New Center at Stuart Focuses on Holistic Approach to Learning 5
Princeton Democrats Ramp Up for Harris 7
Princeton Montessori School Initiates Parenting Podcasts Series 11
PU Rowing Alum Mead Made History On and Off the Water at Paris 2024 Olympics 22
After Progressing in Freshman Season for PU Men’s Track, Former PHS Star Della Rocca Competing In U20 Worlds 25
Health Authorities
Weigh In as Fall Virus Season Approaches
COVID-19 cases have seen an increase over the summer months, according to Princeton Deputy Administrator/Director of Health Jeff Grosser, but case numbers are lower than they were last year, and the Princeton Health Department is preparing for the upcoming fall season, when respiratory disease infections are likely to rise.
Grosser described a “dual seasonality” for COVID-19 with infections peaking twice a year, once in the summer and rising again in our area in November to reach a high point in January before subsiding.
At Penn Medicine Princeton Health, Chief Medical Officer and VP of Medical Affairs Dr. Craig Gronczewski reported COVID-19 infections on the rise both nationally and regionally, but noted little impact at Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center. “In fact our inpatient COVID-19 census is relatively low, ranging between two to ve inpatients the prior few days,” he wrote in an August 20 email. “We may even anticipate a downward trend over the next 30 days.”
Grosser pointed out a report from Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health attributing COVID-19’s ongoing dual seasonality to both the higher presence of the virus year-round and its ability to mutate. He went on to note additional factors in the summer rise in cases.
“Several factors play into what we see over the summer with COVID,” he said.
“It’s likely a combination of waning immunity from people’s last vaccination or previous infection, emergence of more transmissible variants, along with human behavior like more travel, and spending more time in air conditioned rooms with warmer temperatures upon us.”
Grosser went on to state that a new COVID-19 vaccine, targeting more recently circulating strains of the virus, should soon be receiving nal approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “We expect that updated in uenza and COVID-19 vaccines will be widely available in September,” Grosser said, and he pointed out that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that everyone ages six months and older receive updated COVID and u vaccines this fall.
Later this week, the Princeton Health Department will be releasing its fall
Newly Opened Graduate Hotel Drawing Crowds
Michael Monarca worked in the hotel industry for nearly three decades before switching to real estate. Tired of commuting to hotels in New York and around the world from his home in Princeton, Monarca spent 10 years selling houses for Callaway Henderson Sotheby’s International Realty, near his home in town. From time to time, a colleague from his years at Manhattan’s Marriott Marquis would reach out to him about getting back into the hospitality business.
“I would tell him, jokingly, “Build a hotel in Princeton and then we’ll talk,’ ” said Monarca, who is the general manager of the new Graduate by Hilton Princeton, which opened officially last week on the corner of Nassau and Chambers streets. “He’s now the president of Highgate Hotels, which manages this hotel. So here I am.”
To say the past few weeks have been a whirlwind for Monarca would be an
understatement. Orchestrating the opening of the much-anticipated 180-room hotel — the rst in Princeton since The Nassau Inn opened nearly 90 years ago — has been a round-the-clock endeavor. For the past month, Monarca has even spent nights in different rooms around the hotel.
“I want to know what the rooms are like, all over the hotel,” he said. “I’m just kind of testing them out, living the experience of the guests. It’s been exhausting, but it’s exhilarating.”
The newest of the collegiate-inspired Graduate chain, which was acquired last spring by Hilton, the hotel’s memorabiliainspired lobby has been busy during its opening weeks. A splashy spread in Condé Nast Traveler magazine has attracted widespread attention. Ye Tavern, the lobby restaurant named after a bar said to have been located in the space in the 1930s, has been drawing crowds of curious locals as well as tourists.
“The music has been pumping. Our occupancy is spiking,” said Monarca. “And we’ve gotten a ton of interest from local companies who are coming in to tour the hotel.”
The Graduate chain of hotels in college towns, which boasts more than 30 open properties across the U.S. and U.K and three under construction, was the brainchild of Ben Weprin, who founded the rm AJ Capital Partners a decade ago. “When we started Graduate 10 years ago, Princeton was at the top of our list,” said Weprin in a press release. “The history, the heritage, the backdrop, the charm, the sophistication — it’s just the idea of what somebody envisions college looks like in America.”
“Ben loved his college years, and wanted to gure out a brand that helps recreate those memories,” said Monarca. “He saw an opening in the market, and has found a great way to tie in each university
Landon Jones Recalled As Brilliant, Curious, “Always a Gentleman”
To his many friends, Landon “Lanny” Jones, who died Saturday, August 17 at the age of 80, had a natural gift for connecting people and exploring new paths and interests.
A graduate of Princeton University’s class of 1966, Jones was a writer and former editor of People magazine, the Princeton Alumni Weekly (PAW), and Money magazine. His most recent book, Celebrity Nation, was published in 2023. A complete obituary is on page 27.
“Lanny was a unique and loyal friend,” wrote Michael Mathews in an email. “He knew everyone and was generous in making connections among his friends. Though intensely competitive in tennis and squash, he was always a gentleman. Lanny was intellectually curious and anxious to explore new paths. He continued asking questions to the end. He will be missed by so many.”
Barbara Webb wrote, “It was a privilege to be his friend. Lanny was brilliant, curious, kind, and always generous with his time. He had a certain youthful sparkle that age, even illness could not diminish. I will miss him.”
Scott McVay rst met Jones in the fall of 1967, when Jones was editor of the PAW and McVay was working in the Princeton
From a hospital-based, midwifery-led birth center to a state-designated Regional Perinatal Center with a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for high-risk births, our experienced team delivers exceptional care. To learn more about maternity services, visit saintpetershcs.com/maternity Saint Peter’s University Hospital has done it again. For three years in a row, we’ve been named one of America’s Best Maternity Hospitals by Newsweek. That’s
WINNER
Councilman Leighton Newlin holds one-on-one conversations about issues impacting Princeton from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on August 21 at Studio Hillier, 190 Witherspoon Street; and on August 28 at Olives, 22 Witherspoon Street.
: Arm in Arm’s mobile food pantry is at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch of Mercer County Library System, 2751 Brunswick Pike, on Monday afternoons through September, from 2-4 p.m. Fresh produce, eggs, milk, frozen proteins, and quality baked goods as well as canned and boxed items and personal care items are
Sustainable Princeton “Lending Library”: Sustainable Princeton offers residents and nonprofits in Princeton the opportunity to borrow sustainable home items such as electric landscape equipment, induction cooktops, and repair tools, for free, for up to two weeks. Visit sustainableprinceton.org for more information.
: The American Red Cross has issued a call for emergency blood donations, particularly needed during the heat waves. Donate at 707 Alexander Road, Suite 101; MarketFair Mall; Princeton Family YMCA; and Stone Hill Church. Visit Redcrossblood.org for specific dates and times.
: Friends of Princeton Open Space holds the ninth annual Perspectives on Preservation Photo Contest with a submission deadline of September 8. Photos taken at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Open Space area can be submitted by professionals and amateurs; they must have been taken during the past three years. Visit fopos.org for more information.
Another Photo Contest : The Mercer County Library System is accepting entries through September 16 for a contest with the theme “Adventures in Mercer County Above and Beyond.” Amateur photographers only. Visit mcl.org for more information. Literacy Tutoring Program : To help adults improve their English literacy skills, volunteers are needed to work one-on-one or in small groups. Online training is available in August, September, and October. For specific dates and more information, email mercer@literacynj.org or call (609) 587-6027.
Weekday Volunteer Land Stewardship : On Thursday, August 22, join Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS) for a morning volunteer event at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Preserve. Assist with critical trail work, riparian and forest restoration, and invasive species removal. Sessions are held from 9-11a.m. Register at fopos. org/events-programs.
Volunteer for eCommuterfest : Sustainable Princeton needs helpers for the
Saturday, September 7 in the
ASSISTANCE FOR COLLEGE: A group of students who have resided in the Princeton Community Village and Griggs Farm developments were recently awarded scholarships from the National Affordable Housing Management Association and the New Jersey Affordable Housing
Cordis Center for Exceptional Leadership takes its name from the Latin for “heart of hearts,” and it is designed to be exactly that — the heart of the school.
The center is more of a reimagining than a reconstruction. Architects Hone + Associates used the existing footprint of the two floors surrounding the school’s “Stairway of Intellectuality” to modernize and centralize the space. The goal was to foster a collaborative approach to teaching courses and providing guidance related to prioritizing students’ well-being.
TOPICS Of the Town
“We really focused on breaking down the silos between all of the different student support services, which were all over the school,” said Stuart’s Head of School Julia Wall. “I’m a big believer of when you’re in close proximity, you work together. So now everything will be more synergistic. For the students to visibly see the interconnections between mind, heart, and spirit, all embedded together, it’s a shift of the mindset. It makes them more aware of how these parts of themselves are working together.”
Wall is especially enthusiastic about the way the Cor Cordis Center combines key courses into one program. An interdisciplinary wellness curriculum designed to foster social, emotional, physical, spiritual, and intellectual development has been developed for fifth to 12th grade students.
“We built a whole new curriculum around this concept of holistic health and wellness sense of being,” said Wall. “So whereas before, they would go to health and wellness class, very focused on their physical and sometimes mental health, and then go to a class speaking about equity and a sense of belonging, and then to a religion class — now all of those pieces are interwoven.”
A press release about the project details the way wellness courses will include “a
collaborative approach to teaching with topic-specific lessons taught by school counselors; the director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging; Learning Center staff, and other faculty and staff members within the Cor Cordis Center.”
Part of the impetus for the initiative came from the recognition that girls today face certain challenges that can leave them feeling persistently sad or hopeless. The press release references a 2021 youth risk behavior survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that says nearly
Cordis Center for Exceptional Leadership at Stuart Country Day School are, from left: Julia Wall, head of school at Stuart; Paul Meyer, W.S. Cumby Construction; Bill Cumby, CEO of W.S. Cumby Construction; Darren Malone, director of facilities and sustainability at Stuart; Paul Teti, co-chair of the Stuart Board of Trustees; Woodney Wachter, co-chair of the Stuart Board of Trustees; and Beth Marks, director of development at Stuart.
Cor
60 percent of teenage girls in the U.S. reported these negative feelings.
“Additional research from The Journal of Adolescent Health highlights similar findings, noting that rates of depression among teens have significantly increased in the past decade, with a more pronounced rise among girls compared to boys,” it reads. “As a school dedicated to empowering girls, Stuart sees this as a crucial call to action.”
Wall sees girls as often more emotive than boys. “And there’s room for that,” she said. “Girls are natural community builders, always looking and sensing where their spot is in the world. It’s almost a sign of maturity and intelligence, this wonder about how people are feeling.”
The holistic approach of the center is an extension of the school’s philosophy. “It has been part of Stuart’s mission and vision for 60 years to pay close attention to the interconnectedness of a child’s mind, body, and heart,” Wall is quoted in the release. “One cannot move forward without the other. This self-awareness fuels their development as curious, influential, and empathic leaders, and sustains them for lifelong ambitious pursuit. When girls figure out that a powerful leadership skill they can learn at Stuart is the ability to adapt eagerly and with resilience, the sky is their limit.”
—Anne Levin
Deadline is September 30 For Small Business Program
Mercer County small businesses have a final opportunity to apply to the Mercer County Small Businesses Investment Program before the program ends on September 30.
The Small Business Bond Marketplace (SMBX) provides financing for businesses that may not be able to receive funding through traditional banks. The company connects small businesses with investors nationwide. The investment is packaged into a loan, and the investors are repaid principal and interest over the term of the bond. This platform can be utilized by small businesses, including start-ups that lack the experience and credit to pursue traditional financing.
Mercer County allocated funding received through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to SMBX, who would manage the Small Business Investment Program and drive retail investment to Mercer County small businesses on the SMBX marketplace. These funds have kept the program free for small businesses through September 30.
A number of Mercer County small business owners have raised funds through the program. Small business owners interested in taking advantage of this program can learn more at on.thesmbx. com/mercercounty.
To qualify, the physical business must be located in Mercer County; a for-profit registered with the State of New Jersey and formed on or before April 10, 2023; have 30 employees or fewer, with part-time equating to one half a full-time employee; and less than $10 million in gross revenue.
A forum for the expression of opinions about local and national issues.
Question of the Week:
“What did you find at the yard sale today?”
(Asked Saturday at the Community Yard Sale at YWCA Princeton, held in collaboration with Princeton Human Services and Sustainable Princeton) (Photos by Sarah Teo)
“I found some shelf liners for kitchen cabinets, in several patterns and colors.”
Sandra Escamilla, Hamilton
Andrés: “A pack of dinosaurs and animals for a friend.”
Hillary: “He used some earnings from my table — we had a lot of unique items that have all sold, including a 3-foot-long wooden spoon and a Picasso dish set.”
Andrés Graterol, East Windsor, with Hillary Allen, Princeton
Priyabrata: “I found some nice children’s book titles, like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; a salad cutter for $2; art supplies; a bag of track and field cones and agility equipment; and some nice figurines, like a tiny Spider-Man that I’ll put on my bicycle.”
Paakhi: “I found this blazer, another sweater, and some books, and my mom found a bunch of nice earrings.”
Priyabrata Hota, Paakhi Hota, and Shridevi Mishra, Princeton
“I found a bunch of socks for my little 9-year-old niece. I’d assume I got 50 pairs and met the nicest family.” DeShaye Tingling, Princeton
Princeton Democrats Ramp Up for Harris, Meet for Convention Final Night Festivities
Charged up over the candidacy of Kamala Harris with only 77 days until Election Day, Princeton Democrats are hosting a Convention Night Watch Party Fundraiser this Thursday, August 22 at 7:30 p.m. They are urging supporters to “watch history in the making” on a big screen, as Harris accepts the Democratic Party’s nomination for president.
“We’re going to watch the convention from 7:30 onwards and see Kamala Harris’ acceptance speech live,” said Princeton Community Democratic Organization (PCDO) President Nick DiDomizio, who noted a significant boost in excitement over the past few weeks.
“I definitely saw a lot of enthusiasm after Biden stepped out of the race and Vice President Harris became the presumptive nominee,” DiDomizio said. “Before that there were a lot of people who were on the fence, and they weren’t willing to step in.”
Thursday’s PCDO event will be held at a private home in Princeton, DiDomizio added. Participants will receive information on the venue and other details
when they register on the PCDO website at princetondems.org or email info@ princetondems.org
“Are you fired up over the excitement generated by VP Harris and Gov. Walz as they barnstorm across the country?,” reads the PCDO email blast titled “Princeton4Harris: We Need You!” “We’re building on the momentum, raising funds for a fall HQ, and growing our volunteer outreach efforts to help elect Harris-Walz, Andy Kim, and Democrats up and down the ballot!”
DiDomizio described the changed mood as Harris took over the top spot on the Democratic Party ticket. Sunday, July 21, the day Biden announced he was stepping down and endorsing Harris, was, coincidentally, the day of the annual PCDO picnic, held this year in Grover Park.
“The energy was palpable,” said DiDomizio. “You could really feel that. You could feel a great sense of hope in the crowd. Someone wore a Kamala Harris shirt from when she ran in 2020. All these people came together and you really saw a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of people
who were really optimistic, and they were talking about what’s going to happen next.”
He continued, “I’ve definitely seen an uptick in interest, especially on social media. We have various ways for people to reach out to us, through social media or our website or email, and we’ve been getting tons and tons of inquiries about how people can help. We’re ready to take all the help we can get.”
DiDomizio explained that the PCDO has been compiling a list of volunteers and keeping them informed about events lined up for the coming weeks. The PCDO has been setting up tables in Princeton and elsewhere, registering people to vote, and letting them know about volunteering opportunities. They have also been scheduling postcard parties, writing to residents to urge them to vote.
Canvassing on the weekends, particularly in nearby Bucks County, Pa., has been a major focus for the organization. “In my opinion, that’s the most effective and fun way to reach out to voters,” said DiDomizio. “Pennsylvania is going to be the real tipping point. We’ve been organizing canvasses in Bucks County with Democrats there. We meet up here in Princeton, do a quick training, and drive over.”
DiDomizio, who has been doing canvassing and voter outreach for many years, explained that PCDO canvassers don’t just knock on random doors. Each canvasser gets a list of likely Democratic voters, mostly
Democrats and Independents. “What we’re trying to do is remind people. In our bubble of Democratic politics we think everybody knows what’s going on in this election, but there are many voters out there who are not really tuned in to the race and what’s happening. We’re just reminding them: ‘Hey, make sure you have a plan for November. And make sure you’re getting out to vote.’”
He continued, “I tend to have fantastic conversations when canvassing. It helps connect people because sometimes we stay in our bubbles, so getting out there and going to these neighborhoods, you are actually having good conversations with people, getting different perspectives.”
In addition to Bucks County, the PCDO will also be canvassing in New Jersey — in Princeton and elsewhere — for Andy Kim in his race for U.S. Senate and in the neighboring 7th Congressional District where Democrat Sue Altman is in one of the most competitive House races in the country, against incumbent Thomas H. Kean Jr. DiDomizio urged supporters, whether experienced campaigners or new to the experience, to join the PCDO, at the August 22 Convention Watch Party or in any of the various other volunteer initiatives. “You can be brand new to this,” he said. “Reach out. We have a space for you.”
Citing a certain darkness in the national mood, with “people stuck in these doom loops, scrolling on social media,” DiDomizio noted, “We’re an opportunity to turn that angst and anxiety into action, kind of a release for all that.”
—Donald Gilpin
On August 12, at 3:42 p.m., four suspects entered a retail establishment on Nassau Street and stole $11,874 in merchandise. They are described as a teenage male wearing all black clothing, white Adidas sneakers, with short dreadlocks covered by a black durag, and three females. They fled the area prior to patrol arrival.
On August 8, at 4:10 a.m., subsequent to a motor vehicle stop on Witherspoon Street, a 34-year-old female from Princeton was placed under arrest for driving while intoxicated. She was transported to police headquarters where she was processed, charged accordingly, and released.
On August 7, at 3:43 p.m., a witness reported a burglary in progress by two males on Terhune Road. One was described as in his 20s, thin build, average height, wearing a yellow jacket with a hood, black shorts, and sneakers. The second was described as his in mid-20s, thin build, average height, wearing a black shirt, black shorts, and sneakers. They fled the area prior to gaining entry to the home, and before patrol arrival.
On July 31 at 6:42 p.m., subsequent to a National Crime Information Center lookup, a 54-year-old Trenton male was found to be a wanted person out of the Montgomery County, Pa., Sheriff’s Office, the Pennsylvania Adult Probation Office, and the Princeton
Police Department. He also had numerous warrants for his arrest from several Mercer County N.J. Municipal Courts. He was also found to be in possession of stolen property from a retail store on North Harrison Street, as well as drug paraphernalia. He was placed under arrest, processed, charged accordingly, and turned over to the custody of Mercer County Correctional Center.
On July 20, at 2:29 p.m., it was reported that a residence on Fleming Way was burglarized, with a reported $1,000 in property stolen. The Detective Bureau is investigating.
