Town Topics Newspaper, July 26, 2023

Street Design Consultants Report to Council on Study of Nassau Street

At a meeting Monday night, Princeton Council held a work session on a proposed plan for upgrades to Nassau Street from the Montclair-based street design rm Arterial, consultants on the project. The improvements would stretch from Bayard Lane to Moore Street.

The project has been ongoing since 2016, and has included a series of public outreach meetings. The most recent presentation was held June 14 at Princeton Public Library, followed by an online survey to which more than 200 people responded to questions about Nassau Street, said Arterial designer James Ribaudo.

Ribaudo provided details about materials, seating, and other aspects of the project, using before-and-after views of Millburn and Union as examples. Among the proposed ideas are reducing the number of travel lanes on Nassau Street between Witherspoon Street and Vandeventer Avenue, to create a bike lane on the north side of the thoroughfare.

Since Nassau Street is a state highway, the project would require approval by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The rm’s full presentation is available in the agenda packet from Monday’s meeting, on princetonnj.gov. The nal schematic design is planned for this coming September. Subject to nancing, construction is projected to begin in late 2024 or early 2025.

Also at the meeting, Council voted to approve a $367,000 budget for 20232024 for Experience Princeton, formerly known as the Princeton Business Partnership.

Councilmember Leticia Fraga read a statement about the changed wording of the “Welcome to Princeton” signs at entrances to the town. As of last Friday, the wording on the signage no longer reads “Settled in 1683,” to re ect “an important rst step in recognizing and acknowledging that Indigenous people were the original caretakers and stewards of the land long before any settlers arrived,” Fraga said, adding that the acknowledgement does not negate or dismiss the contributions of those who came afterward.

“Instead, it allows us the opportunity to embrace a more complete and inclusive understanding of history that recognizes the important role of Indigenous people

Continued on Page 8

Washington Road to Be Closed Until October

Beginning at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 26, Washington Road will be closed between Faculty Road and Tiger Lane, as the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) replaces the bridge over the D&R Canal. Tiger Lane is one of the new roads into the expanded Princeton University Lake Campus on the West Windsor side of Lake Carnegie.

Work is expected to be completed by October. In the meantime motorists will be detoured onto Harrison Street or Alexander Road. Local access will be maintained between Route 1 and Tiger Lane. NJDOT Press Manager Steve Schapiro emphasized the importance of the road and the urgency of the bridge replacement. He wrote in a July 24 email, “The Washington Road bridge over the D&R Canal was scheduled to be replaced within the next several years as part of NJDOT’s regular bridge maintenance program. However a three-day emergency closure was required last July to make repairs to the timber piles underneath the bridge and install temporary jacks to provide supplemental support.”

He continued, “NJDOT has inspected the bridge monthly since last July to monitor its condition. Due to the emergent nature of those repairs, the decision was

made to accelerate the project as a high priority bridge replacement.”

Princeton Mayor Mark Freda welcomed the NJDOT’s timely attention to this project. “I was on a recent call with all the stakeholders involved in this project, and the DOT was very clear that this project needed to be run well and run on time,” he said. “It will be an inconvenience, traffic-wise. But safety is important, so it is good to see the DOT take on this project prior to a failure of the bridge.”

Princeton Municipal Engineer and Deputy Administrator Deanna Stockton added that the NJDOT “worked closely with Mercer County, West Windsor, Princeton, and Princeton University to successfully incorporate our concerns.”

Pointing out that Washington Road is a major entry point into both Princeton University and the town, Schapiro noted the University’s ongoing project to expand its facilities alongside Washington Road, and he added, “It is important to complete

Veterans in Warrior-Scholar Project Prepare for Transition to Classroom

Helping veterans to sharpen their study skills and prepare to transition to an academic environment, Princeton University is currently partnering with the WarriorScholar Project (WSP) for a Humanities and STEM Academic Boot Camp on campus July 16-28.

Thirteen veterans are participating in this year’s WSP at Princeton, making a total of more than 80 participants since Princeton rst hosted the program in the summer of 2017. WSP’s rst boot camp took place at Yale University in 2012, and since then the program has expanded to 23 of the country’s top schools, giving

more than 2,100 veterans a boost on their way to higher education.

Ninety percent of WSP alumni have completed or are on track to earn a college degree, compared to 72 percent of all student veterans and 65 percent of all traditional undergraduate students. Out of WSP’s 2022 participants, 60 percent identi ed as rst-gen college students, 70 percent were persons of color, and 28 percent were women.

This year the two-week boot camp at Princeton will be followed by WSP’s Second Annual Alumni Conference from

Continued on Page 8

CAMPUS ART TOUR: Docent Leslie Sullivan, center in white pants, led a Princeton University Art Museum (PUAM) “Campus Collections Outdoor Walking Tour” on Saturday and paused to admire “Head of a Woman,” designed by Pablo Picasso. Additional PUAM walking tours, which are free and open to the public, will be held on weekends through November 19. For more information, visit artmuseum.princeton.edu.

(Photo by Sarah Teo)

PHS Alum Tommy Delany Emerges as Key Reliever For Penn Baseball 23

TOWN TOPICS

Princeton’s Weekly Community Newspaper

DONALD GILPIN, WENDY GREENBERG, ANNE LEVIN, STUART MITCHNER, NANCY PLUM, DONALD H. SANBORN III, JUSTIN

WILLIAM

Workers with Disabilities

Succeed at Salt Creek Grille Salt Creek Grille has recently welcomed back a valuable workforce — Eden Autism’s students.

Through the Eden School’s Transition to Employment program, students learn skills for jobs in restaurants, offices, hospitality settings, retail businesses, and numerous other paid employment opportunities.

Salt Creek Grille President and Operating Partner Huge Preece said hiring Eden students is a win-win. “People with disabilities amaze you, and you learn from them on a daily basis as they learn from you,” he said. “The students take care of tasks in the front and back of the restaurant. They prepare the bar and drink areas, fold napkins, chop vegetables, and do other prep work to ensure things run smoothly for their colleagues and customers. These tasks may seem small, but they have a big impact on the overall operations of the restaurant.”

As Eden’s students complete the prep work, other employees have more time to expand their own skills. They can learn to cook on the line, enabling them to grow within the company. “It takes a workload off another person to allow them to flourish and learn other skill sets,” said Preece.

WIN-WIN SITUATION: Salt Creek Grille’s hiring of students from Eden Autism’s Transition to Employment program is a benefit for both organizations.

Tyrone Burston, lead teacher of the Transition to Employment Program, said that creating a relationship with the business is a huge part of the program. “We integrate what Salt Creek Grille does into our school kitchen as much as possible,” he said. “This not only prepares students to work at Salt Creek Grille, but it enables them to secure jobs at restaurants all over New Jersey. We really want our kids to be prepared ultimately for jobs when they graduate, and the best place to get that experience is here, in a real kitchen.”

Many students who graduate from the Eden School enter Eden’s Adult Services program, where they continue to use the skills they

learned to work at businesses across New Jersey. Having individuals with disabilities in the workforce benefits the entire staff.

“Many of the workers are immigrants, and in their countries, you don’t see people with challenges. They’re kind of invisible in the community,” said Preece. “So, this not only helps them have compassion for others, but it really opens up their mind to a different way of thinking.”

And that is an important part of what Eden is all about. “Our mission is to have students integrate into the community and the workplace,” said Burston. “It allows our kids and his staff to be part of an inclusive, understanding community.”

Topics In Brief A Community Bulletin

Washington Road Closure: Until October, the road is closed at the D&R Canal while the bridge over the canal is removed and rebuilt. A detour using Nassau Street, Harrison Street, and Route 1 will be in place. The towpath will largely be available during the closure.

Outdoor Dining: Princeton Council and staff want to hear opinions and suggestions from residents about the future of outdoor dining in town. Visit princetonnj.gov.

Call for Land Stewards: Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS) holds morning or afternoon summer volunteer sessions on August 8, 2-4 p.m. and August 12, 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. under the guidance of FOPOS’ director of natural resources and stewardship to assist with various conservation projects at Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve. Visit fopos.org.

Blood Drive: At MarketFair August 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit RedCrossBlood. org/RapidPass to complete pre-donation screening.

Donate Backpacks and School Supplies: For Princeton children from kindergarten through sixth grade who come from low-income families and attend local public schools. Drop off donations at 1 Monument Drive through August 4. Call (609) 6882055 with questions.

Keep Storm Drains Clear: The municipality is urging homeowners to keep leaves, branches, and logs off the roads near storm drains. During intense storms, clogged drains can cause flooding and lead to emergency situations. For more information about this and other stormwater-related topics, visit cleanwaternj.org.

Volunteer for Womanspace: The organization, which provides emergency and follow-up services to those impacted by domestic and sexual violence, seeks community members to be trainees for the Womanspace Response Teams of Mercer County. Visit womanspace.org.

PRINCETON ON CAMERA: Filming a segment last week for her PBS series about Princeton’s contribution to the American Revolution, Darley Newman, left, learned some history from Princeton Tour Company’s Mimi Omiecinski in front of Princeton University’s FitzRandolph Gate.

Considering which towns to feature in “Revolutionary Road Trips,” her PBS (Public Broadcasting System) series about the 250th anniversary of the United States, host Darley Newman knew

she wanted to do a segment about Princeton. What she didn’t realize, until spending two days here last week, was just how much of a role Princeton played in Revolutionary War-era history.

“I knew the University, of course, but I didn’t realize the depth of the history there,” said Newman, the creator, producer, and star of the long-running PBS series “Travels with Darley,” as well as “Revolutionary Road Trips,” “Look Up,” and the former series, “Equitrek king.” Her shows are also broadcast on Amazon Prime and other services.

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Trenton, where she viewed an original copy of the Bill of Rights, and the case file from the Supreme Court case of Aaron Burr vs. Alexander Hamilton (1804).

“There’s even a letter from George Washington,” she said. “When you think of what’s in those archives, it’s a lot. It’s a good exercise for all of us in America to go back and look at those documents again. It really made me think about the founding of the country in a different

“Going into Nassau Hall, hearing about the Battle of Princeton, learning it was the capital of the country at one time, was pretty remark able,” she continued. “What we’re trying to do is tell un told stories of the American Revolution. I think people will be surprised about what they learn, because we don’t know the whole story.”

Newman spent time with Princeton Tour Company’s Mimi Omiecinski, Princeton University Archivist Dan Linke, Princeton Art Museum Director James Steward, and members of the Princeton Battlefield Society. She and Omiecinski rode e-bikes through areas of town, and stopped off at the Yankee Doodle Tap Room.

“We toasted with a beer in front of a painting by Norman Rockwell,” Newman said. “I went to the Clarke House, and Morven Museum and Garden, both of which are historic. I like doing shows where history is at the center of the story. We’re not trying to tell the whole history of the Revolution, but we want to tell people to go to places where they can understand more of what happened, and link it together, while meeting locals from the area.”

“Revolutionary Road Trips” has taken Newman to Alabama, South Carolina, Hawaii, North Carolina, and other states. In New Jersey, she has filmed segments in Somerville, Morristown, and

Public Television Series

Continued from Preceding Page New Jersey and Pennsylvania sides of the Delaware River. They stopped at the Trent House, where Algernon Ward shared the story of the First Rhode Island Regiment, the integrated unit composed of Black, Native American, and white soldiers.

Newman, who is 44 and has won numerous awards for her work, has been fascinated by travel as long as she can remember. “I started making videos and home movies as a kid,” she said. “I have always loved being creative and sharing stories.”

After graduating from George Washington University, she knew she didn’t want to work in an office. It took a lot of hard work, but she was eventually able to turn her passion for travel into a business. Her first series, “Equitrekking,” was picked up by PBS and won three Daytime Emmy awards. The experience was rewarding, until it became dangerous. She was charged by an elephant in Botswana, galloped with herds of wildebeests, and bungee-jumped off the world’s largest tower in Macao (1,109 feet).

“Equitrekking” became “Travels with Darley” 10 years ago. The series has taken Newman and her twoman crew all over the world. “We are spoiled travelers and foodies at this point,” she said. “We have been to some really life-changing places with people who are remarkable. I have interviewed celebrities, but everyday people are the ones who have stories that makes you say, ‘Wow, pretty amazing.’”

The Princeton episode will be part of season 11 of “Travels with Darley,” which debuts on PBS stations nationwide starting in January 2024.

—Anne Levin

Congressman Kim Visits Lawrence Library Branch

Congressman Andy Kim will discuss democracy and good government at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch of the Mercer County Library System on Tuesday, August 1, from 12-1 p.m. This conversation will be moderated by the League of Women Voters of Lawrence Township. Kim represents the third district of New Jersey.

Question of the Week: “What did you think of the movie?”

(Asked during the opening weekend of “Oppenheimer” at the Princeton Garden Theatre) (Photos by Sarah Teo)

“Everything about it was spectacular. I’ve never seen a Christopher Nolan movie before. My parents told me that it’s non-linear, and it definitely wasn’t. I thought it was really interesting how he did all the scene changes. I thought the theme of the movie, especially with the ending note it left, was very relevant. I also thought it was cool that I recognized places from the [Princeton University] campus.”

—Daniel Spitkovsky, Princeton

Karen: “Well done, very, very tight — well paced. Excellent. And I’m very, very happy that it’s here. And I also love the Garden Theatre because now they’re bringing back all the London performances and the older movies, which we love.”

Bob: “I thought it was outstanding. Stunning. I did not know all of the history about how [Oppenheimer] was badgered, and the duplicity of Strauss. I liked it a lot.”

Rosalind: “I really enjoyed the movie. It was really tightly edited, and told the story very well. The story is one that needs to be told. The music was terrific, too.”

Gerald: “It was much better than I thought it was going to be. It really represented the participants as they were, and as they should be remembered, because Oppenheimer really got a raw deal. And I appreciate that it seemed so accurate to the science and the scientists involved.”

—Rosalind and Gerald Reisner, Princeton

Advance registration is appreciated. The library is located at 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence Township. Visit mcl.org for more information.

Tell

Madison: “I think the pace was really good. It was very introspective and makes you think, especially the ending. How Christopher Nolan set everything up to have that end climax, I thought was really cool.”

Roger: “No one’s going to want to hear this, but I liked Fat Man and Little Boy better — it was more personal, and more with what actually went on. But this was a very good film. I think [Cillian Murphy] will definitely be nominated.”

Catherine: “Throughout the movie, you could tell how tormented [Oppenheimer] was, I think.”

—Madison, Roger, and Catherine Hughes, West Windsor

Andy Kim

Washington Road Closure

continued from page one the bridge project quickly to maintain the roadway into Princeton and minimize the disruption to University activities.”

The NJDOT advises motorists to plan extra time when traveling in the area. There will be variable message signs (VMS) directing motorists to the detour routes.

Whether there will be extensive delays — during rush hours or when the new school year begins and visitors come to town for football games and other special events — remains to be seen.

Schapiro noted that multiple detour routes should help minimize delays. NJDOT urges motorists to check their traffic information website at 511nj.org for construction updates and real-time travel information.

511nj.org has cameras set up throughout the state, including one at Route 1 and Harrison Street and another at Route 1 and Alexander Road,

where viewers can observe the flow of traffic and plan accordingly. NJDOT news is also available on Twitter@ NewJerseyDOT and on the NJDOT Facebook page.

The last time a major artery from Route 1 into Princeton was closed for a prolonged period was in 2019, when the NJDOT teamed up with Mercer County to replace three bridges on Alexander Street/Alexander Road. The closure lasted from November 6, 2019 to May 15, 2020.

There were long lines of traffi c and signifi cant travel delays, especially on Washington Road and Harrison Street, from November until March, when, with the onset of COVID-19, there were stayat-home orders, transitions to remote work, and suddenly very few cars on the road.

Traffic has apparently not fully returned to pre-pandemic levels, but on Thursday morning commuters into Princeton will fi nd out more about the impact of the Washington Road closure.

—Donald Gilpin

Puerto Rican Festival At Bristol Wharf, Pa.

On Saturday July 29, the Bucks County Genealogical Society (BCGS) will be participating in the 50th Annual Puerto Rican Festival at the Bristol Wharf. Hosted by the Puerto Rican Cultural Association of Bucks County, the event will also feature cultural food, music, dancing, cooking demonstrations, children’s activities, and vendors from 12-8 p.m.

BCGS will be offering free guidance and look-ups of their Puerto Rican roots (or anywhere in the world) to guests who may be unaware of the many options available to find free records, even online.

Family tree pedigree charts in English and Spanish, as well as handouts, will be available free to pick up at the table. Once participants complete what they know, they can research several places to find their missing information. Civil and church records can provide birth, baptism, marriage and death information, as well as population and agricultural censuses.

While Ancestry.com is an important and helpful place to research these records, it can be costly. Searching at local libraries is free. Other sites are MyHeritage.com and Familysearch.org, a free site hosted by the Mormon Church, which has digitized records all over the world, including the archives at San Juan.

