Town Topics Newspaper, April 26, 2023

Primary in Six Weeks, Cohen and Fraga Are Unopposed for Council

With the June 6 primary less than six weeks away, nominations for Princeton Council, State Senate and General Assembly for the 16th legislative district, Mercer County Executive, and Mercer County Sheriff are all uncontested.

Incumbents David Cohen and Leticia Fraga have led to run for the Democratic nomination to reclaim their positions on Princeton Council. No Republican candidates have led to run for Council nomination.

In the primary for State Senate for the 16th district, incumbent Andrew Zwicker is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination, and Michael Pappas is unopposed for the Republican nomination. Zwicker defeated Pappas in the 2021 general election for state senator.

General Assembly primary candidates for two posts in the 16th district are incumbent Roy Freiman and Mitchelle Drulis for the Democrats and Ross Traphagen and Grace Zhang for the Republicans. Democratic incumbent Sadaf Jaffer has announced that she will not seek re-election to a second term.

In the race for Mercer County Executive, Dan Benson for the Democratic nomination, and Lisa Marie Richford for the Republican nomination are both unopposed. Longtime incumbent Brian Hughes announced last month that he will not be running for another term.

Democrat John A. “Jack” Kemler and Republican Bryan “Bucky” Boccanfuso in the primary contests for Mercer County Sheriff are also unopposed.

Princeton Community Democratic Organization (PCDO) President Nick DiDomizio urged residents to turn out and vote on June 6 regardless of the lack of competition in this year’s primaries. “I see my vote as an endorsement and support for our elected officials to keep up the great work,” he wrote in an email, and he praised the accomplishments of Cohen and Fraga.

Looking ahead to November’s general election, DiDomizio warned, “NJ-16 is on the top of the list to be targeted by Republicans to ip seats. In 2021, NJ-16 turned completely blue for the rst time and we cannot go back. 2023’s election is forecasted be one of the lowest turnouts ever.”

In response to a request for comment

Chmiel and His Lawyers Consider Next Steps

Lawyers for Frank Chmiel, who was removed last month as Princeton High School (PHS) principal, have con rmed that they have received from the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) superintendent the statement of reasons for Chmiel’s nonrenewal. Chmiel and his lawyers will now decide on their next step — whether to request a Donaldson hearing before the PPS Board of Education (BOE) to appeal the decision and whether that hearing would be public or private.

“We are reviewing the document and determining our next steps,” Chmiel’s lawyer David Schroth wrote in an email on Monday. “Until we have fully evaluated the statement of reasons I can’t say what our next steps will be.”

BOE President Dafna Kendal, by phone on Tuesday, said that she, by law, was unable to say anything about the BOE statement itself, but she noted that Chmiel and his lawyers have 10 days from receipt of the statement to request a hearing.

The 10-day deadline would presumably come at the start of next week, and the district would then have 30 days to schedule a hearing, if requested.

She emphasized that the Board is fully aware of the frustration for the community, and for the Board too, caused by the fact that the Board cannot provide any more information. “We’re not allowed to talk about personnel issues,” she said. “We’re prohibited. It’s frustrating.”

She added, “My feeling is that schools should bring communities together and not divide them. The Board is well aware that this a divisive time, and we’d like to help bring the community back together when we can.”

In the meantime, students, parents and the larger community are not waiting quietly for the next steps in the legal process to take place. The new interim principal, Kathie Foster, has been on the job at PHS since March 30, but protests on public media, in the press, and in person continue. More than 6,500 have signed various online petitions calling for Chmiel’s reinstatement and/or demanding PPS Superintendent Kelley’s resignation. About 100 PHS students staged a

Future of Seminary Site Is Topic of Second “Roundtable”

On Saturday, May, 6 at 10 a.m., the municipality will hold its second Community Roundtable devoted to the future development of the Tennent-Roberts-Whiteley sites at Princeton Theological Seminary (PTS). The gathering will be at Witherspoon Hall and run through 12 p.m.

Municipal staff held its rst Community Roundtable on the subject March 18. Residents of the neighborhood surrounding the campus were able to ask questions and offer feedback about the site, which was designated an area in need

of redevelopment (ANR) four years ago. The contract purchaser is local developer Jamie Herring.

“This will be a continuation of that conversation,” Princeton’s Planning Director Justin Lesko said of the upcoming meeting. “We’ll take what we heard at the rst roundtable and begin to formulate whatever sort of redevelopment plan might emerge. We can now say, okay, we heard you want stormwater management and no below-ground parking. Now, let’s dig into

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GOING GREEN ON EARTH DAY: Morven Museum and Garden was among the many sites celebrating Earth Day on April 22. Sustainable Princeton, the municipality of Princeton, and the Johnson Park Elementary School Green Team helped to lead a family-friendly day of workshops and activities promoting sustainable living. (Photo by Weronika A. Plohn)

ISYOUR MARRIAGE SHATTERED?

public to Meadowbrook Farm in Abington, Pa., through October 14.

Reimagined Gardens Open After Major Renovation

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) welcomes guests back to PHS Meadowbrook Farm, in Abington, Pa. Admission is free and does not require advance registration. Registration will be done onsite upon arrival. Meadowbrook Farm will be open through October 14.

After a major renovation to several areas of this renowned public garden since the end of 2021, Meadowbrook Farm has reopened in time for spring’s blooms. The entrance walkway has been reconstructed with a new path and design vision for its plantings. The main garden has been completely redesigned with emphasis on the usage of stately concrete planters brimming with pops of color and fragrance.

Within the farm grounds layout, there are more than a dozen “garden rooms,” which have been refreshed for guests. The Herb Garden has been renovated with new stonework, and new garden beds have been installed in the Queens Garden, bursting with color.

This is the time to visit and observe the early stages of perennials, biennials, and woody plants as they begin their spring awakening. Currently, hellebores, daffodils, and bulbs are in bloom while cool season annuals mixed with emerging perennials and trees are beginning the process of leafing out. Shades of purple, apricot, peach, white, yellow, silver, blue, and orange are on view. More seating areas have been strategically placed throughout the gardens.

Meadowbrook Farm is a 25-acre garden property that was entrusted to PHS by the late J. Liddon Pennock, Jr. in 2004. Maintained by PHS’s horticulturists, Meadowbrook Farm offers free admission for guests and the garden experience changes each year with a new variety of plants and displays.

The site is open Wednesday-Saturday, rain or shine. Visit phsonline.org/locations/phs-meadowbrookfarm for more information. TOWN

Topics In Brief A Community Bulletin

Leighton Listens : Princeton Councilman Leighton Newlin will be available on April 26 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., to discuss local issues with members of the public. The location is Sakrid Coffee Roasters, 20 Nassau Street.

Community Health Fair: On Friday, May 5 from 4-7 p.m. at the Princeton Shopping Center courtyard, meet local health professionals, learn about healthy eating and exercise, and more. Family-friendly and open to all. Healthdepartment@princetonnj.gov.

Princeton University Farmers Market : Through May 5 on Wednesdays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., locally grown produce and other goods from area businesses that use sustainable practices is at Firestone Library/Chapel Plaza. Vendors include Catalina Empanadas, Coffee Club, The Granola Bar, and Judith’s Desserts. Pumarket@princeton.edu.

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: Four new dual-port charging stations for eight vehicles are available to the public, including an accessible charger, at the municipal building, 400 Witherspoon Street. The cost is $2 an hour during the day and $1 for overnight charging between midnight and 8 a.m., the same as in the Spring Street Garage.

Recreation Department Summer Jobs : The Princeton Recreation Department is looking for to fill several positions for the summer season. Visit princetonnj.gov.

Literacy New Jersey Online High School Diploma and Citizenship Classes : For Mercer County residents 18 and older, free classes. The diploma classes are held on Zoom; citizenship classes are on Zoom and in person at Princeton Public Library. For more information, call (609) 587-6027 or email mercer@LiteracyNJ.org

Princeton Kingston West Windsor Robbinsville

BURSTING INTO BLOOM: The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society invites the

TELLING TIME: More than 50 tall case clocks, some with intricate designs, are on display at Morven through February. All were made by New Jersey craftspeople between 1730 and 1830.

gifts

“Striking Beauty” Clock Exhibition Is First Such Display of its Kind

One-Year Subscription: $20 Two-Year Subscription: $25 Subscription Information: 609.924.5400 ext. 30 or subscriptions@ witherspoonmediagroup.com princetonmagazine.com

“They’re so tall! That’s what everybody kept saying,” said curator Elizabeth Allen, who has assembled the collection of works by highly skilled New Jersey clockmakers, running through February 18, 2024. “And it’s true. When you see them in person, you really can’t believe how tall they are.”

TOPICS Of the Town

Allen and colleagues were hoping to find 30 clocks when they began organizing the exhibit. Much to their pleasant surprise, they ended up with 52. While smaller shows on the subject have been mounted, the Morven display turns out to be the largest of its kind. Many of the clocks have never been on public view before, and will return to private collections after the run of the show.

“Striking Beauty” follows the lead of a Morven exhibit from nine years ago, focused on needlework from across the state. “We have a spreadsheet of ideas,” said Allen. “Some of those ideas stay on the spreadsheet for a couple years. Then, something will happen that makes them bubble up to the top. We always liked the idea of examining things made in New Jersey, as we did with the needlework exhibit.”

During a visit to Ellarslie museum in Trenton’s Cadwalader Park, Allen was taken with a clock on display. “I mentioned that I was thinking of doing a show on clocks from New Jersey, and they said, ‘Oh, we know who you should talk to.’ That’s how we met Steve.”

Steve is Steve Petrucelli, an expert on New Jersey clocks and the exhibition advisor. “We met over the phone, because it was during COVID,” said Allen. “We asked if a show had ever been done on this scale, and he said it hadn’t. We also asked if it was doable. I mean, how do you move clocks? He said ‘It’s fine, we can totally do it. I’ll show you how.’”

Having the clocks taken apart and reassembled was easier than Allen expected. “Steve works with people accustomed to moving clocks,” she said.

Allen and colleagues went to historical societies

across the state to search out examples, and several have lent their clocks for the show. Another comes from the Newark Museum; still more are from private homes. “Having those from private homes is especially exciting, because you wouldn’t get to see them otherwise,” said Allen.

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“Striking Beauty”

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beautiful, with faces embellished with intricate brass work or painted designs of objects like ships, suns, and moons. Internally, their complicated workings are mechanical masterpieces; some even chime the hour with melodies.”

The clocks are works of decorative art that are also machines. More than two centuries after they were built, many — 80 percent of those on display — still work and operate.

The exhibition begins in Burlington County, in a time period when war was raging. “These are clockmakers who are British subjects who then became revolutionaries and ended their lives as U.S. citizens,” said Allen. “There are such amazing stories to tell.”

The earliest clock in the show was made by Isaac Pearson, considered to be New Jersey’s first clockmaker. Another, by Flemington clockmaker Joakim Hill, was transported from Maine. In an 1804 newspaper advertisement, Trenton clock and watchmaker William J. Leslie wrote “Not from Paris, London, or Boston — but a Native of New Jersey.” The state was, at that time, home to dozens of craftsmen specializing in tall case clocks. Those in the show come from towns including Elizabeth, Newark, Burlington, Flemington, and Salem, among other locales.

Upcoming programming related to “Striking Beauty” includes “Perspectives in Identifying New Jersey Clocks,” led by Petrucelli on Sunday, April 30 at 2 p.m.; and “The Costs of Luxury: Mahogany and Tall Case Clocks in Early America,” led by historian Jennifer Anderson on Wednesday, May 24 at 6:30 p.m. Both programs are hybrids. Visit morven.org for tickets, times, and information. Morven is located at 55 Stockton Street.

— Anne Levin

Local Authors Return To Princeton Library

Princeton Public Library’s Local Author Day returns to the Princeton Public Library, celebrating the creativity and skill of authors working in the region. This year, more than 40 local authors will give readers a chance to connect with them as they talk about and sign their books.

The author fair is Saturday, April 29, in the Community Room, from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Special events are planned, including workshops to help with writing and publication, such as a grammar table.

A schedule can be found at the library web site at Princetonlibrary.org

You can now purchase a copy of

Town Topics

for 75 cents in front of our previous office, 4 Mercer Street, or our new location, 4438 Routh 27 North in Kingston, from our coin-operated newspaper boxes, 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week.

Question of the Week: “What is the most important environmental issue to you?”

(Asked at the Earth Day Community Green Fair at Morven Museum and Garden)

(Photos by Weronika Plohn)

“Deforestation. Trees are very important, and not just for the oxygen. The fast fashion industry creates such pollution to the

Richard: “Sustainable landscaping. We specialize in organic turf management, native plants, and green infrastructure. We use battery-powered equipment and have a solar trailer to charge it off the grid.”

Jenny: “Flooding. A lot of my neighbors struggled with it, and I was personally affected by it in the past, so that is why I support any practice to keep reducing it by putting in rain gardens, having a rain barrel, or planting trees.”

“Climate change. It is so prominent in so many different parts of the world right now. The last winter we experienced was one of the examples of how it is changing in front of our eyes.”

Noah: “Recycling the things you use and properly placing them in your local recycling disposal. We advertise the app called Recycle Coach, that lets you plan out and schedule your daily recycle, trash, and yard waste disposal with your local municipality.”

Max: “Sustainable transport for both people and materials throughout the world. The transportation sector creates a large number of emissions, and I believe that the scientists of today and tomorrow can create more eco-friendly solutions on how to get from point A to point B.”

—Noah

Princeton, with Max Mazo, Cranbury

“Sustainability and protecting the planet are among the environmental issues that we are trying to educate people about during the event. We have some fun games for the kids to play that are teaching about recycling, reusing, and disposing the waste. We are also planting native-to-New Jersey purple cone flowers that you can take home with you and plant in your backyard.”

—Lindsey Garriton, North Brunswick, with Lindsey Weiss, Princeton

—Richard McCoy, Ringoes with Jenny Ludmer, Princeton

—Rosie Pilla, Lyndhurst and Sara Viegas, East Hanover

—Cami Alexi, Marlton and Faith Gallagher, Old Bridge

Chung,

Council Votes to Pass Municipal Budget, Works on Resumption of Farmers’ Market

At its meeting on Monday evening, Princeton Council approved the 2023 municipal budget, which will lead to an increase for the average Princeton taxpayer of $279 for the year.

The budget calls for $72.47 million in spending, about $1.27 million more over the previous year. The increase comes from higher costs for things like health care and waste management, among other issues.

A work session on the Princeton Farmers Market revealed that, subject to Council approval, the market will return to Hinds Plaza in June. The weekly gathering of fresh food vendors, farmers, and customers, founded in 2009, was moved to such spots as Franklin Avenue and the Dinky train station lot during the pandemic.

“Many of the vendors and farms have been with us since it opened,” said Jess Morrison, vice president with the JM Group, which runs the market. “We are very excited to hopefully bring it back to Hinds Plaza.”

Parking, as usual, is an issue. Trucks from participating farms, which need to unload produce throughout the day, have to be located close to the site. Market manager Natalie Fiorino told Council there are six trucks from local farms. She also requested that the town allow 20 spots for vendors in the Spring Street parking

garage, adjacent to Hinds Plaza.

Deputy Adminstrator/ Municipal Engineer Deanna Stockton said staff is in the process of preparing an agreement for this year’s market, something that hasn’t been done in the past. The agreement will be brought to Council at its May 8 meeting and will include information about parking.

“We have been talking about some different locations for different vehicles, understanding that certain farm trucks need to be close,” she said.

There are six spaces on the Hinds Plaza side of Witherspoon Street that could accommodate about four of the trucks; another three across the street could be for two more. Any larger vehicles that don’t fit in the garage could be parked on Paul Robeson Place, Stockton said.

Members of Council suggested parking in the Griggs Corner lot across Witherspoon Street, in Palmer Square, or in the Westminster Choir College lot a few blocks away.

Fiorino said she expects about 22 vendors to take part in the market, which would be similar to past participation. Many are return vendors; others are new. The market would also accommodate live music and special events such as blood pressure screenings. The market is targeted to run through November 16.

In a presentation updating Council about Princeton Senior Resource Center (PSRC), director Drew Dyson said that a strategic plan has been completed since the last time he appeared before the governing body, and the organization has met 100 percent of its capital campaign. PSRC has expanded its programs and services more than 65 percent over the last few years, specifically delivering its lifelong learning programs online, in person, and in hybrid format, Dyson said.

There has also been a dramatic increase in exercise and fitness programs, Dyson said. More than 125 people have taken pickleball lessons during the last several months. The technology lab is another area that has become extremely popular; support groups and case management have also increased. The opening of PSRC’s new building on Poor Farm Road, augmenting the existing Suzanne Patterson Center, has been a significant factor.

“We purchased, renovated, and opened the new building,” Dyson said. “We are one of the first in the country to develop a hybrid senior center, and I have been doing presentations about it across the country. It showcased the value and worth we ascribe to the senior population.”

Resolutions were passed by Council adopting the municipal emergency management basic plan;

starting May 7.

authorizing continued use of a portion of Community Park South for a temporary dog park until May 5, 2024; and authorizing submission of a substantial amendment of the 2022 Community Development Block Grant Program annual action plan in the amount of $284,943. Council issued proclamations establishing National Library Week and honoring retiring municipal staff members Vikki Caines and Jeffrey Opalski.

The next meeting of Council is Monday, May 8 at 7 p.m. in Witherspoon Hall.

—Anne Levin

Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers’ Market Returns

Hunterdon Land Trust opens a new Farmers’ Market season Sunday, May 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dvoor Farm, 111 Mine Street in Flemington. The producers-only market will run every Sunday through November 19.

Shoppers will find organic fruits and vegetables, allnatural meats, fresh-baked breads, cave-ripened cheeses, pies, plants, flowers, wine and more.

Morning Yoga with Lauren Theis will begin on May 7 at 9 a.m. in the Dvoor Farm wagon house. Live music will return in late May, and a variety of programs will

be held during the year that explore the history and environment of the Hunterdon County area. Details will be available on www.hunterdonlandtrust.org.

Among the special events planned is an afternoon of tea and light finger foods at the farm’s wagon house on Sunday, May 14 at 2 p.m. Guests will get to keep their tea cup and saucer as a memento of the day, and perhaps take home a prize. Tickets cost $35, and all proceeds will benefit the market. Dvoor Farm is at 111 Mine Street in Flemington. Visit hunterdonlandtrust.org.

The Dvoor Farm is located at 111 Mine Street in Flemington.

LOOKING FOR A JOB?

MORE DOCTORS. NEW LOCATION.

Finding a specialist who’s just right for you has never been easier. Because now, some of the area’s finest providers are in our newest o ce, Princeton Medicine Physicians Pennington.

Backed by the strength of Penn Medicine and its comprehensive continuum of care, our new location is sta ed with expert, caring, board certified physicians and healthcare providers specializing in:

• Bariatric Surgery & Metabolic Medicine

• Cardiology

• Gastroenterology

The new Penn Medicine Princeton Medicine Physicians Pennington is conveniently located at: 2482 Pennington Road

Suite 102

Pennington, NJ 08534

• Gynecology

• Pulmonology

To learn more or make an appointment, please call 609.853.6480 or visit princetonmedicine.org. For your convenience, you can book an appointment online. Telemedicine appointments are available.

FOOD ON THE FARM: It’s Farmers’ Market season at Dvoor Farm in Flemington,

Chmiel continued from page one walkout last Friday, and left school early, defying notice that they would be marked absent from their last two classes, to march down Moore Street to the district administration building on Valley Road.

At Friday’s walkout, as at BOE meetings, previous demonstrations, and on other online and in-person occasions in the past month, many students strongly voiced their support for Chmiel, their dismay at his dismissal, and their urgent hope to see him reinstated as principal.

“We are lost and confused,” said one student at Friday’s walkout. “Our mental health has been challenged trying to sort this out while focusing on

our schoolwork at the same time.”

“It has been so disorienting to have administration be changed just like this, at the end of the school year,” said another. “it has been very hard.”

“We miss him,” said a third student.

After a short while on the Valley Road lawn a group of seven students was invited inside to meet with Kelley.

The hour-long meeting was reported by both sides as being a step in the right direction, but nothing like a resolution or agreement on the issues in question.

“The superintendent said the meeting was very productive and I hope the beginning of a dialogue,” Kendal reported.

—Donald Gilpin

Rheumatologists Join With Princeton

Physicians

The former Rheumatology Center of Princeton and its three providers have joined Princeton Medicine Physicians, the primary and specialty care network of Penn Medicine Princeton Health.

The practice, located at 123 Franklin Corner Road, Suite 106, Lawrence, is now named Princeton Medicine Physicians Rheumatology Lawrenceville.

All providers in the practice specialize in rheumatology, which involves diagnosing and treating immune system diseases, inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, and other disorders that affect muscles, joints, bones, and connective tissue.

specialty practices are part of a broad initiative to bring specialty care closer to home for individuals throughout the region and complement Princeton Medicine primary care offices that had already existed in those areas.

AIA members practicing in small firms in New Jersey are encouraged to reach out to Zinder to discuss how the national organization could better support them.

Zinder served as president of AIA-New Jersey for the 2021 calendar year.

Michael J. Fronceck M.D.

Princeton Medicine Physicians employs more than 200 providers at 25 locations across Mercer, Middlesex, and Somerset counties. Medicare and most major insurance plans are accepted. Learn more at www.princetonmedicine.org.

The phone number of the practice is (609).896-2505.

Zinder Appointed to Committee

On Small Architecture Firms

“Starting one’s own firm is stressful and requires a lot of time doing things other than architecture, but there are rewards for our partners, our staff and the communities we serve,” Zinder said. “I wouldn’t change a thing.” He adds that he hopes to work within the Exchange to elevate the perception of emerging firms, and to encourage practice leaders to focus on mentorship, networking, and responsive design.

Gina C. Del Guidice M.D.

The providers include: Gina C. Del Giudice M.D., Michael J. Fronceck M.D. and Edita Surbiliene, APN-C.

