Town Topics Newspaper, May 8, 2024.

Triumph Brewing Company

To Reopen in June After Long Restoration of Former Post Office 5

Play by Princeton Graduate Tackles Questions About ‘Choice” 8

Princeton Boychoir Presents Season-Ending Performance 19

PU Men’s Lax Wins Ivy Tournament, Will Face Maryland in NCAA Opener 27

PHS Girls’ Golf Wins MCT, Advances to State Championships 31

Property in Jugtown Makes Preservation NJ List of Endangered Sites

With Princeton’s Historic Preservation Commission set to review a development application for the Joseph Hornor House at 344 Nassau Street next week, the recently announced inclusion of the property on Preservation New Jersey’s “10 Most Endangered Historic Places” list comes at an opportune moment for those opposed to the housing development proposed for the site.

“We are delighted that Preservation New Jersey has recognized the Joseph Hornor House at 344 Nassau Street to be an irreplaceable historic resource in New Jersey, and is in imminent danger of being lost,” said Catherine Knight, who lives in the Jugtown neighborhood where the property is located, and is active in efforts to prevent the development from being approved. “To allow a massive addition behind and partially on top of the single most important and pivotal building at the Jugtown crossroads will endanger the survival of the Jugtown Historic District.”

Selections for Preservation New Jersey’s annual listing of endangered properties are based on historic signi cance and architectural integrity, as well as “the critical nature of the threat identi ed, and the likelihood that inclusion on the list will have a positive impact on efforts to protect the resource,” according to a statement from the organization.

The Hornor House sits at the crossroads of Nassau and Harrison streets, which neighbors opposed to the development idea say is a gateway into town and a dangerously busy intersection. Princeton Council adopted an affordable housing overlay zone in 2020, addressing a mandate for the town to promote housing with 20 percent affordable units.

In the rst development proposal in Jugtown under the overlay zone, a proposed four-story, 20,000-square-foot addition of 15 apartments, including three affordable units, “would destroy part of the two-story Joseph Hornor House and build partially on top of it, overwhelming it physically and visually in con ict with the Historic Preservation Ordinance and National Park Service Guildelines for the Treatment of Historic Properties,” reads a statement from Save Historic Jugtown. “The addition as proposed would also overwhelm the historic Jugtown crossroads and set a negative precedent for future development in the

Gaza Protesters Meet with Administrators

The Princeton University Gaza Solidarity Encampment on Cannon Green behind Nassau Hall is approaching two weeks since its inception, and as of press time on Tuesday, May 7 the stand-off continues between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and University officials.

Protesters had scheduled a rally for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, followed by a town hall meeting at 7 p.m., with some speculation that a vote might be taken as to how much longer to continue the encampment.

A group of students and faculty representing the protesters met on Monday with University President Christopher L. Eisgruber, Graduate School Dean Rodney Priestley, and School of Public and International Affairs Dean Amaney Jamal to discuss the protesters’ demands that included complete divestment and dissociation from the U.S. military and the state of Israel, a severing of ties with Israeli academic and cultural institutions, and the dropping of charges against 13 students who were arrested a week ago for occupying the Clio Hall administration building.

Following the meeting, protesters reported that none of their demands had been met and that the encampment would continue, according to The Daily Princetonian student newspaper.

Fourteen of the undergraduate student protesters are continuing a hunger strike that began on Friday, May 3. University

Health Services Director of Medical Services Dr. Melissa Marks visited the group on Friday and Sunday to offer health information and ongoing medical support. Outside physicians are also monitoring the group, according to University Media Relations.

Princeton University Director of Media Relations Jennifer Morrill reported that the president and the deans listened to the protesters’ demands, and “President Eisgruber explained that at Princeton

divestment is rare and only considered as part of an orderly process that includes input from across the community.”

She continued, “He invited the protesters to engage in that process, which has led in recent years to divestment and dissociation from segments of the fossil fuel industry.”

Morrill also noted that University ofcials were receptive to the possibility of strengthened ties between Princeton and Palestinian institutions and the

HomeFront Diaper Challenge Nears Deadline, With ArtJam, Hunger Appeal Moving Forward

HomeFront’s annual Diaper Challenge, seeking to guarantee that low-income children in Mercer County have access to clean diapers, culminates on Mother’s Day, May 12, and the Central New Jerseybased nonpro t is hoping for a surge in contributions in the coming days.

HomeFront distributed 1,940,462 diapers and wipes last year, a 39 percent increase over the previous year’s total, and HomeFront Community Engagement Manager Gina Davis reports that the current drive has only reached about 125,000 of their 500,000 goal.

Every $1,000 donated to this year’s Diaper Challenge will result in more than 6,600 diapers provided free of charge to low-income Mercer County parents in need.

“We have always been committed to ensuring the cleanliness, happiness, and health of every baby in our community, but the need for family support has surged dramatically in recent years,” said HomeFront CEO Sarah Steward. “We are serving a record high number of families through our Choice Market in Lawrenceville, where parents visit to shop for groceries, fresh produce, period products, diapers, wipes, and other basic necessities.”

She continued, “Recent studies have shown that nearly one in two families has trouble affording the diapers they need. The unwavering support of our community through the Diaper Challenge allows us to consistently meet the growing demand.”

seemed to be few concessions on either side, and the future of the protest was uncertain.

CALM ON CANNON GREEN: It was quiet Tuesday afternoon at the Gaza Solidarity Encampment at Princeton University, but activity was expected to heat up later in the evening as protesters gathered for a rally and town hall meeting. The demonstrators engaged in talks with University President Christopher L. Eisgruber and other administrators on Monday, but there

(Photo by Donald Gilpin)

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TOWN TOPICS

Princeton’s Weekly Community Newspaper Since 1946

DONALD C. STUART, 1946-1981 DAN D. COYLE, 1946-1973 Founding Editors/Publishers

DONALD C. STUART III, Editor/Publisher, 1981-2001

LAURIE PELLICHERO Editor BILL ALDEN, Sports Editor

DONALD GILPIN, WENDY GREENBERG, ANNE LEVIN, STUART MITCHNER, NANCY PLUM,

The fourth annual Princeton Community Pride Picnic will take place on Friday, May 31, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Hinds Plaza. This kickoff to Pride Month in Princeton is for all ages, and will create a welcoming, safe space for everyone who attends. In the event of rain, the picnic will move inside the library.

“We are thrilled to support the Princeton Community Pride Picnic. We love how our library brings the town together, giving visibility to and celebrating our LGBTQIA+ neighbors,” said Mimi Omiecinski, owner of Princeton Tour Company and Gold Sponsor for the event. “This event embodies

the spirit of diversity and inclusion, and we are honored to be part of the celebration.”

The family-friendly event includes an array of entertainment and activities including performances by the Princeton School of Rock, drag performers, music with DJ Dana K of WPRB 103.3 FM, art-making, interactive art projects, a Makers and Zine Alley, games, giveaways, and more. The festivities will continue after the picnic at the Pride Dance Party, hosted by the Arts Council of Princeton, starting at 7:30 p.m.

Princeton Mayor Mark Freda and other local dignitaries will be present. More than a dozen nonprofit organizations from the area

will have informational tables set up. The Princeton Community Pride Picnic committee, led by Janie Hermann of Princeton Public Library, collaborates with various organizations including McCarter Theatre Center, the Municipality of Princeton, HiTOPS, and dedicated community volunteers to organize this special event.

The day begins with a Pride Month flag-raising ceremony from 12 to 1 p.m. at Monument Hall, 1 Monument Drive. For further details about the event, including a comprehensive list of participating groups and information on hosting a table at the event, visit princetonlibrary.org/ pridepicnic.

Topics In Brief A Community Bulletin

Land Stewards Sought : On Saturday, May 25 from either 10 a.m.-12 p.m. or 1-3 p.m., join Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS) for volunteer stewardship sessions. Under the guidance of the FOPOS stewardship staff, perform riparian and forest restoration, remove invasives, and plant native species to ready lands for summer. Registration required at Fopos.org/events-programs.

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

Nominations Sought : For the 2024 Annual New Jersey Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards, sponsored by the NJ Business Coalition. The deadline is June 1. Visit njbusinessimmigration.org/nominations.

Diaper Donations : The Maker’s Place in Trenton distributes diapers to mothers who cannot afford them. In honor of Mother’s Day, donate through the website makersplace.org.

Recycling Buckets Available : Mercer County Improvement Authority has announced that free buckets are available again for residents. In Princeton, buckets can be picked up at 27 North Harrison Street. Princetonnj.gov.

Princeton Pride Picnic Celebrates Diversity

COMMUNITY PRIDE: Now in its fourth year celebrating the diverse LGBTQ+ community, the Princeton Community Pride Picnic is on Friday, May 31 on Hinds Plaza.

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ALMOST READY: What used to be Princeton’s post office in Palmer Square has been transformed into the sleek new location of Triumph Brewing Company. Four separate architectural

were involved in the effort.

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Triumph Brewing Company to Reopen in June After Long Restoration of Former Post Office

The opening of Triumph Brewing Company, relocated from Nassau Street to the former post office at Palmer Square, has been scheduled for mid-to-late June. A report on the long-awaited project was the focus of a Zoom “meetup” held last Thursday by the nonprofit Experience Princeton. Kevin Wilkes of Princeton

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Design Guild, one of four architectural firms involved in the project, said that it has taken so long — 39 months of extensive restorations, rebuilding, and rehabilitation — due to years of federal maintenance neglect.

New York, which spent two weeks touching it up, cleaning it, and regluing it to the wall. It is now illuminated by special lighting.

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The 90-year-old building has been transformed in an adaptive reuse project that involved restoration of some parts of the former post office, and a complete redesign of others. The entire building was gutted and all systems were replaced to house the restaurant’s dining rooms, bars, and brewery equipment. The budget for the project was not mentioned in the presentation.

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Triumph’s former location at 138 Nassau Street closed during the pandemic.

Giddings Associates served as lead architect on the project. Richardson Smith Architects was interior architect, Annabelle Radcliffe-Trenner was historic preservation architect, and Princeton Design Guild served as the owner’s representative, doing all of the restoration millwork and new millwork for the project. “We organized as a team,” Wilkes said of the collaborative effort. “We got it done.”

A second dining room on the Chambers Walk side of the building can be closed off and used for private dining and events. In the center of the building, “you never saw this truly magnificent mail sorting room,” Wilkes said. “It is a two-story space that was lit by skylights on top and high clerestory windows. Here is where carriers would sort the mail. It was lit brilliantly by daylight. We removed the asbestos flooring, and had a tremendous amount of remediation to do.”

The area now serves as the main lounge for the

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Damage to the building included water penetration, cracked walls, and leaks. “We set out to repair all of this,” Wilkes said. “Paneling had suffered years of bashing from briefcases and keys as you leaned in at the windows. All the gold lettering had disappeared. We set out to take all of those damaged parts out for restoration work. We completely restored all the woodwork and repaired the glass clerestory windows. Everything in the lobby, which is now the main dining room, is original, except for the barrel work.”

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

The historic mural in the lobby, which is owned by the federal government, is on loan from the United States Postal Service and was restored by a firm from

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Triumph

Continued from Preceding Page restaurant, and all of the dining rooms wrap around it. A main bar of solid walnut anchors the Palmer Square East entry point.

“It’s a space to have cocktails and snacks,” Wilkes said. “It’s not set up for dinners, but more of a place to relax. The clerestory windows are all there. The skylights were removed, and the windows were lined with acoustic absorption material. That was a problem in the original location, and we wanted to correct it.”

The basement was gutted and dug eight inches deeper, allowing for more headroom and the ability to bury the mechanical systems, as well as the brewery tanks. “It was very complicated to get this into the building,” Wilkes said, acknowledging Princeton’s municipal staff for their assistance when digging was necessary.

There is a downstairs bar, “with completely different character,” Wilkes said. “It’s a rathskeller-type bar, and will be open late hours.”

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“What is the best advice your mother ever gave you?”

(Asked in honor of Mother’s Day at Terhune Orchards’ Kite Day on Saturday) (Photos by Sarah Teo)

The main entry to the building is where the post office loading dock used to be. The sidewalk now connects, where it did not in the past.

Before Wilkes’ presentation, Eric Nutt of Triumph said he is constantly asked when the Palmer Square location will open. “My answer is that we’re ahead of schedule,” he said. “We’re doing things now like hiring and training and making the final menu preparations, plus installing computer systems and overhead music. To be honest, with a project of this magnitude, we really don’t want to open until it’s ready. We are hopeful, and we look forward to getting back into Princeton after three years. We’re just putting on the finishing touches. Now the hard work for us begins.”

—Anne Levin

Camp Out Event At Rosedale Park

The Mercer County Park Commission’s Come Out and Play Camp Out is scheduled for Saturday, June 1 to Sunday, June 2 (with rain date June 8-9). Families and individuals will be able to spend the night in the park.

Families and individuals will be able to spend the night in the park, with activities planned to provide a welcoming environment for first-time campers and seasoned outdoor enthusiasts alike. Naturalist-led fishing, stargazing, and night hikes are planned along with camp songs, roasting hot dogs and s’mores by the campfire, a continental breakfast the next morning, and an earlybird walk or family craft before heading home.

The cost for Mercer C ounty residents is $15 per person; out-of-county residents pay $25 per person. For registration information, visit natureprograms@mercercounty.org or call (609) 888-3218.

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“Care for everything that you do, and everyone; and prioritize your morals and your values first.”

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“My mother encouraged me to respect that women are generally better and stronger than men!” Joan Nigen, Hollywood, Fla.

Mansi: “My mom always told me have your own career, your own bank account, and your own money, even when you get married, so if anything happens you can still take care of yourself and your kids.”

Mansi Kapadia, center, with Sahil and Ariyan Kapadia, Jersey City

Tanvi: “It’s OK to make mistakes because you learn from them, you should be yourself, and always keep trying. Also, it’s important to be independent and keep learning, because you’re always a student no matter your age.”

Tanvi Udayashankar, left, and Preeti Pradeep, Dayton

Choice

Written by Winnie Holzman Princeton University class of 1974

Directed by Sarah Rasmussen

May 8 - June 2

Playwright Winnie Holzman brings her trademark wit and ability to weave social issues into compelling, relatable stories as she explores one of the most polarizing subjects of our time through a refreshingly humorous and profoundly human lens

Live at the Library: The Power of CHOICE

Tue, May 21 at 7:00PM

Winnie Holzman, writer of the hit musical WICKED and the TV sensation My So-Called Life shares the inspiration behind her new play "CHOICE" FREE at the Princeton Public Library

Voice and the Violin

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Ilana Levine as Ziporah "Zippy" Zunder in Choice. (photo by Roy Matusek)

New Play by Princeton Graduate Tackles Questions about “Choice”

In the nine years since the first staging of Winnie Holzman’s play Choice and the production that opened this week at McCarter Theatre, the issues the play examines, especially a woman’s right to choose, have changed — to say the least.

So Holzman, a successful dramatist for theater ( Wicked ), television ( thirtysomething, Once and Again, My So-Called Life ) and film (two soon-to-be-released adaptations of Wicked ), has made some tweaks to the play. The comedy runs through June 2 at McCarter’s Berlind Theatre.

“It was done in Boston at the Huntington [Theater Company] and I’m very grateful to have had that production. It taught me a lot,” Holzman said during a phone interview this week. “But the pandemic happened, and Roe v. Wade fell. The play now takes place during the shutdown. I have rewritten it a lot, but it has the same characters and the same ideas. I felt there was a lot to address that is new.”

A 1976 graduate of Princeton University, Holzman started ruminating about the issues that would lead to Choice about 16 years ago, when she was in between projects. Why, she wondered, had nobody written a play about the subject already? She posed the question to her daughter, then a recent college graduate and now a writer herself.

“We talked a lot about this stuff,” Holzman said. “I said,

‘I wish there would be a play about abortion that was not like a polemic, but just an exploration of the subject in a human way.’ My daughter said, ‘Mom, if you didn’t write that play, who would?’ So I thought about it. But I was worried. There was so much political heat. It was being used as a political football. I think history has shown that I had a point.”

Female friendship is another key theme of the play. The central character, played by actor Ilana Levine, is “a wife to an aging husband, a mother to an aimless daughter, best friend to the acerbically witty Erica, and accomplished writer on the cusp of breaking the story of her career — a story that is forcing her to reexamine the choices that have shaped a lifetime,” reads a description on the McCarter website. Holzman is married to actor Paul Dooley, who is more than two decades her senior. But the play is not specifically autobiographical.

“There are aspects of my life in there for sure, but there is a lot I made up. A lot,” Holzman said. “So please make that clear. There are things that are echoes of my life. I have a husband and daughter, like her, but it’s very much made up. There are always aspects of my life in everything I write, even Wicked . But this play is more emotionally than factually autobiographical.”

Once she decided to write the play, Holzman knew she wanted to approach the subject in a personal way.

“I wanted it to have humor, because humor is a natural part of my life and everyone I know,” she said. “It’s a big subject, but I wanted people to feel comfortable and enjoy themselves. I wanted a play that would encompass all those things. I came as close as I could.”

The Wicked movies, which star Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, have wrapped, but Holzman still has some work to do on them before they are released. She is also involved in something for television, “which I can’t reveal,” she said. “It’s a new idea, and I don’t know if I’ll actually get to do it. I’m hopeful. I would like to do another TV show.”

Spending time in the town of her alma mater has been a pleasure for Holzman, who has fond memories of her time at Princeton. She studied creative writing, wrote a lot of poetry, and acted in several productions at the on-campus group Theatre

Intime. After college, Holzman worked in sketch comedy in New York City, and enrolled in New York University’s Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program before beginning her TV writing career with thirtysomething “It’s wonderful to be back in Princeton,” she said. “I did a lot of student theater at Princeton. A lot of my youthful theater activities were formed there and led to my career. I didn’t really think I was going to get another production of the play. And to get into McCarter is an amazing opportunity. It’s a wonderful place to work. Sarah [Rasmussen, McCarter’s artistic director and the director of Choice ] is doing an amazing job, and it is staffed by fantastic people. The memories come back to me of being in that town. Things have changed, but there are things that will never change. Princeton is Princeton.”

On May 21 at 7 p.m., Holzman, Rasmussen, members of the play’s cast and Princeton theater professor Stacy Wolf will take part in a McCarter “Live at the Library” discussion in Princeton Public Library’s Newsroom. The focus will be Holzman’s inspiration for the play.

“It’s about the choices we make in our lives. Its not only about a woman’s right to choose,” she said. “It’s about other life choices too, and not just for women.”

—Anne Levin

IS ON

Hillier Among Leaders To Be Honored May 14

Princeton-based architect

J. Robert Hillier (a Town Topics shareholder) will be honored as one of the fi rst group of New Jersey “INNOVATE 100” leaders from across the state at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center on May 14.

Spearheaded by James Barrood and Innovation+, the inaugural initiative is designed “to highlight and elevate the state’s finest innovation leaders and to showcase collaboration within companies and among organizations,” reads a press release on the honor.

“It is only through sustained and visionary leadership that innovation can thrive in both good times and bad. That is why we didn’t simply honor CEOs, presidents, and heads, but also their colleagues who drive innovation throughout companies and organizations,” said Barrood. “We’ve also elevated the community leaders in our great state. They are the catalysts who make things happen. In addition, we’ve highlighted ‘Innovators to Watch,’ who represent the next generation of amazing leaders.”

Hillier, of Studio Hillier, is named as an entrepreneur under the category of architecture. Other honorees in that designation include Joe Furey and Robert Blaser of Michael Graves.

Categories for those honored include technology, academia, finance/accounting, healthcare, banking, food, life sciences, real estate, manufacturing, government, marketing, energy, and legal services, among others. Kelly Ryman of McCarter Theatre Center, State Sen. Andrew

Zwicker, and Chao Yan and Xiaofang Yang of Princeton NuEnergy are among additional honorees from the local area.

Cherry Grove Farm Wins Good Food Award Cherry Grove Farm has announced that their own American original, Trilby, has been honored as a 2024 Good Foods Awards winner.

The Good Food Awards are key in the industry for not only recognizing taste, but also the sustainability and stewardship of their winners.

Cherry Grove is a dairy farm and creamery situated on 480 acres in Lawrenceville, making farmstead cheeses from its grass-fed raw cows’ milk. The cheeses are made in small batches and aged on the farm, with attention paid to the craft of cheesemaking from seasonal milk. Each piece reflects the distinct flavors, aromas and seasonal variations of the land.

The farm practices intensive rotational grazing and harvest most of its own hay in the summer. Cherry Grove operates with lowinput on its land, and rests its cows (and people) during the winter months. Farm milk is crafted into a variety of cheeses striving to harness the best flavor possible from its pastures.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Good Food Awards for recognizing the hard work of our holistic grass-based farming and the skillful craftsmanship that goes into making Trilby,” said owner Oliver Hamill. “We see this award as an honored recognition of our team, our land, our cows, and the exceptional cheese we can yield from a sustainable collaboration.”

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COZZE ARRAGANATE

ANTIPASTI

Puglia, the heart of the Mediterranean, was the cradle of numerous ancient civilizations and today is the custodian of their countless testimonies scattered throughout the regional territory Region of Southern Italy (as well as being the easternmost of the Peninsula), Puglia borders Molise to the North-West, Campania and Basilicata to the West It is bathed by the Adriatic Sea to the East and North and by the Ionian Sea to the South The territory is mostly flat (the Tavoliere delle Puglie, which represents the largest plain in Italy after the Po Valley), except for the hilly and mountainous areas of the Murgia and the Salento greenhouses Bari, Lecce, Otranto are some of the beautiful cities

Puglia, the heart of the Mediterranean, was the cradle of numerous ancient civilizations and today is the custodian of their countless testimonies scattered throughout the regional territory Region of Southern Italy (as well as being the easternmost of the Peninsula), Puglia borders Molise to the North-West, Campania and Basilicata to the West It is bathed by the Adriatic Sea to the East and North and by the Ionian Sea to the South The territory is mostly flat (the Tavoliere delle Puglie, which represents the largest plain in Italy after the Po Valley), except for the hilly and mountainous areas of the Murgia and the Salento greenhouses Bari, Lecce, Otranto are some of the beautiful cities

Mussels baked with bread crumbs seasoned with parsley, garlic, Tomatoes sauce and wine

ANTIPASTI

SOUP WALNUT SOUP

Mussels baked with bread crumbs seasoned with parsley, garlic, Tomatoes sauce and wine

ROTOLO DI MELANZANE

COZZE ARRAGANATE

COZZE ARRAGANATE

ROTOLO DI MELANZANE

$ 18

$ 18

Garlic, anchovies, and extra-virgin olive oil these three ingredients meld harmoniously to create a potent, umami-rich dipping sauce. Bagna càuda, which literally means “hot bath,” dates back to the Middle Ages, born in Piedmont from local peasants who cooked together and shared meals as a way to ward off the winter cold.