On July 27, at 11:49 a.m., subsequent to a report of a shoplifting in progress at a retail location on Nassau Street, a 44-year-old female from Albany, N.Y., and a 27-year-old female from Brooklyn, N.Y., were placed under arrest for shoplifting. They were processed, charged accordingly, and released.
On July 27, at 10:27 p.m., an unknown individual entered a residence on Springdale Road and stole $171,125 worth of property. The Detective Bureau is investigating. Unless noted, individuals arrested were later released.
his many
Landon Jones
continued from page one University president’s office in Nassau Hall.
“He invited me to write an obituary of Harry Hess, the eminent professor and geologist,” McVay recalled. “He also published a science article I wrote in the PAW. Those were my two closest connections with him at that time.”
McVay noted that Jones was the lead recruiter for speakers at weekly meetings of The Old Guard of Princeton, an organization of retired or semiretired men and women who live in or near the town. “He brought in over 100 speakers for the more than 200 members who I’d call lifelong learners,” McVay said. “Once he said, ‘I used to be a writer and editor, and now I’m an introducer for The Old Guard.’ ” In a PAW article from
December 11, 2020, Jones detailed a meeting with Princess Diana that led to her agreeing to collaborate on a charity event for Pediatric AIDS in the U.S. Jones served as one of her escorts for the gala in Chicago.
“The princess was charming, witty, charismatic, compassionate, and totally professional,” Jones wrote. “The palace said I could have the first dance with her, provided I met three conditions. First, I had to be a good dancer. Check! Second, I had to be happily married. Check! Third, I had to be 6’ tall. Oh, well.”
In the end, they raised $1.4 million for the charity.
“That story he told on himself helps to understand who he was,” said McVay. “He had great capacity as a storyteller.”
—Anne Levin
NJDEP Proposes Rules
To Improve Resilience
New Jersey is experiencing frequent and intense impacts of the climate crisis with both increased flooding and heat. On August 6, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) proposed land use rules that will modernize regulations requiring that all new development and redevelopment improves resilience to climate change.
“We need long-term solutions to address flooding and defend families and businesses from the extreme destruction taking place in our coastal communities due to more frequent and intense storms from climate change. That’s why releasing the NJPACT rules for coastal communities is so important,” said Ed Potosnak, executive d irector, New Jersey League of Conservation Voters. “Frequent flooding from severe storms is causing millions of dollars in property damage, snarling traffic, threatening clean drinking water, and endangering lives, and the problem is only getting worse. Governor Murphy promised bold solutions to protect communities and we want to thank him and his administration for taking action by publishing the NJPACT rules to safeguard coastal communities.”
The 90-day public comment period for the NJPACT REAL rules is currently open, and three public hearings are scheduled through September. The NJDEP has one year from the date of proposal publication to adopt the rules.
“We’re excited to have
New Jersey making bold moves in the face of climate change with the release of the proposed NJPACT Resilient Environments and Landscapes (REAL) rules. Too often, short-term and shortsighted economic gains for special interests take a front seat in our development decisions. Stormwater flooding and poor water quality already affect our residents and small businesses,” said Nicole Miller, Chair, Newark Green Team and member, Newark Environmental Commission. “These hazards are only expected to worsen as the effects from climate change intensify. Hopefully with NJPACT REAL rules in effect, New Jersey will first consider the lives and livelihoods of our residents and small businesses as decisions for development are made. We must have long-term thinking for the climate problems that will affect the state both now and for generations to come.”
“Blistering heat waves, severe thunderstorms, and damaging floods are clear signs that our environment is ailing. We must reverse the degradation of our environment, which is placing New Jersey’s residents and economy at risk. Wetlands are vital in absorbing flood waters, filtering out pollution, and providing essential fish and wildlife habitat,” said Jim Waltman, executive director, The Watershed Institute in Pennington. “The REAL rules will demand that before we destroy additional wetlands, we investigate whether such destruction is truly necessary or whether there are viable alternatives to the proposed action. The
REAL rules also require that when old development sites are re-developed into new uses, we seize the opportunity to pull back from the wetlands and better address polluted stormwater runoff. To reduce flooding and water pollution, NJDEP should move as expeditiously as possible to adopt the REAL rule.”
“We applaud Commissioner LaTourette and Governor Murphy for taking a historic step in building a more resilient New Jersey,” said Barbara Brummer, New Jersey State Director of The Nature Conservancy. “Prioritizing sound science and proactive planning is critical to building a state that can adapt to the growing impacts of climate change. What we do today will determine how both people and wildlife are protected tomorrow and for generations to come.”
“New Jersey communities across the State are regularly experiencing climate change extremes. We have
too much water and flash flooding except for when we don’t have enough water and we have drought. These extremes are only going to get worse for the foreseeable future. We need to take action now so that we stop putting people, businesses, and essential infrastructure in places that we know are going to flood,” said Jennifer M. Coffey, executive director, Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC). “Using scientific data to inform land use regulations and change the way and places we build to reflect the climate change impacts that are happening will make us more resilient. We need to become both stronger and smarter than future storms. We need NJDEP to adopt these rules quickly.”
The
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.
A FRIEND TO MANY: Landon Jones, shown here in his younger years, is remembered by friends for
unique qualities. (Photo courtesy of the Jones family)
A Note of GRADitude
Thank you to the amazing Princeton community for making us feel so welcome. We are so grateful for your patience as you’ ve watched us come to life, and we hope you ’ ll think it was worth the wait. It ’s an honor to be here in your historic town, and to do our small part in sharing the stories, traditions, and legends that make Princeton so extraordinary.
We mean it when we say we want our hotel to be a living room of the community, and a space for all to enjoy. So come on in, make yourself comfortable. Our doors are always open, and we can’ t wait to welcome you.
Fall Virus Season continued from page one vaccine clinic schedule, which will include locations throughout town including the Center for Modern Aging Princeton, the Princeton Public Library, municipal offices, and private clinics for various organizations.
“Flu vaccine will be the primary offering at each clinic unless otherwise noted,” Grosser said. “Similar to previous years, the health department’s public health nursing staff will be providing homebound COVID-19 shots for those unable to get to their doctors’ offices or other clinics.”
Dr. David Herman, medical director, infectious disease, at Penn Medicine Princeton Health, added, “COVID-19, like flu, changes. There will be an updated vaccine this fall which will be more effective against currently circulating strains and is recommended for everyone if it has been four to six months since the last COVID-19 vaccine or infection.”
As Princeton heads into the fall, Grosser reiterated, “Our advice on the upcoming flu, RSV, and COVID seasons is to get vaccinated.” Flu cases tend to pick up in January and begin to subside in late March, while RSV cases generally reach their peak in December and January, he added.
The CDC recommends RSV vaccines for adults ages 60 to 74 years who are at increased risk of severe RSV and for everyone aged 75 and older, said Grosser. Adults ages 60 to 74 are at increased risk if they have certain medical conditions,
such as chronic heart or lung disease, a weakened immune system, or live in a nursing home or long term care center. If the RSV vaccine is recommended for you, the best time to get vaccinated is late summer or early fall.
In addition to getting vaccinated, Grosser emphasized that staying healthy begins with planning and choices. “Eat healthy, wash your hands, stay home from school/work if you’re not feeling well, and get enough sleep,” he wrote in an email. “All of these items are sometimes easier said than done which is why we advocate for planning. Plan to get a flu shot, plan or schedule a time for yourself for physical/mental workouts, etc.”
Grosser also praised the public health nurse team at the health department and the school nurses for their crucial role in helping Princeton to stay healthy.
—Donald Gilpin
Rider Furniture
Farminary at Princeton Seminary Continues
Dinners, Discussions
The Farminary at Princeton Theological Seminary continues its First Thursdays at the Farm series through November. The dinner series at Princeton Theological Seminary’s 21-acre farm features speakers and intimate dinners designed to generate meaningful conversation.
The cost is $125 per person. Register at ptsem.edu/event.
On Thursday, September 5 from 6 to 8 p.m., Elaine T. James presents “A Fresh Take on Freshwater Crises: How the Old Testament Sheds New Light.”
James is associate professor of Old Testament, having joined the faculty in 2019. She is the author of An Invitation to Biblical Poetry (Oxford University Press, 2021) and Landscapes of the Song of Songs: Poetry and Place (Oxford University Press, 2017). Her work focuses on the literature of the Hebrew Bible, especially its poetry, examining its significance in ancient contexts and its legacies for the contemporary world. Guiding her research are questions about how aesthetic practices shape religious experience and theological thought. She is particularly interested in ancient concepts of ecology, art and creativity, and gender.
and catering services.
The series continues on Thursday, October 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. with “Good Trouble: The Intersections of Religion, Microbiology, Ecology and Race,” offered by Aminah Al-Attas Bradford, an Arab American scholar of religion and Christian thought currently serving as a postdoctoral research fellow at North Carolina State University. From the lab, Bradford co-organizes an interdisciplinary, international group of scholars, artists and activists who explore “big ideas” through multiple lenses, including public health, industry, fermentation, human futures and climate change adaptation. She is currently writing a theology of human holobionts to reconfigure religious ways of knowing and reflecting the divine as symbiotic to cultivate ecological empathy and antiracist postures in the Eurowestern Church. Bradford is also the director of the Center for Wellbeing and Contemplative Practice and the college chaplain at Salem College and partners with the Berggruen Institute where she collaborates to develop nonathropocentric multispecies ways of governing.
industrial farming, and has worked as a farm hand, cook, teacher, CSA and farm store coordinator, micro-farm manager, and event planner until founding her business Autumn Olive Food Works in 2016. Autumn Olive Food Works is a hyper local specialty catering, personal chef, and cooking class, and event business highlighting locally grown ingredients, global inspiration, and nostalgic reverence, in order to create meaningful and nourishing food experiences.
The series concludes November 7. For more information, visit ptsem.edu.
“Scarecrow Season” Coming To Peddler’s Village
Peddler’s Village, the shopping, dining, lodging, and entertainment destination in Bucks County, Pa., will launch its annual “Scarecrow Season” with three main events: Scarecrows in the Village, a display of more than 100 handmade creations; a Scarecrow Festival on September 14 and 15; and scarecrow-making workshops that begin during the festival and continue on September 21 and September 28.
and eateries, visit the indoor family entertainment center known as Giggleberry Fair, and stroll on winding paths through seasonal landscaping. Guests can also stay overnight at the on-site Golden Plough Inn, a charming hotel with more than 60 rooms, many of which have recently been renovated.
The free Scarecrows in the Village competition and display showcases dozens of scarecrows created by Philadelphia area residents, organizations, and Village shops. All members of the public are invited to participate. Registration for the competition, which awards cash prizes up to $300, is open through September 2. Beginning September 9, guests can cast their vote for their favorite scarecrows via the Peddler’s Village mobile app or by picking up a paper ballot at the Visitor and Event Center. Voting ends October 14.
“Where quality still matters.” 4621 Route 27 Kingston, NJ 609-924-0147
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James earned her Ph.D. and M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary. She previously served as associate professor of theology at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minn.
Chef Margo Carner is the chef and founder of Fridge2Table, providing personal chef
Chef Gabby Aron is the chef and founder of Autumn Olive Food Works. She is a first-generation Sicilian Jewish American, born in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, N.Y., where vegetables were grown in urban backyards. She began her food career as a farmer in 2010 after learning the dangerous social and ecological impacts of
Other events taking place in September at the Lahaska, Pa., destination include a free pet photography exhibit, an Autumn Wedding Show, a free outdoor movie, a murder mystery dinner show, a Food Truck Thursday, a meeting of the Peddler’s Village Book Club, and a terrarium-making workshop.
Every day, visitors can explore 60 specialty shops and boutiques, enjoy dining experiences at restaurants
On Saturday, September 14 and Sunday, September 15, Peddler’s Village will host its Scarecrow Festival, an autumn weekend featuring scarecrow workshops, live music, pumpkin painting, activities, and outdoor food and drinks. Pre-registr ation for the scarecrow workshops is strongly encouraged as walk-in opportunities will be limited. Workshops include a designated space, materials, and step-by-step instructions to create a lifesize scarecrow to take home. Guests unable to attend the Scarecrow Festival can also register for workshops on September 21 and 28. Visit peddlersvillage.com for details.
Artwork by Nicole Steacy
Clock by Rustic Mountain Chic Tote by Stay Wild Co.
Earrings by Louminous Design Watch by Terra-Time
Princeton Montessori’s Parenting Podcasts
Offer Practical Advice, Creative Solutions
Young children and their parents might find levels of excitement, anticipation, and anxiety rising as August winds down and the last weeks of summer approach, but Princeton Montessori School (PMonts) has a plan.
PMonts has initiated “Growing Together: A Montessori Approach to Parenting,” a series of podcasts of about 20 minutes each that will be addressing topics and challenges such as back-toschool separation, sleeping, eating, potty training, discipline, social-emotional issues, friendships, and more.
PMonts teachers, who will provide expert commentary on these podcasts, have found that these issues are of greatest interest to parents of their students.
“We are excited to launch our parenting podcast to share how the Montessori approach to parenting can be so beneficial for both parents and children,” wrote PMonts Head of School Andrea O’Brian in an email. “The podcast is an extension of our school and showcases the expertise of our Montessori-credentialed teachers, who are trained specifically for the age group they teach.”
The opening podcast, a timely one as opening day approaches, is titled “Smooth Drop-Offs: Helping Your Child Transition to School,” and it features a conversation between podcast host Katie Sullivan, who is marketing and communications director at PMonts, and Lower School Montessori Coach Lori Evans, who provides some of the best strategies for easing the transition to school for parent and child, as well as coping with the inevitable separation anxiety.
Sullivan discussed how Montessori-based strategies presented in these podcasts can help parents in facing so many different challenges in working with their children. “Montessori is something that people often hear, but they really don’t know what it means,” she said. “This is a way to demystify the concept of Montessori, in the context of parenting.”
She went on to point out the origin of the idea of creating parenting podcasts, noting how parents of Montessori children often rely on the Montessori teachers for tips and advice in facing many common parenting concerns.
“We thought, ‘What a great idea. We can bring this to the masses and certainly to the greater Princeton community, so people can have a way to peek
inside and hear what we do,’” she said. “We thought this would be a great offering to the community and a way to give back.” There will be a total of nine or ten episodes, about once a month during the school year.
Sullivan emphasized that Montessori strategies are particularly applicable for parents who are eager to promote the child’s independence, supporting the “whole child.” “Montessori is about respecting the child and allowing the child to lead and to lead where they’re interested in learning. It’s about following the child and helping them explore and develop at their own pace.”
Sullivan’s son and daughter attended Princeton Montessori throughout their early elementary years. She praised the expertise of the PMonts teachers in issues of education in the classroom and beyond.
“These teachers guided me and my children through potty training and all of these development milestones,” she said.“They knew my children so well that I could really lean on them as people who were helping me raise my children. It really was the village that you crave and it’s so hard to find in these modern times. Their expertise was unmatched.”
During the course of the school year the “Growing Together” podcasts will be covering “the bread and butter parenting topics,” Sullivan said, “but they’re really valuable, especially to an audience with younger children.” She added that social-emotional issues, concerns with social media, and other topics suitable for older children would be included in the podcasts later in the year.
O’Brian pointed out that the podcasts are also a reminder that a Princeton Montessori education goes beyond academics to address children’s entire wellbeing. “Aspects like socialemotional learning, peace education, practical life skills, conflict resolution, executive functioning, and building self-confidence are all critical components of our learning environment,” she said. “Beyond an exceptional education, we strive to partner with families to instill a strong sense of self in our students so they can truly reach their fullest potential.”
The first “Growing Together” podcast on “Smooth Drop-Offs” is currently available at princetonmontessori. org/princeton-montessorischool-podcast.
—Donald Gilpin
Akin Care Senior Services Announces New Ownership
Akin Care Senior Services has announced its new ownership under Gyan Singh and Garima Gaur. This transition marks new new chapter for the senior care provider, as Singh and Gaur bring their passion for compassionate care and personal commitment to improving the lives of seniors in the Princeton community.
Akin Care Senior Services has been a provider of senior care in Princeton, offering a range of services designed to support the well-being and independence of older adults. The company has a commitment to personalized and compassionate care.
Singh and Gaur, residents of Princeton, made the decision to acquire Akin Care Senior Services stemming from a shared dedication to enhancing the quality of life for seniors, a commitment they have demonstrated through their own family care experiences.
Singh’s background is in pharmaceuticals, and Gaur is known for her work with her nonprofit foundation. Both have both witnessed firsthand the impact of quality care on loved ones. This personal insight has fueled their mission to provide exceptional support and services to the senior community.
“Our goal is to build upon the strong foundation laid by the previous owners and ensure that every senior receives the care and attention they deserve,” said Gaur. “We at Akin Care Senior Services believe that every individual deserves personalized care and respect, and we are committed to making that a reality.”
“I am thrilled to have Gyan and Garima join our Akin Care family and look forward to continuing the tradition of excellence that we are known for,” said Sheli Monacchio, executive director of Akin Care Senior Services. “Our office team and caregivers are remaining in place, and we will continue to exceed our clients’
expectations honoring those we serve.”
Singh and Gaur are eager to introduce innovative programs and services that will further enhance the wellbeing of their clients. Visit akincare.com or contact Monachio at (609) 994-5320 for further information.
Princeton-Blairstown Center CEO Announces Retirement
After more than 10 years heading the PrincetonBlairstown Center (PBC), President and CEO Pam Gregory has announced her intention to retire, effective December 31.
Gregory joined PBC during a time of significant change for the 100+-year-old organization. It had just transitioned from being a support organization of Princeton University to a stand-alone, independent nonprofit. This required her to develop new policies and procedures, recruit new board members, and find new office space.
In addition to rebuilding this “100-year-old startup” organization, Gregory rethought the programs PBC was offering to young people from historically marginalized communities. As a result, the award-winning Summer
Bridge Program was born.
Summer Bridge returned PBC to its historical roots by providing equity and access to high-quality outdoor education at no cost for young people from historically marginalized communities. Summer Bridge has received the New York Life Excellence in Summer Learning Founder’s Award and was a featured program of the Wallace Foundation during their coverage of post-pandemic out-ofschool-time programs supporting underserved students. To date, more than 2,600 students from Trenton, Newark, Camden, and New York City have participated.
Another of Gregory’s program innovations is the Venture Out Program, a 30-hour overnight environmental education program for middle school students in Trenton public schools. Recognizing that students from surrounding local districts often have a capstone trip during middle school, Gregory knew
that students in Trenton did not have the same opportunity. Venture Out is offered completely free of charge to schools with an environmental education curriculum that is aligned with NJ State science standards for sixth and seventh grade students.
Gregory also kept the 268acre Blairstown Campus as a priority. She worked closely with the Center’s longtime facilities director to oversee the renovation and updating of several buildings on campus, including sustainability features such as geothermal and solar energy.
“PBC has seen growth and stability during Pam’s tenure,” said Board Chair Shawn Maxam. “She has developed award-winning programs, created important structure for the Board, and established a talented team that is passionate about the mission. We are grateful for all she has given to the young people PBC serves and wish her all the best in her next adventure.”
