Town Topics Newspaper, June 12, 2024.

Johnson Trolley Corridor Is Subject of Study At Information Session

Nearly a century ago, it was possible to travel by trolley between Trenton and Princeton. The trip cost 10 cents and took 35 minutes.

The Johnson Trolley, also known as the Princeton-Lawrenceville-Trenton Fast Line, took travelers between Witherspoon Street near Nassau Street and North Willow Street in Trenton. The Trenton-Princeton Traction Company ran the trolley through this corridor from 1902 to 1940.

In recent years, it has been known as the Johnson Trolley Trail, part of the vast regional network of Circuit Trails used for biking, walking, and running. It is the subject of a public Zoom session being held Wednesday, June 12 from 6-8 p.m. by Mercer County and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.

The purpose is to introduce the study and share preliminary routes to be considered that would extend the northern and southern sections of the Johnson Trolley Trail Corridor. Soliciting feedback from the public is a goal of the session.

“The study will identify an alignment to connect and extend two existing trail segments that will create a bicycle and pedestrian corridor between the City of Trenton and the Municipality of Princeton, and pass through Lawrence and Ewing townships,” reads a statement from Mercer County. “A substantial element of the project is to investigate the historic rail right-of-way and alternative alignments to connect a safe multimodal facility to existing and planned facilities.”

Goals of the project are “to link areas of high economic distress with areas of increasing economic opportunity, provide a safe alternative to traditional motor vehicle transportation, and connect local residential, commercial, and institutional areas with open space, parks, and recreational facilities.”

The corridor would be a “spine” connecting to existing “multimodal connectors,” the statement reads. That means access to employment opportunities, educational institutions, and parks, without the use of cars. Several schools and higher education institutions, such as Princeton University, the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton Theological Seminary, Rider University, and The College of New Jersey, among others, are within a mile of the proposed alignment.

Princeton, County Plan Juneteenth Events

Juneteenth, commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. after the Civil War, is next Wednesday, June 19, and celebrations will be taking place at Monument Plaza and Morven Museum & Garden in Princeton, at various other venues in Central Jersey, and across the nation. Events are also scheduled in the area for Saturday, June 15, with additional celebrations over the weekend of June 22-23.

It was on June 19, 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, that enslaved African Americans in Texas were told they were free. African Americans have celebrated that day since the late 1800s, and in 2021 Juneteenth, on June 19, officially became a national holiday. The holiday is also called Juneteenth Independence Day, Freedom Day, or Emancipation Day.

The day’s events on June 19 in Princeton begin at 1 p.m. at Monument Plaza in front

of Monument Hall with a Juneteenth Flag Raising ceremony and remarks by Princeton Councilmembers Leticia Fraga and Leighton Newlin, and Municipal Administrator Bernard Hvozdovic, Jr. Soloists from the Princeton Festival will conclude the ceremony with a performance of James Weldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson’s “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

Newlin shared some thoughts from a draft of remarks he will deliver at the Flag Raising ceremony. He described the original 1865 Juneteenth as “a pivotal moment in our nation’s journey toward living up to the self-evident truth that all people are created equal.”

Urging all to “fortify our resolve” against the threat of autocracy, he continued, “Let this Juneteenth re up our determination to preserve and perfect the noble vision of equality enshrined in our founding.”

celebration including crafts and educational activities, food by Black-owned business Tipple & Rose, and an antique phone booth recording studio. Visitors can record their own re ections, thoughts, hopes, and dreams for Juneteenth and the future as part of the “Let Freedom Ring” Voices of Princeton oral history project.

At 4 p.m. the festivities continue at Morven Museum & Garden with a community

Community partners include the Princeton Symphony Orchestra and its Princeton Festival, the Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society, the Arts Council of Princeton, the Historical Society of Princeton, and the Princeton Public Library, as well as Art Against Racism, Not in Our Town Princeton, Morven Museum & Garden, the Municipality of Princeton, Passage Theatre, Paul Robeson House of Princeton, Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, Tipple & Rose, West Windsor Arts Council, and YWCA Princeton.

Beech Leaf Disease Poses Threat to Town’s Beleaguered Trees

Just 10 years since the emerald ash borer was rst detected in New Jersey, and then proceeded to decimate many thousands of the state’s ash trees, a new threat, beech leaf disease, caused by tiny worms called nematodes spread by birds or the wind, has arrived and is likely to take a devastating toll on the area’s beech trees.

Princeton Municipal Arborist Taylor Sapudar reports sightings on private properties throughout Princeton and in Princeton Open Space. He has heard from private tree care companies that are trying to manage and treat the disease, but he cautions that “it’s still in the early stages,” and a number of questions about the origins and the most effective countermeasures remain unanswered.

“Staff will be monitoring the disease in the open space areas,” Sapudar said.

In a May 22 letter to Town Topics, naturalist and Friends of Herrontown Woods President Steve Hiltner warned that “Over the next 10 years, Princeton appears fated to lose nearly all of its beech trees.” He went on to note that the tiny nematodes “overwinter in the beech’s long coppery buds, causing contortions and curious stripping in the emerging leaves.”

He had first spotted the contorted

Continued on Page 11

Show Dates: June 13-30th

Thursday-Friday: 8:00 PM

2:00 PM & 8:00 PM

2:00 PM

by Kate Hamill | Based on the novel by Bram Stoker

CMAP is a nonprofit organization serving aging adults and their families in the greater Princeton area. But more than that, we’re a group of people with various interests, backgrounds, experiences, and passions. We’re active, engaged, and curious members of society. Much like the people we serve.

WE HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Come check out all that we have to offer by visiting cmaprinceton.org.

Throughout the summer, you will find:

• Engaging adult learning possibilities

• Yoga, chair yoga, meditation

• Special lecture series

• Reception greeters, GrandPals, HomeFriends, and other volunteer opportunities

Highlights this summer include:

• Evergreen Forum Master Class Summer Series

• Pride Day events

• Summer BBQ

• Program offerings in Spanish, Russian, and French

• TED Talks, First Friday Films

• Yoga, Every Body Walk!, Art Classes, Pickleball and so much more…

CMAP is a community nonprofit organization that exists to help older adults thrive. We carry out this mission by offering support and guidance to older adults and their families, and by providing vital human connections, compassionate social services, dynamic lifelong learning, and meaningful volunteer opportunities that promote active, healthy, and engaged aging for adults aged fifty-five and above.

TOWN TOPICS

Princeton’s Weekly Community Newspaper Since 1946 DONALD C. STUART, 1946-1981 DAN D. COYLE, 1946-1973 Founding Editors/Publishers

Two Studio Hillier Projects Earn International Awards

Two Studio Hillier projects have been named recipients of the 2024 International Architecture and Design Awards.

The firm received a platinum medal in Kitchen and Dining Design for a renovation of a beach house in Nantucket, Mass., and a bronze medal for the River Road Residence in Solebury, Pa., near New Hope.

The renovation of the beach house in Nantucket, given the Danish Name “Strand Hus” by its owners, transforms an existing 50-year-old, modest oceanfronting house into an exemplar of contemporary Danish architecture.

Expansive glass openings with minimalistic detailing bridge the connection between the indoor and

outdoor space. Partition walls were removed to create an open floor plan, allowing natural light to flow throughout the space. The second floor was designed to be a gathering space around the centralized open-plan kitchen, while taking advantage of the 360-degree views along with the cantilevered balconies overlooking the ocean.

The River Road Residence in Solebury is on the banks of the Delaware River. The 5,400-square-foot residence, supported by three 10-foot-high cantilevered trusses, is lifted above the flood level and sits on a 30foot square poured concrete base containing a garage for three cars and a two-story high entrance foyer. The house above has panoramic views of the riverscape through full height windows

from living areas, the primary bedroom suite, and two decks. Spaces on the back of the house feature framed views into the surrounding woods.

The Architecture and Design Community, creator of the IAD awards, describes itself as “a global gathering of architects and designers, united by a common goal: harmonizing human and environmental well-being.” Submissions were judged by a panel of 30 architects from around the world.

Studio Hillier LLC, headed by J. Robert Hillier, a Town Topics shareholder, is committed to producing high quality, sustainable, award-winning work. In its 57 years in Princeton, the firm has received over 360 design awards for projects in 27 states and 34 foreign countries.

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

Volunteer with FOPOS : Friends of Princeton Open Space is looking for volunteers to help with land stewardship at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve on Saturday, June 22, in sessions from 9-11 a.m. and 12-2 p.m. Clear invasive species and help with riparian restoration. Visit fopos.org to sign up.

Photo Contest : Friends of Princeton Open Space is holding its ninth annual Perspectives on Preservation Photo Contest with a submission deadline of September 8. Photos taken at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Open Space area can be submitted by professionals and amateurs; they must have been taken during the past three years. Visit fopos.org for more information.

Donate Blood : On Saturday, June 29, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., the Red Cross will be on hand at the Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, to take donations. Donors get a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. RedCrossBlood.org/DoGood. Log and Branch Collection : Town-wide, begins Monday, June 17. Material must be ready for collection by 7 a.m. that day. Princetonnj.gov.

AWARD WINNER: Studio Hillier’s design for the River Road Residence in Solebury, Pa., received a bronze medal from the 2024 International Architecture and Design Awards.

CAMPUS CHRONICLER: This photo of workers sorting books at

those on display at “Credit Line, Please,” an

at the Seeley Mudd Library through April 2025.

Longtime Photographer of University is Subject of Retrospective at Mudd Library

From 1936 until the late 1960s, it was rare to find an issue of the Princeton Alumni Weekly (PAW) that didn’t feature a photo — usually on the cover — by Elizabeth Menzies. The

photographer’s contributions, a selection of which are on display at the University’s Seeley Mudd Library starting Thursday, June 13, represent a visual chronicle of Princeton University through the decades.

“Credit Line, Please” features photos on Mudd Library’s walls and display cases. Curators Phoebe Nobles, Emma Paradies, and Rosalba Varallo Recchia, who work at Princeton University Library, wanted to celebrate the woman whom Princeton history professor Julian Boyd said had “the intellect of a scholar, the heart of a concerned citizen, and the hand of an artist.”

TOPICS

Of the Town

They decided to mount the exhibit after repeatedly noticing her photos cropping up, here and there, in various campus archives. The show is thematic rather than chronological.

“There is no one collection of her work,” said Nobles. “But she has works in a bunch of collections from around the mid-century. Often, there is something a little wry in her photos. She has a point of view. After a while, you can tell something is hers.”

Born in 1915, Elizabeth Grant Cranbrook Menzies was the only child of Princeton chemistry professor Alan Menzies. She took a childhood interest in photographic chemistry, “using photosensitive emulsions and chemical baths to lift visions out of the dark,” reads a press release on the exhibit.

The title of the show refers to Menzies’ efforts to receive recognition, financial and otherwise, for her work. “It was an increasing quest,” said Nobles.

Menzies’ first photo for PAW was in 1936. Three years later, at the age of 24, she earned recognition for a photo she took of Princeton resident Albert Einstein, for the magazine Scientific American. It was an achievement in itself, as the famous physicist at the Institute for Advanced Study “had come

to resent his notoriety,” reads the release.

“In contrast to the way most photographers captured him in his home — from above, with Einstein flinching away from the camera —Menzies knelt at the seated man’s eye level and looked at him straightforwardly, as photograph connoisseurs have noted. Perhaps she told a joke; he stifled a smile. The result was a portrait that seems like a work of disclosure rather than exposure: a famous face looking steadily at the viewer, brows arched, as though the sitter is

AAMLFellow, AAML

Fellow,RisingAAML Star

Princeton University is among

exhibit of photos by Elizabeth Menzies, on view

weighing whether to divulge a secret.”

Despite landing the Einstein assignment for Scientific American, Menzies continued to make everyday people her subjects for PAW. “She paid attention to building maintenance — people working on scaffolds, on ladders, stacking books,” said Nobles.

Menzies took a day job in 1954, at what is now called the University’s Index of Medieval Art. She stopped selling to PAW in the late 1960s, turning her attention to books. In 1967, she published Princeton Architecture: A Pictorial History of Town and Campus, co-authored with Constance Greiff and Mary Gibbons. She published three more books, but she continued to take photos for magazines including Fortune, Life, The Saturday Evening Post, and Time.

“She became increasingly concerned with environmental issues. It seems like she really enjoyed her work in laboratories and greenhouses. But campus architecture also formed a large part of her portfolio. She tended to frame, or obscure, her architectural subjects with tree branches,” said Nobles, pointing to photos of the New South building and the Boathouse on Lake Carnegie.

Menzies retired from the University in 1980, “leaving behind thousands of images that have helped Princetonians all over the world to share memories,” reads the release.

“Credit Line, Please” is scheduled to remain on view through April 2025. The Mudd Library’s lobby is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Visit library. princeton.edu/Elizabethmenzies.

—Anne Levin

Question of the Week:

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

(Asked Saturday in honor of Father’s Day) (Photos by Sarah Teo)

Consolidated Municipality of Princeton” incorrectly stated that Lempert was mayor when consolidation passed. At that time, Chad Goerner was mayor of the former Princeton Township Committee, and Yina Moore was mayor of the former Princeton Borough. Lempert was the first mayor of the newly consolidated town.

“He never said very much, but I remember that he didn’t care what my siblings and I did [for a living], as long as we were decent people.”

—William Jones, Baltimore, Md.

“My dad always said the most important thing in the world is to stay engaged. For instance, at work: he’d say to always have a rag in your back pocket, because you can always find something that needs to be cleaned or polished.” Kevin Cronin, Long Valley

“Don’t

Julia and Charlotte Klein, Montclair

Elena: “To do my best, and be strong.”

Jamar: “To not rush into things — to live and experience, and not be bogged down by things that don’t matter in the moment. Try to not take things too seriously.” Elena and Jamar Robinson, Trenton

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Doctors don’t know the exact cause of migraines but it is now believed overactive nerve cells change the levels of certain chemical compounds in your body such as serotonin and calcitonin gene-related peptides (CGRP). An imbalance in these chemicals can cause swelling in the blood vessels around your brain, inflammation, and the resulting pain.

Women are three times as likely to suffer from migraines as men. Family history and genetics are also thought to play a part. Other medical conditions such as depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders also raise your risk of suffering from migraines.

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triggers have on the body. A skilled acupuncturist can parse out the things causing migraines and address them by treating specific areas that elicit a response from the body. These responses can range from balancing the immune system, the nervous system, the endocrine (hormonal) system, and stimulating the circulatory system. All resulting in finally getting relief from migraines.

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Last Week’s Primary Elections Set Stage for November Contests

With the wrap-up of the June primary, New Jersey voters and candidates are setting their sights on the November general election.

The national races, with Congress, the Senate and the U.S. presidency on the line, appear to be more hotly contested than the local contests.

Democrat Mark Freda is running unopposed for reelection as Princeton mayor, while in their bids for two Princeton Council seats in November, new candidate Brian McDonald and incumbent Leighton Newlin are so far facing no competition.

In the primary race to represent the Democratic Party in the fall election for the New Jersey U.S. Senate seat currently held by Robert Menendez, Andy Kim handily defeated two other candidates, receiving 75 percent of the vote to 15.9 percent for labor organizer and political leader Patricia Campos-Medina, and 9.1 percent for Lawrence Hamm, human rights activist and leader of Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign in New Jersey. Tammy Murphy, wife of Gov. Phil Murphy, entered the primary race for Senate, but ended her campaign in March.

Menendez, who is on trial in Manhattan on federal corruption charges, was not on the primary ballot, but he has filed to appear on the November ballot as an independent candidate.

