Town Topics Newspaper, April 10, 2024.

Zoom Tour of Esherick’s Studio Highlights His Artistic Talents . . . . . . . 5

Princeton Named a “Healthy Town” for Second Straight Year 7

Hillier is Honoree at Arts Council’s “Art People Party” 8

From Earthquake to Eclipse with Murakami And Kurosawa 14

Ethan Luk’s Flight of a Legless Bird is Presented At McCarter 15

Sophomore Goalie Hughes Comes Up Big as PU Women’s Lax Defeats Penn, Columbia 23

After Taking its Lumps in 2023 with Young Lineup, PDS Baseball Hoping To Grow into Something Special 26

Nassau Swim Club Faces April 23 End; Resistance Continues

With the April 23 lease termination date set and Princeton University having rejected a number of appeals, it is not clear what possibilities might remain for the future of the Nassau Swim Club (NSC) — but a sizable band of devoted, outspoken NSC supporters is not giving up hope.

“It’s not over until it’s over,” reads the headline on the NSC website. “Princeton University said no, but we still have one week left.”

The University responded on Monday, April 8 to a Town Topics inquiry as to whether there had been any reconsideration of the decision “in the light of further community support voiced for NSC, a popular online petition against the termination, and additional appeals for a delay and reconsideration of the termination.”

“The University has had conversations with the Nassau Swim Club board members in recent weeks and appreciated the dialogue,” wrote University Director of Media Relations Jennifer Morrill. “As we have communicated to those board members, the University is moving forward with the process that was shared with the Club in October 2023.”

The University notified the NSC by email on October 23, 2023 that the University would be exercising its right to terminate the 1970 lease agreement with NSC in six months. The email cited signi cant nancial support that the University has had to provide to NSC over the years and ongoing nancial challenges.

Subsequent dialogue between the NSC board and the University has included the NSC’s request for a delay in the decision in order to give the club time to bolster its nances and “prove its solvency and long-term viability.”

The board has done signi cant planning, budgeting, fundraising, and recruiting of members over the past six months, but there has been no apparent change in the University’s position.

“NSC is ready to go,” reads an NSC board statement on their website. “The pool is on the path to having a successful season, if only it is allowed to open. Our intense efforts over the past couple of months show that our team has the dedication and resources to overcome NSC’s remaining challenges. Moreover,

Continued on Page 10

Princeton Declared a Book Sanctuary

At its meeting Monday night, Princeton Council passed a resolution declaring the town a book sanctuary. The action takes a stance against the signi cant increase in the banning of books in libraries and schools in New Jersey and across the country.

The governing body also passed an ordinance authorizing the acquisition of a 90-acre property near Herrontown Woods and the Autumn Hill Reservation, bordered by Montgomery Township, Herrontown Road, Herrontown Lane, and Mount Lucas Road. The ordinance preserves the property, which is the second largest tract of undeveloped land in the area, in perpetuity for passive open space.

The unanimous vote to make Princeton a book sanctuary comes a few weeks after Princeton Public Library adopted a similar resolution designating the library a book sanctuary. Members of the library’s board and staff were on hand to encourage Council to vote for the resolution, which recognizes National Library Week and Right to Read Day. Also among the speakers was State Sen. Andrew Zwicker, who recently introduced legislation called the Freedom to Read Act. The legislation

supports and protects the rights of people in New Jersey to access materials in libraries and schools, and protects library staff from harassment.

“The fact that we have to declare ourselves a book sanctuary still boggles my mind,” said Zwicker. “We are going to protect librarians. No librarian ever signed up for this. The bill is out there, and we’re building political momentum,” he added, urging people to reach out to their local legislators.

Councilwoman Eve Niedergang introduced the resolution. “The freedom to read is a fundamental American right, the First Amendment put into practice,” she said, adding that Hoboken was the rst New Jersey municipality to take such a step. Last year, more than 4,000 unique book titles were challenged, a 92 percent increase in such actions over the year before. “We feel compelled to act,” Niedergang concluded.

The resolution states “WHEREAS,

PHS Looks to April 29 National STEM Finals; PPS Researchers Win Many Science Awards

A national nalist in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM Competition, Princeton High School’s (PHS) research team of about 15 students under the direction of science teacher Mark Eastburn is heading to Washington, D.C., on April 29 to present their project to a panel of judges. Three schools will be chosen, each of which will receive a $100,000 prize package.

As one of the 10 nalists announced by Samsung on March 26 from among this year’s 50 state winners, the PHS team has already won a $50,000 prize package,

including Samsung technology and classroom supplies.

In addition, the PHS research team is in competition for Samsung’s Community Choice Award of $10,000. PHS team supporters are asked to click on the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow website at samsung. com/us/solvefortomorrow, watch the PHS team’s video, and cast their vote. Anyone is allowed one vote per day through April 23.

This is the PHS research team’s third year of competing in the Samsung

Leah Bornstein Sparking the Midfield as PHS Girls’ Lax Produces 2-1 Start 25

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CLIO HALL: For the Historical Society of Princeton’s annual “Building Princeton” event, to be held on April 28, teams choose from among more than 50 historic structures, famous residences, community buildings, and houses of worship to construct a scale model with LEGO building blocks.

“Building Princeton” Event At Updike Farmstead

The Historical Society of Princeton’s annual “Building Princeton” event will be held on Sunday, April 28 from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Wojciechowicz Barn at Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road.

building blocks at their disposal. When the models are completed, they are placed on a 30-foot map of Princeton, providing an aerial view of town and campus.

they get really into it,” said Eve Mandel, director of programs and outreach.

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A hands-on way to increase awareness of the town’s architectural heritage, teams choose among more than 50 historic structures, famous residences, community buildings, and houses of worship to construct their scale model. Working from photographs, the groups have up to 100,000 LEGO

Led by architect Stephen W. Schwartz from Building Blocks Workshops, the event is designed for all ages. Teams can be formed with family, friends, scout groups, etc., and are often multigenerational. Teams with children under age 16 need to include one adult.

“Parents and grandparents have as much fun as kids! Sometimes they think they’ll just watch, and then

At the conclusion of the program, each team receives a copy of “The Princeton Architectural Treasure Hunt Map” and is encouraged to explore Princeton and find the real buildings. This event is made possible by community sponsors Adams Rental, McCaffrey’s Food Markets, and Studio Hillier.

Tickets are $30 for a team of two, or $45 for up to four people. Preregistration is encouraged, as space is limited. Visit princetonhistory.org.

Shred Fest: On April 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Princeton residents can have documents shredded and donate clothing, household goods, and more at this event on the grounds of Westminster Choir College. Enter on Franklin Avenue. Visit princetonnj. gov/1386/Shred-Fest for details .

Road Closure: Witherspoon Street is closed between Paul Robeson Place and Leigh Avenue for the construction of three raised crosswalks and the milling and paving of the roadway. The project is planned to be finished by April 26. Businesses on the street are accessible from John Street.

Stream Cleanup: On April 13 from 9-11 a.m., volunteer to help remove trash from areas around local streams. Meet at Top Park, 782 Bunn Drive. Registration is required. Princetonnj.gov.

Recreation Department Summer Jobs : Apply for work at Community Park Pool in customer service, day camp, or on lifeguard staff. Visit Princetonnj.gov/982/ Seasonal-Employment.

FOPOS Earth Day Cleanup: Join Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS) for a Earth Day cleanup event on Saturday, April 20. Two-hour volunteer sessions at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and a community potluck and native plant giveaway from 12-1 p.m. Register at fopos.org/events-programs.

Donate Blood : The Red Cross will be at Princeton University’s Frist Campus Center, 75 Washington Road, on April 19 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and St. Paul’s Church, 216 Nassau Street, April 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit RedCrossBlood.org.

Princeton in Bloom Photo Contest : Photos capturing the essence of Princeton in spring can be submitted through April 30 by all residents and visitors to Princeton in this contest sponsored by Experience Princeton. The grand prize winner gets an Experience Princeton gift card; top 10 finalists’ work will be displayed in the Municipal Building. Visit princetonnj.gov.

Zoom Tour of Wharton Esherick’s Studio Highlights His Multiple Artistic Talents

When visitors touring the Wharton Esherick Museum in Chester County, Pa., are taken through the American artist’s handcrafted home studio, tour guides frequently have to remind them not to make themselves comfortable on the one-of-a-kind furniture.

“It’s inviting. It invites you to touch it,” said Ethan Snyder, the museum’s manager of collections and public programs, who will deliver a Zoom talk about the artist on Thursday, April 18 from 12 to 1 p.m., sponsored by West Windsor Arts. “People always want to get close to it, and we have to remind them not to.”

TOPICS

Of the Town

Many museums throughout the country — including the Whitney Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Metropolitan Museum — have works by Esherick in their collections. The Esherick Museum, on a 12-acre property that is a National Historic Landmark and part of the National Trust’s Historic Artists’ Homes and Studios program, provides a unique opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in his world.

Studio,” is part of West Windsor Arts’ Lunchtime Gallery Series. He plans to discuss Esherick’s life and work, and provide a tour not only of his studio, but of the multiple buildings on the property. The studio was built by hand over a 40-year period beginning in 1926, incorporating Arts and Crafts, Expressionist, and organic designs. Among other buildings on the property are Esherick’s former garage, now the Visitor Center; and his workshop, designed in 1956 in collaboration with architects Louis Kahn and Anne Tyng.

Visitors to the bucolic site often get a feeling that Esherick was a quiet man who

“Nothing comes close to walking through his home and studio. It’s a whole environment,” said Snyder, “down to the doorknobs and the light switches. It really feels like you are living and spending time in an artist’s imagination. You never see things the same way twice. Even those who work here and see it all the time will say, ‘I never noticed that before.’ There are always things to be discovered, from the furniture to the objects.”

Esherick, who lived from 1887 to 1970, is best known for his sculptural wood furniture and furnishings. He is recognized as a leader of the studio furniture movement. He also painted, sculpted, and made prints.

“Esherick saw himself as an artist, not a craftsman, and his concern was with form, not technique,” reads a description on the museum’s website. “He pursued his artistic vision in forms that might turn to furniture or other sculptural furnishings. More importantly, these were but one aspect of his art complemented by the paintings, prints, drawings, poetry, and sculpture he also created.”

Snyder’s talk, titled “Wharton Esherick’s Handcrafted

kept to himself. “That’s definitely not the case,” Snyder said. “He collaborated closely with people around him who had artisanal skills he might not have had. He was featured at the 1939 World’s Fair, at the Whitney, and other museums in New York. The first exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Crafts was a retrospective of his works. We are lucky enough to have an oral history of him, and he was a fantastic storyteller. He was quite a character and he inspired many people to become artists.”

A traveling show, “The Crafted World of Wharton Esherick,” will open in October at the Brandywine Museum of Art in Chadds Ford, Pa., before moving to Cincinnati, Ohio, and Madison, Wis.

“It’s important to realize that Wharton and his wife were really interested in living differently from people around them,” said Snyder. “They were practicing nudists. They sold and canned vegetables. They ran day care. I think that interest they had in living an intentional life, in progressive ideas, really informs everything.”

To attend the Zoom lecture, visit westwindsorarts. org. Tickets are free for members; $10 for nonmembers.

—Anne Levin

West Windsor Market

Transitioning to Spring

TOWN TALK©

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

Question of the Week:

“What does the eclipse mean to you?”

(Asked Monday at the Total Solar Eclipse Viewing Experience at Palmer Square)

(Photos by Sarah Teo)

“I’m excited about it. I didn’t have glasses in 2017, so I get to see it this time.”

—Aria Asevedo, Princeton

The West Windsor Community Farmers Market is wrapping up its winter series and preparing for its main season starting May 4. Early spring markets continue on the first and third Saturdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., through April 20.

Since 2004, the market has been run by community members in order to direct consumers to the small, independently run businesses that support the local economy. The main season markets run weekly, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., until Thanksgiving, at the Vaughn lot of Princeton Junction Train Station. The entrance is from 877 Alexander Road. “Fresh and local is what it’s all about at our market,” said M anager Chris Cirkus. “We pride ourselves by curating just about everything you’ll need to do a one-stop farmers market shop.”

“I’m only 10 years old, and the last time it happened I was 3 1/2 and had no idea what was going on!”

Rosenberg, Princeton

Remona: “You feel like you’re part of history.” Mila: “It’s so big, bigger than us, and doesn’t happen that often.”

Nearly 40 farms and vendors are represented with offerings including season Jersey Fresh produce, mushrooms, sustainably caught seafood, poultry, pastured eggs, freshly milled oats, pickles, sauces, jams, fresh pasta, goats milk products, cheese, breads, and much more. Knife-sharpening service is available on April 20, and there is weekly composting.

Visit wwcfm.org for more information.

JUNCTION BARBER SHOP

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

799-8554

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

Jim: “It’s the perfect example of science at work, and it’s a day of celebration.”

Sandy: “We sat in this exact spot in 2017, so it’s nice to do it again.” Mona: “I’m hoping it’s a cosmic reset for the world — make a wish at 3:25 for world peace.”

—Jim and Sandy Beslity, Princeton with Mona Dabbagh-Watnik, Bordentown

—Ayelet

—Remona Gopaul and Mila Maag, Princeton

Princeton Chosen as “Healthy Town”; Officials Plan Ongoing Initiatives

For the second straight year, Princeton has been designated as a Mayors Wellness Campaign Healthy Town for the state of New Jersey.

The commendation, announced last month by the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute (NJHCQI), cited Princeton as one of 17 cities and towns in the state that “go above and beyond to improve health and wellness in their communities through innovative programs in areas such as exercise, healthy eating, and mental health education and awareness.”

The NJHCQI commended Princeton’s success “in offering education, strategies, and tools that residents can use in their daily lives,” noting that “community events such as a health fair provide an opportunity to partner with community organizations and share resources with residents.”

Princeton Mayor Mark Freda expressed his gratification with the designation and the town’s support for the program. “The response from the public and community partners has been great,” he said. “Our Health Department staff are the moving force behind this effort.”

He continued, “We have done art-related events with senior citizens, book readings with young children, a number of book discussions around mental health — a large variety of activities. The library has been very active in this program also. We feel this is another way to reach out to the community and provide one more service to many of our residents.”

In his acceptance of the honor, Freda applauded the dedication and collaboration of staff, residents, local businesses, and community partners. He added, “Together we have prioritized physical fitness, fostering a culture of well-being that extends far beyond individual efforts,” noting Princeton’s “ongoing commitment to building a healthier, happier, and more

resilient community for generations to come.”

Princeton Deputy Administrator and Director of Health Jeff Grosser cited the Princeton Public Library and the Recreation Department along with other local partners for their collaboration on health initiatives. “It is our community’s passion, commitment, and willingness to actively participate that have propelled the Mayors Wellness Campaign to new heights, enriching the lives of individuals and families throughout Princeton,” he wrote in an email.

“These collective efforts have transformed our shared vision of a healthier, happier Princeton into a tangible reality,” he continued. “We have made significant strides towards fostering a culture of well-being within our community to promote health equity and ensure access to physical and mental health care services for all.”

He went on to mention a range of health-related initiatives in Princeton spurred by the community’s “collaborative synergy.”

In looking to the future, Grosser highlighted prevention as a key priority, along with continued effective collaboration and improving access for all. “To keep Princeton on this healthy trajectory, we must continue to work on improving access to mental and physical health care, but not forget a key public health strategy, prevention. Prevention must be a central thought in our public health programs and in the minds of community stakeholders.”

He added, “We are fortunate in Princeton to have numerous community organizations that understand our diverse population and what the highest priority concerns are. From there, we need to regularly communicate and work together on the most effective strategies to improve residents’ overall health.”

—Donald Gilpin

Community College Offers

Degree Completion Program

Mercer County Community College (MCCC) is one of more than 12 New Jersey Institutions of higher education to participate in a partnership to support a statewide initiative entitled Some College, No Degree by the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE).

The program, referred to as Bridge to Completion by MCCC, was designed to provide outreach and opportunities to adult learners who completed some college and need support to earn their degrees.

According to state data, over 790,000 New Jersey residents have some college credit, but have not earned their degree. “We are thrilled to participate in this important program,” said MCCC President Deborah Preston. “There are many reasons why a student may have to take a break from achieving their dream of obtaining a college degree, and as educators we want to provide them with every opportunity to make attaining their goal of earning a degree possible.”

Linked to boosting career opportunities and earnings, obtaining a college degree has a variety of positive implications for students and the community. As director of MCCC’s Educational Opportunity Fund, a comprehensive program committed to fostering the academic and social development of students, Al-Lateef Farmer works with students to help them achieve their educational goals.

“Whether they are just starting out in college or coming back after time off, we are here not just to help students earn their degrees, but to give them the resources necessary to develop the skills to evolve as well-rounded individuals,” said Farmer.

As such, through the Bridge to Completion program, MCCC provides resources including financial assistance, dedicated reengagement specialists, study support including tutoring, flexible course schedules, prior learning credit eligibility, and more.

Students can choose to finish a program they previously began or enroll in any of MCCC’s 60-plus indemand degree programs. “We are here to provide the tools and resources to improve outcomes and boost economic opportunities for our students,” said Marvin Carter, MCCC’s director or diversity, equity, and inclusion and Title IX coordinator. “By helping students navigate their return to postsecondary education and making it accessible and affordable for everyone, we are allowing them to overcome barriers to equity in education.”

For more information, visit mccc.edu/bridge or email farmera@mccc.edu.

Thursday April 11th

33 Princeton-Hightstown Rd

799-8554

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

Architect and Developer is Honoree At Arts Council’s “Art People Party”

Arts

Princeton (ACP)

and developer J. Robert “Bob” Hillier (a Town Topics shareholder) was honored for his support of the organization, his hometown of Princeton, and the Witherspoon-Jackson community. Some 300 people attended the “Art People Party” at the ACP, which included refreshments, dancing, and music along with the tribute.

“I found the entire experience of well-wishers coming from all parts of my long career — 300 in total — both overwhelming and yet so gratifying, especially in that my recently passed wife of 40 years was also included in the expression of thanks,” said Hillier, who was presented with a painting by artist Aaron C. Fisher of Hillier with his wife, Barbara; and a 3D model of the home they built in New Hope, Pa. “I was truly humbled by the honor, but also inspired to do more for Princeton and the Arts Council,” he said.

Adam Welch, the ACP’s director, said the decision to honor Hillier was an easy one.

“He has been a super generous benefactor to the town, the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood, the Joint Effort Safe Streets program, and the Arts Council,” Welch

said before the party. “Seeing all these good deeds he’s been doing, it’s just been a great relationship. I wanted to bring it to the next level, and make sure he realized people appreciate him. Because when you are doing that kind of work, generally all you hear are the complaints. You don’t often hear the good stuff.”

Welch said that the same day he and John Bailey of Joint Effort Safe Streets were discussing the prospect of honoring Hillier, the ACP development team was speaking to a committee about the event. “We both came up with the same idea of honoring Bob,” Welch said. “So here it was — a perfect, seamless opportunity.”

After running one of the largest and most successful architecture firms in the world, Hillier co-founded Studio Hillier in 2011 with his wife Barbara, who died in 2022. The interdisciplinary design firm operates out of a transformed machine shop and warehouse on Witherspoon Street. Hillier has been on the core faculty of Princeton University’s School of Architecture since 1992, where he teaches two graduate seminars. Five years ago, the New Jersey Institute of Technology renamed its College of Architecture the J. Robert and Barbara A. Hillier

College of Architecture and Design.

Studio Hillier has been instrumental in the project to install 29 informational plaques throughout the once-segregated Witherspoon-Jackson Historic District.

“For 10 years Barbara had been testing all possible models for the renaissance of Witherspoon Street,” Hillier said. “We are now about to execute her (and my) dream for its historic restoration.”

Hillier has watched the ACP evolve over the decades, overcoming some initial resentment from neighborhood residents who did not feel it was inclusive.

“For me, the Arts Council is now where it should be,” he said. “It’s a major service organization for the entirety of Princeton, in a very diverse neighborhood that is now proud of its presence in the community.”

Welch said Hillier has been responsive and supportive of many ACP events. “This seemed like a great way to celebrate his accomplishments,” he said. “And we want the town to see that we’re recognizing that. We’re just happy to be able to give back. People who give are usually asked to give repeatedly. It’s nice when you can show a little love in return that hopefully is deeply meaningful.”

—Anne Levin

Children’s Home Society Pays Tribute to Two Leaders

On Saturday, April 6, the Children’s Home Society of New Jersey (CHSofNJ) hon ored James Burke, president and chairman of the Burke Foundation, for his vision and leadership in advancing com munity and care for children and families. More than 200 people attended “One Way or Another,” the 130th annual gala of CHSofNJ at Hyatt Re gency Princeton.

Burke was recognized for the invaluable support the Burke Foundation has pro vided to CHSofNJ and its pioneering work to advance doula care to improve mater nal and child outcomes.