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The complete genealogy and records of baseball legend Roberto Clemente will be on display as well as other celebrities, musicians,

and athletes from around the world.

Genetic Genealogist Cathy Ivins, director of publicity for BCGS, will be staffing the table along with several other experienced genealogists. Ivins visited family in Puerto Rico in 2022, after building her husband’s tree and finding family using online records and DNA. Guests can chat with her to learn more about their Boricua genes, which can include Indigenous (Taíno) Puerto Rican, Mesoamerican, Iberian (Spain, Portugal), and African ancestry.

For more information on Bucks County Genealogical Society, visit bucksgen. org, or email publicity@ bucksgen.org.

Stoutsburg Sourland Museum Celebrates Black Baseball

The Stoutsburg Sourland

African American Museum (SSAAM) will partner with the Somerset Patriots for their inaugural Negro League tribute game on Sunday, August 27. The Somerset Patriots will honor the New York Black Yankees at the TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater. The Patriots take on the Hartford Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies) at 1:05 pm.

SSAAM, central New Jersey’s only museum telling the story of African Americans in this region from the time of the transatlantic slave trade to the present day,

supports this event honoring the history and legacy of the New York Black Yankees, a Negro League baseball team of the 1930s and ’40s. At a time when Major League Baseball excluded Black athletes, Negro League teams gave African Americans a path to play professional baseball. On August 27, the Somerset Patriots will play in special jerseys with the SSAAM logo as well as a newly-designed logo honoring the Black Yankees. These game-worn jerseys will be auctioned off live after the event to benefit SSAAM’s mission and educational programming.

“I’ve loved baseball since rooting for the 1986 championship-winning Mets, but my history with the sport is a bit deeper,” said SSAAM Executive Director Donnetta Johnson, who grew up near Ebbets Field in Brooklyn and attended Jackie Robinson Junior High School. “Jackie Robinson was a groundbreaking sports and civil rights hero to me and I’ve always been proud that I was born the year Jackie Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.”

Robinson got his professional start in baseball in the Negro Leagues, as did Black ball players from the Sourland region. SSAAM co-founder Elaine Buck’s cousin, Roy “Campy” Campanella, was a Hall of Fame Brooklyn Dodger who first

played in the Negro Leagues and Mexican Leagues. Buck remembers Campanella visiting her childhood home in a big car with candy for all the children.

SSAAM co-founder Beverly Mills’ father William Wallace Smith (known as “Shud”) was a talented player for the Pennington AllStars in the 1940s. Board member Patricia Payne, who grew up at the True Farmstead — a historically African American Farmstead now part of the SSAAM campus in Skillman — during the 1940s and ’50s, fondly remembers watching her baseball heroes play in person. Payne attended as many local, New York, and Philadelphia Negro League, American League, and National League games as her baseball-loving uncles would take her to.

Visit ssaamuseum.org for ticket information.

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Veterans continued from page one July 28-30. Nearly 200 veterans are expected to attend the conference, which will provide an opportunity for alumni of the program to participate in sessions and workshops led by leaders in the military and higher education. Sponsored by Walmart, A Friends’ Foundation, Johnson & Johnson, and McKinsey & Company, the event is free for WSP alumni.

“Princeton University is honored to partner with the Warrior-Scholar project to support student veteran success at selective colleges and universities, including on our campus,“ said Princeton University Vice Provost for Institutional Equity and Diversity Michele Minter. “We are also pleased to host Warrior-Scholar Project alumni on our campus as they build community and support each other’s academic and professional journeys through the Warrior-Scholar Alumni Conference.”

Keith Shaw, Princeton’s director of transfer and nontraditional student programs for the Emma Bloomberg Center for Access and Opportunity, has been a leader

of the WSP project at Princ-

eton since its start in 2017.

He noted that this is just one of many programs the University has been involved with in the past 10 years in its efforts to promote access and diversity at Princeton and in higher education in general.

He noted that in 2016 there was only one veteran enrolled on campus, but with a push for more non-traditional students and a revival of the transfer program that number will have grown to more than 60 by this fall, 18 of whom will have participated at some point in the WSP program. A total of 30 WSP alumni have enrolled at Princeton since the beginning of the program.

This summer’s WSP cohort, housed on campus at Princeton, last week completed a rigorous schedule of humanities classes with a focus on key skills like analytical reading and advanced writing. This week the focus is on STEM.

“The students are really invested and are working really hard,” said Shaw. “They are fun to work with, but very different from most Princeton University undergraduates. These students

are more emotionally mature, more disciplined, and more willing to take honest feedback.”

He went on to comment on how eager the warriorscholars were to improve and how curious they were about academics but also about what it’s like to be a student at a four-year college like Princeton.

Shaw noted that this twoweek boot camp is providing the veteran students with a valuable opportunity, not just to be better equipped with academic skills, but also to make smart decisions about taking the next steps in their education.

Hanh Dinh, who will be starting her senior year this fall as a cognitive science major at the University of California, San Diego, participated in WSP at Yale University last summer and this summer is working as a STEM Fellow at the Princeton WSP, mentoring other student veterans enrolled in the program.

The 23-year-old former ammunition technician stationed in Okinawa for three of her four years in the service described her role as a mentor in the Princeton WSP. “During the afternoons we hold sessions to help the veteran students solidify the information they’ve learned during the mornings,” she said. “At nighttime we provide one-on-one physics tutoring for them, and throughout the whole program we’re there for them if there are any questions about academics or going back to college. Since we’re all currently University students, we can provide that guidance.”

—Donald Gilpin

Street Design continued from page one while also highlighting the diverse narratives and experiences that have shaped our community,” she said.

A campaign to change the signs was begun by former Princeton University Vice President Bob Durkee, and taken up by Princeton’s Civil Rights Commission. Fraga thanked Deanna Stockton, Princeton’s deputy administrator for infrastructure and operations and municipal engineer, for getting the project completed.

Stockton reported on ongoing efforts to educate residents about leaf and brush regulations, which prohibit leaving piles on the street, per ordinance. “We continue to educate residents to gain compliance,” she said. “We aim for compliance and not for penalties. Our goal is to make sure our sidewalks are safe for all users.”

Municipal code allows the issuing of a summons to court for those who do not follow the rules. During the first two weeks of July, the town’s compliance officer issued 142 “oops” notices specifying the rules. “After they were issued, she went back and issued 40 notices of non-compliance, in keeping with the ordinance,” Stockton said. “They have five days to correct that.”

As of Monday, all but nine residences had complied. Stockton said the staff recommends charging a fee of $100, to cover the costs of collection, for those who do not remove the piles from the street. Councilmembers discussed the issue and agreed to the request.

The next meeting of Council is August 14 at 7 p.m.

—Anne Levin

YWCA Princeton Announces New Leadership Positions

YWCA Princeton has named Rosanda “Rose” Wong as acting chief executive officer, Melissa White-McMahon as chief development officer, and welcomes Nikki Jones as board president.

In accepting the role of acting CEO, Wong succeeds Tay Walker, who held the position for three years. During Walker’s tenure, she oversaw the renovation of The Burke Foundation Early Childhood Center at YWCA Princeton and sustained the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wong joined YWCA Princeton in January 2022 as chief operations officer, and was promoted to chief finance operating officer in December 2022. In this position, she was able to focus on pay equity across all departments, bring the organization together, and expanded each of the YW’s programs including launching a dedicated advocacy department.

Wong held previous positions at Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, and most recently the Princeton Nursery School. “I am thrilled to lead this amazing staff working to strengthen our programs and the services we provide to the community towards a mission driven future of YWCA Princeton,” she said of her new role.

Part of that future includes the promotion of White-McMahon to chief development officer. WhiteMcMahon has been on staff with YWCA Princeton since 2018, starting as the program and services coordinator at the Breast Cancer Resource Center (BCRC). She became its director in March of 2020, during which she led survivors and thrivers through the isolation of the pandemic by offering support groups and programs online, building upon the mission to create an environment of support and compassion for people and their families living with, through, and beyond a diagnosis of breast cancer. In her new position, she will strengthen community support by continuing to work with existing community partners and introducing new ones to the essential programs YWCA Princeton offers.

Also new in her role is YWCA Princeton Board President Jones. She is currently the chief people and DE&I officer at the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association. “Nikki’s professionalism and experience in diversity, equity, and belonging make her an ideal fit for board president,” said Wong. “I am excited to work so closely with her to guide our organization through a strategic plan process and create more opportunities to support those we serve.”

Paul Chapin, Former Princeton Educator, Is New Leader of Capital Harmony Works

Paul Chapin, longtime music teacher, then acting principal at Riverside Elementary School in Princeton, and then head of the Newark Boys Chorus School for the past four years, took the reins last week as president and CEO of Capital Harmony Works (CHW), a music education nonprofit that provides instruction and performance opportunities for young people of Trenton.

acting principal of that school for two years,” Burden wrote in a farewell letter to friends and supporters of CHW.

She described Chapin’s “rich background in choral conducting and music direction” and noted that he has also served as content instruction specialist to undergraduates at Princeton University as well as providing consultancy and professional development in educational assessment. He is also the author of many publications.

which later became Trenton Music Makers, having also been started by Princetonians.

“My work has been in Newark for the past four years, and that has been wonderful and exciting and a learning experience for me,” he said. “But it’s exciting to me on a personal level that I feel as if I’m coming home a bit.”

in a number of public, private, and charter schools), Chapin stated, “The point is to engage kids at the earliest possible time, and move those kids as they grow, into choral or orchestral performing ensembles.”

Though Chapin, just starting his second week on the job at CMW, was reluctant to delineate specific future initiatives or plans at this point, he was clear and forthright about the larger goals of CHW.

Police Blotter

On July 14, at 1:44 p.m., it was reported that an unknown person forged and cashed several checks, resulting in a total loss of $3,939.58.

Street retail establishment, totaling $125 in merchandise. The suspect then left the area.

Chapin emphasized the importance of youth development through music. “Putting kids together to work together, to grow together, to live together towards a noble end, creating art for the community through music, is an essential component of our work,” he said.

Chapin succeeds Carol Burden as leader of CHW, which is made up of three organizations which merged last year: Trenton Music Makers, Trenton Children’s Chorus, and Music for the Very Young.

Before his tenure in Newark, Chapin “was known and cherished by the Princeton community as the 35-year music teacher at Riverside Elementary School, and then when the need arose the

Chapin praised his predecessor’s leadership over the past eight years. “I’m the recipient of a very well organized, strong, and happy organization,” he said. “She really moved all these nonprofits forward. I think the mission was well founded for all three of these groups, but she organized them in terms of governance, fi nance, and operation.”

Chapin and Burden worked together in the past when Chapin was at Riverside and Burden was working with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra. They have known each other for more than 20 years.

“We’ve always had great respect for each other and each other’s work,” said Chapin.

Chapin is happy to be returning to Mercer County. He pointed out that CHW also has some roots in both Princeton and Trenton, with the Children’s Chorus having been founded by a group of Princeton residents working out of Nassau Presbyterian Church as an outreach to the Trenton community and Trenton Community Music School,

In her letter, Burden expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to “witness the growth of the young people” who take part in CHW and her appreciation for the community’s support “of these amazing young musicians and their families.”

She went on to describe CHW as “an extraordinarily vibrant part of the New Jersey arts education community, and an example to youth choirs and orchestras throughout the United States.”

Chapin, in a July 24 phone conversation, expressed his commitment to the CHW mission. “We’re looking to connect with youth who deserve the connection, youth that may not have these opportunities in the typical ways through school or after-school programs,” he said. “We’re looking to engage them in very positive, very forwardthinking activities, and music is the vehicle.”

Applauding the merger that joined Trenton Music Makers (operating at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Trenton), Trenton Children’s Chorus (based at West Trenton Presbyterian Church in Ewing), and Music for the Very Young (which happens

“Moving forward, the excitement is broadening the reach of these individual programs, broadening the reach to both new and returning students, growing the number of kids we reach, and also broadening the community connections,” he said.

“We know that if we engage youth in a positive activity they have far less chance of connecting with things that are negative,” he continued. “And that’s the responsibility of this community — not just parents, not just schools, but the community as a whole. We have partners at the county level, at the city level, and at the corporate level, and we are responsible for providing those opportunities for the youth of this city. We should be leading the way, and that’s exciting.”

Highlighting the compelling connection of opportunity with responsibility, Chapin pointed out some of the possibilities ahead for Capital Harmony Works. “Now more than ever, with the divisiveness around the country, we have the opportunity and therefore the responsibility to bring these programs to kids who need these programs,” he said.

—Donald Gilpin

On July 14, at 10:48 a.m., it was reported that unknown individuals stole a check from a Nassau Street business and forged it on two occasions. The total of the attempted transactions was $33,873.31, but the account owner was able to contact the bank to cancel the transactions and suffered no monetary loss.

On July 13, at 12:33 p.m., a person reported that a bicycle and bicycle lock were stolen from a bicycle rack located on North Harrison Street. The value of the stolen items is $310.

On July 10, at 10:44 a.m., a 33-year-old female from Princeton reported that she was involved in an incident on Clay Street. A subsequent investigation revealed that the statements she provided were fictitious and, as a result, she was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters, where she was processed, charged accordingly, and released.

On July 9, at 5:15 p.m., a caller reported that an unknown male shoplifted several items from a Nassau

On July 8, at 12:10 p.m., subsequent to a theft investigation on Witherspoon Street, a 66-year-old Lawrenceville male was placed under arrest for theft. During the course of the arrest, he spat on the arresting officers. He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed, and was found to have an active warrant out of Moorestown Township Municipal Court in the amount of $1,500. He was charged accordingly and released.

On July 5, at 8:20 p.m., it was reported that a robotic lawnmower, valued at $700, was stolen from the front of a Cuyler Road residence by an unknown individual.

On July 3, at 3:40 p.m., subsequent to the investigation of a verbal dispute between two parties, a 46-year-old male from Cranbury was found to have operated his motor vehicle while intoxicated. During the course of arrest, he failed to comply with the instructions from the officers and caused damage to a patrol vehicle. He was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters, where he was processed, charged, and released.

Unless otherwise noted, individuals arrested were later released.

Paul Chapin

Princeton’s Newest Native Meadow Transforms Plot of Grass with Color

A relatively forgotten patch of lawn in a park surrounded by Caldwell Drive, Bertrand Drive, and Herrontown Road is a newly flourishing meadow of colorful, native plants. A group of residents who participated in Sustainable Princeton’s STAR (Sustainable Together and Resilient) Neighborhood program spent the past three years transforming the grassy area in Caldwell Park into something that is visibly pleasing and helpful in battling flooding issues.

“It was a field of grass when we moved here about 11 or 12 years ago, and it wasn’t used for much,” said Jenny Ludmer, who lives in the neighborhood and is the program manager for Sustainable Princeton. “The municipality would mow it, but not all the time. It was kind of a forgotten area. So because I care about sustainability and my downstream neighbors, I started thinking about what we could do.”

Ludmer’s house is on a hill. Her neighbors on lower ground are not so lucky, because stormwater drains into their homes on its way to the Millstone River, often flooding River Road in the process. “I brought out The Watershed Institute, and they walked the grounds,” Ludmer said. “They suggested planting more trees around the perimeter, and a meadow in the center.”

Because she wanted to lobby the town, Ludmer asked neighbors to get involved. “I wanted it to not be just me,” she said. “Some of the neighbors had concerns about a meadow, because of ticks and creatures that might move in like raccoons and possums. They were

also worried about longterm maintenance. These were all valid concerns.”

In the end, the group agreed to plant the meadow in a smaller area than Ludmer had envisioned — 25 feet by 75 feet. “I accept that, because we learned a lot in the past few years trying to do this,” she said.

The neighbors proposed their idea to Princeton Council, which approved the meadow project in March 2021. At least 12 different residents have participated in the project. “Sometimes it would just be two people working there, other times it was 12,” said Ludmer.

In the summer of 2021, the residents began by rolling out a plastic tarp to prepare the area for a meadow. They removed the tarp in the fall and smoothed out a layer of compost. Seedlings and seeds of purple cornflowers, blazing stars, and coreopsis were planted.

The following spring, the neighbors “pulled up an invasion of the non-native pennycress and waited for the previously planted native plants to arrive,” reads a post on sustainableprinceton.org. “In the fall of 2022, in one half of the meadow, neighbors pulled out grass that had taken over, and planted a variety of plugs provided by the municipality. They also seeded heavily with purple cornflower and some black-eyed Susan.”

About half of the area is currently in bloom. “We’re going to work to get the grass pulled and seeded next,” said Ludmer. “Then hopefully, it will get back to being in full bloom.”

Establishing the meadow

had its challenges. Deer and other animals ripped sheeting that had been put down for soil solarization, which is a non-chemical way to control pests and weeds by capturing energy from the sun. The wind scattered the pieces, creating a mess to clean up.