SUSTAINABILITY AND SHARING: Delegates from the U.S.-Taiwan Eco-Campus Partnership Program visited Princeton Public Schools on August 14. The visitors were mainly elementary and junior high school principals, university professors, and policy experts who are currently developing Taiwan’s national environmental education policy. (Photo courtesy of Princeton Public Schools)
Graduate Hotel
continued from page one specifically with the town that it lives in. He wanted a presence in Princeton for a long time. He searched for the right location and got it.”
In 20 Nassau Street, a former office building that dates from 1918, Weprin found what he was looking for. The building was renovated while smaller structures behind it on Chambers Street were demolished to make room for new construction. The Princeton University connection is everywhere in the Gothic-inspired lobby, starting with four wooden tiger statues that flank the reception desk. Vintage jackets from the annual Reunions celebrations, a 30-foot study table, and floor tiles in the school’s signature orange and black are all part of the décor. The names of the University’s famed eating clubs are painted in gold leaf atop the cases that hold stacks and stacks of books.
“They’re real books, every one of them,” said Monarca. “Some of them are great
classics. We encourage people to take a book down, read it, and hopefully put it back. It livens up the space. We’ve already had people sitting there with their morning coffee or a cocktail, and read. I saw somebody with War and Peace the other day.”
While the demolition and construction process took longer than expected and created traffic headaches, the inconveniences seem to have been forgiven.
“People say it was worth the wait and it’s great for the town,” said Monarca. “Someone who was here for breakfast the other day said, ‘You guys already have a vibe.’ So that was nice to hear.”
The affable Monarca makes it a point to talk to people visiting the hotel. His impressive resume includes Marriott, Ian Schrager’s Edition Hotels, and the Ritz-Carlton on New York’s Central Park South. He has lived in Princeton with partner Aziz El Badaoui, who owns the popular Casa Aziz Salon on Hulfish Street, since 2010.
“We had been together for three years at that point, and I was commuting to New York. It wasn’t a whole lot of fun,” said Monarca. “Being here, having my years with Callaway, allowed me to not only get to know Princeton physically, but to know how to partner with the community. And that’s important in this new venture at The Graduate.”
Asked about competition with the Nassau Inn, Monarca said it isn’t an issue. “Lori [Rabon, general manager] and I have had several conversations. We see each other as partners. There are
plenty of guests for both of us. They were very supportive, and we’re grateful for that. They built the hotel in 1937, and we’re happy to be their little sibling.”
Welcoming the local community is a key element of the equation. The hotel has already hosted some local musicians, and Monarca is talking to bands he met at the annual Porchfest music event this past April. Plans may also include appearances by the University’s a cappella groups.
“We don’t have it all programmed out yet, but we’re going to keep doing things,” said Monarca. “There will always be little surprises here. We want it to be a fun, freeflowing experience for everyone, where you never know what you’re going to get.”
—Anne Levin
Week of Free Rides
On NJ Transit Network
On Thursday, August 15, Gov. Phil Murphy announced a transit fare holiday for all customers from August 26 through September 2. During this period, fares will be waived for all modes of transportation, offering free rides across the NJ Transit network as a “Thank You” to the hundreds of thousands of customers who depend on public transit.
Monthly pass holders who have already purchased an August pass, which covers travel through the end of the month, will automatically receive a 25 percent discount on their September monthly pass purchase through the mobile app, at ticket vending machines (TVMs), or ticket windows.
“The fare holiday is a way to express sincere appreciation for customers’ continued loyalty and patronage, particularly during a time when transit service has not consistently met their expectations — or our own,” reads a press release. “NJ Transit recognizes the impacts these service issues have had over the past few months and remains committed to improving the travel experience for transit customers.”
“Understanding that our commuters have faced many disruptions this summer, we are providing a one-week fare holiday for NJ Transit riders,” said Murphy. “As we work diligently with Amtrak to investigate and address the issues that have occurred this summer, especially on the Northeast Corridor, we hope this fare holiday offers our commuters some relief. We also
encourage New Jerseyans to take advantage of this opportunity, and we continue to be thankful to the many New Jerseyans who depend on public transit.”
Many of the recent service disruptions have occurred on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. NJ Transit has been working to advance the joint plan with Amtrak announced immediately following Murphy’s meeting with NJ Transit and Amtrak leadership on June 27 to improve service on this critical rail line — the busiest corridor in the country.
“While the root causes of these incidents have not yet been identified, significant short-term actions have already been taken and there has been noteworthy progress, reads the release. “NJ Transit personnel have increased equipment inspections on platforms, while Amtrak has stepped up its efforts in inspecting and repairing their catenary (overhead wire), track signal systems, and substations along the NEC. These collaborative efforts have already led to a noticeable decrease in infrastructure-related incidents.”
Additional longer-term actions to address state-
of-good-repair of Amtrak infrastructure, include adding resources to increase testing of transformers in substations and evaluating opportunities to expand work windows with service adjustments to accelerate repairs and upgrades. In addition, NJ Transit is working with Amtrak to support overall capital renewal by pursuing additional grants to expedite the replacement of catenary, substations, and transmission and signal lines, through the Fed-State Partnership Grant Program. NJ Transit also recognizes that the River Line light rail service has not been meeting its performance standards over the last several weeks. NJ Transit implemented a supplemental bus plan as an interim measure to improve service reliability and predictability for customers traveling on weekdays.
“At the same time, we are holding NJ Transit’s contracted operator accountable to expedite necessary repairs and upgrades to the light rail vehicles to restore reliable weekday light rail service as quickly as possible,” the release says. For more information about the fare holiday, visit njtransit.com.
Michael Monarca
Friends of Lawrence Library
Hold September Book Sale
Shop the Friends of the Lawrence Library September Book Sale for thousands of used, gently-read books for readers of all ages. The sale opens to the general public on Friday, September 27, at 10 a.m. and ends on Monday, September 30 at 2 p.m. at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch of the Mercer County Library System, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence Township. Payment is by cash or check only.
A special Early Admission event will be held on Thursday, September 26 from 1 to 4 p.m. Entry to the Early Admission is free for current members of the Friends of the Lawrence Library, $5 for the general public, and $20 for patrons with scanners. This event is the only time scanning devices will be permitted.
Beginning Friday, September 27, at 10 a.m., entry to the sale is free and open to the general public. No scanning devices will be allowed.
The book sale will be open Friday and Saturday, September 28 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sunday, September 29, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.; and Monday, September 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday and Monday will be $5 a bag. Bring your own bag.
Mercer County Executive Dan Benson said, “Whether you’re a collector or just learning to read, the Friends of the Lawrence Library September Book Sale is a great opportunity to find the perfect book at a bargain price,all while supporting the incredible work of the Lawrence Library.”
Book donations for the Friends of the Lawrence Library book sale are being accepted at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch. Proceeds from the book sale fund programs and other library services that benefit library patrons of all ages. For more information about the library and its programs, call (609) 883-8294 or visit mcl.org.
Newsstand Town Topics
Can be purchased Wednesday mor nings at the following locations:
Princeton McCaffrey’s
Kiosk Palmer Square
Speedy Mar t (State Road)
Hopewell Village Express
The Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice presents a Drag Queen Story Hour on Sunday, August 25 at 11 a.m. to commemorate and celebrate the anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington.
A porch book signing event with Kintnersville, Pa., resident Steve Badman, author of The Favor, will be held at the Frenchtown Bookshop on Saturday, August 31 from 12 to 2 p.m.
The Favor (Imzadi Publishing, $31.99) is a crime thriller in which a law-abiding family man must find a way to save himself and his family when a favor he owes from decades earlier is called in. The book was published on August 13.
The shop is at 28 Bridge Street in Frenchtown.
Princeton www.tortugasmv.com
924-5143
ADVERTISING SALES
Witherspoon Media Group is looking for an advertising Account Manager to generate sales for our luxury magazines, newspaper, and digital business.
•
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• The author worked in in residential construction as a self-employed carpenter and general contractor. This experience afforded him the opportunity to witness all kinds of people, learn and appreciate their passions and quirks, and apply those traits to the characters that he writes about, says the publisher. More information on the free event can be found at frenchtownbookshop.com.
The ideal candidate will:
Establish new and grow key accounts and maximize opportunities for each publication, all websites, and all digital products.
Collaborate with the sales and management team to develop growth opportunities.
Prepare strategic sales communications and presentations for both print and digital.
Develop industry-based knowledge and understanding, including circulation, audience, readership, and more.
Prepare detailed sales reports for tracking current customers’ activity and maintain pipeline activity using our custom CRM system.
Positions are full- and part-time and based out of our Kingston, N.J. office. Track record of developing successful sales strategies and knowledge of print and digital media is a plus.
Compensation is negotiable based on experience. Fantastic benefits and a great work environment.
Please submit cover letter and resume to: lynn.smith@princetonmagazine.com melissa.bilyeu@witherspoonmediagroup.com
Wawa (Universit y Place)
Rocky Hill Wawa (Rt 518) Pennington Pennington Market
The story hour will feature the children’s book Unstoppable, published last year by Little Bee Books, about the march’s chief organizer Bayard Rustin. This event is presented by the Center’s “defenders of the right to read” and hosted by Drag Queen in Residence Harmonica Sunbeam at the Bayard Rustin Center for
The Bayard Rustin Center is a dedicated Queer safe-space, community activist hub, and educational bridge for LGBTQIA youth, intersectional families, and all marginalized individuals across the spectrum, dedicated to preserving the life and legacy of Bayard Rustin by offering innovative allinclusive support initiatives, programs, and events hosted at the Princeton headquarters and at various partner centers across the nation. For more information, visit rustincenter.org.
Social Justice, 12 Stockton Street.
review
Reading Stan Getz With J.D. Salinger and Gary Giddins
The first of many things I didn’t know about tenor saxophonist Stan Getz is that I was going to be writing about him today. In February 1954 when he was arrested for holding up a Seattle drugstore, I was shocked. I was 15, just getting into jazz, and I admired Getz for his moody, lyrical playing with guitarist Johnny Smith on “Moonlight in Vermont” and for his passionate solos with the Count Basie rhythm section and an all-star cast in Jam Session 3. Eventually I came to know him best for his work on Diz and Getz, with Dizzy Gillespie, a session that had been recorded in Los Angeles three months before his arrest.
Had I known the whole story of what happened in Seattle at the time — that Getz fumbled the hold-up, fled to his room at the hotel across the street, and called the drugstore to apologize — I wouldn’t have appreciated it as much as I do now, three decades after his death. If I find myself responding to Getz’s plight Holden-Caulfield-style, as in “it killed me,” maybe it’s because it happened around the time The Catcher in the Rye came into my life. The whole thing seemed so Holden Caulfield, so J.D. Salinger. Sure, even if old Holden had been a drug addict, he’d have never been crazy enough to hold up a drugstore claiming he had a gun and then running away as soon as the woman behind the counter called his bluff. And if Holden was telling the story, it would have killed him that the lady’s name was Mary and that the first thing Getz said to her when she answered the phone was “I’m sorry for the crazy thing I did. I’ve never done anything like that before.”
His Life’s Story
It also kills me that when the cop who was listening in, tracing the call, pretending to be a doctor, asked about his addiction, Getz “blurted out his life’s story,” which is something else I didn’t know until I looked it up on Wikipedia: that Getz was born Stanley Gayetski, in Philadelphia, February 2, 1927 (which meant he turned 27 10 days before his arrest); that he was the son of a Ukrainian Jewish immigrant who bought him his first saxophone when he was 12, after the family had moved to the Bronx; that he dropped out of James Monroe High at 16 and joined Jack Teagarden’s band (becoming Teagarden’s ward because of his age); and that he was still in his teens when he got hooked on hard drugs. Finally, the most Salingeresque summary of Getz’s story comes from tenor man Zoot Sims, his “Four Brothers” colleague in Woody
Herman’s band. Said Zoot: “Stan Getz? Nice bunch of guys.”
Early Autumn
If you really want to know about it, as Holden would say, this column actually began when my son was complaining about the hot heavy summer and I said “Maybe we’ll have an early autumn.” Those two innocent everyday words sent me to YouTube, typing “Early Autumn,” a song that hadn’t surfaced since Eisenhower was president. Two minutes into the three-plus-minutes of the Woody HermanRalph Burns composition, Stan Getz plays the eight bar solo that, legend has it, made him famous, or at least, as Gary Giddins says in Visions of Jazz , “put him at the foot of the summit.”
Something famousmaking does seem to be brewing when Getz plays the solo, quietly, subtly, hauntingly, as casual as a walk in the woods, yet so fluent, so right in itself on its dreamy way to the coda that ends the record like a life lived in 15 seconds.
Prose and Jazz
heard him play for the first time and offered him “a benediction of five words that Getz forever treasured: ‘Nice eyes, Pres. Carry on.’”
Having called Getz “one of the uncompromising stylists of his time,” Giddins conjures up a “fervor of well-being, candlelight intimacy, and flaming youth, all strenthened by a capacity to peer into the void.” After that uncanny view from the summit come solos “that are often giddily discursive nightmares of melodic fragments.” Given the world of possibilities put in play by those cadenzas where prose and jazz coalesce, you know what Zoot Sims meant with his “nice bunch of guys.”
Among the pleasures of Visions of Jazz is the author›s knack for highlighting the quintessential comment, like the night that Getz’s idol Lester “the Pres” Young
Knowing the Lyric Getz was no doubt familiar with Lester Young’s belief in attending to the lyrics of the songs you’re exploring. The “dance pavilion in the rain all shuttered down” and “winding country lane all russet brown” of “Early Autumn” have serious resonance for me. Put simply, they kill me. First, there’s my best friend, who died in the late autumn of 2020 and was so enamoured of the lyric that he began a novel with it. Then there’s the southern Indiana college town that he and I grew up in, a town whose jazz roots go back to Hoagy Carmichael and Bix Beiderbecke. Then there’s the memory of high school nights sitting side by side with Gene Sherman, who played jazz on “Sherman’s March” from 10 to 1 over WTTS in Bloomington, which is where I first saw Woody Herman’s Third Herd, albeit without Getz, who had moved on. Sherman’s hip DJ charisma derived from the story that he had known and even roomed with Stan Getz during his days as an advance man for Woody’s Second Herd. Basie at 120 Sometimes I think of myself as a DJ at WTT (for Town Topics), trying out playlists that often go beyond the bounds of probability, as in the previous week’s lineup of Taylor Swift, Wim Wenders, and Shakespeare. For a Basie Birthday Broadcast, today being Count Basie’s 120th, I’d play something from every incarnation of the band, including the small group of the early 1950s featuring trumpeter Clark Terry and tenor saxophonist Wardell Gray, whose impact on my life has been the subject of more
than one column here. At the top of my playlist is the triple-encore show piece, “April in Paris,” wherein the whole band, spearheaded by the formidable Basie brass, transforms the three little words of the title into something Herman Melville might have called “Yes in Thunder.” Once again it’s Gary Giddins who provides the necessary commentary, quoting Basie’s “I wanted those four trumpets and three trombones to bite with real guts.” According to Giddins, “When the ensemble locked gears, it had the force of a steam engine, and audiences gasped with pleasure,” thrilled by “the range between shaking fortissimos and barely audible sighs.... The Swing Era was history, but Basie was in flower. Along with Ellington, Herman, and Kenton, he kept the game alive.”
Getz the Reader
Surely at some point during his tumultuous, poll-winning career, Stan Getz, the self-described Jewish boy from the Bronx, read The Catcher in the Rye . While I haven’t been able to uncover evidence that he ever read Salinger, I did find something worth mentioning in Joseph Hooper’s June 1991 New York Times Magazine article, “Stan Getz Through the Years.” Based on an interview with Getz the previous summer in his “plush suite” at the Parker Meridien Hotel, after a Carnegie Hall concert, Hooper pictures Getz stretched out on his bed, “exhausted, chain-smoking Gauloise cigarettes,” his face “as round and devoid of malice as a baby’s.” After referring to “all the records and accolades and triumphant concerts at Carnegie Hall,” Hooper inadvertently echoes young Seymour Glass in Hapworth 16, 1924, observing “just how well preserved that touchy, insecure kid is.” At this point, Hooper takes note of “a few of the books Getz is packing for a European tour” — William Faulkner’s Go Down, Moses , Octavio Paz’s Labyrinth of Solitude , and Samuel Beckett’s Murphy. Gazing at the books, Getz says, “See what the kid from the Bronx is reading.”
Timing
Toward the end of the article, after observing how Getz “has charmed and bullied his cancer into temporary submission,” Hooper writes, “Today anything is possible. Other days, other moods,” Getz is “less sanguine,” saying, “The miracle can stop being a miracle in the time it takes to die.” According to a note at the end of the online article, “On Thursday, after the magazine had gone to press, Mr. Getz died at the age of 64.”
—Stuart Mitchner
Performing Arts
Scottish Folk Rock Group
Coming to Christ Church
The Princeton Folk Music Society opens its 2024-25 season with the Scottish folk rock group The Tannahill Weavers, coming to Christ Congregation Church on Friday, September 20 at 8 p.m.
The band features a combination of traditional melodies, driving rhythmic accompaniment, and threepart vocal harmonies. They are known for being the first Scottish folk group to incorporate an instrument long thought to be too loud to play with other traditional folk instruments: the highland pipes.
Roy Gullane (guitar and lead vocals) and Phil Smillie (flute, whistles, bodhran, and harmony vocals) formed the band in Paisley, Scotland, as the traditional folkrock movement was getting started in 1968. The band now also includes Iain MacGillivray (highland bagpipes, fiddle, and whistles) and Malcolm Bushby (fiddle, bouzouki, and harmony vocals).
McGillivray, who is the clan leader of Clan MacGillivray, comes from a piping family. Both his grandfather and father are former world champions.
The band is named for the Scottish poet Robert Tannahill (1774-1810), who was known as the “Weaver Poet.” They have recorded several of his songs.
Christ Church is at 50 Walnut Lane. Tickets are $25 ($20 for members; $10 for students), available online or at the door if not sold out. Visit princetonfolk.org.
Don McLean to Appear At State Theatre NJ State Theatre New Jersey presents Don McLean — Starry Starry Night Tour on Saturday, September 21 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $34-$89.
McLean is a Grammy Award honoree, a Songwriter Hall of Fame member, and a BBC Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. His smash hit “American Pie” resides in the Library of Congress National Recording Registry and was named a Top 5 song of the 20th Century by the Recording Industry of America (RIAA).
A New York native, McLean paid his dues in the New York club scene in the late’60s. He went on to score hits like “Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)” and “Castles in the Air.” His catalog of songs has been recorded by
Madonna, Garth Brooks, Josh Groban, Drake, “Weird Al” Yankovic, and many others. In 2015, McLean’s handwritten manuscript of the lyrics to “American Pie” was auctioned by Christies, selling for just over $1.2 million. In 2019, he was honored with a star on the Las Vegas Walkway of Stars and his song “And I Love You So” was the theme for Prince Harry and Megan Markle’s wedding.
In 2020, McLean landed a new recording contract with Time Life, with whom he released a catalog of recordings as well as a new album, Still Playin’ Favorites In 2021 “American Pie” was featured in the Avengers’ Black Widow and the Tom Hanks movie, Finch That same year, McLean received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and celebrated the 50th anniversary of “American Pie.”