Winning the Republican

primary and a place on the November ballot against Kim was Curtis Bashaw, a Cape May real estate developer, who defeated Trump-endorsed Mendham Borough Mayor Christine Serrano Glassner, Navy veteran Albert Harshaw, and former Tabernacle Deputy Mayor Justin Murphy. Bashaw won 45.5 percent of the Republican votes cast, with Glassner at 38.5 percent, Murphy at 11.3 percent, and Harshaw at 4.7 percent.

In the race to represent New Jersey’s 12th district — including portions of Mercer, Somerset, Middlesex, and Union counties — in the U.S. Congress, Bonnie Watson Coleman will be on the ballot for the Democrats in the fall after defeating Daniel Dart in the Democratic primary, and Darius Mayfield will be the Republican candidate with his victory over Thomas Jones in the Republican primary.

Seeking her sixth term in Congress, Watson Coleman received 86.7 percent of the vote to 13.3 percent for Dart, who is a Princeton resident and community leader, former member of the Princeton Board of Education, and former COO of Merrill Lynch Investment Management.

Mayfield, whose campaign slogan is “Not Black. Not White. American,” received 84.5 percent of the

Republican vote in the primary to Jones’ 15.5 percent. Mayfield is a businessman, political consultant, and podcast host. Watson Coleman previously defeated him in the 2022 congressional election.

Also on the primary ballots, running unopposed for their parties’ nominations, were three Democratic and three Republican candidates for Mercer County Commissioners. Incumbent Democrats Kristin L. McLaughlin, Terrance Stokes, and Samuel Frisby will be running for reelection in November against Republican challengers Andrew Curcio, Pedro Reyes, and Denise “Neicy” Turner.

New Jersey Democratic voters faced a new ballot design in the primary race, with the disallowed “party line” format replaced by a “block ballot.” Kim had challenged the party line ballot, and officials were forced to redesign New Jersey’s Democratic ballots, eliminating preferential positions that had traditionally been given to candidates endorsed by local party leaders. Republican primary ballots were unchanged, but what the ballots will look like in the fall remains uncertain, with outstanding cases and constitutional questions pending.

—Donald Gilpin

“Hams” Invite Public To Annual Field Day

Over the weekend of June 22-23, some 40,000 amateur radio operators from across the world will participate in the ARRL Field Day, experimenting and engineering in ways to transmit voice, data, and pictures over the air. Among them are members of the Delaware Valley Radio Association (DVRA), based in Ewing Township. They will set up portable radio stations on emergency power and try to make contact with other “hams” in the U.S. and Canada.

Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) will hold a celebration of sustainability, renewable energy, and environmental stewardship on Saturday, June 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This free, public event will feature hands-on activities, food, and activities for the whole family.

Participants can meet local organizations making a difference for the environment, learn how PPPL is powering possibilities for a clean energy future, and discover what people can do in their own backyards and communities.

Members of the public are invited to see the operation on Saturday, June 22 from 2-7 p.m. at the DVRA’s radio station, adjacent to the Mercer County Airport in West Trenton.

A picnic, campout, practice for emergencies, and an informal competition, Field Day is regarded as the most popular ham radio activities held annual in North America. It involves contacting as many other stations as possible around the world, operating radio gear in abnormal situations and less than optimal conditions. “Hams” are known for their communications support in real disaster and post-disaster situations.

For more information, visit w2zq.com.

Highlights include an introduction, “PPPL and the Path to Fusion Energy,” by Laboratory Director

Steve Cowley; a keynote discussion, “Environmental Justice,” with educator, farmer, and Master Gardener Tomia MacQueen of Wildflower Farm NJ; science demonstrations, an electric vehicle show, electric bus rides around the campus, and free giveaways. Parking is offsite with shuttles to PPPL. For GPS users, enter Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory – NOAA, 201 Forrestal Road, Princeton, 08540, into the navigation system. This address will take attendees directly to the parking area where you a bus will transport to PPPL. PPPL is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory managed by Princeton University. The rain date is June 29. Visit PPPL.gov for more information.

OVER THE AIR: The Delaware Valley Radio Association will set up temporary amateur radio stations at the club’s Field Day event, June 22-23, on 798 Bear Tavern Road in West Trenton. The event is open to the public on June 22 from 2 to 7 p.m.

Titusville Native Takes Starring Role

In Princeton Festival’s “Cosi fan Tutte”

When Mozart’s comic opera Cosi fan tutte is staged by the Princeton Festival this coming weekend, there is likely to be a substantial cheering section for the mezzo soprano taking the role of Dorabella.

She is Alexis Peart, and her artistic roots in the local area run deep. In fact, the accomplished 26-yearold opera singer cites her fi rst operatic experience as a member of the children’s chorus at the Princeton Festival — in Carmen and La Boheme the next.

Peart grew up in Titusville, in the house where her mother still lives. She studied voice, cello, flute, and violin at Westminster Conservatory of Music. She took classes at Princeton Ballet School. Her family attended Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church.

“Coming back here to perform is a very ‘kismet’ journey, and I’m so excited about it,” Peart said during a telephone interview last week. “With all that I have been doing, I haven’t been able to perform in proximity to where I grew up. I understand that a huge group from the church are coming. And of course, my mom is coming to all three shows.”

graduate of Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., and Boston University).

But Peart’s activities are not limited to singing. She is the executive director of the Boston Opera Collaborative, a teaching artist and curriculum writer with the Boston arts institution Castle of Our Skins, and an associate creative producer for Beth Morrison Projects, an opera company based in Brooklyn, N.Y.

a lot about my experience.”

Peart’s focus on opera developed after she sang in the children’s chorus at Westminster and the Princeton Festival. “I had done the honors program on the weekends at Westminster — I was there all the time,” she said. “And at the Princeton Festival, I was paired with adult choristers. I remember thinking it was so cool that these people were singing opera — unamplifi ed sound — and we got to be under them. So it just kind of blossomed. I just really loved it. I worked with incredible people who really set me up for going into this.”

Peart started winning competitions. At Hopewell Valley Central High School, she was involved in choral and theater endeavors.

“He looked at my resume and said, ‘You have a New Jersey area code,’ she said. “And it kind of went from there. I auditioned, and here we are.”

The role of Dorabella in Mozart’s opera Cosi fan tutte is an exciting challenge for Peart, who also performs modern music. “I like getting to create things that haven’t been done before,” she said. “And there is so much variety in contemporary opera. But I love doing the Mozart operas, and this is my fi rst Dorabella.”

The production is described as a contemporary take on the 1790 opera, setting it in a pastel-colored villa above Italy’s glamorous Amalfi coast. The opera is sung in Italian with English titles.

HV High School Senior Wins

Lily of the Valley Scholarship

Hopewell Valley Central High School (HVCHS) senior Shane Solack has been named as the recipient of the inaugural Lily of the Valley Foundation scholarship, a $1,500 award established in memory of Lily Carroll and dedicated to supporting individuals who follow non-traditional paths after high school.

us in honoring Lily’s spirit and supporting the achievements of future students,” the website urges.

MC Residents Wanted For Health Services Survey

The Greater Mercer Public Health Partnership in Lawrenceville is seeking opinions from Mercer County residents on health and wellness in the community, and what needs to be improved.

Peart is based in Boston, where she sings with the Boston Lyric Opera and was a Boston District Winner last year in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. She has sung with Chautauqua Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Guerilla Opera, Chicago Summer Opera, and Eastman Opera Theater (she is a

“I do a lot of stuff in addition to singing,” she said. “Performing and arts administration really go hand in hand. I feel like being a singer gives me a broader understanding of what happens behind the scenes and backstage. It just makes me a better performer. And as a person of color, it’s about how we can create more inclusive theater spaces, both for artists in the room and for audiences. How do we make opera more accessible? How can we get people excited about it? It’s another form of storytelling, so I talk

“I ended up going to Eastman [School of Music], where I did a lot of singing, ushered, and was really taken care of,” she said. “The pandemic put a big pause on everything, and I had to adapt to making music in this socially distanced world. I did my graduate school auditions from my apartment in Rochester.”

Peart’s career began to flourish in Boston, where her voice “came into its own,” she said. Making her way back to New Jersey happened via the Chatauqua Institution in upstate New York, where Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) conductor Rossen Milanov leads the Chatauqua Symphony Orchestra (the PSO runs the Princeton Festival).

“I just love performance and sharing. I love the rehearsal process, seeing how everyone works together,” Peart said. “Even with a standard like Mozart, our director James Marvel gives it a unique spin that makes our production really special. And that’s the joy of it — this continued sense of discovery.”

Cosi fan tutte is on stage at the Princeton Festival in the performance tent at Morven, 55 Stockton Street, on Friday, June 14 at 7 p.m.; Sunday, June 16 at 4 p.m.; and Tuesday, June 18 at 7 p.m. Pre-performance talks in Morven’s Stockton Education Center will take place before the Friday and Tuesday shows, at 5:30 p.m. The Friday speaker is composer Julian Grant; the Tuesday speaker is professor Timothy Urban. Visit princetonsymphonyorchestra.org for tickets.

—Anne Levin

A press release announcing the award cited Solack’s resilience and determination, and noted that his “decision to pursue trades over traditional college paths, coupled with his interest in becoming a first responder, embodies the spirit of the scholarship and reflects the Foundation’s mission to honor Carroll’s memory.”

Dahlia, a Pennington florist and Carroll’s workplace, will be honoring Solack for his scholarship recognition.

Carroll’s “passion for floral design blossomed during her time at HVCHS, where she discovered her talent while participating in the school’s co-op program,” according to the press release.

The Lily of the Valley Scholarship aims to provide financial assistance for high school seniors who “demonstrate exceptional talent and dedication in coop and work-based learning programs.” It is intended to empower students from HVCHS to pursue successful careers or businesses in vocational fields after graduation.

Visit lilyofthevalleyscholarship.com for more information about the Lily of the Valley Foundation and its scholarship program. “Join

The anonymous survey closes July 1, and data will be used to improve services to families in the community.

As part of a larger 2024-2025 Community Health Needs Assessment, RWJBarnabas Health — in collaboration with its health coalition partners (Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset), St. Peter’s University Hospital, Capital Health, Lawrence Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, local health centers, county and local health departments, and community organizations — is conducting the survey to learn more about the needs and strengths of the community and its residents. This information will be used to guide future services and programs and better coordination among organizations.

Survey responses are confidential. Participants will not be asked for their name, address, or any other information that can be identifi ed. This survey will take about 15 minutes to complete.

More information is at BHPlanningDept@rwjbh.org.

The survey can be obtained at https://bit.ly/rwjb24, or for more information contact Greater Mercer Public Health Partnership at gmphp.org, or contact (609) 580-0621.

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Alexis Peart (Photo by Stephen Laschever)

Culminating the celebrations will be a concert at 7 p.m. in Morven’s Performance Pavilion, featuring Robert Ray’s Gospel Mass and other choral selections with Westminster Choir College’s Vinroy D. Brown Jr. conducting the joint choral groups of the Capital Singers of Princeton, Caritas Chamber Chorale, and Elmwood Concert Singers, along with vocalists from St. David the King in West Windsor and Union Baptist Church in Trenton.

Highlights of the evening will include Mark Miller’s “I Believe,” Marques L.A. Garrett’s “Sing Out, My Soul,” traditional spirituals, and “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” as well as remarks by Union

Baptist Church’s the Rev. Simeon Spencer. Tickets for the evening concert start at $10 for adults and $5 for children. Events earlier in the day are free. Visit princetonsymphony.org/festival.

June 13 Start

The Mercer County Library System gets the ball rolling with a virtual presentation of “What We Commemorate on Juneteenth” at 6:30 p.m. on June 13. University of Maryland History Professor Richard Bell will discuss the struggles of enslaved African Americans during the Civil War and the events leading up to their emancipation. For registration and further information, visit mcl.org.

The pace picks up on Saturday, June 15 with the African American Collaborative of Mercer County’s 4th Annual Juneteenth Festival

at the Mercer County Park Festival Grounds at 8 p.m., featuring live music, numerous performances, multiple food trucks, and more, all hosted by Kevin “Deekay” Francois.

In the morning of June 15 at Mercer County Park, cyclists will be participating in the Juneteenth Freedom Day Ride. Visit juneteenthridenj. com for registration and further details.

Also on June 15, the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (SSAAM) will be hosting its third annual Juneteenth celebration, “Freedom Forward,” from 12 to 4 p.m. at 189 Hollow Road in Skillman. Live gospel music, original plays, interactive games, and a variety of cuisines will be offered. The SSAAM promises “a rich tapestry of

African American history in the Sourland Mountain region” and “an immersive cultural journey.” Visit ssaamuseum.org for tickets.

The festivities continue through the following weekend with a business-oriented event on Saturday, June 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Robert Wood Johnson (RWJ) Hamilton Center for Health and Wellness Conference Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Road and history-oriented events at Washington Crossing Historic Park on Sunday, June 23, from 3 to 7 p.m.

Supporting Black-owned businesses in the Mercer County area, a Juneteenth Black-owned Business Marketplace will take place at the RWJ Conference Center in the Clover Square shopping plaza on Sloan Avenue and Quakerbridge Road sponsored by the NJ Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at The College of New Jersey, Mercer County Office of Economic Development, and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital – Hamilton RWJ Barnabas Health.

There will be shopping, food, a live DJ, and prizes and giveaways, as well as the opportunity for people from all backgrounds to learn about Black-owned businesses in the Mercer County area and “discover the hidden jewels in the community,” according to the SBDC website at njsbdc.com.

Johnson Trolley Corridor

continued from page one

The trolley reached its peak in 1921, collecting 1.6 million fares, according to information from Mercer County. An advertisement in the Princeton Directory from 1926 boasts “Smoking Compartments in Every Car, New All Steel Cars in Service, Safety First, and Automatic Block Signage.”

Trolleys passed “through vast farmland and what is now Olden Avenue, Spruce Street, Eggerts Crossing Road, I-295, Lawrenceville Village, and the Municipality of Princeton,” according to the statement from Mercer County.

The trolley line was purchased in 1929 by the Reading Railroad, which ran local freight service until 1973, when the new interstate cut off access to the line. The trail currently occupies only a portion of the old right-ofway abandoned by the former trolley company.

Development of the corridor would require a pedestrian bridge over I-295, improvement of existing rights of way on the historic Johnson Trolley Line, and identifying the best way to align it with new trail construction where the trolley right of way has been privately developed.

Day. In August 1949, an Act of Congress established National Flag Day. Celebrating its 26th anniversary, The Spirit of Princeton is a not-for-profit, non-partisan community organization, whose mission is to produce events honoring Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Flag Day. For further information and/or to make a donation, visit spiritofprinceton.org.

Eating for Your Health Offers Cooking Event

Eating for Your Health, formerly known as Suppers, presents a cooking class on Tuesday, June 18 at 6 p.m. at Aunt Chubby’s Café, 1 Railroad Place in Hopewell, with chef Stephanie Lett.

“Savor the Season: Cooking Fresh & Healthy” will focus on how to cook using fresh, locally sourced produce and essential pantry staples. The program is aimed at novices as well as seasoned cooks.

Lett is a chef, former restaurant owner, and chef instructor at Sur la Table. She owned a restaurant in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. She is a longtime recipe tester for America’s Test Kitchen, and is an organic backyard gardener. She was an associate producer for the TV and web series “NJ Fresh.”

