community.”

Riverside School is Exploring AI Possibilities To Serve

Students, Teachers, Administrators

As artificial intelligence (AI) spreads its influence into every corner of 21st century life, Princeton Public Schools (PPS) has subscribed to a program called SchoolAI and has been encouraging teachers and administrators to explore how this technology can help them and their students. Riverside Elementary School has responded eagerly with many positive results and some exciting breakthroughs for both students and educators.

“We believe that this technology could be a game changer for differentiation of instruction, personalization based on student interests, student engagement, and intervention,” said Riverside Counselor Ben Samara, who uses AI in working with groups of students from kindergarten through fifth grade.

Samara is fully aware of the concerns over privacy and the potential for student misuse of AI in schools, but his explorations have led him to discover that AI can enhance the human element in education as well as the mutual engagement of students and teachers.

“We are seeking to be at the forefront of implementation while taking a mindful, responsible approach to technology, ensuring it is used to enhance prosocial and life skills and human connection, rather than detract from them,” he added.

Riverside Principal Max Achtau noted that the

students “are full speed ahead” in embracing AI and that the teachers and staff are rapidly “adapting and navigating the landscape.”

He explained, “Teachers are aware that this is the paradigm shift in methodologies and best practices, so people are open to learning and using AI in the classroom. We have pilot programs going, and teachers are using AI in different venues.”

He continued, “The kids are eager to try it. This is their world — AI and screens and being at the computer. It’s not just with learning, but outside in their homes with phones and screens, they’re used to working with AI outside of school. It’s a digital world now. We have to adapt. We can still have the same standards and rigor, but we’re changing some of our methods to adapt to today’s learners, to support our students of today.”

In addition to finding that AI can serve as a kind of personal assistant, streamlining tasks and saving valuable time, Riverside teachers have been using AI to allow students to interact one-onone with chatbots of historical figures, to reflect on their reading, and to learn to debate.

Samara has integrated AI technology into his socialemotional learning curriculum, and he reports, “I have never seen students more engaged or excited to come see me for lessons, groups, and individual work. The results have been tremendous. There are a lot of people in

the education world who are scared of this technology because they think it’s just going to be kids in front of a screen like zombies, but this is a tool that should be used to enhance human communication.”

In a typical traditional lesson there might be only three or four students raising their hands, Samara explained, but with AI “There’s a lot of interactivity with the entire class participating and having some investment in the lesson.”

Samara is enthusiastic about potential future uses of AI. “Imagine if you had an assistant with you the entire school day who could help you do all these things as a teacher,” he said. “And imagine if every student had a one-on-one assistant with them. That’s a possibility that we have here.”

Samara has been researching possibilities in AI technology and admits, “I’ve kind of caught the bug.” He recently earned a certificate in AI prompting at New Jersey Institute of Technology. “Efficient prompting is one of the ways you make the technology flourish for kids,” he explained. “You have to have the right prompt. There are certain things that have to be in the prompt for it to be effective and not too general. Prompting is also how you put a lot of the security in place to make sure that there are certain things the AI won’t do for the kids.”

Much of the development of AI in education nationwide has been focused on colleges

and universities, high schools, and middle schools, but Samara and Achtau are determined to take full advantage of AI’s possibilities for younger students.

“We’re very curious about how we can apply this technology to help our teachers and students at the elementary level and we’re trying to be a lighthouse school for this kind of work,” said Samara.

He noted that some teachers at Riverside are easing into the use of AI gradually “maybe just dabbling with some of the teacher tools,” but others are forging ahead in using AI for their own empowerment and for their classroom work with their students.

Third grade teacher Katy Solovay, who has been seeing many positive results in her classroom, described some ways in which AI has enhanced her work and her students’ learning.

As part of a unit on civil rights, students were able to have a conversation with a Martin Luther King Jr. bot, to ask him questions about the civil rights movement, to discuss that period in history, to think critically about what was happening, and to deepen their understanding.

SchoolAI has helped Solovay’s third graders in building sentences and in using punctuation and capitalization correctly.

In a recent reading lesson, “SchoolAI asked students

about what they were reading and prompted them with discussion questions and helpful comments,” said Solovay. “One of my students even said, ‘This has me thinking in ways I didn’t know I had in me.’”

She added, “SchoolAI has the ability to be adaptive to student needs. If students need more challenging questions, it can adapt to meet the students where they are.”

Solovay went on to emphasize that AI “is not a replacement for curriculum or for good teaching” and that it is important for teachers to monitor students’ work on AI. She pointed out that AI will help her in her upcoming lessons on weather and climate, literary essays and writing, and character studies and reading.

“AI is also a valuable resource for ideas and classroom activities,” she added. “It can help to generate passages, reader’s theater scripts, and even suggestions for other lessons in various fields of study.”

“I think with AI the potential is there to change the landscape of how we help kids,” said Samara.

“We’re excited to explore and to implement AI into our classrooms and learning spaces,” Achtau concluded. “Time has moved on. Technology has moved on. Kids have moved on. They learn differently. Schools also have to adapt.”

—Donald Gilpin

Applications Open for 101: Fund Scholarships

Applications to 101: Fund are currently open for both new and returning students, a nonprofit that grants need-based scholarships to Princeton High School graduates who are well prepared for college but experience significant financial barriers. To apply, visit 101fund.org and click on the Apply tab.

Last year, the all-volunteer executive board of the nonprofit awarded a total of $197,000 in scholarships to more than 90 students, the largest ever recipient cohort.

“In the coming years, 101: Fund hopes to respond to increased need by supporting more students with greater aid,” said Jennifer Jang and Christina Walden, co-chairs of the 101: Fund awards committee.

This month, Jammin’ Crepes will donate 25 pecent of all sales on orders that are placed or picked up from 4-6 p.m. to 101: Fund, at #CrepeHappyHour. Orders can be placed in-person or online, at jammincrepes.com. Part of a year-long campaign to give back to the community, Jammin’ Crepes will highlight a different nonprofit organization every month.

Tickets are now on sale for 101: Fund’s annual fundraising event, College Throwback Night 2025, set to take place on Saturday, March 8 at 7 p.m. at Princeton University’s Eating Club, Tiger Inn. Visit 101fund.org for tickets.

Black Soldiers continued from page one and no food until that night. Many of them were poorly clad, in rags. No shoes. In January. There was no Thinsulate back then.”

Rees, who is a Bucks County, Pa., resident, has written several articles and two books about the experiences of common soldiers during the American Revolution. Troiani, a traditional academic realist painter known for his depictions of the American Revolution and the Civil War, “is something of a rock star in the history arts community,” said Herr. “His paintings are very valuable. He won’t be at the talk, but John Rees will, and it’s so great that we have him.”

The collaboration with Morven is key. “Princeton is unique in that it is the only town in American that has two signers [of the Declaration of Independence], and a delegate to the Continental Congress,” said Herr. “And the New Jersey State Constitution was also written here in Princeton. So we have this tremendous connection here to review history, and we don’t do enough to recognize it. We at PBS and Morven are trying to bring more attention back to all of that.”

PBS has applied for a grant to further study the Black troops. The organization has also reached out to Foundation Academy, the Trenton-based charter school, about having the students do some amateur research. Another lecture in the series is anticipated for May.

“Our goal is to produce at least three every year with high-quality historians who can talk to our community,” said Herr. “Because we can never forget what they did.”

—Anne Levin

state -

nonprofit dedicated to ensuring access to a comprehensive arts education for all New Jersey stu

dents, has been awarded a $40,000 grant from the New Jersey Cultural Trust as part of its record $1.04 million in Fiscal Year 2025 Institutional and Financial Stabilization Grants for Arts Organizations.

This grant will allow Arts Ed NJ to create a new parttime staff position focused on supporting the organization’s development initiatives and fundraising efforts. This investment will help strengthen the nonprofit’s financial stability and operational capacity, enabling it to continue advocating, promoting, and

providing resources for arts education across the state.

“We are deeply grateful to the New Jersey Cultural Trust for this generous grant, which will have a transformative impact on our organization,” said Wendy Liscow, executive director. “This funding will allow us to build our capacity to secure the resources needed to advance our new ambitious five-year vision plan and fulfill our mission of ensuring that every child in New Jersey participate in a high-impact, comprehensive arts education.”

The Fiscal Year 2025 Institutional and Financial Stabilization Grants for Arts Organizations were recommended to the Cultural Trust by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. The more than $1 million

in awards represents the largest total dollar amount the Board has approved in grant awards in a single fiscal year in the Trust’s history.

“These grants are a historic investment in New Jersey’s cultural community that will resonate for years to come,” said Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way, who oversees the Cultural Trust in her capacity as secretary of state. “The Cultural Trust’s unique grant programs support projects that strengthen the foundations of our state’s cultural organizations — organizations that anchor local economies, improve the health and vitality of our communities, and contribute immeasurably to New Jerseyans’ wellbeing and quality of life.”

COMMON AND FORGOTTEN: John Rees’ book about the underappreciated efforts of Black soldiers during the American Revolution will be discussed by the author at an upcoming Princeton Battlefield Society event at Morven.

Past IAS Director Robbert Dijkgraaf

To Head International Science Council

Robbert Dijkgraaf, Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) Director and Leon Levy Professor from 2012 to 2022, has been appointed as presidentelect of the International Science Council, (ISC) it was announced on February 6. He will officially take over as ISC president in October 2026.

Dijkgraaf has made significant contributions to the understanding of string theory and black holes. He is committed to the advancement of science education. Before his term as IAS president, he was a researcher at Princeton University from 1989 to 1991, and then a member in the IAS’ School of Natural Science.

A renowned mathematical physicist, Dijkgraaf served as minister of education, culture and science of the Netherlands after leaving the IAS in 2022. He remained in that position until 2024, the year he was elected to the ISC governing board.

During his term in office at the ISC, “Dijkgraaf will play a vital role in the organization’s development and the fulfillment of their newly adopted Strategic Plan,” reads a release from the IAS. “While leading these efforts, Dijkgraaf will strengthen the ISC’s mission to address the most pressing challenges facing science and society today.”

The ISC was created in 2018 from the International Council of Science, founded in 1931, and the International Social Science Council, founded in 1952. The new organization, which held its first general assembly in Paris, has a global membership of 250

scientific institutions, unions, and associations.

It was founded “to be the global voice for science, and to advance science as a global public good,” reads its website. “The ISC’s founding strategy emphasizes that scientific understanding has never been more important to society, as humanity grapples with the problems of living sustainably and equitably on planet Earth.”

Commenting on his appointment, Dijkgraaf said, “It is a great honor to serve the International Science Council, the oldest and most comprehensive organization representing the worldwide scientific community. Especially in these times of geopolitical tension and global challenges, it is important that the voice of science rings clear, and that researchers continue to engage in dialogue, with each other and with society at large.”

Dijkgraaf will succeed Sir Peter Gluckman as the new ISC president. Gluckman called Dijkgraaf’s appointment “a tremendous asset to the International Science Council. His deep understanding of the global scientific landscape and proven ability to navigate the intersection of science and policy will be invaluable as the ISC continues to champion science as a force for global good. I am confident that under Robbert’s leadership, the ISC will further strengthen its voice and impact in addressing the critical challenges facing our world today.”

—Anne Levin

Jazz Vespers

Peddler’s Village Seeks Competition Entries

Peddler’s Village in Lahaska, Pa., has issued a call for entries for two spring competitions and displays: the PEEPS in the Village competition and indoor display, for which entries are due on March 19, and the Best of the Nest competition and outdoor display, for which entries are due on April 16. Both competitions offer cash prizes for winners, and both present an opportunity for entrants to showcase their creative work during weeks-long displays open to the public. Rules and entry forms for both competitions can be found on the Peddler’s Village website at peddlersvillage.com/ competitions.

Novice birdhouse creators are encouraged to attend the free “Birds and Boxes” presentation at 1 p.m on Saturday, March 22 at Cock ‘n Bull Restaurant to learn about Bucks County birds, their habits and needs, and birdhouse-building tips. Online registration is encouraged at peddlersvillage.com.

Now in its sixth year, the PEEPS in the Village display will open to the public on March 24 and continue through April 27. Located in the Visitor and Event Center at Peddler’s Village, the display will feature dozens of handmade sculptures, dioramas, and wall art created with PEEPS marshmallow candies. Visitors are encouraged to vote for their favorite entries through April 11 via paper ballots or the Peddler’s Village mobile app.

Admission is free, but visitors are encouraged to donate to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. (Each dollar donated before April 11 earns an additional voting ballot. The entry that receives the most “donation votes” will receive a special $200 prize.)

The Best of the Nest outdoor display will open on April 28. Presented in partnership with AIA Bucks County and Bucks County Audubon Society at Honey Hollow, Best of the Nest will feature dozens of birdhouses in various categories— Traditional, Whimsical, Bucks County Landmark, Natural Habitat, Professional, Student (ages 12-17), and Kids Only! (ages 11 and under)— that were designed and built by members of the public.

Judges will determine the winners of the primary categories; visitors are encouraged to vote for their favorite entries through May 2 using the Peddler’s Village mobile app to determine the “People’s Choice” winner. The birdhouses will be on display through June 8. Donations to the Bucks County Audubon Society at Honey Hollow and AIA Bucks County’s George J. Donovan Memorial Scholarship are encouraged.

Lift Every Voice Organ Music of Black Composers

Eric Plutz, University Organist & Timberdale Brass Friday, February 21 at 7:30pm Princeton University Chapel

University Organist Eric Plutz presents a program of works by Black composers, elevating these historically marginalized voices in recognition of Black History Month. Come join the celebration in the soaring acoustics of the Chapel. All are welcome. Free Admission. No Ticket Required.

Recent Immigrants continued from page one on “Know Your Rights” workshops for recent immigrants.

“Knowledge is power and information keeps us standing,” the Resistencia Facebook page states. “Knowing our rights is our best defense. Raids and operations do not only affect one person, but our entire community. When we educate ourselves, we protect each other.”

Solidaridad Central Jersey is an organization that assists immigrant neighbors with applications for asylum, work permit applications, and finding an attorney. Two representative members from Solidaridad, who chose to remain anonymous, are confident that the law continues to grant people asylum in the United States.

“It sounds like the intent is to shut down asylums completely, but a 1980 law says the U.S. will be a place where you can get asylum,” one representative stated.

About four years ago, Solidaridad started a pro se clinic, a clinic for immigrants applying for asylum without the benefit of legal representation. There were more than 30 initial volunteers, mostly based in the Princeton area, and they met with community asylum seekers in the Witherspoon Presbyterian Church.

The volunteers form groups of three — an interpreter, an interviewer, and a note-taker/ recorder, and they help the applicant to file the extensive application. “That’s the start on the neighbor’s asylum journey,” according to the Solidaridad representative.

The next step, which is permitted 150 days after the sub

mission of the application for asylum, is filing an application for a work permit. Both representatives emphasized the worthiness of the applicants they have worked with.

“They are an amazing group of people,” one Solidaridad representative said. “They do so much in our community in terms of working and being an integral part of the community. They’re paying taxes. They’re remarkable. We are honored to meet with them and privileged to work with them to complete the applications.”