The State Theatre is located at 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. Visit Stnj. org for more information and tickets.
Think Global Buy Local
Latin Heritage Award, among other honors. Tickets are $39-$229. The State Theatre is at 15 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick. Visit Stnj.org.
Saturday August 31, 2024 at 3:30 pm Fourth Annual Labor Day Concert and “reception in a bag”
We are thrilled to announce the FAS’ Labor Day Concert is now in its fourth year! This wonderful event brings together our dedicated Board Members and Special Guests for a delightful afternoon of song in a picturesque garden setting in Princeton. Please join us for this intimate gathering which has proven to be a most memorable event.
A portion of this year’s concert is in celebration of the memory of our colleague, mentor and friend, Paul Sperry.
AMERICAN PIE AND MORE: Don McLean brings his “Starry Starry Night Tour” to New Brunswick on September 21.
COMING FROM SCOTLAND: The Tannahill Weavers mix traditional Celtic music with rock and roll, bringing the highland pipes into the mix. They will perform at Christ Congregation Church on Friday, September 20 at 8 p.m.
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Call For Entries: Mercer County Photo Exhibition
Photographers who live, work, or study in Mercer County are invited to enter up to two photographs for consideration in the juried Mercer County Photography 2024 exhibition. The juror for 2024 is Gary D. Saretzky. Entry day is in person on Saturday, October 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Trenton City Museum
at Ellarslie, located in Trenton’s Cadwalader Park. The exhibition prospectus, which includes entry forms, is available to download from www. ellarslie.org/mercer-countyphotography-2024. The entry fee is $10 per item, payable by cash or check.
Mercer County Photography 2024 opens with a reception and awards ceremony on Saturday, October 12 from 2 to 5 p.m.
On view through November 24, the exhibition is a collaboration with the Mercer County Division of Culture and Heritage, through a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
Saretzky, an archivist, educator, and photographer, taught photography and the history of photography at Mercer County Community College from 1977 to 2012. He also served as Monmouth
County archivist (19942019) and coordinator of the Public History Internship Program, Rutgers University History Department (19942016). His past photography exhibits include “Dreams of Italy” at Ellarslie in 1998 and a retrospective at the Rider University Art Gallery in 2007. Substantial collections of his photographs of blues musicians are at the Blues Archives at the University of Mississippi and the Trenton Free Public Library. Saretzky has self-published two books of his photographs of blues musicians and as a photographer is a member of the Blues Hall of Fame. He co-curated the Margaret Bourke-White: In Print exhibit at Rutgers in 2006 and the 2024 Grant Castner photo exhibit at the New Jersey State Museum. Saretzky lectures regularly on the history of photography, has published more than 100 journal articles and reviews, and continues to photograph.
The Trenton City Museum, at Ellarslie is open Fridays and Saturdays, 12 to 4 p.m., and Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m. There is no admission fee, but donations to support the museum’s programs are appreciated. Visit ellarslie.org or call (609) 989-1191 for more information.
Panel Discussion Planned On Creation of Morven Museum
Morven Museum & Garden will host a panel discussion on the journey from a governor’s mansion to opening as a museum in 2004. The in-person and online event will take place on Thursday, September 12, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the museum, 55 Stockton Street.
The panel will feature speakers representing both private and public spheres, who were essential to preserving Morven as an educational space. The panelists will share the ins and outs of navigating state politics, researching and restoring an over 200-year-old house, and the challenges of getting support to preserve one of New Jersey’s most historic sites.
Morven. Former Morven Executive Director Clare Smith will moderate the panel. Event tickets, which range from $5 to $15, include access to Morven’s latest exhibition, “Morven Revealed: Untold Stories from New Jersey’s Most Historic Home,” from 5 to 6 p.m. before the program. Doors open for the in-person event at 6 p.m. in the Stockton Education Center, and the virtual waiting room opens on Zoom at 6:00 p.m.
Following registration, which is required, virtual ticket holders will receive a Zoom webinar link. After the program, a recording of the event will be provided.
Visit morven.org/upcoming to register.
Last Call for Submissions: Phillips’ Mill Juried Art Show
Panelists include Georgie Schley, former president of Morven’s Board of Trustees for over 20 years; Carol Cronheim, former assistant secretary of state and policy advisor for the State of New Jersey; and Anne Gossen, museum, nonprofit, and arts consultant and former curator of exhibitions and academic and artistic director at
The call for art for the “95 th Juried Art Show at Phillip’s Mill” closes on Sunday August 25.
Categories for submissions include framed works, sculpture, and unframed portfolio pieces. Artists must live within a 25-mile radius of Phillips’ Mill. Entry fee is $35 which includes submission to all
three categories. Members of Phillips’ Mill Community Association receive a 50 percent discount. Artists who join on the Mill website prior to submitting will receive an email with the discount code. Find all the details and requirements including the online registration link to Smarter Entry in the show Prospectus at phillipsmill.org.
Submissions must be delivered to the Mill for in-person jurying on Friday, September 6 or Saturday, September 7. Accepted works will be posted on the Mill’s website on September 10. Last year, $12,000 in prizes was awarded to 20 area artists. Awards will be presented at a special opening night preview for show patrons and artists on Friday, September 20.
The “95th Juried Art Show at Phillips’ Mill opens on September 21 and runs through October 27, daily from 1-5 p.m. at the historic grist mill as well as online. The Phillips Mill Community Association is located just north of New Hope at 2619 River Road. For more information, email artshow@phillipsmill.org or call (215) 862-0582.
“TOHICKON CREEK”:
of View Art Show,
FROM MANSION TO MUSEUM: Morven Museum & Garden’s panel discussion on the journey from a mansion to a museum will take place on September 12. Key figures in the threephase restoration project were, from left, Project Director Emily Croll; Policy Advisor Carol Cronheim; Director of the New Jersey State Museum Leah Sloshberg; and President of the Board of Trustees Georgie Schley. (Photo courtesy of Morven Archive).
“CONTAINER”: This painting by Larry Mitnick is part of “Progressions,” his joint exhibition with Alan Klawans, on view September 5 through October 6 at Artists’ Gallery in Lambertville. An opening reception is on September 7 from 4 to 7 p.m.
“Progressions” Exhibition Coming to Artists’ Gallery Artists’ Gallery in Lambertville will present “Progressions,” an exhibition showcasing the abstract work of illustrator/artist Alan Klawans and architect/ painter Larry Mitnick, from September 5 through October 6. An opening reception is on Saturday, September 7 from 4 to 7 p.m.
By using inventive techniques and forms, these artists continue to push the definition of contemporary abstract art.
Klawans’ digital abstractions are often informed by his observations. His inspiration and ideas emanate from his daily life, family, acquaintances, books, TV, and movies. The ordering of visual elements such as points, lines, planes, volumes and color create rhythmic progressions. Looking at his compositions, the viewer follows lines and shapes that define symmetric and asymmetric compositions.
Mitnick’s works are hand
painted acrylic paintings, in contrast to Klawans’ digital prints. In each of Mitnick’s abstract pieces the viewer discovers a unique set of spatial, formal, and color progressions, often inspired by nature. There are a variety of compositions exploring animated boundaries and voided centers. Contrasting hard-edged opaque and transparent forms with textured brushwork, Mitnick excites one’s eyes, mind, and imagination.
Both artists have known each other for more than 25 years, as they first met while teaching at the University of the Arts, Philadelphia — often sharing experiences over lunch. Years later they met at a gym near their homes in Montgomery County, Pa., where they continued discussing art.
Both artists rely on the viewer to complete the experience, to daydream, and venture into a creative dialogue with their work. See more of the artists’ work at larrymitnick.com and LambertvilleArts.com.
at Artists’ Gallery in Lambertville
Ficus Bon Vivant, 235 Nassau Street, has “Capture the Rhythm” through January 12. Ficusbv.com.
Green Building Center, 67 Bridge Street, Lambertville, has an art show by the MUGA Group through December 31. Greenbuildingcenter.com.
Gourgaud Gallery, 23-A North Main Street, Cranbury, has an exhibit by the Creative Collective Art Group through August 29. Cranburyartscouncil.org.
Grounds For Sculpture, 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, has “Philotechnic Transformation” through August 25, “Slow Motion” through September 1, and “That’s Worth Celebrating: The Life and Work of the Johnson Family” through the end of 2024, among other exhibits. Groundsforsculpture.org.
Historical Society of Princeton, Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, has “Princeton Reflected: Stories from HSP’s Collection” and “Einstein Salon and Innovator’s Gallery.” Museum hours are Thursday through Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m. Princetonhistory.org
Street, has “Morven Revealed: Untold Stories from New Jersey’s Most Historic Home,” through March 2. Morven.org.
New Hope Arts, 2 Stockton Avenue, New Hope, Pa., has “Raise the Roof: Contemporary Barnscapes” August 31 through October 6. Newhopearts.org.
New Hope Colony Foundation for the Arts, 2594 River Road, New Hope, Pa., has “Timeless Art” through September 8. Newhopecolony.org.
Small World Coffee, 14 Witherspoon Street, has “Summer Bodies: Five Perspectives” through September 3. Paintings by Shane Daly are at the 254 Nassau Street location through September 3. Smallworldcoffee.com.
Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road, has travel photography by Jeffrey Edward Tryon, Town Topics art director, along with work by Kevin Frankenfield Photography and Joseph F. Hendrickson in the Red Barn through August 31. Terhuneorchards.com.
Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, Cadwalader Park, Trenton, has “Ellarslie Open 41” through September 29. Ellarslie.org. West Windsor Arts, 952 Alexander Road, West Windsor, has “Throwback Summer” through September 7. Westwindsorarts.org.
Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers, 71 George Street, New Brunswick, has “Michelle V. Agins: Storyteller” through December 8. Zimmerli.rutgers.edu.
Artists’ Gallery is located at 18 Bridge Street in Lambertville. It is open Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit LambertvilleArts.com.
Area Exhibits
Art@Bainbridge, 158 Nassau Street, has “Denison Baniwa: Under the Skin of History” through September 1. Artmuseum.princeton.edu.
Artists’ Gallery, 18 Bridge Street, Lambertville, has “Surroundings” through September 1. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lambertvillearts.com.
Art on Hulfish, 11 Hulfish Street, has “Under a Southern Star: Identity and Environment in Australian Photography” through January 5. Artmuseum. princeton.edu.
Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, has “Witherspoon-Jackson Gateway Exhibition” through September 1. Artscouncilofprinceton.org.
D&R Greenway Land Trust, 1 Preservation Place, has “Along the Delaware River & Crosswicks Creek” in the Johnson Education Center through September 27. Drgreenway.org.
Dohm Alley, next to 100 Nassau Street, has the Princeton Einstein Museum’s “Einstein’s Attraction to Magnetism,” open 24/7 through September 15. princetoneinsteinmuseum.org.
Michener Art Museum, 138 South Pine Street, Doylestown, Pa., has “George R. Anthonisen: Meditations on the Human Condition” through October 13 and “Monuments and Myths: The American Sculptors Augustus SaintGaudens and Daniel Chester French” through January 5. Michenerartmuseum. org Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton
“KEEP IT GREEN”: This work by Alan Klawans is featured in “Progressions,” his joint exhibition with Larry Mitnick, on view September 5 through October 6
Federation of the Art Song to Present
“Easy Breezy Afternoon Concert” on Aug. 31
“
If music be the food of love, play on.”
–William Shakespeare Music. It is everywhere, and touches us all.
From rap, rock, and pop to country, folk, and blues to Broadway show tunes and jazz to hymns, anthems, and opera, there is a song for everyone.
set to a poem or a text. The genre is distinguished by its emphasis on the union of music and poetry, where the music is crafted to enhance the emotional and narrative content of the text. Art songs are typically composed with attention to classical music traditions, and are often performed in recitals or concerts rather than in casual settings.”
Deeper Engagement
Music inspires and thrills; energizes and excites; comforts and calms. And there are times when its beauty carries you to the stars.
The art song, with its long tradition and history, occupies a unique place in the world of music. It is closely associated with famous composers Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann, and Johannes Brahms, among others of the Romantic period of European classical music.
The art song is noted especially for its collaboration of music and poetry. It has been described by music documents and journals as “a vocal music composition for one voice with piano accompaniment, and is often
The art song was frequently performed in salons and formal settings, yet more intimate than in a large concert hall. It featured complex harmonies, modulations, and sophisticated structures, and the piano accompaniment was an integral part of the composition, not just serving as background.
The appreciation of art songs often involves a deeper engagement of both the music and the text, offering a rich, immersive experience both for performers and audiences. While not necessary, understanding of the text and its relationship to the music deeply enhances the appreciation of art song, point out many admirers of the genre.
In fact, classical music generally is intended for quiet listeners whose focus is on the music itself.
As one art song aficionado, a former singer, adds, it is a concept that audiences can relate to, recalling moments of their own experiences. “The goal of the art song is to reflect emotion and poetry that we all experience in our lives.”
During its early years, the art song was received enthusiastically by audiences in Europe, and over time, it became popular in the U.S., with American composers becoming attracted to the genre.
In recent years, however, it has lost some of its following, and it is the mission of The Federation of the Art Song (FAS) to revive interest in this music.
Art Song Tradition
A nonprofit organization, FAS was stablished in 2021 in Princeton by soprano Alta Malberg and pianist Martin Néron. Its mission is “to create a broader appreciation of all songs. A crucial aspect of its mission is providing opportunities for singers and collaborative pianists and instrumentalists to perform, thus growing and developing their artistic identities. The FAS awards a Fellowship annually and mounts concerts on a regular basis to maintain the robust art song tradition.”
“We began during COVID,
when we had an outdoor concert in our backyard,” recalls longtime Princeton resident Malberg. “We wanted to let more people know about the art song and also offer performing opportunities for artists.”
Malberg, a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, has performed on stage and screen in Europe and the U.S., and she especially enjoys the art song genre. In addition, she has directed and produced as well as performed in many concerts and shows.
Her schedule also includes lecturing at the Performing Arts Library at Lincoln Center, and she has taught singing for more than 30 years at her studios in New York City and Princeton. She has been a member of the board of directors of the International Singing Competition “Joy In Singing” for 30 years, serving as president and vice president. She is a member of the board of directors of the Princeton Adult School, where she also teaches a course in singing technique an appreciation.
In addition to Malberg and co-founder, co-artistic director, and vice president Néron, there are seven other board members of the Federation of The Art Song. They assist in all areas of the organization’s operation, from fundraising to planning programs.
A celebrated pianist, Néron has been acclaimed for his
duce them to this wonderful art form. Part of our program is to help people learn about and understand the art song.”
the inner drama. You have to make it special for yourself and for the audience.”
Easy on the Ear
Malberg, president, co-founder, and co-artistic director of The Federation of the Art Song, is shown with vice president, co-founder, and co-artistic director Martin Néron. performances of the art song repertoire. He serves on the faculty of Westminster Choir College, and has held residencies and master classes at prominent universities. He is the founder and artistic director of the Vocalis Consort, an ensemble which strives to showcase vocal works that have been traditionally overlooked. He excels in performing the art of the French Melodie and lied repertoire.
Fellowship Awards Program
FAS holds five different programs throughout the year, including two fundraisers in Princeton and also free concerts at the Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University. Programs can include as many as five soloists, each performing four or five pieces.
‘We also have a Fellowship Award Program, lasting two days at the Manhattan School of Music,” explains Malberg. “This is an annual competition, and our goal is to help the singers. We don’t charge an entry fee for the award program.”
“There are not enough events for the performers,” she continues. “They are underpaid, and the art song is under-represented. Winners of our Fellowship Award program have gone on to successful careers, singing in concerts across the country. I look forward to helping provide funding to more musicians so they can continue to be there for us. They need to have teachers and coaches so they can continue to improve their voice.
“I would also eventually like to establish an award program for teenagers. I very much want to get young people involved. We want to reach many people and help new singers share this music. FAS wants to expand the genre to include contemporary composers and music from under-represented cultures.”
In reflecting on her continuing love affair with the art song, Malberg explains its captivating appeal for her. “My love is the art song. It’s different. You don’t have costumes or props, as in opera. You have to convey what the song is about,
The FAS August 31 “Easy Breezy Afternoon Concert,” held in a garden setting at a private Princeton residence, will include five singers, two of whom were finalists from the recent Fellowship Award competition. The program begins at 3:30 p.m. and will run approximately 90 minutes.
“We will have a very wellknown composer, Tom Cipullo, speak about the late Paul Sperry, another performer and supporter of art songs, whose memorial we will celebrate,” says Malberg. “The music will be fun, light and easy on one’s ear, and everyone will be given a bag of delicious goodies for lunch and additionally, there will be a dessert reception afterward to meet the performers.”
Selecting Princeton as the headquarters for FAS was a very deliberate decision, she points out. “This is a knowledgeable community, and there is a lot of interest in music. It has been a good decision, and we are encouraged. The audiences are growing, and interest in the art song is increasing. All ages are responding.”
The organization is funded by donations and performance revenues, she adds. “In addition to our fundraisers, we hope to be able to get grants. We are grateful for all donations, and we are always looking for new sponsors and venues available for future concerts.”
Reviving the art song repertoire and introducing it to new audiences is indeed a labor of love for Malberg. “It is so important for this art form to be learned about and publicized,” she emphasizes. “I enjoy sharing the art song and our great singers with the audiences. We want people to hear their voices and understand the beauty of the art song.”
For further information on The Federation of The Art Song and the upcoming August 31 event, call (609) 497-0543. Visit the website at FASong.org.
—Jean Stratton
Alta
TOWN TOPICS | Mark Your Calendar
Wednesday, August 21
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m .: “Leighton Listens.” Princeton Councilman Leighton Newlin is on hand to discuss current events with members of the public at Studio Hillier, 190 Witherspoon Street.
6 p.m.: Princeton Public Library’s Board of Trustees meets at the library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.
Thursday, August 22
9-11 a.m.: Friends of Princeton Open Space holds a land stewardship volunteer event at Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Preserve, 30 Mountain Avenue, to help with critical trail work, riparian and forest restoration, and invasive species removal. Fopos.org.
10 a.m.-3 p.m .: Princeton Farmers Market is at Hinds Plaza. More than 30 vendors with local organic produce, pasture-raised meat and eggs, cheeses, fresh flowers, knife-sharpening, jewelry, and more. Live music. SNAP/EBT cards and matches accepted up to $10 a day. Princetonfarmersmarket.com.
6 p.m .: Showing of the movie Migration at Mill Pond Park, 11 Mill Pond Road, Belle Mead. Free. Montgomerynj.gov.
6:30-9:30 p.m .: Princeton Community Democratic Organization (PCDO) Convention Watch Party and Fundraiser at an address to be mailed to those who RSVP. $50 minimum suggested donation. Weather permitting, it will be outdoors. Linktr.ee/princetondemocrats.
Friday, August 23
5-8 p.m.: Sunset Sips & Sounds at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Winery and Barn Door Café are open. Music by Kindred Spirit Duo. Terhuneorchards.com.
6:30 p.m .: All About Joel and Yellow Brick Road, a tribute to Elton John, at the Mercer County 2024 Summer Concert series, Mercer County Festival grounds, Mercer County Park, West Windsor. $5. Mercercounty.org.