I

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Washington Crossing Historic Park will be hosting a variety of educational and entertainment events on June 23, starting at 3 p.m. with lectures on the contributions of Black soldiers during the American Revolution by Noah Lewis and during the Civil War and Juneteenth by 1st Sgt. Algernon Ward Jr. Lewis is a living historian and portrayer of “Ned Hector,” a Black Revolutionary War hero. Ward is a historical reenactor and president of the 6th Regiment United States Colored Troops.

The lectures will be followed by a living history presentation from 4 to 5 p.m. and a concert from 5 to 7 p.m. with live music by the Philadelphia-based Quake Band. The event is sponsored by Bloomberg. Go to washingtoncrossingpark. org for further information.

—Donald Gilpin

To join the online meeting, visit zoom. us/j/99300558649. Public comments will be accepted through July 10. Submit them to Sophia Fox at sfox@ stokescg.com.

—Anne Levin

Spirit of Princeton Hosts Flag Day Event

The Spirit of Princeton Flag Day ceremony will take place this year, rain or shine, on Friday, June 14, at 12 p.m. at the Princeton Municipal Complex Plaza, 400 Witherspoon Street.

Vocalist Kenny Grayson, a Princeton University employee for more than 50 years, will provide musical entertainment. Members of the Princeton Police Department, Fire Department, and Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad, as well as students from Community Park School, will be participating in the ceremony.

Flag Day marks the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag

Landscape,

Participants will prepare a few recipes together, which they will share. Spots are limited. Visit eatingforyourhealth.org to register.

Talk by Dan Benson On Future of Trenton

At a breakfast meeting on Wednesday, July 31 from 7:30 to 10 a.m., Mercer County Executive Dan Benson will join the Trenton Economic Development Series of Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber at Cooper’s Riverview to discuss his priorities for Trenton. Benson will address several key initiatives. He will cover the progress on the long-stalled redevelopment of the Broad Street Corridor, the completion of the Assunpink Creek Bridge replacement, and efforts to expand affordable housing through the Mercer County Improvement Authority. Additionally, Benson will discuss collaboration with the Governor’s Office on the upcoming Welcome Center in Trenton aimed at enhancing events and tourism for the nation’s 250th anniversary, as well as the renovation of the Trenton Thunder Ballpark to reintroduce a minor league team. Cooper’s Riverview is at 50 Riverview Executive Park, Route 29, Trenton. Visit princetonmercer.org for registration information.

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“LET FREEDOM RING”: From left, Human Services Commission member Larry Spruill, Civil Rights Commission Chair Fern Spruill, and Councilman Leighton Newlin raise the Juneteenth flag at Monument Hall to commemorate Juneteenth 2023. (Princeton Symphony Orchestra staff photo)

Get the scoop from

Beech Leaf Disease

continued from page one leaves earlier in May in Herrontown Woods, heard that Mountain Lakes was also affected, and had noted that in Autumn Hill Reservation nearly all beech trees were suffering from contorted leaves and thinning crowns. Since first being detected in 2012 in Ohio, beech leaf disease has spread to 12 states and the province of Ontario, Canada, including New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, as well as all New England states except Vermont. The nematodes are thought to be not native to North America.

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station reports that in Ohio researchers are seeing some American beech trees

die within six to 10 years of infection while in the Northeast there is a faster progression of disease and decline with some trees expected to die in as little as four years after the first appearance of symptoms.

In an email Hiltner suggested two possible treatment options: “fluopyram, which appears to be too toxic to use widely, and various forms of phosphite, which is applied to the soil as a biostimulant that improves the tree’s immune system response.”

Hiltner quotes from The Holden Arboretum in Ohio website, which describes fluopyram as “a harsh chemical and its application should be considered with great caution.” The description continues, “The pesticide may kill all fungi

in the application area, therefore we currently only recommend its use by professionals and in special cases.”

Phosphites, applied to the soil for uptake through the roots, “may provide some level of BLD control, although results can vary considerably,” according to a University of Massachusetts at Amherst website. “A notable improvement in tree vigor may take several years of regular treatments.”

Sapudar also notes positive effects from the application of phosphites, but states that there is no “cure” for beech leaf disease. “I’d also suggest a root biostimulant with humic acid in the summer months to offset stress. The phosphite triggers the tree’s natural defense mechanism to help

new beech leaf disease caused by tiny worms called nematodes, which can destroy a tree in less than 10 years. Local arborists and residents are seeking the best ways to combat beech leaf disease.

against this pathogen.”

If residents suspect they have a tree with beech leaf disease, Sapudar recommends that they work with a private arborist on managing the disease. The arborist should be a New Jersey Licensed Tree Expert and should have a certification from the International Society of Arboriculture, Sapudar added.

Hiltner is not optimistic about the future for Princeton’s beech trees. In his letter to Town Topics he questions, “Where is science when we need it?” But he does see some hope in the phosphite treatments and in the fact that there are some beeches that seem to be resistant to the disease.

In his Princeton Nature Notes at princetonnaturenotes.org , he writes, “I

encourage people to visit favorite beech forests in the area sooner rather than later to appreciate the now threatened beauty of this singular tree. Over the next few years, if you are fortunate enough to find one that remains healthy while others around it succumb, you should let people know. The Holden Arboretum site provides someone to contact.”

—Donald Gilpin

Tell them you saw their ad in

Great Hall at TESU Named for Azmys

Thomas Edison State University (TESU) held a dedication ceremony on June 5 to honor longtime TESU Foundation Board Member Ahmed Azmy, Ph.D., and his wife, Nadia, by naming the Kelsey Complex Great Hall the Dr. Ahmed & Nadia Azmy Great Hall.

“The dedication of the TESU’s Great Hall is an acknowledgement of Dr. and Mrs. Azmy’s mutual devotion to the university, their decades of philanthropic support, and a celebration of our shared goals for the community we serve,” said Merodie A. Hancock, president of the University. “Dr. Azmy is a quiet leader who has made a decisive mark on our institution with his generosity, advocacy, and wisdom. He has helped grow our institution in many ways, from funding scholarships and academic program development to his leadership on the Foundation Board.”

Azmy joined the TESU Foundation Board in 2004 and has

served on the Gala Committee (now the Impact Awards Committee) since 2006.

“I am grateful, humbled and honored to have the Great Hall bear our name. I feel privileged to serve with fellow Foundation Board members in guiding and supporting this remarkable institution and look forward to our continued work,” said Azmy. “I applaud the leadership of Dr. Hancock and her staff for their work and extend my gratitude to my dear friends and family members who came from far and near to attend today’s event.”

Spanning 40 years, Azmy’s architectural endeavors have ranged from cultural centers, corporate headquarters, and community spaces in the U.S., to urban plans and development projects in the Middle East. During his career, he was instrumental in the global growth of the architectural and engineering firm CUH2A. Later, he served as an urban design consultant for the United Nations; and, in 1990, founded HACBM Architects Engineers Planners in Lawrenceville.

He then launched Azmy Architects, a Princeton Junction firm specializing in architectural design, project management, urban design, site planning, interior design, construction administration, and master planning. Azmy earned his bachelor’s degree in architecture from Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; a master’s degree in architecture and a master’s degree in city planning from the University of Pennsylvania; and both a master of fine arts and a doctorate in architecture from Princeton University. The couple live in Pennington.

BRYN MAWR COLLEGE

BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY

CORNELL UNIVERSITY

DICKINSON COLLEGE

DUKE UNIVERSITY

EMERSON COLLEGE

FRANKLIN & MARSHALL COLLEGE

HAMILTON COLLEGE

HARVEY MUDD COLLEGE

LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE

LEHIGH UNIVERSITY

MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY (2)

PRATT INSTITUTE

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY (2)

SKIDMORE COLLEGE

SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY

STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (3)

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY

THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND

BEAUTIFUL AND BESIEGED: Princeton’s beech trees are being threatened with a

BEST Remodeler/Design!

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

Councilman Leighton Newlin Promises to “Keep Listening” for Three More Years

To the Editor:

As I head into the general election for my second term on Princeton Council, I’m feeling deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue serving this community that I love. Being on Council is both an honor and a privilege, and I start every day with that in mind.

When I first ran three years ago, I promised to be part of a movement building a broad infrastructure of care in Princeton — focused on housing, affordability, education, social services, transportation, public safety, and the arts. My colleagues and I have worked hard to deliver on that promise. But we’re not there yet. A few things that come to mind that are on my radar screen — an absentee landlord policy, regulating Airbnbs, and expanding our towns tree canopy equitably in all neighborhoods.

Our next phase keeps the focus on smart growth and wise choices. Building a human infrastructure for Princeton’s future that is truly inclusive of people at all income levels. As I’ve said before, diversity is a core strength of our community, not a weakness to be papered over. We’ve made progress, but there is still much work to be done.

Whether you voted for me or have agreed with me or not, thank you for being an engaged citizen who cares enough to vote. I take governance seriously — I won’t just mail it in for three more years. I’ll do my homework, keep looking for creative ways to build community, and work on key issues like affordable housing, human services, racial and social equity, diversity and inclusion, livability, sustainability, environmental justice, public safety, transit, mobility, our central business district, communications, historic preservation, and municipal services.

I would be remiss if I didn’t give a nod of appreciation to the dedicated public workforce that keeps our town running. From DPW workers to police officers, crossing guards to road crews, parks staff to firefighters, municipal clerks to health inspectors, and yes, the tax collector too —these are the folks whom we should be thanking every day for their service.

I’m proud to be a native son, who has gone from leading the Princeton Housing Authority for 24 years, to building community through activism, using my professional background in re-entry/re-integration, and then joining the governing body. As one of just two people of color on Council and the only African American member, my path has given me unique perspectives to share.

My promise to the good people of Princeton is that “Leighton will keep listening.” I’m committed to building an even stronger, more vibrant, more inclusive Princeton for all of us. I hope I can earn your support and your trust for three more years.

LEIGHTON NEWLIN Birch Avenue

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.

Pennington Author Stresses the Importance of a Few Kind Words

Pennington resident Tracey Willis Gates has written her first book, The Power of A Few Kind Words: Create a More Meaningful Life

One letter at a Time, about her inspirational and transformational journey of writing an unexpected handwritten letter of appreciation to a different person every day for one year.

The book (Epigraph Publishing, $29.95 hardcover) tells of the reactions to Gates’ handwritten notes, and gives advice on how to follow her example to improve relationships in life. She said, “In this world that throws negativity at us very regularly, this is a heartwarming dose of positivity that is appropriate for everyone who wants to increase their joy, expand their sense of community, and nourish the most important things in their lives.”

Her mission to spread kindness began with her father, she writes on her website, afewkindwords.net: “Whenever anyone asked my father what he would like for his birthday or for Christmas, he would always answer ‘a few kind words.’ That drove us all insane. I didn’t know how to buy a few kind words and wrap them up in a box.

“So, I bought him a tie with tennis racquets on it or some argyle socks or a package of cigarette lighters in neon colors. I thought that asking for a few kind words was like asking for nothing. Wasn’t gift-giving the way we show someone we love them? Apparently, not to

my father; he had his own language of love. He was a man of few words but those words were always supportive, positive, and nurturing.

“And then, on January 31, 1987, dad had a heart attack while playing tennis and was gone. He was 67, I was 24 and newly engaged. He didn’t get the chance to walk me down the aisle and I didn’t get the chance to give him those few kind words.”

According to Brad Aronson, author of Humankind: Changing the World One Small Act at a Time, “Tracey shows us the enormous opportunity we have when we share a few kind words. The power to turn ordinary moments into meaningful connections.”

Gates is a certified life and wellness coach and has been sharing her workshop, “A Few Kind Words: The Power of Writing Unexpected Letters of Appreciation,” with private gatherings, nonprofits, businesses, and schools around and outside of the community for the past several years. She was featured in Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper and Nice News. Her career has included being a community volunteer, director of alumni relations at a private school, special events consultant, and a court appointed special advocate for foster children.

The Power of A Few Kind Words: Create a More Meaningful Life One letter at a Time is available from amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

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Go, seize the day

Wake up and say

This is an extraordinary life

LCelebrating John Wetton’s “Extraordinary Life”

ess than a week before Father’s Day, my son and I are talking about the time he fell off the sofa dancing around to Asia’s “Heat of the Moment.” It was mid-May 1983; he was 7. “But it wasn’t the sofa,” he tells me; he’s 48 now. “It was a bunch of cushions I’d piled onto a chair. I didn’t cry, I yelled, I kept jumping around. John Wetton was singing.”

Wetton’s Power

I italicized “John Wetton” to show the 7-year-old’s excitement still alive in the 48-year-old’s voice. In fact, when Wetton sings, the whole world is italicized, there’s no such thing as was ; his is the power of is , is , forever is , and the first time I heard him singing Asia’s anthemic “An Extraordinary Life” on the 2008 “come back” album Phoenix, I had to know more about the musician my son had been mourning for the better part of five years. When Wetton sang “Go seize the day, wake up and say this is an extraordinary life,” he had less than a decade to live, after surviving 20 years of heavy drinking and smoking, plus triple-bypass surgery. He died of cancer on January 31, 2017, at 67, same age as my heavy drinking and smoking mother, who also died of cancer and was very much on my mind as Wetton sang of “the smiles and frowns, the ups and downs, of fortune turning ... the twists and turns, the lessons learned.”

Asia’s first single, “Heat of the Moment” was a huge hit, spending 26 weeks on the charts while the group’s debut LP was the No. 1 album in the U.S. for 1982, according to Billboard and Cashbox. As Wetton puts it in a 2014 HuffPost interview, “We got let out of the elevator at the penthouse instead of the ground floor.” In a 2011 interview about “Heat of the Moment,” he says that he and keyboardist Geoff Downes wrote the song in an afternoon: “The lyrics are an abject apology for my dreadful behavior towards a particular woman (the woman I would eventually marry, but divorce 10 years later), the chorus began its life as a 6/8 country song, but when Geoff and I started writing together, we moved the time signatures around, and ‘Heat of the Moment’ emerged.”

YouTube

It’s all about life and death on YouTube, where most of the mourning is being done by children remembering how much their parents or friends or siblings loved a particular song or singer. Were I ever to post something for my church organist/English professor father, it would probably be the Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor. For my mother the possibilities are endless, with “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” at the top of the list, given the way my dad played it on the living room piano whenever he wanted to lift her from a sulk to a swoon.

As I listen to Wetton belting out “Only Time Will Tell,” with lyrics like “You’re leaving now, it’s in your eyes, there’s no disguising it,” I was remembering the day she left him after 25 years.

Father-Son Drives

The one time my characteristically reserved father and I had real conversations was when he drove me 250 miles west to St. Louis to see the Cardinals play and a year later on a trip based on my passion for cities, which took us to Milwaukee, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, and Buffalo. While my son and I listened mostly to his favorite music on our yearly drives to Montreal between 1997 and 2012, with occasional interludes of classics and jazz, my father had to put up with broadcasts of Cardinal games narrated by Harry (“Holy Cow, there she goes”) Caray.

Still, my father had it easy. I was a “normal” kid who rarely rocked the family boat, something my temperamental son has been doing, one way or another, most of his life. The Sunday before Father’s Day was fairly typical. After several blow-ups, he cooked us a delicious dinner (enough to feed the proverbial army) and at two in the morning he played me John Wetton’s self-composed eulogy “Bury Me in Willow” on Asia’s CD XXX (2012), then took up his guitar to demonstrate Wetton’s charging bassline.

bathed in blood, the red badge of fatherhood that no matter how much I scrubbed seemed to remained there, burning like a rash, for days.