Solidaridad has expanded its outreach, from mostly in the Princeton WitherspoonJackson community to Trenton, throughout the state, and even referrals from across the country. There are currently more than 80 volunteers, with significant volunteer support coming from Princeton University and The College of New Jersey. They have filed more than 220 asylum applications over the past two years and even more work permit applications.

Solidaridad noted a significant increase in questions coming into their hotline over the past two or three months, with people expressing fear and doubt about what to do. “We try to keep our neighbors informed,” said one of the Solidaridad representatives. “We want them to be aware of their rights.”

Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF), based in Trenton, is another local organization providing major support for recent immigrants in Central New Jersey.

“As you can imagine, undocumented immigrants in our local communities are trying to better understand their rights

citizenship,” wrote LALDEF Executive Director Cecy Jiminez-Weeast in a January letter to LALDEF supporters. “They have questions, fears, and uncertainties regarding changes in United States immigration policies and procedures. And those changes are happening quickly.”

Jimenez-Weeast also focused on LALDEF’s role in helping recent immigrants to know their rights and understanding their options and responsibilities. “We are experiencing a significant influx of new inquiries, and we anticipate that demand will continue to increase in the weeks and months to come,” she wrote. “We expect this rapidly changing and highly politicized landscape to challenge us in ways we have not experienced in the past.”

In a follow-up email JiminezWeeast noted, “LALDEF is taking every measure possible to provide clarity, support, and assistance to those left most vulnerable. Local partners, including schools, law enforcement, and community organizations, have relied upon our services for many years, and they are calling upon us now to continue this crucial work throughout our community.”

In concluding her letter, Jiminez-Weeast highlighted LALDEF’s continuing work and goals. “We will continue to promote the rights of all immigrants, facilitate access to health care, education, and legal representation; advocate for the integration of immigrants; and foster intercultural communication because we know our impact is life-changing. And we know we only succeed by working together,” she wrote.

—Donald Gilpin

BANKERS HELPING FOOD BANKS: Over 100 volunteers from New Jersey banks participated in NJBankers “Day of Love & Compassion” to combat food insecurity on February 14. They donated their time to several food banks across the state including the Community FoodBank

NJ Bankers Celebrate “Love and

On February 14, more than 100 volunteers from the New Jersey Bankers Association (NJBankers) and local New Jersey banks came together to support local food banks and combat food insecurity with a “Day of Love and Compassion.”

Organized by NJBankers, volunteers from Blue Foundry Bank, Columbia Bank, Flagstar Bank, First Bank, Kearny Bank, Manasquan Bank, OceanFirst Bank, Spencer Savings Bank, and Valley Bank participated in a day of service at food banks across the state.

This effort is part of NJBankers’ pledge to donate one million meals to fight hunger in New Jersey. To date, NJBankers and its members have donated nearly 900,000 meals.

“To see the New Jersey banking community unite in support of a cause that impacts so many families in our state is both inspiring and an honor,” said Mike Affuso, president and CEO of NJBankers.

“Through the One Million Meals campaign, NJBankers is making a real difference in the lives of so many New Jersey residents,” said Elizabeth McCarthy, president & CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. “We at CFBNJ are grateful for their dedication, generosity, and volunteer spirit — especially on NJBankers’ Day of Love and Compassion.”

Founded over 118 years ago, the New Jersey Bankers Association is a trade association representing 65 banks and 200 service providers.

Police Blotter

On February 14, at 11:22 p.m., a Wittmer Court resident reported reviewing security footage from his surveillance cameras that showed an unknown person entering his unsecured vehicle on February 14 at approximately 4:19 a.m. The suspect rummaged through the center console and glove box for several seconds before exiting the vehicle, and then proceeded to the rear of the residence, attempted to open a secured door, and looked into a window before returning to the front yard and leaving the area. No items were stolen or damaged, and the residence was not entered. There are no suspects at this time.

On February 14, at 10:06 a.m., patrols responded to a residence on South Stanworth Drive and met with an individual who reported criminal mischief to her vehicle. The on-scene investigation revealed that the rear tires of the vehicle were damaged by an unknown person or persons. Furthermore, the on-scene investigation determined that another vehicle that was parked alongside it sustained the same damage,

believed to have been conducted by the same person or persons, according to the police report. There are no suspects at this time.

On February 14, at 7:24 a.m., patrols were dispatched to a residence on Herrontown Road on the report of a residential burglary reported by the resident. The investigation revealed that on February 14, between 4:33 and 5:23 a.m., two unknown suspects attempted to gain access to the resident’s vehicles, but were unsuccessful. The suspects proceeded to unlawfully enter the garage of the residence by forcing entry through a window, causing damage to the window in the process. Upon entering the garage, the suspects appeared to have rummaged through various areas but the resident reported that nothing was stolen.

On February 13, at 8:22 p.m., a Foulet Drive resident reported that an unknown individual purporting to be a PNC Bank Fraud Department representative advised her to deposit a total of $40,800 into a Bitcoin ATM Machine for outstanding charges to her PNC Bank account. After depositing the last transaction, she determined that she was involved in a scam. There are no suspects at this time.

Noting That Westminster Campus is Still Home to Several Performing Arts Groups

To the Editor:

In your Feb 12 article on the town’s plan to hire a con sulting firm to advise on the best uses of the former West minster Choir College campus [page 1], you included the sentence, “The Princeton campus has been mostly unoc cupied since then.”

Actually, the campus has been — and still is — home to several local performing arts organizations that rent vari ous facilities on the campus. These include the Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra, Princeton Pro Musica Choir, Music Together, and the Westminster Conservatory, which provides private music lessons to adults and youth from around Mercer County.

In addition, several other organizations (both from the area and those visiting from afar; last June, a traveling choir from Montreal performed there) have often used Bristol Chapel and other spaces for periodic performances.

These organizations rely on the spaces on campus for their flexibility, access to easy and available parking, and affordability. And, in many ways, they further the original intent of the campus, promoting music and artistic excel lence while fostering community engagement in the arts.

We are thrilled that the town is taking steps to rehabili tate the campus for the community; we sincerely hope they will take the current users’ needs into account while curing Westminster’s future as a beacon of creativity and culture for generations to come.

LORRAINE GOODMAN Elm Ridge Road

Books

Rina

Bliss Addresses Untangling Science, Genetics, and Society at Labyrinth Event

Sociologist Rina Bliss will join Alondra Nelson of the Institute for Advanced Study to discuss Bliss’ book, What’s Real About Race: Untangling Science, Genetics, and Society, on Thursday, February 27 at 6 p.m. at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street.

The book is “a paradigmshifting tour of genetics and

profound ways. What is the true relationship between genetics and race? And how should we talk about identity in science and medicine?”

In What’s Real About Race? (W. W. Norton & Company, $24), Bliss illuminates the truth about one of the most misunderstood, controversial concepts in our society and reveals why we

and society, warping our understanding of complex topics like intelligence, disease susceptibility, and behavior. Along the way, the book busts enduring myths about IQ, ancestry tests, behavioral racism, and more. In explorations of gene research, medicine, and social justice, Bliss argues for a new way forward. To create equity in science and society, we must disentangle our understanding of genetics from identity and see race for what it really is: a purely social category.

Bliss is the award-winning author of Rethinking Intelligence, Race Decoded, and Social by Nature and an associate professor of sociology at Rutgers University.

Nelson, known for her work in the fields of science, technology, social inequality, and race, is the author of The Social Life of DNA: Race, Reparations, and Reconciliation after the Genome and Body and Soul: The Black Panther Party and the Fight Against Medical Discrimination Nelson has joined Princeton University’s Sociology Department as a regular visiting lecturer with the rank of professor at the same time that she assumes the Harold F. Linder Chair in the School of Social Science at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.

Annual Bryn Mawr-Wellesley Book Sale March 12-16

The 94th annual Bryn Mawr-Wellesley Book Sale is March 12-16 at Stuart Country Day School, 1200 Stuart Road, with more than 60,000 books in excellent condition, sorted into categories from anthropology to world history.

Hours are Wednesday,

Most hardbacks will be priced at $4. Kids’ books start at $1. Three special collections are featured this year from the estates of local scholars in Native American studies, British art, and archaeology. Buyers will find books from the estate of Alfred Bush, an editor of the papers of Thomas Jefferson and longtime curator of Western and Native American materials at the Princeton University Library. There are also volumes from the estate of Bryn Mawr graduate Susan Auth, a classical archaeologist and Newark Museum curator, and from the private collection from the estate of Susan Casteras, professor emeritus of art at the University of Washington (Seattle), an expert on British art, especially Victorian and pre-Raphaelitism.

Exceptional books this year include an original 1894 “Peacock” edition of Pride and Prejudice, with a celebrated example of late Victorian pictorial covers. Also on offer is an original 1704 edition in excellent condition of the Index Librorum Prohibitorum, or Index of Forbidden Books. These volumes were considered heretical at the time by the Catholic Church.

Buyers will find plenty of art books, including a book on Maxfield Parrish and a Dictionary of Artist’s Models, which includes brief biographies of 200 artists’ models from the Renaissance to the present.

Admission on the first day is $32. All other days are free. The book sale raises college scholarships for local students. Tickets may be purchased on the Annual Sale page at bmandwbooks.com or at the door.

JUNCTION BARBER SHOP

33 Princeton-Hightstown Rd Ellsworth’s Center (Near Train Station)

799-8554

Tues-Fri: 10am-6pm; Sat 8:30am-3:30pm

Adam Ratner and Sam Wang to Discuss “Booster Shots: The Urgent Lessons of Measles”

Pediatrician and infectious disease specialist Adam Ratner will join in conversation with Sam Wang, professor of neuroscience, on Monday, February 24 at 6 p.m. at the Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. The event is co-presented by the library and Labyrinth Books.

The topic is Ratner’s book, Booster Shots: The Urgent Lessons of Measles and the Uncertain Future of Children’s Health (Avery, $30). “Every single child diagnosed with measles

in today. Dr. Ratner brings together compelling stories from laboratory science and medical history with experiences from his own pediatric practice caring for children in epidemics from recent measles outbreaks to COVID-19.”

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Ratner is a professor of pediatrics and microbiology at New York University Grossman School of Medicine and the director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital and Bellevue Hospital Center. In addition to practicing medicine, Ratner directs an active research group and teaches students, residents, and other trainees. He speaks widely in both academic settings and news outlets on topics relevant to vaccination and infections in childhood. His work has appeared in The New England Journal of Medicine, PNAS, Pediatrics, and other venues. He edits a major textbook of pediatric infectious diseases, has chaired grant review panels for the National Institutes of Health, and serves on numerous advisory and editorial boards. Wang is a professor of neuroscience at Princeton University and has more than three decades of experience translating data and science into knowledge and practical action. With degrees in physics and neuroscience, Wang’s laboratory research focuses on how the brain learns from birth to adulthood. He is the author of two award-winning books about the brain, which have been translated into over 20 languages. He also does research on national and local elections, on subjects ranging from gerrymandering to ranked-choice voting, and serves as the founding director of the Electoral Innovation Lab, whose mission is to build a practical science of democracy repair.

Matters of Life, Love, and Death with Keats, Dickinson, and Wardell Gray

I see life in nothing but the certainty of your Love...

W—John Keats to Fanny Brawne, May 1820

hen John Keats wrote about life and love to Fanny Brawne, he had less than a year to live. In a letter from Rome on November 30, 1820, his last, he told his friend Charles Brown, “There is one thought enough to kill me; I have been well, healthy, alert, &c., walking with her, and now — the knowledge of contrast, feeling for light and shade, all that information (primitive sense) necessary for a poem, are great enemies to the recovery of my stomach.”

Decades before eavesdropping on Keats, I was reading about the doomed romance of Abraham Lincoln and Ann Rutledge in a “young adult” biography. Curious to see how John Ford handled the story, I sampled his 1939 film Young Mr. Lincoln on YouTube and found that, thanks to Henry Fonda’s ungainly charm, Ford manages to suggest a romance without actually showing it.

Played by Pauline Moore, whose next picture was Charlie Chan in Rio, Ann has a basket full of flowers, Abe sniffs one, takes the basket and carries it as they walk along the river talking, she telling him he’s going to be somebody important someday, he poking fun at the idea, until they come to a stop and he takes a good look at her and says, with the tone of quietly awestruck discovery unique to Henry Fonda, “You sure are pretty, Ann.” Uncomfortably pleased, she lowers her eyes, and says “Some people don’t like red hair.” He looks at her and says “I love red hair” with a subtle, tender emphasis on the verb, so you know he’s just told her he loves her even if he doesn’t know it yet, but she knows it, smiling, holding out her hand to him, as if she might fall into his arms. Instead, she takes back her basket, and walks off. As he throws a thoughtful stone into the river, the hesitantly romantic soundtrack becomes dark and stormy, the river turns to snow and ice, and next thing you know he’s kneeling at her grave, putting some flowers on it, talking to her, not like a lover but as a poet communing with his spirit muse.

Emily’s Valentine

first observed the moon!” and “Peter, put up the sunshine; / Patti, arrange the stars; / Tell Luna tea is waiting / And call your brother Mars.” Says the busy bee, “Mortality is fatal, Gentility is fine, Rascality heroic, Insolvency sublime!” Two stanzas later, “A coward will remain, Sir, / Until the fight is done,” when “an immortal hero will take his hat and run!” What sort of hero? Maybe a poet or a player? Nearing the end, it’s “Good bye, Sir, I am going; / My country calleth me.”

But what country? where’s she going? She’s writing, “In token of our friendship / Accept this ‘Bonnie Doon,’ / And when the hand that plucked it / Hath passed beyond the moon.” Before bidding him farewell, she adds, at 21: “The memory of my ashes / Will consolation be....”

Wardell Gray was born on the eve of Valentine’s Day, a romantic coincidence he shared with his wife, who was born on the same day, in the same year. In his last letter to her, he looked forward to a rendezvous in Las Vegas, where they had been married and where he had a gig coming up with Benny Carter’s big band. On opening night, May 25, 1955, he was missing; the next day his body was found in the desert; he was only 34. In the chapter devoted to Gray in Ten Modern Jazzmen (Cassell 1960), Michael James writes, “When he died the modern jazz scene lost a man whose powers of imagination and execution, impressive as they were, had always been at one with the infectious fervor of his art.”

Wardell Gray was buried in an unmarked grave until his daughter raised

Most likely there were no more playful valentines coming Howland’s way after Dickinson discovered he’d taken the liberty of publishing it. Although she apparently retracted the poem, the flights to come show that there was no retracting the poet who is “Inebriate of air,” a “debauchee of dew / Reeling, through endless summer days.” And after a line that sings like Shakespeare and swings like Wardell Gray: “When landlords turn the drunken bee / Out of the foxglove’s door,” this player, this poet “shall but drink the more!”