$ 18

$ 18

$ 12

$ 18

A velvety soup made with walnuts, milk, and cream served with Focaccia Crostini

$ 18

Roasted eggplants rolled with mozzarella, tomatoes, and parmesan cheese

Mussels baked with bread crumbs seasoned with parsley, garlic, Tomatoes sauce and wine

Mussels baked with bread crumbs seasoned with parsley, garlic, Tomatoes sauce and wine

MAIN

ROTOLO DI MELANZANE

ANTIPASTI

TAGLIATELLE AI FUNGHI

A mix of Mushroom (porcini, crimini, and shitake )sauce

AGNOLOTTI DEL PLIM

COZZE ARRAGANATE

Roasted eggplants rolled with mozzarella, tomatoes, and parmesan cheese

Octopus with potatoes, carrots lemon vinaigrette served on stracciatella cheese

Agnolotti filled with pork, beef, veal meat, and spinach

Served with braised vegetable sauce

Octopus with potatoes, carrots lemon vinaigrette

$ 18

ROTOLO DI MELANZANE $ 18 Roasted eggplants rolled with mozzarella, tomatoes, and parmesan cheese

Roasted eggplants rolled with mozzarella, tomatoes, and parmesan cheese SALAD OCTOPUS SALAD

Orecchiette with Broccoli floret, olives, and sundried tomatoes

DESSERT BUNET

Chocolate with amaretti budino

ROTOLO DI MELANZANE

ALLE CIME DI RAPA

$ 24

$ 25

$ 18

$ 20

20 Octopus with potatoes, carrots lemon vinaigrette served on stracciatella cheese

Very spicy crunchy spaghetti with tomato sauce cooked directly in The fried pan

Fresh Orecchiette with Broccoli floret, olives, and sundried tomatoes

Mussels baked with bread crumbs seasoned with parsley, garlic, Tomatoes sauce and wine

$ 25

SPAGHETTI ALL’ASSASSINA

SALAD

$ 15

$ 18

Roasted eggplants rolled with mozzarella, tomatoes, and parmesan cheese

Very spicy crunchy spaghetti with tomato sauce cooked directly in The fried pan

OCTOPUS SALAD

crunchy spaghetti with tomato sauce cooked directly in The fried pan DESSERT

cake filled with pastry cream

PASTICCIOTTO

PASTICCIOTTO

Shortbread cake filled with pastry cream

ORECCHIETTE ALLE CIME DI RAPA

$ 20

Roasted eggplants rolled with mozzarella, tomatoes, and parmesan cheese

$ 20

Octopus with potatoes, carrots lemon vinaigrette served on stracciatella cheese MAIN

$ 15

$ 15

Shortbread cake filled with pastry cream CALL FOR RESERVATION 640-867-4783 ONLY FRIDAY 05/10/2024

CALL FOR RESERVATION 640-867-4783 ONLY FRIDAY 05/10/2024

Fresh Orecchiette with Broccoli floret, olives, and sundried tomatoes

SPAGHETTI ALL’ASSASSINA

Very spicy crunchy spaghetti with tomato sauce cooked directly in The fried pan

$ 25

$ 20

Come taste authentic Italian Pasta dishes

Winnie Holzman

continued from page one establishment of an affinity space on campus for Palestinian students.

She added, “President Eisgruber noted to protesters the need for accountability for isolated incidents in which University rules and laws were broken, such as the brief takeover of Clio Hall on April 29.”

Eisgruber stated, as quoted by Morrill, “I hope the protesters will look for common ground. They are a part of this community and we want to find ways to move forward together.”

In a follow-up May 7 message concerning “recent events and the path ahead,” Eisgruber wrote, “Some people believe we are tolerating too much protest on the campus and some that we are not tolerating enough. Never have I seen our campus more riven with passionate disagreements that encompass the war in Gaza as well as issues about Princeton itself.”

Eisgruber stated that he had heard a wide range of views and concerns about the protest from many students, staff, and faculty members, including support for the protesters as well as concerns over “antisemitic language and behavior that should have no place at Princeton.”

He added, “Finding a path forward will require that we respect all of these perspectives. That will not be easy.”

At Cannon Green early in the afternoon of May 7, about 20 people scattered over the large area were sitting in the sunshine or shade and talking or reading or working on laptops. Some were eating

lunch. Others appeared to be studying or working on papers.

Tuesday was Dean’s Day, the University’s deadline for all written work to be submitted. Exams take place later this week and next followed by reunions May 23-26 and graduation on May 28.

About 10 University Department of Public Safety security guards, one on the steps of Clio Hall, stood calmly around the perimeter of the green. The Princetonian has reported a drop-off in numbers of active protesters in recent days.

The idyllic setting undoubtedly became more congested, spirited, and noisy later in the day with the scheduled late afternoon rally and evening town hall meeting.

The future of the Gaza Solidarity Encampment remains uncertain. In his May 7 message Eisgruber refl ected, “I hope that all of us will fi nd the courage to listen carefully even to those with whom we disagree most.”

He added that he had told the protesters that “we can consider their concerns through appropriate processes that respect the interests of multiple parties and viewpoints, but we cannot allow any group to circumvent those processes or exert special leverage. I hope we can reach a resolution that respects that principle and allows us all to move forward. In the meantime, I ask for your compassion toward those around you, and your help to build bridges across campus differences and to heal the ruptures we now confront.”

—Donald Gilpin

Stoutsburg Sourland Museum

Holds Juneteenth Celebration

The Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (SSAAM), Central New Jersey’s only museum sharing the history of African Americans since the trans-Atlantic slave trade, will hold its third annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 15, from 12 to 4 p.m., rain or shine.

This family-friendly event will take place at the National Historic Register-listed Mt. Zion AME Church and historic True Farmstead in Skillman. Live gospel music, original performances, games for kids, and cuisine (including vegan options), are on the schedule.

“If you attended SSAAM’s Juneteenth event last year, you’ll certainly recall how amazing it was to celebrate this holiday of African American freedom from enslavement on the grounds of the historically African American-owned True Farmstead,” said SSAAM Executive Director Donnetta Johnson.

The True Farmstead was originally owned by William Reasoner, a Black Civil War veteran. His widow Corinda later married Spencer True, a descendant of an enslaved man named Friday Truehart. In 1780, at age 13, Friday Truehart was taken from his mother Dinah in Charleston and brought to New Jersey by his enslaver, the pastor of the Hopewell Old School Baptist Church. He gained his freedom in 1802, at the age of 35. In the early 1800s, more than 12,000 enslaved people like Truehart lived and labored

in New Jersey. SSAAM cofounder Beverly Mills and board member Patricia True Payne are two of his direct descendants.

“I can’t help but appreciate the importance of recognizing and honoring the suffering, sacrifice, and triumph of those enslaved African men, women, and children whose skills, expertise and labor built the wealth of this region and indeed this country,” said Johnson. “It is outstanding that we get to celebrate Jubilee or Juneteenth, a day

commemorating freedom, on the very grounds where the Reasoner and True families most certainly appreciated what it meant to be free from bondage as African American landowners in the Sourland region.”

Free shuttle buses will run from the Montgomery High School parking lot to and from the event at SSAAM every 15 minutes, from 11:45 a.m. through 3:15 p.m. Limited parking will be available at the True Farmstead for the handicapped, those with limited mobility,

event vendors, and performers. All others should take the shuttle buses. For more information on how to sponsor SSAAM’s Juneteenth “Freedom Forward,” secure a vendor table, and purchase tickets, visit ssaamuseum.org/ Juneteenth-2024.

GENEROSITY FROM JAZAMS: Princeton Public Library recently received a check for $7,686.63 representing a portion of the proceeds from the 2023 Princeton Children’s Book Festival donated by event sponsor jaZams book and toy store. Library Executive Director Jennifer Podolsky, Head of Youth Services Susan Conlon, and library staff accepted the check from store owners

Joanne Farrugia and Dean Smith. From left are Podolsky; Lori Maffei, library associate; Dean Smith, JaZams co-owner; Susan Conlon, head of Youth Services; Joanne Farrugia, JaZams coowner; Katie Bruce, Amanda Chuong, and Mimi Bowlin, Youth Services librarians; and Yllari Briceño, Youth Services associate. The 2024 Princeton Children’s Book Festival is on Saturday, October 5.

Seedlings Distributed At Montgomery Event

In a continuation of programming focused on the local environment for the start of spring, Montgomery Shade Tree Committee distributed over 200 tree seedlings during the Arbor Day Tree Festival on Saturday, April 27. Volunteers also explained how to properly plant and nourish the seedlings into strong, healthy trees.

“Each time we plant a new seedling, we can breathe a little easier because of the work that one tree does to improve air quality,” said Mayor Neena Singh. “There are so many benefits to a healthy tree canopy, including the ability to soak up thousands of gallons of water and reduce flooding.”

The township enacted a

new tree preservation ordinance the previous week that is aligned with mandates from the state regarding a stormwater resiliency strategy. The committee members and local volunteers have already initiated education and awareness events, with more scheduled to help inform all residents and businesses of the new guidelines.

“Montgomery’s Shade Tree Committee works hard to promote our local ecosystem every spring in the community,” said Chair Larry Koplik. “Earlier this month, we distributed over 300 Overcup Oak seedlings to third graders at the Village School. We distributed the remainder of the oak seedlings at the Arbor Day Festival at the municipal center on April 27, plus a number of redbud seedlings.”

School Matters

PHS Studio Vocals, Studio Band Take State Championships

Princeton Studio Vocals and the Princeton Studio Band both recently won state championships from the New Jersey Association for Jazz Education. It was the seventh New Jersey State Championship for Princeton High School’s (PHS) studio band and the third N.J. State Championship for the PHS studio vocals.

In addition to placing first, Princeton Studio Vocals also won awards for best alto section, best tenor section, and best rhythm section. Samuel Lee won the outstanding instrumental soloist award, and Vivian Clayton and Syra Bhatt received outstanding vocal soloist awards. Sebastian Bongiovi was awarded a vocal soloist honorable mention.

Along with its championship honors, the Princeton Studio Band also won the Best Trumpet Section award and the Best Sight Reading award — the first band ever to achieve a perfect score in sight reading.

The Princeton Jazz Ensemble placed fourth in this year’s competition with Peter Eaton receiving an outstanding soloist award and Lucas Comesana and Andrew Wakefield both receiving honorable mention soloists’ awards.

PHS Research Team Wins Samsung National Grand Prize

Princeton High School has been chosen as one of three National Grand Prize Winners in the 14th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Competition.

Selected from 10 national finalists, the 2023-24 PHS research team has brought home a prize package worth $100,000. It is the third time the PHS research team has entered the Samsung competition and the second time they have won the National Grand Prize — the only school in the country to have won this national award twice.

Representing the team in the April 29 Washington, D.C., finals, PHS students Mayda Jiguan, Sofia Son, and Hayah Mian presented their project to a panel of judges.

As a STEM solution to address a pressing local issue and create positive change within their community, the PHS team developed an AI-powered robotic stuffed animal that is learning to speak Mam, a Mayan language that is spoken in parts of western Guatemala, Mexico, and across the United States and by a small population of PHS students.

“The aim of this project is to preserve the use of indigenous languages, many of which are on the decline,” said PHS science teacher Mark Eastburn, who has been the driving force behind the project, with assistance from his colleagues Jacqueline Katz, Jennifer Smolyn, and James Smirk.

“With support from Mam speakers in Morristown, we plan to continue training the platform to understand a wider variety of speakers in a diverse set of contexts and eventually market the final product as a patient and engaging conversation partner that can also teach skills in digital literacy,” Eastburn added.

Odyssey of the Mind Champions

Two teams of Princeton Junior School (PJS) fifth graders have been crowned Odyssey of the Mind State Champions and have qualified to compete in the worldwide Odyssey of the Mind finals at Iowa State University, May 21-24.

More than 625 elementary, middle, and high school students on teams from 89 schools from across the state competed in the April 13 contest at Carteret High School. Odyssey of the Mind, which includes engineering and the arts and highlights student-led creativity, is the oldest and largest problem-solving contest in the country.

Students from 30 other New Jersey schools have qualified to compete in the worldwide finals, alongside the two PJS teams, which placed first in the Problem 1 “Drive in Movie” and Problem 2 “AI Tech-No-Art” categories at Carteret.

The PJS Problem 2 team also won the John Huster “350” Perfect Score Award for earning the top score in all three scoring categories.

“These students have dedicated countless hours of hard work in school and at home since beginning the process back in October,” said PJS math and STEM coordinator Zach Floyd. “They have taught themselves new skills and created an environment that is supportive and encourages risk-taking. Their teamwork and commitment are truly impressive.”

Local Teens Raise Money to Fight Cancer

Ninth grader Jayen Shah and 11th grader Ryaan Shah, Pennington School leaders of the Healing Hawks philanthropic team, raised close to $25,000 in seven weeks for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS).

Competing as Student Visionaries of the Year, seeking to make an impact in the fight against cancer, the team of friends from the Princeton Charter School, the Peddie School, and Pennington also included Elliot Sciaraffo, Sawyer Cohen, Milan Shah, Leo Momo, and Shaan Rath.

The students’ fundraising initiatives included email and social media appeals, community outreach, and “Dine-and-Donates” at Teresa’s Cafe and Nomad Pizza in Princeton, which donated a percentage of proceeds to the campaign. The Nomad event included musical performances by students and their music teacher Dan Johnson.

Various teams from across the South Jersey region raised a total of $658,982 for LLS, whose mission is to cure blood and bone marrow malignancies, including leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma, while improving the quality of life of patients and their families.

Pennington Students Rank Nationally in Le Grand Concours

Several Pennington School students have received high rankings in the 89th annual Le Grand Concours, a national competition sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French.

Eleventh grader Layten Hoffman won a gold medal, scoring in the 95th percentile and ranking sixth in the nation for the Level 1 contest. Eighth grader Alejandro Luna (Level 1) and 10th grader Cecelia Embleton (Level 4) received silver medals for finishing in the 85-94th percentiles; and 11th grader Axel Sandin Orea (Level 4) and eleventh grader Liam Baigun (Level 5) received bronze medals for finishing in the 75-84th percentiles.

Earning honorable mentions for their scores in the 50th through 74th percentiles were Phineas Choe, Isabella Jiang, Vivaan Ravindran, Neve Sirois, Katie Dwyer, Angelyn Li, Maria Garcia Rodriguez, Alexandra Rogankov, Xiaona “Jenny” Zhu, Moynag “Eliza” Zou, Shreya Mookherjee, Mykaela Sanders, and Sophia Murphy.

Nearly 45,000 students competed in the 2024 Le Grand Concours event.

Riverside Student Wins Poetry Award

Naina Connors, a fifth grader at Riverside Elementary School, recently won second prize in the Cricket Magazine writing competition.

Each entrant was asked to submit an original poem about friends, with the best entries being published in the magazine’s May/June 2024 issue and on the Cricket Magazine website at cricketmagkids.com/contests.

Cricket, which, according to an April 25 press release, “features the best short stories, poems, and articles by the world’s finest children’s authors and is illustrated by the best artists from here and abroad,” sponsors a different writing or art competition in each issue, with entries coming in from all over the world.

SPRING SEEDLINGS: Members of Montgomery Youth Leadership Council posed with Montgomery Shade Tree Committee Chair Larry Koplik, fourth from left, and Mayor Neena Singh, fifth from left, at the Montgomery Arbor Day Festival April 27.

HELPING TO STOCK THE PANTRY: The board of the Princeton Mobile Food Pantry, which has secured a grant from the Food Security Access Fund.

Mobile Food Pantry Gets $25,000 Grant

The Princeton Mobile Food Pantry (PMFP), a 501c3 feeding more than 1,100 food-insecure neighbors on a bimonthly basis in Princeton, is the recipient of a $25,000 Capacity Building Support grant from the Food Security Access Fund. The grant provides financial assistance for organizations and coalitions to expand the research, data and evaluation projects that identify new paths to end food insecurity.

“This is a great honor for the Princeton Mobile Food Pantry,” said Liliana Morenilla, founder of PMFP. “Our team is so grateful to the Food Security Access Fund and The Tepper Foundation for their support and recognition.”

The Food Security Access

Fund recently announced 16 recipients of their new fund to address growing levels of food insecurity throughout the state, led by The Tepper Foundation and created in collaboration with the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate. This first-of-its-kind initiative in New Jersey is funded by The Tepper Foundation, the Community Foundation of New Jersey, Novo Nordisk, The Taub Foundation, the Grotta Fund for Older Adults, The Campbell’s Foundation, The O’Toole Family Foundation, and The Schumann Fund for NJ.

The federal government grants millions of dollars each year towards food and nutrition. However, due to staff capacity and other limitations, many nonprofits don’t apply for or are unsuccessful in pursuing these and other public funds.

The Food Security Access Fund launched in 2023 to strengthen the food security system in New Jersey with a unique approach: bring together private philanthropies and New Jersey state agencies via a partnership with New Jersey’s Office of the Food Security Advocate (OFSA) to help nonprofit organizations build capacity and secure more preexisting public grant opportunities.

This program comes as New Jersey faces growing levels of food insecurity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was reported that the cost of groceries increased 13.1 percent between July 2021 and 2022 –the fastest annual pace since 1979. The number of people without enough food over one seven-day period spiked by 89 percent throughout the state.

“The Tepper Foundation has long been committed to addressing food insecurity in New Jersey. We created this collaborative fund to bring together the philanthropic community to address a challenge many local nonprofits face: accessing grants that could make a real difference for New Jersey communities,” said Randi Tepper, CEO of The Tepper Foundation. “We’re excited to see these organizations receive additional support tapping into federal dollars, helping strengthen New Jersey’s nonprofit sector and improving food security in our state.”

County Bike Drive Collects 150+ Bikes

On the unseasonably cold afternoon of April 13, Mercer County’s Park Commission and Planning Department hosted their fourth annual Bike Drive for the benefit of the Mercer County Bike Exchange (BEX) and Boys & Girls Club (BGC). Over 150 bikes were contributed by donors from all over the county and surrounding area.

BEX is a volunteer-run organization whose primary objective is to raise funds that support after-school programs at the Mercer County BGC. The nonprofit repairs donated bicycles and sells them at modest prices from its Ewing location at Capitol Plaza on Olden Avenue, promoting biking for transportation and pleasure.

“The annual bike drive is a wonderful example of county government partnering with nonprofits to give back to our community,” said Mercer County Executive Dan Benson. “I’m

grateful to all of the volunteers who made this event a tremendous success, and to all of the generous residents who donated their bikes for a good cause.”

According to Ira Saltiel, the BEX volunteer director, 50 volunteers support the organization by working in sales, repairing, picking up, and delivering bikes. Volunteers manage the BEX social media and Craigslist postings. Others harvest parts off bikes that are beyond repair.

Since 2009, the Bike Exchange has sold approximately 27,000 bikes, raising $1.6 million dollars for the BGC. During the past several years, they have also donated approximately 300 free bikes annually to youth in Trenton and other urban areas throughout New Jersey. Interested BGC teens get training in bike repairs.

Some of the teens who are learning how to rehabilitate bikes volunteered their time at the Bike Drive by helping donors unload bikes from their vehicles, handing out informational materials, and loading donated bikes onto Bike Exchange trailers at the end of the day.

“Over 15 BEX volunteers and four interns from the Boys & Girls Club helped with the Mercer County bike drive this year,” said Saltiel. “The quality of the bikes this year was amazing and the 150 bikes donated will result in over $18,000 in sales, all going directly to the Boys and Girls Club. It was a hugely successful event.”

Regional Chamber Hosts Healthcare Symposium “Minding Your Mind: The Intersectionality of Nutrition and Mental Health” is

the title of the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber’s Regional Healthcare Symposium taking place Thursday, May 9 from 7:30-10 a.m. at Ground For Sculpture in Hamilton Township. The event aims to provide insights, lessons learned, and discussions on future trends in the healthcare industry to an audience comprised of business leaders, community representatives, and healthcare providers throughout the tri-state area.

Greg Paulson, CEO of Trenton Health Team, will be keynote speaker. Paulson will explore the evolving understanding of our relationship with food. Topics to be discussed include access to food, food security, and misconceptions about food insecurity.

Matt Micelette, vice president of clinical operations at NeuroFlow, will facilitate a panel discussion about the emotional dimensions of our dietary choices and their impact on mental health. The panel will include Barbara Mintz of RWJBarnabas Health, Megan Moran of Penn Medicine Princeton Center for Eating Disorders, and Corina Palagruto of Capital Health Wellness Center.

As an additional element of the symposium this year, the Chamber will partner with Mercer Street Friends to host a food drive. Symposium attendees are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items in an effort to provide essential support to individuals and families facing food insecurity in our community.

For tickets, visit princetonmercerchamber.org.

ArtJam

Also currently underway is HomeFront’s ArtJam 2024 in downtown Princeton, a celebration of creativity and community that benefits HomeFront’s ArtSpace and SewingSpace therapeutic art and sewing programs.

The pop-up gallery, located at 45 Hulfish through May 18, features works by national, local, and student artists, presented alongside works by HomeFront’s ArtSpace artists, many of whom are self-taught and undiscovered.

The ArtSpace gallery constantly changes, as art work is sold and replaced by HomeFront curators with instock inventory. More than 500 works by more than 100 artists are on display, including original paintings, sculptures, pottery, glassworks, and handcrafted gifts, as well as handsewn SewingSpace items from HomeFront’s sewing program.

On Saturday, May 11, a SewingSpace Fashion Show will take place at the Arts Council of Princeton followed by a reception at ArtJam.

In other noteworthy events, HomeFront hosted its annual Women’s Initiative Spring Luncheon at Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton on April 22, with more than 300 attendees coming together to support HomeFront’s children’s programs, which serve local children impacted by poverty and homelessness.

“What an incredible afternoon filled with inspiration and generosity,” said Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackso n, who emceed the program, during which current and alumni families of HomeFront’s Joy, Hopes, and Dreams program (JHD) shared stories of resilience, challenges, and triumphs.

JHD, an afterschool and evening program, provides academic enrichment, edu-

recreational programs that run six nights a week and include tutoring, computer coding, art classes, special activities, teen programming, and more.

“When kids experience a lot of adversity, you need to balance that with good times, with positive times,” said JHD Director Chris Marchetti. “We go out on the HomeFront school bus — we pick up the kids where they are, whether the kids are staying in motels, the HomeFront Family Campus, living throughout Mercer County, or sometimes further. We gather them up and we go to whatever adventure awaits.”

The HomeFront Women’s Initiative began more than 15 years ago with a goal of gathering more than 1,000 local women to support HomeFront’s programs, including shelter, educational and employment support, food and other basic necessities, health and wellness programs, and a particular focus on enrichment and support for children.

In a recent posting on its website, HomeFront noted that one in 12 children in Mercer County is facing food insecurity. “Our commitment to feeding the hungry has not wavered since our earliest days of bringing food to homeless families in welfare hotels,” the website states. HomeFront runs multiple food pantries throughout the community, including their main Choice Market at its Lawrenceville campus.

HomeFront emphasizes its mission to end homelessness in Central New Jersey and to provide the structure and stability necessary for families to achieve independence. “Our impact goes beyond simply putting a meal on the table: food insecurity can affect a person’s physical and mental health, school or job performance, and contributes to long-term negative outcomes for children,” according to the website.

Last year HomeFront facilitated 21,669 visits for food, a 38 percent increase over 2022, and they are currently welcoming more than 2,300 households each month, regularly breaking their record high for Choice Market visitors in a single day.

On Friday, May 17 at 2101 Aaron Truehart Way in Hopewell Township, HomeFront, along with its partner organization Homes by TLC, will be celebrating its Hopewell Parc Ribbon Cutting, featuring 26 new permanent affordable homes for families. Families will pay no more than 30 percent of their income for rent, and support services for parents and children will be available for all “to help families reach their full potential.”

To learn more about these programs and events or to make a financial contribution or a gift of needed items, visit homefrontnj.org.

—Donald Gilpin

Community Options Receives

Gift from Subaru Dealership Community Options, a national nonprofit supporting people with disabilities, was presented a check for $27,991 from Haldeman Subaru of Hamilton during the dealership’s Share the Love event.

For many years, Haldeman Subaru has been a partner of Community Options. Since its founding in 1989, the nonprofit has purchased vehicles from Haldeman Subaru to facilitate transportation for the people they support. Today, Community Options supports over 5,000 people with disabilities across 12 states in innovative housing and employment programs.

“Haldeman Subaru is thrilled to have another year of our partnership with Community Options and Subaru during our Share the Love event. This year, we are proud to have donated just shy of $28,000 in support of Community Options’ impactful initiatives,” said Ken Ruch, general manager. “At Haldeman Subaru, we stand alongside Community Options in their mission to foster inclusion and provide natural supports for people with disabilities. Through collaboration with community partners, Community Options strives to enhance accessibility to vital services, thereby enriching the lives of those they support.”

Ruch, along with Courtney Emmolo, the customer relations manager, presented the donation to Robert Stack, president and CEO of Community Options, joined by Ida Bormentar, executive director of the Mercer region, and two residents of Mercer County Community Options home, Angelina Rittinger and Terri Devareaux.

“We are grateful for Subaru’s partnership and their generous donation to Community Options,” said Stack. “This type of contribution will significantly help us in our mission to continue providing housing and employment support to persons with disabilities.”

The Subaru of America

Share the Love event has been running for the past 16 years. According to Subaru of America officials, Subaru and its retailers have donated more than $288 million since the Subaru Share the Love Event began in 2008.

Applications Still Open For County Jobs Program

Mercer County has received a competitively awarded grant from the New Jersey Department of Labor to provide summer employment and job readiness skill development to County youth, both in-school and out-of-school, ages 16–24. The total award amount is $475,200 and will provide jobs to at least 120 students. Applications are available online until Friday, May 10.