Falling at 48

Last week the 48-year-old took another tumble on his way down the stairs to his room, where he resides with five guitars, a keyboard, three amps, every surface covered with record albums, shelves fully stocked with CDs. He picked himself up and has nothing but a bruised leg to show for it, but he’s still shaken, haunted by thoughts of fallen heroes, either by suicide, like Keith Emerson and the founding members of Badfinger, or by “natural causes,” with John Wetton, George Harrison, and David Bowie at the top of a long list. The first such death still figures in dreams inspired by the murder of John Lennon, wherein the killer is brought down before he can fire the fatal shots.

A Bad Fall

Still thinking ahead to Father’s Day when we’ll probably make a sentimental journey to the “old neighborhood” as we did when we swung on the swings at Harrison Street park last year, I’m thinking of “the heat of the moment” trauma of a fall my son suffered, at 3, face down on the pavement in our second Princeton neighborhood, a direct hit, and he’s screaming bloody murder as I pick him up to carry him home four houses down the street, blood streaming from the gash, all over my shirt. Fumbling with gauze and tape and disinfectant, I’m shocked to see myself in the bathroom mirror, shirt open, chest

Because I’m featuring Wetton this week, I’ve been alerted to numerous intimations of mortality in other Wetton songs like “Never Again” (“This is the day, the day of my ascendance”);

“Heroine” (I hold the razor blade up to my face and feel the pulse beneath my skin”); and “Nothing’s Forever” (“Nothing from nothing is nothing, amen, so I say”).

In the 2014 HuffPost interview, Wetton talks about how he decided to name Asia’s last album after the song, “Gravitas”: “The underlying theme of the whole album is redemption, really, and treating each other with a little bit of respect. It’s the non-violent solution. It’s trying to find another way where people retain their dignity. The meaning that I take out of Gravitas is dignity. We didn’t want to make a straightforward rock ‘n’ roll album. Most of this band are in their sixties.” For me and my son and no doubt everyone who knows what happened on January 31, 2017, mortality has become the subtext of the album released less than three years before Wetton’s death, which my son learned about on a YouTube blog.

The Book In his introduction to Nick Shilton’s John Wetton: An Extraordinary Life (Rocket 88), Geoff Downes describes Wetton as “a star in every sense of the word” and a man “who had it all”: “He had a love for fast cars, fine food, coffee, the Rams (that’s Derby County [England] for non[English] football followers), films, books, crosswords, current affairs, sport, languages, classical music — anything that would stimulate his mind that he could use to great effect in his music and lyrics.” Downes ends his tribute with lines from Wetton’s lyric “Bury Me in Willow.” Although the words suggest that Wetton sensed what was coming in 2017, the song is far from a lament, charging out of the box at a gallop driven by Wetton’s bass and Carl Palmer’s drums: “I’ll go whichever way the winds blow, it’s hard to swim against the tide; when I’m gone do this thing for me ... bury me in willow, not in oak.” His voice soaring, full of life, Wetton sings of “a life of conflict ... collision, damage, disarray ... blind, intolerant, unbending,” asking “just let me die a different way, free me, and give me the peace to surrender at last.” Riding the beat to the last line, he sings, “Free me and give me the beautiful silence at last.”

Asia in

Tokyo

The best thing I’ve seen on YouTube recently is the video of Asia performing “Heat of the Moment” in Tokyo in 2007. It’s the original lineup, Steve Howe on lead guitar, Geoff Downes on keyboards, Carl Palmer on drums, and Wetton singing lead and playing bass as if he were 36 instead of pushing 60 less than a year after open-heart surgery. The number is a joy to behold, with Howe, a grey-maned, bespectacled, gap-toothed virtuoso backed up in turn against both Wetton and Downes, who is jamming on his hand-held keyboard as if it were a Flying V. Meanwhile, Palmer is driving everyone toward the ecstatic finale, in which Wetton, clearly in his element, happily calls for the audience to sing along with him as he conducts the chorus of “Heat of the Moment.”

OAsia in New Jersey

rganized in John Wetton’s honor, Asia’s Heat of the Moment Tour will be playing in Englewood July 9, Red Bank July 10, and Atlantic City July 12, along with other dates, from Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada (July 4) to Huntsville, Alabama (July 28). Each performance will be MC’d by legendary artist Roger Dean, whose Asia album covers make him virtually a member of the band. Says Geoff Downes, the only original member in the tour, “I am convinced that John’s spirit is with us as we set out on this new adventure. After all, it is the Year of the Dragon — just as it was in 1982, when we released our first Asia album.”

—Stuart Mitchner

Performing Arts

Tickets on Sale For Next McCarter Season

McCarter Theatre is now selling tickets for new and returning programs in its 2024-25 season.

Among the events on the schedule are “An Evening with David Sedaris” on October 3; “Encanto: The Sing-Along Film Concert” on October 4; Rosanne Cash with John Leventhal on October 18; The Hot Sardines on November 8; The Moth on November 23; and A Christmas Carol December 3-28.

Empire Records , Ballet Hispanico, and “Duel Reality” are also being presented, among other works. Visit Mccarter.org for specific dates and ticket prices. McCarter Theatre Center is located at 91 University Place.

Black Choral Music for Juneteenth Celebration

The Princeton Festival salutes Juneteenth with a “Celebration Honoring Black Choral Music” on Wednesday, June 19 at 7 p.m. on the grounds of Morven Museum & Garden with free community events offered beforehand in partnership with the M unicipality of Princeton.

conductor Vinroy D. Brown Jr. of Westminster Choir College leads a choir drawn from the community and anchored by the Capital Singers of Trenton. The program includes remarks by Union Baptist Church ’s the Rev. Simeon Spencer and features Robert Ray’s Gospel Mass, with additional choral selections highlighting the spirit of Black music.

In addition to Robert Ray’s Gospel Mass, the program includes Mark Miller’s “I Believe,” Marques L. A. Garrett’s “Sing Out, My Soul,” traditional spirituals, and James Weldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson’s “Lift Every Voice & Sing.” For more information, v isit princetonsymphony.org/festival or call (609) 497-0020.

Winners Announced in PUC Journaling Contest

Princeton University Concerts (PUC) has announced the winners of its Impromptu Challenge journaling contest.

The initiative is designed to foster creative written responses to music. It was built upon the Creative Reactions Contest launched by PUC in 2015, which captured the impact of music as perceived by Princeton Univerity student writers and artists. In 2022-23, PUC added the Audience Voices contest, which solicited responses from the general public.

This year, PUC took the concept to an international level, partnering with the Isolation Journals, an international community founded by Emmy Awardwinning journalist, New York Times bestselling author, and PUC artist Suleika

Jaouad that cultivates creativity and fosters connection through journaling, to produce the Impromptu Challenge writing contest. There were over 100 submissions to the contest.

“There were a series of journaling prompts, spread to the public through both PUC’s varied channels and the Isolation Journals newsletter and social media,” said PUC Director Marna Seltzer, “giving entrants different lenses through which to respond to music and its vital role in our lives.”

The first prompt was by Jaouad and was inspired by her appearance with musician Jon Batiste on PUC’s Healing with Music Series: “The Beat Goes On: Healing from Cancer through Music” last November. “Write about a time when music served as a healing force in your life or in the lives of those around you,” Jaouad wrote. Jaouad wrote a second prompt, followed by one by pianist Jonathan Biss related to the topic “Anxiety, Depression, and music,” featuring Biss and writer Adam Haslett.

All entries that receive a prize or honorable mention are available to read via puc. princeton.edu/impromptu.

The first place winner is Shannon H. Mannon of Phoenixville, Pa. Second place went to Lara Dolphin of Hollidaysburg, Pa., and third to Haina Wang of Princeton. There were three honorable mentions.

“Every participant, whether or not they won a prize, wrote something completely vulnerable and stunning,” said PUC Outreach Manager Dasha Koltunyuk. “So many stories were tragic yet hopeful. All were inspiring and raw. The participants were

diverse in their backgrounds and experiences, each bringing something wholly unique to their relationship with music.”

The grand prize winnings comprise an original embroidery piece by artist Diana Weymar featuring an excerpt from the winning submission; a concert poster signed by Jaouad and musician Jon Batiste; a threemonth audio subscription to the Idagio classical music streaming service; Ways of Hearing: Reflections on Music in 26 Pieces , Princeton University Concerts’ anthology published by Princeton University Press; and a limited-edition Princeton University Concerts fanny pack. Princeton University Concerts welcomes personal stories of Healing with Music on an ongoing basis. Submit at puc.princeton.edu/ healingtogether.

New Take on Shakespeare On Kelsey Theatre Stage Shakespeare 70 presents William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream June 14-23 at the Kelsey Theatre on Mercer County Community College’s (MCCC) West Windsor Campus.

In this updated version of the classic comedy, it’s the 1960s in a college town called Athens, somewhere in America, where Hermia loves Lysander, but her father wants her to marry Demetrius. Helena loves Demetrius, but he seems to have forgotten all about her. The young lovers all run away to the woods outside of Athens, and get caught up in the disputes and trickery of supernatural fairies – who look an awful lot like hippies.

Add to this the janitorial

staff of Athens College who aspire to perform before the college deans on their wedding day, along with some misapplied love potions.

Shows are Friday, June 14 and 21, and Saturday, June 15 and 22 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, June 16 and 23, at 2 p.m. at the Kelsey Theatre on MCCC’s West Windsor Campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. Tickets are $22 for adults and $20 for seniors, children, and students. Visit kelseytheatre.org or call (609) 570-3333.

CASHING IN: Rosanne Cash is among the musical artists appearing at McCarter Theatre in the coming cultural season.

OPENING WEEKEND: Vocalists LaKisha Jones, Nova Y. Payton, and Matthew Johnson premiered “The Music of Tina Turner” in front of a full house at the Princeton Festival on Saturday, June 8, with Lucas Waldin conducting the Princeton Symphony Orchestra. The concert was part of the first weekend of the annual music festival, in a performance tent at Morven, which also included performances by opera star Angel Blue with the orchestra, and Sonia De Los Santos. The activities continue through June 22. (Photo by Princeton Symphony Orchestra staff)

Vinroy D. Brown Jr.

Choral

MODERN TAKE ON “MIDSUMMER”: Lysander and Hermia (Jawan Julian of Trenton and Tara Eve Mershon of Lambertville), and Helena and Demetrius (Maggie Gronenthal of Lawrenceville and Zach Caruso of Bordentown) in a modern retelling of the Shakespeare classic “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” June 14-23 at the Kelsey Theatre on Mercer County Community College’s West Windsor Campus.

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“Capture the Rhythm” At Ficus Bon Vivant

“Capture the Rhythm,” on view through January 12 at Ficus Bon Vivant, showcases distinctive artworks by Matt DeProspero, Christine Seo, and Daniel Michael Sierechio.

By delving into their personal interpretations of rhythm, these artists open a gateway for viewers to connect with the art on an intimate level — almost as if they are immersed in a dance of colors and shapes themselves. Each stroke

tells a story, each hue sings a tune, inviting viewers to experience the essence of rhythm in a visual symphony.

DeProspero enjoys the outdoors and teaches art at MADE Gallery on 45 Church Street in Lambertville, where he can also be seen painting his masterpieces through the large windowed corner studio and gallery in town. He also paints en plein air where he interprets the movement of clouds, landscapes, and buildings. This July, Deprospero has been invited again to participate

in this year’s 20th annual Plein Air festival in Easton, Md. He holds a degree in graphic design and illustration from Hussian College of Art and studied drawing and painting at The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

Seo hails from Seoul and moved to the U.S. in 2000 with her family. Initially known for her art teaching in Korea, she has now delved into a distinct niche, creating horse paintings that intricately weave together elements of portraiture and the natural world. Her

work is inspired by the rich tapestry of Korean culture, evident in the vibrant equine motifs that grace her oil and watercolor pieces. Having honed her craft under the mentorship of Roger Armstrong in Laguna Beach, Calif., Seo has shared her artistry widely, exhibiting her creations in various locales such as Southern California, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Although Sierchio dedicated five decades to financial expertise, his heart truly resided in photography. His interest sprouted at 12 years old when he was gifted a camera. Inspired by Ansel Adams, Sierchio delved into the intricate zone system of black and white photography. Throughout his professional journey, his focal point gravitated towards collaborating with dancers. The constant creative flow of shapes, forms, and designs expressed by dancers posed a thrilling challenge. Through this partnership, he has gleaned insights into composition dynamics within a photograph’s frame.

Ficus Bon Vivant is located at 235 Nassau Street. For more information, visit focusbv.com.

Girl Scouts Create Murals At Community Park North

The efforts of Princeton Girl Scout Junior Troop 71829 have culminated in the recent unveiling of their Bronze Award project, “Sidewalk Murals for our Community,” at Community Park North, located between Pettoranello Gardens and Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad. The troop, consisting of 12 fifth-grade girls, brought their vision to life through four sidewalk murals adorned with imagery of bees donning Girl Scout uniforms and uplifting messages inspired by the Girl Scout Law.

The Bronze Award represents the pinnacle of achievement for Girl Scout Juniors, and Troop 71829’s dedication and creativity shine through in their endeavor. Under the guidance of troop leaders Alexia Salinas and Bethany Sierra, the girls embarked, devised, and executed a project aimed at fostering positive change in their community. With the support of the Princeton Recreation Department, along with paint material donations from Home Depot stores in West Windsor, South Brunswick, and Ewing, the troop brought their vision to fruition.

Local artist Carolyn Canik lent her expertise to the

project, working closely with the girls to translate their ideas into inspiring messages adorning the sidewalks of Community Park North.

For those interested in joining the Girl Scouts, inquiries can be directed to Princeton Girl Scouts at girlscouts. princeton@gmail.com.

Visual Artist Renata Pugh Speaks at Princeton Makes

On Friday, June 14 at 6:30 p.m., artist Renata Pugh will be the featured speaker for the “Inside the Artist’s Studio” series at Princeton Makes in the Princeton Shopping Center. Pugh, a Princeton Makes artist cooperative member, is a multidisciplinary artist originally from South Brunswick.

Pugh, who earned her BFA at the School of Visual Arts, has worked as a storyboard artist, muralist, and illustrator, but mainly as an art restorer in sculpture restoration. Presently, she is focused on creating stained glass objects with a unique modern design approach utilizing solder as an additional sculptural element.

“ In both my two- and 3-dimensional work, no matter which medium I work in or whether it’s figurative or abstract, I enjoy creating a sense of dynamism, rhythm, and connection with bold lines and varied patterns,” said Pugh.

In 2011, she received the Model to Monument Grant,

a public art career education program offered through the Art Students League, in which the participants design large-scale sculptures temporarily installed in Riverside Park South in Manhattan. Her riveted aluminum piece, “Coalescence,” designed for this exhibit, currently resides on Rockland Community College campus.

This month Pugh is the featured artist at Princeton Makes. Her work is highlighted in 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.

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

Princeton Makes is a cooperative of 40 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 visiting their in-store studios and shopping for a wide variety of art, including large paintings, prints, custom-made greeting cards, stained glass lamps and window hangings, jewelry in various designs and patterns, and more.

For more information, visit princetonmakes.com.

“KENTUCKY DERBY HORSE RACING”: This oil painting by Christine Seo is featured in “Capture the Rhythm, her exhibition with Matt DeProspero and Daniel Michael Sierechio, on view through January 12 at Ficus Bon Vivant on Nassau Street.

AWARD-WINNING PROJECT: Members of Princeton Girl Scout Junior Troop 71829 are shown with one of their “Sidewalk Murals for our Community” at Community Park North.