Father and Daughter

In February 1852, 21-year-old Emily Dickinson, who also had red hair, sent a 17-stanza valentine to William Howland, a tutor at Amherst College, who published it anonymously in the Springfield, Mass. Republican without her consent. Styling herself as “the busy bee,” she writes, “Three cheers, sir, for the gentleman / Who

A tall, thin, light-skinned Black man is standing in front of a mirror fingering his tenor sax while his little girl looks on and asks why he’s doing it without making any sounds. He explains that he’s practicing so he can play his best in a recording session with Charlie Parker.

more night to hold her close and share the mystery and hear her asking ‘Who made the moon?’” By the end the music matches the words so well that the question has taken on power and pathos well beyond a little girl’s naked wonderment.

“A Fly in the Milk-pot” Nelson’s song sends me back to Emily Dickinson’s spirited Valentine with its cheers “for he who made the moon,” and commands to “put up the sunshine” and “arrange the stars,” which sends me in turn to a verse infected with the same playful spirit that John Keats mailed to his brother George in America, dated September 17, 1819. Titled “A Party of Lovers,” the poem was eventually published in the New York World on June 25, 1827, six years after Keats’s death. I doubt that Emily Dickinson ever read it, but the “busy bee” of the valentine would surely relate to his lines about the “fly in the milk-pot — must he die / Circled by a humane society?” Not if the poet can help it, as, in effect, he “takes his spoon, inserts it, dips the handle, and lo! soon / The little straggler, sav’d from perils dark, / Across the teaboard draws a long wet mark.”

enough money to buy a stone embellished with a skillfully rendered tenor saxophone and several bars of music on either side of the word FATHER 1921-1955. And under that the words “Infinite Beginnings — Jazz Composer & Artist.”

“Who Made the Moon?”

My son and I recently listened to a Mississippi concert by the Little River Band, an Australian group he grew up with. Until that moment I’d never heard the song that begins when the singer songwriter Dwayne Nelson recalls the time his little girl asked him (“so sure that I would know”), “Who made the moon? who paints the sky? who hangs the stars and turns them on each night?”

Nelson comes back to the same questions three more times without being maudlin or precious, even though by the last time it’s obvious that the child who asked the questions is dead. Before he returns to the final verse, he’s sitting alone, searching the evening sky, wishing for “just one

I“Be With Me”

Given the timeless quality of the following letter-poem, it makes nonsensical sense that it turned up two weeks ahead of the February 27, 2025 New York Review of Books. As Christopher Benfey admits in his review of The Letters of Emily Dickinson (Belknap Press/Harvard University Press), this “perfect poem” is not included in The Letters , “despite its epistolary conceit”: Bee! I’m expecting you!

Was saying Yesterday To Somebody you know That you were due —

The Frogs got Home last Week — Are settled, and at work — Birds, mostly back — The Clover warm and thick — You’ll get my Letter by The seventeenth; Reply Or better, be with me — Yours, Fly.

’ve been looking for some equivalent to the feeling this beautifully imperfectly word music arouses in me. The first song that comes to mind is one of my son’s favorites, “The Loneliest of All Creatures in the Universe” by the Canadian group Klaatu.

—Stuart Mitchner

Performing Arts

A Night at the Opera at Princeton University Sinfonia Ruth Ochs conducts the Princeton University Sinfonia on Friday, February 21 at 7:30 p.m. in Richardson Auditorium on the Princeton University campus for “A Night at the Opera,” an evening of excerpts from operas by Bizet, Mozart, Rossini, Delibes, and RimskyKorsakov.

The concert will include Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Procession of the Nobles” from Mlada and “Dance of the Tumblers” from The Snow Maiden ; two selections by Bizet, a quintet from Carmen, as well as the famous duet “Au fond du temple saint” from The Pearl Fishers ; the “Flower Duet” from Delibes’ Lakmé , and the finale from Act 1 of Rossini’s The Italian Girl in Algiers. The program also features

new works by student composers Kasey Shao ’25 and Julia Young ’27, and Clara Conatser ’25 will play movements from Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 3. Singers from the University’s Glee Club Opera Scenes and the University Clarinet Ensemble will also perform. Tickets are $15 general admission/$5 students and are available at tickets.princeton.edu. For more information call (609) 258-4241 or visit music.princeton.edu.

Garden Theatre Holds Awards Watch Party

The Garden Theatre will be hosting its 7th annual Hollywood Awards Watch Party on Sunday, March 2. The second annual Red Carpet Reception will be held at the Nassau Inn before the ceremony.

The Watch Party will begin at 7 p.m., with doors

opening at 6:30 p.m. Bottomless popcorn and drinks are included with admission.

The Red Carpet Reception begins at 5:30 p.m. Guests will gather in the Palmer Room at the Nassau Inn and have light fare and drinks before strolling over to the Garden for the watch party, which is included with reception tickets.

Tickets for the Watch Party are $13.75 for general admission and $8.50 for members of the nonprofit Garden Theatre. Red Carpet Reception tickets are $50 for general admission and $40 for members.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. In addition to access to the Red Carpet Reception and reserved seating at the Watch Party, sponsors are recognized throughout the theater during the evening and, depending on

sponsorship level, for a period of time following the event.

Sponsors of this year’s Hollywood Awards Party include Jim McKinney, Locomotion, Geoffrey DiMeglio, Valerie Giguere & Michael Chung, and TigerLabs. The theater is at 160 Nassau Street. Visit princetongardentheatre.org/awardsparty for tickets.

Kelsey Theatre Hosts

Staged Reading of Musical Kelsey Theatre, on the West Windsor Campus of Mercer County Community College (MCCC), will host a one-night-only staged reading — complete with a nine-piece orchestra — of the new musical It’s Never Too Late, presented by Theater to Go on February 20 at 7:30 p.m.

East Windsor resident Lou DiPietro began writing this play at the age of 90 and now, at 94, is excited to share his work with an audience.

With music by Louis Josephson, the musical tells the story of the effect that a brief encounter between two former lovers has on the lives of seven people. Each character struggles to keep their life afloat as they deal with the twists and turns their lives have taken. The show encourages audiences to embrace change and find their true selves, regardless of their age or circumstances.

“I’m thrilled to bring this musical to life in such a dynamic way,” said DiPietro. “The themes of resilience and second chances resonate deeply with so many people, and I believe this event will inspire everyone who attends.”

DiPietro is the father of Joe DiPietro, best known for the musical Memphis, for which he won Tony Awards for Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score, and for writing the book and lyrics of the international hit musical I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.

Kelsey Theatre is on MCCC’s West Windsor Campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. Tickets are $10. Visit kelseytheatre.org.

Richardson Chamber Players Plan Ambitious Program

On Sunday, March 2 at 3 p.m. in Richardson Auditorium, the Princeton University Department of Music Performance faculty and undergraduate students comprising the Richardson Chamber Players will present “Serenade Meets Steampunk.”

The ambitious program pairs David Bruce’s whimsical 2010 piece Steampunk for Mixed Octet with the majesty and romance of Johannes Brahms Serenade No. 1, Op. 11, written in 1858.

“The Richardson Chamber Players often put together programs of lesser-heard works,” said Princeton University Concerts Director Marna Seltzer. “This is one such program, through which we look forward to celebrating the talents of our music department faculty and students.”

Performers are flutist Sarah Shin, oboist Yousun Chung, clarinetists Jo-Ann Sternberg and Dongkon Lee ’27, horn player Eric Reed, bassoonist Robert Wagner, violinists Erick Wyrick and

Melody Choi ’25, violist Jessica Thompson, cellist Clancy Newman, and bass player Jack Hill.

Tickets are $15 general/$5 sStudent and can be purchased online at puc. princeton.edu or by calling (609) 258-9220. in the world including The Met Opera, La Scala, and Vienna State Opera; as well as in concert on the stages of Carnegie Hall, Salzburg Festival, and The Kennedy Center. She is on the Board of Trustees of Carnegie Hall. State Theatre New Jersey is at 15 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick. Visit stnj.org.

International Opera Star Appears with Famed Guitarist

State Theatre New Jersey presents Isabel Leonard and Pablo Sáinz-Villegas In Recital on Sunday, March 2 at 3 p.m. Tickets range from $39-$79.

In October 2021, SainzVillegas was invited by Peter Gelb of The Metropolitan Opera to join forces, in part, with opera superstar Isabel Leonard in a worldwide broadcast live from Versailles. Following its success, the artists decided to work creatively to build out a special vocal guitar program for a limited-run tour in the United States, featuring popular arias and songs beloved around the world.

Sáinz-Villegas has performed with the Chicago Symphony, Berlin Philharmonic, and Los Angeles Philharmonic at Hollywood Bowl, among others. Leonard has sung leading roles in every major opera house

Upcoming Recital by Westminster Faculty

The Westminster Conservatory of Music will host an upcoming recital, that is free and open to the public.

On February 20 at 12:15 p.m., the Volanti Flute Quartet will perform as part of the series Westminster Conservatory at Nassau in the Niles Chapel of Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street.

Quartet members Jill Crawford, Ellen Fisher Deerberg, John Lane, and Katherine McClure will perform on piccolo, flute, alto flute, and bass flute. The program will include original flute music, Lullaby by Jennifer Higdon, Harmony in Blue and Gold by Eric Ewazen, and an arrangement for flutes of Debussy’s Arabesque No. 2 For more information, visit rider.edu/arts.

OPERA AND MORE: Ruth Ochs leads the Princeton University Sinfonia in a program of music from opera as well as works by student composers.

ONE NIGHT ONLY: Lou DiPietro, playwright, left, and Louis Josephson, composer, of the new musical “It’s Never Too Late,” which will be presented as a one-night-only staged reading at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 20, at the Kelsey Theatre.

VOCALIST AND GUITARIST: Guitarist Pablo Sáinz-Villegas will perform with mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard in recital at State Theatre New Jersey on March 2. (Photo by Lisa Mazzuco)

Music Journalist Elaine Strauss

To Be Honored with Concert

A memorial concert honoring music journalist Elaine Strauss will be presented by pianist Kairy Koshoeva and cellist Jordan Ensinger on Saturday, March 1 at 7 p.m. at Christ Church, 5 Paterson Street, in New Brunswick. Admission is free.

“I want to honor Elaine’s legacy and keep her spirit alive by sharing this with her fans and loved ones,” said Koshoeva. “Elaine Strauss was not just a dear friend to me; she was a kindred spirit who welcomed me into her home for many memorable concerts and gatherings. Her warmth and passion for music have left an indelible mark on my heart.”

A polymath, Strauss had several careers and began her journalism career at age 67, writing hundreds of articles for U.S.1 and Clavier magazine, mostly about music. An accomplished pianist, she was a student of Dorothy Taubman. She died on April 22, 2024 at the age of 95.

From an earlier concert that Strauss wrote about, Koshoeva and Ensinger will include two selections: Chopin’s Ballade No. 3 in A Flat Major and what Strauss described as the “notoriously formidable” half-hour-long Rachmaninoff Sonata for Cello and Piano in G Minor, Op. 19. Also on the program will be Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in e minor from Book II of the Well-Tempered Clavier, and a prelude by Ukrainian composer Sergei Bortkiewicz.

A Princeton resident, Ko shoeva teaches at The New School for Music Study in Kingston and offers

private piano lessons in the Princeton area. Born in Kyrgyzstan, Koshoeva has a doctoral degree from the University of Missouri, an Artist’s Diploma from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Gnessin Academy of Music in Moscow. Her awards include top prizes at the International Piano Competition in Vicenza, Italy and the N. Rubinstein Competition in Paris; the Gold Medal at the 2004 Rachmaninoff Awards in Moscow; and first prize at the Chautauqua Music Festival concerto competition in New York.

Ensinger, who is on the faculty at Seton Hall University, has bachelor’s and master’s degrees and a performance diploma from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and a doctoral degree from Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts.

Call (732) 545-6262 or email Kairy@PrincetonPianoLessons.com for more information.

Frampton On Stage

In New Brunswick State Theatre New Jersey presents Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy Award-winning guitarist, Peter Frampton in the “Let’s Do It Again! Tour” on Monday, April 7 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $80-$360. The upcoming performance arrives on the heels of a landmark 2024 for the musician, who, in addition to being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, played concerts at venues across

were unexpected by fans after the musician shared his diagnosis of the degenerative disease inclusion-body myositis.

Frampton is one of the most celebrated artists and guitarists in rock history. In 2007, he won a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album for Fingerprints , and in 2014 was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame. He received the prestigious Les Paul Innovation Award at NAMM’s TEC Awards in 2019, and most recently received the 2024 Les Paul Spirit Award at the Gibson Garage Nashville. Last fall, the iconic guitarist was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

In 2023, Frampton unveiled Frampton@50 on Intervention Records, a numbered limitededition vinyl box set featuring the 1972-1975 studio releases Wind of Change, Frampton’s Camel, and Frampton . He also received The Myositis Association’s Heroes in the Fight 2023 Patient Ambassador Award and unveiled his performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall as a live album via UMe.

In 2020, Frampton was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. His autobiography, Do You Feel Like I Do?: A Memoir , debuted on The New York Times Bestsellers list, and he appeared on Dolly Parton’s latest album, Rockstar, as the only artist featured on two tracks.

So Percussion Appears

With Princeton Symphony

Fresh from their 2025 Grammy win for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance, So Percussion will appear with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) at concerts the weekend of March 8-9 at Richardson Auditorium.

The ensemble will perform Viet Cuong’s concerto for percussion quartet, Re(new) al. Music Director Rossen Milanov conducts the program which includes Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 “Pastoral,” and Carlos Simon’s Four Black American Dances.

“I’m excited to perform with So Percussion as they are a fearless ensemble, musically gifted and always seeking to push artistic boundaries with new techniques and sound experimentation,” said Milanov.

So Percussion are celebrated for live performances which bring to life the percussion repertoire; for collaborations in classical music, pop, indie rock, contemporary dance, and theater; and for their work in education and community. Committed to the creation and amplification of new work, So’s collaborative composition partners include David Lang, Julia Wolfe, Nathalie Joachim, Dan Trueman, and Kendall K. Williams, among others.

This season, So and Caroline Shaw (as well as Ringdown, Shaw’s duo) perform a program highlighting their 2025 Grammy Awardwinning album, Rectangles and Circumstance , at East Coast venues and in Europe. So Percussion are Princeton University’s Edward T. Cone performers-in-residence.

Carlos Simon’s Four Black American Dances showcases dance styles with cultural significance to Black American communities, and Viet Cuong’s Re(new)al is inspired by the power of hydro, wind, and solar energies.

Sunday’s concert includes a 3 p.m. pre-concert talk hosted by Milanov. The talk is free to ticket holders with general seating in Richardson Auditorium.

Visit princetonsymphony. org or call (609) 497-0020 for tickets.

“Between Silence and Sin” Screening at Friend Center

On Thursday, February 20 from 5-8 p.m. at Princeton University’s Friend Center, the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination will present a screening of the documentary film Between Silence and Sin, followed by a Q&A with director Diana Nicolae.

This is the first screening of the film in the U.S. after appearing in film festivals throughout Europe, including taking part in the Princess of Asturias Awards ceremonies presided by the Spanish royal family.

The documentary is about Romanian poet and activist Ana Blandiana, a symbol in the fight for democracy and freedom of speech, values that are again under threat around the world. She is a legendary figure in Romanian culture, comparable to Anna Akhmatova or Vaclav Havel.