Mercer will partner with businesses, educational institutions, and community and faith-based organizations to provide work experience. The work experience will be complemented by dynamic workshops focused on topics such as time management, effective communication, business etiquette, financial literacy, emotional intelligence, job readiness skill development, and career exploration. Participants will receive $16 per hour, with an opportunity to earn up to $3,200 for the summer. The program will run from July 1-August 23. For more information, visit mercercounty.org.

“There is nothing more empowering we can do for an individual than help them on their way towards a career,” said Mercer County Executive Dan Benson. “I am proud of our work in obtaining this competitive grant and expanding our program, so we can positively impact more Mercer County youth.”

“The Mercer County Summer Youth Jobs Connection has been a signature program of ours for many years,” said Mercer County Director of Economic Development Anthony Carabelli. “We are grateful to the New Jersey Department of Labor for their continued commitment to our youth here in Mercer County.”

DIAPERS AND MORE DIAPERS: Bloomberg employee volunteers take the lead at a HomeFront diaper wrapping event. The HomeFront Annual Diaper Challenge, running until Mother’s Day on May 12, wants to make sure that low-income children In Mercer County have access to clean diapers. The goal is 500,000 diapers and baby wipes donated by the community. (Photo courtesy of HomeFront)

Jugtown Historic District and in other historic districts in Princeton and elsewhere.”

Joseph Hornor was the grandson of John Hornor, a Quaker who purchased land on both sides of what would become Nassau Street in the late 17th century.

The younger Hornor built the house at 344 Nassau Street in the 1760s, “probably with bricks made from the nearby clay pit and brick yard,” according to a book on the Jugtown Historic District by Clifford Zink. The house served as a stop on the Underground Railroad.

“Although expanded over time, the design of the additions to the Hornor House have respected its pre-Revolutionary origin, and illustrate the natural growth of a building over three centuries,” the book reads.

According to the statement from Save Historic Jugtown, the group has had informal discussions with Princeton Council members regarding future incentivized inclusionary development in the district. Specifically, they have talked about “an amended, targeted overlay zone that explicitly recognizes the Jugtown Historic District, and protects its historic character and scale by complying with the Historic Preservation Ordinance and The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment

of Historic Properties. The new overlay zone would be adopted in 2025 as part of Princeton’s compliance planning for the upcoming Fourth Round (2025-2035) of fair share housing to ensure an appropriate balance between Princeton’s affordable housing and historic preservation goals.”

Additional properties on the Preservation New Jersey Endangered list are St. Paul’s Abbey in Newton, Palace Amusements Artifacts in Asbury Park, Anderson Farm and House in Bayville, Garden State Park Gate House in Cherry Hill, Orange Memorial Hospital in Orange, Homestead Plantation Enslaved Quarters in Clark, and MLK House in Camden. Also included this year are the themes “Urban Historic Districts” and “State Owned and Managed Historic Properties.”

The Historic Preservation Commission’s review of the proposal, which was rescheduled from an earlier date, will take place on Monday, May 13 from 5-7 p.m.; and on Tuesday, May 14 from 5 p.m. in the main meeting room of Witherspoon Hall. Planning Board reviews are to follow on Thursday, May 23 at 7 p.m., via Zoom.

—Anne Levin

Tell them you saw their ad in

Nelson Glass & Aluminum Co.

Custom Glass Tabletops

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Tour de Franklin 2024

Raises Over $129K

The Tour de Franklin, a Franklin Food Bank fundraiser held on Sunday, April 28, raised $129,000 and still counting. Over 400 cyclists participated in the food bank’s largest annual fundraising event; all proceeds directly support their annual operations.

“We are so thrilled and grateful for the amazing support of the cyclists, community, and sponsors who show up for the Franklin Food Bank by participating in the Tour de Franklin,” said Tour de Franklin Chairperson Lisa Frey. “We are also thankful for their dedication, year after year, and are happy that the weather cooperated for a gorgeous spring day. This marked the 35th year of the tour, making it a spring tradition for the cyclists and the Somerset County community.”

Paul Goldberg, organizer of the first Tour de Franklin in 1989, spoke at the Tour’s lunch to commemorate this milestone, retelling the origin story of the tour. In 1989, the Franklin Food Bank was planning to close its doors due to lack of funds. That year, supporters held a telethon and a charity bike ride out of UFO Salon, owned by then Franklin Food Bank Board President Paul Goldberg. Their plan worked and the food bank remained open.

The Franklin Food Bank’s mission is to support the food needs of the local community in an atmosphere of dignity and respect. To achieve this, the Food Bank manages a variety of programs and partnerships

to address food insecurity in the community. In 2023, the food bank distributed an estimated 2.75 million pounds of food and accommodated approximately 30,000 visits to the Client Choice Market, and drive-thru community distributions. Visit FranklinFoodBank.org for more information.

EASEL to Receive Grant

From Nonprofit Petco Love

EASEL Animal Rescue League of Ewing is set to receive a $7,500 grant investment from national nonprofit Petco Love in support of their lifesaving work for animals in Mercer County.

Petco Love is a national nonprofit leading change for pets by harnessing the power of love to make communities and pet families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since its founding in 1999, Petco Love has

invested $375 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. And Petco Love helps find loving homes for pets in partnership with Petco and more than 4,000 organizations — like EASEL — across North America, with 6.75 million pets adopted and counting.

“Our investment in EASEL is part of more than $15M in investments recently announced by Petco Love to power local organizations across the country as part of our commitment to create a future in which no pet is unnecessarily euthanized,” said Susanne Kogut, president of Petco Love. “Our local investments are only part of our strategy to empower animal lovers to drive lifesaving change right alongside us. We launched Petco Love Lost, a national lost and found database that uses patented image-recognition

technology to simplify the search for lost pets.”

“We are thrilled to receive this lifesaving investment from Petco Love. It will augment our lifesaving efforts to help cats and dogs in Mercer County,” said Karen Azarchi, president of EASEL She added, “The Petco Love investment will help to provide veterinary care, specifically spay/neuter surgeries for our adoptable shelter pets and to support our shelter operations budget that allows us to maintain a best practices no-kill shelter in the area.”

EASEL Animal Rescue League, serving Mercer County, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the number of animals euthanized in Mercer County through collaborative coalitions and community alliances. For more information, visit easelnj.org.

FLYING HIGH: The murky weather didn’t stop kite flyers from enjoying Terhune Ochards’ annual Kite Day festival on Saturday. (Photo by Sarah Teo)

Town Topics

Mother’s Day

Sunday, May 14, 2023

Mother’s Day

Sunday, May 14, 2023

Sunday, May 14, 2023

Sunday, May 14, 2023

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas!

Fresh Cut Flower Arrangements and Bouquets

Rose Bushes, Hanging Baskets, and Patio Planters

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Vaseful, a Community Options Enterprise, is a unique floral business which provides employment for people with disabilities in an integrated setting. Shop with us and support people with disabilities.

Vaseful, a Community Options Enterprise, is a unique floral business which provides employment for people with disabilities in an integrated setting. Shop with us and support people with disabilities.

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Author Encourages Nourishment, Healthy Lifestyle in Cookbook

Four-time cookbook author, food writer, and food photographer Mary Abitanto believes in celebrating nature’s harvest and living a healthy lifestyle. She encourages good nutrition in her newest cookbook Nourish — Celebrating Nature’s Harvest & A Healthy Lifestyle, explaining that eating healthy will give you more sustainable energy to do the things you love.

Abitanto will be at a Meet the Author Mother’s Day pop-up event at Anthropologie in the Princeton MarketFair mall on Route 1 on Saturday, May 11 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. She will sign her cookbooks that attendees bring to the event. All her cookbooks (and a children’s book) are available on amazon.com under Mary Abitanto. Snacks and refreshments will be served.

The pages of Nourish ($38.99) brim with a

collection of recipes that will please the palate, all paired with her own photographs. This book was created to be a go-to guide for family meal planning, and is packed with nutrient-dense meals.

Many of the recipes will accommodate a gluten-free lifestyle and can adapt to a vegetarian lifestyle, when possible. The book includes a Q & A section with local nutritionist Samara Kraft discussing the health of the heart, bones and brain, and disease prevention through mindful nutrition.

Abitanto is also a food writer for Princeton Magazine. Her Instagram handle is @marioochcooks.

The author’s love for family is the thread woven throughout all her books. She said her parents instilled in her a love of family, faith, celebrating life, and enjoying good food. This book is dedicated to them.

Second Sunday Poetry

Reading at Princeton Makes Princeton Makes, a Princeton-based artist cooperative, and Ragged Sky Press, a local publisher focused on poetry, will host a Second Sunday Poetry Reading on Sunday, May 12 at 4 p.m.

The readings will take place at the Princeton Makes store in the Princeton Shopping Center.

The May reading will feature John Amen and Michael Montlack. Their readings will be followed by an open mic available to up to 10 audience members who would like to read their original poetry.

Inspire Them (University of Wisconsin Press). His poems recently appeared in Poetry Daily, Prairie Schooner, Barrelhouse, december, Cincinnati Review, and phoebe. His prose has appeared in The Rumpus, Huffington Post, and Advocate.com He lives in New York City, where he teaches poetry at CUNY City College.

Princeton Makes is a cooperative comprised of 35 local artists who work across a range of artistic genres, including painting, drawing, stained glass, sculpture, textiles, and jewelry. Customers will be able to support local artists by shopping for a wide variety of art, including large paintings, prints, custom-made greeting cards, stained glass lamps and window hangings, jewelry in a variety of designs and patterns, and more.

John Amen

Writer Discusses Historical Novel Based on Life of Véra Nabokov

Author Monika Zgustová will discuss and read from A Revolver to Carry at Night (Other Press, $15.99 paperback), a historical novel based on the life of Véra Nabokov and her marriage to author Vladimir Nabokov, on Monday, May 13 at 7 p.m. at the Princeton Public Library. A book signing will follow.

Véra Nabokov (19021991) who dedicated herself to advancing her husband’s writing career, played a vital role in the creation of his greatest works, according to the publisher, and she decided to make his success her ultimate goal, throughout 52 years of marriage until his death in 1977. The first reader of his texts, Véra worked as typist and editor. She organized their lives in exile, as they traveled to Berlin, Paris, Switzerland, and the U.S., where she convinced Vladimir to focus on writing novels in English. She not only controlled the family’s finances and contract negotiations, but also attempted to control his friendships.

“Vladimir Nabokov once said that without his wife, he wouldn’t have written a single novel,” wrote Whitney

Scharer, author of The Age of Light. “ That certainly feels true in Monika Zgustová’s brilliant A Revolver to Carry at Night, in which Véra Nabokov emerges as a strong, formidable figure who left her mark on every aspect of her husband’s professional and personal lives.”

Zgustová is an awardwinning author whose works have been published in more than 10 languages. She was born in Prague and studied comparative literature at the University of Illinois and University of Chicago, and then moved to Barcelona, where she wrote for El País, The Nation, and CounterPunch , among others. As a translator of Czech and Russian literature into Spanish and Catalan — including the writing of Havel, Kundera, Hrabal, Hašek, Dostoyevsky, Akhmatova, Tsvetaeva, and Babel — Zgustová is credited with bringing major 20th-century writers to Spain. Her book Dressed for a Dance in the Snow: Women’s Voices from the Gulag was a World Literature Today Notable Translation of the Year.

Julie Jones is the translator.

Amen is the author of five collections of poetry, including Illusion of an Overwhelm, finalist for the 2018 Brockman-Campbell Award, and work from which was chosen as a finalist for the 2018 Dana Award. He was the recipient of the 2021 Jack Grapes Poetry Prize. His poems and prose have appeared recently in Rattle, Prairie Schooner, American Literary Review, Tupelo Quarterly, and Los Angeles Review, and his poetry has been translated into Spanish, French, Hungarian, Korean, and Hebrew. His music, literary, and film reviews appear widely in such publications as Colorado Review, No Depression, Beats Per Minute, and PopMatters. He founded and is managing editor of Pedestal Magazine. His new collection, Dark Souvenirs , will be released by New York Quarterly Books in 2024.

Montlack is author of two poetry collections, most recently Daddy (NYQ Books), and editor of the Lambda Finalist essay anthology My Diva: 65 Gay Men on the Women Who

Ragged Sky is a small, highly selective cooperative press that has historically focused on mature voices, overlooked poets, and women’s perspectives.

For more information, visit princetonmakes.com.

South Asian Authors Offer

“Weaving Identity” Panel

A panel featuring New Jersey-based South Asian authors will explore the complexities of identity and the power of storytelling on Saturday, May 11 at Princeton Public Library.

“The program, “Weaving Identity: South Asian Authors Telling Our Stories,” will be held at 3 p.m. in the Community Room and is part of the library’s observance of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacifi c Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. The discussion will be moderated by Ambreen Ali, founder of Central Desi, a local news outlet covering New Jersey’s South Asian community.

Featured authors are Pooja Makhijani, author of Mama’s Saris and Bread is Love; Namrata Patel, author of the upcoming The Curious Secrets of Yesterday ; Priyanka Taslim, author of The Love Match ; and F.S. Yousaf, whose fifth poetry collection, Oaths, is upcoming. During the discussion, the authors will reflect on how identity has shaped their work, what it means to portray cultural heritage, and why they tell these stories.

Books will be available for sale and signing. Registration through the events calendar at princetonlibrary.org is requested. Following the discussion, the authors will gather to interact with attendees over chai and samosas on Hinds Plaza. Additional information, including fiction and nonfiction book lists, can be found in the AANHPI Heritage Month Resource Guide at princetonlibrary.org

Michael Montlack

The views of the letters do not necessarily reflect the views of Town Topics.

Pointing Out That a Little Compassion, Patience, Kindness Goes a Long Way

To the Editor:

I spent the recent eclipse much like I spent the last one; standing in our front yard, staring up at the sun through special eclipse sunglasses. The clouds rolled in just after it started so there were periods where we couldn’t see the sun at all, but my kids and I were still able to catch some really good glimpses of the growing, and then receding, eclipse. Even a quick viewing of an eclipse feels old and new. They’re rare for us, but also timeless. They fell upon ancient ones, and they cover the sun above us today.

Those who know about such things said that we had 90 percent totality; that 90 percent of the sun was covered up when the eclipse was at its greatest in our area. And yet there still so much light. It definitely dimmed some, feeling like dusk for a short while. But even then, I could clearly see our neighbors staring up at the sky much like we were. I could see my kids on the sidewalk waiting out the cloud cover for another glimpse. I saw an Amazon driver peek up behind his special glasses after he dropped off a package across the street. I saw a flock of noisy, seemingly startled birds suddenly lift from a tree. Even 10 percent of the sun’s light enlightened so much.

It’s that way with kindness, patience, and compassion too. Even small acts of warmth can have a great impact on the people around us. A thank you, a smile, or a compliment, can brighten even the cloudiest of days. They can help others remember that thoughtfulness abounds and that people can be considerate. Most people are mostly good most of the time, and it doesn’t take much to remind people of that. It just takes bringing a little light to otherwise dim and dreary days to help remind people of the goodness in them, and the goodness in us, together. Like the sun’s eclipsed light, a little compassion, patience, and kindness goes a long way. We can offer that light in all weather, in every season, everywhere we go.

REV. BILL NEELY Parish Minister

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton Cherry Hill Road

Encouraging Residents to Help Save Endangered Joseph Hornor House

To the Editor:

At the historic crossroads of Nassau and Harrison streets in the Jugtown Historic District, a developer has proposed a massive 16,000-square-foot, four-story apartment addition to the 18th-century Joseph Hornor House. The suggested complex would overwhelm and dominate this historic building as well as the skyline on this side of town. If approved, it would set the precedent for other similar buildings to be constructed in the area.

It clearly does not follow Princeton’s Historic Preservation Ordinance 2014-44, which states that a development application “shall be approved only if the proposed action ... (a) Is appropriate to and compatible with the existing structures and landscape of the historic preservation district; and (b) Would not adversely affect the ambiance, character, and appearance of the historic preservation

district and the relationships among structures and between structures and public ways in the district.”

It similarly does not comply with widely-accepted state and national standards and guidelines for the treatment of historic districts and properties.

In fact, just this week, Preservation NJ, the statewide nonprofit historic preservation organization, has named the ca. 1760 Joseph Hornor House as one of New Jersey’s 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in 2024, a list which “spotlights irreplaceable historic, architectural, cultural, and archeological resources in New Jersey that are in imminent danger of being lost.”

So, what can be done?

The developer proposes a total of 15 apartments, including three affordable housing units. But importantly, a more appropriate three-story building which conforms to our Historic Preservation Ordinance and lives in harmony with the surrounding neighborhood, could provide the same total number of apartments and the exact same three affordable units. So, it becomes more a question of money and overreach versus doing what’s right.

The unique sense of place bestowed to us by our historic districts is something that is easily lost if we are not careful — and once lost, can never be replaced. So, I hope our Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) and Planning Board do what’s right and reject this proposal in favor of a better solution which respects the irreplaceable history and character of our town.

For everyone who cares about historic preservation in Princeton and drawing the line at new development which goes too far, please show up and speak up at the HPC meeting on Monday, May 13 and Tuesday, May 14, both at 5 p.m. at the municipal building at 400 Witherspoon Street, and then at the Planning Board meeting on Thursday, May 23, at 7 p.m. online via Zoom. Formal action is expected to be taken at these meetings.

BARBARA PARMET Harrison Street

Chimney Swifts Provide Evening Entertainment at Valley Road School

To the Editor:

The chimney swifts have returned to the tower at the old Valley Road School. They will probably be there at dusk for the next couple of weeks while they pair up and locate nest sites on local tall buildings. The site is Princeton’s equivalent of the Serengeti wildebeest crossing the Mara River on their annual great migration.

In the half hour after sunset, several hundred swifts will be “turning and turning in a narrowing gyre” centered around the tower of old Valley Road School building behind Conte’s Pizza. It is quite a spectacular sight as the rapidly spinning circle of birds “know exactly where it leads, and you can watch them go ‘round and ‘round each time.” Suddenly, they will begin to drop down and disappear into the tower to roost for the night. “Wait ‘til you see half the things that haven’t happened yet.”

How do so many fit into one tower? And how do they locate a place to land and hold on for the night in the almost total darkness inside the tower?

“Swifts were born to be suburban legends although they didn’t come here to make friends,” but to locate mates and produce the two or three chicks that will return with them in late August to create an even larger circling and screaming aerial spectacle around the Valley Road School tower. It’s a site well worth seeing, particularly as they’ve spent the day consuming vast numbers of mosquitoes and other insect pests in the skies above Princeton and most of the rest of Mercer County. An ecosystem service that they provide at zero cost to the inhabitants below.

A perfect entertainment on any evening in the next two weeks is to come to the playing field on Valley Road and enjoy a truly remarkable local wildlife spectacle. Chimney swifts, like “the best people in life, are free!”

DOBSON Jefferson Road

With all due credit and to David Lack, W.B. Yeats, and Taylor Swift

Letters to the Editor Policy

Town Topics welcomes letters to the Editor, preferably on subjects related to Princeton. Letters must have a valid street address (only the street name will be printed with the writer’s name). Priority will be given to letters that are received for publication no later than Monday noon for publication in that week’s Wednesday edition. Letters must be no longer than 500 words and have no more than four signatures.

All letters are subject to editing and to available space.

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

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

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

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

Get ready to ride! Get Ready to Ride!

We are celebrating National Bike Month! Five times in May we will wait at a randomly chosen Princeton street corner to give the first 6 bicyclists who ride by over $60 in gift cards from local businesses. Participating businesses include:

Whole Earth Center

Mediterra • Eno Terra • Teresa Caffe • Terra Momo Bread Company • Albariño Nassau Street Seafood • Blue Point Grill • Witherspoon Grill • Kristine’s Yankee Doodle Tap Room • Nassau Inn • Miya Table & Home

Meeting House • Triumph Brewing • Orvana Homestead Princeton • Princeton Tour Company bent spoon • small world coffee

Tipple & Rose • Tico’s Eatery & Juice Bar

Princeton Soup & Sandwich • Labyrinth Books

Jammin’ Crepes • Hinkson’s • Olives

LiLLiPiES • Princeton Record Exchange

Olsson’s Fine Foods • jaZams

Princeton Recreation Department

Princeton Corkscrew Wine Shop

ANDY

Night Thoughts By the River with Paul Auster and Edgar Allan Poe

What you see is what you see....

—Frank Stella (1936-2024)

My name is Paul Auster. That is not my real name.

—Paul Auster (1947-2024), from The New York Trilogy

There are few persons, even among the calmest thinkers, who have not occasionally been startled into a vague yet thrilling half-credence in the supernatural, by coincidences of so seemingly marvellous a character that, as mere coincidences, the intellect has been unable to receive them.

—Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)

Here’s my ideal reading experience:

I’m on the top floor of the Fieldstone Suite at the Black Bass Hotel in Lumberville, Pa., it’s the last Sunday in April 2024, the hour before midnight, my wife is asleep in the bed by the window, and I’m watching the gleaming, darkerthan-night waters of the Delaware River move relentlessly toward New Hope, Trenton, Whitman’s Camden, Poe’s Philadelphia, and points south and on into the Atlantic. The small book I’m holding halfopen is the 1899 Raven Edition of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Mystery of Marie Rogêt, which I’d stuck in my overnight bag at the last minute.

For the better part of 30 years, I’ve been meaning to read all 130 pages of this charismatic little volume with its charming deepblue, deep-black cover, a raven perched in a grey circle at the center. At this hour of the night, with the window slightly open for a breeze, you can almost hear the water moving, and while I know the river is the Delaware, tonight it’s the Seine and the Hudson flowing as one, and it belongs to Poe, who has reimagined the murder of a New York girl named Mary Rogers as the murder of Marie Rogêt, a Parisian grisette, meanwhile rewriting the Hudson as the Seine, New York as Paris, Weehawken as the Barrière du Roule, and Manhattan’s Nassau Street as Rue Pavée Saint Andrée.

The first time I tried to read The Mystery of Marie Rogêt , lured by the title, I ran into a long quote from Novalis, in German. The English translation, with its reference to an ideal series of events that run parallel with the real ones, didn’t grab me either (I was maybe 11). Same thing with the first sentence of the story about coincidences so “marvellous” that the “intellect has been unable to receive them.” What finally drove me and my failed seventh-grade math “intellect” away was Poe’s reference to “the Calculus of Probabilities,” which is, “in its essence, purely mathematical.” More than half a century later, at the Black Bass, with the river darkly flowing outside the window, I read it all, from the Calculus of Probabilities to the last word, which is, as it was fated to be, detail (Poe’s italics).

Auster’s New York

The day after novelist Paul Auster’s death on Tuesday, April 30, I found a copy of his best-known work, The New York Trilogy, at Labyrinth Books. As soon as I saw the bright, brash, engaging cover design by Art Spiegelman, I was smitten, convinced that Auster’s New York would make a good fit with Marie Rogêt. When City of Glass , the first volume of the trilogy, appeared in the early 1980s, I was put off by the accompanying “postmodernist” buzz. Forty years later, I love the book on sight thanks to the design and the magic words “New York Trilogy” and on the back cover Spiegelman’s colorful map of the Hudson River, Central Park, and the Upper West Side from West 57th to the Cathedral Parkway, along with a circled insert of Spiegelman’s graphic depiction of the Tower of Babel.

The first book Paul Auster ever bought with his own money ($3.95) was the Modern Library Giant edition of The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe . He was 9 and admits that in the beginning he “couldn’t make head or tail of it,” but after a year it became “comprehensible,” though I doubt that he’d have navigated the depths of detail in Marie Rogêt at that age. Nevertheless, Poe remains one of Auster’s guiding lights, his presence felt throughout the trilogy, from the first page of City of Glass, which is about Quinn, an author of mystery novels who writes under the name William Wilson — the title of Poe’s story about a man who ends up murdering his double and thus himself, a plot given a spin in the third and least interesting novel of the trilogy, The Locked Room . One problem is that by then New York has all but vanished from the narrative and is only a shadow of itself in the Brooklyn setting of Ghosts , the middle novel, which takes place in 1947, the year of the real Paul Auster’s birth and the year the real Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier. Highlights include a summary of the classic film noir Out of the Past , a foray into American literature with Henry David Thoreau and Walt Whitman, and a color-coded narrative in which a man called White hires a detective named Blue to tail a suspect named Black.

severely disabled son, also named Peter Stillman, whom he had locked in a room and abused for nine years, an “experiment” that landed him in the asylum from which he has just been released. Most of the second chapter is consumed by a deranged, robotic, third-person monologue by Peter Stillman, the son, that reveals at great length the psychic damage done to him by his father, thus sentences such as “Every time Peter said a word, his father would boom him. At last Peter learned to say nothing. Ya ya ya. Thank you.”