ART TALK: Artist Renata Pugh, whose work is shown here, is the featured speaker for the “Inside the Artist’s Studio” series on Friday, June 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Princeton Makes in the Princeton Shopping Center.

FIBER ART: Works by Katie Truk will be featured in “Structures and Constructions in Fiber,” on view June 29 through August 18 at New Hope Arts in New Hope, Pa. An opening night celebration is on Saturday, June 29 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Juried Fiber Exhibition

Coming to New Hope Arts

New Hope Arts in New Hope, Pa., will host a juried art exhibition, “Structures and Constructions in Fiber,” June 29 through August 18.

Curated by Rita Romanova Gekht, the exhibit will feature the work of over 32 international and regional artists who have come together to present over 80 original works involving fiber. Artists include Marilyn Cowhill, Rita Romanova Gekht, Bojana Leznicki, Nelly Kouzmina, Susan Martin-Maffei, Michael Ross, Mary-Ann Sievert, and Katie Truk. For the complete list of participating artists, visit newhopearts.org.

“Structures and Constructions in Fiber” highlights a unique collection of fiber artworks showcasing diverse techniques, styles, and perspectives, reflecting the depth and breadth of contemporary fiber art. The exhibit includes works selected through an open

call for artists and invitational pieces.

The public is invited to the opening night celebration on Saturday, June 29, from 6 to 8 p.m. New Hope Arts members have a special preview hour from 5 to 6 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. The exhibit and the opening night event are free, though donations are appreciated.

New Hope Arts has also announced a Community Engagement Series featuring six interactive lectures and workshops by participating artists to complement the exhibition. These lectures will provide insights into the creative processes, special techniques, materials, and inspirations behind the exhibited works. They will offer a deeper understanding and appreciation of the art and the artists themselves, followed by a Q&A session for the audience.

Find the full schedule, learn more about artist presentations, and purchase tickets at newhopearts.org.

Tickets to the Community Engagement Series help further fund the nonprofit arts center’s mission while supporting contemporary artists.

The “Structures and Constructions in Fiber” exhibit is partially funded by a tourism grant from Visit Bucks County, which underscores the importance of cultural events in promoting regional tourism and community engagement.

New Hope Arts is at 2 Stockton Avenue in New Hope, Pa.

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 “Beyond Boundaries” through June 30. 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” through August 4. Artmuseum.princeton.edu.

Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, has “Narratives From My Toy Box” through June 29 in the Taplin Gallery and “Phases of the Heart” through June 29 in the Solley Lobby Gallery. Artscouncilofprinceton.org.

Ficus Bon Vivant, 235 Nassau Street, has “Capture the Rhythm” through January 12. Ficusbv.com.

Gallery 14 Fine Art Photography, 14 Mercer Street, Hopewell, has “Small Takes on Big Places” and “Subjective Perspectives” through June 16. Gallery14.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.

Morpeth Contemporary, 43 West Broad Street, Hopewell, has “Mystery, Memory, and Magic: The Art of Lyanne Malamed” through June 30. Morpethcontemporary.com.

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

New Hope Colony Foundation for the Arts, 2594 River Road, New Hope,

Pa., has “The Art of David Stier: Harmonizing Observation and Imagination” through June 16. An artist talk is on Saturday, June 15 from 4 to 7 p.m. Open Saturday and Sunday 1-5 pm. Newhopecolony.org/ exhibitions.

Small World Coffee, 14 Witherspoon Street, has works by Helen Rudnick through July 2. Paintings by Vivian Slee are at the 254 Nassau Street location through July 2. 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 “2024 Faculty & Student Show” through July 13. Westwindsorarts.org.

“METAMORPHOSIS”: Works by Marlon “7oveChild” Davila are featured in “Phases of the Heart,” on view through June 29 in Solley Lobby Gallery on the second floor at the Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street. For more information, visit artscouncilofprinceton.org.

Town Topics | Mark Your Calendar

JUNE

Wednesday, June 12

9:30 and 11 a.m.: Read & Pick Program: Cherries. At Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Hands-on farm activity with stories; everyone picks their own container of cherries to take home. $12 per child. Terhuneorchards.com.

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 the grassy bench area in Palmer Square across from Rojos Coffee.

6 p.m.: At the Old Barracks Museum, 101 Barracks Street in Trenton, author Robert Dunkerly delivers a lecture about his book, Unhappy Catastrophes, focused on the American Revolution in central New Jersey. Followed by a Q&A and book signing. Barracks.org.

6 p.m .: Lecture: “What is Citizenship?” By Holly Korbey, author of Building Better Citizens: A New Civics Education for All . On Zoom. Princetonlibrary.org.

Thursday, June 13

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

11 a.m .: Publishers Summer Book Buzz, at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Representatives from publishing houses come to Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, to recommend summer reading picks for adults. Mocktails and light refreshments. Princetonlibrary.org.

12-8 p.m .: Juneteenth Festival sponsored by the African American Cultural Collaborative of Mercer County at Mercer County Park Festival Grounds, 1638 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Food, music, and more. Free. Trentonaapride@gmail.com.

6 p.m.: Blawenberg Band performs at the Summer Concert Series on the green at Princeton Shopping

6:30 p.m .: Walnut Lane Film Festival, showcase of short films by Princeton Middle School students, curated by students from Princeton High School. At Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.

Center, North Harrison Street. Free. Princetonshoppingcenter.com.

6:30 p.m.: “What We Commemorate on Juneteenth,” virtual discussion led by Professor Richard Bell of the University of Maryland, sponsored by Mercer County Library System. Registration required. Mcl.org.

6:45 p.m .: The Lawrence Community Concert Band performs at Weeden Park, 2611 Main Street, Lawrenceville. Jazz favorites from Louis Armstrong to Michael Bubl é . Free. Lawrencecommunityband.org.

7 p.m .: The Abeo Quartet, chamber music ensemble, is at the Princeton Festival, at Trinity Church, 33 Mercer Street. Princetonsymphony. org/festival.

7:15 p.m .: Black Voices Book Group of Princeton Public Library presents a discussion of James Baldwin’s Notes to a Native Son On Google Meet. Princetonlibrary.org.

Friday, June 14

12 p.m.: Flag Day celebration outside the municipal building, 400 Witherspoon Street. Vocalist Kenny Grayson will sing, and members of the Princeton Police Department,

Princeton Fire Department, and Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad will participate along with students from Community Park School. Spiritofprinceton. org.

12-8 p.m.: Sunset Sips & Sounds at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Winery and Barn Door Café are open. Music from 5-8 p.m. by Laundrymen. Terhuneorchards.com.

2:30 p.m .: Visual Artist and Curators Conversation, with Phoebe Cummings, Susannah Baker-Smith, and Susan Bright, presented virtually by Princeton University Art Museum. Artmuseum.princeton.edu.

7 p.m .: Mozart’s opera Cosi fan tutte is at the Princeton Festival, in the performance pavilion at Morven, 55 Stockton Street. Princetonsymphony.org/ festival.

7-8:30 p.m .: Trevor performs inside an interactive hybrid installation using recomposed classical pieces and new music of different genres, in the gallery at West Windsor Arts, 952 Alexander Road. $10-$12. Westwindsorarts.org.

8 p.m .: Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is at Kelsey Theatre, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Kelsey.mccc. edu.

Saturday, June 15

9 a.m.-1 p.m.: West Windsor Farmers Market at Vaughn lot, Princeton Junction train station. Fresh produce and much more. Blueberry pie contest and book signing by Produce Pete; music by Blue Jersey. Wwcfm.org.

10 a.m.: Guided walking tour of Princeton Cemetery, starting at 29 Greenview Avenue. Free. Rain date is June 22. (609) 924-1369.

10 a.m.-2 p.m .: Princeton Plasma Physics Lab hosts an Eco Expo celebrating sustainability, renewable energy, and environmental

stewardship. Demonstrations, talks, electric vehicle show, electric bus rides, and more. Park at Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory – NOAA, 201 Forrestal Road and take a shuttle bus to the site. Free. Pppl.gov.

10 a.m.-4 p.m .: “People of Pleasant Valley” tours, at Howell Living History Farm, 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township. Hayrides through the farm, plus stories and tours of one-room schoolhouse and other buildings. Howellfarm.org.

11 a.m.-7 p.m .: Raritan Native American Heritage Celebration and Pow Wow, by the Redhawk Native American Arts Council, at Middlesex County Fair Grounds, 655 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick. Rain or shine, with artists, educators, singers, dancers, and performing groups from across the Americas. $10$15 ($45 for family packs). Redhawkcouncil.org.

12-2 p.m.: Live music on the green at Palmer Square by Underwater Airlines. Free. Palmersquare.com/ events

12-4 p.m .: Juneteenth celebration at Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum, Skillman. Gospel music, music, food, games for kids and more. $20$30. Ssaamuseum.org/ Juneteenth-2024.

12-5 p.m .: Father’s Day Winery Weekend at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Music and light fare; wine-tasting. Music by Jerry Steele from 2-5 p.m. Terhuneorchards.com.

7 p.m .: “Interwoven: American Repertory Ballet + PSO Strings,” conducted by Rossen Milanov with choreography by Arthur Mitchell and Meredith Rainey, at the Princeton Festival, in the performance pavilion at Morven, 55 Stockton Street. Princetonsymphony.org/ festival.

8 p.m .: Tim Keyes Consort presents Symphony in Bb: Elegy and The Stone at Richardson Auditorium. $35 (students $15). Princeton. edu/richaud.

8 p.m .: Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is at Kelsey Theatre, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Kelsey.mccc. edu.

Sunday, June 16

11 a.m.-7 p.m .: Raritan Native American Heritage Celebration and Pow Wow, by the Redhawk Native American Arts Council, at Middlesex County Fair Grounds, 655 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick. Rain or shine, with artists, educators, singers, dancers, and performing groups from across the Americas. $10$15 ($45 for family packs). Redhawkcouncil.org.

12-5 p.m .: Father’s Day Winery Weekend at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Music and light fare; wine-tasting. Music by Chris P from 2-5 p.m.

Terhuneorchards.com.

1 p.m .: Carillon concert at the Princeton University Graduate Tower; listen from the lawn outside. Free, held rain or shine. Gradschool.princeton.edu.

2 p.m .: Illustrated talk by Bill McKelvey on the historic Delaware & Raritan Canal, at Griggstown Reformed Church’s fellowship hall, 1075 Canal Road, Griggstown. Free. Refreshments will be served. For information, email barthlinda123@aol.com.

2 p.m .: Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is at Kelsey Theatre, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Kelsey.mccc.edu.

4 p.m .: Mozart’s opera Cosi fan tutte is at the Princeton Festival, in the performance pavilion at Morven, 55 Stockton Street. Princetonsymphony.org/festival. 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.

Monday, June 17 Recycling

Tuesday, June 18

7 p.m.: Mozart’s opera Cosi fan tutte is at the Princeton Festival, in the performance pavilion at Morven, 55 Stockton Street. Princetonsymphony.org/ festival.

7 p.m .: Songwriters Circle and Open Mic, at Princeton Public Library. The Princeton chapter of the Nashville Songwriters Association provides feedback at this event, which also includes an acoustic open mic. 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.

Wednesday, June 19

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 Bagel Nook, Princeton Shopping Center.

1 p.m.: Juneteenth Flag Raising at Monument Hall. Opening remarks by Princeton Councilman Leighton Newlin.

4 p.m.: Princeton Festival Juneteenth Community Celebration, at Morven, 55 Stockton Street. History, crafts, food, and an interactive oral history project. Free. Morven.org.

6 p.m.: Princeton Public Library’s Board of Trustees meets at the library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.

7 p.m.: “Juneteenth Celebration Honoring Black Choral Music,” at the Princeton Festival. Vinroy D. Brown of Westminster Choir College leads a choir drawn from the community and anchored by the Capital Singers of Trenton, in the performance pavilion at Morven, 55 Stockton Street. Princetonsymphony. org/festival.

S ports

PU Track Athletes Gained Valuable Experience, Taking on the Best at NCAA Championship Meet

As the cr è me de la cr è me of the college track world converged last week at the mecca of the sport in the U.S., Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., for the NCAA Championships, the Princeton University squad had eight athletes make the stellar field.

For sophomore star steeplechaser Jackson Shorter, earning a trip to Hayward was the culmination of a superb spring.

“As I look forward to the coming week, I feel an immense sense of gratitude,” said Shorten as quoted on the Princeton sports website. “I am so thankful for the way that I have continued to progress this season, my coach, and my incredible teammates. I would not be where I am today without such an incredible support system. Ahead is an incredible opportunity and I want to make the most of it.”

Shorten was aiming high in his appearance on the national stage.

“I am going to take it one step at a time, but my goals are to make the final and place well in the final,” added Shorten. “I believe that if I am in the final, I can be one of the athletes fighting for a spot as first team All-American.”

Stepping up, Shorten competed well in heat two last Wednesday evening, running smoothly as he stayed in

contact with the front pack. Down the stretch, Shorten picked up speed to take fifth in 8:31.68 and book his spot in the final. On Friday, Shorten improved his time to 8:29.24 in the final, placing 10th and earning secondteam All-American honors.

Two other members of the Tiger men’s team tested their skills in Eugene last week as sophomore Casey Helm competed in the discus and junior Nicholas Bendtsen ran in the 5,000 meters.

Helm took 12th in the discus with a best throw of 189’3 as he also earned second-team All-American honors.

While Helm had hoped to be in the top eight, he was relishing the chance to see where he stacked up in a field of top throwers.

“I’ve never competed in Eugene, so I’m really looking forward to it,” said Helm.

“I’m also just excited to compete against the best.

Bendtsen, for his part, concluded the competition for the men on Friday night, taking 24th in the 5,000 in a time of 14:16.96.

As for the Tiger women, junior throwing star Siniru Iheoma was happy to extend her season in Eugene by competing in the discus.

“I feel ecstatic and just lucky to still be practicing with the team,” said Iheoma in comments on the Princeton

sports website. “I wasn’t sure if I was gonna be able to stay here with everyone for this long, but it feels so good. I didn’t realize how badly I didn’t want to go home yet. The group we are bringing to nationals outside of me is all underclassmen. This just makes me so excited for next week and for what is to come in the future.”

As Iheoma looked ahead to the competition, she was aiming to rise to the occasion.

“My goal is to compete,” added Iheoma. “I usually do my best competing when I am under pressure. I feel I’m a great competitor and my goal is to make it to the finals and become first team All-American. I also want to enjoy the opportunity to be in the atmosphere of the top collegiate athletes. It’s gonna be amazing.”

Iheoma competed hard, ending up placing 10th with a best throw of 183’5, earning second-team All-American honors.

Sophomore Shea Greene took part in the javelin and was fired up to be at the meet with Iheoma.

“I am hoping that Siniru and I can continue building off each other and bringing home big marks for the Princeton throws group,” said Greene.

Greene did the throws group proud, taking 16th with a best throw of 169’2

A pair of Tiger jumping stars also qualified for the meet with sophomores Alexandra Kelly making it in the long jump and Georgina Scoot competing in the triple jump.

Kelly had a rough night on Thursday as each one of her three attempts were marked as fouls, leaving her with no placing.

Scoot fared better in action on Saturday, placing 20th in the triple jump with a mark of 41’10.5 to earn honorable mention All-American recognition.

While Scoot had hoped to place higher, making it all the way to Eugene was a major achievement for her.