Blaniana has been called one of Europe’s greatest living poets, and has published dozens of books of poetry and prose, which have been translated into 24 languages around the world. Among

her many awards are the European Poet of Freedom Prize, the Griffin Trust’s Lifetime Recognition Award, the Gottfried von Herder Prize from the Austrian Academy, and the Légion d’Honneur from France. In 2024, she received the Princess of Asturias Award.

The documentary delves into Blandiana’s decadeslong career in the context of one of the world’s most brutal dictatorships, where poetry represented the “last molecules of freedom” and poets that dared to speak the truth became icons — as well as targets. As authoritarian governments wrestle for control throughout the world, in countries long considered to be bulwarks of democracy and free speech, Between Silence and Sin explores the power of the word as the last bastion of a nation’s collective soul in the face of oppression.

Nicolae, who produces and directs the film, is a native of Romania who began her career in media working as a TV news reporter in the post-Communist era, prior to working as a writer for BBC Radio and Radio Romania on the first dramatic series inspired by the country in transition to democracy. She is a professor of documentary and television at Rowan University.

Additional speakers at the event will be Margaret Beissinger, research scholar and lecturer at Princeton University’s Department of Slavic Languages and Literature; and Nadia Crisan, executive director of the Liechtenstein Institute.

RSVP is required to attend. Visit lisd.princeton.edu.

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

IN MEMORY: Pianist Kairy Koshoeva and cellist Jordan Ensinger will play works by Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and Bach in a concert in New Brunswick.

HALL OF FAMER: Peter Frampton, recently inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, comes to State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick on April 7.

NEW EXHIBITION IN MILBERG GALLERY: “The Most Formidable Weapon Against Errors: The Sid Lapidus ’59 Collection & the Age of Reason,” which celebrates the collecting achievements of Sid Lapidus, Class of 1959, is on view in the Milberg Gallery at Firestone Library, Princeton University, through June 8. Members of the public are welcome to visit the exhibition between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays, and between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, visit library.princeton.edu/lapidus2025. (Photo by Brandon Johnson)

Grounds For Sculpture Joins

Digital Accelerator Program

Grounds For Sculpture (GFS) in Hamilton recently announced that it has been selected to join the Bloomberg Philanthropies Digital Accelerator Program. This initiative helps cultural organizations across the U.S. and U.K. to strengthen technology and management practices to improve operations, drive revenue, increase fundraising, engage broader audiences, and deliver dynamic programming.

The award of up to $200,000 will enable Faith McClellan, GFS’ director of collections and exhibitions, to participate in the program as a Bloomberg fellow. As a fellow, she will collaborate with a consultant from Lapine Group to make digital upgrades to the management of the art collection. Investing in these upgrades will improve the internal efficiency of the collection’s management and enhance public access to information about the collection’s art and artists.

“I’m delighted GFS was selected to participate in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Digital Accelerator Program,” said McClellan, “As a Bloomberg Fellow, I look forward to developing and implementing new tools to help our curatorial team manage our extensive collection and to providing more people with access to information about our dynamic contemporary art collection.”

Over the past three years, the Digital Accelerator

THE STRUCTURE OF ACADEMIC

Program has been a catalyst for strengthening nearly 150 cultural organizations across the U.S. and U.K. To date, the 40 institutions that were part of the first cohort cumulatively grew an additional $20 million in new revenue including through fundraising, reached over 1 million new audience members, and engaged more than 4,000 new artists and partners.

Grounds For Sculpture is one of 200 nonprofit cultural organizations accepted into Bloomberg Philanthropies’ new Digital Accelerator Program cohort, spanning artistic disciplines and organization sizes across 52 U.S. cities and 28 U.K. cities.

Grounds For Sculpture is at 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, for more information, visit groundsforsculpture.org.

Einstein Museum Hosts Event at PPL on March 15

Albert Einstein was born 146 years ago on Pi Day, 3.14 (March 14), and celebrating the number and the man helps get kids excited about STEM topics.

The nascent Princeton Einstein Museum of Science will offer a variety of free hands-on activities related to Einstein’s scientific legacy on March 15 at the Princeton Public Library from 2-4 pm. They are suitable for ages 5-10.

Children can talk to Silvia Trinczek, a scientist from Princeton Plasma Physics Lab, to receive a free compass or space tattoo, while supplies last. Ask her your most probing physics question, or if you are not sure what to ask, choose one from the museum’s suggestions including “Why is the sky blue?” and “What’s inside a black hole?”

Then try a prototype “thought experiment,” which will be featured in the museum’s 2025 exhibit, “Einstein’s Brain: Mind of a Genius.” Children can also play with magnetism activities and take home worksheets on the speed of light and do-at-home magnetism experiments.

For

Area Exhibits

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

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

Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, has “Exploring, Expanding the Connections: The Work of Ben Jones” and “Intuitive Nature: Karen Schoenitz” through February 22. Artscouncilofprinceton.org.

D&R Greenway Johnson Education Center, 1 Preservation Place, has “When the Land Calls” through February 28 in the Marie L. Matthews Gallery. drgreenway.org.

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

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

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

Grounds For Sculpture, 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, has “Members’ Musings: Light as Material” through February 23, among other exhibits. Groundsforsculpture.org.

Historical Society of Princeton, Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, has “Princeton Reflected: Stories from HSP’s Collection” and “Einstein Salon and Innovator’s Gallery.” Museum hours are Thursday

through Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m. Princetonhistory.org

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

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

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

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

The Nassau Club, 6 Mercer Street, has “Held Together” through June 5. An opening reception is on February 16 from 3 to 5 p.m. Catherinejmartzloff.com.

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

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

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

West Windsor Arts, 952 Alexander Road, West Windsor, has “Manifesting Beloved Community” through March 1. Westwindsorarts.org.

Director: Jan-Werner Müller

KULETE AND THE LAST CUB: This photograph by Rebecca DePorte is part of the “Members Exhibition” on view at Gallery 14 Fine Art Photography, 14 Mercer Street, Hopewell, through March 2.

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

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

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

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

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

Our Hospice Team consists of:

• Hospice Medical Director, a board-certified hospice physician

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

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

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

• Spiritual Counselors providing emotional support and personal counseling

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

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

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

Kids’ Gymnastics STEAM Camps

Kids’

Gymnastics STEAM

Camps

Keep children’s bodies moving and brains buzzing during summer vacations and school breaks. Gym time and gym games, STEAM activities, Arts & Crafts.

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SUMMER CAMP NEAR

Apple Montessori Schools summer camp offers the perfect blend of fun and learning! Camp at Apple balances traditional summer activities with Montessori academic instruction. This summer, Apple will be exploring eight weeks of animals past, present, and legendary with our One Wild Summer weekly themes! Campers will participate in hands-on STEAM activities, drama, music, art, sports, special events, and field trips, plus daily swim lessons with Red Cross certified instructors in our saltwater pool.

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Email: info@steamworksstudio.com

Address: 135 Village Blvd, 08540

Click to register NOW! EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT: SUMMER25

e Princeton National Rowing Association

e Princeton National Rowing Association & Mercer Rowing present:

Open to: Girls and Boys, 7th-12th Grade

Open to: Girls and Boys, 7th-12th Grade (Adult Learn To Row Programs also available)

Session 1: June 23-27 Session 3: July 7-11

Session 2: June 30-July 4 Session 4: July 14-18

Session 1: June 23-27 Session 3: July 7-11

Session 2: June 30-July 4 Session 4: July 14-18 Session 5: July 21-25

Session 5: July 21-25

Caspersen Rowing Center Mercer Lake, West Windsor, NJ.

Caspersen Rowing Center

Mercer Lake, West Windsor, NJ.

For more information and to register: www.rowpnra.org/mercer-rowing/summer-camps email epaxton@rowpnra.org or call 609-799-7100 x3

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Bilingual Music Classes with Music Together con Español Curriculum

Bilingual Cooking Classes with In-House Chef

Art Classes with the Arts Council of Princeton

Local Princeton Walking Trips and Engaging Field Trips

Storytimes with Princeton Public Library Children’s Librarian

GUIDE Town Topics

Phillips’ Mill Honors Area Student Playwrights

Phillips’ Mill Community Association in New Hope, Pa., will honor seven area students, winners of the Play With Words Student Playwriting Challenge, when their short plays are presented on the historic Phillips’ Mill stage on March 1 at 3 p.m. The plays will be performed in a staged reading by the Phillips’ Mill Players with student playwrights in attendance and participating in a lively audience/ playwright Q&A following the readings. This event is free with registration available on the Phillips’ Mill website.

The student playwrights represent grades 7 through 11 from six area schools: Emma Boerner (“I Promise We Can”) of Princeton Day School; Corinne Brintnall ( “Beyond the Stars” ) of Tohickon Middle School; Charley Mahar (“Aliens and Earthworms ” ) of Tamanend Middle School; Saskia Cooper ( “ Vampire Hunter ” ) from The Pennington School; Josilyn Hill ( “ Survival of the Fittest ” ) from Unami Middle School; and Avigail Wus ( “ Revelations at the Farmers Market ” ) of Pennsbury High School.

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“We are thrilled that three of these students were among last year’s winners,” said Fran Ferrone, coordinator of the Play With Words program at Phillips’ Mill. Now in its third year, Play With Words is an annual, juried event created to offer students the opportunity to express their unique voice through the art of playwriting, and to experience the reaction of a live audience to their work. With so many options for students interested in performing on stage, Play With Words is an unparalleled opportunity for students looking to write material for the stage. Students also receive a $100 prize and a written commentary on their play from a published playwright.

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Last year’s event was a standing-room-only sellout. People interested in attending are encouraged to reserve a spot in advance by registering on the Phillips’ Mill website at www.phillipsmill.org.

TOMAT O PATCH 2025

Full-day Theater, Dance, Vocal Music, Visual Art, and Video summer programs in two sessions:

Session 1 - $1,175: Grades 8-12 minimum age 13 June 30 - July 24 — Monday through Friday (no class July 4)

Session 2 - $1,100: Grades 4-7 minimum age 10 July 28 - August 14 — Monday through Friday (no class July 4)

Tomato Patch Master Class in Acting: Grades 9-12 full-day theater intensive programs in two sessions:

Session 1: June 30 - July 25 — Monday through Friday (no class July 4)

Session 2: July 28 - August 15 — Monday through Friday

Saturday morning creative theater workshops exploring creativity, movement, improvisation, and all the fun elements of live theater and more September through May. For ages 4 to 12

CLASSES START IN SEPTEMBER 2025 – SIGN UP NOW! or projects@mccc.edu for questions.

Savor the Flavor of the New Kasia Market, Offering a Full Array of Korean Specialties

To say it is just a Korean market is an understatement! They have their own hydroponic vegetable plantings, displayed in the front of the store. They are all about the freshest and best foods — fresh fish and meat, both familiar and exotic vegetables, sushi bar, informal Kasia Kitchen food bar and Hungry Tiger restaurant. Super Korean fried chicken, bubble tea, as well as a special line of Korean skincare. This is a special place!”

IT’S NEW To Us

This high praise is from a Princeton resident, whose first visit to Kasia Market was a big success.

Located in Pike Run Plaza, 2311 Route 206 North in Belle Mead, Kasia Market opened in December. Owed by Montgomery Township resident Dennis Ahn, it reflects his vision of offering the freshest, healthiest food, supporting an eco-friendly environment, and creating a welcoming atmosphere for both staff and customers.

“I have a vision of what I want to offer customers and what I want the market to be,” he explains. “I am grateful to be able to share that vision with my staff and customers. I really want to do something good for people’s health. Our food is very healthy, always fresh, and high quality.”

Korean Heritage

Born in the U.S. and having grown up in New Jersey, he is no stranger to American tastes and choices, but with his Korean heritage, he also wanted to introduce customers to the flavors of authentic Korean food and cuisine.

“My in-laws have two Korean markets, and they have been mentors to me,” he adds.” Asian products are very healthy, really a healthier option for the community. I believe we are set apart by our Korean products, of course, and I also believe a business, in this case, a grocery store, should be community-based. I chose this location because

I live in town and am part of the community. It’s a mix of people here, and I think our market is the right fit for everyone.”

In addition, Ahn has a farm in Flemington, which he hopes will expand his overall operation, and also contribute to his vision of locally-sourced, healthy products, and a sustainable future.

“I am very focused on my farm, where I continue my vision of having near zero organic waste. Even our chicken bones go to the farm to make compost.

Next Generation

“We have 15,000 square feet of green house space, and with our hydroponics, in addition to lettuce, we’ll grow broccoli, cauliflower, strawberries, and other produce. When the farm is up and running, we will have many more hydroponic products.

“We believe that is going to be the future of farming. “With the increase in droughts, flooding, and severe storms, there has to be a means to give the next generation of farmers a way to farm.

“My idea is that we can reach out to other nearby farms and let the community know about them and their products, helping to let people know where their food comes from,” he continues.

“I hope to teach secondgeneration farmers. If I can show another generation that this can work out and that stores like ours and ShopRite and others will use products from local farms and that something like this can work, we could have more younger people becoming farmers, and save a lot of farms from being sold. I see so many farms in the area being sold. If we can create a program that is profitable, then we can show the next generation that farming can work for them.”

Ahn’s emphasis on near zero waste is also evidenced in the market. Three bins are prominently displayed. One is for recycling, another is for organic waste, and the third for trash.

“The goal is to bring the organic waste back to the farm,” he explains. “We can create compost with that.”

Important Plans

With these important plans for the future, Ahn is very focused on offering customers the best products he can find in his market. Spacious, exceptionally clean, and attractive, Kasia Market offers aisle after aisle of choices. And it also provides a congenial shopping experience with its decor and displays, including colorful Asian lanterns hovering above the neatly organized and well-marked products.

An abundant selection of fresh fish is highlighted with live lobster, tilapia, and striped bass featured. Also included is a big assortment of fresh, but not alive, rainbow trout, fluke, and sea bass, as well as shrimp, clam, crab choices, and much more.

The freshly butchered meat section offers grass fed beef, and specially processed halal meat is also available.

“The meat can be cut to order, so you get just the cut and the amount you want,” points out Ahn. “Also, our dairy section includes a variety of choices, such as those for people with lactose intolerance. We have the very healthy organic A2 milk form the Alexandre Company in California. It is certified regenerative milk.”

Produce includes vegetables from all over, such as Korean specialties, and even special pandan from the Philippines, as well as locally-sourced fruits and vegetables.

Juices of all kinds, cider, jams, jellies, honey, sauces, seaweed snacks, cookies and crackers, frozen food, kitchen and cooking products and supplies — the list goes on. Everything you would expect in a grocery store —and more, as the Korean and Asian fusion focus is key.

Eat-In, Take-Out

“We are also including a number of Indian specialties,” reports Ahn. ‘We have a variety of choices, so now Indian residents can shop right here too.”