Stillman senior, it’s apparent that he’s gambling with his sanity, which becomes clear when the chapter ends with this direct address to the reader: “I do not think this is a game. On the other hand, nothing is clear. For example, who are you? And if you think you know, why do you keep lying about it? I have no answer. All I can say is this: listen to me. My name is Paul Auster. That is not my real name.”

And I tell myself “keep smelling the hamburgers.”

“Wordless Things”

Already troubled by something that for lack of a better phrase, I’ll call the aura of postmodernism, I didn’t connect with the “real New York” until Quinn stopped for a hamburger at the Heights Luncheonette on 112th, where the boss, “a small balding man with curly hair and a concentration camp number tattooed on his forearm” sat in his “domain of cigarettes, pipes, and cigars reading the Night Owl edition” of the Daily News while Quinn and the Puerto Rican counter man talked about last night’s Mets game. The talk of baseball and the sound and smell of “gristlestudded hamburger patties” hissing on the grill blitzed the postmodernist aura and put everything back into an Upper West Side reality. What can I say? I’ve reread that passage numerous times because for me it puts the city I love, like Faulkner’s Lord’s Prayer metaphor for great writing, “on the head of a pin.” Here you are at maybe three in the morning, with two guys, a Puerto Rican and a writer of mystery novels, rapping about the miseries of the mid-1980s Mets, a few years before the second miracle of the 1986 World Championship. For several years they’ve been talking about baseball; “in the winter they talk of trades, predictions, memories,” during the summer it’s always about the most recent game. Forget the shifting identities routine, they don’t even know each other’s names: “They were both Mets fans, and the hopelessness of that passion had created a bond between them.”

Enter Dupin

The Real New York

If I referred to the “real Paul Auster,” it’s because City of Glass is set in motion by a mysteriously misdirected phone call to Quinn intended for a detective listed in the phone book as “Paul Auster.” The assignment is to prevent a murder-to-be by shadowing Peter Stillman, a scholar of languages who has vowed to execute his

Soon after Quinn leaves the luncheonette, Auster quotes Poe’s detective C. Auguste Dupin, the forerunner of Sherlock Holmes, Philip Marlowe, Sam Spade, and numerous film noir private eyes right up to 21st-century sleuths like Holder and Linden, the Lincoln Lawyer, and Sugar. What Dupin has to say concerns the “identification of the reasoner’s intellect with that of his opponent.” At this point the “reasoner” is the faux detective Auster shadowing his “opponent” Peter Stillman. Regardless of whether Quinn’s Auster identifies with

In the Columbia University library, detective Auster/Quinn reads Peter Stillman senior’s scholarly book, The Garden and The Tower: Early Visions of the New World , which concludes that the story of the Garden “records not only the fall of man, but the fall of language,” which is essentially what Stillman inflicted on his son by locking him up for nine years. Having read Stillman’s book, the deranged detective feels ready to talk with him, eye to eye, as it were. During their first conversation, Stillman sounds like Dupin discussing evidence when he says, “The world is in fragments, sir, and it’s my job to put it together again.” It all comes down to “a neverland of fragments, a place of wordless things and thingless words.”

Looking at the Hudson

Iescaped wordlessly and thinglessly back to the room overlooking the river at the Black Bass Hotel after the next conversation, which took place in Riverside Park, “on a knobby outcrop at 84th Street known as Mount Tom.” On “this same spot, in the summers of 1843 and 1844,” Auster writes, “Edgar Allan Poe had spent many long hours gazing out at the Hudson. Quinn knew this because he had made it his business to know such things. As it turned out, he had often sat there himself.” As Poe gazed at the Hudson and reimagined it as the Seine, he would have been thinking about “the Calculus of Probabilities” he’d presented to Dupin in The Mystery of Marie Rogêt, which ran in Snowden’s Lady’s Companion between November 1842 and February 1843. As Dupin ponders the way the press has exploited the details surrounding Marie’s murder, he says, “We should bear in mind that, in general, it is the object of our newspapers rather to create a sensation — to make a point — than to further the cause of truth.”

—Stuart Mitchner

Note: Frank Stella’s quote helped launch this column. In my mind’s eye I’m hanging one of the 226 works in his “Moby Dick” series on the wall of the Heights Luncheonette, perhaps “Jonah: Historically Regarded,” which is reproduced in my June 27, 2018 review, “Soundings: Art, Music, and Herman Melville’s ‘Moby Dick.’”

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Maintance-free outdoor furniture. Available in over 17 colors.

Maintance-free outdoor furniture. Available in over 17 colors.

Monday -Friday 10-6

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Monday -Friday 10-6

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Saturday 10-5

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Performing Arts

TEMPTATIONS AND MORE: The Broadway hit “Ain’t Too Proud — The Life and Times of The Temptations” is among the shows coming to the State Theatre New Jersey in the coming season.

State Theatre Announces Broadway Show Lineup

State Theatre New Jersey has announced its 2024-25 Broadway Season, featuring five shows with Tony Awardwinning hits, Broadway fan favorites, and multiple State Theatre debuts. Season tickets for the 2024-25 Broadway Series are now on sale.

Shows are TINA—The Tina Turner Musical, October 3-5; Ain’t Too Proud— The Life and Times of The Temptations, October 2527; The Addams Family, January 25-26; and Dear Evan Hansen, March 2830. Also included as an add-on to season tickets is

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical November 23-24.

State Theatre New Jersey is offering season tickets to its Broadway Series. Season ticket holders can order their series tickets now before single tickets go on sale to the general public on August 2. They are also able to secure some of the best seats in the historic theater and those seats will remain theirs, year after year, for as long as they remain season ticket holders. Season tickets also come with added benefits such as 20 percent savings off single ticket prices, half-

price drinks at concessions, ticket exchanges within the series, and a bring your friends discount that allows single tickets (once on sale) to be added on at a 15 percent savings off single ticket prices.

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

Folk Music Society Presents Irish Music Duo

The Princeton Folk Music Society presents Irish music duo Ivan Goff (uileann pipes, Irish flute, and whistles) and Katie Linnane (fiddle) on Friday, May 17 at

Linnane, right,

8 p.m., at Christ Congregation Church, 50 Walnut Lane.

The couple are stalwarts of the New York City Irish traditional music scene. Goff has toured with several Irish traditional bands, including Dervish, Danú, and the Eileen Ivers Band. He also has performed in theatrical productions, including extended engagements with Riverdance (on Broadway and on tour), and Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance Linnane got her start in the “Irish Riviera” music scene of Pearl River in Rockland County, N.Y. She studied with Willy Kelly and has been influenced by other players including Paddy Canny, Patrick Ourceau, and Mike Rafferty. She performs with other New Yorkbased groups such as The Murphy Beds, Lúnasa, and Green Fields of America. She also is an accomplished step dancer and teacher. Tickets are $10-$25. Visit princetonfolk.org for more information.

McCarter Announces Lineup For 2023-24 Dance Series

McCarter Theatre Center’s 2024-2025 Dance Series will feature Ballet Hispánico; “SW!NG OUT” from choreographer Caleb Teicher; “Noli Timere” — a new collaboration between Director/Choreographer/ Princeton University Professor Rebecca Lazier and sculptor Janet Echelman; Seoul-based Bereishit Dance Company; and Twyla Tharp Dance. Also included as an optional season encore is the return of Pilobolus.

“Our 2024-2025 Dance Series showcases an exceptional lineup, featuring some of the most celebrated artists of the past 60 years alongside emerging talents poised to shape the future of dance,” said Director of Presented Programming Paula Abreu. “This season, we will journey from the streets of Seoul to 25

feet in the air on a voluminous net sculpture, savor ballet infused with Latin rhythms, master the Lindy Hop, and traverse through six decades of the legendary Twyla Tharp’s groundbreaking choreography.”

Subscriptions to McCarter’s 2024-2025 Dance Series for new and returning subscribers are now available at Mccarter.org or by calling (609) 258-2787.

Subscribers save 20 percent on tickets and receive benefits like free exchanges, exclusive pre-sale access, and preferred seating.

Two Upcoming Concerts By Westminster Conservatory

Two concerts by faculty members of Westminster Conservatory of Music will take place this month. The first is May 16 at Nassau Presbyterian Church; the second is May 19 at Bristol Chapel on the Westminster campus.

The May 16 event, which is at 12:15 p.m., concludes the current season of Westminster Conservatory at Nassau. Songs from the Winding Road of Love is a recital performed by Westminster Conservatory faculty members Susan Gaylord, mezzo soprano; and Larissa Korkina, piano. The recital will take place in the Niles Chapel of Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street.

The program includes Ziguenerlieder by Johannes Brahms; arias by Georges Bizet, Leonard Bernstein, and Camille Saint-Saëns; and favorites from The Great American Songbook.

Gaylord began her vocal training at the School of Music of Converse College in Spartanburg, S.C., before earning her master’s from the Manhattan School of Music. She has performed with the opera companies of Santa Fe, Sarasota, Lake George, the Florida Lyric Opera, the Princeton Festival and the Brevard Music

Festival, and as a soloist with regional symphony orchestras nationwide. At the Westminster Conservatory of Music, she teaches private voice lessons, group voice classes and early childhood education classes. She also teaches voice lessons at the Pennington School and the Chapin School, and maintains a private voice studio. Korkina received a Master of Music degree from the Belarusian State Academy of Music, where she studied with Valerie Minenkov and Grigory Shershevsky, and later joined the teaching faculty. Since moving to Princeton, New Jersey, in 1990, and has enjoyed a successful career as a solo recitalist, chamber musician and coach/accompanist. Her recent engagements include the Matinee Musical Club at the Academy of Music of Philadelphia, Music Heritage Series at Westminster, The Friends of Music at Taplin Hall, and the Longwood Gardens Concert Series. The May 19, 7:30 p.m. concert in Bristol Chapel, 101 Walnut Lane, is titled “Celebrating Asian and Pacific American (APA) Heritage Month.” Nine Conservatory faculty members of APA heritage will perform music that represents the nation of their background. The evening’s performers include Westminster Conservatory faculty violinists Chika Mimura (Japan) and Hyun Soo Lim (Korea); and pianists Bing Bing Chang (Hong Kong), Jenny Chiou (Taiwan), Ikumi Hiraiwa (Japan), Eunju Kim (Korea), Mary Elizabeth Latorre (Philippines), Fang-Ting Liu (Taiwan) and Hendry Wijaya (Indonesia). They will be joined by their Conservatory colleague Timothy Urban, vocalist and performer on the bawu (a Chinese wind instrument), as well as guest artist David Kim, on the cello. Admission is free to both events. Visit rider.edu for more information.

(Photo by Johan Persson)

SOUNDS OF IRELAND: Ivan Goff, left, plays uileann pipes, Irish flute, and whistles; and Katie

is on fiddle at a May 17 concert at Christ Congregation Church.

KOREAN COMPANY: Bereishit Dance Company, which is based in Seoul, is among those scheduled to appear at McCarter Theatre Center in the coming season.

“SHHH”: This 7-foot-high work by multidisciplinary

is featured in “Slow Motion,” on view at Grounds For

September 1, 2025.

underscores how materials are not just a medium for monumental work; materials carry meanings themselves, functioning as symbols of specific places, memories, scents, and feelings.

“We’re thrilled to work with and learn from these five artists, whose interdisciplinary practices have long experimented with the materialities and temporalities of public memory,” said Patricia Eunji Kim, Monument Lab curator of “Slow Motion.” “Their boundarypushing artworks for this exhibition inspire visitors to re-orient themselves in how they relate to monuments, to collective memories, and ultimately, to each other.”

“Slow Motion” is made possible by exhibition support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Brooke Barrie Art Fund, NRG Energy, and Julie and Michael Nachamkin. Support is provided in part by the Atlantic Foundation and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, New Jersey Department of State.

artist who makes figurative and landscape paintings. She will share insights from her career and art practice.

Raised in Trenton, Slee earned her undergraduate degree in visual arts at Drew University, and an MFA in fiction from Columbia University. She worked in the art world in New York and Germany and lived in Moscow and London before settling in Princeton with her husband and two daughters. She creates compelling figurative paintings that capture narratives from her community and lived experiences.

Currently employed at Princeton University’s graduate office, Slee’s international art background informs her understanding of contemporary art. From her start as a studio assistant in New York to directing a gallery in Cologne, Slee appreciates the opportunities that have shaped her art.

at Princeton Makes has been transformative. There, I’ve found community surrounded by a wonderful group of artists and have gained some much-needed artistic confidence. I work in different mediums — from acrylic, charcoal, and India ink to oil paint — and am interested in developing my drawing skills, color vocabulary, and a painting language of my own.”

Slee can be found on Instagram @vivpaintsfromtheattic and this month she is the featured artist at Princeton Makes, which is celebrating its second year. Her work is exhibited in the front window of the retail space and her in-store studio.

The Inside the Artist’s Studio talk series, part of the cooperative’s programming initiatives, offers the public a monthly opportunity to learn about and from its creatives.

“Slow Motion” Exhibition At Grounds For Sculpture Grounds For Sculpture (GFS) in Hamilton now presents “Slow Motion,” an exhibition guest-curated by Monument Lab that expands the boundaries of contemporary sculpture through the use of unconventional materials and processes. Founded in 2012, Monument Lab is a nonprofit public art and history studio based in Philadelphia that cultivates and facilitates critical conversations around the past, present, and future of monuments. Traditional approaches to monumentmaking emphasize durability, solidity, and myths of enduring permanence; however, “Slow Motion,” on view through September 1, 2025, embraces the pleasures and possibilities of material transience.

while presenting new voices and ideas.”

“At GFS, we believe that exhibitions can become a catalyst for transformation across the organization, while reflecting our commitment to present the works of contemporary sculptors who reflect the greater world, challenge perceptions, and inspire,” said Gary Garrido Schneider, executive director of Grounds For Sculpture. “Collaborating with a guest curator and project partner such as Monument Lab infuses new perspectives and supports innovative approaches to curating,

“Slow Motion” is organized by Monument Lab, with five artists selected to participate and respond to the exhibition’s central question, “How do we remake our relationship with monuments?” The artists were chosen based on several key criteria: use of unconventional materials; ability to embrace playfulness in their creative practice; and the incorporation of accessibility, inclusivity, and equity lenses in their work. The featured artists are Billy Dufala, Ana Teresa Fernández, Colette Fu, Omar Tate, and Sandy Williams IV. Each artist’s work

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

Princeton Makes

On Thursday, May 9 at 6:30 p.m., artist Vivian Slee will be the featured speaker for the Inside the Artist’s Studio series at Princeton Makes in the Princeton Shopping Center. Slee, a member of the Princeton Makes artist cooperative, is a Colombian American

“Writing and painting and looking at art have been a part of what I guess you’d call my artistic practice for most of my life, but I returned to painting more seriously in 2018,” said Slee. “I was never that comfortable with showing my work, but having a studio

The event will begin with a reception, with light refreshments, at 6:30 pm. Artwork by all cooperative artists will be available for purchase. For more information, visit princetonmakes.com.

Continued on Next Page

artist Ana Teresa Fernández

Sculpture in Hamilton through

(Photo by Bruce M. White)

Artist Talk with Vivian Slee

“HORSE IN A FIELD”: Artist Vivian Slee, whose work is shown here, is the speaker for the Inside the Artist’s Studio series event on Thursday, May 9 at 6:30 p.m. at Princeton Makes in the Princeton Shopping Center.

Booth Named Leader of New Hope Arts Foundation

The New Hope Colony Foundation for the Arts (NHCFA) has announced Lawrence P. Booth of New Hope, Pa., as its new president of the board of trustees. Booth takes the helm of the nonprofit organization that is centered in the village just north of New Hope Borough that is the “birthplace” of the Pennsylvania Impressionists. The NHCFA seeks to preserve the buildings that make up the art colony and propel the area into the future by encouraging and promoting the arts.

A resident of New Hope since 1995, Booth is a longtime teacher at Carrier Clinic/Hackensack Meridian Health in Belle Mead. He also is a director of the Delaware Valley Fire Museum and has served on the boards of the Free Library of New Hope & Solebury and Friends of the Free Library of New Hope & Solebury.

He proudly served in the U. S. Air Force. Booth brings a wealth of knowledge, ability, and enthusiasm to the New Hope Colony board.

“It is an honor to collectively work with such a dedicated board to assist them in bringing the organization’s vision, mission, and philanthropy to fruition,” said Booth.

Founder Eleanor Miller says, “I am so elated that Lawrence entertained the idea to lead yet another nonprofit. I’m grateful that he accepted my request to lead the board as I know his competence and ability will be an asset to not only the Foundation but the arts community as a whole.”

The New Hope Colony Foundation for the Arts is located at 2594 River Road in New Hope, Pa. For more information, visit newhopecolony.org.

Art All Night Trenton

Moves to War Memorial

Art All Night Trenton, the free, 24-hour annual community arts event, pop-up gallery, and fundraiser presented by Artworks Trenton, will take place on June 2930 at its new home, the War Memorial on Memorial Drive in downtown Trenton.

The arts event will once again feature its signature blend of art submitted by artists of all ages and experience levels, musical performances, master classes, demonstrations, a film festival, and fun for the whole family. The new hybrid format will provide both inperson and virtual programming throughout the event’s 24-hour schedule. In-person programming will take place

at the War Memorial building on Saturday, June 29 from 3 p.m. to midnight, and begins again on Sunday, June 30 from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. During the overnight hours, the in-person event will close, and a virtual component and online art gallery will take center stage via the Art All Night website and social media channels.

“We are incredibly excited about the return of Art All Night as well as its new home, the War Memorial,” said Craig Shofed, managing director of Artworks Trenton. “Art All Night is truly an important event for the community, as well as a key fundraiser to support arts education and programming here at Artworks. We are also keen to highlight the amazing local businesses and restaurants located in the area around the War Memorial.”

As always, attendance as well as art submission are free and open to the public. Artwork will be displayed both in-person at the War Memorial as well as in an online virtual gallery hosted on the Art All Night website. No previous art experience is required, and all artists are invited to submit one piece of artwork to be shown at the event. Artwork must be registered and submitted in advance via the Art All Night website.

“Art All Night can only happen with the support of our sponsors, donors, submitting artists, and most importantly, the volunteers. We are thrilled to welcome the community to our event’s beautiful new home, the Trenton War Memorial, and

May 13-14

Free and open to the public

you can expect all the fan favorites like hundreds of pieces of art, master classes and demonstrations, musical performances, the film festival, and more,” said Addison Vincent, artistic director of Artworks Trenton.

To find out more about Art All Night 2024, become a sponsor, volunteer, donate, and submit art, visit artallnighttrenton.org.

Call for Art: New Hope Arts Center

The New Hope Arts Center has announced its upcoming juried fiber exhibition, curated by Rita Gekht, titled “Structures and Constructions in Fiber.” This exhibition aims to challenge traditional fiber techniques with construction while exploring and highlighting structures as a visual subject matter. Fiber artists throughout the region are invited to submit their innovative works for consideration by May 13.

The exhibition, running from June 29 to August 18, offers a unique platform for artists to not only showcase their creativity in two and three dimensions, fiber installations, and mixed media, but also to challenge themselves and push the boundaries of their art. At least 50 percent of the materials used will be fiberbased. “Structures and Construction in Fiber” will be featured in the main gallery, which resides in a recently renovated 200-year-old converted mill in New Hope, Pa.

“We’re excited to see how artists interpret the theme of ‘Structures and Constructions in Fiber.’ This is a fantastic opportunity for fiber artists to push their boundaries and present their unique perspectives on this intriguing subject,” said Gekht.

Interested artists can submit their entries by May 13. Each application requires a non-refundable fee of $40, or $30 for NH Arts Members, payable online via PayPal or by check made out to “New Hope Arts.” Artists may submit up to three (3) pieces for consideration, accompanied by an entry form, JPEG images, resume, and artist statement. Submissions should be emailed to newhopeartsorg@gmail.com or sent by mail to 2 Stockton Avenue, New Hope, PA 18938 (with images emailed separately).

Gekht will serve as the

PETER SINGER FAREWELL CONFERENCE

Monday, May 13

Maeder Hall, Room 002: panel discussions on “Utilitarianism” (10–11:45am) and “Freedom of Expression” (1:15–3:00pm)

Richardson Auditorium: Peter Singer in conversation with Andrew Chignell & Tania Lombrozo (3:30–4:15pm) and panel discussion on “Animals” (5:00–6:30pm)

juror and review all submissions in a blind jury process. Works will be judged based on artistic excellence and aesthetic vision, and selected artists will be notified by email.

For more information and submission guidelines, visit newhopearts.org.

Area Exhibits

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

Artists’ Gallery, 18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, has “Habitats” May 9 through June 2. An opening reception is on Saturday, May 11 from 5 to 8 p.m. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lambertvillearts. com.

Art on Hulfish, 11 Hulfish Street, has “Don’t we touch each other just to prove we are still here?: Photography and Touch” May 11 through August 4. Artmuseum.princeton.edu.

Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, has “Making Do” through May 24 in the Taplin Gallery. Artscouncilofprinceton.org.

Artworks, 19 Everett Alley, Trenton, has “2 nd Life: Rediscovering Nature’s Canvas” through May 24. Artworkstrenton.org.

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

Gourgaud Gallery, 23-A North Main Street, Cranbury, has a photography exhibit by the Cranbury digital Camera Club through May 31. Cranburyartscouncil.org.

Grounds For Sculpture, 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, has “Slow Motion” through September 1 and “That’s Worth Celebrating: The Life and Work of the Johnson Family” through the end of 2024, among other exhibits. Groundsforsculpture.org.

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

Museum hours are Thursday through Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m. Princetonhistory.org

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

Michener Art Museum, 138 South Pine Street, Doylestown, Pa., has “CFEVA at 40” through May 26. Michenerartmuseum.org.

Morpeth Contemporary, 43 West Broad Street, Hopewell, has “Christine Lafuente: The Air Between” through May 31. Morpethcontemporary.com.

Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, has “Morven Revealed: Untold Stories from New Jersey’s Most Historic Home,” through March 2, 2025. Morven.org.

New Hope Colony Foundation for the Arts, 2594 River Road, New Hope, Pa., has “Recent Works” by painter David Stier through June 16. Open Saturday and Sunday 1-5 pm. Newhopecolony.org/exhibitions.

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

Small World Coffee, 14 Witherspoon Street, has works by Karen Stolper through June 4. Small paintings by Diana Dubossarska are at the 254 Nassau Street location through June 4. Smallworldcoffee.com.

Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, Cadwalader Park, Trenton, has “Space + Clutter” through June 30. Ellarslie.org.

West Windsor Arts, 952 Alexander Road, West Windsor, has “Leave Your Mark –Member Art Show” through June 1. Westwindsorarts. org.

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

well loved and well read since 1946

Tuesday, May 14

Maeder Hall, Room 002: panel discussions on “Extreme Poverty” (10–11:45am), “Significance of Ethics” (1:30–3:15pm) and “Bioethics” (3:45–5:30pm)

The conference is free and open to the public, but registration is required. For more information and to register, please visit petersinger.uchv.princeton.edu

10 Bridge Street, Frenchtown, through May 31. An opening reception is on Saturday, May 11 from 5 to 8 p.m. For more information, visit sfagallery.com or call (908) 268-1700.

Lawrence P. Booth

“TRAIN TRESTLE”: Works by the late Dick De Groot, a Dutch American painter, sculptor, and inventor, are on view at SFA Gallery,

Mark Your Calendar

TOWN TOPICS

Wednesday, May 8

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: “ Leighton Listens.” Princeton Councilman Leighton Newlin is on hand to discuss current events with members of the public, at Sakrid, 20 Nassau Street.

7 p.m .: In commemoration of Holocaust Remembrance Day, Michelle Weinfeld discusses her book, From Generation to Generation: A Memoir of Food, Family, and Identity in the Aftermath of the Shoah Historical Society of Princeton. Princetonlibrary.org.