“The opportunity to not only have made nationals but to make it with my teammates and best friends is such an amazing opportunity,” said Scoot as quoted on the Princeton sports website. “Last year I did not even make regionals so I am so incredibly grateful this year to have reached the NCAA finals.”

Sophomore pole vaulter Tessa Mudd was also grateful to be at the NCAA meet. She ended up placing with a top vault of 13’7.25 to take 20th,

earning honorable mention All-American status.

“While I certainly have hopes for my performance, I think my main aim is simply to have fun and compete to the best of my ability,” said Mudd. “If I am able to do so, I know I will be happy with the outcome of the competition.”

While the eight Tiger athletes may be coming home from Eugene a bit disappointed with the outcomes of their events, the experience they gained going against the best should serve them well as each one is slated to return next year.

—Bill Alden

ACTION JACKSON: Princeton University men’s track star Jackson Shorten competes in the steeplechase last week at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore. Sophomore Shorten placed fifth in his preliminary heat on Wednesday to qualify for the final. Two days later, he took 10th in the final, earning second-team All-American honors. Seven other Tiger athletics competed in the NCAA meet including Casey Helm in the men’s discus, Nicholas Bendtsen in the men’s 5,000 meters, Siniru Iheoma the women’s discus, Shea Greene in the women’s javelin, Alexandra Kelly in the women’s long jump, Georgina Scoot in the women’s triple jump, and Tessa Mudd in the women’s pole vault. (Photo provided by Princeton Athletics)

PU Sports Roundup

PU’s Fillier, Thompson

Go 1, 3 in PWHL Draft

Two former Princeton University women’s hockey standouts didn’t have to wait long to hear their names called in the 2024 Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Draft last Monday as Sarah Fillier ’24 was chosen first overall by New York and Claire Thompson ’20 went third overall to Minnesota.

Star forward Fillier, an Olympic gold medalist and a three-time International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) world champion for the Canadian women’s national team, is one of the most decorated players in Princeton program history. Fillier finished her Princeton career as a three-time All-American and threetime top-10 Patty Kazmaier Award finalist. She totaled 194 points on 93 goals and 101 assists in her Princeton career, the fourth highest total in program history and the most for a Tiger since 1995.

Thompson, for her part, had the fifth-most points for a defender in program history, finishing with 87. Thompson and Fillier were teammates on the 2020 Princeton team that won the program’s first ECAC Hockey tournament title, advancing to the NCAA tournament before the event was canceled due to the onset of the pandemic.

In the PWHL’s first draft

in 2023, Princeton saw Maggie Connors selected by Toronto in the 11th round.

Four Tigers were on inaugural rosters for the league’s first season, with Connors ’23, Mariah Keopple (Montreal) ’23, Rachel McQuigge (Ottawa) ’22, and Thompson (New York), though Thompson did not play for New York, focusing on her studies at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine this past season and opting to enter the 2024 draft.

PU Women’s Lax Star Dora Heading to U.S. U20 Camp

Rising Princeton University women’s lacrosse junior attacker Haven Dora was named last week as one of 32 players invited to the 2024 U.S. Women’s U20 National Team Training Camp as announced by U.S. head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller.

The camp will be held at USA Lacrosse Headquarters in Sparks, Md., from June 19-21. The 32 players are a combination of players named to the initial training team last summer and additional players that participated in the tryout process. The staff continued to evaluate players throughout the 2024 college and high school seasons and also made adjustments based on injuries to training team members.

Following the June training camp, a total of 22 players (the maximum final roster size permitted by World Lacrosse) will be invited to a training camp at Northwestern University from July 18-20. The team will then have one final brief camp at Stanford University in August before heading to Hong Kong, China, for the 2024

World Lacrosse Women’s U20 Championship from August 15-24.

Dora is the lone Ivy League player invited to the camp and is one of 12 attackers selected. This spring, Dora produced a breakout campaign for Princeton, tallying 29 goals and 40 assists in 2024 after scoring six points as a freshman. Her output helped the Tigers to go 11-7 in 2024 as they advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Men’s Golf Coach Green Earns Regional Award

Princeton University men’s golf head coach Will Green has been named the 2024 Golf Pride Grips Regional Coach of the Year for the Northeast Region as announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America last week.

Green coached the Tigers to a pair of tournament victories this season, as they won the team championships at the Golden Horseshoe Intercollegiate and the Princeton Invitational. Along the way, Tiger rising junior Riccardo Fantinelli was named Ivy League Player of the Year and Charlie Palmer was honored as Ivy League Rookie of the Year. Fantinelli was also named as a PING Honorable Mention All-American.

Three Tigers were named PING All-Region, as Fantinelli was joined by teammates Jackson Fretty and William Huang as All-Region selections under Green’s tutelage.

Green recently concluded his 25th season as head coach of the Tigers and over his tenure he has

AGE: Ashleigh Johnson ’17 stymies a foe

sity women’s water polo

Johnson and rising

named to the U.S. national squad that will be competing in the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics. Star goalie Johnson, a three-time All-American for the Tigers, will be aiming for her third straight Olympic gold medal after helping the U.S. to gold in the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016 and the Tokyo Games in 2021. It will be Sekulic’s first Olympic appearance. Sekulic, who was away from Princeton during the 2024 season as she pursued the Olympic bid, scored a teambest 76 goals in 2023 after leading the team as a freshman with 74 goals in 2022. The U.S. squad is scheduled to open its Olympic competition on July 27 against Greece before going on to face Spain, Italy and France in Group B play.

coached Princeton to nine Ivy League championships and nine NCAA Regional appearances, while guiding seven players to individual Ivy titles.

PU Crew Alums George, Scott to Row for Great Britain at Olympics

Two former Princeton University rowing standouts, Tom George ’18 and Hannah Scott ’21, were recently been named to the Great Britain Olympic Team for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.

George and Oliver WynneGriffith will race in the men’s pair at the Paris Olympic Games this summer. The

duo won the Men’s Pair gold at the European Rowing Championships last month and the World Rowing Cup I World Rowing Cup II.

This is George’s second Olympic Games as he helped the Great Britain 8 to bronze in Tokyo.

Scott will race in the women’s quadruple sculls with Lola Anderson, Georgie Brayshaw, and Lauren Henry. This group won World and European titles in 2023 and 2024. This is Scott’s second Olympic Games as she helped the quad take seventh overall at the Tokyo games.

Tiger Women’s Open Crew Has 5 Named All-Americans

Five members of the Princeton University women’s open rowing team have been named to the

Collegiate Rowing Coaches’ Association (CRCA) AllAmerica teams.

Junior Katherine George, junior Zoe Scheske, and junior Margot LeRoux were named fi rst-team All-Americans while junior coxswain Sara Covin and junior Katherine Kalap were chosen as second-team selections.

Those five were in the first varsity 8 that finished fourth at the NCAA Rowing Championships and helped the team finished fourth overall. It’s the first time the Tigers have been in the top four in three consecutive seasons since 2010-13.

The varsity 8 went unbeaten during the regular season and won the Ivy League title for head coach Lori Dauphiny’s squad.

GOLDEN

during her career with the Princeton Univer-

team.

Princeton junior Jovana Sekulic have been

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Coming Through with Personal Best on Final Throw, PHS

Junior Star Wilton Wins Group 4 Shot Put Title

Sean Wilton was not satisfied as he stepped into the circle to make his final throw at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 state track and field championship meet last Saturday at Franklin High.

The Princeton High junior stood in second place in the boys shot put behind South Brunswick’s Braden Paulmenn, just how he had finished at the sectional meet the week before – second behind Paulmenn. Wilton had thrown a personalbest 56’1 on his second throw of the group meet, but Paulmenn took the lead minutes later when he threw six inches further. Wilton fouled each of his next three throws to set up his last chance to pull ahead.

“The guy who was in first already beat me a week ago and I was not having it,” said Wilton. “I knew I could have beaten him both Saturday and the week before. I threw a PR, but it wasn’t enough, and then three fouls. And then I’m sitting on my last one. I just needed to figure it out. I kind of just focused on one thing and I just ripped it out the front.”

Wilton relied on his training, summoned all his strength, and produced a new personal record 57’5.50. When Paulmenn could not better it on his final throw, Wilton became Group 4 state champion.

“It felt really good,” said Wilton. “It’s been on my mind. I noticed early on in the season I was high in the Group 4 rankings and I knew I could always do it and then I did. It felt amazing.”

Wilton ’s win marked a huge jump from last year’s 10 th -place finish in the same event. He barely broke the 50-foot mark last spring.

“ We’ve done a lot of technique work,” said Wilton. “Just my throw and nothing outside of it, staying calm on meet days and learning from each meet as we’ve gone along.”

Wilton had put together a series of good throws, but had been waiting for more improvement. After throwing 55’10.75 at the end of April, it was another three meets until he threw 55 feet again and then he never exceeded 55’5.

“I was really frustrated,” said Wilton. “But you won’t get any better if you don’t just keep going. So I just kind of had to keep going. I learned a lot this year about what it takes to throw well on the meet day and how to show up on meet day and throw as well as you have been in practice. I learned a lot through failure, but I figured it all out for this meet. I threw as well as I have in practice and I got it done.”

Wilton was gaining confidence even as the shot competition went along, even through his fouls. He felt that a big throw was coming.

“Even with my fouls, I could tell they’re going farther, and once I got to my last throw, I felt it right when it came out my hand,” said Wilton. “I was like, that feels really good and it just felt like my whole body went into the shot.”

Wilton was the lone PHS athlete to win at the group meet. The Tigers advanced a strong contingent out of the toughest sectional in New Jersey, Central Jersey Group 4. Wilton is the only one of them to earn a berth in the Meet of Champions on June 12 at Pennsauken High on June 12.

“He’s just one of the kids that does everything they need to do,” said PHS head coach Ben Samara. “To see a kid do everything right and reach their goal is always a great thing. Sean was over the moon about it.”

Wilton was unusually emotional given the perseverance it had taken to reach that championship level on top of having it come down to his final throw to upend a competitor that had just beaten him in the previous competition. After winning, he couldn’t contain himself.

“I was struggling all year,” said Wilton. “My PR was just below qualifying for nationals, and I really wanted to do that again. This kid just beat me a week ago. I knew I could beat him. Everything came together on that throw, and all the frustration was over, all the doubt that I could make nationals was over and I won my group. That was it, all the work I put in all year long just went into that moment. I couldn’t really help getting emotional, but it just kind of happened.”

Wilton also reached the group meet in the discus where he placed 17th with a throw of 120’2 on Friday. He put that finish behind him as well to win the shot put. Wilton responded well to the coaching of PHS assistants Brandon Williams and Fred Samara, the father of Ben Samara and former Princeton University men’s track head coach who came on board this spring as a parttime assistant for the Tigers.

“Sean’s been working tons with coach Williams and also here and there with my dad and they had a great practice together the other day leading up to groups,” said the younger Samara. “And my dad said if he can put together what they did in practice, he was going to have a huge throw. So they knew that it was there

for him. He just had to put it together mentally and he did.”

Wilton will have a few more chances to extend his PR this year. The Meet of Champions will put him up against formidable competition, led by Bergen Catholic’s Benjamin Shue, who has thrown 69’2. Wilton’s focus will be on coming up with another best.

“He’s one inch off of the school record, so I know that’s on his mind,” Samara said. “You know he’d like to get that this year and not wait and have to wrap around to next year. But I think for him now it’s that moment of being in a spot you haven’t had a chance to be in before, and you know it’s going to pay dividends for him next year. I think just being able to be there and experience that. The 69-foot thrower, seeing that guy and knowing that you’re in the same competition with him, and potentially being in the final with him, these are all things that are going to just bring him to another level for next year.”

Wilton is the eighth seed for the MOC. It will be his first trip to the top spring meet in New Jersey, and then he expects to also compete at the outdoor track and field nationals after qualifying Saturday.

“It’s another chance to throw farther,” said Wilton. “I was looking at my throw at groups and I just know I can put more gas in the engine. It’s another chance to

get even better than how I threw at groups and just another chance to prove to myself that I can throw farther.”

PHS tied for 19th in the boys’ team standings at the meet won by Westfield High. Tiger senior star Sawyer Quallen placed 13th in the triple jump, senior Josh Barzilai was 21st in the 800 meters, while the 4x800 took 23rd.

As for the Tiger girls, sophomore Kajol Karra provided a highlight as she took eighth in the girls 3,200 in 11:21.24. The PHS 4x800 relay placed 10th,

the 4x100 relay was 18th, and the 4x400 was 19th at the meet win by Eastern Regional High.

“We didn’t do great in the other events at groups, but we really exceeded expectations at sectionals last week,” said Samara. “Getting that girls 4x1 through and both 4x8s. We’re just really happy with the team this year. It’s a nice young team.”

Many of the PHS athletes that competed at groups will return next year. They will bring with them the experience of this year’s groups,

and for Wilton, an incredibly memorable finish in the boys shot put that keeps him on track for some lofty goals.

“I am extremely satisfied with shot put,” said Wilton. “Usually what people do is they improve like five feet, but I’ve improved seven and a half feet this year so I’m extremely happy with that. That was my goal going into this year because I knew with winter and spring I could definitely improve and get close to the school record.”

—Justin Feil

HOT SHOT: Princeton High throwing star Sean Wilton, center, enjoys the moment last Saturday with assistant coaches Brandon Willams, left, and Fred Samara after he placed first in the shot put at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 state track and field championship meet. Junior Wilton produced a best throw and personal best of 57’5.25 to win the title. Wilton will next be in action when he competes in the NJSIAA Meet of Champions on June 12 at Pennsauken High.

With Young Squad Displaying Growth this Spring, Stuart Lax Ended 2024 Campaign on a High Note

Enduring some ups and downs this spring as it incorporated a number of young players into its lineup, Stuart Country Day School displayed its growth by ending the season on a high note.

Stuart defeated the Solebury School (Pa.) 16-1 and then topped Gill St. Bernards 14-7 in its season finale on May 20 as the Tartans posted a final record of 6-12.

Stuart first-year head coach Paige Meszaros saw the pair of wins as a culmination of the effort her players put in this spring.

“I think that was a great way to end the season in a really rewarding way,” said Meszaros. “They did work so hard and we had quite a long stretch there in the middle of the season with some tough games.”

In the win over Solebury, 11 different Stuart players scored at least one goal while senior goalie Alex Mandzij starred in the win over Gill, making 14 saves to spark a stingy Tartan defensive effort.

“A lot of girls actually scored their first goal in that game; they agreed upon that and that is what we did,” said Meszaros, reflecting on the win over Solebury. “That Gill game was good. It was a rewarding finish for Alex and for the team defense. She has been so helpful for us this season. She stepped up in the games where we really needed her. Our defense has gotten to a point where we were finally able to be forcing the bad shots.”

The program underwent a youth movement by necessity this spring.

“We had so many new players, more than half of our roster was freshmen,” said Meszaros. “There were 11 freshmen — I think there were seven of them who had never played lacrosse before and six of those girls started. So it was like half of our team was brand new to the sport. They did pick it up rather quickly. These other teams had girls that have played for a lot longer.”

Junior star Allison Lee and her younger sister, freshman Lauren, triggered the Tartan attack and also helped tutor the newcomers to the game. Allison tallied 88 goals and 10 assists while Lauren chipped in 21 goals and 10 assists.

“Allison definitely is our offense, she is willing to help out on the field,” said Meszaros.

“Her and her sister have both been pretty helpful at practices, just telling girls what to do. There are good coaching players. They will go out there and they are willing to help. That has been good for us as well to have them out there as leaders on the field.