PHS WALKOUT: About 100 Princeton High School students walked out of school early on Friday and marched down Moore Street to the Valley Road administration building in protest against last month’s dismissal of PHS Principal Frank Chmiel. Chmiel and his lawyers are planning their next steps, considering whether to request an appeal hearing with the Princeton Public Schools Board of Education.

The rheumatology center is the latest addition to a growing list of specialty practices opened or acquired by Princeton Medicine Physicians over the past several months. The other practices are in Pennington, Hillsborough, and Robbinsville. The new

Joshua Zinder, managing partner of the Princeton firm JZA+D, has been appointed as New Jersey’s representative to the American Institute of Architects Small Firm Exchange. (AIA SFx).

Each year, the SFx selects practitioners from across the country to advance the mutual interests of architects with small firms. According to AIA, SFx representatives are integral to AIA communications, connecting small firm leaders in their local and state components to the national organization.

Zinder has also been appointed to serve on the SFx Executive Board in the role of All-Call Workgroup Chair. The selection to represent New Jersey with AIA SFx follows Zinder’s recent presentation at the virtually-held AIA Tri-State Small Firms Symposium. Titled “Progress Through Storytelling: How to Win Approval for Innovative Design,” the session focused on communication strategies for competing with larger firms when presenting to approval-granting agencies and authorities. This June in San Francisco at the 2023 Conference on Architecture, Zinder will present the session in person alongside architect and engineer Charles F. Bloszies — who operates his own small firm in the Bay Area — and land-use expert John McDonough.

Princeton Council

continued from page one on the upcoming elections and their reasons for running, Cohen and Fraga reflected on the accomplishments of their first two terms and their goals for meeting future challenges facing Princeton.

David Cohen:

“I am seeking to return to Council for a third term because there is so much still to do to complete the work I have begun over my first two terms. For the past three years, reflecting my innate optimism and faith in dialogue, I have devoted much of my energies to tackling some of the more contentious issues we face in the Princeton community, including implementing our Affordable Housing settlement, struggling to find a more equitable and practical solution to on-street parking in our residential neighborhoods, pushing an agenda of safer streets for all through service on the Vision Zero Task Force, and advocating for good design in the community through creation of a viable successor entity when the Site Plan Review Advisory Board was disbanded due to staff and legal concerns about how it was constituted. I try to bring strong listening skills, creative problem solving, patience, and a collaborative disposition to making forward progress on these thorny issues.

“In addition to these special initiatives, I have continued to serve on the Planning Board, and the Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee; and have begun serving on the recently reconstituted Flood and Stormwater Commission. I am particularly energized by this last assignment, which shapes perhaps the most significant contribution local government can make in our region to preparing for the challenges of climate change, so dramatically exemplified by the ravages of tropical storm Ida in 2021. We are just embarking on a study for creating a stormwater utility in Princeton, a process I have been advocating since I first came on Council, and one which will take years to complete. We are also at a pivotal moment in planning for the future of our community, as the Planning Board prepares and adopts a totally revamped Community Master Plan, a process with which I am intimately involved as a member of the Master Plan subcommittee of the Planning Board. While the new Master Plan should be adopted before the end of the year, ensuring that it is more than a document sitting on the shelf, and that it actively informs governing body decisions going forward, it will be the work of many years, requiring new mechanisms of accountability, and continuity of knowledge and effort.

“I was first inspired to run by the American Institute of Architects “10 Principles for Livable Communities,” and continue to believe that my skill set as a registered architect uniquely qualifies me to provide meaningful input to the decision-making of the governing body.”

Leticia Fraga:

“For the past five years, I

have had the honor of serving on Princeton Council. When first elected, I pledged to represent all voices in our community and, as a member of Council, I have committed to using an equity lens when making policy decisions. This has meant considering how each decision will impact different groups within our community, and actively seeking to promote fairness and inclusivity in all areas of governance. By prioritizing equity in our polices, I believe we can work towards a more just and equitable society, where everyone has access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.

“My work on Council has been focused on ensuring that all members of our vulnerable population have access to basic needs like food, housing, and healthcare, as well as moving forward and supporting policies that improve the quality of life of all residents.

As a first-generation immigrant, I know firsthand what it means to fight for better opportunities for our families. It continues to be a priority of mine to ensure we are creating and supporting policies that provide our residents with the resources needed to lead heathy and fulfilling lives.

“During my time on Council, my colleagues and I have moved forward policies that will create more affordable housing for low and middleincome residents, as well as additional housing for developmentally disabled adults and for seniors. We have made great strides in improving the quality of life in our community and I am eager to continue this progress.

“As liaison to the Board of Health, the Human Services and Civil Rights Commissions, and as Chair of the Public Safety Committee, I continue to be closely involved in formulating policies that address the safety, health, and the wellbeing of residents.

“While on Council, it has been my distinct privilege both to serve and to lead. I had the honor of serving as Council President in 2021 and in 2022 and am incredibly proud of the work that my colleagues and I have accomplished together. Through collaboration and a shared commitment to progress, we have made great strides in improving our community and creating positive change. I am inspired by the dedication and hard work of my fellow Council members to make Princeton a better place for all who live and work here. I look forward to continuing to work together to build a brighter future for our community.

“As a member of Princeton Council, I will continue to advocate for fair policies and strive to create a community that works for everyone. I will work to ensure that our infrastructure is up to date, our businesses and community partners flourish, and our families are safe and secure. I believe that Princeton has been a leader and often an example of what a thriving community looks like. By working together, I am confident we can continue to prosper.”

—Donald Gilpin

New Dean of Nursing School

At Edison State University

Following a national search, Thomas Edison State University announced that Ruth Wittmann-Price, PhD, has been appointed dean of the W. Cary Ed-

Most recently, WittmannPrice served as a professor of nursing and as undergraduate programs chair at Jefferson College of Nursing (JCN) in Philadelphia. Prior to her role at JCN, she served as the founding dean of the School of Health Sciences at Francis Marion University, S.C., where she oversaw the launch of the school’s flagship Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs.

She has overseen multiple initiatives at both institutions encompassing community outreach and diversity endeavors as well as the launch of interprofessional healthcare, physician assistant, healthcare administration and speechlanguage pathology degree tracks. Earlier in her career, she served as a nursing and health professions professor at various colleges and universities in eastern Pennsylvania.

“Dr. Wittmann-Price brings with her a wealth of experience in developing and expanding nursing and health professions programs as well as supporting traditionally underserved student and patient populations to her new role,” said Merodie A. Hancock, president, TESU. “We are excited to have her join our university.”

Wittmann-Price, who will begin her new position in May, was instrumental in garnering grant support for multiple academic endeavors, including recently obtaining nearly $7 million in federal funding to support nursing students from underserved communities who, in turn, are specifically trained to provide care for patients from those communities. She also has secured federal funding for veterans seeking bachelor’s degree completion. Most recently, she initiated a campaign to support at-risk nursing students by providing them with graduate student mentors, stipends and other resources to offset traditional academic barriers to degree completion.

Wittman-Price

Gardens Cooperative Kicks Off Pilot Program With Public Schools

Coordinated by educator and master gardener Tomia MacQueen, Princeton Public Schools (PPS) and Princeton School Garden Cooperative (PSGC) last week kicked off a collaborative one-year pilot program “to optimize untapped campus resources for illustrating and amplifying curriculum,” according to a PSGC press release.

“We need to educate our students and give them a well-rounded way of thinking in terms of their food and their lifestyle in stewarding the planet,” said MacQueen, who specializes in edible gardens and is the founder of Gardening for Life (Love, Inspiration, Faith, and Empowerment) and Wildflower Farm in Pennington.

She continued, “I want to get our kids excited about food again. I want them to be able to walk this garden space and be able to graze, to have a grazing menu, where they can go and enjoy fresh food and really understand ‘make it your normal.’ Food shouldn’t be something that you always just buy in the store. I would love for kids to go home and start a garden in their back yard, start something small that’s going to plant seeds to last a lifetime.”

Delayed since 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic, the pilot program addresses the district goal of inclusivity and equity and the New Jersey Climate Education mandate. It also draws on a growing body of research that links connection to the

natural world with resilience and well-being, and emphasizes the importance of food choices and their effects on the lifelong health of people and the planet.

In her role as coordinator, MacQueen will work behind the scenes engaging faculty and staff in using school food, water, and the facilities and grounds on PPS campuses as tools to illustrate and amplify curriculum and to nurture the well-being of the student body, according to the press release.

PPS Science Supervisor Joy Barnes-Johnson, who will work with MacQueen on the program, noted that the district plans to embed this program in the curriculum and to establish it as a model for other schools.

“Food has myriad roles in our lives, and it connects to nearly every academic subject,” said Barnes-Johnson.

“Our food system affects and is affected by the environment and biodiversity, the economy, the political system, public health, and personal well-being — and joy and robustness. We want to develop this program so that we can connect and strengthen our own district, and then share everything we’ve learned with other districts to connect and strengthen them.”

First-year priorities for the pilot program include: restarting and expanding the Garden State on Your Plate farm-to-table initiative, which brings chefs and farmers into school

cafeterias during lunchtime where they serve up samples of locally grown and simply prepared produce; developing and implementing with the community’s water flow experts the capture and conservation of water for irrigation of each school’s edible garden and for plantings of native perennials; and facilitating, alongside Princeton Environmental Commission and other nonprofits, micro food forest plantings and maintenance that connect Princeton Middle School and Princeton High School and support biodiversity, pollinators, and habitat creation.

The press release goes on to accentuate that the success of this program “for students, and by extension, for their parents and community members, will result in the development of lifelong skills that foster wellbeing and individual agency, natural systems stewardship, and the associated pleasures of palate, plate, and people.”

MacQueen, who moved to Pennington with her family five years ago and opened the Wildflower Farm commercially just a month before Covid hit, reflected on her role in leading this program with PSGC and PPS. She talked about using the schools’ gardens as curriculum points in all subjects for the students.

“All of our lives we will eat, sleep and drink, and those are the building blocks of our bodies, our wellness,

our mental health, and our physical health,” she said. She emphasized the importance of food to all aspects of health and life from before birth all the way through school, college, and adulthood. “It used to be that every home had an edible garden. It was just a normal part of life, but we have lost contact with our food and that has become a big problem,” she said. “The thing about starting young is that a child who grows up with their hands in the soil knowing where their food comes from never forgets that.”

She and her husband have two teenaged children and, she said, they have told them, “‘If you never want to raise another chicken and you never want to plant another seed, at least you will know how to feed yourself by the time you leave home.’”

She continued, “If they choose to go to the grocery store for most of their lives, then that’s their choice, but it won’t be because they’re incapable, and when they do go to the grocery store they will be able to make healthy choices, which I think is

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Also

more important than anything else.”

MacQueen, who holds degrees in dance and education, fine and performing arts, is on the boards of Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space and the Northeast Organic Farming Association-NJ, and is a member of Governance for the Ujamaa Cooperative Farming Alliance.

A longtime dance teacher, she talked about food, music, and dance as “the three connectors.”

“I tell people, ‘When the food is good enough, the isms stop,’” she said. “When the music or the food or the dance is good enough, the issues kind of fade away and people enjoy the moment. You can sit down over a plate of food, and now you can have the hard questions. It’s hard to be angry at somebody you’re sharing a plate of food with. It just is.”

Gilpin

Princeton’s First Tradition

Worship Service

Sundays at 11am

Preaching Sunday, April 30, 2023, at 11am is Rev. Alison L. Boden, Ph.D. , Dean of Religious Life and of the Chapel. Music performed by the Princeton University Chapel Choir with Nicole Aldrich, Director of Chapel Music and of the University Chapel Choir, and with Eric Plutz, University Organist.

riched curriculum, as PPS collaborates with Princeton School Gardens in a year-long pilot program coordinated by MacQueen. (Photo courtesy of Princeton School Gardens)

—Donald

Seminary Site

continued from page one that. I anticipate at least another meeting, or multiple ones, before a plan comes out.”

On April 15, the Princeton Coalition for Responsible Development (PCRD) held its own meeting on the subject at the Johnson Education Center on Preservation Place. The agenda covered a recent history of the site, current zoning laws, results of public surveys by PCRD about development, and a vision for the future of the site.

“We’ve been at this for five years,” said Jo Butler, a resident of the neighborhood and a member of the PCRD. “It’s really complicated. We want to educate people so that they’re not hearing this stuff for the first time when they go to these [Community Roundtable] meetings. We just want people to understand.”

PCRD is not opposed to redevelopment. “What we want is responsible development,” Butler said. At the April 15 meeting, architect Christopher Olsen, who lives on Alexander Street, presented one vision for the properties “that would meet the community’s needs, be sensitive to the environment, the history, and the neighbors,” Butler wrote in an email. “It would be as-of-right and it would still meet the governing body’s objectives of increased density and affordable housing.”

PCRD has met with Herring several times, Butler said, including taking a tour of the neighborhood with him. The “elephant in the room” is density. “We’ve had meetings and people talk in generalities, but we’re not seeing what they have planned.”

PTS first announced plans to develop graduate housing at the site in 2018. Those plans

were abandoned a year later. In 2021, PTS announced it was selling 5 of the 10 lots included in the ANR. Two of those lots are the site of the former Whiteley Gymnasium; the three others are 92, 100, and 108 Stockton Street. The change in ownership from an educational institution to a private developer has implications for the zoning, changing it to R3 from E4.

Butler said PCRD encourages people to attend the Community Roundtable on May 6. “They did a nice job at the first meeting, listening to what people had to say. We’re not competing with the town. We’re really trying to augment what they’re trying to do.”

Lesko said the process of forming a final redevelopment plan for the site involves going before Council, the Planning Board, and back to Council, “at least a couple of months.”

—Anne Levin

School Matters

New Schoolyard Habitat Recognized at Princeton Montessori

Princeton Montessori School’s (PMonts) Schoolyard Habitat has been officially certified by the National Wildlife Federation, America’s largest wildlife conservation and education organization.

PMonts, with its Garden for Wildlife program, has joined more than 5,000 schools nationwide that have created thriving habitats in their schoolyards, providing essential elements for wildlife: natural food sources, clean water, cover, and places to raise young.

“We are pleased that our beautiful campus is now a Certified Wildlife Habitat,” said Head of School Michelle Morrison, as quoted in an April 18 PMonts press release. “Spending time in nature is a core tenet of the Montessori philosophy, as Dr. Montessori believed that exposure to nature promotes physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development in children.”

The habitat also provides an outdoor education site for students to engage in cross-curricular learning, and certification makes their Certified Wildlife Habitat part of the Million Pollinator Garden challenge, a national effort to restore critical habitat for pollinators.

The PMonts campus includes several flower gardens, a new wildflower garden, and an expanded vegetable garden. The school’s 20 acres of woodland include species like oak, sweet gum, black tulip, American elm, common persimmon, and may other native plants.

PMonts students spend a lot of time outdoors, the press release notes, particularly during their weekly ecology class in grades 1-8.

“My aim for the ecology students is to not just be comfortable in nature, but to truly appreciate it and grow up wanting to protect it,” said PMonts ecology teacher Gery Juleff. “Rain or shine, we try to go outside and use our outdoor classroom in the heart of our woods. The students love it there.”

PRISMS and PCS Compete in National Science Bowl in D.C. This Weekend Champions in the New Jersey Regional Science Bowl (held at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory in February), the Princeton International School of Mathematics and Science (PRISMS) high school division team and the Princeton Charter School (PCS) middle school division team are traveling to Washington D.C. this week to compete in the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Science Bowl from April 27 to May 1.

Representing PRISMS will be Justin Feder, Josh Shi, Yichen Xiao, Heyung Ni, and Yiji Wang. Gavin Macatangay, Amelie Huang, Aaron Wang, and Rohan Srivastava will be competing for PCS, which has represented New Jersey in the national middle school competition five times in the past six years.

The weekend events, with all expenses paid by the Department of Energy, include “a fast-paced verbal forum to solve technical problems and answer questions in all branches of science and math,” according to the DOE website. Also on tap will be hands-on science activities, sightseeing, and cutting-edge science seminars.

Mercer Science and Engineering Fair Winners and More

In addition to the Princeton High School and Princeton Middle School award winners featured in last week’s Town Topics, there were first-place winners from PCS and from the Chapin School in last month’s Mercer Science and Engineering Fair.

For superior achievement in the junior division Olivia Ahn of PCS for her project on The Impact of Different Fabrics and the Resistance to Mosquitoes: Which Types of Fabrics Let Mosquitoes Go Through? and Zachary Phelan of Chapin School for his project on The Gauss Rifle were awarded prizes in the general science category.

“This project involved figuring out which fabrics would prevent mosquito bites,” said Ahn in an email. “I used a 290 micrometer needle to mimic a mosquito’s proboscis.” She went on to attach her needle to a spring scale to measure its force each time, as she experimented with many different fabrics, examined those fabrics under a microscope, and made a video of the whole project.

“I was impressed by Olivia’s creativity and self-motivation throughout the process,” said PCS science teacher Laura Celik. “She independently created a clever procedure, completed the experiments, and wrote up the project. I am so proud of her, and happy she was able to experience original scientific research at a young age.”

PCS also announced on Monday that eighth graders Amelie Huang, Harry Dweck, and Emily Gao have won first place in New Jersey in the You Be the Chemist Challenge. They are one of the five top teams in the country and will be traveling to Houston, Texas in June to compete in the national championship.

During the National Challenge each team will be on stage before a panel of judges answering questions about the research they performed in making a 5-7-minute video on sustainability, forces, and interactions.

Not to be outdone by the science scholars, PCS mathematicians brought home prizes earlier this month in the New Jersey Mathematics League Contest. Ayonah Kahlon placed first in the region and in the state in the sixth grade division. Jiayi Zhou took first place in the region in the seventh grade competition, and Kyle Carr finished second in the region in the eighth grade division.

New Board Members

Named by Womanspace Womanspace, a Mercer County nonprofi t dedicated to serving individuals and families impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault, has welcomed Malina Poshtova Delamere, Ektaa Sanghvi Shat, and Stephen Sigmund as new new board members.

Delamere is the founder and president of Vida Rose Coaching Solutions, an executive coaching practice for women whose business, career, and life are in growth mode. With over 20 years of business leadership experience, Poshtova is also a former Fulbright Scholar, with degrees from New York University and the University of Sofia in Bulgaria. She believes that life is an adventure and opportunities often come in disguise.

Shah is a certified public accountant and recent graduate of Rutgers Business School. A business owner, she currently works in her family’s tax practice, cpa4tax, alongside her father. As a young professional, she is excited to use her skills, professional and otherwise, to give back.

The son of former Princeton mayor and Womanspace founder Barbara Boggs Sigmund, Sigmund is a communications and public affairs professional with over 25 years’ experience as an executive, advisor, and spokesperson for leading regional and national public and private sector organizations. He currently serves as chief of public outreach/chief spokesman for the Gateway Development Commission. He teaches at Columbia University, and serves on the boards of the Center for an Urban Future

and Interact Community Theater.

“We are honored to accept these exceptional individuals as the newest members of the Womanspace Board of Directors. We respect that representation matters. The life experience, expertise and connections brought in by Malina Poshtova Delamere, Ektaa Sanghvi Shah, and Stephen

Sigmund will greatly enhance our Board’s governance abilities in supporting and advocating for our mission,” said Womanspace Board President Michelle Bajwa. “We are grateful and ask our wonderful community to join us in celebrating and welcoming them as allies in support of victims and families impacted by domestic violence and sexual abuse.”

Concierge

Rider Honors Lewis Schiff

At Commencement Event

Rider University will honor Lewis Schiff during its 2023 Commencement ceremony on May 13. Schiff will receive an honorary Doctor of Business for his contributions to the University and the world of entrepreneurship.

Conference for Business Leaders, a week-long workshop at the University of Oxford that brings business leaders and emerging innovators together to discover tech innovations that will transform their company’s position in the marketplace.

“I have been fortunate to receive the mentorship and guidance of many great entrepreneurs over the course of my life and career. To be able to bestow my knowledge and experience onto already successful business owners and the next generation of business owners – with the intent to have an impact on reducing poverty worldwide – brings me more joy and fulfillment than I could have ever imagined,” Schiff said.

“It is a true honor to receive this honorary doctorate and to be recognized by such a prestigious program.”

attend the conference thanks to the support and connections of Brodsky, who is the entrepreneur-in-residence for Birthing of Giants.

As founder of Inc. magazine’s Business Owners Council, Schiff has interviewed some of the most accomplished entrepreneurs in the world. He has authored or co-authored several books on success, including The First Habit: The One Technique That Can Change Your Life and Business Brilliant: Surprising Lessons from the Greatest Self-Made Business Icons . Over the past two decades, he built and sold two media businesses to publicly-traded companies, iVillage and TheStreet.com.

New Chief Impact Officer

At Community Options

THE

Birthing of Giants: The Princeton Fellowship Program for Business Owners, a strategic planning program for owners of growing companies. The organization’s mission is to use entrepreneurial capitalism to generate greater positive economic impact with the goal of reducing poverty. Originally developed at MIT in partnership with Inc. magazine, the fellowship program has resulted in measurable success among its community.

Schiff also serves as the executive director of Moonshots and Moneymakers: The Oxford Innovation

In recent years, Schiff has served as a mentor to Rider students, participating in the class “Inside the Entrepreneurial Mind.” The course, taught by Norm Brodsky ’64, the namesake of Rider’s Norm Brodsky College of Business, exposes students to the idea of an entrepreneurial mindset and allows them to hear from entrepreneurs and industry leaders who share their personal experiences. Schiff also created an avenue for Rider students to gain global experience in business at the Moonshots and Moneymakers Conference. Each summer, a select group of students is chosen to

Community Options, a Princeton-based national non-profit organization providing housing and employment support to people with disabilities, has announced the appointment of Leanne Morton as chief impact officer. In her new role, Morton will oversee training, clinical services, and outcome management. She will ensure that all programs are in line with best practices for safety, quality, and impact.

Morton is a licensed clinical social worker with a Master of Social Work degree from Rutgers University and executive healthcare leadership training from Cornell University. She has worked

Earth Week 2023 Events

invasive garlic mustard and wineberry from an 18-acre forest restoration site which was planted with thousands of native plants in 2020 and 2021. Details about future volunteer opportunities at the preserve are available at fopos.org/getinvolved.

in the healthcare industry for over 12 years including as a senior executive director for New Jersey’s premier mental health and substance abuse treatment provider. There, she ensured the population’s emotional and physical health through safe and supportive psychological services and intensive outpatient programs.