“James Burke has been with CHSofNJ every step of the way in creating a community doula program that is led by the community, provides quality jobs for doulas, and follows evidence-based practices,” said Karen Courtney, chief operating officer of CHSofNJ. “Mr. Burke’s leadership has created a fertile environment for doula care to thrive statewide and the Burke Foundation has awarded an additional $500,000 to significantly expand our organization’s doula services to improve birth outcomes in the City of Trenton.”

and families.” He outlined the Burke Foundation’s commitment to supporting children and families during the first 1000 days from pregnancy through the age of two.

his ethical leadership.

The Burke Foundation has funded the CHSofNJ’s AMAR Community Doulas program, one of the first community doula pilots in the state that focuses on Spanish-speaking women. It now serves all of Mercer County and serves women of all backgrounds. The program’s success inspired Burke’s trustees and staff to direct support to community doula pilots in Paterson and Newark.

Burke expressed his gratitude for the recognition and shared his admiration for organizations like the Children’s Home Society of New Jersey that put “their hearts and souls into supporting children

“This critical window offers an unparalleled opportunity to build a nurturing and healthy future for children and families. During those first 1,000 days, a baby is forming more than 1 million neural connections a second — it’s more than any other time in life,” Burke said. “And it’s exactly the time we should be supporting the parents and babies to make sure a family has the best start possible.”

The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey, founded in 1894, is a nonprofit organization that helps at-risk infants, children, youth, and families achieve their potential. Burke oversees the Burke Foundation, which was founded in 1989 by his late father, James E. Burke, longtime CEO of Johnson & Johnson and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Honor for

Wakisha Bailey, CBS Philadelphia news reporter, served as the master of ceremonies. Debbie Harry, better known as a music icon and lead singer of the band Blondie, is also a philanthropist and shared her connection to CHSofNJ and her personal journey as an adoptee.

Harry shared her own testimony about being adopted as an infant by two loving parents. Her placement was facilitated by CHSofNJ. The agency recognized Harry with a “Heart of Glass” and acknowledged her resilience in navigating the challenges of not being able to meet her birth parents and forging an identity of her own with an open and loving heart.

“Debbie has spoken out to advocate for numerous causes. This one is very close to her heart. Speaking publicly about how adoption impacted her life took a lot of courage,” said Valerie Fiorentino, adoption services director of CHSofNJ.

SHARED HONORS: Burke Foundation Chairman James Burke and singer Debbie Harry were recently recognized by the Children’s Home Society of New Jersey for their work supporting care for children and families.

continued from page one the freedom to read is a human right, constitutionally protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, and individuals have the right to free inquiry and the equally important right to form their own opinions.”

During a report on Princeton Public Library, Director Jennifer Podolsky said an average of 1,700 people visit a day. The focus continues to be about ensuring the library is for everyone. “I’m extremely proud of this community for coming together to protect the

right to read for all Princeton residents,” she said. “Libraries shouldn’t be punished for serving their communities.”

The ordinance to acquire the property near Herrontown Woods and the Autumn Hill Reservation was introduced by Council last last month following several years of combined effort by the Friends of Princeton Open Space, The New Jersey Conservation Foundation, the Ridgeview Conservancy, and The Watershed Institute. Each are donating grant funding towards the purchase. Other funding comes from the Green Acres grant program, private donors, and the municipality’s

Open Space Trust Fund.

Representatives from the four organizations that collaborated on the initiative spoke in support of the measure. The acquisition is part of the “Emerald Necklace” that seeks to connect open land throughout the area, providing better access to a more diverse group of community members. Lanwin Development had previously proposed a development of 29 single family homes clustered on half-acre lots on the site.

“This process has been underway for several years. It’s the green infrastructure that Princeton needs to support the smart growth that’s

concentrated downtown and elsewhere,” said Christopher Barr, executive director of the Ridgeview Conservancy. “This is one more step where our generation of Princeton residents and organizations is really trying to secure the future for future residents, both in Princeton and in the area.”

Representing The Watershed Institute, Sophie Glovier pointed out that the property is “a fundamental part of the vernal habitat in this community.” Jay Watson of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation said, “We will not see many other opportunities to protect a tract of land in Princeton of this size and importance. Accomplishing projects of this magnitude have a lot of moving parts. Many of you have been at this for a very long time. A dream team has convened to get these projects done. We thank all of the Princeton team for getting us to this important point.” Also at the meeting Drew Dyson, chief executive officer of the Center for Modern Aging Princeton, reported 25 percent growth in the first three quarters of the current fiscal year. Formerly known as the Princeton Senior Resource Center, the organization will celebrate its 50th anniversary beginning this fall. Among the programs planned are the launch of an adult volunteer corps, more “transition to retirement” programs, and a symposium on ageism in the community. Council voted to pass a resolution awarding the organization an amount not to exceed $166,965 for a one-year term.

—Anne Levin

posed for a picture following Council’s passage of a resolution declaring the town a Book Sanctuary. From left are Library Board Treasurer Jeffrey Liao, Councilman Leighton Newlin, Library Director Jennifer Podolsky, Board Vice President Christopher Van Buren, Councilwoman Eve Niedergang, Board President Robert Ginsberg, Councilwoman Leticia Fraga, State Sen. Andrew Zwicker, Mayor Mark Freda, and Councilman David Cohen.

Nassau Swim Club

continued from page one our vigorous campaign to increase and retain membership will not only make NSC financially viable for years to come, but will allow the pool to have an even greater positive impact on the wider community.”

It continues, “We hope the public can help us convince PU that we deserve another season and a chance to build on our current momentum.”

Many letters in this week’s Town Topics Mailbox, from very different perspectives, reflect the writers’ affection for the NSC and their disappointment, concern, shock, or dismay at the University’s decision to terminate the lease.

The NSC Board’s online petition, which has gathered more than 930 signatures, urges, “Tell Princeton University that Nassau Swim Club is worth saving!” It continues, “NSC is a beloved summertime tradition for many people and its loss will be felt deeply, in Princeton and beyond.”

—Donald Gilpin

Rider Furniture

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competition and their second trip to the national finals. They won the national grand prize in 2022 and made it to the state finals in 2023.

Using STEM to address an important community issue, the PHS research team’s 2024 project aims to help preserve Indigenous languages, including Mam, a Mayan language spoken by a small population of PHS students. The team has created a robotic platform powered by artificial intelligence in the form of a stuffed animal that speaks Mam and other Indigenous languages.

“This novel approach to language education leverages tech to bridge linguistic gaps and empower indigenous communities,” the PHS research team explains in its presentation.

“Samsung Solve for Tomorrow opens students’ eyes to real and relatable local issues, challenging them to use STEM in innovative ways to address those problems and catalyze positive change,” said Samsung Head of Corporate Citizenship Ann Woo in a press release.

“These Gen Zers tell us that participating in the competition has empowered them to understand STEM’s potential, find their voice, connect with like-minded peers nationwide, and set themselves on the path to rewarding future careers.”

Science and Engineering Fair Winners

Other young scientists in the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) recently won acclaim and awards from the Mercer County Science and Engineering Fair (MCSEF) for a variety of research projects.

Eight PHS students and three Princeton Middle School (PMS)

students have been recognized for their research.

PHS student Shioka Shriram won first place in the Chemistry and Materials division for her project “Novel Quantum Materials for Low Power Electronics.” She also qualified to attend the International Science and Engineering Fair, the world’s largest pre-college STEM competition, in Los Angeles in May.

Also winning a first place award was PHS junior Benjamin Gitai, who competed in the Biochemistry, Biology, and Medical division with his project “Analysis of E. Coli Growth Dynamics During Lambda (vir) Phage Infection Reveals Phage Decay.”

Other PHS award winners were Akshaj Sama, Amy Lin, Shaochi Chuang, and Katie Qin.

In the Junior/Middle School division, PMS student Samhita Shriram won the top prize with her project on “Understanding Plant Intelligence Using the Mimosa Pudica,“ and she will compete in a national competition next fall.

Other PMS honorees included Elena Shen and Fei-Fei Wang, who have both been enrolled this year in the PPS Saturday eSTEAM program piloted to increase the level of engagement in science research at the middle school.

All of the students’ projects entered into the Science and Engineering Fair competition were judged by industry professionals, who review the students’ project notebooks and papers, oral presentations, and posters or exhibits.

PPS Science Supervisor Joy Barnes-Johnson reflected on the accomplishments of the young PPS scientists. “I would like to celebrate all of these brilliant students,” she said.

—Donald Gilpin

GARDENS GALORE: The gardens of the Trent House are among those to be featured in a talk on Public Gardens of New Jersey in person and via Zoom at the historic property.

History of Public Gardens

From Colonial to Gilded Age

The Trent House Association will host a talk on public gardens in New Jersey on Saturday, April 27, at 2 p.m. This free program will be held in person at the Trent House Visitor Center, 15 Market Street, Trenton, and via Zoom at https://tinyurl. com/THTalkApril27.

Michael Gross, a member of the Garden State Gardens Consortium, will give an illustrated talk on the Consortium with a focus on New Jersey gardens with Colonial through Gilded Age landscape designs. Accompanying his talk will be illustrations of landscape designs at the Trent House from the early 1700s to 1929 as well as those developed for the grounds once the museum was established.

The Garden State Gardens Consortium seeks to increase public awareness and appreciation of the beauty and horticultural, educational, artistic and historic value of New Jersey’s public gardens. Gross is Professor of Biology and Director of the Sister Mary Grace Burns Arboretum at Georgian Court University. The Arboretum is a member of the Consortium, as is the William Trent House Museum garden and grounds.

film screening

Ex-Shaman (2018)

Thursday, April 18, 7 p.m.

Since their first contact with the Western world in 1969, the Paiter Suruí, an Indigenous people living in the Amazon basin, have been exposed to sweeping social changes. Ex-Shaman follows a Christianized former shaman as he seeks to restore vitality to his village.

In conjunction with the exhibition Denilson Baniwa: Under the Skin of History, on view at Art@Bainbridge, open to visit before the screening.

Directed by Luiz Bolognesi. Run time: 80 minutes. Not Rated.

Co-sponsored by Princeton Garden Theatre, Princeton University’s Brazil LAB, and the Princeton University Art Museum.

Free and Open to the Public

Princeton Garden Theatre

Trenton Spring Gardening

Kicks Off with a Horse Plow

Since 1981, Isles Garden Support Network has been helping community and school gardens grow in Trenton. On Tuesday, April 16, a team of horses and staff from Howell Living History Farm will plow the community garden at 81 Chestnut Avenue (between Walnut and Greenwood avenues) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Rain date will be either April 17 or 18, depending on conditions.

The Chestnut Avenue Garden is the largest and oldest of more than 70 community and school gardens in Trenton, and it has hosted Howell Living History Farm plow teams for many the 30 years that the event has been happening. Operated by the Mercer County Park Commission, the Howell Farm demonstrates farming techniques used in the U.S. at the turn of the 20th century and in many parts of the world today. Local school groups will participate in the hands-on event by helping guide the horses and learning about corn shelling, composting, beekeeping, and more.

“Each year we mark the start of the growing season with this unique event that brings a piece of the country to the city,” said Nicole Russo, Isles’ assistant director of food, agriculture, and sustainability. “People from all different backgrounds and levels of experience work together to get the largest garden in Trenton ready for another productive year. Students and adults alike have the chance to connect to the earth and get a little dirty, too. Sharing this tradition, that spans 35 years and six mayors, has helped foster a healthier future through our love of food.”

Isles provides a range of training and support to people who grow their own fresh fruits and vegetables in community and school gardens. Gardeners harvest more than 20,000 pounds of fresh produce each year, increasing food access and improving food quality in Trenton.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, including how to join a community garden, call (609) 341-4741.

Chamber Breakfast Meeting

Focuses On Princeton Projects

On Tuesday, May 7 from 7:30-10 a.m., Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber will present “Destination Princeton: Eat, Sleep, Art,” at Springdale Golf Club, 1895 Clubhouse Drive.

The Real Estate Business Alliance and Mayor Mark Freda, who is moderator; Princeton Art Museum Director James Steward; Graduate Hotel General Manager Michael Monarca; and Princeton Design Guild Owner Kevin Wilkes will discuss projects underway in town — specifically the Graduate Hotel, Triumph Brewery, and the Princeton University Art Museum — and what they mean for the downtown and the Mercer County region.

Tickets are $35 for members; $45 others. Visit princetonmercer.org for more information and registration.

WET PAPER IN THE DRIVEWAY?

Sorry. It Happens, even with a plastic bag. We can’t control the weather, but we can offer you a free, fresh and dry replacement paper

if you stop by our office at 4428C Route 27 in Kingston.

OLD-FASHIONED FARMING: As they have for several springs, a team of horses and staff from Howell Living History Farm will once again plow a community garden in Trenton on April 16.

Princeton Public Library Board Shares

Thanks During National Library Week

To the Editor:

During National Library Week (April 7-13 ), we’re pleased to acknowledge the Princeton Public Library. Library Journal magazine has consistently awarded our library its highest rating, Five Stars.

This recognition is signifi cant for three reasons: 1) our library is the only one in N.J. to receive this rating; 2) we achieved this rating six years in a row ; and 3) PPL was ranked No. 1 nationally in its budget category.

Many people contribute to such excellence. We thank our municipal officials for their ongoing fi nancial support and for recognizing that many residents consider the library our community’s living room and their favorite place in Princeton.

We thank our patrons. Their respect for, embrace of, and participation in all that our library offers — print and online resources; a range of programs; a peaceful, vital oasis in a bustling downtown; a locale that enhances opportunities to build community — confi rm why our library is the second most-popular destination (after Princeton University) of folks who visit Princeton. In addition, our library welcomes, on average, 1,700 people in person per day; that number doesn’t include our online guests.

We thank our Friends & Foundation and our donors. Their support allows us to provide materials that engage our diverse population and to sponsor events that enrich, celebrate, and challenge our patron’s lives and intelle ct.

And, most of all, we thank our extraordinary, incomparable, and peerless staff. Their welcoming demeanor, their responsiveness to patrons, and their dedication to helping our library users — all these qualities make our library a very special place. From our youngest attendees at our story times to our oldest guests who need help navigating devices, from our students who need assistance with a school assignment to our non-English speakers pursuing resources for leisure reading, from those seeking a respite from the ongoing stressors of daily life to others desperate for a secure environment during emergencies like Superstorm Sandy and heatwaves (we’re an offi cial cooling station!) , our staff provides extraordinary service to all.

In addition to our library’s daily, ongoing services, our library sponsors signature events. These include our Princeton Environmental Film Festival, our Children’s Book Festival, and programs, such as Pride Week celebrations, that we co-sponsor with our community partners.

Our staff is the soul of our library. Every day, but certainly on Tue s day, April 16, National Librar ians Day, we invite library patrons to let our colleagues kn ow how much we appreciate them. Our library’s board of trustees surely do. Our library is Princeton’s great equalizer. We provide unfettered access to all our residents and invite and welcome everyone to participate in our programs and to take advantage of our services for which there are no fees. Patrons who don’t have computers at home can use ours. We lend hotspots to those who can’t afford internet service at home and, through grant funding, items (such as nature backpacks and binoculars) so that everyone can take part in activities that they might otherwise not be able to experience. For

PU Should Do the Right Thing and Open Nassau Swim Club This Summer

To the Editor: I was dismayed to read last week that Princeton University intends to shut down the Nassau Swim Club (NSC), despite not having any use for that land and despite it being against their own financial interest to do so.

I don’t have any connection with either institution, but the move makes no sense and strikes me as arbitrary and meanspirited.

According their website, NSC has already raised enough funding to not only open the pool for the 2024 season, but also to pay their current taxes and required maintenance costs. They are ahead of their business plan on reaching their (reasonable) membership and programs goals to fund the entire 2024 season, plus reimburse the University for one year of back taxes owed and build a capital reserve for future improvements. They’ve done everything reasonably asked of them this year, and more.

Quoting their site: “NSC is ready to go. The pool is on the path to having a successful season, if only it is allowed to open. Our intense efforts over the past couple months show that our team has the dedication and resources to overcome NSC’s remaining challenges. Moreover, our vigorous campaign to increase and retain membership will not only make NSC financially viable for years to come, but will allow the pool to have an even greater positive impact on the wider community.”

If instead the University proceeds with its plan to raze the $1+ million facility (again, with “no plans for use of the land” in this beautiful forest setting), then not only will a beloved 50year community institution be lost forever, but the University would also lose all future payments of back taxes, plus have to pay the significant expense of pointless demolition.

In other words, on all levels including financially, Nassau Swim Club is worth much more alive than dead.

After the University has written generous checks to our municipality, school system, and county (thank you!), it oddly comes across as heartless to not participate when all that’s being asked is to simply be supportive. Having a $34 billion endowment is great, and talking about the well-being of your community is nice, but then you also have to walk the walk, don’t you?

Bottom line, the appearance of a rich university terminating the lease of a cherished community institution isn’t great optics. Did you miss your annual viewing of A Christmas Carol at McCarter?

Come on, Princeton. This is embarrassing. You’re better than this. Let the pool open. It means a lot to many people.

Please do the right thing and extend Nassau’s lease by just one year, so they can bring joy this summer to hundreds of local kids and families (including your own staff, students, and alumni), and so they can continue paying you back taxes. Then, next year, you can revisit and reassess. It costs you nothing; you lose nothing. What could you possibly gain by destroying it now?

Goodwill is hard to earn, but easy to lose. Thanks so much for listening.

JAMES BASH Harrison Street

NSC is Unique, Special Place; Losing It Would Be Devastating to Many People

To the Editor:

I’ve spent every summer at Nassau Swim Club since I was born and have been on the swim and dive teams for 10 years. I truly cannot begin to comprehend why anyone would want to develop this beautiful land. Nassau has provided the Princeton community with a peaceful and diverse space for more than 50 years. At Nassau, children of all ages and backgrounds come together to spend their summers together. Nassau is a place for everyone, from the baby pool for kids to lap lanes for adults.

One of my favorite things about Nassau is that many kids ride their bikes or walk to practice and stay at the pool all day hanging out with their friends. Both the swim and dive teams offer support regardless of skill level. It doesn’t matter if you have never swum before or are on a club team; the coaches and teammates provide an extremely positive and encouraging environment. The teams are a perfect blend of competitive and fun.

In addition to the wonderful teams, Nassau Swim Club also has a camp that runs for the majority of the summer. The camp includes many creative opportunities such as bracelet making, drawing, science lessons, and more. It’s so special to me to have grown up doing fun crafts with the counselors and I now have the opportunity to be a counselor and watch the younger kids have a blast and make lifelong friendships.

People join Nassau because of the community. We don’t mind that there’s no snack bar or that the bathrooms aren’t super fancy because the people are what makes Nassau so special. I can confidently say I am good friends with everyone on the team, which is something a lot of people on other swim teams can’t say.

Whether it was a part of your childhood many years ago or you are currently a member, Nassau is a truly unique and special place regardless of age, and losing it would be devastating to so many people.

MAGDALENA MONASTRA

Age 16

Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville

Think Global ~ Buy Local

LIAO Treasurer Witherspoon Street

with the town Council, President Eisgruber made it abundantly clear that mental health is a topic that needs to be addressed by stating the need to “combat loneliness” and to “make deeper connections.”

I’d respectfully ask President Eisgruber and his team if they have ever been to Nassau Swim Club? It is bathed in trees, hummingbirds, and children laughing and learning to swim.

NSC is a place where IAS faculty and families from all neighborhoods enjoy the golden hours of summer, where gatherings and picnics are the thread of Nassau.

As a resident of this town, I am disheartened to say the least. It is unimaginable that the University wants this slice of heaven to be torn down and be filled in with dirt. The young adults and children of our community deserve a place to just be kids in the hot summers. To learn to swim and make friends! To experience the enthusiasm of the Nassau Swim Team, Aquatics Program, and a swim club that isn’t overcrowded with beating sun and concrete. Nassau Swim Club Board presented the University with a viable professional business plan and has made a commitment that the taxes will be paid, then why not make a compromise and give Nassau another chance?

JULIE HAGAN Battle Road

Council Should Ban Gas Leaf Blowers Year-Round in Princeton

To the Editor:

The Princeton Council is be complimented for the partial ban on gas leaf blowers. Princeton only permits the use of gas-powered leaf blowers from March 15 to May 15 and October 1 to December 15.

You agree that gas-powered leaf blowers — with exasperating noise, being unhealthy for workers, and a menace to the environment — are bad. What has been learned since you passed the bill in 2021?

Noise: It’s almost impossible to enjoy a quiet moment in our neighborhoods during certain hours of March 15 through May 15 without hearing the blasting of gas leaf blowers, their engines making maddening whines assaulting our ears.

Sound from gas leaf blowers can reach 90 decibels or more and has been shown to exceed the World Health Organization’s recommended daytime standards of 55 amplitude-weighted decibels.

Workers: As disturbing as health and noise issues are from gas leaf blowers for neighbors, harms to landscape workers are exponentially more severe. They face alarming risks to their health, including asthma, cardiovascular disease, other respiratory illnesses, and irreversible hearing loss.

The Environment: According to James Fallows, a former writer for The Atlantic, gas leaf blowers are “vastly the dirtiest and most polluting kind of machinery still in legal use.”