Saturday, August 24
9 a.m.-1 p.m.: West Windsor Farmers Market at Vaughn lot, Princeton Junction train station. Fresh produce and much more. Wwcfm.org.
10 a.m.-4 p.m .: “Fiddlin’ on the Farm,” annual fiddle contest at Howell Living History Farm, 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township. Fiddlers, guitarists, mandolinists and more play on porches, under trees, and on the lawn. HowellFarm. org.
10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Reenactment of 1781 encampment in Trenton by Washington and Rochambeau’s armies, at the Trent House, 15 Market Street, Trenton. Free program of activities and talks. Williamtrenthouse.org.
12-2 p.m .: Summer Music Series on the Green at Palmer Square, music by Living Proof. Palmersquare. com.
1-1:30 p.m .: Japanese Storytime for children and their caregivers at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.
2 p.m .: “Beatles Bash” at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch of Mercer County Library System, 2751 Brunswick Pike. Beatles dance party followed by Beatles-themed crafts and photo booth. For children of all ages, with a caregiver. Mcl.org.
2-5 p.m .: Winery Weekend Music Series at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Music by Jerry Steele. Light fare available; farm store is open. Terhuneorchards.com.
Sunday, August 25
11 a.m.: Drag Queen Story Hour at the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice, 12 Stockton Street. Harmonica Sunbeam reads Unstoppable , a children’s book about Bayard Rustin The event celebrates the anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Rustincenter.org.
1 p.m.: Carillon concert by Robin Austin at the Princeton University Graduate Tower; listen from the lawn outside. Free, held rain or shine. Gradschool.princeton.edu.
2-5 p.m .: Winery Weekend Music Series at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Music by Audio Pilot Duo. Light fare available; farm store is open. Terhuneorchards.com.
3 p.m .: Concert on the Green at Palmer Square: WomenRock! Celebrates female rock pioneers across the decades. Six vocalists backed by Princeton-area musicians. Princetonlibrary.org.
4 p.m.: Gathering in solidarity with the October 7 hostages, and a call for their release. Organized by a grassroots group of Israelis in Princeton. At Hinds Plaza.
Monday, August 26
Recycling
5-7 p.m.: Dress for Success presents Women’s Equality Day power walk and celebration event, at 3131 Princeton Pike Building 4, Lawrence Township. Vendors, DJ, exercise demonstrations, face painting, free Starbucks iced coffee, 50/50 raffle, free pizza, boutique sale, and more. Moving meditation at 5:30 p.m.; yoga at 6 p.m. Centralnj.dressforsuccess.org.
7 p.m.: “Grant Castner, Trenton Photographer: The Delaware River and Canals, 1890-1920.” Talk on Zoom presented by Mercer County Library System. Visit mcl. org to register.
Tuesday, August 27
9:30 and 11 a.m .: Read & Pick Program: Apples.
Hands-on program for parents and kids pre-school to age 8, followed by stories. $12 includes craft activity. Pre-registration required. Terhuneorchards.com.
10:30 a.m.: The Healing with Music Book Group discusses the memoir The Pianist from Syria at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.
11:30 a.m.: Mid-Day Toastmasters meets via Zoom at tinyurl.com/zoomwithmidday.
6:30 p.m .: McCarter Live at the Library. McCarter Theatre Center Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen and Director of Presented Programming Paula Abreu discuss the upcoming season in the Newsroom of Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Princetonlibrary.org.
Wednesday, August 28
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m .:
“Leighton Listens.” Princeton Councilman Leighton Newlin is on hand to discuss current events with members of the public at Olives, 22 Witherspoon Street.
7 p.m.: On Zoom, a discussion of the memoir The Pianist from Syria , in advance of Princeton University Concerts’ event with Syrian clarinetist Kinan Azmeh and artist Kevord Mourad. Visit princetonlibrary.org for the link.
Thursday, August 29
10 a.m.-3 p.m .: Princeton Farmers Market is at Hinds Plaza. More than 30 vendors with local organic produce, pasture-raised meat and eggs, cheeses, fresh flowers, knife-sharpening, jewelry, and more. Live music. SNAP/EBT cards and matches accepted up to $10 a day. Princetonfarmersmarket.com.
Friday, August 30
5-8 p.m.: Sunset Sips & Sounds at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Winery and Barn Door Café are
AUGUSTSEPTEMBER
open. Music by Ragtime Relics. Terhuneorchards.com.
Saturday, August 31
9 a.m.-1 p.m.: West Windsor Farmers Market at Vaughn lot, Princeton Junction train station. Fresh produce and much more. Wwcfm.org.
10 a.m.-4 p.m .: The 41st Annual Howell Farm Plowing Match at Howell Living History Farm, 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township. Howellfarm.org.
12-2 p.m .: Summer Music Series on the Green at Palmer Square, music by Vintage Vibe Tribe. Palmersquare.com.
12-4 p.m .: Plainsboro History Faire at the Wicoff House Museum, 641 Plainsboro Road. Interactive museum event bringing the 18th and 19th centuries to life. Presentations, demonstrations, reenactors, crafts, activities, and treats. Register at tinyurl.com/whfaire24.
Sunday, September 1
1 p.m.: Carillon concert by Jessica Ip, New Colleague Recitalist, at the Princeton University Graduate Tower; listen from the lawn outside. Free, held rain or shine. Gradschool.princeton.edu.
4 p.m.: Gathering in solidarity with the October 7 hostages, and a call for
their release. Organized by a grassroots group of Israelis in Princeton. At Hinds Plaza.
Tuesday, September 3
6:30-8 p.m .: HPL Book Club, at Hopewell Public Library, 13 East Broad Street, Hopewell. Discussion of David McCullough’s The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal Redlibrary.org.
7-8:30 p.m .: Continuing Conversations on Race at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street. Synatra Smith, project manager for the NJ Black Heritage Trail, discusses the initiative to highlight Black history, heritage, and culture. Princetonlibrary.org.
Wednesday, September 4
6:30-8 p.m .: Night Knitters meet to knit at Hopewell Public Library, 13 East Broad Street, Hopewell, or via Zoom. Redlibrary.org.
Thursday, September 5
10 a.m.-3 p.m .: Princeton Farmers Market is at Hinds Plaza. More than 30 vendors with local organic produce, pasture-raised meat and eggs, cheeses, fresh flowers, knife-sharpening, jewelry, and more. Live music. SNAP/EBT cards and matches accepted
up to $10 a day. Princetonfarmersmarket.com.
5-7 p.m.: Nassau Street Sampler, at Princeton University’s Dillon Gym and at Art on Hulfish, 11 Hulfish Street. Food, art-making activities, raffles, live entertainment by student groups, and more. Free.
6-7 p.m.: Fall Garden Tour and Seed Exchange, Lawrence Headquarters Branch of Mercer County Library System, 2751 Brunswick Pike. Register at mcl.org.
Friday, September 6
5-8 p.m.: Sunset Sips & Sounds at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road. Winery and Barn Door Café are open. Music by Laundrymen. Terhuneorchards.com.
7 p.m : Tavern Night at the Old Barracks Museum, 101 Barrack Street, Trenton. Fundraiser celebrating 19th century Colonial American history. Drinks, games, and dancing. $60 for members, $75 others. Available online at barracks.org/ tavern-night.html.
7-9 p.m .: “Dancing in the Dark” at West Windsor Arts, 952 Alexander Road. Dance party in a dimly lit room led by teaching artist Shira Hofmekler. All levels welcome. $5. Westwindsorarts.org.
SUMMER AT THE WINERY
S ports
Making History On and Off the Water at the Paris Games, PU Rowing Alum Mead Won Gold, Served as Flag Bearer
Nick Mead made history on and off the water as he rowed for the U.S. men’s four at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
At the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium flat-water course, former Princeton University men’s heavyweight star Mead ’17 helped his boat win gold on August 1 as it edged runner-up New Zealand in the A final, earning the first victory in the event for the Americans since the Rome 1960 Games.
A week later, Mead was named as one of the flag bearers along with Katie Ledecky for Team USA at the Closing Ceremony, becoming the first American rower to be so honored.
As for success on the water, Mead sensed that his boat was primed to make a run for the podium as it went through its final training in Italy in the weeks before heading to Paris.
“It was about as good a training camp as we could have asked for,” said Mead, speaking last Friday as he settled back into home in New York City and his job working with the supply chain at Peloton. “In the last few weeks before the Olympics, you are slowly tapering the training. Although about three weeks out you are still training near 100 percent, you are doing more anaerobic high intensity race pace stuff and less of that long, slow aerobic base. We had a few race day simulations with our other boats. We did one final simulation right before we left Italy and we put down a good time. We were feeling good, we felt like the hay is in the barn. Now we just had to stay sharp and start getting as recovered as possible for the racing.”
The U.S. produced a sharp performance in its opening heat on July 28, taking first in a time of 6:04.95 over the 2,000-meter course, nearly two seconds better than runner-up Australia.
“There was a headwind that day so we knew it was going to be a bit of a longer race,” said Mead, who rowed from the bow seat in the boat. “We wanted to make sure that we were putting down a solid base rhythm because the middle kilometer was going to be more important. We were pretty happy with our heat. We felt like we were rowing well, that our start was clean and fast. We looked at the video and we thought we could be a little bit looser on the drive. We felt like maybe the adrenaline of being at the Olympics was making us a little bit tight and a little bit short. Over the next few days, we were thinking when we settle into base, we are going to make a lot of calls about being loose, being elastic.”
Heading into the A final, Mead and his boatmates were focused on blasting off the starting line.
“From a race strategy perspective, we had spent the last year with Casey [Galvanek], our coach, talking about how the one thing
that people really ratchet up going from the heat to the final in the Olympics is their start,” said Mead. “The race pace is relatively similar, but everyone pulls out and wants to get the lead in the Olympics. We thought we have a good start but we are going to have to have our best start. Other crews are going to try to push us there in the early stages of the race. The final thing was that we knew New Zealand and Great Britain both had a good third 500. We were getting mentally prepared that we were probably going to have to sprint earlier that we have in the past.”
The race for gold turned into a battle between the U.S. and New Zealand with the Americans posting a winning time of 5:49.03 just ahead of the Kiwis who came in at 5:49.88. In Mead’s view, a turning point in the race came when one of his teammates urged the boat to make a surge.
“In the moment, they pushed into us with maybe 600 or 500 meters to go and they pulled almost exactly even and our stroke seat Liam [Corrigan] made a call ‘red’ which for us is a discretionary call that anyone in the boat can make at any point in the race,” recalled Mead. “It is this one word that means max press for about 10 strokes. It is meant to be a momentum change, it is where we need to break a crew using the momentum of a race. Someone can make that call and that is why he did it there. They were pulling even and gaining a bit of confidence coming close to us. Liam made that call and we max pressed for a few strokes to get a little bit of a lead so when they started to sprint, we had some breathing room.”
As the U.S. boat crossed the line in first, Mead was left breathless by the triumph.
“It was everything I could have hoped for,” said Mead. “I am not a very emotional person. I rarely ever make a big celebration after racing but all four of us just completely lost it.”
Reflecting on the qualities that made the boat special, Mead pointed to a hunger and unity of purpose.
“All four of us had missed out medals in Tokyo so we had an approach to training of we were willing to try anything that we think will make us faster,” said Mead. “One aspect of that is that when we could cross-train when cross-train was on the schedule, we always chose to erg (the ergometer rowing machine) rather than go for a bike ride or a run because for whatever reason erging feels like the most mentally taxing and physically taxing. There has to be a reason for that, there has to be some kind of reward for doing that hard work. We had a good chemistry in terms of everyone was competitive and really wanted to win and sometimes that would manifest itself in arguments like how we should be approaching training. We all settled everything on the water there before we went
home. We all had the same goal. If someone is disagreeing with me, it is because it is coming from a place of wanting to win.”
For Mead, standing on the podium with his gold medal as the national anthem was played gave him the chance to savor achieving that goal.
“You never think about what you are going to do on the medal stand, Justin [Best] was crying, I was smiling ear to ear,” said Mead. “Part of the reason it is so emotional is that it happens once every four years to win, that might never happen again for the rest of your life. I think the enormity of all of that hits you then because you have been pushing it to the back of your mind for so long. You never want to think about what you are going to do when you win because you might never do it.”
In the days after the win, Mead got to attend some events and mingle with some current and former Olympians.
“I think that is one of the most beautiful parts of the Olympics is that you get to meet and talk to these other athletes, whether they are from Team USA or from all over the world,” said Mead, who attended golf, wrestling, and taekwondo competitions. “They have the same lifestyle that you do but in a completely different sport, in a completely different place. They are willing to talk to you as an equal and willing to open up to you. It might seem boring to the non-athlete because we are saying how many miles do you run or how many meters do you swim. The person we were most star-struck by was Michael Phelps. We got to meet him. He is someone you grow up watching so to finally meet him in person was really cool.”
It was cool for Mead to learn that he had an opportunity to be a flag bearer for the U.S. at the Closing Ceremony although he believed he had a slim chance of being selected for the honor.
“The process was that each team nominated a man and a woman to be a flag bearer for Team USA,” said Mead. “I was nominated by the rowing team so I knew I was in the running but I had no inkling at all that I would get it. Partially because I don’t have the Olympic resume that some other athletes do and the other half of that is that rowing isn’t a popular sport.”
Mead found out that he had been chosen through a bit of a ruse. One of his teammates, Justin Best, told the boat that they that were going to do a media segment with Anheuser-Busch on the Thursday morning before the Closing Ceremony. Best, though, knew that that Mead was actually going to be informed on camera that he had been chosen as one of the U.S. flag bearers. The quartet showed for the shoot and Mead was stunned to get the news.
“Justin, the one who knows what is happening,
the U.S. flag bearers at the ceremony along with swimming star Katie
becoming the first American rower to be so honored. Ten days earlier, Mead rowed for the U.S.
starts describing how this Olympics is historical for our team, he starts talking about Simone and Katie and then he goes for you Nick you are going to be the first rowing flag bearer,” said Mead. “The guys with the cameras expected me to have this huge emotional reaction. I was just so shocked, I stood up and said wow, I have chills. I think one of the first things I said was that I needed a haircut.”
While Mead had chills and was thrilled to be chosen for the honor, he wasn’t sure that he deserved to be picked over any of his boatmates.
“It was both incredibly humbling and exciting but also overwhelming in a lot of ways,” said Mead. “I am in a boat of four, I am just 25 percent of the crew. It feels like in a lot of ways, why am I being singled out. I was really proud to represent rowing, especially the first time we ever had a flag bearer. I wanted to represent us well; it also felt strange being me and not the rest of my teammates.”
Mead had a dinner with Ledecky and some of their teammates and families to get acquainted before they shared the flag.
“We got to know each other out of the spotlight,” said Mead. “She is down to earth and humble.”
Things were pretty hectic for Meadows and Ledecky as they got to the Stade de France for the festivities.
“You line up with Team USA, it takes a couple of hours to get to the venue and we finally get to the venue
earning the first
at 8:40,” said Mead. “We get there and they are frantically putting the mics on us as we walk out. There is another volunteer who is telling us which way we are supposed to walk. We are getting all of this information, we walk out of the tunnel and there are 80,000 people in the stadium. It is really cool, there is music playing and people cheering and then you just hear Jimmy Fallon in your ear asking questions. It is pretty hard to hear him over all of that noise.”
Encountering the vibe in the stadium proved to be a highlight of the experience for Mead.
“I think it was that first moment of walking through the tunnel,” said Mead. “A lot of the Olympics goes by so quickly, you are always going from thing to thing. Sometimes you take it for granted or you don’t fully appreciate how many people are involved and are watching. You walk in and you see a full stadium of people and you one of only a few standing there holding the flag. Right now I am getting chills thinking about it.”
Mead appreciated getting the chance to represent his sport in that manner.
“There is LeBron [James] on Team USA and other athletes who are very famous,” said Mead of the basketball superstar who was a U.S. flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony along with pro tennis player Coco Gauff. “Ninety percent of us are just training in some small town in the United States, not really in the spotlight at all. I think it is cool to have someone like myself be a flag bearer.”
in the event for
One of the best aspects of being in the spotlight at the Paris Games for Mead was the chance to interact with old Princeton teammates and friends.
“It was really cool and heartening to see all of the Princeton athletes over there, the fencers, a Ugandan rower (Kathleen Noble ’18), my old teammates like Tim [Masters] and Tom [George],” said Mead, 29, who is getting married this October and believes that the Paris Olympics may be the final chapter of his rowing career. “There were a lot of Princeton people in the stands during the rowing. It felt like a mini reunion. You get e-mails from people and alums I haven’t talked to in years. It is really nice to reconnect with them.”
Mead certainly did Princeton proud with his success on and off the water in Paris.
—Bill Alden
“Where quality still matters.” 4621 Route 27 Kingston, NJ 609-924-0147
CARRYING THE FLAG: Nick Mead poses with the U.S. flag during the Closing Ceremony on August 11 at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Former Princeton University men’s heavyweight crew star Mead ’17 served as one of
Ledecky,
men’s four that won the gold medal,
victory
the Americans since the Rome 1960 Games.
(Photo provided by Nick Mead)
Dealing with Void Left by Exit of Stellar Senior Class, PU Women’s Soccer Counting on New Faces To Emerge
The Princeton University women’s soccer team is hoping it can earn another NCAA tournament home victory to cap this season.
How exactly the Tigers get to that stage, though, is a big question.
Princeton will open the season with three straight home games, beginning on August 24 when Miami visits for a 7 p.m. start.
“We saw last year the early results allowed us an at-large bid because we got good results against some really powerful teams and we have a chance to do the same thing,” said Princeton coach Sean Driscoll, whose team edged visiting Michigan 1-0 in the opening round of the NCAA tournament last fall before losing at Texas Tech in the second round on penalty kicks after the foes played to a scoreless tie through regulation and overtime. “If you happen to get a couple of good wins under your belt, one, it gives you confidence too, and it gives you this other opportunity potentially to get into the tournament,
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• Certain diseases and insects commonly occur on plants stressed by drought
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• Choose plants that are appropriate for the hardiness zone in our area
which is at the end of the day what we all want.”
Princeton graduated six high impact seniors from last year’s 10-5-4 squad, including Madison Curry, who is among the top rookies for Angel City in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), and Aria Nagai, who has played all but eight minutes as a graduate student for North Carolina, and Jen Estes, who has an assist in one of her first two games as a graduate student at Montana. Princeton also graduated defender Morgan Wiese, midfielder Marissa Hart, and striker Lexi Hiltunen
“It was as influential a class as we’ve ever had,” said Driscoll. “All six seniors gave us a lot.”
While Driscoll acknowledged it’s impossible to replace the six, the Tigers are banking on the growth of their returning players and a freshman class that Top Drawer Soccer ranked 15th in the country.
“You start to see people emerge because they see opportunity,” said Driscoll.
“They’re all a year older, and a lot of our kids played a ton this summer. A lot of them played with NWSL teams as well, so that gave them tremendous experience. I think what we’re seeing is just a completely different look and we’re watching kids kind of emerge and evolve. You can’t replace, you can’t replace the quality of that class. I think you just reconfigure.”