The eat-in and take-out dining options are a real favorite with customers. Whether they are looking for sushi or the very popular Korean fried chicken (in a unique glaze with chili

oil), the Sushi Station, Kasia Kitchen, and The Hungry Tiger offer an array of favorites. Two freshly made soups are available every day, as are kimbap, kimchi, dalgona, corn-based bubble teas in many flavors, homemade Ube banana pudding, and the highly sought-after bingsu shaved ice dessert, Catering is also available, and this will be an increasing part of the business, notes Ahn. “We think we have something very special to offer, and our customers agree.”

Another specialty at Kasia is its full line of Navia Korean cosmetics and skincare.

“These are very popular with customers,” he says. “Korean cosmetics have very strong restrictions on ingredients. Fewer chemicals are allowed, and they are healthier for the skin.”

203,000 Views

As he reflects on Kasia’s success in just a few months, Ahn is optimistic. “When you’re a startup business, the challenge is getting people to know about you, but we are very encouraged. We already have regulars, and new people are finding us all the time. Customers are all ages, including families and teens. Many are from Princeton and the area, but they are also from as far away as Staten Island and even Rhode Island. Some

people are often driving an hour or more for our food.

“One customer in Rhode Island actually made a video, saying how much she liked us. She especially loved the kimchi. We have been getting a lot of customers online. We have had 203,000 views on TikTok.”

Ahn is very encouraged with the response, and has also instituted a number of events and activities, such as demos, tastings, and also special sales. He is looking forward to offering cooking classes in the near future.”

As he looks ahead, despite the long hours and ongoing challenges, he knows that he is in the right place, at the right time. “I enjoy people. I enjoy our staff (with 87 on

board), including several chefs.

“I also very much enjoy our customers, talking with them, hearing their ideas, introducing them to our products, and finding special items for them. And always, I want the store to be comfortable and welcoming for everyone. We work hard for it to be the best it can be.”

Kasia Market is open Sunday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

or further information, call (908) 576-3804. Visit the website at kasiamarket.com.

—Jean Stratton

HYDROPONIC GARDEN: “With our hydroponic garden, we grow leafy greens, and will have other vegetables, herbs, and fruit like strawberries,” says Dennis Ahn, owner of the new Korean Kasia Market. Shown is the hydroponic garden, which is located in the front of the market. The hydroponic method of growing plants uses a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil. “When we grow our own produce, we minimize the carbon footprint, and with hydroponics, there are no pesticides used,” he adds.

CUTTING THE RIBBON: Community officials, customers, and market staff members all attended the ribbon cutting celebrating Kasia Market’s opening in Pike Run Plaza, Route 206 in Belle Mead last December. Featuring a wide range of authentic Korean food, a big selection of fresh fish, meat, and produce, the market also has a sushi bar, Kasia Kitchen hot bar, and The Hungry Tiger restaurant, all on the premises.

FEBRUARY

Town Topics | Mark Your Calendar

Wednesday, February 19

1-2:30 p.m.: Leighton Listens. Councilman Leighton Newlin is available to discuss issues impacting Princeton with members of the public at Say Cheese, 183D Nassau Street.

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

6:30-7:30 p.m.: Gallery Tour at Morven Museum and Garden, 55 Stockton Street: “Inclusive History Updates to Morven’s Permanent Exhibition.” Free. Morven.org.

7 p.m.: “The Tuskegee Airmen: America’s First Black Pilots,” virtual presentation by professor/historian Paul E. Zigo, sponsored by the Lawrence Headquarters Branch of Mercer County Library System. Mcl.org.

Thursday, February 20

10 a.m.: Meeting of the 55-Plus Club of Princeton via Zoom. Agnieszka Markiewicz will speak on “The Situation in Ukraine and Eastern Europe. Free ($5 suggested donation). Princetonol.com/groups/55plus.

12-1 p.m.: Lunchtime Gallery Series with Ralph E. Hunter, founder of the African American Heritage

Museum of Southern Jersey, at West Windsor Arts, 952 Alexander Road. Free for members; $10 others. Westwindsorarts.org.

5-8 p.m.: Screening of Between Silence and Sin at Friend Center, Room 101, Princeton University. Free. Followed by Q&A with director Diana Nicolae. RSVP is required to attend. Visit lisd.princeton.edu.

6:30 p.m.: Amateur historian Richard Moody speaks about New Jersey slavery and the Underground Railroad at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch of Mercer County Library System, 2751 Brunswick Avenue. Mcl.org .

7:30 p.m.: Theater to Go presents It’s Never Too Late at Kelsey Theatre, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. $10. Kelseytheatre.org.

7:30 p.m.: Farmer and educator Tomia MacQueen speaks on preservation, conservation, and community-building at the annual meeting of Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands, D&R Canal State Park headquarters, 145 Mapleton Road, Kingston. Free. Fpnl.org.

8:30 p.m.: “Momentum,” dance works by Princeton University seniors Tierra Lewis and Sophie

Main, at Hearst Dance Theater, Lewis Arts complex. Free. Arts.princeton.edu.

Friday, February 21

5:30 p.m.: IAS Community Stargazing, at Wolfensohn Hall, Institute for Advanced Study. Astrophysicist Lia Medeiros lectures, followed by stargazing on the South Lawn using telescopes. Registration link at ias.edu.

7-8:30 p.m.: Art of Indian Music with Rashika Ranchan at West Windsor Arts Council, 952 Alexander Road. $10 members; $12 others. Westwindsorarts.org.

7:30 p.m.: Sinfonia: A Night at the Opera , at Richardson Auditorium. Princeton University ensemble conducted by Ruth Ochs. $15 (students $5). Arts.princeton.edu.

7:30 p.m.: The Czech National Symphony Orchestra performs at McCarter Theatre, 91 University Place. Steven Mercurio conducts works by Mendelssohn, Dvorak, and Vorisek. Mccarter.org.

8 p.m.: Chris Smither, folk/blues singer/songwriter, performs at Christ Congregation Church, 50 Walnut Lane. Presented by the Princeton Folk Music Society. $25 ($20 members). Princetonfolk.org.

8 p.m.: The play Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner is at Kelsey Theatre, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. $20-$22. Kelsey. mccc.edu.

Saturday, February 22

10 a.m.: Read and Explore: Fur, Feathers, Fluff: Keeping Warm in Winter. At Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Read two stories about animals and make a paper bag animal to take home. $12 per child. Terhuneorchards.com.

10 a.m.-12 p.m.: Winter Nature Walk at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve, 57 Mountain Avenue. With the stewardship team from Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS). Register at Fopos.org/events-programs.

10 a.m.: The Princess and the Frog is screened at the Garden Theatre, 160 Nassau Street. $5 (free for members). Princetongardentheatre.org/family

10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Rockingham Historic Site offers its annual Washington’s Birthday tours Washington trivia and refreshments. Reservations are required at (609) 6837132. More information at rockingham.net.

part series, for all ages. Princetonlibrary.org.

2 and 7:30 p.m.: New Jersey Ballet performs works by Balanchine, Robbins, and Martins at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. Nbpac.org.

3 p.m.: Arnie Tanimoto, Princeton University faculty member, performs works for viola da gamba and Baroque cello at McAlpin Rehearsal Hall, Woolworth Center. Free. Arts.princeton.edu.

8 p.m.: The play Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner is at Kelsey Theatre, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. $20-$22. Kelsey. mccc.edu.

Sunday, February 23

12-5 p.m.: Wine and Chocolate Weekend at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Wine, light bites, hot cocoa kits, and music from 1-4 p.m. by Greg McGarvey. Terhuneorchards.com.

2 p.m.: The play Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner is at Kelsey Theatre, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. $20-$22. Kelsey. mccc.edu.

of Measles and the Uncertain Future of Children’s Health, at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org

Tuesday, February 25

8-10 a.m.: A Candid Conversation with Lloyd Freeman, chief diversity and inclusion officer at Buchanan, at Penn Medicine Education Center, 1 Plainsboro Road. Presented by the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber. Princetonchamber.org.

6 p.m.: National Book Award finalist and Princeton University graduate Monica Youn reads from her work at the Wallace Theater, Lewis Arts complex on the campus. Free. Arts. princeton.edu.

8 p.m.: Princeton Sound Kitchen presents Modern Medieval Voices vocal trio, with new works by Princeton University graduate student composers. At Taplin Auditorium, Fine Hall. Free. Arts.princeton.edu.

Wednesday, February 26

10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Maple Sugaring at Howell Living History Farm, 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township. Help farmers collect sap, make syrup, and taste pancakes. Howellfarm.org.

3 p.m.: Westminster Community Orchestra performs “Winterlude” in the Cullen Center, Westminster campus, Walnut Lane. Ruth Ochs conducts works by Brahms, Borodin, Haydn, and Bach. $10 admission suggested. Rider.edu.

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

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

Thursday, February 27

12-5 p.m.: Wine and Chocolate Weekend at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Wine, light bites, hot cocoa kits, and music from 1-4 p.m. by Mike Tusay. Terhuneorchards.com.

3 p.m.: Princeton University Glee Club performs Misa Criolla by Ariel Ramirez with orchestra and soloists at Richardson Auditorium. $15 (students $5). Arts.princeton.edu.

1:30 p.m.: New School for Music Study Lecture Recitals , at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Pianists from the faculty present a three-

Starting February 21st

Nickel Boys

Oscar-Nominated

3-6 p.m.: Rays of Hope: Living Black Museum at the Arts Council of Princeton. 102 Witherspoon Street. Interactive exhibits highlighting the contributions of Black individuals throughout history, with a spotlight on local youth talent. Artscouncilofprinceton.org.

4 p.m.: Author Melissa Caughey, an expert on chicken behavior, discusses her book How to Read a Chicken’s Mind , via Zoom. Presented by Princeton Public Library. Princetonlibrary.org.

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

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

Monday 2/24

David Lynch Tribute

Sunday 3/2

Hollywood Awards Party

5:30 p.m.: Princeton Electronic Music Festival : Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of PLOrk. At Lee Rehearsal Room, Lewis Arts Complex, Princeton University. Free. Arts. princeton.edu.

Monday, February 24

Recycling

6 p.m.: Author and pediatrician Adam Ratner and Sam Wang discuss Ratner’s book Booster Shots: The Urgent Lessons

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

Friday, February 28

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

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

S ports

Producing Historic Debut for PU Men’s Lacrosse, Croddick Makes 21 Saves as Tigers Edge Penn State

Ryan Croddick’s recordsetting performance in the season opener last Saturday answered one of the biggest questions facing the Princeton University men’s lacrosse team.

The junior goalie made 21 saves in his first collegiate start last Saturday to help the No. 5 Tigers win their clash at No. 10 Penn State, 11-10, in overtime.

“It feels great,” said Croddick, whose 21-save effort set a program record for a first-time starter. “I think I lost a couple of years off my life during that game, but it was great. It was a big test early to start with a Big 10 opponent, which we haven’t done in a long time, but it was a great test to start the season and we came out with a win, so it was even better.”

In reflecting on his recordbreaking performance, Croddick had no idea how many saves he was piling up.

“I never really expected that many,” said Croddick, who was later named the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week. “I didn’t really know how many it was. I was just glad it went the way it did.”

Coming into Saturday, Penn State already had a pair of solid wins under their belt while Princeton had to wait for the first permitted day of Ivy League play, the third Saturday in February. The Tigers came in with plenty returning from last year’s Ivy League Tournament champions, but its most notable graduation loss was two-year starter in goal, Michael Gianforcaro. He led the Ivies in goals against average in each of the last two years, although he never had more than 20 saves in a game.

In stepped Croddick, who did a post-graduate year at The Hun School after graduating from Rumson-Fair Haven, and had a total of five saves in his first two years at

Princeton.

“I waited for two years on Mike Gianforcaro, who’s at UNC now, and was a great goalie,” said Croddick, a 6’3, 185-pound native of Rumson. “So when my time came, I wouldn’t say I was more nervous, just excited to finally get going and have my chance at the job.”

It had been a long wait for Croddick, who tried to make the most of his first two years so he was prepared for this year.

“I think my freshman year was more difficult, just adjusting to school, adjusting to not playing,” said Croddick. “That was definitely a big thing for me. And then last year I just really took a step back and just sat there and just tried to learn and be patient and really work on my lacrosse game and then also my mental game so that when I finally got the chance to play, everything was in the right spot.”

Being largely an unknown, aside from being a highly touted high school recruit, suited him just fine before his first start for the Tigers.

“I honestly like that, kind of going in like a dark horse, like no one really knew me,” said Croddick. “It was a big question mark. But I was confident myself. My coaches were confident in me. I’ve kind of known I’ve had the job for a while so just going out there and having the game that I did just kind of spoke to what we were doing behind the scenes.”

Croddick had given the Tigers staff under head coach Matt Madalon confidence with his play during the fall, and then looked good when practices resumed when Princeton returned to school for the spring semester. He had a pair of scrimmages that had him feeling good ahead of taking over.

“We played Villanova and UMBC and I just honestly felt really comfortable with the

guys in front of me and also just in my own abilities,” said Croddick. “That sort of just calmed the nerves before the first game.”

Croddick and the Princeton defense were the first to hold Penn State under 14 goals in a game this season. The Tigers have a number of returning players in front of Croddick, which helped him step in seamlessly.

“Just having some crucial veteran players back in there just made the transition from Mike last year to me now just a lot smoother than it could have been,” said Croddick. “And honestly (Saturday) just our whole D unit as a whole, we had a lot of guys step up because Colin Mulshine and Michael Bath were having cramps and missed a bunch of key minutes. And I think it was just like a testament to our team’s culture and just everyone on the D unit being in the right space and ready to play at any moment. So I think that overall just helped the transition be very easy and smooth for me.”

Croddick was steady throughout his first start, which was played inside Penn State’s Holuba Hall due to inclement outside weather. He made four saves in the first quarter, and had already surpassed his career total with four more saves in the second quarter. He saved seven shots in the third quarter and six more in the fourth quarter.

“A lot of their shots were, for me, I think pretty easy to save, easy to see, from the sort of spots that the defense is willing to give up,” said Croddick. “I felt comfortable with a lot of those. I definitely stole a couple and felt like I was heating up. More shots I felt like was better honestly.”

Penn State had shown the ability to score in its first

two games, and their experience and skill was a good test for the Tigers. Princeton proved up to the challenges they presented.

“They had some really good shooters,” said Croddick. “Matt Traynor’s a really, really good player. And (playing) inside, just the ball jumped a little bit. There’s definitely a difference playing inside than outside, so that was definitely a challenge. Just them having played already, the first few minutes definitely felt different just because it was our first game. But coach said something earlier this week that made a lot of sense to me that the first six minutes is what matters most just because they had played. Then after that we got our feet under water and could play.”

Star attacker Coulter Mackesy started his senior year with a bang, tallying five goals and an assist while sophomore standout Colin Burns had four goals, including the game-winner in overtime, and was later named the Ivy Offensive Player of the Week. Junior midfielder Chad Palumbo delivered three assists. Even Croddick had an assist, the first of his career. Neither team scored in the final five minutes of regulation to send the game into extra time when the pressure on a goalie goes up – one mistake and the game is over.

“I was excited,” said Croddick. “I was just trying to keep the same headspace as I had the rest of the game. But honestly, I was just hoping they didn’t shoot the ball. And luckily, they didn’t get a shot off.”