Just one commercial lawn mower running on gas for an hour produces as much smog-causing pollutants as driving 300 miles in a car. Gas leaf blowers are much worse, producing the equivalent pollution of driving 1,100 miles. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates show that lawn and garden equipment powered by fossil fuels released 30 million tons of carbon dioxide in 2020.

Because 170 municipalities have banned gas-powered leaf blowers, there already is a market for electric blowers, which are immensely quieter than gas ones, and their engines generate zero emissions (that’s zero).

Gas-powered leaf blowers have been banned in Washington, D.C., and in Montclair since last year. Seattle will have a full ban by 2025, and West Orange by 2026.

The Town Council of Cambridge, Mass. (home of what university?) recently unanimously voted to move its total gas leaf blower ban from 2027 to 2026.

All the reliable harbingers of spring in Princeton are here — weather warming, flowers blooming, trees budding, and noise galore plus gas fumes proliferating.

You all know the harms of gas-powered leaf blowers. Yet, when compared to hundreds of other communities, why is Princeton’s “law” the weakest? Why do we only prohibit their use in the months when they’re generally not needed? (It’s as if Princeton University banned cheating by its students only in the summer, when there are no classes.)

Mayor Freda and members of the Council, you are asked to totally phase out gas-powered leaf blowers by 2025 and make Princeton quieter and cleaner, eliminate a major source of climate change, and protect laborers who bear the brunt of these harms. Let’s do it soon and completely.

MILT LIEBERMAN Nassau Street

Appropriate Balance is Needed for Design of Proposed Jugtown Addition

To the Editor:

One goal of the 2023 Princeton Master Plan is: “Balance historic preservation efforts with the public interest in smart growth, greater housing choice, sustainability, equity, and economic development.” The Historic Preservation Commission and the Planning Board now have an opportunity to do just that, balance important public interests raised by the pending application for a four-story, 21,000±square-foot addition to the 3,600±square-foot, two-story historic Hornor House in the Jugtown Historic District, at the northeast corner of Nassau and Harrison Streets.

The applicant, responding to the incentives offered by the municipality in adopting its Affordable Housing Overlay–2 zoning ordinance in 2020, proposes an inclusionary development with 15 apartments and 27.5 bathrooms, including three affordable units. Six units proposed on its third and fourth floors are two-story duplexes. To accommodate these apartments and 15 parking spaces, the applicant proposes a massive addition that would be more than five times the size of the existing building at 344 Nassau Street that would remain.

To approve this project under Princeton’s Land Use Code, the Planning Board, with the advice of the Historic Preservation Commission, must make specific findings spelled out in Princeton’s Historic Preservation Ordinance. For example, the Planning Board must find that the design “Is appropriate to and compatible with the existing structures and landscape of the historic preservation district.” As no other structure in the Jugtown Historic District has four stories or reaches the proposed addition’s 45-foot height, the proposed addition would loom behind, next to, and over the 18th century-scale Hornor House in an inescapable, incompatible aesthetic and regulatory conflict. It would also be out-of-scale, and thereby incompatible, with all other existing buildings in the Jugtown Historic District lots that overlap with the AHO-2 overlay zone. Among other findings, the Planning Board must find that “The height of the proposed structure is visually compatible with structures within the district …,” but all five existing historic buildings in the overlap have only two stories, except for one

building that has a two-and-one-half story, early 19th century addition, while a second building has a three-story, 34-foothigh, 2022 addition. In my opinion as a professional planner, the Planning Board will not be able to make the required fi ndings under the ordinance, unless the project is revised significantly.

Expanding housing choice by creating more affordable housing is important, as is preserving the scale and character of historic districts. We can do both in Princeton. A compromise is within reach. It’s up to the Historic Preservation Commission and the Planning Board to strike the appropriate balance and insist on a scaled-back, appropriately designed, three-story, 35-foot maximum redesign that will still provide substantial affordable housing. The public review of this proposed development is slated to begin before the Historic Preservation Commission on Monday, April 15 at 4 p.m. in the Witherspoon Hall Municipal Building.

DAVID N. KINSEY, FAICP, PP Aiken Avenue

With Severe Weather, Recent Earthquake, Mother Earth is Trying to Wake Everyone Up

To the Editor:

Many thanks to Town Topics for highlighting The Watershed Institute and the organization’s dedication to preserving the environment [“Watershed Institute Celebrates a Milestone,” April 3, page 1]. The Princeton community is especially fortunate for “the shed” and many other environmental organizations in our area. Their presence, expertise, and support enables many of us to entrust the care of our environment to them.

Last Tuesday evening, Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of Gathering Moss and Braiding Sweetgrass, reminded us of how we continuously keep taking from the earth rather than living in reciprocity. The week before, Princeton Energy and Climate Scholars (PECS) and High Meadows Environmental Institute (HMEI) presented the second of three parts of their film and dialogue series, a paradox of the clean energy transition, which was grossly evident of “taking” in the name of sustainability that Kimmerer mentioned.

Mother Earth is (and has been) attempting to wake everyone up! In these weeks we have experienced severe weather and even an earthquake and unnerving aftershocks. These poignant messages are for all of us to become more conscious about our relationship with our environment and the ripple effects our actions and behaviors may have. Although we too can support these beneficial environmental organizations, certainly we cannot solely rely on them to do all the caregiving or handle the burden of “fi xing” the situation we are in.

The ultimate truth is that we are not separate from nature but a delicate web of interdependence. With Jim Waltman’s mention of “…connection between people and nature, and the need to keep inspiring and fostering those connections” and Kimmerer’s statement about “our responsibility versus our ‘right’ to nature” — healing our minds to restore the earth seems to be the cooperative solution.

So, as we highlight Turtle Island, our home, this spring and specifically during Earth Day, let us be reminded that it is every day that we have a responsibility, which is imperative for the health and well-being of us, the people in our community and beyond, and not to forget Mother Earth, the sustainer of us all.

And with the possibility of witnessing the eclipse, may we continue to sense the awe and wonder of the vast interconnected universe we are integral part of!

TAMMY L. SANDS Winant Road

The writer is the former chair of the Princeton Environmental Commission and is on the board of trustees of the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions.

Princeton University Should Reconsider Its Decision to Close Nassau Swim Club

To the Editor:

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding Princeton University’s recent decision to close Nassau Swim Club. As a member of the community who has cherished Nassau Swim Club for years, I cannot help but feel disheartened by what seems to be a disregard for the needs of the local families and children.

Nassau Swim Club holds a special place in the hearts of many as a beloved pool that has served as a valuable learning ground for numerous children in our community. It is a hidden gem, exuding the charm of old Princeton that is slowly fading in today’s ever-changing world. For many of us, Nassau has been a refuge where we could cling to the traditions of the past.

However, Princeton University’s decision to close Nassau Swim Club feels like a betrayal of the community’s trust. Despite the clear benefits Nassau provides to the community, it seems that the University is more focused on its own agenda than on the well-being of the families and children who rely on this cherished institution.

What is particularly concerning is that the University’s actions seem to prioritize financial considerations over the needs of the community. It is disheartening to learn that Princeton University plans to spend more money closing the pool than the debt Nassau owes them. This decision reflects a troubling shift away from the idealism that universities once stood for, instead turning them into mere corporate entities focused solely on profit.

In closing Nassau Swim Club, Princeton University risks not only depriving the community of a valuable resource, but also further eroding the sense of trust and goodwill between the University and its surrounding neighborhoods.

I urge Princeton University to reconsider its decision and to prioritize the well-being of the community by keeping Nassau Swim Club open for generations to come.

CHAITRA BAUM Lovers Lane

Proposed Design of 344 Nassau Should Be Modi ed to Comply with HPC Ordinance

To the Editor:

On Monday, April 15 at 4 p.m., the Princeton Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) will meet to discuss the application for 344 Nassau Street, which is a proposed massive, four-story, modern apartment building on top and behind the historic home on the corner of Harrison Street and Nassau Street.

Residents and tourists alike come to Princeton to walk its pedestrian-friendly streets and observe the historical charm of its shops and homes. At times, the requirements and regulations of living in an historic neighborhood can be challenging — the permitting process and applications required for what feels like simple updates can feel overwhelming — however, the goal of preserving Princeton’s historic community is a worthy one. That is why it was surprising to me to learn that a developer was being allowed to build 15 residential units in a historical neighborhood without taking into account the standards set forth in the Historic Preservation Ordinance.

The opposition to this project has, at times, been unfairly characterized as an opposition to affordable housing, which is not the case. Rather, it is frustration that an outside developer is being allowed to change our community without having to comply with the same standards that other homeowners must abide by. It’s also concern that an already busy intersection at Harrison Street and Nassau Street will be overwhelmed with the addition of 15 new rental units, some as large as three bedrooms.

To address the affordable housing question — the proposed application currently provides for three affordable units and 12 market rate units. A modification to the proposed design of the 344 Nassau Street project, requiring it to comply with the standards set forth in the Historic Preservation Ordinance, would still allow for the same number of affordable units currently contemplated by the existing plan without comprising this notable historic neighborhood.

I encourage you to attend the Princeton Historic Preservation Commission meeting on Monday to learn more about this project before it is too late to preserve this historic neighborhood and this project sets a new precedent for development across Princeton.

CORA WALKER Chestnut Street

Nassau is Valuable Club That All Families Should Have Opportunity to Experience

To the Editor:

I am shocked and surprised that Princeton University doesn›t see the value of Nassau Swim Club. The club was my home away from home every summer growing up. My siblings and I lived there and swam all day. We learned valuable lifelong skills and I still use them today. Nassau taught me how to swim (a lifesaving skill); how to socialize with peers, coaches, and parents (a skill that is slowly being lost today); responsibility; organization; and it brought joy.

I went on to coach swimming during various parts of my adult life and even received a fellowship due to my skills. Living and growing up at Nassau is one of my favorite memories, and these days the skills learned there cannot be found anywhere else. Nassau is a valuable commodity that all families should have the opportunity to experience. Where are the University families that built and supported this club?

BARB VAN HORN YOCUM

(Once a Lemming, always a Lemming) Fairway Drive

41 Leigh Avenue, Princeton www.tortugasmv.com

Available for Lunch & Dinner

Mmm..Take-Out

Events • Parties • Catering (609) 924-5143

Glaude, Yamahtta-Taylor Explore Black Leadership in America

In We Are the Leaders We Have Been Looking For, Princeton Professor Eddie S. Glaude Jr. shows how ordinary people have the capacity to be the heroes that our democracy so desperately requires, rather than outsourcing their needs to leaders who purportedly represent them. He explores aspects of Black politics with Keeanga Yamahtta-Taylor at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street, on Wednesday, April 17 at 6 p.m. This event is co-presented by the Princeton Public Library and cosponsored by Princeton University’s Humanities Council and the Departments of African American Studies and Religion.

Tickets are required for this event, and are available through Eventbrite, linked on the Labyrinth website at labyrinthbooks.com/events.

The book (Harvard University Press, $24.95) is a meditation on how ordinary Black Americans can shake off their reliance on a small group of professional politicians and pursue self-cultivation and grassroots movements to achieve a more just and perfect democracy.

We Are the Leaders We Have Been Looking For “is nothing short of a complete refreshment of the concept of intellectual vocation,” writes Imani Perry, author of South to America: A Journey Below the MasonDixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation. “ It is a work of critical and rigorous social theory, elegant prose, and immediate political consequence. We know Glaude is a prolific and pathbreaking as a scholar and highly influential as an intellectual working for the public good. But in this book, we see

Author Park to Address How Climate Change Affects Everyone

Glaude as we haven’t previously witnessed — a public philosopher.”

Glaude, one of the nation’s preeminent scholars and public intellectuals speaking to the Black experience in America, makes the case that the hard work of becoming a better person should be a critical feature of Black politics. Through interpretations of Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Ella Baker, Glaude shows how ordinary people have the capacity to be the heroes that our democracy requires. He is the author of several books, including Democracy in Black and the New York Times bestseller Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own, winner of the Harriet Beecher Stowe Book Prize. He frequently appears in the media as an MSNBC contributor on programs like Morning Joe and Deadline: White House. A native of Moss Point, Miss., Glaude is the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor at Princeton University.

Yamahtta-Taylor’s Race for Profit: How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. She is also the author of From #Blacklivesmatter to Black Liberation. Yamahtta-Taylor is a contributing writer at The New Yorker and professor of African American Studies at Princeton University.

In Slow Burn: The Hidden Costs of a Warming World, author R. Jisung Park encourages us to view climate change through a different lens: one that focuses less on the possibility of mass climate extinction in a theoretical future, and more on the everyday implications of climate change here and now.

Park will discuss his book with Princeton environmentalist Allison Carruth on Monday, April 15 at 7 p.m. at the Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. The event is cosponsored by Labyrinth Books and the High Meadows Environmental Institute at Princeton University and Princeton University Press. A book signing will follow the program.

By investigating how the physical phenomenon of climate change interacts with social and economic institutions, Slow Burn (Princeton University Press, $29.95) illustrates how climate change already affects everyone, and may act as an amplifier of inequality. Wealthier households and corporations may adapt quickly, but, without targeted interventions, less advantaged communities may not. Viewing climate change as a slow and unequal burn puts dollars and cents behind the case for aggressive emissions cuts and helps identify concrete steps that can be taken to better manage its adverse effects, tackling some of the problems locally.

Park is assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania, where he holds appointments in the School of Social Policy and Practice and the Wharton School of Business. An environmental and labor economist, he has been investigating and writing about the economics of climate change for more than a decade. He has advised organizations that range from the World Bank to the New York City Departments of Education and Health.

Carruth is professor of American Studies and the High Meadows Environmental Institute and the director

Butler offers a hopeful work of social and political analysis that is both timely and timeless.

Butler is an American philosopher and gender studies scholar whose work has influenced political philosophy ethics, and the fields of third-wave feminism, queer theory, and literary theory.

Butler began teaching at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1993, where they have served, beginning in 1998, as the Maxine Elliot Professor in the Department of Comparative Literature and the Program of Critical Theory. They are also the Hannah Arendt Chair at the European Graduate School. Butler is best known for their books Gender Trouble; Feminism and the Subversion of Identity and Bodies

That Matter: On the Discursive Limits of Sex.

Wallach Scott is professor emerita in the School of Social Science at the Institute for Advanced Study. She is recognized as one of the foundational feminist historians. Her books include Gender and the Politics of History ; The Politics of the Veil ; The Fantasy of Feminist History ; Sex and Secularism ; Knowledge, Power, and Academic Freedom ; and On the Judgement of History

The event is cosponsored by Princeton University’s Gender and Sexuality Studies Department, Gender and Sexuality Resource Center, and Carl Fields Center for Equality and Cultural Understanding and by the Institute for Advanced Study and SPIA in NJ.

of a Princeton lab focused on environmental media and storytelling. Her current research examines how narratives about contemporary environmental challenges take shape across the arts and sciences and effect different frameworks for action. The author of Global Appetites: American Power and the Literature of Food , and co-author of Literature and Food Studies , she also is an expert in the field of food studies.

Feminist Scholars Discuss What Gender Has Become Two eminent thinkers on gender will discuss Judith Butler’s new book at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street, on Tuesday, April 16 at 6 p.m. She will be in conversation with Joan Wallach Scott about Who’s Afraid of Gender?, which was named a Most Anticipated Book of 2024 by The Washington Post, Time, ELLE, Kirkus, Literary Hub, and others. This event is ticketed, but free. Donations in any amount are accepted. Tickets are available through Eventbrite — the link is on labyrinthbooks.com/events.

The book (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $30) is an account of how a fear of gender is fueling reactionary politics around the world. It has been called “a profoundly urgent intervention” by feminist writer Naomi Klein, and “a wonderfully thoughtful and impassioned book on a critically important centerpiece of contemporary authoritarianism and patriarchy” by Kirkus Reviews.

According to the publisher, Butler, whose iconic book Gender Trouble redefined how we think about gender and sexuality, confronts the attacks on “gender” that have become central to right-wing movements today. Global networks have formed “anti-gender ideology movements” that are dedicated to circulating a fantasy that gender is a dangerous, perhaps diabolical, threat to families, local cultures, civilization — and even “man” himself. Imagining new possibilities for both freedom and solidarity,

From Earthquake to Eclipse with Murakami and Kurosawa

Last Friday when news of the local earthquake hit, I was at the library checking out the Criterion DVD of Akira Kurosawa’s Stray Dog (1949). At home I returned to Haruki Murakami’s The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (Vintage International 1997) to find my place bookmarked at page 217, just as Toru Okada, “Mr. Wind-up Bird,” was packing a knapsack “kept for earthquakes and other emergencies.” When the late-afternoon aftershock rumbled through the house, I was on page 245 just as Okada was experiencing “a strange reverberation.” Call it what you will, a minor coincidence or magical realism in action, these things happen when you’re reading Murakami, not to mention the name game connection wherein the hero of Stray Dog is a detective named Murakami and the older detective showing him the ropes is Sato, a name he shares with the yakuza hero of Tokyo Vice , the exciting new series I hope to write about in a future column.

The American Occupation Stray Dog was filmed less than four years after the war’s end, with Tokyo like a devastated ghost town haunted by the American occupation, with ration books serving as black market currency. By contrast, Tokyo Vice’s vast, glittering 21stcentury metropolis looms like a prodigious hallucination. As Murakami, a veteran of the lost war reborn as a cop whose gun was lifted by a pickpocket on a hot, crowded bus, Toshiro Mifune spends most of the film in a white suit that enhances his resemblance to the gangster played by Alain Delon in Jean-Pierre Melville’s Le Samourai (1967). The only exception is when he haunts Tokyo’s underworld looking for his gun in the guise of a destitute soldier; the eerie sequence establishes what film critic Terence Rafferty calls “the film’s real story” in an essay accompanying the Criterion DVD. As detectives Murakami and Sato (Takashi Shimura) “narrow the search to a likely suspect, the object of their pursuit proves to be someone very much like Murakami himself: a veteran, about the same age.” As he prowls through “the ravaged city,” Murakami is experiencing the “life he might have led,” these mean streets “a collective image of the road not taken.” For Rafferty, Stray Dog “is the story of a young detective chasing his own shadow.”

Bonding Through Baseball

For me, one of the film’s most moving scenes comes when Murakami and Sato trail a suspected purveyor of stolen weapons to a baseball game, filmed in progress with shots of star players who were the

Japanese equivalent of Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams. As someone old enough to remember when Japan was the enemy, I felt a poignant mixture of wonder, regret, and sadness at the thought of all that the two nations have, and have always had, in common. How strange, to come to that scene when the star players I admire today are actors like Shimura, so memorable as the dying man in Kurosawa’s Ikiru , and Mifune in his glory as the samurai hero of Kurosawa films like The Hidden Fortress, Rashomon, Yojimbo, and Seven Samurai

As for Murakami the novelist, I’m thinking of his memoir, Novelist as a Vocation, where baseball and writing come together the day he attended the April 1978 season opener between his team the Yakult Swallows and the Hiroshima Carp at Tokyo’s Jingu Stadium. When “a rangy newcomer from the United States” steps to the plate and slams the first pitch into left field for “a clean double,” the “satisfying crack when bat met ball” resounds through the stadium and in that instant, Murakami is electrified by the thought, “I can write a novel.” And so he does, publishing his first book, Hear the Wind Sing , a year later.

Heavy Weather

out to look at our open set that night, we found the whole street smashed to bits by the high winds. Gazing out over the rubble of what we had been filming a few hours before gave me a peculiarly clean, rewarding feeling.”

Last week’s earthquake came to mind again while I was reading about the filming of Stray Dog in Kurosawa’s memoir, Something Like An Autobiography (1982). After discussing the impact of the oppressively hot weather stressed throughout the film, including the occasion when rain was needed for a particular scene whereupon “a terrific real rainstorm began,” Kurosawa recalls, “When we had a great deal left to shoot on an open set, a typhoon approached ... We rushed the shooting through with one ear glued to the radio for the storm reports. Second by second the typhoon bore down on us and the set took on a battleground atmosphere. We wound up shooting the very evening the storm was scheduled to hit full force. Sure enough, when we went

Earthquake and Eclipse Variations on the way Kurosawa’s “rewarding feeling” links devastation with the joy of creation are played out again and again in Murakami’s Wind-Up Bird Chronicle , a book conceived on a scale large enough to encompass any number of earthquakes, eclipses, and other acts of nature and the unnatural. I thought of both Kurosawa and Murakami as I read the coverage of the eclipse in Tuesday’s New York Times, which ends with a quote from a viewer who took four different flights to experience two minutes of perfect “totality” (“It feels like you need a poet or something to describe it”). In fact, Murakami creates multiple passages that deliver something equivalent to an eclipse, total or, so much the better, imperfect or incongruous. During Okada’s three days at the bottom of the well in which he experiences the “strange reverberation” that coincided with our 4.8 Princeton Ridge earthquake, he looks up to the circular portion of sky way up at the top: “As time passed and the sky came increasingly under the sway of the bright morning sun of summer, one star at a time would obliterate itself from my field of view. They did this with the utmost gentleness, and I studied the process of obliteration with wide-open eyes. The summer sun did not, however, erase every star from the sky. A few of the strongest ones remained. No matter how high the sun climbed, they took a stubborn stance and refused to disappear. This made me very happy.”