“Our second initiative to rid the area of grass, which was to smother the grass with compost, also had its challenges, as it brought an invasion of pennycress and other weeds,” reads the website. “After pulling out the pennycress, grass flourished and took over. In retrospect, a cover crop such as rye or another early grower would’ve been most beneficial. Last summer, seeding aggressively after pulling up grass appears to be the trick that worked, and that is how we will proceed.”

The goal of the STAR program “is to get neighbors to look around their little area of the world, and think about what they can do together to make it more sustainable,” Ludmer said. “This is just one way to do it. We have a whole list of ideas of things you can be doing with your neighborhood.”

Residents in other areas of town have organized talks with the town’s municipal arborist, attended seminars together on how to build rain gardens, and hosted mini-festivals on their lawns devoted to green energy.

Sustainable Princeton urges the public to stop by and see the meadow. “It’s amazing what you can do when you work with your neighbors,” Ludmer said. “You get to know them while doing something good.”

—Anne Levin

FORAGING AND EATING: The rain didn’t keep a group of aspiring foragers from joining local experts Matt and Shannon for a recent two-hour wineberry forage walk at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve. The group learned how to identify this invasive yet tasty plant, and picked berries to take home. After the walk, recipe cards were distributed for making homemade wineberry jam. To request the recipe, email info@fopos.org.

People & Stories Awarded $8,500 Grant

People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos (P&S/GyC) has been awarded $8,500 by the Pryor and Arlene Neuber Charitable Trust for its “Opening Doors at Manos House” project, an innovative approach to the art form of the short story and to literature engagement.

“This generous grant allows us to provide nearly 80 residents at Manos House opportunities to experience literature in new ways,” said P&S/GyC Board Co-Chair Andrea Honore.

In partnership with collaborating organizations, P&S/GyC equips young adult audiences to continue their education and to be productive, successful, and employable members of their communities. Past evaluation data that measured outcomes among 100 participants showed that People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos programs promote increased problem-solving, better communication and listening skills, and greater enjoyment and frequency of reading.

The Manos House program has been led successfully for more than 10 years by People & Stories Coordinator, Scott D. Feifer, a teacher in the Lancaster, Pa., public school system. Feifer has been recognized by both program participants and site staff for his talents as a coordinator.

The “Opening Doors at Manos House” project will provide 36 hours of literature reading and discussion for 45-80 residents at Manos House. People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos’ methodology is designed to remove obstacles to the reward of reading, especially for adults and young adults who have not experienced the power of literature.

Chris Runkle, executive director at Manos House, rated the People & Stories

program “Exemplary” and remarked that People & Stories has “opened up an array of ‘doors’ for our clients to explore both presenting and underlying issues that have impacted their lives. Additionally, this program has offered a social outlet that otherwise would be nonexistent to our clients given their situation. It should also be noted that Scott is an extremely talented individual with a gift of captivating and exciting those involved in his programs. We have worked with Scott for quite some time in a variety of group settings and feel strongly that without Scott and his programming some of our difficult and extremely guarded clients would remain tormented and lost within themselves struggling to find the courage to make a change.”

Community Foundation Grants

$250,000

to Local Nonprofits

The Princeton Area Community Foundation has awarded a total of $250,000 in grants to local nonprofits for summer initiatives that reach children and teens, including many whose families would not otherwise have access to affordable, high-quality programs when school is not in session.

The grants, funded through the Community Foundation’s Community Impact program, will support 26 summer programs that provide a wide variety of activities for young people, including arts

instruction, academic enrichment, social-emotional learning opportunities, swimming, and sports lessons. Many programs also provide transportation and meals.

Some initiatives include bilingual instruction. Some are geared toward populations that may be difficult to reach, such as tweens and teens.

“Summer programs help reduce learning loss and provide much needed support for many working families who otherwise would not be able to enroll their children in quality summer activities during the summer months,” said Nelida Valentin, Community Foundation vice president of grants and programs. “These grants help nonprofit partners sustain terrific initiatives that serve some of our most vulnerable children, particularly teens and tweens in this region. We also want to thank our generous donors, whose support of our Community Impact Grants program helps make these grants possible.”

Among the nonprofits included in the grants were the Arts Council of Princeton, Artworks Trenton, HomeFront, Princeton Blairstown Center, Princeton Community Housing, Greater Somerset County YMCA Princeton, YWCA Princeton, Princeton Nursery School, Trenton Circus Squad, and West Windsor Arts Center.

For a full list and further information, visit pacf.org.

FLOWERS ARE FLOURISHING: Thanks to the joint effort of neighbors, Caldwell Park is now home to a meadow of native plants.

A Plea to the Search Committee for New Princeton High School Principal

To the Editor:

As a 20+ year Princeton resident and proud parent of a recent PHS graduate, I write today to express my heartfelt hope that the search committee for our high school’s new principal will be driven by a strong commitment to inclusive education [“PHS Seeks New PHS Principal by Aug. 31,” page 1, July 12]. This hiring decision presents us with an opportunity to reaffirm our dedication to the values that support our public education system’s excellence.

Our public schools need to serve everyone in our community. The needs of historically disadvantaged and disenfranchised students are critical and deserve careful consideration in this process.

We must prioritize the needs of first-generation students, those whose first language is not English and those whose parents did not attend college in the U.S. These students bring unique perspectives and experiences to our classrooms, and it is our duty to provide them with the support and resources necessary to succeed academically and beyond. We need a principal who understands the challenges faced by these students and their families.

Additionally, we must ensure that students with disabilities have equal access to education and are embraced by the school community. Our new principal should be someone who actively promotes a welcoming and inclusive environment, ensuring that all students’ needs are met and that equitable learning experiences are provided to all.

LGBTQ+ students, too, deserve to feel safe and accepted within the school community. The search committee must prioritize finding a leader who will champion policies and initiatives that foster inclusivity, respect, and understanding for all students, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender expression.

Finally, it is of the utmost importance that we proactively address the disparities faced by Black and Brown students. Our community is strengthened when all students have

an equitable chance to thrive. Our new principal must be committed to implementing explicitly anti-racist practices, embracing diversity, and dismantling systemic barriers that continue to hinder the success of these students.

By acknowledging and seeking to address the needs of ALL of our students, our public schools not only empower them to reach their full potential, but we also enrich the entire educational experience for every student. When everyone feels valued and included, a positive ripple effect permeates the entire school community, fostering empathy, compassion, a critical feeling of belonging, and academic excellence.

By selecting a leader who prioritizes inclusivity, embraces diversity, and leads the work of proactively addressing disparities, we can not only create a sense of belonging, but also a brighter future for every member of our community. Let us seize this moment to set a powerful example and reinforce our dedication to an inclusive, equitable, and excellent public high school education in Princeton.

SHELLEY KRAUSE Western Way

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Artwork by Nicole Steacy

Christopher

Searching for a phrase to describe the tumultuous score by Ludwig Göransson that propels and illuminates Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, I landed on “It’s like writing history with lightning.” But who said it? Emerson? Thoreau? Melville? No, it was Woodrow Wilson responding to a 1915 White House screening of D.W. Griffith’s Birth of a Nation

I considered another opening until I read some fascinating reappraisals of Griffith’s film, still controversial a century later for demeaning Blacks and glorifying the Klan. In February 2017, New Yorker critic Richard Brody wrote: “The worst thing about The Birth of a Nation is how good it is. The merits of its grand and enduring aesthetic make it impossible to ignore and, despite its disgusting content, also make it hard not to love.” In 2003 Roger Ebert called it “a great film that argues for evil. To understand how it does so is to learn a great deal about film, and even something about evil.”

Both responses have a certain eerie resonance if you’ve just seen a monumental film about the “father of the atom bomb” in which a scene following the successful first test shows the crowd at Los Alamos wildly cheering the explosion of a device that will obliterate Hiroshima and Nagasaki and, as Oppenheimer feared, that could ultimately destroy the world.

A Princeton Story

While Wilson is the last person I wanted to bring in to a discussion of Oppenheimer, which opened with a special showing at Princeton’s Garden Theatre last Thursday evening, the association makes sense for a picture that could be called a tale of two cities — one the Los Alamos founded, in effect, by J. Robert Oppenheimer, his creation, and the other the home of Princeton University and the Institute for Advanced Study, a target of the politicization of science at Oppenheimer’s expense, an earlier manifestation of the same social media hysteria defaming scientists like Dr. Anthony Fauci and still going strong during the run up to the 2024 election.

Laying Out the Music

According to nbc.com, Christopher Nolan let Göransson “pretty much run free when it came to laying out the music,” the exception being his suggestion that the violin be a “point of entry for the whole piece.” In a press release Nolan comments, “There’s something about the violin to me that seemed very apt to Oppenheimer. The tuning is precarious and totally at the mercy of the playing and emotion of the player. It can be very beautiful one moment and turn frightening or sour instantly. So, there’s a tension — a neurosis — to the sound that I think fits the highly strung intellect and emotion of Robert Oppenheimer.”

Nolan’s Amazing “Oppenheimer” Lands at the Garden

In Göransson’s words: “With the violin serving as the emotional core of the music alongside string ensembles, an impressive display of brass and nuclear synths underpinning what was to come, the score swiftly transcends from a personal journey to a grandiose and almost operatic spectacle, oscillating between realms of hope and despair.”

Oppenheimer and Music

Trying to imagine what Oppenheimer would make of such an expressive score, especially the notion of a “grandiose operatic spectacle,” I checked in the biography on which the film is based, Martin Sherwin and Kai Bird’s American Prometheus, which, as I remember, gave the impression that he had little interest in music. In fact, a fellow student at Harvard who was “very fond of music” recalled that “Oppie” would leave after the first act of an opera: “He just coudn’t take it anymore.”

Herbert Smith, his favorite teacher at New York’s Ethical Culture School, once told him “You’re the only physicist I’ve ever known who wasn’t also musical.”

Given Oppenheimer’s passion for reading, I find it hard to believe that he went through life without being moved by music. The two references quoted are from his student years. This is someone who says his life was changed by Proust’s Remembrance of Things Past, where music is a central metaphor, and who read Baudelaire’s Flowers of Evil aloud in the original French (the work he put at the top of a Christian Century list of the ten books that “most shaped your vocation and philosophy of life”). If you’ve heard Oppenheimer’s speaking voice (as in the See It Now interview with Edward R. Murrow), you know that when he read poetry aloud, he’d have read it well.

A Gift for Einstein

Although Christopher Nolan had good reason to focus less on Oppenheimer’s 16 years as IAS director, a period overshadowed by the film’s emphasis on the ordeal of the AEC hearings, Sherwin and Bird include an account of his leaderly thoughtfulness that has a musical component. In 1948, aware of Albert Einstein’s love of classical music, and knowing that his radio could not receive New York broadcasts of concerts from Carnegie Hall, Oppenheimer arranged to have an antenna installed on

the roof of Einstein’s home without his knowledge. On his birthday, the director showed up with a new radio and suggested that they listen to a concert together.

Chain Reaction

There’s no place for such niceties in the scene between Oppenheimer and Einstein (Tom Conti) that closes the film. Set in Princeton, on the grounds of the IAS, the encounter is a reinvention of the previous exchange between the two that had been observed from a distance by Lewis Strauss (Robert Downey Jr.) and became one of the presumed slights leading to his vendetta against Oppenheimer. Said to take place in 1947, two years after Hiroshima, the revised dialogue centers on the apprehension Oppenheimer and other scientists shared before the test — that the chain reaction set off by the explosion might ignite the Earth’s atmosphere and destroy the planet. When Einstein says “I remember it well. What of it?” Oppenheimer says “I think we did.” He means that the chain reaction of nuclear proliferation is already underway; as he speaks, the droning on the soundtrack takes on the intensity of a siren, and, according to Bilge Ebiri in an article on vulture.com, “We see explosions across the surface of the planet, their blast radiuses unspeakably vast. Then, a ring of fire begins to consume the Earth. The very last image of the film is Oppenheimer’s face in extreme close-up, staring at the droplets in the pond, and closing his eyes,” a reprise of the film’s opening images of young Oppenheimer in close-up, looking at droplets of rain in a small pool of water.

Ebiri suggests that Nolan’s placement of the subject “gives grim cinematic life to the generational fear that nukes are effectively Chekhov’s gun: a weapon introduced in an earlier act of our lives that will inevitably be used before our story ends.”

Paging Tommy Shelby

One of the key scenes in Nolan’s film depicts Oppenheimer’s disastrous meeting with President Truman (Gary Oldman) at which he haltingly confesses, “I feel I’ve got blood on my hands.” Disgusted, Truman scornfully dismisses him (“Don’t let that crybaby in here again”).

If I had the skills to put together a YouTube video remake of that painful scene, I’d liberate the ego-memory of the actor

RedefiningDesign

RedefiningDesign

Cillian Murphy as he overhears Truman’s parting slur. Instead of a beaten down, diminished Oppenheimer, we’d see Murphy in the role he played for six seasons as Tommy Shelby, the icy-blue-eyed killer in the great BBC series Peaky Blinders. As he walks away, the show’s riveting theme song takes over, sheer syncopated menace about the “tall handsome man in a dusty black coat with a red right hand.”

The Christmas Dinner episode of Season 4 comes to mind whenever I think of Oppenheimer sitting there like a student in the principal’s office. “Blood on my hands” is right, my Oppie-Tommy mutant thinks, smiling fiercely to himself as he recalls walking into the kitchen where a bloody-aproned Italian chef is butchering game for the Shelby family Christmas meal. When Tommy extends his hand and introduces himself, the chef nervously holds back his hand (“But my hands have blood”). Murphy says “Mine too” without missing a beat, and a minute later when an assassin disguised as a sous chef appears gun in hand, Shelby guts him with a meat hook, grabs his gun, drags him bleeding and thrashing across the floor and blows his brains out at point blank range. In the last shot of my homemade video, we see Cillian Murphy as he looked at the end of that scene, slathered with gore, bloody-faced and bloody-handed. Amazing, so powerful had been Murphy’s Oppenheimer, so driven, so mesmerizingly on target from the first scene to the last that I had no time to think of Tommy Shelby.

A Great Night

Thurday night’s festive gathering in front of the Garden and in the lobby was a joy. Sitting on the aisle way up near the top of the stadium seats in Theatre 2, I didn’t fidget, didn’t cross my legs once for three hours. For three hours the audience was as one, no intrusive sounds, not so much as a cough. It was my first time at the Garden since Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood four years ago. In the week since the showing, we’ve seen four Christopher Nolan films at home: Dunkirk , Inception , Interstellar, and Tenet , none of which approach Oppenheimer as a work of cinematic art. Nolan transcended himself when he took on the challenge of the American Prometheus.

—Stuart Mitchner

Note: On the question of Oppenheimer and music, my wife, who has been reading American Prometheus , just pointed out a sentence on p. 256 about the transformation of Los Alamos into a community with a Town Hall and a low-powered radio station that broadcast news, community announcements, and music, “the last drawn in part from Oppenheimer’s large personal collection of classical records.”

DISTINCTIVESELECTIONSOF WOODS,

DISTINCTIVESELECTIONSOF

DISTINCTIVE SELECTIONS OF WOODS, FINISHES AND STYLES INSPIRING CUSTOM DESIGNS

DISTINCTIVESELECTIONSOF WOODS, FINISHES AND STYLES INSPIRING CUSTOM DESIGNS

PROJECT MANAGEMENT FROM CONCEPT TO COMPLETION

PROJECT MANAGEMENT FROM CONCEPT TO COMPLETION

tobiasdesignllc.com

High School Seniors Would Kill for College Admissions in “Peerless”; Princeton Summer Theater Offers a Darkly Comic Twist on “Macbeth”

Competition to get into universities often is justly described as “cutthroat,” but one would like to think that nobody would take that literally.

Yet that is precisely the plot of Peerless, with which Princeton Summer Theater (PST) is concluding its season. In playwright Jiehae Park’s modern, darkly humorous twist on Macbeth, a high school senior pressures her twin sister to murder a classmate who has been given a coveted spot at an elite institution, identified only as “The College.”

Originally produced by the Cherry Lane Mentor Project, Peerless received its world premiere at Yale Repertory Theater in 2015. The play was presented offBroadway last year. It was nominated for a 2023 Off Broadway Alliance Award, in the category of Best New Play.

In the program, PST Executive Director Angelica Qin notes that Peerless is the “first play in PST’s long history to be written by an Asian American playwright.”

Eliyana Abraham directs this production. Abraham observes in a program note, “The show’s relevance in a town like Princeton, where the university exerts an immense cultural influence over the com munity, cannot be understated, especially in light of the recent Supreme Court deci sion regarding affirmative action.”