Reporting directly to President and CEO Robert Stack, Morton will be based in Princeton.

“Leanne Morton is a proven leader with a strong

Lawrence Township, NJ

Wednesday, April 26 7- 8pm

rth Week 2023 Events

track record of success in the healthcare industry,” said Stack. “Her expertise in training, clinical services, and quality assurance will be instrumental in helping Community Options continue to provide the highest level of support to the individuals we serve. We are thrilled to have her on board.”

New Surgery Leader

At St. Peter’s Hospital Saint Peter’s University Hospital, a member of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, has named Dr. Lindsay Grier Arthur III as the newly appointed chair of the Department of Surgery and surgeon-in-chief for The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s.

From Assumpink to Stoney Brook: Story of the Streams of Lawrence Township

Lawrence Township, NJ

Virtual Presentation

Saturday, April 22: Earth Day

9am

Stream Clean-up

Wednesday, April 26 7- 8pm

Learn how local streams helped to shape the Lawrence of today, and how they were shaped by the past

Colonial Lake Park and Lawrence Nature Center, Drexel Avenue

From Assumpink to Stoney Brook: Story of the Streams of Lawrence Township

y, April 22: Earth Day

Clean-up

Choose from two Lawrence Township locations and join volunteers and The Watershed Institute in a spring cleaning of our waterways Preregister at: thewatershed.org/stream-cleanups

Virtual Presentation

Presented by Dennis P Waters, Mercer County Library Commissioner and former Lawrence Township Historian. Register at mcl org/events

Learn how local streams helped to shape the Lawrence of today, and how they were shaped by the past

Saturday, April 29 10am -2pm

A widely respected minimally invasive pediatric surgeon, educator, author and researcher, Arthur comes to Saint Peter’s from St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia. In his new role, he will focus on three key areas including general pediatric surgery, head and neck surgery, and congenital surgeries. Among the conditions he can treat are appendicitis, hernia and pilonidal diseases (general surgery), thyroid disease and branchial cleft remnants (head and neck), tracheaesophageal fistulas, neonatal intestinal obstructions, and congenital pulmonary airway malformations (congenital surgeries).

Arthur also has a special interest in pediatric oncology, having been involved with St. Christopher’s Oncology Group for 15 years.

Lake Park and

Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia where he also graduated cum laude. He remained at Jefferson for his general surgical residency and then continued his medical education as a pediatric surgical research fellow at the AI DuPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware. Immediately following, Dr. Arthur embarked on his pediatric surgical residency at Columbus Children’s Hospital of Ohio State University, now known as Nationwide Children’s Hospital, one of the busiest children’s hospitals in the country. While there, he was recognized with the prestigious Surgical House Officer of the Year award. Visit saintpetershcs.com/ surgery for more information.

Meals on Wheels

Sponsors Pet Walk

Meals on Wheels of Mercer County (MOWMC) is celebrating its 50th year with the first annual Paws for Our Cause Pet Walk on May 13 from 1-3 p.m. at Rosedale Park in Pennington.

Over the years, MOWMC discovered that many homebound participants had pets to help with social isolation. Many of these “pet parents” were giving their meals to pets instead of eating the meals provided to them. In 2014, the organization established a Pet Pantry and pet food program, and now delivers pet food in addition to food for homebound participants.

11am

e Nature Center, Drexel Avenue from two Lawrence Township and join volunteers and The ed Institute in a spring cleaning aterways Preregister at: shed.org/stream-cleanups

Nature Center Renaming

Lawrence Nature Center, Drexel Avenue

Celebrate the significant contributions of Anne Demaris as a sign is unveiled with the center's new name, the Lawrence Township Anne Demaris Nature Center

Center Renaming

e Nature Center, Drexel Avenue

e the significant contributions of maris as a sign is unveiled with er ' s new name, the Lawrence p Anne Demaris Nature Center

Presented by Dennis P Waters, Mercer County Library Commissioner and former Lawrence Township Historian Register at mcl.org/events

Bike Rodeo and Electric Vehicle Meet-up

Lawrence High School 2525 Princeton Pike

Saturday, April 29 10am -2pm Bike Rodeo and Electric Vehicle Meet-up

Lawrence High School 2525 Princeton Pike

The day will feature bike course, bike safety check, free bike helmets (while supplies last), fire truck and ambulance to explore, tree seedling giveaway, food trucks, and dozens of owners of electric

The day will feature bike course, bike safety check, free bike helmets (while supplies last), fire truck and ambulance to explore, tree seedling giveaway, food trucks, and dozens of owners of electric cars and bikes to share their EV experience and help you find the vehicle that is right for you.

“I believe that the Department of Surgery at Saint Peter’s University Hospital is a hidden gem within the state, and that we can deliver outstanding surgical expertise for both adults and children without the need for patients to travel to New York City or Philadelphia to have their care,” he said. “After nearly 16 years in clinical practice in pediatric surgery, my goal is to grow the pediatric surgical practice at The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital and to develop the Department of Surgery into a well-rounded tertiary referral center that competes with any surgical department in the region.”

Upon graduating cum laude from Princeton University, Dr. Arthur attended medical school at Jefferson

The celebration will include various activities including meet and greet with the chairperson, Mercer County Commissioner Nina D. Melker; ice cream for pups and humans; face painting and water tattoos; pet adoption with Easel; and more.

The event raises funds for the Pet Pantry and senior services to keep homebound seniors and their pets happy and healthy together. Visit mealsonwheelsmercer.org for more information.

ATTACK CONTINUES: On Saturday, April 15, this group of enthusiastic volunteers turned out at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature preserve in Princeton to help Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS) remove

Books

Diverse Group of Parents Express Concerns to Board of Education

To the Editor:

We write this as a diverse and multicultural group of concerned parents. We care about all the children attending Princeton Public Schools currently and those who will follow them. We are truly committed to the well-being of everyone in the Princeton community.

We are insulted by the mischaracterization of our increasing concern about Superintendent Kelley’s leadership as racially motivated.

Our worries and concerns stem solely and entirely from the distress caused to our children and their educational needs, as well as the stress piled onto trusted teachers that have proven to be pillars of our community. Many teachers are leaving because of the unsupportive atmosphere in the PPS. Teachers are afraid to speak out (afraid that they will also be fired if they express disagreement with the current administration) and are asking us parents for help voicing their concerns. The attacks suggesting that we use our children as a pretext for a racially motivated agenda are preposterous and must be condemned.

Our group is made up of Latin Americans, Spaniards, Hindi, African Americans, Native Americans, Dutch, English, French, Bengali, Italian, Chinese, Korean, Ecuadorian, Mexican, Ghana, Russian, Ukrainian, German, Guatemalan, Jewish, Catholic, Presbyterian, Muslim, agnostic and many other nationalities, ethnic backgrounds, and religions. They may not be apparent due to spouses taking on Anglo last names, but we are a group grounded in diversity and respect for all, even those that disagree with us.

Divisive statements, without any sort of substantiation, seek to detract from the real issue: lack of transparent leadership in the PPS and unwillingness to listen to its constituents. The majority of stakeholders care about the wellbeing of the students and our community as a whole. The well-being of our children is blind to color and gender.

As a coalition of concerned parents representing diverse ethnic groups, we have made our wishes clear. We believe the return of Principal Frank Chmiel to his post is the best course of action to end the current stalemate. We would advocate for any principal whose great service to our students is indisputable and we would stand up to any superintendent whose policies do not serve them. The illconceived set of events initiated by the superintendent in relation to Mr. Chimel’s employment are now resulting in thousands of dollars in legal fees to our district and payments to surplus administrators. These wasted funds from the PPS budget should instead be used to enhance our children’s education.

We ask the BOE to reinstate Principal Chmiel immediately. If this corrective action of returning this highly respected, beloved, inspiring, and equitable educator to our school system may be considered a vote of no confidence in Superintendent Kelley’s leadership, so be it. No intimidation tactic or further false accusations will stop us from defending the students and their educators’ best interests.

YVONNE DICKSON

Old Trenton Road, Cranbury MONISHA

Randall Road

GABRIELLA MILLEY Wittmer Court

“Arc of Interference” Essays Co-editor Joins Colleagues

João Biehl, the co-editor of Arc of Interference: Medical Anthropology For Worlds on Edge, will join a conversation with two leading anthropologists, Adriana Petryna, and Laurence Ralph, on May 2, at 6 p.m., at Labyrinth Books. The book’s co-editor is Vincanne Adams.

The humanistic essays of Arc of Interference (Duke University Press, $29.95 paperback; $109.95 cloth) refigure our sense of the real, the ethical, and the political in the face of mounting social and planetary upheavals. This event is cosponsored by Princeton

Brazil Lab (Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies.) A planned livestream is cancelled due to technical difficulties.

In the book’s foreword, the late medical anthropologist and physician Paul Farmer writes, “This is a book about life and death and about the aftermath of death. That alone makes it relevant to our species and to others, but Arc of Interference is also a book about the possibility of something more and something wonderful: across the continents, people struggle to care for one another.” The book is dedicated to Farmer, as well as to Arthur Kleinman, a Harvard anthropologist and

psychiatrist. The essays are assembled around Kleinman’s medical anthropological arc.

Biehl is Susan Dod Brown Professor and Chair of Anthropology at Princeton University, where he is also Director of the Brazil Lab. His award-winning books are Vita: Life in a Zone of Social Abandonment and Will to Live: AIDS Therapies and the Politics of Survival . He recently coauthored Unfinished: The Anthropology of Becoming He will be joined by Laurence Ralph , professor of anthropology at Princeton University and the Director of the Center on Transnational Policing, who is the author of the acclaimed Renegade Dreams: Living Through Injury in Gangland Chicago and Torture Letters: Reckoning with Police Violence; and by Adriana Petryna, professor of anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania, where she is also Director of the M.D.-Ph.D. Program in Anthropology. Her awardwinning books include Horizon Work: At the Edges of Knowledge in an Age of Runaway Climate Change ; When Experiments Travel: Clinical Trials and the Global Search for Human Subjects ; and Life Exposed: Biological Citizens after Chernobyl.

Canaday Reflects on LGBTQ History in Workplace Spaces

Workplaces have traditionally been viewed as “straight spaces” though which queer people passed. As a result, historians have paid limited attention to the experiences of queer people on the job.

Margot Canaday’s new book, Queer in Career: Sexuality and Work in Modern America , (Princeton University Press, $35) which offers an expansive historical look at sexual minorities in the modern American workforce, is the topic of an event at Labyrinth on May 4 at 6 p.m.

Canaday will discuss her book with Hendrik Har tog, author and professor. The event is cosponsored

by Princeton University’s Department of Gender and Sexuality Studies, History Department, and Humanities Council. A planned livestream of the event is cancelled due to technical difficulties.

“Margot Canaday brings sexuality into the history of capitalism with dazzling results,” wrote Nancy MacLean, author of Democracy in Chains: The Deeps History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America. “Deeply researched and deftly narrated, Queer Career abounds with startling discoveries, vivid stories, and singular insights — not least into how the enduring vulnerability of lesbians and gay men prefigured the precarity now affecting most workers, whatever their sexual orientation. A masterful work of scholarship and a richly rewarding read.”

Canaday is professor of history at Princeton University. She is the author of The Straight State Hartog is professor of history emeritus at Princeton University. He is the author of Public Property and Private Power: the Corporation of the City of New York in American Law, 1730-1870; Man and Wife in America: a History; Someday All This Will Be Yours: A History of Inheritance and Old Age; and The Trouble with Minna: A Case of Slavery and Emancipation in the Antebellum North.

Local Poet Offers Reading

At Princeton Public Library

A poetry reading by Judy Rowe Michaels will be presented April 30 at 3 p.m., at the Princeton Public Library Community Room.

The award-winning poet and retired Princeton Day School educator will read from This Morning the Mountain, her fourth volume of poetry. Refreshments and a book signing will follow the reading.

Michaels is the author of two books on teaching poetry and writing, and has two collections of poems. She has been awarded three poetry fellowships from the New Jersey State Arts Council and nominated for two Pushcart Prizes.

CHRISTINA

VAZQUEZ HERRERO Potters

Letters to the Editor Policy

Town Topics welcomes letters to the Editor, preferably on subjects related to Princeton. Letters must have a valid street address (only the street name will be printed with the writer’s name). Priority will be given to letters that are received for publication no later than Monday noon for publication in that week’s Wednesday edition.

Letters must be no longer than 500 words and have no more than four signatures.

All letters are subject to editing and to available space.

At least a month’s time must pass before another letter from the same writer can be considered for pub lication.

Letters are welcome with views about actions, policies, ordinances, events, performances, buildings, etc. However, we will not publish letters that include content that is, or may be perceived as, negative towards local figures, politicians, or political candidates as individuals.

When necessary, letters with negative content may be shared with the person/group in question in order to allow them the courtesy of a response, with the understanding that the communications end there.

Letters to the Editor may be submitted, preferably by email, to editor@towntopics.com, or by post to Town Topics, PO Box 125, Kingston, N.J. 08528. Letters submitted via mail must have a valid signature.

Serving Bucks, Somerset, Hunterdon and Mercer Counties

Keith Reid’s Words — Beyond “A Whiter Shade of Pale”

I sat me down to write a simple story which maybe in the end became a song

—Keith Reid (1946-2023), from “Pilgrim’s Progress”

The first “simple story” Keith Reid gave to the world took some strange and wonderful turns. According to Beyond the Pale , Procol Harum’s rich, many-leveled website, “A Whiter Shade of Pale” sold more than 10 million copies worldwide, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and has inspired as many as a thousand known cover versions while becoming, says the BBC, “the most played song in the last 75 years in public places in the UK.”

And it all began when Keith Reid mailed the lyrics to singer/pianist Gary Brooker in an envelope addressed simply “Gary, 15 Fairfield Road, Eastwood, Essex” and postmarked South Lambeth. You can see the very envelope on the website, along with a photo of the Burmese Brown cat for whom the group was named.

Introduced by Scorsese

The song that has fascinated generations since it was released in the UK as a single on May 12, 1967 is not by any means Reid’s most impressive accomplishment. In his foreword to Henry Scott-Irvine’s group biography Procol Harum : The Ghosts Of A Whiter Shade of Pale (Omnibus Press 2012), Martin Scorsese points out that the band “ drew from so many deep wells – classical music, 19th Century literature, Rhythm and Blues, seaman’s logs, concertist poetry,” each tune becoming “a crosscultural whirligig, a road trip through the pop subconscious.”

One of a Kind

If you take a world tour of Keith Reid’s lyrics, as I’ve been doing, it becomes clear that this unprepossessing fellow in the glasses who works offstage, never singing or performing on record or in person, is an incomparable writer of lyrics, or word-movies, that Gary Brooker turns into music with “a piano style steeped in gospel, classical music, blues and the British music hall,” for “songs that mixed pomp and whimsy, orchestral grandeur and rock drive,” according to the New York Times obituary for Brooker, who died on February 19, 2022, a little over a year before Reid’s death on March 23, 2023.

Crashing the Party

Writing about Haruki Marakami and the Beatles last week, I inserted Keith Reid into the mix as “the Murakami of Rock,” a shot from the hip meant to suggest the quality of the company Reid deserves.

the writers and artists being helped out of Vichy France by the Emergency Rescue Committee, I’m imagining a bespectacled young Englishman at the party Breton organized at a villa outside Marseilles, where, after some coaxing and a few drinks, he’d be trying out lines like “your skin crawls up an octave, your teeth have lost their gleam” while “the mirror on reflection has climbed back upon the wall” as “the ceiling flew away.”

Reid and the Beatles

Around the time John Lennon and Paul McCartney made the word-movie “A Day in the Life,” Reid had already created “Salad Days,” “Homburg,” and numerous others like the ones I just quoted, including “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” which hit the top of the British singles charts the same week in 1967 that Sgt. Pepper topped the album charts. That said, Beatles lyrics seldom occupy a world as truly surreal as Reid’s. Even the most colorful, quotable lines in “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” belong to a more earthly planet of the imagination than the market square in “Homburg” where the town clock’s hands “turn backwards” and “on meeting will devour both themselves” and “any fool who dares to tell the time.” And as “Homburg” breathes its last (“the sun and moon will shatter and the signposts cease to sign”), singer Gary Brooker makes sure every word counts.

Speaking of Brooker in his introduction to Scott-Irvine’s biography, film director Sir Alan Parker is “amazed as to why he isn’t seen as the greatest singer in the world. The guy could sing literally anything!” — including a lyric like “Christmas Camel,” which begins with “My Amazon six-triggered bride now searching for a place to hide....”

Thrilling Music

The first word of the eight-minute epic “Whaling Stories” on Procol Harum’s fourth and darkest album Home (1970) suggests a link to “Whiter Shade” in the composer’s mind: “Paling well after sixteen days, a mammoth task was set....”

The rest of the stanza suggests that Keith Reid’s ship has already set sail on strange seas of thought: “Sack the town, and rob the tower, and steal the alphabet / Close

nothing overwrought, just more of the Brooker life force that prevails even when the doomsday trumpets are blowing. He delivers “God’s alive” with a full measure of glory, echoing “God’s aloft” from the preceding song, which continues the nautical theme Reid introduced in Procol’s acclaimed third LP A Salty Dog (1969).

That God’s alive in Reid’s movie is no surprise, given his lifelong interest in classic films like Pandora’s Box (the title of a great song in Procol’s Ninth ) and The Sea Beast, an early silent version of Moby Dick starrring John Barrymore, remade as a talkie in 1930 with Barrymore hamming it up as Captain Ahab. Apparently scenes from the 1956 version of Melville’s novel along with clips from Marlon Brando’s Mutiny On the Bounty have been incorporated into the video accompanying the YouTube video of “Whaling Stories.”

Consider this assortment of flamboyant phrases -- “Angels mumbled incantations; Darkness struck with molten fury, flashbulbs glorified the scene; Echo stormed its final scream.” Now give the words to Gary Brooker for one of his most enthalling performances, with drummer B.J. Wilson leading the tumultuous procession and lead guitarist Robin Trower outdoing himself with piercing rephrasings of “shrieking steam!” and Echo’s final scream, before the sublime hush that comes with dry land and “Daybreak washed with sands of gladness, rotting all it rotted clean / Windows peeped out on their neighbours, inside fireside bedsides gleam.”

“Pilgrim’s Progress”

In a 2010 interview with Dmitry M. Epstein, Reid said he’s never thought of his lyrics as poems: “I think of them as statements. Someone who wrote about me said that I have a poet’s heart. I’d like to think that’s true.” Asked if his lyric to “Pilgrim’s Progress” depicts “a songwriting process,” he replied that “it’s exactly depicting the process of writing that particular song.”

As he has done in other interviews, he stressed the importance of going with his instincts: “I don’t think there are any rules when it comes to writing songs.”

“Pilgrim’s Progress,” which closes A

on “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” where he merges the Aria from Bach’s Orchestral Suite BWV 1068 with the chorale prelude BWV 645 that amplifies “the feeling of loss” Scorsese referred to when explaining his use of the song in his short film Life Lessons (“for me, it captured the sense of a relationship ending” when”there’s nothing you can do to stop it”).

The beauty of “Pilgrim’s Progress,” however, is the plaintive simplicity of the words, sung by a man in the shadows who “sat me down to write a simple story.” Along the way, he gathers up his fears to guide him, he’d thought “to go exploring,” set foot on the nearest road, then looked in vain for “the promised turning” but only saw how far he was from home.

Rounding back to the opening line, Reid looks behind him, aware of all the writers that came before, then lifts everything to another level by taking his place in their company: “The words have all been writ by one before me / We’re taking turns in trying to pass them on.” The idea that “we’re taking turns” is driven home when Brooker takes over from Fisher’s organ to pound out a coda the band joins in on, carried by Wilson’s inspired drumming to a triumphant wordless chorus that resonates with the spirit of Procol Harum.

“Shine On Brightly”

Keith Reid has a predilection for the word shining and Gary Brooker puts it over as the two carry on through to the last album of the 1970s, Procol’s Ninth in spite of losing organist Matthew Fisher’s peerless playing, so crucial to the first three albums; and Robin Trower’s lead guitar, which led to a stadium-filling solo career. Only drummer B.J. Wilson stayed with Reid and Brooker to the end. Wilson, who died in a coma in 1990, is remembered by Jimmy Page in The Ghosts Of A Whiter Shade of Pale : “ There was nobody to touch him. He almost orchestrated with his drumming – with his uniqueness on the kit. There was nobody in the world that could drum like B.J. Wilson. And that’s simply it.”

Brooker regularly visited Wilson during the years-long coma. “I tried to wake him up. I played different things to him. I’d sing to him. We were working on new songs using a drum machine. I’d play him the tracks with the drum machine, hoping he would hear it and go, ‘What the bloody hell is going on? I’ve got to get over there.’”

–Stuart Mitchner

Special thanks to the incredible website Beyond the Pale, where much of the

New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Continues 100th Anniversary Celebration with Imaginative Choral/Orchestral Program

New Jersey Symphony Orchestra fused Mozart, Bruckner and the 21st century in a series of concerts this past weekend, including the premiere of a new work by Princeton University composer Steven Mackey. Led by Music Director Xian Zhang, the Orchestra combined Mackey’s large-scale symphonic work with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s spirited Symphony No. 25 and Anton Bruckner’s devout Te Deum. Joining the Orchestra in Friday night’s performance at Richardson Auditorium were a number of exceptional vocal soloists and the Princeton University Glee Club. Zhang and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra began Friday night’s concert with an animated and energetic playing of Mozart’s Symphony No. 25 in G minor This four-movement work was modeled on the symphonies of Franz Josef Haydn but broke tradition in its scoring for four horns and its somber key. The Orchestra began the opening “Allegro” in dramatic fashion, with fiery thematic “rockets,” a clean quartet of horns and an elegantly contrasting oboe solo played by Robert Ingliss. The graceful “Andante” showed dark but clean wind orchestration and a crisp dialog between the violins and the rest of the ensemble. Zhang kept the unusually forceful “Menuetto” decisive, juxtaposed by the “wind band” of oboes, horns and bassoons playing the lighter “Trio.” Throughout the Symphony, Zhang and the players maintained a clean orchestral texture, bringing out dynamic contrasts well.