Our street’s eclipse has come and gone, all that “totality” hidden behind cloud cover that can create a magnificence of its own, as we witnessed during last Saturday’s astonishingly prolonged and

thrilling sunset — a spectacle easily worthy of a place between an earthquake and an eclipse. Such rare sunsets evoke extremes on the grandest and ungrandest of scales, everything from whodunits to grand opera, and just when you think the spectacle is played out and the show’s over, something that began with a long thick streak of gunmetal grey streaming across the firmament, releases gushes of red out of nowhere, surely it’s the end of the story, everything fading to black, until suddenly the sunset sky goes deeply, totally sunrise red.

Times Square Eclipse

The unseen second-hand eclipse I had to settle for is the one a group of servicemen are watching, shielding their eyes, on the front page of Monday’s New York Times. The date is July 9, 1945, in the heart of Times Square, the month before the Japanese surrender. Ten years later I was haunting this crossroads of cinema, a paradise of first-run movie palaces like the Paramount to the south and the Capitol to the north (not to mention the Roxy and Radio City to the east). I know these giant movie billboards well. That’s Clark Gable’s immense face grinning over the shoulders of the eclipse watchers, on a Victoria Theatre billboard advertising Jack London’s Call of the Wild , a wintry film for summer in the city. Slightly obscured, the billboard above the Astor Theatre is for Danny Kaye’s comedy Wonder Man, which I was able to identify with the help of the New York Times’ “Time Machine” scan of the first page on July 9, 1945.

Here’s a sample of the headlines: “Fighters Rip Tokyo Airfields, Smash 45 Planes”: “The War in the Pacific Moves Ahead on Land and Sea as Taps Echo over the Water”; “Eight Germans Slain, 20 Shot by Guard at Prison Camp”; “GI Killed in Arms Blast”; then this, given a prominent place among the front page heads: “1 Killed, 3 Felled in Theatre Blast, Orchestra Members Startled.” The theatre is the Capitol, located a few blocks away, where a live orchestra is playing for a stage show featuring the singer Rose Marie (a bonus Manhattan movie theatres offered in those days). The explosion in the air-conditioning unit happened while the audience was laughing at the forgotten jokes of a forgotten comedian. As a rescue unit is fighting to save the dying fireman on the sidewalk outside the theater, hundreds of patrons continue buying tickets at the box office on Broadway. The feature attraction is Blood on the Sun, “a drama of Japanese intrigue.”

—Stuart Mitchner

Performing Arts

CHAMBER CONCERT: The Puget Sound Piano Trio performs works by Haydn, Mendelssohn, and Del Aguila at Trinity Church on April 24 at Trinity Church. (Photo by Sy Bean)

Princeton Symphony Orchestra

Presents Visiting Piano Trio

On Wednesday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m., the Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) presents PSO principal cellist Alistair MacRae, violinist Maria Sampen, and pianist

Ronaldo Rolim of the Puget Sound Piano Trio at Trinity Church, 33 Mercer Street. The trio is the ensemblein-residence at University of Puget Sound School of Music in Tacoma, Wash. On the program are Joseph Haydn’s Piano Trio in E Major, Hob. XV/28; Miguel Del Aguila’s Barroqueada , Op.128; and Felix Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio No. 2 in C Minor, Op.66.

Over its four-decade history, the trio has presented hundreds of concerts in venues throughout the United States. The musicians are equally at home performing repertoire from the standard classical canon and hot-off-the-press works of living composers. In 2023, the trio gave the West Coast premiere of Miguel del Aguila’s Barroqueada , a neoBaroque suite infused with Latin American dances. This became the seed of a program entirely dedicated to Latin American music for the 2023-24 season, including 21st-century works by Gabriela Ortiz and Alejandro Cardona. The trio can be heard on the 2020

Artwork By: Sam Lee Regan

Navona Records recording Drift , featuring Tianyi Wang’s trio Dark Blessing Tickets are $45 per person, youths 5-17 receive a 50 percent discount with an adult purchase. Visit princetonsymphony.org

Westminster Choir Performs

At Carnegie Hall Venue

The Westminster Choir will return to Carnegie Hall for a performance that will honor the late composer James Whitbourn, whose deep ties to Westminster Choir College lasted more than 20 years before his death in March. The event will take place in Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium, one of the national historic landmark’s three venues, on April 13 at 1 p.m.

Westminster Choir will join the New England Symphonic Ensemble and other participating choirs for the premiere performance of Whitbourn’s Requiem , his final work, in its full orchestra version, as well as Elaine Hagenberg’s Illuminare

The Requiem was commissioned by Rider University’s Westminster Choir College and incorporates existing material written for James Jordan, the conductor of the Westminster Choir who was Whitbourn’s longtime friend and collaborator, and the Westminster Williamson Voices. Because Whitbourn was too ill to complete the work, composer John Rutter completed the orchestration.

“Now it falls to Westminster Choir to premiere what now was his final work,” Jordan said. “Few choirs have such a privilege. James Whitbourn loved Westminster Choir College and its students. This will be our thanks and gift to our cherished friend and musical partner. We know the musical world will be listening.”

A British composer, conductor, and producer, Whitbourn was internationally renowned for a catalog of works that is performed around the world. His most performed composition was the concert-length choral work Annelies , the first major choral setting of The Diary of Anne Frank. It made its U.S. premiere at Westminster Choir College in 2007 under the direction of Jordan. The piece was later recorded by the Westminster Williamson Voices — one of 10 recordings Whitbourn made with Jordan and the Westminster Williamson Voices — and nominated for the 2014 Grammy for Best Choral Performance. Another work, Luminosity, was written for Westminster Choir College and the Archedream dance ensemble. Whitbourn also served as a recording engineer for many Westminster-related projects and was the codirector of the Choral Institute at Oxford, Westminster’s partnership with St. Stephen’s House in Oxford, United Kingdom.

Chamber Meditations

Thursday Apr 11, 8pm

Marcus Broderick (prayer guide) and Singers: Jeff Cutts, Brian Mummert, Agnes Coakley Cox and Caroline Olsen. Guitar and Bass : Ray Cetta.

CHOIR AT CARNEGIE HALL:

Founded in 1920, the Westminster Choir is composed of students at Westminster Choir College of Rider University. The ensemble’s 2023-24 season has also included performances in New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Washington, D.C., as well as local performances on campus and at the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville. Recent seasons have

Visit Rider.edu for ticket information.

Flutist, Oboist, and Pianist Perform at Nassau Church Westminster Conservatory at Nassau will present a recital featuring the ensemble Trio Brillante on Thursday, April 18 at 12:15 p.m. in the Niles Chapel of Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street. It is open to the public free of charge. Trio Brillante consists of Katherine McClure, flute; Melissa Bohl, oboe; and Esma Pasic-Filipovic, piano. The program will include two short works by Brazilian composer Osvaldo Lacerda, Cantilena for flute and piano and Canto Lirico for oboe and piano; Berceuse and Gondellied for solo piano by Croatian composer Dora Pejacevic; and two trios, Pastorale and Arlequinade by Eugène Goossens and Tarantelle by Philip Gaubert. McClure performs as principal flute with the Strauss Symphony of America, the Riverside Symphonia and New York-based Lyons Chamber Players. In addition, she plays flute and piccolo with the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey, the American Repertory Ballet Orchestra, Bay

Atlantic Symphony and Vox Amadeus of Philadelphia, among other regional groups. McClure teaches flute at Westminster Conservatory and the Lawrenceville School, and maintains a private studio in Kingston. She has a bachelor’s degree in music from Skidmore College and a master of music in flute performance from the Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University. She has toured with the Irish Tenors, Patti Lupone, Lee Ann Rimes, Linda Ronstadt, and, most recently, with Marie Osmond.

Bohl is the principal oboist of the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey, the Orchestra of St. Peter-bythe-Sea, the Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra, and the American Repertory Ballet Orchestra. She plays oboe and English horn with the Plainfield Symphony and performs regularly with many other area musical organizations including the Garden State Symphonic Band and the Central Jersey Symphonic Orchestra. At Westminster Conservatory she teaches oboe and is head of the woodwind, brass, and percussion department. Bohl has degrees in music from the Eastman School of Music, the University of Notre Dame and Princeton University.

Pasic-Filipovic has a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Musical Arts degree from the University of Novi Sad, Yugoslavia. She has performed and recorded with the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra. She has been a recitalist, accompanist, and teacher in the former Yugoslavia, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, and the U.S. She was the accompanist for flute classes at the Music Academy in Sarajevo, and at the Vienna Hochschule für Musik und

Darstellende Kunst. PasicFilipovic recently retired from Westminster Conservatory of Music, where she taught piano and was the director of the Honors Music Program. She recently assumed the position of piano department head at the Newark School of the Arts.

Early Bird Tickets For Sourland Festival

The 19 th Annual Sourland Mountain Festival is on Saturday, July 13 from 3-8:30 p.m., rain or shine. Early bird pricing is now available.

The Westminster Choir returns to the famed New York stage to honor late composer James Whitbourn on April 13 at 1 p.m. included performances with the Pittsburgh Symphony, concert tours in Beijing, China and Spain, participation in the World Symposium on Choral Music in Barcelona and groundbreaking performances of Julia Wolfe’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Anthracite Fields at the historic Roebling WireWorks as part of Westminster’s Transforming Space project. The choir’s recording, Serenity of Soul, celebrates the choir’s 100th year and will be released later this month on the GIA Masterworks label.

Bands representing talent from the region will appear at Unionville Vineyards to celebrate the Sourland region. Proceeds benefit the Sourland Conservancy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the history and ecology of Central Jersey’s Sourland Mountain region.

The festival lineup will include Sourland natives Tony and the Trees with their blend of blues and funk. Christine Havrilla and Gypsy Fuzz plan to have guests out of their seats dancing to eclectic “Neofunkadelicfolkpoptwangrock” rock and soul. The Adventures of Matte Black and headliners Matt O’Ree Band will play tunes from their new release, Hand in Glove.

Tickets are on sale now at sourlandmountainfest.com/ tickets.

ONLINE

Princeton University Chapel Group sing and breath meditation guided by Hope Littwin (choral conductor)

Sadia Bruce (breath guide)

SUMMER MUSIC: The Adventures of Matt Black is among the bands set to descend on Unionville Vineyards on July 13 for the annual Sourland Mountain Festival.

Off-Broadway Hit

Comes to Mercer

Tainted food, nuns in freezers, and lots of laughs are in store when The MTM Players bring the musical comedy Nunsense to the Kelsey Theatre stage, April 19 to May 5, on Mercer County Community College’s (MCCC) West Windsor Campus.

After a bad batch of vichyssoise accidentally kills off 52 of the Little Sisters of Hoboken by the convent cook, Sister Julia (Child of God), the survivors empty the coffers to bury the deceased, but run out of cash before the last few bodies can be laid to rest. With the remaining deceased nuns on ice in the kitchen freezer, they decide to stage a variety show to raise the extra funds they need. But — will their prayers be answered before the health department discovers their secret?

Nunsense is the third longest running musical in Off-Broadway history. Since its premiere in 1985, there have been more than 8,000 productions worldwide in 26 languages. The show was written and scored by Dan Goggin, and won the 1986 Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Off-Broadway Musical, Best Book, and Best

Music. In 1994 Nunsense was produced for television, starring Rue McClanahan as Mother Superior.

Dates and showtimes are Friday, April 19 and 26, and Saturday, April 20, 27, and May 4 at 8 p.m. Afternoon performances are Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, April 21, 28, and May 5 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $26 for adults and $24 for children and students. Visit kelseytheatre.org.

On Friday and Saturday, April 26 and 27, Princeton Garden Theatre holds its first-ever Animation Takeover, a two-day celebration showcasing the medium. This year’s program displays the fundamentals of animation, featuring an eclectic assortment of titles which employ traditional handdrawn techniques and stopmotion photography.

Opening the event on April 26, is Cowboy Bebop: The Movie , followed by the stop-motion masterwork Mad God . The lineup for April 27, includes the classic The Iron Giant, Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox, and the mature, emotional anime, Tokyo Godfathers

Closing out the weekend is Perfect Blue , considered by some to be the greatest anime ever created.

Audience members can gain access to all six films in the program by purchasing a weekend punch c ard: $55 for general admission; $40 for members; and $45 for students.

Full series punch cards and individual tickets are on sale at the Garden box office or online at princetongarden.org/animation. The theater is at 160 Nassau Street.

Princeton University Concerts

Announces 2024-25 Season

Princeton University Concerts (PUC) has announced its 2024-25 season, which runs from this September through April 2025.

Performances span diverse artists, repertoire, and formats in which to experience chamber music: the mainstage Concert Classics series, which has been running since PUC’s inception in 1894, with audience seated in the 800-seat Richardson Auditorium; Special Events with soloists and ensembles; the Performances Up Close series, with audience seated alongside the artist on stage in a more informal atmosphere; the

Healing with Music conversation-concert series highlighting music’s powerful role in life; concerts by the Richardson Chamber Players faculty ensemble; and Family Concerts. The repertoire performed across series ranges from early music to new compositions spanning baroque, classical, and world music traditions. Performers include Dutch violinist Janine Jansen; the Mahler Chamber Orchestra with pianist Mitsuko Ushida; jazz vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant with pianist Sullivan Forner; flutist Emi Ferguson, pianist Benjamin Grosvenor; the Chanticleer Vocal Ensemble; and a trio with clarinetist Martin Frost, violist Antoine Tamestit, and pianist Shai Wosner.

PUC’s free Live Music

Meditation series, Annual Chamber Jam, and community programs beyond the concert hall will be announced over the summer.

“At Princeton University Concerts, we are continually exploring the endless possibilities of what chamber music might encompass in the hands of the world’s best musicians, from the most established to the trailblazing next generation,” said PUC Director Marna Seltzer. “I am proud that PUC has become a place where you can encounter these artists at all stages of their careers and in many different settings, and next season is no exception.”

The upcoming season offers musical experiences that have seldom been a part of PUC’s 131 years of programming including classical guitar, jazz vocals sung

to harpsichord and theorbo, solo lute, saxophone, guitar, kamancheh, pipa, and tabla.

“We always try to emphasize that chamber music is fundamentally about human connection and interplay, and we try to infuse that communal spirit in our programming,” said Seltzer. “In addition to concerts, we will continue our wide breadth of community programming beyond the concert hall, including Do-Re-Meet social events, documentary screenings at the Garden Theatre, and book group discussions at the Princeton Public Library, creating both enhanced connection among our loyal audiences and increased points of connection with our music programming.”

Visit puc.princeton.edu for more information.

A CONTEMPORARY FOCUS:

Labor of Love: Cataloging the Bhagavad Gita April 11 at 6pm Animation Takeover At the Garden Theatre

and the company’s founder George Balanchine. Visit nycb.org for tickets. (Photo by Erin Baiano)

MUSICAL COMEDY HABIT: “Nunsense” is on stage at the Kelsey Theatre of Mercer County Community College April 19 through May 5.

Gianna Reisen’s “Play Time” is among the works to be presented by the New York City Ballet at the last section of its 75th season, April 23-June 2, at the Koch Theatre in Lincoln Center. Other choreographers to be represented include Amy Hall Garner, Justin Peck, Alexei Ratmansky, Christopher Wheeldon, Pam Tanowitz, Kyle Abraham, Jerome Robbins,

Lost in Wonder, Love, and Praise

Spring Vesper Service presented by the Princeton Seminary Chapel Choir

Sunday, April 14, 2024

7:00 p.m.

Princeton Seminary Chapel

Denison Baniwa Exhibition

Opening at Art@Bainbridge

An exhibition of work by the Indigenous Brazilian artist Denilson Baniwa will open April 13 at the Princeton University Art Museum’s Art@Bainbridge gallery. “Denilson Baniwa: Under the Skin of History,” on view through September 1, features work that engages with themes of Indigenous rights, colonial history, and environmental destruction.

The exhibition showcases the breadth of Baniwa’s work, including drawings, photography, sculpture, and digital collages that challenge established colonial narratives and foreground Indigenous knowledge and resistance. The exhibition’s title comes from the artist, who has described his process as getting “under the skin of history” to expose the “poorly healed scars” of colonization.

Baniwa — who is from the Baniwa Indigenous people of the Amazon — is one of the most prominent Indigenous Brazilian artists working today. He is co-curator of the 2024 Venice Biennale’s Brazilian Pavilion, renamed the Hãhãwpuá Pavilion to use an Indigenous name for Brazil. Baniwa sees his art and curatorial work as a form of Indigenous activism, raising up voices that have long been silenced or ignored.

In his art, Baniwa often recontextualizes and revises historical imagery and archives to highlight Indigenous perspectives. In one series of collages included in the exhibition, he inserts science fiction aliens and monsters such as Godzilla into images pulled from century-old publications on the Amazon, complicating narratives of invasion and environmental threat. “Through provocation and irony,” says co-curator Carlos Fausto, “Denilson proposes a rereading of colonial history, intervening in historical images and documents and imbuing them with new meanings.”

The exhibition includes prints from Baniwa’s Natureza Morta ( Dead Nature ) series, which turn satellite images of cleared rainforest areas into crimescene silhouettes of a shaman and parrot, alluding

to the human and animal costs of industrial farming. “Denilson’s work can often seem playful or inviting at first,” co-curator Jun Nakamura notes, “but the more one spends time with it, the more one is made aware of the serious stakes at play, the very real threats — to environment, to culture, to life — that he is confronting in his work.”

Baniwa’s relationship with Princeton University began in 2019, when he was invited to a workshop called Amazonian Poetics, and he returned last fall in preparation for this exhibition, when he met with students, studied University collections, and made art in response to the works he viewed.

During his 2023 residency at Princeton, Baniwa was accompanied by the filmmaker Thiago da Costa Oliveira. Oliveira and Fausto’s short documentary, Right of Reply, will premiere in the exhibition, offering a glimpse into Baniwa’s thinking and process. The title refers to the right — guaranteed under Brazilian law — to defend oneself against public defamation. Baniwa asserts, “I, as an Indigenous person, demand from the state and the colonizers a right of reply so that there is more than one discourse in this story.”

“’Under the Skin of History’ showcases the inquiry and collaboration fostered by a university museum and prompts us to engage Baniwa’s important work and to see the University’s historical collections with fresh eyes,” said James Steward, Nancy A. Nasher–David J. Haemisegger, Class of 1976, Director of the Princeton University Art Museum. “It’s important work that finds an important context in the ongoing exploration of some of today’s most probing artists we are presenting at Art@ Bainbridge.”

Art@Bainbridge is located at 158 Nassau Street and open Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is free. For more information, visit artmuseum.princeton.edu.

Grounds For Sculpture

Hosts Interactive Events

Grounds For Sculpture (GFS) in Hamilton has announced two spring events, Garden Retreat | Mind +

June 27. Held outdoors from 6 to 9 p.m., it is curated by Danny Simmons, a poet, painter, and philanthropist who founded Def Poetry Jam, a spoken word poetry television series, along with his brother, Russell Simmons. The evening will feature two soon-to-be named New Jersey poets along with poet and master ceramicist Roberto Lugo and seven Def Poetry Jam alumni. The 10 spoken word artists will perform at one of two locations at GFS: The Gazebo and inside Lugo’s Put Yourself in the Picture

In addition to poetry, a DJ will kick off the evening’s activities, and throughout the evening, guests are invited to explore GFS’s art and living collections and purchase light bites from food trucks. Def Jam Poetry Reunion is $30 for adults, $15 for GFS members, $12 for students, and free for GFS Sustainer and Benefactor level members. To purchase tickets and to learn more, visitgroundsforsculpture.org.

Body and Danny Simmons

Presents a Def Poetry Jam Reunion — Featuring Roberto Lugo. The first event, which will take place rain or shine on April 13, offers a day of self-exploration focused on a variety of wellness practices for a healthy, balanced life. The second event, which will take place on June 20, will be a mobile exploration of word flow, verses, and landscapes inspired by GFS’s 2022 acquisition of Lugo’s 20-foot vessel, Put Yourself in the Picture , now installed outdoors on the 42-acre campus. Both events interact with the sculpture park’s art and horticultural collections in unique ways and showcase the wide range of experiential programs GFS offers.

“We’re looking forward to hosting these two spring events, each of which will offer guests different forms of exploration,” said Julio Badel, director of education and community engagement. “While the Garden Retreat allows guests to explore their mental and physical health and get to know our instructors, the Def Poetry Jam Reunion enables attendees to explore the grounds while hearing from poets across the tristate area.”

Garden Retreat | Mind + Body will be held on Saturday, April 13 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., rain or shine. The day’s activities will begin with a light breakfast, followed by the participant’s selection of one interactive workshop – which include a wide range of activities including art making, tai chi, yoga, forest bathing, and more – all led by experts in their fields. After the workshop, there will be a community reflection and an hourlong sound bath. Guests are then invited to spend the rest of their day exploring the 42-acre campus, which will be open until 5 p.m. The cost is $60 for general audiences and $40 for GFS members. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit groundsforsculpture. org.