Although evocative of the macabre Heathers or a teen-centered film directed by John Hughes, Park’s basic plot bor rows enough from Shakespeare that it is worth remembering the story of the clas sic. A trio of witches predicts that Mac beth, a general in King Duncan’s army, will become King of Scotland. The am bitious Macbeth is prodded by his even more ambitious wife, Lady Macbeth, into murdering King Duncan.

Later, fearing the suspicions of his onetime comrade Banquo, Macbeth has Ban quo murdered. Subsequently, at a banquet, Macbeth is confronted by Banquo’s ghost. In the end — fulfilling another prophesy — Macbeth himself is killed by Macduff, a thane who is loyal to King Duncan.

In Peerless Macbeth becomes an Asian American woman, M (played by Sydney Hwang, who successfully conveys the character’s moral uncertainty), and Lady Macbeth becomes M’s manipulative twin sister, L (whose steely ruthlessness is conveyed by Gaea Lawton, in an equally successful performance).

Duncan becomes the guileless D (Ed Horan, whose restless, staccato line delivery suggests that the character is a bit edgy), a 1/16th Native American classmate who has received the letter of admission sought by M and L. (Amusingly, college mailings fall from the ceiling — clearly meant to signify gifts from the heavens.)

The three witches are condensed into a character identified as Dirty Girl (who is given an entertainingly over-the-top portrayal by Nora Aguiar). Dirty Girl opens the play by staring at a trash can, bathed in an eerie red light, that clearly is intended to double as a cauldron, and delivering an enigmatic line of dialogue: “I said yes, but not yet.”

Echoing Shakespeare’s witches, Dirty Girl maniacally greets M with “Hail!” In case it is not already clear that Dirty Girl fills the role of the witches, Park gives her the Witch of the West’s famous “And your little dog, too” line from The Wizard of Oz.

Banquo becomes M’s boyfriend BF (Christien Ayers, who paints the character as earnest and reserved). Dual roles are performed by Horan and Aguiar, who double as, respectively, D’s Brother and a Preppy Girl at The College.

In place of Shakespeare’s iambic pentameter is Park’s often terse phrases — M, confident in her ability to exceed an institution’s diversity requirements, suc -

cinctly describes herself as a “double minority.” As with another teen-centered play, The Wolves , there is a great deal of overlapping dialogue.

L pressures M into helping her get D out of the way, so that D’s spot at The College will go to M. (Strategically, L decides to wait a year to apply.) To accomplish this, L and M meet D at the high school’s “Hoop-coming” dance, and seduce him into letting them accompany him home.

Once there they arrange to surreptitiously give D — who has severe food allergies — a snack containing nuts. This scene, which requires careful blocking and pacing to be believable, boasts some of Abraham’s strongest, most crisp direction.

In the subsequent scenes, the twins confront the consequences of their actions, in particular the reactions of their peers. (The once immaculate lockers are defaced with graffiti that bluntly spells “liars.”)

Set Designer Jeffrey Van Velsor tends to choose a visually spare, uncluttered look, allowing the high school to be represented by a row of lockers and a few desks. On

either side of the stage, the walls are filled with pennants for universities, immediately establishing what is on the characters’ minds. Behind the lockers is a fence, underlining the themes of gatekeeping and trying to overcome a barrier — by any means necessary.

Sound Designer Colin Lansky adds noises, such as a bell and pop music, that enhance the high school setting. At a key moment in the show, he adds reverb to a character’s voice to create an eerie — ghostly — effect.

Hwang and Lawton perform well together, seamlessly delivering passages during which their dialogue overlaps, and ends simultaneously. Jointly, the actors enhance the play’s depiction of the extent to which, for students, high school life and the college admissions process often are performative

Passages in which M and L have an intense conversation or a fierce argument end with the duo hastily flashing serene, showy smiles that would be expected in a beauty pageant.

This concept is reinforced by Kat McLaughlin’s lighting, which is color coordinated with Clara Bloom’s costumes. Bloom outfits the twins in the same impeccable outfit; to distinguish the sisters, M is given a red top (and matching headband), while L is given a yellow one. (By contrast, Dirty Girl is given a large, rather sloppily fitting trench coat.) McLaughlin frames the stage with square lights that are tinted, alternatively, red

The twins’ identities are signified by what they wear, and — particularly for L — their lives are a show in which they always need to fill the starring roles. The fact that certain other characters, such as Dirty Girl and D’s Brother, are given descriptions rather than regular names or initials, echoes the way the twins view those around them.

Key themes of Macbeth are ambition and fate versus free will. Peerless examines both of these themes, while adding a focus on self-entitlement. In particular, L and M embody a (currently all too common) need to keep something claimed as one’s own away from someone of a different demographic — anyone perceived as other

“PEERLESS”: Performances are underway for Princeton Summer Theater’s production of “Peerless.” Written by Jiehae Park and directed by Eliyana Abraham, the play runs through July 30 at Princeton University’s Hamilton Murray Theater. Above: In a modern twist on “Macbeth,” M (Sydney Hwang, left) is pressured by L (Gaea Lawton) to murder a high school classmate who has been given a coveted spot at a competitive college.

“Peerless” will play at the Hamilton Murray Theater in Murray Dodge Hall, Princeton University, through July 30. For tickets, show times, and further information visit princetonsummertheater.org/peerless.

With Peerless, PST closes its season with a play that examines relevant cultural issues from a fresh perspective, while entertaining the audience with some lively characterizations and a slick production that manages to simultaneously belie and reinforce the piece’s dark undercurrent.

—Donald H. Sanborn III

(Photo by Faith Wangermann)

MUSIC REVIEW

Princeton University Summer Chamber Concerts Continues Season with Wind Trio

There is a tremendous amount of music for string trios and quartets, but repertoire for two wind instruments and piano is much more limited. The ensemble Poulenc Trio, currently celebrating its 20th anniversary, has been redefining the wind trio genre through performance and commissioning of works for oboe, bassoon, and piano. Oboist Alexander Vvedenskiy, bassoonist Bryan Young and pianist Irina Kaplan Lande came to Princeton last week to present a program of French music from the 19th through the 21st centuries. Whether a standard from a master or a newly-commissioned piece inspired by the French chamber tradition, the concert performed on Wednesday night’s concert at Nassau Presbyterian Church made for a refreshing summer evening.

Combining oboe, bassoon, and piano created a unique palette of unusual timbres and harmonies. Poulenc Trio opened Wednesday night’s performance with the 1994 Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano of French composer Jean Françaix, whose music often reflected significant events in his own life. In this Trio , the sound of Young’s bassoon was comparatively mellow, with Vvedenskiy’s oboe playing providing a melodic edge to the threemovement work. The chipper opening “Allegro” evoked a fun day along the Seine River, with the two wind instruments chasing each other in melodic runs. Young provided a languid bassoon line in the second movement “Andante,” subtly accompanied by pianist Lande, and the final movement drew quick and nimble playing from all members of the Trio.

Recognizing the need to develop the repertory of this type of ensemble, Poulenc Trio has commissioned more than 30 pieces over the past 20 years. Two recent commissions have been from composers with strong Princeton connections.

Viet Cuong, whose Explain Yourself was written for the Trio in 2019, holds degrees from Princeton University and has been extremely active as a composer in recent years. Cuong describes himself as an admirer of the 20th-century French compositional school, and the one-movement Explain Yourself was an homage to master French composer Francis Poulenc. Cuong incorporated inventive gestures and effects into this piece, including requiring the oboe and bassoon to play in a multiphonic style — generating more

than one note at the same time, which is rarely asked of wind instruments. Vvedenskiy and Young also executed parallel dissonances as the music rolled along, punctuated by dramatic silences. There was consistently crisp interplay among the three musicians, with an especially elegant duet between oboist Vvedenskiy and pianist Lande. Cuong’s imaginative style was also tinged with a bit of klezmer effect and offbeat tango flavor.

Poulenc Trio paired Cuong’s innovative work with a composition by another Princeton University composer, Juri Seo, who borrowed melodic material from Poulenc’s Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano to create the impressionistic 2021 Mélodie de Poulenc . Throughout the piece, Lande’s piano lines were especially fluid, contrasted by Vvedenskiy and Young expertly handling the difficult technical demands.

Poulenc Trio turned to the French master himself with a performance of selected songs of Francis Poulenc, arranged for oboe, bassoon, and piano by the Trio musicians and by composer and arranger Dietrich Zöllner. The three transcribed songs were melodic in character, suggesting a Parisian cabaret. The opening “Les chemins d’amour” featured an expressive oboe melody contrasted by bassoon and accompanied by a lush and flowing piano. Melodic responsibilities were reversed in the closing “Toréador,” in which an energetic bassoon melody was answered by oboe, and the three instruments collaborated together to create a Spanish atmosphere.

Poulenc Trio closed the program with a Fantaisie Concertante on themes from Gioacchino Rossini’s opera Semiramide , arranged by oboist Charles Triébert and bassoonist Eugène Jancourt, both contemporaries of Rossini in Paris. Rossini’s opera overtures are traditionally full of humor and wit, which Triébert and Jancourt effectively captured in this Fantaisie and which was well conveyed by the musicians of Poulenc Trio. Saucy melodies abounded from all instruments, and a dual cadenza between oboe and bassoon was clean. The Trio players well handled the typical frenetic Rossini “speed-up” toward the end of the work, closing an entertaining evening of both complex and refined chamber music.

–Nancy Plum

Princeton University Summer Chamber Concerts will close the 2023 season on Friday, July 28 at 7:30 p.m. with a performance at Nassau Presbyterian Church by the Dali String Quartet. This concert will feature music of Schubert, Piazzolla, and Tchaikovsky and is free to the public, with doors opening at 7 p.m. Further information about the Summer Chamber Concerts series can be found by visiting princetonsummerchamberconcerts.org.

Performing Arts

For PUC’s Healing with Music series, with Princeton Public Library, several free book club events are planned, including Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted by guest Suleika Jaouad, and others with books by Oliver Sacks, Adam Haslett, and Jonathan Biss. Additional initiatives include “Threading the Needle” with artist Diana Weymar, and Dance for PD classes with American Repertory Ballet.

is part of the 2023 Princeton Student

14 albums. Coupled with his gift for storytelling, the Texas-based musician fuses elements of country, swing, jazz, folk, gospel, and blues.

work to a live audience, and to share their insight, get feedback and network with other filmmakers,” said Youth Services Department Head Susan Conlon, who coordinates the event. “The films are inspired and imaginative, and reflect the filmmakers’ commitment to developing their visual and technical craft and the art of good storytelling.”

State Theatre NJ Hosts

“Grease Sing-Along”

On Saturday, August 5 at 8 p.m., State Theatre New Jersey and WMTR will present Grease Sing-Along in celebration of the movie’s 45th anniversary. Tickets are $19.

The Grease soundtrack boasts several popular songs, including “Greased Lightnin’,” “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee,” “Summer Nights,” the Academy Award

-nominated “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” “Beauty School Drop Out,” and the eponymous title track “Grease.”

Good girl Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) is new to school, but ready to join the Pink Ladies. Bad boy Danny (John Travolta), the leader of the T-Birds, has just discovered their summer lovin’ wasn’t just a passing fling when they’re reunited at Rydell High School.

State Theatre New Jersey is located at 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. Visit Stnj.org.

Latin Music and More

From String Quartet Princeton University Summer Chamber Concerts’ 2023 series will close with the Dali Quartet on Friday, July 28 at 7:30 p.m. at Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street. Works by Schubert, Piazzolla, and Tchaikovsky are on the program.

The Dalí Quartet is known

Princeton University Concerts Announces Community Events

SING WITH THE PINK LADIES: If you know the words to every song in the iconic movie “Grease,” August 5 is your chance to belt them out at the State Theatre New Jersey. for bringing Latin American quartet repertoire to an equal standing alongside the Classical and Romantic canon.

The quartet has been called upon for return engagements at the National Gallery of Art, Friends of Chamber Music in Portland, Chamber Music at Beall, and the SA’OAXACA International Music Festival in México, among others.

In addition to works of the masters from Haydn to Brahms and Amaya to Piazzolla, the group’s adventurous programming includes new works for quartet with percussionist Orlando Cotto, and quintets both Latin and Classical with Ricardo Morales, principal clarinetist of The Philadelphia Orchestra, and with pianist Vanessa Perez.

The Quartet is the 2021 recipient of Chamber Music America’s Guarneri String Quartet Residency, funded by the Sewell Family Foundation, and the 2021 Silver Medal at the inaugural Piazzolla Music Competition. The quartet is also the 2019 recipient of the Atlanta Symphony’s Aspire Award for accomplished African American and Latino Musicians.

The members of the Dalí Quartet are from Venezuela, Puerto Rico and the U.S., and have degrees from institutions including the New England Conservatory, Cleveland Institute of Music, Juilliard, Indiana University Bloomington, and the Simón Bolivar Conservatory in Caracas, Venezuela. The quartet is based in Philadelphia.

In an effort to encourage audiences to engage with live music in new ways, Princeton University Concerts (PUC) has forged partnership with local organizations including American Repertory Ballet, Princeton Public Library, the Princeton Garden Theatre, and The Singles Group; along with local artist Diana Weymar.

Learning experiences designed to foster community outside the concert hall include book clubs, documentary screenings, an embroidery workshop, Dance for PD (Parkinson’s disease) classes, and facilitated social events. Many of these events are free.

“We are Princeton University Concerts , presenting chamber music concerts by the most celebrated musicians in the world, but I like to think that the ‘C’ of ‘PUC’ stands for community and collaboration as much as it stands for concerts,” said PUC Director Marna Seltzer. “Community is at the core of our mission to make classical music accessible to all. Collaboration is at the heart of what we do. This year, in particular, our vision for creating connection through music has blossomed into multiple partnership programs. It’s about creating pathways for the music to meet you where you are and speak to you in deep, perhaps surprising, ways.”

PUC’s Live Music Meditation programs include a partnership with the Chanticleer Vocal Ensemble and another with harpsichordist Jean Rondeau. The documentary Capturing Grace, exploring the Mark Morris Dance Group’s development of Dance for PD, is part of the partnership with Princeton Garden Theatre.

For information on these and other upcoming programs of PUC, visit puc. princeton.edu.

Lyle Lovett and Band

Visit State Theatre NJ

State Theatre New Jersey presents Lyle Lovett and His Large Band on Friday, August 4 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $39-$99.

A singer, composer, and actor, Lovett has broadened the definition of American music in a career that spans

Since his self-titled debut in 1986, Lovett has won four Grammy Awards. He was given the Americana Music Association’s inaugural Trailblazer Award, and was named Texas State Musician. State Theatre New Jersey is located at 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. Visit STNJ.org for tickets and more information.

Student Film Festival

At Princeton Library

The 2023 Princeton Student Film Festival will be held Wednesday, August 2, at Princeton Public Library. Screenings will begin at 6 p.m. in the library’s Community Room. Many of the filmmakers will be in attendance to talk about and answer questions about their films.

The festival, in its twentieth year, features 10 short works by high school and college students from the Princeton area and throughout the United States and abroad. Genres include animation, dramatic feature, documentary, personal narrative and thrillers.

“The student film festival is a great chance for student filmmakers to show their

Films include: All of It by Claire Delaney, Ithaca College; Compassionless Fashion by Stephanie Liao, Princeton High School; Evolene by Sam Mao, Hotchkiss School; Ferme les Yeux by students at Pôle 3D College in Roubaix, France; Hear Us Roar NOW: Racism Since Vincent Chin by Brianna Campbell, Hunterdon Central Regional High School; Samara Op. 4 by students at Pôle 3D College in Roubaix, France; Sister, Sister Who Are You? by Arthur Chen, Wesleyan University; Tête-à-Tête by Todor Pophristic, Princeton High School; Unspoken Chapter by Amy Parris, Mercer County Community College; Wilting by Fred Midgley, SUNY Purchase College. The festival is intended for mature teen and adult viewers. Visit princetonlibrary. org/psff for additional information.

STRAIGHT FROM TEXAS: Singer/composer/actor Lyle Lovett makes a stop at State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick next month.

STUDENT TALENT: “Wilting” directed by Fred Midgley

Film Festival.

LAST IN A SERIES: The Dalí Quartet wraps up Princeton University Summer Chamber Concerts’ 2023 season on Friday, July 28 at Nassau Presbyterian Church.

VOTE NOW FOR YOUR FAVORITES!