7:30 p.m .: 2024 Junior & Senior Film Festival presented by the Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Visual Arts, at the James Stewart Film Theater, 185 Nassau Street. Free. Arts.princeton.edu.

Thursday, May 9

7:30-10 a.m.: “Minding Your Mind: The Intersectionality of Nutrition and Mental Health,” a symposium by the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber, is held at Grounds For Sculpture, Hamilton Township. Greg Paulson of Trenton Health Team is keynote speaker; panel discussion follows on the emotional dimensions of dietary choices and their impact on mental health. Princetonmercerchamber.org.

10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Mother’s Day Floral Market on the corner of Nassau Street and University Place. Proceeds benefit the Garden Club of Princeton civic projects.

10 a.m.-3 p.m .: Princeton Farmers Market opens for the season at Hinds Plaza. More than 30 vendors with local organic produce, pasture-raised meat and eggs, cheeses, fresh flowers, knife-sharpening, jewelry, and more. Live music. SNAP/EBT cards and matches accepted up to $10 a day. Princetonfarmers market.com.

12-4:30 p.m .: Princeton Research Day at Frist Campus Center, Princeton University. Free and open to the public. Celebrating early career researchers, scholars, and creators. Researchday. princeton.edu.

5:30-7:30 p.m .: “Art of Indian Music,” at the Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street. $55. With Rashika Ranchan. Artscouncilofprinceton.org.

7 p.m .: Author Anne Lester discusses her book Your Best Financial Life: Save Smart Now for the Future You Want , with local business owner Gus Canzano. At Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.

Friday, May 10

10 a.m.-4 p.m. and 5-8 p.m.: St. Matthew’s Church Rummage Sale, 300 South Main Street, Pennington. Clothing, kids’ items, books, household goods, and more.

5-8 p.m.: Trivia Night at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. In the winery with DJ Iron Mike. Terhuneorchards.com.

7 p.m.: American Repertory Ballet performs Ethan Stiefel’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. Nbpac.org.

Saturday, May 11

9 a.m.-12 p.m.: St. Matthew’s Church Rummage Sale, 300 South Main Street, Pennington. Clothing, kids’ items, books, household goods, and more.

9 a.m.-2 p.m.: The Princeton/Pettoranello Sister City Foundation and Blooms Garden Center hold a Mother’s Day plant and bake sale in the parking lot of Pettoranello Gardens, Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve, 1 Mountain Avenue.

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

9 a.m.-3 p.m. Bordentown Annual Citywide Yard Sale. Promotes reducing, reusing, and recycling. BordentownCityGreenTeam@gmail.com.

9 a.m.-3 p.m.: New Jersey State Button Society Spring Show and Competition at Union Fire Company and Rescue Squad Fire Hall, 1396 River Road (Route 29), Titusville. Admission and parking free. Newjerseystatebuttonsociety.com.

10 a.m.: Foraging as Stewardship: Dame’s Rocket, led by experts from Friends of Princeton Open Space at Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve, 57 Mountain Avenue. Register at Fopos.org.

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

11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Mother’s Day pop-up event with Mary Abitanto, author of the recently released cookbook Nourish — Celebrating Nature’s Harvest & A Healthy Lifestyle at Anthropologie in Princeton MarketFair mall on Route 1. Snacks and refreshments will be served.

12-6 p.m.: Spring Music

Festival at Unionville Vineyards, 9 Rocktown Road, Ringoes. Wine, food, music, winery tour, vineyard walks, and more. Unionvillevineyards.com.

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

1-3 p.m .: “Broadway Boombox,” family-friendly musical theater experience at West Windsor Arts Council, 952 Alexander Road. $10$12. Westwindsorarts.org.

2 and 7 p.m.: American Repertory Ballet performs Ethan Stiefel’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. Nbpac.org.

2 and 8 p.m.: Mean Girls is at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. Stnj.org.

3 p.m .: Author Panel: “Weaving Identity: South Asian Authors on Telling Our Stories,” with Pooja Makhijani, Namrata Patel, Priyanka Taslim, and F.S. Yousaf. Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.

4 p.m .: Voices Chorale and the Berks Sinfonietta perform “In Conversation with Haydn” at Trinity Church, 33 Mercer Street. Voiceschoralenj.org.

4 p.m.: Princeton Youth Ballet performs The Secret Garden at the Princeton High School Performing Arts Center, 16 Walnut Lane. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 on the day of performance. Princetonyouthballet.org.

6 p.m .: Princeton Girlchoir performs “United in Song” at Patriots Theater at the War Memorial, Lafayette Street. Trenton. All six Girlchoir ensembles will sing, joined by more than 30 alumni. Westrickmusic.org.

8 p.m.: The Princeton Symphony Orchestra performs with pianist Sara Davis Buechner at Richardson Auditorium. Works by Beethoven, John Luther Adams, and Robert Schumann are on the program. Princetonsymphony.org.

Sunday, May 12

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

1 p.m.: Mean Girls is at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. Stnj.org.

2 p.m.: American Repertory Ballet performs Ethan Stiefel’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at New Brunswick Performing Arts Cen-

ter, 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. Nbpac.org.

3 p.m.: Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey Presents a family concert featuring Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, works by Rossini and Mozart, and the winner of the Mary G. Roebling Youth Concerto Competition. Sebastian Grand, conductor. At the New Jersey State Museum Auditorium. Capitalphilharmonic.org.

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

4 p.m.: Princeton Youth Ballet performs The Secret Garden at the Princeton High School Performing Arts Center, 16 Walnut Lane. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 on the day of performance. Princetonyouthballet.org.

4 p.m.: The Princeton Symphony Orchestra performs with pianist Sara Davis Buechner at Richardson Auditorium. Works by Beethoven, John Luther Adams, and Robert Schumann are on the program. Princetonsymphony.org.

4 p.m.: Second Sunday Poetry Reading with Michael Montlack and John Amen at Princeton Makes in the

Princeton Shopping Center. Princetonmakes.com.

Monday, May 13

7 p.m .: Author Monika Zgustová discusses and reads from A Revolver to Carry at Night , based on the life of Véra Nabokov and her marriage to Vladimir Nabokov. Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.

Tuesday, May 14 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m .: Toastmasters meets online. Tinyurl.com/zoomwithmidday.

Wednesday, May 15

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: “ Leighton Listens.” Princeton Councilman Leighton Newlin is on hand to discuss current events with members of the public, at Halo Pub, 9 Hulfish Street. 4-5 p.m .: “The Future of Girls’ Leadership,” for middle school girls and their families, at Stuart Middle School Resource Center, Stuart Country Day School, 1200 Stuart Road. Stuartschool.org.

6:30 p.m.: Author Dr. Michael Greger discusses his book How Not to Age, followed by a Q&A and book signing, at Unitarian Universalist Church of Princeton, 50 Cherry Hill Road. Uuprinceton.org.

Three Generations of Wine-making Experience

Is the Hallmark at Hopewell Valley Vineyards

Hopewell Valley Vineyards not only offers first class wines for purchase and tasting, it is also a destination in itself.

Located on 75 acres at 46 Yard Road in Pennington, its rustic setting is a popular spot for weddings, anniversary celebrations, birthday parties, corporate meetings, benefits, and other events.

IT’S NEW To Us

In addition, many visitors enjoy stopping in for light dining and a glass of wine, and live music entertainment on weekends, all the while relishing the engaging atmosphere and attractive setting.

Owners and husband and wife Sergio and Violetta Neri take great pride in the vineyards, which were established in 2001. Both of their families, Sergio’s in Italy and Violetta’s in Greece, had experience in wine-making, but the Hopewell Valley Vineyards were not even on the horizon when Sergio and Violetta each arrived separately in the U.S.

Seeing the Sights Sergio had graduated with an engineering degree in Italy, and after coming to the Princeton area to enroll his autistic son in the Princeton Child Development Institute, he continued his engineering studies. He later established a manufacturing and construction business in Ewing.

Violetta, who had earned a law degree in Greece, came to visit friends in Lawrenceville. She enjoyed seeing the sights in New York City, among other travels, and decided to stay in New Jersey and worked in real estate in Princeton for many years.

Wine was indeed a part of their history, however, and as Sergio recalls, “My father had established a vineyard in Tuscany when I was a teenager, and my grandfather also had a small vineyard, so I had experience with winemaking.”

And reports Violetta, “My grandmother made wine in Greece. She taught my mother, and I learned too.”

Nevertheless, opening the Hopewell Valley Vineyards in New Jersey was a new adventure for them, and Sergio contacted experts at Rutgers University to learn about growing grapes here. “I needed to know which grapes were appropriate to be grown in New Jersey. Different places have different climate challenges.

“In the beginning, I thought it was kind of a hobby, but it quickly became a full-time job. I love it, and I continue to learn new things about it all the time. You have to remember that great wines are born in the vineyard, but are raised in the winery.”

Events and Tastings

New Jersey was coming into its own as a wine-making region, and continues to develop, Sergio adds. “We were the 14th vineyard in New Jersey, and now there are 50. It has increased a lot

in the past 20 years.”

After they married, Violetta joined the operation in 2008, and began to look into establishing events, tastings, and expanding the dining opportunities.

“Originally, when the vineyards opened, people could basically come to buy a bottle or case of wine,” she explains. “I like to interact with people and spend time with them. That was one of the reasons I had enjoyed my time in real estate, meeting many people during those years. Now, I had this new opportunity to look forward to.”

The events became increasingly popular, and are now year-round. Also, more and more people began coming for light lunches, dinner, and the music entertainment. “In addition to the wine, the guests especially love our artisan pizza,” says Violetta. “We have many kinds, and they are made in our brick pizza oven, designed by Sergio, and we use special flour from Italy.”

The overall response to Hopewell Valley Vineyards has been very enthusiastic, she adds. “We have lots of repeat guests, including many local residents. And the events, especially weddings (both ceremonies and receptions), are more and more popular, with people coming from New York and Philadelphia as well as the nearby area.”

There are both indoor and outdoor spaces for guests to gather. Indoors, the larger piano tasting room features slate floors, a large coppertop bar, stone and stucco walls, a stage/dance floor, and the rustic brick pizza oven. The room accommodates up to 100 people seated, and with the stage and overhead projection system, it can be ideal for business meetings. The Steinway concert grand piano is a big attraction, and in addition to his other skills, Sergio is a talented jazz pianist.

Perfect Space

The smaller upper tasting room also has slate floors, a large copper-top bar, stone and stucco walls, and an attached covered deck that may be used in addition to the indoor space. Fifty guests can be seated. This area also has a display of artwork by area artists, points out Violetta. “I have a passion for art,” she

explains, “and we have exhibits year-round.”

A third location is the tank room, with its more industrial look and feel. It can accommodate up to 65 guests seated, also includes a bar, and is a perfect space for a DJ and dancing for weddings. It can also be used as a private event space for various functions.

Outdoors, the 40 by 80 foot tent is an ideal setting to celebrate an event from May through October. Up to 180 people can be accommodated for social gatherings of all kinds.

In addition, Hopewell Valley Vineyards can supply tables, chairs, linens, and catering services. “We can cater events with amazingly superb Italian-focused cuisine,” reports Violetta.

The wine tastings are also favorites at the vineyards, and as Violetta explains, “We offer flights — that is four different wines, by the glass, by the bottle to share, and bottles to go.”

Hopewell Valley Vineyards’ wines have achieved accolades from connoisseurs, critics, and novice wine drinkers alike. Offering a taste for many palates, these top quality wines have gained local, national, and international recognition at hundreds of wine competitions.

Best in Class

Recently, 17 Hopewell Valley Vineyards wines were submitted at the Finger Lakes Wine Competition, among 3,200 wines from 22 countries, and 16 of the Hopewell Valley Vineyards wines were selected as winners.

Other highlights include the prestigious New Jersey Governor’s Cup for the vineyards’ Chambourcin 2006, and best in class awards on an international scale, including the popular 2009 Merlot which scored 92 at the Los Angeles Wine and Spirits Competition.

Since then, the Hopewell Valley Vineyards’ Basla and Cabernet Sauvignon have returned with golds and double golds in multiple competitions.

The majority of wines at Hopewell Valley Vineyards consist of estate grown (wines produced from grapes grown at the vineyards); also available are estate fermented (with

grapes from California, but fermented at the vineyard); and estate cellared (wines imported from Italy). Red, white sparkling, dessert, dry, and sweet are all available.

Favorites include the estate grown high quality Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay (double gold medal winner), and the Rossa della Valle dry red, made with Chambourcin grapes. “Our Barbera is always great,” points out Violetta. “This is a vinifera from the Piedmont region in northern Italy, which we started as a tribute to Sergio’s maternal grandfather, Nonno Pietro, who had a small vineyard, produced his own vino, and very much enjoyed it every single day!”

These are just a sampling of the many wines available by the glass, bottle, or case. The 15 acres of grapes under cultivation produce 6,500 cases of wine per year.

Artisan Pizzas

In addition to the very popular artisan pizzas, guests at Hopewell Valley Vineyards enjoy the Light Fare menu with its variety of choices. Among them are the cheese plate with assorted cheeses, salami, Castelvetrano olives, and fresh grapes; and the Aegean salad with organic spring mix, feta, olives, carrots, and imported EVOO dressing.

Also, Spanakopita, with its blend of spinach, feta cheese, eggs, onion, dill and spices layered between sheets of flaky filo; and Caprese di Burrata, featuring creamy Puglia-style mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, organic greens, and basil/

HERE’S TO YOU! “We enjoy offering our guests a welcoming, enjoyable experience at our vineyard, including even more events. We want coming here to be a pleasure for everyone.” Sergio and Violetta Neri, owners and winemakers at Hopewell Valley Vineyards, are proud of their award-winning wines and of their congenial setting for dining, wine tasting, and events and social gatherings of all kinds.

imported EVOO drizzle, among other options.

Desserts include Tartufo (chocolate and vanilla ice cream in a thin chocolate shell); Pistachio Ricotta Cake, Ferrero Rocher crispy hazelnut chocolates, and brownie bites.

Light fare prices range from $4 to $15, and pizzas from $14 to $17. Wines start at $6 for the glass and $16.95 for the bottle. Many are in the $24/$25 range up to $36 and $40.

Many Visitors Violetta and Sergio Neri are happy to be able to share their very special Hopewell Valley Vineyards with many visitors. As Violetta says, “I enjoy it all! I enjoy having wine myself, introducing our wines to so many guests, and seeing them enjoy it. I also enjoy the actual hands-

on making of the wine. Sergio and I live together, work together, and travel together when we have the chance to visit our family members in Italy and Greece.

“And waking up and seeing the morning mists of the Sourland Mountains hovering over the vineyard fills me with such gratitude. I am deeply grateful for our family and life together and for our business that supports the family and offers joy, fun, and a serene place for our guests to rest and relax.”

Hopewell

Valley Vineyards is open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday and Saturday 12 to 9 p.m., and Sunday 1 to 6 p.m. For further information, call (609) 7374465 and visit the website at hopewellvalleywines.com.

—Jean Stratton

S ports

Princeton Men’s Lacrosse Continues Late Surge, Tops Penn in Ivy Final, Facing Maryland in NCAAs

When the Princeton University men’s lacrosse team got upset 13-12 in mid-April by a mediocre Brown squad, its hopes for any postseason play were put on life support.

“The big thing about the Brown loss is that it put our season at risk, we were at the risk of not even making the Ivy tournament,” said Princeton head coach Matt Madalon. “I think that was the most challenging part of it.”

The Tigers proved to be up to the challenge, ending the regular season with a 15-10 win over Penn on April 20 and a 15-8 victory at Yale a week later to earn a spot in the four-team Ivy League Tournament.

“I think to gain that sense of urgency a little earlier, now we are comfortable playing with it,” said Madalon. “We just understand the expectations, we have been in playoff mode for a while.”

Last weekend at the Ivy tourney in Ithaca, N.Y, the Tigers thrived in playoff mode, beating Yale 14-10 in the semis on Friday and then topping Penn 18-11 in the final two days later to earn the league’s automatic berth to the NCAA tournament. It marked the second straight Ivy championship for the Tigers.

Princeton, now 11-4 and riding a four-game winning streak, plays at seventhseeded Maryland (8-5) on May 11 in the opening round of the NCAA tourney. The victor of that game will advance to the NCAA quarterfinals to face the winner of the Duke-Utah first round matchup on May 19 in Hempstead, N.Y.

For Madalon, seeing the Tigers win a second straight Ivy tourney title was special on a couple of levels.

“For us, we are just happy to bring some consistency back to this program and play to the standard that everyone expects from us,” said Madalon. “We are just happy to keep going. We want to continue to earn more time with our guys. It is a group that really does like each other. They like being around each other.”

Madalon was happy with the way the Tigers performed as they beat Yale in the Ivy semis, posting their second win over the Bulldogs in a week.

“I think both teams made subtle adjustments — you don’t have that much time to really regroup and overhaul anything, but you do have an opportunity to sit there and look at the first game and see what you did well and see what you didn’t,” said Madalon. “Yale is such a tough team, but I think they were just a little hampered at the face-off X, that is a tough possession battle to overcome but they did great. Their defense is strong. [Jared] Paquette made saves to even out the possession. It was a hard-fought game.”

Princeton sophomore face-off specialist Andrew McMeekin helped the Ti-

gers dominate possession. He was named the Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player honor, winning 18 of 32 face-offs with 11 ground balls in the finale. He totaled 28 ground balls and was 38 for 60 inside the face-off circle over the two days of the tourney.

“When coach [Casey] Dowd settled in with that unit early on, they were just getting a feel for each other,” said Madalon. “They have gotten better every single day. We are hoping that they are still getting better and still working.”

In the third quarter against Yale, the Tigers produced some very good work, outscoring the Bulldogs 6-2 after the rivals were tied 5-5 at halftime.

“I think we just started locating the ball a little better, we were getting great shots,” said Madalon. “It was a matter of ‘hey you have got to get them away from his hands, you got to get him up the pipes a little bit’ and our guys started to cash in on some.”

Sophomore midfielder Chad Palumbo cashed in his opportunities, tallying a career-high five goals against Yale.

“Five goals is impressive any way you slice it but what was more impressive was that he did it in multiple ways,” said Madalon of Palumbo, who was named to the All-Tournament team.

“He scored on man-up, with time and room, and dodging. He has been really good for us. He has to keep being good for us. We are really happy about the way he is playing.”

In the final, Penn gave Princeton a good game as the Tigers found themselves clinging to an 8-7 lead at halftime.

“It was a game of runs, we went on them, they went on them,” said Madalon. “They came back and then we went up again. When they were coming back, it is easier to say now than in the game, we were making mistakes. We had gotten a couple of good bounces and we made a couple of careless errors.”

Princeton cleaned things up in the third quarter, outscoring the Quakers 7-4.

“I have got to give a lot of credit to our coordinators to get their groups to come out on fire in the second half,” said Madalon referring to offensive coordinator Jim Mitchell and defensive coordinator Jeremy Hirsch. “Our season has been on the line for about a month and our guys responded to that. You don’t always want to play with that pressure but I think at this point every team that gets to strap it up has that pressure.”

Madalon credited All-Ivy and All-Tournament performer Colin Mulshine with spearheading a defense that pressured Penn into submission, shutting out the Quakers in the fourth quarter.

“We think he is an AllAmerican, we think he is one of the top defensemen in the country,” said Madalon. “He

does his job day in, day out. He doesn’t say boo, he is not a holler guy. He is not a fancy checks guy, he just does what he is asked and does it to a really high standard. We are really impressed with Colin, he has really been an anchor down there.”

Senior goalie Michael Gianforcaro, who also earned All-Tournament honors, played to a high standard in the final.

“Michael was solid through the first three quarters and then I think he took it upon himself to make sure that his season wasn’t ending,” said Madalon of Gianforcaro who totaled 11 saves in the win, including four stops in the fourth quarter. “He really made some great plays in the fourth quarter.”

At the offensive end, junior attacker Coulter Mackesy triggered the Princeton attack, tallying three goals and four assists in the win as he also earned All-Tournament honors.

“I think for us to come out of that weekend, all of the guys recognize the toughness and the beatings that he takes behind the play with cross-checks in the back and poke checks,” said Madalon. “Everyone is just trying to wear him down throughout the game. He is just a really impressive young guy, a really tough kid. Seven points is awesome.”

The Tigers face a tough matchup with Maryland, which has been a thorn in the side for Princeton in recent years. The Terps beat the Tigers 13-7 earlier this season in late February and 11-5 in a 2023. In 2022, Maryland defeated Princeton 15-10 in a regular season meeting and then topped the Tigers 13-8 in the NCAA semis.

Madalon is looking forward to getting another shot at the Terps.

“We couldn’t be more excited,” said Madalon. “They are a team that has gotten the best of us recently. If we are going to take a step forward as a program, we have got to beat teams like Maryland.

We are excited for the opportunity.” In order to make the most of that opportunity, the Tigers will be looking to display the brand of lacrosse that they produced last weekend in Ithaca.

“We have to play our game,” said Madalon. “They do such a good job in taking you out of your game, really dictating pace and play. It would be nice to flip the script and dictate pace against these guys.”

In Madalon’s view, the Tigers could write a special script this May even though they are relying on a number of young players.

“It is funny, you look at us last year, we probably had one of the more experienced teams in the country,” said Madalon. “We were very injured but still experienced. You just have to show up and play great games for 60 minutes in those stadiums. This is a hungry group. This is a group that loves each other and is not willing to

let it go. We have got a lot of hopes of making a run here.”

The squad’s freshmen standouts, attackers Nate Kabiri and Colin Burns along with midfielders Tucker Wade and Cooper Mueller, have grown into key performers for the group.

“You play your first game of the year and you are only

a couple of months removed from being a high school lacrosse player,” said Madalon. “At the point now, you have been doing exams, you have been doing mid-terms, you are in finals. You are just a little more mature as a young guy. You understand more what the coaches are asking of you. You understand your strengths a little

more and your weaknesses. Those young guys stepped up big-time this weekend. Those guys helped us win an Ivy League championship and earn the opportunity to play deeper into May. We need a lot more out of those guys. We have got to get them healthy and fresh. They have been great.”

— Bill Alden

HOT HAND: Princeton University men’s lacrosse player Coulter Mackesy, left, looks to elude a defender in a game earlier this season. Last Sunday, junior attacker Mackesy tallied three goals and four assists to help second-seeded Princeton defeat fourth-seeded Penn 18-11 in the final of the Ivy League Tournament in Ithaca, N.Y. The Tigers, now 11-4 and riding a fourgame winning streak, will head to the NCAA tournament where they will play at seventh-seeded Maryland in a first round contest on May 11.

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

PU Women’s Lacrosse Falls to Penn in Ivy Semis But Gets At-Large Bid to NCAAs, Will Face Drexel

The announcement last Sunday night of an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament helped the Princeton University women’s lacrosse in a number of ways.

It enabled them refocus on another goal ahead, it took away some of the sting of falling 18-14 to Penn in the Ivy League tournament semifinals last Friday, and was heartening after the program missed out on the NCAAs last year.

“This group has worked incredibly hard,” said Tigers head coach Jenn Cook. “To get this opportunity, starting from the end of last year they have really put the work in and really have built relationships on and off field that have really shown on the field, and they have put in the work in order to have this opportunity and all of us are very, very excited.”

Princeton, now 10-6, will go on the road to face Drexel (13-5) on May 10 in Chestnut Hill, Mass., in a first round contest. The winner faces second-seeded and host ACC champion Boston College (16-3) on May 12 in the second round. Boston College has reached the last six national championship games, but first the Tigers have to get by Drexel.

The Dragons were the No. 2 seed in the Coastal Athletic Association and are coming off a 9-6 loss to Stony Brook in the CAA tournament championship. Both Princeton and Drexel defeated Penn State during the regular season. Princeton

also defeated Penn, whom Drexel lost to in February.

“They’re a tough, gritty, well-coached team,” said Cook. “It’s going to be a great opponent for us. Being from the CAA, we actually have a coach that played in the CAA and knows Drexel pretty well which is helpful. They have phenomenal players that are dangerous, but for us it’s really about playing our game at a really high level and executing what we know and playing our game at a high level.”

Princeton is grateful to have the opportunity to continue their season in the NCAAs. The Tigers were confident in their body of work even after the loss to Penn in the Ivy semifinals at Yale.