Danny Simmons Presents a Def Poetry Jam Reunion – Featuring Roberto Lugo will be on Thursday, June 20, with a rain date of

31st Annual “Phillips’ Mill Photographic Exhibition”

Phillips’ Mill Community Association recently hosted an artists’ reception and awards ceremony for the 31st annual “Phillips’ Mill Photographic Exhibition,” which is on view through April 19.

Showcasing 135 contemporary works across many genres, from portraiture to abstraction, the 2024 exhibition was selected by juror Thom Goertel, a fine art and documentary photographer who has worked everywhere, from the White House to Iceland to Kenya. In a Phillips’ Mill Art Talk, available on the Mill’s website, he described his approach to jurying: “I did an initial pass looking for what jumped out, what were the ‘wow’ images, and after that I went back through for specific thematic areas we needed to address.”

As part of the process, Goertel chose images for 11 special awards, including Early Morning Ritual by Debbie Wolf of Edgewater, Md., which won Best in Show. Local winners include Joshua Ackerman of Pennington, whose Haircut 24, a Norman Rockwell-esque portrait of a boy at the barber took Second Prize, and Linda Heath of Cranbury, winner of the Street Photography award for Housemaids in India

Bucks County, Pa., resident Jennifer Gershon won for Best Body of Work, with her trio of imaginative portraits ranging from the surreal to the film-noire in style. One of these, Blue Monday, features hues of aqua and envisions a multitasking woman wearing a mermaid costume as she wields a phone and a vacuum in a setting that is ambiguously indoors or underwater. Another, Bristol Derby, depicts a woman attired in a floral dress and spot-lit amid a murky, 1940s-style office, and a third, Riedemaster’s Dilemma , alludes both to a mathematical theory about knots and to the elaborate floral designs of the PreRaphaelite movement.

Lisa Stolzer of Lambertville won in the Nature category with the photograph entitled Morning’s Necklace.

A complete list of the

“BLUE MONDAY”:

award winners is posted at phillipsmill.org.

Phillips’ Mill is located at 2619 River Road in New Hope, Pa. Hours are 1 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday; and 1 to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit phillipsmill.org.

Area Exhibits

Art@Bainbridge, 158 Nassau Street, has “Denison Baniwa: Under the Skin of History” April 13 through September 1. artmuseum. princeton.edu.

Artists’ Gallery, 18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, has “Immersion” through May 5. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. lambertvillearts.com.

Art on Hulfish, 11 Hulfish Street, has “Christina Fernandez: Multiple Exposures” through April 28. artmuseum. princeton.edu.

Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, has “Shifting Perspectives: Capturing Moments in Ceramics and Watercolor” through April 13 in the Taplin Gallery. artscouncilofprinceton.org.

David Scott Gallery at Berkshire Hathaway, 253 Nassau Street, has “This Looks Familiar” through May 19.

Ficus Art Gallery, 235 Nassau Street, has “Embrace the Everyday” through May 6. ficusbv.com.

Gourgaud Gallery, 23-A North Main Street, Cranbury, has “Paisaje Imaginaro (Imaginary Landscape)” through April 25. cranburyartscouncil.org.

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

Historical Society of Princeton, Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, has “Einstein Salon and Innovator’s Gallery,”

“Princeton’s Portrait,” and other exhibits. Museum hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m., Thursday to 7 p.m. princetonhistory.org

Michener Art Museum, 138 South Pine Street, Doylestown, Pa., has “Renewal and Change: New Acquisitions” through April 28 and “CFEVA at 40” through May 26. michenerartmuseum.org

Morpeth Contemporary, 43 West Broad Street, Hopewell, has “Holly Roberts + Brander Furniture” through April 27. morpethcontemporary.com.

Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, has the online exhibits “Slavery at Morven,” “Portrait of Place: Paintings, Drawings, and Prints of New Jersey, 1761–1898,” and others. morven.org.

Phillips’ Mill, 2619 River Road, New Hope, Pa., has “Phillips’ Mill Photographic Exhibition” through April 19. phillipsmill.org.

Princeton Makes, Princeton Shopping Center, 301 North Harrison Street, has “Princeton Makes Blooms” through April 19. princetonmakes.com.

Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, has “Inspired Together” through June 1. princetonlibrary.org.

Small World Coffee, 14 Witherspoon Street, has oil paintings by Elina Lorenz through May 7. Photography by Sheila Bodine is at the 254 Nassau Street location through May 7. smallworldcoffee.com.

Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, Cadwalader Park, Trenton, has “Music to My Eyes” through April 20. ellarslie.org.

West Windsor Arts, 952 Alexander Road, West Windsor, has “Leave Your Mark –Member Art Show” through June 1. An opening reception is on April 12 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. westwindsorarts.org.

Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers, 71 George Street, New Brunswick, has “George Segal: Themes and Variations” through July 31 and “Michelle V. Agins: Storyteller” through December 8. zimmerli.rutgers.edu.

“NATUREZA MORTA 1 (DEAD NATURE 1)”: This digital print is featured in “Denilson Baniwa: Under the Skin of History,” on view April 13 through September 1 at the Princeton University Art Museum’s Art@Bainbridge gallery on Nassau Street.

This photograph by Jennifer Gershon of New Hope, Pa., is one of a trio of works that won Best Body of Work at the 31st annual “Phillips’ Mill Photographic Exhibition.” The show is on view at Phillips’ Mill in New Hope, Pa., through April 19.

Mark Your Calendar

TOWN TOPICS

Wednesday, April 10 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m .: Leighton Listens. Councilman Leighton Newlin is on hand to discuss current events with members of the public at Cafe Maman, 43 Hulfish Street.

2 p.m.: “The Empty Chair,” a virtual support session for those who are grieving during Passover. Facilitated by chaplain Beverly Rubman and presented by the Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County. Free. Register for the Zoom at jfcsonline.org/ holiday-bereavement.

4:30 p.m .: “Can ChatGPT Think?” NYU philosopher and cognitive scientist David Chalmers lectures at 101 Friend Center, Princeton University. Free. Philosophy.princeton.edu/events/ can-chatgpt-think.

6 p.m .: “So You Think You Know Civics? What is a Democracy?” free program at Morven, 55 Stockton Street. With University of Pennsylvania Professor Sophia Rosenfeld. Morven.org.

7 p.m .: “The European Settlement of Old Hopewell,” lecture by Joe Klett at Hopewell Presbyterian Church, 80 West Broad Street, Hopewell; also on Zoom. Redlibrary.org/events.

Thursday, April 11 11 a.m.-3 p.m .: Winter Farmers Market at Hinds Plaza. Locally grown produce, pasture-raised meats, fresh baked breads, homemade treats, and handmade gifts. Princetonfarmersmarket.com.

5 p.m .: Inauguration of Keri Day, Professor of Constructive Theology and African American Religion, at Princeton Theological Seminary Chapel, followed by reception. Open to the public and streamed on YouTube. Ptsem.edu.

5:30 p.m.: Downtown Princeton Gallery Crawl, at Art on Hulfish, the Arts Council of Princeton, Princeton Public Library, and Small World Coffee’s Witherspoon Street location. Free.

6 p.m .: Ashley Dawson and Rob Nixon discuss Dawson’s book Environmentalism from Below: How Global People’s Movements Are Leading the Fight for Our Planet , at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street. Labyrinthbooks.com.

6:30 p.m .: Poetry Circle and US1 Worksheets Poetry Reading Night at Lawrence Headquarters of Mercer County Library System, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence Township. Register at mcl.org.

7:30 p.m.: Brazilian singer

Caetano Veloso: Meu Coco, at McCarter Theatre, 91 University Place. Mccarter.org.

8 p.m .: Chamber Meditations at Princeton University Chapel. Guided breathwork and live improvised music. Free. Princeton.edu.

Friday, April 12

9-11 a.m .: Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber holds a legislative breakfast

featuring Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, at Cooper’s Riverview, 50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton. $50-$65. Princetonchamber.org.

4 p.m .: The film American Fiction is screened at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.

7:15 p.m .: “You Are What You Eat.” Talk by Dr. Rajan Kumar at Princeton Fitness and Wellness Center, 1225 State Street, Skillman. In person and virtually. Email smatson123@comcast.net for more information.

8 p.m.: Classical tabla player Zakir Hussain performs with Sabir Khan and Debopriya Chatterjee at McCarter Theatre, 91 University Place. Mccarter.org.

Saturday, April 13

8-10 a.m.: The Friends of Princeton Open Space sponsor a spring bird walk with Winnie Hughes Spar, starting at Mountain Lakes House, 57 Mountain Avenue. Fopos.org .

9 a.m.-3 p.m .: Annual Earth Day celebration at Herrontown Woods. Hikes with botanists, preservation of local species, composting, experiencing the edible forest, and more. Coffee and baked goods at May’s Café; Veblen House will be open. Free. Rain date April 21.

10 a.m.-3 p.m .: DAR Genealogy Workshop at Stone Hill Church, 1025 Bunn Drive. Free event for those interested in joining the Daughters of the American Revolution. PrincetonDARregistrar@gmail.com

10 a.m.-2 p.m .: Shred Fest household waste and shredding event for Princeton residents, at Westminster Choir College, entrance on Franklin Avenue.

10 a.m.: Princeton Eating Clubs Tour, led by Clifford Zink. Includes a visit inside one of the clubs. Meet at Colonial Club, 40 Prospect Street. $20. Princetonhistory.org.

11 a.m .: Le Petit Nicolas is screened at Princeton Public Library, as part of the Princeton French Film Festival. 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.

12-6 p.m.: Spring Winery Weekend Music Series at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Music from 1-4 p.m. by Jeff Penque. Terhuneorchards.com.

1 p.m .: Princeton University 2024 Jazz Festival, at Richardson Auditorium. The festival, which is free, is until 6 p.m., followed by a concert at 8 p.m. for which tickets are $5-$15. Princeton.edu.

7 p.m .: Vocalist Mary McIntyre performs “StoryTellers: The Music of Iconic Songwriters” at Hopewell United Methodist Church, 20 Blackwell Avenue, Hopewell, as a fundraiser for homeless cats.

MaryMcIntyreSound.com.

At Bristol Chapel on the Westminster campus, 101 Walnut Lane. Free. Rider.edu.

7:30 p.m .: “Randy Rainbow for President,” at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. $39.50$169.50. Stnj.org.

8 p.m.: The Princeton University Chapel Choir and organist Eric Plutz present the Milbank Memorial Concert: Music of Maurice Durufle, at Princeton University Chapel. Free. Princeton.edu.

Sunday, April 14

12-6 p.m.: Spring Winery Weekend Music Series at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Music from 1-4 p.m. by Sarah Teti. Terhuneorchards.com.

1-2 p.m .: Princeton University carillon concert, listen on the Graduate School lawn. Gradschool.princeton.edu.

1:30 p.m.: Matthew Dodd presents “Songs and Stories of the American Revolution” at Rockingham, County Route 603, Kingston. Light refreshments available. Free but registration necessary at rockinghamSSAR. eventbrite.com. Visit rockingham.net for more information.

2 p.m .: Lecture: “William Still and Moravec’s Sanctuary Road.” Samuel Still, executive director of the Dr. James Still Historic Site and Education Center, discusses his family including William Still, conductor on the Underground Railroad. At Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.

2 p.m .: Spring into Song: Collaborative Concert by the Hopewell Valley Chorus, Trenton Children’s Chorus, Capital Singers of Trenton, and the Trentones of the College of New Jersey. At Central Church, 2015 Pennington Road, Ewing. Free. Hopewellvalleychorus.org.

2-4 p.m .: Princeton University Wind Ensemble performs in the Lee Music Room at the Lewis Center for the Arts. Free, with

7:30 p.m .: “60 Ellipses Around the Sun,” recital by Westminster Conservatory faculty member Cecelia Reilly and additional performers.

music by Holst, Bernstein, Charles Rochester Young, and others. A reception follows the concert.

2:30 p.m .: Federation for the Art Song presents a free concert of art songs in Spanish and Portuguese at the Zimmerli Museum, New Brunswick, with soprano Maria Brea, tenor Cesar Parreno, and pianist Martin Neron. Fasong.org.

4 p.m .: The Princeton Society of Musical Amateurs holds a choral reading of Brahms’ Schicksalied and Beethoven’s Ode to Joy from the Ninth Symphony at Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Route 206 at Cherry Hill Road. Choral singers welcome; scores provided. $10. Email musical.amateurs@gmail.com for more information.

4 p.m.: Gathering in solidarity with the October 7 hostages, and a call for their release. Organized by a grassroots group of Israelis in Princeton. At Hinds Plaza.

7 p.m .: “Trailblazing Women of Country, a Tribute to Patsy, Loretta, and Dolly.” At McCarter Theatre, 91 University Place. With soloists Miko Marks and Kristina Train. McCarter.org.

7 p.m .: “Reimagining

Democracy in New Jersey: What’s Next After the County Line,” panel discussion with

David Goodman, Julia Sass Rubin, Micauri Vargas, Sam Wang, and State Sen. Andrew Zwicker at the Suzanne Patterson Center, 45 Stockton Street. Sponsored by the Princeton Community Democratic Organization. Free.

Monday, April 15

1-3 p.m .: The Women’s College Club of Princeton meets at Morven, 55 Stockton Street. Librarian EwaDziedzic-Elliott talks about the movement to ban books. Free. Wccpnj.org.

7 p.m .: Author R. Jisung Park discusses his book Slow Burn: The Hidden Costs of a Warming World with Allison Carruth, at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.

Tuesday, April 16

10 a.m .: Read and Explore: Composting. At Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. After stories and looking at compost material, each child makes their own compost container to take home. $12. Terhuneorchards.com.

Wednesday, April 17

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m .: Leighton Listens. Councilman Leighton Newlin is on hand to discuss current events with members of the public at Hinds Plaza.

APRIL

6:30 p.m .: JFCS of Greater Mercer County presents the Help & Healing Awards, at The Jewish Center of Princeton, 435 Nassau Street. Honoring partners and volunteers. Free. Jfcsonline.org.

7 p.m .: Passages is screened at the Princeton Garden Theatre, 160 Nassau Street, as part of the Princeton Public Library’s International Cinema Series. Tickets required. Princetonlibrary.org.

7:30 p.m .: Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo: 50th Anniversary, at McCarter Theatre, 91 University Place. Pre-show Pride party at 6 p.m. hosted by Lady Celestina. McCarter.org.

Thursday, April 18

10 a.m.: The 55-Plus Club meets at the Jewish Center, 435 Nassau Street. Gretchen Morgenson, reporter at NBC News, speaks on “Capitalism on Steroids: How Private Equity Impoverishes Many While Enriching the Few.” Free, but $5 donation suggested. Princetonol.com/ groups/55plus.

12-1 p.m .: West Windsor Arts’ Lunchtime Gallery Series features the work of Wharton Esherick and a virtual tour of his studio. Free for members; $10 others. Visit westwindsorarts.org for link.

There are many interesting people in the world, and Dr. Janak Tull, DMD, is surely one of them. His skill set is wideranging and impressive.

building across from the Princeton Shopping Center.

In fact, the exterior sets the tone for what patients will find inside. The colorful interior, featuring many of Dr, Janak’s (as he is called) paintings, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, is itself a work of art.

Full Service General and Cosmetic Dentistry Is Available from Den Tull Dentistry Experts IT’S NEW To Us

An experienced and highly qualified dentist, he is also an accomplished painter, jewelry maker, and clothing designer. In addition, he has developed a modification of reverse hologram printing done with a UV printer on customized material that he engineered specifically for the printing process.

Purple Building

He also finds time to visit schools in Princeton where he talks with students about the importance of regular dental care. And in addition, he has created his own YouTube channel, offering further dental advice, following his trading card gaming video relating to Japanese art history.

In association with his mother, Dr. Lekha Tull, DDS, he practices at Den Tull, located at 214 North Harrison Street. You can’t miss it! It is the picturesque purple

Dr. Janak’s team, the laid back vibe, and handmade colorful scrubs featuring psychedelic prints help patients feel relaxed and at ease. Each exam room offers bright, tropical colors and state-of-the-art advanced diagnostic equipment, including digital X-rays and intra-oral cameras.

It is well known that many individuals are nervous about a visit to the dentist.

Dr. Janak is very aware of this, and uses his “compassionate chair-side” manner to help relieve patients’ anxiety.

“I feel that I have the ability to offer them a calm, comfortable setting, and I help to educate them,” ‘he says. “I explain everything I’ll be doing, and I spend a lot of time with them. They are never rushed, and we always take time to get to know our patients.”

A Powerful Thing

Dr. Janak became interested in dentistry at an early

age. He observed his mother in her practice, which she opened in 1986, and witnessed both her professional skill and her ability to establish relationships and interact with the patients.

“I knew I wanted to be a dentist from the age of 12,” he recalls, “and I started helping in the office when I was 18.” This was in addition to his many other interests, especially art. In fact, he studied art history at Pitzer College in California, receiving his B.A. in studio art. As he states, “A work of art is a powerful thing.”

After graduation, he enrolled in the Midwestern School of Dental Medicine in Glendale, Ariz., obtaining his Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree. There, he received extensive training in all aspects of oral health care, including dental restorations, oral surgery, and prosthodontics.

Before joining his mother at Den Tull in 2019, Dr. Janak completed several postgraduate courses in dental implantology and laser dentistry. At Den Tull, he believes he is able to incorporate his artistic education and creativity to help patients achieve exceptional results.

“I feel I am in the business

of helping people,” he explains. “Our patients are all ages, including children, and come from Princeton and the area. Many are longstanding patients of my mother, and we also are seeing many new patients.”

Dr. Janak provides a full range of general dental services, emphasizing cleaning and prevention, cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, crowns and bridges, clear aligners, TMJ and sleep apnea treatments, and emergency pain relief.

Top Priority

“My practice is general dentistry, but I do specialize in crowns,” he reports. “We have a CEREC milling machine on site, allowing patients to receive same-day crowns.”

Making patients comfortable is a top priority, he emphasizes. “I practice evidence-based holistic dentistry. That means I take into consideration the whole person. Many things affect the teeth, including diet, lifestyle, stress, etc. I believe a few minutes of quiet meditation to empty the mind is very helpful.”

Dr. Janak’s approach also includes helping patients to understand what he finds and the treatment he recommends. “People fear the unknown,” he points out. “Once they understand the condition and the procedure, they are more comfortable. This is why helping to educate patients is so important.”

Younger people can still get cavities, and so fillings continue to be part of the dentist’s work. Individuals over 50 often need old fillings replaced, and this is a common service at Den Tull, along with regular cleanings and checkups, which include an annual oral cancer screening.

A frequent concern these days is teeth whitening, and many patients are interested in brightening their smile. Den Tull has advanced inoffice whitening procedures, and Dr. Janak has some pointers to help patients navigate this process.

“We offer an advanced whitening process in the office, and I also recommend trying an over-the-counter product first to see if there is sensitivity. If not, then they can go forward with the inoffice whitening.”

Self-Confidence

In addition to whitening, other aesthetic dental procedures include clear aligners (removable orthodontic appliances), veneers, and bonding.

Implants are an increasingly important part of Den Tull’s practice, and these can make a real difference in a patient’s life, not just their smile. A person may have a broken or missing tooth and be very self-conscious about it. An implant can help to improve the individual’s selfconfidence and overall wellbeing.

DEFINITIVE DENTISTRY: “When you visit Den Tull, your comfort is our primary concern. We offer everything dental — a routine checkup to ensure complete oral health, fixing or replacing teeth, cosmetic dentistry, and emergency pain relief.” Dr. Janak Tull, DMD, of Den Tull Dentistry is shown at the office in front of a multi-colored acrylic rendering of an elephant, which he painted himself.

as mouth guards, are worn during sleep. Dr. Janak can help with a personalized treatment plan for each individual.

Open Airway Sleep apnea is also a significant problem for a growing number of patients. Caused by a blockage of the air passage, sleep apnea occurs when one is asleep, and it can interrupt breathing. It is said to be one of the most severely undiagnosed problems today, and studies have linked it to conditions such as stroke, heart attack, diabetes, GERD, hypertension, and dementia.

Symptoms include snoring, waking up and choking or gasping for air, feeling tired upon awakening in the morning, and excessive daytime sleepiness.

After a test to determine if a patient has the condition, and the level of severity, various treatments are available — from Continuous Positive Air Pressure (CPAP) machines to surgery. Oral dental appliances, similar to orthodontic retainers or night guards, are another method. They can keep the airway open by positioning the lower jaw forward and preventing the tongue from falling back over the airway.

“For mild to moderate conditions, these oral appliances can be helpful,” notes Dr. Janak.

With state-of-the-art advances in dentistry emerging all the time, continuing education is a must, he adds.

“My whole M.O. is about learning. I love to learn; it means so much to me. Also, in our practice, we don’t use any product that I haven’t tried myself. I always want to be able to relate to the patient’s experience.”

of teeth, you get the ‘permanent’ car when you are 8 years old, and you have to keep it in good working order forever!”

He knows that people will continue to indulge their sweet tooth, however, and as he points out, there are ways to mitigate the damage. “The trick to eating candy is to rinse with water for 60 seconds afterward. Also, regarding mouth wash, a clear mouth wash, without dye, is best.”