What’s your favorite area restaurant? Do you have a landscaper that you love? Town Topics Newspaper is happy to announce that its 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards is now open for VOTING FOR THE BEST:

DINING

Al Fresco

Appetizers

Bagel

Bakery

Bar

Burger

Breakfast Sandwich

Caterer

Cheese

Chocolatier

Deli

Farmers Market

Gluten-Free Option

Happy Hour

Ice Cream

Italian Restaurant

Lunch Break

Mexican Restaurant

Pizza

Plant-Based Dish

Seafood Restaurant

Soup

Sushi

Takeout Meals

Vegetarian Restaurant

Wings

FITNESS

Gym

HIIT Class

Physical Therapist

Pilates

Spin Class

Trainer

Yoga

Zumba

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Acupuncture

Barber Shop

Chiropractor

Cosmetic Dentistry

Dentist/Prosthodontist

Dermatologist

ENT Hair Salon

Hair Color/Highlight Stylist

Hospital

Massage

Med Spa/Botox

Nail Salon

Ob/Gyn

Optometrist/Opthalmologist

Orthodontist

Orthopedist

Pharmacy

Plastic Surgeon

Podiatrist

Spa

Senior Care

Speciality Medicine

HOME & REAL ESTATE

Architect

Electrician

Furniture Store

Granite & Marble Store

Home Stager

HVAC

Interior Designer

Kitchen/Bath Designer

Landscape Designer

Nursery/Garden Center

Organic Lawn Care

Outdoor Furnishing Store

Painter

Plumber

Pool Services

Realtor

Roofing

Senior Living

Tree Service

KIDS

After-School Program

Camp

Child Care/Preschool

Children’s Gym

Children’s Dance Lessons

Children’s Martial Arts

Children’s Party Place

Children’s Photographer

Children’s Swim Lessons

Kid-Friendly Restaurant

Pediatrician

Toy Store

Tutoring

RETAIL

Antique Shop

Florist

Bike Shop

Men’s Shop

Pet Supply

Shoe Store

Speciality/Gift Store

Women’s Boutique

SERVICES

Accountant

Animal Boarding/Daycare

Attorney-Lawyer

Auto Detailing

Auto Shop/Mechanic

Car Service/Limo

Cleaners

Financial Advisor/Planner

Grocery Store

Pet Groomer

Pet Sitter/Dog Walker

Pet Training

Veterinarian

MISC.

Adult Classes

Arts Festival

Group Outing

Hidden Gem

Live Music Venue

New Business

Night Out

Summer Day Trip

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES IS SEPTEMBER 13

The winners will be announced in the October 4 and 11 editions of Town Topics Newspaper. Don’t miss your chance to vote for your favorite businesses or services!

The Readers’ Choice Awards is open for online voting now at towntopics.com, or mail to 4438 Route 27, P.O. Box 125, Kingston, NJ 08528. NO PHOTOCOPIES ACCEPTED. Must be on original newsprint.

Do you have a suggestion for Town Topics or Princeton Magazine? Submit your response here:

Would you like to sign up for a one-time reader survey? Y/N

If yes, submit your email address here:

TOWN TOPICS, PRINCETON, N.J., WEDNESDAY,

“The Stories We Tell”

Coming to Artists’ Gallery

“The Stories We Tell,” a new exhibit of paintings by Laura Rutherford Renner and Alla Podolsky, will be on view at the Artists’ Gallery in Lambertville August 10 through September 3. An opening reception is on Saturday, August 12 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Renner, from Collingswood, enjoys painting figures engaged in the experience of their environments. Her work has been recently described as “bold, brave, and a true voice.”

“Capturing contemporary life snapshots in two dimensions is an exercise in problem solving and creativity,” said Renner. “I enjoy mixing pure colors, keeping my palette simple to create authentic observation. The quiet engagement of brush to palette and brush to board provides daily calm and purpose.”

Renner, an occupational therapist for the past 27 years, recently retired. She lives with her husband, their child, and their snarky, beloved cat, Lulu.

Podolsky’s work lends itself to storylelling. “I am a chronicler,” said Podolsky.

“My work is narrative, visually and thematically. I find stories in everything I observe, and painting is how I tell them. Beyond depiction, I try to convey experiences that are both universal and intensely personal.”

A native of Kiyv, Ukraine, Podolsky traces her love of psychological painting to that ancient city’s iconography and rich narrative traditions. She is a graduate of Moore College of Art and Design and The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Her work is a combination of her European sensibilities and her American experiences.

Artists’ Gallery, located at 18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, features two artists every month, with all 16 artists exhibiting on a continuous basis. For more information, visit LambertvilleArts. com, call (609) 397-4588, or email contact@lambertvillearts.com

Call For Art: 94th “Phillips’ Mill Juried Art Exhibition”

The Art Committee at Phillips’ Mill has announced the Call for Art for the 94th “Phillips’ Mill Juried Art Exhibition.” Artists who live – or have a studio – within a 25-mile radius of the Mill are invited to submit their work from July 30 to August 27. The Art Committee encourages all artists to submit, from the highly established to the emerging beginner, from the widely shown to the underrepresented. All submissions will be done online through Smarter Entry before work is dropped off at the Mill for in person jurying. For all details, refer to this year’s prospectus, which can be found on the Mill’s website at phillipsmill.org/art/juried-artshow-prospectus and includes entry instructions, links, and dates for events surrounding the 2023 show.

The exhibition will be held in person at Phillips’ Mill in New Hope, Pa., as well as online, September 23 through October 29. Generations of artists have made the “Phillips’ Mill

Juried Art Exhibition” one of the most distinguished in Bucks County, Pa. All submitting artists will receive an invitation to the opening night reception for patrons and artists on September 22 when award winners will be announced. Over $11,000 in awards were presented in 2022.

In person assistance with online registration will be offered on the Mill’s Concierge Day on August 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mill. Artwork will be received at the Mill on Friday, September 8 and Saturday, September 9. All artwork must be registered online via Smarter Entry prior to being dropped off at the Mill. Also, all artwork must be for sale.

One can join the Phillips’ Mill Community Association and enjoy benefits of membership including a reduced entry fee of $17.50. Entry for non-members is $35.

The jurors for this year’s show are Al Gury, artist, educator, writer, and professor of painting and drawing at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia; Curlee Raven Holton, painter, printmaker, and retired professor of printmaking and African American art history at Lafayette College; TK Smith, assistant curator, “Art of the African Diaspora,” at the Barnes Foundation; sculptor Syd Carpenter of Philadelphia, whose work is in the permanent collections

of many museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum; and ceramic artist and educator Lauren Sandler, associate professor and program head of ceramics at Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University. For more information about the jurors, visit phillipsmill.org/art/juried-artshow.

Phillips’ Mill Community Association is located at 2619 River Road in New Hope, Pa. For more information, visit phillipsmill.org, call (215) 862-0582, or email info@ phillipsmill.org.

“IMMERSED”: This oil on canvas painting by Alla Podolsky is part of “The Stories We Tell,” her dual exhibit with Laura Rutherford Renner, on view August 10 through September 3 at the Artists’ Gallery in Lambertville. An opening reception is on August 12 from 5 to 8 p.m.

“500”: This oil on board painting by Laura Rutherford Renner is featured in “The Stories We Tell,” her joint exhibit with Alla Podolsky, on view August 10 through September 3 at the Artists’ Gallery in Lambertville.

“IN CELEBRATION OF BARNS”: Artists are invited to submit art depicting barns for Terhune Orchards’ fall art show. Entries must be submitted by September 5; the exhibition will be on view September 9 through December 10 in Terhune’s 250-year-old red barn.

Call for Art at Terhune:

“In Celebration of Barns”

Calling all artists! Following Terhune Orchards’ successful art show last year, “Celebrating Old Trees,” this year they hope everyone will join them with art depicting barns — all kinds of barns, from everywhere (not just here at Terhune Orchards).

For “In Celebration of Barns,” Terhune is celebrating farming and the historic nature of farming in the region. Barns have many uses on farms, and make up the backbone of farm structure. Their iconic image is what makes Terhune think of their family farms.

They are excited to see what this year’s “Celebration of Barns” will hold.

All media is accepted. Artwork should be submitted to the Terhune Farm Store, 330 Cold Soil Road, framed and ready to hang. Artists may sell their works; buyers will contact artists directly.

Submit entry forms via terhuneorchards.com/barnart-show and present physical works by September 5.

Terhune Orchards will host the “In Celebration of Barns” exhibit in their 250-yearold red barn September 9 through December 10.

A Meet the Artists reception will be on September 9 at 1 p.m.

For more information, visit terhuneorchards.com.

Doylestown Arts Festival

Returns September 9-10

The Doylestown Arts Festival will return for its 32nd anniversary this September 9 and 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The festival remains free to attend and is designed to illuminate the region’s ongoing commitment to arts and culture. For two days the historic downtown Doylestown, Pa., streets will be transformed into a lively outdoor

marketplace full of art and music from local and regionally recognized creators.

Founded in 1991, the Doylestown Arts Festival has supported independent artists and musicians for over 30 years, while drawing attention and tourism to the local community. This year’s festival will offer familiar favorites to longtime attendees and a vibrant experience for those new to the area and visiting from afar. The two day street festival will showcase a curated lineup of over 150 artists, 40 performances across five stages of live music, live art demonstrations from painting to glass blowing, and activities for all ages to enjoy.

The Doylestown Arts Festival is made possible by a small volunteer committee of Discover Doylestown and is presented by the Thompson Organization. For more information about this year’s festival, visit dtownartsfestival.com.

Area Exhibits

Art@Bainbridge, 158 Nassau Street, has “Victor Ekpuk: Language and Lineage” through October 8. artmuseum.princeton.edu.

Artists’ Gallery, 18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, has “A World Reimagined” through August 6. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. lambertvillearts.com.

Art on Hulfish, 11 Hulfish Street, has “Traces on the Landscape” through August 6. artmuseum. princeton.edu.

D&R Greenway Land Trust Johnson Education Center, 1 Preservation Place, has “Migration: Movement for Survival”

through September 24. drgreenway.org.

Gourgaud Gallery, 23-A North Main Street, Cranbury, has “Creative Collective Summer Exhibition” through July 28. cranburyartscouncil.org.

Historical Society of Princeton, Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, has “Einstein Salon and Innovator’s Gallery,” “Princeton’s Portrait,” and other exhibits. Museum hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m., Thursday to 7 p.m. princetonhistory. org

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

Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, has “Albert Einstein: Champion of Racial Justice and Equality” through August 1. princetonlibrary. org.

Small World Coffee, 14 Witherspoon Street, has photographs by Alyson LeCroy through August 1. Works by Jill Mudge are at the 254 Nassau Street location through August 1. smallworldcoffee.com.

Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, Cadwalader Park, Trenton, has “Ellarslie Open 40” through September 30. ellarslie.org.

Trenton Free Public Library, 120 Academy Street, Trenton, has “First Friday Curators” through July 29. (609) 392-7188. West Windsor Arts Center, 952 Alexander Road, West Windsor, has “Jump into Pictures” through August 26. westwindsorarts. org.

poetry reading

Deborah Jack

Thursday, July 27, 5:30 p.m.

Join Deborah Jack as she presents selections from her poetry collection skin (2006) and discusses her visual art, including her works on view now in Traces on the Landscape. Across Jack’s practice, representations of the sea and landscape of her home island of St. Maarten are keepers of the collective memories and witnesses to the cyclical trauma, rebirth, and renewal of the African Diaspora.

Art on Hulfish

Image courtesy of the artist

“DOYLESTOWN ARTS FESTIVAL”: The 32nd annual festival on September 9 and 10 in Doylestown, Pa., will feature over 150 artists, five stages of live music, live art demonstrations, and activities for all to enjoy.

Mark Your Calendar Town Topics

Wednesday, July 26

9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: Meet the Human Services Department, in the lobby of Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Leighton Listens: Councilman Leighton Newlin invites residents to voice their concerns, air their opinions, and have a one-on-one conversation about anything related to the town. At the Kiosk at Palmer Square.

4-5 p.m.: Quilting Together at Hopewell Train Station, 2 Railroad Place, Hopewell. Lori Saporito helps attendees create a finished applique quilt block to bring home. No sewing skills necessary. Open to all. Redlibrary.org.

6:30 p.m.: “Uncovering the New Jersey State Village for Epileptics,” at Morven, 55 Stockton Street. Historian Emily Borowski leads this hybrid program, in person and online. Morven.org.

Thursday, July 27 10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Princeton Farmers’ Market is at Hinds Plaza. Organic produce, pasture-raised meat and eggs, bread, empanadas, pickles, flowers, and more. SNAP/EBT accepted on eligible purchases. Free parking for one hour in Spring Street Garage. Princetonfarmersmarket.com.

5:30 p.m.: Parking Lot

Pop-Up Show: Lazy Bird, at the Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon

Street. Band from Burlington, Vermont. $5. Artscouncilofprinceton.org.

6-8 p.m.: Dueling Piano Night on the Palmer Square Green. Palmersquare.com.

6-8 p.m.: Danny Tobias & Friends perform at Prince ton Shopping Center as part of the Summer Concert Se ries. Free, bring a blanket or lawn chair. Princetonshop pingcenter.org.

Friday, July 28

1-10 p.m.: New Jersey Lottery Festival of Balloon ing at Solberg Airport, 39 Thor Solberg Road, White house Station. Balloon ascensions, rides, food, entertainment, and more. Balloonfestival.com.

5-8 p.m.: Sunset Sips and Sounds at Terhune Or chards Vineyard and Winery, 330 Cold Soil Road. Music by Dark Whiskey. Terhune orchards.com.

7 p.m.: Dancing Under the Stars at Hinds Plaza (or Princeton Public Library’s Community Room in bad weather), with members of Central Jersey Dance demonstrating basic steps. Princetonlibrary.org.

7 p.m .: Anastasia the Musical Youth Edition Acting Naturally, 164 North Flowers Mill Road, Lang horne, Pa. Actingnaturally. com.

7:30 p.m.: University Summer Cham ber Concerts presents Dali String Quartet forming music by Schubert,

Piazzolla, and Tchaikovsky at Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street. Free. Princetonsummer chamberconcerts.org.

8-9:30 p.m.: Dance Party at the Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street. Held in the parking lot (if it rains, moved inside to the Solley Theater) for all ages. $5 do nation. Artscouncilofprinceton.org.

Saturday, July 29

6 a.m.-10 p.m.: New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning at Solberg Airport, 39 Thor Solberg Road, Whitehouse Station. Balloon ascensions, rides, food, entertainment, and more. Balloonfestival.com.

9 a.m.-1 p.m.: West Windsor Farmers Market, Vaughn lot of the Princeton Junction train station. Fresh produce, seafood, poultry, pastured eggs, cheese, baked goods, and more. Entertainment by Blue Jersey Band. Westwindsorfarmersmarket.org.

10 a.m.-8 p.m.: Mercer County 4-H Fair and Wheat Threshing, at Howell Living History Farm, 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township. Howellfarm.org.

11 a.m.-10 p.m.: The So Percussion Day of Sonic Exploration held at locations including Princeton Record Exchange, Princeton Public Library, Hinds Plaza, Arts Walk, and the Lewis Center for the Arts. Free, held by the So Percussion Institute. Sopercussion.com.

11 a.m.: Vintage baseball game at Ely Field, North Main Street, Lambertville. The Flemington Neshanock BBC vs. Logan BBC. The game will use the 1866 rules of baseball. Family-friendly, free event; donations to the Lambertville Historical Society are welcome. LambertvilleHistoricalSociety.org.

12-5 p.m.: Winery Weekend Music Series at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Music by Audio Pilot Duo from 2-5 p.m. Light fare available, no outside food or pets. Terhuneorchards.com.

12-8 p.m.: 50th Annual Puerto Rican Day Festival at Bristol Wharf in Bristol, Pa. Free guidance on genealogical research from Bucks County Genealogical Society; food, music, dancing, cooking demonstrations, vendors, and children’s activities. Bucksgen.org.

7 p.m.: Café Improv at the Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street. $1-$2. Artscouncilofprinceton.org/events/.

8 p.m.: The Beach Boys perform at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. $49-$159. STNJ.org.

Sunday, July 30 6 a.m.-10 p.m.: New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning at Solberg Airport, 39 Thor Solberg Road, Whitehouse Station. Balloon ascensions, rides, food, entertainment, and more. Balloonfestival.com.

JULY-AUGUST

10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Mercer County 4-H Fair and Wheat Threshing, at Howell Living History Farm, 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township. Howellfarm.org.

10:45 a.m.: Book

Brunch with Claire Legrand, discussing her book A Crown of Ivy and Glass with Anica Mrose Rissi, at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.

12-5 p.m.: Winery Weekend Music Series at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Music by Mike & Laura from 2-5 p.m. Light fare available, no outside food or pets. Terhuneorchards.com.

1-3 p.m.: Dennis Curry plays the Princeton University carillon at the Graduate School, 88 College Road West. Listen from outside, rain or shine. Free. Arts. princeton.edu.

1-3 p.m.: Prasadam and kirtan at Princeton YMCA, 59 Paul Robeson Place. Vegetarian meal and meditation. Free, presented by the Princeton Bhakti Vedanta Institute of Spiritual Culture and Science. Bvics.org.

4 p.m.: Joy & Rob with The Beagles perform blues and soul at Hinds Plaza. Princetonlibrary.org.