The Tigers don’t want to surrender that many shots on goal week after week. It’s not a formula for success. Princeton will be focusing this week on staying focused all the way through the shot clock, and they have to clean up their clearing game. The next challenge

saves in his first college start to help No. 5 Princeton edge the No. 10 Nittany Lions 11-10 in overtime. Croddick’s 21 saves set a program record for a firsttime starter. The Tigers will be hosting No. 2 Maryland (3-0) on February 22.

comes from another Big 10 team, No. 2 Maryland, who is unbeaten at 3-0 after an impressive 11-7 win over previously unbeaten Syracuse. The Terps have beaten Princeton five straight times in the last three years, including a 16-8 win over the Tigers last spring in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

“They’re a great team, a great coached team,” said Croddick. “They just have an incredible system and been doing the same thing for many years. So any guys they can plug in there and play for them. I think we just have to really watch the film from this past Saturday and get prepared from what we’ve been seeing the past couple years from Maryland.”

It will be a top-five matchup this week with both Maryland and Princeton coming off big wins. The Tigers are encouraged after seeing one of their biggest question marks answered with a record-setting effort in goal by Croddick. “It just gives our team confidence knowing that we can beat a big out of conference accomplished opponent like that,” said Croddick. “And also I felt like the last few years we played like Manhattan and Monmouth our first two games, and then our first big test would be after that every year. So that we already had that big test and faced that adversity, I think we’re super confident and just ready to go into the next game.”

—Justin Feil

54+

STANDING TALL: Princeton University men’s lacrosse goalie Ryan Croddick guards the crease last Saturday against Penn State as the Tigers opened their 2025 campaign. Junior Croddick, a former Hun School standout, made 21

(Photo by Ben Amtsberg, provided courtesy of PU Athletics)

Osgood Produces Career Game on her Senior Night

As Princeton Women’s Hoops Defeats Yale 71-42

Amelia Osgood couldn’t stop smiling last Saturday as she reflected on her Senior Night for the Princeton University women’s basketball team.

After Osgood and her four classmates, Parker Hill, Paige Morton, Katie Thiers, and Adaora Nwokeji, were honored in a pregame ceremony, the quintet started the game against Yale and promptly reeled off a 12-0 run. The Tigers never looked back as they cruised to a 7142 win over the Bulldogs before a crowd of 1,254 on hand at Jadwin Gym, improving to 18-5 overall, 9-1 Ivy League.

Osgood, a 5’8 guard from Brentwood, Tenn., emerged as the star of the night, tallying a game-high and career-high 13 points along with two assists and one rebound.

“It was so special to have our entire families here and then to go out there and play with my fellow seniors,” said Osgood, who came into Saturday averaging 1.3 points a game in 10 appearances off the bench this winter. “I am a molecular biology major and my entire lab was here tonight to celebrate so it just made for such a special night. We were all playing so hard for each other and the outcome was wonderful.”

The five seniors were primed to get Princeton off to a sizzling start against the Bulldogs.

“For senior night, they told us at the beginning of the week so when we were going over scout and stuff, we knew we were going to be starting the game,” said Osgood. “We had a couple of plays that we were going to run. It was really on the defensive end with talking and then on the offensive end, playing for each other and with each other.”

Osgood kept playing well all game long, hitting 5 of 7 shots as she easily surpassed her previous careerhigh of eight points which came against Hartford in January, 2023.

“I think it was just the atmosphere,” said Osgood, reflecting on her performance. “It was just getting

that opportunity and getting to do it in front of all of my teammates and family that I love. I think it was just looking to attack based on the other team. We knew that we could try to get it into the paint and then when I had an open look, I was just shooting it.”

In reflecting on her Princeton hoops experience, Osgood said it has gone too fast.

“There is going to be a lot of ups and downs but you are in such a special place with such incredible people,” said Osgood. “So take every day and live it like it is senior year because it is going to be senior year in two seconds and you are going to want to do the entire thing over again.”

Serving as a team captain this season has been a highlight for Osgood.

“I just love these girls so it is just doing whatever I can, showing up every day no matter what and playing my hardest,” said Osgood. “I am playing super hard during practices and I think that helps the entire team. As a captain, it is just trying to show them the standard of

how the quintet performed in their opportunity to start as a unit.

“It was really awesome to see them shine on the court together,” said Berube. “You could just see how much they care for each other and how hard they played together. They were click ing and it didn’t stop. Every time they were together in there, good things were hap pening. There is chemistry there, they have been play ing together for four years.”

Seeing the play of Os good and Nwokeji, who had a career-high 10 points, was particularly heartening for Berube.

“Amelia was attacking, that is what we were ask ing them to do, to get to the rim,” said Berube. “She could have pulled threes but she did what she was told and took it to the rim. She found teammates open, she was great. It was great to see Adoara back out there. She has battled injuries her whole career and to be able to shine like that was awesome.”

The awesome effort from the Tiger seniors inspired the whole squad.

looking forward to the rematch with Columbia.

“It is a huge game, we have a game plan based on the film,” said Osgood. “We will be preparing for the rest of this week. We are really excited about the opportunity to play them here and have that second chance. You don’t always get to play a team twice and potentially a third time so we really want to take advantage of it.”

—Bill Alden

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Madness postseason tournament. “The Ivy League is very good. We want to be playing our best basketball come the end of the season and tournament time so it is really trying to take each of these games and get better.”

Princeton head coach Carla Berube credited her senior group with making a major impact on the program.

“They have been amazing,” said Berube. “They are incredible leaders, ambassadors for our program, teammates and role models. They have done it all.”

Berube was thrilled by

Ivy) on February 22 in a first place showdown, Berube will be looking for a special effort from her players.

“Taking care of the basketball that will be key and just getting good looks offensively,” said Berube, whose team fell 58-50 at Columbia on January 20. “Then playing the Princeton defense that we know we can. We have got a really important week of practice to get ready. We are looking forward to the game. It is going to take a full team effort and playing like that, playing for each other.”

Osgood, for her part, is

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GOOD DAY: Princeton University women’s basketball player Amelia Osgood defends a foe in action last season. Last Saturday, guard Osgood came up big on her Senior Night, scoring a game-high and career-high 13 points to help Princeton defeat Yale 71-42. The Tigers, now 18-5 overall, 9-1 Ivy League, host Columbia (18-5 overall, 9-1 Ivy) in a first-place showdown on February 22. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Sparked by Goalie Olnowich, Wunder’s Clutch Scoring, PU Women’s Hockey Edges Union as it Girds for Playoffs

Princeton University women’s hockey goalie Jen Olnowich was wearing a white sweater adorned with red hearts to celebrate Valentine’s Day as she came to Hobey Baker Rink last Friday evening.

Olnowich’s attire was also appropriate as she and her fellow seniors were being shown affection over the weekend as the Tigers played their final regular season home games of the 2024-25 campaign.

“It is really exciting, it is a mix of sad and happy looking back on everything that we have done,” said Olnowich, reflecting on the program’s celebration of the Class of 2025. “You don’t really understand the weight of Senior Day when you watch it as a freshman. It is cool to be on this side. I am just grateful for these four years.”

As Princeton hosted Union on Friday, Olnowich displayed plenty of heart, made 22 saves as the Tigers won 2-1 in overtime.

In assessing her performance, Olnowich credited the work of the Tiger defenders.

“It is great, we have a really young defensive group,” said Olnowich. “There are two seniors but some of our best defensemen are freshmen and sophomores. As we get later in the season, it has been cool to watch them develop. I think they have gotten a lot of confidence and have gotten really solid.”

With sophomore goalie Uma Corniea sidelined this season due to injury, Olnowich has gotten the lion’s share of work between the pipes, starting 24 of 29 games this winter.

“It has been bit of a change, I don’t think I have ever played this many games in a season,” said Olnowich. “It has been a really great opportunity, especially to

be able to have a bad game and bounce back and play the next game and watch the team grow their trust in me. It has been a good experience for me that will hopefully benefit us down the line.”

As a native of Madison, who starred at Chatham High, Olnowich is thrilled to have gotten the chance to play for the Tigers.

“I have been watching Princeton games ever since I was 8,” said Olnowich.

“Somewhere in my house I have autograph books from being on the ice with the players which is really cute. I played a bunch of sports growing up and I always loved Princeton. I chose hockey as I got older. It has been really cool to play here.”

At the other end of the ice, Tiger junior forward Issy Wunder scored both Princeton goals in the win over Union.

Her first tally came on a one-timer early in the third period as the Tigers took a 1-0 lead.

“It was at the end of a long shift, I just wanted to get the puck deep,” said Wunder.

“I can’t remember the last time I have scored on a slap shot. I think it just worked out with the defense screening the goalie. That is a goal that I will take, I don’t know if I can replicate it.”

After Union knotted the game at 1-1 to force overtime, Wunder came through again with her second tally, taking advantage of some savvy play by Emerson O’Leary and Gabby Kim who picked up assists on the game-winning goal.

“As soon as the puck went in, I wanted to go and give Emerson a big hug,” said Wunder. “She was a warrior, that goal was entirely her. I think a lot of players would have given up on that play. I think it should have

been a penalty but it worked out, she battled through. I think the whole rink thought Gabby was going to shoot, myself included. I was surprised when I got the puck. It was a great team effort.”

Wunder has produced a great junior campaign, tallying 24 goals and 23 assists so far this season after totaling 53 points combined in her first two seasons.

“I think from the beginning we have been scoring a lot of goals and I think the production has come from all around the lineup,” said Wunder. “The lines have changed around, people have moved around. The main consistent thing is that we know we can rely on a lot of different players. As I have grown up on this team and in this league, I have learned to trust myself and play my game.”

Princeton head coach Cara Morey lauded her senior group for their spirit on and off the ice.

“They have been great,” said Morey, whose senior group includes captain Mia Coene, Emma Dornseif, Grace Kuipers, Ellie Marcovsky, and Dominique Cormier in addition to Olnowich.

“They are more of our support role players but they are always there picking up the bench. Jen and Mia have a little bit more minutes on ice but all of them give a pretty good impact off the ice.”

Morey credited Olnowich with making a huge impact for the Tigers this winter.

“Jen has given us a lot of energy and heart,” said Morey of Olnowich who has posted a 2.43 goals against average and a .920 save percentage this season. “She pours everything into our team and our program. She has been there when we need her, she gives us a chance to win every game right now.”

Wunder, who picked up her 100th career point on an assist in 4-3 loss to RPI on Saturday, was there when the Tigers needed her against Union.

“I tell her to shoot and I tell her to shoot,” said Morey, whose team moved to 17-10-2 overall and 11-9-2 ECAC Hockey with the defeat to RPI. “When it went top corner from the blue

STICKING WITH IT: Princeton University women’s hockey goalie Jen Olnowich sticks aside a shot in recent action. Last Friday, senior Olnowich made 22 saves to help Princeton

Union 2-1 in overtime. The Tigers, who lost 4-3 to RPI on Saturday in moving

overall and 11-9-2 ECAC

are next in action when they compete in the

Women’s Hockey Championship. Princeton is seeded seventh and will host 10th-seeded RPI in a singleelimination opening round contest on February 21.

line, I was like are you kidding me. She is a special player, you need your best players making those plays.”

With the Tigers starting play in the ECACH Women’s Hockey Championship this week where they are seeded seventh and will host 10th-seeded RPI in a single-elimination opening round contest on February 21, Morey knows that Tigers will have to be at their best to advance.

“We are setting ourselves up for playoffs at every point,” said Morey. “The league is crazy. Where we finish doesn’t matter or who we end up playing in any round, they are going to be brutal.”

In Wunder’s view, the overtime win against Union, the team’s fourth OT triumph of the season, is encouraging heading into the postseason.

“We are coming up on playoffs and the mentality is that in playoffs it doesn’t matter how you win, a win is a win,” said Wunder. “So the fact that we have been able to come up big in overtime lately is a good sign going into playoffs.” Olnowich, for her part, is primed to go out on a high note.

“I think I have always been a goalie who uses any athleticism to come out far, get back,” said Olnowich. “As an underclassman it is hard to have the confidence. As I have been able to read the plays and get better, I have been able to see how far I can come out without pushing it. I have always wanted to play the same way but I think finally senior year I am really able to do that with the confidence that I have gained.”

—Bill Alden

TOWN TOPICS is printed entirely on recycled paper.

defeat

to 17-10-2

Hockey,

ECACH

(Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)

PU Sports Roundup

Princeton Women’s Lax

Edged by UVA in Opener

Mackenzie Blake scored six goals but it wasn’t enough as the No. 17 Princeton University women’s lacrosse team fell 13-11 to No. 8 Virginia.

Three of Blake’s goals were assisted by Haven Dora, who ended the day with one goal and four assists.

The Tigers will be hosting Loyola on February 23. Tiger Men’s Hockey Falls to Union

Alex Konovalov had a career night in a losing cause as the Princeton University men’s hockey team fell 7-4 at Union last Saturday.

Senior forward Konovalov tallied two goals and one assist in the defeat as the Tigers moved to 10-13-2 overall and 5-11-2 ECAC Hockey.

In upcoming action, Princeton hosts Brown on February 21 and Yale on February 22.

Princeton Wrestling Loses 31-7 at Penn

Blaine Bergey and Luke Stout earned the lone wins for the Princeton University wrestling team as it lost 31-7 to Penn last Sunday in the Palestra in Philadelphia.

Bergey posted a 4-1 victory at 165 pounds while Stout rolled to a 19-4 win at 197.

The Tigers, now 8-9 overall and 3-2 Ivy League, will compete at the Patriots Last Chance Open on February 23 in Fairfax, Va.

Princeton Softball Posts 2-2 Opening Weekend

Getting its 2025 campaign off to a solid start, the Princeton University softball team went 2-2 at the UNC Invitational in Chapel Hill, N.C.

In games on Friday, Princeton topped Drexel 9-0 in five innings and then lost 2-0 to host North Carolina. A day later, the Tigers routed George Mason 17-4 before falling 9-2 in a rematch with Tar Heels.

Princeton sophomore infielder/outfielder Karis Ford was later named the Ivy League Player of the Week after going 6 for 9 at the plate with two homers over the weekend.

The Tigers will next be in action when they compete in the Texas A&M Tournament from February 27 to March 1 in College Station, Texas.

Princeton Men’s Track Shines at Two Events

Harrison Witt made history as the Princeton University men’s track team competed last week in the BU Valentine Invitational and the BC Eagle Elite Invitational in Boston, Mass. on Friday.

At the BU Valentine Invite, senior star Witt clocked an Ivy League 3:52.87 in the mile, bettering his own Ivy and Princeton record of 3:56.12 set just weeks ago at the Penn 10 Elite meet. His time currently ranks 10th in the NCAA.

Clarke, Dietz, and Donaldson just weeks ago at the Penn 10 Elite meet.

In upcoming action, the Tigers will have another busy weekend as they take part in both the BU DMR in Boston, Mass., and the Philadelphia Metro Meet at Philadelphia on February 21.