“All you can really do is set yourself up for as much success as possible by playing really competitive outof-conference games and the Ivy this year has been incredibly competitive as a league,” said Cook. “So in general our strength of schedule or RPI, our quality wins like with Penn State and Penn, really put us in a fantastic position. I think our body of work was really, really strong in the competition that we played in and outside of the league, so it made us feel good going into Selection Sunday.”

Princeton continues to try to learn from every game. The Tigers felt good about the first half they played against Penn in the Ivy semi. The second-seeded Tigers

led third-seeded Penn, 8-7, at halftime. Draw controls were 9-8 in Penn’s favor, turnovers were virtually even, and so was the game. The contest went back and forth for the first 10 minutes of the third quarter, and when Kari Buonanno scored her third goal of the game it tied the score, 11-11, with 5:30 left in the third quarter. Penn scored seven of the next eight goals to take control and a penalty on Princeton forced them to play a player down with more than seven minutes left in regulation.

The Tigers took plenty from the loss that they hope will help in the NCAA tournament.

“I think it’s making ingame adjustments quicker, I think that was something that we didn’t do at the highest level this past weekend,” said Cook. “We went and had a bit of a draw drought at not the greatest time. We were really even with them at halftime with the draw, and I think that third quarter we didn’t do exactly what we needed to do off the draw. In general we could have managed matchups better, and then making the most of our opportunities on the offensive end by burying the ball. In general, I think for us it’s really understanding the tempo of the game and having game awareness.”

Princeton got four goals from Jami MacDonald against the Quakers and hat tricks by Buonanno and Haven Dora. McKenzie Blake

goal in a game

this

will face Drexel

on May 10

Chestnut Hill, Mass., in an NCAA first round contest. The winner faces second-seeded and host ACC champion Boston College

scored two goals. Amelia Hughes stopped 11 shots. Cook feels good about Princeton’s chances if they can implement some of the timeout adjustments quickly and remain disciplined in their play. The Tigers are looking to put that loss behind them.

“It’s a new season,” said Cook. “That’s what’s so exciting about the NCAA tournament. It’s anybody’s game and you go in it with the same type of prep and attitude that you want to be better and use this opportunity to the fullest extent and enjoy every single moment and continue to play with joy and being connected and executing the details at our really, really high level.”

Princeton is preparing much the same way it would for a regular-season week. The Tigers have to be prepared to face both Drexel and Boston College. They have to balance being fully prepared for Drexel and also not waiting until Saturday to put in a game plan for BC.

“You add in a lot of different concepts and practice planning that have overlaps

May

between both opponents,” said Cook. “We do this going into the Ivy tournament, and when we play Wednesday/Saturday games, so this isn’t uncommon for our team. And that’s why Wednesday/Saturday-type of weeks for us, when we are doing team prep in the regular season, it is important for our ability to really handle all that information and kind of have all of our practices ready to go regarding the important concepts that we need to really iron out and teach that are going to lead to success.”

In tournament time, the stars have to show up. Princeton had two players named First-Team All-Ivy League. Hughes was named the Ivy Goalkeeper of the Year while Blake was a unanimous firstteam selection at attack.

“Those honors by those two are just incredible,” said Cook. “It’s so nice for them to be recognized within the Ivy League for how much they mean to this team. But what we always like to say is that those individual awards are a reflection of our group

and the work that we do day in and day out to make each other. Both of them mean so much to this team. They’re both sparks that ignite our defensive end and our offensive end. They’re gamers, they compete. They make big plays in big moments. I can’t say enough good things about them. They’re just incredible people and competitors and teammates.”

Dora, Abigail Roberts, and Grace Tauckus were all second-team Ivy honorees. Princeton will need good games from its full roster to get by Drexel and Boston College in the opening weekend. The Tigers aren’t looking past anyone, not this season in which parity has been prevalent and nothing is a given.

“It’s anybody’s year,” said Cook. “Nobody has zero losses on the year, so everybody is taking this game like any other game. It’s really, really important. It’s the most important one. It’s the one that’s right in front of us. And we’ve got to handle our business at a high level.”

—Justin Feil

STILL GOING: Princeton University women’s lacrosse player Jami MacDonald, right, heads to

earlier

season. Last Friday, sophomore attacker MacDonald tallied four goals and two assists as Princeton fell 18-14 to Penn in the Ivy League Tournament semis. The Tigers, now 10-6, will get to play in another tourney as they were named as an at-large selection to the upcoming NCAA tournament. Princeton

(13-5)

in

(16-3) on

12 in the second round.

(Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)

PU Sports Roundup

PU Women’s Lightweights

Take 1st at Eastern Sprints

Living up to its No. 1 national ranking, the Princeton University women’s lightweight varsity 8 placed first at the Eastern Sprints last Sunday in Worcester, Mass.

The Tiger top boat posted a winning time of 7:05.99 over the 2,000-meter course on Lake Quinsigamond with Harvard-Radcliffe taking second in 7:09.69.

It marked the first time in program history that the varsity 8 has win four straight golds at Sprints. The last team to win four consecutive golds at the event was Wisconsin, who won six in a row from 2005-10.

The Tigers will next be in action when they compete in the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) national championship regatta from May 31-June 2 on Mercer Lake in West Windsor.

Tiger Women’s Track

Takes 2nd at Ivy Heps

Alexandra Kelly starred as the Princeton University women’s track team placed narrow second at the 2024 Ivy League Outdoor Heptagonal Championships last weekend at Weaver Stadium.

Sophomore Kelly placed first in the long jump and second in the triple jump and was named the Most Outstanding Field Performer of the meet. Other individual victors for the Tigers at the meet included Tessa Mudd in the pole vault, Shea Green in the javelin, Georgina Scoot in the triple jump, and Julia Jongejeugd in the heptathlon.

In the team standings, the Tigers just missed out on winning the title as they scored 184 points just behind champion Penn, which totaled 184.5.

Princeton will next be in action when it competes in the NCAA first round meet from May 22-25 at Lexington, Ky.

Princeton Baseball Makes Ivy Tournament

Going 1-2 last weekend at Columbia, the Princeton University baseball team clinched a spot in the Ivy League Tournament.

In action on Friday, Princeton prevailed 4-2 in the opener of the series. A day later, the Tigers got swept in a doubleheader, falling 8-7 and 9-1.

Princeton, now 17-24 overall and 12-9 Ivy, moved into second in the league standings and have earned a spot in the four-team tourney which will determine the league’s automatic berth to the NCA tournament. The Tigers will start action in the tourney on May 17 which will be hosted by top-seeded and regular season champion Columbia.

Tiger Softball to Host Ivy Tourney

Going 2-1 in a threegame set against Cornell last weekend, the Princeton University softball team ended up earning the first seed in the upcoming Ivy League Tournament.

On Friday, Princeton fell 6-4 to the Big Red in the opener of the series. A day later, the Tigers rebounded

by sweeping a doubleheader, prevailing 4-2 and 5-4 to improve to 26-15 overall and 14-7 Ivy. In the nightcap, Tiger junior star Lauren Sablone smacked a threerun walk-off homer to give Princeton the victory and lift them into a three-way tie for first place with Harvard and Yale in the final regular season league standings.

The Tigers have been seeded first in the Ivy tourney and will host the doubleelimination event at Strubing Field which is slated for May 9-11. The Tigers will open play in the tourney by facing fourth-seeded Dartmouth on May 9.

Princeton Men’s Tennis Falls to VCU in NCAAs

Ellis Short provided a highlight as the No. 32 Princeton University men’s tennis team fell 4-2 to No. 40 VCU last Friday in the fi rst round of the NCAA tournament in Charlottesville, Va.

Short posted a win at fifth singles as the Tigers finished the spring with a 22-8 record.

PU Women’s Tennis

Ousted by UVA in NCAAs

Running into a buzz saw, the No. 41 Princeton University women’s tennis team fell 4-0 at No. 6 Virginia last Sunday in the second round of the NCAA tournament in Charlottesville, Va.

The Tigers lost the doubles point and fell in straight sets at second, fourth, and sixth singles

Princeton, who defeated No. 26 Washington 4-3 in a first round contest on Saturday, ended the spring with a 16-7 record. It marked the fifth straight year that the Tigers advanced to the Round of 32 at the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers also won the Ivy title for the fifth season in a row in 2024.

Tiger Men’s Heavyweights Defeat Brown

Coming through in a tight race, the top-ranked Princeton University varsity 8 defeated No. 6 Brown last Saturday on Lake Carnegie in the race for the Content Cup.

Princeton posted a time of 5:34.8 over the 2,000-meter course with Brown coming at 5:37.4.

By virtue of its win, the varsity 8 earned the program’s fifth undefeated regular season (1881, 1997,

1999, 2006, and 2024).

The Tigers are next in action when they compete in the Eastern Sprints on May 19 at Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass.

Tiger Women’s Open Crew Defeats Pennsylvania

Ending regular season racing on a high note, the No. 3 Princeton University women’s open varsity 8 defeated Penn last Saturday on Lake Carnegie.

The undefeated Tiger top boat covered the 2,000-meter course in a time of 6:23.7 with Penn finishing at 6:26.7.

Princeton returns to action when it competes in the Ivy League Championships from May 18-19 at Pennsauken.

Two Tiger Football Players Invited to NFL Rookie Camps

Two Princeton University football senior stars, quarterback Blake Stenstrom and linebacker Will Perez, have been selected to participate to NFL rookie camps.

Stenstrom was invited the Philadelphia Eagles minicamp while Perez was invited to the Indianapolis Colts’ rookie minicamp.

Stenstrom, a 6’4, 220-pound native of Highlands, Colo., threw for 5,036 yards, 29 touchdown passes and completed 64 percent of his passes during his time with Princeton. He is one of only four players in program history to throw over 5,000 yards and one of only seven quarterbacks to complete at least 64 percent of his throws. He also added over 328 yards rushing and five touchdowns on the ground during his Tiger career.

He earned Second-Team All-Ivy League honors in 2022 after posting a league-best 2,742 passing yards and 69.4 completion percentage, while ranking second in the league in completions (243) and third in touchdown passes (16).

UPLIFTING EXPERIENCE: Members of the Princeton University men’s track team celebrate after they placed first at the 2024 Ivy League Outdoor Heptagonal Championships last weekend at Weaver Stadium. The Tigers piled up 204.5 points in winning the title with Harvard coming in second at 126. It marked the 22nd Outdoor Heps crown for the program and also its 11th Triple Crown as the Tigers previously won the Indoor Heps and Cross Country Heps this school year. It was the first Triple Crown under under Jason Vigilante, who is in his debut campaign as the head coach of Princeton men’s track and cross country squads. The Tigers’ 204.5 points were the third-highest point total in history at the Outdoor Heps. Princeton freshman sprinter Jackson Clarke was named Most Outstanding Track Performer of the meet after winning the 100 meters and the 200 meters and helping the Tigers finish second in the 4x100 meter relay. Princeton competes in the Army Twilight Meet on May 9 in West Point, N.Y. before heading south to take part in the NCAA first round meet from May 22-25 at Lexington, Ky. (Photo provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)

Rider Furniture

Perez, for his part, recorded 87 tackles during his time with Princeton, posting six tackles for loss and two sacks. He also recorded two interceptions and 12 passes defended.

The 6’4, 195-pound native of North Caldwell, was Honorable Mention All-Ivy in 2023 after setting a new career high in tackles (38) and tackles for loss (four).

For Sarah Henderson, making it to her Senior Day for the Princeton High girls’ lacrosse team last Thursday proved to be a bit of an ordeal.

During her high school career, Henderson has dealt with serious injuries, suffering a torn ACL and undergoing major foot surgery along the way.

“It is definitely a challenge, me and my teammate Sylvie [LeBouef] have gone through really similar things,” said star attacker Henderson. “We really help support each other. We both play low attack and we talk through it. Like when our knee is hurting or we are having the same struggles with our brace, having to tape it. We are able to talk to each other and that is a really great connection to have because we understand the struggle of it.”

Going through injury struggles has required Henderson to modify her game.

“When I look back at some freshmen pictures or videos, it is tough,” said Henderson, who plays with a large brace on her right knee. “I was able to play midfield and I was able to run a lot more. I was definitely more agile. I have just had to adapt and realize that the driving is not as easy for me. It is taking a step back and realizing I can be a good assister for this team.”

As PHS hosted Robbinsville last Thursday, Henderson emerged as the top passer for the Tigers, tallying one goal and four assists as the Tigers rallied from a 6-4 halftime deficit to prevail 11-7.

“I have learned a lot from my sister, I was watching one of her games last night,”

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said Henderson, referring to older sister Shoshi, a former PHS standout and current star for Pomona College.

“Just watching her play, we have very similar styles. It was just taking a step back and being patient. A lot of the time when I drive in, I am driving to make space so I can get the pass.”

PHS showed patience collectively in overcoming the Ravens.

“Coming off the halftime, we were just talking about getting our energy up and going out there with everything we have,” said Henderson. “We really wanted to come out today and show who we are as Princeton girls’ lacrosse. We just realized that if we can work together, we can get those goals and we can beat them. It worked out, our attack really shined today.”

Working with classmate and PHS leading scorer Devlin has helped Henderson pile up the assists.

“Riley is a great cutter, it is easy to get an assist to her,” said Henderson. “She is going to have a finish, she can shoot from almost any angle. She has a beautiful lefty shot as well. I know when she is cutting in, even if it is not the most ideal, if I can get it to her stick, she is going to have a nice finish. I love assisting her.”

Midway through the third quarter, Henderson found herself on on the receiving end of a nice assist from sophomore Leah Bornstein as she scored a goal.

“That was nice, we have practiced a lot of 4 v 3s be-

in the quarterfinal round of the Mercer County Tournament and moved to 10-6.

“We were man-up in that situation and it was oh this is exactly what we practiced before every single game so put it in. Leah just saw me.”

PHS head coach Katie Federico liked the way her players executed what they have practiced in the win over Robbinsville.

“We haven’t had many close games like this, this season, they have been kind for lopsided on either end,” said Federico. “It was really great to have that today. Every single person contributed, it was just a beautiful effort for every part of the field. I said to them we are so proud of each and every one of them.”

Federico was particularly proud of the defensive effort by the Tigers as they stifled the Ravens, holding them to one goal in the second half.

“Allegra [Brennan] really knocked it out of the park today in goal, she had some great saves,” said Federico of her senior goalie who ended up with eight saves. “The defense just shut them down. Their communication, their taking, and their slides was wonderful.”

Sophomore midfielder Bornstein has a wonderful game against Robbinsville, tallying four goals and one assist.

“She is so feisty, she has really come out strong this year,” said Federico. “She just doesn’t stop, it was amazing. I love her and she is learning a lot. She has been great on the draw, get-

“Sarah had an awesome game; she was seeing those cuts so beautifully and was so patient, that really helped her,” said Federico of Henderson, who has contributed 10 goals and a team-high 29 assists so far this season. “Riley is a very unselfish player, and has become such a leader on this team this year. I said to her, ‘The girls look up to you, you have set that standard for them.’ She is teaching them. It is great to see that because she had it when she was a freshman. It is beautiful watching her, how she can weave in and out. I am always amazed. I don’t know how she does it. Sarah and Riley have had some really nice connections. Today it was great.”

The program’s senior class is leaving quite a legacy. “It really is hard to put into words, I love this group,” said Federico of the squad’s Class of ’24 which includes Julia

Engelhart, Joci Lee, Theona Hsu, Phoebe Steiger, Ava Caruso, and Avery Gallagher in addition to Henderson, LeBouef, Devlin, and Brennan. “Watching them grow since their freshman year has just been so nice. They are so supportive of each other and the underclassmen. They love the team, they love the camaraderie and the friendships that they have. They are having fun. To me, that is one of the greatest things that can come out of a high school team. I love it because those are the memories you look back on and you remember.”

said Federico, whose team hosts Hun School on May 13. “They have confidence in themselves and each other now. That has made such a difference.”

Henderson and her classmates have focused on making a difference for the program.

“I have been playing with a lot of these girls, even before PHS like with PGLax and in middle school; it is definitely sad to see the end of an era,” said Henderson, who is headed to Cornell University this fall.

Federico is hoping that the Tigers can make some special memories down the stretch as they have rebounded from a disappointing 7-12 campaign in 2023.

“Last year was hard, I think everybody has had a year of maturity and just confidence,”

“We have four senior captains (Lee and Steiger in addition to Henderson and Devlin), we are the ones leading the team. We are trying to set a legacy for next year, teaching the team who we are as Princeton lacrosse so they can play the same way that we do now.”

— Bill Alden

Senior Sindhu Enjoying the Ride in Final Campaign

As PHS Girls’ Golf Wins MCT, Makes State Finals

Tia Sindhu elected to cover up the scores when she opened the live scoring app used in high school golf competitions this year. She prefers to write it down on paper, but never does the math until the end.

“When I write it down, I’m not adding my score or anything in my head,” said Sindhu, a member of the Princeton High girls’ golf team. “I just write it down, keep playing with my game, kind of to keep me in the same zone because once I start adding up my score I feel like things go wrong at that point because then I start analyzing and thinking, which is not what you want to do. You just want to stay in the moment and keep playing the best golf that you can.”

The lone senior on the PHS team had no idea how the team had done when she finished her round in the Mercer County Tournament last Thursday at Mercer Oaks West, and it added to her thrill to discover that the Tiger girls’ golf team had repeated as MCT champion, edging runner-up Lawrenceville School by a single stroke.

“It felt amazing and I think it felt even more special this year because it’s my last season playing for Princeton and I really wanted to make the most of it,” said Sindhu. “I feel like all of our girls played so well. I think we were all in the right mindset in the beginning and we were just ready to ready to win this, ready to keep the Mercer County title the second year.”

Junior star Jacqueline Zang led the Tigers with a oneover 73. Kyuyoung Chung shot 78, Sindhu had an 81, Yasna Shahriarian shot 94, and Shreya Gaekwad carded a 97. Their 326 total won the hotly contested county crown over Lawrenceville with third-place Peddie School 20 strokes back.

“It was slightly different than last year,” said PHS head coach Jess Monzo. “I think last year’s team really excelled throughout the year. This year there were some other teams that any given day could shoot really, really well and today was no walk in the park. It was still tough. We wound up winning the tournament by one stroke.”

PHS followed up the county title with a third-place fi nish in the Central Jersey sectional at Rutgers University Golf Course in Piscataway. They finished one stroke ahead of Bridgewater-Raritan for the fi nal qualifying spot for the state championships that will be held May 14 at Raritan Valley Country Club in Bridgewater. It’s quite an accomplishment for a PHS team that didn’t use the same five it had last year.

“We do have a pretty different group this year, which is cool,” said Monzo. “Jackie’s sister [Madeleine], who is playing at UPenn right now, obviously she graduated, but the rest of the lineup was young last year. They’re all on the team again this year and they’re all shooting well, but it’s crazy to think the academic workload that these girls have and then they’re playing.”

Sindhu is one of the holdovers from last year along with Zang. Chung is a talented sophomore who played this year for the first time after focusing on an advanced course load her first year of high school. Gaekwad is a junior who got her first chance to play at counties this year after being on the team last year, and Shahriarian is a freshman.

“The girls are so, so close and so silly and so goofy at the same time,” said Monzo. “They know how to play golf, they’re very good, but they are like a ball of energy. They’re so fun.”

Sindhu has been having a lot more fun since PHS split to have a girls team option, and now the Tiger girls have won the county in their first two seasons. Sindhu has been the only girls player in her grade since she started freshman year. She has had more opportunity to show her ability with the girls team and become a valuable part of the champions whereas she was in the shadows with the co-ed team.

“I felt like I wasn’t able to play the golf that I knew I could, and especially with all my experience it just didn’t feel very welcoming at fi rst,” said Sindhu. “But as we started to make a girls’ team, I felt so confi dent, so comfortable. It’s just been a so much better experience and I know that Coach Monzo knows the potential that I have and he can see it. I guess I feel like it’s been valued more these past two years, which is great.”

Sindhu sees a team full of talented players. That skill level has helped the PHS girls be so successful. For the second straight season, they were unbeaten through the

regular season with an 8-0 record, which was a credit to their depth.

“None of us are really relying on just one or two people,” said Sindhu. “We’re all combined shooting very good, and I think that’s what makes us feel a lot more confi dent because we all know we can shoot good. And once we do it, it’s great for the team overall.”

The regular season success and the practice that Princeton had put in together gave Sindhu and the Tigers confi dence heading into the county tournament.

“They just believe in themselves,” said Monzo. “They know what they can do. They’ve seen each other play a lot of golf. A lot of them belong to the same country club, so that a lot of them play with each other throughout the year. They know what they can do and they know if they all shoot well — they don’t have to shoot lights out, they don’t have to shoot their best round ever — but they know if I do this, if you do that, we’ll be OK.”

Sindhu tried to reinforce that idea. She offered veteran advice and positivity to the team and emphasized the fun that they were having together chasing a county crown.

“I think I was ready from the beginning at the driving range,” said Sindhu. “I kept telling our team things like, ‘we’re going to win this, it’s all good,’ kind of keeping them not too stressed out because we do have a freshman and sophomore who never played in the counties before, so they were definitely a little nervous. So I was kind of just keeping that calm mentality. It was great.”

Throughout her round — one of the best of her career — it helped that the group she was with was encouraging and supportive of each other. Every stroke ended up mattering for PHS, which had no room to spare when it was all said and done.

“It really came down to our number four and five golfers on both teams,” said Monzo. “And every one of those girls shot under 100.”

PHS wasn’t entirely sure how the year would go when it graduated a Division I player in Zang. But the Tigers have proven they could overcome that loss and put together another trophy winning group.

“In the beginning we were a little bit, I wouldn’t say scared, but just a little bit nervous,” said Sindhu. “Kind of because of losing one of one of our very good players. Little did we know we had an amazing freshman and sophomore joining this year. Having another year being undefeated and playing so well as a team, it’s just been great and I’m not surprised that we’re undefeated now. It’s just such a good feeling that two years in a row we can play great golf.”

Next year, the Tigers will be moving on from Sindhu. She will be playing club golf at the University of

Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, where she intends to study computer science. It’s a bit ironic maybe that Tia Sindhu chose then to ignore the advanced scoring technology that would have allowed her to follow PHS’s progress at her fi nal county tournament.

“I had no clue,” said Sindhu. “I defi nitely was rooting for us to win, but I was not checking it at all. I kind of felt like I was playing good for what I could have done for my team, so I was happy with that. And then I got even happier at the end when the team won.”

—Justin Feil

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ON COURSE: Members of the Princeton High girls’ golf team are all smiles as they display the plaque they earned last week for placing first in the Mercer County Tournament at Mercer Oaks West. Pictured, from left, are Kyuyoung Chung, Jackie Zang, Tia Sindhu, Shreya Gaekwad, and Yasna Shahriarian. Last Monday, PHS followed up the county title with a third-place finish in the Central Jersey sectional at Rutgers University Golf Course in Piscataway. The Tigers finished one stroke ahead of Bridgewater-Raritan for the final qualifying spot for the state championships that will be held May 14 at Raritan Valley Country Club in Bridgewater.

Caputo Producing Milestone Senior Campaign

As PDS Girls’ Lacrosse Heads Into Stretch Drive

Tessa Caputo has been piling up the milestones this spring in her final season for the Princeton Day School girls’ lacrosse team.

Star attacker and Fairfield University commit Caputo recently broke the program record of 232 goals and now has 242. She also holds the Panther mark in points with 386 as she closes in on joining the 400 club.

While Caputo is proud of those achievements, she is not dwelling on stats.

“It is definitely something fun to look at but at the end of the day, it is not something that I am focused on going into games,” said Caputo. “My mom is all over it, she loves it.”

Last Wednesday against Notre Dame, Caputo displayed her focus as she tallied five goals and four assists in a thrilling

back-and-forth contest that saw the Irish pull out a 1615 win.

“We came into this knowing that it was going to be a battle, we really played to the end today,” said Caputo, who starred last year as PDS edged Notre Dame 12-11 in another nail-biter.

“It was a very physical game, both teams played their hearts out. They played great, they have such a good offense. At the end of the day, it could have gone either way.”

The Panthers played some very good offense as they broke down a perennially stingy Notre Dame defense.

“We practiced our offense a lot yesterday, that was all we worked on,” said Caputo. “We put Shelby [Ruf] in the middle which definitely worked great, freeing up that space and occupying

their backer. I think that really worked well and that is why we were able to get such a good offense going.”