Princeton will have to fill two more spots in the first weeks of the season because junior forward/midfielder Pietra Tordin will play for Team USA and sophomore defender Zoe Markesini will play for Team Canada at the U-20 World Cup that begins August 31 in Colombia. Their selections further thin the Tigers, but also create more opportunities for others to shine in their absence. It contributes to an already fluid situation.
“We’re trying to figure out how many kids do we feel that we can count on right now and in bigger moments,” said Driscoll. “I think we’ve got a little bit of an idea. We’ll see. The only consistent thing that happens is people are inconsistent. What happens on Saturday will certainly form what we do next Thursday and they will form what we do the following Thursday, I just don’t think we’re anything close to the finished product.”
Tordin, Princeton’s leading scorer a year ago with 12 goals and six assists, will be back in the lineup after the U-20 World Cup. Senior c o-captain and forward Heather MacNab, last year’s third-leading scorer (2 goals and six assists in 2023), will be a critical leader of the attack. Junior forward Drew Coomans (2 goals, 5 assists) and sophomore midfielder Kayla Wong (2 goals, 5 assists) are poised for breakout years. Senior midfielder Lily Bryant (1 goal, 5 assists) was an honorable mention All-Ivy pick. Senior defender Kiley Hamou is fully healthy to start the year, and senior defender Ryann Brown returns after missing
last year due to injury following starting 12 games in 2022. In the back, Princeton expects to start senior co-captain Tyler McCamey (1.17 goals against average with 52 saves in 2023) in goal again.
“This is about the most reconfigured team I’ve had ever since I’ve been here,” said Driscoll. “And so there’s a lot of things we need to think about. There’s certainly players who we think are real top quality that we’ll feature. It’s just we haven’t maybe identified exactly in which position.”
Princeton scrimmaged against Ivy League rival Penn last Saturday. The Tigers looked good over the three 30-minute periods played. The teams agreed to play so they could get a look at themselves against an outside team, rather than just intrasquad work.
“We got a lot of kids minutes,” said Driscoll. “We kind of both did the same thing. It was a good opportunity to take a look at everybody. New faces, old faces, new positions. We were just trying to see where we are at this juncture.”
With the Tigers graduating so many from the spine of their team, it will force players into bigger roles. Princeton has been working to sort out which 11 work best when put together.
“So far we’ve seen some really good things,” said Driscoll, “but none of it matters until you get to the real games and see how people handle the emotions and the pressure in school, when school’s in session, how they handle their classes. There’s just a lot to still see. But I would say that, in general, we’re happy with where we are.”
A strong freshman class could help mitigate some of the graduation losses. The highly regarded class will have its chance to fill in some of the holes.
“All the first-year kids have been really, really good,” said Driscoll. “They get along incredibly well, which is hugely important and they’ve been really well received by the team because they’re hard working, they’re conscientious, they’re talented, but they’re all humble and they’re willing to roll their sleeves up and do some dirty work as well. So I’m really, really happy with the freshmen.”
Princeton will look to two of its most veteran players for leadership. MacNab and McCamey can lend their voices and their examples at either end of the field. The two are Princeton’s lone captains this year, a designation that Driscoll calls the “hardest job on the planet” because of the demands to serve the team while also remaining top notch individual players.
“They have to look at the totality of the team first and then themselves last, and that’s hard,” said Driscoll. “Both Heather and Tyler have a professional mentality. They’re both aspiring professional players and they have that mentality. They are incredibly diligent, incredibly fit, so focused on getting better, want more
as Princeton went
in 2023 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, posting a 1.17 goals against average with 52 saves in 19 games. Senior McCamey, who is serving as a team co-captain this fall, will be looking to produce a stellar final campaign. The Tigers open their 2024
and want as much information as they can get. They want to continue to educate themselves in the game. They push themselves to the utmost, they are without question an extension of the coaching staff. They absolutely love this game with an incredible passion and like our captains last year they lead by example in every training session. They don’t take moments off.”
Princeton will face some early tests of its retooled lineup. They face Miami out of the ACC, Seton Hall from the Big East on August 29, and Big Ten power Penn State on September 5, a topfive national team.
“The early games can help,” said Driscoll. “They can set the table for you in that regard. You have to be prepared to play in the in the league. So these games hopefully, by the time Pietra and Zoe come back, people have gotten a lot more experience and we’re a better version of ourselves.”
Two of Princeton’s nonconference opponents have coaching connections. The Tigers will travel to William & Mary on September 8 to
face former Princeton coach Julie Shackford’s team and will play at Fairfield on September 18, where Driscoll coached before succeeding Shackford.
“We always have a challenging schedule for a multitude of reasons,” said Driscoll. “ Mike [ Poller ] ( Princeton’s associate head coach) does a really good job putting it together. Kids want to come play good teams. they don’t want to just play run-of-the-mill teams that they feel like they’re way better than. They want to go and play name programs and programs with success and historical success and we have a number of teams on our schedule that provide that.”
Princeton begins Ivy League play September 28 at Cornell. The overall picture for the league has four-time defending champion Brown as the favorite. Princeton was third in the Ivies last year and played in the first Ivy League Tournament. The Tigers have been to the NCAAs in two of the last three years, and they are looking for a formula to build toward another trip.
“What I’m hoping for right now, more than anything is to find the camaraderie and most importantly establish and keep the culture at a place where everyone is ready to go, the next person is ready to get up and play if need be,” said Driscoll. “We need all hands on deck at this point, and with losing the two kids for a few weeks and a couple injuries we have, everyone needs to be prepared to play.”
The Tigers’ first test comes Saturday against Miami (01-1). It’s just a starting point for a team that could go through several changes as it looks to figure out a path back to the NCAA tournament by the end of the year.
“I do like the group,” said Driscoll. “We have a lot of really talented players. I think you’re going to see some kids emerge that maybe we’re under the in the in the shadows of older players.”
—Justin Feil
Organic Garden State Organic Garden State
SAVING GRACE: Princeton University women’s soccer goalie Tyler McCamey makes a save in a game last fall. McCamey starred
10-5-4
season by hosting Miami on August 24.
(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
Princeton Football Has 6 Named Preseason All-Ivy
The Princeton University football team had six players named last week to the Phil Steele Magazine Preseason All-Ivy League Teams.
Rising senior wide receiver Luke Colella, rising offensive lineman Tommy Matheson, and rising senior defensive lineman Jack DelGarbino were named as First-Team selections while rising senior wide receiver AJ Barber, rising junior defensive back Nasir Hill, and rising sophomore punter Brady Clark were tabbed as Second-Team choices.
Colella made 47 catches in 620 yards and six touchdowns last fall, earning Honorable Mention All-Ivy honors. Matheson was a starter on the offensive line, earning a Blue Bloods SecondTeam All-Ivy honor while DelGarbino had 51 tackles in 10 games for the Tigers last year, making Honorable Mention All-Ivy.
Barber, for his part, set new career highs with 42 catches and 582 yards and three touchdowns in 2023, picking up Honorable Mention All-Ivy honors. Hill was a Second-Team All-Ivy choice last season as he was third on the squad in tackles
with 62, recording at least four in eight of 10 contests. Clark was Honorable Mention All-Ivy after posting a 39.2 yards/punt average with 24 going inside the 20yard line.
Princeton, who went 5-5 overall and 4-3 Ivy League last fall, starts its 2024 campaign by playing at Lehigh on September 21.
Tiger Soccer’s Tordin Gets Preseason Accolades
The national preseason honors have begun to roll in for Princeton University women’s soccer rising junior standout Pietra Tordin, who is set to compete for the U.S. U-20 team at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup next month in Colombia.
Tordin was named a Player to Watch, one of 19 forwards included, by United Soccer Coaches, and she was a second-team forward by Top Drawer Soccer, the top Ivy Leaguer honored.
Top Drawer Soccer had 11 players each on the first and second team, and Tordin was ranked No. 19 on the site’s Top 100 Players list across all positions, including sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
Two years into her Princeton career, Tordin has already earned a slew of honors and is climbing the program’s record lists. Last season, Tordin was named as United Soccer Coaches third-team All-American, becoming the first sophomore-or-younger Tiger to
do that since Diana Matheson ’08 in 2004. The 2022 Ivy League Rookie of the Year, Tordin added a firstteam All-Ivy League honor last season to her secondteam all-league recognition from her first season as she tallied 12 goals and six assists. At 20 goals scored, Tordin already stands 14th on Princeton’s career scoring list and is just the fifth player in program history to have at least 20 goals by the end of her sophomore season.
Tordin will start play for the U.S at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup when it faces Spain on September 1 in its Group C opener. In addition, the U.S. will be playing Morocco on September 4 and Paraguay on September 7 in group action. The top two teams in each group and the best four of the six thirdplace teams will advance to the knockout round.
Princeton Rowing Sends 6 to U-23, U-19 Worlds
Six members of the Princeton University heavyweight rowing team are competing at the U-23 and U-19 World Rowing Championships, which are taking place in St. Catharines, Canada, from August 18-25.
Rowing in the U-23 competition is Ed Nutt ’27, who is representing Australia in the men’s eight, along with Keelan Good ’24 and Kian Aminian ’27, who will be representing the U.S. in the men’s eight. Andrew
University women’s lacrosse team. Last week, rising junior MacDonald starred for Canada as it got off to a 4-0 start in Pool B play at Women’s U20 World Championships in Hong Kong, China. MacDonald totaled a team-high 14 goals and seven assists as Canada topped Wales 19-0 and then defeated Haudenosaunee 22-4, Chinese Taipei 22-2, and Korea 22-0.
junior star, Haven Dora, came up big for the U.S. in the tournament as it
action. Dora tallied three goals and 11 assists as the U.S. posted a 33-0 win over Germany and then topped Puerto Rico 28-4 and China 29-1.
Wilkinson ’26 will serve as an alternate for U.S.
Representing the U.S. in the U-19 competition is Cy Rosenberg ’28 in the men’s quadruple sculls and Lucas Liow ’28 in the men’s pair.
Good and Aminian got off to a good start last Sunday as they helped the U.S. eight place first in their opening heat. The crew posted a winning time of 5:22.65 over the 2,000-meter course, just .2 seconds
off a world best time. Australia, which featured Nutt, took third with a time of 5:27.67.The Princeton trio will compete in the A final on August 23.
“It is always exciting to see Princeton rowers race on the international stage,” said Princeton men’s heavyweight associate head coach Matt Smith. “All of our Olympians this year raced at the U-23 World Championships when they were younger and hopefully we see some of these athletes at the Olympics one day, too. For now, it will be exciting to watch these three race for the medals later in the week.”
Tiger Men’s Golfers
Compete in U.S. Amateur
A pair of Princeton University men’s golfers, rising junior Riccardo Fantinelli and incoming freshman Reed Greyserman, competed at the 124th U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn., last week.
Fantinelli carded an eightover 150 in two rounds of stroke play while Greyserman had a +17 159 as both failed to make the cut to qualify for match play.
The U.S. Amateur features two rounds of stroke play before the field is cut down to 64 players who then transition to match play leading up to the 36hole championship match on August 18.
Coming into the event, Fantinelli was ranked No. 209 in the World Amateur Gold Rankings (WAGR). He is coming off a 2023-24 season which saw him named an Honorable Mention PING All-American after earning Ivy League Player of the Year honors. He will be competing in his first U.S. Amateur after previous starts in the British Am (2023, 2024) and European Amateur (2023). He also competed in the DP Tour’s Italian Open earlier this summer. He earned his way into the field by winning the Final Qualifier held at Medford Village Golf Club on July 22 where he shot a 67 to win by two strokes and secure one of the six qualifying spots.
Greyserman, for his part, punched his ticket to Hazeltine by winning the New Jersey Amateur in July to make his first career U.S. Amateur appearance.
Sunday, June 2
Sunday, June 2
Summer at the Chapel
David Buschman Chaplain, Athletes in Action
David Buschman Chaplain, Athletes in Action
Sunday, June 2
Sunday, June 9
Eli Henry Princeton Theological Seminary
Sunday, June 9 Eli Henry Princeton Theological Seminary
David Buschman Chaplain, Athletes in Action
Sunday, June 16
Sunday, July 21
Sunday, July 21
Tiffany S. Murphy Pastor, Parkside United Methodist
Tiffany S. Murphy Pastor, Parkside United Methodist
Sunday, July 28
Sunday, July 21
Sunday, July 28
Ali DeLeo
Ali DeLeo
Worship Begins at 10am Sunday, August 11
Pastor, Swarthmore United Methodist Church in Swarthmore,
Pastor, Swarthmore United Methodist Church in Swarthmore, Sunday, June 16
Jessica Campbell
Jessica Campbell
Sunday, June 9 Eli Henry Princeton Theological
Associate Pastor at First Methodist Church of Moorestown Sunday, June 23
Associate Pastor at First Methodist Church of Moorestown Sunday, June 23
Denise Carrell
Denise Carrell
PHD Coordinator at
Sunday, June 16
PHD Coordinator at
Jessica Campbell
Sunday, June 30
Sunday, June 30
Tiffany S. Murphy Pastor, Parkside United Methodist
Sunday, August 4
Sunday, August 4
Byron E. Brought
Sunday, July 28
Pastor, Bel Air United Methodist Church in Bel Air, MD
Byron E. Brought Pastor, Bel Air United Methodist Church in Bel Air, MD
Sunday, August 11
Ali DeLeo Pastor, Swarthmore United Methodist Church in Swarthmore,
Sunday, August 11
Andrew Cooney
Andrew Cooney
Sunday, August 4
Pastor, Bethany United Methodist Church in Ellicott City, MD
Bethany United Methodist Church in Ellicott City, MD
Sunday, August 18
Sunday, August 18
Sunday, June 23
Rachael McConnell Pastor, First Presbyterian Church in Duncanville, TX
Associate Pastor at First Methodist Church of Moorestown
Rachael McConnell Pastor, First Presbyterian Church in Duncanville, TX
Denise Carrell
Sunday, July 7
PHD Coordinator at
Sunday, July 7
Regina D. Langley
Regina D. Langley
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Itinerant Elder
Sunday, June 30
African Methodist Episcopal Church Itinerant Elder
Rachael McConnell
Sunday, July 14
Sunday, July 14
Shannon Daley-Harris
Shannon Daley-Harris
Associate Dean of Auburn Theological Seminary
Associate Dean of Auburn Theological Seminary
Sunday, July 7
Regina D. Langley
African Methodist Episcopal
Melissa Rudolph Lead Pastor, North Carroll Cooperative Parish of the United Methodist Church
Melissa Rudolph Lead Pastor, North Carroll Cooperative Parish of the United Methodist Church
Sunday, August 25 H. Fitzgerald Robertson, II Student, Princeton Theological
Sunday, August 25 H. Fitzgerald Robertson, II Student, Princeton Theological
Sunday, August 25
Fitzgerald Robertson, II Student, Princeton Theological
MAC ATTACK: Jami MacDonald heads upfield in a game this past spring for the Princeton
Another Tiger rising
started 3-0 in Pool A
(Photo by Steven Wojtowicz)
After Progressing in Freshman Season for PU Men’s Track, Former
PHS Star Della Rocca Competing in U20 Worlds
Zach Della Rocca ’s progress in his first college track and field year opened the door for his first international competition.
The Princeton High product made big leaps in his first year across town at Princeton University to put himself in position to compete for Athletics Australia at the World Athletics U20 Championships which are taking place in Lima, Peru from August 27-31.
“I haven’t even really been able to truly process it,” said Della Rocca. “It’s such a proud moment. In terms of my goals going into this year, this is like the very top of the list. Right now I’m just really focusing on training, not thinking too much about it and getting too stressed out so that I can really perform and show up and be a good teammate for these guys and we can really do some big things down there.”
Della Rocca will be a member of Australia’s 4x100 men’s relay. He could not attend Australia’s U20 national meet that determined their top two finishers in each event to go to worlds, but he was selected for the team by Athletics Australia based on his performances over the last year.
“It’s such a huge achievement,” said Della Rocca. “It’s such a huge moment to even get to step foot on the track there, so I really want to do my part and make them proud.”
Della Rocca has had a lot to be proud of over the last year. Since developing rapidly at PHS as he embraced his track potential, Della Rocca came farther than he anticipated in his first year at Princeton. In his first season, he tied the Ivy League record with a 6.67-second finish in the 60-meter dash in the preliminary round of the Ivy League Indoor Heptagonal Championships.
“That was a pretty big moment for me,” said Della Rocca. “It was a high pressure moment for me because it was my first indoor Ivy championships and I really wanted to focus and do well for the team. I had set my mind to just want to perform well and then actually doing it is a proud moment.”
This past spring, Della Rocca ran a personal-record 10.27 seconds in the 100 meters for the top preliminary time in the Ivy League Heptagonal Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He ended up placing second in the 100 final in a time of 10.40. In the 200, he set a personal record of 20.67 in the first round but was unable to start in the final. Della Rocca competed in the 200 meters in the NCAA East Region meet to conclude his first year of college competition. He placed 34th in a time of 21.01.
“I thought it went great,” said Della Rocca. “I had my expectations and goals going in and I went so far past them, to an amount that I would have never even been able to even think about doing coming in as a freshman. It’s definitely been a hard adjustment, been a hard environment to start in, but it’s amazing what the team and what I’ve been able to do this this year.”
Della Rocca ’s improvements earned him a spot on Team Australia. Della Rocca’s father was born in Australia and he got his citizenship there as well. Della Rocca has family in the country as well. In late June, he traveled to the country’s Gold Coast for a five-day camp with the U20 team. It was important to him to be there.
“They already had it preplanned to be in the Gold Coast because it will mimic the temperature and climate that will be in Lima,” said Della Rocca. “And as an outsider, especially being from America, I felt it was really my responsibility to go and be with them and get to know the team rather than just showing up in Peru with a whole new team and a whole new environment. So I’m really glad I went because I think it’ll really help us perform better in Peru.”
He is looking forward to the chance to compete again, this time on the world stage. He is also hopeful to have a chance to explore Lima if time permits.
“It’s probably all business,” said Della Rocca. “We have a pretty tight schedule in terms of training and then recovery in the afternoon, but I think there will be opportunities to maybe walk around a little bit around Lima, but they’re going to want us pretty tightly organized in terms of what we do once we move into the World Athletics hotels during the week of competition. I know that’s really got a lot more strict competition focused space. But I’m hoping I get to explore a little bit of the city. That’d be nice.”
Della Rocca is one of three Princeton University athletes competing in the U20 Championships from the men’s team. Xavier Donaldson will run for the United States and Jackson Clarke will compete for Guyana. The three freshmen are part of a strong class of sprinters for the Tigers.
“I knew we were good, but I had no idea we would be that good,” said Della Rocca. “I know for a lot of us like coming out of high school, we weren’t top recruits. We weren’t anywhere close. I dropped a second this year for my high school time, which is pretty ridiculous. And that’s a similar story for Jackson Clark. Coming in,
it was a big surprise. We knew we were good runners, but we had no idea the potential that could happen even in just one year. So it’s been a really nice surprise.”
Now they will have the chance to show off on the international stage, just weeks after the Paris Olympics. Princeton University sprints coach Robert Abdullah has been giving them workouts, and Della Rocca has been making the short trip over to Princeton to work out on the track and in the weight room. Della Rocca felt like he benefited from the move to college training this year.