Composer Steven Mackey’s music is well-known for its innovation, improvisation and roots in his own obsession with blues and rock, and the choral/orchestral RIOT was no exception. Commissioned by NJSO for the organization’s centenary, this work brought close to 200 people onstage among orchestra, chorus and mezzo-soprano soloist, and was described by Mackey as “one flowing river,” with each of the six movements resembling islands. Mackey collaborated with U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith, who created a text placing “race and resilience in the foreground” and which was presented by the Princeton University Glee Club and mezzo-soprano Alicia Olatuja. Prepared by director Gabriel Crouch, the Glee Club sang with a full sound—youthful but appropriate for the space at Richardson. Olatuja sang with a rich and appealing voice with a smooth vibrato, conveying the text well and maneuvering the lower register passages effectively. Mackey’s musical

imagination used all of the Orchestra, adding his own contemporary rock color on electric guitar. Zhang cleanly led the players and singers through the jazz/rock instrumental atmosphere, with the third movement featuring a light vocal color from the chorus and refined English horn solo from Andrew Adelson. Despite the dark and personal nature of the text, Mackey’s work ended on a joyful note, with the affirming text “we live” re-emphasized by both soloist and chorus.

The Latin “Te Deum” hymn of praise has been musically set less frequently than other liturgical texts but has offered to composers over the centuries the same opportunities for intricate composition and word painting. Rather than the delicate and contrapuntal settings of the Baroque composers, Bruckner’s 1881 Deum was rooted in the fiercely intense choral/orchestral style of late Beethoven and the Romantic era. Composed in and around two of Bruckner’s rich and expressive symphonies, this work was more fire and brimstone than laudatory praise, demanding the most from orchestra, soloists and chorus. The vocal soloists featured in this concert were all well established in international operatic performance, but because Bruckner set some of the most devotional verses for tenor soloist, a natural stand-out Friday night was tenor Sean Panikkar. Panikkar easily took over the stage with a commanding voice, often accompanied by concertmaster Eric Wyrick playing solo violin in the most devout passages. The other three singers of the quartet, soprano Meigui Zhang, mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnson Cano and bass Nathan Berg provided consistent affirmation and reassurance of Panikkar’s sung texts with solid operatic sound.

Composed with full 19 th -century Romantic robustness, Bruckner’s Te Deum was set with choral passages equal to the orchestra in drama and religious passion. The Princeton University Glee Club demonstrated a wellblended and clean sound in sections with lighter orchestration, and block chords in fully-orchestrated passages. Although obscured at times in the very heavy orchestration, the Glee Club showed control over the particularly high passages in the score and the complex fugue which closed the work. Bruckner’s massive work is not for sissies, and in Friday night’s performance, instrumentalists, singers and vocal soloists showed they were well up to the task.

—Nancy Plum

New Jersey Symphony Orchestra will present its next Princeton performance on Friday, June 2 at 8 p.m. in Richardson Auditorium. Conducted by Xian Zhang, this concert will feature violinist Randall Goosby and music of Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky, as well as the world premiere of a work by Chen Yi. Ticket information can be obtained by visiting the NJSO website at www.njsymphony.org

HAROLD IN ITALY

ROSSEN MILANOV, conductor ROBERTO DÍAZ, viola

Saturday May 13 8pm Sunday May 14 4pm

Richardson Auditorium, Princeton University Campus

Julia PERRY / Study for Orchestra

George GERSHWIN / An American in Paris

Hector BERLIOZ / Harold in Italy, Op. 16

Jazz Small Groups

Gabriel Chalick ’24, Trumpet

Evan DeTurk ’23, Alto Saxophone

Jack Johnson II ’23, Tenor Saxophone

Adithya Sriram ’24, Baritone Saxophone

Noah Daniel ’23, Guitar

Alexander Moravcsik ’23, Piano

Chloe Raichle ’23, Bass

Alexander MacArthur ’25, Drums

Miles Okazaki Ensemble Coach

Konstantin Howard ’24, Tenor Sax

Daniela Vita ’24, Guitar

Alex Egol ’24, Piano

Lukas Arenas ’26, Alto Sax

Thomas Verrill ’25, Trombone

Mihir Rao ’26, Drums

Nikhil De ’23, Mandolin/Violin

Justin Lidard GS, Bass

Matthew Parrish

Faculty Ensemble Director & Bass

Performing Arts

“Yihye Tov” remains an Israeli peace anthem.

Broza’s travels have contributed to his international sound and commitment to human connection, storytelling, and equality. Singing in English, Hebrew, and Spanish, Broza has released more than 40 albums, many of which are multiplatinum. He is the founder of the nonprofit One Million Guitars, which provides underprivileged school children around the world with a hand-crafted guitar and the foundation of a musical education.

Tickets are $36-$75. Visit thejewishcenter.org/broza.

Jazz Musicians Perform At Plainsboro Festival

Three noted jazz musicians – James Popik, Danny Tobias, and Tom Tallisch –will take part in Plainsboro Township’s Jazz Appreciation Festival, which opens April 28 . They will present a series of three concerts on Friday evenings at 7 p.m.

FROM THE FILM TO THE STAGE: “Madagascar the Musical” brings familiar characters to the State Theatre New Jersey on Saturday, May 6.

Family-Friendly Musical

Comes to New Brunswick State Theatre New Jersey presents Madagascar the Musical on Saturday, May 6 at 2 and 7 p.m. Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip-hop Hippo, and the plotting penguins as they bound out of the zoo and onto the stage in this live musical adventure. The family-friendly musical features new original music and a colorful cast of larger-than-life characters from the iconic film. Tickets range from $19-$79. The characters escape

from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the world of King Julien’s Madagascar. Complete with dance numbers and comedy, this is a story of friendship, hope, and adventure with songs like “I Like to Move It,” “It’s Showtime,” “Wild and Free,” “Best Friends,” “Relax, Be Cool, Chill Out,” “Living in Paradise,” “Together Forever,” and more. Visit STNJ.org for tickets. The State Theatre is at 15 Livingston Avenue in New Brunwick.

At Princeton Jewish Center

On Wednesday, May 3, Israeli singer, songwriter, and guitarist David Broza will perform a communitywide concert at The Jewish Center of Princeton in honor of the 75th anniversary of Israel’s independence. Broza appeals to music lovers of all ages. His signature sound brings together the influence of Spanish flamenco, American folk, rock and roll, and poetry. Social justice and peace advocacy are embedded in Broza’s work. His 1977 hit song

Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, and a Right to a Human Decision

Guitarist and Grammynominated feature artist James Popik will kick off the series with an opening concert on on April 28, at Market Square Plaza in front of the Plainsboro Library, 9 Van Doren Street. His group, the JP4, includes John Henry Goldman on trumpet, Lawrence Haber on Bass, and Karttikeya Arul on drums, halo drums and percussion. They will play classic and modern jazz.

The Danny Tobias quartet, led by Tobias on trumpet, will perform outdoors at the Plainsboro Preserve, 80 Scotts Corner Road, on Friday, May 5. The group includes pianist Silas Irvine, Joe Plowman on bass, and Gusten Rudolph on drums. Tobias is best known for improvisation, traditional jazz and swing. He says the quartet will play “swinging jazz” at the festival.

On Friday, May 12 , tenor saxophonist Tom Tallitsch will perform the fi nal concert at Market Square with members of his quartet. Accompanying him in an outdoor performance on the

Danny Tobias, trumpeter, leads his quartet as part of the upcoming Jazz Appreciation Festival in Plainsboro. (Photo

Plaza will be Bill Avayou on drums, Steve Varner on bass, and Mike Kennedy on guitar.

All three festival musicians are active in the American jazz scene and have performed throughout the U.S. Tallisch, a composer as well as a performer, is a PosiTones Records artist, with 12 albums to his credit. He has played at Smalls Jazz Club, Birdland, Minton’s, the Garage, Paris Bistro, South Jazz Club, and many other jazz venues in the Northeast. He has toured the U.S. as a leader, as well as a sideman. He is also a music teacher for pre-K through sixth grade students at the Princeton Junior School; and he works as a piano teacher to students on the autism spectrum at the Princeton Child Development Institute.

Tobias has been playing professionally since he was 15 years old. A founding member of the Midiri Brothers Sextet, he is a composer, band leader, and arranger. He works frequently with Jerry Rife’s Rhythm Kings and Jonathan Davenport’s Perseverance Jazz Band. He has performed at Birdland, the Lincoln Center Atrium, the Players Club, and many other jazz venues in New York City, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and beyond.

Popik’s repertoire includes classical Brazilian music and American Jazz masters, as well as reworked rock anthems. A composer as well as a performer, he has played at

Jazz Small Groups A and Z

the White House. His recent recordings include “Acoustic Sketches,” with bassist Lawrence Haber; classical jazz instrumental work, the “Sourland Symphony,” three EPs with Ten Foot Tall; and the Grammy-nominated “Fitness Rock & Roll” CD by Miss Amy and Her Big Kids Band.

Because all performances will take place outside, weather permitting, audience members are advised to bring lawn chairs. In case of rain, concerts will be moved indoors. Visit plainsborolibrary. org for more information.

State Theatre Brings Back Summer Movies Series

State Theatre New Jersey of New Brunswick has announced the return of the Free Summer Movies Series. Movies featured in the 2023 series include Moana on July 11, Minions: The Rise of Gru on July 18, Soul on July 25, The LEGO Batman Movie on August 8, and Into the Woods on August 15.

Showings for Moana, Minons: The Rise of Gru, Soul, and The Lego Batman Movie will be at 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Into the Woods will have a single showing at 7 p.m. All movie screenings will include Spanish subtitles. Tickets are free, but registration is required. Groups of 15 or more or those planning a bus trip must email education@stnj.org to register.

The series offers young people the chance to enjoy these films, whether with their families, summer camps, or other groups. The State Theatre’s state-of-the-art HD digital cinema projection system includes a 46’ Stewart film screen, a Barco projector, and digital surround sound.

During the Summer Movie Series, State Theatre New Jersey is partnering with the Central Jersey Diaper Bank for a diaper drive. All movie attendees are encouraged to bring a package of diapers or wipes to donate.

Monday May 1, 2023 4:30 - 6:00 pm Robertson Hall 016

jmp.princeton.edu

“The Central Jersey Diaper Bank is thrilled to partner with State Theatre New Jersey for a diaper drive during their upcoming free summer movie series,” said Heather Nover, executive director for Anshe Emeth Community Development Corporation and Central Jersey Diaper Bank. “As a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing diapers and other baby supplies to families in need, we understand the importance of community partnerships in achieving our mission. Your donation will help us provide essential items to families who may be struggling to make ends meet.”

The theater is at 15 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick. Visit STNJ.org for more information.

The Harold T. Shapiro Lecture on Ethics, Science, and Technology

John Tasioulas Professor of Ethics and Legal Philosophy; Director of the Institute for Ethics in AI; Senior Research Fellow, Balliol College at the University of Oxford

Henry Freligh ’25, Alto Saxophone Elle Lazarski ’26, Alto Saxophone John Cureton ’26, Trumpet Isadora Knutsen ’25, Guitar Jarod Wille ’24, Piano Nikhil De ’23, Bass Noah Daniel ’23, Drums

Directed by Rudresh Mahanthappa

Directed by Ted Chubb

Performing music by Wayne Shorter, Tadd Dameron, Sonny Clark, James Williams and more.

Playing music by Michael Dease, Claudio Roditi, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, and more. Milan Sastry ’26 Alto Saxophone Isaac Yi ’24, Tenor Saxophone Pranav Vadapalli ’25, Trombone Rohit Oomman ’24, Guitar Shlok Shah ’26, Piano Patrick Jaojoco GS, Bass Ryder Walsh ’26, Drums

music.princeton.edu

David Broza in Concert

JAZZING IT UP:

by Redmile)

“Hello Dolly” Onstage

At Kelsey Theatre

Yardley Players celebrates the golden age of the American musical at Kelsey Theatre with Hello, Dolly! The show runs weekends from Friday, April 28 through Sunday, May 7 with matinee and evening performances. Kelsey Theatre is located at 1200 Old Trenton Road on the Mercer County Community College campus in West Windsor.

Based on the Thornton Wilder play The Matchmaker, Hello, Dolly! won more than 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book and Best Score for authors Michael Stewart and Jerry Herman. The turn-ofthe-20th century romance centers around Dolly Levi, a New Yorker who is a widow, a matchmaker (and professional meddler) who decides that her next match is to find someone for herself.

Performances are Friday, April 28 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, April 29 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sunday, April 30 at 2 p.m.; Friday, May 5 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, May 6 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, May 7 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $22-$24. Visit Kelseytheatre.org or call (609) 570-3333.

Birthday of Rachmaninoff Is Celebrated at Concert

On April 30 at 7:30 p.m., Westminster Conservatory will present “Happy Birthday, Rachmaninoff!” as part of its Faculty Recital Series, at Bristol Chapel, 101 Walnut Lane.

The performance will feature two members of the string department faculty — violist Dennis Krasnokutsky,

cellist Christine Mello, and guest artist Maja Rajkovic´, piano. Admission is free; masking is optional.

The evening’s repertoire will include The Girl with the Flaxen Hair by Claude Debussy as arranged by Mello for solo cello; an arrangement for viola of the Sonata in G minor, op. 19 for cello and piano by Sergei Rachmaninoff; and by the same composer, the Vocalise from 14 Romances, op. 34

Principal violist of the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey and the Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, Krasnokutsky is a member of the Rowan String Quartet and a founding member of the Samuel Barber String Quartet. He has collaborated with artists including Maja Rajkovic´, Hilary Hahn, Bella Hristova,

Sara Chang, Jonathan Biss, Frank Sinatra Jr., and Bernadette Peters. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from Rutgers University

Mello is a multi-genre cellist and music educator who is passionate about bringing the power and beauty of music-making to wider and more diverse audiences. A Philadelphia native, she first took cello lessons at St. Maria Goretti High School for Girls with cellist James Cooper. She continued her cello study at Temple University and in the cello studio at Curtis Institute of Music with Orlando Cole and Metta Watts. She is the co-owner of the record label 2622, and has released classical recordings with pianists Tom Fosnocht and João Paulo Casarotti. Mello is the cellist/vocalist/ co-songwriter for the art-pop

Collegium Musicum NJ presents CONCERTSERIES

Three different concerts Culture for Understanding and Tolerance

April 22 is at 6 pm: For Tickets - https://qrco.de/bdrkG7

May 4th is at 7 pm: For Tickets https://qrco.de/CMMay4

May 12 is at 7 pm: For Tickets https://qrco.de/CMMay12

Limited Seating Engagements https://collegiummusicumnj.org/2023-events/

band The Tristans and the rock duo Mello & Holaday.

Rajkovic´ graduated from the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad, Serbia, and earned both her master’s and doctorate from the Academy of Music in Belgrade. She also attended advanced studies at the Scuola di Alto Perfezionamento Musicale, in Italy. Rajkovic´ is a laureate of several national competitions, including the Carlo Soliva International Competition (Italy, 1984) and the International Rachmaninoff Competition (1993). In 1994, she won audience first prize and third prize at the 24th Jeunesses Musicales International Competition.

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

Cabaret-Style Performance

At Princeton University

Mostly Sort of Happily

Ever After, a cabaret performance featuring and directed by Princeton University senior Cassandra James along with other student performers, will be presented April 30 at 2 and 8 p.m. in the Wallace Theater in the Lewis Arts complex on the campus. Admission is free.

The show explores the highs and lows of growing into adulthood with songs from some of Broadway’s hit musicals. Among the topics are leaving family and finding family, chasing dreams and switching paths, meeting and losing friends, and falling in and out of love.

“Sometimes, we just wish we could disappear to Neverland or Narnia and stay there forever,” said James. She and her fellow cast members will perform a set of about 20 songs. James, from Kissimmee, Fla.; is majoring in English and pursuing certificates in the Program in Theater and Music Theater and the Program in Creative Writing. The program represents her independent work in music theater.

For more information, visit arts.princeton.edu.

Think Global Buy Local

EARLY MUSIC PRINCETON Spring Concert

EMP Singers Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek, Director

EMP Viol Consort Sarah Cunningham, Director

EMP Chamber Players Nancy Wilson, Director

WITH MUSIC BY Arcadelt, Gabrieli, Gibbons, Holborne, Landini, Schenk, van Eyck, and more…

SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 2023 | 4:00PM

Taplin Auditorium, Fine Hall | Free, Unticketed

Scan the QR code for more information.

WENDY YOUNG, DIRECTOR

A MUSICAL CLASSIC: Denise Carey of Newtown, Pa. plays Dolly Levi in the Yardley Players’ production of “Hello Dolly!” at Mercer County Community College’s Kelsey Theatre April 28-May 7. (Photo courtesy of Yardley Players)

COME TO THE CABARET: Princeton University senior Cassandra James is among those performing in her “Mostly Sort of Happily Ever After” at Princeton University’s Lewis Arts complex April 30. (Photo by Larry Levanti)

Broadmead

ENROLLMENT ENROLLMENT

ENROLLMENT ENROLLMENT

Welcome to a friendly swimming destination away from crowds . Nestled in the heart of Princeton, Broadmead Swim Club offers a parklike setting, tree-lined 25-yard swimming pool with dedicated lap lanes, diving board, kiddie pool, and plenty of room to frolic. Bring a book, a picnic, or the whole family, and relax on a chaise lounge in sun or shade. Come see why we've been making a splash for over 60 years!

Welcome to a friendly swimming destination away from the crowds . Nestled in the heart of Princeton, Broadmead Swim Club offers a parklike setting, tree-lined 25-yard swimming pool with dedicated lap lanes, diving board, kiddie pool, and plenty of room to frolic. Bring a book, a picnic, or the whole family, and relax on a chaise lounge in sun or shade. Come see why we've been making a splash for over 60 years!

ENROLLMENT ENROLLMENT

Welcome to a friendly swimming destination away from the crowds . Nestled in the heart of Princeton, Broadmead Swim Club offers a parklike setting, tree-lined 25-yard swimming pool with dedicated lap lanes, diving board, kiddie pool, and plenty of room to frolic. Bring a book, a picnic, or the whole family, and relax on a chaise lounge in sun or shade. Come see why we've been making a splash for over 60 years!

$99 to $450, with 20 percent of all sales benefiting the Cranbury Arts Council.

The Cranbury Arts Council provides arts-oriented programs, workshops, and performances aimed at enriching the cultural experiences of the community and keeping the creative spirit alive in adults and children. Their mission is to foster, support, educate, inspire, and promote artists and art appreciation in the community.

The CdCC is a nonprofit organization focused on digital photography techniques and meets the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at 8 p.m. at the Cranbury Public Library. The club’s objective is to provide an atmosphere where amateurs and professionals can learn from each other to further develop their photography skills. More information about the club can be found at cranburydigitalcameraclub.org.

along the Covered Bridge

Tour on Saturday and Sunday, April 29 and 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

Covered Bridge Artisans Spring Studio Tour

The Covered Bridge Artisans are hosting their Spring Studio Tour on April 29 and 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

The Covered Bridge Artisans Studio Tour is a selfguided tour located in the Delaware River Valley of lower Hunterdon and Bucks counties. The studio tour takes place in eight professional artists’ studios in the Lambertville, Stockton, Sergeantsville, and New Hope, Pa., areas with 14 additional artists at the Sergeantsville Firehouse Events Center. All studios are located within 5 miles of Stockton.

The Covered Bridge Artisans are returning for a second year with the Spring Studio Tour. For 28 years, the Covered Bridge

Artisans have hosted an annual Thanksgiving weekend tour. This spring show is an occasion to see these unique, rural studios in full bloom with an array of new work and fresh energy. This tour highlights the varied depth and professionalism of the regional arts community. Visitors can visit the workshops, shop for distinctive gifts, and learn from each artist about how and where they create their work.

The group has a variety of artisans working in glass, jewelry, ceramics, photography, cast bronze, painting, weaving, bookbinding, woodworking, quilting, and more.

The self-guided tour guides one through the small towns of the lovely river valley and allows for the opportunity to

get off the beaten track. The artists enjoy sharing what they create with their guests and invite a direct interactive experience with visitors interested in the arts.

For more information, and a map connected to GPS links, visit coveredbridgeartisans.com.

Digital Photography Exhibit

At Gourgaud Gallery

The Gourgaud Gallery is hosting a photography exhibit by the Cranbury digital Camera Club (CdCC) April 28 through May 31. An opening reception is on Sunday, April 30 from 1 to 3 p.m.

The exhibit features original, framed photographs of various subjects and sizes taken by club members. Most photographs will be for sale at prices ranging from

The Gourgaud Gallery is located on the second floor of the Cranbury Town Hall at 23-A North Main Street in Cranbury. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit cranburyartscouncil.org.

Ficus Gallery Presents Artists

Singh, Shofed “In Reflection”

Ficus, 235 Nassau Street, presents “In Reflection: SiriOm Singh & C.a. Shofed” this spring in the upstairs dining gallery through June 4. An opening reception is on Sunday, April 30 from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

modern photographs, printed on metal, have been described as “industrial meets nature.” His images capture moments in time and grasp our hearts.

Singh is a self-taught artist living and creating in Trenton. He is the co-owner of Cross Pollination art gallery in Lambertville, which shows his work and the work of his wife, fiber artist Ayala Shimelman.

Colorful images seen in large bodies of water, manmade structures, and nature’s puddles illuminate in both artists’ work. Singh’s Impressionist Abstract-style paintings take viewers through a window and into his texture-rich and colorful scenes. Shofed’s

Singh is an abstract expressionist. He uses acrylic and collage, applying layering techniques, primarily with pallet knife. His work has been influenced by the works of Matisse, Picasso, Léger, Tolliver, Bearden, Pollock, and Basquiat. His work has been shown in various museum and galleries, among them New Jersey State Museum; Trenton City Museum; Phillips’ Mill, New Hope, Pa.; Da Vinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia; The Gallery at Mercer County Community College; The Gallery at the Bank of Princeton, Lambertville; and is part of numerous private collections.