Monday, July 31 Recycling

3 p.m.: Rebecca is screened in the Community Room of Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Free. Princeton Library.org.

Wednesday, August 2

6 p.m.: The Princeton Student Film Festival is held in the Community Room of Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street Features 10 short works by high school and college students from the Princeton area and beyond. Free. Princetonlibrary.org/psff.

Thursday, August 3

10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Princeton Farmers’ Market is at Hinds Plaza. Organic produce, pasture-raised meat and eggs, bread, empanadas, pickles, flowers, and more. SNAP/EBT accepted on eligible purchases. Free parking for one hour in Spring Street Garage. Princetonfarmersmarket. com.

6-8 p.m.: Dueling Piano Night on the Palmer Square Green. Palmersquare.com.

6-8 p.m.: Michelle Lordi and The Matthew Parrish Trio perform at Princeton Shopping Center as part of the Summer Concert Series. Free, bring a blanket or lawn chair. Princetonshoppingcenter.org.

8 p.m.: March of the Penguins is screened at BlaireJoline Courtyard, Mathey College, Princeton University. Free; bring a blanket or chair. Popcorn provided. Sponsored by the University Art Museum. Artmuseum. princeton.edu.

Friday, August 4

5-8 p.m.: Sunset Sips and Sounds at Terhune Orchards Vineyard and Winery, 330 Cold Soil Road. Music by Foglight. Terhuneorchards.com.

5-7 p.m.: Kick-off reception and WitherspoonJackson Community Salute for the Joint Effort Safe Streets 2023 program, at Studio Hillier, 190 Witherspoon Street. Contact John Bailey at johnbailey062@gmail.com for information.

8:15-10 p.m.: Movie Nights on the Palmer Square Green — Luca. Palmersquare.org.

Saturday, August 5

9 a.m.-1 p.m.: West Windsor Farmers Market, Vaughn lot of the Princeton Junction train station. Fresh produce, seafood, poultry, pastured eggs, cheese, baked goods, and more. Entertainment by Just Duet. Westwindsorfarmersmarket. org.

10 a.m.: Panel discussion, “Do Black Lives Still Matter?” at the First Baptist Church of Princeton, 30 Green Street. Part of the Joint Effort Safe Streets week of activities. Contact John Bailey at johnbailey062@gmail.com for information.

10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Honey Harvest at Howell Living History Farm, 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township. Children’s craft: beeswax medallion (from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.). Howellfarm.org.

S ports

Making Progress in His 2nd Major League Soccer Season, PU Alum O’Toole Emerging as Key Player for NYCFC

Kevin O’Toole served a dangerous ball into the middle of the box in the final minutes of the New York City Football Club’s game at Philadelphia on July 15.

Two teammates had chances to finish it, but the ball didn’t go in as NYCFC lost, 2-1, to conclude the first half of the Major League Soccer (MLS) season.

For O’Toole, the game was another nod to how far the former Princeton University men’s soccer star has come in just over year. O’Toole, a 2022 Princeton grad and Montclair native, played all 90 minutes in his second straight start. He’s started three of the club’s last five games and is living up to the higher expectations that he set for his second professional season of playing more and being a more valuable teammate.

“When I’m on the field, I can bring something different to the game, so whatever that was going to look like — whether it was coming off the bench for 20-minute cameos or being able to start multiple games in a row — I was ready to do that,” said O’Toole, a 5’10, 150-pound forward who was a two-time Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year (2018, 2021), tallying 15 goals and 18 assists in his Tiger career.

“That was my goal — to be able to contribute to the team in that way. And also having more of a voice on the team, that’s something I’ve grown in this year. It was a bit difficult in the beginning of the year last year when I came in as a draft pick and earned my spot in the beginning through a trial, and to transition into not getting a ton of minutes last year and finally breaking into the squad. Then towards the end, I think I could feel like I could really make a step, vocally and as a leader in the group, going into the year. That’s another thing I think I’ve developed.”

O’Toole’s main focus going forward is to help the team improve. It’s been a frustrating stretch for NYCFC, which is 5-8-11. They have won just once since April 29, but lead the MLS with 11 ties. Their loss to Philadelphia was their first since May. The top nine teams reach the MLS playoffs from the Eastern Conference, and NYCFC is 13 th , but tied in points with the 11 th place New York Red Bulls and 12th place Charlotte. DC United currently sits in ninth with 30 points.

“All my goals right now are team focused,” said O’Toole, who has played 16 games so far this season with seven starts. “We’re a bit off that playoff line at the moment, and the most important thing is making sure we’re over that line come the end of October. That’s the biggest goal. We’ll have a good run of home games to close out the year for Leagues Cup, which is the midseason tournament break, and so I think it’ll be important to make sure we put in the performances and results in

front of our home crowd, because that’s where we can really make up some ground in the table and get into the playoff picture. That’s the main goal. Personal goals, it’s just being on the field for some of those moments and some of those big wins that we have coming up. I think it’ll be special to be a part of that, and then hopefully carry that momentum through to playoffs.”

O’Toole was selected by NYCFC in the SuperDraft after his senior year at Princeton. He began training with the club a month later and spent much of the season adapting to the new level of play at the professional level.

“The end of the season was pretty good to me,” said O’Toole. “I got a really good run of games in towards the end of the season. I finished the last three MLS games, played in the Campeones Cup, played against Atlas, and then got three good playoff games in. Obviously in terms of getting our team goals, we fell a little bit short although it was a really good turnaround from the beginning of the year and we made a really good push in the playoffs.”

O’Toole made his way into the lineup by the end of his first year to gain confidence heading into his second season. He played every minute of their final seven games to meet his personal goals and set the stage for this year.

“I felt really happy being in the team selection every week,” said O’Toole. “That was kind of the standard I wanted to bring in for myself, and that was kind of my goal. And this year it was to achieve a lot more starts and help the team in any role that the coaches felt fit for me.”

He was able to return to Princeton at the end of his MLS season. He was on hand for Princeton’s Senior Night to see a few former Ti ger teammates, and enjoyed taking in the new Roberts Soccer Stadium. He also made the Tigers’ game at St. John’s.

“It’s been fun keeping in touch with the team,” said O’Toole. “I really love the Princeton soccer communi ty, and I definitely think I’ll be going back for a bunch more games this fall.”

After a period of rest and well-needed vacation follow ing his first season, O’Toole focused on keeping his fit ness level high and improv ing his quickness and agility to become more dynamic to go with a toughened mental stance. O’Toole returned eager to impress, and has played more minutes from the outset of the season this year. He has remained in a left wingback position for NYCFC in their 3-4-3 formation, and also adjusted to taking on more defensive responsibility in a left back position when the club played a four-back formation. He has gotten more comfortable in his second year with the professional game and its demands, and his growth from last year has enabled

him to play a larger role this season.

“Coming off the college game, there’s always going to be a period of adaptation to the league,” said O’Toole. “There’s definitely a speed of play element and also a mentality and longevity aspect too. The season is so long, whereas the college game is only a three-month schedule. So to be able to do it consistently and perform at a high level for 10 or 11 months — whatever the season demands — was probably the biggest challenge that I learned from last year. It’s about being patient with yourself if you have a bad week and being a bit gracious moving on to the next moment or next play. I think something that’s really helped me this year is not getting too high when things are going well and not getting too low when things are going bad. I think that’s helped me stay the course and make sure I’m putting in good performances on a weekly basis.”

One of his early highs was his play in a 1-0 loss to the Red Bulls in mid-May. It was his third start of the season and O’Toole played all 90 minutes.

“It wasn’t the team result that we were hoping for, but I always love playing those games,” said O’Toole. “That was my former club — I played for their Academy teams — and so there’s always a little extra incentive and motivation that I carry into those games. I put in a pretty good performance in that game and just felt really good about that one, and I try to replicate that performance when I go into other games too.”

O’Toole feels more ready to play the faster pace of the professional level, but just

as important is his ability to handle the training through a year. He knows how to treat the ups and downs of the game after getting through a full season plus.

“That was a big thing for me last year,” said O’Toole. “If I had a bad session on the ball or something because the training felt really quick, how would I respond? And often last year, it was difficult to put together a strong session after a bad one. But this year I’ve found it a bit easier to get up to speed, play with the ball quicker, and also, if I don’t have the best session, to be able to rebound the next day and be sharp on the ball. In that sense it’s slowed down, but it’s more knowing the level of the team and understanding that to keep up you have to play at a fast pace too.”

O’Toole has been impressed by the quick adjustment of another Princeton product, Malik Pinto. Pinto is in his first season in the MLS, and the two have faced each other when NYCFC played FC Cincinnati.

“Malik is one of my good friends,” said O’Toole. “We only got one year on the field together, but we really had two years when you take into account my gap year. He’s a really good friend of mine and I’m super happy and proud to see him doing so well in his first season. He’s already up to 15 or 16 appearances in the league, which is super impressive for a first-year and for such a young guy. It’s not necessarily a surprise because I know what he’s capable of on the field and I know how good his game is.”

The two are being strong representatives of Princeton and the Ivy League as young players in the MLS. Four more Ivy players were selected in the 2023 SuperDraft, and Cornell reached the Sweet Sixteen and Penn made the round of 32.

“It says a lot about the

Ivy League and maybe just college soccer in general,” said O’Toole. “A lot of college kids come from backgrounds with really strong work ethics on and off the field and so I think if you give those guys a chance at the next level they can really make the most of it if given the opportunity. The Ivy League game has really been picking up too.”

O’Toole is hoping to help NYCFC pick it up over the second half of the season. He will have that chance because his growth since last year has enabled him to play a more prominent role in his second season of professional soccer.

“I think the best way to give a player confidence is to get minutes on the field; by doing that, it automatically gives you a confidence

boost,” said O’Toole. “The more games you play, the more comfortable you feel on the ball because you’ve been in some high stress situations on the field. Being in any game scenarios, when you’re chasing a goal or defending the box late in the game when you have a lead, that gives you all the confidence you need to carry into the next game or the next practice. The club has been great in giving me those opportunities, and the coaches as well, just bringing me in for video sessions to look at things that can be improved in my game and also just giving positive feedback when things go right on the training pitch. It’s all been super helpful for me.”

—Justin Feil

JERSEY GUY: NYCFC’s Kevin O’Toole, right, and Malik Pinto of FC Cincinnati trade jerseys after the two former Princeton University men’s soccer standouts met in the U.S. Open Cup on May 10. O’Toole, a 2022 Princeton grad and Montclair native, has emerged as a key performer for NYCFC in his second Major League Soccer (MLS) campaign. (Photo provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)

PU Sports Roundup

Princeton Rowers

Excel at U-23 Worlds

Princeton University rowers earned five medals at the U-23 World Rowing Championships last weekend in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, highlighted by Theo Bell’s gold medal with the Great Britain men’s four boat.

Bell, a rising sophomore on Princeton men’s heavyweight team, helped Great Britain win gold in a time of 5:47.08 over the 2,000-meter course, edging runnerup Australia (5:49.8) and France (5:51.11).

Two other Tiger heavyweight rowers, Eric Spinka ’23 and Nick Taylor ’24, helped the United States men’s 8 to a silver medal (5:28.9) just in front of Germany (5:28.99). Great Britain placed first in a time of 5:26.51. A third Princeton heavyweight, Patrick Long, helped Australia take fourth (5:31.49) in the event.

Katherine George , a rising senior on the Princeton

women’s open crew, picked up a silver in the double sculls for Great Britain along with Vwaire Obukohwo (6:51.33), just trailing Romania (6:48.5). Switzerland was third (6:53.98).

Women’s open rower Phaedra van der Molen ’26 helped the Netherlands women’s quadruple sculls earn bronze as it clocked a time of 6:26.56, trailing champion Romania (6:23.29) and runner-up Czech Republic (6:26.0).

Other Tigers who competed in the event included men’s heavyweight Marcus Chute ’26 who helped Great Britain take fourth in the men’s quadruple sculls, and David Van Velden ’25 and Hidde Lycklama ’26 of the men’s lightweight squad, who represented the Netherlands in double sculls and took fifth in their A Final.

Emma Mirrer ’26 of the women’s lightweight rowing team won the C final in the women’s lightweight single scull to take 13th overall while men’s heavyweight rower Trygve Loken ‘26 helped Norway’s men’s pair finish third in the C Final to take 15th overall.

Princeton Football’s Cook

Nominated for Good Works

Princeton University football defensive back Nasir Cook has been nominated for the Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team, the organization announced recently

Established in 1992, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team is one of the most coveted community service awards in college football.

From the 135 nominees, the final roster of 23 award recipients will bring together

11 players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision;

11 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II and III, and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA); and one honorary head coach. To be considered for a spot on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, each player must be actively involved with a charitable organization or service group while maintaining strong academic standing.

Cook, a 5’9, 170-pound native of Gallatin, Tenn., who played in eight games last season and made two tackles, started a nonprofit

called the Nashville Youth Initiative, an organization that strives to increase cultural competence and awareness between law enforcement and youth by using athletics and academics to bring these groups together.

Football Star Travis Named

To East-West Shrine 1000

Princeton University star offensive lineman Jalen Travis has been named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 list, the organization said last week.

The 99th annual East-West Shrine Bowl will take place on February 1 in Frisco, Texas, at Ford Center at The Star, the worldwide headquarters and training facility for the Dallas Cowboys. The game will be televised nationally on NFL Network. Each year, hundreds of the top collegiate stars are ei -

ther taken in the NFL Draft or sign as free agents, and the East-West Shrine Bowl provides these NFL hopefuls with an excellent opportunity to showcase their skills while supporting the lifechanging mission of Shriners Children’s.

Travis, a 6’7, 310-pound native of Minneapolis, Minn., earned second-team All-Ivy honors in 2022 while also adding Phil Steele and Blue Bloods Second-Team All-Ivy accolades. He was a starter on the offensive line that helped Princeton post the Ivy’s No. 1 passing offense and No. 2 scoring offense last year.

Jurczynski Leaving PU Baseball, Named as Head Coach at Siena

Former Princeton University baseball assistant coach

Alex Jurczynski has been hired as the head coach at

Siena, the school said last week.

Jurczynski recently wrapped up his sixth year with Princeton. He was promoted to first assistant/ recruiting coordinator in October of 2022.

During his time with the Tigers, Jurczynski coached 14 All-Ivy selections and six players that have gone on to play professional baseball. Princeton went 24-23 in 2023 and reached the Ivy League Tournament Championship, showing marked progress after going 7-33 in 2022. The Tigers’ 17-win improvement from 2022 was the highest win differential in NCAA baseball this spring.

A. Pennacchi & Sons Co.

HEADING SOUTH: Princeton University women’s basketball star Kaitlyn Chen heads to the hoop in action last winter. Chen, the 2023 Ivy League Player of the Year as Princeton won the Ivy postseason tournament and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tourney, will be back on the national stage early in her senior season as the Tigers will compete in the Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off over Thanksgiving weekend. Princeton will face Oklahoma on Thanksgiving Day (November 23) and Indiana on November 25. Games will take place at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers, Fla. Eight teams will participate in one of two divisions over the three days of the event. Tennessee, Indiana, Oklahoma, and Princeton make up the Island Division. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Mastering Change-up After Seeing No Action in Debut Season, PHS Alum Delany Emerged

Mastering his change-up pitch helped Tommy Delany change his fortunes this spring in his sophomore season for the University of Pennsylvania baseball team.

After not getting into one game as a freshman, Delany, a former Princeton High standout, emerged as a key performer out of the bullpen for the Quakers. They went 34-16, rolling to the Ivy League title and upsets of Auburn and Samford in the NCAA regional before falling twice to Southern Mississippi to get knocked out of the double-elimination competition.

“I found out that my changeup was my best pitch; this year I probably threw it 75 percent of the time,” said the 6’0, 160-pound Delany, who went 1-1 with two saves in 18 appearances, striking out 35 in 30 innings with 14 walks and a 5.10 ERA. “It was crazy — my coach liked it too, obviously. Basically I worked on my changeup as much as I could. This year, the game plan was just get ahead with the changeup and then throw fastballs and sliders whenever I needed to.”

Delany put in a lot of work over the years to earn a chance to pitch for the Quakers.

“I have always been into baseball, I knew from a young age that I would want to play as long as I could,” said Delany. “My parents were really helpful in keeping me on track, making sure that I could play baseball at the best school I could go to. That was really helpful with the Ivy League process. I considered pretty much all of the high academic schools where I could play baseball.”

Initially, Delany wasn’t sure he would get a shot at Penn, believing that he wasn’t big enough to fit in with a physically imposing squad after seeing them play Villanova as a PHS freshman. But some big mound efforts from Delany drew the interest of the Quaker program and he committed at the end of his sophomore year.

“I got really lucky that I had Penn come in and offer,” said Delany. “I had a really good showcase and they called me and everything worked out. I visited the school, I loved the campus. I loved being in Philly, it is an awesome place to be.”