Dr. Janak knows that he made the right decision to join his mother’s practice and continue the family tradition. “Being able to carry on what my mother started is a privilege that I don’t take lightly. I aim to maintain the level of care and consideration that I watched her provide patients, what I believe is the highest level of care possible in modern dentistry.

“I feel I am in a unique position to help people and make a difference in their lives. I also want to give back to Princeton. This is where I grew up, and it has helped to make me who I am.”

Den Tull is open Monday through Friday by appointment. For further information, call (866) 336-8855. Visit the website at dentull.com.

—Jean Stratton

TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder is another condition that Dr. Janak treats. TMJ problems can result from jaw tension, teeth grinding, and jaw clenching. It may involve pain, jaw stiffness, and other unpleasant symptoms. While conventional treatments often include medication, another solution is oral appliance therapy. Customized oral appliances, such

Offering tips for keeping teeth strong and healthy, he emphasizes the need for a checkup every six months (or more often for serious conditions), brushing twice a day, flossing every day, and replacing the tooth brush every three months.

Sweet Tooth

“Think of your teeth like a car that you will have your entire life. In the case

S ports

Sophomore Goalie Hughes Comes Up Big As PU Women’s Lax Defeats Penn, Columbia

Princeton University women’s lacrosse goalie Amelia Hughes was tasked last year with taking over for first-team All-Ivy League goalie Sam Fish after Fish graduated.

While Fish left big shoes to fill, Hughes was up to the challenge, getting named second-team All-Ivy after leading the conference in saves, save percentage, and saves per game.

The Wilton, Conn., native has been even better this year.

“Amelia is an incredible competitor and she loves those pressure moments,” said Princeton head coach Jenn Cook. “She likes the spotlight and she always makes really incredible, bigtime plays in high pressure moments that just spark the entire time. She has really matured and grown in confidence in her game over this year in particular. She has grown in her role of being our defensive anchor which has been great to see.”

Hughes faced a seasonhigh 41 shots and made 11 saves for a 55 percent save percentage as Princeton upended then-No. 7 Penn, 149, last Wednesday in a key Ivy showdown. McKenzie Blake scored five goals to pace the offense which got hat tricks from Haven Dora and Grace Tauckus while Jami MacDonald scored twice and Kari Buonanno chipped in a momentumbuilding goal as well.

“That definitely gives us a lot of confidence knowing that we can really play and beat any team that we put our minds to it,” said Hughes. “I also think it really showed us that we have everything that we need on our team. And it comes down to how much effort we’re going to put in and how well we’re going to utilize our skills. I think that was a huge confidence boost for us.”

Princeton followed the signature triumph of the season with a 24-12 win at Columbia on Saturday. The No. 17 Tigers, now 7-3 overall and 3-1 Ivy, play at Loyola at Loyola on April 10 and then resume league action by playing at Brown on April 13.

“It’s also another chance to learn and grow,” said Hughes. “In every single one of our games, we’ve definitely learned something, taken something away that we’ve then been able to apply in the future. I think that this game is another opportunity for us to show what we’re capable of and really work together and get the end outcome that we desire. Regardless of the outcome, there will be things that we learn that will help us out down the road.”

Hughes and the Tigers have continued to develop since last season when a young Princeton team missed the NCAA tournament as it went 7-9 overall. Princeton started this season 3-3 before reeling off four straight wins heading into tonight’s contest.

“In the later games, we’ve had a lot of experience,”

said Hughes. “We’ve had a lot of close games with a lot of tough opponents. Playing those teams, we’ve learned what works for us and what doesn’t. I also think we’ve been a lot more united as a team and we can communicate much more effectively on the field.”

Princeton’s back line was completely rebuilt last year with Hughes stepping in as the last line of defense. The Tigers have been working to develop the sort of camaraderie necessary to be a stout defense. Princeton is up to 58 th in the country in scoring defense, good enough when combined with the 18 th ranked scoring offense to have the Tigers 30 th in the nation in scoring margin.

“We had a lot of close games — whether we were winning or losing them they were super close — and I think in those games, we really came together as a team, especially the ones we did win,” said Hughes. “We gained a lot of belief in each other and ourselves and the program as a whole. I think that having those games under our belts, we really trusted each other and knew we could play in those games that got close in the end and we did believe. As a goalie, I believe in my defenders, my midfielders and my attackers. And I think everyone can say the same for everyone else on the field.”

That confidence came into play against Penn, a team that had knocked off thenNo. 1 Maryland the week before. Three times through the first half, the Tigers trailed Penn by a couple of goals. They rallied to tie the game, 7-7, with Buonanno’s lone goal one second before halftime.

“Even at the beginning when we went down initially, we knew we were still in the game,” said Hughes. “We knew we could beat this team. Believing in each other and keeping that belief strong, especially as things maybe weren’t going our way in the beginning, but maintaining that belief throughout and really pushing through in the end.”

Princeton’s defense tightened and the Tigers’ offense scored four of the next five goals to open up a 11-8 lead. Princeton then scored three of the final four goals in the game to pull away for a comfortable win.

“We are so dynamic offensively,” said Cook. “Any given day, anybody can put up a lot of goals or assists. That is what is so special about this group offensively is if you want to shut down a McKenzie then Haven is going to have a day. If you shut down Haven and McKenzie, a Grace Tauckus is going to have a day or a Kari Buonanno. We’re just really dynamic and have the ability to score in a lot of ways with a lot of different people.”

Princeton had nine different goal scorers in the win over Columbia. Blake scored another five goals, Buonanno finished with four goals an MacDonald had a hat trick. Meg Morrisroe,

Colette Quinn, Ella Sloan, Samantha DeVito, Nina Montes, and Tauckus all had two goals apiece. Princeton’s offense has been more efficient with its passing and shooting to help foster the recent winning stretch that has improved the Tigers’ results from what they were getting through the first six games of the year.

“There was never a doubt or any type of wavering,” said Cook. “It was just like we needed a couple more minutes in the game or some better individual choices in the moment — whether that’s clearing or whether that’s different shots at different times. Just more game sense and game awareness and those are things you start to work through at this time of year. And there’s a learning curve to that in the beginning of the year. We’re making the most of our opportunities, executing details on the defensive end and taking the right shots and finishing them when we have them.”

The win over Penn though carried significance because of how highly ranked the Quakers were coming in. The victory falls in line with wins over Penn State and Rutgers. Princeton’s win over Penn marked the highest ranked team it has beaten.

“That win at that time of the year against a really talented and well coached team is always a confidence booster,” said Cook. “As a team, we’re really starting to get into a rhythm and really starting to click on a lot of different levels and areas of the field. The players have put in so much hard work throughout the year in order to start peaking at the right time of year, which is awesome to see.”

Hughes has been an important factor for the Tigers. She feels different this year after having a full season under her belt and being a part of the defensive unit for a second season.

“I think last year I was a lot more nervous,” said Hughes. “This year I’ve gained a new sense of confidence. I think I do have a better understanding of how our defense works and the different things we’re trying to accomplish when we run different strategies on teams.

I think confidence is huge. I’ve also gotten to know the defenders around me better and I have a new connection with them. I think that’s super helpful.”

Hughes last year had to adjust to the speed of the game and make adjustments to the more in-depth game plans, including the need for even better communication. Everything was at a higher level, and she was new and in a big spot for the Tigers.

“I think I certainly did feel some pressure as a goalie, but I also think it fell more so on the entire defensive unit and we were always there to back each other up,” said Hughes. “If I made a mistake, my teammates would lift me up and tell me, ‘Keep pushing, we still

have the rest of the game to play.’ The same would go if any defender made a mistake. I think as much as I did feel pressure, I knew that I had a very supportive group of girls around me that would help me out if I was ever in a slump and really push me to keep going even if things weren’t going great.”

Hughes has become a reliable goalie for the Tigers, the latest in a long line of strong players at the position. She came in looking up to Fish, who left a legacy and she has picked up her play and shown she’s more than capable of filling a big spot for Princeton.

“I think I’m happiest about the confidence and connection I feel to my defenders,” said Hughes. “I think that when we get on the field, I’m no longer as nervous as I was last year and I do feel like I have a lot of teammates I can rely on. And in situations when I have the ball on a clear situation, I know there’s going to be someone open for me and I know where to find me and they’ll talk me through it if anything happens. I do feel a stronger connection and a lot more confidence.”

Hughes and the Princeton team are all feeling a lot more confident. Their win over Penn that helped the Tigers extend their winning streak was just the latest reflection of their experience and work coming together for the stretch run.

—Justin Feil

SAVING FACE: Princeton University women’s lacrosse goalie Amelia Hughes makes a save in a 2023 game. Last Saturday, sophomore Hughes made nine saves as Princeton defeated Columbia 24-12. The No. 17 Tigers, now 7-3 overall and 3-1 Ivy League, play at No. 7 Loyola on April 10 and at Brown on April 13.

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

PU Sports Roundup

Tiger Men’s Golf Wins

Princeton Invitational Riccardo Fantinelli led the way as the Princeton University men’s golf team placed first at its annual Princeton Invitational last weekend at the Springdale Golf Club.

Sophomore Fantinelli fired a six-under-par 65 in the final round last Sunday to post a final score of six-under 207 in the threeround event to tie Howard’s Everett Whitten, Jr. for first place individually. Fantinelli’s sizzling third round ties the modern program record for low score and low score to par since GolfStat started tracking these records in 1993-94.

Jackson Fretty was the next highest Tiger finisher, carding a -5 208 to tie for third with William Huang tying for ninth at a +1 214.

In the team standings, the Princeton (A) group posted a score of 843 (-9) after rounds of 287-281-275, which was 13 shots ahead of second-place Howard. This marks the second consecutive tournament victory for the Tigers who won the Golden Horseshoe Intercollegiate in Williamsburg, Va. from March 25-28 in their last outing.

The two consecutive team wins have the Tigers in prime form heading into the 2024 Ivy League Championships at Watchung Valley on April 19-21 where the Tigers will enter as defending champions.

Princeton Baseball

Goes 2-1 at Brown Scoring 25 runs over the weekend, the Princeton University baseball team went 2-1 in a three-game set at Brown.

In a doubleheader on Saturday, the Tigers won the opener 17-8 and then fell 11-4 in the nightcap.

On Sunday, the Tigers posted a 4-2 win over the Bears as Sean Episcope and Jacob Faulkner produced some good work on the mound. Episcope went six innings, allowing two runs while tying his career high in strikeouts with seven while Faulkner earned the win for the Tigers, surrendering only one hit in three innings of work.

In upcoming action, Princeton, now 9-16 overall and 5-4 Ivy League, hosts Monmouth on April 10 and then resumes Ivy action by hosting Harvard for a threegame set with a doubleheader on April 13 and a single game on April 14.

Tiger Softball Team

Drops 2 of 3 at Harvard

Bouncing back from two straight defeats, the Princeton University softball team went 1-2 at Harvard last weekend.

In the opener on Saturday, Princeton fell 14-6 in six innings.

On Sunday, the Tigers lost 8-7 to start the day but came back to post a 6-5 victory over the Crimson to salvage the finale of the three-game set. Julia Dumais sparked the Princeton batting attack in the victory, going 3 for 3 with a run and two RBIs.

In upcoming action, Princeton, now 16-11 overall and

5-4 Ivy League, resumes Ivy action by hosting Dartmouth for a three-game set with a doubleheader on April 13 and a single game on April 14.

Princeton Men’s Track Excels in Miami Event

Jackson Clarke starred as the Princeton University men’s track team competed in the Hurricane Alumni Invitational in Coral Gables, Fla., last weekend.

Freshman Clarke placed first in the 200 meters with a time of 20.77.

Princeton is next in action when it hosts the Larry Ellis Invitational from April 12-13 at Weaver Stadium.

Tiger Women’s Track Shines in Miami Meet

Shea Greene and Alexandra Kelly provided highlights as the Princeton University women’s track team took part in the Hurricane Alumni Invitational in Coral Gables, Fla., last weekend.

Sophomore Greene placed first in the hammer throw with a best heave of 166’11 while sophomore Kelly won the triple jump with a leap of 42’8.75.

Princeton is next in action when it hosts the Larry Ellis Invitational from April 12-13 at Weaver Stadium.

Tiger Men’s Volleyball Defeats NJIT 3-0

Sparked by Ben Harrington and Jameson Vaccaro, the No. 17 Princeton University men’s volleyball team defeated NJIT 3-0 last Friday.

Harrington and Vaccaro each contributed 12 kills to help the Tigers prevail 2518, 25-21, 25-21.

Princeton, now 11-10

overall and 4-4 Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA), will host the University of Charleston for a two-match set on April 13.

PU Women’s Water Polo

Beats Bucknell

Displaying a balanced attack, the Princeton University women’s water polo team defeated Bucknell 12-5 last Sunday in Lewisburg, Pa. Meera Burghardt, Shanna Davidson, and Kayla Yelensky each tallied three goals to help the Tigers secure the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Tournament.

Princeton, now 19-6 overall and 8-0 CWPA, heads to New England this weekend to play at Harvard and Brown on April 13 to wrap up regular season action.

PU Men’s Heavyweight Varsity 8 Defeats Navy Fighting through some rough water, the No. 2 Princeton University men’s heavyweight varsity 8 topped Navy last Saturday in Annapolis, Md., to earn the Navy-Princeton Cup.

The Tigers covered the 2,000-meter course on the Severn River in 5:44.1 with Navy coming in at 5:50.2.

In upcoming action, Princeton will host Penn and Columbia on April 13 in the race for the Childs Cup.

Tiger Women’s Lightweights

Top Harvard-Radcliffe

Producing a superb performance to open its 2024 campaign, the defending national champion Princeton University women’s’ lightweight varsity 8 defeated Harvard-Radcliffe last Saturday to win the Class of 1999 Cup.

The Tiger top boat posted a winning time of 6:54.6 over the 2,000-meter course on Lake Carnegie with the Crimson finishing at 6:57.9.

Princeton will head west this weekend to face Stanford on April 13 at Redwood Shores, Calif., in the race for the Class of 2015 Cup.

Princeton Men’s Tennis Defeats Cornell

Paul Inchauspe provided a highlight as the Princeton University men’s tennis team defeated Cornell 4-1 last Sunday.

Freshman Inchauspe, ranked No. 31 nationally, defeated No. 13 Radu Papoe 7-6, 6-4 to help the Tigers improve to 20-5 overall and 3-0 Ivy League. Princeton hosts Brown on April 13 and Yale on April 14.

KA-BOOM: Princeton University men’s lacrosse player Nate Kabiri races upfield in recent action. Freshman star attacker Kabiri tallied three goals and two assists to help No. 13 Princeton defeat Lehigh 12-10 on April 2. Kabiri now has a teamhigh 27 goals this spring, which is one short of tying for the second most ever among Princeton freshmen. The Tigers, now 7-3 overall, play at Brown on April 13. (Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)

so in just 29 games. It was the 10th 30-goal season in program history and just the third since 2000.

Cornell 4-3 last Sunday.

Tigers got wins from Maia Sung at third singles, Alice Ferlito at No. 4, Madeleine Jessup at No. 5, and Eva Elbaz at No. 6 to help the Tigers improve to 11-6 overall and 2-1 Ivy League. Princeton plays at Brown on April 13 and at Yale on April 14.

PU Women’s Hockey Star Fillier Makes USCHO National Team Adding to her glittering resume, Princeton University women’s hockey senior star Sarah Fillier has earned her third USCHO national honor, named to the website’s national second team for the third time in her career, along with receiving the honor in 2019 and 2020. Fillier, a three-time American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) All-American, led Division I this past season in goals per game at 1.03, the only player with a higher average than 0.85, and is one of just three players in Division I who scored 30 goals this season, doing

Fillier was also in the top six among all active Division I players in career goals (first, 93), career assists (sixth, 101), career points (second, 194), career goals per game (first, 0.78), career assists per game (fourth, 0.84), and career points per game (first, 1.62).

The award adds to the accolades Fillier has won this season, a year that saw her earn her third Kazmaier Award top-10 finalist recognition, her third first-team All-ECAC Hockey honor, and her fourth first-team All-Ivy League award.

Fillier finished her Princeton career ranked second in program history with 101 assists, the most for any Tiger since 1995, fourth in program history with 194 career points, the most since 1995, and sixth in career goals with 93, the most since 2020 and the second-most since 1997, behind only former teammate Carly Bullock’20, who had 95 goals.

PU Men’s Hoops Star Lee

Declares for NBA Draft

Princeton University men’s basketball star Xaivian Lee will declare for the 2024 NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility, according to multiple reports.

Dazzling sophomore guard Lee emerged as a rising star this winter, averaging a team-high 17.1 points along with 5.7 rebounds a game, earning first-team All-Ivy League honors as Princeton went 24-5 overall and 12-1 Ivy, earning the league’s regular season crown.

Lee, a 6’3, 171-pound native of Toronto, Canada, will have until May 29 to withdraw from the draft and return to Princeton for his junior season.

He is signing with agent George Langberg of GSL Sports Group for his representation.

With Bornstein Emerging as a Spark in the Midfield, PHS Girls’ Lacrosse Produces a Promising 2-1 Start

Leah Bornstein may be one of the shortest players on the field, but she is making a big impact for the Princeton High girls’ lacrosse team this spring.

Emerging as a spark in the midfield, Bornstein tallied five goals as PHS opened the season by topping WW/PNorth 23-8 on April 1 and then chipped in two goals as the Tigers defeated Stuart Country Day School 19-4 last Friday.

Bornstein credits the squad’s senior group with setting a positive tone that leads to the unselfish play.

“They are a really good influence,” said Bornstein. “They have been really welcoming and encouraging and not afraid to share the ball on the field.”

PHS head coach Katie Federico enjoyed watching her players move the ball in the win over the Tartans.

“I love the connections that they are making and the fact that many of our goals are coming off of assists which is beautiful,” said Federico. “It is very unselfish play.”

The PHS defense produced some good play against Stuart.

specialties: stucco

“I bring a lot of stamina, I like to chase down the ball,” said Bornstein who also competes for the Ultimate Lacrosse club program. “I like to use my speed to my advantage because a lot of people underestimate me. I am helping out in the midfield, just assisting as much as I can and getting possession.”

In the win over Stuart, PHS dominated possession, moving the ball deftly as it jumped out to a 5-0 lead 10 minutes into the contest.

“We were becoming confident after our game against West Windsor on Monday; we came out really strong,” said Bornstein. “We did a good job of working the ball around to everybody and giving everyone scoring opportunities. We definitely have balance.”

“I also love the way our defense has just played as one unit, it is so nice to see that out there,” said Federico, citing the work of Joci Lee, Theona Hsu, Avery Gallagher, Zoie Reynolds, and Julia Engelhart. “You can just intertwine them in any away and they work very nicely.”

It has been nice for Federico to see how Bornstein has improved from last year.

“Every time I am on the sideline, it is there goes Leah again, she really has made progress,” said Federico. “She gives the same amount

of effort from the beginning of the game to the end of the game. She goes 110 percent. She is going for the ground balls, she has got the assists. She and Quinn [Gallagher] have connected a couple of times, it is so nice to see her playing this way. Her confidence is there a lot more this year. Last year, she was just trying to find her spot. A lot of the girls play club together and they did the winter league. I think that gave her the extra boost that she needed to be out there and run the midfield.”

Senior star Riley Devlin has been giving the Tigers a major boost in the midfield, tallying six goals and three assists in the season opener and then adding four goals against Stuart.

“Riley is such a leader on the field, she loves being able to help the underclassmen; it was the help that she had when she was an underclassman,” said Federico of Devlin, who scored four goals as PHS fell 17-5 to Lawrenceville last Monday. “Seeing that and just the confidence that she has out there, I think is very inspiring to a lot of the other players. She knows when she can take that drive she has got it and, if not, she looks for that teammate and fits the pass there so it is a nice combo.”

609-751-3039 enewmason@gmail.com

609-751-3039 ewm

With PHS playing at WW/ P-South on April 10, hosting Princeton Day School on April 12, and then playing at Montgomery on April 13, Federico knows her squad will have to produce some inspired efforts to come through with wins in those contests.

“It has been really nice, you can see that there is just a connection between all of them,” said Federico. “They work well together,

it is like a well-oiled machine at the moment with everything. There are a lot of challenging games coming up, it has been great.”

Bornstein, for her part, believes that posting two big wins to start the spring is a harbinger of good things to come for PHS as it looks to bounce back from a disappointing 7-12 campaign in 2023.

“It is definitely a confidence builder for us,” said Bornstein. “I have a good

feeling about this year — I am excited. We are striving to be over .500 this year for sure.”

—Bill Alden

Tell them you saw their ad in

BORN TO RUN: Princeton High girls’ lacrosse player Leah Bornstein races upfield last Friday as PHS played at Stuart Country Day School. Sophomore midfielder Bernstein scored two goals to help the Tigers prevail 19-4 over the Tartans. PHS, which fell 17-5 to Lawrenceville last Monday to move to 2-1, plays at WW/P-South on April 10, hosts Princeton Day School on April 12, and plays at Montgomery on April 13.