Two veteran players, sophomore Abby Chirik (11 goals, 3 assists) and junior Emily Harlan (6 goals, 13 assists), emerged as key players this spring for the Tartans.

“We used Abby a lot in the midfield and she was really helpful,” said Meszaros. “Emily definitely got stronger as the season progressed. She was one of our low attackers, she was moving around more figuring out what our offense was supposed to be looking like.”

As for the group of freshman, Celia Struve-Altuve,

Lauren Lee, Maeve Wall, Maddie Razler, and Betsy Murphy each made a strong contribution.

“Celia on the defense did well,” said Meszaros. “Lauren was very good of course. Maeve was a volleyball player who picked it up so quickly. She is so strong. She and Maddie Razler were real helpful on defense this season. Betsy was another low attack player. She is big and fast. She and Emily Harlan worked well together.”

Meszaros likes the way her players worked hard to improve over the course of the spring.

“They are very smart and coachable, that is one of the things that I really enjoyed with this team,” said Meszaros. “They are very receptive to all that we had told them. That was good to see. When we told them to run something, they would go out there and try to do it. It wasn’t always fluid, it was almost robotic sometimes. Towards the end of the season everything looked like it was starting to flow.”

Looking ahead, Meszaros believes things will be flowing from the get-go next spring.

“We graduate two seniors, Eva [Nester] and Alex — that will hurt a little bit without our goalie,” said Meszaros. “Next year, starting with those girls that now have a year of experience under their belt, I think it will be a different start for us. Some of them are multi-sport athletes and it all translates. It will be perfecting those skills rather than teaching and introducing them.”

—Bill Alden

Fibromyalgia

• Post-prostatectomy

• Urinary urgency/frequency

SISTER ACT: Stuart Country Day School lacrosse player Lauren Lee defends a foe in a game this ger the Tartan offense. The younger Lee tallied

goals

assists while her sister led the way

Producing a 4-Game Winning Streak Down the Stretch, PDS Baseball Made Big Strides, Excited for the Future

When the Princeton Day School baseball team lost 2-1 to Trenton High in mid-May to suffer its seventh defeat in its last eight games and drop to 2-16, it appeared that the Panthers were heading to a rough homestretch.

But PDS head coach Eric Schnepf saw the loss to the Tornadoes as a step forward.

“That was a really close game,” said Schnepf. “That got us going, we started to play better.”

In its next game, PDS edged Hightstown 3-2 and ended up playing very well down the stretch, winning four of its last five games to end the spring at 6-17.

The victory over Hightstown started the winning streak and proved to be a turning point.

“Sam Salguero threw a great game for us. It was nothing crazy, just throwing strikes,” said Schnepf.

“He gets it over the plate and throws two pitches effectively for strikes. He relies on the defense to make plays for him as he should. Hightstown hit some balls hard, a couple right at them balls. He gave us a chance to win and we did enough on offense to squeak out the win. We were executing and went on a little run of our own.”

The highlight of the run was a 10-4 win over St. Joseph (Hammonton) in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) South Jersey Non-Public B tournament

“That is our first state win as part of the NJSIAA, that was obviously something special,” said Schnepf, whose team fell 8-2 to eventual Non-Public B champion Gloucester Catholic in the quarterfinal round to end its season. “It was a similar situation to Hightstown. In that game Dylan Powers came out and threw an excellent game and Keegan Fullman relieved him on the back end. The kids were having really competitive at-bats. They were executing. The kids just played really well.” Schnepf saw improvement across the board this spring. “I think our pitchers really stepped up — all of our pitchers went out and had good, competitive years,” said Schnepf. “They put us in position to win a lot of

the time. They threw the ball really well. The defense also got better. We swung the bats better. Just in general, there was an uptick, not only in ability as they were a year older. They were bigger, stronger, faster, but with an uptick in execution. With that uptick in execution comes confidence, and that confidence leads to further execution. One thing feeds the other in that sense.”

The squad’s senior class of Hutch Henderson, Sam Cohen, Sam Salguero, Will Maschler, Simone Saldana, and Christian Escobar helped set the tone for that progress.

“It is their job to create and maintain the culture and the standard and bring some of our younger, newer kids along with that,” said Schnepf. “From a leadership standpoint, it was a great group of kids. They helped improve the culture of the program and show our younger kids what we want them to embody as PDS baseball players.”

With a returning group that features juniors Luke Haan, Santino Cignarella, and Dylan Powers along with sophomores Grayson McLaughlin and Connor Lemole and freshmen Keegan Fullman, Mason Roitburg, Matt Silverman, and Tyler Nevrotski, Schnepf believes the Panthers are in a good place going forward.

“We are returning a pretty big core of the team. The juniors — Luke, Santino, and Dylan — got a lot of time,” said Schnepf. “We are excited to have them continue to grow and develop. We only had two sophomores, Grayson and Connor, who also came up sporadically for some spot appearances. We have a lot of freshmen; Keegan, Mason, Matt, and Tyler played a lot. It was a really good group of young kids who stepped up and made the adjustment to a faster game. They settled in real nicely and did a good job for us.”

Junior transfer Cignarella did a great job for the Panthers, batting a team-best .421 with team highs in hits (24) and runs (18).

“Santino was a great addition for us, he helped physically on the field as our shortstop and leadoff hitter,” said Schnepf. “He played a really big role on the physical side but also culturally,

just coming in putting his head down and grinding, overcoming obstacles and challenges. It was definitely great to have added him. We are looking forward to having another year with him. Now as he is a senior and has been with the program for a year, he will be taking on that leadership role and setting the example for all of our returners but also the new additions we will have next year.”

The play of catcher Haan set a good example. “Luke is so solid; he is just somebody you never have to worry about whether the stats are there or not, he always has a great attitude,” said Schnepf of Haan, who batted .328 this spring. “He commands the pitching staff and the defense really well. He is just a guy you are happy to have back there, he is always going to show up and do the job to the best of his ability.”

The late run by the Panthers shows them that they can get the job done.

“With that comes expectations that we are going to show up, compete, and play hard,” said Schnepf. “That is the main thing, we want them to play hard. Throughout the season we had our struggles, but to make that run late showed them that they could play solid baseball. It gives them the confidence that they can come out and play the game at a high level.”

Schnepf, for his part, is confident that PDS will raise its level of play going forward.

“The foundation is definitely there, we try to keep that brick-by-brick mentality,” said Schnepf. “It is day by day, game by game, and practice by practice to make the improvements. It is continuing to show up and play the right way, playing with energy and passion to compete. The more consistently we do that, the hope is you tally up some more wins and find yourself on the right side of the scoreboard more often. It was a great year. I tip my cap to our guys — they worked hard. We are excited to get into the summer and offseason and start back up.”

—Bill Alden

FULL EFFORT: Princeton Day School baseball player Keegan Fullman fires a pitch in

this spring. Freshman Fullman starred with his arm and bat in his debut campaign, helping PDS go on a late run that saw it win four of its last five games, including a victory in the New Jersey State Interscholastic

by Frank Wojciechowski)

As Princeton Summer Men’s Hoops Tips Off 35th Year, Princeton

Supply Looks Primed to Defend League Title

For the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League, its slogan of “#Still Here” is ringing true in a big way this week as the league is tipping off its 2024 campaign with nine squads ready to hit the Community Park courts.

With the venerable hoops circuit entering its 35th year, Rec Department executive director and league commissioner Evan Moorhead is proud of its staying power.

“It is a lot of the same faces from last year, there are a lot of returners which is good,” said Moorhead, reflecting on the 2024 campaign with which will start with a doubleheader on June 12 at Community Park. “There is good loyalty to the league, guys come back, year in, year out. We know them, they know us. It is always a big one when you are on the 5s or the 0s. It is another nice milestone to reach considering where we started in the summer of 1989 and here we are in 2024. We are still going strong, it is still a popular league and still drawing fans. It is one of the top leagues, if not the top outdoor league, in the area. A lot of leagues have moved inside.”

One league stalwart, LoyalTees, though, won’t be here this summer.

“They are not back this year, whether it is a year off or whether it is for good remains to be seen,” said Moorhead of the squad which has been led by former Princeton High standout Davon Black and won league titles in 2018, 2019, and 2021 and made the

championship series last year.

“We will see; you take a year off and the guys get a year older, it is tough to get the band back together. I hope they will be back, they have been loyal to the league.”

The 2023 league champion, Princeton Supply, is back and primed for a title repeat under the leadership of manager Phil Vigliano.

“Coach Phil is very excited to defend his title; he has been coming here for years and his goal coming into last year was to get that championship and he got it,” said Moorhead, noting the team roster includes such returning stars as Troy Jones, Mike Kane, Shaquan Worthy, Quayson Williams, Terry Taylor, and Kareem Elhossieni and may be bolstered by the rumored addition of former LoyalTees, Princeton High, and Rider standout Zahrion Blue.

“He has got a lot of pieces there to make a run. It is like I always say with Phil, if he can get his guys to show up at the right time in those playoff games, they are going to be tough. Last year, he got those guys to buy in. They made that run and they looked really, really good. I expect more of the same from those guys. They are the champs until somebody knocks them off.”

YSU, led by former PHS standout Freddie Young and featuring players from the Lincoln University men’s hoops team, including Freddie Young Jr., could challenge for the championship.

“They have got youth on their side, they have a little

bit of chemistry because a lot of those guys play together at Lincoln,” said Moorhead. “Freddie Young Jr. is back. They had a strong year. They made a nice run in the playoffs, they won their conference (the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association) tournament.”

Similarly, the J. Majeski Foundation team, which is comprised of players from The College of New Jersey men’s hoops program, brings a good chemistry to Community Park.

“They are in the mix every year because they have the young legs and they have the experience from playing together,” said Moorhead. “They usually have a fair amount of size too and good guard play. Jack Vreeswyk is back again as their captain, which is good.”

Summer league stalwart Kevin Johnson, who led the AEI squad last year, is back with Novi Wealth Partners.

“I haven’t seen his roster yet but Kevin keeps it pretty consistent, year in, year out,” said Moorhead. “Kevin is still, endto-end, probably the quickest or one of the quickest guys in the league.”

Smokehouse 1911 is another new team led by a league veteran in Juwan Harrison.

“Juwan always has a good group,” said Moorhead, noting Smokehouse 1911 is a barbecue place that is the concessionaire at CP pool.

The Speed Pro team will be bringing a strong Princeton High flavor to the court this summer.

“When Judd Petrone reached out to me and said

they wanted to come back and do we have a spot and right away, I said of course they are local Princeton guys from PHS,” said Moorhead, noting that the team’s roster included such former Tigers as Matt Rinaldi, Jack Suozzi, Ben Moyer, Ethan Guy, Tim Evidente, Evan Filion, Jay Jackson, and Petrone with Gefen Bar-Cohen and Riley McMahon possibly joining the team.

“We love having them in the league, I think they have a similar squad to what they had a couple of years ago. They have got the home crowd on their side. They will be competitive.”

PATH is another league entry that figures to be competitive.

“They have been in the league for five years or so. Each year that they have been in it, they get a little bit better in terms of roster construction,” said Moorhead. “TJ Malave has been their manager and organizer since they have been in the league. Last year, he added a couple of guards that really gave them consistency in the backcourt. They made a little bit of noise at the end of last year. They were

peaking at the right time when they had all of their guys.”

After struggling a bit last summer, Jefferson Plumbing, which is guided by Rec Department Program supervisor and Princeton Day School boys’ hoops assistant coach Chris Petrucelli, is looking to rebound.

“Coach Petru had a tough year, they didn’t have a lot of size,” said Moorhead. “They didn’t have Garita (former PDS standout Ethan Garita) last year. He has got the two Connors, Connor Topping and Connor Rushing, back again. He has got Brian Johansson back, he is a Johns Hopkins player. Charlie Gillikin is also a D-III player at Muhlenberg. He has got some good talent.”

League newcomer Lob City also looks to have some talent.

“They are a new team but with some familiar faces,” said Moorhead. “There are a lot of local guys. Myles Mitchell White is the one name on that team that jumps off the page at me. He is an all-league caliber player the last a couple of years. He has a strong basketball pedigree (previously starring at Montclair State and

Lawrence High). He is going to help them, he will win some games for them.”

In Moorhead’s view, the league’s parity should make for another summer of tight games and big crowds at Community Park.

“A lot of these teams look very similar and very competitive,” said Moorhead, noting that league triple-headers and playoff games have typically drawn hundreds of fans to the park. “There weren’t any undefeated teams last year, even coach Phil’s team lost some games. You hear a lot of talk this time of year, everybody is eternally hopeful. History has shown you don’t have to have a good regular season, it is all about the playoffs in our league. Survive the regular season, get your core group of guys, hope that you can get everyone there for the playoffs and make your run. You can be in the bottom half of the league standings and still make a run in the playoffs.”

—Bill Alden

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Thank you to our customers for voting us

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

We could not have reached these accomplishment without our dedicated employees and customers. Thank you from the owners of Conte’s Serving the Princeton community for over 80 years, and we will continue to serve you another 80 years and more. Thank you to our customers for voting us

We could not have reached this accomplishment without our dedicated employees and customers. Thank you from the owners of Conte’s Serving the Princeton community for over 80 years, and we will continue to serve you another 80 years and more. Mon – 11:30-9 Tues-Fri – 11:30-10:30 Sat – 4-10:30 Sun – 4-9

We could not have reached this accomplishment without our dedicated employees and customers. Thank you from the owners of Conte’s Princeton community for over 80 years, and we will continue to serve you another 80 years and more.

could not have reached this accomplishment without our dedicated employees and customers.

11:30-9 Tues-Fri – 11:30-10:30 Sat – 4-10:30 Sun – 4-9 339 Witherspoon St, Princeton, NJ 08540 (609) 921-8041 • www.contespizzaandbar.com serving gluten-free pizza, pasta, beer & vodka! you to our customers for voting us

Thank you from the owners of Conte’s

10am-6pm;

Recreation

Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Star guard Jones helped Princeton Supply win the league’s best-of-three championship series in 2023 as the squad broke through for its first crown. Princeton Supply is back to defend its title as the league tips off its 35th year with a doubleheader on June 12 at the Community Park courts.

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Local Sports

Parker Dedication Event

June 13 at Smoyer Park

The Princeton Recreation Department will be holding a ceremony to honor longtime Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball manager Tommy Parker on June 13 at 3 p.m. at Smoyer Park.

The baseball field in the park will be dedicated in his honor and the public is welcome to attend the event.

Mercer Junior Rowers Excel at Youth Nationals

Displaying its depth, the Princeton National Rowing Association (PNRA)/Mercer Junior Rowing Club had five boats advance to “A” finals last weekend at the USRowing Youth National Championship Regatta at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Fla.

The Men’s U16 8+ led the way for Mercer as it took third in its A final.

The Mercer Men’s U17 8+ took fifth in its A final as did both the Men’s Youth 8+ and the Men’s Youth 2V 8+.

The Women’s U17 4+ placed eighth in its A final.

Bailey Basketball Academy Offering Summer Camps

The Bailey Basketball Academy (BBA) is offering two week-long basketball camps this summer along with other specialty hoops programs.

BBA is led by former Princeton Day School girls’ hoops coach and Philadelphia 76ers camp director and clinician Kamau Bailey. The camps are slated for June 24-28 and July 2226 at the Princeton Middle School.

There are full day camps for ages 9-14 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and half day camps from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

In addition, there will be “First Hoops” options for ages 5-8 (9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.). BBA will also offer “Shot King” shooting instruction and small group player development daily sessions from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. starting July 1 and running through August 16 for players getting ready for middle school, high school, or club participation.