Delany acknowledges that he didn’t love how things went his freshman year as he never saw the mound in game action.

“My freshman year was kind of rough, it is such a big adjustment going from high school to college,” said Delany. “In high school, you are the guy. You come to accept that you will go out there and you will do well every single time and you are extremely confident in yourself. Then you go to college and you have 20 other pitchers who were better than you and you have to pitch against these hitters who have been facing college pitching. It is a really big adjustment. I didn’t play at all. I sat, and watched and learned.”

That patience paid off as Delany realized that the changeup could be his go-to pitch and the ticket to success at the college level.

as Key Reliever for Penn Baseball

“I had to find what I was good at,” said Delany. “I had to maximize my potential in the areas that I was really good at and then focus on the other thing afterwards just so I could find the spot in the bullpen rotation that I had this year.”

Pitching for the Trenton Generals of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League (ACBL) last summer helped Delany develop his potential.

“They were good enough to give me a starting rotation spot,” said Delany. “I got like 30 innings last summer, which was really helpful for me. Going into college, you don’t face any college batting. That summer, you face all of those guys who have been hitting all year, facing college kids and competing. It is really helpful to face those guys as much as you possibly can.”

With that experience under his belt, Delany was primed for his Penn debut when he took the mound at Nicholls State on March 7.

“Going out there and finally reaching that goal of throwing for the first time in college was incredible,” said Delany, who came out of the bullpen to pitch 1.2 innings, striking out one and giving up one run on three hits. “I felt the nerves. I was pretty much shaking on the mound but it went well for my first outing and I was really happy. All of my friends were supporting me; the coaches were really happy for me, so it was awesome.”

A week later, Delany experienced a breakthrough when he earned the first win of his career as Penn defeated Villanova 15-5.

“The main thing I remember about that game was striking out four guys in an inning — I had never done it my entire life,” said Delany, who held Villanova hitless in 1.2 innings with five strikeouts. “I think the game against Villanova was really the turning point for me at Penn. I had done well there and I did pretty well against Nicholls State. After that game, coach was saying ‘be ready for the weekend.’ Playing on the weekend is the key in the Ivy League because you are playing against the conference teams and it is a much bigger game scenario. You need to win every game that you can — the weekend is the big deal. It was just awesome to hear my coach say ‘be ready for the weekend’ because I knew I finally got to the point where they trusted me.”

One of the highlight weekends for Delany this spring

came when he had a Princeton homecoming on April 8. Delany went four innings in a 10-5 win over the Tigers, picking up a save as he struck out five and gave up two runs on three hits.

“It was awesome going against Princeton, it is my hometown team,” said Delany. “It was tough to do it. I was always rooting for Princeton, but you have to do what you’ve got to do when you are playing for Penn. It was also fun to play against Jason Ramirez (former PHS teammate), so I saw him. I could kind of show it off a little bit.”

Coming down the stretch, Penn showed off as it went 18-4 in its last 22 regular season games.

“You know that everyone behind you has that winning mentality where they are like, ‘Oh my God we are going to win this game no matter what,’” said Delany. “We know that we are better than the other team and we are going to show it. That helps you when you are playing against teams that you know are going to give you a good fight.”

The Quakers kept rolling as they hosted the Ivy postseason tournament. Penn was dominant in the double-elimination competition, topping Columbia 106, defeating Harvard 10-7, and then routing Princeton 16-3 to win the title.

v“I got in against Columbia; it was my third time throwing against them and I was just trying to go in there and throw strikes because we were up by a lot,” said Delany. “I was in that situation a few other times throughout the year and usually throwing strikes when you are up by a lot is the right thing to do. I was just trying to do that. Coming in against Princeton in the championship was incredible because last year I didn’t even have the possibility to throw at all. Being in the actual championship game was incredible. I was so happy and it felt really good.”

Penn was sent to the Auburn regional in the NCAA tournament and stunned host Auburn 6-3 in 11 innings to start the weekend. It was the first win for an Ivy team over an SEC foe in the NCAA tournament. The Quakers then edged Samford 5-4 to make the final round of the doubleelimination competition. Southern Mississippi ended Penn’s magical run, topping the Quakers 11-2 and 11-7 to make the super regional.

Tommy Delany fires a pitch this spring in his sophomore season for the University of Pennsylvania baseball team. Former Princeton High standout Delany emerged as a key relief pitcher this spring for the Quakers as they went 34-16, rolling to the Ivy League title and upsets of Auburn and Samford in the NCAA regional before falling twice to Southern Mississippi to get knocked out of the

Delany got into the first game against Southern Mississippi and took the loss, giving up two run in 1.1 innings.

“That was really, really cool because it was the regional championship,” said Delany. “Just being able to throw in those two championships was a dream come true, it really was. Southern Miss was a great lineup, I have to give them credit, they didn’t really have a hole. Throughout the games they showed that they could put together great at-bats no matter what the score was or what the situation was. I give them a lot of credit.”

In reflecting on how things came together for him this spring, Delany saw it as a matter of making the most of opportunity.

“I think experience leads to improvement; learning how to throw to different hitters and different parts of the lineup and in different situations is really crucial to the growth of a pitcher in general,” said Delany. “For me, the first few outings were not shaky, but I was just trying to get into my groove. Once I got into the groove, I knew exactly what I needed to do when. It was really important for me to come into different situations and know what I had to do. It was really easy throwing strikes and being able to trust everybody behind me. It is just really easy to pitch when you know your defense is going to make every play behind you.”

Looking ahead, Delany believes he has found a good

situation with his relief role.

“I love coming out of the bullpen, I really like coming in when it is a close game and you know you need to do well,” said Delany, who has pitched this summer for the Pittsfield Suns in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL) of New England, making four appearances with one save and 1.58 ERA with five strikeouts in 5.2 innings.

“I like that pressure. I think going forward, I am going to stay in the same role. I am probably going to be a long relief kind of guy. I am going into this season preparing for that, but if anything changes, I am willing to adapt.”

—Bill Alden

PROVIDING RELIEF:

double-elimination competition. Delany went 1-1 with two saves in 18 appearances, striking out 35 in 30 innings with 14 walks and a 5.10 ERA. He is currently pitching for the Pittsfield (Mass.) Suns in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL) of New England. (Photo by Mike Nance, provided courtesy of Penn Athletics)

Getting Off to a Fast Start in its 1st Year of Existence, PHS Triathlon Club Wins NJ High School Championship

It started with a conversation last summer at Mercer County Park and it resulted in a state title earlier this month.

Running into each other at the New Jersey State Triathlon last July at Mercer County Park, Shawn Elwood, who was then entering his freshmen year at Princeton High, and Patrick Remboski, a Princeton Middle School PE/health teacher and assistant PHS soccer and swimming coach, hatched a plan. Having both competed in the event, the pair talked about what they could do to get more people involved in the sport, which includes swimming, cycling and running, and they decided to start a club at the high school.

“I was talking to some of my friends and they all seemed interested but they didn’t know how to get into the sport,” recalled Elwood, who started competing in triathlons last summer after finishing eighth grade. “Me and Mr. Remboski were just talking and thinking that if there is no high school triathlon club, why not make one ourselves.”

Remboski credited Elwood with putting the idea into action as they founded the club.

“Shawn seemed receptive to it and he reached out to me earlier this past school year and we started brainstorming,” said Remboski, who started doing triathlons in 2018 after he graduated from The College of New

Jersey and has competed in a number of events, including the Lake Placid Ironman (a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a 26.2-mile run) and the Atlantic City Half-Ironman.

“We came up with a couple of ideas and some goals and one thing led to the next. He started getting some other people involved; we had our first initial meeting and had a lot of support.”

At the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, the club was basically an informal group of Elwood and some of his friends training together. At the PHS winter club fair, things started to come together on a more formal basis.

“The winter club fair is where it really started expanding to people I really didn’t know,” said Elwood, 15, a rising PHS sophomore. “We recruited 30-35 kids as members.”

The initial group of members proved to be a good mix of experienced endurance athletes and newcomers to the sport.

“We have about half who are competitively doing cross country, or swim, or are cyclists,” said Elwood, who competed for both the PHS cross country and swimming teams this past school year. “The other half of around 20 are less focused on the competitive aspect and either joined because their friends joined in or just because they want to stay fit.”

Remboski believed that

the inclusive nature of the club allowed athletes of different levels to fit in.

“We had a good range and I think that made it comfortable for a lot of people to come and try something new,” said Remboski. “It seems like a daunting thing before you actually do it; you learn I can handle this.”

The club got off to a good start in events earlier this summer, competing at the War at the Shore where members went 1-2-3 in the 19-and-under age group. At the Stafford Race For Hope, PHS athletes took first in the male and female relays. Competing at the Hammonton triathlon, club members took first, second, and third in different age groups.

In July, the club turned its attention to the New Jersey State Triathlon at Mercer County Park, which included the first-ever N.J. high school team competition in the sprint event (500-meter swim, 11.5-mile bike ride, 3.1-mile run).

“It was nice to find out that it was going to be the official high school championship,” said Remboski. “We were excited when we heard that because it was so local.”

Producing an exciting performance, PHS placed first out 18 teams in the N.J. high school championship. PHS had a team score of 36 with South Brunswick High coming in second at 63 and Columbia High placing third with 66.

The PHS team consisted

Thank you to our customers for voting us Best Pizza

of Shawn and Darren Elwood, Braedyn Capone, Harrison Knoch, Sawyer Kinney, Atticus Ayers, Tyler and Stephen Cenci, Sabine Ristad, Theo Balavoine, and Evan Kang.

Darren Elwood took first in the 14-and-under age group both overall and in N.J. specifically while Shawn Elwood placed third among N.J. competitors for the men’s 15-19 age group. Ristad took second in the women’s 15-19 age group both overall and in N.J. while Kang finished first in the Para-Tri group, both overall and in New Jersey. For Elwood, winning the high school title was a milestone moment for the club.

“I think it means that we made a name for ourselves this year,” said Elwood. “Going forward, it is just exciting to think about what we could accomplish next, maybe that means nationals or something like that.”

Being part of the fledgling PHS group helped spur Ellwood to a personal best effort at Mercer Park.

“I feel like the more people we have in the club, the more motivated everyone is to train, including myself,” said Elwood, who clocked a total time of 1:07.40 at the event. “I actually PR’ed, I am really happy with that.”

Remboski, for his part, is happy with how Elwood’s efforts have borne fruit.

“Shawn has been very proactive, he has been very passionate about it,” said Remboski. “It is all good intentions; he wants to make sure that everyone in the club has a place and everyone feels welcome. If they have never done a Tri, he wants them to feel welcome. It is good cross training for people who aren’t doing any high school athletics and are just looking to try something new. He has been great holding these meetings because sometimes I can’t get there.”

Heading into the upcoming school year, Remboski is looking for the club to build on the foundation it has already established.

“The goal is to really solidify the club, get a charter, formulate a committee

of officers and get a treasurer so we can enter these races,” said Remboski. “We want to get a better training schedule. We want to set up some times to use the middle school pool during the school year. One of our main goals is to be more structured — it has all happened pretty fast.”

Elwood believes that a lot of good things can happen for the club in the future.

“I think the bulk of the people will come back and want to join at the beginning of this upcoming school year,” said Elwood, who raised nearly $2,000 from local businesses to help defray costs of equipment, uniforms, and race entry fees and has also gotten bike stores to give club members discounts on road bikes.

“I hope to grow the club and get more consistent members and more people competing. We want weekly or bi-weekly training. Another thing we are thinking about is putting on a Princeton Triathlon.”

— Bill Alden

you to our customers for voting us Best Pizza

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

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

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 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.

Now serving gluten-free pizza, pasta, beer & vodka!

Mon – 11:30-9 · Tues-Fri – 11:30-10:30 Sat – 4-10:30 · Sun – 4-9

Mon – 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

““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. 339 Witherspoon St, Princeton, NJ 08540 (609) 921-8041 • www.contespizzaandbar.com

serving gluten-free pizza, pasta, beer & vodka!

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. 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

Thank you from the owners of Conte’s

CLUB CHAMPIONS: Members of the Princeton High Triathlon Club show off the hardware they earned after winning the high school state championship at the New Jersey State Triathlon earlier this month at Mercer County Park. PHS placed first out 18 teams in the high school competition, compiling a team score of 36 with South Brunswick High coming in second at 63 and Columbia High placing third with 66. (Photo provided courtesy of Shawn Ellwood)

Sparked by Higgins’ Energetic Play, Sharpshooting, YSU Tops SpeedPro in Summer Hoops Quarterfinal

Pat Higgins and his teammates on the YSU (Young Sports Unlimited) squad brought a business-like attitude as they faced SpeedPro last Monday night in the quarterfinals of the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League.

“We have got a really unselfish group, we have jelled really well all season,” said Higgins. “There wasn’t really any change — just treat it like we have been playing all year, like any other game.”

Second-seeded YSU got

seeded SpeedPro in the early stages of the contest as it led by 24-18. But wearing down a shorthanded SpeedPro team which had only six players on hand, YSU built a 37-24 halftime lead and then pulled away to a 7852 victory.

“I definitely think it was a good tune-up game,” said Higgins, reflecting on the triumph. “We just played these guys; they have some size. It was close for a while and in the second half, we stretched it out a little. We had to bring it.” -

limited) dunks the ball in recent action in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Last Monday, Higgins tallied 13 points to help second-seeded YSU defeat seventh-seeded SpeedPro 78-52 in a quarterfinal contest. YSU will face third-seeded Princeton Supply, who topped PATH Academy 53-41 in the other quarterfinal on Monday, in the league semis. The other quarterfinals are slated for Wednesday night and pit top-seeded LoyalTees against eighthseeded Jefferson Plumbing and fourth-seeded and defending champion Majeski Foundation against fifth-seeded AEI. The semifinals are slated for July 28 at the Community Park Courts with the best-of-three championship series starting on July 31 at CP.

Higgins played a key role in the late surge, scoring nine of his 13 points on the night in the opening minutes of the second half.

“I was taking what was given; when the opportunity is there I am going to shoot when I am open,” said Higgins, a 6’0, 180-pound guard who went on a personal 9-0 run after halftime as YSU increased its lead from 39-28 to 48-28. “I am going to push the ball and attack the rim. When it is not, I am not going to force it. We are just trying to win. Whoever scores, it doesn’t really matter to any of us.”

That attitude has helped YSU excel in its first year in the summer league as it improved to 7-2 with the victory over SpeedPro.

“Everyone on the team has played for coach Freddie [Young] at some point in their life,” said Higgins, a former All-Prep standout at the Pennington School who went on to play for The College of New Jersey and averaged 12.1 points a game last winter in his senior campaign for the Lions. “Some of us have played together coming up. Basically he put a team together of who he thought would mesh well together and it worked out.”

YSU will face third-seeded Princeton Supply, who topped PATH Academy 5341 in the other quarterfinal on Monday, in the league semis. The other quarterfinals are slated for Wednesday night and pit top-seeded LoyalTees against eighthseeded Jefferson Plumbing and fourth-seeded and defending champion Majeski Foundation against fifthseeded AEI. The semifinals are slated for July 28 at the Community Park Courts with the best-of-three championship series starting on July 31 at CP.

As he has developed into a key performer for the YSU team, Higgins has focused on working hard.

“My role is just play with energy; it feels like somebody different leads us in scoring every other night,” said Higgins of the squad which got a game-high 20 points from Aiden Anderson in the win over SpeedPro. “Everybody just comes and plays defense as hard as they can. It is pick up full court, try to force turnovers, push the ball, run, take what is given and make the unselfish play.”

Higgins has formed a productive backcourt partnership this summer with Freddie Young Jr., a former Princeton Day School/Trenton Catholic Academy star who is playing for Lincoln University.

“This isn’t our first time playing together, we played together before,” said Higgins. “I have known Freddie since middle school, so we have grown up playing with and against each other our entire life.”

In the view of Higgins, YSU possesses the depth and intensity to end up with a title this summer.

“We play nine people,” said Higgins. “It just play defense, protect the rim, let the guards funnel everybody into those bigs that we have and then get out and run.”

—Bill Alden

Local Sports

Princeton Rec Department Offering Lifeguard Courses

The Princeton Recreation Department will be offering two American Red Cross Blended Learning Lifeguard Training Courses at Community Park Pool this August.

Participants will need to complete online coursework from the Red Cross and then complete the in-person portion at CP Pool. The in-person course options will take place August 2-4 and August 9-11. Participants must be 15 years of age or older, be able to swim 300 yards continuously, retrieve a diving brick from a depth of 10 feet, and tread water for two minutes using legs only. Each course session will run from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. and the cost is $335/person.

Participants must be present for the entirety of all three days. There are no refunds for individuals that do not complete the coursework or who fail the course or the required 30yard swim.