Tiger Women’s Track Excels at Boston Meet

Mena Scatchard produced a record-breaking performance as the Princeton University women’s track team competed in the Eagle Elite Invitational in Boston, Mass. last weekend.

Senior Scatchard set a new school record in the mile, clocking a time of 4:28.43 in placing first, breaking her previous school record of 4:32.95, set in late January.

The Tigers excelled in the jumping events as Tessa Mudd, Georgina Scoot, and Alexandra Kelly each won an event.

Mudd won the pole vault, with a mark of 13’ 3.75” while Scoot took first in the long jump, jumping 19’8, while Kelly prevailed in the triple jump with a mark of 40’ 3.25.

Princeton will be competing in the Philadelphia Metro Meet on February 21 in Philadelphia.

Former Football Star Travis Invited to NFL Combine

In addition, other Tiger track athletes competed at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark. The quartet of Jon York, Joey Gant, Karl Dietz, and Xavier Donaldson provided a highlight as they set a new school record in the 4x400 relay, posting a time of 3:07.16. The performance broke the previous Princeton record of 3:08.14, set by Gant, Jackson

Former Princeton University football star offensive lineman Jalen Travis ‘24 has been invited to the NFL Scouting Combine which will take place in Indianapolis, Ind. from February 24 through March 3.

action. Last Friday, junior forward Pierce passed the 1,000-point mark in his career as he scored nine points in a 70-56 loss to Brown. Pierce’s milestone proved to be a highlight for the Tigers in a rough weekend as Princeton fell 84-57 at Yale on Saturday. The Tigers, now 16-8 overall and 5-4 Ivy League, will look to get back on the winning track as they host Harvard on February 21 and Dartmouth in February 22.

was named as an All-Big 12 honorable selection.

journey in the NFL,” said Princeton football head coach Bob Surace. “The combine is not only a great opportunity to showcase his on-field talent and athleticism, but he will also impress the 32 teams with his work ethic and leadership.” a Princeton tradition!

Travis recently finished his graduate season at Iowa State. The Cyclones went 11-3 this past fall, including a thrilling 42-41 win over No. 15 Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Travis

The 6’7, 315-pound Travis was a two-time secondteam All-Ivy League honoree at Princeton and earned the Coach Wooden Citizenship

Cup in 2024. In his three playing seasons at tackle, he helped the Tigers to two toptwo scoring offenses in the Ivy League.

“We’re so excited to watch Jalen’s next steps in his

Experience Exceptional Senior Living

LOST WEEKEND: Princeton University men’s basketball player Caden Pierce dribbles upcourt in recent

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

With Junior Sharkey Taking a Leading Role, PHS Girls’ Hoops Makes Run to CVC Semis

Katie Sharkey has shouldered more responsibility this winter in her junior season for the Princeton High girls’ basketball team.

“I have gotten used to getting my hands on the ball, I am more confident with that which has been fun,” said Sharkey. “Also being a captain I have had more of a leadership role, that obviously helps with confidence too.”

Last Wednesday as second-seeded PHS hosted third-seeded Notre Dame in the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) Tournament semifinals, Sharkey displayed her confidence. With the Tigers trailing 7-1, Sharkey scored four points to help PHS go up 12-10. In the waning moments of the first half, Sharkey drained a 3-pointer to draw PHS within 26-25.

“It is always fun to make a three, those shots are the most fun shots of the game,” said Sharkey. “Those are going to get people more hyped. I am glad we could make some of those today to keep us in a game.”

Outscoring Notre Dame 13-9 in the third quarter, PHS knotted the game at 37-37 heading into the fourth.

“In a lot of games we tend to lose it in the third quarter and we didn’t come out as hard,” said Sharkey.

“We emphasized at halftime to come out super hard and play really aggressive against them and that made a difference.”

With 1:45 remaining in regulation, the foes were locked in a 44-44 tie but Notre Dame came through with a 5-1 run to make the difference in a 49-45 win.

In reflecting on the homestretch of the contest, Sharkey acknowledged that the Tigers weren’t at their sharpest against the Irish, who went on to win the CVC final.

“I think it was silly mistakes to be honest,” said Sharkey, who ended up with a team-high 16 points in the loss as the Tigers moved to 16-7. “It was a lot of pressure, we need to get used to playing against that kind of pressure. Silly mistakes happen sometimes but it was just bad timing for us.”

While the setback was disappointing, Sharkey sees the run to the CVC semis as major progress for the program.

“It is definitely a big step, in the past couple of years we haven’t been able to make it this far,” said Sharkey. “It was really fun to be able to get there. Obviously we wanted to go all the way. It is disappointing, but I am proud of the team that we made it here.”

PHS head coach Joe Smiegocki was proud of how

to third-seeded and eventual champion Notre Dame. The Tigers, now 16-7, play at South Brunswick on February 19, host Steinert on February 21, and play at Bordentown on February 24 before starting action in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association

state tournament.

his players fought to the final buzzer against the Irish.

“We played great,” said Smiegocki. “The most important thing is that we battled. We didn’t give up. We had our chances to roll over and let them take it to us but we came back. We wanted to play on Saturday, the goal was to play on Saturday.”

Having lost 52-43 to Notre Dame in a regular season meeting in mid-January, the Tigers made some adjustments in the rematch.

“We tried to eliminate some of the threes because they shot very well last time,” said Smiegocki. “They just have a lot of weapons, inside and out. We took away their threes and they got a couple of tough drives. They made baskets late in the fourth quarter. You take away one thing and they took advantage of the second part.”

Smiegocki credited Sharkey with being a key weapon for the Tigers in the contest. “She made some tough shots,” said Smiegocki of Sharkey.

With PHS trailing 4745 with 10 seconds left in regulation, Tiger junior star Anna Winters nearly tied the game as she took the ball to the hoop and just missed a layup attempt.

“Anna made that last drive, if that goes in, anything is possible,” said Smiegocki. “I thought about calling a time out and trying to shoot a three and don’t even go to overtime. But when she went, we decided as a coaching staff not to stop her and let her go. She got a good shot. She was a little disappointed but, guess what, at the end of the day, she will make that shot eight out of 10 times.”

Although the Tigers were stung by the loss, Smiegocki urged his players to focus on the future.

•

“I just told them they are disappointed they lost but we have to count this as a building block as we move forward,” said Smiegocki. “We have everybody back except Gianna [Grippo], our future looks extremely bright. I told them I am very happy. I know they are extremely disappointed but we have to put this in the back of heads to make sure that this doesn’t happen again.”

With PHS playing at South Brunswick on February 19, hosting Steinert on February 21, and then playing at Bordentown on February 24 before starting action in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) state tournament, Smiegocki believes the CVC run will be a confidence builder for his squad.

“This will put us in the right direction for states,” said Smiegocki. “We are going back and start working again tomorrow.”

In Sharkey’s view, the Tigers are definitely headed in the right direction.

“We were a younger team my freshman year and sophomore year, now we are all upperclassmen,” said Sharkey. “The confidence that we have as a group with all of us juniors has really grown. We have grown together, I think this is why we are doing well.”

—Bill Alden

SHARK ATTACK: Princeton High girls’ basketball player Katie Sharkey passes the ball last Wednesday as PHS hosted Notre Dame in the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) Tournament semifinals. Junior Sharkey scored a team-high 16 points in the game but it wasn’t enough as second-seeded PHS fell 49-45

(NJSIAA)

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Senior Forward Thomas Plays Hard to the End, Helping Hun Girls’ Hoops Make MAPL Final

The emotions swirled for CeeJay Thomas as the Hun School girls’ basketball team hosted Peddle last Thursday in the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) Tournament quarterfinals.

“It was a little bittersweet knowing this was my last time with this team on this court,” said senior forward Thomas. “I wanted to give it my all.”

Asserting herself in the paint, senior forward Thomas gave Hun a lift, scoring four points as Hun reeled off a 19-0 run to begin the game.

“I think I was just attacking the ball, going hard, being dominant,” said Thomas. “I was proud of the way we started, we could have limited our turnovers more. Against other teams in MAPL, that won’t be allowed.”

Thomas ended up with 13 points and six rebounds as the Raiders rolled to a 77-36 win over the Falcons.

“It was a confidence builder, most definitely, but we also worked on things,” said Thomas.

Over the course of the winter, Hun has displayed a knack for working the ball around.

“The way we share the ball I don’t think has been talked about enough,” said Thomas. “We share the ball so well this year compared to last year. There are times when I am on the bench and I am looking and it goes zoom, zoom, zoom, in and out.”

Having joined the Hun program last season, Thomas has looked to produce in the paint.

“At my previous school (Germantown Academy),

NO DOUBTING THOMAS: Hun School girls’ basketball CeeJay Thomas drives to the hoop last Saturday as Hun faced Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) Tournament semifinals. Senior forward Thomas scored five points and grabbed nine rebounds to helped second-seeded Hun edge third-seeded Mercersburg 49-47 in the contest. A day later, the Raiders fell 85-38 to top-seeded Blair Academy in the MAPL final to end the winter with a 23-6 record.

it was more rebound and pass it up to a guard, it was a shot to my confidence a little bit,” said Thomas. “I feel as though transferring last year, I knew that coach [Sean] Costello needed me to be another scorer and rebound, dominate the post and get boards, and put backs.”

Hun head coach Costello liked the way his squad started against Peddie.

“We did what we had to do, we moved the ball well, and we shot the ball well,” said Costello, who got 24 points from junior guard Gabby D’Agostino in the win. “Everyone stepped up, it was good. At the end of the year, people are sick, people are injured. It was nice to see some kids step up and do some good stuff.”

Thomas certainly stepped up against Peddie. “CeeJay did great, they tried to take away some of the 3-point shots, they played a 1-2-2,” said Costello. “CeeJay was able to get into some gaps and do some damage.”

The pair of Thomas and fellow senior Amira Pinkett has given Hun a formidable one-two punch at forward.

“CeeJay and Amira have great for us,” asserted Costello. “They both do so much for us, sometimes on the scoresheet, sometimes on the glass, sometimes on defense. They are just good kids, they are good role models for the rest of the team.”

The Raiders played some very good defense against Peddie as they held the Falcons to 10 points in the first half.

“When we were really locked in, it worked out well,” said Costello. “When we make shots, we play better defense. I was happy with what we did. It is all in preparation for this weekend.”

Over the weekend, second-seeded Hun edged third-seeded Mercersburg 49-47 in the MAPL semis on Saturday before falling 85-38 to top-seeded Blair Academy a day later in the MAPL final.

“We are in good position in that the kids are playing good basketball,” said Costello, whose team ended the winter with a 23-6 record. “They understand what we want to do. We do share the ball.”

Thomas, for her part, was determined to give her all to the end.

Junior Clarke Provides Inside Punch in Losing Cause

As Hun Boys’ Hoops Falls to Peddie in MAPL Quarters

When the Hun School boys’ basketball team hosted Peddie in the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) quarterfinals last Thursday, Seth Clarke spent some of the first half lying on the ground, using a foam roller to deal with some lower back pain.

But when Hun junior forward Clarke was on the court in the first half, he sparked the fourth-seeded Raiders, scoring 15 points as they jumped out to a 4028 lead over the fifth-seeded Panthers, overcoming an early 11-3 deficit.

“It was rough going down, we fought through adversity, kept our heads up and did what we had to do,” said Clarke. “My boys trusted me and I trust in God. It worked out.”

Hun faced more adversity as it got outscored 28-14 in the third quarter to find itself trailing 56-54 entering the fourth.

“I feel like the message going into the fourth was just keep our heads up,” said Clarke. “We knew we were able to compete and we knew what we had to do. That is all it was.”

Clarke kept competing as Hun battled back, knotting the game at 69-69 in the waning seconds of regulation, slicing to the basket for a lay-up off on an in-bounds pass from Blake Hargrove.

“I said to Blake, ‘Hey you trust me, you want me to come in here and lay this up,’” recalled Clarke. “He said, ‘Yeah I trust you’ and I was, ‘All right, go do it.’”

But Peddie made the last shot of the night as Gabe Hornberger drained a 3-pointer with 3.2 seconds left to give the Falcons a 7269 win.

“That was good shot; it happens, it is basketball,” said Clarke, reflecting on the setback.

While Clarke was disappointed by the result, he was proud of his effort.

“My mindset personally was just to score and help the team any way possible — defensively, offensively, whatever it may be,” said Clarke, who ended up with 27 points in the defeat.

energy. It is bring energy, be a dog, and do what I have got to do.”

Hun head coach Jon Stone liked the energy his players displayed in the early stages of the Peddie game.

“I think we were excited, you always get excited for the postseason,” said Stone. “We were ready to play. We showed we were ready in the first half. Our guys responded. We were playing well in a good rhythm.”

Stone credited Clarke with finding a rhythm in the paint.

“Seth is incredibly difficult to defend inside,” said Stone. “He finishes around the basket, he shoots a high percentage. He was even making his free throws tonight. He plays hard.”

Heading into the fourth quarter, Stone was looking for his squad to take better care of the ball.

“I just wanted to stay the course and stop turning the ball over,” said Stone. “Our turnovers are what got us in trouble. We gave up a few too many offensive rebounds which hurt us, especially down the stretch.”

Sophomore guard Hargrove starred down the stretch for Hun, scoring eight of his 14 points in the fourth quarter.

“We have a lot of confidence in the kid,” said Stone of Hargrove. “He played well and made some shots for us. Unfortunately they had the last shot.”

The Raiders will get another shot at Peddie as fourth-seeded Hun will be hosting the fifth-seeded Falcons in the first round of the Prep Open tournament on February 19.

“We play these same guys in a week, hopefully we can be better,” said Stone. Clarke, for his part, is confident that Hun will play better in the rematch with Peddie.

“We are going to regroup, we have practice tomorrow and Monday so we are going to come together,” said Clarke. “As long as we keep our heads up, we are going to take this thing all of the way, that is how I feel. As long as we stick together, we are a team.”

—Bill Alden Get the scoop from

“The laughs with the team,” said Thomas, when asked what will stand out about her Hun hoops experience. “We spend a lot of time together, there was a time where we were away, staying at a hotel every weekend. It is just play hard to last buzzer.”

—Bill Alden

Clarke, a star defensive end for the Hun football team who has received several D-I college offers, enjoys juggling the two sports and brings some gridiron ferocity to the court.

“It is good,” said Clarke. “I have been doing it my whole life, it has never been a hard thing for me. I feel like my role ever since that first practice this summer with the boys, is just bring

(Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)

PDS Girls’ Hockey Clicks on All Cylinders, Routing Oak Knoll 7-0 in Librera Cup Final

Even though the Princeton Day School girls’ hockey team started the winter short-handed with just nine skaters and one goalie, Jamie Davis was confident that his squad could do some big things.

Noting that two key players, forwards Eibhleann Knox and Brynn Dandy, were slated to return from injury in the new year, PDS head coach Davis believed that things would come together by the time the Panthers got into postseason action.

Davis proved to be prescient as the Panthers rolled to the Librera Cup title last week, topping nemesis Morristown-Beard 3-0 on February 7 in the semifinal round and then routing Oak Knoll 7-0 in the final last Thursday.