Trailing 10-7 midway through the third quarter, PDS went on a 5-1 run as it took advantage of a double man-up situation.

“That was what we needed,” said Caputo. “We kind of fell down early in the third quarter but we kept that energy up the whole game.”

In the fourth quarter, the foes were knotted at 1313 and 14-14 before Notre Dame edged ahead 16-14. Caputo scored a goal with 1:43 left in regulation to narrow the gap to one and PDS had one last possession in the waning moments but could not score as Notre Dame goalie Margaret Ritson saved a last-second shot.

While the result stung, Caputo saw the performance

by PDS as a good sign heading into postseason play.

“It really showed us today that we can compete with anyone, we are really stoked to go into playoffs,” said Caputo. “This definitely gives us some good momentum. I know we lost this game, but I think all of us have such high spirits about this game. This was one of the best games we have ever played, I am not sad about it or anything.”

Caputo is stoked to be competing for a few weeks more with fellow seniors Kelly Christie and Jesse Hollander.

“Me, Kelly, and Jesse are all super close off the field as well, I think that definitely helps,” said Caputo. “We have all been playing together since freshman year so that really helps. We just have such a great bond. We see each other, we work together in practice every day. We all trust each other so much.”

Next year, Caputo will be renewing a bond as she joins former PDS teammate Paige Gardner at Fairfield.

“I am so excited, I can’t wait; I have talked to her once in a while, She loves it and I am so excited to get out there with her and be a part of such an awesome team,” said Caputo, whose older brother, Cal, a former PDS standout, led the Williams College men’s lax team in scoring this spring with 61 points in 44 goals and 17 assists. “They are No. 22 in the nation, which is so awesome. I am really excited to work hard this summer for a chance at playing time.”

PDS first-year head coach Lucia Marcozzi was excited by her team’s effort against Notre Dame.

“We were expecting a tight game the entire time, and I am super happy it turned out that way,” said Marcozzi. “It was a great game, we kept coming back. Their defense is great, the coach knows what he is doing. We made a really valiant effort of getting our offense in check with them.”

The Panthers tweaked their offensive approach to deal with the Irish.

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RECORD PACE: Princeton Day School girls’ lacrosse player Tessa Caputo races upfield in game earlier this season. Last Wednesday, Caputo tallied five goals and four assists as PDS fell 16-15 to Notre Dame. On Monday, Caputo scored seven goals with two assists as fourth-seeded PDS fell 14-11 to fifthseeded Hun in the quarterfinal round of the Mercer County Tournament. Fairfield University commit Caputo recently broke the program record of 232 career goals and now has 242. The Panthers, now 11-4, are next in action when they play in the Prep B state tournament where they are seeded second and are slated to host third-seeded Morristown-Beard in a semifinal contest on May 10. (Photo

great for us. One practice was able to get us close, maybe if we had two we would have gotten it. We worked so hard, I told them that this is one of my favorite games watching them.”

In Marcozzi’s view, the grit PDS showed against Notre Dame bodes well for the postseason challenges ahead.

draw controls that we need.”

The third senior offensive standout, Hollander, enjoyed an awesome moment in the contest as she hit the 100-point milestone in her career.

“I think it is a good way to remember the heart that we have,” said Marcozzi, whose team fell 14-11 to Hun last Monday in the Mercer County Tournament quarterfinals and will host MorristownBeard in the Prep B state semis on May 10. “This is good to keep the heart in the game to get us rolling for tournaments, so I am happy with this.”

Marcozzi was very happy with how Caputo triggered the offense against Notre Dame.

“She played a little more defense last year and a little bit in the mid this year,” said Marcozzi of Hollander who ended up with three goals and two assists against the Irish. “It is building her confidence, saying you can dodge, you can score. It has really helped having Tessa and Kelly build her up, these girls have a great chemistry. I am going to miss them next year. I am going to take it as long as I can this year, that is my goal.”

With PDS, now 11-4, also playing in the upcoming New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public tourney later this month after completing action in the Prep B tourney, Marcozzi is confident that the Panthers will keep going hard.

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“They run a defense that you don’t see a lot — I played that defense in college. I was a backer, so for me I was, ‘heck yeah,’” said Marcozzi, a former Bucknell women’s lax star defender. “We had one day to practice, the thing with a backer though is that it stops a drive and we are drivers. We kind of had to change our mindset to look for feeds and look for passes. We put Shelby inside which was great. Tessa has a great head to see people cutting. Kelly and Jesse are so fast flying in, so that was

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“I told her today, I put her low and she is usually up top,” said Marcozzi. “She was a little bummed and I said, ‘At low, you are the eyes. You are one of the smartest girls on this field and you have to be the eyes.’ She did a great job, she played like a quarterback today.”

Christie also did a great job against the Irish, tallying three goals and three assists.

“Kelly just has so much grit, it is crazy,” said Marcozzi. “People are always confusing her with Tessa. They are both quick, they play the same way. Kelly is awesome. She helps on the draws, she gets numerous

“We have good games coming up; if we stay in this type of tenacity we can really make a run all the way to the end,” said Marcozzi. “It is one at a time.”

In Caputo’s view, PDS has what it takes make a memorable run.

“We need to keep playing like we did today with hustle and the hard work and keeping together as a team,” said Caputo. “It is really just focusing on the team, trusting each other and trusting our defense. It is keeping our heads up on the ball.”

—Bill Alden

by Frank Wojciechowski)

Batista Starring with Arm, Bat for Hun Baseball

As Raiders Primed for Another Big Postseason Run

Charlie Batista tapped the left side of his chest as he was greeted by his Hun School baseball teammates by the dugout after striking out the side in the sixth inning to cap a stellar mound effort against the Hill School (Pa.) last Friday.

Showing heart, senior Batista dug deep in his fi nal inning of work.

“I was thinking coming into that sixth inning, I was getting up there, the most I pitched before this game was like 78,” said Batista. “I got up to 91 pitches. I felt good all the way through. That was a nice way to end.”

Batista produced a nice effort overall, yielding just one hit with eight strikeouts and three walks as Hun prevailed 3-0.

“I feel like attacking the zone early defi nitely worked for me,” said Batista, reflecting on his mound effort. “Every single at-bat, I worked a first pitch fastball down the middle and I set up all of my other pitches. My curveball was working really well today, the slider was working really well, and my changeup was working really well. All of my pitches seemed to be working well. I feel good on the mound, it is like second nature to me now.”

Putting in good work on the mound all spring, Batista has recorded a microscopic 0.26 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 27 innings.

“I feel like what has helped me in the beginning of the season is just having fun,” said Batista, a Penn State commit. “It is my last year here, I love the sport. I just wanted to have the most fun here and it is working out for me. I don’t really look at the stats that much.”

In addition to his superb pitching, Batista has piled up some impressive batting stats, hitting .396 with teamhighs in homers (four) and RBIs (24).

“My bat has been good, I come with same approach to hitting,” said Batista, who blasted a homer and had four RBIs last Monday as Hun defeated Pennington 13-0 to improve to 14-5. “I look for my pitch early in the at-bat and I try to adjust to what I see and keep my hands back. I am in a groove right now.”

Hun head coach Tom Monfi letto credited Batista with being in a groove on the mound.

“Charlie has had an amazing year,” said Monfi letto in assessing Batista’s pitching performance against Hill. “He has been incredible and very fun to coach this year.” Monfi letto had fun seeing Batista fi nish with a flourish against Hill.

“I think he knew we were coming up to the pitch count and we said be efficient and he was efficient,” said Monfi letto. “That last inning was

awesome. It was him knowing the importance of getting through the top of the order so that we could fi nish it off at the end. He just got the job done.”

Ryan Greenstein got the job done in relief as he closed out the win, getting two strikeouts and giving up no hits in the seventh inning.

“Greeny really embraces that role,” said Monfi letto. “He did that earlier in D.C. when we played JacksonReed. That was huge.”

In addition to his pitching, Batista has made a huge impact this spring for Hun with his bat.

“Charlie is becoming a much more complete hitter and really a pain in the neck for pitchers,” said Monfiletto.

“Last year, he was a little bit vulnerable to off-speed stuff. This year, I think half of his hits are on off-speed pitches. It has been great having him there in the order producing the way that he has.”

In the win over Hill, headsup base running helped Hun produce a pair of runs in the second inning as Antonio Destribats scored with some aggressive running and Nico Amecangelo came home as an attempted steal caused a rundown between first base and second.

“Antonio was running for Charlie at the time and we got a bunt down,” said Monfiletto. “Antonio saw that the third baseman was not covering third base so he went from first to third. The throw went by the third baseman not that far and we scored. It was him being aggressive with a no holds barred, all bets are off type of approach there. The early steal is something we work on a ton so that was good.”

The Hun bats got going in the fourth inning as the Raiders strung together three hits to plate another run.

“We had some really good at-bats later on, I think Will [Kraemer] had a battle and then finished with a hit,” said Monfiletto. “Sam [Wright] saw a bunch of pitches and then finished with a hit and we got the run on that. That was great. I wished we could have put some more across, that would have been nice. It would have made it more comfortable but it was a good win against a good team.”

Senior catcher and Bucknell commit Deacon Bowne has been having a very good season with the bat, hitting .381.

“Deacon has been on fire at the plate,” said Monfiletto. “He is batting third, that is a huge challenge. You are going to get their best stuff, no matter what. He has been rising to that challenge every single game. We have been fortunate to have him.”

With Hun starting play in

the Mercer County Tournament this week where it is seeded second and will host seventh-seeded Notre Dame in a quarterfinal round game on May 10, Monfiletto believes his team is primed to rise to the occasion as it gets into postseason action.

“This has been a better week than last week, I think we do have a little bit of momentum,” said Monfiletto, whose team is also slated to host St. Peter’s Prep on May 11 in a regular season matchup.

“The key is pitching and not giving other teams opportunities to get extra bases and score runs. It sounds so simple, but when you get this late in the season everybody is sort of hitting well. Everybody has gotten a lot of swings under their belt, everybody has seen some good pitching. That is where the pitching really has to ramp up. The defense has to ramp up too. We got a big double play today, which was really nice, and the great throw from right field from [Mike] Olender.”

Batista, for his part, is determined to end his Hun career on a high note.

“The team is definitely in a good groove, I feel like what helps us the most is team chemistry,” said Batista. “We are a tight-knit group. We are going to need to have some underclassmen step up for the MCTs. We are confident, I feel like we can go triple crown (Prep A and Mid-Atlantic Prep League in addition to MCT) this year. We have two more weeks left and I want to make the best out of it.”

—Bill Alden

VOLCANOES STILL KILLING NJ TREES with Pepper deTuro WOODWINDS ASSOCIATES

Mulch volcanoes are killing trees and wasting money on excess material. We are referring to excess mulch piled high into a cone or mound around tree trunks.

Junior Standout Lee Triggering the Attack As

Youthful Stuart Lax Making Progress

Even though time was running out on the Stuart Country Day School lacrosse team as it trailed South Brunswick by three goals in the waning moments last Saturday, Allison Lee wasn’t about to give up.

Stuart junior star Lee darted into the crease area and fired a shot into the back of the cage with 26.9 second left in the game to tally the final goal of the day as the Tartans fell 14-12.

While Lee was disappointed by the result on a day when Stuart jumped out to a 4-2 lead heading into the second quarter, she exemplified the way the Tartans battled to the final horn.

“We got into a really good rhythm at first, we were really focused and into it,” said Lee, who ended up with seven goals and two assists in the defeat.

“Towards the middle, we lost a little bit of focus there. It ultimately got away from us and we ran out of time. I love the way that we fought towards the end — we just need to keep it up all 48 minutes.”

Lee, who is coming off a 2023 season that saw her score 100 goals, acknowledged that things have been challenging this spring.

“This year has been little bit tougher, we are playing tougher competition,” said Lee, who scored three goals last Monday as Stuart fell 14-5 to Hopewell Valley in the Mercer County Invitational quarterfinals and now has 57 goals this season. “Especially with a younger team, it has been harder to move forward a little bit but we are progressing. We are much better than we were in the beginning of the season. I am super proud of that.”

Getting to play with younger sister, freshman Lauren, this year has been a plus for Lee.

“I love playing with her,” said Lee, who assisted on a goal by her younger sister in the third quarter of the South Brunswick game. “I played with her last when I was in third grade. It is just super fun to have that sister chemistry.”

In addition, Lee has enjoyed working with the squad’s other freshmen.

momentum down the stretch of the contest.

“We came out really hot, we started really well and strong,” said Meszaros.

“I think we got complacent towards the middle of the game. It was definitely an evenly matched game, which was good because we have had a tough week. They fought hard the whole time all the way through and that is what we look for as coaches.”

Stuart got some strong contributions throughout the lineup against South Brunswick as Lauren Lee had two goals and one assist, Emily Harlan chipped in a goal and an assist, with Razler and Najma Tahiry scoring one apiece.

“It was a good team effort out there today, we had some new girls that scored,” said Meszaros. “It was good to see them scoring.”

It has been good for Meszaros to see the Lee sisters click on the field. “They have a nice connection, it is nice that they have each other out there,” said Meszaros. “It is cool that they get to be teammates.”

The squad’s other freshmen have had some nice moments this spring.

“It is a lot of freshmen, they are all doing a great job,” said Meszaros. “A lot of the freshmen are really strong.”

Over the course of the spring, those young players have been making steady progress.

“There are definitely some things that we have improved upon,” asserted Meszaros. “Our transition in the midfield looks a lot better. Offensively, we were pushing the fast break. Defensively we have a little bit

more to go. We have a young team out there. They are still learning, they are still connecting.”

With Stuart moving to 3-9 in the wake of the loss to HoVal and hosting Delaware Valley on May 9 and then playing at Princeton Day School on May 13, Meszaros is looking for her squad to keep pushing forward.

“I think defensively we have to tighten up on a few things, we are going to be focusing heavily on that in practice,” said Meszaros. “Then it is just getting our voices — talking, communicating, and continuing to work together as a team. That is something we have grown in as the season has progressed, being able to work together. The team chemistry has improved as the season has gone on, so that is good to see.”

That positive chemistry has sparked the team’s growth. “I love it, the girls are such a nice group, they all lean on one another,” said Meszaros. “Being that some of them are new to lacrosse, it is good to see that they are really helping each other. I think since this season started, it seems like a whole new team out there. We still have a long way to go.”

Lee, for her part, believes that that the Tartans need to go hard to the final whistle to end the spring on a high note.

“I love the team energy today, especially on the sidelines, it starts there,” said Lee. “Everybody is playing their role. It is definitely keeping up the intensity. You saw it there at the end today, it is just playing the entire game that way.”

— Bill Alden

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“It has been really awesome to start the year with a new team,” said Lee of the freshman group which features Hadassah Broughton, Betsy Murphy, Maddie Razler, Celia Struve-Altuve, and Maeve Wall along with the younger Lee. “A bunch of the freshmen are stepping up. Today, Celia was faceguarding their team’s best player. Others were going hard on the ride. It is really a team effort.”

Stuart first-year head coach Paige Meszaros credits the older Lee with making a big impact on the team.

“Allison is awesome out there, she is a great team leader too,” said Meszaros. “The girls all look up to her. She has been so helpful for our team, on and off the field. At practice, she has been really great too.”

Although the Tartans struggled a bit after getting off to a great start against South Brunswick, Meszaros was proud of the way her players regained their

ON THE BALL: Stuart Country Day School lacrosse player Allison Lee, right, goes after the ball in recent action. Last Saturday, junior star Lee tallied seven goals and two assists as Stuart fell 14-12 to South Brunswick. The Tartans, who lost 14-5 Hopewell Valley in the Mercer County Invitational last Monday to move to 3-9, host Delaware Valley on May 9 and then play at Princeton Day School on May 13. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

a

Lawrenceville

Baseball : Chris Trucano contributed two hits and two RBIs as Lawrenceville fell 6-5 to the Hill School (Pa.) last Saturday. The Big Red, who moved to 6-10 with the defeat, will be playing at doubleheader at Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) on May 11. In addition, the Big Red will be starting play on the Mercer County Tournament.

Girls’ Lacrosse : Maddie Brogan starred as top-seeded Lawrenceville defeated eighth-seeded Hightstown 19-4 last Monday in the quarterfinal round of the Mercer County Tournament. Brogan scored six goals as the Big Red moved to 9-7. Lawrenceville will face fifthseeded Hun in the MCT semis on May 9 at Lawrence High with the victor advancing to the final on May 11.

PDS

Baseball : Managing just one hit, PDS fell 10-0 to Nottingham last Monday. The Panthers, now 2-13, host WW/P-South on May 8 and Wardlaw-Hartridge on May 10 before playing at New Brunswick on May 11 and at Allentown on May 13.

Boys’ Tennis : Pulling out some tight matches, PDS edged Hightstown 3-2 last Friday. The Panthers got wins in 10-point match tiebreakers from Steven Li

at second singles, Abhishek Srinivasan at third singles, and the first doubles pair of Max Levy and Arjun Bhardwaj. PDS, who improved to 6-5 with the victory, hosts WW/P-South on May 9, plays at Pingry on May 10, and then starts action in the Prep B state tournament on May 11.

Hun

Softball : Jamie Staub starred as Hun defeated South Hunterdon 15-0 last Monday. Senior Staub pitched a one-hitter in the game shortened to four innings due to the run rule and also went 2 for 2 at the plate with two RBIs to help the Raiders improve to 151. In upcoming action, Hun will be starting action in the Prep A state tourney and the Mercer County Tournament.

Boys’ Lacrosse : Getting outscored 4-1 in the fourth quarter, Hun fell 10-7 to the Christian Brothers Academy last Monday. The Raiders, now 6-7, play at Springside Chestnut Hill (Pa.) on May 11. In addition, Hun will be starting action in the Mercer County Tournament.

Girls’ Lacrosse : Sparked by Ava Olender, fifth-seeded Hun edged fourth-seeded Princeton Day School 14-11 last Monday in the

quarterfinal round of the Mercer County Tournament. Senior star and Tufts commit Olender tallied six goals and two assists as the Raiders improved to 9-5. Hun will face top-seeded Lawrenceville in the MCT semis on May 9 at Lawrence High with the victor advancing to the final on May 11. In addition, the Raiders will be playing at Princeton High on May 13 and at Delaware Valley on May 14 in regular season contests.

Pennington

Baseball : Unable to get its bats going, Pennington fell 13-0 to the Hun School last Monday. The Red Hawks, now 9-8, will be competing in both the Prep B state tourney and the Mercer County Tournament. The third-seeded Red Hawks were slated to host seventhseeded Montclair Kimberley in the Prep B semis on May 7 with the victor advancing to the final on May 9. In the MCT, eighth-seeded Pennington is playing at topseeded Lawrence High on May 10 in the quarterfinal round. The Red Hawks will also be hosting Hopewell Valley in May 11 in a regular season contest.

Boys’ Lacrosse : Finn Garner triggered the offense

as Pennington edged Princeton Day School 10-8 last Monday. Garner tallied three goals and four assists as the Red Hawks moved to 7-7. In upcoming action, fifth-seeded Pennington will be playing at top-seeded Gill St. Bernard’s in the Prep B state semis on May 9. In addition, the Red Hawks will play at the Blair Academy on May 13 in a regular season contest.

Girls’ Lacrosse : Sparked by Olivia Davis, top-seeded Pennington defeated eighthseeded Hamilton West 20-5 in the Mercer County Invitational quarterfinals last Monday. Davis scored eight goals with one assist as the Red Hawks improved to 7-5. Pennington will host fourthseeded Hopewell Valley in the MCI semis on May 9. The Red Hawks are also competing in the Prep B state tourney where they are seeded fourth and will play at topseeded Montclair Kimberley in a semifinal contest on May 10. Pennington is slated to play at the Hill School (Pa.) on May 11 and at Hopewell on May 13 in regular season match-ups.

PHS

Baseball : Chase Hamerschlag starred with the bat in a losing cause as PHS fell 7-4 to Robbinsville last Monday. Sophomore Hamerschlag went 2 for 4 with a run and two RBIs for the Tigers who dropped to 7-10. PHS plays at WW/P-North on May 8, at South River on May 11, and then hosts Notre Dame on May 13. In addition, the Tigers will be starting play in the Mercer County Invitational where they are seeded 12th and will host 13th-seeded Ewing in a quarterfinal contest on May 10.

Softball : Natalie Hester knocked in both runs for PHS as it fell 16-2 to Robbinsville last Saturday. The Tigers, now 3-8, play at

WW/P-North o n May 8 and host Notre Dame on May 13. In addition, the Tigers will be starting action in the Mercer County Tournament.

Boys’ Lacrosse : Patrick Kenah starred in a losing cause as PHS fell 17-6 at perennial powerhouse Summit High last Saturday. Senior star and Lafayette commit Kenah tallied three goals and one assist as the Tigers moved to 8-5. In upcoming action, PHS hosts Somerville on May 9 and will also be starting play in the Mercer County Tournament.

Boys’ Tennis : Remaining undefeated in dual match play, PHS defeated Steinert 5-0 last Friday. The Tigers won four of the matches by 6-0, 6-0 scores with the other match being a victory by forfeit as they improved to 8-0. PHS plays at WW/P-North on May 9 before hosting Hopewell Valley on May 14.

Boys’ Golf : Walter Gumbinger led the way as PHS placed second in the Mercer County Tournament last Friday at the Mountain View Golf Course. Gumbinger carded a fi ve-over 77 to tie for fourth in the individual standings. Brooks CahillSanidas tied for eighth with a 78 while Benji Tartar had a 79 to tie for 11th. In the team standings, PHS had a score of 317, fi ve strokes behind champion Lawrenceville. The Tiger were slated to compete in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North 1 and 2 Group 3 sectional on May 7 at Preakness Valley.

Local Sports

Mercer Tennis Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2024

The Mercer County Park Commission has announced the Mercer County Tennis Hall of Fame Class of 2024, which features five honorees who have made extraordinary achievements in the field of tennis and expanded the

popularity of the sport.

The Class of 2024 includes: Jim Cryan, co-director of the Cryan Memorial Tennis Tournament; Mike Ehrenberg, longtime director of the G. Nelson Green Memorial Tournament; Ginny Mason, a founding member and continuous supporter of National Junior Tennis and Learning of Trenton (NJTL); Glenn Michibata, a Wimbledon doubles semifinalist, a former Princeton University men’s tennis head coach, current assistant coach at The College of New Jersey, and Princeton Tennis Program Teaching Professional; and Betty Sander Thompson, who is receiving a posthumous honor and had received a USTA Umpire Emeritus Award for 32 years of service.

The Hall of Fame dinner will be held on June 14 at 6 p.m. at the Boathouse at Mercer Lake in Mercer County Park, West Windsor.

The Mercer County Tennis Hall of Fame was initiated in 1992 by the Mercer County Tennis Council to recognize people with ties to the County who have made outstanding contributions to the sport. Since the dissolution of the Tennis Council, the Mercer County Park Commission has overseen the nominating committee, voting process and dinner committee. The Hall of Fame honors individuals for their involvement in competition, education, officiating, recreation, media, industry, or in the advancement of tennis.

Induction ceremonies are held every four years, with the honorees selected by 50 leaders in the area’s tennis community. Criteria for induction stipulate that “the record of achievement must be balanced by a reputation that can be admired and respected. Membership is intended to represent a highly selective group.”

Tickets for the Hall of Fame dinner are $100 per person. For more information or to receive an electronic invitation, contact Marc Vecchiolla via email at mvecchiolla@mercercounty.org or by phone at (609) 448-2088.

TO THE MATT: Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse player Matt Whittaker looks to unload the ball in recent action. Last Friday, senior star Whittaker scored two goals in a losing cause as fourthseeded PDS fell 9-7 to fifth-seeded Pennington in the quarterfinal round of the Prep B state tournament. The Panthers, who lost 10-8 to Pennington last Monday in a regular season contest to move to 4-10, will be starting play in the Mercer County Invitational on May 11. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Obituaries

Janis Fishman

Janis Pulsifer Fishman, 89, of Princeton, passed peacefully on Friday, March 29, 2024, in her home with her loving daughter by her side.