Shofed studied graphic arts at Assunpink Vocational School, moving into advertising design in college. “It was college that first exposed me to photography,” he said. Before he had a chance to explore photography as a career, he took a summer job as a computer installer and never looked back. “I spent the next 25 years as an IT professional,” he said. “Although my professional life had focused on technology, I maintained an interest in photography, always carrying my camera with me, taking photographs whenever the opportunity presented itself or whenever

Sometime after being laid off and after his second kidney transplant, Shofed decided during his recovery that he would give fine arts photography a go. “I moved to Trenton, and the art scene in my new hometown was raw, vibrant, and easy to access,” he said. “Trenton’s art scene is mature and is being discovered by the world outside its borders.”

In 2012 Shofed had his first solo exhibit. Creating pieces for that exhibit set Shofed on a course where his style began to be described as “painterly.”

In 2017 he embarked on his journey into more abstract work with the creation of his Reflectionism series. His art has been exhibited and sold in galleries and museums across the globe including Philadelphia, New York, San Diego, London, Glasgow, and many places within the continental United States and Europe.

On the café walls downstairs at Ficus, the “Princeton High School Art Student Show” features a collection of 5x7 detailed etchings that create a mosaic pattern.

For more information, visit ficusbv.com.

“FEMALE CARDINAL ON DOGWOOD”: The work of Karen Caldwell of Sunflower Glass Studio in Stockton is featured

Artisans Spring Studio

“ICELANDIC HORSE”: This photo by Mathew Renk is part of an exhibit by the Cranbury digital Camera Club (CdCC), on view April 28 through May 31 at Gourgaud Gallery in Cranbury. An opening reception is on Sunday, April 30 from 1 to 3 p.m.

SiriOm Singh

C.a. Shofed

The Mercer Oak, set of 4, 35mm colored film prints, by John Rounds

“Water Works” Exhibition

Coming to Artists’ Gallery

Artists’ Gallery in Lambertville will present “Water Works,” a transformative journey through the element of water, May 4 through June 4. The exhibit features the watercolors of animal artist Beatrice Bork and the landscapes of award-winning oil painter Joe Kazimierczyk.

All are invited to meet the artists at the opening reception on May 6 from 5 to 8 p.m., and gain a deeper understanding of their creative processes, inspirations, and techniques.

According to the gallery, “The exhibition showcases a thought-provoking collection of paintings that delve into the fluidity and transience of water as seen through the eyes of our talented artists. We are confident that the artworks will captivate and uplift our visitors.”

Water in its many forms is a never-ending source of inspiration for artists who thrive on creating work based on nature. Bork’s style utilizes the diverse capabilities of watercolor to bring her wildlife to life by capturing a moment in time, while Kazimierczyk’s oil paintings capture the dramatic beauty of rivers and waterfalls.

See more of the artists’ work and read more about them on their websites, beatricebork. com and joekaz.com.

Artists’ Gallery is located at 18 Bridge Street in Lambertville. Hours are Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit LambertvilleArts.com.

Area Exhibits

Art@Bainbridge, 158

Nassau Street, has “Cycle of Creativity: Allison Saar and the Toni Morrison Papers” through July 9. artmuseum. princeton.edu.

Artists’ Gallery, 18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, has “Outside — Inside” through April 30. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. lambertvillearts.com.

Art on Hulfish, 11 Hulfish Street, has “You Belong Here: Place, People, and Purpose in Latinx Photography” through May 7. artmuseum.princeton.edu.

Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, has “Inspired by Optimism” through May 6. artscouncilofprinceton.org.

Artworks Trenton, 19 Everett Alley, Trenton, has “A Stolen Aesthetic” May 2 through June 3. artworkstrenton.org.

Ficus, 235 Nassau Street, has “In Reflection: SiriOm Singh & C.a. Shofed” in the upstairs dining gallery through June 4. An opening reception is on Sunday, April 30 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. ficusbv.com.

Gallery 14 Fine Art Photography, 14 Mercer Street, Hopewell, has Martin Schwartz’s “Some Old Some New” and Joel Blum’s “Italian Light” through May 7. gallery14.org.

Gourgaud Gallery, 23-A North Main Street, Cranbury, has works by the Cranbury digital Camera Club (CdCC) April 28 through May 31. An opening reception is on Sunday, April 30 from 1 to 3 p.m. cranburyartscouncil.org.

Grounds For Sculpture, 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, has “Local Voices: Memories, Stories, and Portraits” and “Spiral Q: The Parade” through January 7 and “That’s Worth Celebrating: The Life and Work of the Johnson Family” through the end of 2024, among other exhibits. Timed tickets required. 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 “Alan Goldstein: Elemental” through September 4, “Walé Oyéjidé: Flight of the Dreamer” through April 23, and “Mid-Century to Manga: The Modern Japanese Print in America” through July 30. michenerartmuseum. org

Milberg Gallery, Princeton University Library, has “Toni Morrison: Sites of Memory” through June 4. library.princeton.edu.

Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, has “Striking Beauty” through February 18 and the online exhibits “Slavery at Morven,” “Portrait of Place: Paintings, Drawings, and Prints of New Jersey, 1761–1898,” and others. morven.org.

The Nassau Club, 6 Mercer Street, has “Christine Seo: Princeton Solo Show” through June 4. christineseo.com.

Phillips’ Mill, 2619 River Road, New Hope, Pa., has “Not Your Run of the Mill Photo Show” through April 30. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. with extended hours on Friday and Saturday until 8 p.m. phillipsmill.org.

Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, has “A Prologue to

the Chapters that Follow: Princeton and Paul Robeson” through April 30, “Hinds Plaza Gates” and “THE Question: A Photographic Journey” through May 15, and “The Art of Calligraphy” through June 15. princetonlibrary.org.

Small World Coffee, 14 Witherspoon Street, has “Coloring the Mind: A Journey Through Neural Pathways” through May 2. Works by Dan Fernandez are at the 254 Nassau Street location through May 2. smallworldcoffee.com.

West Windsor Arts Center, 952 Alexander Road, West Windsor, has “Member Exhibit: Yesterday Today Tomorrow” through June 3. westwindsorarts.org.

Middle of the Night

Can’t Find Your Town Topics!

Take a stroll down to our previous office at 4 Mercer Street or come to our new location, 4438 Routh 27 North in Kingston, where you can purchase a copy for 75 cents (3 quarters required) from our coin-operated newspaper boxes, 24 hours a day/7 days a week.

friends annual mary pitcairn keating lecture

Rachael Z. DeLue

Thursday, May 4, 5 p.m.

Rachael Z. DeLue, Christopher Binyon Sarofim ’86 Professor in American Art, will speak on “Against the Grain, or What We Can Learn from Early American Museums That Got It Wrong.” DeLue will discuss early museums in the United States and explore both how these institutions failed to uphold their missions, and what those failures might teach us about museums in the present. Reception to follow. Free and open to the public.

Friend Center 101

Photo: Steven Freeman

ART AT PRESENT DAY CLUB: Works by Hanneke de Neve will be featured at the Present Day Club, 72 Stockton Street, May 5 through June 16. An opening reception is on May 5 from 5-8 p.m. The gallery is open on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; call ahead at (609) 924-1014.

“BLACK RIVER CASCADE”: Landscape works by Joe Kazimierczyk are featured in “Water Works,” his joint exhibit with Beatrice Bork, on view May 4 through June 4 at Artists’ Gallery in Lambertville.

“LIFERS”: This painting by Beatrice Bork is featured in “Water Works,” her dual exhibit with Joe Kazimierczyk, on view May 4 through June 4 at Artists’ Gallery in Lambertville. An opening reception is on May 6 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Mark Your Calendar Town Topics

Wednesday, April 26

6-7:30 p.m.: Mercer County Community College Jazz Band plays jazz favorites indoors at Princeton MarketFair. Included are songs by Grant Green, Albert King, Irving Berlin, Sergio Mendes, the Gershwin brothers, Otis Redding, Freddie King and others. All selections feature improvisations by MCCC music students. Mccc.edu.

6 p.m.: Geology lecture at Montgomery Library, Skillman. Sean Kinney is the presenter of this free event. Reserve a ticket at scisnj.org.

8-10:30 p.m .: Princeton Country Dancers presents a contra dance at the Suzanne Patterson Center, 1 Monument Drive. Bob Isaacs with Crossing the Millstone. $15. Princetoncountrydancers.org.

Thursday, April 27

9 a.m.-3 p.m.: Eden Autism Princeton’s lecture series presents “Adolescents with Autism and the Transition to Adulthood,” at 665 College Road East. Edenautism.org.

7:30 p.m .: The Emerson String Quartet performs at Richardson Auditorium as part of their farewell tour. Joining them are their proteges, the Calidore String Quartet. (609) 258-2800.

8 p.m.: “La Gran Cumbia Espectacular!” at Wallace Theater, Lewis Arts complex, Princeton University. Theatrical performance cel ebrating cumbia, a rhythm/ dance/music genre with Af rican and Indigenous roots, created by University senior Kaelani Burja. Free. Arts. princeton.edu.

Friday, April 28

12 p.m.: Friends and Foundation of the Princeton Public Library hold a Book Lovers’ Luncheon at the Nassau Inn. Lynne Olson, author of Empress of the Nile: The Daredevil Archae ologist Who Saved Egypt’s Ancient Temples from Destruction , in conversa tion with William Storrar, director of the Center for Theological Inquiry. Tickets include a copy of the book. Princetonlibrary.org.

6-8 p.m .: “Jazz in the Sourlands,” outdoor con cert and exhibit at the True Farmstead, 183 Hollow Road, Skillman. Concert, wine and cheese reception. $40. Ssaamuseum.org.

7 p.m.: “Building a Direct Connection with Readers,” Zoom event leading into Princeton Public Library’s Local Author Day (April 29). Penny C. Sansevieri, founder and CEO of Author

Marketing Experts Inc., will lead. Princetonlibrary.org.

7 p.m.: Guitarist James Popik performs as part of Plainsboro Township’s Jazz Appreciation Festival on Market Square Plaza in front of the Plainsboro Library, 9 Van Doren Street. Plains borolibrary.org.

8 p.m.: “La Gran Cumbia Espectacular!” at Wallace Theater, Lewis Arts complex, Princeton University. Theatrical performance celebrating cumbia, a rhythm/ dance/music genre with African and Indigenous roots, created by University senior Kaelani Burja. Free. Arts. princeton.edu.

8:30 p.m.: Princeton Amateur Astronomers Association holds public stargazing at the observatory in Washington Crossing State Park, Titusville. Call (609) 737-2575 to make sure it is open and get directions. No experience necessary. Princetonastronomy.org/ public_nights.html.

Saturday, April 29

9 a.m.: 2nd Annual Miles for Malcolm 5K or 5-mile run/ walk, beginning at Pennington Montessori, 4 Tree Farm Road, Pennington. Raises funds for the Sudden Infant Death in Childhood foundation. $35. Milesformalcolm.org.

10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Fashion show at Howell Living History Farm, 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township. From 1776-1976, with brief histories of the time period and people who wore the outfits. Howellfarm.org

10 a.m.-12 p.m.: Arbor Day celebration at Marquand Park’s Children’s Arboretum, 87 Lovers Lane. Free seedlings, cookies and lemonade, and a children’s book featuring the park’s special trees. Marquandpark.org.

10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Bike Rodeo at Lawrence High School parking lot, 2525 Princeton Pike. Bike safety checks, free helmets, fire truck and ambulance for kids to inspect, EV cars and owners, free tree seedlings, food trucks from Kona and Deputy Dog, and more. Free, no registration required.

11 a.m.-4 p.m .: Local Author Day at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Workshops, meetings with authors who will sign and sell their books, a pop-up Grammar Table, and more. Princetonlibrary.org.

12-5 p.m.: Spring Winery Weekend music series at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. With live music from 1-4 p.m. by Kindred Spirit Duo. Terhuneorchards.com.

12-6 p.m.: The Princeton Shade Tree Commission will be distributing free tree seedlings at Hinds Plaza. The seedlings are part of the New Jersey Forestry Community Tree Recovery campaign in partnership with the New Jersey Arbor Day program.

12-6 p.m .: Princeton Porchfest, sponsored by the Arts Council of Princeton. Music by local performers on porches throughout the neighborhood. Free. Artscouncilofprinceton.org.

1-4 p.m.: “Jazz in the Sourlands,” outdoor concert and exhibit at the True Farmstead, 183 Hollow Road, Skillman. $25 for adults, $15 for 14 and under. Ssaamuseum.org.

1 p.m.: At the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice, 12 Stockton Street, librarian-in-residence Martha Hickson presents “What You Can Do to Defend the Right to Read.” RustinCenter.org.

2 p.m .: Roxey Ballet presents a sensory-friendly performance of Cinderella at Mill Ballet, 46 North Sugan Road, New Hope, Pa. Suitable for those with special needs, sensitivities, and those with ASD. Roxeyballet. org.

4 p.m.: Westminster Concert Bell Choir: “Despite the Storm.” At Gill Chapel, Rider University, Lawrence Township. Conducted by Kathleen Ebling Shaw. Rider.edu/arts.

6 p.m.: Vineyard Pig Roast at Unionville Vineyards, Ringoes. Live music, wine bar, and more. Unionvillevineyards.com.

8 p.m.: Lorelei Ensemble performs at Wolfensohn Hall, Institute for Advanced Study. Ias.edu.

Sunday, April 30

8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.: Run with Rotary & Montgomery Fun Fest, Skillman Park, Main Street, Skillman. Featuring a 5K run, one-mile ramble, games, live music, food, arts and crafts, and more. Montgomeryrotary. org.

12-5 p.m.: Spring Winery Weekend music series at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. With live music from 1-4 p.m. by Joah Blume. Terhuneorchards.com.

1-3 p.m .: Vedic Cultural Immersion: Prasadam Distribution and Kirtan, at the YMCA, Paul Robeson Place. Free. https://bviscs.org/ prasadam-distr/.

2 and 8 p.m.: Mostly Sort of Happily Ever After, a cabaret performance by Princeton University senior Cassandra James at Wallace Theater, Lewis Arts complex, on the campus. Free. Arts.princeton.edu.

7 p.m.: Princeton Senior Resource Center’s spring fundraiser, “A Special Evening with Keith Spencer,” at Stone Hill Church, 1025 Bunn Drive. Baritone vocalist in concert. $40-$100. Princetonsenior. org or (609) 751-9699.

7:30 p.m .: Westminster Conservatory Faculty Recital Series presents “Happy Birthday Rachmaninoff,” with violist Dennis Krasnokutsy, cellist Christine Mello, and pianist Maja Rajkovic, at Bristol Chapel, 101 Walnut Lane. Free. Rider.edu.

Tuesday, May 2

6 p.m.: João Biehl, Adriana Petryna and Laurence Ralph discuss Art of Interference: Medical Anthropology for Worlds on Edge at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street. Labyrinthbooks.com.

Wednesday, May 3

7 p.m.: David Broza in concert at The Jewish Center, 435 Nassau Street. A community-wide concert in honor of Israel’s 75th anniversary of independence. $36-$75. Thejewishcenter.org.

8-10:30 p.m .: Princeton Country Dancers presents a contra dance at the Suzanne Patterson Center, 1 Monument Drive. Sue Gola and Christie Riel with Rhythmic Heart. $15. Princetoncountrydancers.org.

Thursday, May 4

6 p.m.: Margot Canaday and Hendrik Hartog discuss Queering Career: Sexuality and Work in Modern America. At Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street. Labyrinthbooks.com.

Friday, May 5

4-7 p.m .: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton Annual Spring Rummage Sale, 50 Cherry Hill Road. Clothing, accessories, jewelry, electronics, office supplies, home appliances, kitchenware, art, furniture, toys,

APRIL-MAY

and more; plus a Mother’s Day plant sale. All proceeds are donated to Mercer area charities. $10. Uuprinceton. org/uucp-spring-sale/.

4-7 p.m .: Community Health Fair at Princeton Shopping Center courtyard. Local health and wellness professionals, healthy eating, exercise, stress management, and more. Visit healthdepartment@princetonnj.gov for details.

7 p.m .: The Danny Tobias Quartet perform outdoors at Plainsboro Preserve, 80 Scotts Corner Road, as part of the Plainsboro Jazz Appreciation Festival. Plainsborolibrary.org.

8:30 p.m.: Princeton Amateur Astronomers Association holds public stargazing at the observatory in Washington Crossing State Park, Titusville. Call (609) 737-2575 to make sure it is open and get directions. No experience necessary. Princetonastronomy.org/ public_nights.html.

Saturday, May 6

9 a.m.-1 p.m.: West Windsor Farmers Market at Princeton Junction train station. Reopening day features a “Cool-n-Airy” culinary event. Fresh produce, plants, seafood, poultry, breads, baked goods, and more. Music by Ed Goldberg and Odessa Klezmer. Westwindsorfarmersmarket.org.

9 a.m.-2 p.m .: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton Annual Spring Rummage Sale, 50 Cherry Hill Road. Clothing, accessories, jewelry, electronics office supplies, home appliances, kitchenware, art, furniture, toys, and more; plus a Mother’s Day plant sale. All proceeds are donated to Mercer area charities. Free. Uuprinceton.org/ uucp-spring-sale/.

10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Sheep Shearing and Herding at Howell Living History Farm, 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township. Learn about sheep care, fleececlearing, and wool use, plus puppy training and whistle commands. Herding demonstrations at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. Howellfarm.org.

10 a.m.: Tour of Princeton University Eating Clubs on Prospect Avenue with author Clifford Zink. Meet at Colonial Club, 40 Prospect. Advance tickets, at $20, are required. Princetonhistory.org.

10 a.m.-12 p.m. or 1:30-3:30 p.m.: May in Montgomery, presented by the Van Harlingen Historical Society. With two field trips led by Sean Kinney, focused on geological formations. Tours are also available at the Gulick House. $40 includes box lunch. For more information, email Candy at library@vanharlingen.org

10 a.m.-4 p.m .: Princeton Art Bazaar 2023, at Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street. Triumph Beer Garden is from 12-4 p.m.; open studios 1-3 p.m. (rain date May 7). Artscouncilofprinceton.org.

Popular Nassau Diner, Now Open For Business, Offers Favorite Familiar Treats in Modern Setting

“

The coffee is hot, and the only thing kept in the freezer is our ice cream….Our curated classics are made from scratch, and elevated with fresh, quality ingredients.” This is the report from The Nassau Diner, which opened last October at 82 Nassau Street. It is the one of the newest establishments owned by Genesis Hospitality Group. Headquartered in Hamilton, the company owns nine restaurants, bars, bakeries, inns, and boutique hotels in the area. In Princeton, the number includes The Peacock Inn, Chez Alice, Bread Boutique, Proof Pizza, and now The Nassau Diner.

IT’S NEW To Us

“People love diners,” says Genesis director of hospitality Eben Copple, adding that diners bring back memories of fun times, and it is always good to have another informal eatery when you’re in the mood for something casual.

“Our diner is a good match for Princeton,” he points out. “We built it for Princeton. Our design plan was to have something historically accurate but to expand on the 1950s Art Deco style diner, and have a modern look. And we wanted to emphasize informal dining and cuisine. It’s very flexible. For example, you can have breakfast all day long.

Made To Order

“Another thing that really sets us apart is that our menus are two pages, not 27 pages! This indicates that everything is very fresh. It’s all made from scratch and made to order. We even make our own salad dressings. We’re raising the level for our customers. We hit a higher bar.”

A former chef, Copple has been with Genesis since 2018. Previously, he was chef at several restaurants in New York City, and for many years, chef at The Yardley Inn in New Hope.

The opportunity for a new adventure with Genesis was appealing, he says. “The development aspect has been one of the exciting parts of the business for me. It’s fun to create a new experience for people to enjoy. We are set apart because we always look for something different to contribute to each location.”

Tables, banquette, and counter seat100 people, and the diner’s spacious setting with black and white motif offers plenty of room to linger over breakfast, lunch or dinner. However, if customers are in a hurry, they can count on fast service, points out Copple. “Everything we have is fresh and fast. Everything is made to order, but served very fast. You can count on both the freshest ingredients and very fast service.”

As a former chef, he takes a very personal interest in what is served at the diner.

“I love the subject matter,” he says with a smile. “I like the subject of food. I really like all levels of the culinary field. The history of food, the stories behind it, the creativity. For example, there are so many ways to cook eggs!”

International Breakfast

In fact, eggs are a highlight at the diner. Scrambled, over easy, omelets, eggs Benedict, etc., etc. All are served throughout the day.

In addition, Copple is very enthusiastic about the diner’s International Breakfast selection. “This is still another way we are really set apart. I initially loved the concept of the French breakfast, with croissant and cafe au lait, and then we added croque madame (grilled ham and cheese en brioche, egg and bechamel sauce).”

The list expanded to include everything from English and Israeli-style breakfasts to Scandinavian, Russian, and upper West Side, among others.

The English and Israeli choices are especially popular, reports Copple. The traditional English breakfast

includes two eggs, bacon, sausage, black pudding, roasted mushrooms, griddled tomato, baked beans, and sourdough bread. The Israeli option features shakshouka (combination of simmering tomatoes, onions, garlic, spices, and poached eggs), farmer’s cheese, Israeli salad, and laffa flat bread.

Pancakes and waffles! No self-respecting diner is without them, but those at the Nassau Diner are exceptional. Made from scratch, they are exceedingly popular. And again, they are available all day.

Another big favorite is the avocado toast, and the bread is also made from scratch.

Homemade Brioche Bun

Lunchtime is very busy at the diner, and soup, salad, and sandwiches are all on the menu. Club sandwiches, Reubens, and grilled cheese are traditional favorites, and the fried chicken sandwich and cheesesteak are also very much in demand.