“I think the biggest difference is the culture and the environment, especially with my teammates,” said Della Rocca. “Everyone is so driven, so competitive, so talented and you’re working with them every single day. You know they’re always with you and that really makes you compete harder and practice a lot harder and really focus on your goals. And then when you get distracted or you go into hard times, they keep you focused. That’s really what’s been the most helpful for me in keeping me on track, because with academics especially you can get really stressful points. I’d say that’s really what brings this to the next level and allows me to compete at the next level.”
Della Rocca, an economics major, had to balance a rigorous academic load with training for track. It was a difficult adjustment, but something that again relied on the team’s help.
“It was like a whole other level and I know a lot of freshmen, including myself, were really struggling at first,” said Della Rocca. “But then the team, our coaches, our advisors, they helped us through it, which is just really great and we all got through.”
They came out on the other side of the initial adjustment stronger and faster. Della Rocca wasn’t sure what sort of impact he would be able to have in his first year at Princeton, but it didn’t take long for him to find his stride on the track.
“Seeing that you can compete with college athletes, and once you start to realize that I can compete well against them too, the amount of extra motivation
that you get and amount of confidence that you get going into it, that’s when I started to realize I could potentially score at the Ivy League championships, I could go to NCAAs. Once I had that first meet and you realize you can actually compete against them, the confidence you get from that really propelled me into the future meets.”
That’s not something that Della Rocca expected coming out of PHS. He hadn’t seen the caliber of competitor that he routinely ran into in college.
“These big school names that you see, like Villanova, Georgia, when you see them it’s terrifying at first, but then you realize you can do it and that’s really a huge moment for all of us,”
said Della Rocca. “And that really gives you so much confidence.”
Della Rocca credits his improvements to the training environment as well as focusing on some important changes.
“Definitely starts was a big one,” said Della Rocca. “My starts in high school were really bad, so working on that a lot helped a lot and then just really focusing on my form itself, like keeping my face relaxed, helped. It’s just really focusing how to use my energy efficiently, which was something I didn’t even touch in high school. And it makes such a huge difference.”
“Definitely my goals have changed a lot,” said Della Rocca. “I want to go a lot further. I want to go to the NCAAs and championships. I want to finally win at Ivies because I’ve gotten first in the prelim three times and never won the finals. My goals have definitely changed. Of course, I want a PR in everything and do the best I can and just keep going forward.”
—Justin Feil
He will put all that he has worked on into his U20 racing before he returns to continue his development at Princeton. He is looking forward to representing the Tigers and Australia well at worlds. The U20 Championships will put a cap on his first year of college running, and propel him into his second year. His initial success has expanded his outlook for his college career at Princeton.
IN THE FAST LANE: Zach Della Rocca, right, sprints to the finish line in a race this spring during his freshman season for the Princeton University men’s track team. Former Princeton High star Della Rocca will be running on the international stage next week as he competes
Athletics Australia at the World Athletics U20 Championships which
from August 27-31. (Photo
After Leading Defense for PHS Boys’ Soccer State Champs, Matese
Excited to Start Career for Swarthmore Men’s Team
Nick Matese started playing soccer when he was three years old and saw no reason to leave the game after wrapping up his Princeton High career last fall
“Soccer has been a big part of my life,” said Matese, who starred at center back last fall as the PHS boys’ soccer team won the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 state championship. “There were some really good coaches that inspired me and helped me grow as a player as I was getting into high school. I didn’t really want to give it up just yet.”
This week, Matese is getting his college career underway, starting preseason training for the Swarthmore College men’s soccer team.
After considering a range of schools in his recruiting process, Matese found a good fit in Swarthmore.
“I went to the their camp twice and I had a great experience,” said Matese. “What really stood out to me was the current players who were working those camps were all super nice. They were joking around with each other — it seemed like a really great place to be. Their coach (Eric Wagner) made a great impression. It also matches my academic goals.”
Matese is leaving PHS with some great memories of the program’s brilliant 22-2 championship campaign.
“I am really grateful for the opportunity to have that experience,” said Matese. “It was a perfect way to cap off all four years — with the previous three years of [Wayne] Sutcliffe and then getting [Ryan] Walsh a title
in his first year with my friends who I played with since kindergarten.”
Three of those friends — Jamie Reynolds, Patrick Kenah, and Connor Hewitt — joined Matese to form a stellar back line for the Tigers.
“I played with all three of them on club teams, we go all of the way back to elementary school,” said Matese.
Although PHS lost 2-1 to powerhouse Pennington in the Mercer County Tournament final, it played some high level soccer that the Tigers carried over into their state tournament run.
“The whole team felt that was played as good as we could, especially in the second half,” said Matese, reflecting on the loss to the Red Hawks which saw the foes knotted at 1-1 for most of the second half until Pennington scored the winning goal in the last two minutes of the contest. “We almost beat them out, we outplayed them at certain points. It didn’t go our way in the end. We were obviously a little disappointed but it really gave us confidence that we can play with these top teams. They went on to beat St. Benedict’s.”
Rebounding in the Group 4 tourney, PHS outscored foes 18-2 as it posted five straight victories to win the Central Jersey sectional and earn a spot in the state championship game against Kearny.
“It really felt like we got a flow thing,” said Matese, reflecting on that stretch. “There wasn’t that much rest time between games, that was the schedule. We recovered and had a more
intense practice the day before to get ready for the game. We had our rituals as a team.”
In the title game against Kearny, the Tigers had to recover from a 2-1 halftime deficit to pull out a 3-2 win as they got second half goals from Pasquale Carusone and Archie Smith to earn the title.
“Going into halftime down a goal, we were in the locker room coming together trying to make a comeback,” said Matese. “The final goal was even more special because Archie had the “Free Evan” T-shirt on under our shirt.”
As a team co-captain and the leader of the defensive unit, Matese looked to held things together all season long.
“I wanted to hold people accountable to make sure that we achieved our potential,” said Matese. “We all knew we could do something great this year, we had to stayed focused.”
In addition to helping PHS win a title, Matese also starred for his club team, PFC Barcelona, as it won the New Jersey Youth Soccer (NJYS) boys’ state title this spring.
“It was bittersweet because it was the last time for everyone,” said Matese. “The State Cup final was a crazy game. We got to the semis at the regional. We started well. I think we just came up against a really good team. I am definitely going to miss all of my teammates.”
This summer, Matese is focused on bonding with new teammates.
“We have a couple of group chats, one with the freshmen and one with the whole team,” said Matese. “I have had some Zoom meetings with the coaches, going over some tactics stuff.”
In addition, Matese has been working hard on his conditioning.
“I have been running a lot, we have workouts,” said Matese. “We have a pre-preseason with just the players for a couple of days before we get into it. All of the players are meeting in the Philly area where most of us live. We are doing our own training with no coaches.”
Matese is willing to play any position where he is needed. “In the camp where I had some interest, I played defensive mid which is different from what I played
for in club and high school,” said Matese. “I talked to the coach and he wasn’t entirely sure where I might fit in, it will probably be on the defensive end.”
Looking ahead to the preseason, Matese is fired up to get started.
“There is definitely a little bit of nerves, it is a big step,” said Matese. “I am definitely really excited to join the program. I have met some of the kids on the visits. At the camp this summer, I was
a counselor. I am definitely looking forward to it.”
With Swarthmore opening its 2024 campaign by hosting Penn State Abington on August 30, Matese is determined to step into a key role for the Garnet.
“I really want to establish myself into the team,” said Matese. “I have high goals for myself, making the travel squad, trying to get some minutes, and just helping the team wherever I can.”
—Bill Alden
MORE TO COME: Nick Matese, left, marks a Notre Dame High player last fall in his senior season for the Princeton High boys’ soccer team. Star center back and co-captain Matese helped PHS go 22-2 last fall on the way to winning the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 state championship. Matese is currently in preseason training as he starts his college career with the Swarthmore College men’s soccer team. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
Obituaries
Landon Y. (“Lanny”) Jones, Jr., writer, editor, and beloved family member and citizen of the Princeton community, died on Saturday, August 17. He will be missed by all who knew his lively and generous spirit. Born in Rome, Georgia, in 1943, raised in St. Louis, and a longtime resident of Princeton, Lanny spent his adult life on the East Coast, with an eye on the American West. He was known for his boundless energy, his unfailing generosity, and his insatiable appetite for meeting new and interesting people, while maintaining innumerable friendships and deep family connections.
Lanny reached the pinnacle of his editorial career during the heyday of magazine journalism in the 1980s and ’90s. From 1984-89, he was the Managing Editor (the highest editorial position at Time Inc.) of Money magazine. Under his direction, the financial monthly won three consecutive National Magazine Awards, including General Excellence. From 1989-97, Lanny was the Managing Editor of People magazine, the most successful magazine in publishing history. While at People , he directed the launch of three new magazines: Who Weekly (1992), In Style (1994), and People en Español (1996). In 2015, he was awarded the Time Inc. Lifetime Achievement Award.
Landon Y. (“Lanny”) Jones, Jr. where they welcomed family members and countless friends. He also cherished many family vacations at the A-Bar-A Ranch in Encampment, Wyoming. Lanny merged his personal interest in the West with his professional life when he wrote a 2016 cover story in the New York Times Sunday Travel section about Vladimir Nabokov’s travels in the West, which won the New York Press Club Award as the Best Travel Article of the Year. He published two books relating to Meriweather Lewis and William Clark: William Clark and the Shaping of the West (Hill and Wang, 2004), and The Essential Lewis and Clark (Ecco/HarperCollins, 2000).
In his final published book, Celebrity Nation: How America Evolved Into a Culture of Fans and Followers (Beacon Press, 2023), Lanny explored the celebrity culture that he played a role in developing during his time at People . He recounted his interviews with, among others, Malcolm X, Princess Diana, Elizabeth Taylor, President Bill Clinton, President George H.W. Bush, Bill Gates, and singers Bobby Short and Arlo Guthrie.
at the University and Institute for Advanced Study, businesspersons, members of the arts and letters community, and staff at local establishments he frequented. Lanny was a prolific member of the Old Guard, for which he arranged and introduced over 100 speakers and received an Exemplary Service Award for his efforts.
At the time of his death, Lanny was serving on the board of The Rita Allen Foundation. He previously served on the boards of The Alzheimer’s Association, American Rivers, and Princeton Alumni Corps.
Lanny was a cheerleader for his family and friends to the end. He worked extraordinarily hard during his career with Time Inc., but always prioritized his family, including by coaching the soccer teams of his children. He dove headlong into family life following his retirement at age 57. He was a steadfast supporter of his children, gifted at eliciting a laugh from his grandchildren, and always eager to share tales of their latest adventures. With his diagnosis of myelofibrosis and subsequent ordeal of his bone marrow transplant, Lanny became increasingly aware of the fleeting nature of his time with his family. He never once finished a holiday toast with a dry eye. And he was forever grateful for the gift of extended life provided by his medical team at Memorial Sloan Kettering and other institutions.
Lanny is survived by his wife of 54 years, Sarah Brown Jones; their three children, Rebecca J. Urciuoli, Landon Y. Jones III, and Catherine (“Cassie”) M. Jones; their respective spouses, Christian J.A. Urciuoli, Beth Nell Vaccaro, and Mark C. Wethli; six grandchildren: Jane Urciuoli, Nina Urciuoli, Luke Jones, Adam Jones, Wren Wethli, and Reed Wethli; and brothers Charles E. (Carol Ann) Jones and Byron W. (Julie Morrison) Jones.
death of her older brother to leukemia when she was just 14, and right after WWII when the world was reeling from so many deaths and senseless destruction. Perhaps this was why she became a peacemaker with a lifelong conviction that war and conflict were idiotic and mostly perpetrated by men. Avant-garde as her parents were, she called them by name, “Mig” and “Phil.” Her mother was of southern roots in a large fun-loving family. Her father was one of two close but competitive brothers. Gette made a mental note early on that lots of children were better than few.
She was an equestrian, an avid reader, and a wonderful student. She went to Abbot Academy in Andover, MA, and college at Bryn Mawr where she made lifelong friends, one with whom she spent her junior year in Florence. She then left school to marry Giovanni Ferrante di Ruffano, with whom she moved to Pampa, TX, and Dugway, UT, before settling in Kingston, NJ. They quickly had seven children in nine years, an achievement of which she was very proud and always said she wanted more. She was the center of a supportive, welcoming home for all of her children’s friends, and the house was always full. She had a way of making everyone feel special and relevant. Several of those Princeton friends attended her 90th birthday celebration last year in CT.
Following her divorce in 1978, she had regretted not finishing college, and so completed her degree at Rutgers with highest honors. She was
fluent in three languages. She was a lifelong feminist and an example to all of cheerful, critical thinking and quiet skepticism.
Conversation with her was always easy and delightful, enhanced by her willingness to engage on any topic and her amazing memory and knowledge of current and past events in the world and in her family. She seemed to have up to the minute information on the doings of each of her 19 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren when their own parents had difficulty keeping them straight. She was an adroit record keeper and meticulously documented her family history through scrapbooking and video recordings that our family will cherish forever. In that same vein, despite near blindness, she hand wrote 600 pages of her reflections titled “Stuff I Think About,” to pass on to future generations.
Her final years were happily spent at Waveny Inn in New Canaan, CT, where she established and led the current events discussion group, and participated in a book group, writing group, a French discussion and poetry group, and was appointed to greet new and prospective residents. She is already missed by all who knew and loved her.
In addition to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she is survived by her children: Giaff (Alison), Cam (Liz McGrath), Gray (Dee Harris), Francesca
Segalas, Catherine Tapsall (Mark Loehr), Virginia Ferrante-Iqbal (Manzar Iqbal), and Philip (Pamela), residing in Hingham, Albuquerque, Princeton, New Canaan, Old Greenwich, Nashville, and Scottsdale.
Burial will be in her mother’s family plot in Yazoo City, MS. There will be a celebration of her life for family and friends on a date to be announced. If you would like to honor Gette’s memory, please consider a donation to NPR and voting!
in time of daffodils(who know the goal of living is to grow) forgetting why,remember how in time of lilacs who proclaim the aim of waking is to dream, remember so(forgetting seem) in time of roses(who amaze our now and here with paradise) forgetting if,remember yes in time of all sweet things beyond whatever mind may comprehend, remember seek(forgetting find) and in a mystery to be (when time from time shall set us free)
forgetting me,remember me —ee cummings
For online condolences please visit hoytfuneralhome.com.
Obituaries Continued on Next Page
Throughout his life, Lanny served as a mentor and champion for countless writers and journalists. He taught courses in nonfiction writing at Princeton University (1995), Northwestern University (2006), and Montana State University (2008). He served in formal and informal advisory roles for the Princeton Alumni Weekly, the Daily Princetonian, and the Princeton University English Department.
Lanny’s first nonfiction work, Great Expectations: America and the Baby Boom Generation (Putman, 1980), introduced the world to the term “baby boomer,” and was the first close examination of the Baby Boom generation as a cultural phenomenon. It was nominated for the American Book Award in Nonfiction.
A college summer spent on a ranch in Ennis, Montana, proved fateful. Lanny was inspired by the American West and returned throughout his life. He spent more than 20 summers with his wife Sarah at their second home in Bozeman, Montana,
As a child in St. Louis, Lanny suffered significant hearing loss following a mumps infection. He learned to read lips at the Central Institute for the Deaf. With that skill, Lanny appeared to consider the problem solved, rarely complaining and still managing to be the life of any bustling party.
He attended Saint Louis Country Day School, where he played soccer and football, ran track, and served as Student Council President. He came east to Princeton University, graduating magna cum laude in 1966. At Princeton, he was active with the Daily Princetonian, wrote the “On the Campus” column for Princeton Alumni Weekly, and was a member of Colonial Club. He edited the Princeton Alumni Weekly from 19691974 and wrote for Time and People before joining Money in 1984. In 1967 he was a member of a special Life magazine investigation of the assassination of President Kennedy that received the Sigma Delta Chi Award for Public Service. Living in Princeton, Lanny was a consummate connector of people. Everybody knew Lanny and Lanny knew everybody – distinguished professors and academics
Services and Contributions: The family will update this page when arrangements for a fall memorial service have been finalized. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Princeton Public Library, the Institute for Advanced Study, and Princeton University for the benefit of the Princeton University Library.
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you. ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
Georgette Davis Ferrante “Gette” passed away peacefully on August 2, 2024, surrounded by her children. Born in January 1933 in New York City to Philip and Beverly Davis, she grew up in Greenwich, CT. As the only girl in her family, including nearby cousins, she was doted on and beloved by them all. Then tragedy struck her family with the
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.
selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you. ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection.
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you.
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make
ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through
We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection.
the many options available to you.
ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you
We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you
EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL We pride ourselves on being a small, personal, and service oriented family business. With five generations of experience, we are here to help guide you through the difficult process of monument selection. We encourage you to make an appointment, with no obligation, to discuss the many options available to you. ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO MAKE THE PERFECT MEMORIAL
(Photo by Craig Moore)
Georgette Ferrante
Jacqueline N. Wadsworth, 88, of Princeton passed away on Wednesday, August 14, 2024.
She was born in Milltown, NJ, and settled in Princeton with her husband Ray where she lived for over 65 years. She spent most of her summers after the school year at their shore house in South Seaside Park. She was the Director of Nurses for Princeton Regional Schools for 40 years, where she became known as “Nurse Jackie” by everyone at Princeton High School.
Jacqueline was a devout Catholic and parishioner at St. Paul’s Church where she always lent a helping hand for every event at the church. When she was not at church, she loved coordinating trips for her and her friends in the getaway club. Jacqueline’s love for traveling stemmed from chaperoning the annual PHS Choir Club international choir trips.
Predeceased by her parents Sylvester and Elizabeth (Leonowicz) Nebus and her husband Raymond R. Wadsworth. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law R. Keith and Elizabeth Wadsworth; grandson Keith and wife Melissa along with their son Jamie Raymond: grandsons Jesse and Andrew; daughter Kathleen Wadsworth; and granddaughters Samantha and Morgan.
Visitation was held on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08542. Funeral will begin at 9 a.m. at the funeral home on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. at St. Paul’s Church, 216 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542. Burial will follow in Princeton Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to St. Paul’s Church (for the Prayer Garden).
Rhoda Rosenzweig Lewis
November 9, 1942 –August 8, 2024
Rhoda Rosenzweig Lewis, of Princeton, NJ, died on August 8, 2024 of esophageal adenocarcinoma. She was 81.
Rhoda was born in Philadelphia to Max and Phyllis Rosenzweig, graduated from Akiba Hebrew Academy in 1959, and subsequently attended the University of Pennsylvania. She spent two years of study (and one year of being a ballroom dance instructor) at Penn before marrying her husband and moving to Yellow Springs, Ohio, where she completed her undergraduate degree in Art History at Antioch College. While in Yellow Springs, Rhoda was active in the civil rights movement, particularly in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, worked as a psychology research assistant, lived on a farm with lots of feral cats, and gave birth to her son.