For second-seeded PDS, the win over third-seeded Mo-Beard was a confidence builder.

“We beat them last year in the Librera championship, we talked about that a lot,” said Davis. “It is already a

rivalry in our eyes. The girls are fired up just going to the rink to play them. They were really focused and they played great that game. It was a convincing win.”

Facing fifth-seeded Oak Knoll in the final at the Codey Arena in West Orange, PDS overcame a sluggish start to turn the contest into a rout.

“It was an 8:00 game and we were at school at 4:30 having a team dinner, it was just a long event,” said Davis, whose team improved to 10-2-1 with the win. “We were a little flat and a little tired. Our first period wasn’t great but we locked in after that. We played really well. I got to play some of my players that don’t get to play as much. It was nice that we had the lead.”

Getting up to speed upon recovering from a broken collarbone, senior star Knox sparked the Panther offense against Oak Knoll.

“The championship game was her coming out game, Eibhleann really played well,” said Davis, who also

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got goals from Mariana Lee, Brynn Dandy, Sam Dandy, and Alexis Moslin in the win.

“She had three goals and an assist, that was good for her. She is finally clicking, her chemistry with her linemates is up. She played really well in that game.”

The PDS defense is clicking, spearheaded by junior

goalie Kelly Stevens. “They are playing really well, it helps having Kelly at goalie,” said Davis of Stevens, who made 23 saves against Mo-Beard in the semis and then had nine saves in the final. “She is really good. It is nice to have a good goalie back there that you can trust. She has been really focused for these big games. She is very competitive, she wants to win.”

With the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) starting next week, Davis believes his team is ready to compete hard.

“You don’t want to peak too early,” said Davis. “We got Eibhleann back, we got Brynn back and we are playing well, playing hard, and getting our chemistry up. I think we are still climbing. We are in a good spot.”

In order to climb to a title,

PDS needs to take it one game at a time. “It is just staying focused, I always tell them that we have a play every opponent the same,” said Davis. “You have some early games where you are not going to play the toughest opponent but you can’t just look past them. It is one and done and you are out of the tournament. We don’t want to lose focus, we want to keep rolling.”

—Bill Alden

CREASE CONTROL: Princeton Day School girls’ hockey goalie Kelly Stevens guards the post in action this winter. Last Thursday, junior goalie Stevens made nine saves to help PDS defeat Oak Knoll 7-0 in the Librera Cup final. The Panthers, now 10-2-1, play Kent Place on February 19 at the RWJBarnabas Hockey House in Newark before starting play next week in the New

Hun

Boys’ Hockey: Evan Koserowski scored the lone goal for Hun as it fell 4-1 to Princeton Day School last Wednesday. Goalie Patrick Donoghue made 54 saves in a losing cause as the Raiders moved to 5-17-2.

Lawrenceville

Girls’ Basketball : Aryana Iyer scored 15 points as sixthseeded Lawrenceville fell 44-39 to third-seeded Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) last Thursday in the quarterfinal round of the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) tournament. The Big Red, who moved to 5-17 with the loss, play at Cherry Hill East on February 19.

PDS

Girls’ Basketball : Nica Martin tallied 10 points as PDS fell 65-34 to Somerville last Wednesday. The Panthers, who dropped to 11-9 with the defeat, host New Egypt on February 24.

Boys’ Hockey: Sparked by Colton Simonds, PDS defeated Hun 4-1 last Wednesday. Simonds scored two goals to help the Panthers improve to 7-8-1. PDS hosts Gloucester Catholic on February 20.

Pennington

Boys’ Basketball : Dylan Napoleon scored 15 points for third-seeded Pennington as it fell 76-66 to second-seeded Hill School (Pa.) last Saturday in the semifinal round of the MidAtlantic Prep League (MAPL) tournament. The Red Hawks, now 12-10, will be competing in the Prep Open tournament this week where they are seeded sixth and will be playing at thirdseeded College Achieve Asbury Park in a first round contest on February 19.

Girls’ Basketball: Sparked by Izzy Augustine, sixth-seeded Pennington defeated top-seeded Villa Walsh 72-66 in the Prep B state final last Sunday. Senior star Augustine poured in a game-high 26 points as the Red Hawks improved to 12-11. Pennington was slated to wrap up its season by playing at Notre Dame on February 18.

sectional meet last week at the Rothman Orthopaedics Sports Complex in Toms River. Senior star Wilton placed first in the shot put with a best throw of 59’6 in the February 10 event. PHS will be competing in the NJSIAA Group state championship meet on February 22 in Toms River.

Girls’ Track : Kajol Karra starred as PHS took second in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North 2 Group 3 sectional meet last week at the Rothman Orthopaedics Sports Complex in Toms River. Junior standout Karra took first in the 1,600-meter run in 5:14.16 and second in the 3,200 with a time of 11:00.28 in the February 10 competition. PHS will be taking part in the NJSIAA Group state championship meet on February 22 in Toms River.

Stuart

Basketball : The States sisters, Lia and Taylor, each had a double-double as Stuart fell 56-46 to Trenton last Thursday. Freshman guard Lia scored 20 points with 11 rebounds while junior forward Taylor tallied 11 points and had 15 rebounds as the Tartans moved to 4-13. Stuart hosts Morristown-Beard on February 20 before playing at Kent Place on February 25.

Local Sports

Princeton 5K Race Slated for March 22

The Princeton 5K race is returning on March 22 for its 16th year.

The event annually brings

together athletes — young and old, big and small, fast and not so fast — to run or walk while supporting the Princeton High cross country and track programs.

The in-person race starts in front of the Princeton Middle School at 217 Walnut Lane at 8:30 a.m. In addition to the 5K, there is a 300-meter kids dash for children under 10.

To register and get more information on the event, log onto https://runsignup.com/Race/ NJ/Princeton/PrincetonNJ5K.

T-shirts are guaranteed for those who register by March 1. Registration is also available in-person on race day.

The Princeton 5K is the largest annual fundraiser for the Princeton High School Cross Country Track and Field Booster (PHSCCTF) a 501(c) (3). All donations directly support the PHS boys’ and girls’ cross-country and track teams.

Mercer Juniors Rowing Club

Holding Open House Feb. 26

The Princeton National Rowing Association (PNRA)/Mercer Juniors rowing club is holding an open house on February 26 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Caspersen Rowing Center at 1 South Post Road in Princeton Junction.

The Mercer Juniors program is a nationally competitive rowing club for athletes in grades 9-12. Recent graduates have attended top colleges and universities in the country and Mercer has been represented at the Junior World Championships for four straight years.

Those interested in learning more about the open house and the program can log onto rowpnra.org or email coach Jamie Hamp at jhamp@rowpnra.org.

Tell them you saw their ad in

Boys’ Basketball: Zion Madden scored 21 points but it wasn’t enough as PHS got edged 4644 by Northern Burlington last Wednesday. The Tigers, who moved to 4-18 with the loss, play at Steinert on February 21.

Boys’ Hockey: Anders Hedin scored the lone goal for fifthseeded PHS as it fell 4-1 to topseeded and eventual champion Hopewell Valley in the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) Tournament semifinal last week. The Tigers dropped to 7-11 with the defeat in the February 11 contest.

Boys’ Track : Sean Wilton came up big as PHS placed sixth in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North 2 Group 3

RISING STAR: Princeton Day School boys’ basketball player Gary Jennings looks to unload the ball in recent action. Last Wednesday, sophomore guard Jennings scored 19 points in a losing cause as fifth-seeded PDS fell 60-37 to top-seeded Morristown-Beard in the Prep B state final. PDS hosts North Brunswick on February 19 and plays at Delran High on February 22. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Obituaries

Isabelle Peck Sanders

Isabelle Sanders of Waterbury, Vermont, passed away peacefully on February 7, 2025, at the age of 91. Belle, as she was affectionately known, was born on October 14, 1933, in Ottawa, Illinois, to Mary Livek Peck and Joseph H. Peck, Sr. Her life was a tapestry of love, dedication, and unwavering faith.

Belle’s academic pursuits led her to the University of Texas, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, and later worked as a teacher in the Dallas public school system. Belle’s life took a serendipitous turn when she met Robert Sanders during what was supposed to be a three-day church retreat in Princeton, New Jersey, in the winter of 1963. Their love story was nothing short of extraordinary, with Bob proposing just nine days after their initial meeting at a reception at the Princeton Seminary. They married less than five months later in Dallas, surrounded by friends and family, almost all of whom were meeting them as a couple for the first time.

October 14, 1933 – February 7, 2025 summers vacationing there and eventually built their dream home in Waterbury in 1978. When they retired in 1990, they chose to embrace the beauty of Vermont, moving permanently to Waterbury to start a wonderful new chapter in their lives. Belle quickly became active in the community through volunteer work, and meeting new friends while playing bridge and mahjong. She was a devoted member of the St John’s in the Mountains Episcopal Church in Stowe for over 30 years, where she helped form a women’s spirituality group, in which she continued to remain active at the time of her death. She always looked forward to her weekly gatherings with her close, loving friends in her St John’s community.

Clodius Harris Willis, Jr.

Clodius Harris Willis, Jr. was born on August 4, 1937 in Schenectady, NY, and died on February 10, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at 87 years of age. He was the youngest child to Clodius Sr. (Lignum, VA) and Katherine Vaughan Willis (Richmond, VA).

Clodius graduated from Princeton High School in 1955, where he was happy to be inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame at the age of 70 for his contributions to the state champion high school track team from 1952-1955. Hitchhiking himself to his interview at Amherst College, he enrolled and studied French language and excelled at varsity soccer, graduating in 1959. He went on to study linguistics and phonology at University of Rochester where he not only earned his doctorate, but also met the love of his life, Maxine Cooper Willis. They got married in the scenic mountains outside of Pittsburgh where she grew up, and they spent their honeymoon at Lake Willoughby, Vermont; a place that continues to be special for his whole family. His education and academic prowess led him to several teaching positions including implementing French-immersion education in Prince Edward Island, Canada, and at the University of Richmond. He then changed career directions and became a skilled software engineer drawing on his linguistic understanding of language and syntax.

described himself as preferring to take pleasure in accomplishments over seeking fun. When faced with unrelenting health challenges he once shared that his motto was “Choose life and stand tall.” Although he was sparing in expression of his thoughts and feelings, he exhibited great depth to both when he allowed himself to express it to others. This depth showed up in a love of his family, including his sisters and their children. More so, it showed up in his actions and accomplishments, which he would proudly share with those he loved most. Such accomplishments included planning elaborate and special family vacations, building one-of-akind beautiful wooden objects for the home, playing classical guitar, learning to use a hand loom and weaving lovely useful textiles, and baking Parisian delicacies before they were available in the small town of Gettysburg, PA. In addition, he made time to explore and learn about what his children loved to do whether it was supporting playing soccer or learning to portage a canoe. He was very sharp and well read. With these skills combined he could be quite a wit, especially with the written word. He was one who believed in working towards peace in the world. May his spirit rest peacefully, bring peace to each of us, and contribute to peace in the world. He is survived by his wife Maxine, sons Henry (Sukanya) and Sam (Jeremy), three grandchildren (Neelkumar, Anisha, and Dahlia), two of his sisters Lee and Sally, and many nieces and nephews. His family is thankful for the support provided by his caregivers and doctors.

A family service was held at Rodef Shalom in Pittsburgh. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his memory to Adams County Habitat for Humanity (habitatforhumanityadamscountypa.org), where he volunteered, or the charity of your choice.

Owen Shteir loved his family, the natural world, art, classical music, and learning. He will be remembered as a wonderful husband, caring father, and skilled physician, but also for his devotion to learning, his kindness, and his tenacity.

Owen was born and raised in Dutch Neck, New Jersey, where he fished for pickerel in Assunpink Creek, watched birds in the woods, and worked in his parents’ general store. He attended Princeton High School. He excelled in science. In 1951, he was a finalist in the Westinghouse Science Talent Search (now the Regeneron Science Talent Search).

Belle and Bob’s life blossomed together as they raised their two children, Mark, and David. Their lives were enriched by their deep involvement in various Presbyterian church communities over the years, where Bob served as the senior pastor, from Utica, New York, to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and finally Greenwich, Connecticut. She complemented Bob’s ministry tremendously through her loving spirit and engagement with every parish in countless ways. This further deepened her faith, a pursuit that continued throughout her life through her avid reading and ongoing exploration of Christian theology. After moving to Princeton in 1981, Belle’s career continued in Manhattan, a city she loved, and commuted to daily while working for the Public Relations Society of America until her retirement.

Vermont held a special place in Belle and Bob’s hearts. They spent many

Belle leaves behind a legacy of love and devotion. She is survived by her two children, David Sanders and his wife, Bronwen, of Fairfield, Connecticut, and Mark Sanders of Manhattan, in addition to many nieces and nephews. She is pre-deceased by her brother Joseph H. Peck, Jr., and her husband, Bob, who passed away in 2020 after 63 happy years together.

A memorial service to celebrate Belle’s life will be held on March 22, at St John’s in the Mountains Episcopal Church in Stowe. She will be laid to rest beside her husband in Princeton, New Jersey, where a small graveside service will take place later this spring. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either the St John’s in the Mountains Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 1175, Stowe, VT 05672, or the Waterbury Ambulance Service. Inc., 1727 Guptil Road, Waterbury Center, VT 05677.

Belle’s spirit will forever live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.

People are multifaceted and can show up differently as time, health, and other circumstances change. This was all true of Clodius. He once

Arrangements by John A Freyvogel Sons, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA. (freyvogel funeralhome.com).

Princeton’s First Tradition

Worship Service

Sundays at 11am

Owen graduated from Princeton University, where he majored in biology, in 1955. He received an MD from The Yale School of Medicine in 1959. He was a dermatologist at Princeton Medical Group for more than 30 years. Owen also had a deep interest in tropical skin diseases and volunteered in Brazil and on the island of Saint Lucia, serving as a visiting physician and treating residents with skin conditions.

Owen loved to learn and had many hobbies. While living on a two-acre wooded

property on Stuart Road, he created a beautiful native plant, wildflower, and rock garden. Some of Owen’s favorite native plant species were trout lilies, bloodroot, and pink ladies’ slippers. He loved the trees that towered over his Stuart Road property: American beech, shagbark hickory, white oak, red oak, black oak, and tulip. Owen also enjoyed watching the many songbirds that frequented the garden for food, shelter, and nesting sites. He was passionate about nature and believed that plants and animals had their own inherent value and right to exist. Owen had many gifts as a learner and a teacher. He was inquisitive, patient, and calm, but also perseverant, self-motivated, and stoic. Each night after dinner, Owen joined his wife in the living room where they read until they went to bed. His interest in literature ranged from modern fiction to ecology, from Shakespeare to ancient Greek history. He instilled his love of learning and his love for good writing in his children. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Shteir, of Princeton, New Jersey, and his two children, Rachel Shteir, of Chicago, and Seth Shteir, of Montana.

Princeton University Chapel Open to all.

Preaching Sunday, February 23 is Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames, Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel, Princeton University.

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

Owen Shteir (May 30, 1933 – February 9, 2025)

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