“Our burgers are really special,” reports Copple. “They are cooked on our hot flat top griddle, and they cook very fast. Then they are served on our homemade brioche bun. In addition to beef, we offer veggie and turkey burgers.”

Especially popular is the California burger with tomato, avocado, bacon, American cheese, and garlic aioli. The “Shroom” burger is another favorite, featuring sautéed mushrooms, caramelized onions, and Swiss cheese. Several other choices are offered as well.

Salads include everything from the always popular Cobb and Caesar to Greek and the traditional “Three Salads” (chicken, tuna, and egg with tomato, lettuce, and choice of bread).

For those wanting fullfledged dinners, a number of selections are available: steak, fried chicken, pork chops, meat loaf, salmon, etc. as well as a variety of pasta dishes. A kids’ menu is also on hand.

An important highlight at the diner is its selection of freshly pressed juices. “These are very popular,” says Copple. “We have green apple, pineapple, carrot, and beet, and they are available in various combinations.”

Ice Cream Bar

Traditional diner pie and cake favorites for dessert are also included on the menu and in a display case.

Now, for true diner aficionados, the next step is to head for the ice cream bar. Sitting at the counter, sipping a milkshake, float, or ice cream soda, digging into a 3-scoop, 3-topping banana split or sundae is a dream-come-true.

“We really wanted to have this special ice cream bar,” explains Copple. “It is so popular that some people come in just for the ice cream.” They love sitting at the counter, he adds. No doubt a reminder of other days, other years, other ice cream treats.

In keeping with the popularity of the ice cream, and a nostalgic reminiscence, several wall displays feature vintage ice cream ads,

including a circa 1940s version: “Ice Cream Shop. Nassau Street. Scoop 25 cents, 2 Scoops 50 cents, Milkshake 50 cents, Sundae 75 cents.”

Other displays include pictures of old-time juke boxes and assorted LP record covers with favorite “Golden Age” singers highlighted.

Copple is encouraged with the response of visitors to the diner, including families, high school and Princeton University students, as well as tourists, alumni, and parents of students who come to town. Many who come once will come again, he reports.

Two recent customers, who were first-time visitors, were very enthusiastic. “We had a great lunch, and we will definitely be back again,” said Princeton resident Pat McKinley. Her daughter, Jennifer McKinley agreed, adding, “We love the ambiance, and the staff is so friendly and helpful. They were so ready to answer our questions.”

Service and Staff

Keeping prices as affordable as possible is a priority, notes Copple, and he emphasizes that the diner prices are comparable to those of other eateries in the area.

He is proud of the diner’s quality in all ways, including its service and staff. “It takes a lot of people to make it happen,” he points out. “We are always looking for those who are interested in joining our operation.

“Princeton is an important location for us,” he continues, “and we are committed to crafting exceptional experiences for our guests.

DINNER AT THE

Our priority is to make every day better than the day before and to continue to meet our standards.

“In addition, we look forward to becoming an integral part of the community. We support various organizations and charities, and we always want to have a relationship with the town we are in. As we look ahead, we hope to serve even more customers, and introduce them to our special signature service.”

Classic Comfort Foodwith a Sophisticated Style &

The Nassau Diner is open seven days from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and take-out is also available. For further information, call (609) 493-0132. Website: www.nassaudiner.com.

—Jean Stratton

ALL DAY DINING: The Nassau Diner is open, and customers are enjoying the opportunity to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner at this new establishment on Nassau Street.

DINER: “New Jersey has a history of diners. It’s the state’s culinary style! We felt there was a need for a diner tality at Genesis Hospitality Group, which owns The Nassau Diner. Shown is a table setting, with the diner’s specialties all ready for tasting. Above is a vintage poster (circa 1920s) of ladies enjoying an afternoon out.

S ports

Ronda Enjoys Memorable Senior Day for PU Men’s Lax As Tigers Top Harvard, Set Up Ivy Title Clash at Cornell

In one sense, it would appear that Christian Ronda’s first two years on the Princeton University men’s lacrosse were futile.

In 2020, Princeton’s season was halted after five games due to the global pandemic with Ronda making one appearance as a freshman and not getting off a shot.

A year later, the Ivy League canceled its spring campaign due to ongoing COVID concerns.

But Ronda soaked in some important lessons during that truncated 2020 campaign.

“My freshman year, I was watching people like Connor McCarthy, Michael Sowers, and Philip Robertson play,” said Ronda.

“The seniors instilled a really good culture my freshman year and it has helped me grow as a player and just do whatever the team needs me to do.”

In 2022, midfielder Ronda grew into a star as a junior, tallying 23 goals and two assists as Princeton advanced to the NCAA semis for the first time since 2004.

Last Saturday, Ronda produced a memorable performance as he and his classmates were honored in the program’s annual Senior Day celebration, tallying four goals and two assists as the Tigers topped Harvard 17-11, improving to 6-5 overall and 4-1 Ivy League.

“It is just special to celebrate with the seniors, the gap year seniors and our class,” said Ronda, a 5’10, 170-pound native of Greenwich, Conn.

“We played like it was going to be our last home game. We just took it all in and really enjoyed it.”

Falling behind 3-2 to Harvard in the first quarter, Princeton played very well as it went on an 8-0 run to break the game open.

“We never lost confidence, we were getting the good looks early in the game,” said Ronda.

“We knew they were going to fall, we just had to keep shooting them. We were winning our matchups, moving the ball well. We just trusted each other and kept shooting and playing our game.”

After Harvard scored three straight goals to narrow the Tiger lead to 10-6, Ronda produced one of the highlights of the game, racing into the crease and scoring on a diving goal with 10 seconds left in the first half.

“I knew it was short time and I didn’t really have a choice so I just ran into the middle of rhe field to see what would happen,” recalled Ronda. “I took a big hit but it went in.”

In the second half, the Tigers took care of business as their lead never dipped below five goals. Sophomore

Coulter Mackesy matched his career-high with eight goals while junior goalie Michael Gianforcaro made a careerbest 20 saves.

“Coulter is going to be Coulter, it is incredible; I played with him in high school too,” said Ronda.

“Seeing him progress as a player has been amazing with him just taking over the game and being one of the top players in college lacrosse has been incredible. It was a great team win. Michael with 20 saves and the defense locking it down and good ball movement. It was a good win for Senior Day.”

It made for a very good memory for Ronda. “I am glad I had a good last game on ’52 (Class of 1952 Stadium),” said Ronda. “It felt good, it was really fun.”

Having built on his breakthrough campaign with 16 goals and nine assists so far this spring has also felt good for Ronda.

“Throughout the year, it is just helping out more and more,” said Ronda.

“I am just building off Alex Vardaro and Sam English last year. It is just trusting the guys next to me and them trusting me.”

With Princeton having clinched a spot in the upcoming Ivy postseason tournament and playing at Cornell on Saturday with the victor earning the league’s

regular season title, Ronda wants to keep his career going as long as possible.

“At this point, I am just trying to elongate the season,” said Ronda. “Last year we played to the very last weekend possible. We didn’t make it to the final but we were there on the last weekend. We are trying to replicate that and play with these guys as long as possible. It is a special group.”

No matter how far the Tigers go, Ronda has relished his Princeton experience on a daily basis.

“Honestly it is things like we are about to have, like celebrating in the locker room after wins,” said Ronda.

“It is just the small moments in the locker room or training room before practice, the early morning lifts, any time with the guys. It has been special and I will remember it. It is sad to see it all go but it has been a good run.”

Princeton head coach Matt Madalon views the program’s Class of 2023 as special.

“It is such a cool group, me as a young head coach recruiting those guys and growing with them myself and through the COVID and all of the turmoil of being shut down,” said Madalon.

“To get a win on ’52 is always special but to do it on

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Senior Day is awesome. They are fired up because it is a big league game, you only get so many of these. We didn’t talk a ton about Senior Day. We just said if we are going to honor those guys, let’s play the game the way it is supposed to be played.”

Madalon liked the way his team played the game as it pulled away from Harvard with its first half run.

“We just settled in, they are a heck of a riding team and they do a great job of making you uneasy,” said Madalon.

“For us, it is settle into our game plan. We were fortunate to hit some shots.”

The Tigers are fortunate to have Mackesy as a go-to finisher. The sophomore attacker added two assists to go with his eight goals and was later named the Ivy Player of the Week.

“He is awesome, our guys know he shoots well,” said Madalon of Mackesy who has a team-high 45 goals and moved past the 100-career point mark for his career in the win over the Crimson, becoming the fifth Princeton player to do so before the end of his sophomore year.

“Our guys can make some great individual plays, all within the framework of the team offense. That is what makes us most proud.

Madalon was proud of Ronda’s stellar Senior Day performance.

“He was 0-for-something shooting the last couple of days, he was putting a ton of pressure on himself,” said Madalon.

“We said hey just keep doing what you have been doing, your shots will fall, you will be fine. It was nice to see him drop some shots.”

With Princeton having lost 19-16 to Harvard last season, the Tigers tightened things up on the defensive end in the 2023 renewal of the rivalry.

“Harvard is a really good coaching staff, they have really good players; the No. 7

kid for them, [Sam] King, is a great player,” said Madalon.

“We settled in and stacked stops on top of one another and we were able to get some separation offensively. Guys at the pole position - Cathal Roberts, Michael Bath, and Cooper Kistler - did a nice job. Beau Pederson went down so we needed stepping up from some younger defensive midfielders who got their hands on people. It was just a good team win really. I am happy about it.”

Gianforcaro’s excellence in goal made Madalon really happy.

“He has done a really good job, he has had to deal with pressure of a goalie battle all year,” said Madalon, who also got a big game from freshman Andrew McMeekin as he earned Ivy Rookie of the Week honors for his 14-for25 face-off, 10 ground ball performance against Harvard.

“He goes in there and it was a great performance by him. Hopefully he has his best lacrosse ahead of him.”

Madalon is hoping that No. 25 Princeton will keep playing some good lacrosse as it heads north this weekend for the showdown at No. 6 Cornell (10-2 overall, 4-1 Ivy).

“I think we are in a good spot, I would like to get a little healthier,” said Madalon, whose team will be in New York City on May 5 to to play in an Ivy semi in Lawrence Wien Stadium at Columbia University.

“We are OK. We have had some good practices, the team is doing a good job.”

In Ronda’s view, the Tigers are primed to get the job done against the Big Red.

“Cornell is playing really well this year, it is going to be a good matchup,” said Ronda.

“We dropped a few early but we are kind of finding our rhythm, finding our groove. We are feeling good now.”

—Bill Alden

KEEPING THE FAITH: Princeton University men’s lacrosse player Christian Ronda heads to goal in recent action. Last Saturday, Ronda enjoyed a memorable Senior Day, tallying four goals and two assists to help Princeton defeat Harvard 17-11. The No. 25 Tigers, now 6-5 overall and 4-1 Ivy League, play at No. 6 Cornell (10-2 overall, 4-1 Ivy) on April 29 with the victor earning the league’s regular season title. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

PU Softball Goes 2-1 in Pivotal Series Against Harvard As Ace Pitcher Laudenslager Sets Tone with One-Hitter

Alexis Laudenslager planned to keep it simple as she took the pitching circle for the Princeton University softball team against Harvard last Friday afternoon in the opener of a pivotal Ivy League three-game set.

“My goal was to throw a lot of strikes,” said Princeton senior right-hander Laudenslager.

“I have played them many times in my career and I have struggled to throw strikes and I knew they would be patient.”

The Tiger ace achieved her goal, hurling a one-hitter with nine strikeouts and one walk in a 4-0 win over the Crimson.

“In the first inning, I think it took me eight pitches to throw a ball, that was just part of my game plan,” said Laudenslager, a 5’10 native of San Diego, Calif. who threw just 78 pitches in the victory.

“I am throwing a lot more strikes and getting outs in fewer pitches. Sometimes I tend to weed around the zone a little bit when I have two strikes and I have stopped doing that which I think is probably good for my arm health. My rise ball has always been my best pitch and today it just had an extra something with the rivalry.”

With the rivals entering the weekend tied for first in the Ivy standings, winning the opener was a confidence builder for the Tigers.

“It was really, really good for our team, I think it is the difference between feeling really confident and powerful and feeling a little bit on your heels,” said Laudenslager.

“This series has big implications on who might win the league and who might get to host (the Ivy postseason tournament) so we knew we needed to win; now their backs are against the wall instead of ours.”

A day later, Laudenslager got another win as the Tigers topped the Crimson 8-5 in the first game of a doubleheader. Princeton fell 6-5 in the nightcap as it moved to 21-16 overall and 14-4 Ivy, one game ahead of Harvard in the league standings.

Laudenslager has played a key role in Princeton’s success, going 12-8 with a 2.06 ERA and 145 strikeouts in 109 innings.

“I think this year I understand how to sequence pitches a lot better than I did last year,” said Laudenslager, who has hurled three no-hitters this spring and now has a program-record of five.

“I tend to get people to two strikes a lot. I get a lot of fouls. My rise ball is always a good pitch but it is hard to get someone a third time. I think this year, knowing where to put my drop, knowing to get a rise at the bottom of the knees and knowing to throw a change has really helped me.”

With Princeton having gone 16-4 in its last 10 games, Laudenslager believes the Tigers are hard to beat.

“We just want it, we don’t take game days for granted,” sad Laudenslager.

“We enjoy being out here.

We just have a lot of fun and enjoy each other’s success too.”

Placing first in the league’s regular season standings and hosting the Ivy postseason tournament would be special for Laudenslager and her classmates.

“It is really important, especially for us seniors,” said Laudenslager, who got just six appearances in 2020 before the season was halted due to the global pandemic and got into two contests in a 2021 season that saw Princeton play only three games due to ongoing COVID concerns.

“We have had really unconventional careers with COVID and the same with the juniors. We want to maximize as many games as we can get on this field.”

Princeton head coach Lisa Van Ackeren liked the way her players took care of business in opener.

“We have not beaten Harvard in the first game in a three-game series in a while; we haven’t started the series in front,” said Van Ackeren.

“Our biggest challenge is day two, just in general. It is a long series, we are not just here for one game but is always good to start with a win. I think that was a really high quality game all around. Today was one of the best games we have had in terms of three parts of the ball.”

Van Ackeren was not surprised to see Laudenslager produce a high quality effort in the circle.

“Alexis loves big moments, that is what makes her great,” said Van Ackeren.

“She rises to the occasion, she is prepared for it and she knows she is going to bring her best stuff. She was really a freshman last year so there weren’t a lot of expectations. She threw a couple of games her freshman year (in 2020) before COVID but not enough to really get meaningful experience. She had a lot of competitive experience last year and now is using that as information so she has got like a sixth sense for things. We do a lot of communication around that (pitch sequence) and work on it to set batters up. We are usually on the same page as far as what we are trying to attack.”

Senior star Serena Starks led the Princeton hitting attack in the opener against the Crimson, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

“It is hard to put into words what she does for our team, she is just so grounded even when she doesn’t get

results,” said Van Ackeren of Starks who is hitting .406 with 30 runs and 54 hits, team-highs in each category.

“She had tons of results today but even when she doesn’t, the team just feels good watching her at bats, watching how she approaches things and how she recovers from things. She is special.”

In the view of Van Ackeren, the Tigers are peaking at the right time.

“We have been talking about it from the beginning, with playing a tough schedule and being prepared for the end of the year,” said Van Ackeren, whose team plays a doubleheader at Villanova on April 25 and then concludes Ivy regular season play with a three-game set at Dartmouth with a doubleheader on April 29 and a single game on April 30.

We are just going to keep getting better, things are coming together at the right time. You want to be playing your best in late April and early May, that is what we are after.”

With Princeton having clinched a spot in the fourteam Ivy tourney with its second win over Harvard, Van Ackeren is hoping the Tigers can hold its lead in the standings and host the event.

“It is make it, host it, we try to keep things in order,” said Van Ackeren, who guided Princeton to the Ivy title last year and an appearance in the NCAA regional which saw it fall 11-0 to Arkansas and 5-4 to Wichita State.

“It would be great, that means we have won the title. It is important to the team. When we are home it means we have won something meaningful so that is important.”

Laudenslager is looking for a meaningful finish to her Tiger career.

“I have loved every moment I have played for Princeton softball, it is bittersweet,” said Laudenslager with tears welling up.

“This is just a really, really special program. For years we have know we were capable of good things. Last year was exciting to show it and this year now with the experience maybe we can do more with it. We can really prove that we belong in any game at any time.” —Bill

Alden

SPECIAL DELIVERY: Princeton University softball star pitcher Alexis Laudenslager fires a pitch in a 2022 game. Last Friday, senior Laudenslager pitched a one-hitter to help Princeton defeat Harvard 4-0 in the opener of a three-game set between the Ivy League frontrunners. A day later, Laudenslager got the win as the Tigers topped the Crimson 8-5 in the first game of a doubleheader. Princeton fell 6-5 in the nightcap as it moved to 21-16 overall and 14-4 Ivy, one game ahead of Harvard in the league standings. The Tigers play a doubleheader at Villanova on April 25 and then conclude Ivy regular season play with a three-game set at Dartmouth with a doubleheader on April 29 and a single game on April 30.

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

PU Sports Roundup

Tiger

Women’s

Golf

5th in Ivy Tourney

Catherine Rao starred as the Princeton University women’s golf team placed fifth at the Ivy League Championships last weekend at the Century Country Club in Purchase, N.Y.

Freshman Rao fired a 7-over 223 in the threeround event to finish second in the individual standings, four strokes behind medalist Isabella Gomez of Harvard.

In the team standings, Princeton had a score of +55, 13 strokes behind champion Penn.

PU Women’s Open Crew

Defeats Texas, Yale

Coming up with a statement win, the No. 4 Princeton University women’s varsity 8 defeated No. 1 Texas and No. 3 Yale last Saturday on Lake Carnegie.

Princeton covered the 2,000-meter course in 6:24.2, just ahead of runner-up Texas who finished at 6:25.0 while Yale came in third in 6:28.4.

The Tigers host Penn on April 29.

Tiger Men’s Lightweights

Top Penn, Georgetown

Producing a superb effort, the No. 3 Princeton University men’s lightweight varsity 8 defeated No. 5 Penn and No. 8 Georgetown on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia last Saturday to earn the Wood-Hammond Trophy.

Princeton clocked a winning time of 6:25.6 over the 2,000-meter course with Georgetown taking second in 6:28.8 and Penn coming in third at 6:32.8.

The Tigers face Harvard and Yale on April 29 on rhe Charles River in Cambridge, Mass.

PU Men’s

Heavyweights

Fall to Yale, Top Cornell

Falling just short in the race for the Carnegie Cup, the No. 5 Princeton University men’s heavyweight varsity 8 got edged by No. 2 Yale while defeating No. 12 Cornell.

Yale rallied past Princeton over the last 500 meters of the 2,000-meter race on Lake Carnegie, posting a

time of 5:36.8 with the Tigers next in 5:37.7 and Cornell taking third in 5:57.0.

In upcoming action, Princeton hosts Brown on April 29 in the race for the Content Cup.

Tiger Women’s Lightweights Cruise Past Georgetown

Continuing its dominant spring, the top-ranked Princeton University women’s lightweight varsity 8 defeated Georgetown last Saturday to earn the Class of 2006 Cup.

The Tiger top boat posted a winning time of 6:52.8 over the 2,000-meter course on Lake Carnegie with Georgetown coming in at 7:03.1.

The victory c ontinu ed an undefeated streak for Princeton’s varsity 8 which has not lost a race since March 2019

Princeton is next in action when it competes in the Eastern Sprints on April 30 in Cambridge, Mass.

Tiger Women’s Lax Falls at Dartmouth

Kari Buonanno had a big game but it wasn’t enough as the Princeton University women’s lacrosse team fell 15-14 at Dartmouth last Saturday.

Junior midfielder Buonanno tallied a career-high five goals and passed the 100-point mark in her Tiger career as Princeton dropped to 6-8 overall and 3-3 Ivy League.

Princeton hosts Harvard on April 30 in its regular season finale.

weekend with three homers, four runs and 11 RBIs and now has a program singleseason record of 17 homers.

Princeton topped the Big Red 11-8 in a single game on Friday and then swept a doubleheader on Saturday, prevailing 8-5 and 11-0.

Vinci was later named to the Collegiate Baseball News National Player of the Week list and as the Ivy League Player of the Week Princeton, now 18-17 overall and 10-5 Ivy League, hosts NJIT on April 26 and then heads north for a three-game set at Yale with a doubleheader slated for April 29 and a single game on April 30.

Tiger Men’s Tennis Falls

to Harvard

Sebastian Sec provided a highlight as the No. 52 Princeton University men’s tennis team fell 6-1 to No. 10 Harvard last Sunday in its regular season finale.

Freshman Sec posted a 6-3, 6-4 win over Ronan Jachuck at third singles to get the only point for the Tigers in the match.

Princeton moved to 16-13 overall and 3-4 Ivy with the defeat.

PU Senior Stars Earn PNC Student-Athlete Achiever Award

Princeton University women’s water polo player Annie Robinson and men’s track star Ibrahim Ayorinde have been named as the recipients of the Spring 2023 PNC Student-Athlete Achiever award.

FOUR-PEAT: Members of the Princeton University women’s tennis team celebrate after they defeated Dartmouth 4-0 last Saturday to clinch the Ivy League title. It marked the fourth straight Ivy title for Princeton and 17th overall for the program. A day later, the Tigers defeated Harvard 4-0 to move to 16-6 overall and 7-0 Ivy. In upcoming action, Princeton will be competing in the NCAA regionals which will take place from May 5-7. (Photo provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)

Inclusion for the SHARE Office. She also volunteers with the CONTACT Crisis Chat and Suicide hotline and at a local hospice facility. Robinson is a member of the Varsity Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, helping to enhance the Princeton student-athlete experience, as well as an active leader with the Student-Athlete Service Council. Robinson is an evolutionary biology major pursuing a pre-med track.