The family moved to Princeton, NJ in 1970, where Rhoda’s daughter was born. In the late 1970s, Rhoda returned to school and earned a master’s degree in special education from St. John’s University; her subsequent years teaching adjudicated children at the Skillman Training School for Boys were particularly indelible for her, and she was able to change a lot of lives for the better.
Rhoda’s house in the 1970s and 1980s was full of various children and adolescents who all thought she was the beautiful mom they could trust most, the sounds of WBAI on the radio, discussions about social justice, and the smells of her wonderful cooking. At age 50, after her son and daughter had graduated from college, Rhoda put her shoulders back, dove into a new chapter, and in 1997 earned a Juris Doctor with distinction from Rutgers University Law School.
After a year of clerkship, Rhoda began practicing as Deputy Public Defender for the state of New Jersey in the area of mental health advocacy law. She loved this work, was able to meaningfully change state law, and always gave herself fully to her vulnerable clients until her retirement in 2014.
Her marriage having ended in divorce, she enjoyed traveling, birding, and attending the ballet with her
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longtime companion Steve until his death in 2019. Rhoda was absolutely one of a kind — brilliant, insightful, observant, empathetic, loving, gorgeous, quirky, a little naughty, an excellent swimmer, a collector and wearer of things she thought beautiful, and a determined defender of people whom she knew needed her help.
She is survived by her son Benjamin, her daughter Felicia (Kermit), her beloved grandchildren Rana, Vivian, and Maron, her brothers Michael (Carole) and Arthur (Susan) Rosenzweig and Paul Seigel (Phillip), her cousins Barry, Trudy, and Hank, and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Burial was private; a celebration of her life will occur in the Princeton area at a later date. Donations in her honor can be made to the American Civil Liberties Union or the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. Extend condolences and share memories at TheKimbleFuneralHome. com.
Andrew “Andy” Thurm, passed away at the age of 80 at Princeton Hospital after a very brief illness.
Andy was born in Manhattan in 1944 and always considered himself a New Yorker. His family moved to Scarsdale where Andy graduated from high school. He then graduated from Dartmouth College and came back to New York to earn an MBA from Columbia Business School.
He worked at Exxon in the aviation fuel division and then at McGraw Hill for Business Week Magazine.
He married Ann Thomson in 1969 and they lived on 57th Street while they worked and saved money to take a two-year trip around the world, working wherever they could find jobs.
Friends and family knew they were saving money but assured it was to buy a house in the suburbs and were surprised – not to say shocked – when they heard their plans.
Most of the places they stayed in were in the $1-2 range and many of them included all the bananas you could eat. Virtually none had running water.
Andy and Ann started the trip staying with Indians on the Amazon and then proceeded through South America.
They then spent many months in Africa on camping Safari trips and climbing Kilimanjaro.
They celebrated Christmas in Bethlehem and then spent the next year traveling and working in Asia.
In Africa they worked for a small market research company run by a husband and wife and Andy discovered that he preferred that environment to working for a large company.
When he returned to New York he opened his own company, Thurm Marketing and Consulting, which he ran until his retirement.
While he enjoyed marketing and having his own business, his first love was music. He had studied music from age 4 and was a very accomplished pianist.
Shortly after his retirement he saw an ad from Stuart Country Day School that was looking for an accompanist. He was thrilled to get the job and spent 10 very happy years in the classrooms, theater productions, and accompanying individual students.
He used his musical skills in churches as well including St. Matthew’s Church and Montgomery Ministries.
For Christmas he and Ann would host a Carol Party that people said they looked forward to all year.
Andy was very active in the Princeton Dartmouth Club. Andy was an excellent tennis player with a serve that was very hard to return.
He was a voracious reader and started a monthly men’s book group when he retired that is still going strong.
Andy was compassionate and caring. He was a generous donor to charitable causes, sponsored a child in need in developing countries for many years, and was always willing to help out friends and family in many ways. He will be greatly missed.
He was predeceased by his brother Allen Thurm and his cousin Tanya Roberts. He is survived by Ann his wife of 55 years and his daughter London Thomson-Thurm.
He will be missed by his extended family including nieces Shelley Hughes, Heidi Thomson, and Aileen Thurm, as well as cousins Kevin Thurm, Karen Thurm, Barbara Leary, Zachary Leary, Nany Salz, and Richard Mickey.
Visitation will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 19, 2024 with a memorial service at 3 p.m. at Blawenburg Reformed Church, 424 Route 518, Skillman, NJ 08558.
Arrangements are under the direction of MatherHodge Funeral Home, Princeton, NJ.
Newsstand Town Topics
Can be purchased Wednesday mor nings at the following locations:
It’s been a year, and we miss you and think of you every day.
Last August 20, Christa Charlotte Weigmann passed away in her sleep at Stonebridge at Montgomery in Skillman, New Jersey, at the age of 89. A longtime resident of Princeton, New Jersey, Christa had been living at Stonebridge for five years.
Christa was born in Windhoek, Namibia, on July 8, 1934. Her parents, Herwarth and Else Schmidt von Schwind, had a sheep farm in Namibia (then called South West Africa), where they had relocated after leaving Germany in 1929. Christa grew up on the farm and developed a deep and abiding love for the landscape, the wildlife, and the people. She attended a German boarding school in Swakopmund and later in the capital, Windhoek, since there were no schools near where she lived. Her schooling was trilingual, and she always relished her knowledge of German, English, and Afrikaans.
Upon graduation she moved to Heidelberg, Germany, where she studied to be a translator. During a Fasching (German Carnival) party she met Dieter Weigmann, who she married in 1958.
In 1961 she traveled on an ocean liner across the Atlantic with her baby daughter Stefanie to live on the third continent in her life. She joined her husband in Princeton, New Jersey, where he was doing postdoctoral work. They decided to settle in America and moved to Kendall Park, New Jersey, where their second daughter, Jessica, was born in 1964. There she discovered her passion for education, starting as a preschool teacher. In 1973 the family moved back to Princeton, and she went back to school at Trenton State College where she earned her teaching degree. She would teach fourth grade at the Perry L. Drew Lewis School in East Windsor for 15 years. She was a passionate and energetic teacher, dedicated to opening her students’ minds to the wider world. She founded a school zoo, traveled to the Museum of Natural History weekly to further her training, and of course she brought her love of Africa into her classroom.
In 1975 she traveled with her family back to Namibia for the first time since she had left. She would go on to visit Namibia countless times and reconnect with the place and the people, even teaching school there for a year. Beyond Namibia, Christa and Dieter loved to travel and explored many places: China, Japan, Mongolia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Botswana, to name but a few. Eventually, they discovered a small town in West Texas
called Marathon, where the light and the high desert landscape reminded Christa of her beloved Namibia. They eventually would live half the year in their Marathon adobe home and the other half in Princeton, where they would host their beloved grandchildren, Zeke, Oona, and Mai for summers and holidays, including the most joyous (and delicious) German Christmases. She lived her life with passion and generosity, and we celebrate her memory today. Arrangements were under the direction of Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.
March 26, 1965 –June 27, 2024
Tim Miller passed away peacefully on June 27, 2024, surrounded by family in his happy place near the beach in Delaware.
Tim was known for his incredible talent in woodworking and construction, coaching girls’ softball, the gift of cooking, and his love for his family.
He fought a courageous battle with throat cancer, overcoming treatment that left him with incredible difficulties and poor quality of life, but he continued to persevere and still enjoyed time with friends and family and especially cooking for everyone.
Throughout his life Tim especially enjoyed music, watching the Food Network, building, mentoring young girls’ softball, and took great pride in his development of good sportsmanship. He loved being a father and was so proud of his daughters. He fought so hard to try to be there for every important moment in their lives.
Tim was predeceased by his parents Bob and Sherry Miller.
He is survived by his loving wife, Cindy; his daughters, Taylor Wagner (Brad) and Barrett Miller; his granddaughter, Emerson Wagner; his brother, Randy Miller (Zina) and their children, Tatiana and Tad. Jeanne Dollar (Ed), JP Crosson (Stephanie) and their children, Ryan Dollar and Charlie Crosson, as well as many friends who will miss him dearly.
Tim did not want a service, but he would like to be remembered with a story, laughs, and a raised beer. For all who knew him this should make you smile! He will always be in our hearts and never forgotten. Please visit Tim’s Life Memorial at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
Jacqueline “Jackie” Wadsworth
Christa Weigmann
Timothy Wade Miller
Andrew “Andy” Thurm
TOWN TOPICS CLASSIFIEDS
To place a classi ed ad, please call: Deadline: Noon,
YARD SALE +
TOWN TOPICS CLASSIFIED
= GREAT WEEKEND!
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
tf HOME HEALTH AIDE: 25 years of experience. Available mornings to take care of your loved one, transport to appointments, run errands. I am well known in Princeton. Top care, excellent references. The best! Call (609) 356-2951 or (609) 751-1396. tf
LOLIO’S WINDOW WASHING & POWER WASHING: Free estimate. Next day service. Fully insured. Gutter cleaning available. References available upon request. 30 years experience. (609) 271-8860. tf
JOE’S 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
HOME REPAIR SPECIALIST:
tf
Interior/exterior repairs, carpentry, trim, rotted wood, power washing, painting, deck work, sheet rock/ spackle, gutter & roofing repairs. Punch list is my specialty. 40 years experience. Licensed & insured. Call Creative Woodcraft (609) 586-2130 tf
EXPERIENCED AND PROFESSIONAL CAREGIVER
Available part-time
With excellent references in the greater Princeton area (609) 216-5000 tf FOX CLEANING (609) 547-9570
eqfoxcarpetcleaning@gmail.com
Licensed and insured Residential and commercial
Carpet cleaning and upholestry
Pressure and soft washing • Area rugs
Strip and wax floors • Sanitizing Water damage • Grout cleaning 01-17-25
CARING AND EXPERIENCED BABYSITTER
Available for part-time position
Excellent local references! (609) 216-5000 tf
HOUSECLEANING/HOUSE-
KEEPING: Professional cleaning service. Experienced, references, honest & responsible. Reasonable price. Basic English. Text Grace at (609) 672-0211 for a free estimate. 10-30
APPLYING TO COLLEGE, GRADUATE SCHOOL, OR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL?
Arrange a free consultation with the Princeton Writing Coach, a highly experienced and caring college teacher. Explore how to manage the admissions process and how to write outstanding essays. (908) 420-1070. princetonwritingcoach@gmail.com. https://princetonwritingcoach.com/. 08-21
STORAGE UNIT FOR RENT
10 minutes north of Princeton, in Skillman/Montgomery. 16x22, $280 discounted monthly rent. Available now. https://princetonstorage.homestead. com/ or call/text (609) 333-6932 09-11
ROCKY HILL 2 BEDROOM APARTMENT
Dishwasher, laundry in basement. Off-street parking for 1 car. Security lease credit check. (609) 466-0852. $1800/month, available immediately. 08-28
I BUY ALL KINDS of old or pretty things: China, glass, silver, pottery, costume jewelry, evening bags, fancy linens, paintings, small furniture, etc. Local woman buyer. (609) 9217469. 10-11-24
BUYING: Antiques, paintings, Oriental rugs, coins, clocks, furniture, old toys, military, books, cameras, silver, costume & fine jewelry. Guitars & musical instruments. I buy single items to entire estates. Free appraisals. (609) 306-0613. 08-27-25
TOWN TOPICS CLASSIFIEDS GET TOP RESULTS!
Whether it’s selling furniture, finding a lost pet, or having a garage sale, TOWN TOPICS is the way to go! We deliver to ALL of Princeton as well as surrounding areas. (609) 924-2200 ext. 10; classifieds@towntopics.com
ESTATE LIQUIDATION SERVICE:
I will clean out attics, basements, garages & houses. Single items to entire estates. No job too big or small. In business over 35 years, serving all of Mercer County. Call (609) 306-0613. 08-27-25
WE BUY CARS
Belle Mead Garage (908) 359-8131 Ask for Chris tf
Employment Opportunities in the Princeton Area
SR. MANAGER, IT
VALIDATION SERVICES
(ref.# 4368). Req. Bach. in Chem. Engrg., Comp. Sci., Life Sci. or rel. + 8 yrs. of exp., incl. 8 yrs. w/ CSV in pharma ind., incl. 3 yrs. managing CSV projects. Use exp. w/ CSV, GAMP, electronic records & signature regs, data integrity & rel. HA regs; softwre dvlpt to oversee & execute CSV activities across Clinical & Regulatory business unit apps. May telecommute 50% of time from any US location. $121,295 to 164,105 /yr. For benefits see https://jobs.bms.com/careers/join. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Princeton, NJ. F/T. Send CV to A. Wilson to resume.com@bms.com & ref.# 4368. No calls/recruiters. 08-21
SENIOR MANAGER, IT
VALIDATION SERVICES
(ref.# 4367). Req. BS in pharmacology/toxicology, pharmacy, comp. sci. or rel. + 8 yrs. of exp. Use exp. w/ computer sys. validation, electronic records & electronic signature regs & HA regs; SDLC, software testing, data integrity, GAMP, AWS, data warehousing, integration technologies to oversee & execute computer system validation activities for IT capabilities. May telecommute 50% of time from any US location. $131,331 to $164,150/year. For benefits see https:// jobs.bms.com/careers/join. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Princeton, NJ. F/T. Send CV to A. Wilson to resume.com@bms.com & ref. 4367. No calls/recruiters. 08-21
LARGE (16’-30’), BEAUTIFUL EVERGREENS
(Norway Spruce) locally grown in Princeton/Lawrenceville area and installed for your privacy barrier. Call Doug for pricing and sizes: (215) 852-5660 Americantreescapes.com 09-04
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 HEALTH AIDE: 25 years
tf
of experience. Available mornings to take care of your loved one, transport to appointments, run errands. I am well known in Princeton. Top care, excellent references. The best! Call (609) 356-2951 or (609) 751-1396. tf
LOLIO’S WINDOW WASHING & POWER WASHING: Free estimate.
Next day service. Fully insured. Gutter cleaning available. References available upon request. 30 years experience. (609) 271-8860. tf
JOE’S 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
HOME REPAIR SPECIALIST:
Interior/exterior repairs, carpentry, trim, rotted wood, power washing, painting, deck work, sheet rock/ spackle, gutter & roofing repairs. Punch list is my specialty. 40 years experience. Licensed & insured. Call Creative Woodcraft (609) 586-2130 tf
EXPERIENCED AND PROFESSIONAL CAREGIVER
Available part-time
With excellent references in the greater Princeton area (609) 216-5000 tf
HOUSECLEANING/HOUSE-
KEEPING: Professional cleaning service. Experienced, references, honest & responsible. Reasonable price. Basic English. Text Grace at (609) 672-0211 for a free estimate. 10-30
FOX CLEANING (609) 547-9570
eqfoxcarpetcleaning@gmail.com
Licensed and insured
Residential and commercial
Carpet cleaning and upholestry
Pressure and soft washing • Area rugs
Strip and wax floors • Sanitizing Water damage • Grout cleaning 01-17-25
CARING AND EXPERIENCED
BABYSITTER
Available for part-time position
Excellent local references! (609) 216-5000 tf
STORAGE UNIT FOR RENT 10 minutes north
Embracing Fall's Arrival
Amid the Height of Hurricane Season
As the calendar turns to September, the start of the hurricane season coincides with the first hints of fall temperatures. This time of year brings a mix of anticipation and caution. The Atlantic hurricane season reaches its peak, with warm ocean waters fueling the formation of powerful storms. It's essential to stay informed and prepared, as hurricanes can bring significant wind, rain, and storm surges.
Simultaneously, a refreshing change in the air signals the arrival of fall. Crisp mornings and cooler evenings offer a welcome respite from the summer heat. Leaves begin to show hints of color, and the days gradually shorten. As you enjoy this transition, make sure your home is ready for potential storms check that your sump pump is in good working order and clean your gutters to prevent basement flooding. Embrace the changing seasons, but stay vigilant as the weather remains unpredictable.
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ADVERTISING SALES
AVAILABLE
Wednesday
Witherspoon Media Group is looking for an advertising Account Manager to generate sales for our luxury magazines, newspaper, and digital business.
The ideal candidate will:
Establish new and grow key accounts and maximize opportunities for each publication, all websites, and all digital products.
Collaborate with the sales and management team to develop growth opportunities.
Prepare strategic sales communications and presentations for both print and digital.
Develop industry-based knowledge and understanding, including circulation, audience, readership, and more.
Prepare detailed sales reports for tracking current customers’ activity and maintain pipeline activity using our custom CRM system.
Positions are full- and part-time and based out of our Kingston, N.J. office. Track record of developing successful sales strategies and knowledge of print and digital media is a plus.
Compensation is negotiable based on experience. Fantastic benefits and a great work environment.
Please submit cover letter and resume to: lynn.smith@princetonmagazine.com melissa.bilyeu@witherspoonmediagroup.com
Interior Painting, Exterior Painting, and Drywall Repair
At Greenwood House Hospice, our families and caregivers LOVE HOW MUCH WE CARE! AND YOU WILL, TOO.
am proud and honored to serve as Greenwood House Hospice Medical Director and to work alongside some of the best nurses, social workers, chaplains and volunteers in the business. Our team provides intimate and comprehensive care for our terminally ill patients. We support not just those in their final months but also their families and loved ones.”
– DAVID R. BARILE, MD Medical Director, Greenwood House Hospice
Hospice is about living the fullest life possible according to a patient’s capabilities within a life-limiting condition. In hospice, your choices guide the care we provide. Hospice care affirms quality of life. Our goal is to prevent and relieve pain, discomfort, anxiety and fear.
We provide emotional and spiritual support to patients and their loved ones. Hospice care is provided wherever a patient feels most comfortable or where they call home. We help families and caregivers prepare for endof-life challenges and find creative ways to share in life review and legacy projects so that our patient’s wisdom and memories can be treasured for future generations.
Our Hospice Team consists of:
• Hospice Medical Director, a board-certified hospice physician
• Registered Nurses (RNs) monitoring pain, managing symptoms and guiding patient’s plan of care
• Hospice Certified Home Health Aides (CHHAs) providing personal patient care and companionship
• Social Workers supporting patients and families and connecting them with community resources
• Spiritual Counselors providing emotional support and personal counseling
• Bereavement Services offering guidance and education concerning anticipatory grief to families throughout care and bereavement
• Hospice Volunteers assisting with a variety of patient and family personalized support activities
Greenwood House Hospice is a nonprofit, mission-based organization rooted in cherished Jewish traditions and an industry leader in providing high-quality senior health care in the state of New Jersey. Seniors of all faiths are welcome.
Or
Library Place Princeton, NJ | $3,950,000
Barbara Blackwell: 609.915.5000 callawayhenderson.com/id/NTV4WN
Introducing: Province Line Road Princeton, NJ | $2,250,000
Kimberly A Rizk, Eleanor Deardorff: 609.203.4807 callawayhenderson.com/id/5F28S7
Newly Priced: Bank Street
Princeton, NJ | $1,100,000
Susan L ‘Suzy’ DiMeglio: 609.915.5645 callawayhenderson.com/id/EJWP6V
Introducing: Palmer Square West Princeton, NJ | $589,000
Barbara Blackwell: 609.915.5000 callawayhenderson.com/id/HTYPSE