Individuals can register

online at register.communitypass.net/princeton. The course is located under the Tab “2023 Lifeguard Certification Programs.” For more information, visit princetonrecreation.com or call (609) 921-9480.

Joint Effort Safe Streets Program

Holding Hoops Clinic, Games

The Joint Effort Princeton Safe Streets Summer Program, in conjunction with the Princeton Recreation Department, Princeton Police Department, Princeton Public Schools, Bailey Basketball Academy (BBA), and PBA No. 130, is sponsoring a free youth basketball clinic on August 12 from 10 a.m.12 p.m. at the Community Park basketball courts.

This program is a player development skills clinic for boys and girls age 8 and up. All clinic attendees should bring their own ball. The clinic will be led by Kamau Bailey, the director of BBA, a Philadelphia 76ers camp clinic, and former head coach of the Princeton Day School girls’ basketball team. It will be staffed by community volunteers and members of the Princeton Police Department.

In addition, on August 13, the Joint Effort Safe Streets will sponsor the Pete Young

Sr. Memorial Games for Princeton and area youth.

These annual games are held each year in the memory of Pete Young Sr., a Princeton businessman, community advocate, sports enthusiast, and supporter of youth and community programs who was beloved in the Witherspoon-Jackson Community. The nine games start at 10 a.m. and end at 7 p.m. and will include contests featuring youth players, high school boys and girls, and men.

The Joint Effort Clinic and Games are free and open to the public. There will be bags provided for clinic participants and shirts will be provided for those playing in the games. The rain sites for both programs will be the Princeton Middle School. For more information on Joint Effort Safe streets clinic or games, contact John Bailey at (720) 629-0964 or email johnbailey062@ gmail.com or Kamau Bailey at (917) 626-5785 or at kamau.bailey@gmail.com

Wells Tree & Landscape, Inc 609-430-1195

Wellstree.com

33 Princeton-Hightstown Rd Ellsworth’s Center (Near Train Station) 799-8554

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

Taking care of Princeton’s trees

Local family owned business for over 40 years

(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Leroy Henry Hunninghake

Leroy Henry Hunninghake passed away peacefully on July 19, 2023 at RWJ University Hospital at Hamilton.

He was born and raised in Seneca, Kansas, where he graduated from Kelly High School where he was valedictorian and received his Doctor of Medicine and Surgery Degree at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He continued his internship and residency at Ann Arbor University of Michigan. He moved to Princeton, NJ, after and was the first Rheumatologist in New Jersey, opening practices at Princeton Rheumatology in Princeton and Monroe, NJ.

Leroy served as a medic for Public Service during the Vietnam War, where he received a plaque of honor from the President. He served as President of the NJ Medical Society for many years. He received many awards from the Medical Society, Princeton Hospital, and Robert Wood University Hospital in New Brunswick, where he was

also employed. He enjoyed presenting talks to the community about rheumatology and autoimmune diseases as well as throughout the Northeast.

Leroy was a member of St. Paul’s Parish, where he regularly volunteered. He had a passion for medicine, Michigan and Kansas football and basketball, his Kansas farm, and regularly taking his children to farms and mini golfing when they were younger. He enjoyed helping the community and the sick, but most of all spending time with his family. He especially enjoyed birthdays with his sons.

Predeceased by his parents Henry and Mary Hunninghake, and brother Donald Hunninghake.

Leroy is survived by six sons and one daughter Zachary Hunninghake, Trevor and Kyle Hunninghake (and their mother Susan Hunninghake), Leroy Hunninghake Jr, Lisa Hunninghake, Christopher Hunninghake, and Michael Hunninghake (and their mother Rosemarie Hunninghake); two sisters and brothers-inlaw Mary Lee and Jim Smith and Alice and Ron Wurtz; one brother and sister-inlaw Gary and Margie Hunninghake; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and colleagues.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 3, 2023 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. with a funeral service at 8 p.m. at Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08542.

Burial will be on Friday, August 4, 2023 at 11 a.m. in Princeton Cemetery.

Sarah Louise Bennett Reichart

1931-2023

Sarah (Sally) died at her home in Princeton on Wednesday, July 12 in Hospice care. She was born in Chicago in 1931, soon moving to Boston where her father joined the faculty of MIT. In 1941, the family moved to Washington, DC, after her father joined the Navy. She graduated from the Holton Arms School in Washington, a life-rewarding experience for her.

Sally lived in the Washington area until she attended Vassar College from which she graduated in 1952 with a double major in Music and Geology. She worked briefly for General Electric in Schenectady, then taught Science at the Brierley School in New York City before marrying Richard Benjamin Reichart on September 25, 1954. They had two children, Phyllis (Angela) and Andrew in New York, moving to Wayne, New Jersey and finally to Princeton in 1982.

In New York, Sally developed her lifelong interest in music and music history

through a Master’s degree in Music at Brooklyn College and a PhD in Musicology at CUNY Graduate Center. Her late husband said that she loved learning and went through life “by degrees.”

She taught and performed on the recorder and was a member of the New York Recorder Society.

After moving to Princeton, she earned a Master’s in Library Science at Rutgers and worked in the Princeton Public Library. In her later years, she did much scholarly genealogical research, enduring gifts for her family and others.

She was predeceased by her husband Richard in 2020. She is survived by her daughter Angela (Phyllis) in Knoxville, TN; her granddaughter Lila in Massachusetts; her son Andrew and his wife Joy in Berkeley, CA; and her brother, Ralph Bennett, Jr. and his wife Carol in Silver Spring, MD.

Sally and her family are especially appreciative of the support and assistance of her neighbors and Jessica Almodovar. A memorial gathering will be organized for mid-August; details to follow. Contributions to the Princeton Public Library in Sally’s name are welcome. A Princeton tradition!

The Rev. Paul Jeanes III, Rector, The Rev. Canon Dr. Kara Slade, Assoc. Rector, The Rev. Joanne Epply-Schmidt, Assoc. Rector, 33 Mercer St. Princeton 609-924-2277

to place an order:

tel: 924-2200 fax: 924-8818

e-mail: classifieds@towntopics.com

LOSE SOMETHING?

FIND SOMETHING?

Put an ad in the TOWN TOPICS to let everyone know!

Call (609) 924-2200 ext. 10; classifi eds@towntopics.com

DEADLINE: Tues before 12 noon

HOME REPAIR SPECIALIST:

Interior/exterior repairs, carpentry, trim, rotted wood, power washing, painting, deck work, sheet rock/ spackle, gutter & roofing repairs. Punch list is my specialty. 40 years experience. Licensed & insured. Call Creative Woodcraft

WHY WAIT HAULING & CLEANING LLC. For all your cleaning and hauling needs. Demo outdoor buildings, basement and yards. The best for less! (609) 743-6065. 07-26

I BUY ALL KINDS of Old or Pretty

Things: China, glass, silver, pottery, costume jewelry, evening bags, fancy linens, paintings, small furniture, etc. Local woman buyer. (609) 9217469.

10-11

tt

HOME HEALTH AIDE: 25 years of experience. Available mornings to take care of your loved one, transport to appointments, run errands. I am well known in Princeton. Top care, excellent references. The best! Call (609) 356-2951 or (609) 751-1396.

HOME HEALTH AIDE/COMPANION AVAILABLE: NJ certified and experienced. Live-in or live-out. Driver’s license. References available. Please call Cindy, (609) 227-9873. 08-09

EXPERIENCED ELDER CARE for your loved one. Compassionate caregiver with 16 years experience will assist with personal care, medication, meals, drive to medical appointments, shopping. Many local references. Call or text (609) 9779407.

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• Deadline: 2pm Tuesday•Payment: All ads must be pre-paid, Cash, credit card, or check.

FOR RENT: STUDIO

BUYING: Antiques, paintings, Oriental rugs, coins, clocks, furniture, old toys, military, books, cameras, silver, costume & fine jewelry. Guitars & musical instruments. I buy single items to entire estates. Free appraisals. (609) 306-0613.

WHAT’S A GREAT GIFT FOR A FORMER PRINCETONIAN?

• 25 words or less: $15.00•each add’l word 15 cents•Surcharge: $15.00 for ads greater than 60 words in length. •3 weeks: $40.00•4 weeks: $50.00•6 weeks: $72.00•6 month and annual discount rates available.

tf

LOLIO’S WINDOW WASHING & POWER WASHING: Free estimate. Next day service. Fully insured. Gutter cleaning available. References available upon request. 30 years experience. (609) 271-8860.

JOES LANDSCAPING INC. OF PRINCETON

Property Maintenance and Specialty Jobs

Commercial/Residential

Over 45 Years of Experience

• Fully Insured • Free Consultations

Email: joeslandscapingprinceton@ gmail.com

Text (only): (609) 356-9201

Office: (609) 216-7936

Princeton References

• Green Company HIC #13VH07549500

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A Gift Subscription!

• Ads with line spacing: $20.00/inch•all bold face type: $10.00/week

APARTMENT IN PRINCETON WINDROWS, A 55 PLUS COMMUNITY

Washer dryer, full kitchen. Many community amenities. Must be at least a 6 month rental. $1400/mo. Please call (609) 240-6696. 07-26

CARPENTRY–PROFESSIONAL

All phases of home improvement. Serving the Princeton area for over 30 yrs. No job too small. Call Julius Sesztak: (609) 466-0732 tt

HANDYMAN–CARPENTER:

Painting, hang cabinets & paintings, kitchen & bath rehab. Tile work, masonry. Porch & deck, replace rot, from floors to doors to ceilings. Shelving & hook-ups. ELEGANT REMODELING. You name it, indoor, outdoor tasks. Repair holes left by plumbers & electricians for sheetrock repair. RE agents welcome. Sale of home ‘checklist’ specialist. Mercer, Hunterdon, Bucks counties. 1/2 day to 1 month assignments. CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED, Covid 19 compliant. Active business since 1998. Videos of past jobs available. Call Roeland, (609) 933-9240. tf

06-28-24

TOWN TOPICS CLASSIFIEDS GET TOP RESULTS!

Whether it’s selling furniture, finding a lost pet, or having a garage sale, TOWN TOPICS is the way to go! We deliver to ALL of Princeton as well as surrounding areas. (609) 924-2200 ext. 10; classifieds@towntopics.com tt

ESTATE LIQUIDATION SERVICE:

I will clean out attics, basements, garages & houses. Single items to entire estates. No job too big or small. In business over 35 years, serving all of Mercer County. Call (609) 306-0613. 06-28-24

WE BUY CARS Belle Mead Garage (908) 359-8131 Ask for Chris

Call (609) 924-2200, ext 10 circulation@towntopics.com tf

LOSE SOMETHING?

FIND SOMETHING?

Put an ad in the TOWN TOPICS to let everyone know!

Call (609) 924-2200 ext. 10; classifi eds@towntopics.com

DEADLINE: Tues before 12 noon tt

HOME HEALTH AIDE: 25 years of experience. Available mornings to take care of your loved one, transport to appointments, run errands. I am well known in Princeton. Top care, excellent references. The best! Call (609) 356-2951 or (609) 751-1396. tf

LOLIO’S

Rider Furniture

REFINED INTERIORS

Princeton | 609 921-2827 | eastridgedesign.com

“Where quality still matters.”

4621 Route 27 Kingston, NJ 609-924-0147

riderfurniture.com

Mon-Fri 10-6; Sat 10-5; Sun 12-5

Understanding the Impact of Interest Rate Hikes on Monthly Payments

Interest rate hikes can have a profound effect on various aspects of our financial lives, and one significant area they impact is our monthly payments. Whether it's a mortgage, car loan, or credit card debt, the rise in interest rates can lead to notable changes in our monthly financial obligations.

When interest rates increase, borrowing costs rise, resulting in higher monthly payments for variable rate loans. For instance, homeowners with adjustable rate mortgages might find their monthly mortgage payments escalating, putting a strain on their budgets. Similarly, those carrying credit card balances could experience an uptick in their minimum monthly payments, making it more challenging to manage existing debts.

Moreover, interest rate hikes can dampen consumer spending, reducing the overall purchasing power. The cost of financing large purchases, such as homes or cars, becomes more expensive, leading to delayed buying decisions, which can have repercussions on the broader economy.

To shield oneself from these effects, it is crucial to remain vigilant about personal finances and consider fixed rate loans if available. Being proactive and budgeting accordingly can help navigate the turbulent waters of interest rate fluctuations and maintain financial stability even during challenging times.

FOR RENT: GRIGGSTOWN RENOVATED COTTAGE ON PRIVATE 3 ACRES. Lofted bedroom w/ additional small bedroom/office, one bathroom, 3 season sunroom w/ stone patio and fenced-in private backyard. New laminate flooring throughout. Living room w/ fireplace. Eat in kitchen, DR. Washer/dryer. Central air, gas heat. Ideal for professional adult or couple. Non-smoker. Will consider cats. $2550 plus security. Available immediately. Call 732-241-4778. 08-02

WHY WAIT HAULING & CLEANING LLC. For all your cleaning and hauling needs. Demo outdoor buildings, basement and yards. The best for less! (609) 743-6065. 07-26

HOME HEALTH AIDE/COMPAN-

ION AVAILABLE: NJ certified and experienced. Live-in or live-out. Driver’s license. References available. Please call Cindy, (609) 227-9873. 08-09

FOR RENT: STUDIO APARTMENT IN PRINCETON WINDROWS, A 55 PLUS COMMUNITY

Washer dryer, full kitchen. Many community amenities. Must be at least a 6 month rental. $1400/mo. Please call (609) 240-6696. 07-26

CARPENTRY–PROFESSIONAL

All phases of home improvement. Serving the Princeton area for over 30 yrs. No job too small. Call Julius Sesztak: (609) 466-0732 tt

HANDYMAN–CARPENTER: Painting, hang cabinets & paintings, kitchen & bath rehab. Tile work, masonry. Porch & deck, replace rot, from floors to doors to ceilings. Shelving & hook-ups. ELEGANT REMODELING. You name it, indoor, outdoor tasks. Repair holes left by plumbers & electricians for sheetrock repair. RE agents welcome. Sale of home ‘checklist’ specialist. Mercer, Hunterdon, Bucks counties. 1/2 day to 1 month assignments. CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED, Covid 19 compliant. Active business since 1998. Videos of past jobs available. Call Roeland, (609) 933-9240. tf

I BUY ALL KINDS of Old or Pretty Things: China, glass, silver, pottery, costume jewelry, evening bags, fancy linens, paintings, small furniture, etc. Local woman buyer. (609) 9217469.

10-11

BUYING: Antiques, paintings, Oriental rugs, coins, clocks, furniture, old toys, military, books, cameras, silver, costume & fine jewelry. Guitars & musical instruments. I buy single items to entire estates. Free appraisals. (609) 306-0613.

06-28-24

TOWN TOPICS CLASSIFIEDS GET TOP RESULTS!

Whether it’s selling furniture, finding a lost pet, or having a garage sale, TOWN TOPICS is the way to go! We deliver to ALL of Princeton as well as surrounding areas. (609) 924-2200 ext. 10; classifieds@towntopics.com tt

ESTATE LIQUIDATION SERVICE:

I will clean out attics, basements, garages & houses. Single items to entire estates. No job too big or small. In business over 35 years, serving all of Mercer County. Call (609) 306-0613.

06-28-24

WE BUY CARS Belle Mead Garage (908) 359-8131

Ask for Chris

·

·

ADVERTISING SALES

·

·

Witherspoon Media Group is looking for an Advertising Account Manager, based out of our Kingston, NJ office, to generate sales for Town Topics Newspaper and Princeton Magazine

·

The ideal candidate will:

• Establish new sales leads and manage existing sales accounts for both publications

For additional info contact: melissa.bilyeu@ witherspoonmediagroup.com

• Develop industry-based knowledge and understanding, including circulation, audience, readership, and more.

• Collaborate with the advertising director and sales team to develop growth opportunities for both publications

Track record of developing successful sales strategies and knowledge of print and digital media is a plus.

Fantastic benefits and a great work environment.

Please submit cover letter and resume to: charles.plohn@witherspoonmediagroup.com

Set on five beautiful acres in one of Princeton’s most desirable neighborhoods, this spacious, light-filled home takes advantage of a magnificent vista Bucolic views from virtually every room overlook rolling lawns, shady woodlands and the picturesque Stony Brook A dramatic two-story entrance hallway with curving staircases opens into living spaces with high ceilings perfect for formal entertaining The well-designed kitchen/breakfast room, adjacent family room with stone fireplace and nearby butler’s pantry creates an inviting setting for informal gatherings. The roomy first floor primary bedroom has it’s own fireplace, one of seven, with easy access to the pool and hot tub Other features include two studies, three additional bedrooms upstairs, a finished walk-out basement and an expansive stone terrace This one of a kind property, priced to sell quickly as-is, provides a creative buyer the opportunity to make it their own. Call for further details

Offered at $2,300,000

Judith Stier Sales Associate Direct Line:

609.240.1232