Ayorinde, a native of Oakville, Ontario, is a senior captain and Ivy Champion sprinter for the Princeton men’s track & field program. He holds school records in the indoor and outdoor 200 meters as well as the outdoor 4x100 meter relay. A NCAA regional qualifier in each event, Ayorinde has paced the Tigers to four team Ivy League Heptagonal titles during his career. On campus, he serves on the Varsity StudentAthlete Advisory Committee

and as a Vote100 ambassador. Ayorinde is also a member of the Tiger Equity Group and BLK Capital Management, a 100 percent Blackowned and student-run equity hedge-fund that promotes financial education for black students around the nation. An operations research and financial engineering, Ayorinde co-founded the Newcomers Tutoring Program to aid refugees in grades 3-through-8 in their educational transition to Canada.

PU Men’s

Volleyball Falls in EIVA Final

Brady Wedbush starred in a losing cause as the No. 15 Princeton University men’s volleyball team fell 3-0 at No. 3 Penn State last Saturday in the final of the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Championships.

Sensor Wedbush had a team-high seven kills but Penn State prevailed (25-14, 25-18, 25-22).

The defeat left the Tigers with a final record of 14-12.

Princeton Baseball Goes 3-0 at Cornell

Kyle Vinci starred as the Princeton University baseball team went 3-0 in a series at Cornell last weekend.

Junior first baseman Vinci went 5-for-12 on the

The PNC Bank StudentAthlete Achiever Award, now in its eighth year, provides Princeton Athletics the opportunity to identify two student-athletes per season, as nominated by their head coaches, who have excelled not only in their competitive landscape, but in their overall achievement as a member of the Princeton community.

Robinson, a native of Riv erside, Conn., a senior cap tain and attacker for Prince ton women’s water polo. She has more than 60 goals and 70 assists in her career, and has helped this year’s team to a 27-3 record and top10 national ranking. Out of the water, Robinson mentors fellow student-athletes with interests in the medical field as a Health Professions Jock Doc, and is the Vice President of Diversity, Equity and

Thank

“Since [1950] Conte’s has become a Princeton destination; a great old-school bar that also happens to serve some of New Jersey’s best pizza, thin-crusted and bubbly. The restaurant hasn’t changed much since then; even the tables are the same. It’s a simple, no-frills space, but if you visit during peak times, be prepared to wait well over an hour for a table.

SPOILS OF VICTORY: Members of Princeton University men’s golf team display the hardware they earned after placing first at the Ivy League Championships at the Stanwich Club in Green wich, Conn. last Sunday. Princeton ended the three-round competition at +16, 18 shots better than runner-up Columbia to win the program’s 31st Ivy League title all-time and first since 2019. Tiger freshman Riccardo Fantinelli emerged as the top individual finisher, carding a 5-under 211, four strokes better than runner-up Brian Ma of Harvard. Fantinelli is the first Princeton medalist since Quinn Prchal ’17 in 2015. With the victory, Princeton earned the Ivy League’s automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals. The field will be announced May 3 with the regional tournaments taking place from May 15-17. (Photo by Keith Egan/Ivy League, provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)

Sutcliffe Stepping Down from Guiding PHS Boys’ Soccer, Ending Storied 26-Year Tenure that Featured 2 State Crowns

Wayne Sutcliffe faced some tough competition in 1997 when he put his hat in the ring in a bid to take the helm of the Princeton High boys’ soccer program.

“I was hired to replace Ron [Celestin],” said Sutcliffe, referring to the beloved and legendary Celestin, who had guided the program to a state title before leaving to become an assistant coach for the Princeton University women’s soccer team. “There were 50 applicants for the job and I got it.”

Sutcliffe, who previously coached at Moorestown Friends and served as the technical director for Moorestown soccer club, quickly realized he had landed in a hot seat

“The pressure was really intense because two years prior Princeton had won the Group 2 state championship,” said Sutcliffe, who also worked as a PE teacher at PHS. “There were high expectations, it wasn’t easy.”

Over the last 26 seasons, Sutcliffe exceeded those expectations, guiding the Tigers to more than 300 wins and a slew of titles. The program’s postseason haul included 19 Colonial Valley Conference division titles, seven Mercer County Tournaments, seven New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA)

Central Jersey sectional crowns, two NJSIAA state finals (2014, 2017), and two NJSIAA state championships (2009, 2012)

Earlier this month, Sutcliffe announced that he was stepping down from the program, concluding that it was the right time to pass the torch.

“We are going to have a really good team this fall the team is in a really good place,” said Sutcliffe.

“It was not that tough a decision, I had been thinking about it for two years. I coached there for 26 seasons. We won everything you could win in New Jersey soccer. It is good to try it again. I just feel as though the program is in a really good place with the health of the three teams (freshman, JV, and varsity), the quality of players, the chemistry, and the vibe. The parent booster club is fantastic, they have been so supportive. I had my time.”

Sutcliffe had a great time guiding PHS to its run of excellence.

“When you win a state championship, it is absolutely extraordinary,” said Sutcliffe, whose team topped Millburn in the 2009 Group 3 title game and shared the championship with Ramapo in 2012.

“I can remember every single title, the sectional titles, the MCT titles, the CVC titles, and winning the league on the last day of the season. We did that several times. That level of success is absolutely extraordinary when it happens. There is so much work that goes into it, it is so hard.”

That success stemmed from a lot of good work from his players as they produced a special brand of soccer.

“Certainly there is a collective understanding and mission that it is all about

the team tactically they and to play the game the right way,” said Sutcliffe.

“We were trying to play as simply as possible and to keep the ball, I would say those are the two themes. My objective was to keep that going with the Princeton team and put my stamp on it because that was the way Ron coached.”

Sutlcliffe’s longtime coaching staff, which included assistant coaches Salvy Baldino and Carlos Salazar, played a key role in the program’s achievements.

“We were a team, we all had our strengths and we are very close personal friends; Salvy played for me,” said Sutcliffe.

“We were just so committed to this team. We are in the weight room from March to June. There were alumni pickup games every Tuesday and Thursday on the turf with 30,40 guys showing up. We played in the Mercer 8s league for years with a lot of success. Once preseason started, the frequency of training and matches was six, seven days a week. We gave everything to that team and held it as high a priority as anything in our lives aside from our families.”

For Baldino, being on the staff was like family. “Wayne never gets too high or too low, he is really such a poised gentleman that I really respected as a player and as a coach to work with,” said Baldino, a goalie for the program from 1997-99 who served as an assistant coach from 2004-19.

“We right away worked great together. Between Carlos, Wayne and myself, we instantly became very close friends.”

In Baldino’s view, Sutcliffe’s close bonds with his players was a major factor in the his great run.

“He was so connected with our players, he would see all of these kids in school,” said Baldino.

“In a lot of cases, he knew their parents, he knew their cousins, or he had coached their brothers. There was such a connection he made with the players. He knew when they were on, he knew when they were off. He really knew how to get the best out of the players.”

While all of the titles are great, Baldino believes it is

about soccer but in life, how to grow as a player and as a person,” said Matar Grandi

that brotherhood that means the most to Sutcliffe.

“More than the wins, Wayne will always cherish the relationships we have with the players,” said Baldino.

“Year after year, we have our alumni game on the day after Thanksgiving. Everybody is home and so many guys have come back over the years. Having those guys come back and stay in touch and really be friends with some of these guys and their families, that means way more to Wayne than the championships. This year we had the game and as luck would have it, USA played England that same day. We all went to Conte’s afterward to watch the World Cup game. Those are the memories that Wayne will really cherish, the soccer community, the brotherhood.”

Sutcliffe concurs, relishing the rapport he has maintained with his players.

“These guys are all in their 20s and 30s now and they are some of my best friends, we keep in touch,” said Sutcliffe.

“At the annual alumni game the day after Thanksgiving last year, we had 35 guys. I haven’t lost the connection to most of the guys.”

That connection has been evident in the way the players and coaches have responded to the detention of former PHS star and team captain Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who was arrested in Russia in late March on an assignment. The U.S. has asserted that the arrest is wrongful and has pressed for Gershkovich’s release. The PHS players have created a website, Free Evan Gershkovich ( www.freegershkovich.com ), to address the situation.

“There is a bit of irony in that this is happening to Evan right now and that the alumni and the current team were reunited on that front,” said Sutcliffe, noting that Gershkovich played a key role in the team’s win over Millburn in the 2009 state championship game.

One of those current players, junior Felipe Matar Grandi, credits Sutcliffe with making a major impact on his development.

“I feel like it has been a learning experience, he taught me a lot, not only

“He taught me a lot about leadership because I was a junior captain. He gave me all of the support that I needed.”

Sutcliffe has given the players the benefit of his extensive experience in the game.

“He is the coach I have played under who probably has the most knowledge,” said Matar Grandi.

“He knows a lot about the game and he really loves soccer. He is always doing his research, he is always watching games, and talking about games.”

That knowledge translated into Sutcliffe being able to motivate his players to being their best to the pitch.

“He was always confident in our teams, he knew we could do it and that gave players confidence,” said Matar Grandi.

“He pushed us to do everything and got us hyped up before the games. He always focused on making players better and working as a team and keeping us together. I want to think him for everything he has done for us.”

Sutcliffe, for his part, is thankful that he got the PHS job and won’t soon forget all that he has experienced over the last 26 years in that post.

“I will miss the players, the training, the relationships with the players, winning a game late,” said Sutcliffe, who will continue teaching PE at PHS and is looking to coach club soccer, noting that current assistant

Dear Patient:

Dear Patient,

FOND

soccer head coach

surveys the action in a game last fall. Sutcliffe recently announced that he is stepping down from guiding the Tigers after 26 seasons at the helm of the program. During his storied tenure, the Tigers won a slew of championships including 19 Colonial Valley Conference division titles, seven Mercer County Tournaments, seven New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Jersey sectional crowns, two NJSIAA state finals (2014, 2017), and two NJSIAA state championships (2009, 2012).

“I can’t give enough credit to Salvy and Carlos and for the last seven years, Ryan. This isn’t only about me. We worked so hard together and these are three of my

best friends too. There are coaching staffs but it was so special. We all played this game, we have coaching licenses. What we did is we lived it. It was so much fun.”

—Bill Alden

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Thank you for your continued support of Dr. Cortese who will be greatly missed and profession and treatment of his patients.

214 North Harrison Street Princeton, NJ 08540

Thank you all for the love and support you have shown me in these hard times. So many of you have been more than patients, but friends who we looked forward to seeing at each and every visit.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Angela Cortese

Maxillofacial Prosthodontist

311 Witherspoon

Princeton, NJ 08542

FAREWELL: Princeton High boys’

Wayne Sutcliffe

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Michael R Cortese

Local family owned business for over 40 years

Ryan Walsh is his likely successor to guide the Tigers.

Back in Action After Being Sidelined Last Year by Injury, Henderson Emerging as Catalyst for PHS Girls’ Lacrosse

For Sarah Henderson, getting on the field this year for the Princeton High girls’ lacrosse team required some grit and persistence.

Injuring her right knee in August, 2021, Henderson was sidelined last spring as she underwent a grueling and painstaking rehab process.

Returning to action for the 2023 campaign, junior attacker Henderson has quickly established herself as a key offensive weapon for the Tigers.

Henderson couldn’t stop smiling as she reflected on finally being back in the fray for the Tigers.

“I just got back last August 2022; I had one fall season with my club team so this is my first school season back since my injury,” said Henderson, who suffered a torn ACL.

“I am so thrilled. This is definitely the favorite lacrosse I have ever played. I love being on this team and having coach Katie [Federico] as my coach. Some of my best friends are on this team, it is a great experience.”

Playing with a large brace on her right knee, Henderson is still working on getting up to speed.

“It was hard rehabbing, it was the same amount of difficulty getting back on the field,” said Henderson.

“The brace is constantly pinching me and I have to get used to that, getting back into it and getting back to running as much as you do in a game. I have decided not to play midfield because I think it is just to much for my leg. In the game on attack, I feel fine.”

Last Wednesday, Henderson helped spark the PHS attack, tallying two goals and three assists as PHS edged Hopewell Valley 1814.

“It has been tough, feeling like I am in the right spot and remembering what I am supposed to be doing,” said Henderson.

“I am working to get that back. Today was good. I felt really good about attacking and my transitions, going from transition spacing to spacing around the 12.”

Coming off a tough 12-8 loss to Robbinsville on April 17, the Tigers played better in transition collectively against HoVal.

“I think we did a better job in spacing during this game,” said Henderson.

“Over the season, we are meshing better as a team. We have a lot of new players.”

Building a 14-8 lead midway through the second half, PHS faced a challenge down the stretch as they were a player down in the late stages of the contest

due to accumulating more than four yellow cards.

“We weren’t ready to give up the lead that we had,” said Henderson.

“We were pumped up about the game and being down a player. It was what if we could score with a man down, we just wanted to keep doing that.”

Henderson helped PHS hold off the Bulldogs, feeding Phoebe Steiger for two key goals in the last six minutes of the contest.

“Phoebe and I have been working together a lot this season, we have a little mini-play between us for knowing when each other is open,” said Henderson.

“We alway look for each other when we have the ball. Whenever I have the ball, I am always looking for people but I know she will always be trying to get open. My first instinct as an attacker is to look for an assist, just as my sister (former PHS star and current Pomona-Pitzer standout Shoshi) did. I was looking to see who was open and I saw she was right behind a defender that slid up to the girl closer to me. I saw the opening and got it to her.”

The influence of her older sister Shoshi, who tallied 137 assists in her PHS career and had 90 assists in her freshman campaign last spring for Pomona, has impacted Henderson’s game.

“She has been such an inspiration with lacrosse with her poise on the field,” said Henderson.

“Watching her play, she was the least selfish player I have ever seen. She didn’t care about how many goals she had, she was all about the team getting goals. It didn’t matter who scored them. She has passed that on to me. She has helped coach me over the years. She lives all the way in California but I get to talk to her when I can. She is great, she always texts me before the games.”

In the view of PHS head coach Katie Federico, the younger Henderson is displaying similar traits.

“Sarah sees the field, her assists today were great,” said Federico of Henderson, who has tallied five goals and a team-high 12 assists this spring.

“I think she is still trying to get the feeling down of everything. I told her you are not going to be 100 percent when you come back but each day she is improving. I think last year watching a lot helped her learn the game even more. Her game IQ has really increased.”

Federico saw improvement in the PHS attack as it piled up 18 goals against HoVal.

“They are starting to click even more, they are starting to know where each other is going to be,” said Federico, who got six goals and three assists from junior star Ri ley Devlin in the win with freshman Quinn Gallagher scoring four goals and ju nior Steiger chipping in three.

“The whole team, in general is great. They talk with each other, they go over plays, we watch some film. They are helping each other. We did lose a lot of leadership last year with the seniors. I feel like they are starting to step up and help the underclassmen which has been really nice. They are a good group of girls.”

Devlin has been stepping up for PHS as a scorer and leader.

“Riley has really upped her game and I have seen a level of leadership come from her as well,” said Federico of Devlin, who has scored a team-high 22 goals.

“She knows what it was like when she was a fresh man and having the upper classmen help so she has been doing that. It has been really nice to see. She is re ally a self-reflective player and always thinking about what can we do differently as a team to try and improve.”

The play of freshman star Gallagher has given the team a lift as she has tallied 13 goals so far in her debut season.

“She is so tall and has a beautiful shot, she is a lefty,” said Federico.

“Like everybody, she is starting to learn and jell. We take it one day at a time.”

Looking ahead, Federico believes the Tigers could jell into something special.

“I am happy where we are, we have already improved from game one,” said Federico, whose team lost 13-4 to Notre Dame last Thursday to move to 4-2, and hosts Lawrence High on April 26, plays at Lawrenceville School on April 28, and then hosts WW/P-North on May 1.

“I think each game, we are going to get better. It is nice having the tough games earlier on, it prepares you for the postseason.”

Henderson, for her part, is developing a comfort level as the Tigers have progressed.

“I love playing with all of the new players; we have a great chemistry on the team,” said Henderson.

“We really know when to see each other and get open for those passes. It is becoming more intuitive, I am super excited for the rest of the season.”

-Bill Alden

action.

returned to action this spring after being sidelined by a knee injury last season, has emerged as a key offensive weapon for the Tigers. Last Wednesday, Henderson tallied two goals and three assists to help PHS defeat Hopewell Valley 18-14. The Tigers, who lost 13-4 to Notre Dame last Thursday to move to 4-2, hosts Lawrence High on April 26, play at Lawrenceville School on April 28,

host WW/P-North on May 1.

HAPPY RETURN: Princeton High girls’ lacrosse player Sarah Henderson celebrates after a goal in recent

Junior attacker Henderson, who has

and then

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

With Senior Star Kenny Getting Back Up to Speed, PHS Track Shows Progress at Mercer County Relays

Andrew Kenny helped the Princeton High boys’ distance medley relay win at the Mercer Count Relays last Saturday, thrilled to finally be contributing again to the Tiger squad.

It’s something that the PHS senior has been missing the most while sidelined for the cross country and indoor track and field seasons due to a hip injury.

“I know my teammates won’t want me to say this – but feeling like I let down my teammates because we were in such a good spot to do such great things in cross and winter track and I just wasn’t there for them,” said Kenny.

“Obviously whenever I bring that up to them, they’re like ‘no, you’re good, it happens.’ But obviously I’m going to have that guilt.”

Kenny is back on the track and looking to finish his senior year well before he continues running cross country and track at Northeastern University. It’s been a long wait for his return. Kenny reached the Meet of Champions in outdoor track last spring after placing sixth in the 800 meters in the Group 4 meet with a personal-record 1:55.71. But it wasn’t long after that he had to stop training due to tendinitis in his hip, and the subsequent parade of imaging and diagnosis and physical therapy cost him the first two seasons of his final PHS year.

“It was super frustrating,” said Kenny. “One of the biggest things keeping me motivated was knowing my teammates were there for me and when I was coming back they were going to help me. Every day at practice is super fun with them. It’s kept me going.”

Kenny led off the distance medley relay with a 3:17 split for the 1,200-meter leg. Josh Barzilai, Marty Brophy and Charles Howes followed as the Tigers won handily in 10:49.37. The race was another step forward for Kenny, who wanted to go faster but is excited to be competing again.

“Honestly it feels amazing,” said Kenny. “I’m not really too worried about my times right now because it’s kind of a funny feeling just racing in the first place. And I’m really only on two weeks of solid training. It feels great.”

The race was part of a solid day for the Tigers boys and girls in the competition held at Lawrence High. The DMR was one of three relays that won from the school.

“We did a lot of things that we wanted to do at the relay meet,” said PHS head coach Ben Samara.

“We had some nice surprises, some good performances and some things we want to work on, which is typical of an early season meet. But we were happy with how the day went.”

Henry Zief and Devin Levy won the boys javelin relay. Zief had the top throw of the day, 145’ 10, and Levy threw 133’3, the second best overall throw of the meet.

“Something that might not be readily visible in the results was the top throw from Henry Zief was off

three steps because he has a groin injury that he’s working through,” said Samara.

“By far, the furthest throw, coming off only three steps, shows what his talent is and how he’s far and away the best javelin thrower in the county right now. We’re hoping he can get healthy and really let it rip soon.”

The PHS girls won the 4x100 shuttle hurdle relay in 1:10.15 with its quartet of Katherine Monroe, Chiara Lavino, Grace DeFaria and Ava Tabeart. Macaela Wilton and Isabella Ospina Posada took second place in the girls shot put. Wilton’s 34’4 throw was second best individually. Grace DeFaria and Chiara Lavino combined for third in the girls high jump. The girls DMR of Robin Roth, Brielle Moran, Ava Tabeart and Lucy Kreipke took fifth in 13:30.33. Macaela Wilton had one of the top throws in the girls discus of 86’9.

“The girls shuttle hurdles was a nice surprise,” said Samara. “Then we had a couple second-place relays and a couple third-place relays. It was a pretty good overall performance. Most of the spots where we put our A relays out, we were able to place pretty highly. We were happy with that. We’re looking in terms of our athletes’ development for themselves, not as much against the other teams. That will come later on.”

Ishaq Inayat had the fifth best boys’ triple jump of 37’1.5 and Drew Pianka jumped 36’3 to help PHS place third in the relay. The boys 4x100 of Pianka, Benjamin Gitai, Sawyer Quallen and Zach Della Rocca was fifth in 44.19 seconds. Michael Bao threw 105’1 and Sean Wilton threw 104’9 to combine for fifth in the boys discus. Bao and Wilton were sixth in the boys shot put. It was enough to build confidence for the bigger meets later in the spring.

“I think we learned that we have a real shot of doing well in the 4x8 at states,” said Kenny.

“I think I learned that I have a good shot at something at groups. The boys 4x1 ran great. And the thing about a state championship is you really only need one guy for a sprinter. Zach can run the 1, 2 and 4 and get us 25 points. He got third last year in the 4, so he has a pretty high ceiling there.”

Kenny has been forced to relearn form to avoid reinjuring his hip. He explains that he was externally rotating his hip and landing on the outside of his feet, which caused too much external rotation in his hip and the injury. The physical therapy did not go quickly for him.

“The first two months, I didn’t see any progress,”

said Kenny. “I was doing form drills, I was run/walking, I was trying my hardest, I was super focused on my runs trying to fix it, and I really wasn’t seeing that much progress. About two months in, suddenly something just clicked and all the work I’d done that I didn’t realize would work, worked. It started to feel good and I quickly ramped up my mileage from there.”

Kenny returned to the track for the first time with a 4:41.30 clocking in the 1,600 meters in a batch meet with West WindsorPlainsboro High South earlier this month. At their next batch meet, he ran 2:01 in the 800 meters on an especially gusty day.

“It was honestly a huge confidence booster because I did not think I was that fast already,” said Kenny.

Kenny is getting back into full training and racing and the Mercer Relays helped him continue to gear up.

“My splits honestly were not that good at all, but it was a confidence booster in a way,” said Kenny. “I went 63-70-62 which is horrible, but closing in 62 in super strong headwinds, and without them it’s probably like 58-59, I’ll take that. I’m still learning how to race again. There wasn’t any competition either.”

Kenny’s return to competition gives the Tigers a boost. PHS had hoped he would be able to return sooner this year, and they are happy that he will be able to help the distance runners this spring.

“He’s definitely the leader of that group, and I know they’ve been waiting for him to come back,” said Samara.