Known affectionately as the “turtle lady” in her community, Jan found joy in her lifelong hobby caring for water and land turtles, growing to over 100 of these beloved creatures. Over the years, her reputation also grew for her unique ability to aid injured turtles and her willingness to provide them with a loving home. Local elementary schools invited her as the turtle lady for Show & Tell. Jan hosted students at her home to see her diverse collection too . She leaves behind a small group of turtles, some of whom have been with her for over 40 years. Her passion for the natural world extended to her living room, adorned with freshwater fish tanks. To friends, she would say, “Come over, we can watch fishy vision together.” Jan also had a deep affection for her feline companions, particularly Beaux. To her, they were all beloved family members.

A graduate of Cornell University, Jan paid her way through college working as a waitress for sororities. She pursued a degree in horticulture with the dream of owning her own floral shop one day. Although she did not realize this dream, she found fulfillment in gardening, where she indulged her love for trees, plants, and flowers. After retiring, she worked part-time at Wildflowers of Princeton Junction, finding pride in her creative talents, and treasuring the friendships she formed with the “flower shop guys,” Michael, Eddie, and Riley.

Following graduation, Janis embarked on a career in technology, a bold choice for a woman in the 1950s. Despite the male-dominated nature of the field, she remained steadfast and became a respected computer consultant, spending four decades in the profession. While working full-time and raising a family, Jan’s delight for turtles and gardening also included being an exquisite seamstress from making dresses to ball gowns to a man’s silk suit. In the 1980s, there was a drastic increase in property taxes affecting many in the community. Jan became an advocate and educator, voicing the concerns of those on fixed incomes at town hall meetings. She only got involved in causes that held deep personal meaning to her.

In her later years, Jan

became an active member of the local chapter of P.E.O., finding purpose in its mission and cherishing the friendships she formed with her fellow Sisters. It was a special time for Jan, as she found herself among women of intellect, compassion, and unique talents.

Jan was a kind and gentle listener exhibiting no judgment and sharing advice in the most thoughtful manner, she will be sorely missed.

Janis Fishman is predeceased by her late husband, Herbert Fishman. Janis is survived by her daughter, Sarah Fishman Mertz; granddaughter, Laura Mertz; sister-in-law, Joyce Fishman; nephew, Doron Fishman; niece, Eileen Nalda; her dear friends Brenda, Audrey, Jane and Charles, Elaine, Pedro, and her devoted caregiver, Lida.

A celebration of Jan’s life will take place on Saturday, June 8 at 10am in the communal area of Christ Congregation, 50 Walnut Lane, Princeton (ccprinceton.org).

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in memory to Jan to P.E.O., philanthropic organization where women celebrate the advancement of women; educate women through scholarships, grants, awards, loans and stewardship of Cottey College; and motivate women to achieve their highest aspirations.

Memorial contributions can be made to the P.E.O. Foundation, c/o P.E.O. International Sisterhood, 3700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312 or peointernational.org.

Roderick B. Anderson

Roderick B. Anderson, 90, of Princeton passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at his home in Princeton.

He was born in Hammer, South Dakota, and raised in Sisseton, South Dakota. Roderick’s parents taught him the values of hard work, ambition, and tenacity, values which Roderick imparted upon his family. Roderick was determined to be the first in his family to attend college and began working odd jobs in the fourth grade to save money. Throughout high school, he worked in construction, poultry processing, house painting, and others. He continued working while attending South Dakota State University, including as a construction worker for the state Highway Department and as the teacher at a oneroom elementary schoolhouse. Rod was also able to make money by playing in jazz and swing bands, which Rod recalled as more of a pleasure than a job, as music was Rod’s true passion and was an endeavor he pursued with great joy and discipline until his final day. Roderick received

a B.S. degree in electrical engineering.

Upon graduation, he immediately moved to Washington, D.C., to work at the United States Patent and Trademark Office before accepting a position at the prestigious AT&T Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, NJ. Bell Labs sponsored Rod’s law school education at Seton Hall University. For 38 years, Rod was a Patent Attorney for AT&T. He started his career prosecuting patents for the wide range of inventions at Bell Labs, and later broadened his experience litigating patent disputes and handling international patents for AT&T. He was at the forefront of the solid-state semi-conductor electronics revolution and the expansion of telecommunications technology, including the voice over internet protocol.

Roderick was an active member of each community he called home throughout his life. He visited his hometown as often as he could and remained connected to many of his schoolmates despite settling on the East Coast. While raising his family in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, Roderick became involved in local politics, becoming the first Democratic mayor to be elected in the township and serving his community for about seven years. Since moving to Princeton, Roderick was a patron of the McCarter Theatre Center, and, with his many bands, he performed around the area including at nursing homes.

Roderick is survived by his three daughters, Elizabeth Anderson, Katherine

Anderson, Carolyn A. Greene (and son-in-law Gary A. Greene); a son, Terence Lindgren (and daughter-inlaw Margie Lindgren); and six grandchildren, Alexandra Miklebost, Emily ChoiGreene (and her husband Joseph Choi-Greene), Alison Greene, Amelia Lindgren, Niels Lindgren (and his wife Emily Morris), and Anders Lindgren.

Predeceased by his parents Ralph Alexander and Mildred Elizabeth (Knight) Anderson, and by his longtime partner Florence Stewart of Hamilton Township, Roderick was loved by many, most especially his family, the folks in his hometown of Sisseton, South Dakota, his fellow tennis players and his fellow band members and musicians. He will be remembered for his hardy laugh, jovial attitude, unyielding support of his family, perseverance in spirit, and the inspirational discipline and diligent approach that he took to all of his endeavors.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at the MatherHodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08542.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Roderick to South Dakota State University (Highest Priorities Fund, The Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band Fund, or Electrical Engineering Fund) at sdstatefoundation.org or SDSU Foundation, 815 Medary Avenue, PO Box 525, Brookings, SD 57007 or to McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, NJ.

Dallas Caskey, a beloved father, husband, and brother; a treasured chef; and a revered fisherman passed away in Philadelphia, PA, on April 24, 2024 after treatment for blood cancer. Born in New York City on January 18, 1964 and raised in Princeton, NJ, Dallas attended Littlebrook School, John Witherspoon Middle School, Princeton High School, the University of New Orleans, and culminated in culinary school at Johnson & Wales.

His love of cooking began in high school at the Mainline Diner in Princeton where he worked as a cook. His culinary career continued in New Orleans at Arnaud’s and with Susan Spicer at the Bistro at Maison de Ville. Later in NYC, he cooked at Baby Jake’s, The Kitano Hotel, the Grand Hyatt, and finally in Philadelphia at the Canopy Hotel.

Dallas called many places home including New Orleans, the East Village, Key West, Brooklyn, Mt. Kisco, and Philadelphia, where his son, Liam has attended Drexel University and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in the music industry this June.

Dallas is also survived by his sisters Diana Caskey of NY, NY, and Julie Caskey of Piedmont, CA; his uncle and best man, Richard Kirvan; and the village of friends who were like family to him. His memory will be held dear by those fortunate enough to know his kindness, humor, and love.

A celebration of his life will be held at the Valley Green Inn at Wissahickon Creek, 6885 Forbidden Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19118, on June 21 from 12 to 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Penn Medicine Abramson Cancer Center, where he received care.

Continued on Next Page

Dallas’ passion for and expertise in fishing was legendary amongst his friends Dallas Caskey and fishing buddies. He also loved to ski, travel, ride his motorcycle, and enjoy music with his family, longtime friends, and coworkers. Dallas was a devoted and loyal papa to his son Liam, 22, he was the partner of 24 years to Mary Novak Caskey, and a doting pet dad to Knuckles the pitbull and Lorelei the cat.

University Chapel

May 12 is Grecia Hernandez Perez ‘24, Winner of the Rev. Dr. Joseph C. Williamson Student Sermon Competition. Music performed by the Princeton University Chapel Choir with Nicole Aldrich, Director of Chapel Music and Chapel Choir, and with Eric Plutz, University Organist.

Marie (Lill) Maman

Marie (Lill) Maman, 92, of Princeton, NJ, died on Thursday, April 25, 2024, in the house in which she raised her family and tended her garden.

Lill and her twin sister, Lillemor, were born in Åmli, Norway on December 27, 1931. She spent her early days skiing throughout Norway, often going on weekend long trips with her sister and cousins. The German occupation of Norway during WWII shaped her early adolescence. Her father, a local veterinarian, was a leader among the Norwegian resistance and was taken as a prisoner of war for several months. He survived prison and returned to his family when the war ended in 1945. Lill worked in England as an au pair for a year and then earned her degree in chemistry from the Stockholm Technical Institute in Sweden. There she met a Frenchman, André Maman, who she went on to marry in Paris on September 7, 1957. They were married for more than 60 years. They moved to Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada, where they lived for a year.

And then in 1958 they moved to Princeton, New Jersey. While raising four children, she also managed to attend night school at Rutgers. She received an undergraduate degree in English, and a master’s degree in library science. She worked as a librarian at Mobil Oil, Rutgers’ Center for Alcohol Studies, and the Mabel Smith Douglass Library at Rutgers.

She spent many years tending her garden, turning both her front and back yards into flower sanctuaries. People often stopped to smell the lavender and the lilac, or to admire the peonies and the roses. But there was nothing that she enjoyed more than preparing a good homemade meal for her family and having everyone around the table eating, talking, and laughing together for hours.

10 grandchildren, Mazie Stephens Sweet (Brandon), Paul Stephens, Caz Maman (Cailey), Pierre Maman, Henri Maman, Philippe Maman, André Maman, Emile Charles, Miles Charles, and Marie Charles.

A family burial will be held in Princeton Cemetery.

mate, Charlie Jaffin, to fill in. Charlie’s famous words were, “Okay, but I’ll only commit to 7 p.m.” He committed a lot longer than that, as Charlie and Rosanna were married for 60 years until his death in 2011.

Rosanna Webster Jaffin

She and her husband often traveled to France and Norway. From 1992 to 2018 they maintained an apartment in Paris. While living in Paris she enjoyed the museums, the public gardens, and the weekly markets.

In 1996 she published her first book, Women in Agriculture: A Guide to Research. And in 2000 she published Sigrid Undset in America: An Annotated Bibliography and Research Guide.

She was predeceased by her husband André, her parents Sigurd and Asta Dalane, and her twin sister Lillemor Furulund.

Lill is survived by her four children, Jean-Paul, AnneMarie, Pierre (and his wife Gail), and Suzanne (and her husband Massai); and

Longtime resident of Princeton and Greensboro, Vermont, Rosanna Webster Jaffin died on Sunday, April 28, 2024 at home in Princeton. She was 98.

Rosanna was born on September 19, 1925 in Columbus, Ohio, to Chauncey Wilson Webster and Eleanor Litschauer Webster. When she was small, her family moved to Loda, Illinois, where she grew up with her four siblings. After graduating Phi Beta Kapa and first in her class at 19 from the University of Illinois in 1946, Rosanna headed to New York City, ultimately becoming the administrative assistant to the Sunday editor of the New York Times. On one fateful day, when her date fell ill and couldn’t escort her to a tea dance, he asked a Princeton class-

In 1952 Rosanna was given the opportunity to work for physicist Robert Oppenheimer at the Institute for Advanced Study, which brought the young couple to Princeton. Rosanna spent the rest of her life in Princeton and summered in her beloved Greensboro, Vermont. Rosanna raised her five children in Princeton, and took a leadership role in many community organizations, including Princeton Hospital (trustee), The Garden Club of Princeton (President), McCosh Infirmary of Princeton University, The Institute for Advanced Study, and numerous others. She was a member of Nassau Presbyterian Church for 70 years.

A wonderful gardener, pianist, hostess, and mother, Rosanna was greatly admired for her warmth and kindness.

She is survived by her sister, Eleanor Winsor, and her children: David Jaffin (spouse Elizabeth Allen), Jonathan Jaffin (spouse Dianna Purvis), Rhoda Jaffin Murphy, Lora Jaffin Peters (spouse Donald Peters), Katherine Jaffin Gibson (spouse Andrew Gibson); and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; as well as her beloved aide Gloria Williams. She was predeceased by her husband, Charles L. Jaffin and grandson David A. Jaffin.

Board member for Princeton AlumniCorps (Princeton Project 55) and Co-Chair (along with Dodie) of the Building and Grounds Committee. He was a die-hard Princeton fan, attending numerous Princeton football and basketball games over the years. They made lifelong friendships with so many class members living in Princeton, in other states, and outside the country. These friendships first forged on the campus of Princeton endured for decades, many of whom have also passed and are back together with Charlie and Dodie — yelling “HIP HIP OLE!”

A 50+ year member of the Bedens Brook Club, Charlie was a beloved member of the community. Charlie and Dodie took many domestic and international trips on their own as well as with the class of 1955. In his retirement, he volunteered for Meals on Wheels, for AARP preparing taxes for seniors, as well as tutoring Trenton children in math.

Charlie was predeceased by his wife of 68 years, Dodie, who left this earth on February 23. He is survived by his children, Charles F. Mapes III and his wife Maureen, Linda Mapes, and Elizabeth “Libby” Yarnall and her husband Stephen; nine grandchildren, Jeremy, Nicholas (Ashley), Ryan (Alan), Charles IV (Sara), Sidney, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Douglas (Patti), and Donald (Christy); 10 great-grandchildren, Austin, Adalynn, Nicholas, George, Jordan, Dylan, Alli, Sarah, Kayleigh, and Raelynne; his niece Karen Aveyard; and nephew Eric Kleiber.

Philadelphia. Jackie became a dedicated mother to her three sons, but she also developed a lifelong passion for art. She graduated from Drexel University with an MA in Fine and Applied Arts, and later she earned her MA in Art History from the University of Delaware. One of Jackie’s favorite jobs was her part-time position in the education department at the Philadelphia Art Museum, where she worked until Cy was transferred to NYC in 1970. Jackie and Cy enjoyed the cultural richness of Manhattan, attending plays, concerts, opera, and, of course, art museums. Jackie worked part time at the Whitney Museum of American Art, and she gave lectures and walking tours for several senior citizens group. She also taught for a year at Bloomfield College in Bloomfield, NJ. Cy was transferred to Princeton, NJ in 1983, where Jackie became a volunteer docent at the Princeton University Art Museum. She was on the board of Morven, and she was also the board of the Historical Society of Princeton, where she led walking and bus tours. She also taught art history for a year at The College of New Jersey. Jackie belonged to the Present-Day Club. Jackie and Cy were friends of the Institute for Advanced Study and members of the Nassau Club. One of her lunchtime lectures at the Nassau Club broke all previous attendance records.

A memorial service will be held May 17 at 11 a.m. at Nassau Presbyterian Church with a reception to follow at The Nassau Club.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the Greensboro Nursing Home of Greensboro, Vermont.

Arrangements are under the direction of Mather-

A private luncheon to celebrate the lives of both Charlie and Dodie will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Meals on Wheels.

Jacqueline (Jackie) Corman Meisel

After Cy died, she moved to Windrows in 2016. Jackie and Cy developed lifelong friendships wherever they went, and they enjoyed traveling immensely, traveling to over 100 countries together. They shared their love of traveling with their family, taking their entire family on numerous vacations.

Jacqueline (Jackie) Corman Meisel of Princeton passed away on May 4, 2024.

Jackie’s oldest son Mark recently died from multiple sclerosis complications. She is survived by her two sons, Alan (Barbara) and Neil (Ann), her five grandchildren, and her three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, May 7 at The Jewish Center of Princeton, with burial at Princeton Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Princeton University Art Museum or to The Jewish Center of Princeton.

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

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

Charles F. Mapes Jr.

She was born in Champaign, Illinois, on February 17, 1927 to Minnie and Julian Corman. She grew up in Champaign-Urbana and graduated from the University of Illinois with a BA in Home Economics in 1946. One week later she married Seymour (Cy) Meisel, who was in the Chemistry PHD program at the university. They met on a blind date, and their marriage lasted 69 years.

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

and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you. ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

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

ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here

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

ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

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

ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

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

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

When Cy took a position with Mobil Oil Corporation, they moved to Woodbury, NJ, which is near

Arrangements are by Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel. For Condolences please visit the obituary page at OrlandsMemorialChapel.com.

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

We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you. ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

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

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

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

ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

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

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

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

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

We encourage you to

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

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

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

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

ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

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

ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

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

ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

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

ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

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

ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

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

ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

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

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

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

ITS EASIER THAN

ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

Charles (Charlie) Francis Mapes Jr., 91, of Princeton and Stone Harbor, NJ, passed away on April 30, 2024. Born on November 26, 1932 in Brooklyn, NY, the only child of Charles Francis and Catherine McMullen Mapes. Charlie spent the majority of his life living in the Princeton area. After attending Miss Fine’s School (now Princeton Day School), Charlie graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy (1951) and Princeton University (1955). In 1956 Charlie married Doris (Dodie) Kleiber. In 1972, he co-founded Mapes & Ross, an advertising research company. As integral members of the Princeton University Class of 1955, Charlie and Dodie never missed a reunion. Charlie served as a

Town Topics CLASSIFIEDS

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

DEADLINE: Tues before 12 noon tf

HEALTH AIDE: 25 years of experience. Available mornings to take care of your loved one, transport to appointments, run errands. I am well known in Princeton. Top care, excellent references. The best! Call (609) 356-2951 or (609) 751-1396. tf LOLIO’S WINDOW WASHING & POWER WASHING: Free estimate. Next day service. Fully insured. Gutter cleaning available. References available upon request. 30 years experience. (609) 271-8860.

FOX CLEANING (609) 547-9570

eqfoxcarpetcleaning@gmail.com

Licensed and insured Residential and commercial Carpet cleaning and upholestry Pressure and soft washing • Area rugs Strip and wax floors • Sanitizing Water damage • Grout cleaning

01-17-25

THE MAID PROFESSIONALS: Leslie & Nora, cleaning experts. Residential & commercial. Free estimates. References upon request. (609) 2182279, (609) 323-7404. 05-29

HOME HEALTH AIDE/COMPANION AVAILABLE: NJ certified and experienced. Live-in or live-out. Driver’s license. References available. Please call Cindy, (609) 227-9873. 05-08

KARINA’S HOUSECLEANING:

Full service inside. Honest and reliable lady with references. Weekly, biweekly or monthly. Call for estimate. (609) 858-8259. 05-29

Insured • Free Consultations

Email: joeslandscapingprinceton@ gmail.com

Text (only): (609) 356-9201 Office: (609) 216-7936

Princeton References • Green Company HIC #13VH07549500

tf HOME REPAIR SPECIALIST:

Interior/exterior repairs, carpentry, trim, rotted wood, power washing, painting, deck work, sheet rock/ spackle, gutter & roofing repairs. Punch list is my specialty. 40 years experience. Licensed & insured. Call Creative Woodcraft (609) 586-2130

tf EXPERIENCED AND PROFESSIONAL CAREGIVER

Available part-time With excellent references in the greater Princeton area (609) 216-5000

tf

HOUSE & OFFICE CLEANING: By an experienced Polish lady. Call Barbara (609) 273-4226. Weekly or biweekly. Honest & reliable. References available. 05-08

Knotty Pine Furniture Knotty pine bookcases a specialty!

SKILLMAN FURNITURE CO. 609-924-1881

Elevated gardens • Slat tables Writing desks • Small furniture repair skillmanfurniture.com skillmanfurnitureco@gmail.com

STORAGE UNIT FOR RENT

10 minutes north of Princeton, in Skillman/Montgomery. 16x22. $290 discounted monthly rent. Available soon. https://princetonstorage.homestead. com/ or call/text (609) 333.6932. 06-12

ADVERTISING SALES

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

The ideal candidate will:

•

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

• •

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

COTTAGE RENTAL

1 bed, 1 bath, located near Princeton town center on private wooded lot. Includes all utilities except heat; includes cable and internet. Use of pool in summertime. No pets. $1900/ mo. Email dkf765b@aol.com.

05-22

HOME HEALTH AIDE/COMPAN-

ION AVAILABLE: NJ certified and experienced. Live-in or live-out. Driver’s license. References available. Please call Cindy, (609) 227-9873. 05-22

HANDYMAN–CARPENTER: Painting, hang cabinets & paintings, kitchen & bath rehab. Tile work, masonry. Porch & deck, replace rot, from floors to doors to ceilings. Shelving & hook-ups. ELEGANT REMODELING. You name it, indoor, outdoor tasks. Repair holes left by plumbers & electricians for sheetrock repair. RE agents welcome. Sale of home ‘checklist’ specialist. Mercer, Hunterdon, Bucks counties. 1/2 day to 1 month assignments. CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED, Covid 19 compliant. Active business since 1998. Videos of past jobs available. Call Roeland, (609) 933-9240.

tf

I BUY ALL KINDS of old or pretty things: China, glass, silver, pottery, costume jewelry, evening bags, fancy linens, paintings, small furniture, etc. Local woman buyer. (609) 9217469.

10-11-24

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

06-28-24

TOWN TOPICS CLASSIFIEDS GET TOP RESULTS!

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

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

ESTATE LIQUIDATION SERVICE:

I will clean out attics, basements, garages & houses. Single items to entire estates. No job too big or small. In business over 35 years, serving all of Mercer County. Call (609) 306-0613. 06-28-24

WE BUY CARS

Belle Mead Garage (908) 359-8131

Ask for Chris

1BR CAPE MAY CONDO VACATION RENTAL

Steps to beach and pedestrian mall.

$2,600/wk. Only 4 weeks still available. Mention ad for 10% discount. pricelin@yahoo.com. 05-08

WHAT’S A GREAT GIFT FOR A FORMER PRINCETONIAN?

A Gift Subscription!

Call (609) 924-2200, ext 10 circulation@towntopics.com tf

YARD SALE + TOWN TOPICS CLASSIFIED = GREAT WEEKEND!

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

DEADLINE: Tues before 12 noon tf HOME HEALTH AIDE: 25 years of experience. Available mornings to take care of your loved one, transport to appointments, run errands. I am well known in Princeton. Top care, excellent references.

SEPTIC INSPECTION

Septic systems are vital yet often overlooked components of a home's infrastructure. Understanding what a septic inspection entails can save homeowners from costly repairs and environmental hazards.

A septic inspection involves a thorough assessment of the entire system, from the tank to the drain field. Professionals inspect for signs of leakage, blockages, and structural integrity. They'll assess the tank's level of sludge and scum, ensuring it's within healthy parameters. Drain field functionality is also crucial; any issues here could lead to sewage backup or contamination.

During the inspection, inspectors may conduct dye tests to check for leaks and use specialized cameras to inspect pipes for damage or blockages. Additionally, they'll assess factors such as soil quality and system age to determine its overall health and lifespan.

Regular septic inspections, typically recommended every three to five years, are essential for maintaining a properly functioning system and preventing costly repairs or environmental damage. Investing in these inspections is an investment in the longevity and safety of your home.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Avery Lane Princeton, NJ | $2,999,000 Princeton Office: 609.921.1050 callawayhenderson.com/id/32JNBT

Introducing: Applewood Drive

Hopewell Township, NJ | $1,650,000

Owen ‘Jones’ Toland: 609.731.5953 callawayhenderson.com/id/8K4R2Z

Introducing: Cairns Place

Montgomery Township, NJ | $825,000

Jennifer E Curtis: 609.610.0809 callawayhenderson.com/id/NR9EYZ

Introducing: Darien Way

New Hope Borough, PA | $359,000

Cynthia Shoemaker-Zerrer: 609.915.8399 callawayhenderson.com/id/RN3ZD5

Tyson Lane Princeton, NJ | $2,995,000

Amy Granato: 917.848.8345

callawayhenderson.com/id/6PCXZ3

Introducing: Kiltie Drive

New Hope Borough, PA | $1,295,000

Cynthia Shoemaker-Zerrer: 609.915.8399 callawayhenderson.com/id/PJ3383

Introducing: Jean Street

Lambertville City, NJ | $595,000

Cynthia Shoemaker-Zerrer: 609.915.8399 callawayhenderson.com/id/HY6SJ3

Introducing: South Main Street

Pennington Borough, NJ | $335,000

Pamela C Gillmett: 609.731.1274 callawayhenderson.com/id/5P4CB3

Introducing: Elm Ridge Road Hopewell Township, NJ | $2,995,000 Jane Henderson Kenyon: 609.828.1450 callawayhenderson.com/id/XCF66C

Newly Priced: Bank Street Princeton, NJ | $1,285,000

Susan L ‘Suzy’ DiMeglio: 609.915.5645 callawayhenderson.com/id/EJWP6V

Introducing: Quarry Street

Lambertville City, NJ | $385,000

Bonnie Eick: 609.468.5329 callawayhenderson.com/id/8BRLHV

Realtor® Owned