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Copies of There’s Always This Year, will be handed out to the first 250 in-person attendees.

with AUTUMN WOMACK Associate Professor of African American Studies and English, Princeton University

SPENCER TRASK LECTURE Poet, Essayist, and Cultural Critic

After Taking its Lumps in 2023 with Young Lineup, PDS Baseball Hoping to Grow into Something Special

Undergoing a youth movement last spring, the Princeton Day School baseball team took its lumps as it went 1-22.

While PDS head coach Eric Schnepf would have liked to see his squad get more wins, he is not about to scrap the foundation he put in place during his debut season at the helm of the program.

“We were starting five or six underclassmen,” said Schnepf. “So just watching them become a little more bigger, faster, stronger with a little more time around us and some of the strategies we are looking to implement, it is natural that you start to see an uptick in execution. A lot of it is just continuing to perfect the process. You look at last year, the kids had gone through a couple of coaches. Hopefully we are adding a little bit of stability. They know what to expect, they know what is going to be asked of them. We are not hammering the panic button and changing everything up.”

PDS executed well as it went south for a preseason trip. “We were in Florida for our second week of spring break, it was awesome,” said Schnepf. “The kids played well, they had a great time. They got a lot of time on the field to work on things. It was an awesome experience.”

Schnepf is depending on veteran pitchers, junior Dylan Powers, sophomore Grayson McLaughlin, and senior Sam Salguero, to give the Panthers some good work on the mound.

“The three of them are returning and they made up a pretty big majority of our innings last year so we are going to rely on them,” said Schnepf. “We feel good about running any of them out, just having the experience. They played a tough schedule last year, so they saw a lot of talented lineups. We feel comfortable and confident just knowing that they are going to go out there and compete and overcome adversity and do the best they can to give us a shot to win.”

PDS has brought in some new faces to provide some pitching depth in junior transfer Santino Cignarella along with freshmen Mason Roitburg, Keegan Fullman, and Matt Silverman.

“Santino will most likely play shortstop and pitch for us,” said Schnepf. “Then we had a couple of freshmen join us in Mason, we expect him to see some time on the mound, and Keegan, we also expect him to get some innings. There is another freshman, Matt, who we are excited to see get on the bump. That extra depth could be beneficial as we get into the grind of the season.”

A pair of juniors, Luke Haan and Powers, are poised for an exciting spring with the bat.

“Luke and Dylan hit in the heart of the lineup last year,” said Schnepf. “They have been playing and maturing, getting bigger, stronger, and faster. The hope for them is that they are not putting too much pressure on themselves.

PDS Girls’ Lax Starts 2024 with 3 Straight Wins, Responding Well to New Head Coach Marcozzi

It is just get into the lineup, take a breath, and relax and don’t try to do too much. It is just keep the line moving. We see Luke hitting in the three hole and Dylan hitting in the four hole.”

Newcomers Cignarella and Fullman have the potential to jump start the Panther hitting attack.

“We anticipate Santino hitting at the top of the order and we are also really excited about Keegan,” said Schnepf. “They run well, they are smart on the bases. They work themselves on base often. I am hoping that the two of them can work together to set the table for what will be the heart of our order.”

Schnepf is looking for all of his players to take a smart approach at the plate and embrace small ball fundamentals.

“The focus is can you go up there and have a competitive and productive at-bat,” said Schnepf.

“Productive doesn’t always have to be hitting a double in the gap or putting the ball over the fence. Our park is relatively big. Something that we put an emphasis on is not just scoring runs but being able to manufacture runs, getting them on, getting them over and getting them in. We put a huge emphasis on the ability to do that.”

On defense, junior catcher Haan is the linchpin. “Luke will be behind the dish for us, he did a great job last year,” said Schnepf. “He was the leader of the defense, and you forgot that he was only a sophomore. He is just the anchor of the defense, we are always relying on him.”

Joining Haan along the infield will be freshman Tyler Nevrotski and Silverman at first base, Roitburg and McLaughlin at second, Cignarella and Powers at shortstop, and Powers and McLaughlin at third. Senior Hutch Henderson will be in left field with Fullman in center and several players battling for the right field spot.

With the Panthers slated to finally start their 2024 campaign by hosting Hamilton West on April 9 after two postponed games, Schnepf wants his players to focus on intangibles.

“It is control what you can control, we put a huge emphasis on attitude, energy, and effort,” said Schnepf, whose team will host Lawrence High on April 11, play at Notre Dame on April 13 and host Somerville later in the same day, and then host Steinert on April 15 in a busy first week of action.

“If we can perfect the process, the thought is that we will see some more consistent results. We are going to go through that process. We are going to show up, we are going to compete, and we are going to be willing and able to overcome adversity. We are just going to let the chips fall where they may.”

— Bill Alden

Tell them you saw their ad in

As Lucia Marcozzi has taken the helm of the Princeton Day School girls’ lacrosse team this spring, she is urging her players to take matters into their hands.

Having starred for the Bucknell women’s lacrosse program where she was a two-time All-Patriot League defender and then going on to coach high-level girls’ club lacrosse, Marcozzi is well-versed in the recent evolution of the game.

“The biggest way that I always coach is that they are on the field and I am not,” said Marcozzi, the successor to Tracy Young, who guided the Panthers to a 13-8 record and a spot in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public Group B semis. “At halftime and between quarters, I will say what I want to say, but it is really for them to talk to each other. I see it but they are playing it. It is a style of coaching that comes from younger players who have just finished their tenure playing because the game is changing so much. Now there is a shot clock, now there is quick start. It is so different and I got to see a lot of the changes. I think my style of coaching is much more having the players empower themselves to talk through things to see what is going on, to make adjustments, and to find solutions. I am really there to be the backstop.”

The Panther players are responding well to Marcozzi’s style.

“We had a lot of practices and I think they appreciate it, they are still getting used to it,” said Marcozzi, 29, a 2017 Bucknell grad. “They are very used to a different way of coaching — it has been fun. I think the senior class is a really awesome class. They are doing a really job of balancing it all, getting excited about what this year can mean for them.”

PDS got the 2024 season off to an awesome start, defeating Lawrence High 16-3 in its season opener on April 2.

“It was a great game, it was fun to watch everyone on the field not at practice but with the excitement of game day,” said Marcozzi, whose team edged Robbinsville 11-10 last Monday to improve to 3-0. “It was fun to watch them have fun; practice can be grueling when you are doing for 10 days in a row. I think it was the boost they needed to prove to themselves that we are actually a really good team so hopefully we just keep rolling.”

Marcozzi has had fun watching senior star and Fairfield University commit Tessa Caputo spark the Panther offense.

“Tessa had a really great preseason, she is s a smart, sneaky player,” said Marcozzi of Caputo, who has tallied 22 points already this season on 15 goals and seven assists. “She is sneaky fast but she has got a brain. That matters more than her skills and shot because she knows what her defender is going to do and by the time the defender does it, she is already in from of them shooting her shot.”

Another senior, Katie Zarish-Yasunas, brings smarts and poise to the attack.

“Katie is just such a great force on the attack, she brings a calming sense when we get chaotic,” said Marcozzi. “Katie is very calm, cool, and collected — you don’t find that in a lot of players. She is going on to play at Muhlenberg and she is definitely ready for the next level. She is that player we look to when things are getting nuts. We are happy to have her.”

Junior Shelby Ruf has been moved up the field this spring into the Panther offense and she has made an immediate impact.

“Shelby has normally been playing defense, I think she is so underutilized,” said Marcozzi of Ruf, who tallied four goals and an assist in the win over Lawrence. “She has an insane shot and she is smart. She has played defense, she knows defense and she knows how to beat defense, so that is what I want her in the offensive end this year. She crushed it in the opener, she had a really great day. Her and Tessa work so well together.”

In the midfield, seniors Kelly Christie and Jesse Hollander, have been crushing it as well.

“Kelly and Jesse are going to be super strong in the midfield; they are both really fast, they are both really smart and they both work so hard on draw controls,” said Marcozzi of Christie, who has tallied 10 goals and three assists so far this season with Hollander contributing 12 goals and three assists. “Kelly can run for days. She is so aggressive, I want her on the defensive end too. She is so great on the inside of the eight, she has a great stick. She will catch 99 percent of the balls thrown at her and get it in the back of the net. She is really just a workhorse for the team. I love watching her get up and down the field. Jesse is the hardest worker you will find, she is incredible in the circle. When she is in her groove, she is impactful.”

On defense, senior Maddy Flory will be running the back line.

“Maddy is our brick wall, she leads,” said Marcozzi. “She really found her voice this year. When I first started I felt like I heard her here or there. I knew she knew what to tell people to do but I didn’t hear it enough. By the end of preseason, you have never not heard her.” A pair of juniors, Elizabeth Bailey and Cassandra Salas, will be joining Flory on defense.

“They are great, they are a breath of fresh air on the defensive end,” said Marcozzi. “They are very experienced and are also so coachable. They are always looking for ways to get better. They have worked so well with Maddy.”

The Panthers also have a bit of a wild card on defense as senior Adriana Salzano has joined the team after the PDS softball season was canceled due to lack of numbers.

“Dre has never picked up a stick, I saw her in the weight room in the winter and I said

you should definitely play lacrosse,” said Marcozzi of Salzano, who also stars in soccer and has committed to play for the Monmouth University women’s soccer program. “Thankfully she wants to stay in shape, so she did it. She has been great. Soccer translates to lacrosse defense so well, the footwork is all the same. Having her be a fourth defender has made it easier for Shelby to shine on the offensive side. She is a great leader and she never stops working hard. She is a really disciplined athlete.”

Marcozzi believes that junior Grace Ulrich will give the Panthers some great work at goalie this spring.

“Grace played at the JV level last year and she is a stud ice hockey player for PDS,” said Marcozzi. “She is awesome, she is so willing to get better every single day. She had a great game against Lawrence. She is learning on Maddy to find her voice. I think she is

going to be really good. She is going to get a few more games under her belt to get her confidence up. I think she is going to be a huge asset in our backfield.”

With PDS playing at Princeton High on April 12 and then hosting Hopewell Valley on April 15, Marcozzi is hoping her squad can keep on a good roll.

“Everyone has to stay healthy with club sports nowadays and the 3,000 other things that they do, staying healthy is hard to do these days,” said Marcozzi, whose team plays at Princeton High on April 12 and then hosts Hopewell Valley on April 15. “It is taking it easy if you feel any strain. I think our biggest thing is going to be draw controls. I think we have a really strong midfield and we need to keep it up with the draw controls and just gain possession. We are good at that.”

— Bill Alden

FAST START: Princeton Day School girls’ lacrosse player Tessa Caputo cradles the ball in a game last season. Senior star and Fairfield University commit Caputo will be depended on to trigger the PDS offense this season. The Panthers, who have a new head coach in former Bucknell standout Lucia Marcozzi, edged Robbinsville 11-10 last Monday to improve to 3-0. In upcoming

Emphasizing a Freewheeling Style, Accountability, Lopes Bringing College Approach to Hun Boys’ Lax

While Alex Lopes has held a number of college men’s lacrosse coaching jobs over the years, he sensed that he would someday end up guiding a private school boys’ program.

“The reality of it is that I always had an independent school destination in the back of my mind, just waiting for the right opportunity,” said Lopes, a former Saint Joseph’s University standout who had coaching stops at Kean University, Fairfield University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Jacksonville University, and Caldwell University.

“I think college coaching could still be there if I wanted it but the reality is that my wife has a tenured teaching job and we are committed to being in New Jersey. I don’t want to be bounced around the country.”

Lopes found the right opportunity as he has become the new head coach of the Hun School boys’ lacrosse team, succeeding friend and mentor Jim Stagnitta.

As he takes the helm of the Raiders, Lopes will be applying the lessons he has learned at the college level.

“I will be using that experience to prepare our student athletes for the next level as so many of them are looking to matriculate and play in college,” said Lopes. “It is just creating certain expectations, incorporating things like strength and conditioning at a fiercer level than maybe they have been doing in the past. That is so important at the next level.”

Keeping lines of communication open with his players is vitally important to Lopes.

“I have grown with the times a little bit; there is a different approach needed for student athletes today where you have to be willing to listen as much as you are willing to share,” said Lopes, who is taking over a program that went 12-4 last year and won the Mercer County Tournament. “I am a better coach because of it. Our players feel like they have a voice in our program, from freshmen through postgraduate. That is important to me, I think the program is in a healthy place because of it.” Lopes believes his approach is resonating with the Hun players.

“It less of a structured, do this and do that and more of we will give you the tools and go out and do it,” said Lopes, whose team moved to 1-2 with a 15-13 loss to the Westtown School (Pa.) last Saturday. “I think they have really grasped that and enjoy our playing style. They are seeing how it applies to the field. We had a great trip down to Florida. We were able to scrimmage four times, mostly against teams from New England which was pretty cool. Forty-four of our 55 players went on the spring break trip, which was fantastic.”

On attack, the Raiders will feature two fantastic seniors in Dan Cano and Brendan Marino.

“Dan and Brendan will lead the attack; they are strong left-handed players and they are two of the top

leaders on our team,” said Lopes, noting that Cano is a Hobart commit and Marino is headed to Stony Brook. “They have done an amazing job for me since day one. They have been guys that I have leaned on to lead their teammates and make sure guys are in the weight room, doing what they are supposed to be doing. I am excited about those two and the season they will have.”

Lopes is looking for junior Brett Stelmach, junior Graham Bricker, and sophomore Teddy Klepacki to also do some good work on attack.

“I think there are two or three other guys that will cycle through that third spot in Brett, Graham, and Teddy,” added Lopes.

Senior star and Michigan commit Dillon Bucchere will be leading the midfield for the Raiders.

“Dillon is the guy, he can do whatever you need,” said Lopes, noting that Bucchere is doing a PG year next year at Phillips Exeter before going off to Michigan. “He is definitely our lead by example guy, he is not going to be a ‘rah rah’ vocal guy, but he is our third captain with Dan and Brendan. In terms of on the field, you can ask him to do anything. He will be in the first wing of every face-off, he will be in the first offensive midfield line, he is also the first defensive midfielder you go to after a timeout when you need a stop. His impact is in the middle of the field. He is at his best is when he is picking up ground balls, running from defense to offense is definitely his game. He is such a physical dodger and such a good shooter with his

feet moving. You are not going to see him off the field very much.”

The trio of senior Will Beck, sophomore Jake Beck, and junior James Dougherty figure to contribute in the offensive midfield.

“We have the Beck brothers; Will is committed to Lynn University and Jake who has had an awesome preseason,” said Lopes. “He is a hell of a player, he has a little bit of Dillon Bucchere in him. He can play some defense, he can pick up some ground balls, he can run in transition. He will get a lot of run. James is a physical dodger, a two-way middie.”

At longstick middie, junior Luke Donahue has emerged as a force.

“Luke is now playing longstick middie for us,” said Lopes. “He is just a phenomenal athlete. We identified a need for long poles and LSMs, and we put out a bulletin. He was the first one that said this is something I can do. I think the way he has played from day one with a long pole in his hand, he could be a Division I talent there. I am very, very excited about how fast he has taken to it.”

On defense, junior Jackson O’Brien, senior Luke Sutphen, sophomore Reece Holt, and sophomore Owen Tallo will be anchoring the back line.

“Jackson is back, he is one returning starter,” said Lopes. “We have Luke, who is an Army football commit. He came back out for lacrosse this year and he will be starting at close defense as well. He hasn’t played since he was a freshman in high school — it has been exciting to see how he has

picked it back up. He is ready to take on an important role. You talk about physicality, he is a presence on the field and he is just learning by the moment. I am excited for him and then two sophomores, Reece and Owen, are the other two that we are really excited about.” At goalie, Hun will be rotating seniors Cutter Swanson and Will Setteducate “Cutter is back and we have a post-graduate, Will, who is committed to Kenyon,” said Lopes. “We will look for them to split time.

They both are fantastic and they are both great leaders.”

Lopes, for his part, believes his squad can do some great things this spring if they keep committed to each other and the process.

“In terms of success this year, we talk about accountability for themselves and accountability for each other, to act appropriately and in a way where you are not pushing anybody down,” said Lopes, whose team is playing at the Blair Academy on April 13 before hosting Princeton High on April 16.

“We focus so much on the program, the community, the culture, and coming together. As long as we keep that unified vision and stay the course, support each other, critiquing but not being negative, I think we have all of the talent in the world to be successful. It is a matter of playing together and staying the course. I am just excited for how much the guys support each other and the culture that we are building. I think it is a culture of success.”

—Bill Alden

Hun School boys’ lacrosse player Dillon Bucchere sprints upfield in a 2023 game. Senior midfielder and Michigan commit Bucchere figures to be a force this spring at both ends of the field for the Raiders. Hun, which is now being guided by Alex Lopes, moved to 1-2 with a 15-13 loss to the Westtown School (Pa.) last Saturday. In upcoming action, the Raiders play at the Blair Academy on April 13 before hosting Princeton High on April 16. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

PHS Alum Chrisman Enjoying Homecoming

As the New Head Coach of Hun Girls’ Lacrosse

When Geoffrey Chrisman came to the Hun School last fall to teach and coach, it was a bit of a homecoming.

Growing up in Princeton, Chrisman played football and lacrosse at Princeton High and went on to serve as an assistant coach for the Tiger football program for six years.

“Coming home is an awesome thing, my parents still live in Princeton, I have been there a lot,” said Chrisman, who previously had coaching gigs at WW/P-South and North Hunterdon. “Being connected to the community is always something that has been important to me. Even though I am on the other side of town that I technically grew up in, I run into people.”

Last fall, Chrisman developed an instant connection to the Hun community, serving as an assistant coach for

the Raider field hockey team that won the Mercer County Tournament.

“For about three seconds, I was thinking it is going to be strange not being a head coach,” said Chrisman, who guided the North Hunterdon field hockey team to New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 3 state titles in 2021 and 2022. “It is just such a new world of learning. It was awesome to be an assistant coach to see how everything worked. to actually have a strength and conditioning staff and see how the academics of the building worked. It was great to be able to coach and be with that group of young ladies. It was awesome.”

Looking ahead to this spring, Chrisman was initially slated to be an assistant coach for the Hun boys’ lax program. But his bond

with the field hockey players helped lead him in a different direction as he decided to go for the Raider girls’ lax head coaching post which was open as previous coach Kathleen Jaeger had left to become an assistant for the Stevens women’s lax team.

“They were looking and looking to find the candidate they wanted,” said Chrisman of the program that went 9-6 in 2023. “A bunch of the girls also played field hockey and developing that close relationship, I talked to Steve Everette (former PHS football head coach) and said I am thinking of switching over to this girls’ lacrosse job. He said it was about time you figured that out, I knew you were going to do this two months ago.”

Chrisman got the job and didn’t waste any time putting his stamp on the program.

“I am a big acronym guy,

I came out with our core principles,” said Chrisman. “For me, I tell every team I have ever coached, creating a positive culture is my No. 1 goal. Winning is for them and creating this awesome space for kids to be successful and feel safe and grow but work really hard, that is winning for me. We talked about our mantra this year, R-A-I-D, which is responsibility, accountability, initiative, and determination. We outlined how we are doing that in sports, in school, in our community to develop that cultural backbone that we always fall back on.”

The Raiders players have been receptive to Chrisman’s approach.

“They have been phenomenal, our growth has been exponential,” said Chrisman, noting that the squad had a productive trip to Florida over spring break that saw the Raiders faced several high-powered New England prep programs. “They have bought in. Just after Thanksgiving, when we started lifting, it was really the first time that we got the girls into a weight room. We had 15, 16 girls a session. Then we had a winter offseason team for the first time ever. We have got just about 40 kids in the program.”

Hun features a phenomenal player in senior attacker and Williams College commit Olivia Kim, who tallied 52 goals and 12 assists last spring.

“Olivia is our absolute rock all of the time, we talk about being consistently consistent and we know exactly what we are going to get with Liv all of the time,” said Chrisman of Kim who had three goals and one assist as Hun defeated Stuart Country Day 16-11 last Saturday to improve to 2-0. “She is a tremendous leader. The older girls look up to her, she got voted one of our captains. I looked at how upperclassmen interact with the younger players and the younger players adore her. You can tell just how positive a leader she is in there.”

Sophomore Aspen Swanson has emerged as one of the squad’s top younger players.

“She had a great field hockey season but lacrosse is her thing,” said Chrisman of Swanson who had eight goals and eight assists in 2023. “She is really explosive down there, she has had an awesome preseason.”

The Raiders boast another explosive performer in senior star and Tufts University commit Ava Olender, who scored 36 goals with five assists last season.

“Ava will play some attack and also midfield,” said Chrisman. “She brings the

athleticism and her ability to find the back of the cage is extremely unique and explosive. We are going to use her in a couple of different areas. We can play a lot of games with her, it is the same thing with Liv. We can put them wherever we want on the field to create mismatches.”

In the midfield, sophomores Keaton Vales and Emma Stowe, are bringing some athleticism. “There are two girls who have really come along,” said Chrisman. “Keaton had a great offseason. She was injured last year, I think she only got to play in one game. This year is a little bit of a redemption year, she has been great. Another sophomore, Emma, is about 6 feet tall and is just an absolute workhorse for us. Down in Florida, we called her our auto-clear, she played lights out. She is taking on a leadership role a little bit, she is going to have a big impact in the midfield for us.”