“It puts that top line guy on, we add the depth on, and if everybody can stay healthy – which is a big if –I think we can make a run at the county title on the guys’ side.”

Kenny is more focused on the team goals than his individual marks, but knows that he will have to run well to help the Tigers meet their aspirations. The team goals are a big part of his motivation now as he works himself into shape.

“I would say I’m probably only at about 60 percent right now,” said Kenny.

“I hit 40 miles last week, and I’ll hit 30-something this week. I’m still honestly not fully up to speed yet but I think I’ve learned as a runner. I’ve grown with a lot of PT stuff. I lifted all throughout being injured so I’m stronger now. I think goals for this season would probably not be any time goals because I don’t know what I can do, but probably make Meet of Champs. As a team, we really want to make Nationals in 4xmile or

the DMR, or make Meet of Champs in the 4x8.”

If his training goes well, Kenny hopes to be able to run similarly to last year. He would like the chance to finish his season on the biggest stage.

“I don’t want to set a time goal or specific place, but I think I have a true shot at a really great place at groups,” said Kenny. “I got sixth last year so I can’t see why I don’t repeat that.”

Kenny’s return has given

PHS a lift as it heads into May. He’s one of their main pieces who can impact how well the team does this season.

“That hip injury was really difficult for him,” said Samara, who will be entering the 4x100 and 4x400 relays at Penn Relays later this week before hosting Nottingham in a meet at Princeton University on May 1.

“He spent so much time breaking down every little part of his running form.

He’s really recreated his running style to avoid these injuries again. It’s taken so much discipline and so much hard work on his part, we’re really proud of him. He should be proud of himself. There are not a lot of athletes that would be able to stay the course with something like that for so long during their senior season. I think he’s really going to start popping off soon.”

—Justin Feil

Earth Day Birthday 53

FINISHING KICK: Princeton High boys’ distance running star Andrew Kenny, right, edges Shaurya Srivastava of WW/P-South at the Mercer County cross country championship meet in 2021. Last Saturday, senior star Kenny helped the PHS distance medley relay quartet place first at the Mercer County Relays.

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Making the Most of His Final Year for PDS Baseball, Vandal Has been Spark in Tough Spring for Panthers

Ryan Vandal got things started on the right note for the Princeton Day School baseball team as it hosted South Hunterdon last Thursday.

Leadoff hitter Vandal drew a walk in the bottom of the first inning, stole a base and came around to score as PDS as jumped out to a 1-0 lead.

“We have been starting to play some better baseball,” said senior shortstop Vandal. “We had a lead against Peddie, that was a shootout (an 18-15 loss on April 14), it was a football score. We are getting some leads. We are starting to play a lot better than at the start of the year.”

But in a microcosm of a frustrating spring, the Panthers yielded five runs in the second inning on the way to losing 10-2 as they remained winless on the spring.

“We just have to work to play a full game,” said Vandal. “We have stretches where we are playing clean innings, getting baserunners but after that one hit or one play in the field, we need to not let it get away. It is just that one inning is killing us right now.”

Vandal has been putting in some good work with his bat, hitting .346 through the first 10 games of the season.

“A lot of times, me and the top of the order are swinging hot sticks,” said Vandal, who smacked a double in the third inning and scored the other run for PDS as he was driven in by sophomore standout Luke Haan.

“It all comes down to the bottom of the order. When they are getting on for the top of the order guys, that is when the runs start coming. We just have to swing hot sticks and score some runs.”

While the steady diet of losing has been frustrating, Vandal is seeing progress.

“At the start of the year we were struggling to play full games and now we are playing competitive games to seven innings,” said Vandal. “It is improving, you would like to be winning them.”

The arrival of new head coach Eric Schnepf has helped the PDS players be more competitive on a daily basis.

“I love him, he has got the guys invested,” said Vandal. “We all want to play, we are coming to the field excited everyday. He is a great guy. I hope that he sees some more success.”

Having juggled hockey with baseball over his PDS career, Vandal is getting to devote all of his efforts to the diamond this spring.

“For a while I played yearround hockey, it would be a lot; you kind of had to work around it,” said Vandal, who tallied four goals and three assists last winter for the Panthers.

“A lot of times on Saturdays I would be missing practices or games for club hockey. This season, I just played in the fall. I am not playing on the spring and I got to focus on baseball. It was great to be in winter

workouts with the team. I just felt like I was more connected than usual, just being able to be around by availability.”

Vandal is determined to make the most of that opportunity. “I am just happy to play my last season with guys I enjoy playing with,” said Vandal, who is headed to Boston University this fall.

“I have been here with all of these guys for three seasons, we didn’t play a freshman year because of COVID. I have been playing in this team with a bunch of guys for three years now. I am just excited to share the experience with them. It is fun to play.”

PDS head coach Schnepf credits Vandal with playing well in all phases of the game.

“He has been doing that all year for us, finding a way to get on base, whether it be a hit, walk, anything, and running the bases really well, stealing bags for us at the top,” said Schnepf

“He has been playing a good shortstop. He is definitely an anchor on the defensive side and on the offensive side really a spark plug that we need at the top.”

Schnepf likes seeing his team get on top of South Hunterdon in the first inning.

“It is nice to get on the board early, it is something we have struggled with,” said Schnepf.

“We had a good shutdown inning in the first which is something else we have struggled with. There are some signs that we are moving in the right direction but by no means are we there yet.”

Sophomore catcher Haan has been a bright spot for the Panthers.

“Luke has been swinging a fantastic bat this year, not just today but just throughout the whole year,” said Schnepf of Haan, who was batting .400 through 10 games.

“He has been really consistent which is a big thing. He gets into the box ready to compete and he is definitely not going to get cheated

out of a swing. He is doing a good job back there at catcher. What people forget is that he is still young. He is handling the staff well. We expect a lot of out of him and he has delivered. He is never afraid to be held accountable and hold others accountable. He is somebody behind the plate who has taken on a real leadership role.”

While things haven’t gone well for the Panthers so far this spring, Schnepf believes his players are keeping their heads up.

“It is just the style and the approach that we want to take, the small ball approach, we are communicating,” said Schnepf, who

team lost 18-0 to PHS last Monday to move to 0-11 and will host the Blair Academy on April 26 before playing at the Pennington School on April 27.

“It is just the little things that might not be as noticeable as the doubles in the gaps or home runs. It is just working on the attention to detail, continuing to improve attitude, energy, and effort and just inspiring them to compete and wanting to be out here. They have responded well, there are a lot of changes for them too. They are doing a really good job, obviously we are taking our lumps early here. They are still in it. It is a tough start, we might be down but no means out.”

Vandal, for his part, believes the Panthers can start picking up some wins.

“It just comes down to seven innings of baseball, we play good stretches of baseball but it is that one inning when they put up a crooked number, it is going to be tough to come back,” said Vandal.

“When you’re get into that hole, it becomes harder and hard to see yourself coming back in the game. We have to keep the numbers straight ones or zeroes and then games will start to go our way.”

–Bill Alden

ON THE BALL: Princeton Day School baseball shortstop Ryan Vandal scoops up a grounder in recent action. Senior star Vandal has been a bright spot for PDS this spring. The Panthers, who fell 18-0 to Princeton High last Monday to move to 0-11, host the Blair Academy on April 26 before playing at the Pennington School on April 27. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Hun

Baseball: William Kraemer starred as Hun defeated Allentown High 7-3 last Monday. Sophomore infielder Kraemer went 3-for3 with one run and one RB to help the Raiders improve to 8-4. Hun plays at Seton Hall Prep on April 27 and at Blair Academy on April 29.

Softball : Sparked by Anna Murphy, Hun defeated the Blair Academy 7-0 last Saturday. Murphy went 2-for-4 with one run and two RBIs as the Raiders improved to 10-0. Hun hosts South Hunterdon on April 27, plays at Blair Academy on April 29, and then hosts WW/P-North on May 2.

Boys’ Lacrosse : Getting its attack on track, Hun defeated the Blair Academy 18-3 last Saturday. The Raiders, now 3-3, play at St. Augustine on April 26 and at Westtown School (Pa.) on April 29 before hosting Christian Brothers Academy in May 1.

Girls’ Lacrosse : Abby O’Brien had a huge game as Hun defeated Delaware Valley 17-6 last Saturday. Senior star O’Brien tallied five goals and four assists to help the Raiders move to 5-3. Hun hosts the Blair Academy on April 26 before playing at the Pennington School on April 28 and at the Pingry School on April 29, and at Hopewell Valley on May 1.

Lawrenceville

Baseball : Hugh Devine starred as Lawrenceville defeated Hill School (Pa.) 6-3 last Saturday. Devine had two hits and one RBI and got the win on the mound with four strikeouts in six innings as the Big Red moved to 5-6. Lawrenceville hosts the Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) on April 29 for a doubleheader on April. 29 and then plays at the Peddie School on May 2.

Boys’ Lacrosse : Continuing to dominate its foes, Lawrenceville defeated the

Salisbury School (Conn.)

17-7 last Saturday. The Big Red, now 11-0, play at LaSalle College High on April 28.

Girls’ Lacrosse : Led by Lexie Koch, Lawrenceville defeated the Blair Academy

18-9 last Saturday. Koch tallied six goals and one assist as the Big Red improved to 5-2. Lawrenceville plays at the Hill School (Pa.) on April 26 before hosting Princeton High on April 28 and the Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) on April 29.

PDS

Softball : Colleen Mayer went 2-for-3 in a losing cause as PDS fell 15-4 to Princeton High last Thursday. The Panthers, now 0-4, host Hopewell Valley on April 27, play at Lawrenceville on May 1, and then host the Peddie School on May 2.

Boys’ Lacrosse : Clicking at both ends of the field, second-seeded PDS defeated third-seeded Pennington School 12-6 in the semifinals of the Prep B state tournament last Monday. The Panthers, who improved to 6-2 with the win, play at the Peddie School on April 27 and then hosts Princeton High on April 29. In addition, PDS will be hosting fourth-seeded Gill St. Bernard’s in the Prep B final on May 1.

Girls’ Lacrosse : Tessa Caputo tallied four goals but it wasn’t enough as PDS fell 11-6 to Allentown last Thursday. The Panthers, who moved to 4-3 with the setback, were slated to start play in the Prep B state tournament on April 25 and then play at the Peddie School on April 26 and host Montgomery on April 29.

Boys’ Tennis : Heyang Li led the charge as PDS produced a superb performance last Monday in the opening day of action at the Mercer County Tournament. Li advanced to semifinals in first singles while Joshua Chu followed suit at second singles and the first doubles team of Oliver Silverio and Steven Lu also made it to the semis. The Panthers will

wrap up play in the MCT on April 26 and then play at the Pennington School on May 1 and and host Lenape High on May 2.

Baseball : Suffering its first defeat of the spring, Pennington fell 6-1 to North Hunterdon last Monday. Gavin Leeds knocked in the lone run for the Red Hawks, who moved to 10-1. Pennington hosts Princeton Day School on April 27 and then competes in the Delran High tournament on April 29.

Girls’ Lacrosse : Sparked by Hailey Adamsky, Pennington edged Academy of Saint Elizabeth 15-14 last Monday in the quarterfinals of the Prep B state tournament. Adamsky tallied four goals and two assists as the Red Hawks, who improved to 5-2. Pennington hosts the George School (Pa.) on April 26 and the Hun School on April 28 before playing at Stuart Country Day School on May 1. The Red Hawks will be competing in the Prep B semis on May 9.

Pennington PHS

Baseball : Sparked by a great performance from Alex Winters, PHS defeated Princeton Day School 18-0 last Monday. Winters went 4-for-4 with two homers and seven RBIs as the Tigers improved to 3-8. Princeton plays at Nottingham on April 27, competes in a tournament at Lawrence High on April 29, and then faces Ewing on May 1 at Waterfront Park.

DOUBLE FEATURE: Stuart Country Day School lacrosse stars, senior Emily Ix, left, and sophomore Allison Lee are all smiles as they celebrate both of them hitting the milestone of 100 career goals earlier this month. Last Friday, Lee tallied four goals and Ix added three as Stuart fell 9-7 to WW/P-South in moving to 2-6. The Tartans were slated to play at Morristown-Beard on April 25 in the Prep B state quarterfinals and then face Steinert on April 26 at Hamilton Veterans Park and host Pennington School on May 1.

Softball : Erin Pilicer pitched well in a losing cause as PHS fell 2-1 to Montgomery last Monday. Freshman Pilicer yielded just four hits for the Tigers, now 1-8. PHS hosts Ewing on May 1.

Boys’ Lacrosse : Patrick Kenah had a huge game as PHS defeated Hightstown 21-10 last Thursday. Junior star Kenah tallied seven goals and six assists to help the Tigers improve to 4-3. PHS plays at Allentown on April 27, at Princeton Day School on April 29, and at Monroe High on May 2.

Girls’ Golf : Madeleine Zhang led the way as PHS defeated WW/P-North 189211 last Monday. Zhang carded a match-best 38 in the nine-hole event as the Tigers improved to 4-0. The Tigers have matches at Hightstown on April 27 and at Robbinsville on May 1.

Boys’ Golf : Brooks Cahill-Sanidas starred as PHS won the Mercer County Tournament last Tuesday

JUDITH BUDWIG Sales Associate Cell: 609-933-7886 | Office: 609-921-2600 judith.budwig@foxroach.com

at the Mercer Oaks West course. Cahill-Sanidas fired a two-under 70 to tie for third individually while Wes Yonish carded a 72 in taking fifth. PHS tied Allentown for first in the team standings at 299 and then won the title with a lower score on the first playoff hole.

Boys’ Tennis : Advancing to the semifinals in all five flights, PHS got off to a stellar start last Monday in the opening rounds of the Mercer County Tournament. Jonathan Gu made it to the semis at first singles while Melvin Huang advanced at second singles and Garrett Mathewson moved on at third singles. The first doubles team of Nikita Medvedev and Shaan Zaveri also booked a spot in the semis along with the second doubles pair of Andrew Kuo and Aman Kapur. The Tigers will finish play in the MCT on April 26 at Mercer County Park and then host Robbinsville on May 2.

Local Sports

Princeton Post 218 Legion Baseball Has Evaluation Slated for April 30

The Princeton American Legion Post 218 baseball team is holding a player evaluation/workout on April 30 from 1-3 p.m. at Smoyer Field.

The program encourages all interested high school players from Princeton High, Princeton Day School, Hun School, and Notre Dame High or any players who live in the towns of Princeton and Cranbury to attend these two sessions. In addition, college freshman born in 2004 may also be eligible to play.

For more information on the program and to RSVP for the tryouts, one should contact Jon Durbin at jonwdurbin@gmail.com.

Benefits the expansion and modernization of the Institute of Bioskills Training and Innovation at Morristown Medical Center.

Tickets available at www.MansionInMay.org

Obituaries

Foote School. Moving back to Princeton in 1969, she was offered a position at Stuart Country Day School and following that at Princeton Day School, where she remained for 26 years until she retired in 1996. Throughout her years in Princeton, Molly enjoyed memberships at the Present Day Club and the Mount Holyoke Club of Princeton. After retiring from teaching, she worked for many years as a docent at the Princeton University Art Museum, where she continued her work with young children by providing tours of the museum’s collection to visiting students from the Trenton public school system.

Molly especially enjoyed her time in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where she spent every summer of her life from the age of 3. She loved the beach and swam in the ocean until she was 93. She was often found with a box of watercolors painting an ocean scene or looking through her binoculars at

birds and boats. She shared her passion for art, education, and nature with her children and grandchildren. Known as “Grandmolly” to her grandchildren, she was always overjoyed to spend time with them and claimed they rejuvenated her. She will be forever remembered and loved by all that knew her. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, and her two brothers, George Herbert Goodrich and Charles Lenfest Goodrich. She is survived by her children, Linda G. Houston (husband David) of Blodgett, Oregon; Wendy H. Brown (husband Keith) of Rowayton, Connecticut; and Scott G. Houston of Morristown, New Jersey; as well as three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

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Mary (Molly) Goodrich Houston, age 95, passed away on April 10, 2023.

Born December 6, 1927 in Charleston, West Virginia, she was the daughter of Edgar Jennings Goodrich and Beulah Lenfest Goodrich.

Molly grew up in Washington, D.C., where she attended the Sidwell Friends School. She was educated at Mount Vernon Seminary and later at Centinary Junior College. In 1949 she graduated from Mount

Holyoke College. That same year she married her beloved husband of 58 years, Benjamin Franklin Houston. They moved to Princeton, New Jersey, and raised three children there.

Molly had a lifelong career dedicated to teaching young children. She first taught at the University League Nursery School in Princeton. The family moved in 1959 to New Haven, Connecticut where she spent ten happy and creative years at the

Our

Joanne Epply-Schmidt, Assoc. Rector, 33 Mercer St. Princeton 609-924-2277 • www.trinityprinceton.org

Mary (Molly) Goodrich Houston

CHIMNEY AND FIREPLACE DEFECTS

Chimneys and fireplaces can develop defects over time, which can pose serious safety hazards if left unaddressed. Here are some common defects to watch out for:

1. Creosote buildup: Creosote is a highly flammable substance that can accumulate in the chimney over time. Regular cleaning and maintenance are necessary to prevent the risk of a chimney fire.

2. Damaged mortar: The mortar that holds the bricks or stones of a chimney or fireplace together can become cracked or damaged over time, allowing water to seep in and cause further damage.

3. Cracked flue tiles: The flue is the lining inside the chimney that helps direct smoke and gases out of the home. If the tiles become cracked or damaged, it can lead to dangerous carbon monoxide buildup.

4. Blocked chimneys: Chimneys can become blocked by debris, animal nests, or other materials, which can prevent smoke and gases from venting properly and cause dangerous buildup inside the home.

Regular inspection and maintenance of chimneys and fireplaces are crucial for preventing these and other defects. If you notice any issues with your chimney or fireplace, it is important to consult with a qualified professional to address them promptly and ensure the safety of your home and family.

OPEN HOUSE: SUNDAY 4/30, 12-3

CLINTON ON THE CANAL

A rare opportunity to own a George Michael construction luxury townhome that backs to the canal and towpath in the heart of downtown Lambertville. This luxury 12 year old three story townhouse is 2136 sq ft with two bedroom, two and a half bathroom with great natural light and with high-end finishes has hardwood floors throughout. As you enter the first floor you will come upon a spacious foyer with garage access. Past the foyer a bonus room that is currently set up as an office with recently installed radiant heated tile floors and a glass sliding door to the backyard with paver patio that overlooks the canal. The backyard is very private and sits above the canal and towpath. Up the stairs to the 9 ft ceiling main living level you will come upon a gracious landing with the kitchen and dining area to the left, a newly renovated half bathroom and a large living room with gas fireplace to the right. Off the living room you have a large composite deck with automatic retractable awning. The kitchen has maple wood cabinets with granite counters and a farmhouse sink. Upstairs you will find the laundry room, a linen closet and two bedrooms with their own full baths. THIS HOME IS NOT IN A FLOOD ZONE. $895,000

Exquisite Living in

Exquisite Living in Rumson

Exquisite Living in Rumson

Introducing 18 extraordinary new homes nestled in a premier the Navesink River. The breathtaking homes of Bingham Park are Colonial style offering open floorplans with elevators that make ————————

Introducing 18 extraordinary new homes nestled in a premier coastal community the Navesink River. The breathtaking homes of Bingham Park are designed in the timeless Colonial style offering open floorplans with elevators that make for an exceptional

Introducing 18 extraordinary new homes nestled in a premier coastal community just the Navesink River. The breathtaking homes of Bingham Park are designed in the timeless Colonial style offering open floorplans with elevators that make for an exceptional lifestyle.

MODEL GRAND OPENING

MODEL GRAND OPENING

Models Open: Thurs–Mon 10:30AM –4:30PM & Tues–Wed by Appointment Only.

Models Open: Thurs–Mon 10:30AM –4:30PM & Tues–Wed PRICED FROM $2,695,000

BinghamParkRumson.com • 132 Bingham Ave, Rumson, NJ Call Brenda from Brenda McIntyre Realty at 732.859.5622

COMMUNITIES

Introducing: Carter Road

Lawrence Township, NJ | $4,850,000

Susan A Cook: 609.577.9959 callawayhenderson.com/NJME2028508

Ewing Street

Princeton, NJ | $2,899,000

Susan L ‘Suzy’ DiMeglio: 609.915.5645 callawayhenderson.com/NJME2028932

Westcott Road

Princeton, NJ | $2,750,000

Sylmarie ‘Syl’ Trowbridge: 917.386.5880 callawayhenderson.com/NJME2028394

Oakridge Court

Princeton, NJ | $2,675,000

Maura Mills: 609.947.5757 callawayhenderson.com/NJME2027136

Introducing: Stony Brook Road

Hopewell Township, NJ | $2,250,000

Jane Henderson Kenyon: 609.828.1450 callawayhenderson.com/NJME2027646

Puritan Court

Princeton, NJ | $1,995,00

Jennifer E Curtis: 609.610.0809 callawayhenderson.com/NJME2028540

Introducing: Adams Drive

Princeton, NJ | $1,499,000

Denise L ‘Dee’ Shaughnessy: 609.575.2524 callawayhenderson.com/NJME2028828

Introducing: Governors Lane

Princeton, NJ | $1,200,000

Carolyn Spohn: 609.468.2145 callawayhenderson.com/NJME2029118

Nassau Street

Princeton, NJ | $930,000

Eleanor Deardorff, Kimberly A Rizk: 609.658.4999 callawayhenderson.com/NJME2025732

Newly Priced: Sked Street

Pennington Borough, NJ | $649,000

Jane Henderson Kenyon: 609.828.1450 callawayhenderson.com/NJME2027320

Introducing: South Franklin Street

Lambertville City, NJ | $645,000

Cynthia Shoemaker-Zerrer: 609.915.8399 callawayhenderson.com/NJHT2001870

Introducing: Route 518

Montgomery Township, NJ | $589,000

Maura Mills, Valerie Smith: 609.947.5757 callawayhenderson.com/NJSO2002196

609.921.1050 | 4 NASSAU STREET | PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY 08542