All players will be required to bring their own water, snacks, and/or lunch for the applicable programs.

For more information, contact Kamau Bailey at (917) 626-5785 or at kamau.bailey@gmail.com.

Princeton Post 218 Baseball Falls 13-4 to Allentown

Despite pounding out 10 hits, the Princeton Post 218 American Legion baseball team fell 13-4 to Lawrence Post 414 last Saturday.

Matt Brophy, JJ Casey, Nano Sarceno, and Nate Nydick each collected two hits for Post 218 as it moved to 0-4.

In upcoming action, Post 218 plays at Trenton Post 93/182 on June 12, hosts Broad Street Post 313 on June 13 and South Brunswick 401 on June 15 and then plays at Hamilton Post 31 on June 17.

NJ Wrestling Organization Holding Golf Event July 24

The New Jersey Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame will host its 21st golf outing, a shotgun/ scramble on July 24.

The event will take place, rain or shine, at the Mercer Oaks Golf Club at 725 Village Road, West Windsor.

One of the goals of the golf outing is to seek and raise contributions, donations, and gifts to provide wrestling camp and clinic scholarships to deserving youth who seek to improve and enhance their skills in the sport of amateur wrestling.

In addition, the chapter will also make contributions to selected veterans and relief organizations such as the NJ Vietnam Memorial, as well as children’s hospitals such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House.

The golf package includes breakfast and registration (7:45 to 8:45 a.m.), green fees, cart, practice range, locker, giveaways, prizes, and silent auction. Golfers can also win a Nissan at the “Hole in 1” Par 3. There is also a buffet dinner after golf.

The cost for foursomes is $625, individuals $165, dinner-only $70, and raffles $20. Players 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult player. Singles and pairs have to contact the golf chairman for arrangements. Foursomes are not required to do so. For questions, contact golf chairman Ken Bernabe at bernabekenjb@aol.com, or call (732) 991-3984.

One can also make a tee, flag, or meal sponsorship. Combinations are as follows: $300 brunch, $200 flag, $500 dinner, $100 tee. All sponsorships can be mailed to Ken Bernabe, 7 Yeger Drive, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.

Golf registration forms must be completed and mailed along with check made payable to NWHF-NJ Golf by June 28, or pay online via ZELLE to Bill Miron at (609) 872-3520.

SIX PACK: The six runners on the Wilberforce School girls’ track team are all smiles after they combined to help Wilberforce take third in the team standings at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public Group B championship meet last weekend at Stockton University. Pictured, from left, are Laura Sallade, Maria Madigan, Gwen Mersereau, Eve Szeliga, Emily Prothero, and Anna-Luisa Jepson. Individually, sophomore Szeliga placed first the 800 and second in the 400 while sophomore Sallade placed third in the 800 and first in the 1,600. The Wolverines finished first in both the 4x400-meter and 4x800 relays (Madigan, Szeliga, Sallade, and Mersereau did the 4x400 with Prothero, Mersereau, Madigan, and Szeliga running the 4x800). Wilberforce scored 52 points in taking third with MorristownBeard placing first with 82. The Wolverine boys placed eighth in the Non-Public B meet, led by senior Caleb Brox, the first place finisher in the 1,600, junior Philip Schidlovsky, the runner-up in the 800, and Andrew Pratt, who took third in the pole vault. Wilberforce is next in action when it competes in the NJSIAA Meet of Champions on June 12 at Pennsauken High. (Photo provided by Lois Szeliga)

PDS

Boys’ Track : Nathan Bennett provided a highlight as PDS took 10th in the team standings at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public Group B championships last weekend at Stockton University. Freshman Bennett took third in the 400-meter run while fellow freshman Edward Letko came in sixth in the 3,200. Other Panthers who excelled at the meet included Abdoulaye Seydi, the fi fth placefinisher in the long jump, and Adam Stewart, who fi nished fifth in the triple jump. PDS also took fourth in both the 4x400 and 4x800 relays at the meet which saw PDS score 21 points with Montclair Kimberley Academy taking first with 94.

Girls’ Track : Senior stars Emily McCann and Harleen

Sandhu set the pace as PDS tied for 10th in the team standings at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA)

Non-Public Group B championships last weekend at Stockton University. McCann placed second in the 1,600 meters while Sandhu finished second in the 3,200. McCann and Sandhu both qualified for the NJSIAA Meet of Champions, which is slated for June 12 at Pennsauken

High. In addition, sophomore Kara Vandal took seventh in the long jump, while the 4x100 relay placed fifth. PDS tied Bishop Eustace for 10th with 18 points in the meet won by MorristownBeard with 82.

seeded WW/P-South last week in the final of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Jersey Group 3 team tourney. The first doubles pair of Aashil Patel and Aman Kapur provided a highlight for the Tigers in the match as they prevailed 7-5, 6-4 over Rohan Ramachandran and Shriyan Kumar. PHS ended the spring with a 16-1 record.

Boys’ Tennis : Suffering its first and only loss of the season, top-seeded

Competing in the NJSIAA state doubles tourney after the conclusion of the team tournament, the duo of sophomore Patel and senior Kapur came up big as they advanced to the quarterfinals of that competition. The PHS second doubles pair of junior Shaan Zaveri and freshman Tacto Yamada matched their teammates as they also made it to the quarterfinal round. The quarters and semis were slated for June 11 with the final scheduled for June 13 at the Mercer County Tennis Facility.

Agnes Dunn Dalley Agnes Dunn Dalley died June 1, 2024 at her home in Wilmington, NC. She was born in 1928 in Washington, DC, to Richard Price Dunn and Agnes Davis Jones. She married Lawrence Cutting Dalley Jr. in 1950 and together raised four children: Laura Dalley Tobin, Lawrence Cutting Dalley III (Kip), Richard Dunn Dalley, and Sarah Dalley Shannon. Following her husband’s death in 2007, she remarried to Philip Hyland Burch. Agnes was raised in Washington, DC, and attended The Potomac School and Mt. Vernon Seminary and College before graduating from George Washington University. Following her marriage to Larry, the newlyweds enjoyed a honeymoon in Paris and Beirut, as they traveled to Calcutta, India, to live, while Larry served in the Foreign Service. Their return to Washington, DC, marked the start of their young family. While raising her children, Agnes began a

career with J. F. Begg Realtors in the 1960s — her 45-year career was punctuated throughout with many awards from the Washington, DC Association of Realtors. She was active in many volunteer activities as a member of the Board of Trustees of The Potomac School, the Board of Lady Visitors Children’s Hospital, Vice President of the Junior League, Founder and twice President of The Acorn Garden Club, and President of The Antique Study Group. Agnes developed strong and loyal friendships, many of which lasted a lifetime. A highlight in any given year, was spending quality time with family, hosting lively gatherings especially at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Her interests were many and included gardening, birding, antiquing, auctions, reading, and bridge — somehow all sandwiched between ferrying her children to and from swim meets, figure skating events, and ice hockey games. She was particularly fond of gardening and maintained beautiful gardens at her houses on Martha’s Vineyard and Maryland’s eastern shore — they were labors of love — digging, planting, and enjoying the seasons. Barely second to gardening, Agnes was a dedicated birder, an interest she shared with Larry, an interest that took them on memorable travels. As a fifth grader, she was invited to display her collection of bird nests complete with identifications and drawings of the many different inhabitants — a passion that lasted a lifetime. She enjoyed recounting how she would pay her sister, Adrian,

a nickel to bring her a nest she didn’t have. Her youthful summers were spent on Nantucket Island before building a house on Martha’s Vineyard Island to escape the DC summer swelter.

Agnes and Larry moved to Princeton, NJ, in 2007 to be closer to their children as Larry declined from Lewy body disease and whom she lovingly care for at home. She lived and enjoyed her 15 years in Princeton which included her eight-year marriage to Philip Burch. Agnes then followed her children to Wilmington, NC, in 2022.

Her memberships included The Chevy Chase Club, The Sulgrave Club, The Vineyard Haven Yacht Club, The West Chop Club, The Junior League of Washington, The Nassau Club of Princeton, NJ, and The Present Day Club of Princeton, NJ.

She is survived by three children Kip Dalley (and wife Kim), Richard Dalley (and wife Alison), Sarah Shannon (and husband Mike); her son-in-law Jim Tobin; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her daughter Laura Tobin, her sister Adrian Dunn Bellinger, her half-brother Elliott Hunter Muse Jr., and her second husband Philip Burch.

Memorial contributions may be made to The American Brain Foundation, 201 Chicago Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55415-1126, or go to americanbrainfoundation.org, in an effort to support finding a cure for brain diseases such as Lewy body dementia and multiple sclerosis.

The family will be celebrating Agnes’ life privately. Condolences may be expressed online at quinnmcgowen.com.

Harrison James Marks

Harrison James Marks, 26, tragically passed away on June 7, 2024. He grew up and was raised in Princeton. He was the nicest person who had a big heart, and beautiful and gentle soul. He was caring, sweet, and generous to others. Harrison was beloved by all and was a loving son, brother, grandson, and friend. He adored animals.

He was an out-of-thebox thinker who was very creative and artistic. He enjoyed building cars and motorcycles, and working with technology. He was a hard worker who worked as a customer engineer with Vertiv Corporation.

He is survived by his parents Stephen and Linda Sweet Marks; brother Spencer “Ash” Marks; maternal grandmother Merriel Sweet; and aunt Marcelle Sweet and aunt Linda Marks.

He left Jersey City to attend graduate school in Chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh. A shared ride back to Pittsburgh with Roseanne Reilly, a fellow Jersey City native, led to an introduction to Roseanne’s college roommate, Margaret McGurty. Patrick and Margaret married in 1959 and spent their first years together in Pittsburgh, where their sons, Patrick and Sean, were born. Although he lived most of his life in NJ, Patrick’s attachment to Pittsburgh and the friends he made there was steadfast, as were his allegiances to the Steelers and Pirates.

After receiving degrees in Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh and Business Administration from Mellon Institute (now Carnegie Mellon University), Patrick accepted a position at Kerry Chemical. He travelled from Pittsburgh to NJ in search of a family home. He described driving west on Washington Road from Route 1 — a road lined with Dutch Elms that crossed Carnegie Lake, ran through the Princeton University campus, and ended at Nassau Street in the town of Princeton. He fell in love with the town. His daughters Kate and Elizabeth were born in Princeton, and 17 Random Road was the Keenan Family home for 45 years.

Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 13, 2024 at Star of David Memorial Chapel of Princeton, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08542. Burial will follow in Beth Israel Cemetery, 19 Ridgedale Avenue, Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927.

We

Patrick Joseph Keenan

Intersecting expertise and interests in chemistry, energy, economics, and finance yielded diverse working environments and collaborations. Early in his career, Patrick served as a financial analyst focusing on the utility industry at Chase Manhattan Bank. He collaborated on the development of and patented the Dynaflux, an alternator capable of increasing the output power for a given shaft speed via the positioning of the rotor at an oblique angle. For five years, he wrote a monthly subscription newsletter, The Income Builder, within which his economic analysis on utility and other stocks was paired with his wry humor.

June Crehore Gulick June Crehore Gulick passed away peacefully on August 17, 2023, at the age of 94 in Charlottesville, VA. June was born in New York, New York, on February 2, 1929, to Austen Ballard Crehore and Katherine Dennis Crehore. She grew up in Westfield, New Jersey, and attended Wellesley College where she graduated in 1950 with a degree in Economics. June’s diverse and impressive career spanned over six decades. She worked as a bridal fashion buyer, and then as a Wall Street analyst and accountant in New York. Though she cherished finance and accounting, her most enduring legacy stems from her role as a devoted school teacher of various grades, first through high school. Throughout her teaching career, June educated students at Miss Mason’s School, Miss Fine’s School, Princeton Day School, and The Hun School. Her passion and dedication to building strong foundations in reading, writing, and mathematics left a positive and lasting impact on the many students who adored and appreciated her. June was described as hardworking, good natured, and compassionate. She cofounded and ran the Wellesley Club of Central New Jersey Antique Show to fund scholarships at Wellesley College. Throughout her lifetime she provided assistance to numerous local businesses and organizations in managing their accounting and finances, a commitment that extended well into her 80s. June is survived by her daughters, Katherine “Kobby” Hoffman and Anne MacCurdy (Doug) and her son, John “Jack” Gulick (Steve). June’s legacy extends to her granddaughters: Courtney Aquilla (Joseph), Austen Brown (Nathan), and Katherine MacCurdy. Additionally, she is survived by a greatgrandchild, Hugh.

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

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.

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 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

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.

Patrick Joseph Keenan died on May 30 in his home with his children beside him. He was 90 years old.

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

In accordance with June’s wishes, there will be no services held to commemorate her life. Instead, she requested that each person give two hours of your time and energy to someone needing assistance as a way to honor her memory.

June Gulick will be dearly missed by her family, friends, and all those whose lives she touched.

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

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.

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.

through the

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

We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, 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.

Patrick was remarkable for his ingenuity. He was an imaginative problem solver, especially when it came to extending the lives of dying family cars. His methods included supporting corroded exhaust pipes with orange juice cans and replacing missing knobs with Parcheesi pieces. He produced fantastic Halloween costumes for himself, often from discarded items in the basement, and wore them as he accompanied his children trick or treating, while on occasion requesting his own treat by extending an empty shot glass. For his grandchildren, grandnieces, and nephews, he fashioned secret decoder rings from milk carton tops, created treasure maps, and led treks though Herrontown Woods to spy on the witch’s house.

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.

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, 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

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 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

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 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

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 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

ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL

Patrick was raised in Jersey City, NJ, with his seven sisters: Kitty, Ellie, Pat, Peggy, Anna, Rose, and Mary. His father and mother, William John Keenan and Agnes Maguire Keenan, emigrated to the U.S. from Newry, Ireland, in 1920. Patrick described his childhood as full of fun and mischief. A Catholic nun at St. Michael’s grammar school, who saw potential in him for broader pursuits, warned him that he was “going nowhere fast.” She thus began a program of study to prepare him for the entrance exam to Saint Peter’s Prep, a Jesuit high school. He was admitted and later continued his education at Saint Peter’s College.

Patrick and Margaret were married for 60 years. Most days, perhaps each day, they shared laughter. Patrick was still making others laugh with his witty retorts the week before he died. Join us as we come together to celebrate Patrick and his mischief, creative ingenuity, warmth, and humor on Saturday June 29, 3-5 p.m., at The Dinky Bar & Kitchen, 94 University Place, Princeton, NJ.

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What to Expect in HOA Documents When Buying a NJ Condo

When buying a condo in New Jersey, reviewing the HOA (Homeowners' Association) documents is crucial. These documents, typically including the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs), bylaws, and rules and regulations, outline the rights and responsibilities of homeowners within the community.

CC&Rs: These detail the permitted uses of the property, restrictions on modifications, and obligations for maintenance. They also outline any architectural standards and community appearance guidelines.

Bylaws: These specify the governance structure of the HOA, including election procedures for board members, meeting protocols, and the powers and duties of the board. They are essential for understanding how decisions impacting the community are made.

Rules and Regulations: These cover daily operational aspects such as parking policies, pet restrictions, and noise control. Compliance with these rules is mandatory.

Additionally, financial documents, including budgets and reserve studies, provide insight into the HOA’s fiscal health and poten- tial future assessments. Review these documents thoroughly to under- stand your obligations and rights as a condo owner.

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