The defense will be spearheaded by senior Kaia Diaz along with classmates Norah Kempson and Lauren Larkin and junior Dana Trotta. “Kaia was voted one of the captains along with Ava and Liv,” said Chrisman. “She has been tremendous down there, that is where we have the majority of our older girls. Norah from field hockey is going to start down there also with Lauren and Dana. We have a lot of

age there.”

Sophomore Julia Wolfe is showing a lot of promise at goalie.

“Julia is in goal, I was shocked when I found out she was a first year player last year,” said Chrisman. “She bought in after last season. She started playing club and started working with some goalie-specific trainers. She played lights out in Florida, she had 16 saves against Deerfield. She has a chance to be special.”

Chrisman believes Hun can have a special season if it plays with poise and lives up to its R-A-I-D mantra.

“We need to make sure that we limit our unforced turnovers, playing calm even when things get a little hectic and not forcing stuff, that is a big thing,” said Chrisman, whose team will host Lawrenceville on April 10 and the Perkiomen School (Pa.) on April 13 before playing at Mount St. Mary on April 13 and then hosting Pennington on April 15.

“We have learned all new systems so it is trusting the system and trusting the process, even with the bumps and then always falling back on our pillars of R-A-I-D when we hit those bumps. So far they have bought in exceptionally quickly. It has been pretty awesome to see it; the girls have been tremendous in this cultural shift.”

—Bill Alden

LIVING IT UP: Hun School girls’ lacrosse star Olivia Kim heads to goal in a game last season. Senior attacker and Williams College commit Kim figures to be a go-to scorer for Hun. Last Saturday, Kim tallied three goals and an assist as Hun topped Stuart County Day 16-11 to improve to 2-0. In upcoming action, the Raiders, who are being guided by new head coach Geoffrey Chrisman, host Lawrenceville on April 10 and the Perkiomen School (Pa.) on April 13 before playing at Mount St. Mary on April 13 and then hosting Pennington on April 15. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

With Meszaros Taking the Helm of Stuart Lax, Tartans Looking to Develop Into a Cohesive Unit

For Paige Meszaros, playing soccer, basketball, and lacrosse at Steinert High was a life-changing experience that made her want to help others enjoy a similar journey.

“Coaching was something that I had always wanted to do my entire life,” said Meszaros, a 2016 Steinert grad who went on to play for the McDaniel College women’s lax team.

“Specifically, I really wanted to coach at the high school level just because my high school coaches were so impactful in my life as a player and as a person. It is something I always wanted to strive for as well.”

This spring, Meszaros is getting the chance to have that kind of influence as she has taken the helm of the Stuart Country Day School lacrosse team as its new head coach.

“The opportunity to guide young athletes towards their goals and support them in reaching their fullest potential is something I have always wanted to do, and I am grateful to have this role,” said Meszaros, who also teaches ESL at Lawrence High and Intermediate School and had previously coached at youth camps and clinics.

In guiding the Tartans, Meszaros is looking to help her players excel on the field and beyond.

“Before the spring I got to introduce myself. I was excited to be there to learn about them and hopefully

to get us a lot of wins this year,” said Meszaros, who is taking over a team that went 5-10 in 2023. “I was stressing to them the importance of lacrosse, not just what it means to be out there on the field but what it does for us off the field as well. That never-give-up attitude translates from athletics into real life.”

In the view of Meszaros, one of the most important aspects of her new role is to get her players on the same page.

“Something I am really big on is working on the team chemistry, so it is making sure that they are working well together,” said Meszaros. “It is knowing if this one has the ball, what they will be free to do with it. That comes along with being on the field and off the field with friendships, working together and getting along, and team bonding. Those are things I am really big on.”

As Stuart went through its preseason training, Meszaros liked the way things are coming together.

“They have been doing an awesome job. This is a really special place, it is a very tight-knit community,” said Meszaros, whose coaching staff includes former Stuart head coaches Missy Bruvik and Mark Maser. “The girls are just so nice. They are great athletes and they are also just really great people off the field. We have many strong freshmen joining us this year that will certainly

help out our team. Some of them are new to lacrosse, but they are athletes and are learning quickly. Others that are experienced and have been helping out the newcomers. All the girls have been very receptive and respectful at practices and to the coaches. I am so happy to be a part of the Stuart community.”

The Tartans boast a very strong player in junior star midfielder Allison Lee, who has totaled 166 goals in her first two campaigns with the program.

“Allison scored 100 goals in one season last year, my jaw dropped when I heard that,” said Meszaros, who got four goals from Lee as Stuart opened the season by falling 19-4 to Princeton High last Friday. “She is a great kid too. She has been really helpful leading too. They said that last year all of her goals were necessary. It is not like they were up be a certain amount, they needed every single goal that she had. She will be a leader offensively.”

Lee’s younger sister, freshman Lauren, should help the Tartan attack.

“They are both amazing athletes,” said Meszaros of the Lee sisters. “At practice, they are like the playercoaches. They will step in if they see somebody holding the stick the wrong way and they will let know them real quietly. They are awesome girls. They are good for the team and good for everybody.”

In addition to the Lee sisters, Meszaros is looking for freshman Hadassah Broughton, freshman Betsy Murphy, freshman Madeline Razler, sophomore Abigail Chirik, freshman Claire McLaughlin, and junior Emily Harlan to bring some scoring punch.

“Offensively, some girls that I think are going to really help us this season are Hadassah in the midfield, Betsy on attack, Madeline in the midfield, Abigail in the midfield, Claire in the midfield, and Emily on attack,” said Meszaros. On defense,

two other freshmen, Celia Struve-Altuve and Maeve Wall, have been stepping up.

“Maeve will be back there, she is very athletic, she is quick to pick things up,” said Meszaros. “Celia is an athlete as well.”

In goal, senior Alex Mandzij and junior Maya Dev, bring athleticism.

“We are going to have two goalies in Alex and Maya,” said Meszaros. “Maya will also be playing defense for us — I think she will be really strong for us in the defensive end.”

Meszaros believes the Tartans can have a strong season if they connect with each other all over the field.

“I think we have to play cohesively as a group,” said Meszaros, whose team lost 16-11 to the Hun School last Saturday to move to 0-2 and will play at Somerville High on April 13, host Nottingham on April 15, and then play at WW/P-North on April 16. “Making sure that we are playing to our strengths and that we are moving together is what it is going to be most important.”

—Bill Alden

GOING ALL OUT: Stuart Country Day School lacrosse player Allison Lee races upfield in a 2022 game. Last Friday, junior star Lee scored four goals as Stuart opened its season by falling 19-4 to Princeton High in its first game under new head coach Paige Meszaros. The Tartans, who lost 16-11 to the Hun School last Saturday, play at Somerville High on April 13, host Nottingham on April 15, and then play at WW/P-North on April 16. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Hun

Baseball : Heading down to the Washington, D.C., area for a doubleheader last Saturday, Hun posted a sweep, topping the Landon School (Md.) 4-1 and then edging Jackson-Reed High (Washington D.C.) 2-1. Tyler Tucker starred, going 2 for 4 on the day with two RBIs as the Raiders improved to 3-0. Hun hosts the Lawrenceville School on April 11 before playing at Blair Academy on April 13 and Gloucester Catholic on April 14, and then hosting Perkiomen School (Pa.) on April 16.

Softball : Lexi Kobryn starred as Hun defeated the Lawrenceville School 10-0 last Monday. Senior standout and Villanova commit Kobryn hurled a no-hitter, striking out 13 and walking none and chipping in two RBIs to help the Raiders improve to 2-0. Hun plays at the Hill School (Pa.) on April 11 and at the Blair Academy before hosting Hopewell Valley on April 16.

and at the Blair Academy on April 17.

Boys’ Lacrosse : Prevailing in a clash of national powers, Lawrenceville defeated previously undefeated Malvern Prep (Pa.) 9-4 last Saturday. Connor Gately tallied one goal and three assists to help spark the Big Red attack as they improved to 8-0. Lawrenceville hosts the Brunswick School (Conn.) on April 10 and St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) on April 13.

Girls’ Lacrosse : Maddie Brogan led the way as Lawrenceville defeated PHS 17-5 last Monday. Brogan scored seven goals and had two assists to help the Big Red improve to 3-3. Lawrenceville plays at the Hun School on April 10, at Summit High on April 13, and at the Peddie School on April 16.

with the defeat, were slated to host Steinert on April 12, the Mercersburg Academy (Pa) on April 13, and Pennsbury High (Pa.) on April 15.

Girls’ Lacrosse : Haley Adamsky starred in a losing cause as Pennington fell 1312 to Hightstown last Thursday in its fi rst game of the season after a postponement. Adamsky tallied five goals and three assists for the Red Hawks. Pennington hosts the Academy of New Church (Pa.) on April 10 and the Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) on April 13 before playing at the Hun School on April 15.

Lawrenceville Pennington PHS PDS

Baseball : Chris Trucano starred in a losing cause as Lawrenceville fell 3-1 to the Pennington School last Monday. Trucano went 2 for 4 with one RBI for the Big Red, who dropped to 1-4. Lawrenceville plays at the Hun School on April 11, at Lawrence High on April 13,

Baseball : Ray Heaton starred as Pennington edged the Lawrenceville School 3-1 last Monday. Heaton went 6.2 innings on the mound, allowing just one run with nine strikeouts, and also contributed an RBI as the Red Hawks improved to 2-2. Pennington hosts the Hill School (Pa.) on April 10, the Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) on April 13 for a doubleheader, and the Lawrenceville School on April 15 before playing at WW/PSouth on April 16.

Boys’ Lacrosse : Unable to get its offense going, Pennington fell 18-3 to the Hun School last Friday. The Red Hawks, who moved to 0-2

LEADING THE WAY: Princeton High baseball player Alex Winters takes a cut last Saturday as PHS opened the season by playing Hightstown at Mercer County Community College. Senior star outfielder and leadoff hitter Winters went 2 for 4 with a run but it wasn’t

Boys’ Lacrosse : Hart Nowakoski scored two goals but it wasn’t enough as PDS fell 9-4 to Peddie last Friday. The Panthers, who moved to 2-1 with the defeat, host Robbinsville on April 11 and then play at Notre Dame on April 16.

Boys’ Tennis : Opening its season on a high note, PDS defeated Hamilton West 4-1 last Thursday in its first match of 2024. The Panthers host Steinert on April 11 and the Lawrenceville School on April 12 before playing at Princeton High on April 16.

10 innings last Saturday in its first game of the season after two postponements. The Tigers trailed 11-6 in the sixth inning but scored three runs in both the sixth and seventh with the Rams adding one in the seventh to tie the game at 12-12 and force extra innings. The Tigers went ahead 17-13 going into the bottom of the seventh, but Hightstown respond with five runs in the frame to pull out the win.

PHS plays at Hamilton West on April 11 and then hosts Lawrenceville School on April 12.

Boys’ Lacrosse : Running into a buzz saw, PHS fell 17-6 at Manasquan last Monday. Braden Barlag led the Tigers with two goals as they moved to 2-1. PHS hosts Allentown on April 11 and Lawrence High on April 13 before playing at the Hun School on April 16.

Boys’ Tennis : Starting its

Softball : Coming up short in a wild contest, PHS fell 18-17 to Hightstown in

2024 campaign with an impressive victory, PHS defeated perennial power WW/PSouth 5-0 last Friday. The Tigers won each singles match in straight sets, paced by Garrett Mathewson, who posted a 6-1, 6-2 win over Shritan Gopu at first singles. PHS plays at Hightstown on April 10, hosts Nottingham on April 11, plays at Trenton Central on April 15, and then hosts Princeton Day School on April 16.

Local Sports

Princeton Athletic Club

Holding 6K Run April 13

The Princeton Athletic Club (PAC) will be holding a 6,000-meter cross country run at the Institute Woods on April 13.

The 6,000-meter run starts at 10 a.m. from Princeton Friends School and is limited to 200 participants. The event is chip timed. All abilities are invited, including those who prefer to walk the course.

Online registration and full event details are available at princetonac.org.

The PAC is a nonprofit running club for the community. The club, an all-volunteer organization, promotes running for the fun and health of it and stages several running events each year.

Princeton Post 218 Baseball Holding Player Evaluations

The Princeton American Legion Post 218 baseball team is holding player evaluations/workouts on April 21 and 28 from 12-2 p.m. at Smoyer Park.

The program encourages all interested high school players from Princeton High, Princeton Day School, Hun School, WW/P-South, WW/P-North, and Notre Dame High, or any players who live in the towns of Princeton and Cranbury to attend these two sessions. In addition, college-aged freshman born in 2005 are also be eligible to play.

The Mercer County American Legion season runs from late May through midJuly and involves playing approximately 20 games with teams from around the Greater Mercer County Area. The competition level is high and all players will receive adequate playing time to develop their game. The summer fee is $595. S cholarships are available. For more information on the program and to RSVP for the tryouts, contact Jon Durbin at jonwdurbin@gmail.com.

enough as the Tigers fell 10-4 to the Rams. PHS plays at Hamilton West on April 11 before hosting South Hunterdon on April 13 and Nottingham on April 15. (Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)

Obituaries

Howard James Hill

Howard James Hill, age

63, from Princeton, New Jersey, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at the Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, New Jersey. Howard’s hometown was Edmonton, the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta, and he also called London, Los Angeles, and New York home before settling in Princeton, New Jersey, in 2009.

Howard graduated from Saint Xavier High School in Edmonton. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Alberta in Canada, and his Juris Doctorate from New York Law School in the United States.

From a young age, Howard was a brilliant innovator and creator. He tinkered and experimented with technology, music, and writing. He enjoyed breaking down complex systems and making things work better and more effi cient, and Howard spent his 40+ year career doing what he loved most alongside many colleagues that he was grateful to also call friends.

Howard worked for law fi rms and software companies in London (IRS Eclipse; Rouse & Co International/ Willoughby) and in Los Angeles (Netnames) before moving to New York and joining the General Counsel’s Organization at American Express in 2001 working in legal operations. In 2022, Howard joined ServiceNow in New York where he continued his legal and technology career.

Throughout his career, Howard mastered the art of weaving technology into his legal colleagues’ daily lives. He was always willing to fi nd a solution with his “can do” and tenacious spirit, and he brought ease and effi ciency to his colleagues at American Express and ServiceNow. Howard’s laughter and love of technology as well as his friendship will be greatly missed.

Howard lived with his wife, Lisa Schroter, and their adorable pet felines, Loafy, Sabrina, and Salem. Howard met Lisa, his soulmate and the love of his life in 1989, they married in 2005, and the two have been inseparable for more than half of their lives. Together, Howard enjoyed hobbies of gardening, biking, kayaking, the arts, British comedy, cooking and fine dining with friends and family, and traveling the world. Howard was also a talented music creator, and an aspiring writer with

his first graphic novel in production based on an intriguing character he had created from his own imagination. Howard was truly a unique, brilliant, and multi-faceted individual.

Howard had a passion for enjoying life and its every adventure with Lisa by his side. He was a witty conversationalist and had an uncanny sense of humor that everyone loved. Howard valued his connections and relationships and devoted time to truly getting to know people; he was everyone’s biggest fan as their loyal friend. Howard made friends everywhere with his sincere smile, infectious laugh, and his strong sense of calm and peace that he brought to every situation.

Howard is predeceased by his adoring parents, Gordon Francis Hill and Sybill Alberta McCormac Hill of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He is survived by his beloved wife, Lisa Schroter; his dear brother-in-law, Hal Schroter; and his cousins in Toronto, Marie Baker, Margie O’Callaghan, John O’Callaghan, Ken and Fran Hill, Gord and Marie Hill, Neil and Vivienne Hill, Tim and Adrianne Hill, Francie and Peter Barbetta, and all their respective children, as well as his cousins in the UK, Marion Royer and Alan May. Howard is also survived by his long list of great friends that he considered family, and many other loved ones who will miss Howard and his generous and caring heart and zest for life.

A memorial service for Howard will be celebrated on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 3 to 5 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church located at 50 Cherry Hill Road, Princeton, New Jersey 08540.

Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation in Canada or to the American Stroke Association.

Please visit Howard’s tribute page provided by MatherHodge Funeral Home located in Princeton, New Jersey: matherhodge.com.

Susan K. Alcántara

January 1, 1944 –

April 4, 2024

Susan K. Alcántara, 80, of Princeton, passed away on April 4, 2024, at her son’s home in Waco, TX, surrounded by her loving family.

Born in New York City in 1944, Susan and her twin sister grew up in Allentown, PA. She attended Ithaca College where she graduated with a degree in physical therapy. Shortly thereafter, she moved to Princeton where she worked at Merwick Care and Rehabilitation Center’s original location on Bayard Lane. She met her husband José at Merwick in 1971, and they were married in the chapel there two years later.

In 1975, they moved to the newly built Princeton Community Village, a vibrant, caring, multicultural community located off Bunn Drive. They raised their family at Mulberry Row and were among the longest-tenured residents of the Village, having lived there for 48 years until 2023. Residents always appreciated her quiet strength and thoughtfulness and saw her as the perfect counterbalance to her husband, whom they referred to affectionately as “The Mayor of the Village.” They held membership at Princeton United Methodist Church for close to three decades. In their later years, they also worshipped at Central Church in Ewing and Stonehill Church in Princeton.

Susan was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Helen Schmidt, and her grandchildren, Justin Alcántara and Viviana Hightower. She is survived by her husband of 50 years, José; her twin sister, Karen; her daughters, Amanda and Lucia; her son, Jared; her step-sons, Rick and Tony; and her nine grandchildren: Austin, Julian, Maya, Hayes, Liliana, Gabriel, Rayan, Emerson, and Evelyn.

The funeral service will be held at Princeton’s Stonehill Church, 1025 Bunn Drive, on April 13, 2024, at 10 a.m. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. After the service, the family will hold a private graveside service in Wayne, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the place that she loved to bring her family, Princeton Public Library, at princetonlibrary.org.

Arrangements will be made by the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home in Princeton. Condolences are welcome on Susan’s tribute page at matherhodge.com.

The family would like to offer its deep appreciation to José and Susan’s dearest friends, George and Mina Angeletopoulos, and to Jared’s wife Jennifer, for devoting herself so fully to caring for Susan in her final year.

well

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We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.

ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.

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We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process

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Princeton’s First Tradition Worship Service

Sundays at 11am

Princeton University Chapel Open to all.

Preaching Sunday, April 14 is Rev. Alison L. Boden, Ph.D., Dean of Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, The University of Chicago. Music performed by the Princeton University Chapel Choir with Nicole Aldrich, Director of Chapel Music and Chapel Choir, and with Eric Plutz, University Organist.

Obituaries

Continued from Preceding Page

Dr. Juan Campos Abellana

Dr. Juan Campos Abellana — known affectionately by friends, family, and patients as John, Johnnie, and Dr. A. — passed away peacefully at Brandywine Serenade at Princeton on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at the age of 84. He was a longtime resident of Princeton and a beloved physician who specialized in internal medicine with a focus on caring for elderly patients. He was admired for his dedication, empathy, and unwavering commitment to serving others.

Born in Cebu, Philippines in 1939 to the late Celso Abellana and Sostenea Campos Abellana, Juan graduated from Far Eastern University – Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation in 1965. He completed his internship and residency at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Elizabeth, NJ. During his tenure as chief resident, he met Victoria de la Cruz, a fellow intern

who would later become his wife. Subsequently, he pursued a two-year fellowship in pulmonary diseases at the Veterans Administration Hospital in New York City, where he also served as chief resident for nine months. He then worked at the French and Polyclinic Hospital in New York City and at Riverview Hospital in Red Bank, NJ.

Dr. Abellana relocated to Princeton in 1973 to assume the role of Medical Director at Rossmoor Medical Center in Jamesburg, NJ. A year later, he established his private practice in Princeton. Until his retirement in 2014, Dr. Abellana served as a Senior Attending Physician with Penn Medicine at Princeton.

Devoted to his family, Dr. Abellana especially cherished spending time with his two grandsons. An avid gardener, he delighted in cultivating an impressive array of vegetables and flowers each spring. He had a passion for music and singing, enjoyed long-distance road trips and navigating NYC traffic, and remained a lifelong Mets fan.

Dr. Abellana is survived by his wife of 54 years, Victoria, and his three children and their families: Joy and her husband, Stephen, along with their son, Charlie; John and his wife, Cordelia, and their son, Augustus; and Jason. He is also survived by three siblings, Marcos, Victor, and Cora; half-siblings Victoria, Camila, Robert, Louis, Tomas, Christy, Emma, and Cheryl; and numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, and extended family members. He was predeceased

by six siblings: Nemesio, Norma, Agapito, Celso Jr., Alfonso, and Erasmo; and his half-sister, Rosalia. Visitation will be held from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, 2024, at the Kimble Funeral Home, located at One Hamilton Avenue in Princeton, NJ. The following day, on Monday, April 15, 2024, a Funeral Mass will take place at 10 a.m. at St. Paul Parish, 216 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org).

Extend condolences and share memories at TheKimbleFuneralHome.com.

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